latimes--2020-09-03--Skelton: Chaos and incivility ruled the last day of California's legislative session. Blame Zoom

Legislators are reflective of the people who elect them — not just in ideology but in behavior .
That ’ s the way it was set up and it works — for better or worse .
When people communicate through technology rather than in person , inhibitions too often break down and they get testy .
Maybe even act like jerks , flinging insults .
We see this with email , Twitter and bellicose blogs .
But if you ’ re looking someone in the eye , you tend to smile and mind your manners , perhaps even try some @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the California state Senate on the final night of the two-year legislative session Monday was a prime example of machines dispatching decorum and crippling civility .
I ’ ve always marveled at how legislators of opposing parties can fight to the death politically over heated issues but constantly act like longtime close friends when dealing with one another personally .
That has become less so as politics — reflective of the nation — has become more polarized .
But nevertheless , at least in the California Legislature , there has always been graciousness @ @ @ @ @ @ @ requires face-to-face contact .
And this was unfortunately banned in the Senate during the final four hectic days of the legislative session .
Republican senators were barred from the Capitol because one — Brian Jones of Santee — tested positive for COVID-19 .
They ’ d caucused together last week and presumably had been exposed to the virus , although all except Jones later tested negative .
One Republican , Sen. Jim Nielsen of Gerber , did not attend the caucus , so he was allowed on the Senate floor with all the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the 40 senators — arranged for the 10 exiled Republicans to debate and vote remotely from their residences using impersonal Zoom .
But there was confusion and technical flaws .
The result was anger , chaos and a broken legislative process — just when it needed to be churning on all cylinders to meet a constitutional midnight deadline for passing bills .
When Republican Sen. Melissa Melendez of Lake Elsinore was heard spewing a profanity into her mic — “ This is bull.… ” — you knew that Senate decorum had vanished @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Melendez followed that with a tweet protesting a Democrat-imposed limit on debate : “ This silences the voices of millions of people so Democrats have enough time to pass their crappy bills before midnight .
This is outrageous and is COMPLETE BULL….
” The next day I called Melendez .
The senator said she had initially thought the debate limit was worse than it actually was , “ but it doesn ’ t matter .
They were limiting debate after having kicked us out of the building.
” Because Democrats had taken @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ Zoom mics , Melendez told me , she thought that when her face disappeared from the screen , she was disconnected .
She wasn ’ t .
“ I was just kind of muttering to myself , which people do on the [ Senate ] floor , ” she said .
But why did she repeat the profanity in a Tweet ?
“ Then you ’ ve got to own it , ” she replied .
“ What are you going to do ?
” The Democrats ’ debate limit was harsh @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the author sandwiched around two-minute speeches by two senators on each side .
It was proposed by Senate Majority Floor Leader Bob Hertzberg ( D-Van Nuys ) .
“ Republicans didn ’ t understand it was a management issue and not a partisan issue , ” Hertzberg told me .
“ It was as much about Democrats as Republicans .
We had [ Democrats ] giving long speeches.
” But the debate limit later was dropped as part of a peace pact between Senate President Pro Tem Toni Atkins ( D-San Diego ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ R-Bakersfield ) .
It took a 90-minute Senate recess — gobbling up precious time as the midnight deadline approached — to negotiate a deal and calm tempers so voting could proceed .
Grove and Democratic Sen. Hannah-Beth Jackson of Santa Barbara , who was presiding over the Senate , had engaged in a long , heated exchange before the recess , talking over each other .
Grove told me Democrats had assured Republicans that they ’ d be treated remotely as if they were on the floor .
“ When that was removed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ downhill , ” she said .
“ There was the loss of the personal touch .
On the floor , you walk up to someone and have a different tone of voice .
It ’ s personal and more cordial.
” Melendez agreed : “ It would have been different if we had been in the same room together .
We wouldn ’ t have had the technical issues fanning the flames .
And it ’ s very different when interacting personally with each other.
” “ People are much more gracious toward @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to face , ” Hertzberg said .
“ They never say certain things looking someone in the eye.
” Jackson concurred , but also blamed President Trump “ for setting a low bar and creating a culture and acceptance of incivility… .
I ’ m really disappointed the camaraderie of the house just dissolved , primarily because Republicans felt they were being punished.
” Democrats also suspected that Republicans were running out the clock , stalling the process to prevent some major bills from passing before the deadline .
“ If the roles @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ?
” Melendez said .
“ I will admit we took a little longer [ talking and voting ] at the very end than we would normally.
” Actually , all Republicans who tested negative probably should have been allowed in the Senate chamber .
They could have been required to wear masks and kept at a six-foot distance behind plexiglass — that is , treated like Democrats .
Remote legislating resulted in ill will , squandered time and some good bills being killed .
But hopefully remote legislating was buried too — @ @

The California state Senate, shown in May, struggled with incivility on the final day of its legislative session, columnist George Skelton writes.
Legislators are reflective of the people who elect them — not just in ideology but in behavior. That’s the way it was set up and it works — for better or worse.
When people communicate through technology rather than in person, inhibitions too often break down and they get testy. Maybe even act like jerks, flinging insults. We see this with email, Twitter and bellicose blogs.
But if you’re looking someone in the eye, you tend to smile and mind your manners, perhaps even try some charm and diplomacy.
Advertisement
What happened in the California state Senate on the final night of the two-year legislative session was a prime example of machines dispatching decorum and crippling civility.
I’ve always marveled at how legislators of opposing parties can fight to the death politically over heated issues but constantly act like longtime close friends when dealing with one another personally.
That has become less so as politics — reflective of the nation — has become more polarized. But nevertheless, at least in the California Legislature, there has always been graciousness and civility.
That, however, requires face-to-face contact. And this was unfortunately banned in the Senate during the final four hectic days of the legislative session.
Republican senators were barred from the Capitol because one — Brian Jones of Santee — tested positive for COVID-19. They’d caucused together last week and presumably had been exposed to the virus, although all except Jones later tested negative.
One Republican, Sen. Jim Nielsen of Gerber, did not attend the caucus, so he was allowed on the Senate floor with all the Democrats.
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The ruling Democrats — 29 of the 40 senators — arranged for the 10 exiled Republicans to debate and vote remotely from their residences using impersonal Zoom. But there was confusion and technical flaws.
The result was anger, chaos and a broken legislative process — just when it needed to be churning on all cylinders to meet a constitutional midnight deadline for passing bills.
When Republican Sen. Melissa Melendez of Lake Elsinore was heard spewing a profanity into her mic — “This is bull.…” — you knew that Senate decorum had vanished and the system wasn’t working.
Melendez followed that with a tweet protesting a Democrat-imposed limit on debate: “This silences the voices of millions of people so Democrats have enough time to pass their crappy bills before midnight. This is outrageous and is COMPLETE BULL….”
California Skelton: Newsom proves he’s no deer in headlights while managing several crises ‘of biblical proportions’ Now wildfires and blackouts are piled on top of a COVID-19 pandemic — a strange virus that has infected more than 680,000 people and killed more than 12,000 in California. You’d think that might place any governor at political risk, but it apparently hasn’t.
The next day I called Melendez. The senator said she had initially thought the debate limit was worse than it actually was, “but it doesn’t matter. They were limiting debate after having kicked us out of the building.”
Because Democrats had taken control of the mute function on Republicans’ Zoom mics, Melendez told me, she thought that when her face disappeared from the screen, she was disconnected. She wasn’t.
“I was just kind of muttering to myself, which people do on the [Senate] floor,” she said.
But why did she repeat the profanity in a Tweet?
“Then you’ve got to own it,” she replied. “What are you going to do?”
The Democrats’ debate limit was harsh enough: Opening and closing statements by the author sandwiched around two-minute speeches by two senators on each side. It was proposed by Senate Majority Floor Leader Bob Hertzberg (D-Van Nuys).
“Republicans didn’t understand it was a management issue and not a partisan issue,” Hertzberg told me. “It was as much about Democrats as Republicans. We had [Democrats] giving long speeches.”
But the debate limit later was dropped as part of a peace pact between Senate President Pro Tem Toni Atkins (D-San Diego) and Senate Minority Leader Shannon Grove (R-Bakersfield). It took a 90-minute Senate recess — gobbling up precious time as the midnight deadline approached — to negotiate a deal and calm tempers so voting could proceed.
Grove and Democratic Sen. Hannah-Beth Jackson of Santa Barbara, who was presiding over the Senate, had engaged in a long, heated exchange before the recess, talking over each other.
Grove told me Democrats had assured Republicans that they’d be treated remotely as if they were on the floor.
“When that was removed from us, everything started to go downhill,” she said.
“There was the loss of the personal touch. On the floor, you walk up to someone and have a different tone of voice. It’s personal and more cordial.”
Melendez agreed: “It would have been different if we had been in the same room together. We wouldn’t have had the technical issues fanning the flames. And it’s very different when interacting personally with each other.”
“People are much more gracious toward each other when they’re face to face,” Hertzberg said. “They never say certain things looking someone in the eye.”
Jackson concurred, but also blamed President Trump “for setting a low bar and creating a culture and acceptance of incivility…. I’m really disappointed the camaraderie of the house just dissolved, primarily because Republicans felt they were being punished.”
Democrats also suspected that Republicans were running out the clock, stalling the process to prevent some major bills from passing before the deadline.
“If the roles were reversed, what would they do?” Melendez said. “I will admit we took a little longer [talking and voting] at the very end than we would normally.”
Actually, all Republicans who tested negative probably should have been allowed in the Senate chamber. They could have been required to wear masks and kept at a six-foot distance behind plexiglass — that is, treated like Democrats.
Remote legislating resulted in ill will, squandered time and some good bills being killed. But hopefully remote legislating was buried too — forever.


