latimes--2020-10-04--L.A. Mayor Eric Garcetti shifts support to George Gascón in contentious D.A.'s race

Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti said Sunday he is switching his endorsement in the L.A. County district attorney ’ s race and is now supporting George Gascón in his bid to unseat incumbent Dist .
Atty .
Jackie Lacey as the head of the country ’ s largest prosecutor ’ s office .
Garcetti was among a number of Southern California politicians who threw their support behind Lacey ’ s bid for a third term early last year , before Gascón entered the race .
But in the wake of nationwide protests calling for criminal justice reforms following the deaths @ @ @ @ @ @ @ some began to walk back their endorsements of Lacey , who has spent most of her second term under intense scrutiny for declining to prosecute officers in a number of controversial shootings of unarmed men .
Gascón , who was San Francisco ’ s district attorney for eight years and served in the Los Angeles Police Department for decades before that , did not prosecute any officers in a number of high-profile shootings in the Bay Area either .
But Gascón ’ s record of using restorative justice programs rather than incarceration to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ attractive to progressive leaders , including U.S. Sens .
Bernie Sanders of Vermont and Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts .
During a June interview , Garcetti said “ it may be ” time for a change in leadership in the district attorney ’ s office , but he has since declined to elaborate .
In a statement issued Sunday , the mayor said he was proud to back a candidate who could improve public safety “ through partnerships with and beyond law enforcement.
” “ George Gascón will help our county shift the burden @ @ @ @ @ @ @ toward diversion , intervention and re-entry programs that save money and save lives , ” the statement read .
“ He is a leader who I have known and trusted for nearly twenty years who can meet this moment.
” Lacey dismissed the endorsement from the mayor of the largest city in her jurisdiction as an attempt by Gascón to distract from his performance in a Saturday night debate , which she termed a “ disaster.
” For Garcetti , the move marks the mayor ’ s latest attempt to navigate the topic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ repeatedly come under fire from Black Lives Matter organizers and other city activists — most of whom overwhelmingly support Gascón — for the LAPD ’ s handling of demonstrations earlier this year .
But Garcetti is also a frequent target of criticism from law enforcement unions , who have spent millions in support of Lacey ’ s reelection bid this year .

L.A. Mayor Eric Garcetti said he is now endorsing George Gascón in the Los Angeles County district attorney’s race. The mayor previously backed incumbent Dist. Atty. Jackie Lacey.
Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti said Sunday he is switching his endorsement in the L.A. County district attorney’s race and supporting George Gascón in his bid to unseat incumbent Dist. Atty. Jackie Lacey as the head of the country’s largest prosecutor’s office.
Garcetti was among a number of Southern California politicians who threw their support behind Lacey’s bid for a third term early last year, before Gascón entered the race. But in the wake of nationwide protests calling for criminal justice reforms following the killings of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor, some began to walk back their endorsements of Lacey, who has spent most of her second term under intense scrutiny for declining to prosecute officers in a number of controversial shootings of unarmed men.
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Gascón, who was San Francisco’s district attorney for eight years and served in the Los Angeles Police Department for decades before that, did not prosecute officers in a number of high-profile shootings in the Bay Area either. But Gascón’s record of using restorative justice programs rather than incarceration to deal with nonviolent offenders has made him attractive to progressive leaders, including U.S. Sens. Bernie Sanders of Vermont and Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts.
During a June interview, Garcetti said “it may be” time for a change in leadership in the district attorney’s office, but he had since declined to elaborate. In a statement issued Sunday, the mayor said he was proud to back a candidate who could improve public safety “through partnerships with and beyond law enforcement.”
“George Gascón will help our county shift the burden from the criminal justice system and jails toward diversion, intervention and re-entry programs that save money and save lives,” the statement read. “He is a leader who I have known and trusted for nearly twenty years who can meet this moment.”
Lacey dismissed the endorsement from the mayor of the largest city in her jurisdiction as an attempt by Gascón to distract from his performance in a Saturday night debate, which she termed a “disaster.”
For Garcetti, the move marks his latest attempt to navigate the topic of criminal justice reform. He has repeatedly come under fire from Black Lives Matter organizers and other city activists — most of whom overwhelmingly support Gascón — for the LAPD’s handling of demonstrations this year. But Garcetti is also a frequent target of criticism from law enforcement unions, who have spent millions in support of Lacey’s reelection bid this year.


latimes--2020-10-04--California fire season shatters record with more than 4 million acres burned

California ’ s biggest wildfire season reached a new milestone Sunday , with state officials announcing that the state has now surpassed 4 million acres burned , more than double the state ’ s previous record .
With crews on the biggest fire of them all , the August Complex , reporting more vigorous activity within the fire ’ s perimeter Sunday and another warm day ahead of them , “ difficult conditions remain , ” officials said .
Before this year , 2018 was California ’ s biggest year for wildfires , with more than 1.8 million acres burned @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an area larger than the state of Connecticut and killed 31 people , according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection .
More than 100 people died in the 2018 fire season , the majority of them in the Camp fire disaster in Paradise .
Fires this year have destroyed more than 8,200 structures and displaced tens of thousands of people .
Fortunately , the property damage toll has not yet approached that of 2018 , when more than 17,000 homes and 700 businesses were destroyed .
Still , the sheer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ largest wildfires in California ’ s history , five burned within the space of a couple months this year , consuming a combined total of nearly 2.4 million acres .
Lightning in August ignited many of California ’ s biggest blazes , but scientists say climate change has also contributed to the conflagrations .
It was the hottest August on record in California , and trees and brush were already abnormally dry and combustible after Northern and Central California saw exceptionally dry conditions last winter .
The August Complex fire , the largest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , came back to life Saturday night after winds pushed away the smoke and fed oxygen to the flames .
Residents in the rural towns of Wildwood and Platina were told to prepare to leave when the fire jumped a containment line Saturday , but the clearer air has also offered an opportunity for firefighters , officials said .
“ On the aircraft side , it ’ s good because they need the visibility , ” said Cal Fire spokeswoman April Newman .
As the week progresses , the weather is expected to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the National Weather Service .
Though winds will continue to push the fire around on hilltops and sour air in the valleys with smoke , the ridge of high pressure that ’ s been keeping the air warm and dry will be displaced by mid-week with cooler , more humid air that will also feed moisture back into the vegetation during the night , according to Sunday ’ s forecast .
Until then , much of firefighters ’ efforts will be focused on the fire ’ s northern and western zones , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ days have pushed the flames over containment lines , up steep hills and into treetops .
On both flanks of the fire , crews challenged by rugged terrain are building contingency lines — a more distant , secondary defensive line away from the fire .
The August Complex fire has burned 985,304 acres and was 51 % contained Sunday morning .
Fire officials have reported 100 % containment of two other large fire complexes that were sparked by lightning in mid-August — the 396,624-acre SCU Lightning Complex fire in Santa Clara , Alameda @ @ @ @ @ @ @ LNU Lightning Complex fire in Napa , Sonoma , Lake , Yolo and Solano counties .
Fire crews on Sunday also reported progress against the Creek fire , burning in the Sierra National Forest , which was 315,413 acres and 62 % contained .
The fire ’ s southern and western flanks , closest to large population centers , have been tamped down , but the fire ’ s eastern edge flared up overnight and jumped a bulldozed containment line , the fire ’ s operations commander , Don Fregulia , said in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fire , which killed 15 people after it raced into the towns of Berry Creek and Feather Falls , was 317,459 acres and 83 % contained Sunday .
In the Los Angeles area , crews fighting the Bobcat fire in the Angeles National Forest said they were mostly focusing on mopping up and strengthening containment lines Sunday .
Fire officials said a 300-acre internal island of unburned fuel northeast of Mt .
Wilson burned Saturday , producing a smoke plume .
The fire has burned 115,548 acres , was 84 % contained and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ structures as of Sunday , though that number could rise as teams continue to perform damage assessments , officials said .
The fire continued to wreak havoc on the region ’ s air quality , with officials forecasting it would be unhealthy through the weekend for those in parts of the San Gabriel and San Fernando valleys , as well as the San Gabriel Mountains , and unhealthy for sensitive people in many other places in Los Angeles County .
Those with heart disease , asthma or other respiratory conditions were advised to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Public Health said in a news release .
Conditions around the fire are expected to cool later in the week , said National Weather Service meteorologist David Gomberg .
Though cooler air has an obvious benefit for the crews outside , it also can limit the fire ’ s potential behavior , Gomberg said .
When there ’ s a large fire on a day with little wind , rising hot air can play an outsize role in influencing what the fire does , experts say .
The hot air and rising @ @ @ @ @ @ @ overcome outside influences and control the fire ’ s weather , making it more extreme and unpredictable as a plume-dominated fire .
With temperatures dropping into the 80s at the highest elevations and 90s in the foothills by midweek , that plume-dominated fire potential is expected to decrease , Gomberg said .
“ The hotter it is , the worse it can be , ” he said .
“ You still have some potential for some plume development , but it won ’ t be as severe as what we ’ ve seen @ @ @ @ @ @ @

