latimes--2020-05-01--Judge refuses to block Newsom's order closing Orange County beaches

An Orange County judge on Friday rejected a request from Huntington Beach seeking a temporary restraining order against the governor ’ s decision to close county beaches in an effort to slow the spread of the coronavirus .
It ’ s a victory for Gov .
Gavin Newsom , who has asserted that it ’ s too soon to lift state stay-at-home order .
However , the coastal battle in the state is continuing , and an injunction on the governor ’ s order is still possible .
Orange County Superior Judge Nathan Scott set a hearing for May 11 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for an injunction against Newsom ’ s order .
Dana Point , another Orange County coastal city , had also joined the suit to block the beach closure .
On Friday , hundreds of residents across the state staged protests against the governor ’ s stance on the matter , saying there were fed up with six weeks of restrictions that have curbed their movements and beach visits .
The crowd that descended on the intersection of Pacific Coast Highway and Main Street in Huntington Beach was significantly larger than a demonstration at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Pier two weeks ago .
The protesters said they were fighting for their freedom and standing up against what they felt was an abuse of power by the governor .
“ I served in the army and fought tyrants and dictators overseas and this has gone too far , ” said veteran and protester Andrew Norman .
“ I didn ’ t do that to come back here and live under a tyrant in my own country.
” Around him , children held up signs that read : “ I want to go @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” The Orange County beach closure was intended to avert a repeat of last weekend , when thousands flocked to sandy stretches that had been opened , even as shorelines in neighboring Los Angeles County remained closed .
L.A. County has reported 24,257 cases of the coronavirus and 1,172 related deaths .
“ Specific issues on some of those beaches have raised alarm bells , ” Newsom said Thursday .
“ People that are congregating there , that weren ’ t practicing physical distancing , that may go back to their community outside @ @ @ @ @ @ @ know that they contracted the disease and now they put other people at risk , put our hospital system at risk.
” The governor said the beaches would be reopened soon if the situation in Orange County improves .
But that didn ’ t satisfy county leaders and officials in some coastal communities , who argue they should decide on shore restrictions based on local conditions .
The Huntington Beach City Council voted Thursday night during an emergency session to seek an injunction against Newsom ’ s order .
“ We are both @ @ @ @ @ @ @ today by Gov .
Newsom and the state of California , ” Mayor Lyn Semeta said in a statement .
The city , she said , had worked to discourage overcrowding at the beaches and to keep them safe so residents “ can experience physical and mental health benefits from accessing the Pacific Ocean.
” “ Our experience here locally , ” she said , “ has been that most people are being responsible and complying with social distancing , and given that Orange County has among the lowest per-capita COVID-19 death rates @ @ @ @ @ @ @ action today seems to prioritize politics over data.
” Orange County had reported 2,537 cases of COVID-19 and 50 related deaths as of Friday .
Other cities were also weighing their legal options when it came to the beach-closure order .
San Clemente Mayor Pro Tem Laura Ferguson said Thursday that she reached out to the city manager and city attorney Wednesday night after she heard about the proposed order , suggesting they review what legal authority the governor had to close city beaches .
“ I ’ m hoping the governor can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to be doing this to cities because , in my opinion , it appears to be government overreach .
Local beaches are under the control of the cities , not the state , ” she said .
Newport Beach City Council planned to hold a special meeting over the weekend to discuss the possibility of challenging the directive .
When asked whether he had any concerns regarding enforcement of the state ’ s order to close Orange County ’ s beaches , Newsom said Friday he has “ incredible confidence ” in local @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that “ it ’ s not just an enforcement mindset , it ’ s also an encouragement mindset.
” “ Again , the only thing — I mean it , the only thing — that ’ s going to hold us back is a spread of this virus , ” Newsom said .
“ And the only thing that is assured to advance the spread of the virus is thousands of people congregating together , not practicing social distancing or physical distancing .
If we can avoid that , then we ’ re @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of this with modifications a lot quicker.
” Meanwhile , smaller communities across the state that have seen little impact from the virus have been lobbying Newsom to allow them to ease stay-at-home restrictions .
The governor so far has refused , saying conditions are too risky .
But one Northern California county appears to be moving ahead anyway .
Modoc County planned to allow all businesses , schools and churches to reopen starting Friday , as long as people stay six feet apart , according to a statement signed by the county @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Board of Supervisors and other county officials .
“ The health and safety of Modoc County residents is and continues to be our number one priority .
This reopening plan was made in the best interest of residents ’ physical , mental and economic health , ” the statement said .
The county is one of the least-populated in the state , with fewer than 9,000 residents , and one of only four in California that have not reported a single case of coronavirus infection .
It ’ s unclear whether the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ between Modoc County and Newsom , whose statewide stay-at-home order supersedes local laws .
Newsom said Thursday that he was aware of Modoc ’ s announced intentions but did not know details of the county ’ s plan .
However , he said California ’ s stay-at-home order “ overlays all the orders in the state.
” “ You can go further and be more prescriptive and restrictive , but when you loosen up and you loosen beyond … then it ’ s in conflict , and therein becomes the challenge , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , sheriff Erik Apperson said he would not enforce restrictions of movement in beaches and outdoor recreation areas .
“ This one-size-fits-all response does not serve the people of Del Norte County , ” Apperson said .
“ We are already sacrificing more than our share and frankly we are exemplary in our efforts as a community .
Beaches and outdoor recreation are essential aspects of our daily lives here and critical to our mental/physical well being.
” Newsom pointed to examples of other countries that saw a resurgence of the coronavirus after @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Look what happened in Japan .
Look what happened in Singapore .
Look what happened in China , ” he said .
“ When you pull back too quickly , you literally put people ’ s lives at risk.
” When it comes to matters of public health , the state has wide powers to enact regulations and restrictions , according to Julie Nice , a constitutional law professor at the University of San Francisco .
Counties and other local governments “ may enforce health and safety and sanitation rules , ” she @ @ @ @ @ @ @ do not conflict with the state ’ s general law.
” That doesn ’ t seem to be the case with what Modoc County has proposed , she said Friday .
“ From everything I can tell from the governor ’ s orders and what the county has said it plans to do , it appears to directly conflict with state law , ” she said .
“ And I think , as a matter of governmental power , the county ’ s likely to lose against the state.
” If such a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ argue that the state ’ s rules are unreasonable , but Nice said that would likely be an uphill battle .
“ Just thinking logically , a contagious infection does not respect county boundaries , ” she said .
“ And so I would be very surprised if any court would find the state ’ s statewide rules to be unreasonable , because that ’ s a very low bar.
” Should Newsom decide to intervene , Nice said the governor could negotiate directly with county officials to hammer out a resolution or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ turn to the courts to block the reopening plan .
“ The general police power of a state , and particularly when it ’ s applied in the public health context , puts the courts in a position of really being extremely reluctant to second-guess the judgment calls of the scientific experts , ” she said .
Not all local governments are seeking to overturn stay-at-home regulations .
Fresno Mayor Lee Brand announced Friday that the city ’ s local order is now in effect through the end of May — but it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reopen .
In a video message , Brand said Fresno officials will monitor the situation daily and make changes toward reopening the local economy .
“ We are still navigating uncharted waters , ” he said .
“ I believe we have a safe and sensible process to rebuild our economy , get back to work and start restoring our normal lives .
”

Alex Wigglesworth, Luke Money, Anh Do, Richard Winton, Priscella Vega, Alejandra Reyes-Velarde

