latimes--2020-05-18--L.A. schools' distance learning amid coronavirus has uneven results, survey says

Families give the Los Angeles school district good marks for its efforts to help them , but many report they are struggling — both in trying to keep their children on pace academically and in other ways , according to a survey that the district released Monday .
Details about the survey ’ s methodology were limited Monday morning , but the survey was conducted among families at Eastside schools .
More than 7,000 families completed all or part of the survey .
On the plus side , more than 90 % said they have been able to use technology @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nearly 90 % said they have received instructional materials for reading and math , with a significant drop-off in other subject areas .
More than half said they ’ ve received “ a lot ” of information from their school and the school district “ about academic resources or other resources and/or support that are available.
” And nearly 75 % rated “ the job your child ’ s school or school district is doing making learning materials and instruction available ” as good or excellent .
But these efforts have been achieving @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 13 due to the coronavirus outbreak , according to the survey .
Fewer than half of respondents said distance learning has been successful .
At the time of the survey , 26 % said they lacked enough computers at home and nearly half said they lacked high-speed internet .
Adequate connectivity has been a problem across the state .
It was not immediate clear , based on materials released by the district , when the survey was conducted .
Among the issues that strong majorities said were “ very concerning ” were : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to graduate from high school ” ( 60 % ) and “ ensuring your child does not fall behind academically ” ( 78 % ) .
L.A. schools Supt .
Austin Beutner on Monday renewed his call to make spending on schools a top budget priority .
Although Gov .
Gavin Newsom provided some protection to schools , the education budget still faces cuts of 10 % or more .
How and when to reopen schools remains a topic of debate and uncertainty .
Eighty percent of families said their children ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about 60 % said their own stress level was higher .
One in four families said they were having trouble meeting expenses and an additional 43 % said they were just meeting expenses ; 57 % said someone in their household had “ become unemployed ” as a result of the pandemic .
Some 77 % said they are making use of free meals being distributed by the nation ’ s second-largest school system .
Among the more worrisome findings is that 54 % of those who responded said that a smartphone was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ internet — and this despite the district ’ s efforts to provide a computer and internet access to every student .
But it ’ s possible parents were answering for themselves and not necessarily in relation to their children ’ s efforts to do their schoolwork at home .

L.A. schools Supt. Austin Beutner wears a protective mask amid the coronavirus crisis during a tour of a Grab & Go food center at San Fernando High School in late April.
Parents fear that their children are losing vital learning opportunities with school campuses closed due to the coronavirus, and these academic struggles appear linked to economic hardship and possibly race, according to local and national surveys released Monday.
In Los Angeles, fewer than half of families in a recent poll of public school students said distance learning has been successful — and more than half also report one or more family members losing jobs, the district reported.
A separate national study, funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, found that 15% of K-12 parents don’t think their children will be prepared for school next year. This research also documented what many educators consider to be obvious: that children in low-income families have more limited access to computers for schoolwork, a greater problem than ever with campuses closed and most learning moving to online formats.
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L.A. Unified and most other school systems in California have tried to even things out by distributing computers since campuses closed in mid-March. And some districts, including L.A. Unified, also have provided broadband internet access. But even in L.A., families reported problems with technology well into May.
“The survey results don’t surprise me,” said UCLA education professor Pedro Noguera. “Many of the concerns raised by parents were present before the pandemic. Now they have been exacerbated. As the national survey shows, these issues aren’t limited to L.A.”
Sandra Nunez has boys in third and fourth grade at Will Rogers Elementary in Lynwood Unified, a school system of 14,000 students south of downtown. A teacher’s assistant who is in college to become a teacher, Nunez lost her job at a Catholic school when the campus closed. She is trying to balance childcare, guiding her children’s studies and keeping up with her own.
“It’s been a little tough,” she said from her car as she was waiting in the campus parking lot for a loaner computer that might ease the technology logjam at home.
In Downey, a city in Southeast L.A. County, theater teacher Kyle Deichman said that some of his students said they haven’t made it to online class sessions because they took jobs to help support their families.
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About half to two-thirds of students have been turning in assignments, “down from about 85%,” said Deichman, who teaches at Warren High School.
L.A. schools Supt. Austin Beutner called attention to poverty in his weekly update, which is broadcast on Mondays. Before the pandemic, he said, 70% of district families reported a household income of less than $50,000 and 35% less than $25,000. Since then, 57% of families reported at least one household member who has lost work due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Let that sink in,” Beutner said. “Most families were struggling to get by before this crisis and for more than half of them, their situation has gotten worse.”
Some 77% said they are making use of free meals being distributed by the nation’s second-largest school system.
Beutner also wanted to emphasize positives in the survey: More than 90% said they have been able to use technology to communicate effectively with teachers; nearly 90% said they have received instructional materials for reading and math. And nearly 75% rated their school’s efforts as good or excellent.
But that doesn’t mean that distance learning is working — or, at least, that it is working as well as classroom instruction would be. How and when to reopen schools remains a topic of debate and uncertainty.
Of concern was that 26% said they lacked enough computers at home and nearly half said they lacked high-speed internet. This finding is seemingly at odds with separate statements from L.A. Unified indicating that virtually all students are “connected” via computer and internet. However, the survey was conducted from April 19 through May 6, during a period when it is likely additional families received technology help.
Adequate connectivity has been a problem across the state.
California In rural California, children face isolation, hunger amid coronavirus school closures Schools in rural parts of the state are struggling not only to teach but to reach students. Many lack internet access and rely on schools for food.
“We need to think not just about access, but meaningful access,” said John Rogers, director of UCLA’s Institute for Democracy, Education, and Access. “One example: Access to a laptop or tablet (or phone) does not mean that a student has sole access. Anecdotally, we hear about kids in lower-income families sharing devices in ways that limit their ability to participate meaningfully in the lessons. In addition, even when students have a device, they may not have a quiet place to use it.”
In the L.A. survey, among the issues that strong majorities said were “very concerning” were: “ensuring your child is on track to graduate from high school” (60%) and “ensuring your child does not fall behind academically” (78%).
Eighty percent of families said their children’s stress levels were higher than normal and about 60% of parents said their own stress level was higher.
Citing such problems, Beutner renewed his call to make spending on schools a top budget priority. Although Gov. Gavin Newsom provided some protection to schools, his proposed education budget still includes cuts of 10% or more.
The Gates research underscores economic disparities, finding that black and Latino families reported greater fear of losing jobs than white families. And the pandemic also was having a greater effect on future education plans within these minority families. According to the survey, all high school graduates had become less likely to attend a four-year college, but the trend was more pronounced for black and Latino students.
The wide-ranging Gates research is led by the Civis Analytics, with particular focus on Washington, Florida, Texas and New York; about 2,000 K-12 parents were among the 8,000 responses gathered May 8 through 10 via online web panels and weighted to reflect the adult U.S. population.
The L.A. Unified survey was made available to all Local District East families via text and email in English and Spanish from April 19 through May 6. Of 85,000 eligible families in that part of the school system, about 7,300 — or 9% — submitted valid partial or complete surveys. Total K-12 enrollment is about 450,000.


latimes--2020-05-18--Newsom eases California reopening rules, allowing more counties to restart their economies

