latimes--2020-11-18--Most of California is back in the purple COVID-19 tier. What does that mean again?

California is turning purple — but not in the political sense .
Following a major spike in coronavirus cases , 41 of the state ’ s 58 counties — encompassing about 37 million people — will remain or roll back to the strictest tier of the state ’ s four-part , color-coded reopening roadmap .
That means a large number of businesses will have to suspend or severely limit indoor operations .
Officials announced the new restrictions Monday , the same day California reported a record 13,412 new coronavirus cases .
Counties that have newly fallen back into the purple @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Barbara , Kern and San Luis Obispo .
Los Angeles , San Bernardino , Riverside , San Diego and Imperial counties were already in that category .
Most counties in the Bay Area — Santa Clara , Alameda , Contra Costa , Napa and Solano — were also sent back to the purple tier .
Gov .
Gavin Newsom launched the state ’ s four-tier system in late August , replacing an informal structure that allowed local officials to determine their own readiness to reopen .
The newer system , considered more cautious @ @ @ @ @ @ @ showing the spread of the virus among residents .
That includes daily averages of new cases per 100,000 residents and the percentage of positive cases compared with the overall number of coronavirus tests conducted .
Everything in the time of COVID-19 can seem fuzzy — even rules that govern our daily existence — which is why it ’ s worth revisiting exactly what the state ’ s tiers mean and how counties can progress to less restrictive ones .
And it ’ s worth noting that counties can impose stricter rules than the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Tier 1 , widespread transmission : Most nonessential businesses must be closed .
Counties in this tier have more than seven new cases per 100,000 people each day and a coronavirus test positivity rate of more than 8 % .
For counties in the purple tier , California officials require that the following types of indoor settings be to the public : restaurant dining rooms ; wineries ; gyms ; saunas and steam rooms ; dance and yoga studios ; swimming pools ; movie theaters ; museums ; zoos ; aquariums ; @ @ @ @ @ @ @ escape rooms ; indoor playgrounds like bounce centers , ball pits and laser tag facilities ; offices in nonessential businesses ; card rooms ; and satellite wagering sites .
Houses of worship can not hold in-person services indoors .
Most retail stores , malls and libraries can open at 25 % capacity ; grocery stores can open at 50 % capacity .
At indoor malls , common areas and food courts must be closed .
Closed to the public are amusement parks , bars , breweries , and distilleries — regardless of whether @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Professional sports venues and racetracks can operate but must be closed to in-person audiences .
Wedding ceremonies , funerals and other cultural ceremonies can not be held indoors .
Wedding receptions are banned statewide , regardless of the tier .
Higher-education institutions are closed for indoor lectures and student gatherings , but there are exceptions such as for labs and studio arts .
Elementary schools may be given special permission to be open if they have been granted waivers , and schools that have already reopened because the county was in a less @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rules to close .
• Red , Tier 2 , substantial transmission : Some nonessential indoor businesses remain closed .
Counties in this tier have four to seven cases per 100,000 people each day and a coronavirus test positivity rate of between 5 % and 8 % .
For counties in the red tier , indoor restaurant dining rooms , movie theaters and houses of worship can reopen at 25 % capacity or up to 100 people , whichever is fewer .
Gyms and dance and yoga studios can open at 10 % @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can open indoor activities at 25 % capacity .
Stores , indoor malls and libraries can open at 50 % capacity .
Indoor malls must keep common areas closed and reduce capacity at food courts .
Wedding ceremonies , funerals and other cultural ceremonies can be held indoors at 25 % capacity or 100 people , whichever is fewer .
Wedding receptions are banned .
Higher-education institutions can allow for indoor lectures and student gatherings but are limited to 25 % capacity or 100 people , whichever is fewer ; however , student @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Primary and secondary schools are allowed to fully reopen for in-person instruction , at the discretion of local school officials .
• Orange , Tier 3 , moderate transmission : Some businesses can open with modifications .
Counties in this tier have 1 to 3.9 new cases per 100,000 people each day and a coronavirus test positivity rate of 2 % to 4.9 % .
Indoor restaurant dining rooms , movie theaters and houses of worship can open at 50 % capacity or 200 people , whichever is fewer ; wineries can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 100 people , whichever is fewer .
Bars , breweries and distilleries that don ’ t serve meals can open outdoors .
Gyms and dance and yoga studios can open at 25 % capacity ; indoor swimming pools can open .
Museums , zoos and aquariums can open indoor activities at 50 % capacity .
Family entertainment centers like bowling alleys and escape rooms , and indoor playgrounds like bounce centers , ball pits and laser tag facilities , can reopen indoors at 25 % capacity .
Offices in nonessential industries can reopen @ @ @ @ @ @ @ work remotely .
Card rooms and satellite wagering sites can reopen indoors at 25 % capacity .
Wedding ceremonies , funerals and other cultural ceremonies can be held indoors at 50 % capacity or 200 people , whichever is fewer .
Wedding receptions are banned .
Retail and grocery stores and libraries can operate at full capacity .
Indoor malls ’ common areas remain closed , and food courts must operate at a reduced capacity .
Higher-education institutions can allow indoor lectures and student gatherings at 50 % capacity or 200 people , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ arts can open at regular capacity ; however , student activities should be done remotely when possible .
Small amusement parks can reopen outdoor attractions to in-county visitors at 25 % capacity or 500 people , whichever is fewer , and must require reservations or advance tickets .
( Small parks are defined as those with a total capacity of fewer than 15,000 . )
Outdoor professional sports venues and racetracks can open at 20 % capacity ; fans must live within 120 miles of the venue and are required to have reservations @ @ @ @ @ @ @ only .
• Yellow , minimal transmission : Most businesses can reopen , with modifications .
Counties in this tier have fewer than one new case per 100,000 people daily and a coronavirus test positivity rate of less than 2 % .
Indoor restaurant dining rooms , movie theaters , houses of worship , gyms , fitness centers , saunas , spas , steam rooms , dance and yoga studios , card rooms and satellite wagering sites can open at 50 % capacity .
Wineries can open indoors at 50 % capacity or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Indoor family entertainment centers , including arcades , ice skating rinks and playgrounds , can reopen at 50 % capacity .
Indoor malls ’ common areas can reopen , but food courts must operate at a reduced capacity .
Museums , zoos and aquariums can open indoors at full capacity but must follow modifications .
Bars , breweries and distilleries that don ’ t serve meals can reopen indoors at 50 % capacity .
Outdoor professional sports venues and racetracks can open at 25 % capacity ; fans must live within 120 miles @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have reservations and assigned seating ; concessions are in-seat only .
Wedding ceremonies , funerals and other cultural ceremonies can be held indoors at 50 % capacity .
Wedding receptions are banned .
Higher-education institutions can allow for indoor lectures and student gatherings at 50 % capacity .
Labs and studio arts can open at regular capacity ; however , student activities should be done remotely when possible .
Large amusement and theme parks can open at 25 % capacity and must require reservations or advance tickets .
Some venues are shut statewide @ @ @ @ @ @ @ live theater , convention centers , festivals and nightclubs .
The state allows the following settings to remain open in all counties , regardless of the tier , with modifications to protect against the pandemic : body waxing studios , child care , day camps , doctors and dentists , electrologists , estheticians , farmer ’ s markets , film and TV productions , hair salons , barbershops , laundromats , massage therapy studios , music productions , nail salons , outdoor playgrounds , pet grooming , piercing shops , skateparks , skin-care @ @ @ @ @ @ @ parlors .
Large gatherings are generally prohibited statewide , with some exceptions , such as outdoor religious gatherings and protests , as long as attendees are wearing masks and can maintain distance of at least six feet from members of other households .
In the purple tier , small gatherings are allowed outdoors but require masks and physical distancing , attendance by members of no more than three households and a time limit of two hours .
Singing , shouting , chanting , cheering or exercising are strongly discouraged .
The same types @ @ @ @ @ @ @ less-restrictive tiers but are strongly discouraged .
“ If gathering indoors , increase fresh air circulation by opening windows or doors , as much as possible , especially in the rooms where people are gathering , ” state officials say .
Although California has been updating its tier assignments weekly on Tuesdays , Gov .
Gavin Newsom said those determinations will now be made and announced closer to real time .
Counties previously changed tiers only if their metrics fell in the determined range for two straight weeks ; now , those decisions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s worth of data , officials said .
In addition to the 41 counties that moved into the purple tier this week , 11 were placed in the second-most-restrictive , or red , category : Del Norte , Modoc , Humboldt , Plumas , Colusa , Lake , Marin , San Francisco , San Mateo , Amador and Mono .
Four are in the third tier , orange — Lassen , Sierra , Calaveras and Inyo — and only two , Alpine and Mariposa , remain in the least-restrictive , yellow , @ @

