latimes--2020-11-09--No sharing, use 'airplane arms': Las Virgenes kids are among first in L.A. to return to school

Learning to share is typically among the first lessons for kindergartners .
But not when hundreds arrived on campus Monday , the first public school children in Los Angeles County to return to school amid surging coronavirus infections .
No shared pencils or crayons .
No sitting together at tables .
No bouncing a ball from one person to another .
Use outstretched “ airplane arms ” to keep distant from classmates .
Yet for all the restrictions they had to navigate , families and officials expressed excitement as their small public school system in the Calabasas area became the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to transitional kindergarten through second grade under county-approved waivers .
About 2,000 students set foot in classrooms for in-person learning 55 days into the school year .
“ We ’ re excited to get started !
” Supt .
Dan Stepenosky told The Times .
His district straddles the L.A. County-Ventura County border but sits mostly within the jurisdiction of L.A. County , so his waivers were granted by that county ’ s Department of Public Health .
“ Most parents are over-the-moon excited , ” he added .
Liraz Benelisha got a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ kindergarten — no non-employee adults are allowed on campus .
While happy that he ’ d finally get to meet classmates in person , she was worried .
“ Outside of school , some people are still not wearing masks , still socializing as if nothing is happening , ” she said .
“ I ’ m trusting others with my son ’ s health.
” So far , private schools have dominated the waiver application process .
While more public school districts are entering the process , waivers either have not been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ county ’ s largest school systems .
The same is true for many districts that serve the greatest number of students from low-income families .
About 12 % of Las Virgenes students qualify for free- or reduced-price lunch because of low family income , making the district a more prosperous enclave by L.A. County standards .
As of Monday , the county health department has granted waivers to 74 elementary schools , most of them private schools .
The health department in Pasadena has granted five additional waivers , as has the health @ @ @ @ @ @ @ few weeks ago , all schools and districts were required to submit letters of support from employee unions , which proved to be a hurdle .
“ This created challenges for many school districts that was not present in the private setting , ” said Gina Ward , a spokeswoman for Rowland Unified in the San Gabriel Valley .
Los Angeles Unified , the nation ’ s second-largest school system , has not applied for reopening waivers but is building an effort to provide one-on-one tutoring and small-group instruction for up to three @ @ @ @ @ @ @ special needs .
The district recently said about 1,000 students were participating among its 460,000 K-through-12th grade students .
Palos Verdes Peninsula Unified is applying for waivers , but Supt .
Alexander Cherniss also would like to see authorization for a more general reopening in parts of L.A. County where infection rates for the coronavirus are comparatively low .
Rates at these levels already would have allowed for reopening — were it not for the county ’ s elevated infection rate as a whole , he noted .
With or without the waiver @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the youngest students because the county allows for the in-person return of students with special needs — up to 25 % of a school ’ s enrollment .
This exemption for special needs could be applied to the youngest students , who are not faring well in distance learning .
Friday evening , Rowland Unified reached an agreement with its teachers association to begin in-person one-on-one assessments for students with disabilities .
“ This will be the first step in bringing students back , ” Ward said .
“ Both the union and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of all students and staff.
” Las Virgenes moved swiftly to reopen under waivers with the blessing of the local teachers union .
On Monday , children encountered new rules and procedures .
On the way in , students go through two temperature scans : one outside and one just inside the school building .
A temperature of 100 degrees or higher means turn around and go home .
Masks are mandatory for all — even the youngest students — except during lunch .
The color of the day is blue and the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Blue dots designate how far apart students have to be in class , on the playground and in eating areas .
In Jennifer Klein ’ s kindergarten class , all students received their own supplies .
“ Why can ’ t we share them ?
” she asked her students .
“ Because of the corona , ” she said without hesitation from behind her white mask , which was set off well by her light pink , sequined high tops .
No class can have more than 12 students , as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and an aide .
The morning session lasts from 8:15 to 10:40 a.m. Then there ’ s a cleaning session before a different afternoon “ cohort ” attends class from 12:25 to 2:50 p.m. Cleaning-crew member Terrence Littlefield starts every morning with a new mask , a stack of wipes and hand sanitizer .
“ No complaints , ” said Littlefield , who ’ d been on unemployment since July and is happy to be back at work .
“ Everything we ’ re doing is necessary to keep everybody safe.
” “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” said Supt .
Stepenosky .
“ We can ’ t open up and become a super spreader.
” But he ’ s not too worried : “ In reality , students have been training for months , ” he said .
“ Plus , schools aren ’ t bars or football games .
Students know they have to follow the rules .
”

Kindergarteners in teacher Ursula Dysthe’s class wear face protection at Lupin Hill Elementary School in Calabasas, one of the first public elementary schools to reopen in Los Angeles County under a waiver amid surging coronavirus infections.
Learning to share is typically among the first lessons for kindergartners. But not when hundreds arrived on campus Monday, the first public school children in Los Angeles County to return to something like a regular classroom amid surging coronavirus infections.
No shared pencils or crayons. No sitting together at tables. No bouncing a ball from one person to another. Use outstretched “airplane arms” to keep distant from classmates.
For the record: This article incorrectly attributed a quote about the Rowland Unified School District to spokesperson Gina Ward. The quote should have been attributed to district Supt. Julie Mitchell.
Yet for all the restrictions they had to navigate, families and officials expressed excitement as their small public school system in the Calabasas area became the first in L.A. County to reopen campuses to transitional kindergarten through second-grade classes under county-approved waivers. These waivers allow campuses to reopen even when COVID-19 infection rates are high. About 2,000 students set foot in classrooms for in-person learning 55 days into the school year.
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“We’re excited to get started!” Supt. Dan Stepenosky told The Times. His district straddles the L.A. County-Ventura County border but sits mostly within the jurisdiction of L.A. County, so his waivers were granted by that county’s Department of Public Health. “Most parents are over-the-moon excited,” he added.
Similar expressions of joy and relief — mixed with residual concerns — will be playing out at dozens of local elementary schools in the coming weeks, but not initially in a way that is equitable for all students.
As of Monday, the county public health department had granted waivers to 74 elementary schools, a tiny fraction of the 2,200 public schools in L.A. County. The vast majority have gone to private schools. The health departments in Pasadena and Long Beach have granted 10 additional waivers — all to private schools. Similar narratives have played out in other California counties.
Although more public school districts are beginning to enter the application process, the county’s largest school systems and many serving large numbers of students from low-income families, including Los Angeles Unified, are not applying, citing major safety concerns as the county remains in the most restrictive purple tier under the state’s four-phase reopening plan — indicating widespread transmission of the virus. Some cite lack of funding to provide necessary health and safety equipment as well as resistance from employee unions.
Kindergarten teacher assistant Susan Silic oversees proper hand washing at Lupin Hill Elementary School in Calabasas, one of the first public elementary schools to reopen Monday under a waiver in L.A. County. (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)
Fear about the virus persists even where families are returning their children to campus.
Liraz Benelisha got teary seeing her son off to kindergarten — no non-employee adults are allowed on campus. Though happy that he’d finally get to meet classmates in person, she was worried.
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“Outside of school, some people are still not wearing masks, still socializing as if nothing is happening,” she said. “I’m trusting others with my son’s health.”
In seeking waivers, many private schools took employee concerns into full account, but there were no unions to push for additional safety measures. L.A. County initially made employee support for a waiver mandatory but later dropped that requirement. The county’s process now simply requires outreach to employees, which aligns with state guidelines. With this change, public schools could catch up to private ones on waivers, but school districts remain cautious about working through concerns raised by unions.
Even before waivers became available, many private schools moved quickly to bring back large numbers of students with “special needs,” when that became possible in L.A. County on Sept. 14. These rules allow up to 25% of a school’s students on campus at any given time.
When waivers also became available, these schools’ safety protocols already were in place, often including outdoor, tented classrooms for part-time instruction, new HVAC systems that filter the air and desks separated by plexiglass. Some have required regular coronavirus testing of students and staff.
Many private schools interpreted the special needs provision to include all of their youngest students. The county has left it up to educators to define special needs.
Chadwick School, which is applying for a waiver, brought back kindergarteners at the end of September, and first and second graders in mid-October to its Palos Verdes Peninsula campus. Next week students through 12th grade will begin weekly visits to campus.
Westside Neighborhood School in Playa Vista, which has received a waiver, welcomed its 85 kindergarteners and first-graders back in early October. Higher grades are gradually being worked back into campus life.
The school has established a surveillance COVID-19 testing program, with 900 tests issued to students and staff so far — all with negative results, said Head of School Bradley Zacuto.
Some private schools have gotten creative with outdoor instruction. Seven Arrows Elementary, a small private school in Pacific Palisades, has brought each grade back for “youth conditioning,” which is allowed under county guidelines.
Twice weekly, teachers will take their cohorts of 12 to a park or nearby Will Rogers State Beach, where students swim and do shoreside yoga.
“It has been a game changer,” said Seven Arrows Head of School Margarita Pagliai. “It allows children to see each other, to make connections, and get a lot of energy out so when they get on Zoom they’re laser focused.”
Seven Arrows also received a waiver and is gradually phasing students back to in-person instruction, with 60 K-2 students on campus already.
Kindergarteners at Lupin Hill Elementary School in Calabasas practice social distance walking through the library Monday morning. (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)
Las Virgenes was able to open with a waiver after winning a union endorsement. El Segundo Unified also won backing from its employees as part of its successful waiver applications. Its two elementary schools are likely to open in early December. Other local school systems with approved waivers through Monday are La Canada Unified and Manhattan Beach Unified. All four school systems serve comparatively prosperous communities — and also areas where coronavirus infections rates are lower.
Palos Verdes Peninsula Unified is applying for waivers, but Supt. Alexander Cherniss also would like to see authorization for a more general reopening in parts of L.A. County where infection rates for the coronavirus are comparatively low.
In a public town hall Monday, county Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer said state rules don’t allow counties to reopen in sections. She also noted that infections rates are currently rising in virtually every L.A. County community.
In reopened schools, Ferrer said Monday, there have been “three or four” cases at 10 schools so far. One school reported nine cases after a group of students went to Arizona to play a baseball game. Participants got infected, then came home and infected others, she said. Ferrer did not name the school.
Los Angeles Unified, the nation’s second-largest school system, has not applied for reopening waivers but is providing one-on-one tutoring and small-group instruction for up to three students at a time for those with special needs. The district recently said about 1,000 students were participating among its 460,000 K--12th-grade students.
Kindergarten teacher Jennifer Klein administers hand sanitizer to students on the playground at Lupin Hill Elementary School in Calabasas. (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)
Rowland Unified, a diverse San Gabriel Valley school system, is on a similar track and reached an agreement Friday with its teachers association to begin in-person one-on-one assessments for students with disabilities.
“This will be the first step in bringing students back,” district spokesperson Gina Ward said. “Both the union and the district are committed to the safety of all students and staff.”
Las Virgenes schools Supt. Dan Stepenosky assists a kindergartener arriving Monday morning at Lupin Hill Elementary School in Calabasas. (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)
On Monday, children encountered new rules and procedures as they entered Lupin Hill Elementary in Las Virgenes Unified.
Students underwent two temperature scans: one outside and one just inside the school building. A temperature of 100 degrees or higher means they are to turn around and go home. Masks are mandatory for all — even the youngest students — except during lunch.
First-grader Lili McInerney has her temperature checked by office manager Lola Stone before entering Lupin Hill Elementary School in Calabasas. (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)
The color of the day is blue and the shape of the day is a circle. Blue dots designate how far apart students have to be in class, on the playground and in eating areas.
In Jennifer Klein’s kindergarten class, all students received their own supplies.
“Why can’t we share them?” she asked her students.
Olivia Johnson raised her hand.
Kindergarten teacher Jennifer Klein collects crayons from students in her classroom at Lupin Hill Elementary School in Calabasas. (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)
“Because of the corona,” she said without hesitation from behind her white mask, which complemented her light pink, sequined high tops.
No class can have more than 12 students, as well as two adults, a teacher and an aide. The morning session lasts from 8:15 to 10:40 a.m. Then there’s a cleaning session before a different afternoon “cohort” attends class from 12:25 to 2:50 p.m.
Cleaning-crew member Terrence Littlefield starts every morning with a new mask, a stack of wipes and hand sanitizer.
“No complaints,” said Littlefield, who’d been on unemployment since July and is happy to be back at work. “Everything we’re doing is necessary to keep everybody safe.”
Dan Stepenosky, superintendent of the Las Virgenes Unified School District, reacts after having his blood successfully drawn on the third attempt at Arthur E. Wright Middle School in Calabasas. The blood sample will be tested to determine if he has contracted COVID-19 within the last two months. (Mel Melcon / Los Angeles Times)
“We have to get this right,” said Supt. Stepenosky. “We can’t open up and become a super spreader.”
But he’s not too worried: “In reality, students have been training for months,” he said. “Plus, schools aren’t bars or football games. Students know they have to follow the rules.”


