latimes--2020-02-04--For survivors of sexual assault, Kobe Bryant's legacy is complicated

When Shirley Alvarado del Aguila got to work on Jan. 27 , she told colleagues she didn ’ t want to talk about Kobe Bryant , who had died the day before in a fiery helicopter crash , along with his 13-year-old daughter and seven others .
She was frustrated that the basketball star was being lionized by a public that seemed to forget he ’ d been arrested and accused of rape in 2003 .
She works for an organization that serves rape and domestic violence survivors , and she was angry that people who brought the subject up @ @ @ @ @ @ @ deactivated her social media accounts .
She also worried about the woman who said Bryant had assaulted her nearly 17 years earlier — what she was thinking , how she was holding up .
The NBA star denied the rape allegation , saying the sex had been consensual — although he understood the woman felt differently .
Felony charges were filed , only to be dropped after the woman declined to testify .
Through the years , and in the wake of his death , his ardent fans have chosen to focus on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
But in the week since Bryant ’ s death , a chorus of women and men has taken to social media to say they feel alienated and worried that an important element has been omitted from the narrative growing around the beloved Los Angeles Laker .
They believe that ignoring the alleged 2003 assault does a disservice to all sexual assault survivors — and one in particular , the woman who said he attacked her .
Alvarado del Aguila , who was sexually abused as a child and encountered sexual violence later @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s death brought up diametrically opposed emotions .
On the one hand , she said : “ I feel for his family .
I can ’ t imagine what they ’ re going through .
Someone has died , and all of us are allowed to process and grieve in our own way.
” But she added : “ Survivors need to make sure our stories are not erased again and again to lift up powerful men ’ s legacies.
” Through her attorney , the woman who pressed charges declined to comment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ does not speak publicly about the events that upended her life .
Over the years , she has been maligned and threatened .
A Swiss bodybuilding coach who allegedly offered to kill her for $ 3 million was charged with solicitation to commit murder , among other crimes .
After several charges were dropped , he pleaded no contest to grand theft and was sentenced to three years in prison .
An Iowa student who left death threats on her answering machine was sentenced to four months in prison .
A Long Beach @ @ @ @ @ @ @ threats to the woman and the prosecutor in the case was sentenced to nine months in a federal prison camp .
Patricia Giggans , executive director of Peace Over Violence , the longest-running sexual and domestic violence hotline in the country , said she would never forget the assault charge brought against Bryant and the vitriol it animated in some fans .
“ That young woman was vilified in the media and in fandom , ” Giggans said .
She worries that women who speak up today run the risk of similar rancor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said Stacy Malone , executive director of the Victim Rights Law Center , if society does not include this “ credible allegation ” of rape as part of the Bryant narrative , it risks contributing to the silencing of victims .
In the years since the rape allegation , and especially since he retired from playing professional basketball , Bryant became an advocate for women and a proponent of women in sports .
Fans worldwide have mourned his death , flooding the streets around Staples Center with flowers , posting tributes , sharing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ honor .
But the debate goes beyond one basketball player .
There ’ s often a tension around celebrities who have complicated pasts , especially when it comes to those accused of domestic violence or sexual assault , said Dana White , a survivor of sexual assault who works with a national youth-focused LGBTQ organization .
There ’ s a balance between showing respect for those who died , White said , and caring for and supporting survivors .
“ The ability to hold multiple truths about anyone , whether it be a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to , is an act of love and respect , to be able to see a person for all of who they were , ” White said .
“ I think that accountability , on the other hand , is a broader love and respect for the community .
We have to do both.
” Just as survivors are not synonymous with what happened to them , said Savannah Shange , an assistant professor of anthropology at UC Santa Cruz , Bryant should not be reduced to the harm he allegedly caused .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ be weighed along with his shortcomings , she said .
Shange pointed out that Bryant had apologized to his accuser .
“ An apology is not enough , but it ’ s the beginning of the process of accountability , ” she said .
“ And it is important to acknowledge that Kobe gave us an example of what starting that looks like.
” In the aftermath of the deadly crash , social media lighted up with conflicted feelings , of sympathy and grief but also pain and anger .
@ abroshar tweeted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been “ painful in so many weird ways.
” She wrote about the day she met the daughter of the man who had raped her , about how sweet the girl was and how much the rapist loved his child .
“ … all I could think was ‘ look how different he is with people he values , ’ ” she wrote .
“ What am I supposed to do with this ?
” In the lengthy thread , @ deedropsbeats said Bryant ’ s death saddened her but that she also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ him of rape .
“ Is it because Kobe made an official apology to the accuser and the people he hurt , ” she wrote , `` … that people quickly forgave and moved on ?
” And then there was Disney heiress Abigail Disney , who ignited a furious response when she tweeted Wednesday : “ I haven ’ t said anything about Kobe so far because I felt some time needed to pass before weighing in .
But yes , it ’ s time for the sledgehammer to come out .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ with it.
” John-Lancaster Finley , a policy associate with the California Coalition Against Sexual Assault , sees Bryant ’ s death through a different lens .
On Facebook , he wrote about how growing up “ every little kid ( especially the black kids ) pretended we were Kobe at some point.
” Finley , who is black and a survivor of sexual assault , said he found any conversation about Bryant difficult and triggering .
He said he was struggling to reconcile Bryant ’ s complicated legacy with what he characterized @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lynch ” the NBA star for his past actions , coupled with an “ utter lack of respect ” for his grieving family .
“ I won ’ t be mad at anyone who doesn ’ t want to engage with this , ” Finley ended his message .
“ This is really hard and Lord knows I ’ m not prepared for it either .
But I ’ m just asking for a little compassion .
I ’ m asking for a little patience and a little kindness .
Kobe ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ doesn ’ t mean I don ’ t care about survivors.
” Bryant was 24 and married — to Vanessa Laine Bryant , a model and dancer — when he went to a resort in the Rocky Mountains town of Edwards , Colo. , while awaiting surgery .
A 19-year-old front-desk clerk gave him a tour of the property and later went to Bryant ’ s hotel room , where she alleged he raped her .
After charges were dropped in September 2004 , Bryant issued a statement that same day : “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ us was consensual , I recognize now that she did not and does not view this incident the same way I did , ” Bryant said .
“ After months of reviewing discovery , listening to her attorney , and even her testimony in person , I now understand how she feels that she did not consent to this encounter.
” A civil suit brought by the accuser was settled out of court a few months later .
Professional athletes — particularly male ones — are often deified by the public , said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at UC Berkeley who studies the intersection of sports and society .
Sports function like a religion in many ways , he said ; fans are like disciples who give all of themselves to a team or athlete .
And in a world where the public has lost faith in the political , legal , economic and education systems , sports are an escape .
It makes sense that people would be upset that some have dredged up a dark era in Bryant ’ s life , he said .
Survivors who have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the aftermath of Bryant ’ s death have been chastised and in some cases threatened , they say .
Heather , a 52-year-old Sonoma County resident , found this out first-hand .
That ’ s why she asked to be identified only by her first name when speaking about Bryant .
When she first heard about the crash , Heather said , she felt as if the breath had been knocked out of her .
She also thought of his family and the unspeakable grief she endured when her own sister died unexpectedly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said Bryant had raped her .
Heather was sexually assaulted three decades ago .
She endured the grueling process of taking her attacker to court .
He eventually pleaded guilty to criminal sexual conduct .
The night of the crash , as she flipped back and forth between TV networks in her living room , she said she heard reporters use the phrase “ he had his ups and downs ” to describe Bryant ’ s life .
“ I just could not stop thinking : How is that a euphemism for alleged @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tweeted about how such a description “ minimized ” the woman ’ s experience .
The menacing responses began almost immediately .
As she sat alone the night of Bryant ’ s death with just her dogs for company , Heather said , she was overwhelmed with grief .