Mounted police line up to keep protesters on the sidewalk as hundreds of people rally at the intersection of Main Street and Pacific Coast Highway in Huntington Beach.
An Orange County judge rejected a request Friday from Huntington Beach seeking a temporary restraining order against the governor’s decision to close county beaches in an effort to slow the spread of the coronavirus.
It’s a victory for Gov. Gavin Newsom, who has asserted that it’s too soon to lift the state stay-at-home order. However, the coastal battle in the state is continuing, and an injunction on the governor’s order is still possible.
Orange County Superior Court Judge Nathan Scott set a hearing for May 11 to consider the city’s request for an injunction against Newsom’s order. Dana Point, another Orange County coastal city, had also joined the suit to block the beach closure.
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1 / 30 Over 1,500 people attended a rally at the capitol in Sacramento, May 1, 2020. asking for the reopening of the economy, closed due to the coronavirus. (Carolyn Cole/Los Angeles Times) 2 / 30 Over 1,500 people attended a rally at the capitol in Sacramento, May 1, 2020. asking for the reopening of the economy, closed due to the coronavirus. (Carolyn Cole/Los Angeles Times) 3 / 30 Over 1,500 people attended a rally at the capitol in Sacramento, May 1, 2020. asking for the reopening of the economy, closed due to the coronavirus. (Carolyn Cole/Los Angeles Times) 4 / 30 Alicia Cruz, center, of Elk Grove, Calif., takes part in a protest at the California State Capitol. She said she was there to protect civil liberties, her children’s future and future livelihoods. (Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times) 5 / 30 A protester holds a U.S. flag outside his car while joining a rally at the intersection of Main Street and Pacific Coast Highway in Huntington Beach calling on Gov. Gavin Newsom to reopen beaches and lift stay-at-home orders. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times) 6 / 30 Gareth Davies of Aliso Viejo waves the U.S. flag in Huntington Beach while protesting Gov. Gavin Newsom’s closure of Orange County beaches. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times) 7 / 30 Huntington Beach lifeguards patrol with a boat to try to clear surfers out of the water while protesters rallied nearby. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times) 8 / 30 An aerial view of surfers in the waters off Huntington Beach on Friday. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times) 9 / 30 Mounted police line up to keep protesters on the sidewalk at the intersection of Main Street and Pacific Coast Highway in Huntington Beach. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times) 10 / 30 Motorists join the protesters at the intersection of Main Street and Pacific Coast Highway in Huntington Beach. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times) 11 / 30 Hundreds of protesters rally at the intersection of Main Street and Pacific Coast Highway in Huntington Beach. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times) 12 / 30 Protesters rally at the intersection of Main Street and Pacific Coast Highway in Huntington Beach. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times) 13 / 30 Mounted police line up to keep protesters on the sidewalk at the intersection of Main Street and Pacific Coast Highway in Huntington Beach. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times) 14 / 30 California Highway Patrol officers take into custody a woman who refused to follow orders to move off the Capitol grounds during a protest Friday. (Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times) 15 / 30 More than 1,500 people took part in a protest at the Capitol in Sacramento, seeking a reopening of the California economy. (Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times) 16 / 30 California Highway Patrol officers take into custody a woman who refused to follow orders to move off the state Capitol grounds in Sacramento during a protest Friday. (Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times) 17 / 30 Hundreds of protesters gather at the state Capitol in Sacramento to protest Gov. Gavin Newsom’s stay-at-home order to slow the spread of the coronavirus. (Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times) 18 / 30 Protesters converge on Huntington Beach on Friday to demand stay-at-home rules be lifted. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times) 19 / 30 Protesters at Huntington Beach on Friday demand stay-at-home rules be lifted. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times) 20 / 30 Protesters demand that California’s stay-at-home rules be lifted at Huntington Beach on Friday. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times) 21 / 30 Hundreds of people converge in downtown Los Angeles to call on California Gov. Gavin Newsom to lift stay-at-home orders and reopen the state economy, saying the coronavirus lockdown has hurt workers. (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles) 22 / 30 A proponent of opening the economy as quickly as possible, right, gets into a verbal altercation with a counterprotester at Los Angeles City Hall. (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times) 23 / 30 A protester calling for the end of stay-at-home restrictions, left, argues with a counterprotester outside L.A. City Hall. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times) 24 / 30 A Los Angeles police officer stands outside City Hall on Friday as protesters call on the city and state governments to lift stay-at-home orders. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times) 25 / 30 Protesters demanding that stay-at-home rules be lifted gather outside L.A. City Hall on Friday. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times) 26 / 30 Protesters call for the end of coronavirus stay-at-home orders outside City Hall in downtown Los Angeles. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times) 27 / 30 Protesters in downtown Los Angeles call for the end of stay-at-home orders. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times) 28 / 30 Protesters demanding the end of the coronavirus lockdown wave flags in downtown Los Angeles. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times) 29 / 30 Hundreds of people converge in downtown Los Angeles to demand the reopening of the California economy. (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times) 30 / 30 A protester walks into the water in Hermosa Beach following a rally voicing their disagreement with California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s closure of beaches. The residents were joined by about 100 people in chanting to “open the beach,” and then a march to the sand and eventually water, near the Hermosa Beach Pier. (Jay L. Clendenin/Los Angeles Times)
On Friday, hundreds of residents across the state staged protests against the governor’s stance on the matter, saying they were fed up with six weeks of restrictions that have curbed their movements and beach visits.
The crowd that descended on the intersection of Pacific Coast Highway and Main Street in Huntington Beach was significantly larger than a demonstration at the same site near the Huntington Beach Pier two weeks ago. The protesters said they were fighting for their freedom and standing up against what they felt was an abuse of power by the governor.
“I served in the Army and fought tyrants and dictators overseas, and this has gone too far,” said protester Andrew Norman. “I didn’t do that to come back here and live under a tyrant in my own country.”
Around him, children held up signs that read: “I want to go to school. I miss my friends.”
The Orange County beach closure was intended to avert a repeat of last weekend, when thousands flocked to sandy stretches that had been opened, even as shorelines in neighboring Los Angeles County remained closed. L.A. County has reported more than 24,250 cases of coronavirus infection and nearly 1,200 related deaths.
Gareth Davies of Aliso Viejo waves the U.S. flag in Huntington Beach while protesting Gov. Gavin Newsom’s closure of Orange County beaches. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
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“Specific issues on some of those beaches have raised alarm bells,” Newsom said Thursday. “People that are congregating there, that weren’t practicing physical distancing, that may go back to their community outside of Orange County and may not even know that they contracted the disease, and now they put other people at risk, put our hospital system at risk.”
The governor said the beaches would be reopened soon if the situation in Orange County improves.
But that didn’t satisfy county leaders and officials in some coastal communities, who argue they should decide on shore restrictions based on local conditions.
California After so many sacrifices, some Californians draw the line at closing beaches When Newsom ordered a temporary ‘hard close’ of Orange County beaches, he touched a nerve in a state where a day at the beach is akin to a birthright.
The Huntington Beach City Council voted Thursday night during an emergency session to seek an injunction against Newsom’s order.
Mayor Lyn Semeta said that the beachgoers were maintaining proper distancing over the weekend and that the county has among the lowest per capita COVID-19 death rates in California. Newsom’s order, she said, was prioritizing politics over data. Orange County had reported 2,537 cases of COVID-19 and 50 related deaths as of Friday.
During Friday’s hearing, city attorneys for Dana Point and Huntington Beach said Newsom had issued his order based on a photograph published by a local newspaper instead of relying on data or local law enforcement.
“A hammer was dropped on the city and the city was placed in a very difficult position, literally overnight, to try and deal with this change and direction,” said Huntington Beach City Atty. Michael Gates.
Motorists join protesters rallying at the intersection of Main Street and Pacific Coast Highway in Huntington Beach. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
Gates said the city wasn’t aware of the governor’s concern over beach attendance until the order was issued.
“We went to great pains to demonstrate that the pictures [were] taken by a camera at an angle that gives the impression of a very crowded beach,” said Dana Point City Atty. Patrick Muñoz.
Mark Beckington, California’s supervising deputy attorney general, urged the judge to give the state time to assert its authority in briefings before reaching a decision. Beckington said the matter of local control — even for a charter city such as Huntington Beach — wouldn’t overrule the state’s orders, especially amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
Other cities were also weighing their legal options when it came to the beach-closure order.
San Clemente Mayor Pro Tem Laura Ferguson said Thursday that she reached out to the city manager and city attorney Wednesday night after she heard about the proposed order, suggesting they review what legal authority the governor had to close city beaches.
“I’m hoping the governor can cite some valid reason under case law to be doing this to cities because, in my opinion, it appears to be government overreach. Local beaches are under the control of the cities, not the state,” she said.
An aerial view of protesters at the intersection of Main Street and Pacific Coast Highway in Huntington Beach. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
The Newport Beach City Council planned to hold a special meeting over the weekend to discuss the possibility of challenging the directive.
Asked whether he had any concerns regarding enforcement of the state’s order to close Orange County’s beaches, Newsom said Friday that he has “incredible confidence” in local law enforcement agencies but also stressed that “it’s not just an enforcement mindset, it’s also an encouragement mindset.”
“Again, the only thing — I mean it, the only thing — that’s going to hold us back is a spread of this virus,” Newsom said. “And the only thing that is assured to advance the spread of the virus is thousands of people congregating together, not practicing social distancing or physical distancing. If we can avoid that, then we’re going to get to the other side of this with modifications a lot quicker.”
California Rural California is demanding to reopen now even as Newsom urges patience Six weeks into the governor’s order, pressure has mounted for officials to begin phasing out restrictions. Nineteen counties from Humboldt to Tuolumne have recorded no fatalities from the virus.
Meanwhile, smaller communities across the state that have seen little recorded spread of the virus have been lobbying Newsom to allow them to ease stay-at-home restrictions.
The governor so far has refused, saying conditions are too risky. But one Northern California county appears to be moving ahead anyway.
Modoc County planned to allow all businesses, schools and churches to reopen starting Friday, as long as people stay six feet apart, according to a statement signed by the county health officer, sheriff-coroner, chair of the Board of Supervisors and other county officials.
Angelina Sabadin, 17, center, a high school senior from Upland, joins the protesters in Huntington Beach. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
“The health and safety of Modoc County residents is and continues to be our number one priority. This reopening plan was made in the best interest of residents’ physical, mental and economic health,” the statement said.
The county is one of the least populated in the state, with fewer than 9,000 residents, and one of only four in California that have not reported a single case of coronavirus infection.
It’s unclear whether the reopening will result in a legal showdown between Modoc County and Newsom, whose statewide stay-at-home order supersedes local laws.
Newsom said Thursday that he was aware of Modoc’s announced intentions but did not know details of the county’s plan. However, he said, California’s stay-at-home order “overlays all the orders in the state.”
“You can go further and be more prescriptive and restrictive, but when you loosen up and you loosen beyond … then it’s in conflict, and therein becomes the challenge,” he said.
In Del Norte County, Sheriff Erik Apperson said he would not enforce restrictions on movement at beaches and outdoor recreation areas. The county’s efforts to appeal to the state to open parts of the county, including giving drivers access to state parks, have failed so far.
“This one-size-fits-all response does not serve the people of Del Norte County,” Apperson said. “We are already sacrificing more than our share, and frankly we are exemplary in our efforts as a community. Beaches and outdoor recreation are essential aspects of our daily lives here and critical to our mental/physical well-being.”
Newsom pointed to examples of other countries that saw a resurgence of the coronavirus after relaxing some of their restrictions.
“Look what happened in Japan. Look what happened in Singapore. Look what happened in China,” he said. “When you pull back too quickly, you literally put people’s lives at risk.”
When it comes to matters of public health, the state has wide powers to enact regulations and restrictions, said Julie Nice, a constitutional law professor at the University of San Francisco.
Counties and other local governments “may enforce health and safety and sanitation rules,” she said, “so long as they do not conflict with the state’s general law.”
That doesn’t seem to be the case with what Modoc County has proposed, she said Friday.
A protester in Huntington Beach wears a mask that reads “Open California” and carries a copy of the Declaration of Independence. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
“From everything I can tell from the governor’s orders and what the county has said it plans to do, it appears to directly conflict with state law,” she said. “And I think, as a matter of governmental power, the county’s likely to lose against the state.”
If such a conflict exists, the county could conceivably argue that the state’s rules are unreasonable, but Nice said that would probably be an uphill battle.
“Just thinking logically, a contagious infection does not respect county boundaries,” she said. “And so I would be very surprised if any court would find the state’s statewide rules to be unreasonable, because that’s a very low bar.”
Should Newsom decide to intervene, Nice said, the governor could negotiate directly with county officials to hammer out a resolution or, barring that, the state could turn to the courts to block the reopening plan.
“The general police power of a state, and particularly when it’s applied in the public health context, puts the courts in a position of really being extremely reluctant to second-guess the judgment calls of the scientific experts,” she said.
Not all local governments are seeking to overturn stay-at-home regulations. Fresno Mayor Lee Brand announced Friday that the city’s local order is now in effect through the end of May — but it has been modified so some businesses can reopen.
In a video message, Brand said Fresno officials will monitor the situation daily and make changes toward reopening the local economy.
“We are still navigating uncharted waters,” he said. “I believe we have a safe and sensible process to rebuild our economy, get back to work and start restoring our normal lives.”
In Los Angeles, Mayor Eric Garcetti urged residents — and protesters — to maintain high standards when following social distancing rules.
“Exercise your constitutional rights. That’s important,” he said. “Whether it’s our beaches, our trails, our workplaces or where we protest, we have to be smart.”
Times staff writer Andrew J. Campa contributed to this report.


