latimes--2020-03-12--As White House takes on 'sanctuary' cities, tensions between L.A. County sheriff and ICE ramp up

As the White House ramps up its offensive against so-called sanctuary cities , tensions have risen between the Los Angeles County sheriff and Immigration and Customs Enforcement over the federal agency ’ s operations .
In a wide-ranging interview with The Times last week , Sheriff Alex Villanueva criticized the recent deployment of U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers to help ICE make arrests in “ sanctuary ” jurisdictions and said he would “ shred ” subpoenas from the agency that are not signed by a judge .
Villanueva , who promised during his 2018 campaign to end the “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a hard-line stance on ICE — although some immigrant advocates argue he has not done enough to distance himself .
In a recent press briefing , the sheriff said he opposed “ SWAT-style agents ” helping ICE execute arrests , calling it “ overkill ” and a form of “ weaponizing immigration laws.
” In response , angry ICE officials have accused the sheriff of political grandstanding and of spreading “ misinformation.
” Last year , ICE was similarly angered over a video in which LAPD Chief Michel Moore stood beside Mayor Eric @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not have to open their doors for an ICE agent who does not have a warrant signed by a judge “ You ’ re pitting law enforcement agencies against each other and then forcing the community to make a choice , ” said David Marin , the director of Enforcement and Removal Operations for ICE in L.A. “ So then the community says , ‘ Well , do I have to abide by what ICE says or do I abide by what the sheriff or the chief says ?
’ “ I would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people how not to obey a law enforcement agency , ” he added .
“ But then again , I ’ m a career law enforcement official .
I ’ m not a politician.
” Across the country , relationships between local law enforcement and ICE have only grown more strained as President Trump , who is seeking re-election in November , cracks down on “ sanctuary ” cities .
That is especially true in California , where local law enforcement must abide by a “ sanctuary ” law , Senate Bill 54 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the country illegally .
Last month , ICE Director Matthew Albence said that 100 CBP agents and officers would assist in making arrests , including in L.A. and San Francisco , in response to sanctuary-city law enforcement agencies not cooperating with federal authorities by turning over immigrants being held in local jails .
Days later , ICE officers made two arrests at a Northern California courthouse , flouting a state law that requires a judicial warrant to make immigration arrests in those facilities .
ICE responded that California law would not govern the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ officers will not have their hands tied by sanctuary rules when enforcing immigration laws to remove criminal aliens from our communities , ” David Jennings , ICE ’ s field office director in San Francisco , said in a statement .
The agency also served the San Diego County Sheriff ’ s Department last month with four administrative subpoenas for information on Mexican nationals wanted for deportation .
ICE officials said in a news release that so-called sanctuary laws have essentially forced them to turn to the tactic .
Some local officials , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ heels .
“ Administrative subpoenas , you can wrap fish in ‘ em , ” Villanueva said .
“ If they route it to a judge and a judge signs it , we honor all subpoenas.
” He called recent actions undertaken by the administration a “ show.
” “ It ’ s all about … voters in those red states , ” Villanueva said .
“ Trump is communicating to them that ‘ I ’ m firmly behind you and I support keeping these brown people in the shadows and in fear @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s what he thinks his chances for reelection are based on.
” When Villanueva became sheriff , he removed ICE agents from the largest local jail system in the nation and limited the criteria that allow inmates to be transferred to federal custody for possible detention or deportation .
ICE transfers declined by 52 % in 2019 , according to Villanueva .
While ICE criticizes the sheriff for doing too little , immigrant rights advocates have accused him of not doing enough to distance himself from the federal agency .
Villanueva has been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ still being delivered to ICE through officers who are contracted by the federal agency .
Immigrants ’ rights advocates say transfers are not legally necessary and that it ’ s unjust to arrest and deport people for civil immigration matters after they ’ ve already served time for their criminal convictions .
In a letter sent to the county Board of Supervisors last week , about 100 immigrant advocacy and criminal justice reform organizations asked that ICE be required to secure a judicial warrant in order to access Sheriff ’ s Department jail @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ His big promise was to kick ICE out of the jails .
For advocates and a lot of us who supported him , that meant no entanglement with ICE , ” said Andrés Kwon , a lawyer at the ACLU of Southern California who focuses on immigration issues .
“ We believe that his policies are really a bait and switch and business as usual.
” Villanueva said that SB 54 “ was a balance that the legislators struck ” because of competing public safety interests .
“ Both sides can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we ’ re striking a careful balance , ” Villanueva said .
“ We ’ re always going to err on the side of what ’ s best to promote public safety.
” Although Marin cited a good relationship with six of the sheriffs in his area of responsibility , he said that doesn ’ t exist in L.A. County .
He noted that of the thousands of detainers lodged last year , fewer than 500 people were transferred into ICE custody .
As a result , Marin said , ICE officers are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ community .
In the L.A. area in fiscal year 2019 , ICE made 6,657 administrative arrests , down over a thousand from the year before .
Because of staff detailed to the border , ICE had to adjust resources and place fugitive operations officers at detention centers , Marin said , impacting the number of arrests .
That number is nowhere near the numbers of arrests in the area for fiscal year 2014 — which totaled nearly 19,000 — or for fiscal year 2013 , which totaled roughly 25,000 , although those numbers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ previously honored ICE detainers and did not limit or restrict the agency ’ s access to jails .
“ Here in Southern California there ’ s a lot of criminal aliens that are being released back out into the community because of sanctuary policies , ” Marin said .
Over the past few weeks , fewer than 15 U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents and officers have been working with ICE agents in the L.A. area to help make arrests , according to Marin .
Although some of the CBP agents might be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ same as ICE officers and doing the same work , Marin said .
They ’ ve been trained on ICE processes and operations and are a “ force multiplier , ” Marin said .
“ I think if this is successful , which I ’ ve seen that it already is , that maybe this is something that we expand , ” Marin said .
“ If we continue to show progress and that this is working , maybe they can afford to keep them with us for two months , three months @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ”

An ICE unit works to apprehend immigrants who may be subject to deportation.
As the White House ramps up its offensive against so-called sanctuary cities, tensions have risen between the Los Angeles County sheriff and Immigration and Customs Enforcement over the federal agency’s operations.
