latimes--2020-10-22--Column: I'm a 'no' on dialysis measure Prop. 23 and 'yes' on the property tax breaks in Prop. 19. He

Column: I'm a 'no' on dialysis measure Prop. 23 and 'yes' on the property tax breaks in Prop. 19. Here's why

Proposition 19 is simple : either aging homeowners get a big new property tax break or their offspring heirs keep an old one .
Either the parents benefit , or their children do .
Most of these state propositions can be annoyingly complicated if you let them .
State Atty .
Gen. Xavier Becerra sometimes doesn ’ t help by writing ballot titles and summaries that attempt to lead voters toward the position of his Democratic Party .
His two predecessors — Kamala Harris and Jerry Brown — did the same .
More on that another day .
Proposition 23 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ boils down to a simple question : Should kidney dialysis clinics be required to hire an extra doctor to be on hand while patients are undergoing treatment ?
Never mind that the doctor probably isn ’ t needed .
That ’ s the official public narrative of Proposition 23 .
There ’ s another behind-the-scenes truth about the measure .
A labor union is sponsoring the ballot initiative largely to pressure the clinics into accepting unionization of its employees .
It ’ s the continuation of a tactic the union also tried unsuccessfully @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of an extortion strategy .
The message : unionize or spend $ 100 million every election fighting off our ballot measures .
Proposition 18 , however , truly is a simple measure — probably the simplest on the ballot .
Should 17-year-olds be allowed to vote in presidential primaries , and in state and local elections if they ’ ll turn 18 by the November election ?
Or should their voting remain relegated to high school class president ?
That ’ s an easy answer : It ’ s “ no ” on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ off their parents , paying miniscule taxes and aren ’ t legal adults .
They can wait a few months before being allowed to vote as adults on such things as tax increases .
A new statewide poll by the nonpartisan Public Policy Institute of California asked likely voters whether they agreed or disagreed with this statement : “ The ballot wording for citizens ’ initiatives is often too complicated and confusing for voters to understand what happens if the initiative passes.
” The answer was practically the same regardless of the person @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 82 % agreed and only 16 % disagreed .
Also , 55 % said there are too many propositions on the state ballot .
And 63 % asserted that the initiative process is controlled “ a lot ” by special interests .
Proposition 19 is one of two property tax measures on the ballot .
They both would change Proposition 13 , the popular 1978 initiative that lowered property taxes and ignited a nationwide anti-tax revolt .
But the two measures are unrelated and shouldn ’ t be confused with each other .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ commercial and industrial property .
Proposition 19 would substantially increase tax breaks for homeowners who are over 55 .
It would do the same for people of any age who are severely disabled or had their house destroyed by natural disaster , such as wildfire .
Under current law , homeowners over 55 can sell their house and buy a new one , taking with them the old Proposition 13 tax break .
The new home won ’ t be reassessed to market value , avoiding a major tax hike .
But they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the new house doesn ’ t exceed the old one ’ s sale price — and if the home is in a county that allows such a tax transfer .
They ’ re permitted to do this only once in a lifetime .
Proposition 19 would allow the homeowners to transfer their Proposition 13 tax break to any new purchase anywhere in the state , regardless of the house ’ s cost .
And they could do that three times .
But their children would pay for it .
Now the heirs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ well as the house .
Under Proposition 19 , they wouldn ’ t get the tax break unless they moved into the house and it became their primary residence .
Disabled homeowners and disaster victims also could carry their tax breaks with them to any new purchase in the state , regardless of its cost .
The proposition is sponsored by the California Assn .
of Realtors , which clearly hopes home sales will increase and boost agents ’ commissions .
Virtually the only organized opposition comes from the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Assn.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ 13 .
It dislikes eliminating the heirs ’ tax breaks .
The California Budget and Policy Center , which is neutral on 19 , estimates that 4.2 million homeowners over 55 would benefit .
Makes sense to me .
It gives older folks an incentive to move out of their empty-nest homes and downsize into more practical dwellings .
Proposition 23 would require California ’ s roughly 600 dialysis clinics to employ at least one doctor to be on-site when patients receive treatment .
But they ’ re already required to have a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ specialist , although the physician doesn ’ t always have to be at the clinic .
Trained nurses operate the dialysis machines .
The dialysis industry has raised more than $ 100 million to fight the initiative — just as it did two years ago to defeat another union-backed measure .
Sponsors have spent only about $ 7 million .
Opponents say the measure would cost the clinics $ 350 million .
“ We probably would have to close 35 % to 45 % of our facilities , ” says Rick Barnett , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which operates 65 dialysis clinics in California .
“ We can ’ t sustain anything that operates in the red long term.
” The initiative ’ s sponsor is Service Employees International Union-United Healthcare Workers West .
It has a history of forcing healthcare companies to spend big bucks on election campaigns if they refuse to unionize .

Annie Gibson, a hemodialysis nurse, left, attends to a COVID-19 patient who is on dialysis at Desert Cities Dialysis in Victorville.
Proposition 19 is simple: either aging homeowners get a big new property tax break or their offspring heirs keep an old one.
Either the parents benefit, or their children do.
Most of these state propositions can be annoyingly complicated if you let them.
State Atty. Gen. Xavier Becerra sometimes doesn’t help by writing ballot titles and summaries that attempt to lead voters toward the position of his Democratic Party. His two predecessors — Kamala Harris and Jerry Brown — did the same. More on that another day.
Advertisement
Proposition 23 also might seem complicated, but really boils down to a simple question: Should kidney dialysis clinics be required to hire an extra doctor to be on hand while patients are undergoing treatment? Never mind that the doctor probably isn’t needed.
That’s the official public narrative of Proposition 23. There’s another behind-the-scenes truth about the measure.
A labor union is sponsoring the ballot initiative largely to pressure the clinics into accepting unionization of its employees. It’s the continuation of a tactic the union also tried unsuccessfully in 2018. It’s sort of an extortion strategy.
The message: unionize or spend $100 million every election fighting off our ballot measures.
Proposition 18, however, truly is a simple measure — probably the simplest on the ballot. Should 17-year-olds be allowed to vote in presidential primaries, and in state and local elections if they’ll turn 18 by the November election?
Advertisement
Or should their voting remain relegated to high school class president?
That’s an easy answer: It’s “no” on 18. These kids still are living off their parents, paying miniscule taxes and aren’t legal adults. They can wait a few months before being allowed to vote as adults on such things as tax increases.
A new statewide poll by the nonpartisan Public Policy Institute of California asked likely voters whether they agreed or disagreed with this statement: “The ballot wording for citizens’ initiatives is often too complicated and confusing for voters to understand what happens if the initiative passes.”
The answer was practically the same regardless of the person’s political party or age: 82% agreed and only 16% disagreed.
Also, 55% said there are too many propositions on the state ballot. And 63% asserted that the initiative process is controlled “a lot” by special interests.
Those cynical poll respondents are correct.
Proposition 19 is one of two property tax measures on the ballot. They both would change Proposition 13, the popular 1978 initiative that lowered property taxes and ignited a nationwide anti-tax revolt.
But the two measures are unrelated and shouldn’t be confused with each other. Proposition 15 would significantly raise taxes on commercial and industrial property.
Proposition 19 would substantially increase tax breaks for homeowners who are over 55. It would do the same for people of any age who are severely disabled or had their house destroyed by natural disaster, such as wildfire.
Under current law, homeowners over 55 can sell their house and buy a new one, taking with them the old Proposition 13 tax break. The new home won’t be reassessed to market value, avoiding a major tax hike. But they can only do that if the cost of the new house doesn’t exceed the old one’s sale price — and if the home is in a county that allows such a tax transfer. They’re permitted to do this only once in a lifetime.
Proposition 19 would allow the homeowners to transfer their Proposition 13 tax break to any new purchase anywhere in the state, regardless of the house’s cost. And they could do that three times.
But their children would pay for it. Now the heirs inherit their parents’ tax benefit as well as the house. Under Proposition 19, they wouldn’t get the tax break unless they moved into the house and it became their primary residence.
Disabled homeowners and disaster victims also could carry their tax breaks with them to any new purchase in the state, regardless of its cost.
The proposition is sponsored by the California Assn. of Realtors, which clearly hopes home sales will increase and boost agents’ commissions.
Virtually the only organized opposition comes from the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Assn., named for the author of Proposition 13. It dislikes eliminating the heirs’ tax breaks.
The California Budget and Policy Center, which is neutral on 19, estimates that 4.2 million homeowners over 55 would benefit.
Makes sense to me. It gives older folks an incentive to move out of their empty-nest homes and downsize into more practical dwellings.
A good tradeoff — I benefit, my daughters someday pay. A definite “yes.”
Proposition 23 would require California’s roughly 600 dialysis clinics to employ at least one doctor to be on-site when patients receive treatment. But they’re already required to have a staff doctor who’s a kidney specialist, although the physician doesn’t always have to be at the clinic. Trained nurses operate the dialysis machines.
The dialysis industry has raised more than $100 million to fight the initiative — just as it did two years ago to defeat another union-backed measure. Sponsors have spent only about $7 million.
Opponents say the measure would cost the clinics $350 million.
“We probably would have to close 35% to 45% of our facilities,” says Rick Barnett, president and CEO of Satellite Healthcare, which operates 65 dialysis clinics in California. “We can’t sustain anything that operates in the red long term.”
The initiative’s sponsor is Service Employees International Union-United Healthcare Workers West. It has a history of forcing healthcare companies to spend big bucks on election campaigns if they refuse to unionize.
I’m a “no” — against Proposition 23 and union bullying.