A U.S. Forest Service engine crewmember sprays down flames on the northwest flank of the August Complex, above Ruth Valley, last month.
California’s biggest wildfire season reached a new milestone Sunday, with state officials announcing that the state has now surpassed 4 million acres burned, more than double the state’s previous record.
With crews on the biggest fire of them all, the August Complex, reporting more vigorous activity within the fire’s perimeter Sunday and another warm day ahead of them, “difficult conditions remain,” officials said.
Before this year, 2018 was California’s biggest year for wildfires, with more than 1.8 million acres burned.
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The fires this year have burned an area larger than the state of Connecticut and killed 31 people, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. More than 100 people died in the 2018 fire season, the majority of them in the Camp fire disaster in Paradise.
Fires this year have destroyed more than 8,200 structures and displaced tens of thousands of people.
Fortunately, the property damage toll has not yet approached that of 2018, when more than 17,000 homes and 700 businesses were destroyed.
Still, the sheer magnitude is staggering. Of the 20 largest wildfires in California’s history, five burned within the space of a couple of months this year, consuming a combined total of nearly 2.4 million acres.
Lightning in August ignited many of California’s biggest blazes, but scientists say climate change has also contributed to the conflagrations. It was the hottest August on record in California, and trees and brush were already abnormally dry and combustible after Northern and Central California saw exceptionally dry conditions last winter.
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The August Complex fire, the largest fire in the state’s history, came back to life Saturday night after winds pushed away the smoke and fed oxygen to the flames. Residents in the rural towns of Wildwood and Platina were told to prepare to leave when the fire jumped a containment line Saturday, but the clearer air has also offered an opportunity for firefighters, officials said.
California Photos: Bobcat fire in the Angeles National Forest Fears of a significant spread of the Bobcat fire dissipated as Santa Ana winds failed to materialize, but foothill communities remain on high alert.
“On the aircraft side, it’s good because they need the visibility,” said Cal Fire spokeswoman April Newman.
As the week progresses, the weather is expected to work in firefighters’ favor, according to the National Weather Service.
Though winds will continue to push the fire around on hilltops and sour air in the valleys with smoke, the ridge of high pressure that’s been keeping the air warm and dry will be displaced by midweek with cooler, more humid air that will also feed moisture back into the vegetation during the night, according to Sunday’s forecast.
Until then, much of firefighters’ efforts will be focused on the fire’s northern and western zones, where the persistently warm conditions in recent days have pushed the flames over containment lines, up steep hills and into treetops.
On both flanks of the fire, crews challenged by rugged terrain are building contingency lines — a more distant, secondary defensive line away from the fire.
The August Complex fire has burned 985,304 acres and was 51% contained Sunday morning.
Fire officials have reported 100% containment of two other large fire complexes that were sparked by lightning in mid-August — the 396,624-acre SCU Lightning Complex fire in Santa Clara, Alameda and Stanislaus counties, and the 363,220-acre LNU Lightning Complex fire in Napa, Sonoma, Lake, Yolo and Solano counties.
Fire crews on Sunday also reported progress against the Creek fire, burning in the Sierra National Forest, which was 315,413 acres and 62% contained.
The fire’s southern and western flanks, closest to large population centers, have been tamped down, but the fire’s eastern edge flared up overnight and jumped a bulldozed containment line, the fire’s operations commander, Don Fregulia, said in a morning update.
The North Complex fire, which killed 15 people after it raced into the towns of Berry Creek and Feather Falls, was 317,459 acres and 83% contained Sunday.
In the Los Angeles area, crews fighting the Bobcat fire in the Angeles National Forest said they were mostly focusing on mopping up and strengthening containment lines Sunday. Fire officials said a 300-acre internal island of unburned fuel northeast of Mt. Wilson burned Saturday, producing a smoke plume.
The fire has burned 115,548 acres, was 84% contained and has destroyed 87 homes and 83 other structures as of Sunday, though that number could rise as teams continue to perform damage assessments, officials said.
The fire continued to wreak havoc on the region’s air quality, with officials forecasting it would be unhealthy through the weekend for those in parts of the San Gabriel and San Fernando valleys, as well as the San Gabriel Mountains, and unhealthy for sensitive people in many other places in Los Angeles County.
Those with heart disease, asthma or other respiratory conditions were advised to limit outdoor activities, the county Department of Public Health said in a news release.
Conditions around the fire are expected to cool later in the week, said National Weather Service meteorologist David Gomberg. Though cooler air has an obvious benefit for the crews outside, it also can limit the fire’s potential behavior, Gomberg said.
When there’s a large fire on a day with little wind, rising hot air can play an outsize role in influencing what the fire does, experts say. The hot air and rising smoke can become so powerful that they overcome outside influences and control the fire’s weather, making it more extreme and unpredictable as a plume-dominated fire.
With temperatures dropping into the 80s at the highest elevations and 90s in the foothills by midweek, that plume-dominated fire potential is expected to decrease, Gomberg said.
“The hotter it is, the worse it can be,” he said. “You still have some potential for some plume development, but it won’t be as severe as what we’ve seen the past couple of weeks.”


latimes--2020-10-04--Plane crashes in flood channel between Hawthorne Airport and 105 Freeway

An ultralight plane has crashed next to Hawthorne Airport and one person has died , Los Angeles County firefighters said @ @ @ @ @ was reported after 9:30 a.m. in a flood channel next to the airport , near @ @ @ @ @ Freeway , the department said in a tweet .
According to the Federal Aviation Administration @ @ @ @ @ single-engine Evolution REVO Air Trike with one person aboard .
County firefighters reported one person @ @ @ @ @ .
The FAA and National Transportation Safety Board will investigate the crash .
The incident @ @ @ @ @ down any lanes on the freeway leading to or from Los Angeles International Airport .

An ultralight plane has crashed next to Hawthorne Airport and one person has died, Los Angeles County firefighters said Sunday morning.
The crash was reported after 9:30 a.m. in a flood channel next to the airport, near 120th Street and the 105 Freeway, the department said in a tweet.
According to the Federal Aviation Administration, the plane was a single-engine Evolution REVO Air Trike with one person aboard. County firefighters reported one person was dead at the scene.
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The FAA and National Transportation Safety Board will investigate the crash. The incident did not appear to shut down any lanes on the freeway leading to or from Los Angeles International Airport.


latimes--2020-10-04--Earthquake: Magnitude 3.5 quake hits near Ukiah, Calif.

A magnitude 3.5 earthquake was reported Saturday at 9:49 p.m. 13 miles from Ukiah , Calif. , according to the U.S. Geological Survey .
The earthquake occurred in Northern California 39 miles from Clearlake , 52 miles from Healdsburg , 59 miles from Windsor and 65 miles from Santa Rosa .
In the past 10 days , there has been one earthquake of magnitude 3.0 or greater centered nearby .
An average of 234 earthquakes with magnitudes between 3.0 and 4.0 occur per year in California and Nevada , according to a recent three-year data sample .
The earthquake occurred @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 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 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ list of frequently asked questions .

A magnitude 3.5 earthquake was reported Saturday at 9:49 p.m. 13 miles from Ukiah, Calif., according to the U.S. Geological Survey.
The earthquake occurred in Northern California 39 miles from Clearlake, 52 miles from Healdsburg, 59 miles from Windsor and 65 miles from Santa Rosa.
In the past 10 days, there has been one earthquake of magnitude 3.0 or greater centered nearby.
An average of 234 earthquakes with magnitudes between 3.0 and 4.0 occur per year in California and Nevada, according to a recent three-year data sample.
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The earthquake occurred at a depth of 2.4 miles. Did you feel this earthquake? Consider reporting what you felt to the USGS.
Even if you didn’t feel this small earthquake, you never know when the Big One is going to strike. Ready yourself by following our five-step earthquake preparedness guide and building your own emergency kit.
This story was automatically generated by Quakebot, a computer application that monitors the latest earthquakes detected by the USGS. A Times editor reviewed the post before it was published. If you’re interested in learning more about the system, visit our list of frequently asked questions.


latimes--2020-10-04--A COVID-safe interactive outdoor theater explores California's fire season and life in 2020

