latimes--2020-10-07--Staff member in California Gov. Gavin Newsom's office tests positive for COVID-19

An intern in Gov .
Gavin Newsom ’ s administration and another state employee who interacted with members of the governor ’ s staff have both tested positive for COVID-19 , though neither came in contact with Newsom or his top advisors , the governor and his spokesman said Wednesday .
“ We are going through a contact-tracing process led by the Department of Public Health , and they have both been isolated and we are working back from that frame to make sure that everybody is appropriately tested , ” Newsom said during a briefing in Winters , Calif. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s spokesman , Nathan Click , said that whenever a state employee tests positive for COVID-19 and was in a government office , state policy requires that shared spaces be deep-cleaned — which was done where appropriate in these cases — and that employees who had contact with that person , or with the office , isolate themselves and seek testing .
Click declined to identify the employees who tested positive , or their office locations , citing privacy laws .
Newsom identified the governor ’ s office staff member as an intern @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for a separate state agency .
Neither worked in the suite of Capitol offices occupied by Newsom and his senior staff , the governor said .
The governor ’ s office was alerted about the state employee on Monday and about the governor ’ s office staff member “ earlier this week , ” Click said .
Once notified , the governor ’ s office immediately began appropriate protocols such as contact tracing and asking employees to isolate themselves if they had come in contact with the two people who tested positive .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ positive well in their recovery , ” Click said .
Newsom said Wednesday that he has been tested for the virus on multiple occasions when the circumstances warranted , including when he visited a state prison and when he met with President Trump in Sacramento in mid-September during a briefing on the deadly wildfires in the state .
The last time he was tested was an hour before meeting with the president , and the results were negative , Newsom said .
Neither state employee who tested positive attended the event with the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ ve never been tested positive .
I ’ ve been tested negative on multiple times , ” Newsom said Wednesday .
Newsom ’ s comments came almost a week after disclosures that Trump and First Lady Melania Trump tested positive for COVID-19 , with the president requiring several days of hospitalization .
The White House is now grappling with an outbreak of the virus among senior advisors to Trump as well as support staff and others who came in contact with those infected .
During a press conference on Monday , Newsom @ @ @ @ @ @ @ others for being dismissive about the use of masks to prevent the spread of COVID-19 .
“ We ’ ll continue to maintain our vigilance .
We ’ ll continue not to send mixed messages as it relates to importance and imperative of wearing masks or minimize the impact of this disease on people ’ s health , lives that are lost , ” Newsom said .
Click said that the governor ’ s office has reduced staff levels at the Capitol , where Newsom and his senior advisors work , because of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ meetings in favor of video conference calls .

A staff member in California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s office tested positive for the coronavirus this week but did not interact with the governor or his senior advisors, according to a spokesman.
An intern in Gov. Gavin Newsom’s administration and another state employee who interacted with members of the governor’s staff have both tested positive for the coronavirus, though neither came in contact with Newsom or his top advisors, the governor and his spokesman said Wednesday.
“We are going through a contact-tracing process led by the Department of Public Health, and they have both been isolated and we are working back from that frame to make sure that everybody is appropriately tested,” Newsom said during a briefing in Winters, Calif., on Wednesday.
The governor’s spokesman, Nathan Click, said that whenever a state employee tests positive for the coronavirus and was in a government office, state policy requires that shared spaces be deep-cleaned — which was done where appropriate in these cases — and that employees who had contact with that person, or with the office, quarantine themselves and seek testing.
Click declined to identify the employees who tested positive or their office locations, citing privacy laws. Newsom identified the governor’s office staff member as an intern and said the other employee worked for a separate state agency. Neither worked in the suite of Capitol offices occupied by Newsom and his senior staff, the governor said.
The governor’s office was alerted about the state employee Monday and about the governor’s office staff member “earlier this week,” Click said. Once notified, the governor’s office immediately began appropriate protocols such as contact tracing and asking employees to quarantine themselves if they had come in contact with the two people who tested positive.
“We wish both individuals who tested positive well in their recovery,” Click said.
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Newsom said Wednesday that he has been tested for the virus on multiple occasions when the circumstances warranted, including when he visited a state prison and when he met with President Trump in Sacramento in mid-September during a briefing on the deadly wildfires in the state.
The last time he was tested was an hour before meeting with the president, and the results were negative, Newsom said. Neither state employee who tested positive attended the event with the president, Click said.
“I’ve never been tested positive. I’ve been tested negative on multiple times,” Newsom said Wednesday.
Newsom’s comments came almost a week after disclosures that Trump and First Lady Melania Trump tested positive for the coronavirus, with the president requiring several days of hospitalization with COVID-19 symptoms. The White House is now grappling with an outbreak of the virus among senior advisors to Trump as well as support staff and others who came in contact with those infected.
During a news conference Monday, Newsom took a subtle jab at Trump and others for being dismissive about the use of masks to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.
“We’ll continue to maintain our vigilance. We’ll continue not to send mixed messages as it relates to importance and imperative of wearing masks or minimize the impact of this disease on people’s health, lives that are lost,” Newsom said.
Click said that the governor’s office has reduced staff levels at the Capitol, where Newsom and his senior advisors work, because of the pandemic and has scrapped most in-person meetings in favor of videoconference calls.


latimes--2020-10-07--Mt. Whitney closed for the season because of smoke, fires

It ’ s been a tough year for hikers hoping to scale Mt .
Whitney , the highest peak in the lower 48 states .
Early in the season , the mountain was closed to hikers because of the pandemic .
It reopened in early July and closed again at the beginning of September when national forests throughout California shut because of fires and poor air quality .
The Inyo National Forest , which manages traffic on the 14,500-plus-foot peak and surrounding wilderness , recently announced that the area will be closed until Dec. 1 because of nearby fires and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ — South Sierra , Golden Trout , John Muir , Ansel Adams , Owens River Headwaters and Hoover — also are closed .
“ Many of the Inyo ’ s trail networks lead into active fire areas that are closed and that are managing complex and difficult fires , ” the website says .
The order could be lifted sooner if conditions change .
From May 1 to Nov. 1 , the quota period when Whitney permits are required , human traffic is limited to 100 day hikers and 60 overnight visitors .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ closure will receive refunds from recreation.gov .
Inyo has been affected by the massive Creek fire to the west , the SQF Complex fire near Sequoia National Park ( which has kept areas of that park closed ) and the Rattlesnake fire burning within the Sequoia and Kings Canyon wilderness , according to fire reporting website InciWeb .
Popular recreational destinations such as Reds Meadow Valley and Devils Postpile National Monument also remain shut because of the Creek fire ; no reopening date has been set .
However , parts of the Inyo @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Bristlecone Pine Forest , have reopened .
Southern California ’ s national forests , including the Angeles , San Bernardino , Los Padres and others , are closed and will remain shut at least through Thursday because of high risk of fire .
Fires are burning in 13 of the state ’ s 18 national forests .
The agency closed all forests in the state on Sept. 9 ; local forests haven ’ t reopened since .
It ’ s still “ a day-to-day decision ” on when to reopen , said U.S. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ north , Eldorado , Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit , Lassen , Mendocino , Modoc , Plumas , Shasta-Trinity , Stanislaus and Tahoe are open to varying degrees .
It ’ s been an unprecedented year for wildfires .
The agency reports that more than 3 million acres have burned statewide so far this season .
In a typical fire season , that number is about 300,000 acres .
Authorities urged would-be visitors to check individual forest web pages ( for specific restrictions ) , the Cal Fire website ( for updates on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or a comparable source ( for air-quality readings ) .