latimes--2020-09-04--Dijon Kizzee was 'trying to find his way,' relatives say

Dijon Kizzee loved riding bicycles — anything with wheels , really , his uncle Anthony Johnson recalled .
As a youth , he would build go-karts and used to drive his mother crazy with his passion for mini motorcycles .
That ’ s why it wasn ’ t surprising , Johnson said , that 29-year-old Kizzee was on a bike Monday afternoon when he was flagged for an alleged vehicle code violation in a South Los Angeles neighborhood .
He tried to flee and subsequently was fatally shot by L.A. County sheriff ’ s deputies .
The shooting has spurred @ @ @ @ @ @ @ neighborhood .
Many view Kizzee as another victim of police violence against Black people amid the national public outcry over the shooting of Jacob Blake in Kenosha , Wis. , and the killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis .
The Sheriff ’ s Department hasn ’ t indicated what vehicle codes Kizzee allegedly violated .
Officials have said deputies pursued Kizzee as he dropped his bicycle and ran .
They said deputies opened fire after he “ made a motion toward ” a gun that fell to the ground when he dropped a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ members said that he lived in Lancaster and was visiting friends in L.A .
They recall a family-oriented man who was hit hard by the death of his mother as a young adult and had been working on finding his way in life .
Neighbors who witnessed the killing said deputies kept firing at Kizzee after he had fallen to the ground .
Attorneys representing the family said Wednesday that he was shot at 15 times .
“ Who knew this would hit our home ?
Who knew this would happen to us @ @ @ @ @ @ @ told several dozen protesters gathered Tuesday evening at the spot where he was killed .
“ They killed my nephew in cold blood .
They killed my nephew.
” Kizzee , an unemployed plumber , grew up in South L.A. and later moved with his mother and younger brother to the Antelope Valley to escape violence in the area .
“ They moved to get away from the crime — a lot of gang shootings were happening , ” Johnson said .
Johnson , a resident of Palmdale , lived a short drive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ someone who was generous with his relatives and friends , recalling how Kizzee had recently insisted that Johnson use his car as if it were his own .
When his mother died in 2011 due to health issues , Kizzee was left grieving and trying to care for his younger brother .
“ He was a momma ’ s boy for sure , ” Johnson said .
“ There ’ s really two Dijons .
The Dijon before she passed away and the Dijon after she passed away.
” By that point , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Antelope Valley and L.A. , often going back and forth to visit family and friends .
He was convicted for various crimes in L.A. and Kern counties over the last decade and served two terms in state prison totaling more than a year between 2016 and 2019 , according to officials .
The prison terms related to charges including evading or attempting to evade a peace officer while driving recklessly , as well as possession of a firearm by a felon or addict .
“ He was trying to work on himself @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” Johnson said .
“ He was still trying to find his way.
” Kizzee received his high school diploma in the L.A. County jail system , said Shanley Rhodes , a principal at the time for Five Keys Charter School , which runs higher education programs for inmates .
When Rhodes heard about Kizzee ’ s death , she immediately recalled a good-natured man who put in extra work to graduate on time , studying independently after taking several hours of classes during the day .
“ It ’ s hard @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hard to have hope , it ’ s hard to look forward when you ’ re incarcerated , ” she said .
“ It takes a really strong person to say , ‘ I ’ m going to keep my eyes forward.
’ That was all of our students , and that was certainly Dijon.
” In the weeks before he died , Kizzee had been coping with more personal loss .
Kevin “ Twin ” Orange , a gang intervention worker , said he ran into Kizzee about three weeks ago in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a man who recently died .
When Orange got to the family home , Kizzee was there and gave him a hug .
The recent loss was one in a string for Kizzee , Orange said .
Two other people that Kizzee knew had been killed recently in the Westmont community .
“ He said : ‘ I just can ’ t take it .
It ’ s too much , ’ ” Orange said .
Etta Clark , Kizzee ’ s grandmother who lives in Lancaster , said Kizzee called her “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ her .
“ He was always very kind , always a loving child , very respectful to me , ” she said , recalling how he ’ d offer to help her with yard work without being prompted .
Her son and Kizzee ’ s uncle , Aaron Clark , a hip-hop artist who goes by “ Pro , ” said that Kizzee would sometimes come to his home and they would sit in his studio talking about his music .
They once played with the idea of writing a song based on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , who was killed years ago , and the incarceration of Kizzee ’ s father , Edwin .
Despite his absence for much of Kizzee ’ s life , he would speak to his son frequently .
“ He gave his son advice , tried to help him learn from his mistakes , ” Clark said .
“ He was a very big part of his life , even though he wasn ’ t there physically a lot of the time.
” Clark and Kizzee would sometimes talk about what it meant to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Valley , which has a history of racism , harassment and discrimination by law enforcement .
“ As Black men , we are profiled every day , ” Clark said .
“ We sit in our cars at the light , and we ’ re profiled .
He was on his bike .
What threat does a man on a bike really cause ?
He spoke about being profiled because he was .
“ No matter what was going on , he didn ’ t deserve to be gunned down in the streets @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ We ’ re going to miss Dijon terribly.
” Times researcher Scott Wilson and staff writers Alene Tchekmedyian and Nicole Santa Cruz contributed to this report .