In a wide-ranging interview with The Times last week, Sheriff Alex Villanueva criticized the recent deployment of U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers to help ICE make arrests in “sanctuary” jurisdictions and said he would “shred” subpoenas from the agency that are not signed by a judge.
Villanueva, who promised during his 2018 campaign to end the “pipeline to deportation,” has taken a hard-line stance on ICE — although some immigrant advocates argue he has not done enough to distance himself.
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In a recent press briefing, the sheriff said he opposed “SWAT-style agents” helping ICE execute arrests, calling it “overkill” and a form of “weaponizing immigration laws.”
In response, angry ICE officials have accused the sheriff of political grandstanding and of spreading “misinformation.” Last year, ICE was similarly angered over a video in which LAPD Chief Michel Moore stood beside Mayor Eric Garcetti as he told residents they did not have to open their doors for an ICE agent who does not have a warrant signed by a judge
dav
Deputy Field Office Director David Marin, second from right, talks to other ICE agents.
(Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)
“You’re pitting law enforcement agencies against each other and then forcing the community to make a choice,” said David Marin, the director of Enforcement and Removal Operations for ICE in L.A. “So then the community says, ‘Well, do I have to abide by what ICE says or do I abide by what the sheriff or the chief says?’
“I would never have a press conference and tell people how not to obey a law enforcement agency,” he added. “But then again, I’m a career law enforcement official. I’m not a politician.”
Across the country, relationships between local law enforcement and ICE have only grown more strained as President Trump, who is seeking re-election in November, cracks down on “sanctuary” cities. That is especially true in California, where local law enforcement must abide by a “sanctuary” law, Senate Bill 54, which provides protection for immigrants in the country illegally.
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Last month, ICE Director Matthew Albence said that 100 CBP agents and officers would assist in making arrests, including in L.A. and San Francisco, in response to sanctuary-city law enforcement agencies not cooperating with federal authorities by turning over immigrants being held in local jails.
Days later, ICE officers made two arrests at a Northern California courthouse, flouting a state law that requires a judicial warrant to make immigration arrests in those facilities. ICE responded that California law would not govern the conduct of federal officers.
“Our officers will not have their hands tied by sanctuary rules when enforcing immigration laws to remove criminal aliens from our communities,” David Jennings, ICE’s field office director in San Francisco, said in a statement.
The agency also served the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department last month with four administrative subpoenas for information on Mexican nationals wanted for deportation. ICE officials said in a news release that so-called sanctuary laws have essentially forced them to turn to the tactic. Some local officials, in turn, have dug in their heels.
“Administrative subpoenas, you can wrap fish in ‘em,” Villanueva said. “If they route it to a judge and a judge signs it, we honor all subpoenas.”
He called recent actions undertaken by the administration a “show.”
“It’s all about … voters in those red states,” Villanueva said. “Trump is communicating to them that ‘I’m firmly behind you and I support keeping these brown people in the shadows and in fear for their lives.’ … That’s what he thinks his chances for reelection are based on.”
When Villanueva became sheriff, he removed ICE agents from the largest local jail system in the nation and limited the criteria that allow inmates to be transferred to federal custody for possible detention or deportation.
ICE transfers declined by 52% in 2019, according to Villanueva.
While ICE criticizes the sheriff for doing too little, immigrant rights advocates have accused him of not doing enough to distance himself from the federal agency.
Villanueva has been criticized over the fact that inmates are still being delivered to ICE through officers who are contracted by the federal agency.
Immigrants’ rights advocates say transfers are not legally necessary and that it’s unjust to arrest and deport people for civil immigration matters after they’ve already served time for their criminal convictions. In a letter sent to the county Board of Supervisors last week, about 100 immigrant advocacy and criminal justice reform organizations asked that ICE be required to secure a judicial warrant in order to access Sheriff’s Department jail facilities, stations, and courthouse lockups.
“His big promise was to kick ICE out of the jails. For advocates and a lot of us who supported him, that meant no entanglement with ICE,” said Andrés Kwon, a lawyer at the ACLU of Southern California who focuses on immigration issues. “We believe that his policies are really a bait and switch and business as usual.”
Villanueva said that SB 54 “was a balance that the legislators struck” because of competing public safety interests.
“Both sides can try to beat me up, but we’re striking a careful balance,” Villanueva said. “We’re always going to err on the side of what’s best to promote public safety.”
Although Marin cited a good relationship with six of the sheriffs in his area of responsibility, he said that doesn’t exist in L.A. County.
He noted that of the thousands of detainers lodged last year, fewer than 500 people were transferred into ICE custody. As a result, Marin said, ICE officers are forced to make arrests out in the community.
In the L.A. area in fiscal year 2019, ICE made 6,657 administrative arrests, down over a thousand from the year before. Because of staff detailed to the border, ICE had to adjust resources and place fugitive operations officers at detention centers, Marin said, impacting the number of arrests.
That number is nowhere near the numbers of arrests in the area for fiscal year 2014 — which totaled nearly 19,000 — or for fiscal year 2013, which totaled roughly 25,000, although those numbers are likely higher because of agencies that previously honored ICE detainers and did not limit or restrict the agency’s access to jails.
“Here in Southern California there’s a lot of criminal aliens that are being released back out into the community because of sanctuary policies,” Marin said.
Over the past few weeks, fewer than 15 U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents and officers have been working with ICE agents in the L.A. area to help make arrests, according to Marin.
Although some of the CBP agents might be tactical-team certified, they are dressed the same as ICE officers and doing the same work, Marin said. They’ve been trained on ICE processes and operations and are a “force multiplier,” Marin said.
“I think if this is successful, which I’ve seen that it already is, that maybe this is something that we expand,” Marin said. “If we continue to show progress and that this is working, maybe they can afford to keep them with us for two months, three months, four months, six months.”
Times staff writer Maya Lau contributed to this report


latimes--2020-03-12--Can Tom Hanks and the NBA stop coronavirus skepticism in boomers and others?

Retired businessman Gary Martin Zelman was looking forward to his center court seat at Thursday ’ s Lakers game .
Up until Wednesday night , he had planned to be there , rooting for his hometown NBA team , regardless of warnings that baby boomers should distance themselves from public places to help stem the rapid spread of the novel coronavirus .
Hours later , the NBA suspended its season and President Trump , who has downplayed the risk of the virus , imposed sweeping travel restrictions on visitors from Europe .