Kobe Bryant, with wife Vanessa, as he said he was guilty of adultery but innocent of charges of felonious sexual assault, in 2003 at Staples Center.
When Shirley Alvarado del Aguila got to work on Jan. 27, she told colleagues she didn’t want to talk about Kobe Bryant, who had died the day before in a fiery helicopter crash, along with his 13-year-old daughter and seven others.
She was frustrated that the basketball star was being lionized by a public that seemed to forget he’d been arrested and accused of rape in 2003. She works for an organization that serves rape and domestic violence survivors, and she was angry that people who brought the subject up were being attacked online. So she deactivated her social media accounts.
She also worried about the woman who said Bryant had assaulted her nearly 17 years earlier — what she was thinking, how she was holding up.
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The NBA star denied the rape allegation, saying the sex had been consensual — although he understood the woman felt differently. Felony charges were filed, only to be dropped after the woman declined to testify. Through the years, and in the wake of his death, his ardent fans have chosen to focus on his achievements on and off the court.
But in the week since Bryant’s death, a chorus of women and men has taken to social media to say they feel alienated and worried that an important element has been omitted from the narrative growing around the beloved Los Angeles Laker. They believe that ignoring the alleged 2003 assault does a disservice to all sexual assault survivors — and one in particular, the woman who said he attacked her.
Alvarado del Aguila, who was sexually abused as a child and encountered sexual violence later in life, acknowledged that Bryant’s death brought up diametrically opposed emotions. On the one hand, she said: “I feel for his family. I can’t imagine what they’re going through. Someone has died, and all of us are allowed to process and grieve in our own way.”
But she added: “Survivors need to make sure our stories are not erased again and again to lift up powerful men’s legacies.”
Through her attorney, the woman who pressed charges declined to comment following Bryant’s death. She does not speak publicly about the events that upended her life. Over the years, she has been maligned and threatened.
A Swiss bodybuilding coach who allegedly offered to kill her for $3 million was charged with solicitation to commit murder, among other crimes. After several charges were dropped, he pleaded no contest to grand theft and was sentenced to three years in prison.
Advertisement
An Iowa student who left death threats on her answering machine was sentenced to four months in prison. A Long Beach man accused of sending 70 obscenity-laced death threats to the woman and the prosecutor in the case was sentenced to nine months in a federal prison camp.
Patricia Giggans, executive director of Peace Over Violence, the longest-running sexual and domestic violence hotline in the country, said she would never forget the assault charge brought against Bryant and the vitriol it animated in some fans.
“That young woman was vilified in the media and in fandom,” Giggans said. She worries that women who speak up today run the risk of similar rancor, or worse.
In fact, said Stacy Malone, executive director of the Victim Rights Law Center, if society does not include this “credible allegation” of rape as part of the Bryant narrative, it risks contributing to the silencing of victims.
“And aren’t we taking a step backward?” she asked.
In the years since the rape allegation, and especially since he retired from playing professional basketball, Bryant became an advocate for women and a proponent of women in sports. Fans worldwide have mourned his death, flooding the streets around Staples Center with flowers, posting tributes, sharing their grief, painting murals in his honor.
But the debate goes beyond one basketball player.
There’s often a tension around celebrities who have complicated pasts, especially when it comes to those accused of domestic violence or sexual assault, said Dana White, a survivor of sexual assault who works with a national youth-focused LGBTQ organization. There’s a balance between showing respect for those who died, White said, and caring for and supporting survivors.
“The ability to hold multiple truths about anyone, whether it be a celebrity or someone we were personally connected to, is an act of love and respect, to be able to see a person for all of who they were,” White said. “I think that accountability, on the other hand, is a broader love and respect for the community. We have to do both.”
Just as survivors are not synonymous with what happened to them, said Savannah Shange, an assistant professor of anthropology at UC Santa Cruz, Bryant should not be reduced to the harm he allegedly caused. His potential for transformation and growth should be weighed along with his shortcomings, she said.
Shange pointed out that Bryant had apologized to his accuser. “An apology is not enough, but it’s the beginning of the process of accountability,” she said. “And it is important to acknowledge that Kobe gave us an example of what starting that looks like.”
In the aftermath of the deadly crash, social media lighted up with conflicted feelings, of sympathy and grief but also pain and anger.
@abroshar tweeted about how Bryant’s death had been “painful in so many weird ways.” She wrote about the day she met the daughter of the man who had raped her, about how sweet the girl was and how much the rapist loved his child.
“… all I could think was ‘look how different he is with people he values,’” she wrote. “What am I supposed to do with this?”
In the lengthy thread, @deedropsbeats said Bryant’s death saddened her but that she also was thinking about the woman who accused him of rape. “Is it because Kobe made an official apology to the accuser and the people he hurt,” she wrote, “… that people quickly forgave and moved on?”
And then there was Disney heiress Abigail Disney, who ignited a furious response when she tweeted Wednesday: “I haven’t said anything about Kobe so far because I felt some time needed to pass before weighing in. But yes, it’s time for the sledgehammer to come out. The man was a rapist. Deal with it.”
John-Lancaster Finley, a policy associate with the California Coalition Against Sexual Assault, sees Bryant’s death through a different lens.
On Facebook, he wrote about how growing up “every little kid (especially the black kids) pretended we were Kobe at some point.”
Finley, who is black and a survivor of sexual assault, said he found any conversation about Bryant difficult and triggering. He said he was struggling to reconcile Bryant’s complicated legacy with what he characterized as a readiness by some to “lynch” the NBA star for his past actions, coupled with an “utter lack of respect” for his grieving family.
“I won’t be mad at anyone who doesn’t want to engage with this,” Finley ended his message. “This is really hard and Lord knows I’m not prepared for it either. But I’m just asking for a little compassion. I’m asking for a little patience and a little kindness. Kobe’s death is hitting me hard and it doesn’t mean I don’t care about survivors.”
Bryant was 24 and married — to Vanessa Laine Bryant, a model and dancer — when he went to a resort in the Rocky Mountains town of Edwards, Colo., while awaiting surgery. A 19-year-old front-desk clerk gave him a tour of the property and later went to Bryant’s hotel room, where she alleged he raped her.
After charges were dropped in September 2004, Bryant issued a statement that same day:
“Although I truly believe this encounter between us was consensual, I recognize now that she did not and does not view this incident the same way I did,” Bryant said. “After months of reviewing discovery, listening to her attorney, and even her testimony in person, I now understand how she feels that she did not consent to this encounter.”
A civil suit brought by the accuser was settled out of court a few months later.
Professional athletes — particularly male ones — are often deified by the public, said Derek Van Rheenen, an education professor at UC Berkeley who studies the intersection of sports and society.
Sports function like a religion in many ways, he said; fans are like disciples who give all of themselves to a team or athlete. And in a world where the public has lost faith in the political, legal, economic and education systems, sports are an escape. It makes sense that people would be upset that some have dredged up a dark era in Bryant’s life, he said.
Survivors who have spoken out about how they feel in the aftermath of Bryant’s death have been chastised and in some cases threatened, they say.
Heather, a 52-year-old Sonoma County resident, found this out first-hand. That’s why she asked to be identified only by her first name when speaking about Bryant.
When she first heard about the crash, Heather said, she felt as if the breath had been knocked out of her. She also thought of his family and the unspeakable grief she endured when her own sister died unexpectedly. She thought about the woman who said Bryant had raped her.
Heather was sexually assaulted three decades ago. She endured the grueling process of taking her attacker to court. He eventually pleaded guilty to criminal sexual conduct.
The night of the crash, as she flipped back and forth between TV networks in her living room, she said she heard reporters use the phrase “he had his ups and downs” to describe Bryant’s life.
“I just could not stop thinking: How is that a euphemism for alleged rape?” Heather said.
She tweeted about how such a description “minimized” the woman’s experience. The menacing responses began almost immediately.
As she sat alone the night of Bryant’s death with just her dogs for company, Heather said, she was overwhelmed with grief.
And she cried.


latimes--2020-02-05--For decades, Dicker and Dicker meant Hollywood glamour. Now its last furs are on sale