Jonetta Ewing, the partner of the late Dijon Kizzee, breaks down while addressing the crowd of activists gathered for a weekly Black Lives Matter protest outside the Hall of Justice on Wednesday.
Dijon Kizzee loved riding bicycles — anything with wheels, really, his uncle Anthony Johnson recalled. As a youth, he would build go-karts and used to drive his mother crazy with his passion for mini motorcycles.
That’s why it wasn’t surprising, Johnson said, that 29-year-old Kizzee was on a bike Monday afternoon when he was flagged for an alleged vehicle code violation in a South Los Angeles neighborhood. He tried to flee and subsequently was fatally shot by L.A. County sheriff’s deputies.
The shooting has spurred anger and nightly protests in the Westmont neighborhood. Many view Kizzee as another victim of police violence against Black people amid the national public outcry over the shooting of Jacob Blake in Kenosha, Wis., and the killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis.
The Sheriff’s Department hasn’t indicated what vehicle codes Kizzee allegedly violated. Officials have said deputies pursued Kizzee as he dropped his bicycle and ran. They said deputies opened fire after he “made a motion toward” a gun that fell to the ground when he dropped a jacket he had been carrying.
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Family members said that he lived in Lancaster and was visiting friends in L.A. They recall a family-oriented man who was hit hard by the death of his mother as a young adult and had been working on finding his way in life.
Neighbors who witnessed the killing said deputies kept firing at Kizzee after he had fallen to the ground. Attorneys representing the family said Wednesday that he was shot at 15 times.
Dijon Kizzee, 29, was killed by L.A. County sheriff’s deputies Monday in the Westmont neighborhood of Los Angeles. (Kizzee family)
“Who knew this would hit our home? Who knew this would happen to us?” an anguished aunt of Kizzee told several dozen protesters gathered Tuesday evening at the spot where he was killed. “They killed my nephew in cold blood. They killed my nephew.”
Kizzee, an unemployed plumber, grew up in South L.A. and later moved with his mother and younger brother to the Antelope Valley to escape violence in the area.
“They moved to get away from the crime — a lot of gang shootings were happening,” Johnson said.
Johnson, a resident of Palmdale, lived a short drive from Kizzee. He described him as someone who was generous with his relatives and friends, recalling how Kizzee had recently insisted that Johnson use his car as if it were his own.
When his mother died in 2011 due to health issues, Kizzee was left grieving and trying to care for his younger brother.
“He was a momma’s boy for sure,” Johnson said. “There’s really two Dijons. The Dijon before she passed away and the Dijon after she passed away.”
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By that point, Kizzee had a social life in both the Antelope Valley and L.A., often going back and forth to visit family and friends.
He was convicted for various crimes in L.A. and Kern counties over the last decade and served two terms in state prison totaling more than a year between 2016 and 2019, according to officials. The prison terms related to charges including evading or attempting to evade a peace officer while driving recklessly, as well as possession of a firearm by a felon or addict.
“He was trying to work on himself, but that was definitely an obstacle,” Johnson said. “He was still trying to find his way.”
Kizzee received his high school diploma in the L.A. County jail system, said Shanley Rhodes, a principal at the time for Five Keys Charter School, which runs higher education programs for inmates.
When Rhodes heard about Kizzee’s death, she immediately recalled a good-natured man who put in extra work to graduate on time, studying independently after taking several hours of classes during the day.
“It’s hard to stay motivated, it’s hard to have hope, it’s hard to look forward when you’re incarcerated,” she said. “It takes a really strong person to say, ‘I’m going to keep my eyes forward.’ That was all of our students, and that was certainly Dijon.”
California Video shows sheriff’s deputies killing Dijon Kizzee. But questions remain A grainy but graphic video obtained by The Times shows a struggle between Kizzee and deputies before he tries to run away and deputies gun him down.
In the weeks before he died, Kizzee had been coping with more personal loss.
Kevin “Twin” Orange, a gang intervention worker, said he ran into Kizzee about three weeks ago in South L.A. while visiting the family of a man who recently died. When Orange got to the family home, Kizzee was there and gave him a hug. The recent loss was one in a string for Kizzee, Orange said. Two other people that Kizzee knew had been killed recently in the Westmont community.
“He said: ‘I just can’t take it. It’s too much,’” Orange said.
Etta Clark, Kizzee’s grandmother who lives in Lancaster, said Kizzee called her “Granny” and would often check on her.
“He was always very kind, always a loving child, very respectful to me,” she said, recalling how he’d offer to help her with yard work without being prompted.
Her son and Kizzee’s uncle, Aaron Clark, a hip-hop artist who goes by “Pro,” said that Kizzee would sometimes come to his home and they would sit in his studio talking about his music. They once played with the idea of writing a song based on the loss of Clark’s brother, who was killed years ago, and the incarceration of Kizzee’s father, Edwin.
Despite his absence for much of Kizzee’s life, he would speak to his son frequently.
“He gave his son advice, tried to help him learn from his mistakes,” Clark said. “He was a very big part of his life, even though he wasn’t there physically a lot of the time.”
Clark and Kizzee would sometimes talk about what it meant to be a Black man in the Antelope Valley, which has a history of racism, harassment and discrimination by law enforcement.
“As Black men, we are profiled every day,” Clark said. “We sit in our cars at the light, and we’re profiled. He was on his bike. What threat does a man on a bike really cause? He spoke about being profiled because he was.
“No matter what was going on, he didn’t deserve to be gunned down in the streets like that,” he said. “We’re going to miss Dijon terribly.”
Times researcher Scott Wilson and staff writers Alene Tchekmedyian and Nicole Santa Cruz contributed to this report.


latimes--2020-09-04--Labor Day weekend a crucial test for California: Can we keep coronavirus at bay?

The next big test of whether Californians can slow the spread of the coronavirus will come this holiday weekend , with officials hoping the public will refrain from the large gatherings and risky behavior that contributed to a spike in COVID-19 infections and deaths after a disastrous Memorial Day weekend .
California spent much of the summer paying the price for a rapid reopening of the economy in late May and early June , with a coronavirus surge from mid-June through the weeks after the Fourth of July that led to record deaths and new concerns about the virus spreading @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Now , Labor Day weekend — the final big holiday of the summer — poses new risks as it coincides with the easing of additional COVID-19 restrictions .
Health officials are hoping the shock of the summer will prompt people to play it safe this weekend , in part because so much is riding on keeping numbers down and to prevent history from repeating itself .
If infections continue to decline , some classrooms could reopen this fall .
There are also hopes that conditions will improve enough by the holiday season to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said the challenge facing society is to get beyond the lockdown conditions of spring while still avoiding gatherings that can spread the virus .
Many agencies are urging people to stay home through the weekend , but that might be hard for some to do in the waning days of summer — especially with a heat wave bearing down .
“ People should not just hunker down and stay home .
We ’ re normal social creatures , and we have to find ways of socializing in a safe way , ” said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ San Francisco ’ s Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics .
The problem , she and other health officials say , is that it can be a slippery slope — especially now as the number of new coronavirus cases are declining .
“ The lethal combination in the pandemic is always when people become complacent because things are looking better , ” she added .
Although the risk of the virus ’ spread is greater inside than out , experts say crowds — even outside — can still pose a threat .
“ If @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s face , being outdoors isn ’ t going to make a difference , ” said Dr. George Rutherford , an epidemiologist and infectious diseases expert at UC San Francisco .
If people maintain a distance at beaches or other outdoor venues and wear face coverings , there may be no real need to limit access , Rutherford suggested .
But if crowding occurs — as it has in the past — Rutherford said that might be cause for local governments to intervene .
Ahead of the Fourth of July weekend , several @ @ @ @ @ @ @ what was seen during the Memorial Day holiday .
The focus was on the dangers related to a specific activity , rather than on proactive measures people should take to protect themselves and others .
Bibbins-Domingo thinks that may have been an educational disservice .
“ We have to communicate what it is about these activities that is dangerous , ” she said .
Beach restrictions and closures have gone into effect in some parts of the state , but other areas that previously implemented restrictions haven ’ t issued any for this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from Friday through Monday , water sports and physical activity would be allowed , but sunbathing , picnicking and lounging on the sand is prohibited .
Nearby counties — including Los Angeles and Orange — have not taken similar actions .
But the L.A. County Department of Beaches and Harbors warned that it could be forced to close the shorelines if they became overwhelmed with visitors .
“ This is not a Labor Day weekend that will be full of celebrations , ” Garcetti said .
“ You need to cancel all plans @ @ @ @ @ @ @ changes in behavior have occurred since Memorial Day , as officials have preached the importance of wearing masks and social distancing .
At the same time , experts hope the summer spike — and the new restrictions it brought — might change attitudes .
While the state has seen a decline in COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations in recent weeks , the numbers are still higher than in early May .
Thirty-eight counties are in the state ’ s Tier 1 level , the purple zone noting widespread risk of the virus .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ back up again if people don ’ t follow the guidelines , ” Dr. Robert Kim-Farley , a medical epidemiologist and infectious disease expert at UCLA Fielding School of Public Health , said .
Kim-Farley believes that the mortality-to-infection rate — the number of deaths divided by the number of cases — is one reason people are often divided on what steps should be taken to combat the virus .
He estimates the rate to be roughly 1 % , a number that hits the “ sweet spot for controversy in our society.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ less , which would be in keeping with seasonal influenza , Kim-Farley thinks that lockdowns and stay-at-home orders would not be required .
If it were 10 times higher , in keeping with what occurred during the severe acute respiratory syndrome outbreak , he said fears would likely be higher across the board .
At 1 % , people argue against restrictions as well as for more to be done .
But some restrictions are necessary , Los Angeles County Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer said , reminding residents that being around people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ household puts them at greater risk for infection .
“ Gatherings — parties , cookouts and the other activities we usually do with non-household members on holidays — can easily lead to increases in transmission , hospitalizations and deaths , ” said Ferrer , noting that it ’ s important to find ways to celebrate Labor Day without going to parties and barbecues hosted by non-household members .
Likewise , Orange County Public Health Officer Dr. Clayton Chau urged residents to stay home this weekend if possible and opt for virtual parties over @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ The safest thing for you to do is to stay at home , ” added acting State Public Health Officer Dr. Erica Pan .
“ But if you do choose to be with others , please keep it outside.
” The state ’ s numbers have been trending downward and experts hope to keep it that way .
California has recorded more than 720,000 infections — the most in the nation — and over 13,000 deaths .
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that 40 % of people who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Rutherford says that number could be even greater because infected individuals can transmit the disease before showing symptoms .
And though the use of face coverings and social distancing can help contain the spread of the virus , not knowing how prevalent it is on any given day is one more reason to remain cautious , he said .
His advice for those who are on the fence about whether to proceed with a celebration is to take a break from this year ’ s festivities .
“ You can go hang @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It ’ s time to take a pass on these activities and lie low .
”

