latimes--2020-09-09--How a Pacific storm fueled lightning that sparked California's biggest-ever fire season

An outbreak of thunderstorms generated lightning that touched off dozens of fires in Northern California from Aug. 15-18 .
The driving force was a moisture surge from the remnants of Tropical Storm Fausto in the Pacific , southwest of Baja California .
To understand this , it ’ s important to keep the three-dimensional nature of the atmosphere in mind , explains Patrick Marsh of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration ’ s Storm Prediction Center .
The moisture from Fausto was being drawn up from the south at the middle and upper levels of the troposphere , which is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ closest to the earth ’ s surface .
This was being done by clockwise circulation around an intense high-pressure system in the western United States .
While there was substantial moisture at those middle and upper levels , down at the surface , the high-pressure system was causing extremely hot and dry conditions across an already drought-parched Northern California .
These atmospheric conditions created an unstable environment favorable to the development of thunderstorms that produced a lot of lightning , but little rain .
The hot , dry conditions at low levels of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ thunderstorms evaporate before it could reach the ground , a phenomenon known as virga .
At the same time , that evaporation produced strong , gusty winds blowing out of the thunderstorms .
These winds could quickly fan smoldering vegetation from lightning strikes into full-fledged wildfires .
Strong high pressure promotes hot , dry daytime conditions with very little overnight recovery of relative humidity .
This further dries out vegetation and makes it highly combustible .
After a dry thunderstorm promoted by such an intense high-pressure system has passed , the environment remains @ @ @ @ @ @ @ grow themselves .
Lightning strikes can occur with or without rain reaching the ground from a thunderstorm .
Cloud-to-ground lightning can also occur far from a thunderstorm , such as so-called “ bolt from the blue ” lightning strikes .
More on that later .
The major complex fires still raging in Northern California were triggered by lightning .
But what causes this phenomenon that has been likened to a gigantic spark of static electricity , like the shock you sometimes get when you touch a doorknob ?
Precisely how lightning forms is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the best theories focus on development of separate positive and negative electric fields within the storm , and the necessity of ice , hail or a type of softer , partially melted hail called graupel , to be present .
Storms that lack this icy component usually don ’ t generate lightning .
Thunderstorms can reach heights of 35,000 to 70,000 feet , extending miles above the freezing level in the atmosphere .
The chaos inside the thunderstorm cloud includes powerful updrafts and downdrafts .
Collisions in these updrafts and downdrafts of water @ @ @ @ @ @ @ electrons being sheared off ascending particles and pooling in the base of the storm cloud .
This gives the bottom part of the storm cloud a negative charge and the upper part of the cloud a positive charge .
As the opposite charges separate in the top and bottom portions of the cloud , a strengthening electric field develops between them .
The atmosphere is a great insulator , but when the strength of the electric field overwhelms the insulating capacity of the atmosphere , intra-cloud lightning occurs .
About 75-80 % of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ As the thunderstorm moves across the landscape , a pool of positively charged particles collects in the ground and follows the storm .
These particles climb taller objects such as trees , houses , buildings and utility poles .
Meanwhile , the base of the storm cloud , which carries a negative charge , sends out a channel of negative charge toward the ground .
This channel is invisible to the human eye , and is called a stepped leader .
This occurs in a tiny fraction of a second .
As this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a positive charge from the ground reaches upward toward it with an invisible channel of its own called a streamer .
When these two channels — one from the storm cloud and one from the ground — find each other and connect , cloud-to-ground lightning occurs .
The lightning bolt , called a return stroke , actually travels from the ground into the cloud .
Because it happens so fast , to the human eye it appears to go in the opposite direction .
Fractions of a second later , if enough charge @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a dart leader from the storm cloud may follow the path blazed by the initial stepped leader .
The return stroke on this leader gives the lightning a flickering appearance .
If the subsequent dart leader takes a slightly different route to the ground , so-called forked lightning results with the return stroke .
Lightning emanates from thunderstorm clouds , but not all of it strikes close to the thunderstorm .
The description above is of negative lightning , caused by the relationship between the negatively charged base of the thunderstorm and the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ But some lightning originates in the anvil or top region of the thunderstorm , which is positively charged .
Thus it is called positive lighting or anvil lightning .
This is the so-called “ bolt from the blue ” which can strike dozens to more than 100 miles from a thunderstorm .
The anvil forms when the thunderstorm cloud rises until it sort of pancakes against the bottom of the stratosphere , the layer above the troposphere , then spreads horizontally .
This is mostly with the prevailing winds , rather than in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The air in the anvil is cooler than the stratosphere .
This region , where the troposphere meets the stratosphere , is called the tropopause , and it averages about 30,000 to 56,000 feet high , depending on season and latitude .
Cirrus clouds from the thunderstorm ’ s anvil can stretch far beyond the main part of the cloud beneath which rain from the thunderstorm may be falling .
It may stretch into areas where skies appear bluish , if not crystal clear , and catch unsuspecting people on lakes or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ if you can hear thunder , you are within striking range of lightning .
Positive lightning accounts for less than 5 % of strikes , but can be more dangerous than negative cloud-to-ground lightning .
Not only is there the bolt-from-the-blue element of surprise , but since it comes from so much higher in the thunderstorm cloud , it has to slice through much more insulating atmosphere to reach the ground , so the electric fields are typically much stronger .
The scenario for positive lightning is similar to the one for negative @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stepped leader carries a positive charge , while streamers from the ground are negatively charged .
Positive lightning is thought to be the cause of a large percentage of forest and wildland fires , as well as lightning damage to power transmission lines .
Positive lightning can also be the dominant form of cloud-to-ground lightning as a thunderstorm dissipates .
Lightning occurs more frequently when it is hotter , according to a paper by David M. Romps et al .
published in Science Magazine in 2014 , and scientists have predicted that the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the continental United States will increase by 12 % for every degree of rise in global average air temperature .
With lightning-caused fire already a natural part of the California ecology , this is not good news for a state where prolonged drought and sprawling human development in fire-prone areas share that landscape .
Experts say that with climate change , things will probably only get worse in the future .

An outbreak of thunderstorms generated lightning that touched off dozens of fires in Northern California from Aug. 15-18. The driving force was a moisture surge from the remnants of Tropical Storm Fausto in the Pacific, southwest of Baja California.
To understand this, it’s important to keep the three-dimensional nature of the atmosphere in mind, explains Patrick Marsh of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Storm Prediction Center. The moisture from Fausto was being drawn up from the south at the middle and upper levels of the troposphere, which is the lowest layer of the atmosphere, closest to the earth’s surface.
This was being done by clockwise circulation around an intense high-pressure system in the western United States. While there was substantial moisture at those middle and upper levels, down at the surface, the high-pressure system was causing extremely hot and dry conditions across an already drought-parched Northern California.
Circulation around a huge high-pressure system drew moisture from Tropical Storm Fausto into Northern California. (Paul Duginski / Los Angeles Times)
These atmospheric conditions created an unstable environment favorable to the development of thunderstorms that produced a lot of lightning, but little rain. The hot, dry conditions at low levels of the atmosphere made the rain from the thunderstorms evaporate before it could reach the ground, a phenomenon known as virga.
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At the same time, that evaporation produced strong, gusty winds blowing out of the thunderstorms. These winds could quickly fan smoldering vegetation from lightning strikes into full-fledged wildfires.
Moisture from Tropical Storm Fausto fueled thunderstorms in Northern California on August 16. (NOAA & Los Angeles Times)
Strong high pressure promotes hot, dry daytime conditions with very little overnight recovery of relative humidity. This further dries out vegetation and makes it highly combustible.
After a dry thunderstorm promoted by such an intense high-pressure system has passed, the environment remains conducive to large fires that sustain and grow themselves.
Lightning strikes can occur with or without rain reaching the ground from a thunderstorm. Cloud-to-ground lightning can also occur far from a thunderstorm, such as so-called “bolt from the blue” lightning strikes. More on that later.
The major complex fires still raging in Northern California were triggered by lightning. But what causes this phenomenon that has been likened to a gigantic spark of static electricity, like the shock you sometimes get when you touch a doorknob?
Advertisement
How lightning forms
Precisely how lightning forms is still a subject of discussion, but the best theories focus on development of separate positive and negative electric fields within the storm, and the necessity of ice, hail or a type of softer, partially melted hail called graupel, to be present. Storms that lack this icy component usually don’t generate lightning.
Thunderstorms can reach heights of 35,000 to 70,000 feet, extending miles above the freezing level in the atmosphere. The chaos inside the thunderstorm cloud includes powerful updrafts and downdrafts.
Collisions in these updrafts and downdrafts of water droplets and various icy particles result in electrons being sheared off ascending particles and pooling in the base of the storm cloud. This gives the bottom part of the storm cloud a negative charge and the upper part of the cloud a positive charge.
An “anvil” thunderstorm cloud generating cloud-to-ground lightning. (Paul Duginski / Los Angeles Times)
As the opposite charges separate in the top and bottom portions of the cloud, a strengthening electric field develops between them. The atmosphere is a great insulator, but when the strength of the electric field overwhelms the insulating capacity of the atmosphere, intra-cloud lightning occurs. About 75-80% of lightning occurs within the storm cloud.
As the thunderstorm moves across the landscape, a pool of positively charged particles collects in the ground and follows the storm. These particles climb taller objects such as trees, houses, buildings and utility poles.
Meanwhile, the base of the storm cloud, which carries a negative charge, sends out a channel of negative charge toward the ground. This channel is invisible to the human eye, and is called a stepped leader. This occurs in a tiny fraction of a second.
As this negative leader stretches toward the ground, a positive charge from the ground reaches upward toward it with an invisible channel of its own called a streamer.
This scenario for negative cloud-to-ground lightning happens in fractions of a second, and the paths of the charged channels are invisible until the return stroke shoots up along them. (Paul Duginski / Los Angeles Times)
When these two channels — one from the storm cloud and one from the ground — find each other and connect, cloud-to-ground lightning occurs.
The lightning bolt, called a return stroke, actually travels from the ground into the cloud. Because it happens so fast, to the human eye it appears to go in the opposite direction.
Fractions of a second later, if enough charge remains in the cloud, something called a dart leader from the storm cloud may follow the path blazed by the initial stepped leader. The return stroke on this leader gives the lightning a flickering appearance. If the subsequent dart leader takes a slightly different route to the ground, so-called forked lightning results with the return stroke.
A bolt from the blue
Lightning emanates from thunderstorm clouds, but not all of it strikes close to the thunderstorm. The description above is of negative lightning, caused by the relationship between the negatively charged base of the thunderstorm and the positively charged ground directly below it.
But some lightning originates in the anvil or top region of the thunderstorm, which is positively charged. Thus it is called positive lighting or anvil lightning. This is the so-called “bolt from the blue” which can strike dozens to more than 100 miles from a thunderstorm.
The anvil forms when the thunderstorm cloud rises until it sort of pancakes against the bottom of the stratosphere, the layer above the troposphere, then spreads horizontally. This is mostly with the prevailing winds, rather than in the direction that the storm is moving. The air in the anvil is cooler than the stratosphere. This region, where the troposphere meets the stratosphere, is called the tropopause, and it averages about 30,000 to 56,000 feet high, depending on season and latitude. Cirrus clouds from the thunderstorm’s anvil can stretch far beyond the main part of the cloud beneath which rain from the thunderstorm may be falling. It may stretch into areas where skies appear bluish, if not crystal clear, and catch unsuspecting people on lakes or golf courses by surprise.
Essentially, if you can hear thunder, you are within striking range of lightning.
NEW: As numerous #wildfires rage across California, @NOAA's #GOES17🛰 caught this time-lapse of the #lightning between Aug 16-18 that ignited many new #fires. The satellite's #GLM sensor detected several thousand strikes across the state during 72 hrs. #CAwx #CaliforniaWildfires pic.twitter.com/pMJ1mwGdTd — NOAA Satellites - Public Affairs (@NOAASatellitePA) August 20, 2020
Positive lightning accounts for less than 5% of strikes, but can be more dangerous than negative cloud-to-ground lightning. Not only is there the bolt-from-the-blue element of surprise, but since it comes from so much higher in the thunderstorm cloud, it has to slice through much more insulating atmosphere to reach the ground, so the electric fields are typically much stronger.
The scenario for positive lightning is similar to the one for negative lightning, but is reversed. The stepped leader carries a positive charge, while streamers from the ground are negatively charged.
Positive lightning is thought to be the cause of a large percentage of forest and wildland fires, as well as lightning damage to power transmission lines. Positive lightning can also be the dominant form of cloud-to-ground lightning as a thunderstorm dissipates.
Lightning occurs more frequently when it is hotter, according to a paper by David M. Romps et al. published in Science Magazine in 2014, and scientists have predicted that the number of lightning strikes per year in the continental United States will increase by 12% for every degree of rise in global average air temperature.
With lightning-caused fire already a natural part of the California ecology, this is not good news for a state where prolonged drought and sprawling human development in fire-prone areas share that landscape. Experts say that with climate change, things will probably only get worse in the future.