An NBA player tested positive and actor Tom @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are infected .
In a matter of hours , Zelman — who is 57 with health issues — went from describing COVID-19 as a politically motivated fuss to acknowledging it poses real risks .
At 1:04 p.m. , Zelman was saying : “ We are adults and we should know how to take care of ourselves by now .
If I have somewhere to go , I ’ m going to go.
” By 7:46 p.m. : “ This changes the narrative .
It ’ s time to take precautions.
” Zelman ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ experts say must happen on a vast scale among older Americans and those with chronic illnesses .
It is this demographic that is at the greatest risk for severe and even deadly responses to COVID-19 .
But , health officials say , it ’ s been difficult to persuade older generations to comply as many of them resist such drastic measures .
Thomas Frieden , head of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention during the Obama administration , said even his own mother was skeptical about the advice to isolate herself .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ an area with an outbreak , she is active in three book clubs and two choirs , Frieden said .
When he asked to talk to her about curtailing those activities , he said she agreed to listen but added , “ I might not take your advice.
” The World Health Organization referred to the COVID-19 outbreak as a pandemic for the first time on Wednesday , adding some linguistic heft to the virus ’ rapid spread across the globe .
In California , four people have died of the novel coronavirus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Several California counties have called for large gatherings to be canceled .
Officials in Santa Clara County said all large events should be rescheduled , while recommending that church services be livestreamed .
But up until Wednesday night , at least , the new and expanding warnings did not seem to be reaching their target audience : baby boomers .
Marc Lipsitch , a Harvard epidemiologist , blames mixed messaging : Trump , a baby boomer , has downplayed the virus ’ potential impact by saying “ it will go away ... @ @ @ @ @ @ @ concern over COVID-19 as a hoax by Democrats .
Public health officials say it is a threat so serious that it could cripple the American healthcare system .
On Wednesday , the president maintained that the risk to Americans remained low , but said that “ we are at a critical time in the fight against the virus ” before announcing the new travel restrictions .
Lipsitch said Trump ’ s vacillating messages have a trickle-down effect on state and local efforts to change behavior .
“ It ’ s very hard for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ when the president of the United States is saying we have this under control and containment is possible , ” Lipsitch said .
Lipsitch said Americans should understand the risk COVID-19 poses , particularly to a healthcare system that can become quickly overwhelmed by an influx of patients and an exodus of sick medical workers .
“ If you let the epidemic continue to spread and don ’ t do intensive social distancing , then you get more people needing intensive care than [ available ] ICU beds , ” he said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ they urge older Californians to stay home , although the age that prompts such warnings differs depending on the agency .
Officials across the country have alternately said the greatest risk is for people over 50 , 60 , 65 and 70 .
Indeed , the risk of dying from COVID-19 increases with every decade , with those 60 and older accounting for more than 80 % of the deaths in China , according to a major study in the Journal of the American Medical Assn .
Chronic conditions such as heart disease @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more vulnerable .
“ Based on the epidemiology of the disease so far , the greatest risk are in the elderly and those with chronic conditions , ” said Dr. Jeffrey Klausner , an infectious disease expert at UCLA ’ s Fielding School of Public Health .
Unlike the flu , this virus does not seem to cause serious infection in children .
There have been no deaths reported in children under 10 .
“ We don ’ t know why that is , ” said Dawn Nolt , a pediatric infectious disease @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ We think everyone has some level of symptoms , such as fever or cough , but as far as we can tell the kids are very mildly affected.
” With the U.S. outbreak in its early stages , there isn ’ t yet good data on the ages and other characteristics of infected patients here .
“ This is the first pandemic caused by a coronavirus , ” World Health Organization chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said Wednesday .
“ We have rung the alarm bell loud and clear.
” But that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , 63 , of East Los Angeles to break her normal routine .
“ I ’ m not really that concerned , ” Magallon said .
“ I know you can never be too careful , but it seems a little overboard.
” Magallon , who works for the on-demand delivery company Postmates , said she ’ s constantly entering restaurants to pick up orders she delivers to customers .
Recently , she was required to have her temperature taken in order to enter a restaurant in Alhambra .
It was another reminder @ @ @ @ @ @ @ — wash her hands and use hand sanitizer — but she won ’ t change anything else about her daily life .
“ I haven ’ t lost any sleep yet , “ said Johnson in the busy parking lot of Walmart about a mile away from where an elderly woman died from the coronavirus Monday in Elk Grove .
Johnson said he did not see a reason yet to change his daily schedule .
“ I ’ ve lived through a bunch of these things , “ he said .
“ I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 30 years.
“ The CDC said that , while many Americans may eventually become exposed to the coronavirus , individuals over 80 face the highest risk of severe illness .
People who help care for elderly family members should begin organizing backup plans in case they need to distance themselves for a time .
Dr. Nancy Messonnier , director of the National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases at the CDC , said she made the same recommendations to her own parents .
“ I ’ ve asked them to stick close to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ risk of congregate settings , ” Messonnier said .
Michael Mina , another Harvard epidemiologist , said American attitudes about government control of daily life also present a challenge .
“ The way we work as a society is not amenable to top-down approaches , ” Mina said .
He said that for local health officials charged with making decisions that have significant social and economic impacts , deciding how far to go and when to do it is intensely difficult , involving far more than health considerations .
Political and economic concerns @ @ @ @ @ @ @ scientists and public health experts to deal with competing expectations — and often anger — along with their traditional concerns .
“ I do not envy the people who have to make these extraordinary decisions that are not black and white , ” Mina said .

Melody Gutierrez, Anita Chabria, Soumya Karlamangla, Emily Baumgaertner

Grace Magallon, 63, right, of East Los Angeles reacts after having her temperature taken this week by Sophia Huang, a supervisor at Sichuan Impression restaurant in Alhambra. Since the end of January, the restaurant has been using an infrared thermometer to screen patrons amid coronavirus concerns.
Retired businessman Gary Martin Zelman was looking forward to his center court seat at Thursday’s Lakers game. Up until Wednesday night, he had planned to be there, rooting for his hometown NBA team, regardless of warnings that baby boomers should distance themselves from public places to help stem the rapid spread of the novel coronavirus.