latimes--2020-11-09--Orange County will conduct audit of 2020 presidential election ballots

Orange County has announced that it will conduct a voluntary audit of its 2020 presidential election ballots to ensure the integrity of results .
The risk-limiting audit is not required under California law , the Orange County registrar of voters said , but the procedure is meant to provide “ strong statistical evidence ” that the outcome of the election is correct .
“ Conducting a risk-limiting audit is an excellent way to audit elections and provide an important check on the integrity of the election process , ” Registrar Neal Kelley said in a news release .
“ This @ @ @ @ @ @ @ enhanced auditing capability of Orange County ’ s voting system , while at the same time ensuring that the outcomes are true and correct.
” Nearly 54 % of Orange County ’ s ballots were cast for Joe Biden in the 2020 presidential election , according to , while 44 % voted for Donald Trump .
Although President Trump has called for recounts in several states amid claims of , Kelley said Monday that the audit is not the same thing as a recount .
Instead , the audit will use an algorithm @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ballots to be checked against what was recorded .
High-risk ballots might include those in precincts in which voting outcomes were close , or where there was a different turnout than expected , Kelley said .
The procedure will be performed in conjunction with a hand tally of votes from 1 % of all precincts — something that has been required of all California counties since the 1960s — and is meant to help streamline that process .
“ I have been a champion of [ risk-limiting audits ] from the beginning because @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more scientifically sound in terms of finding ballots that might be a problem , and then counting those that are most at risk , ” Kelley said .
“ Statistically , it makes sense.
” Long a Republican stronghold , Orange County ’ s political makeup has undergone a tectonic shift in recent years .
Its marked the county ’ s first time voting for a Democratic presidential candidate since Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1936 .
In 2019 , the county ’ s number of registered Democrats for the first time since a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ But there are plenty of indications that the GOP remains a viable force in the area , which houses the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and famously nurtured the political career of Ronald Reagan .
Last month , a brought throngs of Trump supporters to the Pacific Coast Highway , and on Saturday , again at the Huntington Beach Pier to protest Biden ’ s projected win .
Despite the president ’ s accusations of fraud , Kelley said the results of Orange County ’ s risk-limiting audits have been consistently on-target : Their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that not one vote was off .
“ This is something the public doesn ’ t understand , ” Kelley said .
“ A federally certified voting system can not have a known error of more than 1 in 10 million ballots cast .
Tell me , other than maybe medicine , where you have that kind of strict reliance on accuracy .
… I ’ m standing behind it for a reason .
The system is precise.
” The first step of the audit will be the establishment of a random seed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a.m. Friday at the registrar of voters office in Santa Ana .
The seed is a number consisting of at least 20 digits , and each digit will be selected by sequential rolls of a 10-sided die .
Randomly selected members of the public will take turns rolling the die , or staff members if no members of the public are present .
“ Establishing the seed in this manner results in a properly random , and verifiable , selection of individual ballots of examination and audit , ” the registrar said , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ validity of the risk-limiting audit.
” The election results to be audited will be published on the Orange County registrar of voters website prior to the seed ceremony , and the seed will be published immediately after it is established , officials said .
It will include local and statewide contests as well as the presidential election .

Billie Montague, 2, puts an “I voted” sticker on her nose while for waiting for her mother, Ashley Montague, to finish voting at Marina Park Community Center in Newport Beach on election day.
Orange County has announced that it will conduct a voluntary audit of its 2020 presidential election ballots to ensure the integrity of results.
The risk-limiting audit is not required under California law, the Orange County registrar of voters said, but the procedure is meant to provide “strong statistical evidence” that the outcome of the election is correct.
“Conducting a risk-limiting audit is an excellent way to audit elections and provide an important check on the integrity of the election process,” Registrar Neal Kelley said in a news release. “This is a valuable opportunity to utilize the enhanced auditing capability of Orange County’s voting system, while at the same time ensuring that the outcomes are true and correct.”
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Nearly 54% of Orange County’s ballots were cast for Joe Biden in the 2020 presidential election, according to data from The Times , while 44% voted for Donald Trump.
Although President Trump has called for recounts in several states amid claims of large-scale voter fraud , Kelley said Monday that the audit is not the same thing as a recount.
Instead, the audit will use an algorithm to help identify and randomly select high-risk ballots to be checked against what was recorded. High-risk ballots might include those in precincts in which voting outcomes were close, or where there was a different turnout than expected, Kelley said.
The procedure will be performed in conjunction with a hand tally of votes from 1% of all precincts — something that has been required of all California counties since the 1960s — and is meant to help streamline that process.
“I have been a champion of [risk-limiting audits] from the beginning because the reality is that it is much more scientifically sound in terms of finding ballots that might be a problem, and then counting those that are most at risk,” Kelley said. “Statistically, it makes sense.”
Long a Republican stronghold, Orange County’s political makeup has undergone a tectonic shift in recent years. Its 2016 support of Hillary Clinton marked the county’s first time voting for a Democratic presidential candidate since Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1936. In 2019, the county’s number of registered Democrats surpassed that of Republicans for the first time since a brief blue burst in the 1970s.
But there are plenty of indications that the GOP remains a viable force in the area, which houses the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and famously nurtured the political career of Ronald Reagan.
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Last month, a rally in Newport Beach brought throngs of Trump supporters to the Pacific Coast Highway, and on Saturday, Trump supporters gathered again at the Huntington Beach Pier to protest Biden’s projected win.
Despite the president’s accusations of fraud, Kelley said the results of Orange County’s risk-limiting audits have been consistently on-target: Their audit of the 2020 primary elections found that not one vote was off.
“This is something the public doesn’t understand,” Kelley said. “A federally certified voting system cannot have a known error of more than 1 in 10 million ballots cast. Tell me, other than maybe medicine, where you have that kind of strict reliance on accuracy. … I’m standing behind it for a reason. The system is precise.”
The first step of the audit will be the establishment of a random seed, which will take place at 9 a.m. Friday at the registrar of voters office in Santa Ana. The seed is a number consisting of at least 20 digits, and each digit will be selected by sequential rolls of a 10-sided die.
Randomly selected members of the public will take turns rolling the die, or staff members if no members of the public are present.
“Establishing the seed in this manner results in a properly random, and verifiable, selection of individual ballots of examination and audit,” the registrar said, “and ensures the integrity and statistical validity of the risk-limiting audit.”
The election results to be audited will be published on the Orange County registrar of voters website prior to the seed ceremony, and the seed will be published immediately after it is established, officials said. It will include local and statewide contests as well as the presidential election.


