latimes--2020-07-22--Terror behind bars: Inside California's prisons as coronavirus brought panic and death

Sixty-six inmates from the coronavirus-ridden California Institution for Men were on buses in late May , headed from Chino to the prison at Corcoran where Frank Estrada was incarcerated .
What they didn ’ t know was that “ the ‘ beast ’ came with them , ” Estrada said , alluding to the lethal virus that hitched a ride on one of the most disastrous prisoner transfers in state history .
Corcoran State Prison was coronavirus-free before the buses arrived .
It now has 10 active cases of COVID-19 and one reported inmate death .
San Quentin , California @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 121 transfers from Chino and has since been ravaged by the disease .
Last week , it passed the 2,000 mark in infections , and now reports 862 active cases and 13 deaths among its 3,362 inmates .
The transfers deepened a health crisis within California ’ s correctional system that has now affected more than half of the state ’ s 35 prisons .
At least 40 inmates statewide have died of COVID-related illnesses and 1,905 had active infections on Tuesday .
Current and recently released inmates describe the terror behind bars @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by one , fellow prisoners got sick and in some cases died .
Several said they felt helpless because they could not easily practice social distancing or take other precautions available to those on the outside .
“ The fear echoed through the cells , ” said Estrada , 56 , who managed to avoid the virus and was released early from a 16-month sentence for burglary .
“ Lots of grown men who aren ’ t scared of much were really scared.
” The outbreaks at Corcoran and San Quentin were avoidable @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Chino , according to elected officials , corrections experts and a court-appointed receiver overseeing prison medical care .
At the time of the moves , the Chino prison reported more than 600 cases of COVID-19 and nine deaths .
The 700 inmates selected for transfer had medical conditions that made them especially vulnerable to the virus .
All were tested before they shipped out .
But for reasons that corrections officials have yet to explain , some were tested weeks prior to the move , rendering the results useless .
“ How a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the dates on when those individuals were tested is actually incompetent and unconscionable , ” said state Sen. Nancy Skinner ( D-Berkeley ) , who chairs the Senate Public Safety Committee .
In an emailed statement to The Times , a spokesperson for the court-appointed receiver acknowledged that the transfers were ill-conceived .
“ In essence , the transfer process was opened too early , too quickly and without the necessary precautions in place , ” the statement said .
“ Changes have been made to the transfer and testing policies.
” Michael @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for parole in April and was awaiting final approval and a release date when word of the Chino transfers reached San Quentin , and along with it a feeling of dread .
“ We knew it was only a matter of time for us , ” he said .
Kirkpatrick said he and his cellmate , Anthony Waldrip , both developed symptoms , including headaches .
They were tested last month and got the results about two weeks ago .
“ All they really did was say , ‘ Here , take some @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it , ” he said .
“ We were just kind of on the wish system : You wish you don ’ t have it .
You wish you don ’ t get sicker.
” Kirkpatrick , who was released July 13 after his parole on a burglary conviction was expedited because of the outbreak , said he and Waldrip had their temperatures checked regularly by prison nurses , but never saw a doctor .
“ It was very scary , ” he said .
“ Guys would yell , ‘ Man down @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and it would be someone who fell out or got so sick they had to come and send them out of there .
You ’ d hear that five or six times a day , and you ’ d say , ‘ Am I next ?
’ ” Most inmates were locked down around the clock .
They lived on boxed meals for weeks .
Showers were cut back to one every few days .
On Kirkpatrick ’ s tier of about 50 cells , only about five held men who were not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s really bad , ” he said .
“ A lot of guys who refused to take the test were considered to be not positive — even though many of them probably were.
” Kirkpatrick , who said he earned a college degree during his 22 years in prison and has a job waiting for him as a substance abuse counselor , is quarantined in a San Francisco motel , relishing his newfound freedom and counting his blessings .
Corrections officials say they have taken steps to protect staff , inmates and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ system ’ s population by almost 10,000 since March by reducing new admissions and expediting parole for some 3,500 inmates .
They also noted that some of the state ’ s prisons have no or few infections , and they defended their handling of the outbreak at San Quentin .
In a statement , corrections officials said they have set up a 220-bed “ alternative care site ” on the prison ’ s grounds , given N95 respirators to all inmates and staff and sent hundreds of additional guards and healthcare workers to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ We have taken extraordinary measures to remedy this situation , ” the statement said .
Anxiety also pervades San Quentin ’ s death row , a five-tiered wing that houses 718 condemned men .
At least seven who tested positive for COVID-19 have died in the last month .
“ I pride myself on not being scared of anything or anyone on death row , not even death itself , ” Kevin Cooper wrote in an online opinion article in May .
“ But this virus is more than just dying or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ death , like lethal injection is.
” Cooper , a high-profile inmate who is seeking DNA testing that he says could prove his innocence in the 1983 murder of four people in Chino Hills , wrote that he was doing his best to stay healthy .
“ I social distance , I wash my hands regularly , clean this cage that I am forced to live in on a regular basis , ” he wrote .
“ Every inmate who lives next to me or around me to my knowledge is taking care @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one of Cooper ’ s attorneys , said his client began coughing and suffering flu-like symptoms last month .
He said Cooper seemed to be improving but was still awaiting test results .
“ COVID should not be a death sentence on death row , ” Hile said .
“ They did not get sentenced to death by COVID.
” Critics said the decision to transfer inmates to San Quentin was a bad one for several reasons , including its old-style barred cells that do not restrict airflow .
“ A prison is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ floors and buffets .
People can ’ t get away from each other , ” said defense attorney Brian Pomerantz , who represents death row inmates .
For many inmates , COVID-19 is more of an imminent threat than the executioner .
California has not carried out a death sentence since 2006 .
“ There ’ s a real ‘ sitting duck ’ feeling to this , ” Pomerantz said , adding that inmates at other California prisons also are worried about the virus , especially among vulnerable populations in the system ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
On July 10 , the day that Gov .
Gavin Newsom announced as many as 8,000 California inmates could be let out early to help stem the spread of COVID-19 , Pomerantz petitioned a federal court for the release of Waldrip , a client not held on death row .
Waldrip , 54 , who suffers from high blood pressure and other ailments , has served about 20 years of a 25-years-to-life sentence for being a felon in possession of a firearm .
In January 2000 , two Los Angeles police officers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a handgun and arrested him , court records state .
Waldrip , who was visiting and did not own the gun , had taken it from a play area where an 8-year-old boy was showing it to his sister , according to court records .
The weapons charge was a “ third strike ” offense for Waldrip .
Pomerantz argued in court papers that Waldrip , who is eligible for parole in less than a year , “ can get better medical treatment and has a substantially better chance of surviving COVID-19 outside @ @ @ @ @ @ @ California ’ s prisons , officials earlier this month replaced the correction system ’ s top medical officer , Dr. R. Steven Tharratt , and Newsom criticized the decision to transfer the Chino inmates .
Although kept separate from the rest of the inmate population at San Quentin , the 121 new arrivals used the same showers and ate in the same mess hall as other prisoners .
After less than a week , San Quentin reported four positive cases among inmates and halted further transfers .
J. Clark Kelso , the court-appointed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ since 2008 , said at a July 1 state Senate hearing that a transfer protocol had called for all inmates to test negative before being transferred .
But it did not include a time frame for the tests .
“ Although all patients had negative test results , in many cases , the tests were two , three and some cases four weeks old , ” he said .
“ Far too old , to be a reliable indicator for the absence of COVID.
” Once transferred inmates began testing positive for COVID-19 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ testing within seven days of transfer .
Prisoner advocates and healthcare experts said there was no defending the testing foul-up .
“ It is basic medicine — a nurse could have told you those tests were too old , ” said Don Specter , executive director of the Prison Law Office , which represents inmates in a long-standing lawsuit over medical care .