Hours later, the NBA suspended its season and President Trump, who has downplayed the risk of the virus, imposed sweeping travel restrictions on visitors from Europe. An NBA player tested positive and actor Tom Hanks and wife Rita Wilson announced they are infected. In a matter of hours, Zelman — who is 57 with health issues — went from describing COVID-19 as a politically motivated fuss to acknowledging it poses real risks.
At 1:04 p.m., Zelman was saying: “We are adults and we should know how to take care of ourselves by now. If I have somewhere to go, I’m going to go.”
Advertisement
By 7:46 p.m.: “This changes the narrative. It’s time to take precautions.”
Zelman’s transition is one that public health experts say must happen on a vast scale among older Americans and those with chronic illnesses. It is this demographic that is at the greatest risk for severe and even deadly responses to COVID-19. But, health officials say, it’s been difficult to persuade older generations to comply as many of them resist such drastic measures.
Thomas Frieden, head of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention during the Obama administration, said even his own mother was skeptical about the advice to isolate herself. Though she is 90 and lives in an area with an outbreak, she is active in three book clubs and two choirs, Frieden said. When he asked to talk to her about curtailing those activities, he said she agreed to listen but added, “I might not take your advice.”
The World Health Organization referred to the COVID-19 outbreak as a pandemic for the first time on Wednesday, adding some linguistic heft to the virus’ rapid spread across the globe. In California, four people have died of the novel coronavirus, each of them 60 or older. Several California counties have called for large gatherings to be canceled. Officials in Santa Clara County said all large events should be rescheduled, while recommending that church services be livestreamed.
But up until Wednesday night, at least, the new and expanding warnings did not seem to be reaching their target audience: baby boomers. Marc Lipsitch, a Harvard epidemiologist, blames mixed messaging: Trump, a baby boomer, has downplayed the virus’ potential impact by saying “it will go away ... be calm” and referring to heightened concern over COVID-19 as a hoax by Democrats. Public health officials say it is a threat so serious that it could cripple the American healthcare system.
Advertisement
On Wednesday, the president maintained that the risk to Americans remained low, but said that “we are at a critical time in the fight against the virus” before announcing the new travel restrictions.
Lipsitch said Trump’s vacillating messages have a trickle-down effect on state and local efforts to change behavior.
“It’s very hard for states and counties and cities to act when the president of the United States is saying we have this under control and containment is possible,” Lipsitch said.
Lipsitch said Americans should understand the risk COVID-19 poses, particularly to a healthcare system that can become quickly overwhelmed by an influx of patients and an exodus of sick medical workers.
“If you let the epidemic continue to spread and don’t do intensive social distancing, then you get more people needing intensive care than [available] ICU beds,” he said.
Health officials say there is a reason they urge older Californians to stay home, although the age that prompts such warnings differs depending on the agency. Officials across the country have alternately said the greatest risk is for people over 50, 60, 65 and 70.
Indeed, the risk of dying from COVID-19 increases with every decade, with those 60 and older accounting for more than 80% of the deaths in China, according to a major study in the Journal of the American Medical Assn. Chronic conditions such as heart disease, lung disease and diabetes made people more vulnerable.
“Based on the epidemiology of the disease so far, the greatest risk are in the elderly and those with chronic conditions,” said Dr. Jeffrey Klausner, an infectious disease expert at UCLA’s Fielding School of Public Health.
Gary Martin Zelman at the Lakers season opener in October. He planned to attend Thursday’s game, until the NBA suspended the season on Wednesday night.
(Arash Markazi / Los Angeles Times)
Unlike the flu, this virus does not seem to cause serious infection in children. There have been no deaths reported in children under 10.
“We don’t know why that is,” said Dawn Nolt, a pediatric infectious disease physician at Oregon Health & Science University. “We think everyone has some level of symptoms, such as fever or cough, but as far as we can tell the kids are very mildly affected.”
With the U.S. outbreak in its early stages, there isn’t yet good data on the ages and other characteristics of infected patients here.
“This is the first pandemic caused by a coronavirus,” World Health Organization chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said Wednesday. “We have rung the alarm bell loud and clear.”
But that alarm bell was not causing Grace Magallon, 63, of East Los Angeles to break her normal routine.
“I’m not really that concerned,” Magallon said. “I know you can never be too careful, but it seems a little overboard.”
Magallon, who works for the on-demand delivery company Postmates, said she’s constantly entering restaurants to pick up orders she delivers to customers. Recently, she was required to have her temperature taken in order to enter a restaurant in Alhambra. It was another reminder, Magallon said, to use caution — wash her hands and use hand sanitizer — but she won’t change anything else about her daily life.
“It doesn’t scare me,” Magallon said.
The warnings haven’t slowed Bill Johnson, 80, either.
“I haven’t lost any sleep yet,“ said Johnson in the busy parking lot of Walmart about a mile away from where an elderly woman died from the coronavirus Monday in Elk Grove.
Johnson said he did not see a reason yet to change his daily schedule.
“I’ve lived through a bunch of these things,“ he said. “I haven’t had a cold in 30 years.“
The CDC said that, while many Americans may eventually become exposed to the coronavirus, individuals over 80 face the highest risk of severe illness. People who help care for elderly family members should begin organizing backup plans in case they need to distance themselves for a time.
Dr. Nancy Messonnier, director of the National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases at the CDC, said she made the same recommendations to her own parents.
“I’ve asked them to stick close to home so they can avoid the potential risk of congregate settings,” Messonnier said.
Michael Mina, another Harvard epidemiologist, said American attitudes about government control of daily life also present a challenge.
“The way we work as a society is not amenable to top-down approaches,” Mina said.
He said that for local health officials charged with making decisions that have significant social and economic impacts, deciding how far to go and when to do it is intensely difficult, involving far more than health considerations. Political and economic concerns have also floated into debates, forcing scientists and public health experts to deal with competing expectations — and often anger — along with their traditional concerns.
“I do not envy the people who have to make these extraordinary decisions that are not black and white,” Mina said.


latimes--2020-03-12--Coronavirus is rapidly changing the way we live in California

Even at a Bay Area tech company that offers a phone system for telecommuting , dozens of employees still had to come in to the office every day .
That is , until the novel coronavirus came to California .
Late last week , Craig Walker , the chief executive of Dialpad , fired off an email to his 490 employees in the U.S. and abroad detailing a mandatory work-from-home policy and forbidding travel and conferences “ until further notice.