People wearing masks shop along Maple Avenue in the Santee area of downtown Los Angeles.
California is turning purple — but not in the political sense.
Following a major spike in coronavirus cases, 41 of the state’s 58 counties — encompassing about 37 million people — will remain in or roll back to the strictest tier of the state’s four-part, color-coded reopening roadmap. That means a large number of businesses will have to suspend or severely limit indoor operations.
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Officials announced the new restrictions Monday, the same day California reported a record 13,412 new coronavirus cases.
Counties that have newly fallen back into the purple tier include Orange, Ventura, Santa Barbara, Kern and San Luis Obispo. Los Angeles, San Bernardino, Riverside, San Diego and Imperial counties were already in that category.
Most counties in the Bay Area — Santa Clara, Alameda, Contra Costa, Napa and Solano — were also sent back to the purple tier. Sonoma County was already in that category.
Gov. Gavin Newsom launched the state’s four-tier system in late August, replacing an informal structure that allowed local officials to determine their own readiness to reopen.
The newer system, considered more cautious, bases reopening criteria entirely on data showing the spread of the virus among residents. That includes daily averages of new cases per 100,000 residents and the percentage of positive cases compared with the overall number of coronavirus tests conducted.
Everything in the time of COVID-19 can seem fuzzy — even rules that govern our daily existence — which is why it’s worth revisiting exactly what the state’s tiers mean and how counties can progress to less restrictive ones. And it’s worth noting that counties can impose stricter rules than the state’s standards.
Which California counties are reopening? To contain the spread of COVID-19, parks, restaurants and stores are slowly reopening.
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Purple, Tier 1, widespread transmission: Indoor operations of restaurant dining rooms, gyms and houses of worship are shut. Counties in this tier have more than seven new cases per 100,000 people each day and a coronavirus test positivity rate of more than 8%.
For counties in the purple tier, California officials require that the following types of indoor settings be closed to the public: restaurant dining rooms; wineries; gyms; saunas and steam rooms; dance and yoga studios; swimming pools; movie theaters; museums; zoos; aquariums; family entertainment centers like bowling alleys and escape rooms; indoor playgrounds like bounce centers, ball pits and laser tag facilities; offices in nonessential businesses; card rooms; and satellite wagering sites.
Houses of worship cannot hold in-person services indoors. Most retail stores, malls and libraries can open at 25% capacity; grocery stores can open at 50% capacity. At indoor malls, common areas and food courts must be closed.
Closed to the public are amusement parks, bars, breweries, and distilleries — regardless of whether the settings are indoor or outdoor.
Professional sports venues and racetracks can operate but must be closed to in-person audiences.
Wedding ceremonies, funerals and other cultural ceremonies cannot be held indoors. Wedding receptions are banned statewide, regardless of the tier.
Higher-education institutions are closed for indoor lectures and student gatherings, but there are exceptions such as for labs and studio arts.
Elementary schools may be given special permission to be open if they have been granted waivers, and schools that have already reopened because the county was in a less restrictive tier are not required under state rules to close.
Red, Tier 2, substantial transmission: Indoor restaurant dining rooms, gyms and houses of worship can open at limited capacity. Counties in this tier have four to seven cases per 100,000 people each day and a coronavirus test positivity rate of between 5% and 8%.
For counties in the red tier, indoor restaurant dining rooms, movie theaters and houses of worship can reopen at 25% capacity or up to 100 people, whichever is fewer. Gyms and dance and yoga studios can open at 10% capacity. Museums, zoos and aquariums can open indoor activities at 25% capacity.
Stores, indoor malls and libraries can open at 50% capacity. Indoor malls must keep common areas closed and reduce capacity at food courts.
Wedding ceremonies, funerals and other cultural ceremonies can be held indoors at 25% capacity or 100 people, whichever is fewer. Wedding receptions are banned.
Higher-education institutions can allow for indoor lectures and student gatherings but are limited to 25% capacity or 100 people, whichever is fewer; however, student activities should be held virtually when possible.
Primary and secondary schools are allowed to fully reopen for in-person instruction, at the discretion of local school officials.
Orange, Tier 3, moderate transmission: Bars can open outdoors; fans can return to outdoor professional sports venues at a limited capacity. Counties in this tier have 1 to 3.9 new cases per 100,000 people each day and a coronavirus test positivity rate of 2% to 4.9%.
Indoor restaurant dining rooms, movie theaters and houses of worship can open at 50% capacity or 200 people, whichever is fewer; wineries can operate indoors at 25% capacity or 100 people, whichever is fewer. Bars, breweries and distilleries that don’t serve meals can open outdoors.
Gyms and dance and yoga studios can open at 25% capacity; indoor swimming pools can open. Museums, zoos and aquariums can open indoor activities at 50% capacity.
Family entertainment centers like bowling alleys and escape rooms, and indoor playgrounds like bounce centers, ball pits and laser tag facilities, can reopen indoors at 25% capacity. Offices in nonessential industries can reopen, but workers should be encouraged to work remotely. Card rooms and satellite wagering sites can reopen indoors at 25% capacity.
Wedding ceremonies, funerals and other cultural ceremonies can be held indoors at 50% capacity or 200 people, whichever is fewer. Wedding receptions are banned.
Retail and grocery stores and libraries can operate at full capacity. Indoor malls’ common areas remain closed, and food courts must operate at a reduced capacity.
Higher-education institutions can allow indoor lectures and student gatherings at 50% capacity or 200 people, whichever is fewer. Labs and studio arts can open at regular capacity; however, student activities should be done remotely when possible.
Small amusement parks can reopen outdoor attractions to in-county visitors at 25% capacity or 500 people, whichever is fewer, and must require reservations or advance tickets. (Small parks are defined as those with a total capacity of fewer than 15,000.)
Outdoor professional sports venues and racetracks can open at 20% capacity; fans must live within 120 miles of the venue and are required to have reservations and assigned seating; concessions are in-seat only.
Yellow, minimal transmission: Large theme parks can reopen at limited capacity, as can indoor operations of bars. Counties in this tier have fewer than one new case per 100,000 people daily and a coronavirus test positivity rate of less than 2%.
Indoor restaurant dining rooms, movie theaters, houses of worship, gyms, fitness centers, saunas, spas, steam rooms, dance and yoga studios, card rooms and satellite wagering sites can open at 50% capacity. Wineries can open indoors at 50% capacity or 200 people, whichever is fewer.
Indoor family entertainment centers, including arcades, ice skating rinks and playgrounds, can reopen at 50% capacity.
Indoor malls’ common areas can reopen, but food courts must operate at a reduced capacity. Museums, zoos and aquariums can open indoors at full capacity but must follow modifications.
Bars, breweries and distilleries that don’t serve meals can reopen indoors at 50% capacity.
Outdoor professional sports venues and racetracks can open at 25% capacity; fans must live within 120 miles of the venue and are required to have reservations and assigned seating; concessions are in-seat only.
Wedding ceremonies, funerals and other cultural ceremonies can be held indoors at 50% capacity. Wedding receptions are banned.
Higher-education institutions can allow for indoor lectures and student gatherings at 50% capacity. Labs and studio arts can open at regular capacity; however, student activities should be done remotely when possible.
Large amusement and theme parks can open at 25% capacity and must require reservations or advance tickets.
Statewide restrictions
Some venues are shut statewide for all tiers: concert venues, live theater, convention centers, festivals and nightclubs.
The state allows the following settings to remain open in all counties, regardless of the tier, with modifications to protect against the pandemic: body waxing studios, child care, day camps, doctors and dentists, electrologists, estheticians, farmer’s markets, film and TV productions, hair salons, barbershops, laundromats, massage therapy studios, music productions, nail salons, outdoor playgrounds, pet grooming, piercing shops, skateparks, skin-care services, outdoor swimming pools and tattoo parlors.
Large gatherings are generally prohibited statewide, with some exceptions, such as outdoor religious gatherings and protests, as long as attendees are wearing masks and can maintain distance of at least six feet from members of other households.
Singing, shouting, chanting, cheering or exercising are strongly discouraged.
In the purple tier, small gatherings are allowed outdoors but require masks and physical distancing, attendance by members of no more than three households and a time limit of two hours.
The same types of gatherings may occur indoors in the less-restrictive tiers but are strongly discouraged.
“If gathering indoors, increase fresh air circulation by opening windows or doors, as much as possible, especially in the rooms where people are gathering,” state officials say.
Although California has been updating its tier assignments weekly on Tuesdays, Gov. Gavin Newsom said those determinations will now be made and announced closer to real time.
Counties previously changed tiers only if their metrics fell in the determined range for two straight weeks; now, those decisions can be made based on one week’s worth of data, officials said.
In addition to the 41 counties that moved into the purple tier this week, 11 were placed in the second-most-restrictive, or red, category: Del Norte, Modoc, Humboldt, Plumas, Colusa, Lake, Marin, San Francisco, San Mateo, Amador and Mono.
Four are in the third tier, orange — Lassen, Sierra, Calaveras and Inyo — and only two, Alpine and Mariposa, remain in the least-restrictive, yellow, tier.


latimes--2020-11-17--LAPD bars use of third-party facial recognition systems, launches review after BuzzFeed inquiry

