latimes--2020-02-25--California Lottery officials shortchanged schools by millions, state audit says

The management of the California Lottery was sharply criticized Tuesday by state officials , who released a scathing audit alleging that the agency shortchanged schools by millions of dollars over the last four years , and recommended that most of the money be repaid .
Separately , the state controller has launched an investigation into a gift of 30,000 Scratchers tickets to “ The Ellen DeGeneres Show , ” first reported by the Los Angeles Times .
The audit released Tuesday said California schools have suffered as a result of problematic management and contracting at the lottery agency .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , which requires it to increase its funding for education in proportion to its increases in net revenue , ” State Auditor Elaine Howle wrote in a letter to Gov .
Gavin Newsom and the Legislature .
Howle said the California Lottery failed to provide $ 36 million that should have gone to education in the fiscal year that ended June 30 , 2018 .
The audit also said the lottery agency was unable to demonstrate that its prize payout rate is “ optimal for maximizing funding for education , leaving it unable @ @ @ @ @ @ @ much funding to prize payments.
” In addition , the lottery agency too often uses noncompetitive contracts for purchasing , so it may not be getting the best value for its money , the audit said .
California voters created the state lottery in 1984 by approving a ballot measure that required 34 % of sales revenue to go to schools and capped administrative expenses at 16 % .
But the state Legislature acted in 2010 to allow a smaller percentage to go to education as long as lottery managers used “ best @ @ @ @ @ @ @ disputed that the agency has shortchanged schools , saying he and the auditors have a “ fundamental difference of opinion ” over how to interpret the California State Lottery Act and the 2010 change in the law .
Howle said state law requires the lottery to increase its annual education funding in proportion to the increases in its net revenues , which she defines as total sales revenue minus the lottery ’ s administrative and operational expenses .
Since the 2010 amendments to the Lottery Act , the lottery ’ s total operating @ @ @ @ @ @ @ its funding to education has increased by 66 % , the audit said .
But Johnson countered that the auditor ’ s interpretation would have required school funding to be artificially decreased in some years .
He said the funding formula used by his agency has provided $ 6.7 billion to education during the last four years , which he said is an increase of more than $ 1.3 billion from the previous four years .
The auditor originally determined that the lottery should have provided $ 69 million more to education but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ after hearing an explanation from lottery officials .
“ The Lottery strongly disagrees with CSA ’ s findings that it owes $ 69 million to education because compliance with a year-over-year proportionality requirement would be inconsistent with the Lottery ’ s mission to maximize funding for education , ” Johnson wrote in response to the audit .
The newly launched review by State Controller Betty T. Yee , the state ’ s chief fiscal officer , comes after The Times reported this month that the lottery gave $ 212,500 worth of Scratchers tickets @ @ @ @ @ @ @ handed out to the studio audience .
Each member of the audience was given a $ 500 bundle of 72 Scratchers tickets as a way to promote the games , but a whistleblower complaint filed by lottery workers said the giveaway was a “ misuse of funds ” and noted some of the 425 packets were not properly accounted for .
The audit drew calls for reform at the lottery from state Sen. Ling Ling Chang ( R-Diamond Bar ) , who requested the financial review last year .
“ The findings today @ @ @ @ @ @ @ That the California Lottery has a culture of profits first and schools last , ” Chang said Tuesday .
“ They owe our schools millions of dollars and I will be introducing legislation to ensure our schools get what they are owed.
” Lottery spokesman Russ Lopez confirmed the controller “ began a review of the California Lottery ’ s ‘ Ellen Show ’ promotion as part of their oversight responsibilities.
” He declined further comment this week but earlier this month defended the promotional giveaway as a cost-effective way to boost Scratchers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ levels during the holiday season .
“ ‘ The Ellen DeGeneres Show ’ was one of many marketing efforts that provided increased product awareness and appeal of Lottery products during the holiday giving season , ” Lopez said .
The new probe and the audit findings Tuesday are just the latest in a series of controversies to hit the California Lottery , including an audit last year by Yee that found more than $ 305,000 in improper or questionable spending that included travel , food , gifts to employees and entertainment expenses .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ cited improper expenses including $ 21,666 in T-shirts , backpacks , lip balm and iPad cases for employees , was followed by the resignation of the lottery ’ s director at the time , Hugo Lopez .
Howle ’ s new audit released Tuesday said the state controller ’ s office “ has not effectively carried out its responsibility to oversee the Lottery ’ s performance , ” which it does through audits .
“ Notably , the SCO inappropriately removed a finding from an April 2019 audit report , which questioned costs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , after the Lottery requested changes to this finding , ” Howle wrote to the governor .
Howle also said the controller ’ s office has not sufficiently reviewed the efficiency of lottery operations and didn ’ t adequately assess its performance after the law was changed in 2010 .
Newsom ’ s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the new audit and the controller ’ s review .
Chang said the giveaways and the other spending controversies put a cloud over the lottery .
“ The lottery @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” she said .
“ But it has a history of controversy so this comes as no surprise to me .
Every dollar wasted at the lottery is a dollar that won ’ t go to the classroom — this behavior has to stop .
”

The management of the California Lottery was sharply criticized Tuesday by state officials, who released a scathing audit alleging that the agency shortchanged schools by millions of dollars over the last four years, and recommended that most of the money be repaid. Separately, the state controller has launched an investigation into a gift of 30,000 Scratchers tickets to “The Ellen DeGeneres Show,” first reported by the Los Angeles Times.
The audit released Tuesday said California schools have suffered as a result of problematic management and contracting at the lottery agency.
“The Lottery has not followed state law, which requires it to increase its funding for education in proportion to its increases in net revenue,” State Auditor Elaine Howle wrote in a letter to Gov. Gavin Newsom and the Legislature.
Howle said the California Lottery failed to provide $36 million that should have gone to education in the fiscal year that ended June 30, 2018.
The audit also said the lottery agency was unable to demonstrate that its prize payout rate is “optimal for maximizing funding for education, leaving it unable to know whether it is diverting too much funding to prize payments.” In addition, the lottery agency too often uses noncompetitive contracts for purchasing, so it may not be getting the best value for its money, the audit said.
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California voters created the state lottery in 1984 by approving a ballot measure that required 34% of sales revenue to go to schools and capped administrative expenses at 16%. But the state Legislature acted in 2010 to allow a smaller percentage to go to education as long as lottery managers used “best practices.”
Lottery Director Alva V. Johnson disputed that the agency has shortchanged schools, saying he and the auditors have a “fundamental difference of opinion” over how to interpret the California State Lottery Act and the 2010 change in the law.
Howle said state law requires the lottery to increase its annual education funding in proportion to the increases in its net revenues, which she defines as total sales revenue minus the lottery’s administrative and operational expenses.
Since the 2010 amendments to the Lottery Act, the lottery’s total operating revenue has increased by 115% and its funding to education has increased by 66%, the audit said.
But Johnson countered that the auditor’s interpretation would have required school funding to be artificially decreased in some years. He said the funding formula used by his agency has provided $6.7 billion to education during the last four years, which he said is an increase of more than $1.3 billion from the previous four years.
The auditor originally determined that the lottery should have provided $69 million more to education but reduced the amount to $36 million after hearing an explanation from lottery officials.
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“The Lottery strongly disagrees with CSA’s findings that it owes $69 million to education because compliance with a year-over-year proportionality requirement would be inconsistent with the Lottery’s mission to maximize funding for education,” Johnson wrote in response to the audit.
The newly launched review by State Controller Betty T. Yee, the state’s chief fiscal officer, comes after The Times reported this month that the lottery gave $212,500 worth of Scratchers tickets to DeGeneres’ talk show to be handed out to the studio audience.
Each member of the audience was given a $500 bundle of 72 Scratchers tickets as a way to promote the games, but a whistleblower complaint filed by lottery workers said the giveaway was a “misuse of funds” and noted some of the 425 packets were not properly accounted for.
The audit drew calls for reform at the lottery from state Sen. Ling Ling Chang (R-Diamond Bar), who requested the financial review last year.
“The findings today demonstrate what we suspected all along. That the California Lottery has a culture of profits first and schools last,” Chang said Tuesday. “They owe our schools millions of dollars and I will be introducing legislation to ensure our schools get what they are owed.”
Lottery spokesman Russ Lopez confirmed the controller “began a review of the California Lottery’s ‘Ellen Show’ promotion as part of their oversight responsibilities.” He declined further comment this week but earlier this month defended the promotional giveaway as a cost-effective way to boost Scratchers sales, which he said reached record levels during the holiday season.
“‘The Ellen DeGeneres Show’ was one of many marketing efforts that provided increased product awareness and appeal of Lottery products during the holiday giving season,” Lopez said.
The new probe and the audit findings Tuesday are just the latest in a series of controversies to hit the California Lottery, including an audit last year by Yee that found more than $305,000 in improper or questionable spending that included travel, food, gifts to employees and entertainment expenses.
Last year’s report, which cited improper expenses including $21,666 in T-shirts, backpacks, lip balm and iPad cases for employees, was followed by the resignation of the lottery’s director at the time, Hugo Lopez.
Howle’s new audit released Tuesday said the state controller’s office “has not effectively carried out its responsibility to oversee the Lottery’s performance,” which it does through audits.
“Notably, the SCO inappropriately removed a finding from an April 2019 audit report, which questioned costs of $720,000 related to trade shows, after the Lottery requested changes to this finding,” Howle wrote to the governor.
Howle also said the controller’s office has not sufficiently reviewed the efficiency of lottery operations and didn’t adequately assess its performance after the law was changed in 2010.
The controller’s office said Howle’s auditors disregarded reasonable auditing practices.
Newsom’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the new audit and the controller’s review.
Chang said the giveaways and the other spending controversies put a cloud over the lottery.
“The lottery was created to fund schools. Period,” she said. “But it has a history of controversy so this comes as no surprise to me. Every dollar wasted at the lottery is a dollar that won’t go to the classroom — this behavior has to stop.”


