latimes--2020-06-26--LAPD union director touts reform but embodies force's troubled past

The full-page ad in the Los Angeles Times and two other California newspapers seemed like an olive branch from three California police unions to thousands of people marching in the streets for police reform .
“ No words can convey our collective disgust and sorrow for the murder of George Floyd , ” read the advertisement .
The ad called Floyd ’ s death a murder — a rarity for law enforcement organizations — but it also advocated an early warning system to find cops in need of retraining , supported a national database to track officers fired for gross @ @ @ @ @ @ @ use-of-force analysis website.
” But on the same day , the most outspoken leader of L.A. ’ s 9,900-member police union hit his followers with a much different message .
“ The CHIEF !
Never sell out and back the troops !
” said a Facebook post by Los Angeles Police Protective League board member Jamie McBride .
The message accompanied a video of Daryl F. Gates , a former LAPD chief who ran a department plagued by excessive force and brutal relations with communities of color .
That kind of defiant pose @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a 30-year career in the Los Angeles Police Department and six years on the board of the powerful union , which uses campaign donations to influence city elections .
The Police Protective League puts McBride in front of the news media to signal that rank-and-file officers have had enough of the city ’ s left-leaning political leadership .
The veteran detective exudes the swagger and tribal brio of the old-school LAPD .
He was a street cop with a disproportionate number of on-duty shootings and an investigator who fought management discipline ( including @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he remains a sometime actor who plays street thugs and tough cops in movies and on television .
His frequent and public Facebook posts yearn for a bygone era when the LAPD wasn ’ t under attack by what old-timers view as a cadre of timid chiefs , desk-bound geeks and opportunistic politicians .
McBride said via email that he grew up a fan of “ Adam-12 , ” a TV police drama about two LAPD patrol officers who are paragons of rectitude .
“ I wanted to help those who most needed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ later won election to the union board to make his profession better , he said , and “ to protect , promote and improve wages , benefits [ and ] the working conditions of our members.
” Late in 2018 , McBride posted a video on Facebook ( with snippets from a reality TV show ) showing Black and Latino suspects being body-slammed , stunned with Tasers and chased down by LAPD officers .
It features multiple corpses and streets stained with blood .
The video also shows officers breaking up a fight @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s headline for the video : “ That good ol days.
” “ What you see in this video is a joy in search-and-destroy policing .
… It ’ s not about protection .
It ’ s not about safety .
It ’ s warrior enforcement , ” said Connie Rice , a civil rights lawyer who has worked with the department on reform measures .
Of officers like McBride , Rice added : “ That ’ s the kind of policing they enjoy .
That ’ s what they live for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is : ‘ Time ’ s up for that .
It ’ s over.
’ The consent of the governed for that kind of policing is done.
” McBride said that the video shows an earlier era of policing but that he acknowledges a need for change .
“ We as a department have instituted hundreds of reforms , yet there is more we can do , ” he said .
He described the video as showing “ the physical aspects of policing and depict [ s ] officers reacting to the actions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ well as instances of caring .
He suggested that multiple surgeries prevent him from serving the community , work he said he misses .
Rice and other longtime observers believe the LAPD has made some progress from what might have been its most belligerent era , beginning with the crack cocaine crackdown of the 1980s and extending into the 1990s Rampart Division scandal , in which anti-gang officers framed civilians and falsified testimony in reports .
But reform advocates say that the genetic code of LAPD and other departments still perpetuates an us-versus-them @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ defunding ” of police , a movement that ranges from those pushing an outright elimination of armed officers to those who would keep police but tilt municipal budgets toward social services such as homeless outreach and mental health care .
With the reform fervor rising in the streets , Mayor Eric Garcetti and City Council President Nury Martinez proposed shifting as much as $ 150 million from the police into social services .
The L.A. Police Protective League said the politicians reneged on a promise to consult with them before going public @ @ @ @ @ @ @ slight distressed officers who said they already felt besieged by charges of brutality and racism .
The union ’ s leadership met and decided to deploy McBride as the group ’ s most pugnacious voice against marginalization , said a source familiar with the union ’ s strategy .
“ He is our pit bull , ” the source said , “ and he is going to take some hard swings at you if he has to.
” On June 5 , the 51-year-old union leader stood at a lectern in front of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ board and called Garcetti mentally “ unstable.
” He chastised the mayor and Martinez as hypocrites for benefiting from uniformed protective units while simultaneously moving to reduce police funding .
After leading with McBride ’ s iron fist , a union insider said , the group intends to follow up with the velvet glove of more moderate board members .
McBride insisted in his email that the LAPD has not gotten enough credit for what it ’ s already accomplished : “ Officer involved shootings are at a 30-year low , community briefing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and every complaint made against an officer is investigated , ” he wrote .
“ We are headed in the right direction and know that there is more to do.
” A few days after his broadside at City Hall , McBride took on protesters .
He told a podcast host that Black Lives Matter was “ an anti-police hate group ” and a “ modern-day Black Panther type of organization.
” Like the other eight directors of the Police Protective League , McBride remains a sworn officer and receives the equivalent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ representing his fellow officers .
He lost a vote for president of the Police Protective League by five votes in 2016 but handily won reelection to the board in 2017 .
The Venice-born cop stirs both loyalty and disdain within the ranks of the LAPD .
Reform-minded officers scoff at McBride ’ s ego , his frequent use of force early in his career and his apparent love of command-and-control policing .
McBride ’ s obstreperous stance “ clearly shows he is out of step with the direction the department needs to go @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the community , ” said Mitzi Fierro , a onetime Police Protective League board member , now retired .
A top Police Department supervisor , who asked to remain anonymous to preserve relations with officers , called McBride “ the worst public face of the LAPD.
” McBride said he had “ thick skin ” and wouldn ’ t be bothered by anonymous critics .
He said he and the current board are more reform-minded than Fierro was during her time with the union .
McBride loyalists see him as the tireless champion @ @ @ @ @ @ @ world where they are stuck with society ’ s most intractable problems — homelessness , addiction and domestic violence — and blamed when interactions with police go badly .
After McBride went after Garcetti , a Facebook friend cheered him on : “ Get him bulldog !
” McBride joined the LAPD at age 21 .
He received commendations for his field work , particularly his ability to spot suspects carrying concealed weapons and to take illegal guns off the streets of South Los Angeles .
But a 2004 review by The Times @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in many more shootings , a total of six in his first 11 years on the force , than the vast majority of other officers .
The story reported that McBride had been repeatedly criticized for putting himself and fellow officers at risk with careless tactics .
“ I don ’ t have time for that ghetto gun-fighting anymore , ” McBride , then 35 , told The Times .
“ I ’ m getting too old for that .
That ’ s not what I ’ m about.
” But , far @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the union director lists The Times ’ article about shootings ( along with roughly 20 film and TV credits ) He insists that the shootings were “ deemed within policy , with the most recent occurring 19 years ago.
” He began his Hollywood moonlighting in 2002 and has worked with Tom Cruise , Jamie Foxx and other stars .
His bio also lists pro wresting star “ Stone Cold ” Steve Austin as his half brother .
But that claim is just a joke , he said .
While the city ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Chief Gates-era LAPD as problematic , McBride insisted he posted the video showing Gates sharply defending officers after the Rodney King beating not as a commentary on reform efforts .
“ My point , ” he said , “ was that our current chief and some of our current civic leaders need to start vocally supporting our police officers ” who feel “ pushed to the limits.
” McBride posted a series of Facebook videos in early June celebrating his fellow officers as they squared off against protesters .
The videos , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ feature rows of cops staring down shouting activists and officers posing in front of graffiti that threatens violence against “ pigs.
” One of McBride ’ s pro-police videos comes with a soundtrack , AC/DC ’ s “ Shoot to Thrill.
” McBride ’ s daughter , LAPD Officer Toni McBride , also appears in the videos , smiling and decked out in full riot gear .
She is also a popular figure among some gun enthusiasts , with multiple online videos showing her blasting away at targets , sometimes in a T-shirt @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , who joined the force in 2017 , has become another touchstone for anger by police reform activists .
The complaints began early on the evening of April 22 , when Toni McBride was patrolling South Los Angeles .
The official police account of the incident says that after causing a traffic accident , Daniel Hernandez , 38 , advanced at McBride with a knife .
She shot at him six times , killing him .
An investigation by the LAPD is pending while Hernandez ’ s family members have filed two federal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of excessive force and wrongful death .
The family has also said it is concerned that the investigation won ’ t be fair because of the elder McBride ’ s clout inside the department , a claim the department rejects .
Hernandez ’ s family wonders why Toni McBride couldn ’ t have avoided using deadly force .
“ They will take hours to de-escalate these things in other parts of the city , so why can ’ t they do that in South L.A. ?
” asked Hernandez ’ s sister , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ attorney for Toni McBride , said that she , like other police , does not like to use deadly force and is saddened by Hernandez ’ s death .
Hanna said the younger McBride had to shoot to defend herself , and many civilians on the scene , as Hernandez ignored repeated warnings to stop and drop his knife .
In an appearance on the “ Hidden Truth ” podcast this month , Jamie McBride decried the lawlessness of protesters following the police killing of Floyd in Minneapolis .
He said only a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the LAPD .
“ They love the police , ” he told the host , Jim Breslo .
“ They want to live in an area free of crime.
” The union and McBride have previously argued that the LAPD has already adopted many reforms that make officers ’ actions more transparent to the public , like the use of body cameras and the release of after-action reports on shootings within 45 days .
One official said the police union would support expanded investment in mental health workers , homeless outreach aides , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ officers to focus on other priorities .
But the group will not abide taking money from the department ’ s $ 1.8-billion budget to pay for those services .
The department needs to be improved , not diminished , the union says .
But McBride ’ s presence as a leader reinforces the feeling of some activists that the LAPD can ’ t be reformed and must be disbanded .
“ If this is who is elected to lead the Protective League , what does that say about the entire police force ?
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Black Lives Matter Los Angeles .
“ That tells me we can ’ t just see modest reform , that the whole department is rotten .
How can you build trust when this is the person doing the talking ?
”