The map that greets guests at the Paramount Ranch , once home to a scenic Western town before it was decimated by the 2018 Woolsey fire , is almost obstinately cheerful amid rolling heat waves that have brought deadly , devastating blazes throughout the West .
Yet the sign ’ s exclamation point amid our state ’ s worst fire season on record feels less like a willful contradiction than an acknowledgement that we ’ re all becoming too accustomed to yearly , overwhelming flames and the life-altering effects of climate change .
Have we become defeated , rather than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ call to action ?
These are some of the questions that arise in a new participatory performance piece that tackles , from a personal perspective , our climate crisis .
“ Fire Season ” looks at how our relationships are shaped by our rapidly changing environment — and how we often try to ignore it .
Creators Lauren Ludwig and Monica Miklas , of the immersive theater company Capital W , cite the literature of John McPhee and games such as “ The Legend of Zelda ” as an influence on the audio-driven @ @ @ @ @ @ @ up to eight participants at a time ponder the realization that “ progress is not inevitable.
” As writer and performer Monica Miklas says at one point , her voice coming through an FM transmitter as if broadcast from a pirate radio station , “ Does the world seem hotter than when you were a child ?
” While initially conceived before our current COVID-19 pandemic , the work is decidedly timely , reflective of an era when the loss of life can feel overwhelming to the point of paralyzing .
“ It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , where we are in the midst of crisis , to pause , and to have a moment of stillness , ” says Miklas .
“ We can be overwhelmed by disaster and the suffering of human beings , but I think with fires there ’ s a real feeling of devastation about the land , too , so being in connection with nature and taking a moment to be with the land I think can be very healing .
“ That means , ” adds Miklas , “ going toward those feelings @ @ @ @ @ @ @ works of Miklas and Ludwig focus on providing a sense of autonomy to the audience .
Their previous and best-known show , “ Red Flags , ” was an one-on-one work of immersive theater that sought to explore the awkwardness that comes from the sudden and false sense of familiarity of a first date .
They wanted attendees to think about how we present ourselves to someone new .
In the words of Ludwig , who is “ Fire Season ’ s ” director and producer : “ How do we win or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t entirely the best way to frame “ Fire Season ” or “ Red Flags , ” though the shows lean heavily on the medium .
“ Red Flags ” was essentially a live-action role-playing game , and was presented at last year ’ s independent game festival IndieCade , which seeks to show how play is evolving as a storytelling medium to cross formats and genres .
“ Fire Season ” uses play as a discovery tool .
Guests arrive at Paramount Ranch and are outfitted with a disinfected FM transmitter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are told simply to wander .
No maps are given , and the only instruction is that if one strays too far , the radio feed will start to cut out .
At times , Miklas directs the audience to stop and sit , or to pick up the dried leaves that surround the area .
At first I was nervous about becoming lost , but Ludwig wanted a sense of apprehension and adventure that can ’ t be provided by simply sitting passively in an audience .
She wanted the show ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ booting up an open-world , sandbox video game , in which players are presented with a universe and few directions , then told to go play .
“ I grew up playing a lot of ‘ The Legend of Zelda , ’ and I will always be inspired by an open landscape , ” Ludwig says .
“ Like , I ’ m setting off with my pack and I go .
But I don ’ t do a lot of hiking alone .
I think I ’ m actually a little scared @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t know , and I think it ’ s easy when you ’ re a city dweller to , when you get into nature , stick to what feels completely safe .
Or do you go on a path someone else told you to go on ?
” Working with the National Park Service , says Ludwig , was a breeze compared to trying to stage a show in a mixed-use Los Angeles building .
Most of the questions were related to the ability to keep an audience small and distanced amid @ @ @ @ @ @ @ two reasons .
One , says Ludwig , they wanted audiences to be on a recent burn site , but they also wanted a space with multiple short trails rather than a setting where audiences would need to go on a fixed path .
“ We wanted people to come in and get gear that made them feel like they were going on an outdoor adventure , ” Ludwig says .
“ We want them to feel like they ’ re a protagonist in their own game .
That ’ s why we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you start out , you have to immediately make a choice .
Do you go left or right or straight ?
That ’ s engaging people more directly with the land , but one that ’ s safe because they can ’ t wander further than the broadcast can reach .
It puts you in the mindset where you ’ re taking responsibility for yourself.
” On Sunday , veteran park ranger Ken Low , who has been with the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area for nearly 30 years , took in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ primarily for work , to ensure that the production adhered to the agreed-upon guidelines , he says he came away a fan of his first-ever immersive theater experience .
Low says the park will check in on each performance , which runs weekends through Oct. 25 , simply making sure guests don ’ t wander somewhere they shouldn ’ t .
As it ’ s a recent burn site , walking off a path is a no-go .
“ I was really impressed with the content and how it matched so much with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in our national park system , ” Low says .
“ Climate change , Mediterranean-type systems , vegetation , fires — she covered a lot of the points that we try to help people understand so they can better know their parks , and she did this while trying to meet her goal of being an artist .
I like how she balanced the two.
” We learn about how fires will permanently alter the biodiversity of a region — which can lead to more fires amid our rising temperatures .
But mostly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to connect our lives , our loves and the passing of time to an increasingly stressful world .
Indeed , Miklas has a personal connection to forest fires ; the production was inspired by the threat the 2017 Thomas fire posed to the home of her parents .
And members of her extended family were displaced by this year ’ s Creek fire , which tore through the Sierras .
Prior to the pandemic , Miklas and Ludwig were debating how to present it , even doing table reads with others reading Miklas @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of our current moment , however , solidified the idea of a live FM broadcast , which Miklas reads from an out-of-view tent .
Pandemic or not , this seems like the show in its truest form .
The idea of Miklas being out of sight for the production ’ s first 45 minutes drives home the idea that our world , if we don ’ t intervene , is increasingly becoming inhospitable .
As I walked Paramount Ranch , I definitely had games on my mind — but less “ Zelda ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ An impulse behind making it radio is that radio gets used in emergencies , ” says Ludwig .
Adds Miklas , “ In my mind , I imagine the person would be continuing to do this broadcast even when L.A. becomes some sort of wasteland .
She would continue to try to reach out.
” If that sounds bleak , know that a course of optimism runs through “ Fire Season.
” The most striking line of the show , for instance , is relatively early when Miklas declares , “ My love @ @ @ @ @ @ @ talks about feeling passion amid the many horrors of life in 2020 .
She dismisses pop culture , slamming “ Sex and the City ” and its visions of noble-class perfection and selfishness .
“ Fire Season ” wants us to look at what we ’ ve been using as a distraction and an escape , but also to fully embrace life , to not let challenges turn into passivity .
And the hits in 2020 keep coming : A week before “ Fire Season ” began previews , Miklas was laid off @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is a protest , ” says Miklas .
“ Radical joy in the face of disaster is a choice .
We can , despite all of this , we can choose hopefulness and joy .
It ’ s a middle finger : ‘ No one is taking that from me.
’ All the things I thought my future would be have been taken from me , but they can ’ t take this .
”

The map that greets guests at the Paramount Ranch, once home to a scenic Western town before it was decimated by the 2018 Woolsey fire, is almost obstinately cheerful amid rolling heat waves that have brought deadly, devastating blazes throughout the West.
“Welcome to ‘Fire Season!’ ” it reads.
Yet the sign’s exclamation point amid our state’s worst fire season on record feels less like a willful contradiction than an acknowledgement that we’re all becoming too accustomed to yearly, overwhelming flames and the life-altering effects of climate change. Have we become defeated, rather than viewing the events around us as a call to action?
These are some of the questions that arise in a new participatory performance piece that tackles, from a personal perspective, our climate crisis. “Fire Season” looks at how our relationships are shaped by our rapidly changing environment — and how we often try to ignore it.
Advertisement
Creators Lauren Ludwig and Monica Miklas, of the immersive theater company Capital W, cite the literature of John McPhee and games such as “The Legend of Zelda” as an influence on the audio-driven work, all while seeking to have up to eight participants at a time ponder the realization that “progress is not inevitable.” As writer and performer Monica Miklas says at one point, her voice coming through an FM transmitter as if broadcast from a pirate radio station, “Does the world seem hotter than when you were a child?”
While initially conceived before our current COVID-19 pandemic, the work is decidedly timely, reflective of an era when the loss of life can feel overwhelming to the point of paralyzing.
“It feels right to me in this moment, where we are in the midst of crisis, to pause, and to have a moment of stillness,” says Miklas. “We can be overwhelmed by disaster and the suffering of human beings, but I think with fires there’s a real feeling of devastation about the land, too, so being in connection with nature and taking a moment to be with the land I think can be very healing.
“That means,” adds Miklas, “going toward those feelings and not away from them.”
Monica Miklas is the writer and performer of “Fire Season” — a work of interactive theater at Paramount Ranch that explores our relationship to climate change. (Myung J. Chun / Los Angeles Times)
The works of Miklas and Ludwig focus on providing a sense of autonomy to the audience. Their previous and best-known show, “Red Flags,” was an one-on-one work of immersive theater that sought to explore the awkwardness that comes from the sudden and false sense of familiarity of a first date. They wanted attendees to think about how we present ourselves to someone new. In the words of Ludwig, who is “Fire Season’s” director and producer: “How do we win or lose a date?”
Theater isn’t entirely the best way to frame “Fire Season” or “Red Flags,” though the shows lean heavily on the medium. “Red Flags” was essentially a live-action role-playing game, and was presented at last year’s independent game festival IndieCade, which seeks to show how play is evolving as a storytelling medium to cross formats and genres.
Advertisement
“Fire Season” uses play as a discovery tool. Guests arrive at Paramount Ranch and are outfitted with a disinfected FM transmitter as well as a backpacking chair and are told simply to wander. No maps are given, and the only instruction is that if one strays too far, the radio feed will start to cut out. At times, Miklas directs the audience to stop and sit, or to pick up the dried leaves that surround the area.
At first I was nervous about becoming lost, but Ludwig wanted a sense of apprehension and adventure that can’t be provided by simply sitting passively in an audience. She wanted the show’s opening moments to feel akin to booting up an open-world, sandbox video game, in which players are presented with a universe and few directions, then told to go play.
“I grew up playing a lot of ‘The Legend of Zelda,’ and I will always be inspired by an open landscape,” Ludwig says. “Like, I’m setting off with my pack and I go. But I don’t do a lot of hiking alone. I think I’m actually a little scared of the outdoors and what I don’t know, and I think it’s easy when you’re a city dweller to, when you get into nature, stick to what feels completely safe. Or do you go on a path someone else told you to go on?”
Derek Spencer came from East Hollywood to participate in “Fire Season,” set on a former burn site. (Myung J. Chun / Los Angeles Times)
Working with the National Park Service, says Ludwig, was a breeze compared to trying to stage a show in a mixed-use Los Angeles building. Most of the questions were related to the ability to keep an audience small and distanced amid our pandemic. Paramount Ranch worked for two reasons. One, says Ludwig, they wanted audiences to be on a recent burn site, but they also wanted a space with multiple short trails rather than a setting where audiences would need to go on a fixed path.
“We wanted people to come in and get gear that made them feel like they were going on an outdoor adventure,” Ludwig says. “We want them to feel like they’re a protagonist in their own game. That’s why we give them hiking stools. And when you start out, you have to immediately make a choice. Do you go left or right or straight? That’s engaging people more directly with the land, but one that’s safe because they can’t wander further than the broadcast can reach. It puts you in the mindset where you’re taking responsibility for yourself.”
On Sunday, veteran park ranger Ken Low, who has been with the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area for nearly 30 years, took in the show. While he was there primarily for work, to ensure that the production adhered to the agreed-upon guidelines, he says he came away a fan of his first-ever immersive theater experience.
Low says the park will check in on each performance, which runs weekends through Oct. 25, simply making sure guests don’t wander somewhere they shouldn’t. As it’s a recent burn site, walking off a path is a no-go.
“I was really impressed with the content and how it matched so much with the topics that we try to interpret in our national park system,” Low says. “Climate change, Mediterranean-type systems, vegetation, fires — she covered a lot of the points that we try to help people understand so they can better know their parks, and she did this while trying to meet her goal of being an artist. I like how she balanced the two.”
We learn about how fires will permanently alter the biodiversity of a region — which can lead to more fires amid our rising temperatures. But mostly “Fire Season” is a way to connect our lives, our loves and the passing of time to an increasingly stressful world.
Indeed, Miklas has a personal connection to forest fires; the production was inspired by the threat the 2017 Thomas fire posed to the home of her parents. And members of her extended family were displaced by this year’s Creek fire, which tore through the Sierras.
Prior to the pandemic, Miklas and Ludwig were debating how to present it, even doing table reads with others reading Miklas’ words. The physical distancing realities of our current moment, however, solidified the idea of a live FM broadcast, which Miklas reads from an out-of-view tent.
Pandemic or not, this seems like the show in its truest form. The idea of Miklas being out of sight for the production’s first 45 minutes drives home the idea that our world, if we don’t intervene, is increasingly becoming inhospitable.
As I walked Paramount Ranch, I definitely had games on my mind — but less “Zelda” and more the post-apocalyptic kind. “An impulse behind making it radio is that radio gets used in emergencies,” says Ludwig. Adds Miklas, “In my mind, I imagine the person would be continuing to do this broadcast even when L.A. becomes some sort of wasteland. She would continue to try to reach out.”
If that sounds bleak, know that a course of optimism runs through “Fire Season.” The most striking line of the show, for instance, is relatively early when Miklas declares, “My love is a protest,” and she talks about feeling passion amid the many horrors of life in 2020. She dismisses pop culture, slamming “Sex and the City” and its visions of noble-class perfection and selfishness.
“Fire Season” wants us to look at what we’ve been using as a distraction and an escape, but also to fully embrace life, to not let challenges turn into passivity. And the hits in 2020 keep coming: A week before “Fire Season” began previews, Miklas was laid off from her day job.
“Joy is a protest,” says Miklas. “Radical joy in the face of disaster is a choice. We can, despite all of this, we can choose hopefulness and joy. It’s a middle finger: ‘No one is taking that from me.’ All the things I thought my future would be have been taken from me, but they can’t take this.”