Outside the California Institute for Men in Chino. The prison reported more than 600 cases of COVID-19 and nine deaths.
Sixty-six inmates from the coronavirus-ridden California Institution for Men were on buses in late May, headed from Chino to the prison at Corcoran where Frank Estrada was incarcerated.
What they didn’t know was that “the ‘beast’ came with them,” Estrada said, alluding to the lethal virus that hitched a ride on one of the most disastrous prisoner transfers in state history.
Corcoran State Prison was coronavirus-free before the buses arrived. It now has 10 active cases of COVID-19 and one reported inmate death.
Advertisement
San Quentin, California’s oldest prison, took in 121 transfers from Chino and has since been ravaged by the disease. Last week, it passed the 2,000 mark in infections, and now reports 862 active cases and 13 deaths among its 3,362 inmates.
The transfers deepened a health crisis within California’s correctional system that has now affected more than half of the state’s 35 prisons. At least 40 inmates statewide have died of COVID-related illnesses, and 1,905 had active infections on Tuesday.
Current and recently released inmates describe the terror behind bars as the virus raged and, one by one, fellow prisoners got sick and in some cases died. Several said they felt helpless because they could not easily practice social distancing or take other precautions available to those on the outside.
“The fear echoed through the cells,” said Estrada, 56, who managed to avoid the virus and was released early from a 16-month sentence for burglary. “Lots of grown men who aren’t scared of much were really scared.”
More than 2,000 inmates at San Quentin State Prison have tested positive for COVID-19, including 13 who died. (Eric Risberg / Associated Press)
The outbreaks at Corcoran and San Quentin were avoidable had officials not made the transfers from Chino, according to elected officials, corrections experts and a court-appointed receiver overseeing prison medical care.
Advertisement
At the time of the moves, the Chino prison reported more than 600 cases of COVID-19 and nine deaths. The 700 inmates selected for transfer had medical conditions that made them especially vulnerable to the virus.
All were tested before they shipped out. But for reasons that corrections officials have yet to explain, some were tested weeks prior to the move, rendering the results useless.
“How a transfer occurred where someone did not check the dates on when those individuals were tested is actually incompetent and unconscionable,” said state Sen. Nancy Skinner (D-Berkeley), who chairs the Senate Public Safety Committee.
In an emailed statement to The Times, a spokesperson for the court-appointed receiver acknowledged that the transfers were ill-conceived.
“In essence, the transfer process was opened too early, too quickly and without the necessary precautions in place,” the statement said.
“Changes have been made to the transfer and testing policies.”
Michael Kirkpatrick, 62, was deemed suitable for parole in April and was awaiting final approval and a release date when word of the Chino transfers reached San Quentin, and along with it a feeling of dread.
“We knew it was only a matter of time for us,” he said.
Kirkpatrick said he and his cellmate, Anthony Waldrip, both developed symptoms, including headaches. They were tested last month and got the results about two weeks ago.
“All they really did was say, ‘Here, take some Tylenol,’ and that’s it,” he said. “We were just kind of on the wish system: You wish you don’t have it. You wish you don’t get sicker.”
Kirkpatrick, who was released July 13 after his parole on a burglary conviction was expedited because of the outbreak, said he and Waldrip had their temperatures checked regularly by prison nurses but never saw a doctor.
“It was very scary,” he said. “Guys would yell, ‘Man down in 246! Man down!’ and it would be someone who fell out or got so sick they had to come and send them out of there. You’d hear that five or six times a day, and you’d say, ‘Am I next?’”
Most inmates were locked down around the clock. They lived on boxed meals for weeks. Showers were cut back to one every few days.
On Kirkpatrick’s tier of about 50 cells, only about five held men who were not infected, he said.
“It’s really bad,” he said. “A lot of guys who refused to take the test were considered to be not positive — even though many of them probably were.”
Kirkpatrick, who said he earned a college degree during his 22 years in prison and has a job waiting for him as a substance abuse counselor, is quarantined in a San Francisco motel, relishing his newfound freedom and counting his blessings.
Corrections officials say they have taken steps to protect staff, inmates and surrounding communities. They include shrinking the system’s population by almost 10,000 since March by reducing new admissions and expediting parole for some 3,500 inmates.
They also noted that some of the state’s prisons have no or few infections, and they defended their handling of the outbreak at San Quentin. In a statement, corrections officials said they have set up a 220-bed “alternative care site” on the prison’s grounds, given N95 respirators to all inmates and staff and sent hundreds of additional guards and healthcare workers to help reduce movements between housing units.
“We have taken extraordinary measures to remedy this situation,” the statement said.
Anxiety also pervades San Quentin’s death row, a five-tiered wing that houses 718 condemned men. At least seven who tested positive for COVID-19 have died in the last month.
“I pride myself on not being scared of anything or anyone on death row, not even death itself,” Kevin Cooper wrote in an online opinion article in May. “But this virus is more than just dying or death. It’s a torturous death, like lethal injection is.”
World & Nation Out of Portland tear gas, an apparition emerges, capturing the imagination of protesters An iconic image has emerged on Twitter since early Saturday morning in Portland, when a woman wearing nothing but a mask and cap strode toward federal agents as they fired tear gas at protesters — a surreal image of human vulnerability in the face of an overpowering force.
Cooper, a high-profile inmate who is seeking DNA testing that he says could prove his innocence in the 1983 murder of four people in Chino Hills, wrote that he was doing his best to stay healthy.
“I social distance, I wash my hands regularly, clean this cage that I am forced to live in on a regular basis,” he wrote.
“Every inmate who lives next to me or around me to my knowledge is taking care of themselves too.”
Norm Hile, one of Cooper’s attorneys, said his client began coughing and suffering flu-like symptoms last month. He said Cooper seemed to be improving but was still awaiting test results.
“COVID should not be a death sentence on death row,” Hile said. “They did not get sentenced to death by COVID.”
Critics said the decision to transfer inmates to San Quentin was a bad one for several reasons, including its old-style barred cells that do not restrict airflow.
“A prison is like a cruise ship without the dance floors and buffets. People can’t get away from each other,” said defense attorney Brian Pomerantz, who represents death row inmates.
For many inmates, COVID-19 is more of an imminent threat than the executioner. California has not carried out a death sentence since 2006.
“There’s a real ‘sitting duck’ feeling to this,” Pomerantz said, adding that inmates at other California prisons also are worried about the virus, especially among vulnerable populations in the system’s medical facilities in Vacaville and Stockton.
On July 10, the day that Gov. Gavin Newsom announced as many as 8,000 California inmates could be let out early to help stem the spread of COVID-19, Pomerantz petitioned a federal court for the release of Waldrip, a client not held on death row.
Waldrip, 54, who suffers from high blood pressure and other ailments, has served about 20 years of a 25-years-to-life sentence for being a felon in possession of a firearm.
In January 2000, two Los Angeles police officers saw him in an apartment doorway holding a handgun and arrested him, court records state. Waldrip, who was visiting and did not own the gun, had taken it from a play area where an 8-year-old boy was showing it to his sister, according to court records.
The weapons charge was a “third strike” offense for Waldrip.
Pomerantz argued in court papers that Waldrip, who is eligible for parole in less than a year, “can get better medical treatment and has a substantially better chance of surviving COVID-19 outside of prison.”
As COVID-19 spread through California’s prisons, officials earlier this month replaced the correction system’s top medical officer, Dr. R. Steven Tharratt, and Newsom criticized the decision to transfer the Chino inmates.
Although kept separate from the rest of the inmate population at San Quentin, the 121 new arrivals used the same showers and ate in the same mess hall as other prisoners. After less than a week, San Quentin reported four positive cases among inmates and halted further transfers.
J. Clark Kelso, the court-appointed receiver overseeing California prisons’ medical care since 2008, said at a July 1 state Senate hearing that a transfer protocol had called for all inmates to test negative before being transferred. But it did not include a time frame for the tests.
“Although all patients had negative test results, in many cases, the tests were two, three and some cases four weeks old,” he said. “Far too old, to be a reliable indicator for the absence of COVID.”
Once transferred inmates began testing positive for COVID-19, the protocol was changed to require testing within seven days of transfer.
Prisoner advocates and healthcare experts said there was no defending the testing foul-up.
“It is basic medicine — a nurse could have told you those tests were too old,” said Don Specter, executive director of the Prison Law Office, which represents inmates in a long-standing lawsuit over medical care.


latimes--2020-07-22--Flaring at Wilmington refinery caused by mechanical failure

Flaring and black smoke coming from the Phillips 66 refinery in Wilmington on Tuesday afternoon was caused by a mechanical @ @ @ @ @ South Coast Air Quality Management District .
Ten members of the public called to complain @ @ @ @ @ smoke starting about 3:10 p.m. and lasting about 90 minutes , said Nahal Mogharabi , @ @ @ @ @ AQMD .
“ Shortly after the first complaint was received , a South Coast AQMD @ @ @ @ @ facility , ” Mogharabi said in an emailed statement .
“ The inspector conducted an @ @ @ @ @ active flaring or visible emissions.
” Refinery officials told the South Coast AQMD that the @ @ @ @ @ mechanical failure , Mogharabi said .
The residents who complained were contacted and the flaring @ @ @ @ @

Flaring and black smoke coming from the Phillips 66 refinery in Wilmington on Tuesday afternoon was caused by a mechanical failure, according to the South Coast Air Quality Management District.
Ten members of the public called to complain about the flaring and black smoke starting about 3:10 p.m. and lasting about 90 minutes, said Nahal Mogharabi, a spokesperson for South Coast AQMD.
“Shortly after the first complaint was received, a South Coast AQMD inspector was dispatched to the facility,” Mogharabi said in an emailed statement. “The inspector conducted an investigation but did not observe active flaring or visible emissions.”
Advertisement
Refinery officials told the South Coast AQMD that the issue was caused by a mechanical failure, Mogharabi said.
The residents who complained were contacted and the flaring is still being investigated.