latimes--2020-05-01--With no coronavirus cases, a California county defies Gov. Newsom and reopens today

Modoc County , which has fewer than 9,000 residents and reported zero cases of the coronavirus , is set to become the first county in California to ease stay-at-home rules Friday , despite Gov .
Gavin Newsom ’ s urging to keep them in place for now .
The remote county in far Northern California , which borders Oregon and Nevada , announced that businesses , schools and churches may reopen starting Friday , as long as .
“ Our businesses are dying and people need to be able to feed their children and pay their rent , ” said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the county ’ s Office of Emergency Services .
“ We live a different life than the rest of California .
We ’ re very rural and naturally socially distanced in our everyday lives.
” “ The health and safety of Modoc County residents is and continues to be our number one priority .
This reopening plan was made in the best interest of residents ’ physical , mental and economic health , ” the statement said .
Restaurants and bars will be allowed to host diners , but only at half the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ older and residents with underlying health conditions will still be required to stay home except to conduct essential business , and large gatherings where people can not stay six feet apart will still be banned .
Modoc County is one of four California counties that have not reported a single case of coronavirus infection .
“ This is a plan , this is not an order , ” the Modoc County Sheriff ’ s Office said in a statement .
“ This is simply what we are proposing that is eligible to open @ @ @ @ @ @ @ want the option to be given to business owners so that when they feel the time is right , they can make that decision .
... We need to do this in a smart and strategic way to keep us all healthy.
” Officials have said maintaining public health will be a top priority .
“ We ’ re doing it very strategically and in stages just as the governor is recommending and we feel confident in that , ” Modoc County Sheriff Tex Dowdy told KRCR-TV News .
“ The county in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ without us , so it was in our best interest to get some framework out there and some guidelines for them to follow.
” Just because the county has started to reopen doesn ’ t mean it ’ s back to business as usual , though .
“ We encourage you all to continue to practice social distancing , good hand hygiene and to comply with the other recommendations of our public health department and with the reopening letter that Modoc County has issued , as well , ” Modoc Medical Center Chief @ @ @ @ @ @ @ statement Friday .
“ If you are elderly or immuno-compromised , please stay at home as much as possible.
” Restaurant owner Jodie Larranaga told the Associated Press that employees were preparing to open Friday and sending out word to customers .
“ My bar tables are already far apart .
But if people pull their stools together , I ’ m not going to stop them , ” said Larranaga , who owns the Brass Rail .
“ As far as I ’ m concerned , right or wrong , that ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Reopening Modoc schools , however , doesn ’ t seem to be on the agenda just yet , officials said earlier this week .
“ School districts and [ the ] Modoc County Office of Education have and will continue to work closely with Modoc County Public Health , other county agencies and stakeholder groups on plans that would bring students and staff safely back to campuses , ” county Supt .
Mike Martin wrote in a community message Wednesday .
However , “ at this time , there are no return @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the county , he added .
Martin could not be reached for additional comment Friday morning .
Not every institution that could reopen plans to do so , though .
“ It ’ s an unsure thing , ” said Ken Entwistle , senior pastor of GracePoint Church of the Nazarene in Alturas .
“ We , of course , want to open things back up but , at the same point , it ’ s that unknown.
” Entwistle said the stance of the Nazarene denomination is to follow the state @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ ll continue streaming services and devotionals via Facebook Live .
“ We need to pay attention to the prompting of the spirit and we need to look toward our authorities for some answers or some OKs , ” he said .
“ For us , Jesus Christ is the absolute authority.
” on Wednesday to stay home and practice physical distancing , saying they should avoid spoiling the progress the state has made in the coronavirus fight as he prepares to allow some businesses to reopen gradually .
“ Why put ourselves @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a week or two away from significant modifications of our stay-at-home [ order ] , where we can begin a Phase 2 , beginning to reopen sectors of our economy that are low risk ?
” Newsom said .
This week , the governor unveiled the to slowly ease restrictions on Californians in four stages in the weeks and months ahead .
He also announced that in July or early August , which caught some educators off-guard .
Newsom introduced the four-phase plan two weeks after he unveiled six before gradually lifting restrictions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hospital capacity and having plans in place to safely reopen businesses as well as prevent and prepare for the possibility of a second wave of infections .
He has not offered a specific timeline for the changes to be implemented .
It ’ s not yet clear how the state will respond to Modoc ’ s move .
The governor ’ s media office did not immediately answer a request for comment Friday .
When it comes to matters of public health , the state has wide powers to enact regulations and restrictions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ constitutional law professor at the University of San Francisco .
Counties and other local governments “ may enforce health and safety and sanitation rules , ” she said , “ so long as they do not conflict with the state ’ s general law.
” That doesn ’ t seem to be the case with what Modoc County has proposed , she said Friday .
“ From everything I can tell from the governor ’ s orders and what the county has said it plans to do , it appears to directly conflict @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ And I think , as a matter of governmental power , the county ’ s likely to lose against the state.
” If such a conflict exists , the county could conceivably argue that the state ’ s rules are unreasonable , but Nice said that would likely be an uphill battle .
“ Just thinking logically , a contagious infection does not respect county boundaries , ” she said .
“ And so I would be very surprised if any court would find the state ’ s statewide rules to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a very low bar.
” Should Newsom decide to intervene , Nice said the governor could negotiate directly with county officials to hammer out a resolution or , barring that , the state could turn to the courts to block the reopening plan .
“ The general police power of a state , and particularly when it ’ s applied in the public health context , puts the courts in a position of really being extremely reluctant to second-guess the judgment calls of the scientific experts , ” she said .