Acknowledging that more California communities are in a position to slowly reopen businesses , Gov .
Gavin Newsom on Monday loosened rules linking coronavirus infection rates to allowed activities — a change that could release most parts of the state from the tightest restrictions of his stay-at-home order .
“ We recognize the conditions across the state are unique and distinctive depending where you are , ” Newsom said .
“ The bottom line is people can go at their own pace and we are empowering our local health directors and county officials that understand their local communities and conditions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ decision by Newsom comes less than two weeks after his administration first began transferring more decision-making power to local public health officials and was prompted , he said , by additional data suggesting steady rates of hospitalizations and COVID-19 patients treated in intensive care units as well as increased testing and more protective gear for healthcare workers .
“ Remember , the whole purpose of the stay-at-home order was to prepare and to respond in the worst-case scenario , ” Newsom said .
“ Our capacity to meet surge has been , I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ allow restaurant dining rooms and shopping malls to open again in counties that meet the new criteria .
The governor also hinted that even bigger changes envisioned in later stages of reopening are just around the corner , such as the opening of hair salons and even spectator-free sporting events as soon as the first week in June .
The changes , announced during a visit by Newsom to a restaurant in Napa , mean that 53 of California ’ s 58 counties can now move further into the second of four stages @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he said .
The governor didn ’ t name the five counties that wouldn ’ t be able to take advantage of the flexibility , though he cited concerns with skilled nursing facilities in Tulare County and a meatpacking facility in Kings County .
Nor is the announcement expected to bring immediate changes in Los Angeles County , which continues to outpace other parts of the state in confirmed cases and deaths .
Local officials say the infection rate in the county is falling , but that they remain concerned about the potential @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , though , did report improvements .
Officials in Santa Clara County said Monday they would take the first steps into the state ’ s second stage of loosened restrictions , while San Francisco ’ s director of public health , Dr. Grant Colfax , said Monday he was “ cautiously optimistic ” that the city will be able to reopen more in the next two to four weeks .
San Francisco barber shops , hair salons and nail parlors , though , will not be reopened for at least another month , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ game is going relatively well , ” Colfax said , “ but we are only in the second inning of a long game.
” Most notable in Monday ’ s announcement by Newsom is that counties will no longer be kept from loosening the shutdown rules if there have been COVID-19 deaths in the previous two weeks .
The original standard was criticized by many of California ’ s urban counties , whose leaders argued that even a single fatal case would block them from moving deeper into the second stage of reopening @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The new standard removes the death rate requirement and replaces it with a more generous threshold based on rates of newly confirmed cases .
Counties will be able to move toward a more expansive reopening if they can show fewer than 25 coronavirus cases per 100,000 residents in the last 14 days — a standard that was originally 1 new case per 10,000 residents .
Counties could , instead , show that fewer than 8 % of residents tested for the virus over a seven-day period were positive .
Counties also must show @ @ @ @ @ @ @ patients have stabilized , meaning they can ’ t increase by more than 5 % over a seven-day period or that a county can ’ t have more than 20 hospitalizations on any single day over a 14-day period .
The announcement could help ease the tensions that have arisen over Newsom ’ s stay-at-home order , now in its ninth week , after several defiant counties reopened this month without prior approval .
Modoc County allowed all businesses to reopen May 1 , while Yuba and Sutter counties cleared gyms , nail @ @ @ @ @ @ @ other retailers to resume operations days later .
The Newsom administration sent warning letters to the three counties on May 7 , stating that the local governments could become ineligible for disaster funding if they continued to defy the governor ’ s order and urging them to instead work with the state .
While Newsom promised Monday that changes are coming soon for those hoping to visit businesses like hair salons or see some return of sporting events , it was unclear whether he was hinting that much of California could be nearing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ — as those activities have previously been described as being only after the second stage loosenings have all taken place .
Amid the pushback from counties , Newsom also adopted a framework to allow some areas to move ahead of his administration ’ s pace .
If local governments want to open more businesses , the plan allows counties to submit an application declaring that the presence of the virus is limited or nonexistent in their jurisdictions and they ’ ve met certain requirements to prepare for a future surge in infections .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ requirements were unrealistic , a Times analysis at the time found that the vast majority of counties in California failed to meet the first two criteria — no deaths and no more than 1 case per 10,000 residents in the prior two weeks .
As of Monday , Newsom said 24 counties have declared that they met the state ’ s criteria to move further ahead in Stage 2 .
Orange County Supervisor Lisa Bartlett , who is president of state ’ s association of counties , said Newsom ’ s decision affirms @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ swift to act , flatten the curve and protect the public ’ s health.
” Times staff writers Maura Dolan and Ron-Gong Lin II contributed to this report .

Acknowledging that more California communities are in a position to slowly reopen businesses, Gov. Gavin Newsom on Monday loosened rules linking coronavirus infection rates to allowed activities — a change that could release most parts of the state from the tightest restrictions of his stay-at-home order.
“We recognize the conditions across the state are unique and distinctive depending where you are,” Newsom said. “The bottom line is people can go at their own pace and we are empowering our local health directors and county officials that understand their local communities and conditions better than any of us.”
The decision by Newsom comes less than two weeks after his administration first began transferring more decision-making power to local public health officials and was prompted, he said, by additional data suggesting steady rates of hospitalizations and COVID-19 patients treated in intensive care units as well as increased testing and more protective gear for healthcare workers.
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“Remember, the whole purpose of the stay-at-home order was to prepare and to respond in the worst-case scenario,” Newsom said. “Our capacity to meet surge has been, I think, advanced.”
The rules will allow restaurant dining rooms and shopping malls to open again in counties that meet the new criteria. The governor also hinted that even bigger changes envisioned in later stages of reopening are just around the corner, such as the opening of hair salons and even spectator-free sporting events as soon as the first week in June.
The changes, announced during a visit by Newsom to a restaurant in Napa, mean that 53 of California’s 58 counties can now move further into the second of four stages toward reopening if they so choose, he said. The governor didn’t name the five counties that wouldn’t be able to take advantage of the flexibility, though he cited concerns with skilled nursing facilities in Tulare County and a meatpacking facility in Kings County.
Nor is the announcement expected to bring immediate changes in Los Angeles County, which continues to outpace other parts of the state in confirmed cases and deaths. Local officials say the infection rate in the county is falling, but that they remain concerned about the potential spread of the disease.
Other counties, though, did report improvements. Officials in Santa Clara County said Monday they would take the first steps into the state’s second stage of loosened restrictions, while San Francisco’s director of public health, Dr. Grant Colfax, said Monday he was “cautiously optimistic” that the city will be able to reopen more in the next two to four weeks.
San Francisco barber shops, hair salons and nail parlors, though, will not be reopened for at least another month, he said.
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“So far the game is going relatively well,” Colfax said, “but we are only in the second inning of a long game.”
Most notable in Monday’s announcement by Newsom is that counties will no longer be kept from loosening the shutdown rules if there have been COVID-19 deaths in the previous two weeks. The original standard was criticized by many of California’s urban counties, whose leaders argued that even a single fatal case would block them from moving deeper into the second stage of reopening rules crafted by the Newsom administration.
The new standard removes the death rate requirement and replaces it with a more generous threshold based on rates of newly confirmed cases. Counties will be able to move toward a more expansive reopening if they can show fewer than 25 coronavirus cases per 100,000 residents in the last 14 days — a standard that was originally 1 new case per 10,000 residents.
Counties could, instead, show that fewer than 8% of residents tested for the virus over a seven-day period were positive.
Counties also must show that the number of hospitalizations for COVID-19 patients have stabilized, meaning they can’t increase by more than 5% over a seven-day period or that a county can’t have more than 20 hospitalizations on any single day over a 14-day period.
The announcement could help ease the tensions that have arisen over Newsom’s stay-at-home order, now in its ninth week, after several defiant counties reopened this month without prior approval. Modoc County allowed all businesses to reopen May 1, while Yuba and Sutter counties cleared gyms, nail and hair salons, shopping malls and other retailers to resume operations days later.
The Newsom administration sent warning letters to the three counties on May 7, stating that the local governments could become ineligible for disaster funding if they continued to defy the governor’s order and urging them to instead work with the state.
While Newsom promised Monday that changes are coming soon for those hoping to visit businesses like hair salons or see some return of sporting events, it was unclear whether he was hinting that much of California could be nearing the third stage in his reopening rules — as those activities have previously been described as being only after the second stage loosenings have all taken place.
Tracking the coronavirus in California The latest maps and charts on the spread of COVID-19 in California.
Amid the pushback from counties, Newsom also adopted a framework to allow some areas to move ahead of his administration’s pace. If local governments want to open more businesses, the plan allows counties to submit an application declaring that the presence of the virus is limited or nonexistent in their jurisdictions and they’ve met certain requirements to prepare for a future surge in infections.
Giving credence to the arguments that the requirements were unrealistic, a Times analysis at the time found that the vast majority of counties in California failed to meet the first two criteria — no deaths and no more than 1 case per 10,000 residents in the prior two weeks. As of Monday, Newsom said 24 counties have declared that they met the state’s criteria to move further ahead in Stage 2.
Orange County Supervisor Lisa Bartlett, who is president of state’s association of counties, said Newsom’s decision affirms the work of local officials in being “swift to act, flatten the curve and protect the public’s health.”
Times staff writers Maura Dolan and Ron-Gong Lin II contributed to this report.