latimes--2020-10-03--Earthquakes: Two quakes hit near Brawley, Calif.

Two earthquakes were reported Saturday afternoon near Brawley , Calif. , according to the U.S. Geological Survey .
A magnitude 3.0 earthquake was reported at 1:21 p.m. two miles from Brawley , and a magnitude 3.6 quake was reported at 4:27 p.m. three miles from the city , according to USGS .
The earthquakes occurred about nine miles from Imperial , Calif. , about 13 miles from El Centro and about 21 miles from Calexico .
In the previous 10 days , there had been 65 earthquakes of magnitude 3.0 or greater centered nearby .
An average of 234 earthquakes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ per year in California and Nevada , according to a recent three-year data sample .
The first earthquake occurred at a depth of 4.5 miles .
The second earthquake occurred at a depth of 6.3 miles .
Did you feel these earthquakes ?
Consider reporting what you felt to the USGS .
Even if you didn ’ t feel these small earthquakes , 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 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 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 .

Two earthquakes were reported Saturday afternoon near Brawley, Calif., according to the U.S. Geological Survey.
A magnitude 3.0 earthquake was reported at 1:21 p.m. two miles from Brawley, and a magnitude 3.6 quake was reported at 4:27 p.m. three miles from the city, according to USGS.
The earthquakes occurred about nine miles from Imperial, Calif., about 13 miles from El Centro and about 21 miles from Calexico.
In the previous 10 days, there had been 65 earthquakes of magnitude 3.0 or greater centered nearby.
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An average of 234 earthquakes with magnitudes between 3.0 and 4.0 occur per year in California and Nevada, according to a recent three-year data sample.
The first earthquake occurred at a depth of 4.5 miles. The second earthquake occurred at a depth of 6.3 miles. Did you feel these earthquakes? Consider reporting what you felt to the USGS.
Even if you didn’t feel these small earthquakes, you never know when the Big One is going to strike. Ready yourself by following our five-step earthquake preparedness guide and building your own emergency kit.
This story was automatically generated by Quakebot, a computer application that monitors the latest earthquakes detected by the USGS. A Times editor reviewed the post before it was published. If you’re interested in learning more about the system, visit our list of frequently asked questions.


latimes--2020-10-05--A case study in 'mind-numbing' school choices: some students in class, others at home

Cozbi Mazariegos stays in shape these days by running room to room inside her apartment to answer questions from her kids , ages 7 , 10 and 12 .
They ’ re all working at home on laptops issued by their school , Bayside Martin Luther King Jr. Academy , in Marin City , near Sausalito .
Meanwhile , Shannon Bynum ’ s son , Kamari , 10 , and daughter , Keyari , 8 , who live nearby , are back on the Bayside MLK campus .
Bynum had warned them , however , that if he heard they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ d have to learn remotely , too .
The two households , less than three miles apart , have found different answers to one of the most perplexing questions this fall : Should parents send their children back to school for classes during an ongoing pandemic or keep them at home ?
At Bayside MLK , a K-8 school serving the ethnically and economically diverse community of Marin City , 103 children are attending class in person , including the Bynum children .
The Mazariegos kids are among 12 learning remotely .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ all of the nation ’ s 55 million schoolchildren to home schooling .
One by one , school districts across the country are weighing the risks of reopening .
Some that have reopened have seen a spike in coronavirus cases among students who returned to class .
Bayside MLK was one of 15 Marin County schools that received waivers from the local public health department to reopen full time on Sept. 8 , but officials gave parents the choice whether to send their children to campus or keep them home .
The start @ @ @ @ @ @ @ when one school employee contracted the virus , said Principal David Finnane .
Once they started , the challenges mounted .
“ This is the most mind-numbing time I ’ ve ever had as an educator , ” said Finnane , who ’ s been a school principal for two decades .
“ These are crazy days of temperature checks , telling third-grade Jenny she entered the second-grade gate at the wrong time , telling Xavier to use sanitizer on his elbow after he sneezes , reminding students not to touch this thing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a job this school has never had to do and now we ’ re doing it every day , all day long.
” Health and safety protocols enacted by the school include staggered arrival times for students ( via parent drop-offs ) , smaller classes , spaced-out desks , routine temperature and health checks , and an intensified cleaning schedule .
Mazariegos , 52 , spent a difficult summer deciding whether to send Emily , 12 , Ezekiel Jr. , 10 , and 7-year-old Evelyn back to class if and when school reopened @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Ezekiel , a 42-year-old construction worker , had made up his mind .
“ He said , ‘ Are you crazy ?
We can ’ t send our kids back to school without a vaccine , ’ ” she recalled .
“ ‘ How do we know they ’ d be safe ?
’ ” Mazariegos , who was a schoolteacher in her native Guatemala but now stays at home with her kids , has juggled the roles of teacher , tech consultant and even hall monitor in recent weeks .
School @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for a week before her home Wi-Fi connection crashed .
The two eldest kids could not connect to their Zoom instruction sessions , so Mazariegos called the school for help .
To make sure they didn ’ t resort to computer games in the interim , she gave them textbooks to read .
“ The phone was ringing , the kids were all calling my name from different rooms , ” she said .
“ It was crazy.
” Single father Bynum , on the other hand , chose to send his two @ @ @ @ @ @ @ learn from other kids , not just teachers , ” said the 29-year-old real estate developer .
“ In school , they know what ’ s expected of them .
It ’ s the best place for them to be.
” Finnane , the principal , had hoped all 115 students would return to classrooms .
“ Many kids doing distance learning just don ’ t have the same support network , ” he said .
“ They might not have the resources , a quiet place to work , a supportive adult @ @ @ @ @ @ @ them.
” And then there are the technical issues .
Students who have stayed at home have experienced internet failures , Zoom glitches and computer bandwidth problems — “ or when a teacher gives out the wrong Zoom link , all of which has already happened , ” Finnane said .
A recent study by the Economic Policy Institute on the educational challenges posed by the pandemic found that remote-learning programs are effective only if students have consistent access to the internet and computers and if teachers receive targeted training and support for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ risk of virus infection is greater at school , they found that students who have not returned to the classroom are falling behind .
“ Children ’ s academic performance is deteriorating during the pandemic , along with their progress on other developmental skills , ” the study said .
When Bayside MLK resorted to remote teaching for the entire school in the spring , officials identified 41 students who were demonstrably falling behind , Finnane said .
Standardized tests given to students this academic year will provide a report card on students @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the summer , Bayside MLK teachers received one day of training to perform online classes in addition to their at-school duties .
“ A full day of online-learning training helps , but when it comes to the constant challenges of teaching , especially those with special needs , I ’ m not sure that ’ s sufficient , ” said Emma García , who co-authored the Economic Policy Institute study .
Mazariegos knows this all too well .
Her daughter Emily has comprehension issues that have kept her back a grade .
A @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and who one day wants to become a veterinarian , the sixth-grader relies on her mother to spend extra time reviewing lessons .
“ She has to touch and feel things , to have a lesson demonstrated before she can best understand , ” her mother said .
“ She can ’ t just sit in front of a computer reading some concept over and over and over.
” Mazariegos understands her daughter may fall another year behind but says she ’ ll take that chance .
“ If we lose her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” she said .
“ This is a hard decision for any mother .
But Emily is so afraid of the virus that sending her back to school would just be traumatizing.
” Bynum , whose fourth-grade son , Kamari , suffers from attention deficit disorder , believes the classroom is the best place for the restless child .
In March , when the school was closed at the start of the pandemic , Bynum got a taste of the demanding task of being a teacher .
“ With two kids in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I struggled to explain things , ” he said .
“ It would have been easy for me to just tell them the answer , but the object of a good instructor is to teach them to find it themselves .
And I had to learn that.
” Bynum has developed his own protocol .
He requires his children to shower the moment they return from school , and they get regular lectures about hand-washing and common sense .
“ If I even suspect they ’ re not wearing their masks , I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it ’ s back to the house and your laptop , ’ and they ’ ll say , ‘ Oh , yeah , Dad , I ’ m wearing my mask.
’ ” Mazariegos remains comfortable with her decision , especially when she reads about all the COVID-19 outbreaks at schools and colleges .
Her kids aren ’ t so sure .
Second-grader Evelyn , an outgoing girl , recently joined a Zoom lesson that included classmates she hadn ’ t seen in person for months .
“ She cried , ” her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be back at school to see her friends.
” This story was produced by KHN ( Kaiser Health News ) , which publishes California Healthline , an editorially independent service of the California Health Care Foundation .
KHN is not affiliated with Kaiser Permanente .