latimes--2020-02-25--After elderly man assaulted while collecting recyclables, police investigate

A video showing an elderly man being assaulted and taunted while collecting recyclables on a San Francisco street has prompted a police investigation , authorities said Monday .
The San Francisco Police Department wrote in a tweet that investigators are seeking the public ’ s help in identifying the victim and anyone who witnessed the attack , which they suspect occurred in the Bayview neighborhood .
The video , which was posted on social media over the weekend and quickly went viral , shows a confrontation between a man holding a long metal object and another , Asian man who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ point , the video shows the man striking the victim in the head with the metal pole .
Several people standing in the parking lot recorded the incident , and at least one person can be heard taunting the victim , using expletives and yelling at him to “ go get your ... cans.
” A person who is not seen in the video later says , “ I hate Asians , ” and mimics the crying man , the video shows .
Police told the Associated Press that it was too early @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Investigators could not immediately be reached Tuesday for further comment .
San Francisco Mayor London Breed called the actions in the video “ shameful ” and “ not reflective of the San Francisco we can and should be.
” “ Violence , bullying and harassment are unacceptable and have no place in our city , ” she wrote .
“ We need to work to bring our communities together , not sow hatred and division .
”

A video showing an elderly man being assaulted and taunted while collecting recyclables on a San Francisco street has prompted a police investigation, authorities said Monday.
The San Francisco Police Department wrote in a tweet that investigators are seeking the public’s help in identifying the victim and anyone who witnessed the attack, which they suspect occurred in the Bayview neighborhood.
The video, which was posted on social media over the weekend and quickly went viral, shows a confrontation between a man holding a long metal object and another, Asian man who was apparently collecting recyclables.
At one point, the video shows the man striking the victim in the head with the metal pole. Several people standing in the parking lot recorded the incident, and at least one person can be heard taunting the victim, using expletives and yelling at him to “go get your ... cans.”
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A person who is not seen in the video later says, “I hate Asians,” and mimics the crying man, the video shows.
Police told the Associated Press that it was too early to label the incident a hate crime. Investigators could not immediately be reached Tuesday for further comment.
San Francisco Mayor London Breed called the actions in the video “shameful” and “not reflective of the San Francisco we can and should be.”
“Violence, bullying and harassment are unacceptable and have no place in our city,” she wrote. “We need to work to bring our communities together, not sow hatred and division.”


latimes--2020-02-25--Earthquakes: 3.1 quake near Ridgecrest

Earthquakes: 3.1 quake near Ridgecrest

A magnitude 3.1 earthquake was reported at 9:16 a.m. Tuesday eight miles from Ridgecrest , Calif. , according to the U.S. Geological Survey .
The earthquake occurred 29 miles from California City , 57 miles from Barstow , 64 miles from Tehachapi , Calif. , and 65 miles from Rosamond , Calif..
In the past 10 days , there have been four earthquakes 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 sample .
The earthquake @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
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 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ our list of frequently asked questions .

A magnitude 3.1 earthquake was reported at 9:16 a.m. Tuesday eight miles from Ridgecrest, Calif., according to the U.S. Geological Survey.
The earthquake occurred 29 miles from California City, 57 miles from Barstow, 64 miles from Tehachapi, Calif., and 65 miles from Rosamond, Calif..
In the past 10 days, there have been four earthquakes 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 2.0 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--2020-02-25--Student arrested after online threat to Long Beach high school

A teen suspected of posting a photo of guns on social media warning students not to go to a Long @ @ @ @ @ Monday , police said .
The photo , which was posted to Instagram on Monday @ @ @ @ @ the words “ Don ’ t go to Millikan tomorrow ” written over them .
@ @ @ @ @ referring to Millikan High School in the 2800 block of Snowden Avenue in East Long @ @ @ @ @ post , there was another message saying the threat was a joke or the student @ @ @ @ @ hacked , police told the Long Beach Post .
Authorities investigated the source of the @ @ @ @ @ student late Monday .
The teen was not identified .
“ At this time , @ @ @ @ @ is no threat to the high school , ” police said in a statement .
@ @ @ @ @ of caution , LBPD will have extra patrols deployed around campus .
”

A teen suspected of posting a photo of guns on social media warning students not to go to a Long Beach high school was arrested Monday, police said.
The photo, which was posted to Instagram on Monday, showed several rifles with the words “Don’t go to Millikan tomorrow” written over them. Police say the post was referring to Millikan High School in the 2800 block of Snowden Avenue in East Long Beach.
Shortly after that post, there was another message saying the threat was a joke or the student’s account had been hacked, police told the Long Beach Post.
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Authorities investigated the source of the threat and ultimately arrested a student late Monday. The teen was not identified.
“At this time, the department is confident there is no threat to the high school,” police said in a statement. “Out of an abundance of caution, LBPD will have extra patrols deployed around campus.”


latimes--2020-02-25--New California school vaccine rules have left nurses, doctors and parents confused

A pair of hotly debated new California laws limiting which schoolchildren can skip vaccines appears stuck in bureaucratic limbo , the result of uncertainty over how to interpret last-minute changes made before the legislation was signed last year by Gov .
Gavin Newsom .
Meanwhile , the state Department of Public Health , which is tasked with offering key guidance on the new vaccine laws , has been silent on the confusion over the rules .
Senate Bill 276 calls for the public health department to create a standardized vaccine exemption form that doctors will electronically submit to the state @ @ @ @ @ @ @ insisted on a second piece of legislation — Senate Bill 714 — to ensure the new rules would be “ implemented in an effective manner.
” While aspects of SB 714 significantly weakened the overall impact of the new law , other changes increased scrutiny of vaccine exemptions written by doctors who were disciplined or are under investigation by the Medical Board of California and Osteopathic Medical Board of California .
However , it ’ s unclear when that oversight begins .
“ This should absolutely be happening now , ” said state @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the author of the vaccine legislation .
But school nurses who review medical exemptions said that unless they receive guidance from the public health department telling them otherwise , exemptions granted by scrutinized doctors will not be reviewed until 2021 .
“ I don ’ t think most school nurses understand this law , ” said California School Nurses Assn .
President Pamela Kahn .
“ When reading the law , I can see why you would assume it ’ s happening now , but that ’ s not happening now in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the state to review medical exemptions written before Jan. 1 in cases in which the approving physician has been disciplined by the medical board , it does not specifically say when those reviews should begin .
Most California statutes take effect on the first day of the year after approval by the governor .
But several key provisions in the vaccine law specify that they should take effect in 2021 , leading some to say that later date also applies to the new review process .
The statute also doesn ’ t indicate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s medical exemptions would be scrutinized automatically once punishment is finalized , or if decisions to investigate would be made on a case-by-case basis .
It ’ s also unclear if the disciplinary action that brings additional scrutiny must be related to immunizations .
Only one doctor has been disciplined for a vaccine-related case — Dr. Bob Sears , a well-known Orange County physician whose practice caters to parents who oppose some or all vaccinations .
State public health officials declined to answer The Times ’ questions on whether the law affects @ @ @ @ @ @ @ medical board put Sears on a 35-month probation in 2018 after charging him with committing gross negligence for failing to obtain the “ basic information necessary ” to determine whether a child should skip future vaccines .
Last year , Sears faced a new complaint from the state medical board alleging that he wrote improper vaccination exemptions for children .
“ If a physician has been disciplined by the medical board for something related to inappropriate medical exemptions , as Dr. Bob Sears has been , then all of that doctor ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Pan said of the law .
“ Schools should know that a child with a medical exemption written by Dr. Sears is now void.
” But Kahn said she ’ s waiting on guidance from the state public health department on how that part of the law should be implemented in schools .
The laws were a primary concern at a recent school nurses ’ association conference , she said .
Kahn said school officials can research which students have medical exemptions , but in most cases , determining which doctor wrote them @ @ @ @ @ @ @ If that is the expectation , Kahn said , school nurses will need significant notice to complete that work .
“ That ’ s a lot of legwork , ” she said .
Under SB 714 , a doctor under investigation by the Medical Board of California in a case involving vaccinations can ’ t write a new medical exemption unless the case is cleared in the doctor ’ s favor .
There are four doctors with pending allegations related to immunizations before the medical board .
They include Drs .
Sears of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Rosa , Tara Zandvliet of San Diego and Kenneth Stoller of Santa Rosa .
Pan says that provision of the law is also effective now .
But the language of SB 714 references a standardized form that has yet to be created by the public health department .
Pan contends the intent of the law is still clear — doctors under investigation should not be writing new medical exemptions .
The public health department has until next January to create the form , which will be electronically transmitted to the state ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rejection — by state public health officials .
The public health department declined to comment on its timeline for crafting the new document .
“ Parents were promised that this fall , schools would be healthier and safer places , ” said Leah Russin , executive director of Vaccinate California , a key group that supported SB 276 .
“ The departments that the governor manages have not done anything to provide guidance for this year .
At the end of the day , it seems what we have is a real challenge @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 714.
” The public health department said in a statement to The Times that the agency is “ aware of the many steps and the timelines for implementation.
” “ The Department is moving quickly to finalize the forms and the systems required to receive those forms , ” the agency said .
“ Next steps are being determined within the guidelines outlined in the laws.
” Those decisions will be a key factor in determining how sweeping the new law will be .
Meanwhile , critics of the legislation continue to protest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s private residence .
California First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom , who opponents have lobbied as a potential ally , spoke to protesters outside the gate to her home on Monday , where she said , “ I think there needs to be more conversation around spreading out vaccines , around only giving children the vaccines that are most essential.
” A short video of her comments was posted by protesters online , where she told them to trust the new law and that she ’ s “ been trying to have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ protesters not post the video online .
A spokesman for the governor said the laws signed by Newsom last year are the official position of the administration .
“ I feel confident [ the public health department ] will get this done , but I think it could come down to the wire , ” said Catherine Flores-Martin of the California Immunization Coalition .
Once officials have created the form and sent it to the immunization registry next year , the department will then monitor which physicians are submitting medical exemptions .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ schools and local districts , making it difficult to determine how many medical exemptions a single doctor writes .
However , vaccine exemption data released by a handful of school districts in recent years showed a few doctors wrote the majority of them .
Zandvliet , a San Diego physician who is under investigation by the state medical board , estimated that she ’ s written about 1,000 medical exemptions since 2015 , according to the accusation filed against her .
By comparison , doctors who spoke in support of the laws said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ medical exemptions over the course of their careers .
California has been strengthening its inoculation laws since 2015 , when the state eliminated exemptions based on personal or religious beliefs .
Instead , children must have a medical reason to skip some or all shots required for public and private school and daycare .
Since that law was enacted , though , the number of children with medical exemptions has grown and some physicians have been accused of excusing children for questionable reasons .
“ There is no question that these vaccine laws @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by ensuring public health officials are tracking when physicians issue an unusual number of medical exemptions from vaccines and halting the practice of unnecessary exemption , ” Health and Human Services Secretary Dr. Mark Ghaly , who oversees the public health department , said in a statement .
“ Bottom line : These laws will make California kids and communities healthier.
” Under the new law , the public health department can also make a determination that a doctor is “ contributing to a public health risk in one or more communities ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ medical exemptions for up to two years .
How the department will determine a doctor is contributing to a public health risk is unclear .
The department told The Times that it is developing criteria throughout this year .
When those criteria are created , the department said guidelines would be posted on the agency ’ s website .
Whether a doctor ’ s past medical exemptions will be considered in making a case that she or he is a public health risk is also unclear .
Sears , a vocal opponent of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said public health officials were granted “ new witch hunt powers ” that will make it easy to target specific doctors .
“ I ’ m not writing any more exemptions unless I see a patient who qualifies under the new law — a near-fatal allergic reaction or permanent brain injury after vaccines — so they won ’ t really have any target to throw their darts at , ” Sears said .

