latimes--2020-05-22--SpongeBob Popsicles, anyone? Parents compel ice cream vendor forced indoors to 'come back'

“ Mister !
Me , me , me !
” the kids will say , streaming forward with bills and coins , skipping alongside the truck blaring ice cream jingles .
Masked and ready , Ed Hassan , the owner of Mr .
Frost , tries his best to satisfy all manner of cooped-up people with a sweet tooth .
For part of the year , the affable , no-nonsense vendor studies electrical engineering at a trade school .
But since January , he ’ s been operating a business out of a cargo van he bought from a different @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with cancer .
During his third month of carting snow cones , the coronavirus forced him into quarantine and he had to tap into his savings .
Yet the customers kept calling .
Now , reopened for more than three weeks as the state lockdown has eased , Hassan covers north Orange County in his truck , delivering a chilly , sugary rush .
In Irvine , the 23-year-old said families tend to “ look at my truck and see how clean my truck is .
That ’ s super important to them.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ said his prices per item — ranging from $ 2.50 for a Big Stick to $ 3 for a chocolate taco — are known to be “ cheaper than many gas stations , ” many in the crowd “ ask about flavors and stuff .
It ’ s about choices.
” And in Tustin , the regulars remain loyal .
In a post on the neighborhood app Nextdoor , when Mr .
Frost faced criticism for venturing out and not remaining in isolation , dozens of parents jumped in to defend him , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the critics to “ leave him alone.
” “ I felt very grateful , ” he said .
“ Everyone is home , but they don ’ t want me at home .
It ’ s surprising — I thought they would.
” By late April , Hassan said his voicemail had filled up completely with families pushing him to “ come back.
” Because California law allowed food businesses to operate as long as there ’ s no seating , he could have stayed open — but he intended “ to be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ With schools switching to distance learning , “ the kids are bored .
They ’ re eager for the truck to come by , ” he added .
“ One family even requested that we bring a whole case of SpongeBob Popsicles for them .
Do you know how many parents are making appointments for me to be there at certain times ?
” The Beckman High School graduate , born and raised in Irvine , said he is very careful to keep his rolling business sparkling — inside and out .
Each @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from shelves to freezers to the steering wheel .
And because he handles so much cash , he ’ s using hand sanitizer at clocked intervals and keeps a big dispenser bottle available to young customers .
He also changes his mask by the hour .
Tucked inside his truck , he ’ s lucky he hasn ’ t had to remind too many ice cream fans to socially distance .
“ I can tell the adults have already had that talk with the children , ” he said .
“ They ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ everything he sells is prepackaged .
He doesn ’ t offer soft-serve ice cream .
Another precaution is focusing on his driving — trying to be “ four times more careful than you usually are , with kids running around the area.
” “ If I see a child come up alone , I tell them , ‘ Go get your mom or dad.
’ If they order something and they have an allergy , I need to know they need something nut-free or gluten-free .
And I tell them to wash their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ car is quite clean .
That ’ s so necessary nowadays , ” said Sue Hill , who grabbed $ 20 from her handbag to give to her nephews for frozen treats and Gatorade as they awaited Mr .
Frost to drive down their shady Tustin block .
“ You know how you go into a restaurant and your first impression is whether there are stains on the table or if the seats are sticky ?
” Hill asked .
“ We can ’ t eat out yet , but at least we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are coming from a trusted source.
” While in quarantine , Hassan repainted the vehicle ’ s exterior , splashing a colorful image of SpongeBob on it .
Apart from an assortment of ice cream sandwich flavors , Mr .
Frost also hawks fruit Popsicles , frozen bananas and those irresistible Drumsticks , along with chips and candy .
He says the question kids most often ask is : “ ‘ Are you coming back tomorrow ?
’ But really , I have no idea what goes through their heads when they order @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with Spider-Man on it , or Powerpuff Girls .
I ’ ve seen little boys buy Hello Kitty .
“ It ’ s great to be back .
During the springtime , summertime , there ’ s literally nobody that turns down ice cream , ” he said .
“ It ’ s a small thing to do to keep people happy .
”

Ed Hassan, the owner of Mr. Frost who started staying indoors as the COVID-19 pandemic unfolded, now makes his rounds selling snow cones, Popsicles, chips and candy. He stops regularly in Irvine, Santa Ana and Tustin.
“Mister! Me, me, me!” the kids will say, streaming forward with bills and coins, skipping alongside the truck blaring ice cream jingles. Masked and ready, Ed Hassan, the owner of Mr. Frost, tries his best to satisfy all manner of cooped-up people with a sweet tooth.
For part of the year, the affable, no-nonsense vendor studies electrical engineering at a trade school. But since January, he’s been operating a business out of a cargo van he bought from a different ice cream seller, who was stricken with cancer.
During his third month of carting snow cones, the coronavirus forced him into quarantine and he had to tap into his savings. Yet the customers kept calling.
Advertisement
Now, reopened for more than three weeks as the state lockdown has eased, Hassan covers north Orange County in his truck, delivering a chilly, sugary rush.
In Irvine, the 23-year-old said families tend to “look at my truck and see how clean my truck is. That’s super important to them.”
In Santa Ana, where he said his prices per item — ranging from $2.50 for a Big Stick to $3 for a chocolate taco — are known to be “cheaper than many gas stations,” many in the crowd “ask about flavors and stuff. It’s about choices.”
And in Tustin, the regulars remain loyal. In a post on the neighborhood app Nextdoor, when Mr. Frost faced criticism for venturing out and not remaining in isolation, dozens of parents jumped in to defend him, he said. Some of them told the critics to “leave him alone.”
“I felt very grateful,” he said. “Everyone is home, but they don’t want me at home. It’s surprising — I thought they would.”
By late April, Hassan said his voicemail had filled up completely with families pushing him to “come back.” Because California law allowed food businesses to operate as long as there’s no seating, he could have stayed open — but he intended “to be safe to protect customers and myself.”
With schools switching to distance learning, “the kids are bored. They’re eager for the truck to come by,” he added. “One family even requested that we bring a whole case of SpongeBob Popsicles for them. Do you know how many parents are making appointments for me to be there at certain times?”
The Beckman High School graduate, born and raised in Irvine, said he is very careful to keep his rolling business sparkling — inside and out. Each day, he wipes everything down, from shelves to freezers to the steering wheel. And because he handles so much cash, he’s using hand sanitizer at clocked intervals and keeps a big dispenser bottle available to young customers. He also changes his mask by the hour.
Tucked inside his truck, he’s lucky he hasn’t had to remind too many ice cream fans to socially distance. “I can tell the adults have already had that talk with the children,” he said. “They’re trained.”
To reassure parents, everything he sells is prepackaged. He doesn’t offer soft-serve ice cream. Another precaution is focusing on his driving — trying to be “four times more careful than you usually are, with kids running around the area.”
Advertisement
“If I see a child come up alone, I tell them, ‘Go get your mom or dad.’ If they order something and they have an allergy, I need to know they need something nut-free or gluten-free. And I tell them to wash their hands.”
Customers appreciate the precautions.
“I noticed that his car is quite clean. That’s so necessary nowadays,” said Sue Hill, who grabbed $20 from her handbag to give to her nephews for frozen treats and Gatorade as they awaited Mr. Frost to drive down their shady Tustin block.
“You know how you go into a restaurant and your first impression is whether there are stains on the table or if the seats are sticky?” Hill asked. “We can’t eat out yet, but at least we can check if our snacks and food are coming from a trusted source.”
While in quarantine, Hassan repainted the vehicle’s exterior, splashing a colorful image of SpongeBob on it. Apart from an assortment of ice cream sandwich flavors, Mr. Frost also hawks fruit Popsicles, frozen bananas and those irresistible Drumsticks, along with chips and candy.
He says the question kids most often ask is: “‘Are you coming back tomorrow?’ But really, I have no idea what goes through their heads when they order. It could be they want something with Spider-Man on it, or Powerpuff Girls. I’ve seen little boys buy Hello Kitty.
“It’s great to be back. During the springtime, summertime, there’s literally nobody that turns down ice cream,” he said. “It’s a small thing to do to keep people happy.”


latimes--2020-05-22--Gov. Gavin Newsom's promise to feed California seniors falling short so far