Keyari and Kamari Bynum in better times. Now they must take a shower the minute they return from their school in Marin City, and they get regular lectures from their father about hand-washing and common sense.
Cozbi Mazariegos stays in shape these days by running room to room inside her apartment to answer questions from her kids, ages 7, 10 and 12. They’re all working at home on laptops issued by their school, Bayside Martin Luther King Jr. Academy, in Marin City, near Sausalito.
Meanwhile, Shannon Bynum’s son, Kamari, 10, and daughter, Keyari, 8, who live nearby, are back on the Bayside MLK campus. Bynum had warned them, however, that if he heard they weren’t wearing masks, they’d have to learn remotely, too.
The two households, less than three miles apart, have found different answers to one of the most perplexing questions this fall: Should parents send their children back to school for classes during an ongoing pandemic or keep them at home?
Advertisement
At Bayside MLK, a K-8 school serving the ethnically and economically diverse community of Marin City, 103 children are attending class in person, including the Bynum children. The Mazariegos kids are among 12 learning remotely.
In March, the coronavirus consigned nearly all of the nation’s 55 million schoolchildren to home schooling. One by one, school districts across the country are weighing the risks of reopening. Some that have reopened have seen a spike in coronavirus cases among students who returned to class.
Bayside MLK was one of 15 Marin County schools that received waivers from the local public health department to reopen full time on Sept. 8, but officials gave parents the choice whether to send their children to campus or keep them home.
The start of classes was delayed for a week when one school employee contracted the virus, said Principal David Finnane. Once they started, the challenges mounted.
“This is the most mind-numbing time I’ve ever had as an educator,” said Finnane, who’s been a school principal for two decades.
“These are crazy days of temperature checks, telling third-grade Jenny she entered the second-grade gate at the wrong time, telling Xavier to use sanitizer on his elbow after he sneezes, reminding students not to touch this thing or that thing. It’s a job this school has never had to do and now we’re doing it every day, all day long.”
Advertisement
Health and safety protocols enacted by the school include staggered arrival times for students (via parent drop-offs), smaller classes, spaced-out desks, routine temperature and health checks, and an intensified cleaning schedule.
Mazariegos, 52, spent a difficult summer deciding whether to send Emily, 12, Ezekiel Jr., 10, and 7-year-old Evelyn back to class if and when school reopened in the fall.
But her husband, Ezekiel, a 42-year-old construction worker, had made up his mind. “He said, ‘Are you crazy? We can’t send our kids back to school without a vaccine,’” she recalled. “‘How do we know they’d be safe?’”
Mazariegos, who was a schoolteacher in her native Guatemala but now stays at home with her kids, has juggled the roles of teacher, tech consultant and even hall monitor in recent weeks.
School hadn’t been back in session for a week before her home Wi-Fi connection crashed. The two eldest kids could not connect to their Zoom instruction sessions, so Mazariegos called the school for help. To make sure they didn’t resort to computer games in the interim, she gave them textbooks to read.
“The phone was ringing, the kids were all calling my name from different rooms,” she said. “It was crazy.”
Single father Bynum, on the other hand, chose to send his two kids back to school.
“Kids learn from other kids, not just teachers,” said the 29-year-old real estate developer. “In school, they know what’s expected of them. It’s the best place for them to be.”
Finnane, the principal, had hoped all 115 students would return to classrooms. “Many kids doing distance learning just don’t have the same support network,” he said. “They might not have the resources, a quiet place to work, a supportive adult right there who can mentor and encourage them.”
And then there are the technical issues. Students who have stayed at home have experienced internet failures, Zoom glitches and computer bandwidth problems — “or when a teacher gives out the wrong Zoom link, all of which has already happened,” Finnane said.
A recent study by the Economic Policy Institute on the educational challenges posed by the pandemic found that remote-learning programs are effective only if students have consistent access to the internet and computers and if teachers receive targeted training and support for online instruction.
Though researchers acknowledged the risk of virus infection is greater at school, they found that students who have not returned to the classroom are falling behind.
“Children’s academic performance is deteriorating during the pandemic, along with their progress on other developmental skills,” the study said.
When Bayside MLK resorted to remote teaching for the entire school in the spring, officials identified 41 students who were demonstrably falling behind, Finnane said. Standardized tests given to students this academic year will provide a report card on students’ success, he added.
Over the summer, Bayside MLK teachers received one day of training to perform online classes in addition to their at-school duties.
“A full day of online-learning training helps, but when it comes to the constant challenges of teaching, especially those with special needs, I’m not sure that’s sufficient,” said Emma García, who co-authored the Economic Policy Institute study.
Mazariegos knows this all too well. Her daughter Emily has comprehension issues that have kept her back a grade.
A quiet girl who loves animals and science, and who one day wants to become a veterinarian, the sixth-grader relies on her mother to spend extra time reviewing lessons.
“She has to touch and feel things, to have a lesson demonstrated before she can best understand,” her mother said. “She can’t just sit in front of a computer reading some concept over and over and over.”
California Coronavirus batters finances of Black healthcare centers in the Bay Area Several Bay Area health clinics provide crucial services to African Americans and other neglected populations. But the pandemic has hurt their finances and those of other clinics nationwide.
Mazariegos understands her daughter may fall another year behind but says she’ll take that chance. “If we lose her to COVID-19, that year is nothing,” she said. “This is a hard decision for any mother. But Emily is so afraid of the virus that sending her back to school would just be traumatizing.”
Bynum, whose fourth-grade son, Kamari, suffers from attention deficit disorder, believes the classroom is the best place for the restless child. In March, when the school was closed at the start of the pandemic, Bynum got a taste of the demanding task of being a teacher.
“With two kids in two different grades asking me questions, I struggled to explain things,” he said. “It would have been easy for me to just tell them the answer, but the object of a good instructor is to teach them to find it themselves. And I had to learn that.”
Bynum has developed his own protocol. He requires his children to shower the moment they return from school, and they get regular lectures about hand-washing and common sense.
“If I even suspect they’re not wearing their masks, I’ll say, ‘OK, it’s back to the house and your laptop,’ and they’ll say, ‘Oh, yeah, Dad, I’m wearing my mask.’”
Mazariegos remains comfortable with her decision, especially when she reads about all the COVID-19 outbreaks at schools and colleges.
Her kids aren’t so sure.
Second-grader Evelyn, an outgoing girl, recently joined a Zoom lesson that included classmates she hadn’t seen in person for months.
“She cried,” her mother said. “She wanted to be back at school to see her friends.”
This story was produced by KHN (Kaiser Health News), which publishes California Healthline, an editorially independent service of the California Health Care Foundation. KHN is not affiliated with Kaiser Permanente.


latimes--2020-10-05--California's tax system needs to be overhauled. Making changes to Proposition 13 won't do it