latimes--2020-07-21--Former L.A. City Councilman Hal Bernson dies at 89

Hal Bernson , who led the city to establish historic seismic safety laws during his 24 years on the Los Angeles City Council , has died .
He was 89 .
Bernson ’ s death was confirmed Tuesday by Greig Smith , a former city councilman who also served as Bernson ’ s chief of staff .
A blunt politician from the northwest San Fernando Valley , Bernson was unafraid to publicly argue with his council colleagues and impatient with bureaucratic delays .
He “ was an old-school guy who cared about fixing his community , ” Smith said in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ press conferences because he didn ’ t care about getting credit , ” Smith said .
“ It wasn ’ t his thing.
” The son of Romanian and Polish immigrants , Bernson was selling T-shirts when he first ran for City Council in 1979 .
He served until 2003 .
A Republican , Bernson brought an urgency to City Hall and was known for ending his testimony at council hearings with the phrase “ Let ’ s get on with it.
” The chair of the city ’ s planning and land-use @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and residential development to Porter Ranch , sparking anger from some groups .
His dedication to seismic safety was his biggest legacy , earning him the nickname Mr. Earthquake .
He pushed to require the retrofitting of thousands of Los Angeles ’ oldest buildings and established mandates for future construction .
Laws supported by Bernson probably saved lives and property when the 1994 Northridge earthquake hit , former colleagues said .
“ Seismic safety was an issue that most politicians wouldn ’ t touch with a 10-foot pole , because it could only @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Yaroslavsky , a former L.A. County supervisor who also served on the City Council with Bernson .
“ He gravitated toward it like it was a life-and-death issue .
And it was.
” Bernson helped to organize the city ’ s first international earthquake conference and to create the “ Quakey-Shakey Van , ” a vehicle that taught children about quake safety .
He also pushed for a landmark ordinance banning new wood-shingle roofs , a move supported by the city ’ s fire department .
“ He was the guy who wouldn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ earthquakes and natural disasters , ” Mayor Eric Garcetti said .
“ He owned that space.
” Garcetti , a former City Council member , recalled serving alongside Bernson at a time when members publicly sparred on the council floor .
“ I would regularly watch [ Bernson ] yell at Nate Holden and Nate yell at Mike Hernandez and Mike Hernandez yell at Hal Bernson , ” Garcetti said .
“ And then when they were done yelling at each other , they ’ d shake hands and probably go out to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ much .
“ Stocky , with dark , thinning hair and a serious gaze , Bernson concedes that he sometimes lets his frustration get the better of him , ” The Times wrote in 1994 .
“ But he makes no apologies for doggedly pursuing the policies he thinks will make the city safer.
” Bernson and his wife , Robyn , had three daughters , Nicole , Holleigh and Sarah .
Holleigh , 26 , was killed in a one-car accident in Griffith Park in 1995 .
Times staff writers Hugo Martín @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .

Hal Bernson, who led the city to establish historic seismic safety laws during his 24 years on the Los Angeles City Council, has died. He was 89.
Bernson’s death was confirmed Tuesday by Greig Smith, a former city councilman who also served as Bernson’s chief of staff.
A blunt politician from the northwest San Fernando Valley, Bernson was unafraid to publicly argue with his council colleagues and impatient with bureaucratic delays. He “was an old-school guy who cared about fixing his community,” Smith said in an interview.
Advertisement
“He never had press conferences because he didn’t care about getting credit,” Smith said. “It wasn’t his thing.”
The son of Romanian and Polish immigrants, Bernson was selling T-shirts when he first ran for City Council in 1979. He served until 2003.
A Republican, Bernson brought an urgency to City Hall and was known for ending his testimony at council hearings with the phrase “Let’s get on with it.”
The chair of the city’s planning and land-use management committee, Bernson supported bringing commercial and residential development to Porter Ranch, sparking anger from some groups.
His dedication to seismic safety was his biggest legacy, earning him the nickname Mr. Earthquake. He pushed to require the retrofitting of thousands of Los Angeles’ oldest buildings and established mandates for future construction. Laws supported by Bernson probably saved lives and property when the 1994 Northridge earthquake hit, former colleagues said.
“Seismic safety was an issue that most politicians wouldn’t touch with a 10-foot pole, because it could only alienate building owners,” said Zev Yaroslavsky, a former L.A. County supervisor who also served on the City Council with Bernson. “He gravitated toward it like it was a life-and-death issue. And it was.”
Bernson helped to organize the city’s first international earthquake conference and to create the “Quakey-Shakey Van,” a vehicle that taught children about quake safety. He also pushed for a landmark ordinance banning new wood-shingle roofs, a move supported by the city’s fire department.
Advertisement
“He was the guy who wouldn’t let people stop preparing for earthquakes and natural disasters,” Mayor Eric Garcetti said. “He owned that space.”
Garcetti, a former City Council member, recalled serving alongside Bernson at a time when members publicly sparred on the council floor.
“I would regularly watch [Bernson] yell at Nate Holden and Nate yell at Mike Hernandez and Mike Hernandez yell at Hal Bernson,” Garcetti said. “And then when they were done yelling at each other, they’d shake hands and probably go out to dinner together.”
Bernson would admit as much. “Stocky, with dark, thinning hair and a serious gaze, Bernson concedes that he sometimes lets his frustration get the better of him,” The Times wrote in 1994. “But he makes no apologies for doggedly pursuing the policies he thinks will make the city safer.”
Bernson and his wife, Robyn, had three daughters, Nicole, Holleigh and Sarah. Holleigh, 26, was killed in a one-car accident in Griffith Park in 1995.
Times staff writers Hugo Martín and Nita Lelyveld contributed to this report.


latimes--2020-07-21--Reopening plans at UC Berkeley, other campuses fall apart amid coronavirus surge

Hopes that college life might begin a slow return to normal this fall were deflated Tuesday , when two University of California campuses announced they would begin the semester with fully remote instruction amid a pandemic surge .
UC Berkeley and UC Merced had hoped to open Aug. 26 with a mix of online , in-person and hybrid classes .
But they reversed those plans as COVID-19 infections began their record-shattering increases throughout California , with cases now topping more than 400,000 and deaths , 7,800 .
In Los Angeles County , half of new COVID-19 cases were among those @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reversals follow other decisions to do likewise by several California campuses , including USC , Pomona College and Occidental College .
Nationally , the proportion of colleges and universities planning for in-person classes has declined from about two-thirds in May to about half today , according to more than 1,200 campus plans reviewed by the Chronicle of Higher Education .
“ What you ’ re seeing is people having a great deal of respect for the power of this virus and doing everything they can to provide high-quality education in the safest way @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the American Council on Education , which represents more than 1,700 colleges and universities .
“ Nationally , people are beginning to pull back on the intensity of their in-person instruction.
” Most institutions will continue to offer some on-campus housing for those in need , such as students facing housing hardships or from other countries .
Berkeley plans to make about one-third of its beds available , downsizing to single-occupancy rooms , and has issued about 3,200 housing contracts with space still available , campus officials said .
Glenn DeGuzman , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said students considering whether to come to campus should talk to their families to make sure they are well-informed and comfortable with the risks and restrictions of doing so .
Students who choose to return to campus will be tested for COVID-19 within 24 hours of arrival and sequestered for 7 to 10 days , then tested again .
They will be expected to refrain from outside contact except during essential tasks , such as getting food , and required to wear masks at nearly all times .
Those who violate the rules @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with possible restrictions on access to buildings or services , DeGuzman said during an online campus conversation Tuesday .
To help foster connections during this isolating time , Berkeley plans to organize “ social bubbles ” of 10 to 12 students each who would be allowed to socialize with each other to create a “ smaller family-like experience , ” DeGuzman said .
UC Merced also has scaled back its planned reopening .
The Central Valley campus had hoped to offer as many as 30 % of its classes in-person but will begin @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at least the first four weeks .
Merced also plans to fill less than 20 % of its 4,000 beds with only certain students , such as those in financial or physical need .
The limited on-campus experience could hit Merced students particularly hard .
Among UC ’ s nine undergraduate campuses , Merced educates the largest proportion of students who are low-income , 64 % , and the first in their families to attend college , 74 % .
Buttressed by research showing that students who live together in small learning communities @ @ @ @ @ @ @ two-year on-campus living requirement , but the pandemic has forced the university to waive it for the coming year .
UCLA , which does not begin its fall quarter until September , has not yet changed its goal to hold about 15 % to 20 % of classes in person and open some campus housing .
USC announced this month it would scale down fall reopening plans and offer only 10 % to 20 % of courses in person .
Pomona and Occidental Colleges also announced plans for fully remote instruction , a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ intimate living and learning communities .
At Occidental , campus housing will remain closed to all but a limited number of international students and those with significant housing hardships .
Pomona does not intend to house any students but will increase financial aid to help cover the off-campus cost of attendance , including housing and food , and offer remote jobs for student workers .
Occidental President Harry J. Elam Jr. said campus leaders made the difficult decision to go remote as data showed the virus surging , including among younger people .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ for testing raised concerns about Occidental ’ s ability to offer a robust testing and tracing protocol for students , staff and faculty , he said in a message last week .
Pomona President G. Gabrielle Starr said that college leaders had to face the facts that the hoped-for summer slowdown in the virus spread had not materialized , and public health conditions were getting worse .
“ On-campus , in-person education is central to our liberal arts mission , ” she wrote to the campus community this month .
“ The reality @ @ @ @ @ @ @ back for fall , it would be under such restricted conditions that campus life would bear little resemblance to the community we cherish : No public gatherings or performances , no face-to-face meetings between students and professors , no orientation trips — the list of ‘ no ’ s ’ would be extensive.
” All of the campuses said they ’ ve invested heavily in improving their online instruction and hoped to offer engaging classes this fall .

