latimes--2020-11-17--Orange County officials cry foul after state imposes sweeping COVID-19 restrictions

In a sign of the continued political polarization surrounding COVID-19 , officials in Orange County are expressing frustration following Gov .
Gavin Newsom ’ s decision to move the region into the most restrictive reopening tier amid a dangerous new surge in coronavirus infections statewide .
Conservative county leaders have long been at odds with the Democratic governor over the restrictions imposed on businesses , public spaces and activities , but it now appears that clash will stretch into the holiday season as California enters what could be its most challenging chapter of the pandemic .
The state has rolled @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cases have climbed .
Some areas are considering even more local restrictions — including hard-hit Los Angeles County , where officials have talked about a possible curfew and potentially limiting the number of customers allowed in some businesses — while others , including Bay Area counties like San Francisco , have voluntarily added restrictions that go beyond the state requirements as a protective measure .
But Orange County leaders on Tuesday argued the state has gone too far .
Though they reiterated the importance of residents taking steps to protect themselves and their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ county supervisors took Newsom and his administration to task for the reclassification .
Board Chairwoman Michelle Steel , a Republican who was recently elected to Congress , called the decision a “ unilateral move ” that she thinks “ is troubling and harmful to Orange County families who need to put food on the table , to small businesses struggling to stay open and to the mental health of our community.
” “ Instead of combatting COVID-19 in a thoughtful manner , this one-size fits-all approach threatens the livelihoods of our residents , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Monday ’ s dramatic announcement saw Orange County , along with 27 other counties in the state , regress to the purple tier — the most stringent of the four color-coded categories in the state ’ s coronavirus reopening system .
As a result , many businesses and other public facilities will have to suspend or severely limit indoor operations .
The widespread reassignment , which Newsom likened to pulling an emergency brake , comes as California grapples with its most significant coronavirus surge to date .
Weekly infections across the state are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ month ago , rising from about 22,600 to 56,000 for the seven-day period that ended Sunday , according to a Times analysis .
California reported 13,412 new coronavirus cases Monday , a single-day record .
Health experts have largely backed the state ’ s approach , saying restrictions are needed to help slow the skyrocketing infection rate .
Given the explosion in the number of cases , this week ’ s tier reassignments were accelerated .
The system is based on new coronavirus cases and testing positivity rates , and previously , a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ within the threshold of a more restrictive tier for two consecutive weeks before it fell back .
The state now says only one week ’ s worth of data is needed .
Orange County had for weeks been in the second-most severe — or red — category .
However , its latest adjusted daily case rate per 100,000 residents was 10.8 , high enough to land in the purple range , indicating widespread transmission of the disease .
Even with the backsliding , that adjusted rate is the third-lowest in Southern California , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ narrowly , San Diego County , according to state data .
To some in Orange County , though , the abrupt shift — aside from causing undue confusion and consternation for residents and businesses — is the latest example of a state pandemic response that too often has been top-down , uneven and overbroad .
“ We ’ re hearing a bit of hopelessness that is out there in the community as we move back into purple , and that hopelessness , I think , is not there just because , ‘ Oh @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more clampdowns , ’ but because we ’ re seeing no end in sight , ” Supervisor Don Wagner said during Tuesday ’ s board meeting .
“ And by that I mean every time this governor has come up with some sort of a plan for dealing with coronavirus , it ends up changing — changing for the worse.
” Others took issue with the tiered system itself , saying that the state should take other metrics — such as hospitalization numbers — into consideration .
“ Our healthcare system is very @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ So while we want to balance that with health and safety , I think reopening our economy to the greatest extent possible , and we ’ ve proven that we can safely do that , is really the proper way to go.
” Orange County has tussled with the governor over coronavirus-related restrictions before , including when the state briefly closed local beaches .
Some cities have also drawn headlines for their residents ’ reluctance to wear masks in public settings , even though local leaders have urged them to do @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that the county ’ s case rates and hospitalization numbers remain in better shape than some of its Southern California neighbors .
“ What we ’ ve been doing and what this board has been doing and what Dr. [ Clayton ] Chau and , more importantly , the people of Orange County have been doing to direct the resources where they need to go and to protect themselves is working , ” Wagner said .
“ That ’ s the model — not the hopelessness , the despair , the shut everything @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the governor is foisting on us .
We tried that before .
This is proof it doesn ’ t work.
” The county isn ’ t alone in expressing concerns about , or antipathy toward , state restrictions .
More than 100 elected officials , business owners and residents rallied near San Diego ’ s waterfront Monday , demanding the county — also in the purple tier — let restaurants , churches and other small businesses reopen .
“ This is not a choice between opening up businesses or saving lives , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ We can do both.
” Overall , Orange County has reported roughly 66,000 cumulative coronavirus cases , and more than 1,500 residents have died of COVID-19 .
County officials still stressed that it ’ s up to residents and businesses to do their part to help stem the spread of the virus .
That ’ s especially true when just around the corner are the holidays — a time when residents might be tempted to gather with family and friends without taking precautions .
California has generally banned large gatherings , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more than three households may be held , provided they take place outdoors and attendees physically distance and wear face coverings .
Chau , director of the OC Health Care Agency and the county ’ s health officer , said he hopes residents take the guidance to heart .
“ I know this is hard .
We ’ re all in this together , ” he said .
“ And I would strongly recommend [ to ] our residents that we can get through this very quickly if we follow those .
”

Shoppers walk around a largely deserted downtown Huntington Beach as Orange County found itself back in the COVID-19 Purple Tier.
In a sign of the continued political polarization surrounding COVID-19, officials in Orange County are expressing frustration following Gov. Gavin Newsom’s decision to move the region into the most restrictive reopening tier amid a dangerous new surge in coronavirus infections statewide.
Conservative county leaders have long been at odds with the Democratic governor over the restrictions imposed on businesses, public spaces and activities, but it now appears that clash will stretch into the holiday season as California enters what could be its most challenging chapter of the pandemic.
The state has rolled back reopenings in much of California as cases have climbed. Some areas are considering even more local restrictions — including hard-hit Los Angeles County, where officials imposed new restrictions Tuesday and warned of a curfew and new stay-at-home order if conditions continue to deteriorate — while others, including Bay Area counties like San Francisco, have voluntarily added restrictions that go beyond the state requirements as a protective measure.
But Orange County leaders on Tuesday argued the state has gone too far.
A server wears a protective mask at Watson’s Original Soda Fountain in downtown Orange. Orange County has dropped back into the COVID-19 Purple Tier - the state’s most restrictive. (Luis Sinco/Los Angeles Times)
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Though they reiterated the importance of residents taking steps to protect themselves and their loved ones from the virus, some county supervisors took Newsom and his administration to task for the reclassification.
Board Chairwoman Michelle Steel, a Republican who was recently elected to Congress, called the decision a “unilateral move” that she thinks “is troubling and harmful to Orange County families who need to put food on the table, to small businesses struggling to stay open and to the mental health of our community.”
“Instead of combatting COVID-19 in a thoughtful manner, this one-size fits-all approach threatens the livelihoods of our residents,” she said in a statement.
Monday’s dramatic announcement saw Orange County, along with 27 other counties in the state, regress to the purple tier — the most stringent of the four color-coded categories in the state’s coronavirus reopening system.
As a result, many businesses and other public facilities will have to suspend or severely limit indoor operations.
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The widespread reassignment, which Newsom likened to pulling an emergency brake, comes as California grapples with its most significant coronavirus surge to date.
Weekly infections across the state are now almost 150% worse than a month ago, rising from about 22,600 to 56,000 for the seven-day period that ended Sunday, according to a Times analysis. California reported 13,412 new coronavirus cases Monday, a single-day record. Health experts have largely backed the state’s approach, saying restrictions are needed to help slow the skyrocketing infection rate.
Given the explosion in the number of cases, this week’s tier reassignments were accelerated. The system is based on new coronavirus cases and testing positivity rates, and previously, a county’s metrics had to fall within the threshold of a more restrictive tier for two consecutive weeks before it fell back. The state now says only one week’s worth of data is needed.
Orange County had for weeks been in the second-most severe — or red — category. However, its latest adjusted daily case rate per 100,000 residents was 10.8, high enough to land in the purple range, indicating widespread transmission of the disease.
Even with the backsliding, that adjusted rate is the third-lowest in Southern California, trailing only Santa Barbara County and, narrowly, San Diego County, according to state data.
To some in Orange County, though, the abrupt shift — aside from causing undue confusion and consternation for residents and businesses — is the latest example of a state pandemic response that too often has been top-down, uneven and overbroad.
“We’re hearing a bit of hopelessness that is out there in the community as we move back into purple, and that hopelessness, I think, is not there just because, ‘Oh, gosh, we’re doing more clampdowns,’ but because we’re seeing no end in sight,” Supervisor Don Wagner said during Tuesday’s board meeting.
“And by that I mean every time this governor has come up with some sort of a plan for dealing with coronavirus, it ends up changing — changing for the worse.”
Others took issue with the tiered system itself, saying that the state should take other metrics — such as hospitalization numbers — into consideration.
“Our healthcare system is very prepared,” Supervisor Lisa Bartlett said. “So while we want to balance that with health and safety, I think reopening our economy to the greatest extent possible, and we’ve proven that we can safely do that, is really the proper way to go.”
Orange County has tussled with the governor over coronavirus-related restrictions before, including when the state briefly closed local beaches. Some cities have also drawn headlines for their residents’ reluctance to wear masks in public settings, even though local leaders have urged them to do so.
However, officials pointed out that the county’s case rates and hospitalization numbers remain in better shape than some of its Southern California neighbors.
“What we’ve been doing and what this board has been doing and what Dr. [Clayton] Chau and, more importantly, the people of Orange County have been doing to direct the resources where they need to go and to protect themselves is working,” Wagner said. “That’s the model — not the hopelessness, the despair, the shut everything down and hope for the best that the governor is foisting on us. We tried that before. This is proof it doesn’t work.”
The county isn’t alone in expressing concerns about, or antipathy toward, state restrictions. More than 100 elected officials, business owners and residents rallied near San Diego’s waterfront Monday, demanding the county — also in the purple tier — let restaurants, churches and other small businesses reopen.
“This is not a choice between opening up businesses or saving lives,” San Diego County Supervisor Jim Desmond said. “We can do both.”
Overall, Orange County has reported roughly 66,000 cumulative coronavirus cases, and more than 1,500 residents have died of COVID-19.
Tracking coronavirus in Orange County The latest maps and charts on the spread of COVID-19 in Orange County, including cases, deaths, closures and restrictions.
County officials still stressed that it’s up to residents and businesses to do their part to help stem the spread of the virus.
That’s especially true when just around the corner are the holidays — a time when residents might be tempted to gather with family and friends without taking precautions.
California has generally banned large gatherings, though brief, small ones of no more than three households may be held, provided they take place outdoors and attendees physically distance and wear face coverings.
Chau, director of the OC Health Care Agency and the county’s health officer, said he hopes residents take the guidance to heart.
“I know this is hard. We’re all in this together,” he said. “And I would strongly recommend [to] our residents that we can get through this very quickly if we follow those.”