Lily Costa paced the aisles of Dicker and Dicker of Beverly Hills , her long French acrylics stroking the pelts .
Her son Zhivago was getting engaged .
The family would cement his betrothal with a fur for the bride .
The mink was on sale , but the groom ’ s father , Sonny Costa , still frowned at the price .
Lily called the girl ’ s mother on FaceTime , hoping she could decide .
“ Šukar , šukar , ” the bride ’ s mother said in Romani as one floor-length fur coat after another was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wanted one , too .
Lily had already picked a coat for herself , but if they left without something for their daughters , “ you ’ ll be coming to our funeral , ” Sonny warned the owner .
“ Why , what are you serving ?
” owner Larry Becker said .
The store had been closed for an hour , and his wife had just called to ask when he ’ d be home for dinner .
For 75 years , Dicker and Dicker of Beverly Hills styled itself as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ silver fox and Russian sable were the stuff of game show grand prizes , elegant lures for “ Let ’ s Make a Deal , ” “ Hollywood Squares ” and “ Queen for a Day.
” For most Americans , fur has since lost its luster .
But Angelenos have always been a class apart .
Among those who passed through Dicker ’ s doors on a recent weekday were a 19-year-old Persian Jew and a French Armenian octogenarian , a 51-year-old black stylist from Detroit and the middle-aged Romani couple from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ love it !
” when a full-length white mink coat with voluminous fox-fur sleeves was modeled for her .
Some , like the Costas , were drawn by the display window .
Others , like Faith Gomberg and Dwen Curry , had come to pay their respects .
In September , California became the first state to ban the sale of new fur apparel .
Though the law won ’ t go into effect until 2023 , Dicker and Dicker will close its doors for good by end of the month .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ close now ?
You ’ ve got two years , ” the fourth-generation furrier said .
“ But I spent 42 years doing this — I don ’ t want to be saddened by it , ” Becker added , dusting off his hands .
“ I want to leave on a positive note.
” In December , he let longtime customers know he was liquidating .
The response was enormous .
Few who love it can resist mink on sale .
“ Oh wow , that ’ s a great deal !
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ firstborn among triplets , as he gawked at the $ 4,000 price tag that hung from his sleeve .
“ I look amazing right now.
” Nisani and his girlfriend had wandered in off the street , hoping the sale might distract from his grief over the death of Kobe Bryant .
She was indifferent , but he was entranced , touching everything but returning over and over to the sapphire mink .
“ It is , ” Nisani said , turning from the mirror as though struck by the thought .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ m not gon na lie.
” He admired his reflection at length , snapping selfies while his girlfriend chatted on the phone and urged him in Persian to please hurry up .
His friends would covet it .
His brothers would die .
“ I really want it — it ’ s a really good deal.
” “ Convince your mom to get it , ” his girlfriend said .
“ Then you can steal it from her.
” Supporters of the new law argue fur is outmoded , an opulent cruelty @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
But for most of human history , fur was the only way to stay warm .
Even today , only human hands can cut and sew it .
Fur garments are stitched through with history , the attachment to them both aesthetic and ancestral .
A coat is a lifetime investment — like parrots , most outlive their owners .
“ My husband got me a ranch mink stroller ” — a coat that falls near the knee — “ and I had it remodeled into a jacket because I wear my @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , 81 .
“ I have one leather on the outside , shearling on the inside .
It went to Obama ’ s inauguration on me , and I was toasty.
” Dicker and Dicker ’ s in-house artisan , Monika Herbig , specializes in such work , recycling dated styles and treasured heirlooms to be bigger , smaller , or simply something else .
But no matter how often it ’ s reincarnated , a pelt will retain its luster only if it ’ s kept in cold storage — big business @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ You can not keep it at home — it ’ s not good for the fur , ” said 83-year-old Barrett Sadock , a longtime customer who had come to shift inventory between her West Hollywood home and Dicker and Dicker ’ s cold storage .
“ You have to treat the fur the way you will take care of an animal.
” Becker said the company would find a new storage facility .
But many were distraught .
“ What am I going to do ?
” said Curry , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in an emerald satin shirt , Gucci sneakers and a chinchilla stole just as Nisani was being dragged away .
“ Where am I going to keep my furs now ?
I don ’ t want my babies on the street.
” Curry guessed he had about 10 pieces in storage , some his own , but many others belonging to family .
“ This is from my grandmother , ” he said , lifting a stole from its bag on the storage rack .
The piece was made from half a dozen @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and genuine claws , sewn together by the snout .
“ She wore this when she was going to church ; anywhere or anything important , she always had her mink on .
I used to be scared of them — scared to death , because my uncles used to taunt me with them.
” Now , he was thinking of having them added to the collar of a denim jacket — to keep her memory near .
Like others , Curry grew wistful thinking about the store ’ s “ little family @ @ @ @ @ @ @ between a class reunion and an Irish wake .
Years ago , this stretch of South Robertson had been L.A. ’ s furrier row .
When Dicker and Dicker closes , only one will be left .
“ This is very sad for me .
It ’ s a special place here , ” said Gomberg , another longtime customer , as Becker poured her a second glass of champagne .
“ From the moment I walked in , it was mishpacha ” — a family .
The old friends regarded each other @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to closing , the end of an era .
They might never meet here again .
That ’ s when the Costas walked in .
“ It ’ s very rare we walk into a furrier and walk out without anything , ” the new customer assured the owner as the clock crept past 5 p.m. “ But you ’ ve got to love it if you ’ re going to buy it.
” The whole store was stuffed with lovable coats .
But as Becker noted earlier , “ the popular items @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was with the couple .
They loved the mink , adored them .
But they would pay only so much .
Becker ’ s salesman left at 5:30 .
Gomberg stayed , wandering the aisles with her champagne in one hand and ever more exotic furs in the other : ranch mink , sable , rex rabbit with chinchilla fur trim .
A reporter was conscripted to model , her figure deemed closest to the 18-year-old bride .
The groom was summoned on FaceTime , then his sisters , then the bride ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I tell you , if it ’ s for the bride , I ’ ll do a thousand , ” Becker said , rubbing his eyes .
“ Šukar — it ’ s perfect , ” the mother of the bride said .
“ The coat , she ’ ll wear it always .
”

A Russian sable coat is on sale for $24,000, reduced from $69,999 at Dicker and Dicker of Beverly Hills, which is selling off its stock before the state’s ban on new fur apparel takes effect.
Lily Costa paced the aisles of Dicker and Dicker of Beverly Hills, her long French acrylics stroking the pelts.
Her son Zhivago was getting engaged. The family would cement his betrothal with a fur for the bride. The mink was on sale, but the groom’s father, Sonny Costa, still frowned at the price. Lily called the girl’s mother on FaceTime, hoping she could decide.
For the record: Lorenzo Costa is misidentified as Zhivago in this article.
“Šukar, šukar,” the bride’s mother said in Romani as one floor-length fur coat after another was shown. Beautiful, beautiful. She wanted one, too. Lily had already picked a coat for herself, but if they left without something for their daughters, “you’ll be coming to our funeral,” Sonny warned the owner.
Advertisement
“Why, what are you serving?” owner Larry Becker said. The store had been closed for an hour, and his wife had just called to ask when he’d be home for dinner.
For 75 years, Dicker and Dicker of Beverly Hills styled itself as the apex of Hollywood glamour. Its silver fox and Russian sable were the stuff of game show grand prizes, elegant lures for “Let’s Make a Deal,” “Hollywood Squares” and “Queen for a Day.”
For most Americans, fur has since lost its luster. But Angelenos have always been a class apart. Among those who passed through Dicker’s doors on a recent weekday were a 19-year-old Persian Jew and a French Armenian octogenarian, a 51-year-old black stylist from Detroit and the middle-aged Romani couple from Pasadena, whose daughter screamed “I love it!” when a full-length white mink coat with voluminous fox-fur sleeves was modeled for her.
Some, like the Costas, were drawn by the display window. Others, like Faith Gomberg and Dwen Curry, had come to pay their respects. In September, California became the first state to ban the sale of new fur apparel. Though the law won’t go into effect until 2023, Dicker and Dicker will close its doors for good by end of the month.
“So many people are asking, why close now? You’ve got two years,” the fourth-generation furrier said. “But I spent 42 years doing this — I don’t want to be saddened by it,” Becker added, dusting off his hands. “I want to leave on a positive note.”
In December, he let longtime customers know he was liquidating. The response was enormous. Few who love it can resist mink on sale.
“Oh wow, that’s a great deal!” said 19-year-old Brandon Nisani, the firstborn among triplets, as he gawked at the $4,000 price tag that hung from his sleeve. “I look amazing right now.”
Nisani and his girlfriend had wandered in off the street, hoping the sale might distract from his grief over the death of Kobe Bryant. She was indifferent, but he was entranced, touching everything but returning over and over to the sapphire mink.
Advertisement
“It’s luxury,” Becker said to Nisani.
“It is,” Nisani said, turning from the mirror as though struck by the thought. “I feel like a boss, I’m not gonna lie.”
He admired his reflection at length, snapping selfies while his girlfriend chatted on the phone and urged him in Persian to please hurry up. His friends would covet it. His brothers would die. “I really want it — it’s a really good deal.”
“Convince your mom to get it,” his girlfriend said. “Then you can steal it from her.”
Supporters of the new law argue fur is outmoded, an opulent cruelty in the face of more advanced fibers. But for most of human history, fur was the only way to stay warm. Even today, only human hands can cut and sew it. Fur garments are stitched through with history, the attachment to them both aesthetic and ancestral. A coat is a lifetime investment — like parrots, most outlive their owners.
Virginia Higgins-Bland, a longtime customer of Dicker and Dicker of Beverly Hills, tries on a mink cape with help from store owner Larry Becker. (Myung J. Chun/Los Angeles Times)
“My husband got me a ranch mink stroller” — a coat that falls near the knee — “and I had it remodeled into a jacket because I wear my fur,” said widow Virginia Higgins-Bland, 81. “I have one leather on the outside, shearling on the inside. It went to Obama’s inauguration on me, and I was toasty.”
Dicker and Dicker’s in-house artisan, Monika Herbig, specializes in such work, recycling dated styles and treasured heirlooms to be bigger, smaller, or simply something else. But no matter how often it’s reincarnated, a pelt will retain its luster only if it’s kept in cold storage — big business in L.A.’s blink-and-you-missed-it winter season.
“You cannot keep it at home — it’s not good for the fur,” said 83-year-old Barrett Sadock, a longtime customer who had come to shift inventory between her West Hollywood home and Dicker and Dicker’s cold storage. “You have to treat the fur the way you will take care of an animal.”
Becker said the company would find a new storage facility. But many were distraught.
“What am I going to do?” said Curry, the stylist, swanning into the showroom in an emerald satin shirt, Gucci sneakers and a chinchilla stole just as Nisani was being dragged away. “Where am I going to keep my furs now? I don’t want my babies on the street.”
Curry guessed he had about 10 pieces in storage, some his own, but many others belonging to family.
“This is from my grandmother,” he said, lifting a stole from its bag on the storage rack. The piece was made from half a dozen whole mink, each with glass eyes and genuine claws, sewn together by the snout. “She wore this when she was going to church; anywhere or anything important, she always had her mink on. I used to be scared of them — scared to death, because my uncles used to taunt me with them.”
Now, he was thinking of having them added to the collar of a denim jacket — to keep her memory near.
Like others, Curry grew wistful thinking about the store’s “little family,” the mood around him shifting between a class reunion and an Irish wake. Years ago, this stretch of South Robertson had been L.A.’s furrier row. When Dicker and Dicker closes, only one will be left.
“I spent 42 years doing this — I don’t want to be saddened by it,” Becker said. “I want to leave on a positive note.” (Liz Moughon/Los Angeles Times)
“This is very sad for me. It’s a special place here,” said Gomberg, another longtime customer, as Becker poured her a second glass of champagne. “From the moment I walked in, it was mishpacha” — a family.
The old friends regarded each other, both misty-eyed. It was minutes to closing, the end of an era. They might never meet here again.
That’s when the Costas walked in.
“It’s very rare we walk into a furrier and walk out without anything,” the new customer assured the owner as the clock crept past 5 p.m. “But you’ve got to love it if you’re going to buy it.”
The whole store was stuffed with lovable coats. But as Becker noted earlier, “the popular items have the popular price.” So it was with the couple. They loved the mink, adored them. But they would pay only so much.
Becker’s salesman left at 5:30. Gomberg stayed, wandering the aisles with her champagne in one hand and ever more exotic furs in the other: ranch mink, sable, rex rabbit with chinchilla fur trim.
A reporter was conscripted to model, her figure deemed closest to the 18-year-old bride. The groom was summoned on FaceTime, then his sisters, then the bride’s mother, Stephanie Wain.
“I tell you, if it’s for the bride, I’ll do a thousand,” Becker said, rubbing his eyes.
“Šukar — it’s perfect,” the mother of the bride said. “The coat, she’ll wear it always.”