” “ If you want to roll the dice on your personal travel , that ’ s one thing , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ allow you to do it for work travel , ” Walker wrote .
As the coronavirus outbreak , which the World Health Organization called a pandemic for the first time Wednesday , has spread in recent weeks across the Golden State , the vast majority of people have not yet had to dramatically alter their routines .
Change has come in the form of telecommuting for work , shortages of hand sanitizer and toilet paper , canceled vacations .
This is now the era of “ social distancing , ” the term officials @ @ @ @ @ @ @ six feet from others .
Coachella has been postponed , ( “ Won ’ t somebody think of the Instagram Influencers !
” one man snarked on Twitter ) , the NBA has suspended its season until further notice , and a growing number of universities have suspended in-person classes .
As the disease ’ s toll continues to grow , the future looks increasingly unclear , with countless possibilities for disruption on the horizon .
One thing is certain : Coronavirus can not be ignored .
In the Santee Alley outdoor shopping @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sanchez made her way to the back of a cosmetic store on Monday and noticed something just a little off .
Usually , an employee comes to help her .
This time , a manager watched her but stayed away .
Sanchez , 19 , was wearing a blue mask and had decided to venture out to shop because she figured the rain would keep crowds at bay .
Although it was subtle , she knew people were watching her because of the mask .
At other stores , too , workers kept @ @ @ @ @ @ @ think whatever they want , ” she said .
“ I ’ m looking out for myself.
” At home , Sanchez has been stockpiling dry goods , soap and shampoo .
She doesn ’ t plan to wall herself off from the world .
“ I ’ m a little on alert , ” she said .
“ But I think it ’ s good to be out.
” A few blocks away , Charm Resuello , 26 , also wore a blue mask as she bought flowers .
She was aware @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not wear masks to keep up the supply for medical professionals , but she took comfort in it .
Recently , she has had a hard time trying to find bottled water , so she bought a filter for her faucet .
She feels the stares when she ventures out in her mask .
“ Whenever you give a little cough , everybody looks at you like they want to stay away , ” she said .
“ It ’ s understandable .
I would have the same reaction.
” In Long Beach @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his laundry at Super Suds and wasn ’ t thinking about coronavirus until a text message with a surprising job offer popped up on his phone .
An Orange County company , apparently hoping to ward off coronavirus , was looking for two people to wipe down office equipment and surfaces with Clorox wipes for the next two months .
“ Lots of walking but very pleasant environment , ” the offer read .
“ Pay is $ 15 an hour and hours are 6 p.m. to midnight , Monday through Friday.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who works at Super Suds , said he would never take that job .
“ It felt very , very , very strange to be receiving a job offer that ’ s never been offered before , ” Bryant said .
“ I was taken aback.
” On city buses and trains in Los Angeles — which already were swept , mopped and disinfected each night — cleaning crews have “ strengthened ” their regimen by paying more attention to high-touch areas on vehicles and in stations , like hand rails , hanging @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spokesman David Sotero .
It may be weeks before Los Angeles transit officials can quantify whether ridership has dropped in a meaningful way .
The vast majority of riders on the system have no access to a car and have no choice but to take public transit — so officials are pleading with citizens to wash their hands and stay home when they ’ re sick .
In the Bay Area , ridership on the BART commuter rail network has fallen 25 % compared with two weeks ago , said spokeswoman Alicia Trost @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and wide-open parking lots that normally fill up early .
The Bay Area has been the hardest-hit region of California amid the outbreak .
Several counties have taken extraordinary measures to implement social distancing after it became clear the virus was spreading in the community , including banning mass gatherings of 1,000 or more people .
“ The first week that the news broke , we had a great ridership week , ” Trost said .
“ But once the big companies started to tell their employees to work from home — Twitter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , our numbers were down.
” BART is disinfecting trains daily and is still running a normal level of service .
“ We serve healthcare workers and people who need to go to medical appointments , even if it ’ s not related to coronavirus , so it ’ s really important that we keep running and keep running at a full schedule , ” Trost said .
Back in Los Angeles , Robert Sanchez , who has worked as a peanut and churro vendor at Dodger Stadium for 46 years , said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and needles ” to see if the Boys in Blue will still open the season on March 26 with fans in the stands .
Major League Baseball has joined the NHL and Major League Soccer in closing locker rooms to reporters and limiting access to team facilities .
But as of Wednesday , MLB had not called off remaining spring training games or postponed the start of the regular season .
Sanchez , a retired Los Angeles Unified School District carpenter , said he has a pension and “ will never starve , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the extra income from hawking goobers because that ’ s what he and his wife use for vacations and the occasional trip to casinos in Las Vegas .
“ That ’ s extra gravy on the potatoes , ” he said .
“ It ’ s the fun money .
I ’ m a lucky guy .
But I ’ ll still say , ‘ Dammit !
’ you know ?
” But then he started thinking aloud about working in the Dodger Stadium crowds amid the outbreak .
Would it be safe @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” and high-five “ all those sweaty hands ” ?
he wondered .
Would he need to wear gloves ?
Would that help ?
This week , Sanchez and his wife , Terry , canceled a planned July cruise to Alaska because they were supposed to have traveled aboard the Grand Princess ship , which docked this week in Oakland with at least 21 passengers who tested positive for the coronavirus .
Sanchez , of Duarte , and a friend had planned to go to the BNP Paribas Open at the Indian Wells @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , as they have done for the last eight years , but that was canceled Sunday .
He and Terry have stocked up on toilet paper and canned goods .
They have also started buying school supplies such as crayons and paper , in case the schools close and Terry , a retired teacher , has to start teaching their six grandkids from home .
“ It ’ s not panic mode , or , ‘ Hey , you ’ ve got to change your lifestyle ’ yet , but it ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a while , ” Sanchez said .
“ It ’ s weird times right now .
”

Ruben Vives, Hailey Branson-Potts, Sarah Parvini, Laura J. Nelson

Even at a Bay Area tech company that offers a phone system for telecommuting, dozens of employees still had to come in to the office every day.
That is, until the novel coronavirus came to California.
Late last week, Craig Walker, the chief executive of Dialpad, fired off an email to his 490 employees in the U.S. and abroad detailing a mandatory work-from-home policy and forbidding travel and conferences “until further notice.”