Demonstrators march around the state Capitol in protest of a measure to toughen rules for vaccination exemptions in August.
A pair of hotly debated new California laws limiting which schoolchildren can skip vaccines appears stuck in bureaucratic limbo, the result of uncertainty over how to interpret last-minute changes made before the legislation was signed last year by Gov. Gavin Newsom.
Meanwhile, the state Department of Public Health, which is tasked with offering key guidance on the new vaccine laws, has been silent on the confusion over the rules.
Senate Bill 276 calls for the public health department to create a standardized vaccine exemption form that doctors will electronically submit to the state for review beginning next January. Newsom insisted on a second piece of legislation — Senate Bill 714 — to ensure the new rules would be “implemented in an effective manner.”
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While aspects of SB 714 significantly weakened the overall impact of the new law, other changes increased scrutiny of vaccine exemptions written by doctors who were disciplined or are under investigation by the Medical Board of California and Osteopathic Medical Board of California.
However, it’s unclear when that oversight begins.
“This should absolutely be happening now,” said state Sen. Richard Pan (D-Sacramento), the author of the vaccine legislation.
But school nurses who review medical exemptions said that unless they receive guidance from the public health department telling them otherwise, exemptions granted by scrutinized doctors will not be reviewed until 2021.
“I don’t think most school nurses understand this law,” said California School Nurses Assn. President Pamela Kahn. “When reading the law, I can see why you would assume it’s happening now, but that’s not happening now in the school community.”
While the law allows the state to review medical exemptions written before Jan. 1 in cases in which the approving physician has been disciplined by the medical board, it does not specifically say when those reviews should begin. Most California statutes take effect on the first day of the year after approval by the governor. But several key provisions in the vaccine law specify that they should take effect in 2021, leading some to say that later date also applies to the new review process.
The statute also doesn’t indicate whether the review of a disciplined doctor’s medical exemptions would be scrutinized automatically once punishment is finalized, or if decisions to investigate would be made on a case-by-case basis. It’s also unclear if the disciplinary action that brings additional scrutiny must be related to immunizations.
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Only one doctor has been disciplined for a vaccine-related case — Dr. Bob Sears, a well-known Orange County physician whose practice caters to parents who oppose some or all vaccinations. State public health officials declined to answer The Times’ questions on whether the law affects Sears’ previous medical exemptions.
The medical board put Sears on a 35-month probation in 2018 after charging him with committing gross negligence for failing to obtain the “basic information necessary” to determine whether a child should skip future vaccines. Last year, Sears faced a new complaint from the state medical board alleging that he wrote improper vaccination exemptions for children.
“If a physician has been disciplined by the medical board for something related to inappropriate medical exemptions, as Dr. Bob Sears has been, then all of that doctor’s medical exemptions are now invalid,” Pan said of the law. “Schools should know that a child with a medical exemption written by Dr. Sears is now void.”
But Kahn said she’s waiting on guidance from the state public health department on how that part of the law should be implemented in schools. The laws were a primary concern at a recent school nurses’ association conference, she said.
Kahn said school officials can research which students have medical exemptions, but in most cases, determining which doctor wrote them would require pulling individual student files. If that is the expectation, Kahn said, school nurses will need significant notice to complete that work.
“That’s a lot of legwork,” she said.
Under SB 714, a doctor under investigation by the Medical Board of California in a case involving vaccinations can’t write a new medical exemption unless the case is cleared in the doctor’s favor. There are four doctors with pending allegations related to immunizations before the medical board. They include Drs. Sears of Capistrano Beach, Ron Kennedy of Santa Rosa, Tara Zandvliet of San Diego and Kenneth Stoller of Santa Rosa.
Pan says that provision of the law is also effective now. But the language of SB 714 references a standardized form that has yet to be created by the public health department. Pan contends the intent of the law is still clear — doctors under investigation should not be writing new medical exemptions.
The public health department has until next January to create the form, which will be electronically transmitted to the state’s immunization registry for review — and possible rejection — by state public health officials. The public health department declined to comment on its timeline for crafting the new document.
“Parents were promised that this fall, schools would be healthier and safer places,” said Leah Russin, executive director of Vaccinate California, a key group that supported SB 276. “The departments that the governor manages have not done anything to provide guidance for this year. At the end of the day, it seems what we have is a real challenge with the late changes made in SB 714.”
The public health department said in a statement to The Times that the agency is “aware of the many steps and the timelines for implementation.”
“The Department is moving quickly to finalize the forms and the systems required to receive those forms,” the agency said. “Next steps are being determined within the guidelines outlined in the laws.”
Those decisions will be a key factor in determining how sweeping the new law will be. Meanwhile, critics of the legislation continue to protest in Sacramento, including Monday outside Newsom’s private residence. California First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom, who opponents have lobbied as a potential ally, spoke to protesters outside the gate to her home on Monday, where she said, “I think there needs to be more conversation around spreading out vaccines, around only giving children the vaccines that are most essential.”
A short video of her comments was posted by protesters online, where she told them to trust the new law and that she’s “been trying to have dialogue internally.” She then asked that protesters not post the video online. A spokesman for the governor said the laws signed by Newsom last year are the official position of the administration.
“I feel confident [the public health department] will get this done, but I think it could come down to the wire,” said Catherine Flores-Martin of the California Immunization Coalition.
Once officials have created the form and sent it to the immunization registry next year, the department will then monitor which physicians are submitting medical exemptions. The vaccine waivers are currently submitted directly to schools and local districts, making it difficult to determine how many medical exemptions a single doctor writes.
However, vaccine exemption data released by a handful of school districts in recent years showed a few doctors wrote the majority of them.
Zandvliet, a San Diego physician who is under investigation by the state medical board, estimated that she’s written about 1,000 medical exemptions since 2015, according to the accusation filed against her. By comparison, doctors who spoke in support of the laws said they have written only a handful of medical exemptions over the course of their careers.
California has been strengthening its inoculation laws since 2015, when the state eliminated exemptions based on personal or religious beliefs. Instead, children must have a medical reason to skip some or all shots required for public and private school and daycare. Since that law was enacted, though, the number of children with medical exemptions has grown and some physicians have been accused of excusing children for questionable reasons.
“There is no question that these vaccine laws will make our children and communities safer by ensuring public health officials are tracking when physicians issue an unusual number of medical exemptions from vaccines and halting the practice of unnecessary exemption,” Health and Human Services Secretary Dr. Mark Ghaly, who oversees the public health department, said in a statement. “Bottom line: These laws will make California kids and communities healthier.”
Under the new law, the public health department can also make a determination that a doctor is “contributing to a public health risk in one or more communities” and bar that physician from writing new medical exemptions for up to two years.
How the department will determine a doctor is contributing to a public health risk is unclear. The department told The Times that it is developing criteria throughout this year. When those criteria are created, the department said guidelines would be posted on the agency’s website. Whether a doctor’s past medical exemptions will be considered in making a case that she or he is a public health risk is also unclear.
Sears, a vocal opponent of the state’s vaccine laws, said public health officials were granted “new witch hunt powers” that will make it easy to target specific doctors.
“I’m not writing any more exemptions unless I see a patient who qualifies under the new law — a near-fatal allergic reaction or permanent brain injury after vaccines — so they won’t really have any target to throw their darts at,” Sears said.