latimes--2020-10-21--L.A. hires law firm to investigate sexual misconduct claims involving Garcetti advisor

The city of Los Angeles has hired an outside law firm to investigate allegations that Rick Jacobs , a longtime political consultant to Mayor Eric Garcetti , sexually harassed an L.A. police officer who served as a bodyguard for Garcetti .
Word of the hiring comes as new accusations of misconduct by Jacobs surfaced this week .
“ Our office has retained an outside investigator to do an independent investigation , ” Rob Wilcox , a spokesman for City Atty .
Mike Feuer , said Wednesday .
He declined to provide any further details .
Two sources told The Times @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the Ellis & Makus law firm , who is a specialist in sensitive workplace investigations , to examine the allegations involving Jacobs .
She is seeking to interview the LAPD officer who made the initial complaint and others , the sources said .
A source said the law firm was hired as part of the city attorney ’ s representation of the city in the officer ’ s case .
The outside firm was hired in September , an arrangement that came to light Wednesday .
The police officer sued the city @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sexually harassed by Jacobs , which Jacobs has denied .
The lawsuit claims Garcetti witnessed inappropriate behavior by Jacobs toward the officer but did not stop it .
Garcetti has denied seeing any inappropriate behavior .
Journalist Yashar Ali this week also accused Jacobs of sexual misconduct .
The Times reported Wednesday that two other men said they have been the targets of unwanted touching or harassment by Jacobs .
One man said Jacobs groped him when he was leaving a party at Jacobs ’ house in 2012 .
The other man — @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Times he was talking to friends at an event last year when Jacobs strode over .
“ He tried to hug and kiss me forcibly , ” the man said .
Neither man would agree to allow his name to be published , citing fears of retaliation .
Jacobs did not respond to questions about the men ’ s allegations .
Jacobs said Tuesday night that he will “ take a leave ” from his work amid increasing questions about the allegations .
Jacobs is a political consultant to Garcetti , a board @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s Fund for Los Angeles and the leader of another nonprofit focused on economic development .
Ellis ’ website states she has “ extensive experience conducting impartial investigations for private and public organizations throughout California ” and “ investigates a variety of issues , including workplace harassment , fraud and compliance , whistleblower complaints and sexual assault.
” Los Angeles Police Department communications director Josh Rubenstein said there is no internal affairs investigation of the officer ’ s allegations because they do not involve misconduct by LAPD personnel .

The city of Los Angeles has hired an outside law firm to investigate sexual harassment allegations involving Rick Jacobs, a longtime advisor to Mayor Eric Garcetti. Above, City Hall.
The city of Los Angeles has hired an outside law firm to investigate allegations that Rick Jacobs, a longtime political consultant to Mayor Eric Garcetti, sexually harassed an L.A. police officer who served as a bodyguard for Garcetti.
Word of the hiring comes as new accusations of misconduct by Jacobs surfaced this week.
“Our office has retained an outside investigator to do an independent investigation,” Rob Wilcox, a spokesman for City Atty. Mike Feuer, said Wednesday. He declined to provide any further details.
Advertisement
Two sources told The Times that the city has retained Leslie Ellis of the Ellis & Makus law firm, who is a specialist in sensitive workplace investigations, to examine the allegations involving Jacobs. She is seeking to interview the LAPD officer who made the initial complaint and others, the sources said.
A source said the law firm was hired as part of the city attorney’s representation of the city in the officer’s case.
The outside firm was hired in September, an arrangement that came to light Wednesday.
The police officer sued the city in July, alleging that he was sexually harassed by Jacobs, which Jacobs has denied. The lawsuit claims Garcetti witnessed inappropriate behavior by Jacobs toward the officer but did not stop it. Garcetti has denied seeing any inappropriate behavior.
Journalist Yashar Ali this week also accused Jacobs of sexual misconduct.
The Times reported Wednesday that two other men said they have been the targets of unwanted touching or harassment by Jacobs.
One man said Jacobs groped him when he was leaving a party at Jacobs’ house in 2012. The other man — a longtime Democratic strategist — told The Times he was talking to friends at an event last year when Jacobs strode over. “He tried to hug and kiss me forcibly,” the man said.
Neither man would agree to allow his name to be published, citing fears of retaliation. Jacobs did not respond to questions about the men’s allegations.
Advertisement
Jacobs said Tuesday night that he will “take a leave” from his work amid increasing questions about the allegations. Jacobs is a political consultant to Garcetti, a board member and treasurer for the Mayor’s Fund for Los Angeles and the leader of another nonprofit focused on economic development.
Ellis’ website states she has “extensive experience conducting impartial investigations for private and public organizations throughout California” and “investigates a variety of issues, including workplace harassment, fraud and compliance, whistleblower complaints and sexual assault.”
Los Angeles Police Department communications director Josh Rubenstein said there is no internal affairs investigation of the officer’s allegations because they do not involve misconduct by LAPD personnel.


latimes--2020-10-21--Judge dismisses extortion counts in Luz del Mundo sex abuse case

A Los Angeles County Superior Court judge has thrown out several counts of extortion against the head of La Luz del Mundo church in a case where prosecutors say the leader used his base to groom underage victims for his sexual pleasure .
Citing insufficient evidence , Judge Stephen A. Marcus on Wednesday ruled to dismiss four counts of extortion against Naason Joaquin Garcia .
He argued that the state attorney general ’ s office had failed to show that Garcia had threatened to disgrace his alleged victims if they didn ’ t perform sexual acts .
The judge also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ injury on counts of forcible rape of a minor and unlawful sexual intercourse with a minor , saying that there lacked evidence that an injury had resulted from the sexual act .
But Marcus otherwise denied a motion by Garcia ’ s defense attorneys at Wednesday ’ s hearing in downtown L.A. to dismiss before trial the case against Garcia , a man known amongst his followers as the “ apostle ” of Jesus Christ .
Garcia is being held on $ 90-million bail and has pleaded not guilty to counts that include @ @ @ @ @ @ @ minor , and possession of child pornography since his arrest in June 2019 .
Garcia ’ s attorneys argued in their motion that prosecutors have shown “ virtually no evidence ” that Garcia ’ s alleged victims had participated in sexual acts under pressure from the defendants , claiming that they ’ ve only pointed to an “ unspoken and internalized fear.
” “ What the government has consistently done from the beginning of this case , ” said Alan Jackson , Garcia ’ s attorney , “ was focus almost entirely on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of LLDM [ church ] , making relatively broad brushstroke allegations about the church.
” The judge held otherwise .
Marcus said that Garcia , along with two co-defendants whom prosecutors claim helped prepare minors for the apostle ’ s pleasure , had exploited and manipulated his alleged victims “ using religion as invisible handcuffs.
” “ They used the fact that these girls were members of the church their entire life , and their families were members of the church , ” he said .
“ They believed Garcia was the apostle @ @ @ @ @ @ @ obey his wishes… Why else would these girls engage in sexual activities with Garcia ?
” Jackson said he didn ’ t wish to comment on the ruling .
The complaint against Garcia , 51 , and co-defendants Alondra Ocampo , 37 , and Susana Medina Oaxaca , 25 , details crimes that allegedly occurred between June 2015 and June 2019 .
Prosecutors have claimed that the alleged victims were told that if they went against Garcia ’ s desires as “ the apostle ” they were going against God .
The attorney @ @ @ @ @ @ @ late July after a previous case against the defendants was dismissed for violation of a right to a timely preliminary hearing .
Ocampo , who is being held without bail , pleaded guilty to four counts this month , according to prosecutors .
These include three counts of contact with a minor for a sexual offense , involving three Jane Does , and one count of forcible sexual penetration , involving a fourth Jane Doe .
The attorney general ’ s office said it could not immediately share more information on a possible @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as someone who groomed girls who were later allegedly sexually assaulted by Garcia and coerced minors into pornographic photo shoots in hotel rooms in Whittier and El Monte .
In court papers , they allege that Garcia was served by an exclusive group of young girls within a larger group of congregants that assisted with household chores at his East L.A. home .
Ocampo , they said , carried substantial influence at the Luz del Mundo church nearby and was in charge of the exclusive group typically composed of teenagers about 15 years @ @ @ @ @ @ @ four of the Jane Doe complaining witnesses in the case , prosecutors said .
The group was known as “ the dancers , ” and its members would dance or perform skits for Garcia while in lingerie or partially nude .
In a statement following Wednesday ’ s hearing , La Luz del Mundo renewed its support for Garcia .
“ We express our confidence in the integrity and honorability of the Apostle of Jesus Christ Naason Joaquin Garcia , knowing that justice and truth will prevail at all times , ” it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2014 as the leader of La Luz Del Mundo , which is based in Guadalajara and claims millions of members .
The case against him came as a result of a tip to a Justice Department website that was created to help people report abuse by clergy .
In February , a former member of La Luz del Mundo filed a federal civil lawsuit against the church , Garcia , and other high-ranking church members , seeking damages for human trafficking , racketeering , sexual battery and forced labor , among other charges @