latimes--2020-11-17--Garcetti nominates attorney to Police Commission as Goldsmith steps down

Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti has nominated attorney William Briggs to replace nonprofit executive Shane Murphy Goldsmith on the city ’ s five-member Police Commission , his office said Tuesday .
Goldsmith , who has been on the civilian oversight commission since 2016 and serves as its vice president , is stepping down , Garcetti ’ s office said .
A reason was not given , and Goldsmith could not immediately be reached for comment .
Briggs , a partner at Venable LLP , has worked as a trial lawyer and litigator and has “ broad experience in the entertainment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and federal courtrooms across various practices of law , ” according to Garcetti ’ s office .
His appointment is subject to approval by the City Council .
If confirmed , Briggs would be the second newcomer to the Police Commission in recent months .
Youth advocate Lou Calanche joined the board in August after Commissioner Sandra Figueroa-Villa stepped down amid illness .
In a statement , Garcetti said Briggs “ will bring an extraordinary record of leadership and commitment to the fight for fairness , equity , and a safer Los Angeles.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ common security than deepening bonds of trust between police officers and the Angelenos they serve , especially in communities of color , and I know William shares my commitment to working with Angelenos to bring meaningful change , ” Garcetti said .
Briggs , 65 , is a native of L.A. , from the Crenshaw area .
He has previously served as a commissioner on the Los Angeles City Employees Retirement Service , where he helped oversee administration of the city employees ’ pension benefits .
In a telephone interview Tuesday , Briggs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ I just look forward to getting in there , digging in and studying the issues and hopefully coming up with some good solutions , ” he said .
Briggs said his desire to join the commission at such a critical time for policing came after he attended protests this summer with his college-age daughter for George Floyd and Breonna Taylor , two Black people whose deaths at the hands of police in Minneapolis and Louisville sparked protests nationwide .
“ That kind of crystalized to me that changes to the Police @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I was presented with the opportunity to join the [ Commission ] , I didn ’ t flinch .
I said ‘ absolutely , ’ ” Briggs said .
“ Reform is needed in terms of more community policing , more recognition of the racial injustice that may be the result of just some of the innate bias that people have and they carry with them.
” Briggs said he has family members in the LAPD , knows “ the challenges that they face , ” and wants them all to go home @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the same token , I know that as a black man we are often treated differently , ” he said , “ so I want to see whether or not that can be changed — and I ’ m hoping to be a voice for some of that positive change.
” The Police Commission oversees the LAPD , helping to set policy and review incidents such as police shootings .
Its members generally meet weekly — by Zoom amid the COVID-19 pandemic — and discuss crime trends and policy issues with LAPD Chief @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the commissioners technically outrank .
Under the intense spotlight on police this year , the commission also has been heavily scrutinized — for decisions it has made on police shootings , a perceived lack of teeth to its oversight of the department in the eyes of activists , and its recent decision to limit public comment at its weekly Zoom meetings to 45 minutes .
The union that represents rank-and-file LAPD officers also has criticized the commission .
On Tuesday , the Los Angeles Police Protective League ’ s board blasted the commission @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at their weekly meeting instead of the 25 % increase in homicides in the city — accusing the commission of having “ no plan ” to reduce the violence .
“ Police Commissioners , where is your plan to keep L.A. safe ?
” the union asked .
Goldsmith and other commission members have also been individually criticized for making decisions that dictate how the LAPD interacts with community organizations while maintaining their own ties to such organizations .
The commissioners have all said they follow all ethics guidelines .
Goldsmith is president @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hill Foundation , which provides funding and training to community organizations .
She previously served as a senior advisor to Garcetti when Garcetti served on the City Council .

Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti has nominated attorney William Briggs to replace nonprofit executive Shane Murphy Goldsmith on the city’s five-member Police Commission, his office said Tuesday.
Goldsmith, who has been on the civilian oversight commission since 2016 and serves as its vice president, is stepping down, Garcetti’s office said. A reason was not given, and Goldsmith could not immediately be reached for comment.
Briggs, a partner at Venable LLP, has worked as a trial lawyer and litigator and has “broad experience in the entertainment industry and ample time spent in state and federal courtrooms across various practices of law,” according to Garcetti’s office. His appointment is subject to approval by the City Council.
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If confirmed, Briggs would be the second newcomer to the Police Commission in recent months. Youth advocate Lou Calanche joined the board in August after Commissioner Sandra Figueroa-Villa stepped down amid illness.
In a statement, Garcetti said Briggs “will bring an extraordinary record of leadership and commitment to the fight for fairness, equity, and a safer Los Angeles.”
“Nothing matters more to our common security than deepening bonds of trust between police officers and the Angelenos they serve, especially in communities of color, and I know William shares my commitment to working with Angelenos to bring meaningful change,” Garcetti said.
Briggs, 65, is a native of L.A., from the Crenshaw area. He has previously served as a commissioner on the Los Angeles City Employees Retirement Service, where he helped oversee administration of the city employees’ pension benefits.
In a telephone interview Tuesday, Briggs said he was eager to get started.
“I just look forward to getting in there, digging in and studying the issues and hopefully coming up with some good solutions,” he said.
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Briggs said his desire to join the commission at such a critical time for policing came after he attended protests this summer with his college-age daughter for George Floyd and Breonna Taylor, two Black people whose deaths at the hands of police in Minneapolis and Louisville sparked protests nationwide.
“That kind of crystalized to me that changes to the Police Department are still needed, and when I was presented with the opportunity to join the [Commission], I didn’t flinch. I said ‘absolutely,’” Briggs said. “Reform is needed in terms of more community policing, more recognition of the racial injustice that may be the result of just some of the innate bias that people have and they carry with them.”
Briggs said he has family members in the LAPD, knows “the challenges that they face,” and wants them all to go home safely at night.
“But by the same token, I know that as a black man we are often treated differently,” he said, “so I want to see whether or not that can be changed — and I’m hoping to be a voice for some of that positive change.”
The Police Commission oversees the LAPD, helping to set policy and review incidents such as police shootings. Its members generally meet weekly — by Zoom amid the COVID-19 pandemic — and discuss crime trends and policy issues with LAPD Chief Michel Moore and other commanders, whom the commissioners technically outrank.
Under the intense spotlight on police this year, the commission also has been heavily scrutinized — for decisions it has made on police shootings, a perceived lack of teeth to its oversight of the department in the eyes of activists, and its recent decision to limit public comment at its weekly Zoom meetings to 45 minutes.
The union that represents rank-and-file LAPD officers also has criticized the commission. On Tuesday, the Los Angeles Police Protective League’s board blasted the commission for discussing racial bias in police stops at their weekly meeting instead of the 25% increase in homicides in the city — accusing the commission of having “no plan” to reduce the violence.
“Police Commissioners, where is your plan to keep L.A. safe?” the union asked.
Goldsmith and other commission members have also been individually criticized for making decisions that dictate how the LAPD interacts with community organizations while maintaining their own ties to such organizations. The commissioners have all said they follow all ethics guidelines.
Goldsmith is president and chief executive officer of the Liberty Hill Foundation, which provides funding and training to community organizations. She previously served as a senior advisor to Garcetti when Garcetti served on the City Council.