latimes--2020-02-05--Newsom grants posthumous pardon to civil rights leader Bayard Rustin

In an effort to rectify decades of prosecutions targeting LGBTQ Californians , Gov .
Gavin Newsom on Wednesday announced a new clemency initiative to pardon people prosecuted under discriminatory laws .
Newsom said the decision was inspired by calls from several state lawmakers to pardon black civil rights leader Bayard Rustin , a principal organizer of the 1963 March on Washington and a top adviser to the Rev .
Martin Luther King Jr. Rustin was arrested in Pasadena on a “ morals charge ” in 1953 for having sex in a parked car with another man and spent nearly two @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Newsom announced he granted Rustin , who died in 1987 , a posthumous pardon .
Newsom said the clemency program will allow pardons for others who were subjected to discriminatory arrests and prosecutions that unjustly targeted LGBTQ Californians .
“ In California and across the country , many laws have been used as legal tools of oppression , and to stigmatize and punish LGBTQ people and communities and warn others what harm could await them for living authentically , ” Newsom said in a written statement .
“ I thank those who advocated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and I want to encourage others in similar situations to seek a pardon to right this egregious wrong.
” Under the clemency initiative , LGBTQ Californians convicted for vagrancy , loitering , sodomy or other laws used to prosecute people for having consensual adult sex will be eligible to apply for pardons .
The Board of Parole Hearings investigates pardon applications and makes recommendations to the governor , who has sole constitutional authority to grant them .
In the mid-1970s , California repealed the law that criminalized consensual sex between same-sex couples .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ law that for the first time allowed those convicted under such laws to remove their names from lists of registered sex offenders .
Sen. Scott Weiner ( D-San Francisco ) , chairman of the California Legislative LGBTQ Caucus , praised Newsom ’ s decision to pardon Rustin and undo the damage inflicted for decades by discriminatory prosecutions .
“ Generations of LGBT people — including countless gay men — were branded criminals and sex offenders simply because they had consensual sex , ” Weiner said in a statement released by the governor ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ life-ruining , and many languished on the sex offender registry for decades .
The governor ’ s actions today are a huge step forward in our community ’ s ongoing quest for full acceptance and justice.
” Newsom has been an outspoken champion of LGBTQ rights since he was mayor of San Francisco and directed the city to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples .
That defiant act became a catalyst for a nationwide political battle over the issue that ended when the U.S. Supreme Court affirmed the right of LGBTQ people to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ( D-San Diego ) , chair of the California Legislative Black Caucus , thanked Newsom for ensuring that Rustin ’ s legacy in the civil rights movement was “ uncompromised ” by his arrest .
“ Rustin was a great American who was both gay and black at a time when the sheer fact of being either or both could land you in jail , ” Weber said in a statement .
President Obama posthumously awarded Rustin the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2013 .
When asked last month about calls by state @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that he had something more comprehensive in mind .
Rustin ’ s case was emblematic of California ’ s need to remedy the “ abuses of the past , ” Newsom said .

In an effort to rectify decades of prosecutions targeting LGBTQ Californians, Gov. Gavin Newsom on Wednesday announced a new clemency initiative to pardon people prosecuted under discriminatory laws.
Newsom said the decision was inspired by calls from several state lawmakers to pardon black civil rights leader Bayard Rustin, a principal organizer of the 1963 March on Washington and a top adviser to the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.
Rustin was arrested in Pasadena on a “morals charge” in 1953 for having sex in a parked car with another man and spent nearly two months in jail. On Wednesday, Newsom announced he granted Rustin, who died in 1987, a posthumous pardon.
Newsom said the clemency program will allow pardons for others who were subjected to discriminatory arrests and prosecutions that unjustly targeted LGBTQ Californians.
“In California and across the country, many laws have been used as legal tools of oppression, and to stigmatize and punish LGBTQ people and communities and warn others what harm could await them for living authentically,” Newsom said in a written statement. “I thank those who advocated for Bayard Rustin’s pardon, and I want to encourage others in similar situations to seek a pardon to right this egregious wrong.”
Under the clemency initiative, LGBTQ Californians convicted for vagrancy, loitering, sodomy or other laws used to prosecute people for having consensual adult sex will be eligible to apply for pardons. The Board of Parole Hearings investigates pardon applications and makes recommendations to the governor, who has sole constitutional authority to grant them.
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In the mid-1970s, California repealed the law that criminalized consensual sex between same-sex couples. The state in 1997 also passed a law that for the first time allowed those convicted under such laws to remove their names from lists of registered sex offenders.
Sen. Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco), chairman of the California Legislative LGBTQ Caucus, praised Newsom’s decision to pardon Rustin and undo the damage inflicted for decades by discriminatory prosecutions.
“Generations of LGBT people — including countless gay men — were branded criminals and sex offenders simply because they had consensual sex,” Wiener said in a statement released by the governor’s office. “This was often life-ruining, and many languished on the sex offender registry for decades. The governor’s actions today are a huge step forward in our community’s ongoing quest for full acceptance and justice.”
Newsom has been an outspoken champion of LGBTQ rights since he was mayor of San Francisco and directed the city to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples. That defiant act became a catalyst for a nationwide political battle over the issue that ended when the U.S. Supreme Court affirmed the right of LGBTQ people to marry in 2015.
Assemblywoman Shirley Weber (D-San Diego), chair of the California Legislative Black Caucus, thanked Newsom for ensuring that Rustin’s legacy in the civil rights movement was “uncompromised” by his arrest.
“Rustin was a great American who was both gay and black at a time when the sheer fact of being either or both could land you in jail,” Weber said in a statement.
President Obama posthumously awarded Rustin the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2013.
When asked last month about calls by state legislators to pardon Rustin, Newsom hinted that he had something more comprehensive in mind. Rustin’s case was emblematic of California’s need to remedy the “abuses of the past,” Newsom said.


latimes--2020-02-05--O.C. deputies' lapses prompt massive review of evidence handling

The Orange County Sheriff ’ s Department must review the evidence in more than 22,000 cases after 15 deputies were criminally investigated for failing to properly book information .
The review , which began late last year , involves cases from March 2015 to March 2018 .
It follows allegations that some evidence was booked after convictions , or not at all .
That could affect convictions .
“ These are not merely cases that have been affected , ” said Sheriff Don Barnes .
“ In every one of these cases , a person accused of a crime is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the criminal justice system .
In some cases , there is also a victim who wants to see justice served.
” In November , authorities confirmed that four deputies were fired after an audit found systemic lapses in the handling of evidence .
Two audits conducted from February 2018 to February 2019 found issues with deputies booking evidence “ outside of department policy , ” according to the Sheriff ’ s Department .
Fifteen deputies were investigated by the department for issues found during the audits and referred to the Orange County district @ @ @ @ @ @ @ district attorney declined to file charges .
The department then conducted an internal affairs investigation , and to date , five deputies have been fired , nine have been issued discipline including unpaid hours off , and one investigation is ongoing , according to the department .
The department started reviewing evidence in cases in December after the district attorney ’ s office identified more than 1,200 active criminal cases in need of review .
When the agency began that review , it discovered two more deputies suspected of failing to do their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ administrative leave and are the subject of internal criminal investigations related to booking of evidence .
The department told the district attorney ’ s office about the suspected policy violations and what cases might have been affected .
“ Due to the Peace Officer Bill of Rights , no additional information can be shared at this time due to the ongoing investigation , ” the department said in a news release Tuesday .
The case review team includes staff from the Sheriff ’ s Department and district attorney ’ s office .
They @ @ @ @ @ @ @ having reviewed almost 1,500 cases .
Barnes will hold monthly briefings , open to the media and available to the public online , beginning this month .
The sheriff will provide updates on the case review when he has information to share .
The Associated Press contributed to this report .