A Los Angeles County Superior Court judge has thrown out several counts of extortion against the head of La Luz del Mundo church in a case where prosecutors say the leader used his base to groom underage victims for his sexual pleasure.
Citing insufficient evidence, Judge Stephen A. Marcus on Wednesday ruled to dismiss four counts of extortion against Naason Joaquin Garcia. He argued that the state attorney general’s office had failed to show that Garcia had threatened to disgrace his alleged victims if they didn’t perform sexual acts.
The judge also dismissed enhancements against Garcia for great bodily injury on counts of forcible rape of a minor and unlawful sexual intercourse with a minor, saying that there lacked evidence that an injury had resulted from the sexual act.
Advertisement
But Marcus otherwise denied a motion by Garcia’s defense attorneys at Wednesday’s hearing in downtown L.A. to dismiss before trial the case against Garcia, a man known amongst his followers as the “apostle” of Jesus Christ. Garcia is being held on $90-million bail and has pleaded not guilty to counts that include human trafficking, forcible rape of a minor, and possession of child pornography since his arrest in June 2019.
Garcia’s attorneys argued in their motion that prosecutors have shown “virtually no evidence” that Garcia’s alleged victims had participated in sexual acts under pressure from the defendants, claiming that they’ve only pointed to an “unspoken and internalized fear.”
“What the government has consistently done from the beginning of this case,” said Alan Jackson, Garcia’s attorney, “was focus almost entirely on the belief system, the belief structure of LLDM [church], making relatively broad brushstroke allegations about the church.”
The judge held otherwise. Marcus said that Garcia, along with two co-defendants whom prosecutors claim helped prepare minors for the apostle’s pleasure, had exploited and manipulated his alleged victims “using religion as invisible handcuffs.”
“They used the fact that these girls were members of the church their entire life, and their families were members of the church,” he said. “They believed Garcia was the apostle of God, and they had to obey his wishes… Why else would these girls engage in sexual activities with Garcia?”
Jackson said he didn’t wish to comment on the ruling.
The complaint against Garcia, 51, and co-defendants Alondra Ocampo, 37, and Susana Medina Oaxaca, 25, details crimes that allegedly occurred between June 2015 and June 2019. Prosecutors have claimed that the alleged victims were told that if they went against Garcia’s desires as “the apostle” they were going against God.
Advertisement
The attorney general’s office refiled charges in late July after a previous case against the defendants was dismissed for violation of a right to a timely preliminary hearing.
Ocampo, who is being held without bail, pleaded guilty to four counts this month, according to prosecutors. These include three counts of contact with a minor for a sexual offense, involving three Jane Does, and one count of forcible sexual penetration, involving a fourth Jane Doe. The attorney general’s office said it could not immediately share more information on a possible plea deal.
Prosecutors have described Ocampo as someone who groomed girls who were later allegedly sexually assaulted by Garcia and coerced minors into pornographic photo shoots in hotel rooms in Whittier and El Monte.
In court papers, they allege that Garcia was served by an exclusive group of young girls within a larger group of congregants that assisted with household chores at his East L.A. home. Ocampo, they said, carried substantial influence at the Luz del Mundo church nearby and was in charge of the exclusive group typically composed of teenagers about 15 years old.
Ocampo’s group included four of the Jane Doe complaining witnesses in the case, prosecutors said. The group was known as “the dancers,” and its members would dance or perform skits for Garcia while in lingerie or partially nude.
In a statement following Wednesday’s hearing, La Luz del Mundo renewed its support for Garcia.
“We express our confidence in the integrity and honorability of the Apostle of Jesus Christ Naason Joaquin Garcia, knowing that justice and truth will prevail at all times,” it said.
Garcia succeeded his father in 2014 as the leader of La Luz Del Mundo, which is based in Guadalajara and claims millions of members. The case against him came as a result of a tip to a Justice Department website that was created to help people report abuse by clergy.
In February, a former member of La Luz del Mundo filed a federal civil lawsuit against the church, Garcia, and other high-ranking church members, seeking damages for human trafficking, racketeering, sexual battery and forced labor, among other charges.


latimes--2020-10-22--'MAGA' hats allowed but 'Biden' gear banned under California in-person voting rules

California election rules prohibit clothing , signs and swag urging support for a specific candidate at polling places , but state officials have decided no such ban exists on items emblazoned with the slogan “ Make America Great Again , ” a mantra championed by President Trump .
If there ’ s a distinction between a shirt bearing the name of Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden and the ubiquitous hats featured prominently in Trump ’ s online store , it may be lost on voters come election day .
“ I want to make sure the public knows what the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the registrar of voters in Inyo County .
“ I don ’ t want to be accused of favoritism allowing MAGA gear but telling people with a Biden/Harris mask to remove it.
” California has long differentiated between political slogans and what the law defines as “ electioneering ” — displaying information about a candidate or campaign — at a polling place or vote center .
Last month , state elections officials made clear that gear bearing the Trump slogan would not be considered synonymous with showing support for the president ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ slogans or political movement slogans include but are not limited to : Make America Great Again ( MAGA ) , Black Lives Matter ( BLM ) , Keep America Great ( KAG ) , Vote for Science , and Build Back Better , ” said the Sept. 28 guidelines sent to county registrars of voters .
“ State law is clear that you can ’ t have a candidate ’ s likeness or name , ” said Sam Mahood , a spokesman for Secretary of State Alex Padilla .
“ It does not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a campaign or a political movement.
” Foote , who is a registered Republican in a county where three-fourths of voters are aligned with the GOP , said the other slogans cited by state officials seem to connote something broader than support for a single candidate .
She has already ordered a supply of paper aprons as a cover for anyone who shows up wearing clothing that is explicitly in favor of a candidate or ballot measure .
But she said she fears the standard for MAGA items won ’ t seem fair @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ This particular campaign material is tied to a specific candidate in most voters ’ perception , ” Foote said .
“ And perception is reality .
I don ’ t want my poll workers to have to defend this.
” The rules related to clothing , buttons and other items apply both to voters and to anyone who asks to be an observer at a voting location .
But Mahood said more strict rules would apply to poll workers , who are considered to be employees of the county elections office @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at voting locations .
A number of new procedures related to in-person voting have been added this fall for those who are not using the ballot mailed to them , prompted by the need for additional protections to lessen the spread of COVID-19 .
Masks present one notable area of concern for improper electioneering .
A mask with the president ’ s preferred slogan will be allowed , as long as it does not include his name or likeness .
Elections officials say any “ Make America Great ” gear that includes Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which could lessen what some Trump critics might otherwise see as a double standard .
Existing state law limiting the use of candidate-specific material at voting locations was written in 2009 , but the issue has long been a contentious one .
Activists supporting a Mendocino County candidate asked a court to overrule a decision by the county ’ s chief elections officer to bar them from displaying buttons on their clothing near polling places .
The judge in the case sided with the registrar of voters , writing that being told to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ very slight inconvenience necessary to safeguard a free and untainted electoral process.
” The U.S. Supreme Court embraced a campaigning buffer of 100 feet in a 1992 ruling .
Even so , no candidate has been more uniquely identified in modern times with a slogan than Trump .
Assemblyman Marc Berman ( D-Palo Alto ) , chairman of the Assembly Elections and Redistricting Committee , said he was also surprised by the allowance of MAGA apparel for voters and election observers .
“ I think an argument could be made that it should @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Berman said of the state ’ s electioneering law .
“ Like so many things with this president , we ’ re encountering a lot of firsts .
”