latimes--2020-11-17--Two LAPD officers sue over 'Blue Flu' discipline after calling out sick over July 4 holiday

Two Los Angeles police officers have alleged in separate lawsuits that they were illegally disciplined by LAPD commanders after being wrongly accused of faking an illness as part of a “ Blue Flu ” protest action over the July 4 weekend .
Officers Ryan Putman and Meggan Stroup each allege in lawsuits filed in California Superior Court last week that they had legitimately fallen ill and properly used their sick leave to call out , but were nonetheless rounded up with hundreds of other officers who called out sick and punished for a protest they had nothing to do with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were directly accused of being a “ Blue-Flu ’ er ” by superiors , and of abusing their sick leave , lying , conspiring with others to engage in an illegal work protest and committing serious misconduct .
They each said they were told that their past use of sick leave would be audited , and that an “ Action Item ” would be placed in their personnel file officially labeling them a “ Blue-Flu Officer ” — which they described as “ an undesirable , damaging and negative moniker ” that would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ careers and harm their prospects for advancement and promotion in the department .
Josh Rubenstein , an LAPD spokesman , said the department could not comment on the ongoing litigation .
The Times first reported in the days after the July 4 holiday that the department was investigating an apparent plan among officers to call out sick , after an unsigned letter circulated among officers the week prior encouraging them to call in sick to protect their interests after weeks of intense protests and a decision by the City Council to cut the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ They succeeded in defunding the police ; what do you think is next ?
Our pay ?
Our benefits ?
Our pensions ?
You ’ re God Damn right all those things are in jeopardy now , ” read the letter , which was obtained by The Times .
“ We have to send the city a clear message that we are not expendable and we are not going to take this crap anymore.
” Sources in the department at the time said up to 300 officers called in sick .
LAPD @ @ @ @ @ @ @ looking into the large number of officers who called out sick .
“ Rather than jumping to conclusions and indicting and impugning the integrity of our rank and file , I ’ m asking that we explore this , ” Moore said at the time .
“ We want to find the facts out before we start making sweeping judgments.
” Rubenstein said he could not comment on the outcome of that review , as it was related to the litigation .
Large coordinated sick calls are not common in the LAPD , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ motorcycle officer in the Valley Traffic Division , said he sent a text message to his supervisor on July 3 , advising him that he was taking a sick day .
He returned to work on July 4 .
He said he was oblivious to any “ Blue Flu ” plan until he returned to work and heard other officers talking about it .
Stroup said she started to feel ill on the morning of July 3 and called out .
She was told by a supervisor that she had better get a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ obtained .
She said she was urged to return to work on July 4 but still felt ill. She returned to work on July 6 , when she heard chatter about the “ Blue Flu ” plan , she said .
The officers allege that the department treated more than 300 officers who called out sick that weekend the same way , without regard for their individual circumstances .
They are each seeking unspecified damages of more than $ 25,000 .

Two LAPD officers say they were illegally disciplined after being wrongly accused of faking an illness as part of a “Blue Flu” protest.
Two Los Angeles police officers have alleged in separate lawsuits that they were illegally disciplined by LAPD commanders after being wrongly accused of faking an illness as part of a “Blue Flu” protest action over the July 4 weekend.
Officers Ryan Putman and Meggan Stroup each allege in lawsuits filed in California Superior Court last week that they had legitimately fallen ill and properly used their sick leave to call out, but were nonetheless rounded up with hundreds of other officers who called out sick and punished for a protest they had nothing to do with.
Putman and Stroup each said they were directly accused of being a “Blue-Flu’er” by superiors, and of abusing their sick leave, lying, conspiring with others to engage in an illegal work protest and committing serious misconduct. They each said they were told that their past use of sick leave would be audited, and that an “Action Item” would be placed in their personnel file officially labeling them a “Blue-Flu Officer” — which they described as “an undesirable, damaging and negative moniker” that would follow them for the rest of their careers and harm their prospects for advancement and promotion in the department.
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Josh Rubenstein, an LAPD spokesman, said the department could not comment on the ongoing litigation.
The Times first reported in the days after the July 4 holiday that the department was investigating an apparent plan among officers to call out sick, after an unsigned letter circulated among officers the week prior encouraging them to call in sick to protect their interests after weeks of intense protests and a decision by the City Council to cut the LAPD budget by $150 million.
“They succeeded in defunding the police; what do you think is next? Our pay? Our benefits? Our pensions? You’re God Damn right all those things are in jeopardy now,” read the letter, which was obtained by The Times. “We have to send the city a clear message that we are not expendable and we are not going to take this crap anymore.”
Sources in the department at the time said up to 300 officers called in sick. LAPD Chief Michel Moore said the department was looking into the large number of officers who called out sick.
“Rather than jumping to conclusions and indicting and impugning the integrity of our rank and file, I’m asking that we explore this,” Moore said at the time. “We want to find the facts out before we start making sweeping judgments.”
Rubenstein said he could not comment on the outcome of that review, as it was related to the litigation.
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Large coordinated sick calls are not common in the LAPD, and are illegal.
Putman, a motorcycle officer in the Valley Traffic Division, said he sent a text message to his supervisor on July 3, advising him that he was taking a sick day. He returned to work on July 4. He said he was oblivious to any “Blue Flu” plan until he returned to work and heard other officers talking about it.
Stroup said she started to feel ill on the morning of July 3 and called out. She was told by a supervisor that she had better get a doctor’s note, which she obtained. She said she was urged to return to work on July 4 but still felt ill. She returned to work on July 6, when she heard chatter about the “Blue Flu” plan, she said.
The officers allege that the department treated more than 300 officers who called out sick that weekend the same way, without regard for their individual circumstances. They are each seeking unspecified damages of more than $25,000.


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

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

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

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


latimes--2020-11-17--Police Commission approves stricter rules for some LAPD searches

The Los Angeles Police Commission approved a new policy Tuesday that requires LAPD officers to more carefully document instances in which people give them permission to search them on the street .
In the past , an officer could search a person , their vehicle or their belongings — regardless of whether they had reasonable suspicion that a crime had been committed or probable cause to make an arrest — if that person verbally consented to the search or gave “ implied consent ” through their actions or gestures .
Under the new policy , which the commission unanimously approved @ @ @ @ @ @ @ consent searches , ” but only after securing proof of that consent — either by capturing the person giving their consent on body-worn video or by getting the person to sign off on a written consent form .
The policy also states that as a matter of best practice , officers should make clear — including verbally on their body-worn video if possible — the reason they are conducting the search , what they are searching for , where they are searching , what if anything they discover and where those items were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ each incident is shaped by various factors which may preclude officers from following best practices in every situation , ” the new policy states .
“ However , when practicable and safe to do so , officers should make every attempt to employ the procedures.
” The policy change , part of a broader and ongoing effort by the commission to deal with racial bias in LAPD street stops , does not affect an officer ’ s ability to search a person who is suspected of a crime or who is being arrested @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from doing a “ pat down ” of a person when they have “ articulable facts ” that cause them to believe the person “ is dangerous or may be carrying a weapon , ” according to a letter LAPD Chief Michel Moore submitted to the commission .
Commissioners said Tuesday that the policy was intended to address criticism in the community that officers too often conduct searches of people — and particularly people of color — without their consent or any other justification .
They said it was one small piece of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ around officer stops in the future .
The policy change follows a report by the LAPD ’ s inspector general , released last month , that reviewed hundreds of thousands of LAPD stops last year and , like a previous Times investigation , found significant racial disparities .
Among other issues , the inspector general found that units specifically assigned to suppress crime in communities of color were more likely to subject the people they stopped to extensive questioning , to handcuff them , to force them to face a wall and to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that Black and Latino men were subjected to prolonged interrogations with far greater frequency , the report found .
The report also found that the stops were often a thinly veiled “ pretext ” to investigate more serious crimes , and that the strategy was a failure .
The commission Tuesday also approved new guidelines for serving search and arrest warrants , and voted to accept the inspector general ’ s report .
Commissioners promised to continue working to identify policy changes that will help mitigate and end disparate impacts of policing on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they are carefully reviewing training for officers and building out more robust tracking mechanisms to improve outcomes and collect better data around such stops in each of the department ’ s geographic divisions .
The commission ’ s actions came in the face of significant pushback from community activists , who held a news conference in front of LAPD headquarters downtown Monday and called in to the commission ’ s Zoom meeting to denounce disparate treatment of Black and brown people by LAPD officers and demand an end to the department ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Khan , with the Stop LAPD Spying Coalition , said at the Monday news conference that such stops reflect illegal racial profiling , subjecting people of color to stops in numbers that are wildly disproportionate to their share of the city ’ s population .
“ We have a major problem , ” he said .
Paula Minor , of Black Lives Matter Los Angeles , said the city ’ s own data show that the LAPD ’ s approach to stops is racially biased .
She said pretextual stops “ victimize and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and the office of the inspector general can not justify , ” and must be stopped .
A broad coalition of groups known as the PUSH L.A .
Coalition — which includes Black Lives Matter , the ACLU of Southern California and other groups — called the policy changes adopted Tuesday “ inadequate .
”