latimes--2020-11-09--L.A. County declares new coronavirus surge, sparking increased alarms

After weeks of rising coronavirus numbers , officials Monday said Los Angeles County was seeing a new surge in infections that could get worse as Thanksgiving approaches .
Health authorities have been saying for weeks that social gatherings — including celebrations tied to the Lakers and Dodgers championship victories — were helping spread COVID-19 and dashing hopes of further reopening the economy before the holidays .
But on Monday , officials said that conditions were deteriorating further .
The new surge is so far less extreme than the disastrous summer spike that led to rises in both hospitalizations and deaths @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of restrictions is causing people to let down their guard at a critical moment .
“ These numbers are demonstrating real and alarming increases , and the next two weeks will be crucial , ” county Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer said .
“ As we go into our cooler months and our holidays , we are increasingly worried about more and more transmission of the virus and more hospitalizations and deaths from COVID-19.
” In L.A. County , officials announced at least 2,000 new coronavirus infections every day from Thursday through Sunday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more than 1,431 new cases , but Ferrer said numbers typically come in lower at the start of the week because of reporting lags over the weekend .
Prior to the recent rash , the last time the county ’ s daily case count had surpassed 2,000 without being inflated by a reporting backlog was Aug. 15 , according to The Times ’ tracker .
During the seven-day period that ended Sunday , Los Angeles County reported more than 13,000 cases , a 38 % jump from the previous week and the highest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ two months .
The rise in cases has been steady and sustained .
In early October , L.A. County ’ s seven-day average of coronavirus cases stood at about 940 new cases a day .
For the seven-day period that ended Sunday , there were an average of 1,860 cases daily .
“ This isn ’ t a blip any longer .
This isn ’ t , ‘ Oh , you know , we had one bad weekend .
And , you know , we ’ re now getting back under control , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is now a surge in our cases .
And if it continues , it will be quite alarming to go into our coldest months seeing this level of increase in cases.
” Ferrer said the alarming numbers should be a call for Angelenos to rededicate themselves to the oft-recited protocols for how to stifle transmission : Wear masks in public , maintain physical distance from those you don ’ t live with , stay home when you ’ re sick , regularly wash your hands and avoid gatherings .
Any backsliding from those @ @ @ @ @ @ @ could put residents ’ health at risk , but also jeopardize the county ’ s ability to further reopen businesses and other public spaces .
“ We don ’ t have the luxury of ignoring our individual and collective responsibilities if we want to see more children go to school and businesses remain open , ” she said .
“ Recovery just doesn ’ t continue when you have thousands of new cases each day .
And many of these cases stem from people taking risks that are , frankly , not appropriate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to play by the rules , especially since these rules are what keep some people alive and allow our economy to improve.
” Gatherings have emerged as a particular point of concern for health officials .
Experts and health officials throughout the state have for weeks urged residents to avoid gatherings as much as possible , or at least to take precautions such as wearing face coverings , staying outdoors and keeping at least six feet away from members of other households .
Such steps are all the more vital now , officials @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the sizable spikes currently striking many other areas of the country .
The United States officially surpassed 10 million total confirmed COVID-19 cases Monday , according to data from Johns Hopkins University .
L.A. County isn ’ t alone in seeing a troubling surge in coronavirus infections .
Santa Clara County reported 358 new cases Sunday — its second-highest daily total , behind 385 recorded July 15 .
“ These trends serve as a stark reminder that COVID-19 is all around us , ” Dr. Sara Cody , the county ’ s health @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said in a statement .
“ Each and every one of us needs to redouble our efforts to keep our community safe.
” Statewide , the seven-day average for new cases is 5,889 , up from the 14-day average of 5,060 .
Should the current case trend hold , it ’ s conceivable that California could reach 1 million recorded coronavirus cases later this week .
The state also seems certain to surpass another grim milestone in the not-too-distant future : 18,000 deaths .
As to why the numbers are going up in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Monday : “ It ’ s for obvious reasons : People are letting their guard down .
“ They ’ re taking their masks off ; they ’ re starting to get together outside of their household cohorts ; they ’ re starting to see businesses reopen ; and we ’ re starting — again — to see more people mixing , ” he said .
“ As it gets colder , we ’ ll see more still .
So this was anticipated .
No one is surprised by this.
” California has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ proportion of those tested who are found to be infected with the coronavirus — increase to 4.1 % over the last week , per the latest state data .
It was only in late September that the share of Californians who had tested positive for COVID-19 over the preceding week dipped below 3 % for the first time .
Over the last 14 days , the total number of hospitalized COVID-19 patients in California has swelled from 2,334 to 3,001 — a 28.6 % increase , according to numbers Newsom presented Monday .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ have risen , from 659 two weeks ago to 839 .
Newsom said the state ’ s healthcare system still had plentiful capacity at this point , as COVID-19 patients currently take up only about 4 % of hospital beds and 11 % of those in the ICU .
Although there ’ s been promising news recently on the vaccine front — Pfizer announced Monday that early data on its coronavirus vaccine candidate suggest the shots may be 90 % effective at preventing the illness — Newsom emphasized that Californians shouldn ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as mass distribution of any vaccine isn ’ t imminent .
“ I am concerned , truthfully , that we may get overexuberant because now we believe we have a safe and effective vaccine that is available and people may go back to their original form , ” he said during a briefing .
“ That would be a terrible mistake .
It is absolutely incumbent upon us to recognize two things : A vaccine is on the way .
That ’ s good news .
But the availability to you and me @ @ @ @ @ @ @ outside our healthcare professionals , is many , many months off.
” Despite the uptick , the number of weekly coronavirus cases that California has recorded recently is far from the peak seen over the summer .
For the seven-day period that ended Thursday , California reported nearly 34,000 cases , about half as many as the state ’ s worst week , July 17–23 , when 66,341 cases were diagnosed .
By comparison , the United States as a whole recorded more than 662,000 cases in the last week — the second @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and especially since the summertime surge , officials have continually hammered the point that personal choices — whether to wear a mask in public , whether to attend that party , whether to stay home if you feel sick — play every bit as large a role in shaping the future of COVID-19 as wider public policy decisions .
“ We know that the pandemic has altered our way of living , ” Dr. Mark Ghaly , the state ’ s Health and Human Services secretary , said during a briefing last @ @ @ @ @ @ @ made sacrifices — some we ’ ve been OK with , others have been really hard — and each of these sacrifices has helped us slow the spread of COVID in our state .
And I would say Californians have done an incredible job .
“ We have to keep these efforts up , ” he added , “ as we know cases can begin to skyrocket quickly.
” That ’ s a particularly troubling possibility as falling temperatures increasingly push people indoors and upcoming holidays tempt people to celebrate with family and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ getting very tired of this COVID world , and we hope that , in the new year , there will be some new strategies that will help us control spread , ” Dr. Paul Simon , chief science officer of the L.A. County Department of Public Health , said during a briefing last week .
“ But for the time being , definitely through the Thanksgiving and December holiday season ... we really are discouraging the gatherings outside your household.
” The Associated Press and Times staff writers Iris Lee and Sean Greene @ @ @ @ @