“Make America Great Again” baseball caps like these made in Carson can be worn at in-person voting locations as long as they don’t also include the name of President Trump.
California election rules prohibit clothing, signs and swag urging support for a specific candidate at polling places, but state officials have decided no such ban exists on items emblazoned with the slogan “Make America Great Again,” a mantra championed by President Trump.
If there’s a distinction between a shirt bearing the name of Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden and the ubiquitous hats featured prominently in Trump’s online store, it may be lost on voters come election day.
“I want to make sure the public knows what the rules are,” said Kammi Foote, the registrar of voters in Inyo County. “I don’t want to be accused of favoritism allowing MAGA gear but telling people with a Biden/Harris mask to remove it.”
California has long differentiated between political slogans and what the law defines as “electioneering” — displaying information about a candidate or campaign — at a polling place or vote center. Last month, state elections officials made clear that gear bearing the Trump slogan would not be considered synonymous with showing support for the president’s reelection.
“Examples of campaign slogans or political movement slogans include but are not limited to: Make America Great Again (MAGA), Black Lives Matter (BLM), Keep America Great (KAG), Vote for Science, and Build Back Better,” said the Sept. 28 guidelines sent to county registrars of voters.
“State law is clear that you can’t have a candidate’s likeness or name,” said Sam Mahood, a spokesman for Secretary of State Alex Padilla. “It does not prohibit slogans that could be created for a campaign or a political movement.”
Advertisement
Foote, who is a registered Republican in a county where three-fourths of voters are aligned with the GOP, said the other slogans cited by state officials seem to connote something broader than support for a single candidate. She has already ordered a supply of paper aprons as a cover for anyone who shows up wearing clothing that is explicitly in favor of a candidate or ballot measure. But she said she fears the standard for MAGA items won’t seem fair to Democrats and those opposed to Trump.
“This particular campaign material is tied to a specific candidate in most voters’ perception,” Foote said. “And perception is reality. I don’t want my poll workers to have to defend this.”
The rules related to clothing, buttons and other items apply both to voters and to anyone who asks to be an observer at a voting location. But Mahood said more strict rules would apply to poll workers, who are considered to be employees of the county elections office and must remain nonpartisan in their duties at voting locations.
A number of new procedures related to in-person voting have been added this fall for those who are not using the ballot mailed to them, prompted by the need for additional protections to lessen the spread of COVID-19. Masks present one notable area of concern for improper electioneering. A mask with the president’s preferred slogan will be allowed, as long as it does not include his name or likeness.
Elections officials say any “Make America Great” gear that includes Trump’s name will be prohibited, which could lessen what some Trump critics might otherwise see as a double standard.
Existing state law limiting the use of candidate-specific material at voting locations was written in 2009, but the issue has long been a contentious one.
Activists supporting a Mendocino County candidate asked a court to overrule a decision by the county’s chief elections officer to bar them from displaying buttons on their clothing near polling places. The judge in the case sided with the registrar of voters, writing that being told to cover up the buttons was “a very slight inconvenience necessary to safeguard a free and untainted electoral process.” The U.S. Supreme Court embraced a campaigning buffer of 100 feet in a 1992 ruling.
Advertisement
Even so, no candidate has been more uniquely identified in modern times with a slogan than Trump.
Assemblyman Marc Berman (D-Palo Alto), chairman of the Assembly Elections and Redistricting Committee, said he was also surprised by the allowance of MAGA apparel for voters and election observers.
“I think an argument could be made that it should be tightened up a little bit,” Berman said of the state’s electioneering law. “Like so many things with this president, we’re encountering a lot of firsts.”


latimes--2020-10-22--Coronavirus outbreak strikes L.A. megachurch that defied public health orders

An evangelical megachurch in Los Angeles that has defied L.A. County public health orders and held indoor worship services for the last several weeks has been struck with an outbreak of the coronavirus , public health officials confirmed Thursday .
Grace Community Church in Sun Valley has seen three confirmed cases , according to the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health .
Public health officials are investigating the outbreak and said they will work closely with the church to help limit transmission of the coronavirus in the church , which has an estimated attendance of 7,000 .
The county @ @ @ @ @ @ @ whether the cases were confirmed among staff or worshipers .
Attorneys for Grace Community Church did not immediately respond to a request for comment .
The conservative megachurch announced in late July that it would restart indoor services — despite a county public health order barring any house of worship from doing so .
Thousands of people have attended services , with most not wearing face coverings as they sit side by side indoors , or close together outside under a tent , according to public health officials .
Pastor John MacArthur has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from the church has gotten sick with COVID-19 and claims the pandemic threat is overblown .
The church does not screen congregants for symptoms before they enter or require them to follow any protocols , according to court records and interviews with members .
MacArthur has been increasingly skeptical of the pandemic , a viewpoint he has shared from the pulpit .
He and his attorneys have argued that it is their constitutional right to hold church services and that meeting together in person is a crucial part of how Grace Community Church @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Since mid-August , when county officials sued the church , the parties have been in a heated court battle over the church ’ s unwillingness to follow the county public health order .
In early September , an L.A. County Superior Court judge ruled that the church must stop holding indoor worship services and also must require congregants to wear face coverings and adhere to social distancing practices when worshiping outdoors .
The church has refused to follow that ruling , and county attorneys have asked a judge to hold the church in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is scheduled for Nov. 13 .
County officials said the vast majority of religious institutions continue to hold services either online or outdoors with public health safeguards in place .
“ The county went to court only after significant efforts to work with the leaders of Grace Community Church to protect the health of congregants and the surrounding community proved unsuccessful , ” county officials said in a statement .

People head to Sunday service at Grace Community Church in Sun Valley on Sept. 13. The church has regularly held packed morning services, defying a court order directing it to refrain from holding indoor services due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
An evangelical megachurch in Los Angeles that has defied L.A. County public health orders and held indoor worship services for the last several weeks has been struck with an outbreak of the coronavirus, public health officials confirmed Thursday.
Grace Community Church in Sun Valley has seen three confirmed cases, according to the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health.
Public health officials are investigating the outbreak and said they will work closely with the church to help limit transmission of the coronavirus in the church, which has an estimated attendance of 7,000. The county did not provide any further details about whether the cases were confirmed among staff or worshipers. Attorneys for Grace Community Church did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Advertisement
Under the county health officer’s order, places of worship must report to the county Public Health Department when at least three coronavirus cases are identified among staff or worshipers within a span of 14 days so the agency can determine whether there is an outbreak.
The conservative megachurch announced in late July that it would restart indoor services — despite a county public health order barring any house of worship from doing so. Thousands of people have attended services, with most not wearing face coverings as they sit side by side indoors, or close together outside under a tent, according to public health officials.
Pastor John MacArthur has repeatedly told the congregation that no one from the church has gotten sick with COVID-19 and claims the pandemic threat is overblown. The church does not screen congregants for symptoms before they enter or require them to follow any protocols, according to court records and interviews with members.
MacArthur has been increasingly skeptical of the pandemic, a viewpoint he has shared from the pulpit. He and his attorneys have argued that it is their constitutional right to hold church services and that meeting together in person is a crucial part of how Grace Community Church’s congregants exercise their religion.
Since mid-August, when county officials sued the church, the parties have been in a heated court battle over the church’s unwillingness to follow the county public health order.
In early September, an L.A. County Superior Court judge ruled that the church must stop holding indoor worship services and also must require congregants to wear face coverings and adhere to social distancing practices when worshiping outdoors.
The church has refused to follow that ruling, and county attorneys have asked a judge to hold the church in contempt. A hearing on the matter is scheduled for Nov. 13.
Advertisement
County officials said the vast majority of religious institutions continue to hold services either online or outdoors with public health safeguards in place.
“The county went to court only after significant efforts to work with the leaders of Grace Community Church to protect the health of congregants and the surrounding community proved unsuccessful,” county officials said in a statement.


latimes--2020-10-22--Santa Monica police chief retires amid furor over her handling of summer protests

During the summer ’ s protests against police brutality , Santa Monica Police Chief Cynthia Renaud came under withering criticism .
Some lambasted her for allowing the vandalism of businesses to go unchecked , others for cracking down on peaceful demonstrators .
When Renaud and the city ’ s then-mayor took a knee , calling for peace , the move was derided as a photo op .
From the law-and-order side , more than 66,000 people signed a petition criticizing her weak leadership and calling for her removal .
Last Friday , Renaud satisfied her detractors by retiring .
She @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a volatile moment in American policing as the recently elected president of the International Assn .
of Police Chiefs .
Interim City Manager Lane Dilg praised Renaud ’ s accomplishments during her two-year tenure .
Crime decreased by 16 % in 2019 , and Renaud oversaw a shift in resources to address homelessness , Dilg said in a written statement .
” Recognizing that recent events both here in Santa Monica and around the nation have strained community-police relations , Chief Renaud has made the decision to step aside so that the Santa @ @ @ @ @ @ @ forward , ” the statement said .
Renaud was a police officer in her hometown of Long Beach for two decades before becoming chief in Folsom .
She said she could not speak with a reporter on Thursday because she was attending the annual police chiefs conference and running several workshops as incoming president of the organization , which has 31,000 members worldwide .
Leading the IACP comes with a prominent platform , although it is a volunteer position .
“ I am proud of our record over the past two years in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ law enforcement , ” she said in a written statement .
“ In my role as President of the IACP , I will be focused on rebuilding the relationships of trust on which all successful law enforcement is based.
” Jacqueline Seabrooks , who led the Santa Monica Police Department for five years , will serve as interim chief .
As civil unrest ignited throughout the country after the killing of a Black man , George Floyd , by Minneapolis police , some protesters focused on wealthy areas like Santa Monica .
Live @ @ @ @ @ @ @ no police officers in sight .
Elsewhere in the city , officers arrested more than 400 protesters , most of them peaceful , and fired rubberized bullets into the crowds .
Officials imposed a citywide curfew , and National Guard troops patrolled the streets .
An outside watchdog has been hired by the city to investigate the Police Department ’ s handling of the protests , which began May 31 and continued for weeks .
Renaud becomes the first police chief in the Los Angeles region to depart in the aftermath of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , including Los Angeles Police Chief Michel Moore , have come under similar scrutiny for failing to protect businesses while employing heavy-handed tactics against demonstrators .
Nationwide , the chiefs of Seattle , Dallas and Rochester , N.Y. , all quit amid battles over protest response and police budgets .
The City Council on Saturday approved four months of severance pay for Renaud , a total of about $ 97,000 .
Renaud ’ s annual salary was $ 290,916 , not including benefits .
The city provides a four-month severance for most executives @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Santa Monica Mirror that Renaud ’ s departure was a “ mutually agreed-upon retirement.
” But Renaud received the severance anyway , to ensure “ a smooth and positive transition of duties in this highly sensitive and very important role , ” Dilg said .
Under her retirement agreement , Renaud must provide materials requested by city officials or outside investigators looking into the department ’ s handling of the protests .
In a lengthy Facebook post defending her decisions , Renaud said that on May 31 , she deployed five times @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sunday in anticipation of a protest at Ocean and Montana avenues .
Once the scale of the protest became clear , she activated the entire department and requested aid from neighboring law enforcement agencies .
Officers were trying to calm a crowd that was throwing rocks and bottles at the pier and were also protecting businesses on the Third Street Promenade , so they were unable to respond as vandalism escalated on 4th Street , she wrote .
“ My first responsibility is to protect the lives of people in our community , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the preservation of life and protection of the city , ” she wrote .
At a news conference on June 1 , Renaud said “ opportunists ” had taken advantage of peaceful protests to descend on the city , “ knowing that resources will be tied up in ensuring 1st Amendment rights to free speech.
” She said most of the people arrested were not Santa Monica residents .
Seabrooks was Santa Monica ’ s first Black female police officer , rising through the ranks for 25 years before becoming chief in Inglewood @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Monica Police Department , which has about 220 sworn officers , from 2012 to 2017 .
According to Seabrooks ’ LinkedIn profile , she is now a law student at the University of North Texas in Dallas .
“ I am certainly humbled at being asked to once again serve the Santa Monica community , ” Seabrooks said .
“ I am equally excited to begin working alongside the women and men of the Santa Monica Police Department as we continue to focus our attention on all facets of community safety during these @ @ @ @