Hopes that college life might begin a slow return to normal this fall were deflated Tuesday, when two University of California campuses announced they would begin the semester with fully remote instruction amid a pandemic surge.
UC Berkeley and UC Merced had hoped to open Aug. 26 with a mix of online, in-person and hybrid classes. But they reversed those plans as COVID-19 infections began their record-shattering increases throughout California, with cases now topping more than 400,000 and deaths, 7,800. In Los Angeles County, half of new COVID-19 cases were among those ages 18 to 40.
The UC reversals follow other decisions to do likewise by several California campuses, including USC, Pomona College and Occidental College. Nationally, the proportion of colleges and universities planning for in-person classes has declined from about two-thirds in May to about half today, according to more than 1,200 campus plans reviewed by the Chronicle of Higher Education.
Advertisement
“What you’re seeing is people having a great deal of respect for the power of this virus and doing everything they can to provide high-quality education in the safest way,” said Ted Mitchell, president of the American Council on Education, which represents more than 1,700 colleges and universities. “Nationally, people are beginning to pull back on the intensity of their in-person instruction.”
Most institutions will continue to offer some on-campus housing for those in need, such as students facing housing hardships or from other countries. Berkeley plans to make about one-third of its beds available, downsizing to single-occupancy rooms, and has issued about 3,200 housing contracts with space still available, campus officials said.
Glenn DeGuzman, Berkeley’s residential life director, said students considering whether to come to campus should talk to their families to make sure they are well-informed and comfortable with the risks and restrictions of doing so.
Students who choose to return to campus will be tested for COVID-19 within 24 hours of arrival and sequestered for 7 to 10 days, then tested again. They will be expected to refrain from outside contact except during essential tasks, such as getting food, and required to wear masks at nearly all times.
Those who violate the rules will be “held accountable,” with possible restrictions on access to buildings or services, DeGuzman said during an online campus conversation Tuesday.
Advertisement
To help foster connections during this isolating time, Berkeley plans to organize “social bubbles” of 10 to 12 students each who would be allowed to socialize with each other to create a “smaller family-like experience,” DeGuzman said.
UC Merced also has scaled back its planned reopening. The Central Valley campus had hoped to offer as many as 30% of its classes in-person but will begin fall term with fully online classes for at least the first four weeks. Merced also plans to fill less than 20% of its 4,000 beds with only certain students, such as those in financial or physical need.
The limited on-campus experience could hit Merced students particularly hard. Among UC’s nine undergraduate campuses, Merced educates the largest proportion of students who are low-income, 64%, and the first in their families to attend college, 74%. Buttressed by research showing that students who live together in small learning communities do best, Merced had instituted a two-year on-campus living requirement, but the pandemic has forced the university to waive it for the coming year.
UCLA, which does not begin its fall quarter until September, has not yet changed its goal to hold about 15% to 20% of classes in person and open some campus housing. USC announced this month it would scale down fall reopening plans and offer only 10% to 20% of courses in person.
Pomona and Occidental Colleges also announced plans for fully remote instruction, a blow to residential colleges whose trademark is intimate living and learning communities.
At Occidental, campus housing will remain closed to all but a limited number of international students and those with significant housing hardships. Pomona does not intend to house any students but will increase financial aid to help cover the off-campus cost of attendance, including housing and food, and offer remote jobs for student workers.
Occidental President Harry J. Elam Jr. said campus leaders made the difficult decision to go remote as data showed the virus surging, including among younger people. In addition, the recent increased demand for testing raised concerns about Occidental’s ability to offer a robust testing and tracing protocol for students, staff and faculty, he said in a message last week.
Pomona President G. Gabrielle Starr said that college leaders had to face the facts that the hoped-for summer slowdown in the virus spread had not materialized, and public health conditions were getting worse.
“On-campus, in-person education is central to our liberal arts mission,” she wrote to the campus community this month. “The reality is that if we had brought students back for fall, it would be under such restricted conditions that campus life would bear little resemblance to the community we cherish: No public gatherings or performances, no face-to-face meetings between students and professors, no orientation trips — the list of ‘no’s’ would be extensive.”
All of the campuses said they’ve invested heavily in improving their online instruction and hoped to offer engaging classes this fall.


latimes--2020-07-21--Calabasas mayor calls out YouTuber Jake Paul for house party, sets new restrictions

After controversial YouTuber Jake Paul threw a large house party in Calabasas in the midst of a pandemic , Mayor Alicia Weintraub criticized the celebrity and said authorities will begin to fine people $ 100 for not wearing masks and shut down large gatherings .
Videos captured from the 23-year-old ’ s July 11 gathering show dozens of young people mixing without masks or social distancing .
In the clips , carefree partygoers roll dice and drink , swing from a raised excavator crane and pull a car into the packed lobby of Paul ’ s Calabasas mansion .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ interacting with people like that during this time .
People need to be wearing masks and people need to be keeping their distance .
You can ’ t be having parties with over 100 people , ” Weintraub said .
As internet influencers played at Paul ’ s house , Los Angeles County officials reported 2,916 new coronavirus cases and 57 more COVID-19-related deaths that day .
“ Our numbers our rising , ” Weintraub said , adding that the city has seen 174 cases of the novel coronavirus .
Each of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 52 of its cases come from nursing facilities , she said , but those numbers don ’ t make Paul ’ s party safe .
“ Younger and younger people in our community are testing positive , ” Weintraub said .
“ Even though a young person might not get really sick , they have the potential to spread it to someone else who could get really sick.
” Paul ’ s not the only Calabasas resident throwing parties .
Weintraub said a recent baby shower brought in more than 200 guests .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ too , she added .
“ People are not acknowledging that we ’ re living in the time of COVID-19 , ” she said .
The get-togethers are spreading the coronavirus , and the entire community lives with the consequences , Weintraub said .
“ So many of our businesses are still shut down or are open with limitations .
No child in the state is starting school in person .
These are the consequences for parties like this : the constant spread of the virus , ” she said .
The city @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sheriff ’ s Department to shut down any gatherings that violate the city ’ s and county ’ s health orders , Weintraub wrote in a Friday media release .
Authorities will also issue fines of $ 100 to people breaching mask rules .
The mayor said she wishes she didn ’ t have to put the new policies in place : “ It just shows that some people aren ’ t taking this seriously.
” Weintraub also said she worries that the young people following Paul , who has 20.1 million subscribers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ billion views on the platform , will follow his lead and disregard health guidelines .
She noted many other internet influencers shared videos from the party .
“ I ’ m hoping he will turn it around , issue an apology , and start promoting wearing a mask , ” Weintraub said .
Paul hasn ’ t done anything of the sort yet .
During his most recent video , a friend mentions that the YouTuber is embroiled in scandal .
“ I haven ’ t been in a scandal .
I ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Paul said as a headline from an “ Insider ” piece about the party appeared .
On Twitter , the celebrity reshared a post from YouTuber Tyler Oakley that showed video from the party .
A representative for Paul did not respond to a request for comment Tuesday , but Weintraub said one recently reached out to her .
“ They apologized .
They want him to do better .
Only time will tell , ” she said .

Jake Paul at the Teen Choice Awards at the Galen Center in Los Angeles in 2017.
After controversial YouTuber Jake Paul threw a large house party in Calabasas in the midst of a pandemic, Mayor Alicia Weintraub criticized the celebrity and said authorities will begin to fine people $100 for not wearing masks and shut down large gatherings.
Videos captured from the 23-year-old’s July 11 gathering show dozens of young people mixing without masks or social distancing. In the clips, carefree partygoers roll dice and drink, swing from a raised excavator crane and pull a car into the packed lobby of Paul’s Calabasas mansion.
NEW: The mayor of Calabasas & neighbors tell me they’re outraged after they say YouTube celebrity @jakepaul threw a massive party at his mansion on Saturday. They call it irresponsible, selfish, & say it’s businesses & workers who pay the price for this w/ lockdowns. 10pm @FOXLA pic.twitter.com/COiVleuDH2 — Bill Melugin (@BillFOXLA) July 15, 2020
Advertisement
“It’s completely unacceptable to be interacting with people like that during this time. People need to be wearing masks and people need to be keeping their distance. You can’t be having parties with over 100 people,” Weintraub said.
As internet influencers played at Paul’s house, Los Angeles County officials reported 2,916 new coronavirus cases and 57 more COVID-19-related deaths that day.
“Our numbers our rising,” Weintraub said, adding that the city has seen 174 cases of the novel coronavirus. Each of the city’s 11 COVID-related deaths and 52 of its cases come from nursing facilities, she said, but those numbers don’t make Paul’s party safe.
“Younger and younger people in our community are testing positive,” Weintraub said. “Even though a young person might not get really sick, they have the potential to spread it to someone else who could get really sick.”
Paul’s not the only Calabasas resident throwing parties. Weintraub said a recent baby shower brought in more than 200 guests. A wedding reception got a big crowd too, she added.
“People are not acknowledging that we’re living in the time of COVID-19,” she said.
Advertisement
The get-togethers are spreading the coronavirus, and the entire community lives with the consequences, Weintraub said.
“So many of our businesses are still shut down or are open with limitations. No child in the state is starting school in person. These are the consequences for parties like this: the constant spread of the virus,” she said.
The city will now work with the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department to shut down any gatherings that violate the city’s and county’s health orders, Weintraub wrote in a Friday media release. Authorities will also issue fines of $100 to people breaching mask rules.
The mayor said she wishes she didn’t have to put the new policies in place: “It just shows that some people aren’t taking this seriously.”
Weintraub also said she worries that the young people following Paul, who has 20.1 million subscribers on YouTube and has amassed nearly 7 billion views on the platform, will follow his lead and disregard health guidelines. She noted many other internet influencers shared videos from the party.
“I’m hoping he will turn it around, issue an apology, and start promoting wearing a mask,” Weintraub said.
Paul hasn’t done anything of the sort yet. During his most recent video, a friend mentions that the YouTuber is embroiled in scandal.
“I haven’t been in a scandal. I’ve been in a false accusation,” Paul said as a headline from an “Insider” piece about the party appeared. On Twitter, the celebrity reshared a post from YouTuber Tyler Oakley that showed video from the party.
A representative for Paul did not respond to a request for comment Tuesday, but Weintraub said one recently reached out to her.
“They apologized. They want him to do better. Only time will tell,” she said.