It’s been a tough year for hikers hoping to scale Mt. Whitney, the highest peak in the lower 48 states. Early in the season, the mountain was closed to hikers because of the pandemic. It reopened in early July and closed again at the beginning of September when national forests throughout California shut because of fires and poor air quality.
The Inyo National Forest, which manages traffic on the 14,500-plus-foot peak and surrounding wilderness, recently announced that the area will be closed until Dec. 1 because of nearby fires and smoky air. Popular backcountry wilderness areas — South Sierra, Golden Trout, John Muir, Ansel Adams, Owens River Headwaters and Hoover — also are closed.
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“Many of the Inyo’s trail networks lead into active fire areas that are closed and that are managing complex and difficult fires,” the website says. The order could be lifted sooner if conditions change.
From May 1 to Nov. 1, the quota period when Whitney permits are required, human traffic is limited to 100 day hikers and 60 overnight visitors. Hikers holding permits for dates during the closure will receive refunds from recreation.gov.
Inyo has been affected by the massive Creek fire to the west, the SQF Complex fire near Sequoia National Park (which has kept areas of that park closed) and the Rattlesnake fire burning within the Sequoia and Kings Canyon wilderness, according to fire reporting website InciWeb.
Popular recreational destinations such as Reds Meadow Valley and Devils Postpile National Monument also remain shut because of the Creek fire; no reopening date has been set. However, parts of the Inyo and White mountains, including the Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest, have reopened.
Southern California’s national forests, including the Angeles, San Bernardino, Los Padres and others, are closed and will remain shut at least through Thursday because of high risk of fire.
Fires are burning in 13 of the state’s 18 national forests. The agency closed all forests in the state on Sept. 9; local forests haven’t reopened since. It’s still “a day-to-day decision” on when to reopen, said U.S. Forest Service spokesman Jonathan Groveman.
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Farther north, Eldorado, Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit, Lassen, Mendocino, Modoc, Plumas, Shasta-Trinity, Stanislaus and Tahoe are open to varying degrees.
It’s been an unprecedented year for wildfires. The agency reports that more than 3 million acres have burned statewide so far this season. In a typical fire season, that number is about 300,000 acres.
Authorities urged would-be visitors to check individual forest web pages (for specific restrictions), the Cal Fire website (for updates on the blazes in progress) and AirNow or a comparable source (for air-quality readings).


latimes--2020-10-07--Man in critical condition after being shot by sheriff's deputy at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center

A patient who was allegedly swinging a metal medical device at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center was in critical condition after being shot Tuesday night by a sheriff ’ s deputy , officials said .
The patient , a man 30 to 40 years old who has not been identified , was using the metal device to break the window of a room containing two Los Angeles County sheriff ’ s deputies and another patient , said Sheriff ’ s Lt. Derrick Alfred .
One of the deputies then shot him .
Alfred said the device was “ about the size of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” The patient , who was in the hospital being treated for injuries , became “ agitated ” at around 11:15 p.m. and attempted to break through the door of his room with the metal device , Alfred said .
The two deputies were guarding the other patient ’ s room , and one of them came to investigate the commotion .
She made sure the agitated patient ’ s roommate was safe , then retreated to the first room , Alfred said .
The agitated patient followed her and began smashing the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to Alfred ’ s account .
“ The deputy , trying to de-escalate the situation , backed into a room [ and ] shut the door , ” Alfred said .
“ Then the guy took to smashing the room.
” It was not clear which of the deputies shot the patient .
Alfred said of the metal device : “ I wouldn ’ t want to get hit with it.
” In a news release , the Sheriff ’ s Department said only that the patient “ turned his attention on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ staff or deputies were injured , but Alfred said the area was heavily damaged .
The hospital gave a similar account , saying the patient “ became agitated ” and tried to enter a neighboring patient ’ s room .
“ The patient became aggressive and was subsequently shot by the deputies , ” the hospital ’ s communications manager , LaVasha Floyd , said in a statement .
Anish Mahajan , acting CEO and chief medical officer for Harbor-UCLA Medical Center , said in an email that the man was “ shot @ @ @ @ @ @ @ attack on another patient.
” Hospital workers immediately began treating the man after the deputy shot him .
“ I want to thank the staff caring for the patients in the area where this occurred for their swift response to care for the patient who had been shot and to ensure the physical and psychological safety of the other patients and each other on the unit , ” Mahajan wrote in an email to staff members .
In another law enforcement shooting at Harbor-UCLA five years ago , a Los Angeles police officer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ruben Herrera .
Authorities said Herrera , 26 , attacked officers and reached for their guns .
The officers knew that Herrera had bipolar disorder , and there were no fingerprints on the officers ’ guns , said an attorney for Herrera ’ s parents , who won $ 3.5 million in a lawsuit against the city .

L.A. County sheriff’s deputies outside Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, where a patient allegedly destroying medical equipment was shot by a deputy Tuesday night.
A patient who was allegedly swinging a metal medical device at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center was in critical condition after being shot Tuesday night by a sheriff’s deputy, officials said.
The patient, a man 30 to 40 years old who has not been identified, was using the metal device to break the window of a room containing two Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputies and another patient, said Sheriff’s Lt. Derrick Alfred. One of the deputies then shot him.
Alfred said the device was “about the size of a shoebox but metal — all metal.”
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The patient, who was in the hospital being treated for injuries, became “agitated” at around 11:15 p.m. and attempted to break through the door of his room with the metal device, Alfred said.
The two deputies were guarding the other patient’s room, and one of them came to investigate the commotion. She made sure the agitated patient’s roommate was safe, then retreated to the first room, Alfred said.
The agitated patient followed her and began smashing the window with the metal device, according to Alfred’s account.
“The deputy, trying to de-escalate the situation, backed into a room [and] shut the door,” Alfred said. “Then the guy took to smashing the room.”
It was not clear which of the deputies shot the patient. Alfred said of the metal device: “I wouldn’t want to get hit with it.”
In a news release, the Sheriff’s Department said only that the patient “turned his attention on the deputy.”
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No other patients, medical staff or deputies were injured, but Alfred said the area was heavily damaged.
The hospital gave a similar account, saying the patient “became agitated” and tried to enter a neighboring patient’s room.
“The patient became aggressive and was subsequently shot by the deputies,” the hospital’s communications manager, LaVasha Floyd, said in a statement.
Anish Mahajan, acting CEO and chief medical officer for Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, said in an email that the man was “shot by law enforcement in response to an attack on another patient.”
Hospital workers immediately began treating the man after the deputy shot him.
“I want to thank the staff caring for the patients in the area where this occurred for their swift response to care for the patient who had been shot and to ensure the physical and psychological safety of the other patients and each other on the unit,” Mahajan wrote in an email to staff members.
In another law enforcement shooting at Harbor-UCLA five years ago, a Los Angeles police officer fatally shot a mentally ill patient, Ruben Herrera. Authorities said Herrera, 26, attacked officers and reached for their guns.
The officers knew that Herrera had bipolar disorder, and there were no fingerprints on the officers’ guns, said an attorney for Herrera’s parents, who won $3.5 million in a lawsuit against the city.


latimes--2020-10-07--Earthquake: 3.2 quake reported near Ukiah, Calif.