When Gov .
Gavin Newsom announced the start of an initiative last month to deliver free meals to California seniors during the COVID-19 pandemic , he declared that “ the universe of those eligible is certainly in the millions.
” “ Even if it ’ s hundreds of thousands that take advantage of this , just in weeks you ’ ll see millions and millions of meals as part of this program , ” the governor said at his April 24 news conference .
But nearly a month later , the Great Plates Delivered program has served only 16,377 seniors @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the state , the duplication of existing services to provide meals to seniors and questions about the government reimbursement have hampered the ability to quickly ramp up the program .
Federal funding for the program was also originally slated to end May 10 , just two weeks after Newsom announced it — a possible deterrent for restaurants and municipalities to participate in what might have initially appeared to be a short-term effort .
The coronavirus outbreak has left millions of elderly Californians and those with pre-existing conditions fearful of visiting grocery stores .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ program was to provide generous government reimbursements — up to $ 66 per day for three daily meals — to restaurants that prepare the food , employ workers in the industry and allow California ’ s most vulnerable residents to receive healthy meals in the safety of their homes .
As of Wednesday , 168,163 meals had been delivered from 249 restaurants , according to Brian Ferguson , a spokesman for the Governor ’ s Office of Emergency Services .
The state ’ s COVID-19 website lists nearly 50 participating cities and counties @ @ @ @ @ @ @ response to questions about why the state hasn ’ t dispatched millions of meals as Newsom projected .
“ Sixteen thousand seniors who are hungry are getting meals that they wouldn ’ t have gotten and 250 restaurants are getting business that they wouldn ’ t have gotten , ” Ferguson said .
Ferguson added that dozens of other cities , counties and organizations have submitted letters of intent to join the program and said it is on track to provide 1 million meals once all of those entities start participating .
Guidance @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are responsible for funding the program and must apply to receive a 75 % reimbursement from the Federal Emergency Management Agency .
The state would pay up to 18.75 % of the cost , with the remaining 6.25 % ultimately falling on local governments .
Riverside Mayor Rusty Bailey said his city has been slow to participate in the program , noting it already relies on nonprofits such as Meals on Wheels and the Janet Goeske Center to deliver food to seniors .
“ They ’ ve been doing senior meal programs for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ They have their routes already programmed and plugged in.
” Bailey said he asked the local Meals on Wheels program to facilitate the governor ’ s initiative in the city , but the rules bar seniors from participating if they receive assistance from other government-funded nutrition programs .
The mayor said the city is now working to find additional seniors in need and directing them to Riverside County ’ s Great Plates program .
“ There was some bureaucratic mumbo jumbo going on for a little while and we just kind of watched @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with the county , ” Bailey said of the lack of clarity about the details of the program .
When the governor announced the program in April , he described it as a replica of Meals on Wheels but at a “ huge scale.
” By contrast , Meals on Wheels serves about 18 million meals a year in the state , according to Jim Oswald of Meals on Wheels California .
Days after the governor announced the Great Plates program , the state Meals on Wheels association applauded his plans to feed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ effort with groups that have served the elderly for decades .
The governor ’ s office published some guidance on the program late last month that included recommendations from the association , but local Meals on Wheels programs have largely been coordinating with Area Agencies on Aging , local groups contracted to provide services for the elderly , in a patchwork approach .
Representatives for the association have argued that all seniors should be eligible to receive meals under the Great Plates program in addition to services from other nonprofits , noting that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ meals per week .
Others have shared their concerns about the program ’ s eligibility criteria .
Eunice Kwon , a service coordinator at a low-income senior apartment complex in Gardena , said many of the residents in the building are excluded from the program .
CalFresh recipients , for example , can not participate in Great Plates , but many are afraid to visit the grocery store during the pandemic to use their existing benefits .
“ I was just confused because it doesn ’ t seem like California and government would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ big program , and my clients were really excited about this because it would ’ ve provided the answer for them right now , ” she said .
“ But they ’ re very disappointed.
” Ferguson acknowledged the gaps in coverage for the program and said federal rules ban the state from providing Great Plates meals to residents who receive benefits through any federally funded food assistance programs .
The program has been extended until June 10 and the state is expected to apply for another 30-day continuation .
Beyond the Great @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Wheels is concerned about seniors in the months ahead .
The governor ’ s proposed budget cuts $ 8.5 million to senior nutrition programs .
“ The biggest problem for us is what happens after COVID-19 , ” he said .

Mildred Stratton waves to a caravan of cars led by the Alhambra police and fire departments parading past her home, celebrating her 102nd birthday on May 20 in Alhambra.
When Gov. Gavin Newsom announced the start of an initiative last month to deliver free meals to California seniors during the COVID-19 pandemic, he declared that “the universe of those eligible is certainly in the millions.”
“Even if it’s hundreds of thousands that take advantage of this, just in weeks you’ll see millions and millions of meals as part of this program,” the governor said at his April 24 news conference.
But nearly a month later, the Great Plates Delivered program has served only 16,377 seniors. Local leaders say delayed information from the state, the duplication of existing services to provide meals to seniors and questions about the government reimbursement have hampered the ability to quickly ramp up the program.
Federal funding for the program was also originally slated to end May 10, just two weeks after Newsom announced it — a possible deterrent for restaurants and municipalities to participate in what might have initially appeared to be a short-term effort.
The coronavirus outbreak has left millions of elderly Californians and those with pre-existing conditions fearful of visiting grocery stores. Newsom initially said the goal of the program was to provide generous government reimbursements — up to $66 per day for three daily meals — to restaurants that prepare the food, employ workers in the industry and allow California’s most vulnerable residents to receive healthy meals in the safety of their homes.
Advertisement
As of Wednesday, 168,163 meals had been delivered from 249 restaurants, according to Brian Ferguson, a spokesman for the Governor’s Office of Emergency Services. The state’s COVID-19 website lists nearly 50 participating cities and counties.
Ferguson defended Great Plates Delivered in response to questions about why the state hasn’t dispatched millions of meals as Newsom projected.
“Sixteen thousand seniors who are hungry are getting meals that they wouldn’t have gotten and 250 restaurants are getting business that they wouldn’t have gotten,” Ferguson said.
Ferguson added that dozens of other cities, counties and organizations have submitted letters of intent to join the program and said it is on track to provide 1 million meals once all of those entities start participating.
Guidance documents from the state say local jurisdictions are responsible for funding the program and must apply to receive a 75% reimbursement from the Federal Emergency Management Agency. The state would pay up to 18.75% of the cost, with the remaining 6.25% ultimately falling on local governments.
Riverside Mayor Rusty Bailey said his city has been slow to participate in the program, noting it already relies on nonprofits such as Meals on Wheels and the Janet Goeske Center to deliver food to seniors.
“They’ve been doing senior meal programs for forever,” Bailey said. “They have their routes already programmed and plugged in.”
Bailey said he asked the local Meals on Wheels program to facilitate the governor’s initiative in the city, but the rules bar seniors from participating if they receive assistance from other government-funded nutrition programs. The mayor said the city is now working to find additional seniors in need and directing them to Riverside County’s Great Plates program.
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“There was some bureaucratic mumbo jumbo going on for a little while and we just kind of watched that happen before we connected the dots with the county,” Bailey said of the lack of clarity about the details of the program.
When the governor announced the program in April, he described it as a replica of Meals on Wheels but at a “huge scale.” By contrast, Meals on Wheels serves about 18 million meals a year in the state, according to Jim Oswald of Meals on Wheels California.
Days after the governor announced the Great Plates program, the state Meals on Wheels association applauded his plans to feed seniors and encouraged him to develop the effort with groups that have served the elderly for decades. The governor’s office published some guidance on the program late last month that included recommendations from the association, but local Meals on Wheels programs have largely been coordinating with Area Agencies on Aging, local groups contracted to provide services for the elderly, in a patchwork approach.
Representatives for the association have argued that all seniors should be eligible to receive meals under the Great Plates program in addition to services from other nonprofits, noting that funding from many agencies supports only five meals per week. Others have shared their concerns about the program’s eligibility criteria.
Eunice Kwon, a service coordinator at a low-income senior apartment complex in Gardena, said many of the residents in the building are excluded from the program. CalFresh recipients, for example, cannot participate in Great Plates, but many are afraid to visit the grocery store during the pandemic to use their existing benefits.
“I was just confused because it doesn’t seem like California and government would have such narrow criteria for such a big program, and my clients were really excited about this because it would’ve provided the answer for them right now,” she said. “But they’re very disappointed.”
Ferguson acknowledged the gaps in coverage for the program and said federal rules ban the state from providing Great Plates meals to residents who receive benefits through any federally funded food assistance programs.
The program has been extended until June 10 and the state is expected to apply for another 30-day continuation.
Beyond the Great Plates program, Oswald said Meals on Wheels is concerned about seniors in the months ahead. The governor’s proposed budget cuts $8.5 million to senior nutrition programs.
“The biggest problem for us is what happens after COVID-19,” he said.