latimes--2020-02-25--Devin Nunes' district remains the GOP's ruby heart as blue California votes

Up the backbone of California , north of Bakersfield , the billboards that dot state Route 99 speak volumes .
“ Jesus is Lord , ” says more than one .
“ Dam Water Grows Food , ” proclaim several others .
A picture of a mother and infant dominates another towering sign , which declares “ Pro Woman , Pro Baby , Pro Life.
” If the visual cues don ’ t suffice , Central Valley conservatism comes with its own soundtrack , courtesy of KMJ talk radio .
One of the region ’ s top-rated broadcast stations , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and local host Ray Appleton , always ready to provide a platform to his friend Rep. Devin Nunes ( R-Tulare ) , the congressman whom President Trump calls the left ’ s “ worst nightmare.
” Here , a ruby Republican heart beats in sapphire blue California , or as one KMJ promotion puts it , a hub for “ rational thinking in an irrational state.
” That heart has missed a few beats in recent years as new voters , particularly Latinos , lean more liberal .
But the Republican pulse keeps @ @ @ @ @ @ @ state government and prepare for a March 3 primary election that will give them a larger say in their party ’ s presidential nominating contest .
For Democrats here , this year ’ s earlier primary looms as an opportunity — but one that feels fraught with peril .
Aside from Bernie Sanders ’ ardent admirers , party loyalists seemed flummoxed about who can best withstand , and counter , the withering attacks they see coming from Trump .
That contrasts sharply with Central Valley Republicans .
Many sound bemused by the Democrats @ @ @ @ @ @ @ primaries an “ ugly bonfire ” ) and optimistic that their favorite change agent can remain in the White House and stay attentive to a swath of the state they say is forsaken .
“ Hannity talks about the middle of America feeling like they don ’ t have a voice , ” said Brian Lancaster , a contractor who joined more than 100 other conservatives at a Fresno restaurant to watch Trump ’ s 2020 State of the Union address .
“ It can feel the same in California , being stuck @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that ’ s why Trump spoke to me , spoke to all of us out here , ” added Lancaster , in an echo of Fox News host Sean Hannity .
“ He is someone who is looking out for the people in the middle , when the coastal elites try to rule everything and forget about people like us.
” At the heart of the Republican bastion in the Central Valley is Nunes ’ 22nd Congressional District .
Stretching from south of Tulare to the northeast corner of Fresno , mostly on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it is one of just seven congressional districts in California that remain in Republican hands .
Democrats hold 46 others .
The GOP enjoys an advantage with 39 % of registered voters here , compared with the Democrats ’ 32 % .
While Hillary Clinton beat Donald Trump by more than 4.2 million votes statewide , the future president found a rare haven in the 22nd , where he ran up a 10-percentage-point victory .
The son of dairy farmers and a former trustee of the local community college district , Nunes routinely @ @ @ @ @ @ @ farmers and dairymen he grew up with .
He notched eight straight victories with little difficulty .
That changed in 2018 .
Nunes faced Democrat Andrew Janz , a prosecutor who portrayed the incumbent as an out-of-touch Washington insider and a sycophant of Trump .
Nunes , in turn , accused Janz of being the tool of outside interests ( much of his $ 7 million in donations came from beyond the 22nd ) and a believer in “ San Francisco values.
” Nunes won .
But his victory , by a little @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a shadow of the 30- and 40-point blowouts that had been the norm .
Two other San Joaquin Valley districts flipped to the Democrats in 2018 , making clear the region could no longer be considered a Republican lock .
Democrat Josh Harder unseated Republican Jeff Denham in the 10th District , around Modesto .
And in the district west of Nunes ’ — filling much of the space between Route 99 and Interstate 5 — Democrat T. J. Cox scored a narrow win over Republican incumbent David Valadao .
The shift to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Fresno County .
After decades of Republican dominion , the county voted for Barack Obama in two straight presidential races , then sided with Hillary Clinton over Trump in 2016 .
In January , two newly elected Latino members of the Fresno City Council solidified Democratic control .
And Janz is back on the ballot in the March 3 primary , running for mayor of Fresno .
He said the rise of Latino voters and of young people looking for affordable housing away from the overpriced coast have changed the dynamic .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ microcosm of what ’ s happening throughout the rest of the Central Valley , ” said Janz , the son of immigrants from Thailand and Canada .
“ We ’ re seeing it trend more blue.
” The encroach of those “ San Francisco values ” felt a long way off early this month when members of the Fresno County Republican Party gathered at a bar and grill in northwest Fresno to celebrate Trump ’ s State of the Union speech .
A mostly gray-haired group , sporting “ Keep America Great ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in front of a big-screen television .
GOP county chairman Fred Vanderhoof said they had been brought together by the power of “ a blue-collar billionaire , who speaks from the heart.
” The whoops and applause for Trump began before he even started his speech , when he refused to shake hands with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi ( D-San Francisco ) .
The huzzahs hardly relented as Trump touted the nation ’ s economic strength ( “ Socialism sucks !
” shouted one man ) , proposed a ban on late-term abortions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a grandfather ) and declared victory over Islamic State .
When Trump announced that he was reuniting Army Sgt .
Townsend Williams with his family after a deployment in Afghanistan , the Fresnans chanted “ U-S-A !
U-S-A !
” Laura Cox , a teacher in the state prison system , said she had seen Trump ’ s rallies before and loved “ the celebratory atmosphere , kind of like a concert .
You get so pumped up.
” For Lancaster , the contractor , part of the appeal is pragmatic .
He @ @ @ @ @ @ @ federal taxes .
And his 401 ( k ) has grown 17 % in less than a year .
“ That ’ s real , ” Lancaster said .
Glendon Becker , an insurance broker who once supported Republican moderate John Kasich for president , said he doesn ’ t like Trump ’ s taunting and name-calling .
But he ’ s become willing to endure a breakdown of decorum because he believes the president is “ making things work.
” Becker explained : “ I think the new trade agreements are good @ @ @ @ @ @ @ North Korea down .
And he backed Iran down.
” For many Central Valley farmers , Trump ’ s declaration of war on government regulation has been especially welcome .
While environmentalists and fishing captains support reduced water allocations to agriculture to protect endangered fish , Trump has promised , literally , to open the floodgates .
In Bakersfield last week , Trump inaccurately declared that California had not experienced a drought , but merely regulatory roadblocks that he was clearing .
Farmer Larry Starrh of Shafter described how his family had considered @ @ @ @ @ @ @ acres had been idled by “ environmental takings.
” But his father fought to keep going .
“ He said , ‘ Trump is going to get things done.
’ He said , ‘ He ’ s our hope , ’ ” Starrh told the Bakersfield rally .
“ And it ’ s a fact , Mr. President , you have got things done and you have , indeed , renewed our hope.
” Democrats in the region feel more like Republicans do about greater California — like a righteous minority fighting against @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to find a candidate who can end the Trump siege .
The most persistently passionate have been Sanders supporters , said Lisa Bryant , an assistant professor of political science at Fresno State University .
“ California may be way more liberal than other states .
People might say , ‘ There goes crazy old California , ’ ” said Mickey Chacon , a Sanders volunteer and a senior at Fresno State .
“ But we have the power and the most votes .
We can set the trend for the rest of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ County express more trepidation .
Jody Graves , a walnut farmer whose family founded a major food packaging operation , quoted a fellow Democrat who said attempts to gain a foothold in the the county “ feel like missionary work.
” He added : “ It ’ s rare you can move beyond a few like-minded people .
And when you do , you kind of choose your words carefully.
” George Pilling , who ran public libraries in the community before retiring , hopes for a strong Democratic challenge to Trump .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ nation , the men are unsure who would be their strongest candidate .
Pilling has leaned toward Elizabeth Warren , while Graves believed Michael R. Bloomberg , with his background as mayor of New York , “ seems like the only one who would be a street fighter , who could counterpunch against Trump.
” The two men aired their anxieties at the 210 Cafe in downtown Visalia .
Not long after the Democrats vacated their table , another gaggle of retirement-age men ambled into the cafe .
Some of them have been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , settling the world ’ s problems and playing a number-guessing game to decide who pays for coffee .
The morning after Trump ’ s State of the Union , the group is nearly all Republican and nearly unanimous that the president won the evening .
Heads shook in disgust as they recalled Pelosi ripping up a copy of the president ’ s speech .
“ They have not stopped complaining for a moment since he came into office , ” one of the regulars , Visalia Mayor Bob Link , said of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ so much time doing that that they have not developed a candidate of their own .
”