latimes--2020-09-09--'Utter devastation': Residents return to burned homes and shattered dreams

The driver of the dusty pickup slowed and lowered his window , reached out and cautiously lifted the steel cable that was hovering over the dirt road and connected to a downed power pole on the shoulder , blocking his exit from this burned out Auberry hamlet .
The driver , who declined to give his name because he was in an evacuated area of the massive Creek fire in the Sierra , had two passengers — a local firefighter who used his connections to get them all access into the area and also refused to give his name , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fire has burned more than 160,000 acres and destroyed hundreds of structures .
Together , the trio were surveying their town ’ s damage along Shaver Springs Road off Tollhouse Road and relaying what they found back to anxious neighbors in limbo since the evacuation , unsure if their life will continue as normal once the roads are opened or if they have to rebuild anew from the ash .
It ’ s an act of bittersweet generosity that mountain residents throughout California do for each other every year , when the homegrown @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the years with neighbors pays off with access when the official government order is to wait .
“ We have resources , we know everybody , ” the driver said .
For Van Aacken , Wednesday ’ s access deepened the pain he felt Tuesday night , when a firefighter showed him a photo of his burned down home .
“ But still a picture doesn ’ t do it justice apparently , ” Van Aacken , 40 , said .
“ Seeing it firsthand is kind of another situation .
I ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t with me to see it at the moment.
” Van Aacken and his wife moved to Auberry almost four years ago from Arizona to be closer to family in the area and to settle down and raise their twin 7-year-old daughters in the great outdoors .
“ It ’ s been great , 4-wheeling all the time ... just being in the outdoors away from the city life , ” he said .
“ It ’ s always like camping , it ’ s the small town , you know ?
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the state ’ s rash of fires over the last month and knew their area was at risk , so they evacuated as soon as Fresno County sheriff ’ s deputies knocked on their door and told them to leave .
“ I feel like we ’ ve just gotten away with it every year , ” Van Aacken said , referring to their annual fire risk .
“ So I feel like we were a little relaxed about the fact that every tiny fire that came up they dropped so [ many @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it ’ d be that big an issue.
” He then caught himself , saying “ granted it always seemed every year like , ‘ maybe this year is the year ’ ya know ?
But … ” Just uphill and across a road from Van Aacken ’ s home , his father ’ s was still standing Wednesday .
In another area of the forest , his brother ’ s home was lost .
“ We were just hoping at least one of the homes was still standing , ” he said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the truck with Van Aacken , the day was an emotional rollercoaster .
“ Highs and lows , one victory and then utter devastation , ” the driver said .
The driver ’ s second passenger , the local firefighter , was helping relay information to neighbors .
“ We came up here because we don ’ t know , ” the firefighter said .
Crews have been guessing on where there have been successess and failures and relaying that information to him but no one has shown photos to prove it , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not going to hear anybody else ’ s words , ” he said .
“ A lot of our neighbors had no idea so we came up here like ‘ hey we ’ re going to check everybody out , ’ and we ’ ll tell everyone back in town , ‘ Hey man , your house is gone .
Yours isn ’ t. ’ ” The men had already broken the news two at least two other residents that their homes were gone when they were leaving the area with Van Aacken @ @ @ @ @ @ @ told them because they want to know as soon as you find out , ” the firefighter said .
“ Obviously they ’ re super upset but they wanted to know ... it ’ s worse waiting.
” “ That ’ s the worst part , ” Van Aacken said in agreement .
“ Once you know , you can start to make decisions on what to do next .
”

The smoldering remains of a structure destroyed by the Creek fire in Fresno County.
The driver of the dusty pickup slowed and lowered his window, reached out and cautiously lifted the steel cable that was hovering over the dirt road and connected to a downed power pole on the shoulder, blocking his exit from this burned out Auberry hamlet.
The driver, who declined to give his name because he was in an evacuated area of the massive Creek fire in the Sierra, had two passengers — a local firefighter who used his connections to get them all access into the area and also refused to give his name, and resident Mark Van Aacken. The fire has burned more than 160,000 acres and destroyed hundreds of structures.
Together, the trio were surveying their town’s damage along Shaver Springs Road off Tollhouse Road and relaying what they found back to anxious neighbors in limbo since the evacuation, unsure if their life will continue as normal once the roads are opened or if they have to rebuild anew from the ash.
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Boats at the Shaver Lake marina sit docked as smoke hangs in the air during the Creek Fire in Shaver Lake, CA. (Kent Nishimura/Los Angeles Times)
It’s an act of bittersweet generosity that mountain residents throughout California do for each other every year, when the homegrown intel of backroads and relationships forged over the years with neighbors pays off with access when the official government order is to wait.
“We have resources, we know everybody,” the driver said.
For Van Aacken, Wednesday’s access deepened the pain he felt Tuesday night, when a firefighter showed him a photo of his burned down home.
“But still a picture doesn’t do it justice apparently,” Van Aacken, 40, said. “Seeing it firsthand is kind of another situation. I’m kind of bummed my wife isn’t with me to see it at the moment.”
Van Aacken and his wife moved to Auberry almost four years ago from Arizona to be closer to family in the area and to settle down and raise their twin 7-year-old daughters in the great outdoors.
“It’s been great, 4-wheeling all the time ... just being in the outdoors away from the city life,” he said. “It’s always like camping, it’s the small town, you know?”
Advertisement
The family has kept tabs on the state’s rash of fires over the last month and knew their area was at risk, so they evacuated as soon as Fresno County sheriff’s deputies knocked on their door and told them to leave.
“I feel like we’ve just gotten away with it every year,” Van Aacken said, referring to their annual fire risk. “So I feel like we were a little relaxed about the fact that every tiny fire that came up they dropped so [many resources] on it we never thought it’d be that big an issue.”
He then caught himself, saying “granted it always seemed every year like, ‘maybe this year is the year’ ya know? But …”
Just uphill and across a road from Van Aacken’s home, his father’s was still standing Wednesday. In another area of the forest, his brother’s home was lost.
“We were just hoping at least one of the homes was still standing,” he said.
For the two other men in the truck with Van Aacken, the day was an emotional rollercoaster.
“Highs and lows, one victory and then utter devastation,” the driver said.
A vehicle streaks by as Fresno County Sheriff Deputy Jeffery Shipman stands along CA-168 as the Creek Fire creeps closer to Shaver Lake. (Kent Nishimura/Los Angeles Times)
The driver’s second passenger, the local firefighter, was helping relay information to neighbors.
“We came up here because we don’t know,” the firefighter said. Crews have been guessing on where there have been successess and failures and relaying that information to him but no one has shown photos to prove it, he said.
“I’m not going to hear anybody else’s words,” he said. “A lot of our neighbors had no idea so we came up here like ‘hey we’re going to check everybody out,’ and we’ll tell everyone back in town, ‘Hey man, your house is gone. Yours isn’t.’”
The men had already broken the news two at least two other residents that their homes were gone when they were leaving the area with Van Aacken in the truck.
“I already told them because they want to know as soon as you find out,” the firefighter said. “Obviously they’re super upset but they wanted to know ... it’s worse waiting.”
“That’s the worst part,” Van Aacken said in agreement. “Once you know, you can start to make decisions on what to do next.”