A magnitude 3.2 earthquake was reported at 10:29 a.m. Wednesday 13 miles from Ukiah , Calif. , according to the U.S. Geological Survey .
The earthquake occurred 39 miles from Clearlake , Calif. , 52 miles from Healdsburg , Calif. , 59 miles from Windsor , Calif. and 65 miles from Santa Rosa , Calif .
In the last 10 days , there has been one earthquake of magnitude 3.0 or greater centered nearby .
An average of 234 earthquakes with magnitudes of 3.0 to 4.0 occur each year in California and Nevada , according to a recent three-year data @ @ @ @ @ @ @ depth of 2.7 miles .
Did you feel this earthquake ?
Consider reporting what you felt to the USGS .
Even if you didn ’ t feel this small earthquake , you never know when the Big One is going to strike .
Ready yourself by following our five-step earthquake preparedness guide and building your own emergency kit .
This story was automatically generated by Quakebot , a computer application that monitors the latest earthquakes detected by the USGS .
A Times editor reviewed the post before it was published .
If you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the system , visit our list of frequently asked questions .

The magnitude 3.2 earthquake occurred at 10:29 a.m. Wednesday morning near Ukiah, Calif., according to the USGS.
A magnitude 3.2 earthquake was reported at 10:29 a.m. Wednesday 13 miles from Ukiah, Calif., according to the U.S. Geological Survey.
The earthquake occurred 39 miles from Clearlake, Calif., 52 miles from Healdsburg, Calif., 59 miles from Windsor, Calif. and 65 miles from Santa Rosa, Calif.
In the last 10 days, there has been one earthquake of magnitude 3.0 or greater centered nearby.
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An average of 234 earthquakes with magnitudes of 3.0 to 4.0 occur each year in California and Nevada, according to a recent three-year data sample.
The earthquake occurred at a depth of 2.7 miles. Did you feel this earthquake? Consider reporting what you felt to the USGS.
Even if you didn’t feel this small earthquake, you never know when the Big One is going to strike. Ready yourself by following our five-step earthquake preparedness guide and building your own emergency kit.
This story was automatically generated by Quakebot, a computer application that monitors the latest earthquakes detected by the USGS. A Times editor reviewed the post before it was published. If you’re interested in learning more about the system, visit our list of frequently asked questions.


latimes--2020-10-07--Can California ban fracking? Newsom's bold plan to fight climate change faces skepticism