Leila Miller, Rong-Gong Lin II, Luke Money

The old county courthouse in the Modoc County seat of Alturas, Calif.
Modoc County, which has fewer than 9,000 residents and reported zero cases of the coronavirus, is set to become the first county in California to ease stay-at-home rules Friday, despite Gov. Gavin Newsom’s urging to keep them in place for now.
The remote county in far Northern California, which borders Oregon and Nevada, announced that businesses, schools and churches may reopen starting Friday, as long as people stay six feet apart .
“Our businesses are dying and people need to be able to feed their children and pay their rent,” said Heather Hadwick, the deputy director of the county’s Office of Emergency Services. “We live a different life than the rest of California. We’re very rural and naturally socially distanced in our everyday lives.”
“The health and safety of Modoc County residents is and continues to be our number one priority. This reopening plan was made in the best interest of residents’ physical, mental and economic health,” the statement said.
Restaurants and bars will be allowed to host diners, but only at half the businesses’ capacity. People 65 and older and residents with underlying health conditions will still be required to stay home except to conduct essential business, and large gatherings where people cannot stay six feet apart will still be banned.
The Niles Hotel in Alturas, seat of Modoc County in far northeastern California, where there have been no coronavirus cases reported, ( Carol M. Highsmith / Getty Images)
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Modoc County is one of four California counties that have not reported a single case of coronavirus infection.
“This is a plan, this is not an order,” the Modoc County Sheriff’s Office said in a statement. “This is simply what we are proposing that is eligible to open if preventative measures are possible. We want the option to be given to business owners so that when they feel the time is right, they can make that decision. ... We need to do this in a smart and strategic way to keep us all healthy.”
Officials have said maintaining public health will be a top priority.
“We’re doing it very strategically and in stages just as the governor is recommending and we feel confident in that,” Modoc County Sheriff Tex Dowdy told KRCR-TV News. “The county in itself, the businesses are moving forward without us, so it was in our best interest to get some framework out there and some guidelines for them to follow.”
Just because the county has started to reopen doesn’t mean it’s back to business as usual, though.
“We encourage you all to continue to practice social distancing, good hand hygiene and to comply with the other recommendations of our public health department and with the reopening letter that Modoc County has issued, as well,” Modoc Medical Center Chief Executive Kevin Kramer said in a video statement Friday. “If you are elderly or immuno-compromised, please stay at home as much as possible.”
Restaurant owner Jodie Larranaga told the Associated Press that employees were preparing to open Friday and sending out word to customers.
“My bar tables are already far apart. But if people pull their stools together, I’m not going to stop them,” said Larranaga, who owns the Brass Rail. “As far as I’m concerned, right or wrong, that’s their choice. They are adults.”
Reopening Modoc schools, however, doesn’t seem to be on the agenda just yet, officials said earlier this week.
A hay barn in Modoc County, which has fewer than 9,000 residents and planned to ease stay-at-home restrictions on Friday. ( Carol M. Highsmith / Getty Images)
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“School districts and [the] Modoc County Office of Education have and will continue to work closely with Modoc County Public Health, other county agencies and stakeholder groups on plans that would bring students and staff safely back to campuses,” county Supt. Mike Martin wrote in a community message Wednesday.
However, “at this time, there are no return dates set by any school district” in the county, he added. Martin could not be reached for additional comment Friday morning.
Not every institution that could reopen plans to do so, though.
“It’s an unsure thing,” said Ken Entwistle, senior pastor of GracePoint Church of the Nazarene in Alturas. “We, of course, want to open things back up but, at the same point, it’s that unknown.”
Entwistle said the stance of the Nazarene denomination is to follow the state’s order — which means he’ll continue streaming services and devotionals via Facebook Live.
“We need to pay attention to the prompting of the spirit and we need to look toward our authorities for some answers or some OKs,” he said. “For us, Jesus Christ is the absolute authority.”
Newsom again urged Californians on Wednesday to stay home and practice physical distancing, saying they should avoid spoiling the progress the state has made in the coronavirus fight as he prepares to allow some businesses to reopen gradually.
“Why put ourselves in that position when we are just a week or two away from significant modifications of our stay-at-home [order], where we can begin a Phase 2, beginning to reopen sectors of our economy that are low risk?” Newsom said.
The Modoc County Library in Cedarville. Social-distancing guidelines will remain in effect even as stay-at-home orders are relaxed, county officials said. ( Carol M. Highsmith / Getty Images)
This week, the governor unveiled the broad outline of a plan to slowly ease restrictions on Californians in four stages in the weeks and months ahead. He also announced that schools could potentially reopen in July or early August, which caught some educators off-guard.
Newsom introduced the four-phase plan two weeks after he unveiled six criteria California must meet before gradually lifting restrictions — including more widespread testing, increased hospital capacity and having plans in place to safely reopen businesses as well as prevent and prepare for the possibility of a second wave of infections.
He has not offered a specific timeline for the changes to be implemented.
It’s not yet clear how the state will respond to Modoc’s move. The governor’s media office did not immediately answer a request for comment Friday.
When it comes to matters of public health, the state has wide powers to enact regulations and restrictions, according to Julie Nice, a constitutional law professor at the University of San Francisco.
Counties and other local governments “may enforce health and safety and sanitation rules,” she said, “so long as they do not conflict with the state’s general law.”
That doesn’t seem to be the case with what Modoc County has proposed, she said Friday.
“From everything I can tell from the governor’s orders and what the county has said it plans to do, it appears to directly conflict with state law,” she said. “And I think, as a matter of governmental power, the county’s likely to lose against the state.”
If such a conflict exists, the county could conceivably argue that the state’s rules are unreasonable, but Nice said that would likely be an uphill battle.
“Just thinking logically, a contagious infection does not respect county boundaries,” she said. “And so I would be very surprised if any court would find the state’s statewide rules to be unreasonable, because that’s a very low bar.”
Should Newsom decide to intervene, Nice said the governor could negotiate directly with county officials to hammer out a resolution or, barring that, the state could turn to the courts to block the reopening plan.
“The general police power of a state, and particularly when it’s applied in the public health context, puts the courts in a position of really being extremely reluctant to second-guess the judgment calls of the scientific experts,” she said.


latimes--2020-05-01--Will Orange County enforce Newsom beach closure? Officials vow a fight

A legal showdown over Gov .
Gavin Newsom ’ s order closing Orange County beaches was shaping up Friday after two cities voted to seek a temporary injunction to block the move and the county sheriff said his department didn ’ t plan to make arrests for people simply getting out for beach exercise .
The governor ordered Orange County beaches closed on Thursday despite opposition from local leaders who argue they should decide whether it ’ s safe to Over the weekend , thousands flocked to some Orange County beaches , which remained open even though Los Angeles County @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said the images circulating of people congregating on Orange County ’ s shores were “ disturbing.
” He said beaches would be reopened soon if the situation improves , but he didn ’ t provide a specific timeline .
“ My job as governor is to keep you safe , ” he said Thursday .
“ And when our health folks tell me they can ’ t promise that if we promote another weekend like what we had , then I have to make this adjustment .
I hope it ’ s only @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sheriff Don Barnes said his department will focus on education and voluntary compliance and didn ’ t plan to make arrests at the beaches in their jurisdiction , which includes Dana Point and San Clemente .
He said during a news conference Thursday that most beachgoers have acted responsibly and that they should not fear criminal charges .
“ From an enforcement component , I have no desire to enforce any aspect of that through arrest , ” he said at a news conference .
“ My intent … is to seek voluntary @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Huntington Beach voted during emergency meetings Thursday night to approve filing for an injunction to block Newsom ’ s directive .
Earlier in the day , Huntington Beach Mayor Lyn Semeta said the city invested considerable effort and expense to discourage overcrowding at the beaches and worked hard to ensure the public had safe access to the beach for exercise and mental well-being .
“ Our experience here locally has been that most people are being responsible and complying with social distancing , and given that Orange County has among the lowest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the state ’ s action today seems to prioritize politics over data , ” Semeta said in a written statement .
The Huntington Beach Police Department wrote in a statement Friday morning that the beaches were closed and officers were seeking “ voluntary compliance ” from the public .
Police officials have not outlined how they plan to enforce the beach closures .
Officials in nearby Newport Beach said in a statement Friday that they “ will strive to educate the public about the governor ’ s directive and are hopeful citations @ @ @ @ @ @ @ plans to meet over the weekend to discuss legal options to challenge the closure .
In the meantime , the city is increasing its police presence on the beach and rolling out barricades and signs to make sure people are aware of the closure .
Electronic message boards located on major roads throughout Newport Beach will let potential beachgoers know that the city ’ s coastline will not be accessible .
“ We want to do everything possible to emphasize education and ensure compliance with the state order without citing people , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ That would be the very last resort.
” Orange County officials argue they had made progress in flattening the coronavirus curve , especially compared with neighboring L.A. County , and that a trip to the beach might do more good than harm .
“ Medical professionals tell us the importance of fresh air and sunlight in fighting infectious diseases , including mental health benefits , ” Orange County Supervisor Don Wagner said .
Until now , the decision of whether to keep California beaches open has been left to cities and counties @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with providing equitable access to the outdoors .
Courtney Chen , who shares an apartment with friends in Huntington Beach , said she is “ completely against this crazy closure.
” The retail store assistant , who is temporarily out of work amid the pandemic , said the beach provides an outlet for her .
“ The whole reason we live near the water is to be able to go in the water .
We ’ re already grounded at home , and now we can ’ t go for a swim , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ — the center of the coronavirus crisis in California with more than 1,000 deaths — closed all 72 miles of its coastline weeks ago .
One fear about keeping Orange County beaches open is that residents from harder-hit counties would flock there , potentially spreading the virus .
“ Specific issues on some of those beaches have raised alarm bells , ” Newsom said .
“ People that are congregating there , that weren ’ t practicing physical distancing , that may go back to their community outside of Orange County and may @ @ @ @ @ @ @ disease and now they put other people at risk , put our hospital system at risk.
” Lifelong surfer Alex Carvalho , 23 , said he talked to friends who drove to Orange County from Marina del Rey to catch some waves after officials closed beach access in Los Angeles County .
He said Huntington Beach has a simple allure .
“ I don ’ t think you can find a sunset as beautiful in the winter when the sky turns pink .
It ’ s just stunning — and you can watch @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Surfing , you get a front-row seat to everything that ’ s going on in the water .
It ’ s just this amazing feeling when you ’ re out there , ” he said .
He was out on the water three times last weekend , trying to stay fit during the quarantine .
“ I ’ m definitely sad when things shut down , but whatever happens , I will respect and follow the rules , ” he said .
“ People need to stay healthy .
”