latimes--2020-09-09--L.A. hitches conditions to funding rent assistance for homeless people

The Los Angeles City Council decided Wednesday to allocate tens of millions of dollars in federal grant money for “ rapid rehousing ” — a program that includes rent assistance for homeless people — but will hold off on handing over much of the money until the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority shows progress in housing people with the funds .
Council President Nury Martinez , who rejected a staff proposal to immediately authorize $ 97 million in spending for rapid rehousing and related programs , argued that the city needed to hold the agency accountable because it “ frankly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a committee meeting last week , Martinez said there had been problems using money allocated for such programs in the past and “ I just want to make sure you ’ re able to deliver.
” “ The status quo is simply not working , ” Martinez said Wednesday .
“ Just look outside the window and you will see more unhoused folks than ever before.
” The debate over the spending underscored frustrations at City Hall with LAHSA .
When Martinez took on the powerful position of council president this year , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ homelessness crisis .
Under her plan , approved Wednesday , the city will approve up to $ 97 million for rapid rehousing and related programs , but is authorizing only $ 30 million to be spent at this point .
Getting approval to spend more will hinge on regular reports to the city on its progress , although city officials did not specify any particular targets to meet before they would hand out more funding .
The money comes from a federal grant meant to assist homeless people at dire risk from COVID-19 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for using the federal grants require LAHSA to provide additional information about their outreach and mandate that their contractors report back on their performance .
During Wednesday ’ s meeting , Councilman Mike Bonin pushed for the city to authorize the agency to use the entire $ 97 million on the rental programs , which he argued would ensure people got help more quickly .
Bonin said that holding back on the rest of the money could slow the program rollout .
Homeless service providers raised concerns that nonprofits that contract with LAHSA @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to hire new staff needed to carry out the program if future funding is unpredictable .
Ahead of Wednesday ’ s vote , homeless advocates warned that paring back that spending to $ 30 million — as the council was considering doing — could leave 2,000 people in the lurch for permanent housing after the phaseout of Project Roomkey , which leases hotel and motel rooms for homeless people who are especially vulnerable to the coronavirus .
“ Renting apartments is cheaper and faster than any other solution to homelessness that we have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ senior director at United Way of Greater Los Angeles .
Doing so has been challenging in the past because there were scant vacancies , but now “ landlords are reaching out and saying , ‘ I have units.
’ It ’ s foolish to not take advantage of that.
” Councilman David Ryu was the sole council member to join Bonin in backing his amendment , which was overwhelmingly rejected by the rest of the council .
“ We ’ re not going to just throw money at this .
...
I see @ @ @ @ @ @ @ up front , ” said Councilman Gil Cedillo .
Although the council officially approved up to $ 97 million for the programs , Eric Ares , manager of Homeless Systems Change for the United Way , said that did not ease his concerns that fewer people would end up getting help .
Not authorizing all that money to be spent , Ares argued , would make it harder for service providers to implement the program .
At Wednesday ’ s meeting , council members repeatedly praised Heidi Marston , who became LAHSA ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but alluded to concerns with the agency .
Councilwoman Monica Rodriguez said that Marston ’ s brief tenure has been “ a refreshing change from where we were , ” but “ we ’ ve got a very dark history to get past.
” Marston said she heard from council members “ loud and clear ” that they wanted to see what they were getting for their money .
“ This is all about balancing the need for transparency and accountability ” with the demands of the moment , Marston said after the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to work with the council , but cautioned that “ anything that is putting further restrictions on our ability to build momentum is going to impede our ability to house people quickly.
” City officials had initially proposed spending $ 97 million in federal funds to cover four years of rental assistance and other services to house 3,000 people under rapid rehousing and related programs .
Rapid rehousing programs traditionally reduce the rental assistance over time as the tenant becomes more stable and able to handle the costs on their own .
Marston @ @ @ @ @ @ @ model , which is meant for people with lesser needs , the programs would also serve as a “ bridge ” for people who need more support as they await permanent housing being built for homeless people .
Those residents would also get intensive case management .
“ The idea is getting people into the units now , ” without having to build something new , said Meg Barclay , homeless coordinator for the City Administrative Officer .
Barclay added that nightly costs were similar to operating shelters .
The money for rapid @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a broader plan to address homelessness during the COVID-19 pandemic , which also includes funding for tiny homes known as “ pallet shelters ” and leasing units .
Council members also approved money for those programs .

The Los Angeles City Council decided Wednesday to allocate tens of millions of dollars in federal grant money for “rapid rehousing” — a program that includes rent assistance for homeless people — but will hold off on handing over much of the money until the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority shows progress in housing people with the funds.
Council President Nury Martinez, who rejected a staff proposal to immediately authorize $97 million in spending for rapid rehousing and related programs, argued that the city needed to hold the agency accountable because it “frankly has underperformed in the past.”
At a committee meeting last week, Martinez said there had been problems using money allocated for such programs in the past and “I just want to make sure you’re able to deliver.”
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“The status quo is simply not working,” Martinez said Wednesday. “Just look outside the window and you will see more unhoused folks than ever before.”
The debate over the spending underscored frustrations at City Hall with LAHSA. When Martinez took on the powerful position of council president this year, she questioned its effectiveness in tackling the homelessness crisis.
Under her plan, approved Wednesday, the city will approve up to $97 million for rapid rehousing and related programs, but is authorizing only $30 million to be spent at this point.
Getting approval to spend more will hinge on regular reports to the city on its progress, although city officials did not specify any particular targets to meet before they would hand out more funding. The money comes from a federal grant meant to assist homeless people at dire risk from COVID-19.
Martinez also insisted that any agreement for using the federal grants require LAHSA to provide additional information about their outreach and mandate that their contractors report back on their performance.
During Wednesday’s meeting, Councilman Mike Bonin pushed for the city to authorize the agency to use the entire $97 million on the rental programs, which he argued would ensure people got help more quickly.
Advertisement
Bonin said that holding back on the rest of the money could slow the program rollout. Homeless service providers raised concerns that nonprofits that contract with LAHSA to do the work may be reluctant to hire new staff needed to carry out the program if future funding is unpredictable.
Ahead of Wednesday’s vote, homeless advocates warned that paring back that spending to $30 million — as the council was considering doing — could leave 2,000 people in the lurch for permanent housing after the phaseout of Project Roomkey, which leases hotel and motel rooms for homeless people who are especially vulnerable to the coronavirus.
“Renting apartments is cheaper and faster than any other solution to homelessness that we have,” said Tommy Newman, a senior director at United Way of Greater Los Angeles. Doing so has been challenging in the past because there were scant vacancies, but now “landlords are reaching out and saying, ‘I have units.’ It’s foolish to not take advantage of that.”
Councilman David Ryu was the sole council member to join Bonin in backing his amendment, which was overwhelmingly rejected by the rest of the council.
“We’re not going to just throw money at this. ... I see no value in putting all the money up front,” said Councilman Gil Cedillo.
Although the council officially approved up to $97 million for the programs, Eric Ares, manager of Homeless Systems Change for the United Way, said that did not ease his concerns that fewer people would end up getting help. Not authorizing all that money to be spent, Ares argued, would make it harder for service providers to implement the program.
At Wednesday’s meeting, council members repeatedly praised Heidi Marston, who became LAHSA’s executive director earlier this year, but alluded to concerns with the agency. Councilwoman Monica Rodriguez said that Marston’s brief tenure has been “a refreshing change from where we were,” but “we’ve got a very dark history to get past.”
Marston said she heard from council members “loud and clear” that they wanted to see what they were getting for their money.
“This is all about balancing the need for transparency and accountability” with the demands of the moment, Marston said after the vote. She said she was eager to work with the council, but cautioned that “anything that is putting further restrictions on our ability to build momentum is going to impede our ability to house people quickly.”
City officials had initially proposed spending $97 million in federal funds to cover four years of rental assistance and other services to house 3,000 people under rapid rehousing and related programs.
Rapid rehousing programs traditionally reduce the rental assistance over time as the tenant becomes more stable and able to handle the costs on their own.
Marston said that in addition to that traditional model, which is meant for people with lesser needs, the programs would also serve as a “bridge” for people who need more support as they await permanent housing being built for homeless people. Those residents would also get intensive case management.
“The idea is getting people into the units now,” without having to build something new, said Meg Barclay, homeless coordinator for the City Administrative Officer. Barclay added that nightly costs were similar to operating shelters.
The money for rapid rehousing is being allocated as part of a broader plan to address homelessness during the COVID-19 pandemic, which also includes funding for tiny homes known as “pallet shelters” and leasing units. Council members also approved money for those programs.


latimes--2020-09-09--Photos: Evacuation warnings issued as Bobcat fire continues chewing through San Gabriel Valley

Fears of significant spread of the Bobcat fire dissipated overnight as Santa Ana winds failed to materialize , but residents @ @ @ @ @ on high alert , and several evacuation warnings are still in place .
“ We @ @ @ @ @ wind overnight , ” said Mike Wofford , a meteorologist with the National Weather Service @ @ @ @ @ early Wednesday , Wofford said winds were generally under 15 mph , but added , @ @ @ @ @ gusts — 20 to 30 mph — later this morning .
”