latimes--2020-07-22--Redwood City washes away Black Lives Matter street art after resident proposes a MAGA one too

The 1990s and 2000s had been disappointingly stagnant years in the push for racial equality , Daniel Pease thought .
He was worried for the future of his mixed-race son , just 4 years old .
“ I realize the clock is ticking .
We ’ re running out of time and I don ’ t want my child growing up the same way we did , ” Pease told the Daily Journal of San Mateo , Calif. After seeing photos of street art in Washington , D.C. , Boston and New York City , Pease asked Redwood City for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Matter sign across the pavement near Courthouse Square on the Fourth of July .
City officials quickly agreed , and the city even provided him a bucket of yellow paint .
Little did Pease know that city crews would power-wash the 17-foot artwork away during the dead of night two weeks later , leaving only bare , faded asphalt .
Officials said they removed the piece on July 17 to prevent “ driver confusion and traffic accidents ” caused by street art , although no collisions had occurred , city spokeswoman Jennifer Yamaguma @ @ @ @ @ @ @ further art installation will be authorized on the city ’ s streets , ” Yamaguma wrote .
But residents aren ’ t sure that the possibility of traffic accidents is the real reason for the art moratorium .
They think a woman ’ s request might be to blame .
When the yellow-painted Black Lives Matter sign was rolled onto Broadway on July 4 , local lawyer Maria Rutenburg figured the city streets had become a zone for political discourse .
So she emailed the Redwood City Council “ asking for permission to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it , ” Rutenburg said .
“ I suggested the spot and the type of paint and everything.
” But city officials rejected her request , citing the decision not to authorize street art .
Reluctant to accept no , Rutenburg tried again .
“ My application to paint MAGA 2020 stands submitted , ” she wrote .
During an interview , Rutenburg clarified that she never asked for the Black Lives Matter artwork to be erased .
She simply insisted the city provide her an equal platform to voice what ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s reelection .
“ It ’ s not really about Black lives for me .
I did not fight BLM , ” said Rutenburg , who is white .
“ And I want to make sure that it ’ s understood that I ’ m not a racist.
” City officials didn ’ t respond to a question about whether Rutenburg ’ s emails held any weight in their decision to prohibit all street installations , or whether traffic accidents were truly the sole concern .
Either way , residents were unhappy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ erase the words .
More than 1,000 people signed a Change.org petition to protest the removal of the art piece , which had become “ a powerful reminder of one of the greatest social justice movements in our country , ” the petition says .
Redwood City ’ s “ negation of the community ’ s voice is itself an example of white supremacy — privileging one white voice over the community ’ s , ” it says .
In addition to the online petition , Rutenburg ’ s phone number and voicemail @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ I get like about 500 calls a day right now , ” she said .
“ Some people thank me for doing it .
Some people tell me , ‘ I know where you live , and I ’ m going to come for you.
’ ” For Pease , the most disheartening part is not that the city removed the art piece , but that someone had “ the audacity to come out with ... a comparable counterpunch to Black Lives Matter.
” The artwork was “ just words on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ represent real change , ” he told the Daily Journal .

The asphalt on Courthouse Square in Redwood City is bare again after having “Black Lives Matter” painted on it since the Fourth of July.
The 1990s and 2000s had been disappointingly stagnant years in the push for racial equality, Daniel Pease thought. He was worried for the future of his mixed-race son, just 4 years old.
“I realize the clock is ticking. We’re running out of time and I don’t want my child growing up the same way we did,” Pease told the Daily Journal of San Mateo, Calif.
After seeing photos of street art in Washington, D.C., Boston and New York City, Pease asked Redwood City for permission to paint his own Black Lives Matter sign across the pavement near Courthouse Square on the Fourth of July. City officials quickly agreed, and the city even provided him a bucket of yellow paint.
Advertisement
Little did Pease know that city crews would power-wash the 17-foot artwork away during the dead of night two weeks later, leaving only bare, faded asphalt.
Officials said they removed the piece on July 17 to prevent “driver confusion and traffic accidents” caused by street art, although no collisions had occurred, city spokeswoman Jennifer Yamaguma wrote in an email.
“No further art installation will be authorized on the city’s streets,” Yamaguma wrote.
But residents aren’t sure that the possibility of traffic accidents is the real reason for the art moratorium. They think a woman’s request might be to blame.
When the yellow-painted Black Lives Matter sign was rolled onto Broadway on July 4, local lawyer Maria Rutenburg figured the city streets had become a zone for political discourse.
So she emailed the Redwood City Council “asking for permission to paint ‘MAGA 2020’ next to it,” Rutenburg said. “I suggested the spot and the type of paint and everything.”
Advertisement
But city officials rejected her request, citing the decision not to authorize street art.
Reluctant to accept no, Rutenburg tried again. “My application to paint MAGA 2020 stands submitted,” she wrote.
During an interview, Rutenburg clarified that she never asked for the Black Lives Matter artwork to be erased. She simply insisted the city provide her an equal platform to voice what’s more important to her: President Trump’s reelection.
“It’s not really about Black lives for me. I did not fight BLM,” said Rutenburg, who is white. “And I want to make sure that it’s understood that I’m not a racist.”
City officials didn’t respond to a question about whether Rutenburg’s emails held any weight in their decision to prohibit all street installations, or whether traffic accidents were truly the sole concern. Either way, residents were unhappy about the city’s decision to erase the words.
More than 1,000 people signed a Change.org petition to protest the removal of the art piece, which had become “a powerful reminder of one of the greatest social justice movements in our country,” the petition says.
Redwood City’s “negation of the community’s voice is itself an example of white supremacy — privileging one white voice over the community’s,” it says.
In addition to the online petition, Rutenburg’s phone number and voicemail have become a forum for community viewpoints.
“I get like about 500 calls a day right now,” she said. “Some people thank me for doing it. Some people tell me, ‘I know where you live, and I’m going to come for you.’”
For Pease, the most disheartening part is not that the city removed the art piece, but that someone desired to paint a “counterpunch” to the Black Lives Matter movement.
The artwork was “just words on the street. It doesn’t represent real change,” he told the Daily Journal.


latimes--2020-07-22--Two L.A. County supervisors tout pandemic safety, but put own employees at risk, staffers say

Los Angeles County Supervisors Hilda Solis and Kathryn Barger have made clear their views on ways to minimize risky behavior during the pandemic .
Residents are “ safer at home , ” both have repeatedly said at coronavirus news briefings since March .
But some of their own employees say the supervisors have failed to keep them safe .
The two supervisors , say the employees , have required them for weeks to work in unsafe conditions at the county administration building and in district field offices , and ignored their pleas to allow them to work from home .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ from members of both staffs that was circulated among county executives and provided to The Times .
The letter ’ s authors — who describe themselves as “ many members of the staff of the 1st and 5th District ” — make the case that several people working at the county ’ s Hall of Administration are “ young employees that are going to bars and restaurants and are at higher risk of contracting and spreading the virus.
” The employees also allege that the supervisors are not enforcing the L.A. County Department @ @ @ @ @ @ @ any of their offices .
They say the three other supervisors — Mark Ridley-Thomas , Sheila Kuehl and Janice Hahn — have allowed their entire staffs to work remotely .
“ They feel entitled to require staff to report back to their offices although their work can be performed remotely .
It would be impossible for them to make a case that we need to be in our office spaces to perform our duties , ” reads the letter , referring to Solis and Barger .
Solis and Barger employ about 75 full-time @ @ @ @ @ @ @ eighth floor of the county ’ s Hall of Administration building downtown and in field offices across their districts .
The anonymous letter draws unwelcome attention to the workplace practices of the supervisors as the county struggles to control a surging coronavirus infection rate .
The supervisors say that their policies on teleworking have varied over time because of technology issues and the importance of meeting the needs of their districts .
Some of their responsibilities , they say , involve providing essential services for residents .
Barger is board chair , which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , who served as President Obama ’ s Secretary of Labor from 2009-13 and has been a vocal critic of employers failing to protect workers , said in a statement that she takes employee feedback seriously and that she has asked the county ’ s human resources department to “ carefully review the claims in the anonymous letter relating to employee safety.
” Solis said because she is chair pro tem — meaning she will become board chair in December — her office has “ increased responsibilities in responding to this crisis and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ While some of the vital services our constituents are relying on to get through these unprecedented times can be provided via telework , most can not , ” Solis said .
Her staffers , she said , have provided assistance at food distribution centers and helped distribute personal protective equipment at nursing homes , among other pandemic-related duties .
“ I am proud of the efforts of my staff in some of the hardest impacted communities in the county , ” she said in the statement .
Since the letter surfaced and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , working conditions appear to have improved , with employees now granted more telework options , according to a staffer who spoke with The Times .
The staffer requested anonymity because employees are not authorized to speak with the media .
In an email sent earlier this week to staffers , Solis chief of staff Cindy Chen wrote that employees were going to be allowed to telework again beginning July 21 .
“ However , we will evaluate telework on a week-by-week basis based on the emergent needs of our supervisor and maintaining @ @ @ @ @ @ @ community , ” Chen wrote .
Barger , whose geographically massive district encompasses 2,807 square miles of north L.A. County , said her office implemented “ a modified work schedule that enables all staff to telework on staggered days.
” Currently , staff work remotely 50 % of the time and in the office the other half .
The use of teleworking as an option for employees has “ fluctuated over time ” and was most recently reinstated July 14 , according to Barger ’ s office .
This was after employees sent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , “ the expectation was that staff would be there , ” according to Barger ’ s office .
Part of the issue with transitioning to teleworking was that , in March , staff started working from home but didn ’ t have work laptops .
Only a few staff members have since gotten work laptops , and the office was told that it will take six weeks to get laptops and docking stations for all staff who need them , according to Barger ’ s office .
“ Our staff can not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not healthy and safe , ” Barger said .
“ My office struck a delicate balance between ensuring the health and safety of our team and maintaining accountable and responsive services that the residents of Los Angeles County deserve.
” Other supervisors have taken a different approach .
In Supervisors Kuehl ’ s and Hahn ’ s offices , all employees are working from home , and rarely go into the office .
None of their field offices are open .
In Ridley-Thomas ’ offices , the majority of staff are working from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to come in .
Some work from the office because either its their preference or they need to help on a board meeting day .
Field offices remain open .
Hahn ’ s communications director Liz Odendahl said Hahn , who has long been a proponent of teleworking , moved quickly to provide any staff with laptops if they didn ’ t have them and other materials needed to start working from home in early March .
“ We haven ’ t lost a step , ” Odendahl said in an email .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ to physically see each other , our office has been running very smoothly and we have been able to keep serving our constituents remotely.
” In Kuehl ’ s 3rd District , no field offices are physically open .
Rather , everyone telecommutes and does their casework from home .
These staffers have performed limited field work , including distributing boxes of food at drive-through food distribution events for residents .
“ Everyone working those events must wear masks and gloves and physically distance , ” Kuehl said in a statement .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at those events being safe .
”