latimes--2020-05-18--California records 80,000 coronavirus cases, more than 3,200 deaths

Californians traveling between county lines may soon need a field guide to assess coronavirus restrictions in various parts of the state as permissions to reopen continue to fluctuate day by day .
The state has surpassed 80,000 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and more than 3,200 deaths .
Although the numbers continue to increase overall , the case count has started to taper off in some areas .
So far , 24 rural counties have contained the virus enough to ease stay-at-home restrictions beyond the allowances of more urban areas , where the virus remains active .
The modifications include dine-in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Gavin Newsom said Monday that 53 of the state ’ s 58 counties will soon have that ability if they meet new state criteria .
“ We ’ re many parts , and every part of the state of California is unique and distinctive , ” Newsom said when asked about the patchwork of modifications .
The governor noted that areas like Los Angeles County and the Bay Area may not be ready to move as quickly as other communities .
L.A. County accounts for the bulk of the state ’ s tallied @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and accounts for more than half of the state ’ s death toll .
Officials reported an additional 14 coronavirus-related deaths Monday and 477 new cases .
Monday ’ s numbers are typically lower than other days because testing is limited over the weekend .
As county officials continue to slowly lift stay-at-home restrictions , they say social distancing practices are still needed .
Face masks are required at all businesses and throughout the city of Los Angeles , and in-person gatherings are still not permitted .
County Public Health Director Barbara @ @ @ @ @ @ @ million residents visited newly reopened businesses and outdoor spaces over the weekend .
Ferrer used that number with a hypothetical scenario to warn the public about what could happen if social distancing rules aren ’ t followed .
If the positive rate of infection in the county is 4 % , it ’ s possible that 40,000 of the 1 million people who were out this weekend could be infected .
If each of those people infected one other person , the number of infections could climb to 80,000 .
If 5 % @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ill , that could lead to an additional 4,000 people in need of hospital care , which could overwhelm the system , she said .
On average , 1,700 people are hospitalized each day with COVID-19 symptoms .
There are 1,570 people currently in hospital care , Ferrer said .
Of those individuals , 27 % are in intensive care and 20 % are on ventilators .
While Los Angeles County ’ s overall infections and deaths continue to climb , some cities in the county of 10 million have been less infected @ @ @ @ @ @ @ further modifications to the stay-at-home order .
The cities of Santa Clarita , Lancaster and Palmdale have asked the county for permission to reopen more fully .
Amid the push , San Francisco , San Mateo and Marin counties were easing some restrictions Monday , allowing for curbside delivery at retail stores .
“ We do see the numbers flattening , ” San Francisco Mayor London Breed said last week .
“ They have not declined , but the fact is we are in a better place.
” Newsom ’ s order on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ requirements to create a more generous threshold for reopening across the state .
Counties now must show no more than 25 coronavirus cases per 100,000 residents in the last 14 days — a standard that was originally one new case per 10,000 residents .
Counties can , instead , show that less than 8 % of residents tested for the virus over a seven-day period were positive .
Counties also must show that hospitalizations for COVID-19 patients have stabilized , meaning they can ’ t increase by more than 5 % over a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t have more than 20 hospitalizations on any single day over a seven-day period .
Times staff writers John Myers , Taryn Luna and Phil Willon contributed to this report .