Under the new policy, officers can still conduct so-called “consent searches,” but only after securing proof of consent.
The Los Angeles Police Commission approved a new policy Tuesday that requires LAPD officers to more carefully document instances in which people give them permission to search them on the street.
In the past, an officer could search a person, their vehicle or their belongings — regardless of whether they had reasonable suspicion that a crime had been committed or probable cause to make an arrest — if that person verbally consented to the search or gave “implied consent” through their actions or gestures.
Under the new policy, which the commission unanimously approved, officers can still conduct so-called “consent searches,” but only after securing proof of that consent — either by capturing the person giving their consent on body-worn video or by getting the person to sign off on a written consent form.
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The policy also states that as a matter of best practice, officers should make clear — including verbally on their body-worn video if possible — the reason they are conducting the search, what they are searching for, where they are searching, what if anything they discover and where those items were found.
“It is understood that each incident is shaped by various factors which may preclude officers from following best practices in every situation,” the new policy states. “However, when practicable and safe to do so, officers should make every attempt to employ the procedures.”
The policy change, part of a broader and ongoing effort by the commission to deal with racial bias in LAPD street stops, does not affect an officer’s ability to search a person who is suspected of a crime or who is being arrested. It also does not prevent them from doing a “pat down” of a person when they have “articulable facts” that cause them to believe the person “is dangerous or may be carrying a weapon,” according to a letter LAPD Chief Michel Moore submitted to the commission.
Commissioners said Tuesday that the policy was intended to address criticism in the community that officers too often conduct searches of people — and particularly people of color — without their consent or any other justification. They said it was one small piece of what is intended to be broader reform around officer stops in the future.
The policy change follows a report by the LAPD’s inspector general, released last month, that reviewed hundreds of thousands of LAPD stops last year and, like a previous Times investigation, found significant racial disparities.
Among other issues, the inspector general found that units specifically assigned to suppress crime in communities of color were more likely to subject the people they stopped to extensive questioning, to handcuff them, to force them to face a wall and to check their tattoos. The result was that Black and Latino men were subjected to prolonged interrogations with far greater frequency, the report found.
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The report also found that the stops were often a thinly veiled “pretext” to investigate more serious crimes, and that the strategy was a failure.
The commission Tuesday also approved new guidelines for serving search and arrest warrants, and voted to accept the inspector general’s report. Commissioners promised to continue working to identify policy changes that will help mitigate and end disparate impacts of policing on communities of color.
Police officials said they are carefully reviewing training for officers and building out more robust tracking mechanisms to improve outcomes and collect better data around such stops in each of the department’s geographic divisions.
The commission’s actions came in the face of significant pushback from community activists, who held a news conference in front of LAPD headquarters downtown Monday and called in to the commission’s Zoom meeting to denounce disparate treatment of Black and brown people by LAPD officers and demand an end to the department’s use of pretextual stops altogether.
Hamid Khan, with the Stop LAPD Spying Coalition, said at the Monday news conference that such stops reflect illegal racial profiling, subjecting people of color to stops in numbers that are wildly disproportionate to their share of the city’s population.
“We have a major problem,” he said.
Paula Minor, of Black Lives Matter Los Angeles, said the city’s own data show that the LAPD’s approach to stops is racially biased. She said pretextual stops “victimize and harm Black people in ways that LAPD and the office of the inspector general cannot justify,” and must be stopped.
A broad coalition of groups known as the PUSH L.A. Coalition — which includes Black Lives Matter, the ACLU of Southern California and other groups — called the policy changes adopted Tuesday “inadequate.”


latimes--2020-11-17--Ventura County declares racism a public health crisis

The Ventura County Board of Supervisors has unanimously approved a resolution declaring racism a public health crisis .
Spurred by the recent killings of Ahmaud Arbery , Breonna Taylor and George Floyd — and by a nationwide history of discrimination and oppression against Black people , Indigenous people and other people of color — the resolution was the result of a months-long collaboration between county officials and community groups .
“ This resolution demonstrates Ventura County ’ s commitment to the continuation of having difficult and uncomfortable conversations around race , justice and inequities , ” Rabiah Rahman , vice @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , said during last week ’ s meeting .
“ While it is not perfect , it is without a doubt a step in the right direction.
” The connection between racism and public health is well-documented , according to Dr. Stanley Patterson , who also spoke at the meeting .
Patterson , a physician , said communities of color suffered from a systemic lack of access to affordable healthcare and health insurance , and from more insidious inequities , including a dearth of grocery stores and fresh produce markets that are commonly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ neighborhoods .
As a result of these and other failures , Patterson said , Black , Latinx and Indigenous people have higher-than-average incidents of diabetes , cardiovascular disease , respiratory disease , auto-immune disease , depression and even suicide .
“ The statistics are real , ” he said .
“ They represent a problem that can only begin to be resolved with an inward reflection , understanding and embracing of our cultural differences and steps toward removing the barriers that prevent diversity , equity and inclusion where we live.
” Patterson said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are also affecting those same communities .
“ One in every 1,000 Black men , ” he said , “ can be expected to be killed by police in their lifetime.
” The county ’ s calls for a number of action items , including the establishment of an advisory group to work with law enforcement agencies to “ foster meaningful discussions ” and address public concerns relating to policing policies and procedures .
It also pledges to establish a working group of experts to study the delivery of healthcare to underserved populations @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and equity training for county employees .
During one of the meeting ’ s more emotional presentations , Black Lawyers of Ventura County President Damon Jenkins read a letter he had written for his infant son .
“ My lips quiver , my heart pounds , my breathing increases , my hands sweat and tears gather in my eyes when I imagine the first time you tell me you have been called the N-word , or the day you have been mistreated by law enforcement , ” he said .
“ I will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ officials to protect you.
” Although Jenkins commended the county for its resolution , he also said community groups wanted even more action , including a recommendation that African American education be required in public schools , and that law enforcement advisory groups be run independently and have the power to make recommendations .
Jenkins also said local law enforcement agencies should provide clearer reporting on claims of excessive force , implement the widespread use of body cameras , adopt de-escalation techniques and require better training to deal with people of different backgrounds @ @ @ @ @ @ @ training , transparency and accountability , ” he said .
And although the deaths of several Black residents spurred Ventura County ’ s conversation around racism , the COVID-19 pandemic has also had measurable negative health effects on communities of color , the resolution said .
According to the , Indigenous and Latino people are 2.8 times more likely to contract COVID-19 , while Black people are 2.1 times more likely to die from it .
All three communities experience 4.6 to 5.3 times more hospitalizations .
“ Your ZIP Code is a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ genetic code , ” said Rigoberto Vargas , Ventura County public health director .
“ Place matters : the context , the environment , the situations presented to us .
... Those opportunities or lack of opportunities all matter.
” In passing the resolution , Ventura will join a of places across the country that are declaring racism a public health issue .
Twenty other counties and cities in California have made similar declarations , according to the American Public Health Assn.
, including .
Calling it a “ high-priority policy item , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said there had been more than 27 versions of the resolution to account for its evolution of language and ideas .
The final draft included input from the NAACP , Black Lawyers of Ventura County , the League of United Latin American Citizens , local law enforcement agencies , public health experts , the district attorney ’ s office and Ventura County Human Resources , he said .
And although the resolution passed quickly and unanimously , most present agreed there was work yet to be done .
“ By approving and adopting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the first necessary step of acknowledging that we have a problem , ” Rahman said .
“ There is no denying that we are a better and stronger community when the most vulnerable among us is elevated , celebrated and feels safe .
”