When Gov .
Gavin Newsom promised last month to phase out gas-powered vehicles and called for an end to fracking in California , his announcement drew national attention and thrust him to the forefront of the fight against climate change .
But it ’ s becoming increasingly clear that a big part of that pledge is going to be difficult to carry out .
His request for the California Legislature to ban hydraulic fracturing by oil and gas companies is being met with skepticism by lawmakers who say outlawing the controversial practice will require more from Newsom than merely words @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be successful , we ’ re going to need not just a governor ’ s endorsement , but he needs to put the muscle behind this also to help get the votes together , ” said Assemblywoman Cristina Garcia ( D-Bell Gardens ) .
“ I ’ ve seen bills that do way less related to oil die in the Legislature.
” The call to ban fracking left some questioning whether the intent of the well-timed move by a governor with a taste for big promises was to draw national headlines or to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ oil interests and their trade union allies .
Legislators and environmentalists have lost that brawl before , and to win next year , they say , would require the governor to use his position to push the proposal through in a way they ’ ve rarely seen him do with legislation .
A debate over fracking at the state Capitol would crack open ever-widening fissures in the Democratic Party between liberals in coastal and urban areas , who are propelling California ’ s quest to reverse climate change , and moderates representing some @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lose thousands of working-class jobs .
“ They ’ re not just jobs .
They ’ re good-paying , middle-class , union jobs that are going to be lost , ” said Assemblywoman Blanca Rubio ( D-Baldwin Park ) , who represents the eastern San Gabriel Valley and is the newly chosen leader of a bloc of moderate Democrats in the lower house .
“ What are we going to do for them ?
Where are they going to go ?
” Hydraulic fracturing involves shooting at high pressure a mix of water @ @ @ @ @ @ @ extract oil and natural gas .
Environmentalists oppose the practice because of its potential to contaminate drinking water supplies , while oil interests say banning it will only increase the state ’ s reliance on foreign fuel .
Newsom ’ s call for a ban notably does not include another controversial method used to extract oil called cyclic steam injection , which pumps super-heated vapor into wells to loosen and liquefy viscous crude oil .
Steam injection was suspected to be a factor in one of California ’ s largest oil spills in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ when more than 900,000 gallons of oil and brine oozed from a Chevron Corp. facility in McKittrick , a tiny town in oil-rich Kern County .
California regulators have fined Chevron $ 2.7 million for violations at the oil field .
Steam injection is also considered hazardous to oil workers .
In 2011 , Chevron engineer David Taylor died while he was inspecting a steam-injected well near Taft , also in Kern County .
The soil caved in beneath him and he fell into a cavity that contained 190-degree water and hydrogen sulfide @ @ @ @ @ @ @ oil and gas wells in California use hydraulic fracturing , according to the state Department of Conservation , which regulates the oil and gas industry .
Between 2005 and 2015 , about 20 % of oil and gas production in California came from wells that used hydraulic fracturing , according to a 2015 report by the California Council on Science and Technology .
But lawmakers are considering going beyond Newsom ’ s call by introducing a bill that includes a ban on hydraulic fracking and steam injection , which would make the fight @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Limón ( D-Santa Barbara ) .
“ The legislation is not in print , but we ’ ve had conversations as a group of legislators and there is interest to see it go further than his definition , ” Limón said .
Robbie Hunter , president of the State Building and Construction Trade Council of California , cast the potential ban as symbolic of a broader effort to reduce dependence on oil and natural gas without producing enough green alternatives to meet the state ’ s energy needs and create a new pipeline @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a classic effort to trim the industry here in California , ” Hunter said .
“ We ’ re being elitist saying that , ‘ Well , we won ’ t do it here , but the rest of the world can supply us.
’ We think an across-the-board ban on fracking is another stab to kill the industry and stop us from meeting our own energy needs.
” While oil companies have the financial resources to run ad blitzes against lawmakers , their relationship with the trade unions has given them the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ curtail the industry .
Lawmakers approved a bill in 2013 to require a skilled and trained workforce at oil refineries and petrochemical facilities , which opened up more jobs for the building trades .
The following year a bill to ban fracking failed to progress out of the state Senate .
This August , Californians saw just how difficult passing legislation to regulate the oil and gas industry can be .
A bill to establish minimum setback distances between wells and residential areas , along with public places such as schools and playgrounds @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a Democrat -controlled state Senate committee — primarily because of fierce opposition by the trade unions and oil industry — even after it was passed in the Assembly .
Hunter had a close relationship with former Gov .
Jerry Brown , who increased restrictions on fracking but rebuffed demands from activists to end the practice altogether .
Although Hunter publicly feuded with Newsom last year , he appears reluctant to wage another war over fracking when it ’ s clear that lawmakers already have doubts about the governor ’ s ban .
He @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s announcement and believes the governor ’ s office understands the need to increase green alternatives .
“ He ’ s being driven hard and pushed hard in a lot of directions , ” Hunter said.
`` I think we need to pull on his sleeve as much as we can and explain and promote and show him.
” Tom Baca of the International Brotherhood of Boilermakers said he didn ’ t think Newsom understood the plight of workers in his union .
“ He just makes these decisions , ” Baca @ @ @ @ @ @ @ remember having any discussions with him about it .
He just goes and does what he thinks the environmentalists or whoever want him to.
” But environmentalists also weren ’ t thrilled with the governor ’ s announcement .
Some climate advocates said he punted the tough issue to the Legislature and abdicated his executive authority by choosing not to more swiftly ban the controversial oil extraction method on his own .
During his 2018 campaign for governor , Newsom said he opposed fracking because it posed possible health and environmental risks .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ an outright ban until last week , despite consistent pressure from politically influential environmental groups .
Since taking office , Newsom has argued that , under current California law , he lacks the executive authority to ban fracking , saying that ’ s why he needs the Legislature to step in .
“ We simply don ’ t have the authority .
That ’ s why we need the Legislature to approve it , ” he said during a news conference calling for the ban , as well as phasing out the sale @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Environmental advocates and legal experts say Newsom does have that authority .
“ Given that the governor wants to be audacious on climate policy , it ’ s very curious to me why they wouldn ’ t take this and run with it , ” said attorney Deborah A. Sivas , head of the Stanford University Environmental Law Clinic .
“ I think if he wanted to do it , he would do it.
” The state ’ s oil and gas supervisor in the California Department of Conservation , which reports to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ public resources code to prevent “ damage to life , health , property , and natural resources ” caused by oil and gas well drilling or operation in the state , as well as by pipelines and other infrastructure , Sivas said .
Sivas said state law gives Newsom clear authority to order the Department of Conservation to stop issuing permits for new fracking wells .
The governor has not hesitated to exercise similar executive authority in his response to the COVID-19 pandemic , such as ordering the state Department of Public Health @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ He ’ s been willing to do all sorts of things , to push the envelope , ” Sivas said .
“ You ’ re going to get sued one way or another .
So just do it and get your good lawyers to defend it.
” The Newsom administration has declined to explain the legal basis behind its assertion that the governor lacks the authority to act , despite repeated requests from The Times to do so .
In November , Newsom imposed a temporary moratorium on all pending fracking permits @ @ @ @ @ @ @ experts from the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory .
He also ordered California ’ s system for issuing fracking and steam injection permits to be audited by the state Department of Finance to determine if it complies with state law and asked the agency to recommend ways to strengthen the permitting process .
The audit of the state ’ s permitting process is expected to be finalized this month — but in the meantime the moratorium has been lifted .
The California Geologic Energy Management Division , known as CalGEM , has issued close @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Chevron and Aera Energy , a partnership of Shell Oil and Exxon Mobil , since April .
State Oil and Gas Supervisor Uduak-Joe Ntuk said in August that the permits that were granted underwent independent environmental review .
Kassie Siegel , director of the climate law institute at the Center for Biological Diversity , said the moratorium was another example of Newsom undertaking what sounded like a bold initiative — a moratorium on fracking — only to have the reality not live up to the hype .
Seven months after taking office , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ industry regulator , saying that he issued too many hydraulic fracturing permits .
But the governor would not commit to banning or limiting the oil extraction process .
“ Time and time again , politicians will make these grand announcements .
They will receive acclaim , and then they will use the political cover for further delay , ” Siegel said .
“ We ’ re out of time .
We can ’ t afford any more delays.
” Assemblyman Phil Ting ( D-San Francisco ) said Newsom ’ s endorsement of a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” in ways that he and his colleagues could never achieve under Brown , but the issue is far from settled .
The potential for opponents to label a ban as a de facto increase in the price of oil and natural gas could also prove difficult to overcome .
The 2018 recall of then-state Sen. Josh Newman ( D-Fullerton ) , after opponents cast him as a critical vote on a gasoline tax bill , remains fresh in the minds of lawmakers .
Newman is seeking reelection in November .
Casting doubt @ @ @ @ @ @ @ seriously consider and debate such a complex topic in what could become another abbreviated legislative year due to the coronavirus , Rubio said she plans to advocate for a task force to study the issue and delay any decision until 2022 .
Lawmakers including Garcia say it ’ s been hard to get the governor ’ s attention on bills over the last two years and question whether other priorities will take precedence over working toward a ban .
Last year Newsom entered negotiations on a rent cap bill after advocates and opponents @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he ultimately made the law stronger .
This year the governor ’ s office became involved in a fight over tenant protections during the pandemic , giving whiplash to supporters who complained that he weakened the legislation .
The governor , who has described housing and homelessness as his top priority , also took heat in January for not doing more to support Senate Bill 50 , a proposal to dramatically increase housing production in California that fell flat .
Newsom ’ s aides have described the governor as a policy wonk who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with stacks of paper to read background on pending proposals .
But he hasn ’ t taken the same interest in crafting and pushing his own bills through the Legislature .
A 2019 law to create a multibillion-dollar fund for Pacific Gas & Electric Co. and the state ’ s other investor-owned utilities to pay for wildfire damages is among the few examples .
Ting said the governor and his staff are still developing relationships with lawmakers .
He expects Newsom ’ s influence to grow .
“ The governor ’ s endorsement @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , his participation , is definitely not enough on issues such as these , ” Ting said .
“ I think he and his staff are still really determining what that means , ‘ the full weight of his office.
’ ” When told at a recent news conference that lawmakers said they believe he would need to do more than offer his endorsement and asked how involved he plans to be in the fracking fight , Newsom gave a curt , three-word answer .