The Los Angeles Police Department has barred officers and detectives from using outside facial recognition platforms in their investigations after uncovering a handful of detectives had used a powerful commercial software platform known as Clearview AI without permission .
In a Nov. 13 directive sent to the entire agency , Deputy Chief John McMahon , who heads the LAPD ’ s information technology bureau , noted that the only facial recognition system that LAPD officers are authorized to use is provided through the Los Angeles County Regional Identification System , which is maintained by the county and compares images input @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Other platforms like Clearview , which compare images against millions of images posted on the Internet , are not authorized for investigative use , he said .
“ Department personnel shall not use third-party commercial facial recognition services or conduct facial recognition searches on behalf of outside agencies , ” McMahon wrote .
“ Moreover , any department personnel using FRT shall attend the proper training and obtain a certificate of completion prior to using the system.
” Clearview could not be immediately reached for comment Tuesday .
The company has a history @ @ @ @ @ @ @ system .
Civil liberties advocates have questioned the efficacy of facial recognition software platforms , particularly those like Clearview , which use images from outside the criminal justice system .
Some critics and researchers have identified racial bias in facial recognition results .
LAPD Asst .
Chief Horace Frank said the department began investigating the use of systems like Clearview by LAPD officers after it was contacted recently by BuzzFeed News , which said it had a list of more than two dozen LAPD officers who had purportedly used the outside software .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , BuzzFeed reported that documents it had reviewed “ showed more than 25 LAPD employees had performed nearly 475 searches using Clearview AI as of earlier this year.
” As of Tuesday , Frank said the department had identified only two investigators who used Clearview AI on an investigation , though others appeared to have tinkered with the platform using noninvestigative images .
Some officers whose names were shared with the department by BuzzFeed denied ever using the Clearview platform , Frank said .
In the two instances in which LAPD officers did @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from a security camera were compared against the Clearview database , Frank said .
He said he is aware of one arrest in a case in which the technology was used , but did not know what role if any the facial recognition tool played in that arrest .
He said no arrests are made solely on the strength of a facial recognition match , and all require additional evidence .
While officers have now been instructed not to use the Clearview system , those who did have not been punished , as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ usage , Frank said .
“ The search complied with state law and our policy , as we didn ’ t have one forbidding third-party commercial facial recognition usage until last week , ” he said .
Frank said the department is now conducting a more exhaustive review to determine whether officers have been using unsanctioned facial recognition platforms without the department ’ s knowledge .
One LAPD source who spoke on condition of anonymity said detectives across the department are being asked whether they ever used outside technology , how they used @ @ @ @ @ @ @ investigations and , if so , in which cases .
The Times reported in September that the LAPD had used the county ’ s facial recognition software nearly 30,000 times since 2009 , despite at times denying it ever used facial recognition .
The Police Commission subsequently said it would review the city ’ s use of the technology and how it compared to other major cities .
The Times had specifically asked the LAPD in September whether officers were authorized to use Clearview A.I .
software , sharing a screenshot of an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ showed at least one detective in the Commercial Crimes Division discussing his use of the software with a Clearview representative .
At the time , LAPD spokesman Josh Rubenstein said that the officer identified in the email — Det .
Joe Hopkins — was a California Organized Retail Crime Assn .
coordinator , and that Clearview had asked him to evaluate their product .
“ He used an image that was not part of any criminal investigation for that evaluation , and received no results .
This was a single evaluation Clearview requested @ @ @ @ @ @ @ again by LAPD personnel , ” Rubenstein said .
“ Additionally , the Clearview system has not been used for a criminal investigation by LAPD personnel .
”

Civil liberties advocates have questioned the efficacy of facial recognition software platforms that use images from outside the criminal justice system.
The Los Angeles Police Department has barred officers and detectives from using outside facial recognition platforms in their investigations after uncovering a handful of detectives had used a powerful commercial software platform known as Clearview AI without permission.
In a Nov. 13 directive sent to the entire agency, Deputy Chief John McMahon, who heads the LAPD’s Information Technology Bureau, noted that the only facial recognition system that LAPD officers are authorized to use is provided through the Los Angeles County Regional Identification System, which is maintained by the county and compares images input by officers against criminal booking photographs.
For the record: A previous version of this story misspelled the last name of Clearview AI Chief Executive Hoan Ton-That.
Other platforms like Clearview, which compare images against millions of images posted on the internet, are not authorized for investigative use, he said.
“Department personnel shall not use third-party commercial facial recognition services or conduct facial recognition searches on behalf of outside agencies,” McMahon wrote. “Moreover, any department personnel using FRT shall attend the proper training and obtain a certificate of completion prior to using the system.”
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Clearview has a history of courting officers to try out its system. The company’s chief executive, Hoan Ton-That, said in a statement that the LAPD “had a trial of Clearview AI as have many other law enforcement agencies around the country.”
Ton-That said the company’s software is used by more than 2,400 law enforcement agencies in the country and has features “to ensure responsible use.”
Civil liberties advocates have questioned the efficacy of facial recognition software platforms, particularly those like Clearview, which use images from outside the criminal justice system. Some critics and researchers have identified racial bias in facial recognition results.
LAPD Assistant Chief Horace Frank said the department began investigating the use of systems like Clearview by LAPD officers after it was contacted recently by BuzzFeed News, which said it had a list of more than two dozen LAPD officers who had purportedly used the outside software.
In an article published online Tuesday evening, BuzzFeed reported that documents it had reviewed “showed more than 25 LAPD employees had performed nearly 475 searches using Clearview AI as of earlier this year.”
As of Tuesday, Frank said the department had identified only two investigators who used Clearview AI on an investigation, though others appeared to have tinkered with the platform using non-investigative images. Some officers whose names were shared with the department by BuzzFeed denied ever using the Clearview platform, Frank said.
In the two instances in which LAPD officers did use the platform in investigations, images from a security camera were compared against the Clearview database, Frank said. He said he is aware of one arrest in a case in which the technology was used but did not know what role if any the facial recognition tool played in that arrest.
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He said no arrests are made solely on the strength of a facial recognition match, and all require additional evidence.
Though officers have now been instructed not to use the Clearview system, those who did have not been punished, as they broke no rules with their prior usage, Frank said.
“The search complied with state law and our policy, as we didn’t have one forbidding third-party commercial facial recognition usage until last week,” he said.
Frank said the department is now conducting a more exhaustive review to determine whether officers have been using unsanctioned facial recognition platforms without the department’s knowledge. One LAPD source who spoke on condition of anonymity said detectives across the department are being asked whether they ever used outside technology, how they used it, whether it assisted in any investigations and, if so, in which cases.
The Times reported in September that the LAPD had used the county’s facial recognition software nearly 30,000 times since 2009, despite at times denying it ever used facial recognition. The Police Commission subsequently said it would review the city’s use of the technology and how it compared with other major cities.
The Times had specifically asked the LAPD in September whether officers were authorized to use Clearview AI software, sharing a screenshot of an email from a public records request that showed at least one detective in the Commercial Crimes Division discussing his use of the software with a Clearview representative.
At the time, LAPD spokesman Josh Rubenstein said that the officer identified in the email — Det. Joe Hopkins — was a California Organized Retail Crime Assn. coordinator and that Clearview had asked him to evaluate its product.
“He used an image that was not part of any criminal investigation for that evaluation, and received no results. This was a single evaluation Clearview requested and the system has not been accessed again by LAPD personnel,” Rubenstein said. “Additionally, the Clearview system has not been used for a criminal investigation by LAPD personnel.”


latimes--2020-11-17--Appeals court grants stay in lawsuit over Gov. Gavin Newsom's use of executive power

A California appellate court Tuesday stayed an injunction from a lower court that barred Gov .
Gavin Newsom from issuing executive orders that create new law , the latest development in a legal challenge to the governor ’ s response to the COVID-19 pandemic .
The stay granted by the 3rd District Court of Appeal prevents an order by a Sutter County judge from being enforced until the appeal from the governor ’ s office can be considered by the higher court .
Sutter County Superior Court Judge Sarah Heckman issued an injunction barring the governor from taking executive action @ @ @ @ @ @ @ makes new statutory law or legislative policy , ” rebuking a governor who has relied heavily on executive orders to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic .
The California Attorney General ’ s Office , representing the governor , argued that the lower court ’ s ruling was improper , and said it would “ hamstring ” the governor ’ s response to the pandemic as well as future state emergencies .
The legal case involved a challenge to Newsom ’ s executive order requiring vote-by-mail ballots to be sent to the state ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the Nov. 3 election .
Heckman ’ s ruling determined that Newsom ’ s executive order to send out the ballots , as well as to enact other precautions to reduce the threat of the virus during the elections process , violated the California Constitution because it created new law .
Under the state Constitution , only the Legislature has the power to create laws .
The legal challenge was filed by two Republican state assemblymen , James Gallagher of Yuba City and Kevin Kiley of Rocklin .

A California appellate court Tuesday stayed an injunction from a lower court that barred Gov. Gavin Newsom from issuing executive orders that create new law, the latest development in a legal challenge to the governor’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The stay granted by the 3rd District Court of Appeal prevents an order by a Sutter County judge from being enforced until the appeal from the governor’s office can be considered by the higher court.
Sutter County Superior Court Judge Sarah Heckman issued an injunction barring the governor from taking executive action that “changes existing statutory law or makes new statutory law or legislative policy,” rebuking a governor who has relied heavily on executive orders to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The California Attorney General’s Office, representing the governor, argued that the lower court’s ruling was improper, and said it would “hamstring” the governor’s response to the pandemic as well as future state emergencies.
The legal case involved a challenge to Newsom’s executive order requiring vote-by-mail ballots to be sent to the state’s more than 22 million registered voters in the Nov. 3 election.
Heckman’s ruling determined that Newsom’s executive order to send out the ballots, as well as to enact other precautions to reduce the threat of the virus during the elections process, violated the California Constitution because it created new law. Under the state Constitution, only the Legislature has the power to create laws.
The legal challenge was filed by two Republican state assemblymen, James Gallagher of Yuba City and Kevin Kiley of Rocklin.


latimes--2020-11-17--Hawthorne men accused in voter fraud plot to obtain 8,000 mail ballots for 'nonexistent or deceased'

Hawthorne men accused in voter fraud plot to obtain 8,000 mail ballots for 'nonexistent or deceased' persons