Up the backbone of California, north of Bakersfield, the billboards that dot state Route 99 speak volumes.
“Jesus is Lord,” says more than one. “Dam Water Grows Food,” proclaim several others. A picture of a mother and infant dominates another towering sign, which declares “Pro Woman, Pro Baby, Pro Life.”
If the visual cues don’t suffice, Central Valley conservatism comes with its own soundtrack, courtesy of KMJ talk radio. One of the region’s top-rated broadcast stations, KMJ features national stalwarts of the right and local host Ray Appleton, always ready to provide a platform to his friend Rep. Devin Nunes (R-Tulare), the congressman whom President Trump calls the left’s “worst nightmare.”
Agriculture fields line Highway 99 in California central valley, where fruit trees are starting to blossom in Traver. (Tomas Ovalle/For The Times)
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Here, a ruby Republican heart beats in sapphire blue California, or as one KMJ promotion puts it, a hub for “rational thinking in an irrational state.” That heart has missed a few beats in recent years as new voters, particularly Latinos, lean more liberal. But the Republican pulse keeps beating, even as Democrats dominate the state government and prepare for a March 3 primary election that will give them a larger say in their party’s presidential nominating contest.
For Democrats here, this year’s earlier primary looms as an opportunity — but one that feels fraught with peril. Aside from Bernie Sanders’ ardent admirers, party loyalists seemed flummoxed about who can best withstand, and counter, the withering attacks they see coming from Trump.
That contrasts sharply with Central Valley Republicans. Many sound bemused by the Democrats’ indecision (one called the opposition primaries an “ugly bonfire”) and optimistic that their favorite change agent can remain in the White House and stay attentive to a swath of the state they say is forsaken.
Supporters of President Trump listen as he speaks during an event on California water accessibility in Bakersfield. (Evan Vucci/Associated Press)
“Hannity talks about the middle of America feeling like they don’t have a voice,” said Brian Lancaster, a contractor who joined more than 100 other conservatives at a Fresno restaurant to watch Trump’s 2020 State of the Union address. “It can feel the same in California, being stuck between Frisco and L.A.”
“But that’s why Trump spoke to me, spoke to all of us out here,” added Lancaster, in an echo of Fox News host Sean Hannity. “He is someone who is looking out for the people in the middle, when the coastal elites try to rule everything and forget about people like us.”
At the heart of the Republican bastion in the Central Valley is Nunes’ 22nd Congressional District. Stretching from south of Tulare to the northeast corner of Fresno, mostly on the east side of Route 99, it is one of just seven congressional districts in California that remain in Republican hands. Democrats hold 46 others.
Joyce Carroll’s son, Jason, went to school with Rep. Devin Nunes and was in 4-H with him. Carroll is a big supporter of Nunes and President Trump. (Tomas Ovalle/For The Times)
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The GOP enjoys an advantage with 39% of registered voters here, compared with the Democrats’ 32%. While Hillary Clinton beat Donald Trump by more than 4.2 million votes statewide, the future president found a rare haven in the 22nd, where he ran up a 10-percentage-point victory.
The son of dairy farmers and a former trustee of the local community college district, Nunes routinely won reelection by double-digit margins among the farmers and dairymen he grew up with. He notched eight straight victories with little difficulty.
That changed in 2018. Nunes faced Democrat Andrew Janz, a prosecutor who portrayed the incumbent as an out-of-touch Washington insider and a sycophant of Trump.
Nunes, in turn, accused Janz of being the tool of outside interests (much of his $7 million in donations came from beyond the 22nd) and a believer in “San Francisco values.”
Nunes won. But his victory, by a little more than 5 percentage points, was a shadow of the 30- and 40-point blowouts that had been the norm.
Two other San Joaquin Valley districts flipped to the Democrats in 2018, making clear the region could no longer be considered a Republican lock. Democrat Josh Harder unseated Republican Jeff Denham in the 10th District, around Modesto. And in the district west of Nunes’ — filling much of the space between Route 99 and Interstate 5 — Democrat T. J. Cox scored a narrow win over Republican incumbent David Valadao.
The shift to the left has been particularly distinct in Fresno County. After decades of Republican dominion, the county voted for Barack Obama in two straight presidential races, then sided with Hillary Clinton over Trump in 2016. In January, two newly elected Latino members of the Fresno City Council solidified Democratic control. And Janz is back on the ballot in the March 3 primary, running for mayor of Fresno.
He said the rise of Latino voters and of young people looking for affordable housing away from the overpriced coast have changed the dynamic. “I think Fresno is kind of a microcosm of what’s happening throughout the rest of the Central Valley,” said Janz, the son of immigrants from Thailand and Canada. “We’re seeing it trend more blue.”
The encroach of those “San Francisco values” felt a long way off early this month when members of the Fresno County Republican Party gathered at a bar and grill in northwest Fresno to celebrate Trump’s State of the Union speech.
A mostly gray-haired group, sporting “Keep America Great” hats and other Trump regalia, packed in front of a big-screen television. GOP county chairman Fred Vanderhoof said they had been brought together by the power of “a blue-collar billionaire, who speaks from the heart.”
This part of California is ruby red in an otherwise blue sea. (Tomas Ovalle/For The Times)
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The whoops and applause for Trump began before he even started his speech, when he refused to shake hands with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-San Francisco). The huzzahs hardly relented as Trump touted the nation’s economic strength (“Socialism sucks!” shouted one man), proposed a ban on late-term abortions (“Praise God!” whispered a grandfather) and declared victory over Islamic State. When Trump announced that he was reuniting Army Sgt. Townsend Williams with his family after a deployment in Afghanistan, the Fresnans chanted “U-S-A! U-S-A!”
Laura Cox, a teacher in the state prison system, said she had seen Trump’s rallies before and loved “the celebratory atmosphere, kind of like a concert. You get so pumped up.”
For Lancaster, the contractor, part of the appeal is pragmatic. He credits Trump for the decrease in his federal taxes. And his 401(k) has grown 17% in less than a year. “That’s real,” Lancaster said.
Glendon Becker, an insurance broker who once supported Republican moderate John Kasich for president, said he doesn’t like Trump’s taunting and name-calling. But he’s become willing to endure a breakdown of decorum because he believes the president is “making things work.” Becker explained: “I think the new trade agreements are good for us. I think he backed North Korea down. And he backed Iran down.”
For many Central Valley farmers, Trump’s declaration of war on government regulation has been especially welcome. While environmentalists and fishing captains support reduced water allocations to agriculture to protect endangered fish, Trump has promised, literally, to open the floodgates. In Bakersfield last week, Trump inaccurately declared that California had not experienced a drought, but merely regulatory roadblocks that he was clearing.
Farmer Larry Starrh of Shafter described how his family had considered selling their farm, where thousands of acres had been idled by “environmental takings.” But his father fought to keep going. “He said, ‘Trump is going to get things done.’ He said, ‘He’s our hope,’ ” Starrh told the Bakersfield rally. “And it’s a fact, Mr. President, you have got things done and you have, indeed, renewed our hope.”
Democrats in the region feel more like Republicans do about greater California — like a righteous minority fighting against an oppressive majority. They are desperate to find a candidate who can end the Trump siege. The most persistently passionate have been Sanders supporters, said Lisa Bryant, an assistant professor of political science at Fresno State University.
“California may be way more liberal than other states. People might say, ‘There goes crazy old California,’ ” said Mickey Chacon, a Sanders volunteer and a senior at Fresno State. “But we have the power and the most votes. We can set the trend for the rest of the Democratic Party.”
Democrats in Tulare County express more trepidation. Jody Graves, a walnut farmer whose family founded a major food packaging operation, quoted a fellow Democrat who said attempts to gain a foothold in the the county “feel like missionary work.” He added: “It’s rare you can move beyond a few like-minded people. And when you do, you kind of choose your words carefully.”
Nunes is running for reelection after seeing his margin of victory in 2016 shrink from previous elections where he won by 30 or 40 points. (Tomas Ovalle/For The Times)
George Pilling, who ran public libraries in the community before retiring, hopes for a strong Democratic challenge to Trump. But, like many Democrats across the nation, the men are unsure who would be their strongest candidate. Pilling has leaned toward Elizabeth Warren, while Graves believed Michael R. Bloomberg, with his background as mayor of New York, “seems like the only one who would be a street fighter, who could counterpunch against Trump.”
The two men aired their anxieties at the 210 Cafe in downtown Visalia. Not long after the Democrats vacated their table, another gaggle of retirement-age men ambled into the cafe. Some of them have been meeting for decades in the farm town, settling the world’s problems and playing a number-guessing game to decide who pays for coffee.
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Jeff Thompson, a Nunes supporter, right, and Roy Wells, dine at the Corner Cafe in Visalia. (Tomas Ovalle/For The Times)
The morning after Trump’s State of the Union, the group is nearly all Republican and nearly unanimous that the president won the evening. Heads shook in disgust as they recalled Pelosi ripping up a copy of the president’s speech.
“They have not stopped complaining for a moment since he came into office,” one of the regulars, Visalia Mayor Bob Link, said of the Democrats. “They have spent so much time doing that that they have not developed a candidate of their own.”