On the hood of an electric car, California Gov. Gavin Newsom signs an executive order requiring all new passenger vehicles sold in the state to be zero-emission by 2035 on Sept. 23 in Sacramento. Newsom also threw his support behind a ban on fracking — a goal legislators say will be hard to achieve unless the governor puts in the work to make it happen.
When Gov. Gavin Newsom promised last month to phase out gas-powered vehicles and called for an end to fracking in California, his announcement drew national attention and thrust him to the forefront of the fight against climate change.
But it’s becoming increasingly clear that a big part of that pledge is going to be difficult to carry out.
His request for the California Legislature to ban hydraulic fracturing by oil and gas companies is being met with skepticism by lawmakers who say outlawing the controversial practice will require more from Newsom than merely words.
“If this is going to be successful, we’re going to need not just a governor’s endorsement, but he needs to put the muscle behind this also to help get the votes together,” said Assemblywoman Cristina Garcia (D-Bell Gardens). “I’ve seen bills that do way less related to oil die in the Legislature.”
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The call to ban fracking left some questioning whether the intent of the well-timed move by a governor with a taste for big promises was to draw national headlines or to launch a political dogfight in Sacramento against oil interests and their trade union allies. Legislators and environmentalists have lost that brawl before, and to win next year, they say, would require the governor to use his position to push the proposal through in a way they’ve rarely seen him do with legislation.
A debate over fracking at the state Capitol would crack open ever-widening fissures in the Democratic Party between liberals in coastal and urban areas, who are propelling California’s quest to reverse climate change, and moderates representing some inland communities that they say stand to lose thousands of working-class jobs.
“They’re not just jobs. They’re good-paying, middle-class, union jobs that are going to be lost,” said Assemblywoman Blanca Rubio (D-Baldwin Park), who represents the eastern San Gabriel Valley and is the newly chosen leader of a bloc of moderate Democrats in the lower house. “What are we going to do for them? Where are they going to go?”
Hydraulic fracturing involves shooting at high pressure a mix of water, sand and chemicals deep underground to extract oil and natural gas. Environmentalists oppose the practice because of its potential to contaminate drinking water supplies, while oil interests say banning it will only increase the state’s reliance on foreign fuel.
Newsom’s call for a ban notably does not include another controversial method used to extract oil called cyclic steam injection, which pumps super-heated vapor into wells to loosen and liquefy viscous crude oil. Steam injection was suspected to be a factor in one of California’s largest oil spills in decades in the summer of 2019, when more than 900,000 gallons of oil and brine oozed from a Chevron Corp. facility in McKittrick, a tiny town in oil-rich Kern County. California regulators have fined Chevron $2.7 million for violations at the oil field.
Steam injection is also considered hazardous to oil workers. In 2011, Chevron engineer David Taylor died while he was inspecting a steam-injected well near Taft, also in Kern County. The soil caved in beneath him and he fell into a cavity that contained 190-degree water and hydrogen sulfide.
Just 638 of the 61,682 active oil and gas wells in California use hydraulic fracturing, according to the state Department of Conservation, which regulates the oil and gas industry.
Between 2005 and 2015, about 20% of oil and gas production in California came from wells that used hydraulic fracturing, according to a 2015 report by the California Council on Science and Technology.
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But lawmakers are considering going beyond Newsom’s call by introducing a bill that includes a ban on hydraulic fracking and steam injection, which would make the fight even more difficult, said Assemblywoman Monique Limón (D-Santa Barbara).
“The legislation is not in print, but we’ve had conversations as a group of legislators and there is interest to see it go further than his definition,” Limón said.
Robbie Hunter, president of the State Building and Construction Trade Council of California, cast the potential ban as symbolic of a broader effort to reduce dependence on oil and natural gas without producing enough green alternatives to meet the state’s energy needs and create a new pipeline of jobs.
“It’s a classic effort to trim the industry here in California,” Hunter said. “We’re being elitist saying that, ‘Well, we won’t do it here, but the rest of the world can supply us.’ We think an across-the-board ban on fracking is another stab to kill the industry and stop us from meeting our own energy needs.”
While oil companies have the financial resources to run ad blitzes against lawmakers, their relationship with the trade unions has given them the support needed to beat back attempts to curtail the industry.
Lawmakers approved a bill in 2013 to require a skilled and trained workforce at oil refineries and petrochemical facilities, which opened up more jobs for the building trades. The following year a bill to ban fracking failed to progress out of the state Senate.
This August, Californians saw just how difficult passing legislation to regulate the oil and gas industry can be. A bill to establish minimum setback distances between wells and residential areas, along with public places such as schools and playgrounds, failed to make it out of a Democrat ic -controlled state Senate committee — primarily because of fierce opposition by the trade unions and oil industry — even after it was passed in the Assembly.
Hunter had a close relationship with former Gov. Jerry Brown, who increased restrictions on fracking but rebuffed demands from activists to end the practice altogether. Although Hunter publicly feuded with Newsom last year, he appears reluctant to wage another war over fracking when it’s clear that lawmakers already have doubts about the governor’s ban. He said he received advance notice about Newsom’s announcement and believes the governor’s office understands the need to increase green alternatives.
“He’s being driven hard and pushed hard in a lot of directions,” Hunter said. “ I think we need to pull on his sleeve as much as we can and explain and promote and show him.”
Tom Baca of the International Brotherhood of Boilermakers said he didn’t think Newsom understood the plight of workers in his union.
“He just makes these decisions,” Baca said. “I don’t remember having any discussions with him about it. He just goes and does what he thinks the environmentalists or whoever want him to.”
But environmentalists also weren’t thrilled with the governor’s announcement.
Some climate advocates said he punted the tough issue to the Legislature and abdicated his executive authority by choosing not to more swiftly ban the controversial oil extraction method on his own.
During his 2018 campaign for governor, Newsom said he opposed fracking because it posed possible health and environmental risks. But he shied away from advocating for an outright ban until last week, despite consistent pressure from politically influential environmental groups.
Since taking office, Newsom has argued that, under current California law, he lacks the executive authority to ban fracking, saying that’s why he needs the Legislature to step in.
“We simply don’t have the authority. That’s why we need the Legislature to approve it,” he said during a news conference calling for the ban, as well as phasing out the sale of new gasoline-powered vehicles by 2035.
Environmental advocates and legal experts say Newsom does have that authority.
“Given that the governor wants to be audacious on climate policy, it’s very curious to me why they wouldn’t take this and run with it,” said attorney Deborah A. Sivas, head of the Stanford University Environmental Law Clinic. “I think if he wanted to do it, he would do it.”
The state’s oil and gas supervisor in the California Department of Conservation, which reports to Newsom, has the authority under the public resources code to prevent “damage to life, health, property, and natural resources” caused by oil and gas well drilling or operation in the state, as well as by pipelines and other infrastructure, Sivas said.
Sivas said state law gives Newsom clear authority to order the Department of Conservation to stop issuing permits for new fracking wells. The governor has not hesitated to exercise similar executive authority in his response to the COVID-19 pandemic, such as ordering the state Department of Public Health to require Californians to wear masks.
“He’s been willing to do all sorts of things, to push the envelope,” Sivas said. “You’re going to get sued one way or another. So just do it and get your good lawyers to defend it.”
The Newsom administration has declined to explain the legal basis behind its assertion that the governor lacks the authority to act, despite repeated requests from The Times to do so.
In November, Newsom imposed a temporary moratorium on all pending fracking permits until they could be scrutinized by independent experts from the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. He also ordered California’s system for issuing fracking and steam injection permits to be audited by the state Department of Finance to determine if it complies with state law and asked the agency to recommend ways to strengthen the permitting process.
The audit of the state’s permitting process is expected to be finalized this month — but in the meantime the moratorium has been lifted.
The California Geologic Energy Management Division, known as CalGEM, has issued close to 50 new hydraulic fracturing permits to Chevron and Aera Energy, a partnership of Shell Oil and Exxon Mobil, since April. State Oil and Gas Supervisor Uduak-Joe Ntuk said in August that the permits that were granted underwent independent environmental review.
Kassie Siegel, director of the climate law institute at the Center for Biological Diversity, said the moratorium was another example of Newsom undertaking what sounded like a bold initiative — a moratorium on fracking — only to have the reality not live up to the hype.
Seven months after taking office, Newsom fired California’s top oil industry regulator, saying that he issued too many hydraulic fracturing permits. But the governor would not commit to banning or limiting the oil extraction process.
“Time and time again, politicians will make these grand announcements. They will receive acclaim, and then they will use the political cover for further delay,” Siegel said. “We’re out of time. We can’t afford any more delays.”
Assemblyman Phil Ting (D-San Francisco) said Newsom’s endorsement of a fracking ban “definitely moves the needle” in ways that he and his colleagues could never achieve under Brown, but the issue is far from settled.
The potential for opponents to label a ban as a de facto increase in the price of oil and natural gas could also prove difficult to overcome. The 2018 recall of then-state Sen. Josh Newman (D-Fullerton), after opponents cast him as a critical vote on a gasoline tax bill, remains fresh in the minds of lawmakers. Newman is seeking reelection in November.
Casting doubt on the Legislature’s ability to seriously consider and debate such a complex topic in what could become another abbreviated legislative year due to the coronavirus, Rubio said she plans to advocate for a task force to study the issue and delay any decision until 2022.
Lawmakers including Garcia say it’s been hard to get the governor’s attention on bills over the last two years and question whether other priorities will take precedence over working toward a ban.
Last year Newsom entered negotiations on a rent cap bill after advocates and opponents had already struck a deal, but he ultimately made the law stronger. This year the governor’s office became involved in a fight over tenant protections during the pandemic, giving whiplash to supporters who complained that he weakened the legislation.
The governor, who has described housing and homelessness as his top priority, also took heat in January for not doing more to support Senate Bill 50, a proposal to dramatically increase housing production in California that fell flat.
Newsom’s aides have described the governor as a policy wonk who retreats to the solitude of his office with stacks of paper to read background on pending proposals. But he hasn’t taken the same interest in crafting and pushing his own bills through the Legislature. A 2019 law to create a multibillion-dollar fund for Pacific Gas & Electric Co. and the state’s other investor-owned utilities to pay for wildfire damages is among the few examples.
Ting said the governor and his staff are still developing relationships with lawmakers. He expects Newsom’s influence to grow.
“The governor’s endorsement without the full weight of his office, his participation, is definitely not enough on issues such as these,” Ting said. “I think he and his staff are still really determining what that means, ‘the full weight of his office.’”
When told at a recent news conference that lawmakers said they believe he would need to do more than offer his endorsement and asked how involved he plans to be in the fracking fight, Newsom gave a curt, three-word answer.
“Very,” the governor said. “Thank you.”