At least 29 structures have been destroyed by the Bobcat fire burning in northeastern Los Angeles County, and the number could rise as high as 85, officials said.
The U.S. Forest Service, one of the agencies managing the blaze, said Tuesday the voracious fire has expanded to more than 112,000 acres and is 38% contained.
“It’s a very dynamic incident,” Los Angeles County Fire Chief Daryl Osby said in a virtual community meeting Monday evening. “This is Day 16 of the Bobcat incident. I am humbled for the people who have lost homes or property.”
Blue Ridge Hot Shots crew members from Arizona join forces with California firefighters on a backfire operation North of Mt. Wilson on Angeles Crest Highway as the Bobcat fire continues to burn. (Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times)
Blue Ridge Hot Shots crew members from Arizona join forces with California firefighters on a backfire operation North of Mt. Wilson on Angeles Crest Highway. (Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times)
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Firefighters continue to battle the Bobcat Fire North of Mt. Wilson along Angeles Crest Highway. (Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times)
A large plume from the Bobcat fire burning in the Angeles National Forest is seen from the Evergreen Cemetery in Los Angeles. (Genaro Molina/Los Angeles Times)
Horses are spooked by the approaching Bobcat fire on 106th Street in Juniper Hills on Friday. (Irfan Khan/Los Angeles Times)
A resident flees as the Bobcat fire approaches Cima Mesa Road in Juniper Hills. (Irfan Khan/Los Angeles Times)
The Bobcat fire burns in the Angeles National Forest north of Azusa on Thursday, Sept. 17. (Kyle Grillot / AFP via Getty Images)
A Joshua tree burns as the Bobcat fire rages in Juniper Hills Friday, Sept. 18. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)
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Iris, 4, and Castle Snider, 8, look on as flames from a controlled burn engulf the hillsides behind their backyard. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
The L.A. County Fire Camp 9 hand crew rests on Big Pines Highway after working the north flank of the Bobcat fire near Mile High. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
A smoky sunset as seen from Largo Vista Road in Crystalaire.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
Roland Pagan surveys the remains of his home on Juniper Hills Drive in Littlerock. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)
A view of the fire from Big Pines Highway. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
A Super Scooper dives behind a house to make a water drop in Juniper Hills. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)
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Bear Divide hot shots wrap a U.S. Forestry Department information center in a blanket to protect it from the Bobcat fire. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)
A statue sits on a house that burned in Juniper Hills on Saturday, Sept. 19. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
A burned statue of a baby angel in Juniper Hills on Saturday, Sept. 19. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
Mike Gregoryan is frustrated as he is asked to leave his home on Cruthers Creek as the Bobcat fire nears structures in Juniper Hills. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)
The Bobcat fire reaches Juniper Hills Road and Longview Road. (Irfan Khan/Los Angeles Times)
Near Devil’s Punchbowl Natural Area, L.A. County Sheriff’s Deputy Kit Gruppie holds Rock, who was spooked by the fire and bit owner Bob Patterson. (Irfan Khan/Los Angeles Times)
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Joshua Trees and vegetation are colored with flame retardant used to save nearby homes as the Bobcat fire continues to burn in the Angeles National Forest in the Juniper Hills Sunday. (Allen J. Schaben/Los Angeles Times)
Firefighters stand lookout as the Bobcat fire burns in a canyon near Mt. Wilson Observatory. (Irfan Khan/Los Angeles Times)
A firefighter monitors a controlled burn as flames from the Bobcat fire approach homes in Monrovia. (Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times)
Deer look on as firefighters watch the progress of the Bobcat fire near homes in Monrovia. (Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times)
Firefighters look on from Sawpit Canyon as the Bobcat fire burns in the Angeles National Forest. (Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times)
LaVerne Engine 761 arrives to battle the Bobcat fire burning near homes in Monrovia. (Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times)
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Mormon Lake, Ariz., hotshot team member Jessy Twin looks over charred hillsides after clearing brush near Chantry Flat Road near Santa Anita Dam. (Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times)
A firefighting helicopter refills in a reservoir as crews battle the Bobcat fire in the Angeles National Forest. (Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times)
A line of fire engines head to the flaming Santa Anita Canyon as the Bobcat fire burns near Arcadia. (Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times)
The Bobcat fire rages above Rincon Fire Station on Highway 39 in the San Gabriel Mountains. (Irfan Khan/Los Angeles Times)
Claudia Alcaino walks her dogs along Highland Oaks Drive in Arcadia as crews continue to battle the Bobcat fire. (Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times)
The Bobcat Fire smolders in the mountains above Monrovia. (Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Time)
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Bureau of Land Management firefighters plan an attack on the Bobcat fire. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)
The Bobcat fire in the San Gabriel Mountains north of Monrovia. (Frederic J. Brown / AFP-Getty Images )
A street camera is installed on a light post along North Azusa Avenue as smoke from the Bobcat fire fills the sky. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)


latimes--2020-09-09--Irving Kanarek, hard-charging attorney who defended Charles Manson, dies at 100

Irving Kanarek , the hard-charging and bombastic criminal defense attorney who represented Charles Manson and argued through the decades that his notorious client had nothing to do with the gruesome Tate-LaBianca murders , has died at age 100 .
Kanarek , who had battled colon cancer , died Sept. 2 in Garden Grove , his daughter Irvina Kanarek said .
The cause was old age , she said .
In the courtroom , Kanarek was a force of nature , sometimes to the extreme .
During the Manson trial , he was loud , argumentative and objected repeatedly to questions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s opening statement .
When he took the case , the Los Angeles County district attorney ’ s office worried the trial would be reduced to “ a circus.
” They weren ’ t far off .
The trial lasted nearly a year and was a spectacle from start to finish .
Manson lunged at a bailiff and taunted the judge .
Defendants Susan Atkins , Leslie Van Houten and Patricia Krenwinkel laughed , doodled on legal pads and arrived in court with Xs carved into their foreheads .
And by the third @ @ @ @ @ @ @ objected nearly 300 times to questions , often bellowing at the court .
When the state ’ s star witness , Linda Kasabian , was called to the stand , Kanarek snapped : “ I object , your honor , on grounds this witness is not competent and she is insane.
” Though largely dismissive of Kanarek , prosecutor Vincent Bugliosi admitted in his book “ Helter Skelter : The True Story of the Manson Murders ” that he regarded the attorney as a worthy foe .
“ The press focused on his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and his followers were convicted in 1971 and sentenced to death , the 19-year-old Van Houten becoming the youngest woman at the time to be sent to death row .
The following year , their death sentences — along with the sentences of every other California inmate on death row — were commuted to life in prison when the state Supreme Court briefly ruled capital punishment illegal .
Atkins died in prison in 2013 ; Manson died in 2017 , also while still behind bars .
The years after the Manson case were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ He admitted he “ flipped out ” after barging into the district attorney ’ s office in Torrance and was eventually handcuffed by police and admitted to Harbor-UCLA Medical Center for psychiatric evaluation .
Kanarek told former L.A. Times columnist Dana Parsons in 1998 that he also spent several years in a “ rest home ” dealing with personal problems .
By the time he returned to his law practice , he said , it was in ruins .
During his absence , the State Bar had paid out claims filed by three @ @ @ @ @ @ @ $ 40,000 in debt .
Not long after , he gave up his license .
“ They ’ ve done a Salman Rushdie on me , ” he said , referring to the author who was handed a death sentence from Iran ’ s spiritual leader for writing the book “ The Satanic Verses.
” At the time , Kanarek said he was living in a Garden Grove motel , had no car and was getting by on Social Security checks .
Unlike Bugliosi and others , Kanarek refused to capitalize on his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and again .
“ He was a personable guy , ” he said of Manson .
“ He had nothing to do with those murders.
” Kanarek stayed in touch with Manson over the years , his daughters said , and was emphatic that writing a book or profiting off the case would compromise his attorney-client obligations and put him in a no-win position of revealing information he regarded as confidential .
Kanarek was born May 12 , 1920 , in Seattle , one of two children .
He earned a degree in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ worked in the aerospace industry until he lost his security clearance after he was accused — falsely — of being a communist .
He sued and his security clearance was restored , along with his back pay .
Intrigued by the law , he attended Loyola University and was admitted to the California Bar in 1957 .
One of his early clients was Jimmy Lee Smith , who , with Gregory Powell , kidnapped a pair of police officers and killed one of them in an onion field near Bakersfield .
The case @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 1973 book “ The Onion Field.
” Smith died in jail in 2007 while serving time for a parole violation .
The Manson case was an extraordinary opportunity and challenge for Kanarek , offering the veteran of civil and criminal law both national exposure and a difficult uphill legal battle .
Kanarek insisted that the media , the prosecution and ultimately the jury had prejudged his client as a hippie with a deep fondness for drugs and sex , lifestyle choices he said had nothing to do with the case .
The back-to-back @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , when Manson ordered his followers to go to a house in Benedict Canyon and kill “ everyone inside.
” The carnage was staggering .
Actress Sharon Tate , eight months pregnant , was stabbed to death and hung from a rafter .
Hair stylist Jay Sebring , aspiring filmmaker Wojciech Frykowski and coffee heiress Abigail Folger were also stabbed to death , as was a young man who was visiting the estate ’ s caretaker .
The following night , Manson asked his followers to do it again , and this time @ @ @ @ @ @ @ through the city , finally picking a house in Los Feliz at random .
Inside , Leno and Rosemary LaBianca were dozing on the couch when Charles “ Tex ” Watson and Manson forced their way in .
They tied up the couple and assured them it was just a robbery and neither would be hurt .
Then Manson stepped outside and the killing begin .
During the long trial , Kanarek attacked the state ’ s case with vigor and took calculated risks , even showing jurors photographs of the barbaric murder @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the images soon enough during deliberations .
“ Let ’ s face the facts here , ” he told the court .
After Manson and his followers were dispatched to death row , Kanarek filed an $ 11-million libel suit against Bugliosi , alleging the prosecutor ’ s book inaccurately portrayed him as “ a bumbling , stumbling , foolish , ridiculous attorney.
” The case was ultimately dismissed .
Irvina Kanarek said her father was often unfairly portrayed because of fleeting moments in a long career — a mental breakdown and financial @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are private moments that are a part of many Americans ’ lives , ” she said .
The daughters said they recalled their father as a warm and funny person , someone who always had “ a one-liner in his back pocket.
” He had a fondness for museums , especially the Getty and Huntington , and had an encyclopedic knowledge of the streets of L.A. Later in life , Kanarek told the Guardian that he continued to reflect on the Manson case .
Asked why an attorney would represent someone accused of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ d do it again if given the chance .
“ I would defend a client who I knew was guilty of horrific crimes , ” he said .
“ They have to be proved guilty .
I ’ ve had cases where people were guilty as hell but they couldn ’ t prove it .
And if they can ’ t prove it , he ’ s not guilty .
That ’ s American justice.
” Kanarek is survived by two daughters , Irvina and Walesa .