The Orange County Sheriff’s Department must review the evidence in more than 22,000 cases after 15 deputies were criminally investigated for failing to properly book information.
The review, which began late last year, involves cases from March 2015 to March 2018. It follows allegations that some evidence was booked after convictions, or not at all. That could affect convictions.
“These are not merely cases that have been affected,” said Sheriff Don Barnes. “In every one of these cases, a person accused of a crime is owed their right to due process in the criminal justice system. In some cases, there is also a victim who wants to see justice served.”
In November, authorities confirmed that four deputies were fired after an audit found systemic lapses in the handling of evidence. Two audits conducted from February 2018 to February 2019 found issues with deputies booking evidence “outside of department policy,” according to the Sheriff’s Department.
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Fifteen deputies were investigated by the department for issues found during the audits and referred to the Orange County district attorney for possible criminal prosecution. The district attorney declined to file charges.
The department then conducted an internal affairs investigation, and to date, five deputies have been fired, nine have been issued discipline including unpaid hours off, and one investigation is ongoing, according to the department.
The department started reviewing evidence in cases in December after the district attorney’s office identified more than 1,200 active criminal cases in need of review.
When the agency began that review, it discovered two more deputies suspected of failing to do their jobs. They were both placed on administrative leave and are the subject of internal criminal investigations related to booking of evidence. The department told the district attorney’s office about the suspected policy violations and what cases might have been affected.
“Due to the Peace Officer Bill of Rights, no additional information can be shared at this time due to the ongoing investigation,” the department said in a news release Tuesday.
The case review team includes staff from the Sheriff’s Department and district attorney’s office. They’re about 6% done, having reviewed almost 1,500 cases.
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Barnes will hold monthly briefings, open to the media and available to the public online, beginning this month. The sheriff will provide updates on the case review when he has information to share.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.


latimes--2020-02-04--5 healthcare workers sent home to ensure they didn't contract coronavirus from patient

Five employees at Good Samaritan Hospital in Silicon Valley were sent home for about two weeks after coming into contact @ @ @ @ @ .
The patient , who had just traveled to Wuhan , China , where the @ @ @ @ @ mask the entire time he was at the hospital , and was directed by health @ @ @ @ @ his home , according to the hospital .
He is one of six people in @ @ @ @ @ have confirmed contracted the virus while in Wuhan .
The Santa Clara County Public Health @ @ @ @ @ investigation ” at the hospital and determined five employees should stay home until Feb. 11 @ @ @ @ @ monitor the employees , who will be placed on paid leave by Good Samaritan until @ @ @ @ @ “ It is important to note that the action taken by public health does not @ @ @ @ @ will contract the virus as the risk is extremely low , ” the hospital said @ @ @ @

Five employees at Good Samaritan Hospital in Silicon Valley were sent home for about two weeks after coming into contact with a patient with coronavirus.
The patient, who had just traveled to Wuhan, China, where the outbreak started, wore a mask the entire time he was at the hospital, and was directed by health officials to isolate himself at his home, according to the hospital. He is one of six people in California who public health officials have confirmed contracted the virus while in Wuhan.
The Santa Clara County Public Health Department conducted a “contact investigation” at the hospital and determined five employees should stay home until Feb. 11. Public health workers will monitor the employees, who will be placed on paid leave by Good Samaritan until the isolation period ends.
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“It is important to note that the action taken by public health does not mean any of these employees will contract the virus as the risk is extremely low,” the hospital said in a statement.


latimes--2020-02-04--Missing couple found dead in forest near Big Bear

A missing couple were found dead Monday about half a mile off a popular hiking trail in Fawnskin after authorities found one of their vehicles in the trail ’ s parking area .
Paul Arthur Stockwell , Jr. , 29 , of Big Bear and Ria Gabriella Williams , 27 , of Santa Ana were last seen together Wednesday in Big Bear , according to the San Bernardino County Sheriff ’ s Department .
On Friday , after Williams didn ’ t come into work , her co-worker reported her missing to the South Gate Police Department .
Stockwell ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sheriff ’ s Big Bear station on Friday as well .
About 2:15 a.m. Monday , deputies found Williams ’ vehicle in the parking area of Cougar Crest trail , about half a mile west of the Big Bear Discovery Center .
The deputies requested help from Deputy Ryan Girard and a K-9 unit to search the area .
About 1:30 p.m. , Stockwell ’ s and Williams ’ bodies were found about half a mile into the forest .
Homicide detectives are conducting a death investigation and are awaiting results from an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ according to the Sheriff ’ s Department .
It remains unclear how long Williams ’ vehicle had been in the trail parking lot .

A missing couple were found dead Monday about half a mile off a popular hiking trail in Fawnskin after authorities found one of their vehicles in the trail’s parking area.
Paul Arthur Stockwell, Jr., 29, of Big Bear and Ria Gabriella Williams, 27, of Santa Ana were last seen together Wednesday in Big Bear, according to the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department.
On Friday, after Williams didn’t come into work, her co-worker reported her missing to the South Gate Police Department. Stockwell’s father reported him missing to the sheriff’s Big Bear station on Friday as well.
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About 2:15 a.m. Monday, deputies found Williams’ vehicle in the parking area of Cougar Crest trail, about half a mile west of the Big Bear Discovery Center.
The deputies requested help from Deputy Ryan Girard and a K-9 unit to search the area. About 1:30 p.m., Stockwell’s and Williams’ bodies were found about half a mile into the forest.
Homicide detectives are conducting a death investigation and are awaiting results from an autopsy to determine cause of death, according to the Sheriff’s Department.
It remains unclear how long Williams’ vehicle had been in the trail parking lot.


latimes--2020-02-05--Amoeba Music (and Tyler, the Creator) announces new Hollywood location

Amoeba Music is moving this year , but record shoppers won ’ t have to schlep very far .
The owners of the venerable mini-chain announced Wednesday that Amoeba ’ s massive Hollywood outpost , America ’ s largest independent record store , has a new home just blocks away from its current site on Sunset Boulevard .
The new site will be on the corner of Hollywood Boulevard and Argyle Avenue , on the ground floor of El Centro , a mixed-use residential and retail complex across the street from the Fonda Theatre , Pantages Theatre and the Hollywood/Vine @ @ @ @ @ @ @ easier for subway-riding DJs to get their vinyl haul home .
“ We have been blown away by the massive outpouring of support from our customers and the L.A. community throughout our search for a new home and are excited for the next chapter in the Amoeba story , ” wrote Jim Henderson , co-owner of Amoeba Music , in a statement .
“ It has been a long search , but we ’ re pleased to announce we found the right new home and are able to stay in the music and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ chain opened its Hollywood outlet in 2001 , and it immediately became a centerpiece of L.A. musical life .
The store hosted gigs from countless acts and a few legends like Paul McCartney .
As the streaming era set in , the store diversified its wares but remained the key place to crate-dig for LPs and unload CD collections .
Amoeba ’ s owners sold the current site to developers in 2015 for $ 34 million , with a 200-apartment tower and commercial space set to replace the sci-fi-inspired building .
The final @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fall of this year .
Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti added , in a statement , that “ Los Angeles is a creative capital — a place filled with dreamers who move and inspire us every day , Amoeba Music reflects the best of this creative spirit , and Angelenos are fortunate this beloved cultural treasure has found a new home guaranteeing its place in our city for years to come.
” In a video announcing the new location , Tyler , the Creator takes fans on a walk-through of the now-empty space @ @ @ @ @ @ @ contains profanity . )
In a part of Hollywood that ’ s rapidly up-scaling to towers with high-end hotels and streaming media companies , Amoeba ’ s survival is a statement that the neighborhood still has room for analog .

Amoeba Music will be moving to a new location on Hollywood Boulevard and Argyle Avenue.
Amoeba Music is moving this year, but record shoppers won’t have to schlep very far.
The owners of the venerable mini-chain announced Wednesday that Amoeba’s massive Hollywood outpost, America’s largest independent record store, has a new home just blocks away from its current site on Sunset Boulevard. The new site will be on the corner of Hollywood Boulevard and Argyle Avenue, on the ground floor of El Centro, a mixed-use residential and retail complex across the street from the Fonda Theatre, Pantages Theatre and the Hollywood/Vine Red Line stop, making it even easier for subway-riding DJs to get their vinyl haul home.
“We have been blown away by the massive outpouring of support from our customers and the L.A. community throughout our search for a new home and are excited for the next chapter in the Amoeba story,” wrote Jim Henderson, co-owner of Amoeba Music, in a statement. “It has been a long search, but we’re pleased to announce we found the right new home and are able to stay in the music and movie-loving heart of Hollywood.”
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The Berkeley-based chain opened its Hollywood outlet in 2001, and it immediately became a centerpiece of L.A. musical life. The store hosted gigs from countless acts and a few legends like Paul McCartney. As the streaming era set in, the store diversified its wares but remained the key place to crate-dig for LPs and unload CD collections.
Amoeba’s owners sold the current site to developers in 2015 for $34 million, with a 200-apartment tower and commercial space set to replace the sci-fi-inspired building. The final move is expected to take place in fall of this year.
Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti added, in a statement, that “Los Angeles is a creative capital — a place filled with dreamers who move and inspire us every day, Amoeba Music reflects the best of this creative spirit, and Angelenos are fortunate this beloved cultural treasure has found a new home guaranteeing its place in our city for years to come.”
In a video announcing the new location, Tyler, the Creator takes fans on a walk-through of the now-empty space. (Warning: The video below contains profanity.)
In a part of Hollywood that’s rapidly up-scaling to towers with high-end hotels and streaming media companies, Amoeba’s survival is a statement that the neighborhood still has room for analog.