Beachgoers play and relax on the sand in Huntington Beach on Thursday after Gov. Gavin Newsom announced the “hard close” of all Orange County beaches.
A legal showdown over Gov. Gavin Newsom’s order closing Orange County beaches was shaping up Friday after two cities voted to seek a temporary injunction to block the move and the county sheriff said his department didn’t plan to make arrests for people simply getting out for beach exercise.
The governor ordered Orange County beaches closed on Thursday despite opposition from local leaders who argue they should decide whether it’s safe to hit the sand. Over the weekend, thousands flocked to some Orange County beaches, which remained open even though Los Angeles County’s shoreline was closed.
Newsom said the images circulating of people congregating on Orange County’s shores were “disturbing.” He said beaches would be reopened soon if the situation improves, but he didn’t provide a specific timeline.
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California After so many sacrifices, some Californians draw the line at closing beaches When Newsom ordered a temporary ‘hard close’ of Orange County beaches, he touched a nerve in a state where a day at the beach is akin to a birthright.
“My job as governor is to keep you safe,” he said Thursday. “And when our health folks tell me they can’t promise that if we promote another weekend like what we had, then I have to make this adjustment. I hope it’s only a very short-term adjustment.”
Orange County Sheriff Don Barnes said his department will focus on education and voluntary compliance and didn’t plan to make arrests at the beaches in their jurisdiction, which includes Dana Point and San Clemente. He said during a news conference Thursday that most beachgoers have acted responsibly and that they should not fear criminal charges.
“From an enforcement component, I have no desire to enforce any aspect of that through arrest,” he said at a news conference. “My intent … is to seek voluntary compliance.”
City leaders in Dana Point and Huntington Beach voted during emergency meetings Thursday night to approve filing for an injunction to block Newsom’s directive.
California Photos show county lines separate packed beaches from empty ones Southern California had its first big heat wave over the weekend, but L.A. County beaches are closed due to the coronavirus pandemic. Beaches in nearby counties were open, however. Here are a few scenes from the weekend.
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Earlier in the day, Huntington Beach Mayor Lyn Semeta said the city invested considerable effort and expense to discourage overcrowding at the beaches and worked hard to ensure the public had safe access to the beach for exercise and mental well-being.
“Our experience here locally has been that most people are being responsible and complying with social distancing, and given that Orange County has among the lowest per capita COVID-19 death rates in California, the state’s action today seems to prioritize politics over data,” Semeta said in a written statement.
The Huntington Beach Police Department wrote in a statement Friday morning that the beaches were closed and officers were seeking “voluntary compliance” from the public. Police officials have not outlined how they plan to enforce the beach closures.
Officials in nearby Newport Beach said in a statement Friday that they “will strive to educate the public about the governor’s directive and are hopeful citations will be unnecessary.” The City Council plans to meet over the weekend to discuss legal options to challenge the closure.
In the meantime, the city is increasing its police presence on the beach and rolling out barricades and signs to make sure people are aware of the closure. Electronic message boards located on major roads throughout Newport Beach will let potential beachgoers know that the city’s coastline will not be accessible.
“We want to do everything possible to emphasize education and ensure compliance with the state order without citing people,” said John Pope, city spokesman. “That would be the very last resort.”
Orange County officials argue they had made progress in flattening the coronavirus curve, especially compared with neighboring L.A. County, and that a trip to the beach might do more good than harm.
“Medical professionals tell us the importance of fresh air and sunlight in fighting infectious diseases, including mental health benefits,” Orange County Supervisor Don Wagner said.
Until now, the decision of whether to keep California beaches open has been left to cities and counties, which must balance public health risks with providing equitable access to the outdoors.
Courtney Chen, who shares an apartment with friends in Huntington Beach, said she is “completely against this crazy closure.” The retail store assistant, who is temporarily out of work amid the pandemic, said the beach provides an outlet for her.
“The whole reason we live near the water is to be able to go in the water. We’re already grounded at home, and now we can’t go for a swim,” she said.
Los Angeles County — the center of the coronavirus crisis in California with more than 1,000 deaths — closed all 72 miles of its coastline weeks ago. One fear about keeping Orange County beaches open is that residents from harder-hit counties would flock there, potentially spreading the virus.
“Specific issues on some of those beaches have raised alarm bells,” Newsom said. “People that are congregating there, that weren’t practicing physical distancing, that may go back to their community outside of Orange County and may not even know that they contracted the disease and now they put other people at risk, put our hospital system at risk.”
Lifelong surfer Alex Carvalho, 23, said he talked to friends who drove to Orange County from Marina del Rey to catch some waves after officials closed beach access in Los Angeles County.
He said Huntington Beach has a simple allure.
“I don’t think you can find a sunset as beautiful in the winter when the sky turns pink. It’s just stunning — and you can watch it from the middle of the ocean. Surfing, you get a front-row seat to everything that’s going on in the water. It’s just this amazing feeling when you’re out there,” he said.
He was out on the water three times last weekend, trying to stay fit during the quarantine.
“I’m definitely sad when things shut down, but whatever happens, I will respect and follow the rules,” he said. “People need to stay healthy.”


latimes--2020-05-01--Police shoot and kill armed suspect after crash triggers brief pursuit

A suspect who authorities say was armed with a handgun was fatally shot by police Thursday night after fleeing the @ @ @ @ @ Historic South Central .
LAPD officers were driving a marked patrol car along Wall Street @ @ @ @ @ p.m. when they said they saw a vehicle back up and crash into a parked @ @ @ @ @ which had three people inside , did not stop after the crash .
Police pursued @ @ @ @ @ headed west down an alley , Officer Norma Eisenman said .
After a brief pursuit @ @ @ @ @ the car .
One was armed with a handgun .
At least one officer opened @ @ @ @ @ person , Eisenman said .
The person , who has not been identified , was @ @ @ @ @ .
The two others fled and were found hours later after a search involving two @ @ @ @ @ taken into custody and their names have not been released , Eisenman said .

Authorities use helicopters to search for two people who fled after a police shooting April 30.
A suspect who authorities say was armed with a handgun was fatally shot by police Thursday night after fleeing the scene of a crash in Historic South Central.
LAPD officers were driving a marked patrol car along Wall Street near 23rd Street about 9:40 p.m. when they said they saw a vehicle back up and crash into a parked car. The car, which had three people inside, did not stop after the crash. Police pursued the fleeing vehicle as it headed west down an alley, Officer Norma Eisenman said.
After a brief pursuit, three people ran from the car. One was armed with a handgun. At least one officer opened fire and struck the armed person, Eisenman said.
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The person, who has not been identified, was pronounced dead at the scene. The two others fled and were found hours later after a search involving two police helicopters. They were taken into custody and their names have not been released, Eisenman said.


latimes--2020-05-01--Sleeping homeless man killed when car plows into encampment in South L.A.

A homeless man was killed after police say a driver ran off the road and slammed into an encampment in @ @ @ @ @ .
A 19-year-old man was driving south on Flower Street shortly before 3 a.m. when @ @ @ @ @ of the vehicle near 52nd Street and crashed into a homeless encampment where a man @ @ @ @ @ Norma Eisenman said .
The sleeping man , who has not been identified , was @ @ @ @ @ , Eisenman said .
Video from the scene showed Los Angeles Fire Department paramedics performing @ @ @ @ @ a heap of belongings on the sidewalk .
Authorities are trying to determine what caused @ @ @ @ @ of the vehicle .
No arrests have been made , Eisenman said .

A homeless man was killed early May 1 after police say he was struck by an out-of-control car in South Los Angeles.
A homeless man was killed after police say a driver ran off the road and slammed into an encampment in South Los Angeles early Friday.
A 19-year-old man was driving south on Flower Street shortly before 3 a.m. when authorities suspect he lost control of the vehicle near 52nd Street and crashed into a homeless encampment where a man was sleeping, LAPD Officer Norma Eisenman said.
The sleeping man, who has not been identified, was pronounced dead at the scene, Eisenman said. Video from the scene showed Los Angeles Fire Department paramedics performing CPR on the man among a heap of belongings on the sidewalk.
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Authorities are trying to determine what caused the driver to lose control of the vehicle. No arrests have been made, Eisenman said.


latimes--2020-05-01--How the coronavirus is hampering enforcement of California's air pollution rules