Jim Rafferty, owner of Kelly’s Korner in Placentia, grabs a beverage for a customer to take out on Saturday. The sports bar is effectively grounded as the pandemic shutdown has limited it to take-out only.
Californians traveling between county lines may soon need a field guide to assess coronavirus restrictions in various parts of the state as permissions to reopen continue to fluctuate day by day.
The state has surpassed 80,000 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and more than 3,200 deaths. Although the numbers continue to increase overall, the case count has started to taper off in some areas.
So far, 24 rural counties have contained the virus enough to ease stay-at-home restrictions beyond the allowances of more urban areas, where the virus remains active. The modifications include dine-in services and in-store shopping.
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Gov. Gavin Newsom said Monday that 53 of the state’s 58 counties will soon have that ability if they meet new state criteria.
“We’re many parts, and every part of the state of California is unique and distinctive,” Newsom said when asked about the patchwork of modifications. The governor noted that areas like Los Angeles County and the Bay Area may not be ready to move as quickly as other communities.
Tracking the coronavirus in L.A. County The latest maps and charts on the spread of COVID-19 in Los Angeles County, including cases, deaths, closures and restrictions.
L.A. County accounts for the bulk of the state’s tallied infections, with more than 38,000 cases, and accounts for more than half of the state’s death toll.
Officials reported an additional 14 coronavirus-related deaths Monday and 477 new cases. Monday’s numbers are typically lower than other days because testing is limited over the weekend.
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As county officials continue to slowly lift stay-at-home restrictions, they say social distancing practices are still needed. Face masks are required at all businesses and throughout the city of Los Angeles, and in-person gatherings are still not permitted.
County Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer said Monday that an estimated 1 million residents visited newly reopened businesses and outdoor spaces over the weekend. Ferrer used that number with a hypothetical scenario to warn the public about what could happen if social distancing rules aren’t followed.
If the positive rate of infection in the county is 4%, it’s possible that 40,000 of the 1 million people who were out this weekend could be infected. If each of those people infected one other person, the number of infections could climb to 80,000. If 5% of those people were to become seriously ill, that could lead to an additional 4,000 people in need of hospital care, which could overwhelm the system, she said.
On average, 1,700 people are hospitalized each day with COVID-19 symptoms. There are 1,570 people currently in hospital care, Ferrer said. Of those individuals, 27% are in intensive care and 20% are on ventilators.
While Los Angeles County’s overall infections and deaths continue to climb, some cities in the county of 10 million have been less infected by the virus and hope to see further modifications to the stay-at-home order.
The cities of Santa Clarita, Lancaster and Palmdale have asked the county for permission to reopen more fully.
Amid the push, San Francisco, San Mateo and Marin counties were easing some restrictions Monday, allowing for curbside delivery at retail stores.
“We do see the numbers flattening,” San Francisco Mayor London Breed said last week. “They have not declined, but the fact is we are in a better place.”
Newsom’s order on Monday adjusted some of the more stringent requirements to create a more generous threshold for reopening across the state. Counties now must show no more than 25 coronavirus cases per 100,000 residents in the last 14 days — a standard that was originally one new case per 10,000 residents.
Counties can, instead, show that less than 8% of residents tested for the virus over a seven-day period were positive.
Counties also must show that hospitalizations for COVID-19 patients have stabilized, meaning they can’t increase by more than 5% over a seven-day period or that a county can’t have more than 20 hospitalizations on any single day over a seven-day period.
Times staff writers John Myers, Taryn Luna and Phil Willon contributed to this report.


latimes--2020-05-18--Silicon Valley easing stay-at-home restrictions amid positive signs

Santa Clara County , Northern California ’ s most populous county , will join the rest of the San Francisco Bay Area in moving into Phase 2 of Gov .
Gavin Newsom ’ s reopening plan , allowing for curbside pickup at many retail stores .
Health officers in the Bay Area said they have seen a number of positive signs since the last loosening of stay-at-home orders executed on May 4 , which allowed all construction and certain businesses that primarily do work outdoors , like gardening and landscaping , to resume .
• The trend of new cases @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with increased testing ; • The number of hospitalized patients infected with the coronavirus is stable or declining ; • Supply of personal protective equipment , like masks , gowns and gloves , is improving , although some shortages do persist in certain situations ; and , • There is increased ability to do disease investigation and locate close contacts of newly infected people .
Besides allowing retail stores to reopen for pickup service only , the order also allows manufacturing , warehousing and logistical operations that support them to reopen .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ consistently follow social distancing protocols and public health guidance to protect their employees and customers as these activities resume , ” said a joint statement from health officers in Alameda , Contra Costa , Marin , San Francisco , San Mateo and Santa Clara counties , as well as the city of Berkeley , which has a health department independent of Alameda County .
“ COVID-19 continues to pose a very significant risk to our communities , and that continued vigilance is necessary to ensure that we do not see an increase in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Solano and Sonoma counties were the first in the Bay Area to move into this phase , doing so on May 8 , the same day that much of the state , including L.A. County , did so .
Marin , Alameda and San Mateo counties had already announced plans to begin doing so on Monday , and Alameda and Contra Costa counties had already expressed an intent to do so this week .

Santa Clara County, Northern California’s most populous county, will join the rest of the San Francisco Bay Area in moving into Phase 2 of Gov. Gavin Newsom’s reopening plan, allowing for curbside pickup at many retail stores.
Health officers in the Bay Area said they have seen a number of positive signs since the last loosening of stay-at-home orders executed on May 4, which allowed all construction and certain businesses that primarily do work outdoors, like gardening and landscaping, to resume.
The improving indicators include:
The trend of new cases is either stable or dropping, even with increased testing;
The number of hospitalized patients infected with the coronavirus is stable or declining;
Supply of personal protective equipment, like masks, gowns and gloves, is improving, although some shortages do persist in certain situations; and,
There is increased ability to do disease investigation and locate close contacts of newly infected people.
Besides allowing retail stores to reopen for pickup service only, the order also allows manufacturing, warehousing and logistical operations that support them to reopen.
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“We are counting on these businesses to consistently follow social distancing protocols and public health guidance to protect their employees and customers as these activities resume,” said a joint statement from health officers in Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, San Francisco, San Mateo and Santa Clara counties, as well as the city of Berkeley, which has a health department independent of Alameda County. “COVID-19 continues to pose a very significant risk to our communities, and that continued vigilance is necessary to ensure that we do not see an increase in spread as more activities resume.”
Napa, Solano and Sonoma counties were the first in the Bay Area to move into this phase, doing so on May 8, the same day that much of the state, including L.A. County, did so. Marin, Alameda and San Mateo counties had already announced plans to begin doing so on Monday, and Alameda and Contra Costa counties had already expressed an intent to do so this week.


latimes--2020-05-18--Five teenagers shot inside Bakersfield apartment

An early-morning hail of gunfire in Bakersfield sent five teenagers to a hospital Monday , authorities said .
The shooting @ @ @ @ @ when someone fired into an apartment in the 900 block of West Columbus Street , @ @ @ @ @ according to the Bakersfield Police Department .
The victims — three 17-year-olds and two 18-year-olds @ @ @ @ @ hospital with injuries described as moderate .
All were in stable condition as of 10 @ @ @ @ @ Nathan McCauley said .
The relationship between the victims was not immediately clear , and @ @ @ @ @ they all lived in the apartment together .
“ No further information is being released @ @ @ @ @ at this time , ” he wrote in an email .
The shooter remains at @ @ @ @ @ is asked to call Det .
Keith Cason at ( 661 ) 326-3868 or the @ @ @ @ @ 661 ) 327-7111 .

An early-morning hail of gunfire in Bakersfield sent five teenagers to a hospital Monday, authorities said.
The shooting took place around 12:30 a.m. when someone fired into an apartment in the 900 block of West Columbus Street, striking five people inside, according to the Bakersfield Police Department.
The victims — three 17-year-olds and two 18-year-olds — were taken to a hospital with injuries described as moderate.
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All were in stable condition as of 10 a.m., police Sgt. Nathan McCauley said.
The relationship between the victims was not immediately clear, and McCauley declined to say whether they all lived in the apartment together.
“No further information is being released related to this open investigation at this time,” he wrote in an email.
The shooter remains at large. Anyone with information is asked to call Det. Keith Cason at (661) 326-3868 or the Bakersfield Police Department at (661) 327-7111.


latimes--2020-05-18--ACT chief says UC students would be hurt by Napolitano plan to scrap SAT and ACT