latimes--2020-05-22--As L.A. County deaths pass 2,000, a warning that 'the virus is still out there waiting'

As large swaths of California began reopening shopping malls , restaurants and other businesses this week , the coronavirus threat in Los Angeles County remains high as the death toll surpassed 2,000 people on Thursday .
More than 40 of California ’ s 58 counties have now been approved to expand retail operations as their virus conditions improved , with more expected to reopen their economies in the coming days .
But officials expect the progress to be slower in Los Angeles County , which accounts for nearly 60 % of the state ’ s total deaths and almost half @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The county ’ s death toll rose Thursday to 2,016 , with more than 42,000 confirmed cases .
“ This is a very sad milestone for us , ” county Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer said .
Los Angeles County Supervisor Hilda Solis said she hoped officials could ease stay-at-home restrictions soon but urged caution .
“ I wish that we could speed things up , ” she said .
“ The virus is still out there waiting for us to let our guard down.
” Despite the average daily death toll @ @ @ @ @ @ @ plateau for weeks , there were new signs that even Los Angeles was beginning to turn the corner .
The coronavirus transmission rate in the nation ’ s most populous county , home to in California , is now in its best position since the magnitude of the outbreak became clear in March .
At the start of the pandemic ’ s arrival in L.A. , the of the coronavirus was high ; on average , every one person infected went on to infect more than three other people .
Scientists call this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , or “ R. ” But by late March , after the stay-at-home order was put into effect , the effective transmission number fell to 1 , meaning that , on average , every person with COVID-19 infected one other person .
That rate , if sustained , means that the number of people infected remains constant .
Dr. Christina Ghaly , director of health services for L.A. County , said a continuing downturn in the daily number of new confirmed cases suggested that the effective transmission number was now slightly under 1 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ under 1 , then the epidemic in Los Angeles County is expected to decrease over time , ” Ghaly said .
“ That is a good thing for all of us .
As we work to reopen the economy and get people back to work and back to living their lives , we need to work together to avoid having transmission again increase , ” she said .
Use of hospital beds by COVID-19 patients is also stable and slightly trending downward in L.A. County , Ghaly said .
It ’ s still @ @ @ @ @ @ @ County could run out of intensive care beds if disease transmission rates rise significantly .
If more people start being infected as society reopens , officials won ’ t know it until two or four weeks later , the time it takes for those people to get so sick they need medical attention .
An L.A. County simulation has found that if the county can keep the disease transmission rate the same as it is now , by the start of December , just 9 % of L.A. County residents will have contracted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ transmission number were to rise to 1.5 — meaning each infected person gives the virus , on average , to 1.5 other people — 44 % of county residents will have been infected by the start of December .
Overall , 52 % of those who have died in Los Angeles County lived in an institutional setting .
The vast majority were residents of skilled-nursing facilities .
Los Angeles County has begun to relax some of its coronavirus restrictions but doesn ’ t meet the state ’ s criteria for a wider reopening @ @ @ @ @ @ @ emerged in Orange County , which recorded 14 new coronavirus-related fatalities Thursday — the most in a single day since the pandemic began .
Officials attributed the uptick to outbreaks in nursing homes .
The rise in deaths comes a day after the county related to COVID-19 .
Of those who have died in the past two days , 18 were residents in skilled nursing facilities , Orange County Health Officer Dr. Nichole Quick said .
“ We ’ ll have to watch that over the coming week to see if this is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a couple of days of increase , ” Quick said .
“ We hope it was just that.
” Orange County is hoping to reopen more of its economy but is still waiting for state approval .
“ We believe we have met all the criteria , ” Orange County Supervisor Michelle Steel said .
“ We submitted a draft plan and are currently in the process of meeting with the state to finalize our variance.
” Much of California has progressed to a point where officials feel it ’ s safe to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ businesses to reopen .
The number of new coronavirus cases across the state declined from the previous week , and hospitalizations have dropped more than 15 % from a peak six weeks ago , according to a Times analysis .
Most counties have received approval to progress more quickly through Phase 2 of the state ’ s reopening road map — meaning they can open restaurant dining rooms and more retail businesses for in-store shopping .
The list of counties that can ramp up their reopening efforts now includes San Diego — the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , San Luis Obispo , Santa Barbara and Ventura .
Ventura County Executive Officer Mike Powers said he was “ so happy for our county , businesses and employees , ” adding that there ’ s still “ a long way to go , but this is a major milestone.
” “ COVID-19 has had devastating impacts on both community health and our economy , ” he said .
“ We want businesses to be able to reopen , and we believe they can and will do so safely.
” Dr. Penny Borenstein @ @ @ @ @ @ @ health officer , said that before retail businesses can open their doors or restaurants can start offering dine-in service there , they must perform a risk assessment , train their workers to counteract the spread of the virus , and perform temperature checks on employees and , in some cases , patrons .
The county will inspect businesses that reopen to be sure they ’ re in compliance , she said .
She also asked tourists to stay out of San Luis Obispo County .
While officials have performed “ spot checks ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said the county would cite visitors only in the case of “ egregious violations.
” But Supervisor Janice Hahn called on Gov .
Gavin Newsom to allow all retail businesses across the state to open , provided they meet the same public health protocols — including limiting capacity , and requiring face coverings for employees and customers as well as physical distancing .
Doing so , she said Thursday , would help level the playing field between retailers that had to close because of coronavirus restrictions and larger ones such as Walmart , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to stay open throughout the pandemic because they also serve as grocery stores and pharmacies .