The coronavirus is having another unintended effect on California ’ s environment , hindering the enforcement of clean-air rules that could help protect people ’ s lungs during the pandemic .
Field inspections have been halted since mid-March at the California Air Resources Board , which enforces rules on trucks , ships and other major pollution sources , because of health concerns about in-person investigations .
“ All of our enforcement people are now working on analyzing data that we already have ... and they can do that work from their desks , ” Air Resources Board Chair Mary Nichols @ @ @ @ @ @ @ initiating enforcement activities , but they are not out in the field driving around.
” Still , the hiatus means that an array of pollution sources , from soot-belching diesel trucks and cargo ships to methane-leaking landfills and oil and gas sites are undergoing far less scrutiny , at least on the ground , than is typical .
On-site inspections have also decreased at the South Coast Air Quality Management District , which regulates pollution from stationary facilities such as factories and oil refineries across Los Angeles , Orange , Riverside and San @ @ @ @ @ @ @ most consequential in the state ’ s smoggiest areas , including communities near ports , warehouses and freight corridors that remain hard-hit by health-damaging pollution .
Air quality improved temporarily during the pandemic , in part because of spring weather .
But smog has already returned to Southern California , with a string of recent bad air days in spite of dramatic reductions in vehicle traffic emissions under stay-at-home orders .
The prospect of reduced oversight of polluters worries environmentalists , especially at a time when people ’ s lungs are at risk @ @ @ @ @ @ @ air quality more than ever .
“ Field inspections are often the best way to ensure that the rules are being followed , and everyone breathing the air in California deserves to know that our lungs and health are being protected , ” said Bill Magavern , policy director for the Coalition for Clean Air .
“ For example , trucks that violate emissions standards expose nearby communities to excessive levels of toxic diesel exhaust , and roadside inspections are the best way to enforce the safeguards.
” In 2019 , the state @ @ @ @ @ @ @ inspections a month on trucks , ships , small off-road engines , consumer products and an array of other emissions sources , air board records show .
Figures for this year were not available .
After switching to telecommuting on March 17 , “ we temporarily curtailed physical inspections , in order to meet social distancing requirements , and instead focused on desk audits , ” Air Resources Board spokesman Dave Clegern said .
Clegern said the agency ’ s enforcement program “ is open and active .
Most of our programs do @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sole means of identifying noncompliance.
” Staff members continue to issue citations , close cases and and are able to continue enforcement on a wide range of programs “ without conducting physical inspections in the field , ” he said .
The Air Resources Board is updating its protocols and working to procure supplies such as masks , hand sanitizer , disinfecting wipes , and gloves , and expects to increase in-person inspections within the next month , focusing on the investigation of complaints at facilities such as landfills “ where inspections are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
Southern California air quality officials said they are still conducting field inspections , though less frequently , and with precautions taken to protect employees and the public .
On-site inspections in March declined by about 15 % to 20 % compared with a year ago , as did complaints from the public about air pollution , according to estimates released by the South Coast air district .
At the same time , the district said it has ramped up surveillance operations , in which inspectors monitor facilities such as oil refineries @ @ @ @ @ @ @ distance , using remote sensors and other methods to search for excess emissions without coming into close contact with people inside .
The California Environmental Protection Agency said some of its other boards and departments have also cut field inspections because of coronavirus restrictions .
The Department of Toxic Substances Control has temporarily halted in-person inspections of hazardous waste facilities .
The Department of Pesticide Regulation is still inspecting produce , but not physical stores or manufacturing facilities .
The decline in air inspection visits comes as both state and local environmental regulators @ @ @ @ @ @ @ requests for temporary relief from compliance obligations that companies are having difficulty meeting because of coronavirus restrictions .
Officials have been clear , however , that any leniency they will offer on compliance is far narrower than the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency suspension announced in March , which indefinitely waives a broad array of health and environmental protections in response to the pandemic .
An April 15 statement from the state EPA said that “ remedies , such as the extension of deadlines , may be warranted , ” but that regulated parties @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that define the hardship ” before falling out of compliance .
In addition to continuing investigations and taking action on complaints , the agency said it “ will also fill any enforcement gaps left by the U.S. EPA ’ s decision to reduce environmental oversight.
” “ Controlling pollution in communities with high rates of respiratory disease and multiple environmental burdens remains a priority , ” the statement said , “ especially given recent studies that suggest a correlation between these factors and COVID-19 susceptibility.
” Research by Harvard University scientists in April @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in U.S. counties where residents have been exposed to higher smog levels over years .
Health experts suspect that bad air makes people more susceptible to the coronavirus , based on past findings about similar viruses .
The South Coast air district has also issued an “ enforcement discretion ” advisory offering temporary relief from some requirements .
“ You can ’ t just go out and increase your pollution .
You ’ ve got to abide by those emissions requirements , ” South Coast air district Executive Officer Wayne Nastri said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ deadline for a report or if there ’ s something that you need to submit that ’ s administrative in nature , we ’ re going to give you time.
” Nastri said air district staff made the changes after hearing an increasing number of informal requests , ranging from small , mom-and-pop businesses to sprawling oil refineries , that were having trouble meeting their regulatory obligations because of telecommuting , workforce reductions and social distancing requirements .
Bill La Marr , executive director of the California Small Business Alliance , applauded the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ concerns of businesses that are either struggling or have been forced to shut down , and may be operating with expired permits or other violations .
“ They ’ re going to be a little more open-minded than they normally would , ” he said , which will be helpful to operations facing a slew of new requirements because of social distancing and other health constraints , La Marr said .
“ It ’ s going to be a real heavy lift , and some things may just be inadvertently overlooked.
” When @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said he doesn ’ t think anybody is using the coronavirus as an opportunity to skirt emission rules .
“ They don ’ t go out deliberately to do this , ” he said .
“ They ’ re interested in making money , and wasting product just through nefarious operations really isn ’ t economically viable.
” The South Coast district , meanwhile , has moved to stop scheduled fee increases on polluters in response to the pandemic , an action that will result in the loss of an estimated $ 2.5 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be used for agency operations such as hiring inspectors .
It would also help reduce a massive , long-standing shortfall between what the district spends regulating emissions and what it recoups through fees .
Adrian Martinez , an attorney at the environmental law nonprofit Earthjustice , said the air district ’ s actions show it is bending too easily to industry complaints .
“ Polluting industries have over the last couple decades built up a significant lobbying presence at AQMD to make it really painful and hard to adopt regulations , to increase @ @ @ @ @ @ @ job and to develop a real air cleanup plan , ” Martinez said , “ and this is when that effort really shines .
”

Light traffic moves through the Harbor and Century freeway interchange in Los Angeles on April 2, 2020, during the coronavirus lockdown.
The coronavirus is having another unintended effect on California’s environment, hindering the enforcement of clean-air rules that could help protect people’s lungs during the pandemic.
Field inspections have been halted since mid-March at the California Air Resources Board, which enforces rules on trucks, ships and other major pollution sources, because of health concerns about in-person investigations.
“All of our enforcement people are now working on analyzing data that we already have ... and they can do that work from their desks,” Air Resources Board Chair Mary Nichols said. “They are finding and initiating enforcement activities, but they are not out in the field driving around.”
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Still, the hiatus means that an array of pollution sources, from soot-belching diesel trucks and cargo ships to methane-leaking landfills and oil and gas sites are undergoing far less scrutiny, at least on the ground, than is typical.
On-site inspections have also decreased at the South Coast Air Quality Management District, which regulates pollution from stationary facilities such as factories and oil refineries across Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside and San Bernardino counties.
That shift could be most consequential in the state’s smoggiest areas, including communities near ports, warehouses and freight corridors that remain hard-hit by health-damaging pollution. Air quality improved temporarily during the pandemic, in part because of spring weather. But smog has already returned to Southern California, with a string of recent bad air days in spite of dramatic reductions in vehicle traffic emissions under stay-at-home orders.
The prospect of reduced oversight of polluters worries environmentalists, especially at a time when people’s lungs are at risk from the novel coronavirus and need good air quality more than ever.
“Field inspections are often the best way to ensure that the rules are being followed, and everyone breathing the air in California deserves to know that our lungs and health are being protected,” said Bill Magavern, policy director for the Coalition for Clean Air. “For example, trucks that violate emissions standards expose nearby communities to excessive levels of toxic diesel exhaust, and roadside inspections are the best way to enforce the safeguards.”
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In 2019, the state Air Resources Board averaged more than 2,800 inspections a month on trucks, ships, small off-road engines, consumer products and an array of other emissions sources, air board records show. Figures for this year were not available.
After switching to telecommuting on March 17, “we temporarily curtailed physical inspections, in order to meet social distancing requirements, and instead focused on desk audits,” Air Resources Board spokesman Dave Clegern said.
Clegern said the agency’s enforcement program “is open and active. Most of our programs do not rely on physical inspections as the sole means of identifying noncompliance.” Staff members continue to issue citations, close cases and and are able to continue enforcement on a wide range of programs “without conducting physical inspections in the field,” he said.
The Air Resources Board is updating its protocols and working to procure supplies such as masks, hand sanitizer, disinfecting wipes, and gloves, and expects to increase in-person inspections within the next month, focusing on the investigation of complaints at facilities such as landfills “where inspections are critical to ongoing enforcement,” Clegern said.
Southern California air quality officials said they are still conducting field inspections, though less frequently, and with precautions taken to protect employees and the public.
On-site inspections in March declined by about 15% to 20% compared with a year ago, as did complaints from the public about air pollution, according to estimates released by the South Coast air district.
At the same time, the district said it has ramped up surveillance operations, in which inspectors monitor facilities such as oil refineries, power plants and factories from a distance, using remote sensors and other methods to search for excess emissions without coming into close contact with people inside.
The California Environmental Protection Agency said some of its other boards and departments have also cut field inspections because of coronavirus restrictions. The Department of Toxic Substances Control has temporarily halted in-person inspections of hazardous waste facilities. The Department of Pesticide Regulation is still inspecting produce, but not physical stores or manufacturing facilities.
The decline in air inspection visits comes as both state and local environmental regulators in California have announced they will consider requests for temporary relief from compliance obligations that companies are having difficulty meeting because of coronavirus restrictions. Officials have been clear, however, that any leniency they will offer on compliance is far narrower than the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency suspension announced in March, which indefinitely waives a broad array of health and environmental protections in response to the pandemic.
An April 15 statement from the state EPA said that “remedies, such as the extension of deadlines, may be warranted,” but that regulated parties must submit “time-limited and specific requests that define the hardship” before falling out of compliance.
In addition to continuing investigations and taking action on complaints, the agency said it “will also fill any enforcement gaps left by the U.S. EPA’s decision to reduce environmental oversight.”
“Controlling pollution in communities with high rates of respiratory disease and multiple environmental burdens remains a priority,” the statement said, “especially given recent studies that suggest a correlation between these factors and COVID-19 susceptibility.”
Research by Harvard University scientists in April found substantially higher death rates from COVID-19 in U.S. counties where residents have been exposed to higher smog levels over years. Health experts suspect that bad air makes people more susceptible to the coronavirus, based on past findings about similar viruses.
The South Coast air district has also issued an “enforcement discretion” advisory offering temporary relief from some requirements.
“You can’t just go out and increase your pollution. You’ve got to abide by those emissions requirements,” South Coast air district Executive Officer Wayne Nastri said. “But if there’s a deadline for a report or if there’s something that you need to submit that’s administrative in nature, we’re going to give you time.”
Nastri said air district staff made the changes after hearing an increasing number of informal requests, ranging from small, mom-and-pop businesses to sprawling oil refineries, that were having trouble meeting their regulatory obligations because of telecommuting, workforce reductions and social distancing requirements.
Bill La Marr, executive director of the California Small Business Alliance, applauded the air district as being responsive to the concerns of businesses that are either struggling or have been forced to shut down, and may be operating with expired permits or other violations.
“They’re going to be a little more open-minded than they normally would,” he said, which will be helpful to operations facing a slew of new requirements because of social distancing and other health constraints, La Marr said. “It’s going to be a real heavy lift, and some things may just be inadvertently overlooked.”
When it comes to inspections, La Marr said he doesn’t think anybody is using the coronavirus as an opportunity to skirt emission rules.
“They don’t go out deliberately to do this,” he said. “They’re interested in making money, and wasting product just through nefarious operations really isn’t economically viable.”
The South Coast district, meanwhile, has moved to stop scheduled fee increases on polluters in response to the pandemic, an action that will result in the loss of an estimated $2.5 million in revenue. That money could be used for agency operations such as hiring inspectors. It would also help reduce a massive, long-standing shortfall between what the district spends regulating emissions and what it recoups through fees.
Adrian Martinez, an attorney at the environmental law nonprofit Earthjustice, said the air district’s actions show it is bending too easily to industry complaints.
“Polluting industries have over the last couple decades built up a significant lobbying presence at AQMD to make it really painful and hard to adopt regulations, to increase fees for the agency to do its job and to develop a real air cleanup plan,” Martinez said, “and this is when that effort really shines.”