The next big test of whether Californians can slow the spread of the coronavirus will come this holiday weekend, with officials hoping the public will refrain from the large gatherings and risky behavior that contributed to a spike in COVID-19 infections and deaths after a disastrous Memorial Day weekend.
California spent much of the summer paying the price for a rapid reopening of the economy in late May and early June, with a coronavirus surge from mid-June through the weeks after the Fourth of July that led to record deaths and new concerns about the virus spreading among young people and essential workers.
Now, Labor Day weekend — the final big holiday of the summer — poses new risks as it coincides with the easing of additional COVID-19 restrictions.
Advertisement
Health officials are hoping the shock of the summer will prompt people to play it safe this weekend, in part because so much is riding on keeping numbers down and to prevent history from repeating itself. If infections continue to decline, some classrooms could reopen this fall. There are also hopes that conditions will improve enough by the holiday season to allow for more in-person shopping.
Experts said the challenge facing society is to get beyond the lockdown conditions of spring while still avoiding gatherings that can spread the virus. Many agencies are urging people to stay home through the weekend, but that might be hard for some to do in the waning days of summer — especially with a heat wave bearing down.
“People should not just hunker down and stay home. We’re normal social creatures, and we have to find ways of socializing in a safe way,” said Dr. Kirsten Bibbins-Domingo, chair of UC San Francisco’s Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics.
The problem, she and other health officials say, is that it can be a slippery slope — especially now as the number of new coronavirus cases are declining.
“The lethal combination in the pandemic is always when people become complacent because things are looking better,” she added.
Advertisement
Although the risk of the virus’ spread is greater inside than out, experts say crowds — even outside — can still pose a threat.
“If you’re right in someone’s face, being outdoors isn’t going to make a difference,” said Dr. George Rutherford, an epidemiologist and infectious diseases expert at UC San Francisco.
If people maintain a distance at beaches or other outdoor venues and wear face coverings, there may be no real need to limit access, Rutherford suggested. But if crowding occurs — as it has in the past — Rutherford said that might be cause for local governments to intervene.
Ahead of the Fourth of July weekend, several counties closed beaches to prevent crowding like what was seen during the Memorial Day holiday. The focus was on the dangers related to a specific activity, rather than on proactive measures people should take to protect themselves and others. Bibbins-Domingo thinks that may have been an educational disservice.
“We have to communicate what it is about these activities that is dangerous,” she said.
Beach restrictions and closures have gone into effect in some parts of the state, but other areas that previously implemented restrictions haven’t issued any for this holiday.
Santa Barbara County announced that from Friday through Monday, water sports and physical activity would be allowed, but sunbathing, picnicking and lounging on the sand is prohibited.
Nearby counties — including Los Angeles and Orange — have not taken similar actions. But the L.A. County Department of Beaches and Harbors warned that it could be forced to close the shorelines if they became overwhelmed with visitors.
And Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti cautioned against commingling.
“This is not a Labor Day weekend that will be full of celebrations,” Garcetti said. “You need to cancel all plans for gatherings.”
There is evidence that changes in behavior have occurred since Memorial Day, as officials have preached the importance of wearing masks and social distancing. At the same time, experts hope the summer spike — and the new restrictions it brought — might change attitudes.
While the state has seen a decline in COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations in recent weeks, the numbers are still higher than in early May. Thirty-eight counties are in the state’s Tier 1 level, the purple zone noting widespread risk of the virus.
“It’s possible we could go back up again if people don’t follow the guidelines,” Dr. Robert Kim-Farley, a medical epidemiologist and infectious disease expert at UCLA Fielding School of Public Health, said.
Kim-Farley believes that the mortality-to-infection rate — the number of deaths divided by the number of cases — is one reason people are often divided on what steps should be taken to combat the virus. He estimates the rate to be roughly 1%, a number that hits the “sweet spot for controversy in our society.”
If the number were 10 times less, which would be in keeping with seasonal influenza, Kim-Farley thinks that lockdowns and stay-at-home orders would not be required. If it were 10 times higher, in keeping with what occurred during the severe acute respiratory syndrome outbreak, he said fears would likely be higher across the board.
At 1%, people argue against restrictions as well as for more to be done.
But some restrictions are necessary, Los Angeles County Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer said, reminding residents that being around people who aren’t part of their household puts them at greater risk for infection.
“Gatherings — parties, cookouts and the other activities we usually do with non-household members on holidays — can easily lead to increases in transmission, hospitalizations and deaths,” said Ferrer, noting that it’s important to find ways to celebrate Labor Day without going to parties and barbecues hosted by non-household members.
Likewise, Orange County Public Health Officer Dr. Clayton Chau urged residents to stay home this weekend if possible and opt for virtual parties over Skype or FaceTime instead of in-person gatherings.
“The safest thing for you to do is to stay at home,” added acting State Public Health Officer Dr. Erica Pan. “But if you do choose to be with others, please keep it outside.”
The state’s numbers have been trending downward and experts hope to keep it that way. California has recorded more than 720,000 infections — the most in the nation — and over 13,000 deaths.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that 40% of people who are infected with COVID-19 are asymptomatic carriers. Rutherford says that number could be even greater because infected individuals can transmit the disease before showing symptoms.
And though the use of face coverings and social distancing can help contain the spread of the virus, not knowing how prevalent it is on any given day is one more reason to remain cautious, he said.
His advice for those who are on the fence about whether to proceed with a celebration is to take a break from this year’s festivities.
“You can go hang out at Labor Day next year. It’s time to take a pass on these activities and lie low.”


latimes--2020-09-03--Deputies who shot Dijon Kizzee were trainee and supervisor, sources say

The two L.A. County sheriff ’ s deputies involved in the fatal shooting of Dijon Kizzee , whose death Monday sparked days of protests , were identified as a trainee and his supervising officer , according to two sources with knowledge of the case .
The Sheriff ’ s Department declined to name them and said Thursday morning that the “ involved personnel ” had not yet been interviewed by homicide investigators .
Coroner ’ s officials have determined that Kizzee died of gunshot wounds .
The full autopsy report will show how many times he was struck and where @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be completed until investigators get the results of toxicology texts , a spokeswoman said .
Attorneys representing Kizzee ’ s family said he was shot at 15 times as he ran away .
The encounter began Monday afternoon when the two South Los Angeles station deputies spotted a man , later identified by coroner officials as Kizzee , riding a bicycle in violation of vehicle codes .
The Sheriff ’ s Department said it did not know which violations prompted the initial stop because the deputies had not been interviewed .
Lt. Brandon @ @ @ @ @ @ @ make contact , Kizzee dropped the bicycle and ran .
They chased him and again tried to make contact in the 1200 block of West 109th Place .
Dean said Kizzee punched one of them in the face .
Kizzee dropped a jacket he had been carrying , and a handgun fell to the ground , officials said .
The Sheriff ’ s Department said he “ made a motion toward ” the gun and the deputies opened fire , killing him .
A video of the encounter obtained by The Times shows @ @ @ @ @ @ @ deputies before Kizzee tries to get away and falls to the ground .
A wall and fencing obscure the full scene , including where Kizzee ’ s jacket falls .
His family and activists have said the shooting wasn ’ t warranted .
It comes amid a surge of protests in recent months over police killings of Black people , including George Floyd in Minneapolis .
The family ’ s attorneys said that law enforcement officers will often use bicycle code violations to justify a stop after the fact when a shooting or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ What we often find in these cases is there ’ s a vague pretext to justify what eventually is a horrific act , ” attorney Carl Douglas said .
“ If a vehicle code violation is used as the basis for a lawful detention , there is no need to further ‘ justify a stop.
’ It is already justified , ” Lt. John Satterfield said .
Meanwhile , the county ’ s Inspector General , Max Huntsman , said the department ignored his office ’ s request to be included in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be present during the autopsy in another controversial shooting , that of teenager Andres Guardado .
Huntsman and the department have clashed over his oversight of the agency .

Dijon Kizzee was killed by L.A. County sheriff’s deputies this week in the Westmont neighborhood of Los Angeles.
The two L.A. County sheriff’s deputies involved in the fatal shooting of Dijon Kizzee, whose death Monday sparked days of protests, were identified as a trainee and his supervising officer, according to two sources with knowledge of the case.
The Sheriff’s Department declined to name them and said Thursday morning that the “involved personnel” had not yet been interviewed by homicide investigators.
Coroner’s officials have determined that Kizzee died of gunshot wounds. The full autopsy report will show how many times he was struck and where on his body. It will not be completed until investigators get the results of toxicology texts, a spokeswoman said.
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Attorneys representing Kizzee’s family said he was shot at 15 times as he ran away.
The encounter began Monday afternoon when the two South Los Angeles station deputies spotted a man, later identified by coroner officials as Kizzee, riding a bicycle in violation of vehicle codes. The Sheriff’s Department said it did not know which violations prompted the initial stop because the deputies had not been interviewed.
The night of the shooting, Lt. Brandon Dean said Kizzee had dropped a jacket he had been carrying, a handgun fell to the ground, and the shooting occurred.
The next day, the Sheriff’s Department said Kizzee “made a motion toward” the gun before he was shot and killed.
A video of the encounter obtained by The Times shows a physical struggle between Kizzee and the deputies before Kizzee tries to get away and falls to the ground. A wall and fencing obscure the full scene, including where Kizzee’s jacket falls.
His family and activists have said the shooting wasn’t warranted. It comes amid a surge of protests in recent months over police killings of Black people, including George Floyd in Minneapolis.
The family’s attorneys said that law enforcement officers will often use bicycle code violations to justify a stop after the fact when a shooting or other use of force has occurred.
“What we often find in these cases is there’s a vague pretext to justify what eventually is a horrific act,” attorney Carl Douglas said.
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A Sheriff’s Department spokesman disagreed with the characterization.
“If a vehicle code violation is used as the basis for a lawful detention, there is no need to further ‘justify a stop.’ It is already justified,” Lt. John Satterfield said.
Meanwhile, the county’s Inspector General, Max Huntsman, said the department ignored his office’s request to be included in the autopsy. He was allowed to be present during the autopsy in another controversial shooting, that of teenager Andres Guardado. Huntsman and the department have clashed over his oversight of the agency.