Luke Money, Rong-Gong Lin II, Hannah Fry

Ventura County has become the largest county in Southern California to resume dine-in service at restaurants and in-store shopping.
As large swaths of California began reopening shopping malls, restaurants and other businesses this week, the coronavirus threat in Los Angeles County remains high as the death toll surpassed 2,000 people on Thursday.
More than 40 of California’s 58 counties have now been approved to expand retail operations as their virus conditions improved, with more expected to reopen their economies in the coming days.
But officials expect the progress to be slower in Los Angeles County, which accounts for nearly 60% of the state’s total deaths and almost half of the more than 86,000 confirmed infections. The county’s death toll rose Thursday to 2,016, with more than 42,000 confirmed cases.
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“This is a very sad milestone for us,” county Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer said.
Los Angeles County Supervisor Hilda Solis said she hoped officials could ease stay-at-home restrictions soon but urged caution.
“I wish that we could speed things up,” she said. “The virus is still out there waiting for us to let our guard down.”
Despite the average daily death toll, which has remained at a stubborn plateau for weeks, there were new signs that even Los Angeles was beginning to turn the corner.
The coronavirus transmission rate in the nation’s most populous county, home to 56% of COVID-19 deaths in California, is now in its best position since the magnitude of the outbreak became clear in March.
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At the start of the pandemic’s arrival in L.A., the transmission rate of the coronavirus was high; on average, every one person infected went on to infect more than three other people. Scientists call this rate of transmission the effective transmission number, or “R.”
But by late March, after the stay-at-home order was put into effect, the effective transmission number fell to 1, meaning that, on average, every person with COVID-19 infected one other person. That rate, if sustained, means that the number of people infected remains constant.
Dr. Christina Ghaly, director of health services for L.A. County, said a continuing downturn in the daily number of new confirmed cases suggested that the effective transmission number was now slightly under 1.
“If ‘R’ stays under 1, then the epidemic in Los Angeles County is expected to decrease over time,” Ghaly said.
“That is a good thing for all of us. As we work to reopen the economy and get people back to work and back to living their lives, we need to work together to avoid having transmission again increase,” she said.
Use of hospital beds by COVID-19 patients is also stable and slightly trending downward in L.A. County, Ghaly said.
It’s still possible, however, that Los Angeles County could run out of intensive care beds if disease transmission rates rise significantly. If more people start being infected as society reopens, officials won’t know it until two or four weeks later, the time it takes for those people to get so sick they need medical attention.
An L.A. County simulation has found that if the county can keep the disease transmission rate the same as it is now, by the start of December, just 9% of L.A. County residents will have contracted the coronavirus.
But if the effective transmission number were to rise to 1.5 — meaning each infected person gives the virus, on average, to 1.5 other people — 44% of county residents will have been infected by the start of December.
Overall, 52% of those who have died in Los Angeles County lived in an institutional setting. The vast majority were residents of skilled-nursing facilities.
Los Angeles County has begun to relax some of its coronavirus restrictions but doesn’t meet the state’s criteria for a wider reopening.
To the south, new concerns emerged in Orange County, which recorded 14 new coronavirus-related fatalities Thursday — the most in a single day since the pandemic began. Officials attributed the uptick to outbreaks in nursing homes.
The rise in deaths comes a day after the county reported 10 fatalities related to COVID-19. Of those who have died in the past two days, 18 were residents in skilled nursing facilities, Orange County Health Officer Dr. Nichole Quick said.
“We’ll have to watch that over the coming week to see if this is a trend or if it was just a couple of days of increase,” Quick said. “We hope it was just that.”
Orange County is hoping to reopen more of its economy but is still waiting for state approval.
“We believe we have met all the criteria,” Orange County Supervisor Michelle Steel said. “We submitted a draft plan and are currently in the process of meeting with the state to finalize our variance.”
Much of California has progressed to a point where officials feel it’s safe to lift more of the state’s stay-at-home order and allow more businesses to reopen.
The number of new coronavirus cases across the state declined from the previous week, and hospitalizations have dropped more than 15% from a peak six weeks ago, according to a Times analysis.
Most counties have received approval to progress more quickly through Phase 2 of the state’s reopening road map — meaning they can open restaurant dining rooms and more retail businesses for in-store shopping.
The list of counties that can ramp up their reopening efforts now includes San Diego — the state’s second-most populous — Kern, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara and Ventura.
Ventura County Executive Officer Mike Powers said he was “so happy for our county, businesses and employees,” adding that there’s still “a long way to go, but this is a major milestone.”
“COVID-19 has had devastating impacts on both community health and our economy,” he said. “We want businesses to be able to reopen, and we believe they can and will do so safely.”
Dr. Penny Borenstein, San Luis Obispo County’s health officer, said that before retail businesses can open their doors or restaurants can start offering dine-in service there, they must perform a risk assessment, train their workers to counteract the spread of the virus, and perform temperature checks on employees and, in some cases, patrons.
The county will inspect businesses that reopen to be sure they’re in compliance, she said.
She also asked tourists to stay out of San Luis Obispo County. While officials have performed “spot checks” with hotels to deter tourism, Borenstein said the county would cite visitors only in the case of “egregious violations.”
It’s unclear when Los Angeles County will begin a wider reopening.
But Supervisor Janice Hahn called on Gov. Gavin Newsom to allow all retail businesses across the state to open, provided they meet the same public health protocols — including limiting capacity, and requiring face coverings for employees and customers as well as physical distancing.
Doing so, she said Thursday, would help level the playing field between retailers that had to close because of coronavirus restrictions and larger ones such as Walmart, Costco and Target that have been allowed to stay open throughout the pandemic because they also serve as grocery stores and pharmacies.
Times staff writers Cindy Carcamo, Leila Miller and James Rainey contributed this report.


latimes--2020-05-22--In a pandemic, no one wants to touch it. Why cash has become the new Typhoid Mary

“ This note is legal tender for all debts , public and private.
” That ’ s what it says right under “ Federal Reserve Note ” and “ The United States of America.
” But legal tender won ’ t be accepted to play at one of the city of Los Angeles ’ dozen public golf courses .
Or for the $ 15 charge to enter the Los Angeles County Arboretum and Botanic Gardens in Arcadia .
More than 30 Armstrong Garden Centers around California also ask for “ touchless ” payment options , as does the Beehive clothing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Company sandwich shop in South Pasadena .
The almighty dollar has lost some of its might in the time of COVID-19 .
While most struggling businesses will take payment in any form to make ends meet during the economic downturn , a minority reject cash , fearing that it could be a transmission vehicle for the SARS-CoV-2 virus .
Some experts predict that the pandemic will accelerate a steady flight by American consumers away from dollars and cents .
“ This crisis is clearly pushing us even farther away from using cash in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Kenneth Rogoff , a Harvard University economics professor and author of “ The Curse of Cash.
” “ And it ’ s for obvious reasons .
No one wants to touch something you or someone else just touched .
That ’ s not going to change any time soon.
” Dollars remain in record circulation around the world , in part as a perceived safe haven for investors and , not infrequently , according to Rogoff , as the preferred vehicle for money launderers and tax evaders .
But on Main Street , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and customers flinch , and contrary to popular belief , there is no federal law that requires businesses to accept bills and coins , according to the Federal Reserve ’ s website .
Noshi Sushi in Koreatown , a cash-only business for decades , has begun taking ATM and credit cards and now completes nearly half its transactions with plastic , said manager Jacky Gomez .
At a Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf in Manhattan Beach , cashier Jennai Dreger notices how cash often comes scribbled with notations .
“ People put down @ @ @ @ @ @ @ area codes are from all over the place , ” said Dreger .
“ And , I ’ m like , ‘ OK , this money has been everywhere.
’ ” She much prefers the no-touch transactions when customers use the coffee chain ’ s mobile phone app .
“ I don ’ t have to touch their money .
I don ’ t have to touch their card .
I don ’ t have to touch anything .
The only contact is between the scanner and their phone , ” Dreger said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ‘ Yes !
’ “ Sinnaca Bell of South Los Angeles delivers food for Postmates .
He has noticed even before the COVID crisis how cash would be stained , sometimes with what looked like blood .
“ If you have Venmo , or anything like that , you use it , ” said Bell , 41 .
“ Most people don ’ t really want to deal with cash.
” There has not been specific research on the danger of the coronavirus being transmitted via cash .
A National Institutes of Health @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cardboard for up to 24 hours .
But germs picked up from surfaces can be eliminated by thorough hand washing .
The primary means of transmission remains through respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs or sneezes .
That doesn ’ t make cash any less creepy to many of the consumers and workers who handle bills , with no way of knowing who has touched them before .
Kay Nam , owner of Current Events newsstand in Manhattan Beach , said she serves customers every day who leave cash and coins @ @ @ @ @ @ @ potential germs , with them .
“ With the virus , some people don ’ t want to touch money at all , ” said Nam , whose family has owned the business for 22 years .
Some loyal customers also want to leave their change to help support a local business , including one regular who pays $ 20 for his $ 2.50 newspaper .
Says Nam : “ There are a lot of good people out there.
” Good intentions don ’ t equal safety , though , and most cashiers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sometimes after every transaction .
Or they apply regular shots of hand sanitizer .
At El Tarasco , a Mexican food joint in Venice , cashier Maricela Moreno goes a step further .
She takes each new bill offered to her and sprays it down with alcohol .
She leaves the dead presidents lying atop a paper towel until they have dried , before returning them to the cash drawer .
Moreno laughs a bit at her money laundering ( the literal and legal kind , that is ) but adds : “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” A shift to other forms of payment has been encouraged by government agencies , such as the California Department of Public Health , which suggests the use of debit and credit cards .
Reopening plans for multiple counties also recommend “ contactless ” payment systems .
The retreat of cash comes with an advance of electronic payment systems such as Square , created by Twitter co-founder Jack Dorsey , and PayPal , also the parent of Venmo .
PayPal added an average of 250,000 new accounts a day through April and now @ @ @ @ @ @ @ up from 277 million accounts a year ago .
More than half of its accounts are in the United States .
“ I think what ’ s happened with the pandemic is it ’ s taken a three- to five-year time frame that it would have taken for digital payments to hit a tipping point and fast-forwarded it to reach that tipping point literally within months , ” PayPal Chief Executive Daniel Schulman said in an interview .
Although some older consumers had clung to cash , the digital pay platform now sees @ @ @ @ @ @ @ demographic .
“ Before it used to be cash or checks .
Now they are going to a payment platform to send money to the grandkids , ” Schulman said .
Some businesses prefer cash to reduce charges from bank card companies .
They also don ’ t suffer a tremendous penalty for holding the money outside of banks , for a time , because low interest rates would generate almost no growth .
But there are hidden costs , like the higher rates of insurance paid by companies that carry lots of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cash in the United States comes from businesses that also save by underreporting their income and thus illegally reducing their taxes , said Harvard ’ s Rogoff .
His 2016 book concluded that about 15 % of individual federal taxes are never paid , even after audits , amounting to a $ 500-million-a-year loss for the U.S. Treasury .
While many hail the shift to a cashless economy , others say that it raises equity concerns , because the poorest Americans have no access to digital alternatives .
Much of the world , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ moved to ensure that virtually their entire populations have access to online payments .
China introduced a digital currency this spring in four cities , paving the way to its becoming perhaps the world ’ s first cashless society .
But a survey by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. found that roughly 6 % of the U.S. population , about 14.1 million adults , doesn ’ t have a checking or savings account , and thus can ’ t access funds online .
That gap will have to be closed if America is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ future .
Acknowledging the “ bankless ” community , San Francisco last year passed a measure requiring all businesses to keep taking cash .
The policy remains in place , despite the pandemic .
For now , many businesses just want to reassure customers that their transactions won ’ t come freighted with a load of microscopic intruders .
“ We don ’ t know when it will be time to take cash again , ” said John Chen , owner of the Munch Company .
“ For right now , we just @ @ @ @ @ @ @ good thing for everyone .
We keep everyone safe and happy .
”