As judges around the U.S. continue to dismiss claims of voter fraud by President Trump and his supporters , prosecutors and election officials in Los Angeles County said Tuesday that they had uncovered evidence of an actual attempt to fix an election — albeit a small , local one .
Carlos Antonio De Bourbon Montenegro , 53 , and Marcos Raul Arevalo , 34 , were charged with multiple counts of voter fraud after allegedly trying to register 8,000 “ fictitious , nonexistent or deceased ” voters to receive mail-in ballots .
The scheme was part of an illicit bid @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , according to a criminal complaint made public Tuesday .
Montenegro and Arevalo allegedly used three recently registered post office boxes and Montenegro ’ s home address to submit the fraudulent applications , which allowed election officials to quickly flag them as suspicious in mid-October , according to Dean Logan , the county ’ s top election official .
While court records show at least 29 mail-in ballots were issued to people Montenegro and Arevalo had allegedly ginned up , none of the ballots were tallied in the general election , Logan said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ highlights how difficult it would be to carry out the widespread voter fraud President Trump and others have claimed was rampant in the 2020 election .
“ What this does is it illustrates that election officials here as well as across the country take these issues very seriously .
This was 8,000 registrations in a jurisdiction that has 5.8 million voters , ” said Logan , noting that the fraud narratives being pushed across the country would have required election officials to fail to notice misconduct on a massively larger scale .
Hawthorne @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the city has about 44,000 registered voters , according to the L.A. County Registrar ’ s office .
The number of voters the defendants are accused of trying to register would have boosted the city ’ s electorate by nearly 20 % , a jump which set off alarm bells in the registrar ’ s office , Logan said .
In addtion to the repeated use of Montenegro ’ s home address on many of the applications , many used similar or identical Social Security numbers .
“ We tracked where those voter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ notified the [ California ] Secretary of State and the district attorney ’ s office , ” Logan said .
Montenegro and Arevalo were scheduled to appear in a downtown Los Angeles courtroom Tuesday , and both were being represented by court-appointed attorneys .
The men and Hawthorne city officials could not immediately be reached for comment .
According to the criminal complaint , the two men began attempting to collect signatures for Montenegro ’ s mayoral bid sometime in July or August , and in early October submitted paperwork to nominate Montenegro @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or dead people who were said to support his candidacy .
in a bizarre Facebook screed , Montenegro claimed he had been “ booted ” from the mayoral race in late October and accused Hawthorne Mayor Alex Vargas of sexual harassment .
Vargas won reelection with 40 % of the vote , claiming 12,174 ballots in total .
Montenegro ’ s name did not appear in the registrar ’ s tally of votes cast for candidates .
Montenegro — who was charged with 18 counts of voter fraud , two counts of perjury @ @ @ @ @ @ @ faces up to 15 years in prison if convicted .
Arevalo , who was charged with conspiracy and multiple counts of voter fraud , faces up to eight years .
“ I think that this is an example of how the system is supposed to work , that if you see something and something is suspect , you report it and we investigate it , ” Logan said .
“ In this case , it was stopped before any harm to the election could happen.
” Nearly 80 % of the ballots cast @ @ @ @ @ @ @ election were submitted by mail , and Logan has said his office was able to weather the surge in mail ballots without significant problems .
L.A. County ballot boxes briefly became a matter of national intrigue after Trump tweeted a video last week purporting to show mail-in ballots being collected from official drop boxes several days after the election .
Officials in Logan ’ s office , however , debunked the claim , saying the footage was taken the morning after the election and county employees were collecting ballots that had been cast @ @ @ @ @ @ @ p.m. on the night of the election .
Logan said his office is still investigating footage of a woman possibly interfering with mail-in ballots at a South L.A. senior center .
The woman , who supported Joe Biden , was collecting incomplete ballots and promising to fill in the rest , according to a report by Eyewitness News .
The case was also referred to the district attorney ’ s office .

As judges around the U.S. continue to dismiss claims of voter fraud by President Trump and his supporters, prosecutors and election officials in Los Angeles County said Tuesday that they had uncovered evidence of an actual attempt to fix an election — albeit a small, local one.
Carlos Antonio De Bourbon Montenegro, 53, and Marcos Raul Arevalo, 34, were charged with multiple counts of voter fraud after allegedly trying to register 8,000 “fictitious, nonexistent or deceased” voters to receive mail-in ballots. The scheme was part of an illicit bid by Montenegro to become mayor of Hawthorne, according to a criminal complaint made public Tuesday.
Montenegro and Arevalo allegedly used three recently registered post office boxes and Montenegro’s home address to submit the fraudulent applications, which allowed election officials to quickly flag them as suspicious in mid-October, according to Dean Logan, the county’s top election official.
While court records show at least 29 mail-in ballots were issued to people Montenegro and Arevalo had allegedly ginned up, none of the ballots were tallied in the general election, Logan said.
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The case, he added, highlights how difficult it would be to carry out the widespread voter fraud President Trump and others have claimed was rampant in the 2020 election.
“What this does is it illustrates that election officials here as well as across the country take these issues very seriously. This was 8,000 registrations in a jurisdiction that has 5.8 million voters,” said Logan, noting that the fraud narratives being pushed across the country would have required election officials to fail to notice misconduct on a massively larger scale.
Hawthorne’s population is roughly 86,000 and the city has about 44,000 registered voters, according to the L.A. County Registrar’s office. The number of voters the defendants are accused of trying to register would have boosted the city’s electorate by nearly 20%, a jump which set off alarm bells in the registrar’s office, Logan said. In addtion to the repeated use of Montenegro’s home address on many of the applications, many used similar or identical Social Security numbers.
“We tracked where those voter registration forms were coming from and we notified the [California] Secretary of State and the district attorney’s office,” Logan said.
Montenegro and Arevalo were scheduled to appear in a downtown Los Angeles courtroom Tuesday, and both were being represented by court-appointed attorneys. The men and Hawthorne city officials could not immediately be reached for comment.
According to the criminal complaint, the two men began attempting to collect signatures for Montenegro’s mayoral bid sometime in July or August, and in early October submitted paperwork to nominate Montenegro that contained the names of 32 made-up or dead people who were said to support his candidacy.
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in a bizarre Facebook screed, Montenegro claimed he had been “booted” from the mayoral race in late October and accused Hawthorne Mayor Alex Vargas of sexual harassment. Vargas won reelection with 40% of the vote, claiming 12,174 ballots in total. Montenegro’s name did not appear in the registrar’s tally of votes cast for candidates.
Montenegro — who was charged with 18 counts of voter fraud, two counts of perjury and a host of other misdemeanors — faces up to 15 years in prison if convicted. Arevalo, who was charged with conspiracy and multiple counts of voter fraud, faces up to eight years.
“I think that this is an example of how the system is supposed to work, that if you see something and something is suspect, you report it and we investigate it,” Logan said. “In this case, it was stopped before any harm to the election could happen.”
Nearly 80% of the ballots cast in Los Angeles County during the general election were submitted by mail, and Logan has said his office was able to weather the surge in mail ballots without significant problems.
L.A. County ballot boxes briefly became a matter of national intrigue after Trump tweeted a video last week purporting to show mail-in ballots being collected from official drop boxes several days after the election. Officials in Logan’s office, however, debunked the claim, saying the footage was taken the morning after the election and county employees were collecting ballots that had been cast before the boxes were locked at 8 p.m. on the night of the election.
Logan said his office is still investigating footage of a woman possibly interfering with mail-in ballots at a South L.A. senior center. The woman, who supported Joe Biden, was collecting incomplete ballots and promising to fill in the rest, according to a report by Eyewitness News. The case was also referred to the district attorney’s office.


latimes--2020-11-18--Water district officials and others were negligent in Naya Rivera's drowning, lawsuit says

As the actress Naya Rivera and her young son swam in Lake Piru in July , gusts of wind and currents likely pushed her rented boat away from her as she struggled to swim and eventually drowned , according to a wrongful-death lawsuit filed this week by the boy ’ s father and others .
Ryan Dorsey , Rivera ’ s former boyfriend , filed the lawsuit Tuesday on behalf of the 4-year-old boy .
In it , he claims the United Water Conservation District , which operates the lake , as well as Ventura County and the boat rental @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dangers of swimming in the lake and to provide adequate safety equipment on the rented pontoon boat .
Rivera ’ s estate and the late actress ’ business manager also joined in the lawsuit , which was filed in Ventura County .
Rivera ’ s 4-year-old son was found alone on the boat after .
Days later , divers recovered the “ Glee ” actress ’ After an autopsy , coroner officials concluded the .
The lawsuit offers a more detailed description of the events that led to Rivera ’ s death .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ the boat started to be carried away — likely by the current and wind , ” attorney Amjad Khan wrote in the lawsuit .
The boy , “ who was closer , managed to get back on the boat by his own volition and braced himself on the boat , which was rocking back and forth forcefully in the current and wind.
” According to the lawsuit , the boy heard his mother cry for help as she struggled to stay afloat , and he searched for a rope on the boat @ @ @ @ @ @ @ looked back to where she had been , Rivera was gone .
The boy , Khan wrote , yelled for help and cried until he was discovered about an hour later .
The claims echo the coroner ’ s report , which concluded that winds on the lake the afternoon Rivera drowned gusted up to 21 mph and possibly blew the boat away from her .
The suits alleges the pontoon boat Rivera rented was not equipped with floatation devices or other lifesaving devices — a claim that was contradicted by the coroner @ @ @ @ @ @ @ adult-sized life vest was on a bench seat behind the boat ’ s driving area .
And the lawsuit claims the boat did not have a ladder or rope to make it easier for a swimmer to get back on the boat and had no anchor or other equipment to keep it in place while people swam .
Water district officials and others also failed to adequately warn Rivera to the “ deadly history ” of the lake , where more than two dozen people have drowned , according to the lawsuit .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the boat ’ s signage suggested falsely that it complied with U.S. Coast Guard standards , while signs at the lake ’ s boat dock and nearby areas provided no warning of dangerous conditions that could arise with strong currents , low visibility and high winds .
County and water district officials did not immediately respond to a request for comment .
The lake was formed with the creation of St. Felicia Dam .
The suit documents deaths going back to ` 1959 and says that a 27-year-old with a life vest died @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .

Searchers look for the body of actress Naya Rivera in Lake Piru in July. Her body was recovered days after she drowned after leaving a boat to go swimming.
As the actress Naya Rivera and her young son swam in Lake Piru in July, gusts of wind and currents likely pushed her rented boat away from her as she struggled to swim and eventually drowned, according to a wrongful-death lawsuit filed this week by the boy’s father and others.
Ryan Dorsey, Rivera’s former boyfriend, filed the lawsuit Tuesday on behalf of the boy, who was four at the time. In it, he claims the United Water Conservation District, which operates the lake, as well as Ventura County and the boat rental company failed to properly warn against the dangers of swimming in the lake and to provide adequate safety equipment on the rented pontoon boat. Rivera’s estate and the late actress’ business manager also joined in the lawsuit, which was filed in Ventura County.
Rivera’s son was found alone on the boat after she and the boy did not return did not return from an outing on July 8. Days later, divers recovered the “Glee” actress’ body. After an autopsy, coroner officials concluded the drowning was accidental .
The lawsuit offers a more detailed description of the events that led to Rivera’s death.
She and her son were swimming when “the boat started to be carried away — likely by the current and wind,” attorney Amjad Khan wrote in the lawsuit. The boy, “who was closer, managed to get back on the boat by his own volition and braced himself on the boat, which was rocking back and forth forcefully in the current and wind.”
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According to the lawsuit, the boy heard his mother cry for help as she struggled to stay afloat, and he searched for a rope on the boat to throw to her. When he looked back to where she had been, Rivera was gone. The boy, Khan wrote, yelled for help and cried. He was found asleep on the boat about an hour later, wearing a life vest.
The claims echo the coroner’s report, which concluded that winds on the lake the afternoon Rivera drowned gusted up to 21 mph and possibly blew the boat away from her.
The suits alleges the pontoon boat Rivera rented was not equipped with floatation devices or other lifesaving devices — a claim that was contradicted by the coroner’s report, which noted an adult-sized life vest was on a bench seat behind the boat’s driving area.
And the lawsuit claims the boat did not have a ladder or rope to make it easier for a swimmer to get back on the boat and had no anchor or other equipment to keep it in place while people swam.
Water district officials and others also failed to adequately warn Rivera to the “deadly history” of the lake, where more than two dozen people have drowned, according to the lawsuit. In particular, the lawsuit contends, the boat’s signage suggested falsely that it complied with U.S. Coast Guard standards, while signs at the lake’s boat dock and nearby areas provided no warning of dangerous conditions that could arise with strong currents, low visibility and high winds.
County and water district officials did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The lake was formed with the creation of St. Felicia Dam. The suit documents deaths going back to `1959 and says that a 27-year-old with a life vest died in 1994 because of the hazardous conditions.


latimes--2020-11-18--Small group protests outside home of L.A. County Sheriff Alex Villanueva

A small group protested near Los Angeles County Sheriff Alex Villanueva ’ s home Wednesday afternoon , calling for the department to release the names of deputies involved in the recent fatal shootings of Dijon Kizzee and Fred Williams .
About 14 protesters were met by about a dozen deputies carrying batons around 3 p.m. near Villanueva ’ s home in La Habra Heights , a city in the San Gabriel Valley .
The deputies formed a skirmish line and slowly walked the protestors down a residential street leading away from the sheriff ’ s property .
Protestors chanted : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , we want killer deputies identified , ” and “ Give us the names.
” A helicopter circled overhead .
“ He has been concealing from the public the identity of the deputies responsible for killing Fred Williams and Dijon Kizzee , ” said Cliff Smith , an organizer for the Coalition for Community Control over the Police , which led the protest .
“ The community and the families need to know who took the lives of Dijon and Fred.
” The Sheriff ’ s Department has told The Times that it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ deputies involved in the two shootings because of threats of violence against them .
After about 30 minutes , the protestors requested to leave the area and go back to their cars .
Officials let them leave but stopped one vehicle and detained two protestors inside .
One was released after a few minutes while the other remained in custody .
An official at the scene would not say why they had been detained .
“ We were trying to leave like they told us we were allowed to do , ” said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ detained along with the driver of the car .
The action comes as activists and elected officials have urged Villanueva to resign , holding that the sheriff — who took office in December 2018 after being elected by voters — has failed to hold deputies accountable and resisted oversight of his department .
Villanueva has said he ’ ll continue serving the community .
The Sheriff Civilian Oversight Commission , a watchdog group that monitors the Sheriff ’ s Department , approved a resolution last month expressing no confidence in Villanueva and demanding @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sheriff had blocked oversight of deputy-involved shootings and failed to comply with subpoenas authorized by the commission — one compelling documents related to an inquiry on whether Villanueva covered up the sharing of graphic photos at Kobe Bryant ’ s helicopter crash scene and another demanding he testify before the commission on coronavirus in county jails .
County lawyers have asked a judge to order Villanueva to testify , saying the watchdog panel is “ entitled to hear directly from the boss of the department to address the public ’ s concerns regarding @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” An attorney representing Villanueva argued that the subpoena was an abuse of power .
A hearing on the matter is scheduled for Friday .
Since the start of the pandemic , 3,495 county jail inmates have tested positive for the virus , and a majority have recovered , according to the Sheriff ’ s Department .
Eight inmates who tested positive have died .
The commission ’ s resolution also said that violent deputy gangs continue to operate in the department despite the sheriff ’ s claims that members of the cliques @ @ @ @ @ @ @ week , the L.A. County Board of Supervisors voted to explore ways to remove Villanueva from office , including by changing the state ’ s Constitution to shift California ’ s county sheriffs from elected to appointed positions .
The motion , authored by Supervisors Mark Ridley-Thomas and Sheila Kuehl , said the county had paid more than $ 149 million in the last five years to settle lawsuits and satisfy judgments in cases in which deputies were involved in incidents including civil rights violations , excessive force , sexual assault and killings @ @ @ @ @ @ @ unwilling to demand accountability for deputy misbehavior , lawsuits will continue to be filed against the sheriff , and it is the county ’ s taxpayers who will continue to pay for the consequences , ” the motion stated .
Villanueva has strongly refuted the criticism and has held that Board of Supervisors wants “ a sheriff on the leash.
” During the Tuesday board meeting , he described how he has removed federal immigration officers from county jails , rolled out body cameras for deputies and prohibited deputies from joining illicit cliques @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I have an open-door policy .
I ’ d like to meet with each and every one of you personally , ” Villanueva told the supervisors .

A small group protested near Los Angeles County Sheriff Alex Villanueva’s home Wednesday afternoon, calling for the department to release the names of deputies involved in the recent fatal shootings of Dijon Kizzee and Fred Williams.
About 14 protesters were met by about a dozen deputies carrying batons around 3 p.m. near Villanueva’s home in La Habra Heights, a city in the San Gabriel Valley. The deputies formed a skirmish line and slowly walked the protestors down a residential street leading away from the sheriff’s property.
Protestors chanted: “Villanueva you can’t hide, we want killer deputies identified,” and “Give us the names.” A helicopter circled overhead.
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“He has been concealing from the public the identity of the deputies responsible for killing Fred Williams and Dijon Kizzee,” said Cliff Smith, an organizer for the Coalition for Community Control over the Police, which led the protest. “The community and the families need to know who took the lives of Dijon and Fred.”
The Sheriff’s Department has told The Times that it would not release the names of the deputies involved in the two shootings because of threats of violence against them.
After about 30 minutes, the protestors requested to leave the area and go back to their cars. Officials let them leave but stopped one vehicle and detained two protestors inside. One was released after a few minutes while the other remained in custody. An official at the scene would not say why they had been detained.
“We were trying to leave like they told us we were allowed to do,” said David McDonald, 37, who was detained along with the driver of the car.
Department spokesman Lt. John Satterfield later said in a statement that Emanuel Padilla was arrested after deputies recognized him as being wanted for two recent felony charges involving the attempted derailment of a passenger train and is being held on $1-million bail.
The action comes as activists and elected officials have urged Villanueva to resign, holding that the sheriff — who took office in December 2018 after being elected by voters — has failed to hold deputies accountable and resisted oversight of his department. Villanueva has said he’ll continue serving the community.
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The Sheriff Civilian Oversight Commission, a watchdog group that monitors the Sheriff’s Department, approved a resolution last month expressing no confidence in Villanueva and demanding his resignation. It stated that the sheriff had blocked oversight of deputy-involved shootings and failed to comply with subpoenas authorized by the commission — one compelling documents related to an inquiry on whether Villanueva covered up the sharing of graphic photos at Kobe Bryant’s helicopter crash scene and another demanding he testify before the commission on coronavirus in county jails.
County lawyers have asked a judge to order Villanueva to testify, saying the watchdog panel is “entitled to hear directly from the boss of the department to address the public’s concerns regarding the effects of COVID-19 on the jails.”
An attorney representing Villanueva argued that the subpoena was an abuse of power. A hearing on the matter is scheduled for Friday.
Since the start of the pandemic, 3,495 county jail inmates have tested positive for the virus, and a majority have recovered, according to the Sheriff’s Department. Eight inmates who tested positive have died.
The commission’s resolution also said that violent deputy gangs continue to operate in the department despite the sheriff’s claims that members of the cliques have been disciplined or reassigned.
Last week, the L.A. County Board of Supervisors voted to explore ways to remove Villanueva from office, including by changing the state’s Constitution to shift California’s county sheriffs from elected to appointed positions.
The motion, authored by Supervisors Mark Ridley-Thomas and Sheila Kuehl, said the county had paid more than $149 million in the last five years to settle lawsuits and satisfy judgments in cases in which deputies were involved in incidents including civil rights violations, excessive force, sexual assault and killings.
“With a sheriff that is unwilling to demand accountability for deputy misbehavior, lawsuits will continue to be filed against the sheriff, and it is the county’s taxpayers who will continue to pay for the consequences,” the motion stated.
Villanueva has strongly refuted the criticism and has held that Board of Supervisors wants “a sheriff on the leash.” During the Tuesday board meeting, he described how he has removed federal immigration officers from county jails, rolled out body cameras for deputies and prohibited deputies from joining illicit cliques.
“I want to say that I have an open-door policy. I’d like to meet with each and every one of you personally,” Villanueva told the supervisors.


latimes--2020-11-18--California could see a $26-billion windfall followed by growing deficits, analysts say