After weeks of rising coronavirus numbers, officials Monday said Los Angeles County was seeing a new surge in infections that could get worse as Thanksgiving approaches.
Health authorities have been saying for weeks that social gatherings — including celebrations tied to the Lakers and Dodgers championship victories — were helping spread COVID-19 and dashing hopes of further reopening the economy before the holidays. But on Monday, officials said that conditions were deteriorating further.
The new surge is so far less extreme than the disastrous summer spike that led to rises in both hospitalizations and deaths. But officials fear fatigue after months of restrictions is causing people to let down their guard at a critical moment.
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“These numbers are demonstrating real and alarming increases, and the next two weeks will be crucial,” county Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer said. “As we go into our cooler months and our holidays, we are increasingly worried about more and more transmission of the virus and more hospitalizations and deaths from COVID-19.”
In L.A. County, officials announced at least 2,000 new coronavirus infections every day from Thursday through Sunday.
On Monday, the county reported more than 1,431 new cases, but Ferrer said numbers typically come in lower at the start of the week because of reporting lags over the weekend.
Prior to the recent rash, the last time the county’s daily case count had surpassed 2,000 without being inflated by a reporting backlog was Aug. 15, according to The Times’ tracker.
During the seven-day period that ended Sunday, Los Angeles County reported more than 13,000 cases, a 38% jump from the previous week and the highest number of weekly cases in more than two months.
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The rise in cases has been steady and sustained. In early October, L.A. County’s seven-day average of coronavirus cases stood at about 940 new cases a day. For the seven-day period that ended Sunday, there were an average of 1,860 cases daily.
“This isn’t a blip any longer. This isn’t, ‘Oh, you know, we had one bad weekend. And, you know, we’re now getting back under control,’ ” Ferrer said. “This is now a surge in our cases. And if it continues, it will be quite alarming to go into our coldest months seeing this level of increase in cases.”
Ferrer said the alarming numbers should be a call for Angelenos to rededicate themselves to the oft-recited protocols for how to stifle transmission: Wear masks in public, maintain physical distance from those you don’t live with, stay home when you’re sick, regularly wash your hands and avoid gatherings.
Any backsliding from those practices, she warned, not only could put residents’ health at risk, but also jeopardize the county’s ability to further reopen businesses and other public spaces.
“We don’t have the luxury of ignoring our individual and collective responsibilities if we want to see more children go to school and businesses remain open,” she said. “Recovery just doesn’t continue when you have thousands of new cases each day. And many of these cases stem from people taking risks that are, frankly, not appropriate. It isn’t that hard to play by the rules, especially since these rules are what keep some people alive and allow our economy to improve.”
Gatherings have emerged as a particular point of concern for health officials.
Experts and health officials throughout the state have for weeks urged residents to avoid gatherings as much as possible, or at least to take precautions such as wearing face coverings, staying outdoors and keeping at least six feet away from members of other households.
Such steps are all the more vital now, officials say, as California looks to avoid the sizable spikes currently striking many other areas of the country. The United States officially surpassed 10 million total confirmed COVID-19 cases Monday, according to data from Johns Hopkins University.
L.A. County isn’t alone in seeing a troubling surge in coronavirus infections. Santa Clara County reported 358 new cases Sunday — its second-highest daily total, behind 385 recorded July 15.
“These trends serve as a stark reminder that COVID-19 is all around us,” Dr. Sara Cody, the county’s health officer and director of public health, said in a statement. “Each and every one of us needs to redouble our efforts to keep our community safe.”
Statewide, the seven-day average for new cases is 5,889, up from the 14-day average of 5,060.
Should the current case trend hold, it’s conceivable that California could reach 1 million recorded coronavirus cases later this week.
The state also seems certain to surpass another grim milestone in the not-too-distant future: 18,000 deaths.
As to why the numbers are going up in California, Gov. Gavin Newsom said Monday: “It’s for obvious reasons: People are letting their guard down.
“They’re taking their masks off; they’re starting to get together outside of their household cohorts; they’re starting to see businesses reopen; and we’re starting — again — to see more people mixing,” he said. “As it gets colder, we’ll see more still. So this was anticipated. No one is surprised by this.”
California has also seen its positivity rate — the proportion of those tested who are found to be infected with the coronavirus — increase to 4.1% over the last week, per the latest state data. It was only in late September that the share of Californians who had tested positive for COVID-19 over the preceding week dipped below 3% for the first time.
Over the last 14 days, the total number of hospitalized COVID-19 patients in California has swelled from 2,334 to 3,001 — a 28.6% increase, according to numbers Newsom presented Monday.
Intensive care admissions for COVID-19 patients also have risen, from 659 two weeks ago to 839.
Newsom said the state’s healthcare system still had plentiful capacity at this point, as COVID-19 patients currently take up only about 4% of hospital beds and 11% of those in the ICU.
Although there’s been promising news recently on the vaccine front — Pfizer announced Monday that early data on its coronavirus vaccine candidate suggest the shots may be 90% effective at preventing the illness — Newsom emphasized that Californians shouldn’t view that as a silver bullet, as mass distribution of any vaccine isn’t imminent.
“I am concerned, truthfully, that we may get overexuberant because now we believe we have a safe and effective vaccine that is available and people may go back to their original form,” he said during a briefing. “That would be a terrible mistake. It is absolutely incumbent upon us to recognize two things: A vaccine is on the way. That’s good news. But the availability to you and me and others outside our first responders, outside our healthcare professionals, is many, many months off.”
Despite the uptick, the number of weekly coronavirus cases that California has recorded recently is far from the peak seen over the summer. For the seven-day period that ended Thursday, California reported nearly 34,000 cases, about half as many as the state’s worst week, July 17–23, when 66,341 cases were diagnosed.
By comparison, the United States as a whole recorded more than 662,000 cases in the last week — the second consecutive weekly record.
Throughout the pandemic, and especially since the summertime surge, officials have continually hammered the point that personal choices — whether to wear a mask in public, whether to attend that party, whether to stay home if you feel sick — play every bit as large a role in shaping the future of COVID-19 as wider public policy decisions.
“We know that the pandemic has altered our way of living,” Dr. Mark Ghaly, the state’s Health and Human Services secretary, said during a briefing last week. “We’ve all made sacrifices — some we’ve been OK with, others have been really hard — and each of these sacrifices has helped us slow the spread of COVID in our state. And I would say Californians have done an incredible job.
“We have to keep these efforts up,” he added, “as we know cases can begin to skyrocket quickly.”
That’s a particularly troubling possibility as falling temperatures increasingly push people indoors and upcoming holidays tempt people to celebrate with family and friends.
“We understand people are getting very tired of this COVID world, and we hope that, in the new year, there will be some new strategies that will help us control spread,” Dr. Paul Simon, chief science officer of the L.A. County Department of Public Health, said during a briefing last week. “But for the time being, definitely through the Thanksgiving and December holiday season ... we really are discouraging the gatherings outside your household.”
The Associated Press and Times staff writers Iris Lee and Sean Greene contributed to this report.


latimes--2020-11-09--Police shoot man in Anaheim during kidnap-for-ransom investigation

A police officer shot a man in Anaheim on Monday morning during an investigation into a scheme in which authorities said immigrants in the U.S. illegally were being kidnapped and held for ransom .
The family of a man who had been smuggled into the United States from Mexico called police Sunday night to report that those who had sneaked him into the country were demanding more money for his safe release , Anaheim Police Sgt .
Shane Carringer said .
An officer was conducting surveillance related to that investigation on an apartment building in the 100 block of North @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a man approached the officer and the officer shot him , Carringer said .
The man ran away across Lincoln Avenue , and officers found him in a nearby mobile home park , Carringer said .
He was taken to a local hospital with injuries that authorities said were not life-threatening and placed under arrest .
There was no word on what charges he could face .
He was described only as a man in his 30s .
Police recovered a handgun from the path the man is believed to have taken as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ SWAT personnel served search warrants at three apartments on Syracuse Street about 8:30 a.m. and rescued the man whose family had called police , as well as 10 other people who were inside , Carringer said .
Some of them were found to be victims of the smuggling operation and some were believed to be suspects , he said .
Several other people were detained , and investigators were working to interview everyone involved and determine their roles .
Additional information about what prompted the shooting was not available .
Police were looking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a license plate of 8BXD306 that had a Minnie Mouse sticker on the trunk .
Investigators think the vehicle might have dropped off the man who was shot by police and then fled after the shooting , Carringer said .
Anyone with information about the vehicle is asked to call Anaheim police .
As with all police shootings in the city , Carringer said , the Orange County district attorney ’ s office will conduct a criminal investigation into the circumstances , and the Anaheim Police Department ’ s homicide detail and major @ @ @ @ @ @ @ review .
The Anaheim Police Review Board will also work with the Office of Independent Review to conduct a separate investigation and critique , he said .
Carringer said police would work with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement “ for the purposes of prosecuting the smuggling crime but not for the purposes of immigration status on the smuggling victims , ” noting that the Police Department does not cooperate with federal authorities to determine residency .

A police officer shot a man in Anaheim on Monday morning during an investigation into a scheme in which authorities said immigrants in the U.S. illegally were being kidnapped and held for ransom.
The family of a man who had been smuggled into the United States from Mexico called police Sunday night to report that those who had sneaked him into the country were demanding more money for his safe release, Anaheim Police Sgt. Shane Carringer said.
An officer was conducting surveillance related to that investigation on an apartment building in the 100 block of North Syracuse Street shortly before 6 a.m. when a man approached the officer and the officer shot him, Carringer said.
The man ran away across Lincoln Avenue, and officers found him in a nearby mobile home park, Carringer said. He was taken to a local hospital with injuries that authorities said were not life-threatening and placed under arrest. There was no word on what charges he could face. He was described only as a man in his 30s.
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Police recovered a handgun from the path the man is believed to have taken as he ran away, Carringer said.
SWAT personnel served search warrants at three apartments on Syracuse Street about 8:30 a.m. and rescued the man whose family had called police, as well as 10 other people who were inside, Carringer said. Some of them were found to be victims of the smuggling operation and some were believed to be suspects, he said.
Several other people were detained, and investigators were working to interview everyone involved and determine their roles.
Additional information about what prompted the shooting was not available.
Police were looking for a dark-colored 2018 Toyota Camry with a license plate of 8BXD306 that had a Minnie Mouse sticker on the trunk. Investigators think the vehicle might have dropped off the man who was shot by police and then fled after the shooting, Carringer said. Anyone with information about the vehicle is asked to call Anaheim police.
Anaheim police are looking for a Toyota Camry that may have dropped off a man who was shot by officers. (Anaheim Police Department)
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As with all police shootings in the city, Carringer said, the Orange County district attorney’s office will conduct a criminal investigation into the circumstances, and the Anaheim Police Department’s homicide detail and major incident review team will conduct an internal review. The Anaheim Police Review Board will also work with the Office of Independent Review to conduct a separate investigation and critique, he said.
Carringer said police would work with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement “for the purposes of prosecuting the smuggling crime but not for the purposes of immigration status on the smuggling victims,” noting that the Police Department does not cooperate with federal authorities to determine residency.


latimes--2020-11-09--L.A. chills out as cold snap breaks record days of warm weather