People rush out of the Patagonia store on 4th Street in Santa Monica.
During the summer’s protests against police brutality, Santa Monica Police Chief Cynthia Renaud came under withering criticism.
Some lambasted her for allowing the vandalism of businesses to go unchecked, others for cracking down on peaceful demonstrators.
When Renaud and the city’s then-mayor took a knee, calling for peace, the move was derided as a photo op.
Advertisement
From the law-and-order side, more than 66,000 people signed a petition criticizing her weak leadership and calling for her removal.
Last Friday, Renaud satisfied her detractors by retiring.
She will still have an influential voice at a volatile moment in American policing as the recently elected president of the International Assn. of Police Chiefs.
Interim City Manager Lane Dilg praised Renaud’s accomplishments during her two-year tenure. Crime decreased by 16% in 2019, and Renaud oversaw a shift in resources to address homelessness, Dilg said in a written statement.
”Recognizing that recent events both here in Santa Monica and around the nation have strained community-police relations, Chief Renaud has made the decision to step aside so that the Santa Monica Police Department can continue to move forward,” the statement said.
Renaud was a police officer in her hometown of Long Beach for two decades before becoming chief in Folsom.
She said she could not speak with a reporter on Thursday because she was attending the annual police chiefs conference and running several workshops as incoming president of the organization, which has 31,000 members worldwide. Leading the IACP comes with a prominent platform, although it is a volunteer position.
“I am proud of our record over the past two years in times of unprecedented scrutiny and challenge for law enforcement,” she said in a written statement. “In my role as President of the IACP, I will be focused on rebuilding the relationships of trust on which all successful law enforcement is based.”
Advertisement
Jacqueline Seabrooks, who led the Santa Monica Police Department for five years, will serve as interim chief.
As civil unrest ignited throughout the country after the killing of a Black man, George Floyd, by Minneapolis police, some protesters focused on wealthy areas like Santa Monica.
Live television cameras captured stores being ransacked with no police officers in sight. Elsewhere in the city, officers arrested more than 400 protesters, most of them peaceful, and fired rubberized bullets into the crowds. Officials imposed a citywide curfew, and National Guard troops patrolled the streets.
An outside watchdog has been hired by the city to investigate the Police Department’s handling of the protests, which began May 31 and continued for weeks.
Renaud becomes the first police chief in the Los Angeles region to depart in the aftermath of the summer’s unrest. But others, including Los Angeles Police Chief Michel Moore, have come under similar scrutiny for failing to protect businesses while employing heavy-handed tactics against demonstrators.
Nationwide, the chiefs of Seattle, Dallas and Rochester, N.Y., all quit amid battles over protest response and police budgets.
The City Council on Saturday approved four months of severance pay for Renaud, a total of about $97,000. Renaud’s annual salary was $290,916, not including benefits.
The city provides a four-month severance for most executives who are terminated involuntarily. Dilg told the Santa Monica Mirror that Renaud’s departure was a “mutually agreed-upon retirement.”
But Renaud received the severance anyway, to ensure “a smooth and positive transition of duties in this highly sensitive and very important role,” Dilg said.
Under her retirement agreement, Renaud must provide materials requested by city officials or outside investigators looking into the department’s handling of the protests.
In a lengthy Facebook post defending her decisions, Renaud said that on May 31, she deployed five times as many officers as on a normal Sunday in anticipation of a protest at Ocean and Montana avenues.
Once the scale of the protest became clear, she activated the entire department and requested aid from neighboring law enforcement agencies.
Officers were trying to calm a crowd that was throwing rocks and bottles at the pier and were also protecting businesses on the Third Street Promenade, so they were unable to respond as vandalism escalated on 4th Street, she wrote.
“My first responsibility is to protect the lives of people in our community, and on Sunday, my priority was the preservation of life and protection of the city,” she wrote.
At a news conference on June 1, Renaud said “opportunists” had taken advantage of peaceful protests to descend on the city, “knowing that resources will be tied up in ensuring 1st Amendment rights to free speech.” She said most of the people arrested were not Santa Monica residents.
Seabrooks was Santa Monica’s first Black female police officer, rising through the ranks for 25 years before becoming chief in Inglewood. She returned to lead the Santa Monica Police Department, which has about 220 sworn officers, from 2012 to 2017.
According to Seabrooks’ LinkedIn profile, she is now a law student at the University of North Texas in Dallas.
“I am certainly humbled at being asked to once again serve the Santa Monica community,” Seabrooks said. “I am equally excited to begin working alongside the women and men of the Santa Monica Police Department as we continue to focus our attention on all facets of community safety during these unprecedented times.”


latimes--2020-10-22--The clash between former Gov. Jerry Brown and California sheriffs continues with Prop. 20

Longtime adversaries are clashing once again over changes to California ’ s criminal justice system , with a group representing the state ’ s sheriffs endorsing Proposition 20 on Thursday , while former Gov .
Jerry Brown is attacking the initiative in television ads .
The ballot measure would expand the list of felonies for which those convicted are ineligible for early parole , increase penalties for repeat shoplifters and collect DNA samples from adults convicted of some misdemeanors .
Brown began airing ads this week criticizing the initiative , calling it a “ prison spending scam.
” And on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Assn.
, a frequent opponent of the Brown ’ s that represents the state ’ s 58 sheriffs , said the measure is urgently needed for public safety .
The political battle over Proposition 20 threatens part of Brown ’ s legacy of shifting the state ’ s criminal justice system from mass incarceration to one with more emphasis on rehabilitation .
Sheriffs were at odds with Brown in 2016 when he won voter approval of Proposition 57 , which increased parole and good behavior opportunities for those convicted of nonviolent felonies .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ two dozen sheriffs .
Proposition 20 would expand the list of crimes not eligible for early parole under Proposition 57 , adding 22 offenses including felony assault with a deadly weapon , rape of an unconscious person and human trafficking of a child .
“ We all know they are violent crimes , ” said Kings County Sheriff David Robinson , president of the sheriffs ’ association , during an online news conference to announce the endorsement .
He said it was also important for Proposition 20 to create a new felony for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stealing for the third time , adding that stores are being hit repeatedly by serial shoplifting rings .
“ The serial thieves are really wreaking havoc on our communities , ” he said .
Robinson said the endorsement was approved by a majority of sheriffs who participated in a videoconference , but he would not say whether some were opposed .
He was joined in the news conference by four other sheriffs , including Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco .
“ Currently law enforcement is being hampered in our ability to keep our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ But Brown says in television ads that began airing this week throughout California that Proposition 20 “ won ’ t work ” to reduce crime .
“ It spends millions more on prisons and guts rehabilitation , ” the former governor says in the ad .
“ Just locking up more people won ’ t reduce crime .
We need to do more to turn lives around , not less.
” Brown ends the ad by arguing that “ Proposition 20 is a scam , a prison spending scam.
” With a big @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Brown has put up $ 1 million from his political action committees toward the more than $ 7.6 million raised so far by the opposition campaign .
The campaign has also received $ 2 million from the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative , which was created by Facebook Inc. Chief Executive Mark Zuckerberg and his wife , Priscilla Chan .
The California Democratic Party has also contributed .
Ana Zamora , director of criminal justice reform for the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative , said Proposition 20 would return California to “ failed ” tough-on-crime policies @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will be sent to prison , rehabilitation programs will be slashed , and taxpayers will pay the price , ” Zamora said .
Supporters of Proposition 20 have raised $ 4.8 million , led by $ 2 million from the California Correctional Peace Officers Assn.
, the prison guards union ; and $ 305,500 from Rep. Devin Nunes ( R-Tulare ) .
The measure is also supported by the Republican Party of California and the Los Angeles Police Protective League , the union representing LAPD officers .