latimes--2020-02-05--Californians who register to vote would be required to cast ballots under new bill

Following a series of sweeping expansions to expand access to voting in recent years , a California lawmaker is pushing to require voters to cast a ballot in future elections .
The proposal , introduced in the state Assembly on Tuesday , would be unprecedented and probably challenged in court should it ultimately become law .
It would place the burden for determining the civil penalty and the ultimate punishment on the secretary of state , California ’ s chief elections officer .
“ Democracy is not a spectator sport — it requires the active participation of all its citizens @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Assemblyman Marc Levine ( D-San Rafael ) , said in a written statement .
“ California is a national leader on expanding voting rights to its citizens .
Those rights come with a responsibility by registered voters to cast their ballot and make sure that their voice is heard by their government.
” As many as 30 countries have compulsory voting laws on the books , including Australia , Belgium and Brazil .
Levine ’ s proposal does not include a mechanism used in some countries to also register all eligible citizens @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more than 20.3 million voters and almost 2 million more citizens who are eligible but are not registered .
Levine ’ s effort , Assembly Bill 2070 , would require every Californian who registers to vote to “ cast a ballot , marked or unmarked in whole or in part , at every election held within the territory within which the person resides.
” AB 2070 has yet to be referred to a policy committee and is unlikely to be considered until the spring .
Voter turnout in California has been increasing in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 64.5 % of the state ’ s registered voters cast ballots — the highest percentage for any non-presidential general election since 1982 .
Presidential election years have seen much higher turnout , but participation rates for statewide primaries in other years have been much lower : Fewer than 4 in 10 registered voters showed up for the June 5 , 2018 primary .
California lawmakers moved up this year ’ s primary to March 3 , in part to boost participation rates .
Various academic studies through the years have sought to determine @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than others should voting be mandatory .
Supporters of such efforts have argued it could inspire elected officials to better represent the interests of a broader spectrum of citizens .
Opponents , on the other hand , have said that mandatory voting could be in conflict with the right to free speech guaranteed under the U.S. Constitution .

Following a series of sweeping expansions to expand access to voting in recent years, a California lawmaker is pushing to require voters to cast a ballot in future elections.
The proposal, introduced in the state Assembly on Tuesday, would be unprecedented and probably challenged in court should it ultimately become law. It would place the burden for determining the civil penalty and the ultimate punishment on the secretary of state, California’s chief elections officer.
“Democracy is not a spectator sport — it requires the active participation of all its citizens,” the bill’s author, Assemblyman Marc Levine (D-San Rafael), said in a written statement. “California is a national leader on expanding voting rights to its citizens. Those rights come with a responsibility by registered voters to cast their ballot and make sure that their voice is heard by their government.”
As many as 30 countries have compulsory voting laws on the books, including Australia, Belgium and Brazil. Levine’s proposal does not include a mechanism used in some countries to also register all eligible citizens. The most recent statewide report tallied more than 20.4 million voters and almost 5 million more citizens who are eligible but are not registered.
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Levine’s effort, Assembly Bill 2070, would require every Californian who registers to vote to “cast a ballot, marked or unmarked in whole or in part, at every election held within the territory within which the person resides.” AB 2070 has yet to be referred to a policy committee and is unlikely to be considered until the spring.
Voter turnout in California has been increasing in recent elections. In November 2018, 64.5% of the state’s registered voters cast ballots — the highest percentage for any non-presidential general election since 1982. Presidential election years have seen much higher turnout, but participation rates for statewide primaries in other years have been much lower: Fewer than 4 in 10 registered voters showed up for the June 5, 2018, primary. California lawmakers moved up this year’s primary to March 3, in part to boost participation rates.
Various academic studies through the years have sought to determine whether one political party would benefit more than others should voting be mandatory. Supporters of such efforts have argued it could inspire elected officials to better represent the interests of a broader spectrum of citizens. Opponents, on the other hand, have said that mandatory voting could be in conflict with the right to free speech guaranteed under the U.S. Constitution.


latimes--2020-02-05--After this week's sweater weather, warmer temperatures — and maybe some rain — are ahead

A two-day sweater-worthy cold spell will give way to sunny skies and balmier temperatures later this week , forecasters say .
Early Tuesday , low-temperature records were set and tied at Paso Robles Municipal Airport and Santa Barbara Airport , respectively .
But no historic lows were recorded in or around Los Angeles County overnight Wednesday .
“ Last night was a touch warmer than the night before , but between the two nights , it ’ s probably the coldest period overall across southwestern California that we ’ ve had all winter , ” said Joe Sirard , a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Oxnard .
Tuesday ’ s low in downtown Los Angeles was 42 degrees , the coldest it ’ s been all season .
The region typically sees its most frigid temperatures in late December and early January .
“ The later we get into February , the higher the sun is going to keep getting and the less apt we are to get this cold weather , ” Sirard said .
“ This might actually be the coldest period for the whole winter .
We ’ ll see.
” Low temperatures hovered between @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coast , with slightly chillier conditions in the valleys .
Although Los Angeles County didn ’ t put any new entries in the record books , the same can ’ t be said farther south .
The temperature at San Diego International Airport dipped to 38 degrees Wednesday morning , tying a record low for the date set all the way back in 1894 .
Temperatures fell into the 30s along the entire San Diego County coastline — a rarity for the region .
For those who found themselves “ California Dreamin ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ there ’ s good news : The region is expected to warm up later this week , with mostly clear skies and slightly above-normal temperatures headed into the weekend , Sirard said .
Enjoy the sunshine while it lasts , though , because cloudy conditions — and a chance of showers — are expected to return Sunday and could stick around until early next week , he said .
“ The jury ’ s still kind of out on how much rain we might get , ” Sirard said .
“ It ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and the models aren ’ t completely in sync on this yet.
” The San Diego Union-Tribune contributed to this report .

Misheel Nyamkhuu, Ariunzaya Myagmarsuren Anujargal Narmandakh, from left, do a handstand near the Children’s Pool in La Jolla on Monday.
A two-day sweater-worthy cold spell will give way to sunny skies and balmier temperatures later this week, forecasters say.
Early Tuesday, low-temperature records were set and tied at Paso Robles Municipal Airport and Santa Barbara Airport, respectively. But no historic lows were recorded in or around Los Angeles County overnight Wednesday.
“Last night was a touch warmer than the night before, but between the two nights, it’s probably the coldest period overall across southwestern California that we’ve had all winter,” said Joe Sirard, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Oxnard.
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Tuesday’s low in downtown Los Angeles was 42 degrees, the coldest it’s been all season. The region typically sees its most frigid temperatures in late December and early January.
“The later we get into February, the higher the sun is going to keep getting and the less apt we are to get this cold weather,” Sirard said. “This might actually be the coldest period for the whole winter. We’ll see.”
Low temperatures hovered between the high 30s and mid-40s along the coast, with slightly chillier conditions in the valleys.
Although Los Angeles County didn’t put any new entries in the record books, the same can’t be said farther south. The temperature at San Diego International Airport dipped to 38 degrees Wednesday morning, tying a record low for the date set all the way back in 1894.
Temperatures fell into the 30s along the entire San Diego County coastline — a rarity for the region.
For those who found themselves “California Dreamin’ ” during the recent cold snap, there’s good news: The region is expected to warm up later this week, with mostly clear skies and slightly above-normal temperatures headed into the weekend, Sirard said.
Enjoy the sunshine while it lasts, though, because cloudy conditions — and a chance of showers — are expected to return Sunday and could stick around until early next week, he said.
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“The jury’s still kind of out on how much rain we might get,” Sirard said. “It’s still a little too early, and the models aren’t completely in sync on this yet.”
The San Diego Union-Tribune contributed to this report.


latimes--2020-02-05--Former Los Angeles County Sheriff Lee Baca is now a prison inmate in Texas