Irving Kanarek, the hard-charging and bombastic criminal defense attorney who represented Charles Manson and argued through the decades that his notorious client had nothing to do with the gruesome Tate-LaBianca murders, has died at age 100.
Kanarek, who had battled colon cancer, died Sept. 2 in Garden Grove, his daughter Irvina Kanarek said. The cause was old age, she said.
In the courtroom, Kanarek was a force of nature, sometimes to the extreme. During the Manson trial, he was loud, argumentative and objected repeatedly to questions, answers and even the prosecution’s opening statement. When he took the case, the Los Angeles County district attorney’s office worried the trial would be reduced to “a circus.”
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They weren’t far off. The trial lasted nearly a year and was a spectacle from start to finish. Manson lunged at a bailiff and taunted the judge. Defendants Susan Atkins, Leslie Van Houten and Patricia Krenwinkel laughed, doodled on legal pads and arrived in court with Xs carved into their foreheads. And by the third day of testimony, Kanarek had already objected nearly 300 times to questions, often bellowing at the court.
When the state’s star witness, Linda Kasabian, was called to the stand, Kanarek snapped: “I object, your honor, on grounds this witness is not competent and she is insane.”
Though largely dismissive of Kanarek, prosecutor Vincent Bugliosi admitted in his book “Helter Skelter: The True Story of the Manson Murders” that he regarded the attorney as a worthy foe. “The press focused on his bombast and missed his effectiveness.”
Manson and his followers were convicted in 1971 and sentenced to death, the 19-year-old Van Houten becoming the youngest woman at the time to be sent to death row. The following year, their death sentences — along with the sentences of every other California inmate on death row — were commuted to life in prison when the state Supreme Court briefly ruled capital punishment illegal. Atkins died in prison in 2013; Manson died in 2017, also while still behind bars.
Obituaries Famed Manson family prosecutor Vincent Bugliosi dies at 80 Near the close of the 1960s, everyone who kept up with the news knew who Charles Manson was, but hardly anyone had heard of Vincent Bugliosi.
The years after the Manson case were at times turbulent ones for Kanarek. He admitted he “flipped out” after barging into the district attorney’s office in Torrance and was eventually handcuffed by police and admitted to Harbor-UCLA Medical Center for psychiatric evaluation.
Kanarek told former L.A. Times columnist Dana Parsons in 1998 that he also spent several years in a “rest home” dealing with personal problems. By the time he returned to his law practice, he said, it was in ruins. During his absence, the State Bar had paid out claims filed by three former clients, leaving him more than $40,000 in debt. Not long after, he gave up his license.
“They’ve done a Salman Rushdie on me,” he said, referring to the author who was handed a death sentence from Iran’s spiritual leader for writing the book “The Satanic Verses.”
At the time, Kanarek said he was living in a Garden Grove motel, had no car and was getting by on Social Security checks. Unlike Bugliosi and others, Kanarek refused to capitalize on his famous client, whom he defended again and again.
“He was a personable guy,” he said of Manson. “He had nothing to do with those murders.”
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Kanarek stayed in touch with Manson over the years, his daughters said, and was emphatic that writing a book or profiting off the case would compromise his attorney-client obligations and put him in a no-win position of revealing information he regarded as confidential.
Kanarek was born May 12, 1920, in Seattle, one of two children. He earned a degree in chemistry from the University of Washington and worked in the aerospace industry until he lost his security clearance after he was accused — falsely — of being a communist. He sued and his security clearance was restored, along with his back pay.
Intrigued by the law, he attended Loyola University and was admitted to the California Bar in 1957. One of his early clients was Jimmy Lee Smith, who, with Gregory Powell, kidnapped a pair of police officers and killed one of them in an onion field near Bakersfield. The case was depicted in Joseph Wambaugh’s 1973 book “The Onion Field.” Smith died in jail in 2007 while serving time for a parole violation.
The Manson case was an extraordinary opportunity and challenge for Kanarek, offering the veteran of civil and criminal law both national exposure and a difficult uphill legal battle. Kanarek insisted that the media, the prosecution and ultimately the jury had prejudged his client as a hippie with a deep fondness for drugs and sex, lifestyle choices he said had nothing to do with the case.
The back-to-back nights of murder occurred in August 1969, when Manson ordered his followers to go to a house in Benedict Canyon and kill “everyone inside.” The carnage was staggering. Actress Sharon Tate, eight months pregnant, was stabbed to death and hung from a rafter. Hair stylist Jay Sebring, aspiring filmmaker Wojciech Frykowski and coffee heiress Abigail Folger were also stabbed to death, as was a young man who was visiting the estate’s caretaker.
The following night, Manson asked his followers to do it again, and this time rode along with them as they drove through the city, finally picking a house in Los Feliz at random. Inside, Leno and Rosemary LaBianca were dozing on the couch when Charles “Tex” Watson and Manson forced their way in. They tied up the couple and assured them it was just a robbery and neither would be hurt. Then Manson stepped outside and the killing begin.
During the long trial, Kanarek attacked the state’s case with vigor and took calculated risks, even showing jurors photographs of the barbaric murder scenes, reasoning they’d see the images soon enough during deliberations. “Let’s face the facts here,” he told the court.
After Manson and his followers were dispatched to death row, Kanarek filed an $11-million libel suit against Bugliosi, alleging the prosecutor’s book inaccurately portrayed him as “a bumbling, stumbling, foolish, ridiculous attorney.” The case was ultimately dismissed.
Irvina Kanarek said her father was often unfairly portrayed because of fleeting moments in a long career — a mental breakdown and financial distress, among them. “These are private moments that are a part of many Americans’ lives,” she said.
The daughters said they recalled their father as a warm and funny person, someone who always had “a one-liner in his back pocket.” He had a fondness for museums, especially the Getty and Huntington, and had an encyclopedic knowledge of the streets of L.A.
Later in life, Kanarek told the Guardian that he continued to reflect on the Manson case. Asked why an attorney would represent someone accused of such loathsome crimes, Kanarek said he’d do it again if given the chance.
“I would defend a client who I knew was guilty of horrific crimes,” he said. “They have to be proved guilty. I’ve had cases where people were guilty as hell but they couldn’t prove it. And if they can’t prove it, he’s not guilty. That’s American justice.”
Kanarek is survived by two daughters, Irvina and Walesa.


latimes--2020-09-09--O.C. deputy accused of stealing suspect's credit card, giving it to her son

An Orange County sheriff ’ s deputy has been charged with filing a false police report after prosecutors said she took a credit card from a suspect and gave it to her son , who then used the card to make purchases .
Angelina Cortez , 41 , faces the felony charge in connection with a Nov. 19 , 2018 , incident in which she and her training officer responded to a 911 call about a man stealing wine and batteries from a San Clemente 7-Eleven store .
Cortez is accused of taking the suspected thief ’ s credit card @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pocket and later giving it to her son , who then used it .
The card was never booked into evidence , prosecutors allege .
“ The public has an absolute expectation that their law enforcement officers will carry out their duties lawfully , ” said Orange County Dist .
Atty .
Todd Spitzer , a former Los Angeles police reserve officer .
“ When laws are broken by the very people who are sworn to uphold them , the public trust is eroded , and society as a whole suffers .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ trust that those sworn to uphold the law are following it themselves.
” The incident was identified and investigated by the Orange County Sheriff ’ s Department before it was presented to the D.A .
's office , sheriff ’ s spokeswoman Carrie Braun said .
“ With charges filed , the department will now proceed with an internal administrative investigation.
” Cortez , who has been on administrative leave since June 2019 , is slated to be arraigned Nov. 18 .
If convicted as charged , she could face up to to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a deputy in 2013 , Cortez worked as a corrections assistant in the Orange County jails for the Sheriff ’ s Department .
She earned about $ 248,000 in salary and benefits in 2018 , including $ 41,000 in overtime , according to the county ’ s salary data .