California ’ s state budget faces a dramatic boom-and-bust period over the next four years , analysts said Wednesday , a roller-coaster period that could begin with a $ 26-billion tax windfall and later plunge to a projected deficit of $ 17.5 billion by the middle of 2025 .
Though the gradual trend toward budget shortfalls was expected when lawmakers and Gov .
Gavin Newsom crafted a state budget in June , the large supply of extra cash — equal to almost 20 % of all current-year spending out of California ’ s general fund — is a surprise , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Many of us thought that the state revenues were headed for a plunge , ” Petek said Wednesday of fears over an economic slowdown sparked by the pandemic .
“ But as it turns out , revenues have proven to be much more resilient than that.
” In essence , the report issued by analysts said that state officials may have over-corrected in trying to limit spending in the budget year that began on July 1 .
The budget signed by Newsom was designed to erase a projected $ 54.3-billion deficit and assumed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ decline in tax revenues .
As a result , lawmakers agreed to tap the state ’ s cash reserves and used one-time spending delays in hopes of staving off deep cuts to funding for schools and social services .
Instead , the state ’ s tax revenues have remained strong — in part , Petek said , because high-income residents have not suffered any notable setbacks and California ’ s budget relies heavily on those taxpayers .
“ The progressive nature of the personal income tax structure has actually worked to the state @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” Petek said .
Analysts noted an unusually large amount of uncertainty about how large the ultimate windfall might be , noting that it could be significantly smaller or larger than the $ 26-billion estimate .
But they said lawmakers should make careful decisions on how to spend the cash .
The report urges that half of the tax windfall be used to repay the state ’ s reserve funds , providing a needed buffer in the years to come .
For the other half of the unexpected cash , analysts said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ law enacted this year to provide supplemental funding to K-12 schools and community colleges beginning next summer .
That plan was crafted in anticipation of slower long-term growth in education funding than economic forecasts now anticipate .
Otherwise , the state will be required next year to spend an additional $ 2.3 billion on schools above what ’ s constitutionally required .
Public schools remain the single largest recipient of state tax dollars .
The budget agreed to last summer relied on delaying $ 6.6-billion in mandatory spending on schools , requiring school @ @ @ @ @ @ @ borrow money in the interim .
The Legislative Analyst ’ s Office report suggested canceling those funding delays as another option for use of windfall taxes .
The deferred school spending was part of $ 11.1 billion in cuts that lawmakers had hoped to rescind once additional coronavirus relief funds were approved by President Trump and Congress — a package that never materialized .
Democratic legislative leaders said Wednesday that their first priority for using windfall tax revenues is to restore those cuts , which also included less money for colleges and universities @ @ @ @ @ @ @ employee compensation .
“ It should be our priority to restore funds to critical programs that were cut and prevent additional cuts , ” Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon ( D-Lakewood ) said in a written statement .
But restorations beyond the current budget year could exacerbate what ’ s already projected to be a projected deficit in each of the next three fiscal years .
The analysts ’ report warns of annual shortfalls growing to as much as $ 17 billion by the fiscal year 2024-25 .
Those operating deficits would stand in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ help Californians whose earnings have been hit hard by the pandemic .
Spending on welfare-to-work assistance , subsidized child care programs and the state ’ s portion of Medi-Cal healthcare coverage already make up a substantial share of future spending increases .
Even then , the budget enacted in the summer expected higher costs .
There had been discussion that Newsom and lawmakers might make adjustments to the budget before the Legislature adjourned in August , but no changes were made — even as monthly tax collections continued to outpace projections that were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ President Pro Tem Toni Atkins ( D-San Diego ) said the state still needs the expected second round of coronavirus relief from the federal government , now expected to be on the agenda when President-elect Joe Biden takes office in January .
“ The need for federal stimulus is still critical for a strong economic rebound , and to help California continue to meet some of our state ’ s most pressing needs , which includes enhancing unemployment benefits , providing relief for renters and mom-and-pop landlords , and supporting local governments and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a written statement .
The report released Wednesday serves as an early benchmark for the Legislature , which will convene next month for a new two-year session .
Budget hearings are expected after Newsom submits a spending plan in early January .
Newsom ’ s budget spokesman , H.D .
Palmer , said the tax windfall doesn ’ t change the general trajectory of California ’ s economic condition .
“ The state ’ s 11 % unemployment rate in September was still nearly three times its rate before the pandemic , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ workers are receiving some form of unemployment assistance , ” Palmer said .

California’s state budget faces a dramatic boom-and-bust period over the next four years, analysts said Wednesday, a roller-coaster period that could begin with a $26-billion tax windfall and later plunge to a projected deficit of $17.5 billion by the middle of 2025.
Though the gradual trend toward budget shortfalls was expected when lawmakers and Gov. Gavin Newsom crafted a state budget in June, the large supply of extra cash — equal to almost 20% of all current-year spending out of California’s general fund — is a surprise, Legislative Analyst Gabriel Petek said.
“Many of us thought that the state revenues were headed for a plunge,” Petek said Wednesday of fears over an economic slowdown sparked by the pandemic. “But as it turns out, revenues have proven to be much more resilient than that.”
In essence, the report issued by analysts said that state officials may have over-corrected in trying to limit spending in the budget year that began on July 1. The budget signed by Newsom was designed to erase a projected $54.3-billion deficit and assumed the recession would lead to a sharp decline in tax revenues. As a result, lawmakers agreed to tap the state’s cash reserves and used one-time spending delays in hopes of staving off deep cuts to funding for schools and social services.
Instead, the state’s tax revenues have remained strong — in part, Petek said, because high-income residents have not suffered any notable setbacks and California’s budget relies heavily on those taxpayers.
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“The progressive nature of the personal income tax structure has actually worked to the state’s benefit in the current environment,” Petek said.
Analysts noted an unusually large amount of uncertainty about how large the ultimate windfall might be, noting that it could be significantly smaller or larger than the $26-billion estimate. But they said lawmakers should make careful decisions on how to spend the cash. The report urges that half of the tax windfall be used to repay the state’s reserve funds, providing a needed buffer in the years to come.
For the other half of the unexpected cash, analysts said the Legislature should consider rescinding a budget-related law enacted this year to provide supplemental funding to K-12 schools and community colleges beginning next summer. That plan was crafted in anticipation of slower long-term growth in education funding than economic forecasts now anticipate. Otherwise, the state will be required next year to spend an additional $2.3 billion on schools above what’s constitutionally required.
Public schools remain the single largest recipient of state tax dollars. The budget agreed to last summer relied on delaying $6.6-billion in mandatory spending on schools, requiring school districts to use cash reserves or to borrow money in the interim. The Legislative Analyst’s Office report suggested canceling those funding delays as another option for use of windfall taxes.
The deferred school spending was part of $11.1 billion in cuts that lawmakers had hoped to rescind once additional coronavirus relief funds were approved by President Trump and Congress — a package that never materialized. Democratic legislative leaders said Wednesday that their first priority for using windfall tax revenues is to restore those cuts, which also included less money for colleges and universities and a $2.8-billion reduction in state employee compensation.
“It should be our priority to restore funds to critical programs that were cut and prevent additional cuts,” Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon (D-Lakewood) said in a written statement.
But restorations beyond the current budget year could exacerbate what’s already projected to be a projected deficit in each of the next three fiscal years. The analysts’ report warns of annual shortfalls growing to as much as $17 billion by the fiscal year 2024-25.
Those operating deficits would stand in contrast to demands for boosted spending to help Californians whose earnings have been hit hard by the pandemic. Spending on welfare-to-work assistance, subsidized child care programs and the state’s portion of Medi-Cal healthcare coverage already make up a substantial share of future spending increases.
Even then, the budget enacted in the summer expected higher costs. There had been discussion that Newsom and lawmakers might make adjustments to the budget before the Legislature adjourned in August, but no changes were made — even as monthly tax collections continued to outpace projections that were made in the late spring.
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Senate President Pro Tem Toni Atkins (D-San Diego) said the state still needs the expected second round of coronavirus relief from the federal government, now expected to be on the agenda when President-elect Joe Biden takes office in January.
“The need for federal stimulus is still critical for a strong economic rebound, and to help California continue to meet some of our state’s most pressing needs, which includes enhancing unemployment benefits, providing relief for renters and mom-and-pop landlords, and supporting local governments and our schools,” Atkins said in a written statement.
The report released Wednesday serves as an early benchmark for the Legislature, which will convene next month for a new two-year session. Budget hearings are expected after Newsom submits a spending plan in early January. Newsom’s budget spokesman, H.D. Palmer, said the tax windfall doesn’t change the general trajectory of California’s economic condition.
“The state’s 11% unemployment rate in September was still nearly three times its rate before the pandemic, and more than one in every five California workers are receiving some form of unemployment assistance,” Palmer said.


latimes--2020-11-18--Column: Newsom may have 'COVID fatigue,' but that's a privilege California can't afford