Proposition 15 is arguably the most significant state measure on the Nov. 3 ballot .
And that ’ s saying a lot because Californians will be voting on several very significant measures .
With Proposition 15 , voters are being asked to partially repeal a historic 1978 property tax cut that triggered a nationwide anti-tax revolt .
That revered initiative , Proposition 13 , has always been considered untouchable — the third rail of California politics .
But labor unions , led by one representing schoolteachers , are trying to roll back part of it .
Their effort is supported @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Eric Garcetti of Los Angeles .
Proposition 13 passed in a landslide because homeowners were angry that their property taxes were constantly soaring as home values skyrocketed .
Some retired seniors were being taxed out of their homes .
Howard Jarvis , an apartment owners ’ lobbyist , skillfully capitalized on the anger , promoting the initiative that dramatically lowered taxes on all real estate — residential , commercial and industrial .
The political establishment hated the measure .
The people loved it .
Proposition 13 capped tax rates at 1 % of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to 2 % .
Moreover , property could be reassessed only at market value when it was sold .
But many business property owners , especially large corporations , gamed the system so their holdings rarely changed hands completely — only by bits and pieces at a time .
That way they almost never got reassessed at market value .
Property tax revenue substantially fell off for local governments and schools .
They turned to state government for bailouts and got them .
But the price was loss of some local control to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ didn ’ t dare mess with residential property owners .
That would be political suicide .
So , Proposition 15 exempts residential real estate .
Agriculture land is exempt , too , although not necessarily property improvements — such as orchards , vineyards , barns and irrigation systems .
The California Farm Bureau Federation is opposed .
Proposition 15 ’ s target is commercial and industrial property .
It would be reassessed every three years at current market value .
Property would be exempt if its owner ’ s total commercial real estate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ $ 3 million .
Note : This isn ’ t the same as exempting one piece of property if its value is less than $ 3 million .
The owner ’ s entire commercial real estate holdings couldn ’ t exceed $ 3 million .
Businesses with 50 or fewer full-time employees no longer would have to pay personal property taxes on equipment .
For larger businesses , the first $ 500,000 worth of equipment would be exempt .
The net annual tax boost when the initiative would be fully implemented in 2025 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ $ 11.5 billion , the state Legislative Analyst ‘ s Office estimates .
The increased tax revenue would be split this way : 60 % to local governments — cities , counties and special districts — and 40 % to K-12 schools and community colleges .
In Sacramento speak , Proposition 15 is a “ split-roll ” measure because it would create separate tax rolls for residential and commercial-industrial properties .
That has long been a dream of Democratic politicians .
It ’ s “ long-overdue reform , ” Gov .
Gavin Newsom @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ It ’ s consistent with California ’ s progressive fiscal values… .
It will fund essential services such as public schools and public safety.
” It ’ s a big-bucks brawl between two powerful traditional rivals : labor — mainly the California Teachers Assn .
and Service Employees International Union — and business .
They could wind up spending close to $ 100 million between them , A recent statewide survey by the UC Berkeley Institute of Governmental Studies found likely voters favored the proposition by 49 % to 34 % @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The chances for passage are fairly decent , ” said the pollster , Mark DiCamillo .
Another poll of likely voters by the Public Policy Institute of California showed Proposition 15 ahead by 51 % to 40 % , with 9 % undecided .
Democrats were in strong support , Republicans in heavy opposition and independents equally divided .
“ We ’ re dealing with a very complicated issue , ” PPIC President Mark Baldassare said .
“ People wonder about the unintended consequences .
They worry about the risks .
That ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ majority… .
“ In every poll ever done , most voters continue to believe that Prop .
13 is a good thing.
” Larry Grisolano , the Proposition 15 campaign strategist , says two major news events may help the measure .
One is the New York Times investigative report that President Trump has been a longtime , serious tax evader — maybe a cheat .
“ That reminds people we ’ ve got a system where most taxpayers are doing their part , but corporations are avoiding taxes , ” Grisolano says @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the appeal of the split roll.
” The second Proposition 15 helper is the calamitous wildfire season , the strategist says .
Voters are reminded that local fire departments need to be better prepared for emergencies , and this requires lots more money .
But Rob Lapsley , president of the California Business Roundtable , argues that with the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent deep recession , “ now is absolutely the worst time to enact the largest property tax increase in California history.
” “ Small businesses are struggling to survive , trying @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ If this thing passes , many people will not even try to reopen .
Just forget it.
” Anyway , he adds , “ the last thing California needs is another tax increase.
” What California really needs is a complete overhaul of its ludicrously outdated tax system .
Proposition 15 doesn ’ t do it .
After he was elected , Newsom ambitiously talked about perhaps reaching a “ grand bargain ” on tax reform .
But he did nothing .
Next year , he should surprise us and try @

A California homeowner shows support for Proposition 13 in 1978. Proposition 15, which will appear on the Nov. 3 ballot, would change the landmark ballot measure, long thought to be a third rail in state politics.
Proposition 15 is arguably the most significant state measure on the Nov. 3 ballot.
And that’s saying a lot because Californians will be voting on several very significant measures.
With Proposition 15, voters are being asked to partially repeal a historic 1978 property tax cut that triggered a nationwide anti-tax revolt.
Advertisement
That revered initiative, Proposition 13, has always been considered untouchable — the third rail of California politics. But labor unions, led by one representing schoolteachers, are trying to roll back part of it. Their effort is supported by tax-seeking big city mayors, including Eric Garcetti of Los Angeles.
Proposition 13 passed in a landslide because homeowners were angry that their property taxes were constantly soaring as home values skyrocketed. Some retired seniors were being taxed out of their homes.
Howard Jarvis, an apartment owners’ lobbyist, skillfully capitalized on the anger, promoting the initiative that dramatically lowered taxes on all real estate — residential, commercial and industrial. The political establishment hated the measure. The people loved it.
Proposition 13 capped tax rates at 1% of assessed value and limited annual assessment increases to 2%. Moreover, property could be reassessed only at market value when it was sold.
Politics California Prop. 15: Commercial property taxes | Election 2020 If Proposition 15 passes, it would increase property taxes for businesses and corporations in California, undoing some tax breaks introduced by Proposition 13 in 1978.
But many business property owners, especially large corporations, gamed the system so their holdings rarely changed hands completely — only by bits and pieces at a time. That way they almost never got reassessed at market value.
Property tax revenue substantially fell off for local governments and schools. They turned to state government for bailouts and got them. But the price was loss of some local control to Sacramento.
Advertisement
Proposition 15’s backers didn’t dare mess with residential property owners. That would be political suicide. So, Proposition 15 exempts residential real estate.
Agriculture land is exempt, too, although not necessarily property improvements — such as orchards, vineyards, barns and irrigation systems. The California Farm Bureau Federation is opposed.
Proposition 15’s target is commercial and industrial property. It would be reassessed every three years at current market value.
Property would be exempt if its owner’s total commercial real estate holdings in California were worth less than $3 million. Note: This isn’t the same as exempting one piece of property if its value is less than $3 million. The owner’s entire commercial real estate holdings couldn’t exceed $3 million.
Businesses with 50 or fewer full-time employees no longer would have to pay personal property taxes on equipment. For larger businesses, the first $500,000 worth of equipment would be exempt.
The net annual tax boost when the initiative would be fully implemented in 2025 would range from $6.5 billion to $11.5 billion, the state Legislative Analyst‘s Office estimates.
The increased tax revenue would be split this way: 60% to local governments — cities, counties and special districts — and 40% to K-12 schools and community colleges.
In Sacramento speak, Proposition 15 is a “split-roll” measure because it would create separate tax rolls for residential and commercial-industrial properties. That has long been a dream of Democratic politicians.
It’s “long-overdue reform,” Gov. Gavin Newsom said in endorsing the measure last month. “It’s consistent with California’s progressive fiscal values…. It will fund essential services such as public schools and public safety.”
It’s a big-bucks brawl between two powerful traditional rivals: labor — mainly the California Teachers Assn. and Service Employees International Union — and business. They could wind up spending close to $100 million between them,
Polls show a close vote.
A recent statewide survey by the UC Berkeley Institute of Governmental Studies found likely voters favored the proposition by 49% to 34%, with 17% undecided.
“The chances for passage are fairly decent,” said the pollster, Mark DiCamillo.
Another poll of likely voters by the Public Policy Institute of California showed Proposition 15 ahead by 51% to 40%, with 9% undecided. Democrats were in strong support, Republicans in heavy opposition and independents equally divided.
“We’re dealing with a very complicated issue,” PPIC President Mark Baldassare said. “People wonder about the unintended consequences. They worry about the risks. That’s why we have only a slim majority….
“In every poll ever done, most voters continue to believe that Prop. 13 is a good thing.”
Larry Grisolano, the Proposition 15 campaign strategist, says two major news events may help the measure.
One is the New York Times investigative report that President Trump has been a longtime, serious tax evader — maybe a cheat.
“That reminds people we’ve got a system where most taxpayers are doing their part, but corporations are avoiding taxes,” Grisolano says. “That’s part of the appeal of the split roll.”
The second Proposition 15 helper is the calamitous wildfire season, the strategist says. Voters are reminded that local fire departments need to be better prepared for emergencies, and this requires lots more money.
But Rob Lapsley, president of the California Business Roundtable, argues that with the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent deep recession, “now is absolutely the worst time to enact the largest property tax increase in California history.”
“Small businesses are struggling to survive, trying to get reestablished,” Lapsley says. “If this thing passes, many people will not even try to reopen. Just forget it.”
Anyway, he adds, “the last thing California needs is another tax increase.”
Agreed.
What California really needs is a complete overhaul of its ludicrously outdated tax system. Proposition 15 doesn’t do it.
After he was elected, Newsom ambitiously talked about perhaps reaching a “grand bargain” on tax reform. But he did nothing. Next year, he should surprise us and try.


latimes--2020-10-05--Amazon workers march to Jeff Bezos' mansion, calling for higher wages, protections