Former Los Angeles County Sheriff Lee Baca , once a respected law enforcement leader who was convicted of thwarting a federal investigation into his department ’ s violent , scandal-plagued jail system , has reported to a Texas prison to begin a three-year term behind bars .
Baca , 77 , arrived Tuesday at the Federal Correctional Institution La Tuna , a low-security prison outside El Paso , according to a representative for the facility .
The start of his incarceration followed years of legal wrangling and was an ignominious coda to the career of a man who once led @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s agency and won plaudits for pushing inmate education initiatives and tackling issues of homelessness and mental health .
The former sheriff , who has been diagnosed with Alzheimer ’ s disease , was sentenced in 2017 to three years in lockup after a jury found he oversaw the plan to interfere with the federal probe into inmate abuses in the county jail system and later lied to prosecutors about his role .
The conviction was upheld by the 9th U.S .
Circuit Court of Appeals last year , and in January the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ request to have his case reviewed .
Baca had remained free while his appeals were pending .
“ While Sheriff Baca ’ s trial and sentencing were replete with significant legal errors , Sheriff Baca approaches the sentence he will serve with the same humility and respect for the law that he demonstrated during his 50-year career with the Los Angeles County Sheriff ’ s Department , ” said Nathan Hochman , his longtime defense attorney .
Baca was the last in a group of Sheriff ’ s Department employees — from low-level @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to be accused of playing a role in , which involved hiding an inmate who was an FBI informant and threatening to arrest the agent who was leading the investigation .
All 10 of those who faced charges in the case either pleaded guilty or were convicted , including former Undersheriff Paul Tanaka , who was sentenced to five years in prison after a jury found he helped lead the scheme .
Several other deputies were found guilty of civil rights violations for beatings of inmates and jail visitors .
In 2014 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ jail scandal , Baca At trial , federal prosecutors focused on Baca ’ s efforts to impede the investigation .
Prosecutors told jurors that although Baca had ceded day-to-day handling of the obstruction plot to Tanaka , he was informed of its developments and helped shepherd it as the county ’ s elected sheriff .
The plan , prosecutors argued , included manipulating potential witnesses in the federal inquiry and intimidating an FBI agent working on the case .
In his closing words to the jury , the lead prosecutor , Assistant U.S. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as a cowardly king who chose to protect himself while sending pawns and other underlings to do his “ dirty work.
” At first Baca had sought in a deal with prosecutors , but U.S. District Judge Percy Anderson dismissed it as too lenient and indicated he would impose a harsher prison sentence than whatever the plea deal outlined .
Baca and his attorneys pressed ahead with a trial .
His attorneys argued that Baca never authorized wrongdoing and that there was no hard evidence directly linking him to the obstruction scheme .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ trial , when all but one member of the jury wanted to find him not guilty .
The lone juror did not budge and Anderson .
For the second trial , prosecutors overhauled the case and Anderson issued a string of rulings that hamstrung the defense .
The conviction and prison sentence further tarnished Baca ’ s legacy of nearly five decades of service , and diminished the reputation he once held as a law enforcement reformer .
Times staff writers Alex Wigglesworth and Joel Rubin contributed to this report .

Former Los Angeles County Sheriff Lee Baca is now behind bars at a low-security federal prison outside El Paso.
Former Los Angeles County Sheriff Lee Baca, once a respected law enforcement leader who was convicted of thwarting a federal investigation into his department’s violent, scandal-plagued jail system, has reported to a Texas prison to begin a three-year term behind bars.
Baca, 77, arrived Tuesday at the Federal Correctional Institution La Tuna, a low-security prison outside El Paso, according to a representative for the facility. The start of his incarceration followed years of legal wrangling and was an ignominious coda to the career of a man who once led the nation’s largest sheriff’s agency and won plaudits for pushing inmate education initiatives and tackling issues of homelessness and mental health.
The former sheriff, who has been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease, was sentenced in 2017 to three years in lockup after a jury found he oversaw the plan to interfere with the federal probe into inmate abuses in the county jail system and later lied to prosecutors about his role.
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The conviction was upheld by the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals last year, and in January the Supreme Court denied Baca’s long-shot request to have his case reviewed. Baca had remained free while his appeals were pending.
“While Sheriff Baca’s trial and sentencing were replete with significant legal errors, Sheriff Baca approaches the sentence he will serve with the same humility and respect for the law that he demonstrated during his 50-year career with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department,” said Nathan Hochman, his longtime defense attorney.
Baca was the last in a group of Sheriff’s Department employees — from low-level deputies to Baca’s second-in-command — to be accused of playing a role in the 2011 scandal , which involved hiding an inmate who was an FBI informant and threatening to arrest the agent who was leading the investigation. All 10 of those who faced charges in the case either pleaded guilty or were convicted, including former Undersheriff Paul Tanaka, who was sentenced to five years in prison after a jury found he helped lead the scheme. Several other deputies were found guilty of civil rights violations for beatings of inmates and jail visitors.
In 2014, as the department was engulfed in the jail scandal, Baca stepped down.
At trial, federal prosecutors focused on Baca’s efforts to impede the investigation. Prosecutors told jurors that although Baca had ceded day-to-day handling of the obstruction plot to Tanaka, he was informed of its developments and helped shepherd it as the county’s elected sheriff.
The plan, prosecutors argued, included manipulating potential witnesses in the federal inquiry and intimidating an FBI agent working on the case.
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In his closing words to the jury, the lead prosecutor, Assistant U.S. Atty. Brandon Fox, condemned Baca as a cowardly king who chose to protect himself while sending pawns and other underlings to do his “dirty work.”
At first Baca had sought to plead guilty in a deal with prosecutors, but U.S. District Judge Percy Anderson dismissed it as too lenient and indicated he would impose a harsher prison sentence than whatever the plea deal outlined. Baca and his attorneys pressed ahead with a trial.
His attorneys argued that Baca never authorized wrongdoing and that there was no hard evidence directly linking him to the obstruction scheme.
Baca was nearly victorious in the first trial, when all but one member of the jury wanted to find him not guilty. The lone juror did not budge and Anderson declared a mistrial . For the second trial, prosecutors overhauled the case and Anderson issued a string of rulings that hamstrung the defense.
The conviction and prison sentence further tarnished Baca’s legacy of nearly five decades of service, and diminished the reputation he once held as a law enforcement reformer.
Times staff writers Alex Wigglesworth and Joel Rubin contributed to this report.


latimes--2020-02-05--Coronavirus memes fill social media feeds. Here's why it's making young people so anxious

The news of a novel coronavirus spreading across the world has become inescapable , including announcements of canceled flights to China , massive quarantines and updates on the disease ’ s death toll and the hunt for its origin .
Federal officials say the risk of catching the virus in the United States remains low , but fear has been growing rapidly regardless , particularly among younger Americans .
This is likely the first time that a younger generation has heard talk of a worldwide pandemic — as was discussed with outbreaks of SARS and the H1N1 flu in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to it , experts say .
But even more so , experts say the constant exposure to information about coronavirus on social media platforms and elsewhere on the internet is likely causing anxiety because of the sheer volume of information being shared , some of which is not even true .
Frequent updates and references to coronavirus on news sites as well as Twitter and Instagram can make the virus feel more threatening than it is , especially in an online ecosystem that tends to favor doomsday predictions over those that are more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ memes and jokes can serve as another reminder of what feels like a lurking threat , said UC Riverside epidemiologist Brandon Brown .
“ We spend a lot of time learning on the screen , and if we keep seeing ‘ coronavirus , coronavirus , coronavirus , ’ each time we ’ re going to pay attention to that , ” Brown said .
“ There seems to be a lot of hysteria right now.
” The current outbreak presents a challenge for public health officials trying to communicate across generational lines .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ such as the World Health Organization and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention aren ’ t the places young people typically turn for information .
In Southern California , high school and university students have launched campaigns for classes to be canceled until the outbreak subsides .
False reports of infected students have circulated on campuses , while panic has prompted not just the widespread use of face masks but also xenophobia and anti-Chinese sentiment among students .
A petition to cancel classes in the Alhambra Unified School District had garnered @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Even if some kids were just trying to get out of school , many have been going to school in masks for several days , said district spokeswoman Toby Gilbert .
School staff have been emphasizing that there is no reason to panic .
Later this week , nurses will give presentations in each classroom to discuss how to prevent infections and try to quell fears about the virus .
“ The coronavirus is hijacking our educational schedules , ” Gilbert said .
“ It ’ s very hard to compete with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all going to die , we ’ ve got to cancel school , we ’ ve got to bury ourselves underground ’ posts ... we ’ re struggling with how to keep people calm.
” Los Angeles County officials began fielding questions from school districts countywide last week about students wearing masks and taking other coronavirus precautions , said Susan Chaides , project director of Community Health and Safe Schools at the L.A. County Office of Education .
Though the new strain of coronavirus has infected more than 20,000 people worldwide and killed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than a dozen cases in the United States .
In California , only six cases have been reported , all of them people who had recently traveled to China or had close contact with someone who did .
The single case in L.A. County was a returning traveler from China .
Officials are not recommending that anyone wear masks to protect against the virus , but some L.A. students still are , Chaides said .
“ Fear is very high , ” Chaides said .
Mckayla Fontanez , 20 , purchased hand sanitizer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ places after she learned about coronavirus .
On the L.A. subway she now pays attention to what she touches , such as the handrail on the escalator and the pole on the train car , she said .
Yet she still doesn ’ t feel totally safe from infection , she said .
She has followed a flurry of updates online as coronavirus cases increase and pop up in new countries .
“ I ’ m still kind of unsettled even though I do have my own precautions , ” said Fontanez , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people are particularly susceptible to anxiety because of the number of channels through which they receive information about coronavirus , sorting through TikTok and Instagram videos , updates from their friends and families as well as news headlines , said Diane Francis , an associate professor of health communication at the University of Kentucky .
“ It ’ s the sheer amount of information coming across at one time , and the complexity of the information as well , ” she said .
“ It ’ s difficult for them to decipher what @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and because of that , that induces anxiety and fears and worries.
” The internet tends to favor exaggerations or worst-case scenarios .
Coronavirus jokes , intended to make light of the outbreak , often have a dark undertone .
The bio for Instagram account @ coronavirusplague , which exclusively shares memes about the virus , reads : `` Just trying to make y ’ all laugh before we die.
” Smartphones have given adolescents more information than ever before and made them aware of the latest disease outbreak , something that was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Francis said .
But scrolling through headlines or tweets doesn ’ t provide necessary context , she said : that the risk of Americans catching the coronavirus remains low .
“ A lot more people are going to know the name coronavirus , primarily because of the spread of the name through hashtags , through tweets , through the memes , ” Francis said .
“ But what exactly is it ?
How does it spread ?
... Young people in particular are less likely to have that information than just know the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ peered over her black face mask at her phone as she waiting for a train in a downtown L.A. Metro station on a recent weekday .
She first read about coronavirus online last week , she said .
“ Better be safe than sorry , ” said Garcia , who lives in Sylmar .
People ’ s imaginations tend to fill in uncertainty with worst-case scenarios , creating a challenge for scientists and public health officials trying to communicate about an emerging epidemic , experts say .
“ The public wants to have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ understand everything in one story , they want it to be nicely packaged -- and unfortunately that ’ s not the reality we live in , ” said USC medical education lecturer Sarah Mojarad .
The ability for anyone to share things on the internet has removed the gatekeepers who used to vet information before it was widely disseminated , allowing others without expertise to fill in those gaps with conspiracy theories or other false information , she said .
Francis with the University of Kentucky said that the coronavirus outbreak could provide @ @ @ @ @ @ @ trying to bridge a cultural gap with young people , experts say .
She said that officials could try sharing a meme showing that coronavirus is less dangerous than the flu in the United States .
Though it ’ s possible , she said , that it would be drowned out by the high volume of posts exaggerating coronavirus ’ danger .
“ We know how [ young people ] access information , but we ’ re still trying to understand what works in terms of communicating to them in terms of risks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
Ellie Mitchell , 22 , first learned about the new coronavirus after she saw it referenced in a meme .
She quickly figured out that the flu is far more dangerous than the virus in the U.S. , she said .
A pharmacy technician in San Francisco , Mitchell already washes her hands between interacting with almost every customer who comes into the drug store where she works .
In the last couple of weeks , she started disinfecting her phone and wallet with rubbing alcohol when she got home from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ necessarily because of coronavirus , she said — the outbreak just got her thinking about how to prevent infections generally .
“ These items are carriers of germs — I ’ d rather take two seconds to do that than be sick for two weeks , ” she said .