Of the many things that came out of Gov .
Gavin Newsom ’ s mouth on Monday , as he rambled through an apology for his now infamous jaunt to the Michelin-starred French Laundry with his wife and some lobbyists , only one thing truly made sense .
It is .
And it ’ s apparently eating the brains of some prominent California politicians .
There ’ s Newsom who , in trying to explain why he sat down with “ a number of other couples that were outside the household ” even though it was “ a little larger @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that they weren ’ t really sitting outside .
Or that no one was wearing a mask .
Or that , Dustin Corcoran , the chief executive of the California Medical Assn.
, was among the group .
“ Instead of sitting down , ” the governor said , “ I should have stood up and walked back to my car and drove back to my house.
” He sure should have , especially now that new photos show just everyone sitting shoulder to shoulder in a private dining area .
Then there @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , 87-year-old Dianne Feinstein .
On Tuesday , she was caught on video talking to people in a corridor at the U.S. Capitol without wearing a mask .
Adding to the bad optics , 87-year-old Sen. Charles Grassley announced a few hours later that he had tested positive for COVID-19 .
The Iowa Republican had been on the Senate floor to vote on Monday .
Then there was House Speaker Nancy Pelosi ’ s plan to throw a lavish , indoor banquet for newly elected congressional Democrats .
The setup , as a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , included several tables for guests , who would presumably be situated only a few feet apart .
At first , Pelosi ’ s office defended the plan , with her deputy chief of staff , Drew Hammill , tweeting that it adhered to the guidance put out by the Office of Attending Physician at the U.S. Capitol .
But that soon changed , “ to be a further model for the nation , ” Hammill explained in a tweet .
“ Members-elect are now picking up their boxed meals and departing the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ There is no group dinner.
” And , of course , there ’ s the contingent of California state lawmakers who decided to hop on a flight to Hawaii for the annual Independent Voter Project conference .
Among the many topics they ’ ll discuss ?
How to safely reopen states amid the pandemic .
What probably won ’ t be discussed is the advisory from state officials , urging people not to travel out of state over the Thanksgiving holiday weekend .
While Republicans have rightly pounced on the hypocrisy of each @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Kevin Faulconer criticizing Newsom comes to mind — Democrats are far from alone in engaging in egregious behavior .
After all , who could forget state Senate Minority Leader Shannon Grove ( R-Bakersfield ) addressing a massive religious rally outside the state Capitol without wearing a mask while she was supposed to be in quarantine ?
In many ways , a lot of this should come as no surprise .
For months now , politicians on both sides of the partisan aisle have been inconsistent in their directives and proclamations on how the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has been , at best , uneven .
From the right , it has long been : “ Do whatever the hell you want.
” And now , increasingly from the left , it ’ s : “ Do as I say , not as I do.
” Is it any wonder then that as Thanksgiving approaches and families are making hard choices about whether to travel and whether to gather , we have people making up their own rules as they go along ?
Or that we find ourselves here , months @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of a third deadly wave of COVID-19 ?
If ever there was a time for a politician to lead by example , this would be it .
On Monday , California recorded 13,412 new cases of COVID-19 , which was a single-day record , according to The Times ’ coronavirus tracker of public health data .
And in the past week , the number of Californians with COVID-19 has jumped 102 % from two weeks ago .
Masking up is now a requirement , and we ’ re likely to see more restrictions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Angeles .
The reason for this , of course , is that politicians are far from alone in their selfishness .
Newsom sat down and stayed at the French Laundry because he wanted to sit down and stay at the French Laundry — just this one time , he insists , and damn the consequences .
That makes him a hypocrite , for sure , but he ’ s far from the only one .
His actions are very much in line with the millions of Californians who have taken to cheating here @ @ @ @ @ @ @ public health orders during the pandemic .
So while it might be fun to bash the governor and other Democrats for their baffling acts of political stupidity — and we should , by all means , hold them accountable — we ’ ve got bigger things to worry about .
We ’ ve all got COVID fatigue .
We ’ re all exhausted .
But if California has any chance of successfully slowing this growing third wave of COVID-19 , we can ’ t wait on powerful people who should know better to @ @ @

Of the many things that came out of Gov. Gavin Newsom’s mouth on Monday, as he rambled through an apology for his now infamous jaunt to the Michelin-starred French Laundry with his wife and some lobbyists, only one thing truly made sense.
“COVID fatigue,” he said, “is exhausting.”
It is. And it’s apparently eating the brains of some prominent California politicians.
There’s Newsom who, in trying to explain why he sat down with “a number of other couples that were outside the household” even though it was “a little larger” than anticipated, failed to mention that they weren’t really sitting outside. Or that no one was wearing a mask. Or that, Dustin Corcoran, the chief executive of the California Medical Assn., was among the group.
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“Instead of sitting down,” the governor said, “I should have stood up and walked back to my car and drove back to my house.” He sure should have, especially now that new photos show everyone sitting shoulder to shoulder in a mostly enclosed, private dining area.
Then there’s California’s senior senator, 87-year-old Dianne Feinstein. On Tuesday, she was caught on video talking to people in a corridor at the U.S. Capitol without wearing a mask. Adding to the bad optics, 87-year-old Sen. Charles Grassley announced a few hours later that he had tested positive for COVID-19. The Iowa Republican had been on the Senate floor to vote on Monday.
Then there was House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s plan to throw a lavish, indoor banquet for newly elected congressional Democrats. The setup, as a photo making the rounds on Twitter showed, included several tables for guests, who would presumably be situated only a few feet apart.
At first, Pelosi’s office defended the plan, with her deputy chief of staff, Drew Hammill, tweeting that it adhered to the guidance put out by the Office of Attending Physician at the U.S. Capitol. But that soon changed, “to be a further model for the nation,” Hammill explained in a tweet.
“Members-elect are now picking up their boxed meals and departing the Capitol,” he wrote. “There is no group dinner.”
And, of course, there’s the contingent of California state lawmakers who decided to hop on a flight to Hawaii for the annual Independent Voter Project conference. Among the many topics they’ll discuss? How to safely reopen states amid the pandemic. What probably won’t be discussed is the advisory from state officials, urging people not to travel out of state over the Thanksgiving holiday weekend.
While Republicans have rightly pounced on the hypocrisy of each of these acts — San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer criticizing Newsom comes to mind — Democrats are far from alone in engaging in egregious behavior. After all, who could forget state Senate Minority Leader Shannon Grove (R-Bakersfield) addressing a massive religious rally outside the state Capitol without wearing a mask while she was supposed to be in quarantine?
In many ways, a lot of this should come as no surprise. For months now, politicians on both sides of the partisan aisle have been inconsistent in their directives and proclamations on how the public should navigate the pandemic. Leadership has been, at best, uneven.
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From the right, it has long been: “Do whatever the hell you want.” And now, increasingly from the left, it’s: “Do as I say, not as I do.”
Is it any wonder then that as Thanksgiving approaches and families are making hard choices about whether to travel and whether to gather, we have people making up their own rules as they go along? Or that we find ourselves here, months after the pandemic began in the middle of a third deadly wave of COVID-19?
If ever there was a time for a politician to lead by example, this would be it.
On Monday, California recorded 13,412 new cases of COVID-19, which was a single-day record, according to The Times’ coronavirus tracker of public health data. And in the past week, the number of Californians with COVID-19 has jumped 102% from two weeks ago. Masking up is now a requirement, and we’re likely to see more restrictions in our future, especially in Los Angeles.
The reason for this, of course, is that politicians are far from alone in their selfishness.
Tracking the coronavirus in California The latest maps and charts on the spread of COVID-19 in California.
Newsom sat down and stayed at the French Laundry because he wanted to sit down and stay at the French Laundry — just this one time, he insists, and damn the consequences. That makes him a hypocrite, for sure, but he’s not the only one. His actions are very much in line with the millions of Californians who have taken to cheating here and there after months of dutifully following public health orders during the pandemic.
So while it might be fun to bash the governor and other Democrats for their baffling acts of political stupidity — and we should, by all means, hold them accountable — we’ve got bigger things to worry about.
We’ve all got COVID fatigue. We’re all exhausted. But if California has any chance of successfully slowing this growing third wave of COVID-19, we can’t wait on powerful people who should know better to do better.


latimes--2020-11-18--Hospitals could soon be overwhelmed amid COVID-19 surge, L.A. County officials say

The COVID-19 pandemic is hurtling toward crisis levels in Los Angeles County , with officials saying hospitals are in danger of being overwhelmed and significant new restrictions are possible .
The dire picture painted Wednesday illustrates the ferocity with which COVID-19 has roared back to life over the past few weeks , and underscores the grim consequences facing the county if that trend continues .
“ Clearly , we are at a crossroads in the COVID-19 pandemic again , and are at a dangerous place with respect to our overall cases and hospitalizations , ” Dr. Christina Ghaly , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , said during a briefing .
At top of mind for many is how the significant spike in cases will strike the county ’ s healthcare system .
The number of people hospitalized with COVID-19 countywide has shot up by nearly 60 % over the past month — from 752 on Oct. 16 to 1,188 as of Wednesday .
Officials have long feared a wave of coronavirus patients large enough to overwhelm hospital and intensive care capacity , and Ghaly said that ’ s a distinct possibility if the current surge continues unabated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , “ demand for ICUs will outstrip the supply of beds , and hospitals will have to take drastic action to be able to meet the needs of those who require an ICU-level of care , whether it ’ s for COVID or non-COVID causes , ” she said .
“ The message is very clear : It is highly likely that we will experience the highest rates of hospitalizations that we have seen in the COVID-19 pandemic to date within the next month , unless we take action immediately to substantially reduce @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
However , those immediate actions likely won ’ t yield immediate results , as there ’ s typically a lag between when someone is infected and when they become ill enough to require professional care .
“ Even if we do take decisive action today , even if everyone does their part , we will continue to see an increase in hospitalizations for at least the next two to three weeks , ” Ghaly said .
While the hospitalization numbers may be alarming enough by themselves , Ghaly said everyone should @ @ @ @ @ @ @ real people — people , with families and loved ones , who are very , very sick.
” It ’ s also important to recognize that a beleaguered healthcare system has ramifications for everyone , not just those battling COVID-19 , according to Barbara Ferrer , L.A. County ’ s public health director .
“ For all of you out there that may be in a car accident or you may have a heart attack or you may , unfortunately , have a stroke or have a serious asthma attack , when the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ everyone gets seriously compromised , ” she said .
“ So we owe it to each other , we owe it to our healthcare workers most importantly , to not keep transmitting this infection.
” So far , the weeks-long surge that has sent shockwaves through the county shows no signs of slowing down .
Ferrer on Wednesday reported 3,944 new coronavirus cases — the highest single-day total since late July , according to data compiled by The Times .
The average number of daily cases in the county has tripled in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cases a day to more than 2,800 for the five-day period that ended Tuesday , a Times analysis shows .
Should cases and hospitalizations continue to climb , county officials warn they may impose additional restrictions on businesses — and possibly even a new stay-at-home order — to thwart transmission .
“ The only effective path forward , ” Ferrer said , “ requires immediate action and , unfortunately , additional sacrifice.
” If the county ’ s five-day average of new daily coronavirus cases reaches 4,500 , officials said they will institute @ @ @ @ @ @ @ weeks , as well as a 10 p.m.-to-6 a.m. curfew that only exempts essential workers .
If cases continue to climb at the rate seen recently , Ferrer said the county could top an average of 4,000 per day by early December .
“ I don ’ t think it ’ s inevitable that we do get there , ” Ferrer said .
“ I hope with every single bone in my body that we don ’ t get there .
We put the thresholds out so that everyone knows what triggers additional @ @ @ @ @ @ @ do every single thing we can starting right now — we ’ re a little behind , to be honest.
” Officials and experts have said the recent surge striking L.A. County , California and the nation as a whole should inspire residents to double down on the steps they can take to prevent coronavirus transmission .
Those include wearing masks in public , regularly washing your hands and staying home when you ’ re sick ; as well as keeping physical distance from , and avoiding gatherings with , those outside your @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a particularly difficult pill to swallow with Thanksgiving and the rest of the winter holiday season just around the corner .
Officials and experts have recommended residents not travel for next week ’ s holiday , and instead make plans to celebrate virtually with those they don ’ t live with .
As part of a slate of new coronavirus-related measures announced earlier this week , L.A. County leaders also said they would cap the number of people allowed at outdoor gatherings — the only kind permitted — to 15 from no more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ limited circumstances , officials say attendees need to take precautions , such as physically distancing and wearing face coverings .
Though the prospect of skipping the food and fellowship that traditionally mark Thanksgiving may strike some as a bridge too far in a year already marred by sacrifice , Ferrer said the community needs to come together and , collectively , do what ’ s necessary to keep the pandemic from spiraling out of control .
“ This has been a community that has rallied before and done the right thing , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ever was a time to get back to doing the right thing , it ’ s right now.
” Times staff writers Rong-Gong Lin II , Jaclyn Cosgrove and Alejandra Reyes-Velarde contributed to this report .