The full-page ad in the Los Angeles Times and two other California newspapers seemed like an olive branch from three California police unions to thousands of people marching in the streets for police reform.
“No words can convey our collective disgust and sorrow for the murder of George Floyd,” read the advertisement. The ad called Floyd’s death a murder — a rarity for law enforcement organizations — but it also advocated an early warning system to find cops in need of retraining, supported a national database to track officers fired for gross misconduct and backed “a publicly accessible use-of-force analysis website.”
But on the same day, the most outspoken leader of L.A.’s 9,900-member police union hit his followers with a much different message.
Advertisement
“The CHIEF! Never sell out and back the troops!” said a Facebook post by Los Angeles Police Protective League board member Jamie McBride. The message accompanied a video of Daryl F. Gates, a former LAPD chief who ran a department plagued by excessive force and brutal relations with communities of color.
That kind of defiant pose has become a trademark for McBride over a 30-year career in the Los Angeles Police Department and six years on the board of the powerful union, which uses campaign donations to influence city elections. The Police Protective League puts McBride in front of the news media to signal that rank-and-file officers have had enough of the city’s left-leaning political leadership.
The veteran detective exudes the swagger and tribal brio of the old-school LAPD. He was a street cop with a disproportionate number of on-duty shootings and an investigator who fought management discipline (including his own) and won, and he remains a sometime actor who plays street thugs and tough cops in movies and on television.
His frequent and public Facebook posts yearn for a bygone era when the LAPD wasn’t under attack by what old-timers view as a cadre of timid chiefs, desk-bound geeks and opportunistic politicians.
McBride said via email that he grew up a fan of “Adam-12,” a TV police drama about two LAPD patrol officers who are paragons of rectitude. “I wanted to help those who most needed it,” McBride said. He later won election to the union board to make his profession better, he said, and “to protect, promote and improve wages, benefits [and] the working conditions of our members.”
Late in 2018, McBride posted a video on Facebook (with snippets from a reality TV show) showing Black and Latino suspects being body-slammed, stunned with Tasers and chased down by LAPD officers.
It features multiple corpses and streets stained with blood. The video also shows officers breaking up a fight and tending to wounded citizens. McBride’s headline for the video: “That good ol days.”
“What you see in this video is a joy in search-and-destroy policing. … It’s not about protection. It’s not about safety. It’s warrior enforcement,” said Connie Rice, a civil rights lawyer who has worked with the department on reform measures.
Advertisement
Of officers like McBride, Rice added: “That’s the kind of policing they enjoy. That’s what they live for. … What the protesters are saying is: ‘Time’s up for that. It’s over.’ The consent of the governed for that kind of policing is done.”
McBride said that the video shows an earlier era of policing but that he acknowledges a need for change. “We as a department have instituted hundreds of reforms, yet there is more we can do,” he said.
He described the video as showing “the physical aspects of policing and depict[s] officers reacting to the actions of those they encounter,” as well as instances of caring. He suggested that multiple surgeries prevent him from serving the community, work he said he misses.
Rice and other longtime observers believe the LAPD has made some progress from what might have been its most belligerent era, beginning with the crack cocaine crackdown of the 1980s and extending into the 1990s Rampart Division scandal, in which anti-gang officers framed civilians and falsified testimony in reports.
But reform advocates say that the genetic code of LAPD and other departments still perpetuates an us-versus-them policing culture.
Some critics demand the “defunding” of police, a movement that ranges from those pushing an outright elimination of armed officers to those who would keep police but tilt municipal budgets toward social services such as homeless outreach and mental health care.
With the reform fervor rising in the streets, Mayor Eric Garcetti and City Council President Nury Martinez proposed shifting as much as $150 million from the police into social services. The L.A. Police Protective League said the politicians reneged on a promise to consult with them before going public with any proposed changes.
That alleged slight distressed officers who said they already felt besieged by charges of brutality and racism. The union’s leadership met and decided to deploy McBride as the group’s most pugnacious voice against marginalization, said a source familiar with the union’s strategy.
“He is our pit bull,” the source said, “and he is going to take some hard swings at you if he has to.”
On June 5, the 51-year-old union leader stood at a lectern in front of the rest of the Police Protective League board and called Garcetti mentally “unstable.” He chastised the mayor and Martinez as hypocrites for benefiting from uniformed protective units while simultaneously moving to reduce police funding.
After leading with McBride’s iron fist, a union insider said, the group intends to follow up with the velvet glove of more moderate board members.
McBride insisted in his email that the LAPD has not gotten enough credit for what it’s already accomplished: “Officer involved shootings are at a 30-year low, community briefing videos are publicly released detailing critical incidents, and every complaint made against an officer is investigated,” he wrote. “We are headed in the right direction and know that there is more to do.”
A few days after his broadside at City Hall, McBride took on protesters. He told a podcast host that Black Lives Matter was “an anti-police hate group” and a “modern-day Black Panther type of organization.”
Like the other eight directors of the Police Protective League, McBride remains a sworn officer and receives the equivalent of his detective’s salary while representing his fellow officers. He lost a vote for president of the Police Protective League by five votes in 2016 but handily won reelection to the board in 2017.
The Venice-born cop stirs both loyalty and disdain within the ranks of the LAPD.
Reform-minded officers scoff at McBride’s ego, his frequent use of force early in his career and his apparent love of command-and-control policing. McBride’s obstreperous stance “clearly shows he is out of step with the direction the department needs to go in order to evolve to better serve the community,” said Mitzi Fierro, a onetime Police Protective League board member, now retired.
A top Police Department supervisor, who asked to remain anonymous to preserve relations with officers, called McBride “the worst public face of the LAPD.”
McBride said he had “thick skin” and wouldn’t be bothered by anonymous critics. He said he and the current board are more reform-minded than Fierro was during her time with the union.
McBride loyalists see him as the tireless champion of the average cop, in a world where they are stuck with society’s most intractable problems — homelessness, addiction and domestic violence — and blamed when interactions with police go badly. After McBride went after Garcetti, a Facebook friend cheered him on: “Get him bulldog!”
McBride joined the LAPD at age 21. He received commendations for his field work, particularly his ability to spot suspects carrying concealed weapons and to take illegal guns off the streets of South Los Angeles.
But a 2004 review by The Times found that McBride also had been involved in many more shootings, a total of six in his first 11 years on the force, than the vast majority of other officers. The story reported that McBride had been repeatedly criticized for putting himself and fellow officers at risk with careless tactics.
“I don’t have time for that ghetto gun-fighting anymore,” McBride, then 35, told The Times. “I’m getting too old for that. That’s not what I’m about.”
But, far from shrinking from his record today, the union director lists The Times’ article about shootings (along with roughly 20 film and TV credits) on the entertainment-industry database IMDb. He insists that the shootings were “deemed within policy, with the most recent occurring 19 years ago.”
He began his Hollywood moonlighting in 2002 and has worked with Tom Cruise, Jamie Foxx and other stars. His bio also lists pro wresting star “Stone Cold” Steve Austin as his half brother. But that claim is just a joke, he said.
While the city’s political leadership views any embrace of the Chief Gates-era LAPD as problematic, McBride insisted he posted the video showing Gates sharply defending officers after the Rodney King beating not as a commentary on reform efforts.
“My point,” he said, “was that our current chief and some of our current civic leaders need to start vocally supporting our police officers” who feel “pushed to the limits.”
McBride posted a series of Facebook videos in early June celebrating his fellow officers as they squared off against protesters. The videos, titled “Hold The Line,” feature rows of cops staring down shouting activists and officers posing in front of graffiti that threatens violence against “pigs.” One of McBride’s pro-police videos comes with a soundtrack, AC/DC’s “Shoot to Thrill.”
McBride’s daughter, LAPD Officer Toni McBride, also appears in the videos, smiling and decked out in full riot gear. She is also a popular figure among some gun enthusiasts, with multiple online videos showing her blasting away at targets, sometimes in a T-shirt labeled “Warrior.”
The younger McBride, who joined the force in 2017, has become another touchstone for anger by police reform activists. The complaints began early on the evening of April 22, when Toni McBride was patrolling South Los Angeles.
The official police account of the incident says that after causing a traffic accident, Daniel Hernandez, 38, advanced at McBride with a knife. She shot at him six times, killing him.
An investigation by the LAPD is pending while Hernandez’s family members have filed two federal lawsuits, accusing McBride and the LAPD of excessive force and wrongful death. The family has also said it is concerned that the investigation won’t be fair because of the elder McBride’s clout inside the department, a claim the department rejects.
Hernandez’s family wonders why Toni McBride couldn’t have avoided using deadly force.
“They will take hours to de-escalate these things in other parts of the city, so why can’t they do that in South L.A.?” asked Hernandez’s sister, Marina Vergara.
Larry Hanna, an attorney for Toni McBride, said that she, like other police, does not like to use deadly force and is saddened by Hernandez’s death. Hanna said the younger McBride had to shoot to defend herself, and many civilians on the scene, as Hernandez ignored repeated warnings to stop and drop his knife.
In an appearance on the “Hidden Truth” podcast this month, Jamie McBride decried the lawlessness of protesters following the police killing of Floyd in Minneapolis. He said only a few Black residents don’t like the LAPD. “They love the police,” he told the host, Jim Breslo. “They want to live in an area free of crime.”
The union and McBride have previously argued that the LAPD has already adopted many reforms that make officers’ actions more transparent to the public, like the use of body cameras and the release of after-action reports on shootings within 45 days.
One official said the police union would support expanded investment in mental health workers, homeless outreach aides, substance-abuse prevention experts and others to allow officers to focus on other priorities. But the group will not abide taking money from the department’s $1.8-billion budget to pay for those services. The department needs to be improved, not diminished, the union says.
But McBride’s presence as a leader reinforces the feeling of some activists that the LAPD can’t be reformed and must be disbanded.
“If this is who is elected to lead the Protective League, what does that say about the entire police force?” asked Melina Abdullah, co-founder of Black Lives Matter Los Angeles. “That tells me we can’t just see modest reform, that the whole department is rotten. How can you build trust when this is the person doing the talking?”
Times staff writer James Queally contributed to this report.