UC President Janet Napolitano ’ s proposal to suspend a standardized testing requirement will fuel student uncertainty , strain budgets and exacerbate concerns about fairness by making the admissions process more subjective , the head of the ACT testing organization said Monday .
Marten Roorda , ACT chief executive officer , criticized the proposal in a letter to members of the UC Board of Regents , who are scheduled to vote Thursday on whether to suspend and possibly eliminate standardized testing as a UC admissions requirement .
Last week , Napolitano unveiled a five-year proposal to make the SAT and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , eliminate it in years three and four and move to a new test developed for the UC system in year five .
The proposal noted that the UC system already has suspended standardized testing requirements for fall 2021 applicants after the coronavirus crisis prompted test cancellations .
The unusual plan was seen as a compromise between the UC Academic Senate , which overwhelmingly voted to keep the tests while a new assessment is developed , and testing opponents who argue that the SAT and ACT are unfairly influenced by race , income @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ACT and the College Board , which owns the SAT , have asserted that their tests are not biased but reflect unequal access to quality education and help predict college success .
Roorda asserted that Napolitano ’ s proposed varying scenarios could create more confusion and “ angst.
” “ I respect the right of academic leaders to choose the best solutions for their institutions and students during this difficult and unprecedented time , ” he wrote .
“ But these new recommendations will further the uncertainty and anxiety of students and their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all the reassurances and resources we can provide .
The sweeping proposal will also strain admissions offices , state budget and the broader education system , creating more questions and concerns about fairness , equity.
” The ACT chief raised questions about the cost of any new assessment , which experts have put at $ 100 million or higher , at a time when the pandemic has led to major financial losses to the UC system .
Those losses will be exacerbated by a dramatic reversal of fortunes in state funding : Gov @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 5 % increase for the UC system for 2020-21 but last week unveiled a significant cut due to massive pandemic-related reductions in state revenues .
Roorda also asked how an assessment would be developed in five years — the Academic Senate had initially estimated it could take nine years — and whether a new UC president would be prepared to tackle “ one of the largest policy shifts in your system ’ s history.
” Napolitano has announced she will step down Aug. 1 .
In addition , he expressed concern about the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to prepare for three standardized tests —a UC assessment , as well as the SAT and ACT if required by other universities they are interested in attending .
UC officials could not immediately be reached for comment .

UC President Janet Napolitano’s proposal to suspend a standardized testing requirement will fuel student uncertainty, strain budgets and exacerbate concerns about fairness by making the admissions process more subjective, the head of the ACT testing organization said Monday.
Marten Roorda, ACT chief executive officer, criticized the proposal in a letter to members of the UC Board of Regents, who are scheduled to vote Thursday on whether to suspend and possibly eliminate standardized testing as a UC admissions requirement.
Last week, Napolitano unveiled a five-year proposal to make the SAT and ACT testing requirement optional for two years, eliminate it in years three and four and move to a new test developed for the UC system in year five. The proposal noted that the UC system already has suspended standardized testing requirements for fall 2021 applicants after the coronavirus crisis prompted test cancellations.
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The unusual plan was seen as a compromise between the UC Academic Senate, which overwhelmingly voted to keep the tests while a new assessment is developed, and testing opponents who argue that the SAT and ACT are unfairly influenced by race, income and the education level of parents. ACT and the College Board, which owns the SAT, have asserted that their tests are not biased but reflect unequal access to quality education and help predict college success.
Roorda asserted that Napolitano’s proposed varying scenarios could create more confusion and “angst.”
“I respect the right of academic leaders to choose the best solutions for their institutions and students during this difficult and unprecedented time,” he wrote. “But these new recommendations will further the uncertainty and anxiety of students and their families at a time when they need all the reassurances and resources we can provide. The sweeping proposal will also strain admissions offices, state budget and the broader education system, creating more questions and concerns about fairness, equity.”
California Napolitano and UC chancellors will take a 10% pay cut amid coronavirus-related budget crisis University of California President Janet Napolitano and 10 campus chancellors will take a 10% pay cut amid a budget crisis triggered by the coronavirus crisis. The UC chief also announced a systemwide salary freeze for nonunionized employees.
UC Regent Eloy Ortiz Oakley, an outspoken opponent of standardized testing, pushed back against Roorda’s remarks.
“I think it’s unfortunate that he and the ACT leadership would try to deflect any responsibility for the impact of testing on students onto UC,” he said in an interview. “It’s clear that it’s had a deleterious effect on low-income students and students of color.”
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Oakley said he was “generally supportive” of Napolitano’s plan, which he praised for balancing different perspectives. But he said he had questions about whether to drop the testing requirement immediately rather than making the SAT and ACT optional for the next two years. He also said he wanted to hear discussion about whether UC should develop a new assessment or simply use high school grades, which he said is the best predictor of college success, as the main metric in evaluating applicants.
In his letter, the ACT chief also raised questions about the cost of any new assessment, which experts have put at $100 million or higher, at a time when the pandemic has led to major financial losses to the UC system. Those losses will be exacerbated by a dramatic reversal of fortunes in state funding: Gov. Gavin Newsom had initially proposed a 5% increase for the UC system for 2020-21 but last week unveiled a significant cut due to massive pandemic-related reductions in state revenues.
Roorda also asked how an assessment would be developed in five years — the Academic Senate had initially estimated it could take nine years — and whether a new UC president would be prepared to tackle “one of the largest policy shifts in your system’s history.” Napolitano has announced she will step down Aug. 1.
In addition, he expressed concern about the potential burden on students who might have to prepare for three standardized tests —a UC assessment, as well as the SAT and ACT if required by other universities they are interested in attending.
Other UC officials could not immediately be reached for comment.


latimes--2020-05-18--Coronavirus infection rate in L.A. County is falling. But it's still in the danger zone

As Los Angeles County found itself in a coronavirus crisis in March , it became clear the highly infectious disease was surging out of control , with every one person testing positive for the virus infecting an average of 3½ other people .
Last week , L.A. County officials released data showing remarkable progress : The infection rate has fallen .
Instead of every patient infecting an average of more than three other people , every infected person in L.A. County now infects just one other person .
Among L.A. County public health experts , this number is called “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Effective Transmission Number of the disease .
This number can change when the public takes steps to change behaviors , such as adhering to a stay-at-home order .
The fact that the disease was spreading from one infected person to more than three other people represented “ a high rate of spread , much faster than what is seen , for example , with seasonal influenza , ” Dr. Christina Ghaly , director of health services for L.A. County , said Thursday .
The Effective Transmission Number fell to around 1 by roughly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with the statewide stay-at-home order implemented March 19 .
“ This represents tremendous progress , and we should all be very proud .
It is also what allows us to start easing health officer orders and the restrictions that we ’ ve all been living with for the past several weeks .
Safer at Home bought us time , ” Ghaly said .
“ It allowed our healthcare system to become more prepared .
It allowed time for testing to be ramped up .
It allowed time to prepare to do more contact @ @ @ @ @ @ @ power of what we can all do to protect ourselves and one another , ” Ghaly said .
But the fact that the Effective Transmission Number hasn ’ t fallen below one also poses a challenge .
It explains why the coronavirus has stubbornly persisted at a plateau in California and isn ’ t going away .
If every person who gets infected on average infects one other person , then the disease levels will remain constant .
L.A. County ’ s rate is the same as is now reported in Silicon Valley @ @ @ @ @ @ @ most populous county , Santa Clara County , an early hot spot of the statewide outbreak .
Ghaly said Los Angeles County will need to closely monitor the rate of disease spread .
If the Effective Transmission Number starts to tick upward , it ’ s possible that L.A. County will need to reimpose stronger stay-at-home measures again .
That would be expected if people aren ’ t careful in staying away from others or stop avoiding social gatherings or wearing masks .
If the Effective Transmission Number rises substantially , it ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ threatened with having so many critically ill patients , it exceeds the number of intensive care unit beds .
Officials are currently starting to see a decline in the number of coronavirus patients in the ICU .
There is also an added potential problem : It can take two to four weeks before hospitals start seeing a surge in patients after they ’ ve been infected , so it can take some time before officials realize what ’ s going on .
Ghaly said L.A. County residents can ’ t simply get back @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at this time “ because so many of us across the county are still susceptible to COVID-19 , ” she said .
If people did go back to old habits , she said , “ then we will experience a rapid increase in cases and that will require drastic action that none of us want to revisit.
” “ The better question is what we can do to get back to work and get back to our lives in ways that still protect our families and our community , ” Ghaly said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ health and well-being , and for the vibrancy of our community .
And both are very possible.
” • Accepting that masks will need to be used in public • Practicing physical separation when outside the home • Being cautious around older people or those with underlying health conditions • Respecting new rules in venues that commonly have placed people close to one another , such as restaurant dining rooms , when they reopen • Following isolation and quarantine rules when sick or exposed to a sick person Federal officials have said they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ months at the earliest to see a vaccine .
And they ’ ve warned about a surge of cases that may come in the fall .
“ We are not going to get back to the normal , the way it was , ” Ghaly said .
“ But we can and will get to a place that allows everyone to earn a living , to take care of themselves and their family , to find enjoyment in their lives .
And then that allows us to be healthy at the same time @ @