Nurses and a scrub tech prepare a pregnant patient for testing in an OB triage tent at Providence Holy Cross Medical Center in July.
The COVID-19 pandemic is hurtling toward crisis levels in Los Angeles County, with officials saying hospitals are in danger of being overwhelmed and significant new restrictions are possible.
The dire picture painted Wednesday illustrates the ferocity with which COVID-19 has roared back to life over the past few weeks, and underscores the grim consequences facing the county if that trend continues.
“Clearly, we are at a crossroads in the COVID-19 pandemic again, and are at a dangerous place with respect to our overall cases and hospitalizations,” Dr. Christina Ghaly, the county’s director of health services, said during a briefing.
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At top of mind for many is how the significant spike in cases will strike the county’s healthcare system.
The number of people hospitalized with COVID-19 countywide has shot up by more than 70% over the past month — from 722 on Oct. 17 to 1,238 as of Tuesday.
Officials have long feared a wave of coronavirus patients large enough to overwhelm hospital and intensive care capacity, and Ghaly said that’s a distinct possibility if the current surge continues unabated.
Unless things change, and quickly, “demand for ICUs will outstrip the supply of beds, and hospitals will have to take drastic action to be able to meet the needs of those who require an ICU-level of care, whether it’s for COVID or non-COVID causes,” she said.
“The message is very clear: It is highly likely that we will experience the highest rates of hospitalizations that we have seen in the COVID-19 pandemic to date within the next month, unless we take action immediately to substantially reduce transmission within our communities,” she said.
However, those immediate actions likely won’t yield immediate results, as there’s typically a lag of several weeks between when someone is infected and when they become ill enough to require professional care.
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“Even if we do take decisive action today, even if everyone does their part, we will continue to see an increase in hospitalizations for at least the next two to three weeks,” Ghaly said.
While the hospitalization numbers may be alarming enough by themselves, Ghaly said everyone should also remember that those figures represent “real people — people, with families and loved ones, who are very, very sick.”
Tracking the coronavirus in L.A. County The latest maps and charts on the spread of COVID-19 in Los Angeles County, including cases, deaths, closures and restrictions.
It’s also important to recognize that a beleaguered healthcare system has ramifications for everyone, not just those battling COVID-19, according to Barbara Ferrer, L.A. County’s public health director.
“For all of you out there that may be in a car accident or you may have a heart attack or you may, unfortunately, have a stroke or have a serious asthma attack, when the hospital system is overwhelmed, care for everyone gets seriously compromised,” she said. “So we owe it to each other, we owe it to our healthcare workers most importantly, to not keep transmitting this infection.”
So far, the weeks-long surge that has sent shockwaves through the county shows no signs of slowing down. According to The Times’ independent tally, Los Angeles County recorded 3,795 cases Wednesday, the highest single-day total since late July and the fifth biggest total for a single day so far in the pandemic.
The number of daily cases in the county over a five-day average has more than tripled in the last month, from about 930 cases a day to more than 3,100 for the five-day period that ended Wednesday, a Times analysis shows.
Should cases and hospitalizations continue to climb, county officials warn they may impose additional restrictions on businesses — and possibly even a new stay-at-home order — to thwart transmission.
“The only effective path forward,” Ferrer said, “requires immediate action and, unfortunately, additional sacrifice.”
If the county’s five-day average of new daily coronavirus cases reaches 4,500, officials said they will institute a stay-at-home order for at least three weeks, as well as a 10 p.m.-to-6 a.m. curfew that only exempts essential workers.
If cases continue to climb at the rate seen recently, Ferrer said the county could top an average of 4,000 per day by early December, a rate L.A. County has never seen before. Hitting that threshold would force the closure of restaurant outdoor dining areas, forcing eateries to serve food by takeout and delivery only.
If L.A. County continues to see its current rate of increase in daily coronavirus cases, the region could see an average of 4,000 new coronavirus cases a day within three weeks, Barbara Ferrer, the director of public health, said, which would force outdoor restaurant dining areas to close. (Los Angeles County Department of Public Health)
“I don’t think it’s inevitable that we do get there,” Ferrer said. “I hope with every single bone in my body that we don’t get there. We put the thresholds out so that everyone knows what triggers additional actions. The hope is that we do every single thing we can starting right now — we’re a little behind, to be honest.”
Officials and experts have said the recent surge striking L.A. County, California and the nation as a whole should inspire residents to double down on the steps they can take to prevent coronavirus transmission.
Those include wearing masks in public, regularly washing your hands and staying home when you’re sick; as well as keeping physical distance from, and avoiding gatherings with, those outside your household.
That last point could be a particularly difficult pill to swallow with Thanksgiving and the rest of the winter holiday season just around the corner.
Officials and experts have recommended residents not travel for next week’s holiday, and instead make plans to celebrate virtually with those they don’t live with.
As part of a slate of new coronavirus-related measures announced earlier this week, L.A. County on Friday will begin to generally cap the number of people allowed at outdoor gatherings to 15 people who are from no more than three households.
Even in those limited circumstances, officials say attendees need to take precautions, such as physically distancing and wearing face coverings. Indoor gatherings are not allowed.
Also on Friday, new rules will go into effect requiring restaurants operating outdoor dining areas and nonessential stores to close their doors between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m.; pick-up and delivery services may continue outside those hours.
Though the prospect of skipping the food and fellowship that traditionally mark Thanksgiving may strike some as a bridge too far in a year already marred by sacrifice, Ferrer said the community needs to come together and, collectively, do what’s necessary to keep the pandemic from spiraling out of control.
“This has been a community that has rallied before and done the right thing,” she said. “And if there ever was a time to get back to doing the right thing, it’s right now.”
Times staff writers Rong-Gong Lin II, Jaclyn Cosgrove and Alejandra Reyes-Velarde contributed to this report.


latimes--2020-11-18--Photos: Mountain View fire continues raging in Eastern Sierra

One person has died in a fire that ravaged the Mono County town of Walker overnight and continues to burn @ @ @ @ @ by strong winds , the Mountain View fire ignited Tuesday afternoon and has scorched nearly @ @ @ @ @ Sierra , along the Nevada border .
It is 0 % contained .

One person has died in a fire that ravaged the Mono County town of Walker overnight and continues to burn, authorities said.
Spurred by strong winds, the Mountain View fire ignited Tuesday afternoon and has scorched nearly 29,000 acres in the Eastern Sierra, along the Nevada border. It is 0% contained.
Embers fly from a tree as the Mountain View Fire burns through the Walker community in Mono County. (Noah Berger/Associated Press)
Firefighters spray water on a burning home as the Mountain View Fire tears through the Walker community in Mono County. (Noah Berger / Associated Press)
A scorched vehicle rests in a yard as the Mountain View fire tears through Walker. (Noah Berger / Associated Press)
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A firefighter extinguishes flames in a burning home as the Mountain View fire burns through Walker. (Noah Berger / Associated Press)
A firefighter sprays water on a burning home as the Mountain View fire burns through Walker on Wednesday. (Noah Berger / Associated Press)
A car drives along Highway 395 as the Mountain View fire burns in Mono County. (Noah Berger / Associated Press)
A fire captain from Cal Fire’s Amador-El Dorado unit, who declined to be identified, speaks with a fellow firefighter while battling the Mountain View fire in Mono County. (Noah Berger / Associated Press)
In this photo taken by a drone, residences destroyed by the Mountain View fire line a street in the Mono County town of Walker. (Noah Berger / Associated Press)
Firefighters Emiliano Saldivar, left, and Chris Martinez sift through debris to recover keepsakes for residents after the Mountain View fire tore through homes in Walker. (Noah Berger / Associated Press)
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