latimes--2020-02-25--Anti-Semitism alleged in L.A. school board race as charter schools and teachers union face off

A million-dollar attack campaign is underway portraying Los Angeles school board member Scott Schmerelson as greedy , corrupt and determined to score fast cash by exposing children to deadly vaping and McDonald ’ s French fries .
One mailer — which included a cartoonish image of Schmerelson , who is Jewish , bedecked with a gold dollar-sign chain and holding a cigar and fistful of cash — came under fire as anti-Semitic and its use was halted .
Behind the surge of negative mailers in this West San Fernando Valley board district is an intense effort by charter school supporters @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , a district parent who works at a local charter school managing community outreach efforts .
The pivotal race could tip the board majority toward the protection and expansion of charter schools , which enroll about 1 in 5 district students .
Charter advocates are especially concerned about a new law that will soon give school boards more authority to reject new charters .
Members of the L.A. school board “ clearly do not want high-quality charter schools operating in this city , ” said Gregory McGinity , executive director of California Charter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have pushed forward , where they can , to find opportunities to harass charter schools and to look to close them down and take away those opportunities from students ... .
That ’ s why we ’ re engaged in this election.
” The United Teachers Los Angeles union , in contrast , is putting money and effort behind Schmerelson , whom the union sees as a vital ally in its push against charter expansion and in favor of higher pay and increased school staffing .
Union President Alex Caputo-Pearl called the ads @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a lifelong educator and champion of our public schools ... .
Scott ’ s likeness is literally made into a caricature , with clear anti-Semitic overtones.
” The unflattering image is buttressed by questionable claims , including that Schmerelson voted to triple his own salary — which is untrue — and that Schmerelson improperly “ double-dipped ” by earning a pension and a board salary .
Schmerelson does receive both forms of compensation , but so have board members that CCSA Advocates has endorsed in previous elections .
“ Horrified is the best @ @ @ @ @ @ @ so much negative , ugly , false reporting and very sad that all this money is being spent on a negative campaign , ” said Schmerelson , who was a retired principal before running for office .
“ Can you imagine how many teachers and aides and clerical staff we could have for that amount of money ?
” A CCSA Advocates spokesman suggested that the other side has surfaced anti-Semitic stereotypes by depicting charter backers as “ greedy , corporate billionaires.
” Charter backers , said Luis Vizcaino , have included “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from the mailers with the offending image .
“ I thought the mailer was done in a crude and inappropriate manner , ” Koziatek said .
“ This is just another example of the sad reflection of the polarized climate of LAUSD politics that is not good for our kids.
” The pro-charter political action committee has spent more than $ 2 million in support of Koziatek , with close to $ 900,000 of that paying for the negative Schmerelson mailers .
Schmerelson has benefited from independent campaign spending of more than $ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ teachers union .
While the union has so far not sent out attacks against Koziatek , its mailers have hit hard at the major funders of CCSA Advocates , who are a relatively small group of wealthy individuals , including Netflix founder Reed Hastings .
“ We must expose the billionaires who attack our public schools and push a privatization agenda that leaves our most vulnerable students behind , ” Caputo-Pearl said .
Union leaders frequently tie these funders to President Trump or they describe a threat posed by private , anti-union interests @ @ @ @ @ @ @ capture taxpayer dollars for corporate profits .
However , many Democrats and the Obama administration also have supported the growth of charter schools .
All three candidates in this race are Democrats .
The third candidate , Elizabeth Bartels-Badger , lacks major funding support .
The longtime Democratic Party activist and mother of six runs a car repair shop with her husband .
Bartels-Badger says she ’ s especially attuned to the needs of children with disabilities , after having had to navigate the system on behalf of her son , who is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , a district parent who fell just short of the required number of voter signatures to run against Schmerelson , has filed a series of complaints with the state Fair Political Practices Commission alleging wrongdoing by the incumbent .
Ragsdale had been a board member for a charter school that was rejected in 2018 by L.A. Unified and the county education office .
At least 12 online articles by the Westside-based advocacy group Speak Up have focused on these filings , quoting parents outraged by Schmerelson ’ s alleged misconduct .
These articles @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the deluge of negative campaign mailers .
Speak Up , a nonprofit , declined a request to identify its major funders , but it has been supported in the past by CCSA Advocates .
And the pro-charter Walton Family Foundation provided the group with $ 125,000 in 2017 and $ 700,000 in 2018 — more than half of Speak Up ’ s budget for that year , according to tax filings .
Jenny Hontz , editor of the Speak Up site , said the articles on the FPPC complaints have reported on matters @ @ @ @ @ @ @ alleged errors and alleged conflicts of interests related to financial disclosure forms that candidates and office holders must file .
In one instance , Schmerelson failed to include the date of the purchase of stock from a tobacco company .
As a result , the FPPC sent him a warning letter and Schmerelson filed a corrected form .
The FPPC is legally obligated to examine each of Ragsdale ’ s complaints .
It also has examined whether Schmerelson should have recused himself from votes related to his stockholdings .
The commission has not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are not yet complete .
The Speak Up articles also fault Schmerelson for owning socially irresponsible stock .
Schmerelson owned stock in McDonald ’ s and also supported requests by principals to continue their long-standing practice of holding school fundraisers at locations of the fast-food chain .
All other board members voted to cancel the practice .
He also owned stock in Altria , a tobacco company that subsequently bought a 35 % stake in the vaping company Juul .
The articles and mailers suggest that Schmerelson put personal profits above the welfare @ @ @ @ @ @ @ favor of suing Juul over the harm done to students by vaping .
Schmerelson has apologized for any errors on his forms and for past investment decisions .
He now realizes , he said , that his investments should support socially responsible companies .
“ I ’ m a born-again investor , ” he said .
“ I am woke.
” Koziatek said Schmerelson is not moving fast enough on district problems , including low student achievement and a projected financial shortfall .
Also , she said , school choice should not be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ primary qualification , she said , is as a district parent of two children currently in school .
Although Koziatek has not worked as an educator , she ’ s worked on a campus — overseeing the outreach efforts at Granada Hills Charter High School .
She helped develop an app to communicate with parents and has applied for grants .
She ’ s also been active in some civic organizations .
Schmerelson relishes visiting campuses and helping to resolve their practical issues .
He opposed the 2018 hiring of businessman Austin Beutner @ @ @ @ @ @ @ preferred a schools chief with education experience .
After a rocky start , the two are trying to work together , he said .
In terms of policy , Schmerelson has relied heavily on advice from leaders of the unions representing teachers and administrators , trying to balance their sometimes diverging interests .
Despite his criticism of charters , Schmerelson has almost always followed the recommendation of the district ’ s charter-school division when voting on charter renewals and petitions for new schools , according to his staff .
Charters are privately operated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for students with district-operated schools .
Supporters say charters offer high-quality choices for parents and provide needed competition that improves all schools .
Critics say charters can destabilize public education by siphoning off students who are easier and less expensive to educate .
If no candidate wins a majority on March 3 , the two top vote-getters will square off in a November runoff .