A cold snap settling over Los Angeles will stick around all week , forecasters said , marking the end of a significant streak of warm weather .
On Saturday , a high of 62 degrees in downtown L.A. ended a record 200 straight days of high temperatures over 70 degrees .
“ The streak began on April 21 and continued through Nov. 6 , ” said David Sweet , a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Oxnard .
“ The old record for downtown Los Angeles was 190 days , and that was in 1885 .
That ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will continue to see daytime temperatures in the 60s and overnight lows in the 40s and 50s , thanks to a cold air mass moving through the region .
Temperatures will warm three to six degrees each day , but even that won ’ t bring them up to seasonal norms .
“ Wednesday ’ s high temps will mostly be 2 to 3 degrees below normal , which is an improvement over today ’ s temps , which will be 10 to 15 degrees below normal , ” the weather service said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were blanketed in snow during weekend storms , including the San Gabriel Mountains and portions of the Grapevine through the 5 Freeway , where ice amassed so quickly that California Highway Patrol officers had to escort traffic for several hours Sunday evening .
A dusting of snow remained in the area Monday morning .
The weather service issued a hard freeze watch for portions of San Luis Obispo County and the Antelope Valley through Tuesday morning , which could see sub-freezing temperatures as low as 26 degrees .
“ Any farmer or grower @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sweet said , “ and if anyone has any sensitive plants , they need to bring those indoors.
” The warning also indicates hypothermia danger for unprotected pets and livestock , and noted that damage to outdoor plumbing is possible .
“ To prevent freezing and possible bursting of outdoor water pipes , they should be wrapped , drained , or allowed to drip slowly , ” the warning states .
“ Those that have in-ground sprinkler systems should drain them and cover above-ground pipes to protect them from freezing.
” Friday could @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sweet said , primarily in areas north of Los Angeles .
By Sunday , it will be warmer and sunnier as a high-pressure ridge builds in the East .
The cooler weather is a marked change for the region : The last three months were the state ’ s hottest on record , according to a new report , with more than 700 daily high temperature records broken across California in September and October .

A bundled Louise Takahashi walks with her dog Abby as the snow capped mountains frame the downtown Los Angeles skyline as seen from Kenneth Hahn Recreational Park in Los Angeles.
A cold snap settling over Los Angeles will stick around all week, forecasters said, marking the end of a significant streak of warm weather.
On Saturday, a high of 62 degrees in downtown L.A. ended a record 200 straight days of high temperatures over 70 degrees.
“The streak began on April 21 and continued through Nov. 6,” said David Sweet, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Oxnard. “The old record for downtown Los Angeles was 190 days, and that was in 1885. That’s a 135-year-old record.”
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With a high temp of only 62 degrees today, the streak of days with a high temp of 70 or higher at Downtown Los Angeles has officially ended at 200 days. This breaks the old record from 1885 by 10 days! Pretty incredible! Time to enjoy temps in the 60s again! #CAwx pic.twitter.com/7CrabWja63 — NWS Los Angeles (@NWSLosAngeles) November 8, 2020
The week ahead will continue to see daytime temperatures in the 60s and overnight lows in the 40s and 50s, thanks to a cold air mass moving through the region. Temperatures will warm three to six degrees each day, but even that won’t bring them up to seasonal norms.
“Wednesday’s high temps will mostly be 2 to 3 degrees below normal, which is an improvement over today’s temps, which will be 10 to 15 degrees below normal,” the weather service said Monday.
Some parts of the Southland were blanketed in snow during weekend storms, including the San Gabriel Mountains and portions of the Grapevine through the 5 Freeway, where ice amassed so quickly that California Highway Patrol officers had to escort traffic for several hours Sunday evening. A dusting of snow remained in the area Monday morning.
Dusting of snow in Lebec! Folks are enjoying the wintery feel with no problems being reported on I-5. It remains open through the Grapevine. @CBSLA pic.twitter.com/COjnlRtB7V — Kara Finnstrom (@KaraFinnstrom) November 9, 2020
The weather service issued a hard freeze watch for portions of San Luis Obispo County and the Antelope Valley through Tuesday morning, which could see sub-freezing temperatures as low as 26 degrees.
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“Any farmer or grower needs to protect their crops,” Sweet said, “and if anyone has any sensitive plants, they need to bring those indoors.”
The warning also indicates hypothermia danger for unprotected pets and livestock, and noted that damage to outdoor plumbing is possible.
“To prevent freezing and possible bursting of outdoor water pipes, they should be wrapped, drained, or allowed to drip slowly,” the warning states. “Those that have in-ground sprinkler systems should drain them and cover above-ground pipes to protect them from freezing.”
Friday could bring a slight chance of rain, Sweet said, primarily in areas north of Los Angeles. By Sunday, it will be warmer and sunnier as a high-pressure ridge builds in the East.
The cooler weather is a marked change for the region: The last three months were the state’s hottest on record, according to a new report, with more than 700 daily high temperature records broken across California in September and October.


latimes--2020-11-09--Trump expanded his support in Beverly Hills, a rare spot of red in blue L.A. County

Hours after the U.S. presidential election was called for Joe Biden on Saturday morning , an older , dark-haired woman clutched her ash-blue jacket tighter in a chilly shadow cast by the Greystone Mansion in one of the priciest areas of Beverly Hills .
She wasn ’ t feeling festive .
“ What do you want me to say ?
I ’ m not happy , ” said the woman walking on Loma Vista Drive in the 90210 ZIP Code and who , like many Beverly Hills residents asked about their perspective on the election , declined to give her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the woman said that although she did not dislike Biden , she didn ’ t support “ what he ’ s going to do.
” The woman lives in the Trousdale Estates area , where the average home sale price is currently more than $ 15 million .
It ’ s also in one of two adjacent neighborhoods in Beverly Hills where a majority of voters chose Donald Trump over Biden in the recent election .
On a Times map of election results , the two precincts — both above Sunset Boulevard @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stick out like a red thumb among the blue sea representing what has traditionally been seen as Los Angeles ’ liberal stronghold on the Westside .
They are some of the county ’ s most affluent areas , yet they backed Trump more than neighboring luxury areas such as Bel-Air , Brentwood , Pacific Palisades and Holmby Hills , which went to Biden along with other parts of Beverly Hills .
About a mile and a half southwest of Trousdale Estates , Shane Steel passed the Beverly Hills Hotel on his way to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The 24-year-old resident of the same precinct that backed Trump , Steel said he was “ very happy ” with the results .
He supports Biden .
But neighboring precincts — which run roughly from Trousdale Estates to the Los Angeles Country Club , with the Beverly Hills Hotel in the middle — voted for Trump 56 % to 44 % , according to data from The Times .
When it came to light that one of the same neighborhoods , or precincts , in 2016 voted for Trump over Hillary Clinton , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ This time around , no one seemed shocked to learn that an even wider swath of the small , affluent city of about 34,000 went red .
“ Trump has been very good for rich people , ” Steel said , “ and I think that sometimes people forget to think about human life and human policies versus what ’ s good for your wallet.
” Walking his dog near Will Rogers Memorial Park , just south of Sunset Boulevard , resident David Shapiro said he voted for Trump for the first time @ @ @ @ @ @ @ because of his economic and tax policies , as well as his support of Israel and tough stance on China .
A Jewish emigre from Moscow , Shapiro , 65 , said that Trump was not cozy with Russia as many people thought and that America was not seen as a friend in his home country .
“ He ’ s good for international relations , ” said Shapiro , a businessman .
“ We don ’ t have any war — the problem is there will be war in the Middle East @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Israel.
” Beverly Hills Mayor Lester Friedman said he didn ’ t see the expansion of Trump voters to two neighborhoods as indicative of a trend .
“ I don ’ t really sense a big change in political outlooks , just that they ’ re more vocal , ” Friedman said by phone Friday afternoon .
As some residents noted , pro-Trump supporters have gathered every week for nearly four months along one of Beverly Hills ’ main thoroughfares to proclaim their support for the president .
Rally organizer and resident Shiva @ @ @ @ @ @ @ events empowered people like her to go from “ the silent majority ” to the “ loud-lion majority.
” On Saturday morning , a handful of Trump supporters gathered at a park where the rally usually kicked off at 2 p.m. A man and a woman who declined to comment were standing behind a sign calling for the recall of Gov .
Gavin Newsom , as neighborhoods just a few miles away were celebrating Biden ’ s victory by dancing in the street , cheering and honking their horns .
Contrary to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump and Biden supporters said they felt they could not speak fully on the record for fear of retribution from neighbors or potential negative impacts to their business .
One man from Bel-Air went off on Trump but then declined to give his name , saying , “ I have to work in this town.
” Longtime Beverly Hills resident Adrienne , 81 , would give only her first name .
The lifelong Republican who immediately switched to independent when Trump became the nominee said she hoped Biden could bring back a sense @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people in her condo support the president and don ’ t wear masks , something she thinks is a mistake .
“ The world is laughing at us , ” she said .
“ We need to get back to calmness .
We need to get back to where we were the strongest nation on Earth .
”