latimes--2020-09-04--L.A. County reports 3 more children sickened with coronavirus-linked syndrome

Three more children have contracted an inflammatory syndrome believed to be linked to COVID-19 , Los Angeles County officials announced .
A total of 31 children have now developed the multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children , or MIS-C , in L.A. County .
All have been hospitalized and nearly half have been treated in the intensive care unit , the county said .
There have been no reports of deaths among children with the syndrome .
The disease , also known as pediatric inflammatory multisystem syndrome , or PIMS , can cause inflammation in different parts of the body .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Prevention , it can affect the heart , lungs , kidneys , brain , skin , eyes or gastrointestinal organs .
Symptoms include fever , pain in the abdomen , vomiting , diarrhea , neck pain , rash , bloodshot eyes and exhaustion .
The syndrome is a rare , but potentially serious or deadly , illness .
Of the 31 cases , 26 % have been among children younger than 5 ; 39 % were among children ages 6 to 12 ; 35 % were among children and young adults ages @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to comprise the majority of cases , totaling 71 % .
Latino residents remain the largest demographic in the county to be affected by the virus .
Officials also reported an additional 47 deaths related to COVID-19 and 1,439 new cases .
The number of infections in the county total more than 246,400 .
More than 20,000 of those cases have been recorded among children 17 or younger , including at least at least eight newborns .
There are currently 992 county residents who are hospitalized for the virus — 30 % of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ number represents a 50 % decrease from the more than 2,000 patients hospitalized in early August following a surge in cases .
L.A. County and California have continued to see a decline in infections , hospitalizations and deaths since a sharp rise that started in mid-June and continued through late August , following Memorial Day weekend and a hurried reopening of the economy .
As another holiday weekend coincides with a new reopening plan — albeit a tamer approach compared to the state ’ s previous strategy to rapidly reopen various sectors of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ risk of outbreak looms .
Health experts and officials hope that residents will remain vigilant and heed lessons learned from the last three months in order to avoid another surge in infection .

Three more children have contracted an inflammatory syndrome believed to be linked to COVID-19, Los Angeles County officials announced.
A total of 31 children have now developed the multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children, or MIS-C, in L.A. County. All have been hospitalized and nearly half have been treated in the intensive care unit, the county said. There have been no reports of deaths among children with the syndrome.
The disease, also known as pediatric inflammatory multisystem syndrome, or PIMS, can cause inflammation in different parts of the body. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, it can affect the heart, lungs, kidneys, brain, skin, eyes or gastrointestinal organs. Symptoms include fever, pain in the abdomen, vomiting, diarrhea, neck pain, rash, bloodshot eyes and exhaustion. The syndrome is a rare, but potentially serious or deadly, illness.
Of the 31 cases, 26% have been among children younger than 5; 39% were among children ages 6 to 12; 35% were among children and young adults ages 13 to 20.
Latino children continue to comprise the majority of cases, totaling 71%. Latino residents remain the largest demographic in the county to be affected by the virus.
Officials also reported an additional 47 deaths related to COVID-19 and 1,439 new cases. The number of infections in the county total more than 246,400. More than 20,000 of those cases have been recorded among children 17 or younger, including at least at least eight newborns.
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There are currently 992 county residents who are hospitalized for the virus — 30% of whom are in intensive care. The number represents a 50% decrease from the more than 2,000 patients hospitalized in early August following a surge in cases.
L.A. County and California have continued to see a decline in infections, hospitalizations and deaths since a sharp rise that started in mid-June and continued through late August, following Memorial Day weekend and a hurried reopening of the economy.
As another holiday weekend coincides with a new reopening plan — albeit a tamer approach compared to the state’s previous strategy to rapidly reopen various sectors of the economy at once — a new risk of outbreak looms. Health experts and officials hope that residents will remain vigilant and heed lessons learned from the last three months in order to avoid another surge in infection.


latimes--2020-09-04--Sentenced to life as a teen, Compton man is freed from jail after questions raised about conviction

A Compton man who has spent nearly two decades in prison for a gang-motivated shooting will be released from San Quentin prison next week after attorneys and Los Angeles prosecutors engineered his release amid questions about the evidence used to convict him .
Emon Barnes , now 34 , was just 15 when L.A. County sheriff ’ s deputies arrested him on suspicion of attempted murder in 2001 , according to Laurie Levenson , founder of the Project for the Innocent at Loyola Marymount University .
Barnes had been accused in a pair of shootings that were tied to gang @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , but was convicted in only one case .
Still , he was sentenced to 40 years to life in prison in a case that hinged largely on the testimony of one shooting victim , who identified Barnes .
Barnes , whose father died in a gang shooting when he was just 6 months old , has long maintained he was at home with his mother at the time the gunfire erupted , Levenson said .
“ He was a nice kid .
He was never a member of a gang in part @ @ @ @ @ @ @ him , ” she said .
Lawyers with the Project for the Innocent took on Barnes ’ case approximately six years ago , after the victim in the case acknowledged Barnes may not have been the shooter .
But as the coronavirus crisis continued to wreak havoc in jails and prisons , the case took on new urgency .
Barnes suffers from sickle cell disease and was considered high risk if he contracted the virus , Levenson said .
L.A. County Deputy Dist .
Atty .
Bobby Grace agreed to petition the court @ @ @ @ @ @ @ law that bars juveniles from being imprisoned for more than 15 years , in the hopes of securing his release , Levenson said .
Barnes did contract the virus while in San Quentin but has since recovered .
A judge approved Barnes ’ release on Friday morning , and he is expected to be sent home by the end of next week , Levenson said .
Attorneys are still seeking to have his conviction vacated , though it is unclear whether prosecutors will oppose that motion .
Grace could not immediately be reached @ @ @ @ @ @ @ other evidence that might lead a court to vacate Barnes ’ conviction .
Attorneys with the Project for the Innocent said sheriff ’ s investigators had simply been overzealous in arresting Barnes without additional evidence .
“ The more we investigated , the more obvious it became that Emon was innocent , ” attorney Michael Petersen said in a statement .
“ Emon was not in a gang .
He was a quiet kid in a bad neighborhood .
The police were simply way off when they set their sights on him .
@

Emon Barnes, seen here as a teenager, will be released from San Quentin after serving 19 years for a Compton shooting after prosecutors and attorneys raised raised questions about the evidence used to convict him.
A Compton man who has spent nearly two decades in prison for a gang-motivated shooting will be allowed to leave San Quentin prison next week after attorneys and Los Angeles County prosecutors engineered his release amid questions about the evidence used to convict him.
Emon Barnes, now 34, was just 15 when L.A. County sheriff’s deputies arrested him on suspicion of attempted murder in 2001, according to Laurie Levenson, founder of the Project for the Innocent at Loyola Marymount University.
Barnes had been accused in a pair of shootings tied to gang activity in Compton, according to Levenson. He was convicted in one case, which hinged largely on the testimony of one shooting victim, who identified Barnes, and was sentenced to 40 years to life in prison.
Barnes, whose father died in a gang shooting when he was just 6 months old, has long maintained he was at home with his mother at the time the gunfire erupted, Levenson said.
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“He was a nice kid. He was never a member of a gang, in part because his mother really watched carefully over him,” she said.
Lawyers with the Project for the Innocent took on Barnes’ case approximately six years ago, after the victim in the case acknowledged Barnes may not have been the shooter, Levenson said. But as the coronavirus crisis continued to wreak havoc in jails and prisons, the case took on new urgency. Barnes suffers from sickle cell disease and was considered high risk if he contracted the virus, Levenson said.
Barnes will be freed under a section of the penal code that allows prosecutors or corrections officials to seek the resentencing of a defendant due to a significant change in circumstances, including medical conditions. L.A. County Deputy Dist. Atty. Bobby Grace, who filed the petition to have Barnes resentenced, said he also considered new state law that would have prevented Barnes from being tried in adult court if the same case was presented now. The law is now retroactive, Grace said.
The district attorney’s office did not find any factual reasons to void Barnes’ conviction, according to Grace. Levenson said defense attorneys will still seek to vacate his conviction, though she declined to discuss other evidence that might lead a court to do so.
A judge approved Barnes’ release on Friday morning, and he is expected to be sent home by the end of next week, Levenson said.
Attorneys with the Project for the Innocent said sheriff’s investigators had simply been overzealous in arresting Barnes without additional evidence.
“The more we investigated, the more obvious it became that Emon was innocent,” attorney Michael Petersen said in a statement. “Emon was not in a gang. He was a quiet kid in a bad neighborhood. The police were simply way off when they set their sights on him.”