“If you want to roll the dice on your personal travel, that’s one thing, but we won’t make or allow you to do it for work travel,” Walker wrote.
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As the coronavirus outbreak, which the World Health Organization called a pandemic for the first time Wednesday, has spread in recent weeks across the Golden State, the vast majority of people have not yet had to dramatically alter their routines. Change has come in the form of telecommuting for work, shortages of hand sanitizer and toilet paper, canceled vacations.
This is now the era of “social distancing,” the term officials have coined to encourage people to stay six feet from others. Coachella has been postponed, (“Won’t somebody think of the Instagram Influencers!” one man snarked on Twitter), the NBA has suspended its season until further notice, and a growing number of universities have suspended in-person classes.
As the disease’s toll continues to grow, the future looks increasingly unclear, with countless possibilities for disruption on the horizon.
One thing is certain: Coronavirus cannot be ignored.
In the Santee Alley outdoor shopping center in downtown Los Angeles, Greyly Sanchez made her way to the back of a cosmetic store on Monday and noticed something just a little off.
Usually, an employee comes to help her. This time, a manager watched her but stayed away.
Sanchez, 19, was wearing a blue mask and had decided to venture out to shop because she figured the rain would keep crowds at bay. Although it was subtle, she knew people were watching her because of the mask. At other stores, too, workers kept their distance.
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“I let them think whatever they want,” she said. “I’m looking out for myself.”
Greyly Sanchez, 18, wears a surgical mask while shopping with Miguel Henriquez, 21, on Santee Alley. (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)
At home, Sanchez has been stockpiling dry goods, soap and shampoo. She doesn’t plan to wall herself off from the world.
“I’m a little on alert,” she said. “But I think it’s good to be out.” A few blocks away, Charm Resuello, 26, also wore a blue mask as she bought flowers. She was aware that experts have advised healthy people to not wear masks to keep up the supply for medical professionals, but she took comfort in it.
Recently, she has had a hard time trying to find bottled water, so she bought a filter for her faucet. She feels the stares when she ventures out in her mask.
“Whenever you give a little cough, everybody looks at you like they want to stay away,” she said. “It’s understandable. I would have the same reaction.”
In Long Beach this week, William Bryant was preparing his laundry at Super Suds and wasn’t thinking about coronavirus until a text message with a surprising job offer popped up on his phone.
An Orange County company, apparently hoping to ward off coronavirus, was looking for two people to wipe down office equipment and surfaces with Clorox wipes for the next two months.
“Lots of walking but very pleasant environment,” the offer read. “Pay is $15 an hour and hours are 6 p.m. to midnight, Monday through Friday.”
Bryant, a 33-year-old Marine Corps veteran who works at Super Suds, said he would never take that job.
“It felt very, very, very strange to be receiving a job offer that’s never been offered before,” Bryant said. “I was taken aback.”
On city buses and trains in Los Angeles — which already were swept, mopped and disinfected each night — cleaning crews have “strengthened” their regimen by paying more attention to high-touch areas on vehicles and in stations, like hand rails, hanging straps and ticket machines, said Metro spokesman David Sotero.
It may be weeks before Los Angeles transit officials can quantify whether ridership has dropped in a meaningful way.
The vast majority of riders on the system have no access to a car and have no choice but to take public transit — so officials are pleading with citizens to wash their hands and stay home when they’re sick.
In the Bay Area, ridership on the BART commuter rail network has fallen 25% compared with two weeks ago, said spokeswoman Alicia Trost.
Riders have reported eerily empty trains and wide-open parking lots that normally fill up early.
The Bay Area has been the hardest-hit region of California amid the outbreak. Several counties have taken extraordinary measures to implement social distancing after it became clear the virus was spreading in the community, including banning mass gatherings of 1,000 or more people.
“The first week that the news broke, we had a great ridership week,” Trost said. “But once the big companies started to tell their employees to work from home — Twitter, Salesforce — the very next week, our numbers were down.”
California L.A. County reports new community-spread coronavirus cases as state total hits 198 As California called for a ban on gatherings of 250 or more people, Disneyland took the unprecedented action of announcing it will close the park through the end of the month.
BART is disinfecting trains daily and is still running a normal level of service.
“We serve healthcare workers and people who need to go to medical appointments, even if it’s not related to coronavirus, so it’s really important that we keep running and keep running at a full schedule,” Trost said.
Robert E. Sanchez, who has been working at Dodger Stadium since 1974, is waiting anxiously to see if the Dodger season will start on March 26. (Mark Potts / Los Angeles Times)
Back in Los Angeles, Robert Sanchez, who has worked as a peanut and churro vendor at Dodger Stadium for 46 years, said he’s “waiting on pins and needles” to see if the Boys in Blue will still open the season on March 26 with fans in the stands.
Major League Baseball has joined the NHL and Major League Soccer in closing locker rooms to reporters and limiting access to team facilities. But as of Wednesday, MLB had not called off remaining spring training games or postponed the start of the regular season.
Sanchez, a retired Los Angeles Unified School District carpenter, said he has a pension and “will never starve,” but it would sting to lose the extra income from hawking goobers because that’s what he and his wife use for vacations and the occasional trip to casinos in Las Vegas.
“That’s extra gravy on the potatoes,” he said. “It’s the fun money. I’m a lucky guy. But I’ll still say, ‘Dammit!’ you know?”
But then he started thinking aloud about working in the Dodger Stadium crowds amid the outbreak. Would it be safe to “handle all that sneezed-on money” and high-five “all those sweaty hands”? he wondered. Would he need to wear gloves? Would that help?
This week, Sanchez and his wife, Terry, canceled a planned July cruise to Alaska because they were supposed to have traveled aboard the Grand Princess ship, which docked this week in Oakland with at least 21 passengers who tested positive for the coronavirus.
Sanchez, of Duarte, and a friend had planned to go to the BNP Paribas Open at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden in Palm Springs this week, as they have done for the last eight years, but that was canceled Sunday.
He and Terry have stocked up on toilet paper and canned goods.
They have also started buying school supplies such as crayons and paper, in case the schools close and Terry, a retired teacher, has to start teaching their six grandkids from home.