Demonstrators on Sunday marched to Amazon founder Jeff Bezos ’ Beverly Hills mansion , protesting company working conditions during the COVID-19 crisis and calling for higher wages , free healthcare and child care for employees .
Protesters rallied at Will Rogers Memorial Park in Beverly Hills , then marched to the gates of Bezos ’ home , carrying signs and chanting “ Tax Bezos.
” The demonstration was sponsored by the Congress of Essential Workers , a collective of servers , teachers and warehouse employees , and led by the group ’ s founder , Chris Smalls , a former @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fired in March after organizing a work stoppage over the company ’ s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic .
“ You don ’ t need Jeff Bezos .
He needs us , ” he said through a bullhorn during the protest .
Organizers released a list of demands , including that the company provide workers with adequate protective equipment and cleaning supplies , as well as an increase of $ 2 per hour for hazard pay .
Amazon revealed last week , after months of pressure from workers and labor groups , that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have tested positive or been presumed positive for the coronavirus .
But the online retail giant says the infection rate of its employees is well below that seen in the general U.S. population .
Andrew Lewis , who serves on the North Westwood Neighborhood Council , said he was among about 100 people who attended the rally at the park .
“ When a multibillion-dollar company is subjecting its employees to substandard working and safety conditions during a global pandemic and , as a result , transmitting COVID-19 to 20,000 employees — it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , adding that he has friends who work for the company .
“ Amazon is far and beyond the wealthiest corporation on the planet .
They have the resources to keep their employees safe and healthy , and actively choose not to .
”

Amazon worker Derrick Palmer, right, helps carry a “Tax Bezos” banner during a march to Jeff Bezos’ mansion to lobby for higher wages, the right to unionize and a series of reforms in the way the company handles the COVID-19 crisis.
Demonstrators on Sunday marched to Amazon founder Jeff Bezos’ Beverly Hills mansion, protesting company working conditions during the COVID-19 crisis and calling for higher wages, free healthcare and child care for employees.
Protesters rallied at Will Rogers Memorial Park in Beverly Hills, then marched to the gates of Bezos’ home, carrying signs and chanting “Tax Bezos.”
The demonstration was sponsored by the Congress of Essential Workers, a collective of servers, teachers and warehouse employees, and led by the group’s founder, Chris Smalls, a former Amazon warehouse manager who said he was fired in March after organizing a work stoppage over the company’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic.
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“You don’t need Jeff Bezos. He needs us,” he said through a bullhorn during the protest.
Organizers released a list of demands, including that the company provide workers with adequate protective equipment and cleaning supplies, as well as an increase of $2 per hour for hazard pay.
Amazon revealed last week, after months of pressure from workers and labor groups, that nearly 20,000 of its frontline U.S. workers have tested positive or been presumed positive for the coronavirus. But the online retail giant says the infection rate of its employees is well below that seen in the general U.S. population.
Andrew Lewis, who serves on the North Westwood Neighborhood Council, said he was among about 100 people who attended the rally at the park.
“When a multibillion-dollar company is subjecting its employees to substandard working and safety conditions during a global pandemic and, as a result, transmitting COVID-19 to 20,000 employees — it goes beyond negligence,” said Lewis, adding that he has friends who work for the company. “Amazon is far and beyond the wealthiest corporation on the planet. They have the resources to keep their employees safe and healthy, and actively choose not to.”


latimes--2020-10-05--Sheriff Alex Villanueva's rehiring of fired deputy 'unlawful,' judge rules

A judge has ruled that Sheriff Alex Villanueva exceeded his authority when he rehired a fired deputy as part of a settlement agreement that sparked a bitter legal fight between Los Angeles County ’ s top elected leaders .
In a 17-page ruling last week , Superior Court Judge Mitchell Beckloff said the settlement , in which the sheriff had offered Caren Carl Mandoyan full back pay and benefits worth more than $ 200,000 , was void because it wasn ’ t approved by the Board of Supervisors .
“ No statute grants the Sheriff the authority to control litigation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the County , ” Beckloff wrote .
Later in the ruling , he wrote : “ Mandoyan was not rehired from a properly certified eligibility list in December 2018 .
Accordingly , the Sheriff ’ s action to rehire Mandoyan was unlawful.
” Skip Miller , an attorney representing L.A. County , said the judge ’ s ruling is “ the right decision under the law.
” “ This person does not belong in the Sheriff ’ s Department .
We ’ re pleased with the ruling and that it ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Miller said in a statement .
Lt. John Satterfield , a Sheriff ’ s Department spokesman , said it would be premature to comment “ as no judgment has been entered and the defendants are waiting for plaintiff to serve its proposed judgment.
” “ The facts stated in the court ’ s ruling … are based on the unique facts in regard to Carl Mandoyan and whether , and under what circumstances , he may be included in a certified eligibility list .
All parties are presently reviewing the court ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Smith , an attorney representing Mandoyan , said he was disappointed by the decision and plans to appeal .
“ We think that we will ultimately prevail at the appellate court level , ” Smith said .
He also noted that Mandoyan also has a separate pending lawsuit in which he requests that a judge order Villanueva to conduct a new investigation into the domestic violence allegations against him and to reinstate him .
In that suit , Mandoyan cited a 100-page Sheriff ’ s Department report that concludes he was denied due @ @ @ @ @ @ @ information ” was left out of his 2016 internal affairs investigation .
The report says that if the information had been presented at the time , Mandoyan may not have been fired .
The latest ruling comes after the Board of Supervisors last year took the unusual step of suing Villanueva , arguing Mandoyan ’ s rehiring was unlawful because the settlement had not been signed by the county ’ s attorneys or approved by the county ’ s personnel director .
Beckloff had issued a preliminary injunction , removing Mandoyan and ordering @ @ @ @ @ @ @ badge , pending trial .
Mandoyan was fired in 2016 by then-Sheriff Jim McDonnell after a fellow deputy he had dated alleged that he grabbed her by the neck , tried to break into her home and sent her harassing text messages .
in the case appeared to show Mandoyan trying to break into the woman ’ s apartment using a metal tool .
Mandoyan has denied the allegations .
Smith has said his client was just trying to get the woman ’ s attention and that it would have been impossible for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the fixed side of the sliding glass door .
Mandoyan had volunteered as a driver during Villanueva ’ s 2018 election campaign .
Villanueva reinstated him as one of his first moves in office , stoking concerns that the sheriff was rolling back critical reforms .
Villanueva has publicly defended his decision , saying the deputy was denied due process , while about his accuser ’ s credibility .
His position prompted complaints from advocates who work with domestic violence victims .

A judge has ruled that Sheriff Alex Villanueva exceeded his authority when he rehired a fired deputy as part of a settlement agreement that sparked a bitter legal fight between Los Angeles County’s top elected leaders.
In a 17-page ruling last week, Superior Court Judge Mitchell Beckloff said the settlement, in which the sheriff had offered Caren Carl Mandoyan full back pay and benefits worth more than $200,000, was void because it wasn’t approved by the Board of Supervisors.
“No statute grants the Sheriff the authority to control litigation or enter into settlement agreements on behalf of the County,” Beckloff wrote.
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Later in the ruling, he wrote: “Mandoyan was not rehired from a properly certified eligibility list in December 2018. Accordingly, the Sheriff’s action to rehire Mandoyan was unlawful.”
Skip Miller, an attorney representing L.A. County, said the judge’s ruling is “the right decision under the law.”
“This person does not belong in the Sheriff’s Department. We’re pleased with the ruling and that it’s the end of this case,” Miller said in a statement.
Lt. John Satterfield, a Sheriff’s Department spokesman, said it would be premature to comment “as no judgment has been entered and the defendants are waiting for plaintiff to serve its proposed judgment.”
“The facts stated in the court’s ruling … are based on the unique facts in regard to Carl Mandoyan and whether, and under what circumstances, he may be included in a certified eligibility list. All parties are presently reviewing the court’s ruling,” he said.
Greg Smith, an attorney representing Mandoyan, said he was disappointed by the decision and plans to appeal.
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“We think that we will ultimately prevail at the appellate court level,” Smith said. He also noted that Mandoyan also has a separate pending lawsuit in which he requests that a judge order Villanueva to conduct a new investigation into the domestic violence allegations against him and to reinstate him.
In that suit, Mandoyan cited a 100-page Sheriff’s Department report that concludes he was denied due process and that “newly discovered exculpatory information” was left out of his 2016 internal affairs investigation. The report says that if the information had been presented at the time, Mandoyan may not have been fired.
The latest ruling comes after the Board of Supervisors last year took the unusual step of suing Villanueva, arguing Mandoyan’s rehiring was unlawful because the settlement had not been signed by the county’s attorneys or approved by the county’s personnel director.
Beckloff had issued a preliminary injunction, removing Mandoyan and ordering him to turn over his gun and badge, pending trial.
Mandoyan was fired in 2016 by then-Sheriff Jim McDonnell after a fellow deputy he had dated alleged that he grabbed her by the neck, tried to break into her home and sent her harassing text messages. Video footage released in the case appeared to show Mandoyan trying to break into the woman’s apartment using a metal tool.
Mandoyan has denied the allegations. Smith has said his client was just trying to get the woman’s attention and that it would have been impossible for him to break into the apartment through the fixed side of the sliding glass door.
Mandoyan had volunteered as a driver during Villanueva’s 2018 election campaign. Villanueva reinstated him as one of his first moves in office, stoking concerns that the sheriff was rolling back critical reforms.