The Ventura County Board of Supervisors has unanimously approved a resolution declaring racism a public health crisis.
Spurred by the recent killings of Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor and George Floyd — and by a nationwide history of discrimination and oppression against Black people, Indigenous people and other people of color — the resolution was the result of a months-long collaboration between county officials and community groups.
“This resolution demonstrates Ventura County’s commitment to the continuation of having difficult and uncomfortable conversations around race, justice and inequities,” Rabiah Rahman, vice president of Black Lawyers of Ventura County, said during last week’s meeting. “While it is not perfect, it is without a doubt a step in the right direction.”
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The connection between racism and public health is well-documented, according to Dr. Stanley Patterson, who also spoke at the meeting. Patterson, a physician, said communities of color suffered from a systemic lack of access to affordable healthcare and health insurance, and from more insidious inequities, including a dearth of grocery stores and fresh produce markets that are commonly found in wealthier, more predominantly white neighborhoods.
As a result of these and other failures, Patterson said, Black, Latinx and Indigenous people have higher-than-average incidents of diabetes, cardiovascular disease, respiratory disease, auto-immune disease, depression and even suicide.
“The statistics are real,” he said. “They represent a problem that can only begin to be resolved with an inward reflection, understanding and embracing of our cultural differences and steps toward removing the barriers that prevent diversity, equity and inclusion where we live.”
Patterson said stark differences in treatment by law enforcement are also affecting those same communities.
“One in every 1,000 Black men,” he said, “can be expected to be killed by police in their lifetime.”
Advertisement
The county’s resolution calls for a number of action items, including the establishment of an advisory group to work with law enforcement agencies to “foster meaningful discussions” and address public concerns relating to policing policies and procedures.
It also pledges to establish a working group of experts to study the delivery of healthcare to underserved populations, and to continue to incorporate diversity and equity training for county employees.
During one of the meeting’s more emotional presentations, Black Lawyers of Ventura County President Damon Jenkins read a letter he had written for his infant son.
“My lips quiver, my heart pounds, my breathing increases, my hands sweat and tears gather in my eyes when I imagine the first time you tell me you have been called the N-word, or the day you have been mistreated by law enforcement,” he said. “I will tell you that I begged our elected officials to protect you.”
Although Jenkins commended the county for its resolution, he also said community groups wanted even more action, including a recommendation that African American education be required in public schools, and that law enforcement advisory groups be run independently and have the power to make recommendations.
Jenkins also said local law enforcement agencies should provide clearer reporting on claims of excessive force, implement the widespread use of body cameras, adopt de-escalation techniques and require better training to deal with people of different backgrounds.
“We continue to need more training, transparency and accountability,” he said.
And although the deaths of several Black residents spurred Ventura County’s conversation around racism, the COVID-19 pandemic has also had measurable negative health effects on communities of color, the resolution said.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention , Indigenous and Latino people are 2.8 times more likely to contract COVID-19, while Black people are 2.1 times more likely to die from it. All three communities experience 4.6 to 5.3 times more hospitalizations.
“Your ZIP Code is a stronger determinant of your health than your genetic code,” said Rigoberto Vargas, Ventura County public health director. “Place matters: the context, the environment, the situations presented to us. ... Those opportunities or lack of opportunities all matter.”
In passing the resolution, Ventura will join a growing list of places across the country that are declaring racism a public health issue. Twenty other counties and cities in California have made similar declarations, according to the American Public Health Assn., including Los Angeles .
Calling it a “high-priority policy item,” Ventura County Executive Officer Michael Powers said there had been more than 27 versions of the resolution to account for its evolution of language and ideas.
The final draft included input from the NAACP, Black Lawyers of Ventura County, the League of United Latin American Citizens, local law enforcement agencies, public health experts, the district attorney’s office and Ventura County Human Resources, he said.
And although the resolution passed quickly and unanimously, most present agreed there was work yet to be done.
“By approving and adopting this resolution, Ventura County is taking the first necessary step of acknowledging that we have a problem,” Rahman said. “There is no denying that we are a better and stronger community when the most vulnerable among us is elevated, celebrated and feels safe.”


latimes--2020-11-17--Op-Ed: A victory for salmon, two tribes and the Klamath River

After an uphill two-decade-long struggle in one of the nation ’ s most contentious watersheds , campaigners in the Klamath River Basin moved to the brink of a momentous , well-deserved victory Tuesday .
PacifiCorp , a Pacific Northwest utility that owns four environmentally and culturally disastrous dams that span the Klamath , announced via Zoom and YouTube that it had withdrawn its last objection to their demolition .
All that ’ s needed now is an expected final approval from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission , and the massive dam removal project could be carried out in 2023 .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Gavin Newsom of California and Kate Brown of Oregon , the chairmen of two Klamath Basin tribes and an executive representing PacifiCorp ’ s corporate owners took a public victory lap , unveiling an agreement that squarely meets objections raised by FERC to an earlier plan .
At the turn of this century , when leaders of the Yurok and Karuk tribes launched the campaign to take down the dams , the goal was a long shot .
They mounted a grass-roots movement , hired capable scientists and lawyers , and built relationships @ @ @ @ @ @ @ even some farmers and ranchers , their putative foes .
Despite major setbacks , they didn ’ t give up .
“ Hard projects like this never happen just because they ’ re the right thing to do , ” Brian Johnson , California director of Trout Unlimited , which worked with the tribes , told me .
“ They happen when a group of people decides that failure isn ’ t an option.
” At first , PacifiCorp refused to consider dam removal at all , then in 2010 agreed to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ any unbudgeted costs that might arise from demolition .
When FERC insisted in July that the plan couldn ’ t proceed unless PacifiCorp accepted a share of potential liability , the deal nearly broke down .
Newsom and Brown came to the rescue , authorizing their two states to take on what is projected to be a minimal risk of unbudgeted costs .
The Klamath Basin , which extends diagonally from the Oregon Cascades to the far Northern California coast , once supported the country ’ s third-largest salmon fishery .
But beginning @ @ @ @ @ @ @ river was devastated by mining , beaver trapping , logging , farming and ranching ; the dams delivered the crowning blow .
Now all the Klamath ’ s salmonid species are either extinct or in severe decline , the lower river is plagued with the parasite Ceratonova Shasta , which ravages fish , and each summer the reservoirs behind the dams contain stews of highly toxic blue-green algae .
Solutions to all of these issues start with dam removal .
By itself , the dams ’ absence will open up 420 miles of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , whose numbers and biological diversity are expected to grow substantially as a result .
C. Shasta and blue-green algae should both largely disappear .
For the Yurok and the Karuk , whose cultures and diets revolve around salmon , dam demolition is a matter of self-preservation .
When PacifiCorp showed no interest in dam removal in the early 2000s , the tribes and their allies , including Pacific coast fishermen and several mainstream environmental groups , mounted protests first at PacifiCorp ’ s headquarters in Portland , Ore. , then at its @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the United Kingdom .
During a week of protests in Edinburgh in 2004 , tribal members became local celebrities as they punctured Scottish Power ’ s reputation as an environmental champion with descriptions of the Klamath dams ’ impacts on salmon .
Embarrassed , the utility ’ s chief executive told the protest leaders the company was open to resolving the issue , including by removing the dams .
Instead , a year later Scottish Power sold PacifiCorp to Berkshire Hathaway , financier Warren Buffett ’ s giant holding company .
That led @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hathaway ’ s annual meetings in Omaha , and again this fall at Berkshire Hathaway offices in six U.S. cities after PacifiCorp threatened to abandon the deal .
The latest protests , combined with personal pleas from Newsom to Buffett , got PacifiCorp ’ s bosses at Berkshire Hathaway involved for the first time , and led to a deal .
While dam removal is the most fundamental step toward basin health , it is far from sufficient .
The Klamath and its tributaries still need major commitments to habitat restoration , equitable @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the upper basin .
But none of these changes are planned now .
Indeed , the dam removal victory is nested within a larger basin-wide tragedy .
Ten years ago , another river deal , the Klamath Basin Restoration Agreement , addressed the river ’ s problems on a much broader scale .
It represented a stunning multi-interest compromise that fairly distributed the river ’ s oversubscribed resources among the basin ’ s varied constituents while giving salmon a reasonable chance to thrive .
Congress ’ tea party members , who categorically disapproved @ @ @ @ @ @ @ — a huge opportunity missed .
Even so , the demolition of the Klamath dams is a major breakthrough , possibly generating momentum for the basin ’ s other needed reforms .
As Russell Attebery , chairman of the Karuk tribe , puts it : “ We are more confident than ever that future generations of Karuk will enjoy the benefits of a restored Klamath River.
” Removal may also boost anti-dam campaigners everywhere .
International Rivers , the world ’ s most prominent anti-dam nonprofit , calls the Klamath project “ possibly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ restoration anywhere and at any time .
”