latimes--2020-06-26--Feds say tower project shows toll of bribery in Huizar case: Less affordable housing

It was Halloween of 2018 and a real estate developer had just gotten a treat : The blessing of the Los Angeles City Council for a new high-rise in the Arts District .
The real estate executive crowed in an email that it was a “ truly amazing ” accomplishment — the council had approved the tallest building yet in the Arts District , and with “ minimal ” requirements for affordable housing , according to federal prosecutors .
Now federal investigators are describing the Arts District project as one of the real estate developments entangled in an alleged criminal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Jose Huizar .
At a news conference Tuesday , U.S. Attorney Nick Hanna cited it as an example of “ the harm that comes with bribery.
” “ Thanks to Mr. Huizar , the development would have minimal affordable housing units , despite the fact that this area is desperate for low-income housing , ” Hanna said .
In a criminal complaint , prosecutors estimated that Huizar ’ s changes to the project saved the developer $ 14 million .
Huizar , who was arrested Tuesday and is suspended from the council , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a “ criminal enterprise ” fueled by developer bribes .
His attorneys said this week that the councilman “ intends to respond to the government ’ s allegations in court.
” In recent months , documents filed by prosecutors in the sprawling pay-to-play probe have focused on several other downtown projects .
This week , prosecutors alleged that Huizar also schemed with the developer of the Arts District project and its lobbyist to provide “ direct and indirect financial benefits ” to the councilman in exchange for his help at City Hall .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ project involved in that alleged scheme , but details included in their criminal complaint — including the building ’ s height , the dates and amounts of political contributions from the developer , and the timing of the city ’ s approval of the project — all match the 475-unit development known as 520 Mateo , which was pursued by Carmel Partners .
That 35-story project won council approval over the objections of labor unions and the owners of a nearby property in 2018 .
The planned tower on Mateo Street was reported @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Representatives for Carmel Partners did not comment Wednesday .
When Huizar reviewed the 520 Mateo project at a council committee , he recommended reducing the amount of affordable housing that the City Planning Commission had insisted on for the project .
Instead of demanding that 11 % of the housing units go to “ very low income ” households , Huizar recommended requiring 6 % of the units for “ moderate income ” residents and that 5 % of its commercial floor area be reserved as affordable work space — a change @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to roughly 24 fewer units of affordable housing .
A federal investigator alleged in an affidavit this week that the company behind the unnamed Arts District project provided tens of thousands of dollars in donations to political committees tied to Huizar .
The developer also agreed to give him damaging information about two former aides who sued him for harassment , according to the affidavit .
Huizar , in turn , took key steps to assist the Arts District project , including urging the planning department to initiate a change to city rules @ @ @ @ @ @ @ appeal against it and loosening requirements for affordable housing that were recommended by a city commission , federal prosecutors alleged .
At one point , a lobbyist for the Arts District project told Huizar that the developer wanted to meet to find out whether he was comfortable with the project ’ s height and affordability , prosecutors said .
According to the affidavit , Huizar replied : “ Are they gon na help with pac ?
” — a common shorthand for a political action committee .
“ Iʼm sure they will , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s discuss this in a different text thread , ” the lobbyist replied , according to prosecutors .
Prosecutors said the project drew a formal challenge from a labor union .
Huizar allegedly told the project ’ s lobbyist that if he were to vote against that union , the developer would have to make it “ worthwhile , ” the affidavit alleges .
Soon after , the lobbyist told Huizar that the developer had offered to contribute another $ 50,000 to a political committee supporting Huizar ’ s wife ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ In addition , the developer later provided the opposition research on Huizar ’ s former aides , according to the criminal complaint .
Key details in documents filed by prosecutors about the unnamed lobbyist involved in those discussions , including his role as a principal officer on a political committee , match information about Morrie Goldman , whose firm represented Carmel Partners on 520 Mateo , according to lobbying disclosures filed with the city .
Goldman , who has not been arrested or publicly charged , did not respond to messages seeking comment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at City Hall two years ago , Carmel Partners ’ Southern California development partner Neils Cotter touted the project as “ high-quality live-work units with affordable housing ” and environmentally sustainable features , one that had garnered support from people living and working in the Arts District .
Yuval Bar-Zemer , a resident and businessman in the Arts District , said Carmel Partners worked with the neighborhood , agreeing to requests from neighbors to add more commercial space to the project .
Those design changes ultimately resulted in a taller tower than originally @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were one of the few developers that actually reached out to the community and made quite a number of changes to make it more of what the community was looking for , ” said Bar-Zemer , manager of Linear City Development LLC .
Opponents of the project raised a range of concerns .
Two unions , the Southwest Regional Council of Carpenters and Laborers International Union of North America Local 300 , said the developer had failed to properly address the project ’ s effects on air quality and other issues .
Neighboring @ @ @ @ @ @ @ argued it would be “ egregiously out of scale with the neighborhood.
” Huizar moved to reject the appeals filed by project opponents .
The Warrens ’ attorney , Rob Glushon , said that during the battle over the project , it became apparent to their law firm that “ the project was strongly supported by the council office.
” “ The political battle was not something that we were going to win , ” Glushon said .

It was Halloween of 2018 and a real estate developer had just gotten a treat: The blessing of the Los Angeles City Council for a new high-rise in the Arts District.
The real estate executive crowed in an email that it was a “truly amazing” accomplishment — the council had approved the tallest building yet in the Arts District, and with “minimal” requirements for affordable housing, according to federal prosecutors.
Now federal investigators are describing the Arts District project as one of the real estate developments entangled in an alleged criminal scheme headed by Los Angeles City Councilman Jose Huizar. At a news conference Tuesday, U.S. Attorney Nick Hanna cited it as an example of “the harm that comes with bribery.”
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“Thanks to Mr. Huizar, the development would have minimal affordable housing units, despite the fact that this area is desperate for low-income housing,” Hanna said. In a criminal complaint, prosecutors estimated that Huizar’s changes to the project saved the developer $14 million.
Huizar, who was arrested Tuesday and is suspended from the council, is accused by federal prosecutors of running a “criminal enterprise” fueled by developer bribes. His attorneys said this week that the councilman “intends to respond to the government’s allegations in court.”
In recent months, documents filed by prosecutors in the sprawling pay-to-play probe have focused on several other downtown projects. This week, prosecutors alleged that Huizar also schemed with the developer of the Arts District project and its lobbyist to provide “direct and indirect financial benefits” to the councilman in exchange for his help at City Hall.
Prosecutors did not name the Arts District project involved in that alleged scheme, but details included in their criminal complaint — including the building’s height, the dates and amounts of political contributions from the developer, and the timing of the city’s approval of the project — all match the 475-unit development known as 520 Mateo, which was pursued by Carmel Partners.
That 35-story project won council approval over the objections of labor unions and the owners of a nearby property in 2018. The planned tower on Mateo Street was reported to have broken ground earlier this year.
Representatives for Carmel Partners did not comment Wednesday. When Huizar reviewed the 520 Mateo project at a council committee, he recommended reducing the amount of affordable housing that the City Planning Commission had insisted on for the project.
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Instead of demanding that 11% of the housing units go to “very low income” households, Huizar recommended requiring 6% of the units for “moderate income” residents and that 5% of its commercial floor area be reserved as affordable work space — a change sought by Carmel Partners. That amounted to roughly 24 fewer units of affordable housing.
A federal investigator alleged in an affidavit this week that the company behind the unnamed Arts District project provided tens of thousands of dollars in donations to political committees tied to Huizar. The developer also agreed to give him damaging information about two former aides who sued him for harassment, according to the affidavit.
Huizar, in turn, took key steps to assist the Arts District project, including urging the planning department to initiate a change to city rules to accommodate the development, rejecting an appeal against it and loosening requirements for affordable housing that were recommended by a city commission, federal prosecutors alleged.
At one point, a lobbyist for the Arts District project told Huizar that the developer wanted to meet to find out whether he was comfortable with the project’s height and affordability, prosecutors said. According to the affidavit, Huizar replied: “Are they gonna help with pac?” — a common shorthand for a political action committee.
“Iʼm sure they will, however — as your friend — let’s discuss this in a different text thread,” the lobbyist replied, according to prosecutors.
Prosecutors said the project drew a formal challenge from a labor union. Huizar allegedly told the project’s lobbyist that if he were to vote against that union, the developer would have to make it “worthwhile,” the affidavit alleges.
Soon after, the lobbyist told Huizar that the developer had offered to contribute another $50,000 to a political committee supporting Huizar’s wife’s council bid, according to prosecutors. In addition, the developer later provided the opposition research on Huizar’s former aides, according to the criminal complaint.
Key details in documents filed by prosecutors about the unnamed lobbyist involved in those discussions, including his role as a principal officer on a political committee, match information about Morrie Goldman, whose firm represented Carmel Partners on 520 Mateo, according to lobbying disclosures filed with the city.
Goldman, who has not been arrested or publicly charged, did not respond to messages seeking comment.
When 520 Mateo was seeking approval at City Hall two years ago, Carmel Partners’ Southern California development partner Neils Cotter touted the project as “high-quality live-work units with affordable housing” and environmentally sustainable features, one that had garnered support from people living and working in the Arts District.
Yuval Bar-Zemer, a resident and businessman in the Arts District, said Carmel Partners worked with the neighborhood, agreeing to requests from neighbors to add more commercial space to the project. Those design changes ultimately resulted in a taller tower than originally proposed, he said.
“They were one of the few developers that actually reached out to the community and made quite a number of changes to make it more of what the community was looking for,” said Bar-Zemer, manager of Linear City Development LLC.
Opponents of the project raised a range of concerns.
Two unions, the Southwest Regional Council of Carpenters and Laborers International Union of North America Local 300, said the developer had failed to properly address the project’s effects on air quality and other issues. Neighboring property owners Stephen and Carol Ann Warren argued it would be “egregiously out of scale with the neighborhood.”
Huizar moved to reject the appeals filed by project opponents. The Warrens’ attorney, Rob Glushon, said that during the battle over the project, it became apparent to their law firm that “the project was strongly supported by the council office.”
“The political battle was not something that we were going to win,” Glushon said.