Maricela Moreno, a cashier at El Tarasco in Marina del Rey, sprays bills with alcohol at the restaurant. She said a lot of customers pay with Apple Pay or credit cards.
“This note is legal tender for all debts, public and private.” That’s what it says right under “Federal Reserve Note” and “The United States of America.”
But legal tender won’t be accepted to play at one of the city of Los Angeles’ dozen public golf courses. Or for the $15 charge to enter the Los Angeles County Arboretum and Botanic Gardens in Arcadia. More than 30 Armstrong Garden Centers around California also ask for “touchless” payment options, as does the Beehive clothing boutique in Manhattan Beach and the Munch Company sandwich shop in South Pasadena.
The almighty dollar has lost some of its might in the time of COVID-19. While most struggling businesses will take payment in any form to make ends meet during the economic downturn, a minority reject cash, fearing that it could be a transmission vehicle for the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Some experts predict that the pandemic will accelerate a steady flight by American consumers away from dollars and cents.
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“This crisis is clearly pushing us even farther away from using cash in our everyday legal transactions,” said Kenneth Rogoff, a Harvard University economics professor and author of “The Curse of Cash.” “And it’s for obvious reasons. No one wants to touch something you or someone else just touched. That’s not going to change any time soon.”
Maricela Moreno, a cashier at El Tarasco in Marina del Rey, dries the disinfected dead presidents on a paper towel before returning them to the cash drawer. (Myung J. Chun / Los Angeles Times)
Dollars remain in record circulation around the world, in part as a perceived safe haven for investors and, not infrequently, according to Rogoff, as the preferred vehicle for money launderers and tax evaders. But on Main Street, the use of greenbacks makes some retailers and customers flinch, and contrary to popular belief, there is no federal law that requires businesses to accept bills and coins, according to the Federal Reserve’s website.
Noshi Sushi in Koreatown, a cash-only business for decades, has begun taking ATM and credit cards and now completes nearly half its transactions with plastic, said manager Jacky Gomez.
At a Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf in Manhattan Beach, cashier Jennai Dreger notices how cash often comes scribbled with notations. “People put down their phone numbers and I see the area codes are from all over the place,” said Dreger. “And, I’m like, ‘OK, this money has been everywhere.’ ”
She much prefers the no-touch transactions when customers use the coffee chain’s mobile phone app. “I don’t have to touch their money. I don’t have to touch their card. I don’t have to touch anything. The only contact is between the scanner and their phone,” Dreger said. “And I am like, ‘Yes!’ “
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Sinnaca Bell of South Los Angeles delivers food for Postmates. He has noticed even before the COVID crisis how cash would be stained, sometimes with what looked like blood. “If you have Venmo, or anything like that, you use it,” said Bell, 41. “Most people don’t really want to deal with cash.”
There has not been specific research on the danger of the coronavirus being transmitted via cash. A National Institutes of Health study found that SARS-CoV-2 remained infectious on cardboard for up to 24 hours. But germs picked up from surfaces can be eliminated by thorough hand washing. The primary means of transmission remains through respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs or sneezes.
That doesn’t make cash any less creepy to many of the consumers and workers who handle bills, with no way of knowing who has touched them before.
Kay Nam, owner of Current Events newsstand in Manhattan Beach, said she serves customers every day who leave cash and coins rather than take the money, and potential germs, with them.
“With the virus, some people don’t want to touch money at all,” said Nam, whose family has owned the business for 22 years. Some loyal customers also want to leave their change to help support a local business, including one regular who pays $20 for his $2.50 newspaper. Says Nam: “There are a lot of good people out there.”
Good intentions don’t equal safety, though, and most cashiers said they wash their hands routinely, sometimes after every transaction. Or they apply regular shots of hand sanitizer.
Maricela Moreno wipes down a counter at El Tarasco. She laughs a bit at her money laundering (the literal and legal kind, that is) but adds: “Why not? Just to be safe.”
(Myung J. Chun / Los Angeles Times)
At El Tarasco, a Mexican food joint in Marina del Rey, cashier Maricela Moreno goes a step further. She takes each new bill offered to her and sprays it down with alcohol. She leaves the dead presidents lying atop a paper towel until they have dried, before returning them to the cash drawer.
Moreno laughs a bit at her money laundering (the literal and legal kind, that is) but adds: “Why not? Just to be safe.”
A shift to other forms of payment has been encouraged by government agencies, such as the California Department of Public Health, which suggests the use of debit and credit cards. Reopening plans for multiple counties also recommend “contactless” payment systems.
The retreat of cash comes with an advance of electronic payment systems such as Square, created by Twitter co-founder Jack Dorsey, and PayPal, also the parent of Venmo.
PayPal added an average of 250,000 new accounts a day through April and now has 325 million active accounts worldwide, up from 277 million accounts a year ago. More than half of its accounts are in the United States.
“I think what’s happened with the pandemic is it’s taken a three- to five-year time frame that it would have taken for digital payments to hit a tipping point and fast-forwarded it to reach that tipping point literally within months,” PayPal Chief Executive Daniel Schulman said in an interview.
Although some older consumers had clung to cash, the digital pay platform now sees the 50-plus age group as its fastest-growing demographic. “Before it used to be cash or checks. Now they are going to a payment platform to send money to the grandkids,” Schulman said.
Some businesses prefer cash to reduce charges from bank card companies. They also don’t suffer a tremendous penalty for holding the money outside of banks, for a time, because low interest rates would generate almost no growth. But there are hidden costs, like the higher rates of insurance paid by companies that carry lots of currency.
Much of the demand for cash in the United States comes from businesses that also save by underreporting their income and thus illegally reducing their taxes, said Harvard’s Rogoff. His 2016 book concluded that about 15% of individual federal taxes are never paid, even after audits, amounting to a $500-billion-a-year loss for the U.S. Treasury.
Tracking the coronavirus in California The latest maps and charts on the spread of COVID-19 in California.
While many hail the shift to a cashless economy, others say that it raises equity concerns, because the poorest Americans have no access to digital alternatives. Much of the world, led by Scandinavia and Japan, has moved to ensure that virtually their entire populations have access to online payments. China introduced a digital currency this spring in four cities, paving the way to its becoming perhaps the world’s first cashless society.
But a survey by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. found that roughly 6% of the U.S. population, about 14.1 million adults, doesn’t have a checking or savings account, and thus can’t access funds online. That gap will have to be closed if America is ever to come closer to a cashless future.
Acknowledging the “bankless” community, San Francisco last year passed a measure requiring all businesses to keep taking cash. The policy remains in place, despite the pandemic.
For now, many businesses just want to reassure customers that their transactions won’t come freighted with a load of microscopic intruders.
“We don’t know when it will be time to take cash again,” said John Chen, owner of the Munch Company. “For right now, we just avoid contact. It’s a good thing for everyone. We keep everyone safe and happy.”
Times staff writer Sarah Parvini contributed to this story.


latimes--2020-05-21--As sheriff defies subpoena on jails, watchdog plans another for Kobe Bryant crash records