latimes--2020-10-05--Card clubs in L.A. County reopen for outdoor gaming

Card clubs in Los Angeles County reopened Monday with health precautions , drawing a stream of gamblers and prompting expressions of relief from city leaders who have struggled without the key source of tax revenue .
The county ’ s Board of Supervisors and Department of Public Health gave the county ’ s seven card clubs the green light to welcome customers back — but only in outdoor settings , with players and employees wearing masks and with barriers separating gamblers who are less than six feet apart , among other restrictions .
Before the COVID-19 pandemic , the card @ @ @ @ @ @ @ generated as much as 70 % of the tax base for the small , working-class communities where they are located .
Some of the clubs are still in the midst of reopening and calling back previously furloughed employees so it is difficult to estimate how many workers will be brought back under the new guidelines .
The Commerce Casino reported rehiring about 60 % of its approximately 2,500 workers .
In the City of Commerce , where the Commerce Casino generates about 44 % of the city ’ s general fund budget , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the city to furlough 230 employees and cut the rest of its workers ’ salaries 7 % .
“ Without the casinos , our lifeline , we are looking at more [ budget-tightening ] actions at the beginning of the year , ” said Edgar Cisneros , the city manger , adding that he hopes to rehire all of the city ’ s furloughed workers and reinstate the regular salaries once the casino is in full operation .
“ We are optimistic we will be able to recoup those revenues but also put @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said a steady stream of gamblers began arriving Monday morning , signaling pent-up demand to socialize and play the odds .
“ It ’ s a baby step toward opening kind of gradually , like restaurants , ” said John Griffo , director of business development at the Commerce Casino .
Griffo and other casino operators vowed to take the health precautions seriously so they can stay open .
They want to avoid a repeat of what happened in June : The county ’ s card clubs and some other indoor businesses opened @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but after 10 days , the state — alarmed by a surge in coronavirus cases in the region — ordered them to shut again .
Citing tribal sovereignty , more than a dozen casinos on tribal reservations in California reopened in May despite Gov .
Gavin Newsom ’ s pleas to keep such indoor businesses shut .
Since then , most tribal casinos in the state have reopened , adopting individual health and safety protocols developed with the assistance of state , federal and local health agencies .
On Monday , the Commerce @ @ @ @ @ @ @ two tented areas — one that was previously used for parking and one where an outdoor smoking area had been .
Before the pandemic , the casino operated 277 tables .
Under the new county protocols , all gamblers and casino employees must wear masks at all times except when eating or drinking in designated areas , and must undergo screening for chills , fever and coughing before entering the outdoor tented area ; no food or drink is allowed at the gambling tables ; and no spectators are allowed to stand behind @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at each gambling table must be limited “ such that patrons and employees are able to maintain physical distancing of at least six feet at all times , ” and if not , physical barriers such as plexiglass sheets must be installed , according to the county ’ s protocols .
At the Commerce Casino , a maximum of eight players are allowed to play poker at the same table , with fewer players allowed at tables for games such as pai gow and baccarat .
If three or more employees at a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the span of 14 days , the casino must notify the county Department of Public Health .
Compliance is to be monitored by county health officials as well as state gambling regulators .
Casino operators met with county Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer on June 28 to discuss reopening .
According to casino representatives , Ferrer was reluctant to offer reopening guidelines until she gauged the coronavirus trends following the Labor Day holiday weekend .
Once she was satisfied that trends were improving , Ferrer sought approval for the health protocols from the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The partial reopening of the card clubs means employees can collect a salary and provide for their families again , said Ralph Franklin , a city councilmember in Inglewood , which is home to the Hollywood Park Casino .
The city has lost about $ 3 million in revenue due to the closure of the casino , he said , adding that Inglewood dipped into a reserve fund to avoid layoffs of city workers or cuts to programs .
“ Now we have a chance to have employees be gainfully employed , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on taxes from its two casinos — the Hustler Casino and the Larry Flynt ’ s Lucky Lady Casino — for about 14 % of its general fund revenue .
Since their closure , the city has furloughed employees and cut city programs .
The card clubs ’ reopening “ is great , ” Mayor Tasha Cerda said .
“ We ’ ve really been pushing for this.
” Hawaiian Gardens , home to the Gardens Casino , which generates about 70 % of the city ’ s funding , has laid off @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and eliminated programs for young people and seniors since the casino closed , said Ernie Hernandez , the city manager .
He called the new health protocols “ appropriate COVID-19 protections and limitations that will bring back thousands of jobs and much-needed revenue to our city and across the county .
”

Customer service representative Craig Phillips, upper right, sanitizes a partition on a poker table at the Gardens Casino in Hawaiian Gardens on Monday.
Card clubs in Los Angeles County reopened Monday with health precautions, drawing a stream of gamblers and prompting expressions of relief from city leaders who have struggled without the key source of tax revenue.
The county’s Board of Supervisors and Department of Public Health gave the county’s seven card clubs the green light to welcome customers back — but only in outdoor settings, with players and employees wearing masks and with barriers separating gamblers who are less than six feet apart, among other restrictions.
Before the COVID-19 pandemic, the card rooms employed more than 10,000 workers and generated as much as 70% of the tax base for the small, working-class communities where they are located.
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Some of the clubs are still in the midst of reopening and calling back previously furloughed employees so it is difficult to estimate how many workers will be brought back under the new guidelines. The Commerce Casino reported rehiring about 60% of its approximately 2,500 workers.
In the City of Commerce, where the Commerce Casino generates about 44% of the city’s general fund budget, the closing of the card club led the city to furlough 230 employees and cut the rest of its workers’ salaries 7%.
Customer Anthony Ready of Carson, left, has his temperature checked by a security guard before being allowed to enter the Gardens Casino in Hawaiian Gardens. (Mel Melcon / Los Angeles Times)
“Without the casinos, our lifeline, we are looking at more [budget-tightening] actions at the beginning of the year,” said Edgar Cisneros, the city manager, adding that he hopes to rehire all of the city’s furloughed workers and reinstate the regular salaries once the casino is in full operation. “We are optimistic we will be able to recoup those revenues but also put people back to work.”
Casino operators said a steady stream of gamblers began arriving Monday morning, signaling pent-up demand to socialize and play the odds.
“It’s a baby step toward opening kind of gradually, like restaurants,” said John Griffo, director of business development at the Commerce Casino.
Griffo and other casino operators vowed to take the health precautions seriously so they can stay open. They want to avoid a repeat of what happened in June: The county’s card clubs and some other indoor businesses opened for the first time since March, but after 10 days, the state — alarmed by a surge in coronavirus cases in the region — ordered them to shut again.
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Citing tribal sovereignty, more than a dozen casinos on tribal reservations in California reopened in May despite Gov. Gavin Newsom’s pleas to keep such indoor businesses shut. Since then, most tribal casinos in the state have reopened, adopting individual health and safety protocols developed with the assistance of state, federal and local health agencies.
On Monday, the Commerce Casino operated about 60 gaming tables in two tented areas — one that was previously used for parking and one where an outdoor smoking area had been. Before the pandemic, the casino operated 277 tables.
Fernando Martinez, left, looks at his hands before applying hand sanitizer while working at a baccarat table, one of 45 tables set up at the Gardens Casino in Hawaiian Gardens, in what used to be the valet area. (Mel Melcon / Los Angeles Times)
Under the new county protocols, all gamblers and casino employees must wear masks at all times except when eating or drinking in designated areas, and must undergo screening for chills, fever and coughing before entering the outdoor tented area; no food or drink is allowed at the gambling tables; and no spectators are allowed to stand behind the players.
The number of players at each gambling table must be limited “such that patrons and employees are able to maintain physical distancing of at least six feet at all times,” and if not, physical barriers such as plexiglass sheets must be installed, according to the county’s protocols. At the Commerce Casino, a maximum of eight players are allowed to play poker at the same table, with fewer players allowed at tables for games such as pai gow and baccarat.
If three or more employees at a casino are infected with the coronavirus in the span of 14 days, the casino must notify the county Department of Public Health.
Compliance is to be monitored by county health officials as well as state gambling regulators.
Casino operators met with county Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer on June 28 to discuss reopening. According to casino representatives, Ferrer was reluctant to offer reopening guidelines until she gauged the coronavirus trends following the Labor Day holiday weekend. Once she was satisfied that trends were improving, Ferrer sought approval for the health protocols from the Board of Supervisors, casino officials said.
The partial reopening of the card clubs means employees can collect a salary and provide for their families again, said Ralph Franklin, a City Council member in Inglewood, which is home to the Hollywood Park Casino. The city has lost about $3 million in revenue because of the closure of the casino, he said, adding that Inglewood dipped into a reserve fund to avoid layoffs of city workers or cuts to programs.
“Now we have a chance to have employees be gainfully employed,” Franklin said.
Gardena usually counts on taxes from its two casinos — the Hustler Casino and the Larry Flynt’s Lucky Lady Casino — for about 14% of its general fund revenue. Since their closure, the city has furloughed employees and cut city programs.
The card clubs’ reopening “is great,” Mayor Tasha Cerda said. “We’ve really been pushing for this.”
Hawaiian Gardens, home to the Gardens Casino, which generates about 70% of the city’s funding, has laid off nearly 40% of the city staff and eliminated programs for young people and seniors since the casino closed, said Ernie Hernandez, the city manager.
He called the new health protocols “appropriate COVID-19 protections and limitations that will bring back thousands of jobs and much-needed revenue to our city and across the county.”