Trump supporters ride in the back of a truck at a rally in Beverly Hills on Saturday, hours after the presidential election was called for Joe Biden.
Hours after the U.S. presidential election was called for Joe Biden on Saturday morning, an older, dark-haired woman clutched her ash-blue jacket tighter in a chilly shadow cast by the Greystone Mansion in one of the priciest areas of Beverly Hills. She wasn’t feeling festive.
“What do you want me to say? I’m not happy,” said the woman walking on Loma Vista Drive in the 90210 ZIP Code and who, like many Beverly Hills residents asked about their perspective on the election, declined to give her name. Without going into policy specifics, the woman said that although she did not dislike Biden, she didn’t support “what he’s going to do.”
The woman lives in the Trousdale Estates area, where the average home sale price is currently more than $15 million. It’s also in one of two adjacent neighborhoods in Beverly Hills where a majority of voters chose Donald Trump over Biden in the recent election.
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On a Times map of election results, the two precincts — both above Sunset Boulevard in the areas synonymous with wealth — stick out like a red thumb among the blue sea representing what has traditionally been seen as Los Angeles’ liberal stronghold on the Westside. They are some of the county’s most affluent areas, yet they backed Trump more than neighboring luxury areas such as Bel-Air, Brentwood, Pacific Palisades and Holmby Hills, which went to Biden along with other parts of Beverly Hills.
About a mile and a half southwest of Trousdale Estates, Shane Steel passed the Beverly Hills Hotel on his way to a celebratory breakfast with his uncle.
The 24-year-old resident of the same precinct that backed Trump, Steel said he was “very happy” with the results. He supports Biden.
But neighboring precincts — which run roughly from Trousdale Estates to the Los Angeles Country Club, with the Beverly Hills Hotel in the middle — voted for Trump 56% to 44%, according to data from The Times.
When it came to light that one of the same neighborhoods, or precincts, in 2016 voted for Trump over Hillary Clinton, it was seen as an anomaly. This time around, no one seemed shocked to learn that an even wider swath of the small, affluent city of about 34,000 went red.
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“Trump has been very good for rich people,” Steel said, “and I think that sometimes people forget to think about human life and human policies versus what’s good for your wallet.”
Walking his dog near Will Rogers Memorial Park, just south of Sunset Boulevard, resident David Shapiro said he voted for Trump for the first time this year — abstaining in 2016 — because of his economic and tax policies, as well as his support of Israel and tough stance on China.
A Jewish emigre from Moscow, Shapiro, 65, said that Trump was not cozy with Russia as many people thought and that America was not seen as a friend in his home country.
“He’s good for international relations,” said Shapiro, a businessman. “We don’t have any war — the problem is there will be war in the Middle East. And he’s good to Israel.”
Beverly Hills Mayor Lester Friedman said he didn’t see the expansion of Trump voters to two neighborhoods as indicative of a trend.
“I don’t really sense a big change in political outlooks, just that they’re more vocal,” Friedman said by phone Friday afternoon.
As some residents noted, pro-Trump supporters have gathered every week for nearly four months along one of Beverly Hills’ main thoroughfares to proclaim their support for the president. Rally organizer and resident Shiva Bagheri said in late October that the events empowered people like her to go from “the silent majority” to the “loud-lion majority.”
On Saturday morning, a handful of Trump supporters gathered at a park where the rally usually kicked off at 2 p.m. A man and a woman who declined to comment were standing behind a sign calling for the recall of Gov. Gavin Newsom, as neighborhoods just a few miles away were celebrating Biden’s victory by dancing in the street, cheering and honking their horns.
Contrary to the notion of a louder electorate, many Trump and Biden supporters said they felt they could not speak fully on the record for fear of retribution from neighbors or potential negative impacts to their business. One man from Bel-Air went off on Trump but then declined to give his name, saying, “I have to work in this town.”
Longtime Beverly Hills resident Adrienne, 81, would give only her first name. The lifelong Republican who immediately switched to independent when Trump became the nominee said she hoped Biden could bring back a sense of normalcy and common sense. Several people in her condo support the president and don’t wear masks, something she thinks is a mistake.
“The world is laughing at us,” she said. “We need to get back to calmness. We need to get back to where we were the strongest nation on Earth.”


latimes--2020-11-10--Cal State schools see enrollments surge during COVID-19 pandemic

Vincent Aguayo wasn ’ t sure he wanted to attend college .
At 18 he was already working in construction , making good money putting up drywall , and he was on a path to becoming a supervisor with health benefits .
But then the pandemic hit , and a lot of the people working the jobs to which Aguayo aspired got laid off .
He thought of his cousin , who had earned a degree in construction management from California State University , Chico .
“ I started thinking I ’ d rather go to college , ” said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ near Riverside .
“ These people lose a job , and they don ’ t have a degree — what are they going to do ?
” This fall , Aguayo enrolled at California State University , Sacramento , one of thousands of students who pushed the Cal State system to record high enrollment , despite predictions that the pandemic and shift to virtual learning would prompt students to leave in droves .
The 23 campuses of the university collectively enrolled 485,549 students in fall 2020 , about a 0.75 % increase over @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the opposite of what I was expecting , ” said Andrea Venezia , executive director of the Education Insights Center , an education policy research organization based at the Sacramento campus .
Venezia , along with many higher education researchers and administrators nationwide , had braced for predicted dramatic drops .
A number of factors likely contributed to the Cal State system ’ s counterintuitive numbers , university officials and other experts said : The state universities ’ bold decision last spring to decide to keep students online in the fall provided certainty @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pandemic .
The university ’ s years-long initiative to increase graduation rates has built momentum that students did not want to stop .
And the relative affordability of the university — and a push for more financial aid during the pandemic — also helped to keep students enrolled .
Nationally , undergraduate enrollment is down by 4 % across all sectors , but public four-year institutions such as the Cal States saw the smallest declines , according to preliminary data from the National Student Clearinghouse .
Across the country , enrollment among first-time @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 16 % , but continuing and transfer students moving from community colleges into universities held steady or ticked up — trends also reflected at the Cal States , where a record share , 85.5 % , of first-time freshmen continued on to their second year .
“ The enrollment numbers this year clearly reflect the resilience and determination of our students in staying the course to earn a CSU degree , ” Chancellor Timothy White said in a statement .
Jocelyn Benavides , 19 , grew up in public housing in Boyle Heights @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in 2019 through a program designed to improve access to college for low-income and underserved students .
She rented an apartment off campus , joined a sorority and spent most of her waking hours at school , taking a full load of classes , going to the library and gym , stopping by the tutoring center and relaxing at the Oasis Wellness Center .
When the pandemic hit , Benavides moved back home , where she lacked dedicated study space , and lost motivation on Zoom and ready access to her professors and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and working full-time , but her older sister , who graduated from CSUN and now works at a nonprofit serving youth in their public housing complex , encouraged her to continue .
“ I was already going into my second year , I was thinking I might as well continue and finish , ” Benavides said .
“ If I get my degree and I graduate , I could probably find a job that would not be a minimum wage job or a job that ’ s hard to find .
That motivated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ something bigger than me so I could help out my community and my family.
” Benavides ’ story is not uncommon .
“ Academic momentum does play a role — we know that from plenty of ‘ normal ’ situations , ” said Michal Kurlaender , education department chair and professor and researcher of education policy at UC Davis .
The Cal State system could not yet provide enrollment data disaggregated by race and ethnicity , income or first-generation status .
Luoluo Hong , associate vice chancellor for student affairs and enrollment management @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s no indication ” that students from underserved groups dropped out at higher rates .
However , at the national level this fall , undergraduate enrollment dropped the most among international , Native American and Black students , closely followed by white students .
What Kurlaender and others find perhaps most troubling is that in California , enrollment in community colleges — attended by 60 % of post-secondary students in public institutions , large shares of whom are low-income , Latino and Black — is down about 8 % .
“ The pandemic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ way , ” Kurlaender said .
That drop could have long-term implications for Cal State schools and California ’ s economy .
“ To keep up with the same college enrollment rates and increase the education level of California ’ s workforce , more and more students should come into the pipeline , ” said Mikyung Ryu , director of research publications at the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center .
In addition , if the students who are opting out of the community college pipeline are mostly from disadvantaged backgrounds , “ all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ narrow the equity gaps ... could be easily wiped out by this lost year , ” Ryu said .
Even at the Cal States , the enrollment gains were not evenly distributed — with first-time freshman enrollment down 6 % systemwide compared with last year — reflecting effects from the pandemic and recession .
But those losses were more than offset by increases in transfer and continuing students .
At many of the Southern California campuses — Dominguez Hills , Fullerton , Long Beach , Northridge , Pomona and San Diego — as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Sacramento , overall enrollment increased , but several Northern California campuses , including San Francisco , Sonoma , Chico and Humboldt , experienced declines .
Geographic disparities in enrollment have long existed , with the growth in California ’ s college-eligible population centered in the densely urban areas of Southern California , where there are many campuses available for commuting students .
In contrast , some Northern California campuses rely on recruitment from outside their regions to bolster enrollments , and the cost of living as well as recurrent wildfires have hurt @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pandemic may have exacerbated these disparities , with students opting to stay closer to home .
The Cal State system ’ s early decision in May to continue with primarily virtual instruction in the fall at least gave students some certainty with which to make decisions when they got their offers of admission , said Hong .
Andrea Casillas , a second-year student at Cal State Fullerton majoring in communications , said she was upset by the decision at first , but “ it helped me plan out what I was going to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ year.
” “ If they would have told us in July or August , it would have been more stressful , ” she said .
Casillas , 19 , also struggled with remote learning and a lack of engagement with her campus , where she had been involved in the Latino Communications Institute , but she said she was determined to graduate in four years and start her career .
“ I ’ m investing in my future , and all this money that I ’ m putting into my education is going @ @ @ @ @ @ @ she said .
Affordability mattered , too .
Annual tuition and fees at the system total $ 7,360 in the current academic year , versus a nationwide average of $ 11,839 for comparable universities , according to a Cal State University analysis .
“ When you ’ re dealing with a situation like the pandemic and this long-running economic downturn and students still want to continue their education , the CSU is perfect , ” said Jessica Wagoner , senior associate vice president for enrollment management and services at Cal Poly Pomona , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ accept admissions offers and enroll this year .
Cal Poly Pomona also gave out more than $ 245 million in financial aid , compared with $ 232 million last year , and had more than 1,200 additional students apply for that aid .
For Aguayo , after enrolling in physics and calculus , he was discouraged by the difficult subjects and learning online .
“ My view was if I can ’ t take physics , I can ’ t take math , I can ’ t take college , ” he said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was thinking — I had to drop out.
” He found an academic advisor who suggested he take an elective course and his first-year seminar — a sort of “ Intro to College ” course — instead .
Aguayo immediately struck a connection with the teacher .
“ That ’ s probably my favorite class to go to , ” he said .
Although he ’ s frustrated by online learning and doesn ’ t think he can take any of his most difficult courses remotely , he is determined to continue .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ through it now , ” he said .