latimes--2020-09-04--Beach cities brace for crowds ahead of Labor Day weekend heat wave

It ’ s typically one of the busiest beach weekends of the summer .
And despite a rash of coronavirus warnings urging people to avoid gatherings , local officials expect that this Labor Day will be no different .
“ We know we ’ re going to get the siege , we totally get it , ” Malibu Mayor Mikke Pierson said Friday .
“ It ’ s hot and people are desperate to cool off.
” In Hermosa Beach , City Manager Suja Lowenthal checks the weather forecast for surrounding areas to gauge the volume of crowds the city @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Over the next few days , she said , “ we expect a lot of folks coming into the South Bay.
” The holiday weekend coincides with a heat wave that ’ s expected to send temperatures soaring 15 to 20 degrees above normal , and Southern California ’ s coastal communities are bracing for an influx of visitors .
Public health officials have described the weekend as a crucial test of whether Californians can slow the spread of the coronavirus by moderating their individual behaviors .
“ The times we have seen @ @ @ @ @ @ @ two to three weeks after a national holiday like Memorial Day or the Fourth of July , ” Lowenthal said .
“ We ’ re hoping we can make Labor Day different.
” Barbara Ferrer , the county public health director , said it ’ s possible to avoid repeating those patterns , but that depends on people doing their part .
“ We have an opportunity this holiday weekend to change the trajectory of the virus in L.A. County , ” she said in a statement .
Although Los Angeles County beaches @ @ @ @ @ @ @ recreation during the summer ’ s previous holidays , county public health officials , in consultation with the leaders of the county and its beach cities , decided to keep the coastline open for Labor Day .
But they ’ ve cautioned that if there ’ s overcrowding , that could change .
“ Obviously we hope [ beaches ] don ’ t have to shut down because if they don ’ t shut down , that means that hopefully everyone is following the rules , ” said Nicole Mooradian , public information @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Beaches and Harbors .
Those rules are : wear a mask at all times unless you ’ re in the water or eating or drinking , keep six feet apart from all those who don ’ t live in your household and abstain from gatherings and group sports including beach volleyball .
The department will have volunteers at several beaches , including Will Rogers , Zuma and Dockweiler , to remind people of mask and distancing rules .
The so-called goodwill ambassadors , who are county disaster services workers , will also be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ pack in , pack out ” message , Mooradian said .
Since July , the county has been asking beachgoers to take their refuse home with them because virtually all of its maintenance workers have been diverted to extra coronavirus-related restroom cleanings , Mooradian said .
“ Before , they were cleaned two to four times a day depending how busy they were , ” she said .
“ Now , every restroom is being cleaned five to six times per day , which leaves almost no one left to do extra @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Orange County , beaches will also remain open for Labor Day .
“ We are expecting more beachgoers than normal and we want them to help us by keeping safety in mind with respect to the water , heat , and COVID-19 , ” Eric Blaska , public information officer for the Huntington Beach Fire Department , said in an email .
Firefighter paramedics will be staffing the city ’ s beaches in addition to lifeguards , and the fire department ’ s Community Emergency Response Team will be manning booths downtown and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coverings and remind people about physical distancing , he said .
Hermosa Beach had already contracted with private consulting firm Willdan Group to help its Police Department enforce an ordinance requiring masks .
Between Aug. 8 and 31 , they made contact with 3,036 people , handed out 715 masks and issued 438 citations , which range from $ 100 for a first offense to $ 500 for the third and each subsequent offense , Lowenthal said .
On Saturday through Monday , the city will boost the number of contract health ordinance @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and their hours will be extended , she said .
The city equipped the contract officers with body cameras about two weeks ago to help them avoid being tied up in lengthy legal proceedings if someone appeals a citation , she said .
Manhattan Beach also contracted with Willdan , as well as private security firm Contemporary Services Corp. , to form facial covering enforcement teams .
Those teams will be working through the weekend , focusing on the Strand and the city ’ s parks and downtown area , Mayor Richard Montgomery @ @ @ @ @ @ @ last Sunday , officers had given out 397 citations for failure to wear masks , which carry fines between $ 100 and $ 350 .
The city ’ s police department will also have additional sworn officers on duty , he said .
Like other cities , Santa Monica , which has also imposed fines for mask-wearing violations , is shoring up staffing over the holiday weekend , Constance Farrell , public information officer , said in an email .
“ It ’ s imperative that anyone escaping the heat do so safely @ @ @ @ @ @ @ We ’ ve made progress but the only way we ’ ll continue to is by staying the course with the COVID-19 prevention measures.
” Malibu has not yet enacted a local ordinance imposing penalties for those who don ’ t wear masks , but the City Council plans to do so Sept. 14 , Pierson said .
“ I feel like we acted on that a bit late , but we have acted on it , ” he said .
Though the city has not added dedicated personnel to enforce coronavirus rules @ @ @ @ @ @ @ security firms to crack down on illegal parking , alcohol use , trespassing and other issues associated with an uptick in visitors , he said , pointing out Broad Beach as one example .
“ Just some of the crowds , you almost have to see it to believe it , ” he said .
“ They ’ re absolutely overwhelming.
” In fact , Malibu officials are expecting this weekend to be one of the busiest of a year that ’ s already seen more people visit the tony beach community than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ We ’ ve had historic crowds this spring and summer due to everyone being cooped up from COVID , ” he said .
“ We ’ ve never seen the amount of cars or traffic we have this year — not even close.
” The city has worked with Supervisor Sheila Kuehl ’ s office and the Malibu Lost Hills Sheriff ’ s Station to put in place extra patrols over the weekend , he said .
Sheriff ’ s volunteers on patrol will be helping to enforce parking violations and direct traffic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be out cleaning up trash .
Fire is another concern .
Pierson is a member of a volunteer arson watch that will be up in the hills keeping an eye out for starts and educating the public about prevention .
He said the city is discouraging people from hiking up there due to the dangerous heat .
Malibu also put out public service announcements on social media , Nextdoor , and local radio stations urging people to celebrate the holiday responsibly .
In the past , the city has urged people to simply @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that messaging proved ineffective , Pierson said .
So this time , they wanted to focus on how people can visit safely .
Hermosa Beach ’ s Lowenthal said officials there sought to emphasize a similar point .
“ Given the holiday weekend and how hot it is , when we ’ re over 100 degrees inland , we want people to feel that the California coast is theirs to navigate.
” she said .
“ That ’ s the beautiful thing about the California coastline .
The state has worked for decades @ @ @ @ @ @ @ access to what is essentially our public space and really the public living room .
”