A million-dollar attack campaign is underway portraying Los Angeles school board member Scott Schmerelson as greedy, corrupt and determined to score fast cash by exposing children to deadly vaping and McDonald’s French fries.
One mailer — which included a cartoonish image of Schmerelson, who is Jewish, bedecked with a gold dollar-sign chain and holding a cigar and fistful of cash — came under fire as anti-Semitic and its use was halted.
Behind the surge of negative mailers in this West San Fernando Valley board district is an intense effort by charter school supporters to defeat Schmerelson and elect Marilyn Koziatek, a district parent who works at a local charter school managing community outreach efforts.
The pivotal race could tip the board majority toward the protection and expansion of charter schools, which enroll about 1 in 5 district students. Charter advocates are especially concerned about a new law that will soon give school boards more authority to reject new charters.
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Members of the L.A. school board “clearly do not want high-quality charter schools operating in this city,” said Gregory McGinity, executive director of California Charter Schools Assn. Advocates. “They have pushed forward, where they can, to find opportunities to harass charter schools and to look to close them down and take away those opportunities from students.... That’s why we’re engaged in this election.”
The United Teachers Los Angeles union, in contrast, is putting money and effort behind Schmerelson, whom the union sees as a vital ally in its push against charter expansion and in favor of higher pay and increased school staffing.
Union President Alex Caputo-Pearl called the ads an “attempt to eviscerate Scott, a lifelong educator and champion of our public schools.... Scott’s likeness is literally made into a caricature, with clear anti-Semitic overtones.”
The unflattering image is buttressed by questionable claims, including that Schmerelson voted to triple his own salary — which is untrue — and that Schmerelson improperly “double-dipped” by earning a pension and a board salary. Schmerelson does receive both forms of compensation, but so have board members that CCSA Advocates has endorsed in previous elections.
“Horrified is the best answer to how I feel to see so much negative, ugly, false reporting and very sad that all this money is being spent on a negative campaign,” said Schmerelson, who was a retired principal before running for office. “Can you imagine how many teachers and aides and clerical staff we could have for that amount of money?”
A CCSA Advocates spokesman suggested that the other side has surfaced anti-Semitic stereotypes by depicting charter backers as “greedy, corporate billionaires.” Charter backers, said Luis Vizcaino, have included “American Jewish philanthropists.”
Koziatek distanced herself from the mailers with the offending image.
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“I thought the mailer was done in a crude and inappropriate manner,” Koziatek said. “This is just another example of the sad reflection of the polarized climate of LAUSD politics that is not good for our kids.”
L.A. school board candidate Marilyn Koziatek is a pro-charter school proponent. (Marilyn Koziatek campaign)
The pro-charter political action committee has spent more than $2 million in support of Koziatek, with close to $900,000 of that paying for the negative Schmerelson mailers. Schmerelson has benefited from independent campaign spending of more than $570,000, the vast majority from the teachers union.
While the union has so far not sent out attacks against Koziatek, its mailers have hit hard at the major funders of CCSA Advocates, who are a relatively small group of wealthy individuals, including Netflix founder Reed Hastings.
“We must expose the billionaires who attack our public schools and push a privatization agenda that leaves our most vulnerable students behind,” Caputo-Pearl said.
Union leaders frequently tie these funders to President Trump or they describe a threat posed by private, anti-union interests who would radically reshape public education to capture taxpayer dollars for corporate profits. However, many Democrats and the Obama administration also have supported the growth of charter schools. All three candidates in this race are Democrats.
The third candidate, Elizabeth Bartels-Badger, lacks major funding support. The longtime Democratic Party activist and mother of six runs a car repair shop with her husband. Bartels-Badger says she’s especially attuned to the needs of children with disabilities, after having had to navigate the system on behalf of her son, who is now in college.
Targeting Schmerelson
Kenneth Ragsdale III, a district parent who fell just short of the required number of voter signatures to run against Schmerelson, has filed a series of complaints with the state Fair Political Practices Commission alleging wrongdoing by the incumbent. Ragsdale had been a board member for a charter school that was rejected in 2018 by L.A. Unified and the county education office.
At least 12 online articles by the Westside-based advocacy group Speak Up have focused on these filings, quoting parents outraged by Schmerelson’s alleged misconduct. These articles and quotes then have been highlighted in the deluge of negative campaign mailers.
Speak Up, a nonprofit, declined a request to identify its major funders, but it has been supported in the past by CCSA Advocates. And the pro-charter Walton Family Foundation provided the group with $125,000 in 2017 and $700,000 in 2018 — more than half of Speak Up’s budget for that year, according to tax filings.
Jenny Hontz, editor of the Speak Up site, said the articles on the FPPC complaints have reported on matters important to parents.
The complaints target alleged errors and alleged conflicts of interests related to financial disclosure forms that candidates and office holders must file. In one instance, Schmerelson failed to include the date of the purchase of stock from a tobacco company. As a result, the FPPC sent him a warning letter and Schmerelson filed a corrected form.
The FPPC is legally obligated to examine each of Ragsdale’s complaints. It also has examined whether Schmerelson should have recused himself from votes related to his stockholdings. The commission has not found anything improper, although its reviews are not yet complete.
The Speak Up articles also fault Schmerelson for owning socially irresponsible stock.
Schmerelson owned stock in McDonald’s and also supported requests by principals to continue their long-standing practice of holding school fundraisers at locations of the fast-food chain. All other board members voted to cancel the practice.
He also owned stock in Altria, a tobacco company that subsequently bought a 35% stake in the vaping company Juul. The articles and mailers suggest that Schmerelson put personal profits above the welfare of students. But Schmerelson voted in favor of suing Juul over the harm done to students by vaping.
Schmerelson has apologized for any errors on his forms and for past investment decisions. He now realizes, he said, that his investments should support socially responsible companies.
“I’m a born-again investor,” he said. “I am woke.”
Koziatek said Schmerelson is not moving fast enough on district problems, including low student achievement and a projected financial shortfall. Also, she said, school choice should not be limited by restricting charter schools. Her primary qualification, she said, is as a district parent of two children currently in school.
Although Koziatek has not worked as an educator, she’s worked on a campus — overseeing the outreach efforts at Granada Hills Charter High School. She helped develop an app to communicate with parents and has applied for grants. She’s also been active in some civic organizations.
Schmerelson relishes visiting campuses and helping to resolve their practical issues. He opposed the 2018 hiring of businessman Austin Beutner as superintendent, saying he would have preferred a schools chief with education experience. After a rocky start, the two are trying to work together, he said.
In terms of policy, Schmerelson has relied heavily on advice from leaders of the unions representing teachers and administrators, trying to balance their sometimes diverging interests. Despite his criticism of charters, Schmerelson has almost always followed the recommendation of the district’s charter-school division when voting on charter renewals and petitions for new schools, according to his staff.
Charters are privately operated and mostly nonunion, and they compete for students with district-operated schools. Supporters say charters offer high-quality choices for parents and provide needed competition that improves all schools. Critics say charters can destabilize public education by siphoning off students who are easier and less expensive to educate.
If no candidate wins a majority on March 3, the two top vote-getters will square off in a November runoff.


latimes--2020-02-25--Banks: For some black Angelenos, the Jackie Lacey glow has dimmed as she seeks reelection as D.A.

Eight years ago when Jackie Lacey won the race for district attorney , Los Angeles ’ black community celebrated her ascent .
She was the first African American to lead the largest prosecutors ’ office in the country .
“ I felt like she would understand the fears we face , as everyday black people , ” community activist Jerome Kitchen recalled .
“ We were all so hopeful to have somebody who looks like us leading the decision-making for once.
” Fast forward to last month ’ s D.A .
campaign debate , and that ’ s Kitchen on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at Lacey so persistently that the debate had to be delayed while security guards talked him down .
They tried to usher him from his seat , but Kitchen refused to leave or shut up .
Lacey supporters had been cheering vigorously every time she spoke .
“ I couldn ’ t stand what I was hearing , ” Kitchen said .
“ Every time she said something I knew wasn ’ t true , I had to stand up and yell.
” Kitchen ’ s metamorphosis — from jubilant supporter to distrustful @ @ @ @ @ @ @ journey , as she fights for a third term as L.A. County district attorney without the support of much of her most loyal constituency .
Crime may have dropped in black communities , but frustration has been growing during her tenure , driven by activist groups and divergent worldviews .
As a prosecutor , Lacey views cases through the prism of rules and laws , while others focus on the impact of her choices on people of color .
She sees her job as getting criminals off the street .
They ’ re @ @ @ @ @ @ @ % of the prisoners are black and brown .
She wants to tout her success steering mentally ill prisoners out of jail and into treatment .
They want to know why she still supports the death penalty and relies on gang enhancements to lengthen prison terms for troubled young men .
“ It hurts that we have to take the front line in calling her out , ” Kitchen told me weeks after the debate .
“ But we ’ re not going to let you slide just because you ’ re black @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not providing justice for us.
” In interviews and casual conversations over the past few years , I ’ ve heard some version of “ She doesn ’ t care about us ” more times than I can count , particularly from young people who value action more than talk .
Lacey ’ s reluctance to charge law enforcement officers in controversial on-duty shootings has always been a sticking point .
And her silence on the deaths of two black men in the home of a wealthy white Democratic donor really riled people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ job has been cast as an ideological contest between competing visions ; Lacey ’ s two opponents are the progressive reformers she once claimed to be .
But it also reflects fissures of race , class , gender and generation that are remaking the political landscape , locally and nationally .
It ’ s been called the most important D.A .
race in the country , for its potential to cement a national tilt toward progressive criminal justice reforms if Lacey doesn ’ t win .
“ I really want to root for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a political consultant and media strategist who is not on Team Jackie .
“ As a black woman , this is hard for me .
… I may not agree with her politics , but I admire her trajectory .
I have a lot of respect for her in terms of breaking ground .
“ But this is a test between the old school and the new .
We have a responsibility to do better than our predecessors .
“ The conversation used to only be ‘ who ’ s toughest on crime @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
race .
But the conversation is different in 2020.
” I really want to root for Lacey too .
As a reporter , I talked with her frequently as she rose through the ranks as a deputy D.A.
, and she was always thoughtful and forthright with me .
She ’ s a trailblazer who ’ s traveled a difficult path , and over the years I ’ ve seen her heart in action behind the scenes .
She was passionate about protecting innocents , especially young sex trafficking victims and people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ illness .
But when it comes to jurisprudence , she seems to have a cautious streak , an aversion to taking on cases that might be hard to win .
Her office declined to file charges against political bigwig Ed Buck , despite the fact that nearly two grams of methamphetamine , along with syringes and drug paraphernalia , were found in his West Hollywood apartment the night Gemmel Moore died of a drug overdose in 2017 .
Lacey later told a political group that an improper search by sheriff ’ s deputies @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Over the next two years , another black man would die , one would barely survive an overdose , and several more would report to authorities that Buck had forcibly injected them with methamphetamine .
Last fall , Lacey finally announced that Buck was being charged with running a drug den .
Two days later , federal officials , who ’ d run their own investigation , slapped Buck with a more serious charge — providing the drugs that led to both men ’ s deaths — that could land him in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The prolonged Ed Buck saga troubled many of Lacey ’ s supporters — and fed the narrative that her decisions were tainted by politics and tilted toward the rich .
“ The biggest issue is that she was not transparent , with the family or the community , ” said Kitchen , who was Moore ’ s closest friend .
He claims that Lacey refused to meet with Moore ’ s grieving mother “ to even say ‘ I ’ m sorry that your son is dead.
’ “ That ’ s a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a black mother , she has a son .
Why can ’ t she understand where we are coming from ?
” In some ways , Lacey the prosecutor is stranded at the intersection of her moderation and our expectations .
That ’ s a conflict that ’ s hard to resolve .
Blatant bias in the criminal justice system has shaped black lives for so long , we expect our pioneers to finally right the ship — and feel betrayed when they wind up aligned with the status quo instead .
Kamala @ @ @ @ @ @ @ path in her doomed presidential run .
She understands the peril of not seeming progressive enough .
This week she burnished her pedigree with an endorsement of Lacey ’ s reform-minded opponent George Gascón , who became San Francisco ’ s D.A .
when Harris left that job .
Even “ Auntie ” Maxine Waters is bucking the unwritten “ support black women ” rule in this D.A .
race .
The legendary congresswoman — a hero in the black community — has also endorsed Gascón .
And the Los Angeles New Frontier @ @ @ @ @ @ @ largest African American Democratic club in the state of California , ” couldn ’ t muster enough support for a Lacey endorsement this time around .
Last week I sat through its contentious meeting , which Lacey didn ’ t attend .
Her opponent Rachel Rossi showed up and left the crowd impressed .
Lacey needed 60 % of members ’ votes for an endorsement , but wound up with only one more vote than Rossi , a former public defender .
So the group didn ’ t endorse anyone .
It ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of this will matter when voters go to the polls .
Lacey was born and raised in South Los Angeles , where loyalties run strong .
But her activist opponents in the community have been waging battle for years .
They ’ ve lobbed insults and shouted her down at public gatherings .
And the more they ’ ve pushed , the more Lacey retreated , refusing to meet with them because of their lack of civility .
Which led them to blast her for a “ lack of accountability.
” They even @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Fernando Valley home , with a giant “ Black Lives Matter ” banner and a projector casting “ Jackie Lacey Must Go ” on her garage door .
Police had to escort the D.A .
as she left home to head for work .
She ’ d entered office with the mantle of reformer , but now seems stalled in an era that ties criminal justice to social justice concerns .
And young people aren ’ t worried about decorum or racial fealty as they register their concern .
“ We ’ re @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said Kitchen , 31 , a former nurse and social work student .
“ As the first African American D.A.
, our community would have loved to champion and support her .
“ But what happened is our ancestors had to keep going along with the process , even when it wasn ’ t working for us .
And we are not willing to do that .
”