Los Angeles County Supervisors Hilda Solis and Kathryn Barger have made clear their views on ways to minimize risky behavior during the pandemic.
Residents are “safer at home,” both have repeatedly said at coronavirus news briefings since March.
But some of their own employees say the supervisors have failed to keep them safe.
Advertisement
The two supervisors, say the employees, have required them for weeks to work in unsafe conditions at the county administration building and in district field offices, and ignored their pleas to allow them to work from home. The complaints surfaced in an anonymous letter from members of both staffs that was circulated among county executives and provided to The Times.
The letter’s authors — who describe themselves as “many members of the staff of the 1st and 5th District” — make the case that several people working at the county’s Hall of Administration are “young employees that are going to bars and restaurants and are at higher risk of contracting and spreading the virus.” The employees also allege that the supervisors are not enforcing the L.A. County Department of Public Health’s guidelines at any of their offices.
They say the three other supervisors — Mark Ridley-Thomas, Sheila Kuehl and Janice Hahn — have allowed their entire staffs to work remotely.
“They feel entitled to require staff to report back to their offices although their work can be performed remotely. It would be impossible for them to make a case that we need to be in our office spaces to perform our duties,” reads the letter, referring to Solis and Barger.
Solis and Barger employ about 75 full-time staffers between them who work on the eighth floor of the county’s Hall of Administration building downtown and in field offices across their districts.
The anonymous letter draws unwelcome attention to the workplace practices of the supervisors as the county struggles to control a surging coronavirus infection rate.
The supervisors say that their policies on teleworking have varied over time because of technology issues and the importance of meeting the needs of their districts. Some of their responsibilities, they say, involve providing essential services for residents. Barger is board chair, which comes with additional administrative duties.
Advertisement
Solis, who served as President Obama’s Secretary of Labor from 2009-13 and has been a vocal critic of employers failing to protect workers, said in a statement that she takes employee feedback seriously and that she has asked the county’s human resources department to “carefully review the claims in the anonymous letter relating to employee safety.”
Solis said because she is chair pro tem — meaning she will become board chair in December — her office has “increased responsibilities in responding to this crisis and running the business of the county.”
“While some of the vital services our constituents are relying on to get through these unprecedented times can be provided via telework, most cannot,” Solis said. Her staffers, she said, have provided assistance at food distribution centers and helped distribute personal protective equipment at nursing homes, among other pandemic-related duties.
“I am proud of the efforts of my staff in some of the hardest impacted communities in the county,” she said in the statement.
Since the letter surfaced and The Times requested a response from Solis, working conditions appear to have improved, with employees now granted more telework options, according to a staffer who spoke with The Times. The staffer requested anonymity because employees are not authorized to speak with the media.
In an email sent earlier this week to staffers, Solis chief of staff Cindy Chen wrote that employees were going to be allowed to telework again beginning July 21.
“However, we will evaluate telework on a week-by-week basis based on the emergent needs of our supervisor and maintaining the needs of our constituents, and community,” Chen wrote.
Barger, whose geographically massive district encompasses 2,807 square miles of north L.A. County, said her office implemented “a modified work schedule that enables all staff to telework on staggered days.”
Currently, staff work remotely 50% of the time and in the office the other half. The use of teleworking as an option for employees has “fluctuated over time” and was most recently reinstated July 14, according to Barger’s office. This was after employees sent their letter.
Before teleworking was reinstated, “the expectation was that staff would be there,” according to Barger’s office.
Part of the issue with transitioning to teleworking was that, in March, staff started working from home but didn’t have work laptops. Only a few staff members have since gotten work laptops, and the office was told that it will take six weeks to get laptops and docking stations for all staff who need them, according to Barger’s office.
“Our staff cannot serve our communities well if they are not healthy and safe,” Barger said. “My office struck a delicate balance between ensuring the health and safety of our team and maintaining accountable and responsive services that the residents of Los Angeles County deserve.”
Other supervisors have taken a different approach.
In Supervisors Kuehl’s and Hahn’s offices, all employees are working from home, and rarely go into the office. None of their field offices are open.
In Ridley-Thomas’ offices, the majority of staff are working from home, and no one is required to come in. Some work from the office because either its their preference or they need to help on a board meeting day. Field offices remain open.
Hahn’s communications director Liz Odendahl said Hahn, who has long been a proponent of teleworking, moved quickly to provide any staff with laptops if they didn’t have them and other materials needed to start working from home in early March.
“We haven’t lost a step,” Odendahl said in an email. “Aside from staff missing being able to physically see each other, our office has been running very smoothly and we have been able to keep serving our constituents remotely.”
In Kuehl’s 3rd District, no field offices are physically open. Rather, everyone telecommutes and does their casework from home.
These staffers have performed limited field work, including distributing boxes of food at drive-through food distribution events for residents.
“Everyone working those events must wear masks and gloves and physically distance,” Kuehl said in a statement. “We are very serious about all volunteers/staff at those events being safe.”


latimes--2020-07-22--Coronavirus surge linked to restaurants in Mammoth Lakes lands county on state watchlist

A surge in coronavirus cases tied to restaurants in Mammoth Lakes has prompted the state to place Mono County on its watchlist for the first time .
Compared with other counties in the state , which has recorded more than 414,000 infections and over 7,900 deaths , Mono County has been less affected and spared the surge in cases that hot spots such as Los Angeles and Orange counties have seen .
But in recent weeks , the county has reported a spike .
Over the last two weeks , 40 people have tested positive for the virus , bringing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and the seven-day average from July 12 to July 19 to 11.32 % .
One person is hospitalized in stable condition .
The jump in cases is the highest the county has seen since the start of the pandemic .
At least 84 people have tested positive for the virus , with 79 of those cases in Mammoth Lakes .
The city also accounts for the area ’ s sole death .
According to the county , positive tests were identified through a variety of means , including community pop-up testing , contact @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The origins of 65 % of new cases have been connected to restaurant operations .
The population of Mammoth Lakes is a little more than 8,100 — more than half of Mono County ’ s roughly 14,200 .
But the area is a tourist destination , especially around holiday weekends .
“ We don ’ t believe July 4 was a primary catalyst , just a considerable number of visitors seeking solace in the Eastern Sierra , ” public information officer Stuart Brown said .
Cases announced on any given day typically @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , so it ’ s probable that some stemmed from the holiday weekend .
The county has identified restaurants in Mammoth Lakes as an area of focus and will mandate additional requirements at restaurants and businesses that prepare and serve food , including bars and coffee shops .
All restaurant employees will be required to wear personal protective equipment , such as surgical or N95 masks , as opposed to lower-level options like cloth coverings .
The county will also require that at least 30 % of employees at each restaurant get tested @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and each restaurant will be required to screen employees before each shift .
A restaurant ’ s failure to comply with the guidance will result in an immediate closure for 72 hours .
A second violation would result in a five-day closure , which would escalate to a weeklong closure and possible fines .
Testing and screenings are not foolproof tactics in determining whether a person is positive for the virus , officials have said .
A test can offer information about an individual only on a given day , and screenings typically @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not account for asymptomatic individuals .
But in the absence of a vaccine or medical therapies , testing , screenings and proactive measures such as the use of face coverings and social distancing are the only true weapons to fight the spread of the virus .
“ To mitigate this spread , it is now more important than ever to wear a face covering in public if you ’ re unable to physically distance , stay home if you are sick , frequently wash your hands , regularly clean objects and surfaces , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ any kind , including with relatives from outside your household , ” Mono County Health Officer Dr. Tom Boo said .
Although the county is expecting more cases in the coming weeks , hospitalizations have remained steady and capacity falls within state standards .
Fewer than 80 % of beds in intensive care are occupied and at least 75 % of ventilators are available .