latimes--2020-05-01--The pandemic has amplified ageism. 'It's open season for discrimination' against older adults

On the good days , Bonnie Reed believes that , for the first time in a long time , just about everyone is united in a common cause : to protect society ’ s most vulnerable citizens against the coronavirus .
On the bad days , the Sherman Oaks senior is stunned by the carelessness she sees around her .
She sees it in the unmasked young people who saunter toward her and her husband , Alton , with little regard for social distancing .
She sees it in the decisions of some governors to reopen economies despite dire warnings @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who did not want to reveal her age , tries to not take it personally .
But on those bad days , it can feel as though such actions send a clear message about how little some people care about the well-being of older adults , who make up roughly 80 % of those who die from COVID-19 complications .
“ Am I the only one feeling like they ’ re ready to throw us out ?
” she asks herself .
As the debate rages over when or how to resume public @ @ @ @ @ @ @ increasingly borne witness to behavior and rhetoric that implies that their lives are not as valuable as reviving the economy .
Ageism has been quietly pervasive in American culture for decades , according to those who work with and study the health of seniors .
But they fear that this particular form of discrimination has become magnified during the pandemic as those who have lost income and stability look for someone to blame .
“ The stigma [ against elders ] is growing , ” said Dilip Jeste , a geriatric psychiatrist at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Aging .
“ Anytime you mention the virus and risk , immediately people think of older adults .
They think of the people more likely to be hospitalized , to take up beds in the ICU.
” This rejection of prolonged sacrifices made by all for the sake of the old has been voiced from the highest ranks of government .
“ Let ’ s get back to living , ” Texas Lt. Gov .
Dan Patrick told Fox ’ s Tucker Carlson in late March , defending President Trump ’ s push @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Easter .
Patrick , who turned 70 in March , said no one had asked him if he was willing to risk his survival in order to save the American economy for future generations .
But , he added , “ If that ’ s the exchange , I ’ m all in.
” Nationwide anti-lockdown protests show that many have taken that idea to heart .
One woman among the dozens who rallied outside Tennessee ’ s state capitol on April 20 held a sign that read “ Sacrifice the weak , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Paley Ellison , co-founder of The New York Zen Center for Contemplative Care , said a photo of the sign was circulated among the community of older adults he leads in spiritual practice .
“ What does that do to those who are feeling weak ?
” Paley Ellison said .
“ It terrifies them.
” But no one from the group was surprised .
On a Facebook chat , they talked about how a subtler disdain for older people has been a running thread in American culture .
They are well aware @ @ @ @ @ @ @ productivity — the primary measures of worth in the U.S. — are the domains of the young .
But this prejudice has become acute during the pandemic , they agreed .
“ It ’ s open season for discrimination against older , vulnerable people , ” one person commented .
Eight prominent psychologists from across the globe were so concerned about mounting ageism that in mid-April they wrote an academic paper on the issue for the Gerontological Society of America .
“ What we are seeing in public discourse is an increasing portrayal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as being all alike with regard to being helpless , frail , and unable to contribute to society , ” they said .
The negative health effects of ageism are well-documented .
When seniors face age-based discrimination and internalize harmful stereotypes , they are more likely to experience stress and depression and are at higher risk for chronic illnesses .
A 2018 study from researchers at Yale University found that ageism could lead to $ 63 billion in additional annual healthcare costs in the U.S. Jeste , the geriatric psychiatrist at UC San @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ageism could lead to weaker immune systems among the elderly .
“ It could put them at higher risk of developing COVID complications , ” Jeste said .
“ We are perpetuating that.
” Gregory Kuhl , a 69-year-old Hollywood resident , said he experienced age bias well before the coronavirus ’ siege .
Kuhl has severe spinal stenosis , a condition that compresses the nerves in his spinal cord and makes walking painful .
He has often felt invisible in public ; many people assume he isn ’ t capable or worthy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he is older and uses a wheelchair .
That sensation of invisibility has reached a fever pitch during the pandemic .
Going to the grocery store has been especially frustrating , Kuhl said .
Though he receives most of his food through the Meals on Wheels program , Kuhl buys dairy and produce at a Sprouts market near his apartment .
Recently , a cashier pushed Kuhl ’ s groceries to the edge of the checkout counter , indicating that he would need to bag his own groceries to prevent viral spread .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ a bag on his lap , but it was too heavy to lift .
Usually , the cashier would have hung the bag on the back of his wheelchair .
A security guard eventually noticed Kuhl struggling and helped him out .
Kuhl felt similarly disregarded when he learned that most coronavirus testing in Los Angeles occurs at drive-up mobile sites .
“ Where do seniors who no longer drive go to get tested ?
” he wondered .
“ Somebody somewhere needs to be thinking about the consequences [ of the shutdown @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said in an interview .
In these unprecedented times , unfavorable perceptions of older adults can be a matter of life and death , according to advocates for seniors and people with disabilities .
California Gov .
Gavin Newsom was roundly criticized last week after his administration advised hospitals to prioritize younger people with greater life expectancy for care during the coronavirus outbreak .
Those guidelines were swiftly retracted .
They were not , however , without precedent .
When doctors are forced to make gut-wrenching decisions around who will receive scarce medical @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are typically considered : the likelihood that a person ’ s life will be saved , and the estimated years of life left , said David Magnus , director of the Stanford Center for Biomedical Ethics .
“ If you ’ ve got strong evidence that someone will die in a year , that ’ s a pretty good reason for saying that person should be a lower priority for scarce ventilators , ” Magnus said .
The bioethicist noted that in an “ era of plenty , ” healthcare systems often spend @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for weeks or months ; a quarter of Medicare spending occurs in the last year of life .
The institutional concept of older people being worth less than younger people predates the pandemic .
Cass Sunstein , a legal scholar who worked for the Obama administration , once proposed focusing government policies on saving years of life rather than individual lives .
The Environmental Protection Agency used a similar calculus during the George W. Bush administration when it was weighing the benefits of power-plant emission regulations .
The agency determined that people over @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the lives of younger people .
Jeste insists that this way of thinking is short-sighted .
Assigning a value to seniors based on their economic output ignores the many other ways people contribute to society , he said .
They travel and volunteer .
They are mentors with decades of hard-earned wisdom .
They take care of grandchildren and older family members .
It ’ s important for older people to question negative stereotypes and resist them if possible , said Becca Levy , a professor of epidemiology at the Yale School of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on aging since the 1990s .
“ We ’ ve found that those who value and affirm their own meaningful contributions to society can avoid internalizing those stereotypes , ” she said On the flip side , Levy ’ s research shows that older adults with negative attitudes about aging may live 7.5 years less than those with positive attitudes .
Bonnie Reed knows her worth .
The retired schoolteacher and her 74-year-old husband , Alton , volunteer for political campaigns and the Red Cross , and they ’ ve been trained by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ) program to spring into action if an earthquake or fire happens in their community .
She checks in on neighbors and makes sure her older cousin ’ s refrigerator is fully stocked .
“ We try to help where we can , ” Reed said .
Scott Kaiser , an L.A. geriatrician , stressed the interdependence of all age groups .
“ The notion that creeps up from time to time , this pitting of generations against each other , is toxic and misguided , ” he said .
Kaiser founded the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ volunteers who work in the entertainment industry with older members of the Motion Picture and Television Fund through weekly phone calls .
Interest in the program , both by volunteers and participants , has swelled in recent weeks .
Fostering contact between the old and the young can help offset inter-generational tensions , Levy said .
Kuhl offered his own suggestion for combating ageism : reminding young people that they , too will grow old — if they ’ re lucky .
“ If you don ’ t think older people have value @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is that you ’ re not going to have value , ” he said .
“ Is that what you really want ?
”