After an uphill two-decade-long struggle in one of the nation’s most contentious watersheds, campaigners in the Klamath River Basin moved to the brink of a momentous, well-deserved victory Tuesday.
PacifiCorp, a Pacific Northwest utility that owns four environmentally and culturally disastrous dams that span the Klamath, announced via Zoom and YouTube that it had withdrawn its last objection to their demolition. All that’s needed now is an expected final approval from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, and the massive dam removal project could be carried out in 2023.
During the livestream announcement, Govs. Gavin Newsom of California and Kate Brown of Oregon, the chairmen of two Klamath Basin tribes and an executive representing PacifiCorp’s corporate owners took a public victory lap, unveiling an agreement that squarely meets objections raised by FERC to an earlier plan.
At the turn of this century, when leaders of the Yurok and Karuk tribes launched the campaign to take down the dams, the goal was a long shot. They mounted a grass-roots movement, hired capable scientists and lawyers, and built relationships with legislators, government agency officials and even some farmers and ranchers, their putative foes. Despite major setbacks, they didn’t give up.
“Hard projects like this never happen just because they’re the right thing to do,” Brian Johnson, California director of Trout Unlimited, which worked with the tribes, told me. “They happen when a group of people decides that failure isn’t an option.”
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At first, PacifiCorp refused to consider dam removal at all, then in 2010 agreed to the idea but balked at accepting liability for any unbudgeted costs that might arise from demolition. When FERC insisted in July that the plan couldn’t proceed unless PacifiCorp accepted a share of potential liability, the deal nearly broke down. Newsom and Brown came to the rescue, authorizing their two states to take on what is projected to be a minimal risk of unbudgeted costs.
The Klamath Basin, which extends diagonally from the Oregon Cascades to the far Northern California coast, once supported the country’s third-largest salmon fishery. But beginning a couple of centuries ago, the river was devastated by mining, beaver trapping, logging, farming and ranching; the dams delivered the crowning blow. Now all the Klamath’s salmonid species are either extinct or in severe decline, the lower river is plagued with the parasite Ceratonova Shasta, which ravages fish, and each summer the reservoirs behind the dams contain stews of highly toxic blue-green algae.
Solutions to all of these issues start with dam removal. By itself, the dams’ absence will open up 420 miles of river and stream spawning habitat to salmon, whose numbers and biological diversity are expected to grow substantially as a result. C. Shasta and blue-green algae should both largely disappear.
For the Yurok and the Karuk, whose cultures and diets revolve around salmon, dam demolition is a matter of self-preservation. When PacifiCorp showed no interest in dam removal in the early 2000s, the tribes and their allies, including Pacific coast fishermen and several mainstream environmental groups, mounted protests first at PacifiCorp’s headquarters in Portland, Ore., then at its parent company, Scottish Power, in the United Kingdom.
During a week of protests in Edinburgh in 2004, tribal members became local celebrities as they punctured Scottish Power’s reputation as an environmental champion with descriptions of the Klamath dams’ impacts on salmon. Embarrassed, the utility’s chief executive told the protest leaders the company was open to resolving the issue, including by removing the dams. Instead, a year later Scottish Power sold PacifiCorp to Berkshire Hathaway, financier Warren Buffett’s giant holding company.
That led to three years of protests at Berkshire Hathaway’s annual meetings in Omaha, and again this fall at Berkshire Hathaway offices in six U.S. cities after PacifiCorp threatened to abandon the deal. The latest protests, combined with personal pleas from Newsom to Buffett, got PacifiCorp’s bosses at Berkshire Hathaway involved for the first time, and led to a deal.
While dam removal is the most fundamental step toward basin health, it is far from sufficient. The Klamath and its tributaries still need major commitments to habitat restoration, equitable flow allocations and water quality improvements in the upper basin.
But none of these changes are planned now. Indeed, the dam removal victory is nested within a larger basin-wide tragedy. Ten years ago, another river deal, the Klamath Basin Restoration Agreement, addressed the river’s problems on a much broader scale. It represented a stunning multi-interest compromise that fairly distributed the river’s oversubscribed resources among the basin’s varied constituents while giving salmon a reasonable chance to thrive. Congress’ tea party members, who categorically disapproved of dam removals, blocked the deal — a huge opportunity missed.
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Even so, the demolition of the Klamath dams is a major breakthrough, possibly generating momentum for the basin’s other needed reforms. As Russell Attebery, chairman of the Karuk tribe, puts it: “We are more confident than ever that future generations of Karuk will enjoy the benefits of a restored Klamath River.”
Removal may also boost anti-dam campaigners everywhere. International Rivers, the world’s most prominent anti-dam nonprofit, calls the Klamath project “possibly the most important single initiative for river restoration anywhere and at any time.”
Jacques Leslie is a contributing writer to Opinion.


latimes--2020-11-17--LAX launches on-site coronavirus testing for fliers

Los Angeles International Airport is rolling out on-site coronavirus testing , as officials urge against unnecessary travel amid a spike in cases across Southern California .
LAX on Tuesday morning launched interim testing sites at three terminals as a precursor to an on-site rapid-testing lab , set to open the first week of December .
The tests available at the current sites cost $ 150 and provide results within 24 hours to those who opt to take them .
That will not be fast enough for people about to board a crowded plane and sit in an enclosed space for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ travelers avoid quarantining at their destination .
Hawaii , which requires a pre-travel negative test , accepts results from Clarity Lab Solutions , the private company performing the LAX testing .
The rapid-testing facility should be open by early next month , with results available within hours , also for a fee , said Heath Montgomery , an LAX spokesman .
But the interim testing “ is something that we can get up and running right now , ” Montgomery said .
Coronavirus tests are now available at Terminals 2 and 6 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ chosen because they ’ re spread throughout LAX .
The tests , known as PCR tests , are administered with a nasal swab , and results are delivered electronically .
The LAX testing sites arrived a day after California broke its record for new COVID-19 cases , prompting Gov .
Gavin Newsom to pull what officials called an emergency brake on reopenings across the state .
With California recording 13,412 new cases that day , Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti urged residents not to travel for the holidays , including Thanksgiving .
Calling @ @ @ @ @ @ @ against the coronavirus , ” Garcetti lauded LAX in a statement .
“ COVID-19 is still here and still dangerous , and building up our testing resources at LAX is a gateway to a stronger crisis response and a healthier city , ” Garcetti said .
On Friday , Gov .
Gavin Newsom issued an advisory recommending that people avoid nonessential travel as the holidays approached .
He also asked people arriving in California to quarantine for 14 days .
Essential travel , as defined by the advisory , is “ for work @ @ @ @ @ @ @ economic services and supply chains , health , immediate medical care and safety and security.
” Although air travel has been increasing in recent months , the number of fliers nationwide is only 30 % of last year ’ s total , Montgomery said .
There ’ s a possibility that in December that could climb to 50 % , with some people still traveling for the holidays , he said .

At LAX, an Avianca Airlines employee takes the temperature of passenger Eva Zapata. The airport is offering coronavirus testing in Terminals 2,6 and Tom Bradley International.
Los Angeles International Airport is rolling out on-site coronavirus testing, as officials urge against unnecessary travel amid a spike in cases across Southern California.
LAX on Tuesday morning launched interim testing sites at three terminals as a precursor to an on-site rapid-testing lab, set to open the first week of December.
The tests available at the current sites cost $150 and provide results within 24 hours to those who opt to take them.
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That will not be fast enough for people about to board a crowded plane and sit in an enclosed space for hours. But the tests could help travelers avoid quarantining at their destination.
Hawaii, which requires a pre-travel negative test, accepts results from Clarity Lab Solutions, the private company performing the LAX testing.
The rapid-testing facility should be open by early next month, with results available within hours, also for a fee, said Heath Montgomery, an LAX spokesman.
But the interim testing “is something that we can get up and running right now,” Montgomery said.
Coronavirus tests are now available at Terminals 2 and 6, as well as Tom Bradley International — chosen because they’re spread throughout LAX.
The tests, known as PCR tests, are administered with a nasal swab, and results are delivered electronically.
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The LAX testing sites arrived a day after California broke its record for new COVID-19 cases, prompting Gov. Gavin Newsom to pull what officials called an emergency brake on reopenings across the state.
With California recording 13,412 new cases that day, Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti urged residents not to travel for the holidays, including Thanksgiving.
Calling testing the “first line of defense against the coronavirus,” Garcetti lauded LAX in a statement.
“COVID-19 is still here and still dangerous, and building up our testing resources at LAX is a gateway to a stronger crisis response and a healthier city,” Garcetti said.
On Friday, Gov. Gavin Newsom issued an advisory recommending that people avoid nonessential travel as the holidays approached. He also asked people arriving in California to quarantine for 14 days.
Essential travel, as defined by the advisory, is “for work and study, critical infrastructure support, economic services and supply chains, health, immediate medical care and safety and security.”
Although air travel has been increasing in recent months, the number of fliers nationwide is only 30% of last year’s total, Montgomery said.
There’s a possibility that in December that could climb to 50%, with some people still traveling for the holidays, he said.


latimes--2020-11-17--Column: Remembering Juan Gómez Quiñones, Chicano studies legend and professor to all of L.A.