The deputy is slated to be arraigned Nov. 18.
An Orange County sheriff’s deputy has been charged with filing a false police report after prosecutors said she took a credit card from a suspect and gave it to her son, who then used the card to make purchases.
Angelina Cortez, 41, faces the felony charge in connection with a Nov. 19, 2018, incident in which she and her training officer responded to a 911 call about a man stealing wine and batteries from a San Clemente 7-Eleven store.
Cortez is accused of taking the suspected thief’s credit card, putting it in her uniform shirt pocket and later giving it to her son, who then used it. The card was never booked into evidence, prosecutors allege.
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“The public has an absolute expectation that their law enforcement officers will carry out their duties lawfully,” said Orange County Dist. Atty. Todd Spitzer, a former Los Angeles police reserve officer.
“When laws are broken by the very people who are sworn to uphold them, the public trust is eroded, and society as a whole suffers. The entire criminal justice system relies on the trust that those sworn to uphold the law are following it themselves.”
The incident was identified and investigated by the Orange County Sheriff’s Department before it was presented to the D.A.’s office, sheriff’s spokeswoman Carrie Braun said.
“With charges filed, the department will now proceed with an internal administrative investigation.”
Cortez, who has been on administrative leave since June 2019, is slated to be arraigned Nov. 18.
If convicted as charged, she could face up to to three years in prison.
Before becoming a deputy in 2013, Cortez worked as a corrections assistant in the Orange County jails for the Sheriff’s Department. She earned about $248,000 in salary and benefits in 2018, including $41,000 in overtime, according to the county’s salary data.


latimes--2020-09-09--Bad air quality, rain of ash hits Southern California

Smoke from wildfires is causing bad air and falling ash in some parts of Southern California .
Air quality officials have issued a wildfire smoke advisory for much of the region through Wednesday evening , warning , “ Meteorological conditions will bring smoke and ash into portions of Los Angeles , San Bernardino , Riverside and Orange counties.
” The worst concentrations of smoke , which contains tiny , lung-damaging pollution particles known as PM2.5 , are expected in communities closest to the Bobcat and El Dorado fires , according to the South Coast Air Quality Management District .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Northern California may also contribute to widespread elevated PM2.5 concentrations , ” the district said .
While air quality in much of Southern California has remained in the “ good ” to “ moderate ” level at the ground level , satellite imagery shows smoke higher up in the atmosphere over much of the region .
The district warned that the region could also see more falling ash as “ larger particles settle out of the atmosphere.
” The situation was even worse in the Bay Area , where smoke was dimming the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the sky .
There were a number of fires burning across Northern California Wednesday that could play a role in darkening the region ’ s skies .
The August Complex fire — now the second largest fire on record in California — has burned more than 421,000 acres north of the Bay Area , in Mendocino , Glenn , Lake , Tehama and Trinity counties .
The North Complex fire , which includes the Bear fire , has burned about 254,000 acres northeast of Lake Oroville , California ’ s second largest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spread as fast as 2,000 acres per hour , spread by 45 mph winds , blowing to the southwest .
That prompted preparations for evacuations in Butte , Plumas and Yuba counties , and potentially threatens the towns of Paradise and Concow , which were devastated in the 2018 Camp Fire .
The Creek fire in the Sierra National Forest in Fresno and Madera counties has burned more than 163,000 acres , and has destroyed at least 60 single-family homes , 20 other minor structures and two commercial structures .
It was burning @ @ @ @ @ @ @ River near Mammoth Pool Reservoir , forcing hundreds of campers to be rescued by helicopter .
The Dolan fire in the Big Sur region of Monterey County has charred more than 93,000 acres , largely in the Ventana Wilderness .
A number of large wildfires in Oregon also have the potential to send smoke over Northern California .

Ash falls on a parked car as the Bobcat fire burns in the distance Wednesday morning.
Smoke from wildfires is causing bad air and falling ash in some parts of Southern California.
Air quality officials have issued a wildfire smoke advisory for much of the region through Wednesday evening, warning, “Meteorological conditions will bring smoke and ash into portions of Los Angeles, San Bernardino, Riverside and Orange counties.”
The worst concentrations of smoke, which contains tiny, lung-damaging pollution particles known as PM2.5, are expected in communities closest to the Bobcat and El Dorado fires, according to the South Coast Air Quality Management District.
“Smoke transported from fires in Central and Northern California may also contribute to widespread elevated PM2.5 concentrations,” the district said. While air quality in much of Southern California has remained in the “good” to “moderate” level at the ground level, satellite imagery shows smoke higher up in the atmosphere over much of the region.
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California Photos: Bobcat fire rages in the Angeles National Forest Fears of a significant spread of the Bobcat fire dissipated as Santa Ana winds failed to materialize, but foothill communities remain on high alert.
The district warned that the region could also see more falling ash as “larger particles settle out of the atmosphere.”
The situation was even worse in the Bay Area, where smoke was dimming the sun and causing red and orange hues in the sky.
There were a number of fires burning across Northern California Wednesday that could play a role in darkening the region’s skies.
The August Complex fire — now the second largest fire on record in California — has burned more than 421,000 acres north of the Bay Area, in Mendocino, Glenn, Lake, Tehama and Trinity counties.
The North Complex fire, which includes the Bear fire, has burned about 254,000 acres northeast of Lake Oroville, California’s second largest reservoir. On Tuesday, the fire spread as fast as 2,000 acres per hour, spread by 45 mph winds, blowing to the southwest. That prompted preparations for evacuations in Butte, Plumas and Yuba counties, and potentially threatens the towns of Paradise and Concow, which were devastated in the 2018 Camp Fire.
The Creek fire in the Sierra National Forest in Fresno and Madera counties has burned more than 163,000 acres, and has destroyed at least 60 single-family homes, 20 other minor structures and two commercial structures. It was burning on both sides of the San Joaquin River near Mammoth Pool Reservoir, forcing hundreds of campers to be rescued by helicopter.
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The Dolan fire in the Big Sur region of Monterey County has charred more than 93,000 acres, largely in the Ventana Wilderness. A number of large wildfires in Oregon also have the potential to send smoke over Northern California.


latimes--2020-09-09--Explosive fire again threatens Paradise, town devastated by California's deadliest blaze

Several Northern California fires are now threatening communities in Butte County , including Paradise , which was largely destroyed in 2018 in what was the worst fire in California history .
The North Complex fire , which includes the Bear fire , spread rapidly overnight , stunning fire officials with its speed and ferocity .
By morning , it had consumed an additional 80,000 acres , bringing it to more than 254,000 acres , and extending its potential threat to the towns of Paradise and Concow , which were devastated in the 2018 Camp fire .
The Camp fire killed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ homes .
Pacific Gas & Electric Co. acknowledged that its poorly maintained equipment sparked the blaze and pleaded guilty to 84 counts of .
Jay Kurth , incident commander for the U.S. Forest Service , said the agency was still working Wednesday morning to “ figure out where the fire footprint really is ” because of the extreme overnight activity .
Kurth added that weather conditions improved with daylight , including a softening of winds , but that “ extreme conditions ” left the situation volatile .
Paradise and Concow were placed under @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for other areas around Lake Oroville .
Frank Martinez , 55 , lives in the Mt .
Ida neighborhood of Oroville , at the base of the mountains , and has numerous friends in Berry Creek .
Tuesday afternoon , as the Bear fire closed in on that town , more than two dozen relatives and friends fled their homes there and headed for Martinez ’ s 1.5-acre spread as a refuge .
Martinez said that by that time , flames were already threatening a bridge on the evacuation route , backing up @ @ @ @ @ @ @ became separated , with some stuck on the road as Cal Fire worked to clear it .
Just hours after some of his friends reached his house , news came that Martinez might have to leave as well as the fire grew .
Around 10 p.m. , “ it was like all the sudden someone turned on a switch ” and the wind became “ crazy bad , ” he said .
By 1 a.m. , the evacuation warning for Martinez ’ s neighborhood turned into an order , forcing him , his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to head into more urban areas of Oroville .
He has been told his house has been destroyed gone , he said Wednesday , “ but I can ’ t believe it until I see it.
” He knows of at least about 25 friends who lost homes in Berry Creek , and said the school , church and local bar also burned .
In 2017 , Martinez was informed that he had lost his home in the Wall fire , but that turned out not to be true , though flames came @ @ @ @ @ @ @ before firefighters beat them back , he said .
In 2018 , when the Camp fire destroyed the nearby town of Paradise , his Berry Creek friends again took shelter on his property .
Though 88 people died in the Camp fire , making it California ’ s most deadly blaze , Berry Creek was spared .
“ We are veterans of this , ” he said .
So , for his house , “ I am keeping my faith and I ’ m keeping my hope alive , ” he said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ until they lift the evacuation orders .
”

Several Northern California fires are now threatening communities in Butte County, including Paradise, which was largely destroyed in 2018 in what was the worst fire in California history.
The North Complex fire, which includes the Bear fire, spread rapidly overnight, stunning fire officials with its speed and ferocity. By morning, it had consumed an additional 80,000 acres, bringing it to more than 254,000 acres, and extending its potential threat to the towns of Paradise and Concow, which were devastated in the 2018 Camp fire.
The Camp fire killed 85 people and destroyed more than 13,900 homes. Pacific Gas & Electric Co. acknowledged that its poorly maintained equipment sparked the blaze and pleaded guilty to 84 counts of involuntary manslaughter related to the fire .
Jay Kurth, incident commander for the U.S. Forest Service, said the agency was still working Wednesday morning to “figure out where the fire footprint really is” because of the extreme overnight activity.
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Kurth added that weather conditions improved with daylight, including a softening of winds, but that “extreme conditions” left the situation volatile.
Paradise and Concow were placed under evacuation warnings, and orders were issued for other areas around Lake Oroville.
Frank Martinez, 55, lives in the Mt. Ida neighborhood of Oroville, at the base of the mountains, and has numerous friends in Berry Creek. Tuesday afternoon, as the Bear fire closed in on that town, more than two dozen relatives and friends fled their homes there and headed for Martinez’s 1.5-acre spread as a refuge. Martinez said that by that time, flames were already threatening a bridge on the evacuation route, backing up about 100 cars, and the caravan became separated, with some stuck on the road as Cal Fire worked to clear it.
Just hours after some of his friends reached his house, news came that Martinez might have to leave as well as the fire grew. Around 10 p.m., “it was like all the sudden someone turned on a switch” and the wind became “crazy bad,” he said.
By 1 a.m., the evacuation warning for Martinez’s neighborhood turned into an order, forcing him, his eight rescue dogs and caravan of refugees to head into more urban areas of Oroville. He has been told his house has been destroyed gone, he said Wednesday, “but I can’t believe it until I see it.” He knows of at least about 25 friends who lost homes in Berry Creek, and said the school, church and local bar also burned.
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In 2017, Martinez was informed that he had lost his home in the Wall fire, but that turned out not to be true, though flames came just two feet from his propane tank before firefighters beat them back, he said. In 2018, when the Camp fire destroyed the nearby town of Paradise, his Berry Creek friends again took shelter on his property. Though 88 people died in the Camp fire, making it California’s most deadly blaze, Berry Creek was spared. “We are veterans of this,” he said.
So, for his house, “I am keeping my faith and I’m keeping my hope alive,” he said. “Basically we don’t know until they lift the evacuation orders.”


latimes--2020-09-09--State continues to see a decline in COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations, but will it last?