“It’s not panic mode, or, ‘Hey, you’ve got to change your lifestyle’ yet, but it’s not going to get any better for a while,” Sanchez said. “It’s weird times right now.”


latimes--2020-03-12--Coronavirus means fear and isolation for many Asian American seniors

On church days , Willy Chang , 72 , is skipping service , including steering clear of his usual after-service lunch spot , and is definitely not stopping at his neighborhood market in Alhambra for Asian pear and hot pot ingredients .
Larry Dinh , 68 , is spending fewer and fewer weekends at the packed Buddhist temple in Santa Ana where he and his friends have worshiped for decades .
And Susie Hong , 66 , is starting to mind her kids ’ advice to avoid the pingpong tables at a popular senior center in Monterey Park .
As @ @ @ @ @ @ @ older Asians and Asian Americans — a population that ’ s highly vulnerable to flu and other respiratory ailments — are taking precautions to protect their loved ones , especially those who live in close contact with family members or travel frequently across the Pacific Rim .
They ’ re also facing the possibility that their golden years — or at least this phase of them — may not unfold as they envisioned : long-awaited family reunions , leisure activities , going on a last tour to their homeland .
Officials at the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ warning seniors and those with severe chronic medical conditions to “ stay at home as much as possible.
” One reason elderly Asian men are at risk is that many have preexisting respiratory problems due to smoking , according to experts .
The CDC ’ s initial data indicates that older people are twice as likely to be victims of the virus , a circumstance that ’ s upending countless lives .
It ’ s a painful reckoning for elderly Asian Americans , many of whom have endured lives of hardship .
For @ @ @ @ @ @ @ collectively have survived robbery , illness and war , the COVID-19 pandemic — which has infected thousands of people and caused more than 4,000 deaths worldwide — has forced them to follow a new normal of remaining indoors and changing old habits overnight .
“ It ’ s horrific , this feeling that we ’ re trapped and targeted at the same time , ” said Dinh , a refugee who fled his birthplace for the United States in 1980 , five years after the end of the Vietnam War .
“ I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , my possessions and my identity — then coming to a strange country and beginning over — and now this global crisis.
” The former manufacturing clerk toiled in the U.S. in janitorial jobs , settling in Anaheim , where some of his relatives who do business in Asia gave him a temporary room .
Through the years , Dinh saved money to be able to return to his homeland for a first visit in the late 1990s .
His second visit was planned for this spring , but he canceled it .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” he said .
“ It isn ’ t even advisable to go to a wedding .
Currently , the only safe way we can stay in touch with each other is through Skype.
” Hong similarly feels frustrated : the retired Chinese American nanny is no longer able to carry out her routine .
“ We ’ re at a stage in our lives when we should be at peace , ” she said .
“ We ’ ve raised our children and other people ’ s children .
We worked so @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we can travel around the world , but no , we must keep to where we are .
Every day , you hear of more people dying.
” She has to be careful , because she is diabetic .
She wants to stay active and recently discovered pingpong , offered at the Langley Senior Center near Monterey Park City Hall , where she ’ s been going every week .
On a recent afternoon , surrounded by the staccato beats of bouncing balls , she told a playing partner she will be staying @ @ @ @ @ @ @ child panicked about the chances of her contracting the virus , after doing more research on the internet , Hong said .
“ My daughter also told me she went to a seminar where they described everyone living in a ‘ soup of germs.
’ That got my attention , that sounds so scary , ” said Hong , a mother of three .
“ Even in our house , where we have the most control over our environment , we still have to be careful .
I ’ m cleaning twice as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ my mind , I imagine the bad chemicals flying everywhere.
” Chang said that Wuhan , the city in southern China where the first cases of COVID-19 emerged , has become a household word in Asia as well as among Asian Americans .
“ Before , none of us knew where it was .
Now , when I see it in the newspaper , I have to read the article to educate myself .
We are desperate for updated information.
” The Korean American said he hasn ’ t been this “ terrified @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of dollars worth of jewelry from his son ’ s home in 2015 .
Back then , he remembered the household going “ crazy , ” changing locks and buying security cameras .
“ We feel completely powerless about that situation and it ’ s the same with this situation , even more scary , ” he said .
“ As a senior citizen , I consider we actually have less freedom than the younger generation because we ’ re faced with this virus while in the last chapter of our life.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , no longer goes to school assemblies to watch their performances .
He ’ s not heading out to get a haircut or pick up a Korean-language newspaper .
He relies on cable television to help him track the spread of disease — and the spiraling number of fatalities .
Realtor Fred Wong , 81 , who hails from the Guangdong province of China , said he ’ s familiar with the symptoms of the virus , but escapes from the news when he has a chance .
He goes to play mahjong @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Benevolent Association in Chinatown , Los Angeles .
“ Everyone smokes here .
Can smoking keep the virus away ?
” he joked , adding that he , too , has canceled international travel to Asia in March .
As health warnings multiply , with experts pushing the public to keep away from crowds , Wong pointed to the semi-circle of players in front of him and said , “ This is not too many .
We have our recreation to forget the trouble popping up everywhere .
Otherwise , I try to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ when they tell us ‘ stay , don ’ t go.
’ ” A few blocks away , Luu Ha , a cook and waiter at Pho Hoa , said he worries his fellow seniors will become “ very , very isolated ” if the “ old people have no choice but to remain indoors and avoid mixing in society.
” At 70 , he has refused to retire , despite constant urging from his seven children .
For as long as he can , he hopes to earn his own money , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ If I stay home , it would be so dull , ” said Ha , who on a recent morning , scoured the scene outside the restaurant , along an empty Spring Street , where shoppers and diners appear less and less in the ethnic enclave .
“ Death is something we all fear — who doesn ’ t ?
” he asked .
“ But we still struggle to maintain our sanity.
” Near him , saleswoman Phuong Hong , manned the front entrance to Rainbow Gifts , staged with bonsai @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The 62-year-old said there ’ s one clear challenge to the elderly that “ not many among us think of .
The problem is no matter what you say , the kids may not let you do it .
Many of them want us home .
They want us protected .
“ They stress so much about things that will harm their parents and grandparents .
For the old people that live in fear , ” she said , the young people “ nourish that fear .
”

Luu Ha, who works at Pho Hoa Vietnamese restaurant in L.A.’s Chinatown, worries his fellow seniors will become “very, very isolated” due to coronavirus precautions.