Gregory Kuhl, 69, in the Hollywood apartment where he has lived for 40 years. He says he experienced age bias well before the coronavirus pandemic.
On the good days, Bonnie Shatun believes that, for the first time in a long time, just about everyone is united in a common cause: to protect society’s most vulnerable citizens against the coronavirus.
On the bad days, the Sherman Oaks senior is stunned by the carelessness she sees around her. She sees it in the unmasked young people who saunter toward her and her husband, Alton, with little regard for social distancing. She sees it in the decisions of some governors to reopen economies despite dire warnings from public health officials.
Shatun, who did not want to reveal her age, tries to not take it personally. But on those bad days, it can feel as though such actions send a clear message about how little some people care about the well-being of older adults, who make up roughly 80% of those who die from COVID-19 complications.
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“Am I the only one feeling like they’re ready to throw us out?” she asks herself.
As the debate rages over when or how to resume public life, older adults like Reed have increasingly borne witness to behavior and rhetoric that implies that their lives are not as valuable as reviving the economy.
Ageism has been quietly pervasive in American culture for decades, according to those who work with and study the health of seniors. But they fear that this particular form of discrimination has become magnified during the pandemic as those who have lost income and stability look for someone to blame.
“The stigma [against elders] is growing,” said Dilip Jeste, a geriatric psychiatrist at the UC San Diego Center for Healthy Aging. “Anytime you mention the virus and risk, immediately people think of older adults. They think of the people more likely to be hospitalized, to take up beds in the ICU.”
This rejection of prolonged sacrifices made by all for the sake of the old has been voiced from the highest ranks of government.
Advertisement
“Let’s get back to living,” Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick told Fox’s Tucker Carlson in late March, defending President Trump’s push at the time to reopen businesses by Easter.
Patrick, 70, said no one had asked him if he was willing to risk his survival in order to save the American economy for future generations. But, he added, “If that’s the exchange, I’m all in.”
Nationwide anti-lockdown protests show that many have taken that idea to heart. One woman among the dozens who rallied outside Tennessee’s state capitol on April 20 held a sign that read “Sacrifice the weak, reopen [Tennessee].”
TENNESSEE IN PROTEST: Even with the announcement to start re-opening the state's economy on May 1, Governor Bill Lee has been facing some sharp criticism for not starting the process immediately. https://t.co/Pn3jY7k85S — WTVC NewsChannel 9 (@newschannelnine) April 21, 2020
Koshin Paley Ellison, co-founder of The New York Zen Center for Contemplative Care, said a photo of the sign was circulated among the community of older adults he leads in spiritual practice.
“What does that do to those who are feeling weak?” Paley Ellison said. “It terrifies them.”
But no one from the group was surprised. On a Facebook chat, they talked about how a subtler disdain for older people has been a running thread in American culture. They are well aware of the prevailing belief that beauty and productivity — the primary measures of worth in the U.S. — are the domains of the young.
But this prejudice has become acute during the pandemic, they agreed. “It’s open season for discrimination against older, vulnerable people,” one person commented.
Eight prominent psychologists from across the globe were so concerned about mounting ageism that in mid-April they wrote an academic paper on the issue for the Gerontological Society of America.
“What we are seeing in public discourse is an increasing portrayal of those over the age of 70 as being all alike with regard to being helpless, frail, and unable to contribute to society,” they said.
The negative health effects of ageism are well-documented. When seniors face age-based discrimination and internalize harmful stereotypes, they are more likely to experience stress and depression and are at higher risk for chronic illnesses.
A 2018 study from researchers at Yale University found that ageism could lead to $63 billion in additional annual healthcare costs in the U.S.
Jeste, the geriatric psychiatrist at UC San Diego, worries that an increase in ageism could lead to weaker immune systems among the elderly.
“It could put them at higher risk of developing COVID complications,” Jeste said. “We are perpetuating that.”
Gregory Kuhl, 69, returns to his street after shopping in Hollywood. Sometimes there are major cracks in the pavement, cars in peoples driveways or leveling issues that make navigating his route difficult. (Dania Maxwell/Los Angeles Times)
Gregory Kuhl, a 69-year-old Hollywood resident, said he experienced age bias well before the coronavirus’ siege. Kuhl has severe spinal stenosis, a condition that compresses the nerves in his spinal cord and makes walking painful. He has often felt invisible in public; many people assume he isn’t capable or worthy of conversation, he said, because he is older and uses a wheelchair.
That sensation of invisibility has reached a fever pitch during the pandemic. Going to the grocery store has been especially frustrating, Kuhl said.
Though he receives most of his food through the Meals on Wheels program, Kuhl buys dairy and produce at a Sprouts market near his apartment. Recently, a cashier pushed Kuhl’s groceries to the edge of the checkout counter, indicating that he would need to bag his own groceries to prevent viral spread.
He placed the fruit and nuts in a bag on his lap, but it was too heavy to lift. Usually, the cashier would have hung the bag on the back of his wheelchair. A security guard eventually noticed Kuhl struggling and helped him out.
Though Gregory Kuhl, 69, receives most of his food through the Meals on Wheels program, he buys dairy and produce at a Sprouts market near his apartment in Hollywood. (Dania Maxwell / Los Angeles Times)
Kuhl felt similarly disregarded when he learned that most coronavirus testing in Los Angeles occurs at drive-up mobile sites. “Where do seniors who no longer drive go to get tested?” he wondered.
“Somebody somewhere needs to be thinking about the consequences [of the shutdown] for older people,” Kuhl said in an interview.
In these unprecedented times, unfavorable perceptions of older adults can be a matter of life and death, according to advocates for seniors and people with disabilities.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom was roundly criticized last week after his administration advised hospitals to prioritize younger people with greater life expectancy for care during the coronavirus outbreak. Those guidelines were swiftly retracted. They were not, however, without precedent.
When doctors are forced to make gut-wrenching decisions around who will receive scarce medical resources such as ventilators, two factors are typically considered: the likelihood that a person’s life will be saved, and the estimated years of life left, said David Magnus, director of the Stanford Center for Biomedical Ethics.
“If you’ve got strong evidence that someone will die in a year, that’s a pretty good reason for saying that person should be a lower priority for scarce ventilators,” Magnus said.
The bioethicist noted that in an “era of plenty,” healthcare systems often spend large amounts of money keeping people alive for weeks or months; a quarter of Medicare spending occurs in the last year of life.
The institutional concept of older people being worth less than younger people predates the pandemic. Cass Sunstein, a legal scholar who worked for the Obama administration, once proposed focusing government policies on saving years of life rather than individual lives.
The Environmental Protection Agency used a similar calculus during the George W. Bush administration when it was weighing the benefits of power-plant emission regulations. The agency determined that people over 70 were worth just 67% of the lives of younger people.
Jeste insists that this way of thinking is short-sighted. Assigning a value to seniors based on their economic output ignores the many other ways people contribute to society, he said. They travel and volunteer. They are mentors with decades of hard-earned wisdom. They take care of grandchildren and older family members.
It’s important for older people to question negative stereotypes and resist them if possible, said Becca Levy, a professor of epidemiology at the Yale School of Public Health who has been researching attitudes on aging since the 1990s.
“We’ve found that those who value and affirm their own meaningful contributions to society can avoid internalizing those stereotypes,” she said On the flip side, Levy’s research shows that older adults with negative attitudes about aging may live 7.5 years less than those with positive attitudes.
Carol Liston, 89, says her Studio City neighbors look out for her, even doing her grocery shopping. (Myung J. Chun/Los Angeles Times)
Bonnie Shatun knows her worth. The retired schoolteacher and her 74-year-old husband, Alton, volunteer for political campaigns and the Red Cross, and they’ve been trained by the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) program to spring into action if an earthquake or fire happens in their community. She checks in on neighbors and makes sure her older cousin’s refrigerator is fully stocked.
“We try to help where we can,” Shatun said.
Scott Kaiser, an L.A. geriatrician, stressed the interdependence of all age groups.
“The notion that creeps up from time to time, this pitting of generations against each other, is toxic and misguided,” he said.
Kaiser founded the Daily Call Sheet program, which connects volunteers who work in the entertainment industry with older members of the Motion Picture and Television Fund through weekly phone calls. Interest in the program, both by volunteers and participants, has swelled in recent weeks.
Fostering contact between the old and the young can help offset inter-generational tensions, Levy said.
Kuhl offered his own suggestion for combating ageism: reminding young people that they, too will grow old — if they’re lucky.
“If you don’t think older people have value, what you’re really saying is that you’re not going to have value,” he said. “Is that what you really want?”