Trail runners run past new signage and revamped trails at the Horseshoe Lake Trailhead in Mammoth Lakes in Oct. 2019.
A surge in coronavirus cases tied to restaurants in Mammoth Lakes has prompted the state to place Mono County on its watchlist for the first time.
Compared with other counties in the state, which has recorded more than 414,000 infections and over 7,900 deaths, Mono County has been less affected and spared the surge in cases that hot spots such as Los Angeles and Orange counties have seen. But in recent weeks, the county has reported a spike.
Over the last two weeks, 40 people have tested positive for the virus, bringing the rate of infections to 8.03% and the seven-day average from July 12 to July 19 to 11.32%. One person is hospitalized in stable condition. The jump in cases is the highest the county has seen since the start of the pandemic.
Advertisement
At least 84 people have tested positive for the virus, with 79 of those cases in Mammoth Lakes. The city also accounts for the area’s sole death.
According to the county, positive tests were identified through a variety of means, including community pop-up testing, contact tracing and symptomatic people at the hospital. The origins of 65% of new cases have been connected to restaurant operations.
The population of Mammoth Lakes is a little more than 8,100 — more than half of Mono County’s roughly 14,200. But the area is a tourist destination, especially around holiday weekends.
“We don’t believe July 4 was a primary catalyst, just a considerable number of visitors seeking solace in the Eastern Sierra,” public information officer Stuart Brown said.
Cases announced on any given day typically account for exposures from two weeks prior, so it’s probable that some stemmed from the holiday weekend. The county has identified restaurants in Mammoth Lakes as an area of focus and will mandate additional requirements at restaurants and businesses that prepare and serve food, including bars and coffee shops.
All restaurant employees will be required to wear personal protective equipment, such as surgical or N95 masks, as opposed to lower-level options like cloth coverings. The county will also require that at least 30% of employees at each restaurant get tested between July 22 and July 28, and each restaurant will be required to screen employees before each shift.
Advertisement
A restaurant’s failure to comply with the guidance will result in an immediate closure for 72 hours. A second violation would result in a five-day closure, which would escalate to a weeklong closure and possible fines.
Testing and screenings are not foolproof tactics in determining whether a person is positive for the virus, officials have said. A test can offer information about an individual only on a given day, and screenings typically rely on fever checks, which do not account for asymptomatic individuals.
But in the absence of a vaccine or medical therapies, testing, screenings and proactive measures such as the use of face coverings and social distancing are the only true weapons to fight the spread of the virus.
“To mitigate this spread, it is now more important than ever to wear a face covering in public if you’re unable to physically distance, stay home if you are sick, frequently wash your hands, regularly clean objects and surfaces, and to avoid gatherings in groups of any kind, including with relatives from outside your household,” Mono County Health Officer Dr. Tom Boo said.
Although the county is expecting more cases in the coming weeks, hospitalizations have remained steady and capacity falls within state standards. Fewer than 80% of beds in intensive care are occupied and at least 75% of ventilators are available.


latimes--2020-07-22--California shatters another record for new coronavirus cases, hospitalizations

Gov .
Gavin Newsom said Wednesday that 12,807 new coronavirus infections had been reported statewide in the past 24 hours — a record high — bringing California ’ s total to 413,576 .
“ It ’ s just another reminder … of the magnitude of impact that this virus continues to have , ” he said during a press briefing .
The sustained surge in cases comes as coronavirus-related hospitalizations have continued to hit or approach record-breaking levels in the state .
Approximately 7,170 confirmed COVID-19 patients were hospitalized statewide as of Tuesday , with 2,058 in intensive care , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Health .
California is also reporting worsening death tolls .
For the weeklong period that ended Monday , 674 deaths were reported in California , the highest weekly total to date .
That number broke the record set in the previous seven-day period , when 640 died ; the week before that , it was 474 .
Experts say hospitalizations and deaths are lagging indicators of the coronavirus spread and can reflect exposure to the virus that occurred weeks earlier .
Los Angeles County reported 3,266 new cases Wednesday , pushing its cumulative @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s true that younger groups are , on the whole , less likely to fall severely ill as a result of COVID-19 , officials stress that that does not mean they are immune — or that they can ’ t spread the disease to others who are more at risk .
“ The tragedy of what we are witnessing is that many of our younger residents are interacting with each other and not adhering to the recommended prevention measures , while our older residents continue to experience the results of this increased spread @ @ @ @ @ @ @ death , ” county Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer said in a statement .
“ People over the age of 65 years old account for 11 % of all cases but account for nearly 75 % of all deaths .
Our behaviors , including the wearing of face coverings and the adherence of physical distancing — simple actions of kindness and caring — can protect those we love .
”

Gov. Gavin Newsom said Wednesday that 12,807 new coronavirus infections had been reported statewide in the past 24 hours — a record high — bringing California’s total to 413,576.
“It’s just another reminder … of the magnitude of impact that this virus continues to have,” he said during a press briefing.
The sustained surge in cases comes as coronavirus-related hospitalizations have continued to hit or approach record-breaking levels in the state. Approximately 7,170 confirmed COVID-19 patients were hospitalized statewide as of Tuesday, with 2,058 in intensive care, according to the state Department of Public Health.
Advertisement
California is also reporting worsening death tolls. For the weeklong period that ended Monday, 674 deaths were reported in California, the highest weekly total to date. That number broke the record set in the previous seven-day period, when 640 died; the week before that, it was 474.
Experts say hospitalizations and deaths are lagging indicators of the coronavirus spread and can reflect exposure to the virus that occurred weeks earlier.
Today, CA is reporting a record high number of cases:
Single day #: 12,807
7-day average: 9,420
Total: 413,576
Yesterday’s test #: 127,487
Total: 6,664,419
7-day positivity rate: 7.6%
Those are a lot of numbers that tell us one thing: we MUST take this seriously.
WEAR A MASK. — Gavin Newsom (@GavinNewsom) July 22, 2020
Los Angeles County reported 3,266 new cases Wednesday, pushing its cumulative total above 164,000.
Although it’s true that younger groups are, on the whole, less likely to fall severely ill as a result of COVID-19, officials stress that that does not mean they are immune — or that they can’t spread the disease to others who are more at risk.
“The tragedy of what we are witnessing is that many of our younger residents are interacting with each other and not adhering to the recommended prevention measures, while our older residents continue to experience the results of this increased spread with the worst health outcomes, including death,” county Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer said in a statement.
Advertisement
“People over the age of 65 years old account for 11% of all cases but account for nearly 75% of all deaths. Our behaviors, including the wearing of face coverings and the adherence of physical distancing — simple actions of kindness and caring — can protect those we love.”


latimes--2020-07-22--Deputy charged with bringing assault weapon into San Francisco City Hall

A San Francisco County sheriff ’ s deputy has been charged with possession of an assault weapon after he brought a modified semiautomatic pistol into City Hall last year , prosecutors said .
Jalen Rosales , 27 , voluntarily surrendered to authorities Tuesday , according to the San Francisco Sheriff ’ s Office .
Rosales was providing security at an event on Nov. 8 at City Hall and left a backpack in a locker room at the government building , according to a release from the San Francisco district attorney ’ s office .
After his overtime shift ended , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bag for him .
That deputy found the gun inside the backpack , prosecutors said .
The weapon , which was registered to Rosales , was a Franklin Armory pistol .
Although that type of gun is legal , the modifications that made it semiautomatic , rendered it an illegal assault weapon under California law , officials said .
Following the incident , the sheriff ’ s office launched a criminal investigation of Rosales in November and shared the information with the D.A .
's office , said Nancy Crowley , a Sheriff @ @ @ @ @ @ @ arrest is a reminder that no one is above the law , ” San Francisco Dist .
Atty .
Chesa Boudin said .
“ My office will continue to hold accountable our law enforcement officers , whom we trust to know and abide by the laws around gun possession.
” Rosales was arrested Tuesday , but has since been released on bail for $ 1,000 , Crowley said .
He is scheduled to be arraigned on the felony charge Aug. 20 .
If convicted , he could face up to three years in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s penal code .
If he were to get probation , it could be up to a year .
Rosales joined the San Francisco Sheriff ’ s Office in April 2017 , Crowley said .
He has been placed on paid administrative leave by Sheriff Paul Miyamoto .