The legend of Juan Gómez Quiñones seemed all hype when I sat down for the first day of his History of Chicano People course at UCLA in the winter quarter of 2002 .
His large glasses and thick mustache made the professor look more like a kindly retiree than the towering intellectual whom friends had raved about .
He ambled around the cavernous Knudsen Hall classroom as students strolled in , struggling to pin a lapel microphone to his collar .
In a low , monotone voice , Gómez Quiñones read through the syllabus with all the enthusiasm of a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for his mentorship of generations of Chicano students ?
Whose output of books , essays and poetry were as prolific as that of Cornel West ?
Who made enough appearances on Spanish-language radio and television that even my parents knew who he was ?
I was a graduate student in Latin American studies at the time , and quickly figured Gómez Quiñones wasn ’ t going to be worth any extra effort .
My fellow classmates seemed to feel the same .
Some giggled at what was unfolding before us .
But after @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all clicked .
Gómez Quiñones lectured like an avalanche : a slow and steady rumble of facts that transformed into a cascade of lofty words .
We all shut up and listened — and learned throughout the quarter .
He taught us to take pride in what Mexicans and Mexican Americans had accomplished in the Americas .
His copious use of film clips — everything from “ The Twilight Zone ” to “ The Treasure of the Sierra Madre ” to even a “ Toy Story ” video game — showed how Americans @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than whine , our profe urged resistance through engagement with the real world and — just as important — knowledge .
I became a disciple of the man known to his acolytes as “ GQ.
” One course turned into another , which turned into three , and I asked him to serve as an advisor on my master ’ s thesis .
He seemed always too harried to help — but all you had to do was ask , and he ’ d do anything possible to make it happen .
We @ @ @ @ @ @ @ graduation , mostly because I chose the dark art of journalism over the ivory tower .
But I sang the praises of GQ in the decades that followed — and I was proud to hear through the Chicano grapevine that he regularly read my stuff .
GQ ended up teaching at UCLA for nearly 50 years .
He was the best type of professor a student could ask for : someone who changes your thinking , who challenges you at all times , but also offers feedback to build you up instead of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ set an example for ethnic studies that everyone in the discipline should follow : Build a quiet , unassuming legacy not by how many people you can cancel on social media , but by inspiring thousands to fight for civic good instead of personal glory .
Gómez Quiñones died of congestive heart failure Nov. 11 at his home in Pacific Palisades .
He was 80 .
“ Through the last week of his life , Juan was writing statements and organized a seminar to highlight younger Mexican philosophers , ” said his wife @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Chicana and Chicano Studies Department at the University of New Mexico .
“ He was mentoring students until the end.
” “ He was not one to be a grandstander or to say , ‘ Yo soy el mero mero [ I ’ m the best of the best ] , ” said UCLA professor Reynaldo Macías , a colleague and compadre for nearly 40 years .
“ His philosophy was to lead not from behind , but shoulder to shoulder.
” Juan Gómez Quiñones was born in Parral , in the Mexican @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with his family to Boyle Heights as an infant .
He graduated from Cantwell High School in Montebello , then went to UCLA to earn his bachelor ’ s , master ’ s and doctorate degrees , working as a Teamster to pay for tuition .
He used his place at UCLA to help stoke the embryonic flames of the Chicano movement into a blaze with direction and passion .
Gómez Quiñones counseled the students who went on to lead the mass walkouts at East L.A. high schools in 1968 and collaborated with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Barbara , one of the foundational documents of Chicano studies , and the group formerly known as Movimento Estudiantil Chicanos de Aztlán ( MEChA ) .
GQ always reminded anyone who ’ d listen that Chicanos in academia were a rarefied group in danger of forgetting their roots .
“ For those involved , there is a potential dual alienation from the Chicano community and/or the university and society , ” he wrote in a 1974 essay .
“ Yet the need for Chicano technical expertise and the need for more Chicano analysis @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Chicano community.
” “ This is an elitist world , academia , and he always made sure to ground our ethics as servants of our community , ” said Jose Luis Serrano Najera , 38 , one of Gomez Quiñones ’ last doctoral students .
“ And to always keep that connection .
He had this lunch pail mentality that he never lost , and he taught us to always burst through all these closed doors and glass ceilings so that we could pull others behind us.
” That commitment resonated through @ @ @ @ @ @ @ former students start charter schools , served on the boards of the Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund and the Cal State system , and befriended politicians and UCLA service workers alike .
The father of seven also took time to help shape what eventually became the El Pueblo de Los Angeles Historical Monument .
But GQ was never far from students .
His ranks of former pupils are legion .
High school teachers and college professors .
Real-estate agents and artists .
Counselors and musicians .
Not all of his students @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is a housing professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and laughed when I shared with him my initial take on GQ .
“ You ’ d have all sorts of people in his classes — football players in the back , Chicano radicals in the front , nerdy folks , and then a sprinkling of white people like me , ” said the 43-year-old .
“ And we ’ re all at first like , ‘ Who is this guy ?
’ But we hung on his every word.
” Sims has autographed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ books and credits him with teaching a cross-border-activist history of Mexicans in Los Angeles that stretches back to the 19th century .
“ It showed me a different L.A. , ” he said .
“ It just blew my mind then , and I try to channel that thirst for knowing your past and going forward with it all the time.
” Same here .
Rest in power , GQ .

Juan Gómez Quiñones in an undated photo. The UCLA professor was a Chicano studies pioneer who mentored thousands of students in his 50 years of teaching.
The legend of Juan Gómez Quiñones seemed all hype when I sat down for the first day of his History of Chicano People course at UCLA in the winter quarter of 2002.
His large glasses and thick mustache made the professor look more like a kindly retiree than the towering intellectual whom friends had raved about. He ambled around the cavernous Knudsen Hall classroom as students strolled in, struggling to pin a lapel microphone to his collar. In a low, monotone voice, Gómez Quiñones read through the syllabus with all the enthusiasm of a chair.
This was the man famous for his mentorship of generations of Chicano students? Whose output of books, essays and poetry were as prolific as that of Cornel West? Who made enough appearances on Spanish-language radio and television that even my parents knew who he was?
Advertisement
I was a graduate student in Latin American studies at the time, and quickly figured Gómez Quiñones wasn’t going to be worth any extra effort. My fellow classmates seemed to feel the same. Some giggled at what was unfolding before us.
But after he finished reading the syllabus, it all clicked.
Gómez Quiñones lectured like an avalanche: a slow and steady rumble of facts that transformed into a cascade of lofty words. We all shut up and listened — and learned throughout the quarter.
He taught us to take pride in what Mexicans and Mexican Americans had accomplished in the Americas. His copious use of film clips — everything from “The Twilight Zone” to “The Treasure of the Sierra Madre” to even a “Toy Story” video game — showed how Americans had long demonized Mexicans.
But rather than whine, our profe urged resistance through engagement with the real world and — just as important — knowledge.
I became a disciple of the man known to his acolytes as “GQ.” One course turned into another, which turned into three, and I asked him to serve as an advisor on my master’s thesis. He seemed always too harried to help — but all you had to do was ask, and he’d do anything possible to make it happen.
Advertisement
We didn’t keep in touch after graduation, mostly because I chose the dark art of journalism over the ivory tower. But I sang the praises of GQ in the decades that followed — and I was proud to hear through the Chicano grapevine that he regularly read my stuff.
GQ ended up teaching at UCLA for nearly 50 years. He was the best type of professor a student could ask for: someone who changes your thinking, who challenges you at all times, but also offers feedback to build you up instead of tear you down.
And he also set an example for ethnic studies that everyone in the discipline should follow: Build a quiet, unassuming legacy not by how many people you can cancel on social media, but by inspiring thousands to fight for civic good instead of personal glory.
Gómez Quiñones died of congestive heart failure Nov. 11 at his home in Pacific Palisades. He was 80.
“Through the last week of his life, Juan was writing statements and organized a seminar to highlight younger Mexican philosophers,” said his wife, Irene Vasquez. She chairs the Chicana and Chicano Studies Department at the University of New Mexico. “He was mentoring students until the end.”
“He was not one to be a grandstander or to say, ‘Yo soy el mero mero [I’m the best of the best],’” said UCLA professor Reynaldo Macías, a colleague and compadre for nearly 40 years. “His philosophy was to lead not from behind, but shoulder to shoulder.”
Juan Gómez Quiñones was born in Parral, in the Mexican state of Chihuahua, but migrated along with his family to Boyle Heights as an infant. He graduated from Cantwell High School in Montebello, then went to UCLA to earn his bachelor’s, master’s and doctorate degrees, working as a Teamster to pay for tuition.
He used his place at UCLA to help stoke the embryonic flames of the Chicano movement into a blaze with direction and passion. Gómez Quiñones counseled the students who went on to lead the mass walkouts at East L.A. high schools in 1968 and collaborated with others to write El Plan de Santa Barbara, one of the foundational documents of Chicano studies and the group formerly known as Movimiento Estudiantil Chicano de Aztlán, or MEChA.
GQ always reminded anyone who’d listen that Chicanos in academia were a rarefied group in danger of forgetting their roots.
“For those involved, there is a potential dual alienation from the Chicano community and/or the university and society,” he wrote in a 1974 essay. “Yet the need for Chicano technical expertise and the need for more Chicano analysis are prime necessities for the future of the Chicano community.”
“This is an elitist world, academia, and he always made sure to ground our ethics as servants of our community,” said Jose Luis Serrano Najera, 38, one of Gomez Quiñones’ last doctoral students. “And to always keep that connection. He had this lunch pail mentality that he never lost, and he taught us to always burst through all these closed doors and glass ceilings so that we could pull others behind us.”
That commitment resonated through GQ’s career. He helped former students start charter schools, served on the boards of the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund and the Cal State system, and befriended politicians and UCLA service workers alike. The father of seven also took time to help shape what eventually became the El Pueblo de Los Angeles Historical Monument.
But GQ was never far from students. His ranks of former pupils are legion. High school teachers and college professors. Real-estate agents and artists. Counselors and musicians.
And this contrarian columnist.
Not all of his students were Chicanos, either. Revel Sims is a housing professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and laughed when I shared with him my initial take on GQ.
“You’d have all sorts of people in his classes — football players in the back, Chicano radicals in the front, nerdy folks, and then a sprinkling of white people like me,” said the 43-year-old. “And we’re all at first like, ‘Who is this guy?’ But we hung on his every word.”
Sims has autographed copies of most of GQ’s books and credits him with teaching a cross-border-activist history of Mexicans in Los Angeles that stretches back to the 19th century. “It showed me a different L.A.,” he said. “It just blew my mind then, and I try to channel that thirst for knowing your past and going forward with it all the time.”
Same here. Rest in power, GQ.