Vincent Aguayo, a first-year student at Cal State Sacramento, is shown at a new housing development in Riverside. He works a part-time job putting up drywall.
Vincent Aguayo wasn’t sure he wanted to attend college. At 18 he was already working in construction, making good money putting up drywall, and he was on a path to becoming a supervisor with health benefits.
But then the pandemic hit, and a lot of the people working the jobs to which Aguayo aspired got laid off. He thought of his cousin, who had earned a degree in construction management from California State University, Chico.
“I started thinking I’d rather go to college,” said Aguayo, who lives in Nuevo, near Riverside. “These people lose a job, and they don’t have a degree — what are they going to do?”
This fall, Aguayo enrolled at California State University, Sacramento, one of thousands of students who pushed the Cal State system to record high enrollment, despite predictions that the pandemic and shift to virtual learning would prompt students to leave in droves. The 23 campuses of the university collectively enrolled 485,549 students in fall 2020, about a 0.75% increase over last fall.
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Andrea Casillas, 19, shown at her home in Pomona, is in her second year at Cal State Fullerton. Casillas was discouraged by remote learning but is committed to completing her degree in four years. (Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times)
“It’s the opposite of what I was expecting,” said Andrea Venezia, executive director of the Education Insights Center, an education policy research organization based at the Sacramento campus. Venezia, along with many higher education researchers and administrators nationwide, had braced for predicted dramatic drops.
A number of factors likely contributed to the Cal State system’s counterintuitive numbers, university officials and other experts said:
The state universities’ bold decision last spring to decide to keep students online in the fall provided certainty during the early tumultuous months of the pandemic. The university’s years-long initiative to increase graduation rates has built momentum that students did not want to stop. And the relative affordability of the university — and a push for more financial aid during the pandemic — also helped to keep students enrolled.
Nationally, undergraduate enrollment is down by 4% across all sectors, but public four-year institutions such as the Cal States saw the smallest declines, according to preliminary data from the National Student Clearinghouse. Across the country, enrollment among first-time students fell the most precipitously, by 16%, but continuing and transfer students moving from community colleges into universities held steady or ticked up — trends also reflected at the Cal States, where a record share, 85.5%, of first-time freshmen continued on to their second year.
“The enrollment numbers this year clearly reflect the resilience and determination of our students in staying the course to earn a CSU degree,” Chancellor Timothy White said in a statement.
Jocelyn Benavides, 19, grew up in public housing in Boyle Heights and was admitted to Cal State Northridge in 2019 through a program designed to improve access to college for low-income and underserved students. She rented an apartment off campus, joined a sorority and spent most of her waking hours at school, taking a full load of classes, going to the library and gym, stopping by the tutoring center and relaxing at the Oasis Wellness Center.
When the pandemic hit, Benavides moved back home, where she lacked dedicated study space, and lost motivation on Zoom and ready access to her professors and tutors. She thought of dropping out and working full-time, but her older sister, who graduated from CSUN and now works at a nonprofit serving youth in their public housing complex, encouraged her to continue.
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“I was already going into my second year, I was thinking I might as well continue and finish,” Benavides said. “If I get my degree and I graduate, I could probably find a job that would not be a minimum wage job or a job that’s hard to find. That motivated me to continue my studies and do something bigger than me so I could help out my community and my family.”
Benavides’ story is not uncommon. “Academic momentum does play a role — we know that from plenty of ‘normal’ situations,” said Michal Kurlaender, education department chair and professor and researcher of education policy at UC Davis.
The Cal State system could not yet provide enrollment data disaggregated by race and ethnicity, income or first-generation status. Luoluo Hong, associate vice chancellor for student affairs and enrollment management, said “right now there’s no indication” that students from underserved groups dropped out at higher rates.
However, at the national level this fall, undergraduate enrollment dropped the most among international, Native American and Black students, closely followed by white students. What Kurlaender and others find perhaps most troubling is that in California, enrollment in community colleges — attended by 60% of post-secondary students in public institutions, large shares of whom are low-income, Latino and Black — is down about 8%.
“The pandemic is not hitting communities in the same way,” Kurlaender said.
That drop could have long-term implications for Cal State schools and California’s economy.
“To keep up with the same college enrollment rates and increase the education level of California’s workforce, more and more students should come into the pipeline,” said Mikyung Ryu, director of research publications at the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center.
In addition, if the students who are opting out of the community college pipeline are mostly from disadvantaged backgrounds, “all of the policy or practitioner efforts to narrow the equity gaps ... could be easily wiped out by this lost year,” Ryu said.
Even at the Cal States, the enrollment gains were not evenly distributed — with first-time freshman enrollment down 6% systemwide compared with last year — reflecting effects from the pandemic and recession.
But those losses were more than offset by increases in transfer and continuing students. At many of the Southern California campuses — Dominguez Hills, Fullerton, Long Beach, Northridge, Pomona and San Diego — as well as those in Bakersfield, Fresno and Sacramento, overall enrollment increased, but several Northern California campuses, including San Francisco, Sonoma, Chico and Humboldt, experienced declines.
Geographic disparities in enrollment have long existed, with the growth in California’s college-eligible population centered in the densely urban areas of Southern California, where there are many campuses available for commuting students. In contrast, some Northern California campuses rely on recruitment from outside their regions to bolster enrollments, and the cost of living as well as recurrent wildfires have hurt them in recent years. The COVID-19 pandemic may have exacerbated these disparities, with students opting to stay closer to home.
California Cal State universities will stay online all year amid COVID-19 pandemic The nation’s largest public university system, one of the first to decide to go virtual in fall 2020, will continue remotely in January 2021, Chancellor Timothy P. White announced.
The Cal State system’s early decision in May to continue with primarily virtual instruction in the fall at least gave students some certainty with which to make decisions when they got their offers of admission, said Hong.
Andrea Casillas, a second-year student at Cal State Fullerton majoring in communications, said she was upset by the decision at first, but “it helped me plan out what I was going to be doing for the rest of the year.”
“If they would have told us in July or August, it would have been more stressful,” she said.
Casillas, 19, also struggled with remote learning and a lack of engagement with her campus, where she had been involved in the Latino Communications Institute, but she said she was determined to graduate in four years and start her career.
“I’m investing in my future, and all this money that I’m putting into my education is going to be for the better,” she said.
Affordability mattered, too. Annual tuition and fees at the system total $7,360 in the current academic year, versus a nationwide average of $11,839 for comparable universities, according to a Cal State University analysis.
“When you’re dealing with a situation like the pandemic and this long-running economic downturn and students still want to continue their education, the CSU is perfect,” said Jessica Wagoner, senior associate vice president for enrollment management and services at Cal Poly Pomona, which saw a record number of students accept admissions offers and enroll this year.
Cal Poly Pomona also gave out more than $245 million in financial aid, compared with $232 million last year, and had more than 1,200 additional students apply for that aid.
For Aguayo, after enrolling in physics and calculus, he was discouraged by the difficult subjects and learning online.
“My view was if I can’t take physics, I can’t take math, I can’t take college,” he said. “That’s what I was thinking — I had to drop out.”
He found an academic advisor who suggested he take an elective course and his first-year seminar — a sort of “Intro to College” course — instead. Aguayo immediately struck a connection with the teacher.
“That’s probably my favorite class to go to,” he said. Although he’s frustrated by online learning and doesn’t think he can take any of his most difficult courses remotely, he is determined to continue.
“I’ll for sure stick through it now,” he said.


latimes--2020-11-10--In West Hollywood, two longtime council members, John Duran and John Heilman, lose bids for reelecti

In West Hollywood, two longtime council members, John Duran and John Heilman, lose bids for reelection