Jeff Teho and wife, Debbie Paris, let their dogs, Dexter, left, and Lizzy, experience paddle boarding for the first time in Marina Del Rey. (Myung J. Chun / Los Angeles Times)
Reana Gallardo cools off in the sprinkler at Mason Park in Chatsworth during her lunch break from work. (Myung J. Chun / Los Angeles Times)
A kite surfer goes airborne while another glides across the water ahead of the Labor Day holiday weekend in Seal Beach. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
Drone view of a skim boarder riding a wave on a sunny day ahead of the Labor Day holiday weekend in Seal Beach. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
A youngster does a flip on the beach near the San Clemente Pier on a warm sunny Wednesday ahead of the Labor Day holiday. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
A fisherman statue is fitted with a mask outside Fisherman’s Restaurant and Bar in San Clemente. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
Chrystabelle Ramirez of Los Angeles gets in her workout on the Terri and Jerry Kohl Staircase at the Music Center in downtown Los Angeles. (Gary Coronado / Los Angeles Times)
Ray Gonzalez takes a break from the heat near a water fountain after having lunch in the arts district in downtown Santa Ana. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
Melinda Mena and her husband, Rick, apply primer to a wrought-iron fence in front of their Porter Ranch home. (Mel Melcon / Los Angeles Times)
Chris Ruiz finds a shady spot to practice his javelin throw at Newhall Park in Santa Clarita. Ruiz hopes to make it onto the Cal State Northridge track and field team. (Myung J. Chun / Los Angeles Times)
Alexie Epstein, from left, Jackie Nuchow, Sammy Nuchow and Maddie Clark, all 17, cool off after a training session at Balboa Park in Encino. (Mel Melcon / Los Angeles Times)
Enrique Hernandez, 7, Ranfery Hernandez, 5, and Angeline Hernandez, 10, play in the ocean Friday at Will Rogers State Beach. (Gary Coronado / Los Angeles Times)
Carlos Gutierrez creates his own shade while walking with inflatable balls for sale in Pacoima. (Mel Melcon / Los Angeles Times)
Cael Kirkland of Los Angeles and his son cool off at Will Rogers State Beach on Friday. (Gary Coronado / Los Angeles Times)
Lesandro Jimenez helps his daughter Genesis with some ice cream at Balboa Park in Van Nuys on Saturday. (Dania Maxwell / Los Angeles Times)
A cyclist hydrates while waiting to cross Pacific Coast Highway at Main Street in Huntington Beach on Saturday. (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)
Surfers wait to catch a wave in the waters off Huntington Beach on Saturday. (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)
People cool off in the ocean at Hermosa Beach on Saturday. (Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times)
The parking lot is full at Junipero Beach in Long Beach on Saturday. (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)
Rowan Cook keeps cool Saturday on a water slide in his yard in Highland Park. (Dania Maxwell / Los Angeles Times)
Jessica Luebke puts goggles on her son Sebastian Longeretta, 3, while her son Enzo Longeretta, 7, jumps into their Silver Lake pool on Saturday. (Dania Maxwell / Los Angeles Times)
Rita Zeid, 79, left, works on puzzles and her husband, Mike, 84, reads magazines while cooling off Sunday at the Marina Community Center in Seal Beach. (Christina House / Los Angeles Times)
Charlotte Henderson and her dog Benny find relief from the heat at a cooling center in Seal Beach. (Christina House / Los Angeles Times)
Dan and Candy McCoy of La Habra relax in the back of their truck in Huntington Beach on Sunday. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
Yolanda Soria of Glendale looks out over thousands of people at Huntington Beach on Sunday. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
Guitarist Marcelo Sotelo of Anaheim leads members of the Iglesias Pentecostal United Church of Santa Ana in a song at Mile Square Park. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
It’s typically one of the busiest beach weekends of the summer.
And despite a rash of coronavirus warnings urging people to avoid gatherings, local officials expect that this Labor Day will be no different.
“We know we’re going to get the siege, we totally get it,” Malibu Mayor Mikke Pierson said Friday. “It’s hot and people are desperate to cool off.”
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In Hermosa Beach, City Manager Suja Lowenthal checks the weather forecast for surrounding areas to gauge the volume of crowds the city can anticipate over a given period.
Over the next few days, she said, “we expect a lot of folks coming into the South Bay.”
The holiday weekend coincides with a heat wave that’s expected to send temperatures soaring 15 to 20 degrees above normal, and Southern California’s coastal communities are bracing for an influx of visitors. Public health officials have described the weekend as a crucial test of whether Californians can slow the spread of the coronavirus by moderating their individual behaviors.
“The times we have seen spikes in infections and hospitalizations have been two to three weeks after a national holiday like Memorial Day or the Fourth of July,” Lowenthal said. “We’re hoping we can make Labor Day different.”
Barbara Ferrer, the county public health director, said it’s possible to avoid repeating those patterns, but that depends on people doing their part.
“We have an opportunity this holiday weekend to change the trajectory of the virus in L.A. County,” she said in a statement.
Advertisement
Although Los Angeles County beaches were either closed or limited to active recreation during the summer’s previous holidays, county public health officials, in consultation with the leaders of the county and its beach cities, decided to keep the coastline open for Labor Day.
But they’ve cautioned that if there’s overcrowding, that could change.
“Obviously we hope [beaches] don’t have to shut down because if they don’t shut down, that means that hopefully everyone is following the rules,” said Nicole Mooradian, public information officer for the L.A. County Department of Beaches and Harbors.
Those rules are: wear a mask at all times unless you’re in the water or eating or drinking, keep six feet apart from all those who don’t live in your household and abstain from gatherings and group sports including beach volleyball.
The department will have volunteers at several beaches, including Will Rogers, Zuma and Dockweiler, to remind people of mask and distancing rules. The so-called goodwill ambassadors, who are county disaster services workers, will also be handing out trash bags and promoting a “pack in, pack out” message, Mooradian said.
Since July, the county has been asking beachgoers to take their refuse home with them because virtually all of its maintenance workers have been diverted to extra coronavirus-related restroom cleanings, Mooradian said.
“Before, they were cleaned two to four times a day depending how busy they were,” she said. “Now, every restroom is being cleaned five to six times per day, which leaves almost no one left to do extra cleanings on the beach.”
In neighboring Orange County, beaches will also remain open for Labor Day.
“We are expecting more beachgoers than normal and we want them to help us by keeping safety in mind with respect to the water, heat, and COVID-19,” Eric Blaska, public information officer for the Huntington Beach Fire Department, said in an email.
Firefighter paramedics will be staffing the city’s beaches in addition to lifeguards, and the fire department’s Community Emergency Response Team will be manning booths downtown and near the beach to hand out face coverings and remind people about physical distancing, he said.
Hermosa Beach had already contracted with private consulting firm Willdan Group to help its Police Department enforce an ordinance requiring masks. Between Aug. 8 and 31, they made contact with 3,036 people, handed out 715 masks and issued 438 citations, which range from $100 for a first offense to $500 for the third and each subsequent offense, Lowenthal said.
On Saturday through Monday, the city will boost the number of contract health ordinance enforcement officers from four to six, and their hours will be extended, she said. The city equipped the contract officers with body cameras about two weeks ago to help them avoid being tied up in lengthy legal proceedings if someone appeals a citation, she said.
Manhattan Beach also contracted with Willdan, as well as private security firm Contemporary Services Corp., to form facial covering enforcement teams. Those teams will be working through the weekend, focusing on the Strand and the city’s parks and downtown area, Mayor Richard Montgomery said in an email. As of last Sunday, officers had given out 397 citations for failure to wear masks, which carry fines between $100 and $350.
The city’s police department will also have additional sworn officers on duty, he said.
Like other cities, Santa Monica, which has also imposed fines for mask-wearing violations, is shoring up staffing over the holiday weekend, Constance Farrell, public information officer, said in an email.
“It’s imperative that anyone escaping the heat do so safely,” she wrote. “... We’ve made progress but the only way we’ll continue to is by staying the course with the COVID-19 prevention measures.”
Malibu has not yet enacted a local ordinance imposing penalties for those who don’t wear masks, but the City Council plans to do so Sept. 14, Pierson said. “I feel like we acted on that a bit late, but we have acted on it,” he said.
Though the city has not added dedicated personnel to enforce coronavirus rules, some residents have contracted with private security firms to crack down on illegal parking, alcohol use, trespassing and other issues associated with an uptick in visitors, he said, pointing out Broad Beach as one example.
“Just some of the crowds, you almost have to see it to believe it,” he said. “They’re absolutely overwhelming.”
In fact, Malibu officials are expecting this weekend to be one of the busiest of a year that’s already seen more people visit the tony beach community than any other, Pierson said.
“We’ve had historic crowds this spring and summer due to everyone being cooped up from COVID,” he said. “We’ve never seen the amount of cars or traffic we have this year — not even close.”
The city has worked with Supervisor Sheila Kuehl’s office and the Malibu Lost Hills Sheriff’s Station to put in place extra patrols over the weekend, he said. Sheriff’s volunteers on patrol will be helping to enforce parking violations and direct traffic, and city public works crews will be out cleaning up trash.
Fire is another concern. Pierson is a member of a volunteer arson watch that will be up in the hills keeping an eye out for starts and educating the public about prevention. He said the city is discouraging people from hiking up there due to the dangerous heat.
Malibu also put out public service announcements on social media, Nextdoor, and local radio stations urging people to celebrate the holiday responsibly.
In the past, the city has urged people to simply stay away during busy weekends, but that messaging proved ineffective, Pierson said. So this time, they wanted to focus on how people can visit safely.
Hermosa Beach’s Lowenthal said officials there sought to emphasize a similar point.
“Given the holiday weekend and how hot it is, when we’re over 100 degrees inland, we want people to feel that the California coast is theirs to navigate.” she said. “That’s the beautiful thing about the California coastline. The state has worked for decades to make sure the public has free access to what is essentially our public space and really the public living room.”


latimes--2020-09-04--Mail dumped at two separate USPS locations in Glendale; investigation underway