latimes--2020-10-07--Two girls and their father dead in apparent murder-suicide in Placentia, police say

Two young girls and their father have died in an apparent murder-suicide in Placentia , authorities said .
Officers with the Placentia Police Department responded to a call near Brookhaven and Swanson avenues around 12:30 a.m. , officials said .
The girls were found with stab wounds in the living room of their home .
Their father was found dead in a nearby frontyard .
He appeared to have stabbed himself after stabbing his daughters , officials said .
Early reports indicated the girls were 9 years old , but Placentia police Lt. Adam Gloe could not confirm their ages @ @ @ @ @ @ @ victims ’ names have been released .
“ My heart goes out to the family , ” Placentia police Sgt .
Bryce Angel told reporters at the scene , calling it a “ tragic situation.
” “ We ’ re trying to get to the bottom of this — why it happened , ” Angel said .
In an interview with KTTV-TV , Angel said the girls ’ mother was asleep in the house when her husband began stabbing their daughters .
She woke up and attempted to intervene , but it was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ save the girls , who died at the scene .

An investigation is underway after a man and his two daughters were found dead in Placentia. The man is suspected of fatally stabbing the two children and them himself Wednesday morning.
Two young girls and their father have died in an apparent murder-suicide in Placentia, authorities said.
Officers with the Placentia Police Department responded to a call near Brookhaven and Swanson avenues around 12:30 a.m., officials said. The girls were found with stab wounds in the living room of their home.
Their father was found dead in a nearby frontyard. He appeared to have stabbed himself after stabbing his daughters, officials said.
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Early reports indicated the girls were 9 years old, but Placentia police Lt. Adam Gloe could not confirm their ages Wednesday morning, and none of the victims’ names have been released.
“My heart goes out to the family,” Placentia police Sgt. Bryce Angel told reporters at the scene, calling it a “tragic situation.”
“We’re trying to get to the bottom of this — why it happened,” Angel said.
In an interview with KTTV-TV, Angel said the girls’ mother was asleep in the house when her husband began stabbing their daughters. She woke up and attempted to intervene, but it was too late. Emergency responders attempted to save the girls, who died at the scene.
City News Service contributed to this report.


latimes--2020-10-07--Family of homeless Black man fatally shot in San Clemente files claim against O.C. Sheriff's Departm

Family of homeless Black man fatally shot in San Clemente files claim against O.C. Sheriff's Department

The family of a Black homeless man fatally shot last month in San Clemente has filed a wrongful death claim against the Orange County Sheriff ’ s Department , accusing deputies of targeting people of color and turning a jaywalking incident “ deadly.
” On the afternoon of Sept. 23 , Kurt Andras Reinhold was crossing El Camino Real in front of Hotel Miramar while holding some peanuts and an iced tea .
Coming out , he began walking in the middle of the street , disrupting traffic , based on witness accounts and a video shot by a bystander @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s Homeless Outreach Team approached Reinhold .
An argument erupted .
One of the officers , using his gloved hand , repeatedly tapped the victim ’ s right shoulder , as Reinhold told him , “ Stop touching me.
” According to the video , one deputy ordered Reinhold to “ go sit down , ” but Reinhold , appearing agitated , instead tried to pass the two men .
As the officers wrestled Reinhold to the ground , a voice , presumably a deputy ’ s , cried out : “ He @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s got my gun !
” Two shots are then heard .
It is not possible to tell from the video whether Reinhold actually tried to grab a weapon .
Orange County sheriff ’ s deputies do not wear body cameras .
The department plans to roll them out over the next 18 months .
“ These officers are supposedly trained to deal with the homeless .
They needed to deescalate the situation , rather than escalate it , ” said John Taylor , an attorney representing Latoya Reinhold , the widow @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with the victim ’ s son , 7 , and daughter , 8 , have filed a claim for wrongful death , statutory and punitive damages .
“ How do we get from helping to ending up on the ground — the victim of gunfire — when he was unarmed ?
” Taylor continued .
At a news conference in Santa Ana on Tuesday , Latoya Reinhold read a short statement while surrounded by grieving relatives , among them , Judy Reinhold , Kurt Reinhold ’ s tearful mother , along with his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and painted a picture of her husband as a devoted soccer coach who woke up early on Saturday mornings to participate in the game with his son .
“ None of this makes any sense .
It ’ s a nightmare I ’ m living with each and every day , ” Latoya Reinhold said .
Taylor and Neil Gehlawat , another attorney representing the family , said that Kurt Reinhold , who was 42 , joins “ an ever-growing mountain of evidence of unarmed black men and women shot by white officers.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ killed in Orange County .
Being homeless should not get you killed in Orange County , ” Taylor added .
Kurt Reinhold struggled with mental illness and had been diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder , Gehlawat said .
At times , he took medication , and he had drifted from living with his mother or wife , whom he married in 2008 , based in Inglewood and the Ladera Heights area of Los Angeles .
The father of two made his way to the beachfront town of San Clemente in September , drawn to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ because of its beauty , Taylor said .
The family is seeking “ justice and transparency ” from sheriff ’ s officials and are awaiting the autopsy report , footage of the incident and radio traffic , along with the names of deputies to see if they have been involved in use-of-force situations in the past , Gehlawat said .
In an email sent Wednesday to The Times , Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer said that his office assigns an independent medical examiner to conduct the autopsy and that there ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ available to the family to test independently .
Orange County Sheriff Don Barnes , who has said the Homeless Outreach Team had engaged with Reinhold many times previously to direct him to resources , issued a statement responding to the family .
“ The Orange County Sheriff ’ s Department extends our condolences to the family of Mr. Reinhold for their loss , ” the statement read .
“ Every time law enforcement contact escalates to the use of deadly force , it is tragic for the family , the deputies and the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we reserve judgment until a full and complete investigation has been completed by the Orange County District Attorney ’ s Office .
”