latimes--2020-11-17--Californians must mask up outside their homes under new expanded mandate

Faced with a startling spike in coronavirus cases , California health officials issued a new mandate this week requiring residents to wear face coverings whenever they ’ re outside their homes , with few exceptions .
The expanded order announced Monday means Californians must mask up unless they are alone in a car or only with those in their household ; working alone in an office or room ; outdoors and staying at least six feet away from others not in their household ; are obtaining a service involving their nose or face ; or are actively eating or drinking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ distance .
The new mandate exempts those younger than 2 ; have a disability or medical/mental health condition that prevents them from wearing a face covering ; are hearing impaired , or are communicating with someone who is .
Also exempt are those “ for whom wearing a face covering would create a risk to the person related to their work , as determined by local , state or federal regulators or workplace safety guidelines , ” according to the California Department of Public Health .
The latest face-covering rules replace the state @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had been on the books since June .
That previous order required Californians to wear face coverings in specified settings considered to be high risk — such as when shopping , taking public transit or seeking medical care .
It remains to be seen how , or whether , the new guidance will be enforced .
Following the state ’ s initial order , some cities threatened to cite or fine face-covering scofflaws , but many law enforcement agencies said they would instead focus on educating those not wearing masks .
Officials have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ covering over the nose and mouth can help stem the spread of the coronavirus by reducing transmission of infectious respiratory particles .
Though not a silver bullet , experts emphasize that simple actions such as wearing masks , keeping physical distance from those outside your home , regularly washing your hands and staying home when you ’ re sick all boost your chances of keeping the virus at bay .
Those personal choices are all the more important now , as California contends with a surge in infections that ’ s steeper than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ state recorded 13,412 new cases Monday — a single-day record , according to The Times ’ coronavirus tracker .
Weekly coronavirus infections across California are now almost 150 % worse than a month ago , rising from about 22,600 in a week to 56,000 for the seven-day period that ended Sunday , according to a Times analysis .
“ This is simply the fastest increase California has seen since the beginning of this pandemic , ” Gov .
Gavin Newsom said during a briefing Monday .
A significant number of new cases tends @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to a corresponding increase in hospitalizations .
As of the latest tally , there were 3,852 COVID-19 hospitalizations statewide — up roughly 48 % from two weeks ago .
Along with the new mask guidance , officials this week announced a dramatic rollback of reopening in much of the state .
As a result of the changes , 94 % of Californians now live in counties that are in the strictest tier of the state ’ s reopening roadmap , and many businesses in those counties will have to suspend or severely limit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ restrictions on businesses , state officials are also urging residents to remain vigilant — especially with the holidays right around the corner .
“ We know when people gather with people they don ’ t live with , often our close friends , even family members , we think that it ’ s OK to put your guard down .
We think it ’ s OK to take off your mask even for a little bit to enjoy a drink or enjoy a meal , ” said Dr. Mark Ghaly , California ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ But it ’ s exactly those moments that might create a high transmission risk .
So we urge you to consider how you engage with friends and family over the weeks to come to keep transmission rates low.
” Times staff writers Rong-Gong Lin II and Iris Lee contributed to this report .

Karen Alvarez and her 3-year-old daughter, Mercedez Gomez, wait in line at the Tom Bradley International Terminal at LAX before their flight to Nicaragua on Monday.
Faced with a startling spike in coronavirus cases, California health officials issued a new mandate this week requiring residents to wear face coverings whenever they’re outside their homes, with few exceptions.
The expanded order announced Monday means Californians must mask up unless they are alone in a car or only with those in their household; working alone in an office or room; outdoors and staying at least six feet away from others not in their household; are obtaining a service involving their nose or face; or are actively eating or drinking, so long as they maintain physical distance.
The new mandate exempts those younger than 2; have a disability or medical/mental health condition that prevents them from wearing a face covering; are hearing impaired, or are communicating with someone who is.
Advertisement
Also exempt are those “for whom wearing a face covering would create a risk to the person related to their work, as determined by local, state or federal regulators or workplace safety guidelines,” according to the California Department of Public Health.
The latest face-covering rules replace the state’s earlier mask mandate, which had been on the books since June.
That previous order required Californians to wear face coverings in specified settings considered to be high risk — such as when shopping, taking public transit or seeking medical care.
It remains to be seen how, or whether, the new guidance will be enforced. Following the state’s initial order, some cities threatened to cite or fine face-covering scofflaws, but many law enforcement agencies said they would instead focus on educating those not wearing masks.
Officials have long maintained that wearing some kind of covering over the nose and mouth can help stem the spread of the coronavirus by reducing transmission of infectious respiratory particles.
Though not a silver bullet, experts emphasize that simple actions such as wearing masks, keeping physical distance from those outside your home, regularly washing your hands and staying home when you’re sick all boost your chances of keeping the virus at bay.
Advertisement
Those personal choices are all the more important now, as California contends with a surge in infections that’s steeper than the state has ever seen.
The state recorded 13,412 new cases Monday — a single-day record, according to The Times’ coronavirus tracker.
Weekly coronavirus infections across California are now almost 150% worse than a month ago, rising from about 22,600 in a week to 56,000 for the seven-day period that ended Sunday, according to a Times analysis.
“This is simply the fastest increase California has seen since the beginning of this pandemic,” Gov. Gavin Newsom said during a briefing Monday.
A significant number of new cases tends to lead, often weeks later, to a corresponding increase in hospitalizations. As of the latest tally, there were 3,852 COVID-19 hospitalizations statewide — up roughly 48% from two weeks ago.
Along with the new mask guidance, officials this week announced a dramatic rollback of reopening in much of the state. As a result of the changes, 94% of Californians now live in counties that are in the strictest tier of the state’s reopening roadmap, and many businesses in those counties will have to suspend or severely limit their indoor operations.
Along with renewed restrictions on businesses, state officials are also urging residents to remain vigilant — especially with the holidays right around the corner.
“We know when people gather with people they don’t live with, often our close friends, even family members, we think that it’s OK to put your guard down. We think it’s OK to take off your mask even for a little bit to enjoy a drink or enjoy a meal,” said Dr. Mark Ghaly, California’s Health and Human Services secretary. “But it’s exactly those moments that might create a high transmission risk. So we urge you to consider how you engage with friends and family over the weeks to come to keep transmission rates low.”
Times staff writers Rong-Gong Lin II and Iris Lee contributed to this report.