Piles of unopened United State Postal Service mail and packages were discovered dumped at two separate locations this week in Glendale , authorities said Friday .
Police responded to a call about 8 a.m. Thursday from the USPS , asking police to assist with a situation involving “ possible stolen mail or whatever was dumped in an alleyway , ” said Glendale Police Sgt .
Christian Hauptmann .
The second call came about two hours later from a business owner who witnessed a similar incident in a store parking lot not far from the alley .
Security footage obtained by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ & Aesthetic in the 1600 block of Glenoaks Boulevard shows a Budget rental truck backing into a gate before a man retrieves piles of bags of mail and packages from inside the truck and throws them onto the ground .
The parking lot is less than a mile away from the alleyway in the 1000 block of Allen Avenue where the other pile of mail was discovered .
USPS declined to comment on the incident .
“ The U.S .
Postal Inspection Service is the law enforcement , crime prevention and security arm @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Evelina Ramirez said .
“ In order to preserve the integrity of their investigations and to prevent fundamental unfairness to the subjects of those investigations , the U.S .
Postal Inspection Service does not comment on any ongoing investigations.
” It ’ s unclear if the two incidents are related .
They come as USPS faces national outcry over recent service changes , sparking fears over voter suppression as the Nov. 3 election nears .
California Atty .
Gen. Xavier Becerra said Thursday the state is attempting to reverse the Postal Service ’ @ @ @ @

Piles of unopened USPS mail were found at two locations in Glendale this week.
Piles of unopened United States Postal Service mail and packages were discovered dumped at two separate locations this week in Glendale, authorities said Friday.
Police responded to a call about 8 a.m. Thursday from the USPS, asking police to assist with a situation involving “possible stolen mail or whatever was dumped in an alleyway,” said Glendale Police Sgt. Christian Hauptmann. The second call came about two hours later from a business owner who witnessed a similar incident in a store parking lot not far from the alley.
Security footage obtained by KTLA from outside the 7Q Spa Laser & Aesthetic in the 1600 block of Glenoaks Boulevard shows a Budget rental truck backing into a gate before a man retrieves piles of bags of mail and packages from inside the truck and throws them onto the ground. The parking lot is less than a mile away from the alleyway in the 1000 block of Allen Avenue where the other pile of mail was discovered.
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USPS declined to comment on the incident.
“The U.S. Postal Inspection Service is the law enforcement, crime prevention and security arm of the Postal Service,” spokesperson Evelina Ramirez said. “In order to preserve the integrity of their investigations and to prevent fundamental unfairness to the subjects of those investigations, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service does not comment on any ongoing investigations.”
It’s unclear if the two incidents are related. They come as the USPS faces national outcry over recent service changes, sparking fears over voter suppression as the Nov. 3 election nears.
California Atty. Gen. Xavier Becerra said Thursday the state was attempting to reverse the Postal Service’s new policies.


latimes--2020-09-04--ICE arrests over 300 in L.A. area during month-long operation

Over the summer , even as the Los Angeles County Sheriff ’ s Department pulled back from cooperating with Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers , federal immigration agents arrested over 300 people in the area as part of a month-long nationwide operation .
The operation , which ran from July 13 until Aug. 20 , focused on those who have been arrested or have pending charges or convictions for crimes against people , according to ICE .
That included people convicted of battery , rape and kidnapping , the agency stated .
ICE announced the results of the enforcement operation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a Friday morning media call .
The operation also resulted in the “ collateral arrest ” of a 45-year-old Mexican citizen who was not on the target list and had no criminal record , according to David Marin , the director of Enforcement and Removal Operations for ICE in L.A. That individual , who was driving with someone who had a pending domestic violence charge , was released on an order of recognizance .
Of those arrested locally , over 100 have been deported , according to ICE .
Officers arrested people from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were women .
“ Our officers have continued targeted enforcement operations throughout the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic , while incorporating appropriate procedures to safely and effectively perform missions that ensure public safety , ” Marin said during the call .
The agency came under fire nationwide in March for continuing to make arrests as states went on lockdown due to the pandemic , and ordered residents to shelter at home .
That same month , ICE said it would shift its focus to “ public safety risks.
” ICE made about 65 % fewer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than it did in March , according to the agency .
ICE recorded 230 arrests in March , compared with approximately 80 arrests in April .
During operations , officers are using protective equipment , such as masks , gloves and face shields , which they also provide to detainees , according to Marin .
Marin said he is unaware of any officers in the L.A. area who have contracted COVID-19 as a result of field operations .
Nearly 30 % of the recent arrests were of people with previously non-honored detainers , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to federal custody , according to Marin .
The highest number of declined detainers , he said , came from the L..A .
County Sheriff ’ s Department and the LAPD .
“ This highlights the dangers associated with non-cooperation among law enforcement , driven by misguided policies that often place politics ahead of public safety , ” Marin said .
When Alex Villanueva became sheriff , he limited the criteria that allow inmates to be transferred to federal custody for possible detention or deportation .
Villanueva said that ICE transfers declined by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Villanueva took it a step further and announced that the department would not transfer inmates to the custody of ICE based solely on a civil immigration detainer .
This week , the L.A. County Board of Supervisors approved a motion that would adopt the ban as permanent policy countywide .
It prohibits the use of county resources for these transfers without a judicial warrant .
“ It is the right time to end this jail-to-deportation pipeline , ” Supervisor Hilda Solis , who co-authored the motion , said in a statement .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ obligation to stop transferring people to ICE custody during this pandemic and long after it is over.
” Henry Lucero , ICE ’ s executive associate director for Enforcement and Removal Operations in Washington , D.C. , called the permanent ban on transfers a “ mind-boggling decision.
” He added that obtaining a judicial warrant “ is not a possibility.
” “ There ’ s no judge in this country that has the authority to issue a warrant for civil immigration violations , ” Lucero said .
“ The idea that ICE should @ @ @ @ @ @ @ already overburdened federal court before taking custody of aliens on civil immigration violations was just created for those who wish to undermine immigration enforcement .
”

An ICE officer stands outside the home of a 47-year-old Mexican national in Montebello on April 18, 2017.
Over the summer, even as the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department pulled back from cooperating with Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers, federal immigration agents arrested over 300 people in the area as part of a month-long nationwide operation.
The operation, which ran from July 13 until Aug. 20, focused on those who have been arrested or have pending charges or convictions for crimes against people, according to ICE. That included people convicted of battery, rape and kidnapping, the agency stated.
ICE announced the results of the enforcement operation this week and provided further details in a Friday morning media call.
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The operation also resulted in the “collateral arrest” of a 45-year-old Mexican citizen who was not on the target list and had no criminal record, according to David Marin, the director of Enforcement and Removal Operations for ICE in L.A. That individual, who was driving with someone who had a pending domestic violence charge, was released on an order of recognizance.
Of those arrested locally, over 100 have been deported, according to ICE. Officers arrested people from 22 countries; 13 of those arrested were women.
Nationwide, ICE officers arrested more than 2,000 people.
“Our officers have continued targeted enforcement operations throughout the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, while incorporating appropriate procedures to safely and effectively perform missions that ensure public safety,” Marin said during the call.
The agency came under fire nationwide in March for continuing to make arrests as states went on lockdown due to the pandemic, and ordered residents to shelter at home. That same month, ICE said it would shift its focus to “public safety risks.”
ICE made about 65% fewer arrests in the L.A. area in April than it did in March, according to the agency. ICE recorded 230 arrests in March, compared with approximately 80 arrests in April.
During operations, officers are using protective equipment, such as masks, gloves and face shields, which they also provide to detainees, according to Marin. Marin said he is unaware of any officers in the L.A. area who have contracted COVID-19 as a result of field operations.
Nearly 30% of the recent arrests were of people with previously non-honored detainers, making them eligible to be transferred over to federal custody, according to Marin. The highest number of declined detainers, he said, came from the L..A. County Sheriff’s Department and the LAPD.
“This highlights the dangers associated with non-cooperation among law enforcement, driven by misguided policies that often place politics ahead of public safety,” Marin said.
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When Alex Villanueva became sheriff, he limited the criteria that allow inmates to be transferred to federal custody for possible detention or deportation. Villanueva said that ICE transfers declined by 52% in 2019.
Last month, Villanueva took it a step further and announced that the department would not transfer inmates to the custody of ICE based solely on a civil immigration detainer.
This week, the L.A. County Board of Supervisors approved a motion that would adopt the ban as permanent policy countywide. It prohibits the use of county resources for these transfers without a judicial warrant.
“It is the right time to end this jail-to-deportation pipeline,” Supervisor Hilda Solis, who co-authored the motion, said in a statement. “We have a moral and constitutional obligation to stop transferring people to ICE custody during this pandemic and long after it is over.”
Henry Lucero, ICE’s executive associate director for Enforcement and Removal Operations in Washington, called the permanent ban on transfers a “mind-boggling decision.” He added that obtaining a judicial warrant “is not a possibility.”
“There’s no judge in this country that has the authority to issue a warrant for civil immigration violations,” Lucero said. “The idea that ICE should even seek a judicial warrant from an already overburdened federal court before taking custody of aliens on civil immigration violations was just created for those who wish to undermine immigration enforcement.”