California voters will decide in Proposition 20 whether to expand the list of crimes for which people are ineligible for early release from prison. Sheriffs on Thursday endorsed the measure, which is opposed by former Gov. Jerry Brown.
Longtime adversaries are clashing once again over changes to California’s criminal justice system, with a group representing the state’s sheriffs endorsing Proposition 20 on Thursday, while former Gov. Jerry Brown is attacking the initiative in television ads.
The ballot measure would expand the list of felonies for which those convicted are ineligible for early parole, increase penalties for repeat shoplifters and collect DNA samples from adults convicted of some misdemeanors.
Brown began airing ads this week criticizing the initiative, calling it a “prison spending scam.” And on Thursday, the California State Sheriffs’ Assn., a frequent opponent of the Brown’s that represents the state’s 58 sheriffs, said the measure is urgently needed for public safety.
Advertisement
The political battle over Proposition 20 threatens part of Brown’s legacy of shifting the state’s criminal justice system from mass incarceration to one with more emphasis on rehabilitation.
Sheriffs were at odds with Brown in 2016 when he won voter approval of Proposition 57, which increased parole and good behavior opportunities for those convicted of nonviolent felonies. That measure was opposed by more than two dozen sheriffs.
Proposition 20 would expand the list of crimes not eligible for early parole under Proposition 57, adding 22 offenses including felony assault with a deadly weapon, rape of an unconscious person and human trafficking of a child.
“We all know they are violent crimes,” said Kings County Sheriff David Robinson, president of the sheriffs’ association, during an online news conference to announce the endorsement.
He said it was also important for Proposition 20 to create a new felony for serial theft when a person is caught stealing for the third time, adding that stores are being hit repeatedly by serial shoplifting rings.
“The serial thieves are really wreaking havoc on our communities,” he said.
Robinson said the endorsement was approved by a majority of sheriffs who participated in a videoconference, but he would not say whether some were opposed. He was joined in the news conference by four other sheriffs, including Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco.
“Currently law enforcement is being hampered in our ability to keep our public safe,” Bianco said.
But Brown says in television ads that began airing this week throughout California that Proposition 20 “won’t work” to reduce crime.
“It spends millions more on prisons and guts rehabilitation,” the former governor says in the ad. “Just locking up more people won’t reduce crime. We need to do more to turn lives around, not less.”
Advertisement
Brown ends the ad by arguing that “Proposition 20 is a scam, a prison spending scam.”
With a big part of his legacy on the line, Brown has put up $1 million from his political action committees toward the more than $7.6 million raised so far by the opposition campaign. The campaign has also received $2 million from the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, which was created by Facebook Inc. Chief Executive Mark Zuckerberg and his wife, Priscilla Chan. The California Democratic Party has also contributed.
Ana Zamora, director of criminal justice reform for the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, said Proposition 20 would return California to “failed” tough-on-crime policies.
“If passed, more people will be sent to prison, rehabilitation programs will be slashed, and taxpayers will pay the price,” Zamora said.
Supporters of Proposition 20 have raised $4.8 million, led by $2 million from the California Correctional Peace Officers Assn., the prison guards union; and $305,500 from Rep. Devin Nunes (R-Tulare). The measure is also supported by the Republican Party of California and the Los Angeles Police Protective League, the union representing LAPD officers.


latimes--2020-10-22--California says 350,000 debit cards for unemployment benefits frozen over fraud fears

Faced with a deluge of fraudulent unemployment claims , California officials said Thursday that 350,000 of the debit cards they issued containing benefits have been frozen because of suspicious activity , including a high number of claims at a single address .
The debit cards frozen by the state Employment Development Department and Bank of America could represent billions of dollars in benefits paid out since the COVID-19 pandemic began in March .
“ The Department ’ s top priority is to quickly verify the identity of any claimants in this group that may have been impacted by scammer attacks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the potentially fraudulent claims , ” the agency said in a statement Thursday .
The scope of the potential fraud has alarmed some state officials .
But Assemblyman David Chiu ( D-San Francisco ) said he is also concerned that people in desperate need of unemployment benefits are also seeing their valid claims held up .
“ Our offices have been hearing complaints from constituents with legitimate claims who have had their EDD debit cards frozen as a part of this fraud prevention measure , ” Chiu said .
“ Again , EDD @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Californians who are depending on them for benefits.
” EDD officials did not respond Thursday to questions about how much money in benefits is affected by the frozen debit cards .
Law enforcement officials who have arrested more than 100 people for unemployment fraud have said the debit cards they seized potentially contained up to $ 20,000 in benefits each .
If that amount was on each of the 350,000 frozen cards , that would represent $ 7 billion of the $ 105 billion in benefits paid out by the EDD since the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is sending notices to claimants whose debit cards have been frozen asking them to provide identity verification documents through the agency ’ s website .
Claimants who don ’ t verify their identity will be disqualified from receiving benefits .
People who have not been notified by EDD but still can ’ t access their funds may have had their cards frozen by Bank of America , the issuer of the cards , “ because of a suspected transaction , ” and they should contact the bank , the agency said .
A @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The agency said its investigators “ are busy working with national , state , and local partners to expose , identify , and prosecute offenders to the fullest extent of the law.
” Assemblyman Jim Patterson ( R-Fresno ) said one of his constituents is a homeless mother of three young girls who has spent weeks trying to verify her identity on her legitimate claim for unemployment benefits .
“ The EDD still doesn ’ t know the difference between scammers and those in desperate need — like the 30 clients at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all had their cards shut off , ” Patterson said .
Meanwhile , the EDD has also faced criticism that people calling in to three separate agency call centers have not been able to reach a service representative or get help with stalled claims .
In response , the agency said that starting Friday it is combining its three call centers into one available between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. , seven days a week .

The COVID-19 pandemic has created unprecedented demand for unemployment benefits, but officials also believe fraud is rampant.
Faced with a deluge of fraudulent unemployment claims, California officials said Thursday that 350,000 of the debit cards they issued containing benefits have been frozen because of suspicious activity, including a high number of claims at a single address.
The debit cards frozen by the state Employment Development Department and Bank of America could represent billions of dollars in benefits paid out since the COVID-19 pandemic began in March.
“The Department’s top priority is to quickly verify the identity of any claimants in this group that may have been impacted by scammer attacks, while we work to shut down the potentially fraudulent claims,” the agency said in a statement Thursday.
Advertisement
The scope of the potential fraud has alarmed some state officials. But Assemblyman David Chiu (D-San Francisco) said he is also concerned that people in desperate need of unemployment benefits are also seeing their valid claims held up.
“Our offices have been hearing complaints from constituents with legitimate claims who have had their EDD debit cards frozen as a part of this fraud prevention measure,” Chiu said. “Again, EDD seems unable to address fraud without harming Californians who are depending on them for benefits.”
EDD officials said Friday that they could not provide an amount for the total benefits locked up in the frozen cards, but indicated some 4.6 million debit cards have been issued for unemployment benefits since the start of the pandemic, and $105 billion has been paid, which translates to an average of roughly $22,800 per card.
At that rate, the 350,000 frozen cards could represent more than $7.9 billion in benefits. An EDD spokeswoman said there are many variables, including when a claim is filed, that could mean frozen cards contain less than the average amount.
Law enforcement officials who have arrested more than 100 people for unemployment fraud have said the debit cards they seized potentially contained up to $20,000 in benefits each.
The EDD said it is sending notices to claimants whose debit cards have been frozen asking them to provide identity verification documents through the agency’s website.
Claimants who don’t verify their identity will be disqualified from receiving benefits.
Advertisement
People who have not been notified by EDD but still can’t access their funds may have had their cards frozen by Bank of America, the issuer of the cards, “because of a suspected transaction,” and they should contact the bank, the agency said. A spokeswoman for Bank of America declined comment.
The agency said its investigators “are busy working with national, state, and local partners to expose, identify, and prosecute offenders to the fullest extent of the law.”
Assemblyman Jim Patterson (R-Fresno) said one of his constituents is a homeless mother of three young girls who has spent weeks trying to verify her identity on her legitimate claim for unemployment benefits.
“The EDD still doesn’t know the difference between scammers and those in desperate need — like the 30 clients at a halfway home in my district who all had their cards shut off,” Patterson said.
Meanwhile, the EDD has also faced criticism that people calling in to three separate agency call centers have not been able to reach a service representative or get help with stalled claims.
In response, the agency said that starting Friday it is combining its three call centers into one available between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m., seven days a week.


latimes--2020-10-22--Thousands of children could be back to school sooner under a new L.A. County policy