latimes--2020-06-26--Rising infections in younger people fuel California's new coronavirus spike

The surge in new coronavirus cases that has alarmed health officials and put renewed strain on hospitals appears to be driven at least in part by increases in younger Californians falling sick .
As of Wednesday , 56 % of people diagnosed with COVID-19 were 18 to 49 years old , though they account for only 43.5 % of the state ’ s population .
That figure has risen consistently throughout the outbreak but surged sharply in recent weeks .
Meanwhile , people older than 65 , who used to make up nearly a quarter of those testing positive for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 15 % of positive coronavirus tests , roughly in line with their proportion of the population .
The changes may be due in part to expanded testing .
Early in the outbreak , it was nearly impossible to get a test for the coronavirus unless one was sick enough to be hospitalized .
Because young people are less likely to get severely ill with COVID-19 , they may not have been captured in testing numbers .
Officials , however , warn that although testing criteria may be a factor , they do not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ appears to simply be spreading more in younger age groups now , they say .
The increasingly young demographics of coronavirus infections are being seen in California and beyond .
In L.A. County , 40 % of coronavirus cases are occurring among those 18 to 40 years old .
That matches the experience in Japan , where a study published by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that the people probably spreading the coronavirus in more than 60 clusters were mostly young adults , ages 20 to 39 .
Most @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the virus , and almost none had a cough .
Transmission probably happened at such places as restaurants , bars , workplaces , healthcare facilities , gyms and music events .
Many clusters were associated with heavy breathing in proximity to others , such as people singing at karaoke parties , cheering at a concert , chatting in a bar or exercising at a gym .
An increasingly alarmed Gov .
Gavin Newsom warned Californians on Thursday about the growing spread of the coronavirus as the state again reported increases in hospitalizations .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the third time this week that he has urged Californians to take more precautions as he disclosed troubling new highs .
“ I can not impress upon people more the importance at this critical juncture , when we are experiencing an increase in cases that we have not experienced in the past , to take seriously this moment , ” Newsom said .
“ If we do , we can mitigate and we can bend , and we ultimately can rebound and become more resilient still in the future.
” Newsom said Thursday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ COVID-19 had jumped 32 % in the last two weeks , to 4,240 .
That is double the two-week increase of 16 % he reported Monday .
The governor has pleaded with residents to wear masks and maintain a physical distance of six feet from one another .
He advised those older than 65 and those with chronic medical conditions to remain at home .
But beyond telling Californians to heed the state ’ s mask requirement , the governor has not reinstated any of the restrictions he began easing in early May @ @ @ @ @ @ @ businesses again .
Fifteen counties in California have reported an elevated transmission of the disease , increased hospitalizations or a limited hospital capacity that exceed the state ’ s guidelines : Contra Costa , Fresno , Imperial , Kern , Kings , Los Angeles , Riverside , Sacramento , San Bernardino , San Joaquin , Santa Barbara , Santa Clara , Stanislaus , Tulare and Ventura .
Newsom said Thursday that he would consider “ toggling back ” and reinstating restrictions if healthcare needs began to exceed capacity .
“ When our system @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s a capacity consideration or limitation , that ’ s when we obviously have alarm bells , ” he said .
The state reported more than 5,000 new cases Thursday , according to The Times ’ coronavirus tracker — pushing its cumulative total past 200,000 .
More than 5,800 Californians have died of COVID-19 , including almost 100 on Thursday .
“ While you may be done with COVID , COVID is not done with us , ” Garcetti said .
Cumulative case counts are only part of the equation .
Health officials @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the number of patients who require hospitalization and the positivity rate — help paint a more complete picture of the coronavirus outbreak .
But there are warning signs there , too .
There have been nearly 90,000 confirmed coronavirus infections and more than 3,200 deaths in L.A. County .
Riverside County has seen an average daily increase of 85 patients ; San Bernardino County , 70 ; Ventura County , 33 ; and Orange County , 32 , according to a Times analysis .
And L.A. County has seen its daily number of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Health Director Barbara Ferrer called “ extraordinarily worrisome.
” Orange County also reported 26 COVID-19 deaths Wednesday — its most in a single day .
Officials noted that not all of those people died on that particular day .
The recently reported fatalities date as far back as May 9 , according to the Orange County Health Care Agency .