The crew for a Hainan Airlines flight walks through the Tom Bradley International Terminal at Los Angeles International Airport, which is now requiring travelers to wear face coverings during the coronavirus outbreak.
As Los Angeles County found itself in a coronavirus crisis in March, it became clear the highly infectious disease was surging out of control, with every one person testing positive for the virus infecting an average of 3½ other people.
Last week, L.A. County officials released data showing remarkable progress: The infection rate has fallen. Instead of every patient infecting an average of more than three other people, every infected person in L.A. County now infects just one other person.
Among L.A. County public health experts, this number is called “R,” which stands for the Effective Transmission Number of the disease. This number can change when the public takes steps to change behaviors, such as adhering to a stay-at-home order.
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The fact that the disease was spreading from one infected person to more than three others represented “a high rate of spread, much faster than what is seen, for example, with seasonal influenza,” Dr. Christina Ghaly, director of health services for L.A. County, said Thursday.
Officials believe the drop is tied to stay-at-home orders imposed in late March.
In early March, for every one coronavirus-positive person in Los Angeles County, an average of more than three people were subsequently infected. By late March, due to the stay-at-home order, for every one infected person, only one other person on average was subsequently infected. (Los Angeles County Department of Health Services)
“This represents tremendous progress, and we should all be very proud. It is also what allows us to start easing health officer orders and the restrictions that we’ve all been living with for the past several weeks. Safer at Home bought us time,” Ghaly said.
“It allowed our healthcare system to become more prepared. It allowed time for testing to be ramped up. It allowed time to prepare to do more contact tracing efforts, and it showed the power of what we can all do to protect ourselves and one another,” Ghaly said.
But the fact that the Effective Transmission Number hasn’t fallen below 1 also poses a challenge. It explains why the coronavirus has stubbornly persisted at a plateau in California. If every person who gets infected on average infects one other person, then the disease levels will remain constant.
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L.A. County’s rate is the same as is now reported in Silicon Valley, home to Northern California’s most populous county, Santa Clara County, an early hot spot of the statewide outbreak.
Health officers in the Bay Area on Monday said they have seen a number of positive signs since the last loosening of stay-at-home orders executed on May 4, which allowed all construction and certain businesses that primarily do work outdoors, such as gardening and landscaping, to resume.
“We make one change, watch the indicators, and when we haven’t seen that uptick, then we take the next step and then we watch again,” said Dr. Sara Cody, Santa Clara County’s health officer.
Santa Clara County was the initial epicenter of the health crisis in California. Now its cases amount to 3% of the state’s total and its deaths 4%. In early April, 9% of people tested in the county were positive for the virus, Cody said. Now the rate is 1% to 1.5%, “a very significant improvement,” Cody said.
Dr. Grant Colfax, San Francisco’s health officer, also said his city was seeing progress.
As long as San Franciscans continue to social distance, practice good hygiene and wear masks, reopening businesses could continue.
“So far the game is going relatively well,” Colfax said Monday. “But we are only in the second inning of a long game.”
He said the virus will remain a threat in San Francisco for at least the next 18 months.
Los Angeles remains the center of coronavirus in California, with more than 1,800 deaths.
Ghaly said Los Angeles County will need to closely monitor the rate of disease spread. If the Effective Transmission Number starts to tick upward, it’s possible that L.A. County will need to reimpose stronger stay-at-home measures. That would be expected if people aren’t careful in staying away from others or stop avoiding social gatherings or wearing masks.
If the Effective Transmission Number rises substantially, it’s possible the county could again be threatened with having so many critically ill patients, it exceeds the number of intensive care unit beds.
Officials are starting to see a decline in the number of coronavirus patients in the ICU.
If disease transmission rates rise, it’s possible L.A. County could run out of intensive care unit beds. (Los Angeles County Department of Health Services)
There is an added potential problem: It can take two to four weeks before hospitals start seeing a surge in patients after they’ve been infected, so it can take some time before officials realize what’s going on.
Ghaly said L.A. County residents can’t simply get back to life as they once knew it right now “because so many of us across the county are still susceptible to COVID-19,” she said. If people did go back to old habits, she said, “then we will experience a rapid increase in cases and that will require drastic action that none of us want to revisit.”
“The better question is what we can do to get back to work and get back to our lives in ways that still protect our families and our community,” Ghaly said. “Both are important for our overall health and well-being, and for the vibrancy of our community. And both are very possible.”
The strategy, Ghaly said, includes:
Accepting that masks will need to be used in public
Practicing physical separation when outside the home
Continuing to wash hands and cleaning frequently touched surfaces
Being cautious around older people or those with underlying health conditions
Respecting new rules in venues that commonly have placed people close to one another, such as restaurant dining rooms, when they reopen
Following isolation and quarantine rules when sick or exposed to a sick person
Increased testing for at-risk populations
Federal officials have said they expect it will take 12 to 18 months at the earliest to see a vaccine. And they’ve warned about a surge of cases that may come in the fall.
“We are not going to get back to the normal, the way it was,” Ghaly said. “But we can and will get to a place that allows everyone to earn a living, to take care of themselves and their family, to find enjoyment in their lives. And then that allows us to be healthy at the same time.”


latimes--2020-05-18--Swimmer still missing after lifeguards rescue 10-year-old off Venice Beach

Authorities were searching in the ocean off Venice Beach on Monday for a swimmer missing since the previous day , when lifeguards pulled a 10-year-old boy out of the water but were unable to rescue the man he was swimming with .
The man , in his 30s , and the child became caught in dangerous rip currents in the waters off the 4200 block of Ocean Front Walk about 3:40 p.m. Sunday , said Jake Miller , public information officer for Los Angeles County Lifeguards .
“ There were large 4- to 6-foot south , southwest swells and very @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ So the conditions were very hazardous for most swimmers.
” Lifeguards dove into the water and were able to pull the boy out , but the man sank under , Miller said .
Multiple media outlets reported the man and child were father and son , but officials could not immediately confirm those reports Monday .
Authorities launched a search for the missing man , with helicopters , lifeguard units and dive teams scouring the area until 7:30 p.m. After the underwater search was suspended , lifeguards continued to patrol with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ evening , Miller said .
The water search resumed at 7 a.m. Monday and included both divers and a sonar team , which was conducting scans of the area , Miller said .
L.A. County beaches reopened Wednesday after having been closed due to the coronavirus pandemic .
They remain open for active recreation only , which includes walking , running and swimming .