West Hollywood residents have ushered in a new era by voting out the two longest-serving members of the City Council .
John Heilman , a councilman since the city incorporated in 1984 , and John Duran , a colorful figure who has been dogged by sexual harassment allegations , lost to two newcomers who promised a fresh perspective for a governing board once dominated by longtime incumbents .
Sepi Shyne , a 43-year-old attorney who runs a holistic healing business for humans and pets , and John Erickson , the 35-year-old director of public affairs for Planned Parenthood Los Angeles @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 11 candidates on the ballot in last Tuesday ’ s at-large election .
Both had previously been appointed by Heilman to city commissions .
In an election where turnout was high and many voters cast their ballots early because of the contentious presidential race and the COVID-19 pandemic , Shyne came in first place with 7,850 votes .
Erickson came in second place with 7,118 votes and Heilman was third .
Duran , who has been on the council since 2001 , came in fifth behind retail store owner Larry Block , according @ @ @ @ @ @ @ County Registrar-Recorder .
“ People are ready for change , with everything we have gone through , with the social justice movement , the pandemic , ” Shyne said .
“ People have awoken to want evolution on every level.
” Both incoming council members said they would prioritize economic recovery amid the pandemic and would increase protections for renters .
Shyne noted that she didn ’ t take any donations from developers .
Shyne , who is Iranian American and lesbian , is the first queer woman of color ever elected to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one of only two women on the ballot .
When she takes office next month — joining Erickson , Lindsey Horvath , Lauren Meister and John D ’ Amico — the council will be majority female for the first time in the city ’ s history .
When West Hollywood was incorporated in 1984 , it grabbed headlines with the nation ’ s first gay-majority City Council , including Heilman , who is gay .
One of its first acts was an ordinance banning discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was going to do , honestly , ” said Shyne , who unsuccessfully ran for the council last year .
“ But in November 2018 , after the blue wave , the rainbow wave , the women ’ s wave , for the first time ever I started seeing myself in office .
As a queer Iranian woman , I had never seen myself [ reflected ] .
” Shyne ’ s family fled Iran after the Islamic Revolution when she was 5 , settling in the Bay Area .
She was in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was 16 .
A longtime advocate for women ’ s and LGBTQ rights , Shyne serves on the West Hollywood Business License Commission and previously was on the city ’ s Lesbian and Gay Advisory board .
Heilman appointed her to both .
She and her wife , actress and director Ashlei Shyne , live with their three rescue cats and mixed-breed rescue dog , Chloe the Queen of WeHo .
Erickson , who ran for office for the first time , will be the youngest member of the City Council .
He @ @ @ @ @ @ @ new times.
” “ It was time for people who look like me , people my age , to run for office , ” he said .
Erickson , a gay man and LGBTQ advocate who has lived in West Hollywood since 2010 , got his start as an intern for the City Council and later worked as a deputy to former Councilwoman Abbe Land .
He is a member of the West Hollywood Planning Commission .
He said it is bittersweet replacing Heilman , who appointed him to the planning commission and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Erickson was appointed in 2017 by Gov .
Jerry Brown to the California Commission on the Status of Women and Girls .
He credits his late grandmother , Gladys Hritsko — who brought him as a child to civil rights rallies for seniors , women and veterans — for his interest in politics .
“ When people ask , ‘ Why am I a feminist ?
’ I say , ‘ I was raised right , ’ ” said Erickson , a native of Wisconsin .
If Heilman and Duran had won @ @ @ @ @ @ @ final term for both .
In 2013 — when all but one City Council member had been in office for more than a decade — residents sent a mixed message by voting to establish term limits yet decisively reelecting longtime incumbents Duran and Jeffrey Prang , now the Los Angeles County assessor .
In 2015 , Heilman briefly lost his seat before winning a special election three months later .
“ I ’ ve served my community for 36 years , and it ’ s been an incredible honor and a pleasure , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at Southwestern Law School and the USC Gould School of Law , said Monday .
In recent years , allegations against Duran , an attorney , have roiled West Hollywood , with protesters packing council meetings to call for his ouster .
In 2016 , the city paid $ 500,000 to settle a sexual harassment lawsuit brought by Duran ’ s former council deputy , whom Duran said he hired after meeting on the Grindr app and having sex with him .
He was reelected after that scandal .
Last year , several @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Men ’ s Chorus of Los Angeles accused Duran of crude sexual comments and unwanted touching .
He said at the time that he had an unapologetically bawdy sense of humor , as a gay man who lived through the sexual revolution .
He relinquished the title of mayor , which rotates annually among council members , but cited health reasons for his decision , saying he was hospitalized for blood clots .
On Monday , Duran said that he and Heilman “ have been the faces of WeHo for decades.
” “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the same time , it ’ s a sign voters want something new , ” he added .
Duran said he is proud of the work he has done for LGBTQ rights and alcohol and drug recovery , as well as the financial health of a thriving city “ with huge surpluses.
” He now is working on a screenplay about the HIV and AIDS crisis of the 1980s , told through characters now living amid the COVID-19 pandemic .
“ Every time I sneezed , there was a story ... about it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the recent controversies .
“ I was constantly in the public eye , constantly in public scrutiny .
I feel I ’ ll get a little bit of my privacy back .
”

West Hollywood City Councilman John Duran celebrates during a news conference at City Hall after U.S. Supreme Court rulings on gay-marriage cases. He had been on the council since 2001.
West Hollywood residents have ushered in a new era by voting out the two longest-serving members of the City Council.
John Heilman, a councilman since the city incorporated in 1984, and John Duran, a colorful figure who has been dogged by sexual harassment allegations, lost to two newcomers who promised a fresh perspective for a governing board once dominated by longtime incumbents.
Sepi Shyne, a 43-year-old attorney who runs a holistic healing business for humans and pets, and John Erickson, the 35-year-old director of public affairs for Planned Parenthood Los Angeles, were the top two vote-getters among 11 candidates on the ballot in last Tuesday’s at-large election.
Both had previously been appointed by Heilman to city commissions.
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In an election where turnout was high and many voters cast their ballots early because of the contentious presidential race and the COVID-19 pandemic, Shyne came in first place with 7,850 votes.
Erickson came in second place with 7,118 votes and Heilman was third. Duran, who has been on the council since 2001, came in fifth behind retail store owner Larry Block, according to unofficial results from the Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder.
West Hollywood City Councilman John Heilman speaks during a council meeting on Feb.19, 2019. He’d been on the council since the city was founded in 1984. (Los Angeles Times)
“People are ready for change, with everything we have gone through, with the social justice movement, the pandemic,” Shyne said. “People have awoken to want evolution on every level.”
Both incoming council members said they would prioritize economic recovery amid the pandemic and would increase protections for renters. Shyne noted that she didn’t take any donations from developers.
Shyne, who is Iranian American and lesbian, is the first queer woman of color ever elected to the West Hollywood City Council and was one of only two women on the ballot.
When she takes office next month — joining Erickson, Lindsey Horvath, Lauren Meister and John D’Amico — the council will be majority female for the first time in the city’s history.
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When West Hollywood was incorporated in 1984, it grabbed headlines with the nation’s first gay-majority City Council, including Heilman, who is gay. One of its first acts was an ordinance banning discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation.
“Politics was never something I thought I was going to do, honestly,” said Shyne, who unsuccessfully ran for the council last year. “But in November 2018, after the blue wave, the rainbow wave, the women’s wave, for the first time ever I started seeing myself in office. As a queer Iranian woman, I had never seen myself [reflected].”
Shyne’s family fled Iran after the Islamic Revolution when she was 5, settling in the Bay Area. She was in the country without proper documentation until she was 16.
A longtime advocate for women’s and LGBTQ rights, Shyne serves on the West Hollywood Business License Commission and previously was on the city’s Lesbian and Gay Advisory board. Heilman appointed her to both. She and her wife, actress and director Ashlei Shyne, live with their three rescue cats and mixed-breed rescue dog, Chloe the Queen of WeHo.
In this undated photo, newly elected West Hollywood City Councilwoman Sepi Shyne, left, is seen with her wife, actress and director Ashlei Shyne, and their dog, Chloe the Queen of WeHo. (Courtesey of Sepi Shyne)
Erickson, who ran for office for the first time, will be the youngest member of the City Council. He said he represents “new leadership for new times.”
“It was time for people who look like me, people my age, to run for office,” he said.
Erickson, a gay man and LGBTQ advocate who has lived in West Hollywood since 2010, got his start as an intern for the City Council and later worked as a deputy to former Councilwoman Abbe Land. He is a member of the West Hollywood Planning Commission.
He said it is bittersweet replacing Heilman, who appointed him to the planning commission and is “a personal hero of mine.”
Erickson was appointed in 2017 by Gov. Jerry Brown to the California Commission on the Status of Women and Girls. He credits his late grandmother, Gladys Hritsko — who brought him as a child to civil rights rallies for seniors, women and veterans — for his interest in politics.
“When people ask, ‘Why am I a feminist?’ I say, ‘I was raised right,’” said Erickson, a native of Wisconsin.
If Heilman and Duran had won reelection, it would have been the final term for both.
In 2013 — when all but one City Council member had been in office for more than a decade — residents sent a mixed message by voting to establish term limits yet decisively reelecting longtime incumbents Duran and Jeffrey Prang, now the Los Angeles County assessor.
An undated photo of newly elected West Hollywood City Councilman John Erickson. The Wisconsin native was appointed in 2017 by Gov. Jerry Brown to the California Commission on the Status of Women and Girls. (Courtesey of John Erickson)
In 2015, Heilman briefly lost his seat before winning a special election three months later.
“I’ve served my community for 36 years, and it’s been an incredible honor and a pleasure,” Heilman, 63, who teaches at Southwestern Law School and the USC Gould School of Law, said Monday.
In recent years, allegations against Duran, an attorney, have roiled West Hollywood, with protesters packing council meetings to call for his ouster.
In 2016, the city paid $500,000 to settle a sexual harassment lawsuit brought by Duran’s former council deputy, whom Duran said he hired after meeting on the Grindr app and having sex with him. He was reelected after that scandal.
Last year, several current or former members of the Gay Men’s Chorus of Los Angeles accused Duran of crude sexual comments and unwanted touching.
He said at the time that he had an unapologetically bawdy sense of humor, as a gay man who lived through the sexual revolution. He relinquished the title of mayor, which rotates annually among council members, but cited health reasons for his decision, saying he was hospitalized for blood clots.
On Monday, Duran said that he and Heilman “have been the faces of WeHo for decades.”
“When we both lose our seats at the same time, it’s a sign voters want something new,” he added.
Duran said he is proud of the work he has done for LGBTQ rights and alcohol and drug recovery, as well as the financial health of a thriving city “with huge surpluses.” He now is working on a screenplay about the HIV and AIDS crisis of the 1980s, told through characters now living amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Every time I sneezed, there was a story ... about it,” said Duran, 61, of the recent controversies. “I was constantly in the public eye, constantly in public scrutiny. I feel I’ll get a little bit of my privacy back.”