The number of COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations continues to decline in California , but the virus ’ full impact is on delay .
Gov .
Gavin Newsom on Tuesday reported a 24 % decline in statewide hospitalizations over a 14-day period and said that the seven-day average for positive infections is now 3.8 % .
That metric — which is the number of total tests divided by the number of positive infections — is the lowest the state has seen since late May and the state ’ s first attempt at reopening , according to a Times analysis .
At @ @ @ @ @ @ @ around 4.0 % , before spiking to 8 % after an accelerated reopening of the state ’ s business sectors and mass holiday gatherings over Memorial Day and the Fourth of July .
The state has also reached a higher capacity for testing , with more than 113,890 daily tests over a seven-day average .
Despite the progress , Newsom warned that activity from Labor Day could lead to an influx in cases .
“ Three-day holiday weekends have not been advantageous in terms of the mitigation of the spread of this virus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ look back at some seminal periods , where we experienced larger spread , and [ a ] large surge of transmission tended to occur two to three weeks after , say , Fourth of July and other holiday weekends .
As a consequence , we ’ re very cautious in terms of our approach as we move forward.
” Los Angles County Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer issued a similar warning Wednesday , pointing to past surges in transmission related to the Fourth of July .
“ Our collective actions do have a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ferrer was “ cautiously hopeful ” that case counts would not increase drastically in the weeks after Labor Day .
But if a surge in hospitalizations and infections do occur , Ferrer said , “ we will need to take some action.
” “ All of this is really dependent on doing our best job every day to drive down the transmission , ” she said .
Ferrer recommended that anyone who was in a crowd over the holiday weekend or came into contact with someone who was feeling sick or tested positive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The state ’ s new reopening guidelines , which rely on a four-tiered system based on the risk of spread , requires a county to meet the requirements in its tier for three consecutive weeks before advancing .
Because it takes about two weeks for new infections to be reported , any upcoming moves would likely align with data gleaned from activity over the holiday weekend and the state ’ s latest reopening plans .
Five more counties — including Orange — moved into the next stage of state ’ s reopening system @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of counties on the widespread Tier 1 from 38 to 33 .
Movement through the tiers is based primarily on two key metrics : positive case counts per population and positive cases measured by the number of total tests .
If a county falls across two tiers — as is the case with Los Angeles County — the more stringent restrictions apply .
The county , which reported 61 additional COVID-19 deaths and 671 new cases Wednesday , has a seven-day average positivity rate of less than 5 % .
That metric aligns @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , but the county ’ s case rate per 100,000 exceeds the requirement for moving into that stage .
As understanding of the virus continues to evolve , experts and officials have warned that it ’ s crucial for residents to remain vigilant in maintaining social distancing practices , especially as flu season approaches .
In audio recordings between President Trump and journalist Bob Woodward released Wednesday , Trump is heard in a conversation from February telling Woodward that the coronavirus is deadlier than the flu .
Trump ’ s comments do not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for Disease Control and Prevention shared at the time , when the messaging was that the flu was deadlier than the virus .
Later in March , Trump told Woodward that he played down the reality of the virus ’ impact in order to prevent panic .
“ I wanted to always play it down .
I still like playing it down because I don ’ t want to create a panic , ” Trump said .
In Los Angeles County , where several Halloween-related activities such as trick-or-treating have been recommended against @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a flu vaccine early in the season .

The number of COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations continues to decline in California, but the virus’ full impact is on delay.
Gov. Gavin Newsom on Tuesday reported a 24% decline in statewide hospitalizations over a 14-day period and said that the seven-day average for positive infections is now 3.8%.
That metric — which is the number of total tests divided by the number of positive infections — is the lowest the state has seen since late May and the state’s first attempt at reopening, according to a Times analysis. At that time, the positivity rate hovered around 4.0%, before spiking to 8% after an accelerated reopening of the state’s business sectors and mass holiday gatherings over Memorial Day and the Fourth of July.
The state has also reached a higher capacity for testing, with more than 113,890 daily tests over a seven-day average.
Despite the progress, Newsom warned that activity from Labor Day could lead to an influx in cases.
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“Three-day holiday weekends have not been advantageous in terms of the mitigation of the spread of this virus,” Newsom said. “You look back at some seminal periods, where we experienced larger spread, and [a] large surge of transmission tended to occur two to three weeks after, say, Fourth of July and other holiday weekends. As a consequence, we’re very cautious in terms of our approach as we move forward.”
Los Angles County Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer issued a similar warning Wednesday, pointing to past surges in transmission related to the Fourth of July.
“Our collective actions do have a life-and-death consequence,” she said.
Ferrer was “cautiously hopeful” that case counts would not increase drastically in the weeks after Labor Day. But if a surge in hospitalizations and infections do occur, Ferrer said, “we will need to take some action.”
“All of this is really dependent on doing our best job every day to drive down the transmission,” she said. Ferrer recommended that anyone who was in a crowd over the holiday weekend or came into contact with someone who was feeling sick or tested positive for the virus should get tested.
The state’s new reopening guidelines, which rely on a four-tiered system based on the risk of spread, requires a county to meet the requirements in its tier for three consecutive weeks before advancing.
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Because it takes about two weeks for new infections to be reported, any upcoming moves would likely align with data gleaned from activity over the holiday weekend and the state’s latest reopening plans.
Five more counties — including Orange — moved into the next stage of state’s reopening system this week, decreasing the total number of counties on the widespread Tier 1 from 38 to 33.
Movement through the tiers is based primarily on two key metrics: positive case counts per population and positive cases measured by the number of total tests. If a county falls across two tiers — as is the case with Los Angeles County — the more stringent restrictions apply.
The county, which reported 61 additional COVID-19 deaths and 671 new cases Wednesday, has a seven-day average positivity rate of less than 5%. That metric aligns with the state’s Tier 2, but the county’s case rate per 100,000 exceeds the requirement for moving into that stage.
As understanding of the virus continues to evolve, experts and officials have warned that it’s crucial for residents to remain vigilant in maintaining social distancing practices, especially as flu season approaches.
In audio recordings between President Trump and journalist Bob Woodward released Wednesday, Trump is heard in a conversation from February telling Woodward that the coronavirus is deadlier than the flu. Trump’s comments do not align with what he or the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shared at the time, when the messaging was that the flu was deadlier than the virus.
Later in March, Trump told Woodward that he played down the reality of the virus’ impact in order to prevent panic.
“I wanted to always play it down. I still like playing it down because I don’t want to create a panic,” Trump said.
In Los Angeles County, where several Halloween-related activities such as trick-or-treating have been recommended against, officials have encouraged residents to get a flu vaccine early in the season.


latimes--2020-09-09--California small businesses will get COVID-19 relief with quickly drafted tax cuts

Gov .
Gavin Newsom signed a trio of laws on Wednesday intended to bolster struggling small businesses in California and encourage their owners to hire more workers , each of which received bipartisan support but only light scrutiny by the Legislature before its adjournment last week .
The governor , who used a delicatessen in Sacramento as the backdrop for a bill-signing ceremony , touted the three laws as important help for businesses that are “ the lifeblood of California and its economy.
” “ Small businesses are feeling vulnerable to the pressures of this pandemic — so much so @ @ @ @ @ @ @ close in the not too distant future , `` Newsom said , citing a survey that he said found 44 % of businesses were considering closure .
“ That is a jaw-dropping percentage of small businesses that are looking at the prospect of a financial cliff.
” One effort will ensure coronavirus loan funds that are forgiven aren ’ t treated as taxable income .
Newsom says the second bill , enacted as part of the state budget , accelerates the use of various bond funds but includes a variety of proposals unrelated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ up to $ 100 million in tax credits for small businesses that have suffered during the pandemic but also agree to hire new or laid-off workers .
None faced opposition in the Legislature , and all were easy for Newsom to embrace — three of some 400 bills he must sign or veto by the end of the month .
The loan forgiveness plan safeguards California business owners against any tax increase triggered by the use of federal Paycheck Protection Program funds .
PPP was one of several spring COVID-19 relief strategies deployed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with 500 or fewer employees were eligible for PPP loans to help cover payroll and other operational expenses .
In some cases , those loans were allowed to be converted to subsidies .
The law signed by Newsom excludes the forgiven loans from being treated as income subject to California taxes .
Although that means less tax revenue collected by the state , a legislative bill analysis suggests the overall impact may be limited because a business owner can not claim tax deductions for expenses paid with PPP funds .
But the new @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will have a clear and immediate effect on the state budget , and received far less review by legislators .
Drafted by the governor ’ s financial team , the $ 100-million tax break makes good on Newsom ’ s promise last month to enact a so-called “ Main Street hiring credit ” to incentivize some small businesses to restore jobs eliminated earlier this year by the coronavirus-induced recession .
The law offers a tax credit to many California companies that had 100 or fewer employees at the end of 2019 and then @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in gross receipts as COVID-19 slowdowns hit during the second quarter of 2020 .
Those businesses will receive a $ 1,000 tax credit for each qualified employee hired between July and the end of November , up to $ 100,000 per business .
The business will have five years to use the credit and can apply it to any taxes owed , including sales and use taxes .
“ They ’ re looking for hope , ” state Sen. Anna Caballero ( D-Salinas ) , a co-author of the tax credit bill , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ re looking for leadership , and they ’ re looking for the opportunity to be able to access resources to make them successful.
” Whether the proposal will work , and its exact cost to the state in the form of reduced tax revenues , is unclear .
Jay Chamberlain , the chief of the financial research unit of the California Department of Finance , told lawmakers in a brief committee hearing on Aug. 30 that uncertainty was one reason the tax credits were capped at a cost to the state budget @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ We don ’ t really have real good data on how many businesses are going to meet the criteria for this credit , ” Chamberlain said .
But with any single business eligible to receive up to $ 100,000 in tax breaks , the program could benefit as few as 1,000 California companies .
And there is no formula in the plan to assess relative need beyond a requirement that the business has lost 50 % of its gross revenues — an omission noted by supporters of the law during last @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Assembly Revenue and Taxation Committee .
A committee analysis noted that the law ’ s “ first-come , first-served ” structure left open the possibility that it would “ primarily benefit relatively sophisticated businesses at the larger end of the small business range , ” noting that “ these businesses often benefit from accounting and legal advice unavailable to or underused by ‘ mom and pop ’ operations.
” Assemblyman Marc Levine ( D-San Rafael ) , the only member of the committee to vote against the proposal during the short hearing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be those that were already in the process of hiring or rehiring for positions cut during the spring and early summer .
“ We ’ re really taking some easy wins with a tax credit so that we can claim that we ’ ve created more jobs through our legislation , ” Levine said , “ when in fact these are jobs that probably would be created by a growing economy.
” Newsom broached the idea for a hiring tax credit during a livestream event on Aug. 12 , saying the goal would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one or two employees [ or someone who is ] self-employed that may want to hire a part-time person or may want to hire a full-time person.
” All three laws take effect Jan. 1 .
The tax credits that will be handed out will expire — whether a business owner uses them or not — on June 1 , 2026 .
Details for applications and approvals must be drafted this fall by the California Department of Tax and Fee Administration .

Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a trio of laws on Wednesday intended to bolster struggling small businesses in California and encourage their owners to hire more workers, each of which received bipartisan support but only light scrutiny by the Legislature before its adjournment last week.
The governor, who used a delicatessen in Sacramento as the backdrop for a bill-signing ceremony, touted the three laws as important help for businesses that are “the lifeblood of California and its economy.”
“Small businesses are feeling vulnerable to the pressures of this pandemic — so much so that they believe they are likely to close in the not too distant future, “ Newsom said, citing a survey that he said found 44% of businesses were considering closure. “That is a jaw-dropping percentage of small businesses that are looking at the prospect of a financial cliff.”
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One effort will ensure coronavirus loan funds that are forgiven aren’t treated as taxable income. Newsom said the second bill, enacted as part of the state budget, will accelerate the use of various bond funds — though it mostly focuses on a variety of proposals unrelated to helping businesses. The third offers up to $100 million in tax credits for small businesses that have suffered during the pandemic but also agree to hire new or laid-off workers.
None faced opposition in the Legislature, and all were easy for Newsom to embrace — three of some 400 bills he must sign or veto by the end of the month.
The loan forgiveness plan safeguards California business owners against any tax increase triggered by the use of federal Paycheck Protection Program funds. PPP was one of several spring COVID-19 relief strategies deployed by President Trump and Congress. Businesses with 500 or fewer employees were eligible for PPP loans to help cover payroll and other operational expenses. In some cases, those loans were allowed to be converted to subsidies.
The law signed by Newsom excludes the forgiven loans from being treated as income subject to California taxes. Although that means less tax revenue collected by the state, a legislative bill analysis suggests the overall impact may be limited because a business owner cannot claim tax deductions for expenses paid with PPP funds.
But the new law offering tax credits to small-business owners will have a clear and immediate effect on the state budget, and received far less review by legislators. Drafted by the governor’s financial team, the $100-million tax break makes good on Newsom’s promise last month to enact a so-called “Main Street hiring credit” to incentivize some small businesses to restore jobs eliminated earlier this year by the coronavirus-induced recession.
The law offers a tax credit to many California companies that had 100 or fewer employees at the end of 2019 and then experienced at least a 50% drop in gross receipts as COVID-19 slowdowns hit during the second quarter of 2020. Those businesses will receive a $1,000 tax credit for each qualified employee hired between July and the end of November, up to $100,000 per business.
The business will have five years to use the credit and can apply it to any taxes owed, including sales and use taxes.
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“They’re looking for hope,” state Sen. Anna Caballero (D-Salinas), a coauthor of the tax credit bill, said of small businesses. “They’re looking for leadership, and they’re looking for the opportunity to be able to access resources to make them successful.”
Whether the proposal will work, and its exact cost to the state in the form of reduced tax revenues, is unclear. Jay Chamberlain, the chief of the financial research unit of the California Department of Finance, told lawmakers in a brief committee hearing on Aug. 30 that uncertainty was one reason the tax credits were capped at a cost to the state budget of no more than $100 million.
“We don’t really have real good data on how many businesses are going to meet the criteria for this credit,” Chamberlain said.
But with any single business eligible to receive up to $100,000 in tax breaks, the program could benefit as few as 1,000 California companies. And there is no formula in the plan to assess relative need beyond a requirement that the business has lost 50% of its gross revenues — an omission noted by supporters of the law during last month’s hastily called meeting of the Assembly Revenue and Taxation Committee.
A committee analysis noted that the law’s “first-come, first-served” structure left open the possibility that it would “primarily benefit relatively sophisticated businesses at the larger end of the small business range,” noting that “these businesses often benefit from accounting and legal advice unavailable to or underused by ‘mom and pop’ operations.”
Assemblyman Marc Levine (D-San Rafael), the only member of the committee to vote against the proposal during the short hearing, said the businesses that benefitted might be those that were already in the process of hiring or rehiring for positions cut during the spring and early summer.
“We’re really taking some easy wins with a tax credit so that we can claim that we’ve created more jobs through our legislation,” Levine said, “when in fact these are jobs that probably would be created by a growing economy.”
Newsom broached the idea for a hiring tax credit during a livestream event on Aug. 12, saying the goal would be to help small businesses with “one or two employees [or someone who is] self-employed that may want to hire a part-time person or may want to hire a full-time person.”
All three laws take effect Jan. 1. The tax credits that will be handed out will expire — whether a business owner uses them or not — on June 1, 2026. Details for applications and approvals must be drafted this fall by the California Department of Tax and Fee Administration.


latimes--2020-09-09--Photos: Surreal orange skies as wildfire smoke blocks sun in Bay Area

The skies around the Bay Area and other parts of Northern California took on a surreal glow Wednesday as smoke @ @ @ @ @ enveloped the region .
From San Francisco to Yosemite National Park , social media was @ @ @ @ @ red and orange skies and smoky air .
Daniel Swain , a UCLA climate scientist @ @ @ @ @ smoke was “ almost completely blocking out the sun across some portions of Northern California @ @

The skies around the Bay Area and other parts of Northern California took on a surreal glow Wednesday as smoke from a variety of fires enveloped the region.
From San Francisco to Yosemite National Park, social media was filled with images of ominous red and orange skies and smoky air. Daniel Swain, a UCLA climate scientist, tweeted that the fire smoke was “almost completely blocking out the sun across some portions of Northern California.”
Under darkened skies from wildfire smoke, a man crosses Hyde Street with Alcatraz Island and Fisherman’s Wharf in the background Wednesday in San Francisco. The picture was taken in the middle of the day at 12:29 p.m. (Eric Risberg/Associated Press )
Looking up Columbus Ave. the Transamerica Pyramid and Salesforce Tower are covered with smoke from wildfires late Wednesday mornin, in San Francisco. (Eric Risberg / Associated Press )
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The San Francisco Bay Bridge and city skyline are obscured in orange smoke and haze as their seen from Treasure Island in San Francisco.
( Brittany Hosea-Small / AFP )
Amy Scott of San Francisco takes in the view from the Embarcadero as smoke from various wildfires burning across Northern California mixes with the marine layer, blanketing San Francisco in darkness. (Philip Pacheco/Getty Images)
An orange glow is seen over a darkened Howard Street as smoke from various wildfires burning across Northern California mixes with the marine layer in San Francisco. ( Philip Pacheco/Getty Images)
Smoke from various wildfires burning across Northern California mixes with the marine layer, blanketing the San Francisco skyline in darkness and an orange glow, seen from Treasure Island. (Philip Pacheco/Getty Images)
Smoke from California wildfires obscures the sky over Oracle Park as the Seattle Mariners take batting practice before their baseball game against the San Francisco Giants on Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2020, in San Francisco. (Tony Avelar/Associated Press )
An orange sky filled with wildfire smoke hangs above hiking trails at the Limeridge Open Space in Concord. (Brittany Hosea-Small/AFP)
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Embers light up a hillside behind the Bidwell Bar Bridge as the Bear Fire burns in Oroville. (Noah Berger/Associated Press )
The sky around San Francisco City Hall is shrouded in smoke Wednesday morning. (Olga Rodriguez / Associated Press )
In a photo taken at 9:47 a.m., Patrick Kenefick, left, and Dana Williams of Mill Valley, Calif., take in the view from Sausalito of an obscured Golden Gate Bridge. (Eric Risberg / Associated Press)
Downtown San Francisco is difficult to make out from Kite Hill Open Space on Wednesday morning. (Jeff Chiu / Associated Press)
Smoke from the Creek fire hangs over a boat dock on Sunday at Shaver Lake, Calif. (Marcio Jose Sanchez / Associated Press)
A bicyclist rides past a wine bar’s outdoor seating area Wednesday morning in Sausalito, Calif. (Eric Risberg / Associated Press )
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Smoke darkens the morning sky Wednesday in Sausalito. (Eric Risberg / Associated Press )
Smoke rises from a wildfire burning a hillside in Yucaipa. (Ringo Chiu / Associated Press)
Boats sit docked at at Shaver Lake Marina as smoke from the Creek fire hangs in the air. (Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times)
Pro golfers warm up under orange skies on the driving range during the preview day of the Safeway Open at Silverado Country Club in Napa on Wednesday. ( Jed Jacobsohn / Getty Images)
A worker installs a street camera to a light post in Azusa on Wednesday as smoke covers the sky from the Bobcat fire. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
Cars make their way along Ygnacio Valley Road under a sky tinted orange by wildfire smoke in Concord on Wednesday. (Brittany Hosea-Small / AFP )
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