Latoya Reinhold, widow of Kurt Reinhold, reads a prepared statement at a news conference in Santa Ana after filing a wrongful death claim against the Orange County Sheriff’s Department.
The family of a Black homeless man fatally shot last month in San Clemente has filed a wrongful death claim against the Orange County Sheriff’s Department, accusing deputies of targeting people of color and turning a jaywalking incident “deadly.”
On the afternoon of Sept. 23, Kurt Andras Reinhold was crossing El Camino Real in front of Hotel Miramar while holding some peanuts and an iced tea.
Coming out, he began walking in the middle of the street, disrupting traffic, based on witness accounts and a video shot by a bystander.
Two deputies from the sheriff’s Homeless Outreach Team approached Reinhold. An argument erupted. One of the officers, using his gloved hand, repeatedly tapped the victim’s right shoulder, as Reinhold told him, “Stop touching me.”
Neil Gehlawat, right, lawyer for the Reinhold family, discusses filing a wrongful death claim against the Orange County Sheriff’s Department at a news conference in Santa Ana on Tuesday. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
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According to the video, one deputy ordered Reinhold to “go sit down,” but Reinhold, appearing agitated, instead tried to pass the two men.
As the officers wrestled Reinhold to the ground, a voice, presumably a deputy’s, cried out: “He’s got my gun! He’s got my gun!” Two shots are then heard. It is not possible to tell from the video whether Reinhold actually tried to grab a weapon.
Orange County sheriff’s deputies do not wear body cameras. The department plans to roll them out over the next 18 months.
“These officers are supposedly trained to deal with the homeless. They needed to deescalate the situation, rather than escalate it,” said John Taylor, an attorney representing Latoya Reinhold, the widow of Kurt Reinhold. She, along with the victim’s son, 7, and daughter, 8, have filed a claim for wrongful death, statutory and punitive damages.
A photograph of Judy Reinhold and her son, Kurt Reinhold, when Kurt was age 20, left, and a photo of Kurt Reinhold and his wife Latoya Reinhold, right, on display at the news conference on Tuesday. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
“How do we get from helping to ending up on the ground — the victim of gunfire — when he was unarmed?” Taylor continued.
At a news conference in Santa Ana on Tuesday, Latoya Reinhold read a short statement while surrounded by grieving relatives, among them, Judy Reinhold, Kurt Reinhold’s tearful mother, along with his sister. Latoya Reinhold described her trauma and painted a picture of her husband as a devoted soccer coach who woke up early on Saturday mornings to participate in the game with his son.
“None of this makes any sense. It’s a nightmare I’m living with each and every day,” Latoya Reinhold said.
Taylor and Neil Gehlawat, another attorney representing the family, said that Kurt Reinhold, who was 42, joins “an ever-growing mountain of evidence of unarmed black men and women shot by white officers.”
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“Jaywalking should not get you killed in Orange County. Being homeless should not get you killed in Orange County,” Taylor added.
The Reinhold family at the Santa Ana news conference announces the filing of a wrongful death claim against the Orange County Sheriff’s Department. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
Kurt Reinhold struggled with mental illness and had been diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder, Gehlawat said. At times, he took medication, and he had drifted from living with his mother or wife, whom he married in 2008, based in Inglewood and the Ladera Heights area of Los Angeles.
The father of two made his way to the beachfront town of San Clemente in September, drawn to it, “like many others” because of its beauty, Taylor said. The family is seeking “justice and transparency” from sheriff’s officials and are awaiting the autopsy report, footage of the incident and radio traffic, along with the names of deputies to see if they have been involved in use-of-force situations in the past, Gehlawat said.
In an email sent Wednesday to The Times, Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer said that his office assigns an independent medical examiner to conduct the autopsy and that there’s a separate “set of specimens” available to the family to test independently.
Orange County Sheriff Don Barnes, who has said the Homeless Outreach Team had engaged with Reinhold many times previously to direct him to resources, issued a statement responding to the family.
“The Orange County Sheriff’s Department extends our condolences to the family of Mr. Reinhold for their loss,” the statement read.
“Every time law enforcement contact escalates to the use of deadly force, it is tragic for the family, the deputies and the community. It is vitally important that we reserve judgment until a full and complete investigation has been completed by the Orange County District Attorney’s Office.”


latimes--2020-10-07--Newsom's pick for California high court talks about coming out: 'My journey was different'