The news of a novel coronavirus spreading across the world has become inescapable, including announcements of canceled flights to China, massive quarantines and updates on the disease’s death toll and the hunt for its origin.
Federal officials say the risk of catching the virus in the United States remains low, but fear has been growing rapidly regardless, particularly among younger Americans.
This is probably the first time that a younger generation has heard talk of a worldwide pandemic — as was discussed with outbreaks of SARS and the H1N1 flu in the 2000s — and therefore is particularly sensitive to it, experts say.
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But even more so, experts say the constant exposure to information about coronavirus on social media platforms and elsewhere on the internet is probably causing anxiety because of the sheer volume of information being shared, some of which is not even true.
Frequent updates and references to coronavirus on news sites as well as Twitter and Instagram can make the virus feel more threatening than it is, especially in an online ecosystem that tends to favor doomsday predictions over those that are more measured.
Even the proliferation of coronavirus memes and jokes can serve as another reminder of what feels like a lurking threat, said UC Riverside epidemiologist Brandon Brown.
“We spend a lot of time learning on the screen, and if we keep seeing ‘coronavirus, coronavirus, coronavirus,’ each time we’re going to pay attention to that,” Brown said. “There seems to be a lot of hysteria right now.”
my teacher forcing me to go to class even though there’s like 15 students coughing and I don’t want the coronavirus pic.twitter.com/mcVapdNE8s — Vincent Sepulveda (@crimeslunk) January 28, 2020
The current outbreak presents a challenge for public health officials trying to communicate across generational lines. Trusted agencies with high levels of expertise such as the World Health Organization and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention aren’t the places to which young people typically turn for information.
In Southern California, high school and university students have launched campaigns for classes to be canceled until the outbreak subsides. False reports of infected students have circulated on campuses, while panic has prompted not just the widespread use of face masks but also xenophobia and anti-Chinese sentiment among students.
Advertisement
A petition to cancel classes in the Alhambra Unified School District had garnered more than 14,000 signatures as of Wednesday. Even if some kids were just trying to get out of school, many have been going to school in masks for several days, said district spokeswoman Toby Gilbert.
School staff have been emphasizing that there is no reason to panic. Later this week, nurses will give presentations in each classroom to discuss how to prevent infections and try to quell fears about the virus.
“The coronavirus is hijacking our educational schedules,” Gilbert said. “It’s very hard to compete with dramatic end-of-the-world, ‘we’re all going to die, we’ve got to cancel school, we’ve got to bury ourselves underground’ posts…. We’re struggling with how to keep people calm.”
Los Angeles County officials began fielding questions from school districts countywide last week about students wearing masks and taking other coronavirus precautions, said Susan Chaides, project director of Community Health and Safe Schools at the L.A. County Office of Education.
Though the new strain of coronavirus has infected more than 27,000 people worldwide and killed at least 560, there have been fewer than a dozen cases in the United States. In California, only six cases have been confirmed, all of them people who had recently traveled to China or had close contact with someone who did.
The single case in L.A. County was a traveler returning from China. Officials are not recommending that anyone wear masks to protect against the virus, but some L.A. students still are, Chaides said.
“Fear is very high,” Chaides said.
How do people get the corona virus, just install anti-virus software — Vlout Vs The Wrld 🌎 (@vloutbans) January 31, 2020
Mckayla Fontanez, 20, purchased hand sanitizer and began wearing face masks in crowded places after she learned about the coronavirus. On the L.A. subway, she now pays attention to what she touches, such as the handrail on the escalator and the pole on the train car, she said.
Yet she still doesn’t feel totally safe from infection, she said. She has followed a flurry of updates online as coronavirus cases increase and pop up in new countries.
“I’m still kind of unsettled even though I do have my own precautions,” said Fontanez, who lives in North Hollywood.
Young people are particularly susceptible to anxiety because of the number of channels through which they receive information about the coronavirus, sorting through TikTok and Instagram videos, updates from their friends and families as well as news headlines, said Diane Francis, an associate professor of health communication at the University of Kentucky.
“It’s the sheer amount of information coming across at one time, and the complexity of the information as well,” she said. “It’s difficult for them to decipher what is real and what is fake, and because of that, that induces anxiety and fears and worries.”
The internet tends to favor exaggerations or worst-case scenarios. Coronavirus jokes, intended to make light of the outbreak, often have a dark undertone. The bio for Instagram account @coronavirusplague, which exclusively shares memes about the virus, reads: “ Just trying to make y’all laugh before we die.”
Smartphones have given adolescents more information than ever before and made them aware of the latest disease outbreak, something that was probably not true a decade ago, Francis said. But scrolling through headlines or tweets doesn’t provide necessary context, she said: that the risk of Americans catching the coronavirus remains low.
“A lot more people are going to know the name ‘coronavirus,’ primarily because of the spread of the name through hashtags, through tweets, through the memes,” Francis said. “But what exactly is it? How does it spread? ... Young people in particular are less likely to have that information than just know the name.”
Alena Garcia, 21, peered over her black face mask at her phone as she was waiting for a train in a downtown L.A. Metro station on a recent weekday. She first read about coronavirus online last week, she said.
“Better be safe than sorry,” said Garcia, who lives in Sylmar.
People’s imaginations tend to fill in uncertainty with worst-case scenarios, creating a challenge for scientists and public health officials trying to communicate about an emerging epidemic, experts say.
“The public wants to have this nice narrative, they want to understand everything in one story, they want it to be nicely packaged — and unfortunately that’s not the reality we live in,” said USC medical education lecturer Sarah Mojarad.
The ability for anyone to share things on the internet has removed the gatekeepers who used to vet information before it was widely disseminated, allowing others without expertise to fill in those gaps with conspiracy theories or other false information, she said.
Francis with the University of Kentucky said the coronavirus outbreak could provide a learning opportunity for public health officials trying to bridge a cultural gap with young people.
She said officials could try sharing a meme showing that the new coronavirus is less dangerous than the flu in the United States. Though it’s possible, she said, that it would be drowned out by the high volume of posts exaggerating coronavirus’ danger.
“We know how [young people] access information, but we’re still trying to understand what works in terms of communicating to them in terms of risks of certain health issues,” she said.
Ellie Mitchell, 22, first learned about the new coronavirus after she saw it referenced in a meme. She quickly figured out that the flu is far more dangerous in the U.S., she said.
A pharmacy technician in San Francisco, Mitchell already washes her hands between interacting with almost every customer who comes into the drug store where she works.
In the last couple of weeks, she started disinfecting her phone and wallet with rubbing alcohol when she got home from work. But it isn’t necessarily because of the coronavirus, she said — the outbreak just got her thinking about how to prevent infections generally.
“These items are carriers of germs — I’d rather take two seconds to do that than be sick for two weeks,” she said.