Even before California on Sunday urged people 65 and older to stay home to protect against the coronavirus, many Asian American senior citizens were seeing their lives close in around them.
They are a population that feels highly vulnerable — often because they are in close contact with family members or travel frequently across the Pacific Rim.
In interviews over the last week, they talked about isolation and weakening connections to their communities. Now, with the blanket stay-at-home request, they offer a window into what life might be like for 5.3 million California seniors.
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On church days, Willy Chang, 72, is skipping service, including steering clear of his usual after-service lunch spot, and is definitely not stopping at his neighborhood market in Alhambra for Asian pears and hot pot ingredients.
Larry Dinh, 68, is spending fewer and fewer weekends at the packed Buddhist temple in Santa Ana where he and his friends have worshiped for decades.
And Susie Hong, 66, is starting to mind her kids’ advice to avoid the pingpong tables at a popular senior center in Monterey Park.
They’re also facing the possibility that their golden years — or at least this phase of them — may not unfold as they envisioned: long-awaited family reunions, leisure activities, going on a last tour to their homeland.
It’s a painful reckoning for elderly Asian Americans, many of whom have endured lives of hardship. For Chang, Dinh and Hong, who collectively have survived robbery, illness and war, the COVID-19 pandemic — which has infected thousands of people and caused more than 4,000 deaths worldwide — has forced them to follow a new normal of remaining indoors and changing old habits overnight.
“It’s horrific, this feeling that we’re trapped and targeted at the same time,” said Dinh, a refugee who fled his birthplace for the United States in 1980, five years after the end of the Vietnam War. “I survived losing my brother, my friends, my possessions and my identity — then coming to a strange country and beginning over — and now this global crisis.”
The former manufacturing clerk toiled in the U.S. in janitorial jobs, settling in Anaheim, where some of his relatives who do business in Asia gave him a temporary room. Through the years, Dinh saved money to be able to return to his homeland for a first visit in the late 1990s. His second visit was planned for this spring, but he canceled it.
Phuong Hong, working at a plant shop in Chinatown, said young people’s concern for their parents and grandparents added to an atmosphere of fear. (Christina House / Los Angeles Times)
“Who can fly these days?” he said. “It isn’t even advisable to go to a wedding. Currently, the only safe way we can stay in touch with each other is through Skype.”
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Hong similarly feels frustrated: the retired Chinese American nanny is no longer able to carry out her routine.
“We’re at a stage in our lives when we should be at peace,” she said. “We’ve raised our children and other people’s children. We worked so hard for so long. I thought we can travel around the world, but no, we must keep to where we are. Every day, you hear of more people dying.”
She has to be careful, because she is diabetic. She wants to stay active and recently discovered pingpong, offered at the Langley Senior Center near Monterey Park City Hall, where she’s been going every week. On a recent afternoon, surrounded by the staccato beats of bouncing balls, she told a playing partner she will be staying away for a while.
Her eldest child panicked about the chances of her contracting the virus, after doing more research on the internet, Hong said.
As coronavirus cases increase, many young people are urging their parents and grandparents to stay at home as much as possible. (Christina House / Los Angeles Times)
“My daughter also told me she went to a seminar where they described everyone living in a ‘soup of germs.’ That got my attention, that sounds so scary,” said Hong, a mother of three. “Even in our house, where we have the most control over our environment, we still have to be careful. I’m cleaning twice as much as I used to because in my mind, I imagine the bad chemicals flying everywhere.”
Chang said that Wuhan, the city in southern China where the first cases of COVID-19 emerged, has become a household word in Asia as well as among Asian Americans. “Before, none of us knew where it was. Now, when I see it in the newspaper, I have to read the article to educate myself. We are desperate for updated information.”
The Korean American said he hasn’t been this “terrified” since burglars stole tens of thousands of dollars worth of jewelry from his son’s home in 2015. Back then, he remembered the household going “crazy,” changing locks and buying security cameras.
“We feel completely powerless about that situation and it’s the same with this situation, even more scary,” he said. “As a senior citizen, I consider we actually have less freedom than the younger generation because we’re faced with this virus while in the last chapter of our life.”
So Chang, who has three grandchildren, no longer goes to school assemblies to watch their performances. He’s not heading out to get a haircut or pick up a Korean-language newspaper. He relies on cable television to help him track the spread of disease — and the spiraling number of fatalities.
Seniors play mahjong at the Hop Sing Tong Benevolent Association in Chinatown. Smoking has made many older Asian American men more susceptible to the coronavirus, experts said. (Christina House / Los Angeles Times)
Realtor Fred Wong, 81, who hails from the Guangdong province of China, said he’s familiar with the symptoms of the virus, but escapes from the news when he has a chance. He goes to play mahjong with buddies at the Hop Sing Tong Benevolent Association in Chinatown, Los Angeles.
“Everyone smokes here. Can smoking keep the virus away?” he joked, adding that he, too, has canceled international travel to Asia in March.
As health warnings multiply, with experts pushing the public to keep away from crowds, Wong pointed to the semi-circle of players in front of him and said, “This is not too many. We have our recreation to forget the trouble popping up everywhere. Otherwise, I try to listen to what the U.S. government says when they tell us ‘stay, don’t go.’”
A few blocks away, Luu Ha, a cook and waiter at Pho Hoa, said he worries his fellow seniors will become “very, very isolated” if the “old people have no choice but to remain indoors and avoid mixing in society.”
At 70, he has refused to retire, despite constant urging from his seven children. For as long as he can, he hopes to earn his own money, spending it as he sees fit.
“If I stay home, it would be so dull,” said Ha, who on a recent morning, scoured the scene outside the restaurant, along an empty Spring Street, where shoppers and diners appear less and less in the ethnic enclave.
“Death is something we all fear — who doesn’t?” he asked. “But we still struggle to maintain our sanity.”
Near him, saleswoman Phuong Hong, manned the front entrance to Rainbow Gifts, staged with bonsai, lucky bamboo and lacquer art. The 62-year-old said there’s one clear challenge to the elderly that “not many among us think of. The problem is no matter what you say, the kids may not let you do it. Many of them want us home. They want us protected.
“They stress so much about things that will harm their parents and grandparents. For the old people that live in fear,” she said, the young people “nourish that fear.”