Martin Jenkins , 66 , who is slated to become the first openly gay justice on the California Supreme Court , served on the bench for decades without disclosing his sexual orientation to most friends and colleagues .
He began coming out as gay during the last four to five years , he said during an interview Tuesday , and found the experience invigorating .
He fell in love with his partner , real estate broker Sydney Shand , two years ago .
“ It was the first time I fell in love and was willing to go ahead and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sabotaging it , ” said Jenkins , who was educated by Jesuits in college and law school .
Gov .
Gavin Newsom appointed Jenkins to the state ’ s highest court Monday .
He has been working as Newsom ’ s legal appointments secretary since leaving the San Francisco-based Court of Appeal in 2019 .
Jenkins seemed to bristle when asked if it was ironic that someone who was private about his sexual orientation for so long would become the first openly gay justice .
“ I don ’ t see any irony @ @ @ @ @ @ @ My journey has been different .
If someone finds irony in that , so be it .
What I feel and think is that people have to come to their own resolution and self-acceptance in their own time.
” He and Shand , who lives in Southern California , have bought a home in Los Angeles County and will move there once Jenkins ’ house in the East Bay sells .
Jenkins will be the second justice on the seven-member San Francisco-based court living in Southern California .
Four of the others live @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Justice Tani Cantil-Sakauye lives in Sacramento .
Asked if he planned to marry , Jenkins laughed and said : “ First step at a time.
” Jenkins was considered a moderate on the bench and owes three of his four judicial appointments to California Republican governors .
He rejected any label though , saying he applied the law as he saw it .
“ I am a lifelong Democrat , that is what I am , ” he said .
In fact , he said , his mentor has been retired U.S. District @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Carter appointee who is also Black and who served in San Francisco .
Before making any career decision , Jenkins said , he regularly consulted Henderson .
Jenkins first met the judge when he was in law school .
Once he was on the bench with Henderson , Jenkins told him he was gay .
Jenkins left the federal bench in 2008 .
“ The process of coming out has been ongoing , ” Jenkins said .
Henderson has been a powerful influence , Jenkins said .
“ He is the judge @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of how I walk in the world and in terms of how I run a courtroom , ” he said .
Another influence was Judge Saundra Brown Armstrong , who is also Black and serves on the same Northern California bench .
President George H.W .
Bush appointed her to that post .
Jenkins for years has regularly attended St. Patrick ’ s Catholic Church in West Oakland , where the congregation is primarily Black and Latino and low-income .
“ It has kept me humble and kept me rooted , ” Jenkins @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Jenkins grew up helping his father clean office buildings and churches to earn extra money .
His father also worked full time for the city of San Francisco as a clerk and janitor .
The younger Jenkins earned his undergraduate degree from Santa Clara University , where he was a standout defensive back .
He said his plan back then was to become a teacher , and he has volunteered in recent years at a middle school in Oakland , doing everything from copying papers for students to take home to tutoring them @ @ @ @ @ @ @ urged him to consider the law .
The idea hadn ’ t occurred to him.. “ I didn ’ t know any lawyers , ” he said .
After a brief stint in the NFL , he decided to take his coach ’ s advice and enrolled at the University of San Francisco .
Kevin Brown , a real estate agent , has been friends with Jenkins since they roomed together at Santa Clara University .
Years ago , Brown said , a homeless person in San Francisco asked Jenkins for money after @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of shoes .
Brown said Jenkins told the man , `` ` I don ’ t have any money , but you can have my shoes.
’ ” “ Marty is just one of the most gracious , kindhearted people I have ever met , ” Brown said .
“ He hasn ’ t changed .
He is the same person I met over 40 years ago.
” While still a law student , Jenkins asked for an appointment with Henderson .
He said Henderson , a busy judge , cleared his schedule @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
After law school , Jenkins worked as a prosecutor in Alameda County and later for the Civil Rights Division in the Justice Department under President Reagan , handling cases of police misconduct and cross burnings .
He began his long career as a judge in 1989 when former Gov .
George Deukmejian appointed him to the Alameda County Municipal Court .
Most governors and presidents want to appoint judges who are relatively young and will remain on the bench for many years .
Jenkins said Newsom did not ask him to commit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but Jenkins said he is not considering retiring anytime soon .
“ I will stay as long as I can make a contribution , ” he said .
Newsom was known to have been considering other gay judges for the state high court vacancy , created when Justice Ming W. Chin stepped down on Aug. 31 .
Jenkins vetted those candidates , and someone else vetted him .
He declined to say whether Newsom expressed interest in appointing a gay person to the court from the start .
He did not want to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he said .
Before Jenkins opened up about being gay , he said , he dealt with different aspects of his life separately .
“ That compartmentalization takes a lot of energy and a lot of time , ” he said .
He is now happier “ just living fully and authentically .
”

Martin Jenkins, 66, who is slated to become the first openly gay justice on the California Supreme Court, served on the bench for decades without disclosing his sexual orientation to most friends and colleagues.
He began coming out as gay during the last four to five years, he said during an interview Tuesday, and found the experience invigorating. He fell in love with his partner, real estate broker Sydney Shand, two years ago.
“It was the first time I fell in love and was willing to go ahead and embrace that emotion and return it without sabotaging it,” said Jenkins, who was educated by Jesuits in college and law school.
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Gov. Gavin Newsom appointed Jenkins to the state’s highest court Monday. He has been working as Newsom’s legal appointments secretary since leaving the San Francisco-based Court of Appeal in 2019.
Jenkins seemed to bristle when asked if it was ironic that someone who was private about his sexual orientation for so long would become the first openly gay justice.
Martin Jenkins was appointed to a seat on the California Supreme Court. (Handout)
“I don’t see any irony ..., “ he said. “My journey has been different. If someone finds irony in that, so be it. What I feel and think is that people have to come to their own resolution and self-acceptance in their own time.”
He and Shand, who lives in Southern California, have bought a home in Los Angeles County and will move there once Jenkins’ house in the East Bay sells. Jenkins will be the second justice on the seven-member San Francisco-based court living in Southern California. Four of the others live in the Bay Area, and Chief Justice Tani Cantil-Sakauye lives in Sacramento.
Asked if he planned to marry, Jenkins laughed and said: “First step at a time.”
Jenkins was considered a moderate on the bench and owes three of his four judicial appointments to California Republican governors. He rejected any label though, saying he applied the law as he saw it.
“I am a lifelong Democrat, that is what I am,” he said.
In fact, he said, his mentor has been retired U.S. District Judge Thelton Henderson, a renowned liberal and Carter appointee who is also Black and who served in San Francisco. Before making any career decision, Jenkins said, he regularly consulted Henderson. Jenkins first met the judge when he was in law school. Once he was on the bench with Henderson, Jenkins told him he was gay. Jenkins left the federal bench in 2008.
“The process of coming out has been ongoing,” Jenkins said.
Henderson has been a powerful influence, Jenkins said.
“He is the judge who has most affected me in terms of how I walk in the world and in terms of how I run a courtroom,” he said. Another influence was Judge Saundra Brown Armstrong, who is also Black and serves on the same Northern California bench. President George H.W. Bush appointed her to that post.
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Jenkins for years has regularly attended St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in West Oakland, where the congregation is primarily Black and Latino and low-income.
“It has kept me humble and kept me rooted,” Jenkins said.
A San Francisco native, Jenkins grew up helping his father clean office buildings and churches to earn extra money. His father also worked full time for the city of San Francisco as a clerk and janitor.
The younger Jenkins earned his undergraduate degree from Santa Clara University, where he was a standout defensive back. He said his plan back then was to become a teacher, and he has volunteered in recent years at a middle school in Oakland, doing everything from copying papers for students to take home to tutoring them in reading.
But his football coach urged him to consider the law. The idea hadn’t occurred to him.. “I didn’t know any lawyers,” he said. After a brief stint in the NFL, he decided to take his coach’s advice and enrolled at the University of San Francisco.
Kevin Brown, a real estate agent, has been friends with Jenkins since they roomed together at Santa Clara University. Years ago, Brown said, a homeless person in San Francisco asked Jenkins for money after Jenkins had just purchased a new pair of shoes.
Brown said Jenkins told the man, “`I don’t have any money, but you can have my shoes.’”
“Marty is just one of the most gracious, kindhearted people I have ever met,” Brown said. “He hasn’t changed. He is the same person I met over 40 years ago.”
While still a law student, Jenkins asked for an appointment with Henderson. He said Henderson, a busy judge, cleared his schedule and spoke to him for three hours.
After law school, Jenkins worked as a prosecutor in Alameda County and later for the Civil Rights Division in the Justice Department under President Reagan, handling cases of police misconduct and cross burnings. He began his long career as a judge in 1989 when former Gov. George Deukmejian appointed him to the Alameda County Municipal Court.
Most governors and presidents want to appoint judges who are relatively young and will remain on the bench for many years. Jenkins said Newsom did not ask him to commit to any term on the court, but Jenkins said he is not considering retiring anytime soon. “I will stay as long as I can make a contribution,” he said.
Newsom was known to have been considering other gay judges for the state high court vacancy, created when Justice Ming W. Chin stepped down on Aug. 31. Jenkins vetted those candidates, and someone else vetted him. He declined to say whether Newsom expressed interest in appointing a gay person to the court from the start. He did not want to reveal private deliberations with the governor, he said.
Before Jenkins opened up about being gay, he said, he dealt with different aspects of his life separately. “That compartmentalization takes a lot of energy and a lot of time,” he said.
He is now happier “just living fully and authentically.”
“That is energizing, “ Jenkins said.