The inspector general for the Los Angeles County Sheriff ’ s Department will subpoena records related to the helicopter crash that killed Kobe Bryant as part of an inquiry into whether Sheriff Alex Villanueva covered up the sharing of graphic photos by deputies at the scene .
Whether Villanueva will comply with the subpoena , authorized Thursday by the Sheriff Civilian Oversight Commission , is an open question .
He defied another subpoena to testify before the commission Thursday about coronavirus outbreaks in the county jails , instead sending an assistant sheriff .
Advocates and commissioners have raised a number @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , where more than 700 inmates and nearly 200 department personnel have tested positive for the virus .
The commission voted unanimously to take Villanueva to court to enforce the subpoena for the jail testimony .
That subpoena , approved this month , was the first issued by the commission under a ballot initiative , Measure R , overwhelmingly approved by voters in March .
“ I ’ m disappointed that the sheriff essentially decided to defy a lawful subpoena order , ” said Commissioner Priscilla Ocen .
“ It ’ s disheartening @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , from my perspective , the law.
” At a news conference this week , Villanueva questioned the legal authority behind the subpoenas .
He called the subpoena for the Bryant crash records “ a fine example of overreach ” and said the inspector general had no authority to demand them .
After Thursday ’ s meeting , he issued a statement saying that the assistant sheriff ’ s appearance satisfied the subpoena for his testimony .
The subpoena is not legally enforceable , he added , and everything the commission is entitled @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ The subpoena was issued to me in my official capacity as sheriff , and as such does not call for my personal appearance , ” the statement said .
“ As is standard practice , I sent the person most knowledgeable in my place .
Measure R contains no enforcement and/or objection mechanism.
” The items and records subpoenaed by Inspector General Max Huntsman related to the Bryant inquiry include cellphones used to take photos at the crash site in Calabasas , the identities of everyone present when orders were given to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ text messages on the handling of the incident .
Along with the retired Lakers superstar , eight others died in the crash : Bryant ’ s 13-year-old daughter , Gianna ; Christina Mauser ; Payton and Sarah Chester ; John , Keri and Alyssa Altobelli ; and pilot Ara Zobayan .
Huntsman , who with the county Board of Supervisors has a long-running feud with Villanueva , said he has been monitoring the department ’ s internal investigation into the photo-sharing incident .
Sheriff ’ s Department officials have allowed him to review @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been able to keep any copies , Huntsman said at the Thursday commission meeting .
Nor does the sheriff appear to be investigating any role he himself may have played in covering up the incident .
“ It does not include a robust investigation of himself , which should not be a surprise to anyone , ” Huntsman said .
Bryant ’ s widow , Vanessa Bryant , has filed a claim against the Sheriff ’ s Department over the sharing of the photos , alleging that “ no fewer than eight sheriff @ @ @ @ @ @ @ snapping cellphone photos of the dead children , parents , and coaches ” for their personal use .
The claim calls the department ’ s response to the incident “ grossly insufficient.
” The Times was the first to report that Sheriff ’ s Department officials quietly ordered subordinates to delete any photos of the crash scene after a citizen complained that a deputy was showing the gruesome images at a Norwalk bar .
In the days after the Jan. 26 crash , deputies were ordered to report to the Sheriff ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ told that if they came clean and deleted the photos , they would not face discipline , according to sources .
Villanueva will have 21 days to respond to the subpoena .
“ I ’ m feeling a little uninspired that these subpoenas are going to work , but they ’ re our only recourse right now , ” oversight commission Chairwoman Patricia Giggans said after Thursday ’ s meeting .
Assistant Sheriff Bruce Chase , who oversees the jails , testified in Villanueva ’ s place Thursday .
The inmate population is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from before the pandemic , after many low-level offenders were released in an effort to prevent the virus from spreading , Chase said .
Chase acknowledged that nonviolent and medically vulnerable inmates were still in the jails and that whittling down the population was a work in progress .
The jails house more than 2,000 inmates whose age or preexisting health conditions make them especially vulnerable .
Of about 5,400 inmates awaiting trial , more than 1,100 are classified as nonviolent , Chase said .
Even with fewer inmates , social distancing in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said — some triple bunks , for example , are bolted to the floor .
Coronavirus testing , including of inmates without symptoms , has been ramped up with the goal of testing everyone , Chase said .
The tests are voluntary , and some inmates are refusing , but testing was completed in the women ’ s jail Wednesday and is continuing in men ’ s facilities .
Huntsman said that in one dorm he reviewed last week , 40 of the 67 inmates tested positive for the virus .
“ I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that ’ s because I want to talk about the critical issues , ” Huntsman said .

A federal investigator’s photo of the site of the Jan. 26 helicopter crash in Calabasas that killed Kobe Bryant, his daughter Gianna and seven others.
The inspector general for the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department will subpoena records related to the helicopter crash that killed Kobe Bryant as part of an inquiry into whether Sheriff Alex Villanueva covered up the sharing of graphic photos by deputies at the scene.
Whether Villanueva will comply with the subpoena, authorized Thursday by the Sheriff Civilian Oversight Commission, is an open question.
He defied another subpoena to testify before the commission Thursday about coronavirus outbreaks in the county jails, instead sending an assistant sheriff. Advocates and commissioners have raised a number of concerns about conditions in the jails, where more than 700 inmates and nearly 200 department personnel have tested positive for the virus.
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The commission voted unanimously to take Villanueva to court to enforce the subpoena for the jail testimony. That subpoena, approved this month, was the first issued by the commission under a ballot initiative, Measure R, overwhelmingly approved by voters in March.
“I’m disappointed that the sheriff essentially decided to defy a lawful subpoena order,” said Commissioner Priscilla Ocen. “It’s disheartening when you see law enforcement not following, from my perspective, the law.”
At a news conference this week, Villanueva questioned the legal authority behind the subpoenas. He called the subpoena for the Bryant crash records “a fine example of overreach” and said the inspector general had no authority to demand them.
After Thursday’s meeting, he issued a statement saying that the assistant sheriff’s appearance satisfied the subpoena for his testimony. The subpoena is not legally enforceable, he added, and everything the commission is entitled to is available on his website.
“The subpoena was issued to me in my official capacity as sheriff, and as such does not call for my personal appearance,” the statement said. “As is standard practice, I sent the person most knowledgeable in my place. Measure R contains no enforcement and/or objection mechanism.”
The items and records subpoenaed by Inspector General Max Huntsman related to the Bryant inquiry include cellphones used to take photos at the crash site in Calabasas, the identities of everyone present when orders were given to delete the photos and department emails and text messages on the handling of the incident.
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Along with the retired Lakers superstar, eight others died in the crash: Bryant’s 13-year-old daughter, Gianna; Christina Mauser; Payton and Sarah Chester; John, Keri and Alyssa Altobelli; and pilot Ara Zobayan.
Huntsman, who with the county Board of Supervisors has a long-running feud with Villanueva, said he has been monitoring the department’s internal investigation into the photo-sharing incident.
Sheriff’s Department officials have allowed him to review redacted documents, but he has not been able to keep any copies, Huntsman said at the Thursday commission meeting.
Nor does the sheriff appear to be investigating any role he himself may have played in covering up the incident.
“It does not include a robust investigation of himself, which should not be a surprise to anyone,” Huntsman said.
Bryant’s widow, Vanessa Bryant, has filed a claim against the Sheriff’s Department over the sharing of the photos, alleging that “no fewer than eight sheriff’s deputies were at the scene snapping cellphone photos of the dead children, parents, and coaches” for their personal use.
The claim calls the department’s response to the incident “grossly insufficient.”
The Times was the first to report that Sheriff’s Department officials quietly ordered subordinates to delete any photos of the crash scene after a citizen complained that a deputy was showing the gruesome images at a Norwalk bar.
In the days after the Jan. 26 crash, deputies were ordered to report to the Sheriff’s Department’s Lost Hills station and told that if they came clean and deleted the photos, they would not face discipline, according to sources.
Villanueva will have 21 days to respond to the subpoena.
“I’m feeling a little uninspired that these subpoenas are going to work, but they’re our only recourse right now,” oversight commission Chairwoman Patricia Giggans said after Thursday’s meeting.
Assistant Sheriff Bruce Chase, who oversees the jails, testified in Villanueva’s place Thursday.
The inmate population is just under 12,000, down 32% from before the pandemic, after many low-level offenders were released in an effort to prevent the virus from spreading, Chase said.
Chase acknowledged that nonviolent and medically vulnerable inmates were still in the jails and that whittling down the population was a work in progress.
The jails house more than 2,000 inmates whose age or preexisting health conditions make them especially vulnerable. Of about 5,400 inmates awaiting trial, more than 1,100 are classified as nonviolent, Chase said.
Even with fewer inmates, social distancing in the jails is a problem, he said — some triple bunks, for example, are bolted to the floor.
Coronavirus testing, including of inmates without symptoms, has been ramped up with the goal of testing everyone, Chase said. The tests are voluntary, and some inmates are refusing, but testing was completed in the women’s jail Wednesday and is continuing in men’s facilities.
Huntsman said that in one dorm he reviewed last week, 40 of the 67 inmates tested positive for the virus.
“I wish the sheriff was here, and that’s because I want to talk about the critical issues,” Huntsman said.