Soumya Karlamangla, Luke Money, Taryn Luna, Rong-Gong Lin II

The surge in new coronavirus cases that has alarmed health officials and put renewed strain on hospitals appears to be driven at least in part by increases in younger Californians falling sick.
As of Wednesday, 56% of people diagnosed with COVID-19 were 18 to 49 years old, though they account for only 43.5% of the state’s population. That figure has risen consistently throughout the outbreak but surged sharply in recent weeks.
Meanwhile, people older than 65, who used to make up nearly a quarter of those testing positive for COVID-19, now account for fewer than 15% of positive coronavirus tests, roughly in line with their proportion of the population.
The changes may be due in part to expanded testing. Early in the outbreak, it was nearly impossible to get a test for the coronavirus unless one was sick enough to be hospitalized. Because young people are less likely to get severely ill with COVID-19, they may not have been captured in testing numbers.
1 / 46 Newport Beach police enforce closures along the Wedge in Newport Beach, a popular surf spot. (Irfan Khan/Los Angeles Times) 2 / 46 Spectators along the Wedge in Newport Beach, a surf spot, on July 4. (Irfan Khan/Los Angeles Times) 3 / 46 A bicyclist rides along Highland Avenue with the pier closed to beachgoers on July 3 in Manhattan Beach. (Gary Coronado/Los Angeles Times) 4 / 46 Peter Gratzinger of Pacific Palisades heads to the water at Santa Monica State Beach, which opened to the public at 5 a.m. July 6. (Myung J. Chun/Los Angeles Times) 5 / 46 A bicyclist with her child rides along the closed bike path on July 3 in Manhattan Beach. (Gary Coronado/Los Angeles Times) 6 / 46 A police officer and a lifeguard boat comb the shoreline in Venice Beach on July 5. Even though the beach was closed over the weekend a few still made their way to the shoreline. (Genaro Molina/Los Angeles Times) 7 / 46 No-parking signs from the July 4 weekend still block spots on Ocean Avenue in Santa Monica on Monday. (Myung J. Chun/Los Angeles Times) 8 / 46 Dusk sets in over the the Santa Monica Pier on Friday. (Gina Ferazzi/Los Angeles Times) 9 / 46 Southern California residents watch the fireworks during the Drive-Up 4th of July Spectacular at the Los Alamitos Joint Forces Training Base on Saturday in Los Alamitos. (Gina Ferazzi/Los Angeles Times) 10 / 46 Bella Nousiainen, left, with daughter, Helmi Nousiainen, of Los Angeles, at the Santa Monica Pier, which reopens after being closed to guests for months because of the coronavirus. (Gary Coronado/Los Angeles Times) 11 / 46 Dr. Jamie Taylor checks the ventilators at the refashioned St. Vincent Hospital. (Wally Skalij/Los Angeles Times) 12 / 46 Shoppers and mannequins wear protective masks in the Los Angeles downtown garment district on Thursday. (Luis Sinco/Los Angeles Times) 13 / 46 Patrons wear face coverings at Grand Central Market in downtown Los Angeles on Thursday. A recent surge in COVID-19 cases in California has pushed the state’s total past 200,000 with more than 5,800 deaths. (Kent Nishimura/Los Angeles Times) 14 / 46 LAPD officers E. Rosales, left, and D. Castro, patrol the Metro Red Line at the Hollywood/Highland Metro Station Thursday. (Allen J. Schaben/Los Angeles Times) 15 / 46 Visitors wear protective masks while walking through historic Olvera Street in downtown Los Angeles on Thursday. (Luis Sinco/Los Angeles Times) 16 / 46 People wait in line to have a COVID-19 screening administered by the Community Organized Relief Effort at the Los Angeles City Mayor’s test site at Dodger Stadium on Thursday. (Gary Coronado/Los Angeles Times) 17 / 46 A woman adjusts a protective mask while walkiing along Atlantic Avenue in Long Beach. (Luis Sinco/Los Angeles Ti mes) 18 / 46 Cameron Johnson,18, left, headed to UC Berkeley in the fall and Simona Krasnegor,17, headed to UCLA in the fall, watched the sun set while sitting next to the Manhattan Beach Pier, following their drive-through graduation from Mira Costa High School in Manhattan Beach. (Jay L. Clendenin/Los Angeles Times) 19 / 46 Jair Guido, 36, a veterinarian visiting from Durango, Mexico, right, wearing a sombrero with an American flag draped over his shoulders, walks with other pedestrians along Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood. Guido said that he wore this outfit to show people that he is proud to be a Mexican and that he loves America. Gov. Gavin Newsom on Thursday ordered all Californians to wear face coverings while in public. (Mel Melcon / Los Angeles Times) 20 / 46 A mask-wearing skateboarder and her dog make their way along the boardwalk in Venice Beach. Californians must wear face masks in public under a coronavirus order issued by Gov. Gavin Newsom. (Mel Melcon / Los Angeles Times) 21 / 46 Pedestrians, some with face coverings, some without, walk past musicians Brent Kendell, background left, and Sam Jones, background right, as they perform at the intersection of Hollywood Boulevard and Highland Avenue in Hollywood. (Mel Melcon / Los Angeles Times) 22 / 46 People wear masks while walking along the boardwalk in Venice Beach. Californians must wear face masks in public under a coronavirus order issued by Gov. Gavin Newsom. (Mel Melcon / Los Angeles Times) 23 / 46 Pedestrians cross the intersection of Hollywood Boulevard and Highland Avenue in Hollywood. Gov. Gavin Newsom on Thursday ordered all Californians to wear face coverings while in public, following growing concerns that an increase in coronavirus cases has been caused by residents failing to voluntarily take that precaution. (Mel Melcon / Los Angeles Times) 24 / 46 Sophia Strauss, left, and Sarah Hoffmeister celebrate after their drive-through graduation from Mira Costa High School in Manhattan Beach. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 25 / 46 New West Charter School vice principal Mark Herrera shouts at graduate Joe Reid to come and receive his diploma during a drive-up graduation ceremony for the Class of 2020 at the charter school in Los Angeles. (Genaro Molina/Los Angeles Times) 26 / 46 A worker directs drivers at a drive-up testing site for COVID-19 outside of Jackie Robinson Stadium at UCLA.
(Genaro Molina/Los Angeles Times) 27 / 46 Destiny VanSciner is tested for COVID-19 with an oral swab by family nurse practitioner Anniesatu Newland at a walk-in site at St. John’s Well Child and Family Center in South Los Angeles. (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times) 28 / 46 Melissa Gomes fixes the tassel on the mortarboard of Sarah Anggraini as the new graduate gets ready for a photo at Chaffey College, which held a drive-through graduation, in Rancho Cucamonga. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times) 29 / 46 Maricela Moreno, manager at El Tarasco in Marina del Rey, disinfects cash at the restaurant. (Myung J. Chun / Los Angeles Times) 30 / 46 Mildred “Millie” Stratton waves to a caravan of cars led by Alhambra police officers and firefighters. The parade past her home celebrated Stratton’s 102nd birthday. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times) 31 / 46 Eric Larkin hands an order to Brittany Wright as she fastens her face covering outside the Last Bookstore in downtown Los Angeles. (Dania Maxwell / Los Angeles Times) 32 / 46 A jogger passes Evergreen Cemetery in Los Angeles as local stay-at-home orders are increasingly relaxed months into the coronavirus outbreak. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times) 33 / 46 Hikers and bikers traverse the Santa Fe Dam trail as county parks officially reopen to the public. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times) 34 / 46 A woman, masked against COVID-19, walks past a building that features the image of Britney Spears at a shopping center in the Fairfax District of Los Angeles. (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times) 35 / 46 Manon Guijarro, a new graduate of Pierce College, has her photo taken by friend Paige Johnson at Chris Burden’s outdoor work “Urban Light” at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art in Los Angeles. (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times) 36 / 46 Mary Perez, a salesperson at High Class Jewels on Broadway in downtown Los Angeles, helps a customer as he tries on a gold rope chain inside the recently reopened store. (Mel Melcon/Los Angeles Times) 37 / 46 Professional dog walker Lindsay Rojas takes golden retrievers Gomez, left, and Nikki for a stroll along Le Bourget Avenue in Culver City. (Mel Melcon / Los Angeles Times) 38 / 46 The Air Force Thunderbirds precision flying team banks over downtown Los Angeles in formation to salute healthcare workers and first responders on May 15. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times) 39 / 46 Maria Morales, center, a member of the USC class of 2020, participates in virtual graduation via Zoom with her brother Manny Morales, left, mom Pilar Morales and stepdad Victor Ramos from her home in Orange. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times) 40 / 46 On a recent day, there’s not a face mask in sight as a roller skater and others share the reopened walking path on the Strand in Manhattan Beach. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 41 / 46 Crew members of a Hainan Airlines flight walk through the Tom Bradley International Terminal at Los Angeles International Airport. (Al Seib/Los Angeles Times) 42 / 46 A woman wearing a protective mask walks past a shuttered business in Long Beach. (Luis Sinco/Los Angeles Times) 43 / 46 Thousands of rental cars are stored at Dodger Stadium as the coronavirus crisis has caused rentals to nosedive. (Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times) 44 / 46 Some beachgoers actively use the beach while others relax on the sand, despite Gov. Gavin Newsom’s active-use-only order, in Huntington Beach. (Allen J. Schaben/Los Angeles Times) 45 / 46 Traveling nurse Gail Cunningham waves thanks outside the emergency room entrance to Riverside University Health System in Moreno Valley as residents pay tribute to her and other medical personnel with a drive-by rally. (Gina Ferazzi/Los Angeles Times) 46 / 46 A scene from “Knives Out,” with actor Don Johnson, seen at the Mission Tiki Drive-in Theatre in Montclair. Opened with one screen in 1956, the Mission Tiki expanded to four screens in 1975 and began renovation in 2006, updating to FM transmitters and digital projectors. (Jay L. Clendenin/Los Angeles Times)
Officials, however, warn that although testing criteria may be a factor, they do not fully explain the trends. The virus appears to simply be spreading more in younger age groups now, they say.
The increasingly young demographics of coronavirus infections are being seen in California and beyond.
In L.A. County, 40% of coronavirus cases are occurring among those 18 to 40 years old.
That matches the experience in Japan, where a study published by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that the people probably spreading the coronavirus in more than 60 clusters were mostly young adults, ages 20 to 39. Most did not show symptoms when they transmitted the virus, and almost none had a cough.
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Transmission probably happened at such places as restaurants, bars, workplaces, healthcare facilities, gyms and music events. Many clusters were associated with heavy breathing in proximity to others, such as people singing at karaoke parties, cheering at a concert, chatting in a bar or exercising at a gym.
An increasingly alarmed Gov. Gavin Newsom warned Californians on Thursday about the growing spread of the coronavirus as the state again reported increases in hospitalizations.
The governor’s news conference marks the third time this week that he has urged Californians to take more precautions as he disclosed troubling new highs.
“I cannot impress upon people more the importance at this critical juncture, when we are experiencing an increase in cases that we have not experienced in the past, to take seriously this moment,” Newsom said. “If we do, we can mitigate and we can bend, and we ultimately can rebound and become more resilient still in the future.”
Newsom said Thursday that the number of patients hospitalized with COVID-19 had jumped 32% in the last two weeks, to 4,240. That is double the two-week increase of 16% he reported Monday.
The governor has pleaded with residents to wear masks and maintain a physical distance of six feet from one another. He advised those older than 65 and those with chronic medical conditions to remain at home.
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But beyond telling Californians to heed the state’s mask requirement, the governor has not reinstated any of the restrictions he began easing in early May or demanded that counties experiencing surges close businesses again.
Fifteen counties in California have reported an elevated transmission of the disease, increased hospitalizations or a limited hospital capacity that exceed the state’s guidelines: Contra Costa, Fresno, Imperial, Kern, Kings, Los Angeles, Riverside, Sacramento, San Bernardino, San Joaquin, Santa Barbara, Santa Clara, Stanislaus, Tulare and Ventura.
Newsom said Thursday that he would consider “toggling back” and reinstating restrictions if healthcare needs began to exceed capacity.
“When our system cannot absorb, when there’s a capacity consideration or limitation, that’s when we obviously have alarm bells,” he said.
The state reported more than 5,000 new cases Thursday, according to The Times’ coronavirus tracker — pushing its cumulative total past 200,000. More than 5,800 Californians have died of COVID-19, including almost 100 on Thursday.
“While you may be done with COVID, COVID is not done with us,” Garcetti said.
Cumulative case counts are only part of the equation. Health officials have said other metrics — such as the number of patients who require hospitalization and the positivity rate — help paint a more complete picture of the coronavirus outbreak.
But there are warning signs there, too.
There have been nearly 90,000 confirmed coronavirus infections and more than 3,200 deaths in L.A. County.
Riverside County has seen an average daily increase of 85 patients; San Bernardino County, 70; Ventura County, 33; and Orange County, 32, according to a Times analysis.
And L.A. County has seen its daily number of hospitalizations tick up recently — something Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer called “extraordinarily worrisome.”
Orange County also reported 26 COVID-19 deaths Wednesday — its most in a single day. Officials noted that not all of those people died on that particular day. The recently reported fatalities date as far back as May 9, according to the Orange County Health Care Agency.


latimes--2020-06-26--Former law enforcement officers appear to plot to kill police critic and activist Shaun King