A San Francisco County sheriff’s deputy has been charged with possession of an assault weapon after he brought a modified semiautomatic pistol into City Hall last year, prosecutors said.
Jalen Rosales, 27, voluntarily surrendered to authorities Tuesday, according to the San Francisco Sheriff’s Office.
Rosales was providing security at an event on Nov. 8 at City Hall and left a backpack in a locker room at the government building, according to a release from the San Francisco district attorney’s office.
After his overtime shift ended, he asked another deputy to retrieve the bag for him. That deputy found the gun inside the backpack, prosecutors said.
Advertisement
The weapon, which was registered to Rosales, was a Franklin Armory pistol. Although that type of gun is legal, the modifications that made it semiautomatic, rendered it an illegal assault weapon under California law, officials said.
Following the incident, the sheriff’s office launched a criminal investigation of Rosales in November and shared the information with the D.A.’s office, said Nancy Crowley, a Sheriff’s Office spokesperson.
“This arrest is a reminder that no one is above the law,” San Francisco Dist. Atty. Chesa Boudin said. “My office will continue to hold accountable our law enforcement officers, whom we trust to know and abide by the laws around gun possession.”
Rosales was arrested Tuesday, but has since been released on bail for $1,000, Crowley said. He is scheduled to be arraigned on the felony charge Aug. 20. If convicted, he could face up to three years in prison, according to the state’s penal code. If he were to get probation, it could be up to a year.
Rosales joined the San Francisco Sheriff’s Office in April 2017, Crowley said. He has been placed on paid administrative leave by Sheriff Paul Miyamoto.


latimes--2020-07-22--California to obtain more masks, gear as it becomes state with most COVID-19 cases

On a day when California became the state with the most coronavirus infections in the U.S. , Gov .
Gavin Newsom said Wednesday that officials are redoubling efforts to secure protective gear and are preparing to expand the number of available hospital beds to handle a surge in patients .
With more than 409,000 cumulative COVID-19 cases in the state , California on Wednesday exceeded the number reported in New York by about 700 cases , according to data provided by Johns Hopkins University .
After leading the nation in the number of coronavirus cases , New York has since @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and hospitalizations as numbers have climbed in California .
“ We are a state the size of 21 states combined , so its not surprising now that as we have begun reopening key sectors of our economy and people continue to mix ... that our numbers would start to go up , in total the highest in the nation , ” Newsom said , calling it “ a sober reminder of why we are taking things as seriously as we are.
” On Wednesday , Newsom said that 12,807 people tested positive the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ number in our state , ” and that 115 Californians infected with the virus died in the last 24 hours .
“ It ’ s just another proof point of how deadly this disease continues to be , ” Newsom said .
At a news conference held in a Sacramento warehouse housing personal protective equipment , Newsom said he is extending a contract with Chinese firm BYD to buy 300 million more surgical masks and 120 million additional N95 face masks to protect medical workers and others , while he also seeks bids @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in future months .
The so-called bridge contract is worth $ 315 million .
The governor said the step is necessary because California is sending out 46 million masks per month and has an inventory of 111 million N95 masks .
“ We were able to bend the curve many months ago in the state of California , ” Newsom said .
“ That bought us time to purchase and procure the kind of equipment you see behind me and put together our plans.
” As one sign of the surge , Newsom @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the 35th county on a state watchlist of jurisdictions with high infection and hospitalization rates .
Those counties on the list for three days must close many businesses where people gather , including restaurant dining rooms and movie theaters .
Newsom ’ s comments come on the heels of a new , urgent warning from the statewide organization representing hospital administrators that only about 5,000 hospital beds are available statewide , with shortages likely in some of the hardest-hit regions .
“ They ’ re looking at nontraditional places in hospitals ” to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Coyle , president and chief executive of the California Hospital Assn .
While the state has established additional locations to handle a surge of an additional 20,000 coronavirus patients , Coyle said Wednesday that current transmission rates also pose risks for staffing nurses with critical care training .
The hospitals association is asking the Newsom administration to seek additional federal help in providing staff and to rethink existing nurse-patient ratios as conditions worsen .
“ We are looking at a far , faster race of increase than previously , ” Coyle said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ to address the prospect of a surge in hospital utilization , the need to develop alternative care sites outside of our hospital system to help isolate and quarantine individuals.
” The governor acknowledged that he continues to hear complaints from medical workers who are not getting enough medical masks and other protective equipment despite increased deliveries by the state .
He said one advocate for nurses told him recently that many are getting only two or three masks a week , although medical standards require more .
“ That ’ s unacceptable @ @ @ @ @ @ @ still hear those stories and we have got to address that issue.
” With federal subsidies of unemployment benefits expiring this month , Newsom also said he hopes more federal help comes for residents who have lost work , noting there is “ a growing recognition in Washington , D.C. , that we are walking toward the edge of a cliff.
” He said he may use executive powers to extend protections against evictions and to extend sick leave to Californians .
Newsom issued a stay-at-home order on March 19 that forced many @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lid on the number of new infections caused by community spread .
When it appeared the curve of infections had flattened , the governor , faced with political pressure to reopen the economy , began rolling back the restrictions in early May , allowing Californians inside more stores and to eat inside restaurants .
But coronavirus cases began to spike , and on July 1 the governor ordered a return to restrictions on indoor activities for most of the state , including a ban on visits to indoor restaurants , bars , wineries @ @ @ @ @ @ @ zoos and card rooms .
The tougher rules apply to counties facing a surge in cases and hospitalizations , including Los Angeles , Riverside , Ventura , Orange and San Bernardino .
In addition , Newsom announced last week that schools will remain closed for in-classroom instruction in 32 counties where the spread of coronavirus remains a significant public health risk , forcing districts to prepare for online learning for their students .

On a day when California became the state with the most coronavirus infections in the U.S., Gov. Gavin Newsom said Wednesday that officials are redoubling efforts to secure protective gear and are preparing to expand the number of available hospital beds to handle a surge in patients.
With more than 409,000 cumulative COVID-19 cases in the state, California on Wednesday exceeded the number reported in New York by about 700 cases, according to data provided by Johns Hopkins University.
After leading the nation in the number of coronavirus cases, New York has since experienced a decline in infections, deaths and hospitalizations as numbers have climbed in California.
“We are a state the size of 21 states combined, so its not surprising now that as we have begun reopening key sectors of our economy and people continue to mix ... that our numbers would start to go up, in total the highest in the nation,” Newsom said, calling it “a sober reminder of why we are taking things as seriously as we are.”
On Wednesday, Newsom said that 12,807 people tested positive the day before, “the highest reported number in our state,” and that 115 Californians infected with the virus died in the last 24 hours.
“It’s just another proof point of how deadly this disease continues to be,” Newsom said.
Advertisement
At a news conference held in a Sacramento warehouse housing personal protective equipment, Newsom said he is extending a contract with Chinese firm BYD to buy 300 million more surgical masks and 120 million additional N95 face masks to protect medical workers and others, while he also seeks bids from companies that can provide protective gear in future months. The so-called bridge contract is worth $315 million.
The governor said the step is necessary because California is sending out 46 million masks per month and has an inventory of 111 million N95 masks.
“We were able to bend the curve many months ago in the state of California,” Newsom said. “That bought us time to purchase and procure the kind of equipment you see behind me and put together our plans.”
As one sign of the surge, Newsom announced Wednesday that Butte County has become the 35th county on a state watchlist of jurisdictions with high infection and hospitalization rates. Those counties on the list for three days must close many businesses where people gather, including restaurant dining rooms and movie theaters.
Newsom’s comments come on the heels of a new, urgent warning from the statewide organization representing hospital administrators that only about 5,000 hospital beds are available statewide, with shortages likely in some of the hardest-hit regions.
“They’re looking at nontraditional places in hospitals” to set up additional beds, said Carmela Coyle, president and chief executive of the California Hospital Assn.
California California shatters another record for new coronavirus cases, hospitalizations Gov. Gavin Newsom said Wednesday that 12,807 new coronavirus infections had been reported statewide in the past 24 hours — a record high.
Advertisement
While the state has established additional locations to handle a surge of an additional 20,000 coronavirus patients, Coyle said Wednesday that current transmission rates also pose risks for staffing nurses with critical care training.
The hospitals association is asking the Newsom administration to seek additional federal help in providing staff and to rethink existing nurse-patient ratios as conditions worsen.
“We are looking at a far, faster race of increase than previously,” Coyle said.
Newsom said the state has a strategy “to address the prospect of a surge in hospital utilization, the need to develop alternative care sites outside of our hospital system to help isolate and quarantine individuals.”
The governor acknowledged that he continues to hear complaints from medical workers who are not getting enough medical masks and other protective equipment despite increased deliveries by the state.
He said one advocate for nurses told him recently that many are getting only two or three masks a week, although medical standards require more.
“That’s unacceptable,” Newsom said. “We still hear those stories and we have got to address that issue.”
With federal subsidies of unemployment benefits expiring this month, Newsom also said he hopes more federal help comes for residents who have lost work, noting there is “a growing recognition in Washington, D.C., that we are walking toward the edge of a cliff.” He said he may use executive powers to extend protections against evictions and to extend sick leave to Californians.
Newsom issued a stay-at-home order on March 19 that forced many businesses to close and initially kept a lid on the number of new infections caused by community spread.
When it appeared the curve of infections had flattened, the governor, faced with political pressure to reopen the economy, began rolling back the restrictions in early May, allowing Californians inside more stores and to eat inside restaurants.
But coronavirus cases began to spike, and on July 1 the governor ordered a return to restrictions on indoor activities for most of the state, including a ban on visits to indoor restaurants, bars, wineries, entertainment centers, movie theaters, zoos and card rooms.
The tougher rules apply to counties facing a surge in cases and hospitalizations, including Los Angeles, Riverside, Ventura, Orange and San Bernardino.
In addition, Newsom announced last week that schools will remain closed for in-classroom instruction in 32 counties where the spread of coronavirus remains a significant public health risk, forcing districts to prepare for online learning for their students.
Times staff writer John Myers contributed to the report.