County officials have made it easier for elementary schools to reopen for their youngest students under waivers , dropping a requirement for schools to provide a letter of support from employee unions as part of the application , The Times has learned .
The decision streamlines the application process and could potentially reopen classrooms to thousands of children , but it ’ s likely to raise concerns among teachers and other employees about possible exposure to health risks .
The move — announced by county Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer in two conference calls with school and school district leaders @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Supervisor Kathryn Barger announced that all schools in L.A. county are now allowed to bring on campus up to 25 % of a school ’ s enrollment to serve students with special needs , especially students with disabilities or students who are learning English .
The elementary waiver would apply to students in transitional kindergarten through second grade .
Under state rules , the county could grant waivers allowing schools to operate through sixth grade , but health officials aren ’ t ready for that step .
Ferrer acknowledged that the requirement for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ made it difficult for some schools to apply for waivers .
The vast majority of waiver applications were coming from private schools , followed by charters , which are public schools but mostly nonunionized .
In addition to dropping the union-support requirement , the county also will drop a similar requirement for letters of support from representative parent groups .
These requirements have been “ holding up a lot of applications , ” Ferrer said in a recording of one of these calls .
“ We will now just require a consultation process @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the call .
As of Wednesday , the county had received waiver applications from 87 private schools , 18 charter schools and five traditional public schools .
Four schools have been approved ; all are private schools .
An additional 30 applications are complete and undergoing final review .
Officials have committed to trying to approve 30 applications per week .
“ This is welcoming news to hundreds of thousands of families and kids , ” Supt .
Alex Cherniss of the Palos Verdes Peninsula Unified School District said .
“ The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ afford private and independent schools , from which over 90 % of the waiver applications were submitted.
” Cherniss was among the public officials who had asked the county to revise its waiver rules .
L.A. schools Supt .
Austin Beutner said last week that his school system , the state ’ s largest , would not apply for waivers and instead has been focused on getting ready for the return of all students , as soon as it is safe to do so .
Neither the district nor the teachers union provided @ @ @ @ @ @ @ posted a news story about the closing of campuses in Boston because of a coronavirus surge .
The four schools that have been issued waivers are Rabbi Jacob Pressman Academy of Temple Beth Am in Pico-Robertson , Los Encinos School in Encino , Holy Angels School in Arcadia and Kadima Day School in West Hills .
Though county officials had planned to give priority to schools that serve a higher number of low-income students , the requirement for letters of support was apparently proving a hurdle .
At these private schools the percentage @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or reduced-price lunch ranges from 2 % to 16 % .
By comparison , 69 % of L.A. County students overall qualify because they are part of low-income families , according to 2019 data .
Two of the approved schools , Pressman Academy and Kadima Day School , will bring their students back full time .
Los Encinos School and Holy Angels School have opted for staggered attendance and will offer hybrid and virtual options to families not yet comfortable with returning in person , according to applications submitted to the public health @ @

Pre-kindergarten teacher Amanda Templeton waves to online students last week with Lizeth Hernandez, left, and Kyleigh Maunaury-Young on the first day of in-person learning at Lafayette Elementary School in San Diego.
County officials have made it easier for elementary schools to reopen for their youngest students under waivers, dropping a requirement for schools to provide a letter of support from employee unions as part of the application, The Times has learned.
The decision streamlines the application process and could potentially reopen classrooms to thousands of children, but it’s likely to raise concerns among teachers and other employees about possible exposure to health risks.
The move — previewed by county Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer in two conference calls with school and school district leaders Thursday — came a day after county Supervisor Kathryn Barger announced that all schools in L.A. county are now allowed to bring on campus up to 25% of a school’s enrollment to serve students with special needs, especially students with disabilities or students who are learning English.
Advertisement
Combined, the two moves could potentially open the schoolhouse doors for hundreds of thousands of students — the county has about 1.5 million K-12 students. General operations for all students are not permitted because the county remains in the state’s worst, or purple, tier for reopening, which signifies widespread community transmission of the coronavirus. Under state guidelines, schools can reopen 14 days after the county moves the next tier, red.
The elementary waiver would apply to students in transitional kindergarten through second grade. Under state rules, the county could grant waivers allowing schools to operate through sixth grade, but health officials aren’t ready for that step.
Ferrer acknowledged that the requirement for letters of support from employee unions had made it difficult for some schools to apply for waivers.
The vast majority of waiver applications were coming from private schools, followed by charters, which are public schools but mostly nonunionized. Though county officials had planned to give priority to schools that serve a higher number of low-income students, the requirement for letters of support was apparently proving a hurdle.
In addition to dropping the union-support requirement, the county also will drop a similar requirement for letters of support from representative parent groups.
“We will now just require a consultation process with your stakeholders,” Ferrer said in a recording of one of her calls with education leaders.
Ferrer indicated that the formal announcement of the waiver revision could happen Friday.
As of Wednesday, the county had received waiver applications from 87 private schools, 18 charter schools and five traditional public schools. Four schools have been approved; all are private schools. An additional 30 applications are complete and undergoing final review. Officials have committed to trying to approve 30 applications per week.
“This is welcoming news to hundreds of thousands of families and kids,” Supt. Alex Cherniss of the Palos Verdes Peninsula Unified School District said. “The prior waiver system benefited families that can afford private and independent schools, from which over 90% of the waiver applications were submitted.”
Advertisement
Cherniss was among the public officials who had asked the county to revise its waiver rules.
L.A. schools Supt. Austin Beutner said last week that waivers, approved 30 schools at a time, are a poor fit for the massive school system and that he was focused instead on efforts such as building a tutoring program and getting campuses ready for the moment when all students would be returning — when it is safe to do so.
The district had no comment Thursday.
In a brief statement, a spokeswoman for United Teachers Los Angeles said the union intends to bargain the terms and conditions of its members’ return to campus. On social media Thursday, the union posted a news story about the closing of campuses in Boston because of a coronavirus surge.
Stephanie Yellin-Mednick, a school nurse and teachers union member who worked with the school district over protocols for coronavirus testing, tweeted her disapproval of the changes, saying that the negotiation process with unions ultimately benefited students.
https://twitter.com/MednickYellin/status/1319373964716634112
Glendale Unified Supt. Vivian Ekchian said she’s interested in exploring waivers but would seek community input and direction from her school board at its Nov. 2 meeting. She added that many teachers have told her that they are ready to come back. She said she plans to keep working with the leadership of the Glendale teachers union to reach common ground.
Ekchian said the district also is working out plans for bringing back small groups of students with special needs around the beginning of November and would probably see how things go before stepping up from 10% of enrollment — the previous maximum — to the new ceiling of 25%.
“We truly believe in a gradual, careful, robust return that is taking all aspects of this experience into consideration,” Ekchian said.
Las Virgenes Unified is among the few districts to quickly submit a waiver application. Its teachers union was willing to provide a letter of support.
The four schools that have been issued waivers are Rabbi Jacob Pressman Academy of Temple Beth Am in Pico-Robertson, Los Encinos School in Encino, Holy Angels School in Arcadia and Kadima Day School in West Hills.
At these private schools the percentage of students who qualify for a free or reduced-price lunch ranges from 2% to 16%. By comparison, 69% of L.A. County students qualify because they are part of low-income families, according to 2019 data.
Los Encinos and Holy Angels have opted for staggered attendance and will offer hybrid and virtual options to families, according to their waiver applications. Pressman and Kadima will bring students back full time, although Kadima Head of School Steven Lorch said one to three students in every class will continue to learn remotely through Zoom.
Lorch said his staff began preparing to apply for a waiver in July, before L.A. county opened up its process. Kadima looked at what other counties were requiring and planned accordingly.
“We knew that while e-learning had gotten better and better, it would never be equal to in-person learning,” Lorch said. “There’s just so much that children, particularly young children, benefit from in person — the nonverbal cues, the warmth of the room itself, all of which is absent when you’re a bunch of disembodied faces on a screen.”
Kadima has installed an 8-foot-wide plexiglass shield in each classroom that separates the teaching area from the students — a “symbol to teachers that they need to think three times before they cross that barrier over to the student side,” Lorch said.
Times staff writer Julia Barajas contributed to this report.


latimes--2020-10-22--Hostage released in Oakland and barricaded gunman surrenders

An armed man barged into a commercial building in Oakland on Thursday morning , taking an employee hostage and barricading himself inside , but authorities negotiated the person ’ s safe release and the gunman surrendered hours later , police said .
The intruder is connected to a double homicide in Oakland , Oakland police spokeswoman Johnna Watson said Thursday afternoon .
Oakland police tweeted at 5:31 p.m. that the suspect had “ peacefully and safely surrendered ” and that officers took possession of a “ high-capacity firearm.
” Police responded to reports of a gunman entering a store in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 11:15 a.m. , Watson said .
She did not specify which store the gunman entered but said everybody inside the business as well as neighboring strip mall stores was safely evacuated , except for one store employee the man took as a hostage .
A hostage negotiation team was called in to communicate with the gunman , and after nearly three hours he released the person he was holding , Watson said .
Authorities did not identify the business or divulge details about the double homicide to which they say the armed man @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an active scene.
” Police reported hearing a gunshot earlier in the day , Watson said , but no one appears to be injured .
Pedestrian and vehicle traffic was shut down in a six-block radius of the store .