Prominent racial justice activist , police critic and writer Shaun King published a blog post Thursday detailing what he says appears to be the first steps of a plan to kill him devised by several former members of local law enforcement .
King , 40 , posted on Medium that he became aware Tuesday of a chat between onetime police officers from Long Beach and other agencies on a private Facebook group that “ were openly plotting and planning my assassination.
” Although King said receiving death threats was common and daily , most were meant to intimidate rather than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ physical harm.
” He included several screen shots and excerpts of the conversations among the posters , which included their identities .
The Long Beach Police Department said in a statement that it was made aware of the comments , calling them “ incredibly disturbing social media messages.
” The department said two former officials were involved , adding that no current officers are implicated .
The department also said it would investigate and request help from the FBI .
“ We are 100 % committed to working in partnership with our community @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with respect and professionalism and will not tolerate any bias , racism or threats to individuals , ” the statement said .
The plan began with a post allegedly from Laura Tartaglione , a former Long Beach police officer .
Tartaglione , who runs a nonprofit called Honorbands — whose goal is to raise money to honor officers killed in the line of duty — said California needed a team of retired military , police and members of the National Rifle Assn .
to offer protection from “ these criminals that the Democrats @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be about King , a backer of Sen. Bernie Sanders ( I-Vt. ) and Black Lives Matter .
She received a response from Roy Brokaw .
According to the financial database transparentcalifornia.com , a Ray Brokaw was employed by the Inglewood Police Department for nearly 29 years before retiring in 2002 .
It is not certain whether this is the same person , and Inglewood police issued a statement late Thursday saying they could not confirm the connection .
“ To be clear , the name that was used in the Facebook post @ @ @ @ @ @ @ officer and we have no verification at this time that the retired officer is responsible for the comment that is being attributed to him , ” the statement said .
As described in the Medium post , Brokaw asked where King could be found and said , “ I ’ m with you brothers and sisters for justice and I ’ ll be there .
Tell me when and where.
” A man named Jerry DeRosa , believed to have served with multiple agencies , volunteered his services , “ Need a sniper @ @ @ @ @ @ @ John Houchens said , “ Shaun King needs to be put down , ” while another person named Chris Sanford suggested “ [ tossing ] this guy from a helicopter.
” Retired Long Beach Police Officer Jeffrey Garcia added that he was “ ready to rock and roll , ” which prompted Tartaglione to order him to “ organize it.
” One of the odder responses came from Jim Bohannon Lugenbeel , who likened the plot to “ retroactive birth control , or post birth abortion , whatever you want to call it.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ said he was at a loss because it was suggested that a Pomona officer was involved , and said neither he nor Police Chief Michael Ellis could remember a Lugenbeel in their ranks .
One Lugenbell was found , who went by Jimmy and served 14 1/2 years before retiring in 1975 , and was still receiving a pension as of 2019 , according to transparentcalifornia.com .
“ That guy does not represent Pomona at all , ” Gluba said of the commenter .
“ We want nothing to do with him and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ our own.
” King said he posted a portion of the comments because he didn ’ t know where to report this incident to and because “ I lack confidence in any law enforcement system to handle this.
” He did ask the public to forward any other credible threats to info @ grassrootslaw.org .
Tartaglione could not be immediately reached for comment through a phone number listed on the Honorbands website .

Prominent police critic and activist Shaun King published a blog post Thursday detailing steps of a plot to kill him by several former local police.
Prominent racial justice activist, police critic and writer Shaun King published a blog post Thursday detailing what he says appears to be the first steps of a plan to kill him devised by several former members of local law enforcement.
King, 40, posted on Medium that he became aware Tuesday of a chat between onetime police officers from Long Beach and other agencies on a private Facebook group that “were openly plotting and planning my assassination.”
Although King said receiving death threats was common and daily, most were meant to intimidate rather than “appear to be imminent threats of physical harm.”
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He included several screen shots and excerpts of the conversations among the posters, which included their identities.
The Long Beach Police Department said in a statement that it was made aware of the comments, calling them “incredibly disturbing social media messages.”
The department said two former officials were involved, adding that no current officers are implicated.
The department also said it would investigate and request help from the FBI.
“We are 100% committed to working in partnership with our community to ensure that all people are treated with respect and professionalism and will not tolerate any bias, racism or threats to individuals,” the statement said.
The plan began with a post allegedly from Laura Tartaglione, a former Long Beach police officer.
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Tartaglione, who runs a nonprofit called Honorbands — whose goal is to raise money to honor officers killed in the line of duty — said California needed a team of retired military, police and members of the National Rifle Assn. to offer protection from “these criminals that the Democrats created.”
The reference is believed to be about King, a backer of Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Black Lives Matter.
She received a response from Roy Brokaw. According to the financial database transparentcalifornia.com, a Ray Brokaw was employed by the Inglewood Police Department for nearly 29 years before retiring in 2002. It is not certain whether this is the same person, and Inglewood police issued a statement late Thursday saying they could not confirm the connection.
“To be clear, the name that was used in the Facebook post is not that of any current IPD officer and we have no verification at this time that the retired officer is responsible for the comment that is being attributed to him,” the statement said.
As described in the Medium post, Brokaw asked where King could be found and said, “I’m with you brothers and sisters for justice and I’ll be there. Tell me when and where.”
A man named Jerry DeRosa, believed to have served with multiple agencies, volunteered his services, “Need a sniper[?]”
One man named John Houchens said, “Shaun King needs to be put down,” while another person named Chris Sanford suggested “[tossing] this guy from a helicopter.”
Retired Long Beach Police Officer Jeffrey Garcia added that he was “ready to rock and roll,” which prompted Tartaglione to order him to “organize it.”
Garcia responded, “Roger that, Laura.”
One of the odder responses came from Jim Bohannon Lugenbeel, who likened the plot to “retroactive birth control, or post birth abortion, whatever you want to call it.”
Pomona Deputy City Manager Mark Gluba said he was at a loss because it was suggested that a Pomona officer was involved, and said neither he nor Police Chief Michael Ellis could remember a Lugenbeel in their ranks.
One Lugenbell was found, who went by Jimmy and served 14 1/2 years before retiring in 1975, and was still receiving a pension as of 2019, according to transparentcalifornia.com.
“That guy does not represent Pomona at all,” Gluba said of the commenter. “We want nothing to do with him and don’t consider him one of our own.”
King said he posted a portion of the comments because he didn’t know where to report this incident to and because “I lack confidence in any law enforcement system to handle this.”
He did ask the public to forward any other credible threats to info@grassrootslaw.org.
Tartaglione could not be immediately reached for comment through a phone number listed on the Honorbands website.


latimes--2020-06-26--Sheriff's deputy who fatally shot Andres Guardado faced earlier allegations