latimes--2020-05-23--See's Candies reopens candy kitchens, paying attention to coronavirus concerns

While See ’ s Candies may have shuttered its doors for Easter and Mother ’ s Day , the chocolate confectioner will be back in production this holiday weekend .
Pat Egan , See ’ s president and chief executive , emailed patrons today sharing that the 99-year-old company recently reopened its San Francisco and Los Angeles candy kitchens .
“ While this means we are now able to safely make our candies , you can almost say we are starting from scratch , ” Egan said in a statement .
Egan noted that the entire See ’ s selection @ @ @ @ @ @ @ available since the company would “ slowly reopen ” but assured customers that no items will be discontinued .
“ We may not have everything in stock , but this is a great time to try a new flavor and explore our assortment , ” Egan said .
Along with online sales , See ’ s will be offering contact-free pickup at certain stores , including in Anaheim , Long Beach , Reseda , South Pasadena and Torrance .
Customers can visit pickup.sees.com to find the closest location .
Egan said he expects @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the future .
“ We appreciate your patience as we restart this grand business so we can serve you even better in the years to come , ” he said .
See ’ s initially shut down over coronavirus concerns in March for only the second time in its history , and the first since World War II .
Egan did not mention in the email what safety precautions the company has taken since the shutdown that allowed for a reopening .
A call and email to See ’ s were not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ Because we won ’ t cut corners , and because our employees are like family , we meticulously worked through every step in the process to make sure we ’ re safe before we ’ ll re-initiate production or open shops.
” The first See ’ s store was opened in Los Angeles in 1921 by husband and wife Charles and Florence See and Charles ’ mother , Mary .
All three were Canadian immigrants .
Mary and Charles originally moved to Pasadena in 1919 .

After shutting down two months ago due to coronavirus concerns, See’s Candies is reopening candy kitchens in San Francisco and Los Angeles.
While See’s Candies may have shuttered its doors for Easter and Mother’s Day, the chocolate confectioner will be back in production this holiday weekend.
Pat Egan, See’s president and chief executive, emailed patrons today sharing that the 99-year-old company recently reopened its San Francisco and Los Angeles candy kitchens.
“While this means we are now able to safely make our candies, you can almost say we are starting from scratch,” Egan said in a statement.
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Egan noted that the entire See’s selection of candies would not immediately be made available since the company would “slowly reopen” but assured customers that no items will be discontinued.
“We may not have everything in stock, but this is a great time to try a new flavor and explore our assortment,” Egan said.
Along with online sales, See’s will be offering contact-free pickup at certain stores, including in Anaheim, Long Beach, Reseda, South Pasadena and Torrance. Customers can visit pickup.sees.com to find the closest location.
Egan said he expects this service to increase to more stores in the future.
We're so happy to be back! ❤ We hope to either bring joy to your doorstep or see you pick up your treats contact-free at one of our shops.🍫 https://t.co/WxQb502LFe — See's Candies (@seescandies) May 22, 2020
“We appreciate your patience as we restart this grand business so we can serve you even better in the years to come,” he said.
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See’s initially shut down over coronavirus concerns in March for only the second time in its history, and the first since World War II.
Egan did not mention in the email what safety precautions the company has taken since the shutdown that allowed for a reopening.
A call and email to See’s were not immediately returned.
Egan did note, “Because we won’t cut corners, and because our employees are like family, we meticulously worked through every step in the process to make sure we’re safe before we’ll re-initiate production or open shops.”
The first See’s store was opened in Los Angeles in 1921 by husband and wife Charles and Florence See and Charles’ mother, Mary. All three were Canadian immigrants.
Mary and Charles originally moved to Pasadena in 1919.


latimes--2020-05-22--L.A. County to consider ways some cities could reopen under coronavirus guidelines

Soon , certain cities in Los Angeles County might have more leeway over when they can reopen some businesses .
The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors will consider a motion at its Tuesday meeting that would instruct the county health officer to work with Gov .
Gavin Newsom ’ s office and state public health officials to devise a plan that would allow the parts of the county that have been less hard-hit by COVID-19 to reopen more quickly .
Supervisors Kathryn Barger and Janice Hahn authored the motion , in which they argue that Los Angeles County is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ under one public health order .
“ The Fifth District alone has incorporated cities with as few as 1,000 residents and as many as nearly 200,000 residents , ” the supervisors wrote in their motion , referencing Barger ’ s district , which encompasses 2,807 square miles .
“ This virus is impacting each city in our county differently ; some cities have zero reported cases , while others have case rates greater than 700 per 100,000 residents.
” An executive order that Newsom issued in early May created a pathway for local @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from state directives if their communities can meet certain criteria established by the state public health department .
Those criteria include having testing available for at least 75 % of residents , as measured by having a specimen collection site , including established healthcare providers , within 30 minutes of driving time in urban areas and 60 minutes in rural areas .
Several cities in the county have expressed interest in a city or regional variance plan .
It is unclear , based on the information provided in the supervisors ’ motion , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the criteria required .
“ The county of Los Angeles has invested heavily in PPE , testing , hospital capacity and other measures over the past 60 days to flatten the curve , ” the supervisors wrote in their motion .
“ Accordingly , over the last week , the average rate of hospitalization has declined 1.6 % per day , and testing capacity was over 1.6 per 1,000 residents per day .
The county ’ s positive test rate has dropped to 9 % , down 5 % in the last few @ @ @ @ @ @ @ meet or exceed the state criteria.
” The economic impact for L.A. County would be substantial .
More than 1 million unemployment claims have been filed in L.A. County since mid-March , and an estimated 750,000 jobs are expected to be lost from the retail and food-service industries , according to the supervisors ’ motion .
About 75 % of the total jobs lost will be among residents who earn $ 50,000 or less per year .

Soon, certain cities in Los Angeles County might have more leeway over when they can reopen some businesses.
The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors will consider a motion at its Tuesday meeting that would instruct the county health officer to work with Gov. Gavin Newsom’s office and state public health officials to devise a plan that would allow the parts of the county that have been less hard-hit by COVID-19 to reopen more quickly.
Supervisors Kathryn Barger and Janice Hahn authored the motion, in which they argue that Los Angeles County is too demographically and geographically diverse to fall under one public health order.
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“The Fifth District alone has incorporated cities with as few as 1,000 residents and as many as nearly 200,000 residents,” the supervisors wrote in their motion, referencing Barger’s district, which encompasses 2,807 square miles.
“This virus is impacting each city in our county differently; some cities have zero reported cases, while others have case rates greater than 700 per 100,000 residents.”
An executive order that Newsom issued in early May created a pathway for local health officers to implement measures that depart from state directives if their communities can meet certain criteria established by the state public health department.
Those criteria include having testing available for at least 75% of residents, as measured by having a specimen collection site, including established healthcare providers, within 30 minutes of driving time in urban areas and 60 minutes in rural areas.
Several cities in the county have expressed interest in a city or regional variance plan. It is unclear, based on the information provided in the supervisors’ motion, how much of L.A. County could meet the criteria required.
“The county of Los Angeles has invested heavily in PPE, testing, hospital capacity and other measures over the past 60 days to flatten the curve,” the supervisors wrote in their motion. “Accordingly, over the last week, the average rate of hospitalization has declined 1.6% per day, and testing capacity was over 1.6 per 1,000 residents per day. The county’s positive test rate has dropped to 9%, down 5% in the last few weeks. Many of these data points meet or exceed the state criteria.”
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The economic impact for L.A. County would be substantial.
More than 1 million unemployment claims have been filed in L.A. County since mid-March, and an estimated 750,000 jobs are expected to be lost from the retail and food-service industries, according to the supervisors’ motion. About 75% of the total jobs lost will be among residents who earn $50,000 or less per year.


latimes--2020-05-22--Charter company that operated helicopter in Kobe Bryant crash has received federal coronavirus funds