The gunman refused to leave the store for hours, where he had locked himself inside, Oakland police say. He eventually surrendered about 5 p.m.
An armed man barged into a commercial building in Oakland on Thursday morning, taking an employee hostage and barricading himself inside, but authorities negotiated the person’s safe release and the gunman surrendered hours later, police said.
The intruder is connected to a double homicide in Oakland, Oakland police spokeswoman Johnna Watson said Thursday afternoon.
Oakland police tweeted at 5:31 p.m. that the suspect had “peacefully and safely surrendered” and that officers took possession of a “high-capacity firearm.”
At about 11:15am, OPD responded to the 1600 block of High St on a report of a man barricaded inside a commercial building and armed with a gun.
The gunman is currently holding one hostage inside. OPD's Tactical Team and Negotiation teams are on scene. pic.twitter.com/Hm24J6N1Aw — Oakland Police Dept. (@oaklandpoliceca) October 22, 2020
Police responded to reports of a gunman entering a store in the 1600 block of High Street about 11:15 a.m., Watson said.
She did not specify which store the gunman entered but said everybody inside the business as well as neighboring strip mall stores was safely evacuated, except for one store employee the man took as a hostage.
Advertisement
A hostage negotiation team was called in to communicate with the gunman, and after nearly three hours he released the person he was holding, Watson said.
Authorities did not identify the business or divulge details about the double homicide to which they say the armed man is linked “because it’s an active scene.”
At around 5pm, after day-long negotiations, the armed gunman peacefully and safely surrendered.
Oakland police officers recovered a high-capacity firearm. — Oakland Police Dept. (@oaklandpoliceca) October 23, 2020
Police reported hearing a gunshot earlier in the day, Watson said, but no one appears to be injured. Pedestrian and vehicle traffic was shut down in a six-block radius of the store.
Times staff writer Andrew J. Campa contributed to this report.


latimes--2020-10-22--Fearing frat parties, big family groups, Yolo County caps social gatherings at 16 people

Officials in Yolo County are taking California ’ s coronavirus restrictions a step further by placing a hard limit on socially distant gatherings .
A issued Wednesday said celebrations and get-togethers must be capped at 16 people .
The Northern California county , which is primarily rural but includes the university town of Davis and parts of Greater Sacramento , enacted the new rules in an effort to avoid sliding back into the purple tier of the state ’ s color-coded reopening system , which indicates the highest widespread risk of local infection .
Yolo County has been in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ category , since Sept. 29 .
The move is an enhancement of California ’ s own revised guidelines , which were issued by Gov .
Gavin Newsom on Oct. 9 .
In advance of the holidays , the changes permit social gatherings for the first time since the state shut down in March , but restrict groups to three households or fewer .
Yolo County spokeswoman Jenny Tan said local public health officials wanted to be more specific because the term “ household ” can apply to multigenerational homes , which are often @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , or even fraternity and sorority houses on the UC Davis campus .
“ When the state said ‘ maximum three households , ’ well , that could mean 50 or 60 people are gathered , ” Tan said .
“ We had to be smart about this .
We know that people are going to gather , so how can we do it more safely ?
” Yolo County ’ s health order includes other state guidelines , including two-hour time limits for gatherings , and requirements that meet-ups be held outdoors @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will account for everyone present , including hosts and attendees — although officials said they would rather people not congregate at all .
“ The more people interact and the longer they interact , the higher the risk of getting and spreading COVID-19 , ” the order says .
“ The Yolo County Health Officer strongly discourages gatherings of any size.
” At current levels , the 220,000-person county is seeing 5.3 new coronavirus cases per day for every 100,000 residents , according to the , and 2.7 % of its coronavirus tests @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from 2.4 % two weeks ago .
The county has had more than 3,000 cases of COVID-19 to date , and 58 people have died .
Despite creeping case rates , not all Yolo County residents are on board with the new guidelines .
Multiple residents on the county ’ s Facebook page said they don ’ t see the difference between being around people in big-box stores ( an activity that is currently allowed ) and gathering with loved ones at home .
Others said they won ’ t be following the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ chairman of the county ’ s board of supervisors , said that while most people he encounters are in agreement with the guidelines , he is often “ flabbergasted ” by the degree to which they are politicized online .
“ We seem to have lost this whole sense of public health in general , and how you would get to a pandemic other than the way we ’ re trying to do it , ” he said .
Sandy recalled people eagerly lining up to receive the sugar cube polio vaccine when @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Everyone understood this was part of their civic responsibility , and everyone understood that you were doing it to safeguard not only yourself , but your entire community from the spread of a disease , ” he said .
“ Somehow , that has really gone off the tracks.
” The new rules will be enforced primarily through educational outreach and a complaint-driven approach , Sandy said , with violations considered a misdemeanor .
The county previously passed an ordinance that allows for $ 10,000 fines for businesses that don ’ t comply @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also apply to business gatherings ( including holiday parties ) and industries that manage gatherings as part of their operations , such as wedding venues , restaurants and religious services .
In all instances , attendees must wear face coverings unless eating or drinking and maintain a distance of at least six feet or more from people they don ’ t live with .
Though there has been some resistance online , other Yolo County residents said the new limitations are a smart move .
“ In reality , they are not quite @ @ @ @ @ @ @ seem that way , ” 15-year resident Juan Pi-Sánchez said Thursday .
Pi-Sánchez said his family members have “ severely ” socially distanced themselves and have been careful to follow the county ’ s guidelines since the start of the pandemic .
“ We are interested in contributing to the well-being of others , ” he said .

Catie Fee, left, and Vivi Kirsh visit in downtown Davis, Calif., in April while practicing social distancing and wearing face masks. Yolo County, where Davis is located, is capping social gatherings at 16 people.
Officials in Yolo County are taking California’s coronavirus restrictions a step further by placing a hard limit on socially distant gatherings. A new health order issued Wednesday said celebrations and get-togethers must be capped at 16 people.
The Northern California county, which is primarily rural but includes the university town of Davis and parts of Greater Sacramento, enacted the new rules in an effort to avoid sliding back into the purple tier of the state’s color-coded reopening system, which indicates the highest widespread risk of local infection.
Yolo County has been in the red tier, the second-most restrictive coronavirus category, since Sept. 29.
Advertisement
The move is an enhancement of California’s own revised guidelines, which were issued by Gov. Gavin Newsom on Oct. 9. In advance of the holidays, the changes permit social gatherings for the first time since the state shut down in March, but restrict groups to three households or fewer.
Yolo County spokeswoman Jenny Tan said local public health officials wanted to be more specific because the term “household” can apply to multigenerational homes, which are often composed of many relatives and family members, or even fraternity and sorority houses on the UC Davis campus.
“When the state said ‘maximum three households,’ well, that could mean 50 or 60 people are gathered,” Tan said. “We had to be smart about this. We know that people are going to gather, so how can we do it more safely?”
Yolo County’s health order includes other state guidelines, including two-hour time limits for gatherings, and requirements that meet-ups be held outdoors. The county’s 16-person cap will account for everyone present, including hosts and attendees — although officials said they would rather people not congregate at all.
“The more people interact and the longer they interact, the higher the risk of getting and spreading COVID-19,” the order says. “The Yolo County Health Officer strongly discourages gatherings of any size.”
Advertisement
At current levels, the 220,000-person county is seeing 5.3 new coronavirus cases per day for every 100,000 residents, according to the California Department of Public Health , and 2.7% of its coronavirus tests return positive. That’s up from 2.4% two weeks ago.
The county has had more than 3,000 cases of COVID-19 to date, and 58 people have died.
Despite creeping case rates, not all Yolo County residents are on board with the new guidelines. Multiple residents on the county’s Facebook page said they don’t see the difference between being around people in big-box stores (an activity that is currently allowed) and gathering with loved ones at home. Others said they won’t be following the recommendations at all.
Gary Sandy, chairman of the county’s board of supervisors, said that while most people he encounters are in agreement with the guidelines, he is often “flabbergasted” by the degree to which they are politicized online.
“We seem to have lost this whole sense of public health in general, and how you would get to a pandemic other than the way we’re trying to do it,” he said.
Sandy recalled people eagerly lining up to receive the sugar cube polio vaccine when he was in elementary school.
“Everyone understood this was part of their civic responsibility, and everyone understood that you were doing it to safeguard not only yourself but your entire community from the spread of a disease,” he said. “Somehow, that has really gone off the tracks.”
California L.A. County to ease some coronavirus rules, though a wide reopening remains elusive The changes — expected this week — will allow family entertainment centers to open outdoors; eliminate a requirement that customers at wineries and breweries have to make reservations; and remove the food requirement for wineries.
The new rules will be enforced primarily through educational outreach and a complaint-driven approach, Sandy said, with violations considered a misdemeanor. The county previously passed an ordinance that allows for $10,000 fines for businesses that don’t comply with health orders.
The restrictions will also apply to business gatherings (including holiday parties) and industries that manage gatherings as part of their operations, such as wedding venues, restaurants and religious services. In all instances, attendees must wear face coverings unless eating or drinking and maintain a distance of at least six feet or more from people they don’t live with.
Though there has been some resistance online, other Yolo County residents said the new limitations are a smart move.
“In reality, they are not quite restrictive, although many are making it seem that way,” 15-year resident Juan Pi-Sánchez said Thursday.
Pi-Sánchez said his family members have “severely” socially distanced themselves and have been careful to follow the county’s guidelines since the start of the pandemic.
“We are interested in contributing to the well-being of others,” he said.