A week after a deputy shot and killed an 18-year-old man in Gardena , setting off heated demonstrations , the Los Angeles County Sheriff ’ s Department has yet to fully explain how the shooting occurred and has not interviewed the two patrol deputies involved .
But details are emerging about the deputies , including earlier allegations faced by the officer who fatally shot Andres Guardado .
Sources with knowledge of the case identified them to The Times as Deputies Miguel Vega , who opened fire , and Chris Hernandez , who did not shoot .
According to the Sheriff @ @ @ @ @ @ @ when the two deputies saw Guardado , who family members said worked as a security guard , speaking with someone in a car that was blocking the entrance to a body shop about 6 p.m. June 18 .
Authorities said Guardado “ produced a handgun ” and ran away , and the deputies chased him .
When the deputies caught up , Vega fired his weapon , officials said .
Family members and activists have expressed skepticism about the narrative .
Vega joined the Sheriff ’ s Department in 2009 , said Capt @ @ @ @ @ @ @ department ’ s personnel administration bureau .
He worked as a custody assistant before going through the academy and starting as a deputy in Men ’ s Central Jail , where he worked until 2017 .
That year , he was accused of making false statements in an investigation , according to a public safety source with knowledge of the events .
The next year , when he was assigned to Compton station , Vega was disciplined with a four-day suspension in the jail investigation .
Capt .
John Burcher , Sheriff Alex @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said investigators determined the false statements allegation to be unfounded and that the discipline concerned breaching regulations for failing to verify an inmate ’ s pass for an instructional class .
Burcher said that three complaints have been lodged against Vega while he was assigned to Compton station , including one for using unreasonable force that was determined to have been reasonable .
The two other complaints alleged that he was discourteous .
In one , officials determined his conduct “ could ’ ve been better , ” and the second remains pending @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s Department faces scrutiny over unanswered questions in several serious uses of force , including Guardado ’ s shooting , which has prompted large protests and demands for an independent investigation by community leaders .
Days after the shooting , hundreds of demonstrators gathered in Gardena , marching down West Redondo Beach Boulevard , where Guardado was shot , filling the street as they headed toward the sheriff ’ s station in Compton more than three miles away .
Guardado ’ s aunt , Edis Abarca , said the family felt “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ He ran because he was scared , ” and the crowds chanted “ Why ’ d you kill that kid ?
” His family said Guardado had worked as a security guard for Street Dynamic Autobody , near the location where he was shot .
Authorities have yet to explain what prompted Vega , 30 , to fire his weapon at Guardado .
Adam Marangell , an attorney representing Vega in the Guardado shooting , said it would be a “ disservice for all concerned ” to comment on a pending investigation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we hope all will realize Deputy Vega ’ s actions were within policy , completely justified and legal , ” he said .
Tom Yu , an attorney representing Hernandez , said he expects his client to give a voluntary statement soon and that it would corroborate Vega ’ s account of the incident , “ which is that the firearm that was possessed and that led to the shooting was in fact the firearm that Deputy Vega saw , ” he said .
“ I believe Deputy Vega feared [ for ] @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s important for the public to understand that these deputies didn ’ t go to work that day intending to harm or to discharge their firearm or to kill anybody , ” Yu said .
Vega fired six rounds at Guardado , killing him with multiple shots to his upper torso , authorities said .
It is unclear whether Guardado had pointed his weapon at the deputy .
Capt .
Kent Wegener has said they “ don ’ t believe ” Guardado fired any shots .
The Sheriff ’ s Department put @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s autopsy , which would reveal how many times and where on his body he was struck .
Vega declined to give a statement to investigators , according to a second source with knowledge of the investigation .
Sheriff ’ s officials have said deputies are not compelled to speak with investigators until the criminal investigation is completed but usually voluntarily give a statement after an on-duty shooting .
Villanueva declined on Wednesday to discuss the Guardado shooting , saying he would supply information when he could .
“ We ’ re @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Villanueva said , adding that ongoing witness interviews prompted investigators to put a security hold on the autopsy .
“ If you ’ re still interviewing witnesses , you don ’ t release information that ’ s gon na prejudice the testimony of the witness.
” Vega ’ s conduct at the Compton Station has come under scrutiny before .
A licensed security guard told The Times that Vega arrested him on false charges in a case that was ultimately dropped .
The guard , who did not want to be identified for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said Vega pulled him over in Compton last year and immediately barked , “ Where ’ s the gun ?
” over and over .
Vega pried open a locked compartment , found the man ’ s unloaded handgun and loaded it , the man said .
The man , who was in lawful possession of the weapon , said he was arrested on suspicion of carrying a loaded firearm in public , but the charges against him were dismissed , according to his attorney .
The ordeal , which landed the man @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bond out , almost cost him his job , he said .
Marangell , Vega ’ s attorney , declined to comment on the allegations .
Vega is also named as a defendant in a lawsuit over an arrest .
The lawsuit , filed on behalf of Flenoid McCleary and his cousin , alleges that Vega falsely arrested McCleary in Gardena on suspicion of several offenses after McCleary was shot by an armored-car driver who accused him of brandishing a gun in Compton .
Richard Allen Jorgensen , an attorney representing McCleary , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and that Vega had the armored car moved to “ cover up ” that the guard tried to kill McCleary .
He also said Vega returned the driver ’ s gun to him after the shooting , instead of booking it into evidence .
The charges against McCleary were eventually dropped , Jorgensen said .
Marangell declined to comment about the lawsuit .
Eric Wilson , the cousin of McCleary who said he was held for nearly two hours in the back of a hot patrol car during that incident , didn ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ day .
But as a longtime Compton resident , he said the Sheriff ’ s Department there is like an “ exclusive boys club.
” “ Even if the rough ones get out of hand , even the good sheriffs still back their play , whether they ’ re right or wrong , ” Wilson said .
The Sheriff ’ s Department rarely names the deputies involved in shootings despite a 2014 California Supreme Court decision saying police agencies generally must tell the public the names of officers involved in such incidents .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ with body cameras , so there is no officer recording of the Gardena shooting .
Compton has long had a troubled history with law enforcement .
In 2000 , the city disbanded its police force after struggling to contain rising crime and gang violence .
The solution , as city leaders saw it , was to hire the Sheriff ’ s Department to patrol the streets , a move advertised as a way to have more sophisticated policing that would save the city $ 7 million a year out of its $ 20-million @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the money would be reinvested in the community and would lead to an economic revival .
But sheriff ’ s deputies in Compton were increasingly seen as outsiders and developed a reputation among some locals for aggressive tactics .
Deputies were heavily criticized in 2005 after firing about 120 rounds at a moving vehicle driven by an unarmed man , who was shot four times .
In 2009 , a 16-year-old boy was fatally shot in the back by a Compton station deputy , who claimed the boy pointed a gun at him @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s family suggested the deputy planted the weapon .
The Compton station is has more recently come under scrutiny for its band of deputies with matching skull tattoos , representing what many in the community see as a criminal gang within law enforcement .

Protesters drive around the Compton Civic Center on Thursday to demand answers in the deputy killing of Gardena man Andres Guardado, 18.
A week after a deputy shot and killed an 18-year-old man in Gardena, setting off heated demonstrations, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department has yet to fully explain how the shooting occurred and has not interviewed the two patrol deputies involved.
But details are emerging about the deputies, including earlier allegations faced by the officer who fatally shot Andres Guardado. Sources with knowledge of the case identified them to The Times as Deputies Miguel Vega, who opened fire, and Chris Hernandez, who did not shoot.
According to the Sheriff’s Department, the events began when the two deputies saw Guardado, who family members said worked as a security guard, speaking with someone in a car that was blocking the entrance to a body shop about 6 p.m. June 18. Authorities said Guardado “produced a handgun” and ran away, and the deputies chased him. When the deputies caught up, Vega fired his weapon, officials said. Family members and activists have expressed skepticism about the narrative.
Vega joined the Sheriff’s Department in 2009, said Capt. John McBride, who heads the department’s personnel administration bureau.
He worked as a custody assistant before going through the academy and starting as a deputy in Men’s Central Jail, where he worked until 2017.
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That year, he was accused of making false statements in an investigation, according to a public safety source with knowledge of the events. The next year, when he was assigned to Compton station, Vega was disciplined with a four-day suspension in the jail investigation.
Capt. John Burcher, Sheriff Alex Villanueva’s chief of staff, said investigators determined the false statements allegation to be unfounded and that the discipline concerned breaching regulations for failing to verify an inmate’s pass for an instructional class.
Burcher said that three complaints have been lodged against Vega while he was assigned to Compton station, including one for using unreasonable force that was determined to have been reasonable. The two other complaints alleged that he was discourteous. In one, officials determined his conduct “could’ve been better,” and the second remains pending.
The revelations come as the Sheriff’s Department faces scrutiny over unanswered questions in several serious uses of force, including Guardado’s shooting, which has prompted large protests and demands for an independent investigation by community leaders.
Days after the shooting, hundreds of demonstrators gathered in Gardena, marching down West Redondo Beach Boulevard, where Guardado was shot, filling the street as they headed toward the sheriff’s station in Compton more than three miles away.
Guardado’s aunt, Edis Abarca, said the family felt “broken.” Protesters held signs that read “He ran because he was scared,” and the crowds chanted “Why’d you kill that kid?” His family said Guardado had worked as a security guard for Street Dynamic Autobody, near the location where he was shot.
Authorities have yet to explain what prompted Vega, 30, to fire his weapon at Guardado.
Adam Marangell, an attorney representing Vega in the Guardado shooting, said it would be a “disservice for all concerned” to comment on a pending investigation.
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“At the appropriate time, we hope all will realize Deputy Vega’s actions were within policy, completely justified and legal,” he said.
Tom Yu, an attorney representing Hernandez, said he expects his client to give a voluntary statement soon and that it would corroborate Vega’s account of the incident, “which is that the firearm that was possessed and that led to the shooting was in fact the firearm that Deputy Vega saw,” he said. “I believe Deputy Vega feared [for] his life.”
“I think it’s important for the public to understand that these deputies didn’t go to work that day intending to harm or to discharge their firearm or to kill anybody,” Yu said.
Vega fired six rounds at Guardado, killing him with multiple shots to his upper torso, authorities said. It is unclear whether Guardado had pointed his weapon at the deputy. Capt. Kent Wegener has said they “don’t believe” Guardado fired any shots.
The Sheriff’s Department put a “security hold” on Guardado’s autopsy, which would reveal how many times and where on his body he was struck.
Vega declined to give a statement to investigators, according to a second source with knowledge of the investigation. Sheriff’s officials have said deputies are not compelled to speak with investigators until the criminal investigation is completed but usually voluntarily give a statement after an on-duty shooting.
Villanueva declined on Wednesday to discuss the Guardado shooting, saying he would supply information when he could.
“We’re not gonna piecemeal it,” Villanueva said, adding that ongoing witness interviews prompted investigators to put a security hold on the autopsy. “If you’re still interviewing witnesses, you don’t release information that’s gonna prejudice the testimony of the witness.”
Vega’s conduct at the Compton Station has come under scrutiny before. A licensed security guard told The Times that Vega arrested him on false charges in a case that was ultimately dropped.
The guard, who did not want to be identified for fear of being targeted by deputies, said Vega pulled him over in Compton last year and immediately barked, “Where’s the gun?” over and over.
Vega pried open a locked compartment, found the man’s unloaded handgun and loaded it, the man said. The man, who was in lawful possession of the weapon, said he was arrested on suspicion of carrying a loaded firearm in public, but the charges against him were dismissed, according to his attorney.
The ordeal, which landed the man in jail before he was able to bond out, almost cost him his job, he said.
Marangell, Vega’s attorney, declined to comment on the allegations.
Vega is also named as a defendant in a lawsuit over an arrest.
The lawsuit, filed on behalf of Flenoid McCleary and his cousin, alleges that Vega falsely arrested McCleary in Gardena on suspicion of several offenses after McCleary was shot by an armored-car driver who accused him of brandishing a gun in Compton.
Richard Allen Jorgensen, an attorney representing McCleary, said McCleary did not have a gun and that Vega had the armored car moved to “cover up” that the guard tried to kill McCleary. He also said Vega returned the driver’s gun to him after the shooting, instead of booking it into evidence.
The charges against McCleary were eventually dropped, Jorgensen said.
Marangell declined to comment about the lawsuit.
Eric Wilson, the cousin of McCleary who said he was held for nearly two hours in the back of a hot patrol car during that incident, didn’t recall interacting specifically with Vega that day. But as a longtime Compton resident, he said the Sheriff’s Department there is like an “exclusive boys club.”
“Even if the rough ones get out of hand, even the good sheriffs still back their play, whether they’re right or wrong,” Wilson said.
The Sheriff’s Department rarely names the deputies involved in shootings despite a 2014 California Supreme Court decision saying police agencies generally must tell the public the names of officers involved in such incidents. The department has not yet equipped deputies with body cameras, so there is no officer recording of the Gardena shooting.
Compton has long had a troubled history with law enforcement. In 2000, the city disbanded its police force after struggling to contain rising crime and gang violence.
The solution, as city leaders saw it, was to hire the Sheriff’s Department to patrol the streets, a move advertised as a way to have more sophisticated policing that would save the city $7 million a year out of its $20-million budget for policing costs. Proponents claimed the money would be reinvested in the community and would lead to an economic revival.
But sheriff’s deputies in Compton were increasingly seen as outsiders and developed a reputation among some locals for aggressive tactics. Deputies were heavily criticized in 2005 after firing about 120 rounds at a moving vehicle driven by an unarmed man, who was shot four times. In 2009, a 16-year-old boy was fatally shot in the back by a Compton station deputy, who claimed the boy pointed a gun at him. An attorney for the boy’s family suggested the deputy planted the weapon.
The Compton station is has more recently come under scrutiny for its band of deputies with matching skull tattoos, representing what many in the community see as a criminal gang within law enforcement.