The search continues off Venice Beach on Monday for a swimmer missing in the water since Sunday.
Authorities were searching in the ocean off Venice Beach on Monday for a swimmer missing since the previous day, when lifeguards pulled a 10-year-old boy out of the water but were unable to rescue the man he was swimming with.
The man, in his 30s, and the child became caught in dangerous rip currents in the waters off the 4200 block of Ocean Front Walk about 3:40 p.m. Sunday, said Jake Miller, public information officer for Los Angeles County Lifeguards.
“There were large 4- to 6-foot south, southwest swells and very strong lateral currents,” Miller said. “So the conditions were very hazardous for most swimmers.”
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The L.A. County Sheriff’s Department searches for a missing swimmer off Venice Beach on Monday. (Christina House / Los Angeles Times)
Lifeguards dove into the water and were able to pull the boy out, but the man sank under, Miller said. Multiple media outlets reported the man and child were father and son, but officials could not immediately confirm those reports Monday.
Authorities launched a search for the missing man, with helicopters, lifeguard units and dive teams scouring the area until 7:30 p.m. After the underwater search was suspended, lifeguards continued to patrol with vehicles and a rescue boat through the evening, Miller said.
The water search resumed at 7 a.m. Monday and included both divers and a sonar team, which was conducting scans of the area, Miller said.
L.A. County beaches reopened Wednesday after having been closed due to the coronavirus pandemic. They remain open for active recreation only, which includes walking, running and swimming.
The search continues for a missing swimmer off Venice Beach. (Christina House / Los Angeles Times)


latimes--2020-05-18--May showers sprinkle Southern California

A mid-May shower will spritz Southern California on Monday , bringing a modest —and unusual — bit of rain to the region .
“ We ’ ve got a little torrential drizzle going on , ” joked David Sweet , a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Oxnard .
Most parts of Los Angeles County can expect to see a quarter-inch or less of rain , forecasters said .
Still , any kind of rainfall is rare this time of year .
“ This is atypical .
Late in the year , but not unheard of , ” Sweet @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will get a more thorough soaking , however .
Portions of San Luis Obispo County had received upward of half an inch of precipitation by 7 a.m. Monday , according to the National Weather Service .
“ It ’ s basically associated with a weak cold front that is moving through the area , and there ’ s just enough moisture , just enough lift in the atmosphere to produce some light rain , ” Sweet said .
The drizzle will be short-lived , with skies clearing up later Monday .
“ Behind @ @ @ @ @ @ @ see some clearing skies later this afternoon , and we ’ ll return to more of a typical weather regime starting tonight and into Tuesday , with partly cloudy skies and a gradual warming trend , ” Sweet said .
The latest sprinkle continues what has been a late-blooming rain year .
After a dismally dry January and February — when the bulk of the region ’ s rain usually falls — record-breaking downpours in March and April pushed Los Angeles County back above its typical precipitation levels .

Blanca Torres wears her face mask and uses an umbrella in downtown Los Angeles on Monday morning as rain douses the Southland amid a cooling trend.
A mid-May shower will spritz Southern California on Monday, bringing a modest —and unusual — bit of rain to the region.
“We’ve got a little torrential drizzle going on,” joked David Sweet, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Oxnard.
Most parts of Los Angeles County can expect to see a quarter-inch or less of rain, forecasters said.
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Still, any kind of rainfall is rare this time of year.
“This is atypical. Late in the year, but not unheard of,” Sweet said.
Some parts of the state will get a more thorough soaking, however. Portions of San Luis Obispo County had received upward of half an inch of precipitation by 7 a.m. Monday, according to the National Weather Service.
“It’s basically associated with a weak cold front that is moving through the area, and there’s just enough moisture, just enough lift in the atmosphere to produce some light rain,” Sweet said.
Here's a look at the expected rain totals for #SoCal tonight-Tue.
Most areas 0.25" or less, but local amounts up to around 0.75" in upslope areas.
A nice light late-season rainfall. #CAWX #larain pic.twitter.com/KRQzt8Zzte — NWS Los Angeles (@NWSLosAngeles) May 17, 2020
The drizzle will be short-lived, with skies clearing up later Monday.
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“Behind the cold front, we’ll see some clearing skies later this afternoon, and we’ll return to more of a typical weather regime starting tonight and into Tuesday, with partly cloudy skies and a gradual warming trend,” Sweet said.
The latest sprinkle continues what has been a late-blooming rain year.
After a dismally dry January and February — when the bulk of the region’s rain usually falls — record-breaking downpours in March and April pushed Los Angeles County back above its typical precipitation levels.


latimes--2020-05-18--Olvera Street merchants struggle to survive amid the coronavirus pandemic