The charter company that operated the helicopter that crashed in January , killing Kobe Bryant , his daughter Gianna and seven others , has received more than $ 600,000 through a federal program to support aviation industry payrolls in the midst of the coronavirus crisis .
Long Beach-based Island Express Helicopters got the payment May 1 through the CARES Act , according to Treasury Department records .
The company is one of 202 passenger air carriers of all sizes that have received payroll support through the Coronavirus Aid , Relief , and Economic Security Act in amounts from $ 5,900 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the firms , including Island Express , are based in California .
The biggest in-state distribution — $ 26.9 million — went to Clay Lacy Aviation in Van Nuys .
Thirteen of the companies received $ 1 million or more in aid .
The company faces four wrongful death lawsuits in Los Angeles County Superior Court related to the crash .
The 1991 Sikorsky S-76B carrying Bryant slammed into a hillside in Calabasas , near Los Virgenes Road and Willow Glen Street , in dense fog Jan. 26 .
The helicopter was en @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Bryant ’ s sports academy in Thousand Oaks .
In addition to Kobe and Gianna Bryant , John , Keri and Alyssa Altobelli ; Payton and Sarah Chester ; Christina Mauser , and pilot Ara Zobayan were also killed .
Vanessa Bryant sued in February on the same day as the public memorial service at Staples Center for her husband and daughter .
“ Defendant Island Express Helicopters authorized , directed and/or permitted a flight with full knowledge that the subject helicopter was flying into unsafe weather conditions , ” the lawsuit said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ filed last week , attorneys for Island Express argued that the passengers knew the “ particular dangers ” of travel by helicopter and assumed them voluntarily .
The filing described the crash as an “ unavoidable accident.
” One of Bryant ’ s attorneys didn ’ t respond to a request for comment on the CARES Act funds .
Surviving members of the Altobelli , Chester and Mauser families have also sued the company .
Island Express suspended operations indefinitely after the crash .
Its website , updated in early March , offered @ @ @ @ @ @ @ time is precious , with traffic congestion at its worst in CA , we can turn a two-hour taxi ride from LAX into a 12-minute flight , ” the site said .
The company ’ s most recent Instagram post said in mid-April that it continued to offer daily flights to and from Catalina Island for “ essential travel ” and “ we can ’ t wait until things get back to normal .
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Kobe Bryant shares a laugh with his daughter Gianna while attending a women’s basketball game between Long Beach State and Oregon on Dec. 14, 2019.
The charter company that operated the helicopter that crashed in January, killing Kobe Bryant, his daughter Gianna and seven others, has received more than $600,000 through a federal program to support aviation industry payrolls in the midst of the coronavirus crisis.
Long Beach-based Island Express Helicopters got the payment May 1 through the CARES Act, according to Treasury Department records.
The company is one of 202 passenger air carriers of all sizes that have received payroll support through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act in amounts from $5,900 to $5.8 billion.
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Twenty-four of the firms, including Island Express, are based in California. The biggest in-state distribution — $26.9 million — went to Clay Lacy Aviation in Van Nuys. Thirteen of the companies received $1 million or more in aid.
A spokesman for Island Express declined to comment.
California Blunt force trauma listed as cause of death for Kobe Bryant, others in helicopter crash The Los Angeles County coroner autopsy report says blunt force trauma was cause of death in the crash that killed Kobe Bryant. No illegal substances or alcohol were found in the bloodstream of pilot Ara Zobayan.
The company faces four wrongful death lawsuits in Los Angeles County Superior Court related to the crash.
The 1991 Sikorsky S-76B carrying Bryant slammed into a hillside in Calabasas, near Los Virgenes Road and Willow Glen Street, in dense fog Jan. 26. The helicopter was en route to a youth basketball game at Bryant’s sports academy in Thousand Oaks.
In addition to Kobe and Gianna Bryant, John, Keri and Alyssa Altobelli; Payton and Sarah Chester; Christina Mauser, and pilot Ara Zobayan were also killed.
Vanessa Bryant sued in February on the same day as the public memorial service at Staples Center for her husband and daughter.
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“Defendant Island Express Helicopters authorized, directed and/or permitted a flight with full knowledge that the subject helicopter was flying into unsafe weather conditions,” the lawsuit said.
In an answer to the complaint filed last week, attorneys for Island Express argued that the passengers knew the “particular dangers” of travel by helicopter and assumed them voluntarily. The filing described the crash as an “unavoidable accident.”
California Sheriff watchdog seeking subpoena for documents in alleged Kobe Bryant crash photo cover-up Los Angeles County’s chief law enforcement watchdog is seeking to subpoena documents related to allegations that Sheriff Alex Villanueva directed a cover up after deputies shared graphic photos of the helicopter crash that killed Kobe Bryant, his daughter and seven others.
One of Bryant’s attorneys didn’t respond to a request for comment on the CARES Act funds.
Surviving members of the Altobelli, Chester and Mauser families have also sued the company.
Island Express suspended operations indefinitely after the crash. Its website, updated in early March, offered charter services once again.
“Your time is precious, with traffic congestion at its worst in CA, we can turn a two-hour taxi ride from LAX into a 12-minute flight,” the site said.
The company’s most recent Instagram post said in mid-April that it continued to offer daily flights to and from Catalina Island for “essential travel” and “we can’t wait until things get back to normal.”


latimes--2020-05-22--Pomona City Councilman arrested on child pornography allegations

A Pomona city councilman has been accused of “ child annoyance or molestation ” and possession of child pornography , authorities said Friday .
Rubio Gonzalez , 45 , was arrested Thursday on suspicion of “ possession of child sexual abuse material and annoying or molesting a child , ” said Greg Risling , a spokesman for the Los Angeles County district attorney ’ s office .
Gonzalez did not respond to an emailseeking comment .
Risling declined to elaborate on the nature of the allegations or what led to Gonzalez ’ s arrest .
In a statement , city @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been able to contact Gonzalez and were not aware if he planned to resign from the City Council in the wake of the arrest .
“ While it is important to allow the legal system to determine his guilt or innocence , we are stunned and deeply concerned by Mr. Gonzalez ’ arrest and the extremely serious nature of the criminal allegations , ” the statement said .
Late Friday , Mayor Tim Sandoval issued a statement saying he intends to call for a special meeting of the City Council to discuss legal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a council member .
Having him remain on the Council “ while he faces these serious charges will present a distraction ” as city leaders work toward reopening the city during the coronavirus crisis .
Jail records show Gonzalez was booked into the Los Angeles County Sheriff ’ s Department ’ s San Dimas station Thursday morning and released on $ 20,000 bond later that day .
Risling said formal criminal charges had not been filed as of Friday afternoon .
Gonzalez is set to make his first appearance in a downtown Los @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who was elected in 2016 to represent Council District 1 , has lived in Pomona for more than 35 years and works for the local school district , according to his biography on the city ’ s website .
Gonzalez describes himself as a “ substitute teacher ” on his personal Facebook page .
He has also worked for “ several school districts ” in Texas and California , including the Los Angeles Unified School District , according to the City Council ’ s website .

A Pomona city councilman has been accused of “child annoyance or molestation” and possession of child pornography, authorities said Friday.
Rubio Gonzalez, 45, was arrested Thursday on suspicion of “possession of child sexual abuse material and annoying or molesting a child,” said Greg Risling, a spokesman for the Los Angeles County district attorney’s office.
Gonzalez did not respond to an emailseeking comment. Risling declined to elaborate on the nature of the allegations or what led to Gonzalez’s arrest.
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In a statement, city spokesman Mark Gluba said officials have not been able to contact Gonzalez and were not aware if he planned to resign from the City Council in the wake of the arrest.
“While it is important to allow the legal system to determine his guilt or innocence, we are stunned and deeply concerned by Mr. Gonzalez’ arrest and the extremely serious nature of the criminal allegations,” the statement said.
Late Friday, Mayor Tim Sandoval issued a statement saying he intends to call for a special meeting of the City Council to discuss legal options regarding Gonzalez’s status as a council member.
Having him remain on the Council “while he faces these serious charges will present a distraction” as city leaders work toward reopening the city during the coronavirus crisis.
Jail records show Gonzalez was booked into the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department’s San Dimas station Thursday morning and released on $20,000 bond later that day.
Risling said formal criminal charges had not been filed as of Friday afternoon. Gonzalez is set to make his first appearance in a downtown Los Angeles courtroom on Tuesday.
Gonzalez, who was elected in 2016 to represent Council District 1, has lived in Pomona for more than 35 years and works for the local school district, according to his biography on the city’s website. Gonzalez describes himself as a “substitute teacher” on his personal Facebook page.
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He has also worked for “several school districts” in Texas and California, including the Los Angeles Unified School District, according to the City Council’s website.