Eight years ago when Jackie Lacey won the race for district attorney, Los Angeles’ black community celebrated her ascent.
She was the first African American to lead the largest prosecutors’ office in the country.
“I felt like she would understand the fears we face, as everyday black people,” community activist Jerome Kitchen recalled.
“We were all so hopeful to have somebody who looks like us leading the decision-making for once.”
Advertisement
Fast forward to last month’s D.A. campaign debate, and that’s Kitchen on his feet in the audience, screaming at Lacey so persistently that the debate had to be delayed while security guards talked him down. They tried to usher him from his seat, but Kitchen refused to leave or shut up.
Lacey supporters had been cheering vigorously every time she spoke. “I couldn’t stand what I was hearing,” Kitchen said. “Every time she said something I knew wasn’t true, I had to stand up and yell.”
Kitchen’s metamorphosis — from jubilant supporter to distrustful enemy — mirrors Lacey’s political journey, as she fights for a third term as L.A. County district attorney without the support of much of her most loyal constituency.
Crime may have dropped in black communities, but frustration has been growing during her tenure, driven by activist groups and divergent worldviews. As a prosecutor, Lacey views cases through the prism of rules and laws, while others focus on the impact of her choices on people of color.
She sees her job as getting criminals off the street. They’re appalled by a county jail where 80% of the prisoners are black and brown. She wants to tout her success steering mentally ill prisoners out of jail and into treatment. They want to know why she still supports the death penalty and relies on gang enhancements to lengthen prison terms for troubled young men.
Advertisement
L.A. Dist. Atty. Jackie Lacey speaks at last month’s debate in Los Angeles. (Gary Coronado / Los Angeles Times)
“It hurts that we have to take the front line in calling her out,” Kitchen told me weeks after the debate. “But we’re not going to let you slide just because you’re black or brown, if you’re not providing justice for us.”
In interviews and casual conversations over the past few years, I’ve heard some version of “She doesn’t care about us” more times than I can count, particularly from young people who value action more than talk.
Lacey’s reluctance to charge law enforcement officers in controversial on-duty shootings has always been a sticking point. And her silence on the deaths of two black men in the home of a wealthy white Democratic donor really riled people up.
The three-way race for her job has been cast as an ideological contest between competing visions; Lacey’s two opponents are the progressive reformers she once claimed to be.
But it also reflects fissures of race, class, gender and generation that are remaking the political landscape, locally and nationally. It’s been called the most important D.A. race in the country, for its potential to cement a national tilt toward progressive criminal justice reforms if Lacey doesn’t win.
Advertisement
Jasmyne Cannick, right, and Jerome Kitchen speak to the media in September after Gemmel Moore’s death. (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)
“I really want to root for her,” said Jasmyne Cannick, a political consultant and media strategist who is not on Team Jackie. “As a black woman, this is hard for me. … I may not agree with her politics, but I admire her trajectory. I have a lot of respect for her in terms of breaking ground.
“But this is a test between the old school and the new. We have a responsibility to do better than our predecessors.
“The conversation used to only be ‘who’s toughest on crime’ when it came to a D.A. race. But the conversation is different in 2020.”
I really want to root for Lacey too. As a reporter, I talked with her frequently as she rose through the ranks as a deputy D.A., and she was always thoughtful and forthright with me.
She’s a trailblazer who’s traveled a difficult path, and over the years I’ve seen her heart in action behind the scenes. She was passionate about protecting innocents, especially young sex trafficking victims and people whose crimes were a function of mental illness.
Advertisement
But when it comes to jurisprudence, she seems to have a cautious streak, an aversion to taking on cases that might be hard to win.
Her office declined to file charges against political bigwig Ed Buck, despite the fact that nearly two grams of methamphetamine, along with syringes and drug paraphernalia, were found in his West Hollywood apartment the night Gemmel Moore died of a drug overdose in 2017. Lacey later told a political group that an improper search by sheriff’s deputies “presented a challenge” for prosecutors.
Over the next two years, another black man would die, one would barely survive an overdose, and several more would report to authorities that Buck had forcibly injected them with methamphetamine.
Last fall, Lacey finally announced that Buck was being charged with running a drug den. Two days later, federal officials, who’d run their own investigation, slapped Buck with a more serious charge — providing the drugs that led to both men’s deaths — that could land him in prison for at least 20 years.
The prolonged Ed Buck saga troubled many of Lacey’s supporters — and fed the narrative that her decisions were tainted by politics and tilted toward the rich.
“The biggest issue is that she was not transparent, with the family or the community,” said Kitchen, who was Moore’s closest friend. He claims that Lacey refused to meet with Moore’s grieving mother “to even say ‘I’m sorry that your son is dead.’
“That’s a basic humane gesture. She’s a black mother, she has a son. Why can’t she understand where we are coming from?”
In some ways, Lacey the prosecutor is stranded at the intersection of her moderation and our expectations. That’s a conflict that’s hard to resolve.
Blatant bias in the criminal justice system has shaped black lives for so long, we expect our pioneers to finally right the ship — and feel betrayed when they wind up aligned with the status quo instead.
Advertisement
Kamala Harris had to navigate that same prickly path in her doomed presidential run. She understands the peril of not seeming progressive enough. This week she burnished her pedigree with an endorsement of Lacey’s reform-minded opponent George Gascón, who became San Francisco’s D.A. when Harris left that job.
Even “Auntie” Maxine Waters is bucking the unwritten “support black women” rule in this D.A. race. The legendary congresswoman — a hero in the black community — has also endorsed Gascón.
And the Los Angeles New Frontier Democratic Club, “the oldest and largest African American Democratic club in the state of California,” couldn’t muster enough support for a Lacey endorsement this time around.
Last week I sat through its contentious meeting, which Lacey didn’t attend. Her opponent Rachel Rossi showed up and left the crowd impressed. Lacey needed 60% of members’ votes for an endorsement, but wound up with only one more vote than Rossi, a former public defender. So the group didn’t endorse anyone.
It’s impossible to know how much any of this will matter when voters go to the polls. Lacey was born and raised in South Los Angeles, where loyalties run strong.
But her activist opponents in the community have been waging battle for years. They’ve lobbed insults and shouted her down at public gatherings. And the more they’ve pushed, the more Lacey retreated, refusing to meet with them because of their lack of civility. Which led them to blast her for a “lack of accountability.”
Advertisement
They even staged a predawn protest at her San Fernando Valley home, with a giant “Black Lives Matter” banner and a projector casting “Jackie Lacey Must Go” on her garage door. Police had to escort the D.A. as she left home to head for work.
She’d entered office with the mantle of reformer, but now seems stalled in an era that ties criminal justice to social justice concerns. And young people aren’t worried about decorum or racial fealty as they register their concern.
“We’re trying to find a balance,” said Kitchen, 31, a former nurse and social work student. “As the first African American D.A., our community would have loved to champion and support her.
“But what happened is our ancestors had to keep going along with the process, even when it wasn’t working for us. And we are not willing to do that.”