latimes--2020-06-25--L.A. Metro board pushes police reform, seeks to shift funds to homeless outreach

Transportation officials on Thursday pushed Los Angeles County ’ s transit system to start a reform of policing on buses and trains , including no longer sending armed officers to respond to nonviolent crimes .
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority ’ s directors voted 9 to 2 to approve a package of reforms , including hiring unarmed ambassadors to work at stations , expanding fare discounts , finding alternatives to armed law enforcement and shifting funds to homeless outreach .
Those initiatives could be paid for by cutting some funding to policing , the measure said .
“ We have a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about racial profiling and racial bias , ” said director and L.A. City Councilman Mike Bonin , who introduced the motion .
Many riders of color feel threatened by police on the system , he said , “ but have no choice but to continue using it.
” Directors heard 129 public comments from riders and advocates , 105 of which supported the reform motion , Metro ’ s board secretary said .
The majority urged Metro to remove armed police from buses , trains and stations .
“ Why would an armed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ like me ever make me feel safe ?
” said Los Angeles resident Brittani Nichols , an actor and writer , in a written comment .
“ Weaving them into every aspect of public life is an attack on Black lives that needs to end.
” “ I have never felt comfortable with the rise of police on Metro , ” said Gemma Jimenez , a student and transit rider who lives in North Hollywood .
“ I have witnessed the police harass , bully and use excessive force on transit riders ... @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will never , help us feel safe.
” After years of declining ridership , and rising assaults and violent crime , Metro nearly doubled the number of uniformed police on the transit system in 2017 .
Contracts with the Los Angeles Police Department , Los Angeles County Sheriff ’ s Department and Long Beach Police Department expire in 2022 .
Spokesman Dave Sotero said in an email that the policing plans “ directly benefit county transit riders ” and reduced reported violent crime 23 % from 2015 to 2019 .
“ Our police @ @ @ @ @ @ @ outreach , ambassador and non-law enforcement causes that can form the basis of a future re-imagining of these services , ” Sotero said .
Director John Fasana , a councilman from Duarte , said Metro should reexamine the customer code of conduct , which lays out penalties for riding without a fare , playing loud music , eating , littering and other banned behaviors .
During a crackdown on such violations in 2018 , an LAPD officer dragged a young woman off a subway train because she refused to take her foot off @ @ @ @ @ @ @ other U.S. transit agencies consider similar policies .
Officials in Portland , Ore. , trimmed the policing budget by $ 1.8 million .
Boston ’ s transit police department banned the use of chokeholds .
And in Washington , D.C. , officials created a transit review board to address complaints of systemic racism .
Los Angeles County Supervisor Kathryn Barger , who voted against the community policing motion , said she wanted to see more homeless outreach services , but “ not at the expense of law enforcement — I will not change @ @ @ @ @ @ @ officers are essential for us , ” Barger said .
“ Because of the acts of bad cops , we ’ re vilifying the entire industry .
I think that ’ s wrong.
” In a study conducted by Metro last year , two-thirds of female riders said there were not enough police officers on the transit system .
Current riders ’ most common recommendation to improve safety was hiring more police .
That suggests Metro should try to fix the policing culture and perception of safety on the system , rather than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Inglewood Mayor James T. Butts Jr. “ It will be far less expensive to change the culture of policing than to do some of the things I ’ ve heard put forward over the last few weeks , ” Butts said .
One Pasadena resident wrote that reducing the number of police officers would “ drastically reduce the strides made in the last year ” to improve crime and cleanliness issues at the Fillmore light rail station .
“ We need more law enforcement presence , not less , ” said Michael Bailey @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to downtown and to Long Beach .
“ Their presence deters crime .
Their presence is important to all of our safety.
” The LAPD also came under fire Thursday after officers called in absent for nearly 700 transit shifts , all of which are eligible for overtime pay .
The wave of absences followed Chief Michel Moore ’ s decision to .
Officials say offering premium pay for transit shifts makes them easier to fill , and is still cheaper for Metro than paying the cost of salaries and benefits for full-time @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and pushed ” to shift some of the policing authority away from the Sheriff ’ s Department and to its own officers , said Metro director and county Supervisor Sheila Kuehl .
The same week that LAPD called in absent en masse , she said , the absence rate among deputies was less than 1 % .
“ That is a problem , ” Kuehl said .
“ I ’ d really like to understand how we can have confidence in LAPD when that was the case .
”

Transportation officials on Thursday pushed Los Angeles County’s transit system to start a reform of policing on buses and trains, including no longer sending armed officers to respond to nonviolent crimes.
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s directors voted 9 to 2 to approve a package of reforms, including hiring unarmed ambassadors to work at stations, expanding fare discounts, finding alternatives to armed law enforcement and shifting funds to homeless outreach.
Those initiatives could be paid for by cutting some funding to policing, the measure said.
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“We have a very long history … of passengers complaining about racial profiling and racial bias,” said director and L.A. City Councilman Mike Bonin, who introduced the motion. Many riders of color feel threatened by police on the system, he said, “but have no choice but to continue using it.”
Directors heard 129 public comments from riders and advocates, 105 of which supported the reform motion, Metro’s board secretary said. The majority urged Metro to remove armed police from buses, trains and stations.
“Why would an armed officer that routinely harms people that look like me ever make me feel safe?” said Los Angeles resident Brittani Nichols, an actor and writer, in a written comment. “Weaving them into every aspect of public life is an attack on Black lives that needs to end.”
“I have never felt comfortable with the rise of police on Metro,” said Gemma Jimenez, a student and transit rider who lives in North Hollywood. “I have witnessed the police harass, bully and use excessive force on transit riders.... The police did not, and will never, help us feel safe.”
After years of declining ridership, and rising assaults and violent crime, Metro nearly doubled the number of uniformed police on the transit system in 2017. Contracts with the Los Angeles Police Department, Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department and Long Beach Police Department expire in 2022.
Spokesman Dave Sotero said in an email that the policing plans “directly benefit county transit riders” and reduced reported violent crime 23% from 2015 to 2019.
“Our police contract contains essential community relations, homeless outreach, ambassador and non-law enforcement causes that can form the basis of a future re-imagining of these services,” Sotero said.
Director John Fasana, a councilman from Duarte, said Metro should reexamine the customer code of conduct, which lays out penalties for riding without a fare, playing loud music, eating, littering and other banned behaviors.
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During a crackdown on such violations in 2018, an LAPD officer dragged a young woman off a subway train because she refused to take her foot off a seat.
The shift comes as other U.S. transit agencies consider similar policies. Officials in Portland, Ore., trimmed the policing budget by $1.8 million. Boston’s transit police department banned the use of chokeholds. And in Washington, D.C., officials created a transit review board to address complaints of systemic racism.
Los Angeles County Supervisor Kathryn Barger, who voted against the community policing motion, said she wanted to see more homeless outreach services, but “not at the expense of law enforcement — I will not change my mind on that.”
“Sworn officers are essential for us,” Barger said. “Because of the acts of bad cops, we’re vilifying the entire industry. I think that’s wrong.”
In a study conducted by Metro last year, two-thirds of female riders said there were not enough police officers on the transit system. Current riders’ most common recommendation to improve safety was hiring more police.
That suggests Metro should try to fix the policing culture and perception of safety on the system, rather than remove police entirely, said director and Inglewood Mayor James T. Butts Jr.
“It will be far less expensive to change the culture of policing than to do some of the things I’ve heard put forward over the last few weeks,” Butts said.
One Pasadena resident wrote that reducing the number of police officers would “drastically reduce the strides made in the last year” to improve crime and cleanliness issues at the Fillmore light rail station.
“We need more law enforcement presence, not less,” said Michael Bailey, an Anaheim resident who takes Metro to downtown and to Long Beach. “Their presence deters crime. Their presence is important to all of our safety.”
The LAPD also came under fire Thursday after officers called in absent for nearly 700 transit shifts, all of which are eligible for overtime pay. The wave of absences followed Chief Michel Moore’s decision to temporarily freeze overtime .
Officials say offering premium pay for transit shifts makes them easier to fill, and is still cheaper for Metro than paying the cost of salaries and benefits for full-time transit officers.
The department “pushed and pushed” to shift some of the policing authority away from the Sheriff’s Department and to its own officers, said Metro director and county Supervisor Sheila Kuehl. The same week that LAPD called in absent en masse, she said, the absence rate among deputies was less than 1%.
“That is a problem,” Kuehl said. “I’d really like to understand how we can have confidence in LAPD when that was the case.”