It was a sad sight for Jorge Contreras : rows of blue , yellow and orange puestos , or market stalls , on Olvera Street were shuttered .
Nineteenth-century brick buildings that house restaurants , shops and museums were closed , too .
La Plaza , typically teeming with people , was empty and quiet .
“ This place is not meant to feel sad , ” the 55-year-old hat seller said .
“ It ’ s supposed to be a place of dance and celebration.
” For nearly a century , Olvera Street merchants — many of them now @ @ @ @ @ @ @ handcrafted items such as pottery , candles and Mexican folk art .
Their survival is intertwined with tourism and cultural events such as Day of the Dead , Blessing of the Animals and Las Posadas , a nine-day Christmas celebration .
But the economic hardship caused by the COVID-19 pandemic is threatening the future of Olvera Street .
Tourism has nearly dried up .
Stay-at-home orders and other restrictions prevent people from gathering at the plaza and narrow street .
Even though restaurants can sell takeout orders , it ’ s difficult to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ enclosed by several streets that require people to park and walk to the eateries .
And now , three months in , more than 70 merchants are asking the city for help .
At a recent Los Angeles City Council meeting , Councilman Jose Huizar , whose district includes Olvera Street , introduced a motion that would exempt the merchants from having to pay April and May rents .
The City Council is also looking into extending time for commercial tenants to pay back rent .
Olvera Street is part of El Pueblo @ @ @ @ @ @ @ city department that marks the oldest section of Los Angeles .
In addition to the Olvera Street marketplace , it includes La Plaza de Cultura y Artes and several historic buildings .
Valerie Hanley , owner of Casa California and a member of the Olvera Street Merchants Assn.
, said both efforts proposed by the City Council would help .
“ We ’ re going to really need the city to step in and say we ’ re going to subsidize the department so us merchants don ’ t have to until we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ she said .
Arturo Chavez , general manager for El Pueblo de Los Angeles , said the department has an annual budget of $ 5.6 million , and most of its revenue comes from filming , parking lots , cultural events and rent from merchants .
He said because of the pandemic , the historic district is projected to see a revenue loss for fiscal 2019-2020 of about $ 1 million .
The marketplace , Chavez said , is in a difficult situation because most vendors sell specialty items and don ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also relies on tourism and gatherings , which are either prohibited or on the decline .
“ We ’ ve never dealt with a situation like this , ” he said .
“ It ’ s bad enough that you ’ re not going to be able to open , and on top of that you have back rent.
” “ That ’ s why they want rent relief , ” he added .
Hanley said monthly rent for merchants ranges from $ 1,000 for small market stalls to $ 10,000 for larger @ @ @ @ @ @ @ worried about the future of Olvera Street and isn ’ t sure how it will operate after the city reopens during the final phase of the stay-at-home order .
“ We ’ re going to be one of the last places to recover , just because we ’ re one of those areas that rely quite heavily on tourism , ” she said .
“ It makes up about 40 % to 70 % of our business , and that ’ s going to be nonexistent for a couple of years.
” Hanley @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that generations of families who have helped preserve the city ’ s Mexican heritage are on the verge of disappearing unless they get help .
“ Ninety years of our legacy gone because of 90 days of hardship , ” she said .
“ We have families that have up to six generations on the street .
How do you recover that ?
” Hanley ’ s ties to the area stretch back to 1930 , around the time Olvera Street was established as a marketplace .
She said her father worked there @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he left the street was to fight in World War II , ” Hanley said , adding that he took part in the invasion of Normandy .
“ His other brothers fought in the Pacific .
They all came back alive.
” In the 1960s , her parents opened a business on Olvera Street , selling pottery , religious articles , piñatas and other items .
They continue to sell the same types of products .
On a warm Wednesday afternoon , Guillermo Garcia sat under the shade of a tree on Olvera @ @ @ @ @ @ @ restaurant , La Noche Buena , and his shop , Memo ’ s Place .
He also thought about the merchants and employees he has befriended over the decades .
The 61-year-old resident of Silver Lake said he had reopened his restaurant for takeout the previous week because he wanted his employees to make money to pay their rent and bills .
He said he has gone from 10 workers to just three , including himself .
“ I ’ m trying , ” he said , looking down .
“ I ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but not many people have showed up.
” In an effort to boost business , Garcia joined food delivery apps such as Postmates .
Even then , he said , it was slow .
His Mexican restaurant was one of the first to have opened on Olvera Street .
Before the coronavirus , the little restaurant was often filled with customers eating tacos and taquitos .
Now , the wooden stools are stacked up and the tables crammed inside .
At this rate , Garcia said , he could continue for another five @ @ @ @ @ @ @ close .
He said he needs to make about $ 40,000 each month to be able to pay his rent , employees , bills and other expenses .
Looking around , Garcia said seeing an empty Olvera Street was making him depressed and nostalgic for the days when crowds would swarm the marketplace .
He said schoolchildren on tours would run around , and cultural events brought thousands to the street .
He also missed the office workers his business depended on during the week .
“ I look around and can ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” he said .
“ It ’ s empty and sad.
” Garcia was a teen when he arrived in the United States from Durango , Mexico .
He had come to work for his grandmother , who opened the restaurant in 1929 .
He took it over in 1993 .
He said he took over the shop from a friend four years later .
Financial hardship is not new for Garcia .
His businesses have survived economic downturns , including the one after 9/11 .
Despite how difficult it got , people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Street .
But now for the first time , there is nothing .
“ I ’ m trying , ” he said .
“ I don ’ t know what will happen.
” As the sun began to set over the quiet marketplace , Isabel Caballero , 73 , took a bite of a taquito .
Her two friends sat next to her .
The Pomona resident had grown up around the historic district .
Seeing such a desolate place worried her .
“ This is our history , ” she said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ place , for the sake of our grandchildren .
”

“We’re talking about no business,” Guillermo Garcia, 61, said of the shuttered Olvera Street. Garcia owns the restaurant La Noche Buena and the store Memo’s Place at the popular tourist spot.
It was a sad sight for Jorge Contreras: rows of blue, yellow and orange puestos, or market stalls, on Olvera Street were shuttered. Nineteenth-century brick buildings that house restaurants, shops and museums were closed, too. La Plaza, typically teeming with people, was empty and quiet.
“This place is not meant to feel sad,” the 55-year-old hat seller said. “It’s supposed to be a place of dance and celebration.”
For nearly a century, Olvera Street merchants — many of them now descendants of original vendors — have sold handcrafted items such as pottery, candles and Mexican folk art. Their survival is intertwined with tourism and cultural events such as Day of the Dead, Blessing of the Animals and Las Posadas, a nine-day Christmas celebration.
But the economic hardship caused by the COVID-19 pandemic is threatening the future of Olvera Street. Tourism has nearly dried up. Stay-at-home orders and other restrictions prevent people from gathering at the plaza and narrow street. Even though restaurants can sell takeout orders, it’s difficult to do so from a marketplace that is enclosed by several streets that require people to park and walk to the eateries.
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And now, three months in, more than 70 merchants are asking the city for help. At a recent Los Angeles City Council meeting, Councilman Jose Huizar, whose district includes Olvera Street, introduced a motion that would exempt the merchants from having to pay April and May rents. The City Council is also looking into extending time for commercial tenants to pay back rent.
Jorge Contreras, 55, has sold cowboy hats at his stall, now closed, for 11 years. (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)
Olvera Street is part of El Pueblo de Los Angeles Historical Monument, a city department that marks the oldest section of Los Angeles. In addition to the Olvera Street marketplace, it includes La Plaza de Cultura y Artes and several historic buildings.
Valerie Hanley, owner of Casa California and a member of the Olvera Street Merchants Assn., said both efforts proposed by the City Council would help.
“We’re going to really need the city to step in and say we’re going to subsidize the department so us merchants don’t have to until we can get back to normal,” she said.
Arturo Chavez, general manager for El Pueblo de Los Angeles, said the department has an annual budget of $5.6 million, and most of its revenue comes from filming, parking lots, cultural events and rent from merchants.
He said because of the pandemic, the historic district is projected to see a revenue loss for fiscal 2019-2020 of about $1 million.
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The marketplace, Chavez said, is in a difficult situation because most vendors sell specialty items and don’t count as essential businesses. The market also relies on tourism and gatherings, which are either prohibited or on the decline.
“We’ve never dealt with a situation like this,” he said. “It’s bad enough that you’re not going to be able to open, and on top of that you have back rent.”
“That’s why they want rent relief,” he added.
Hanley said monthly rent for merchants ranges from $1,000 for small market stalls to $10,000 for larger businesses. She said she’s worried about the future of Olvera Street and isn’t sure how it will operate after the city reopens during the final phase of the stay-at-home order.
“We’re going to be one of the last places to recover, just because we’re one of those areas that rely quite heavily on tourism,” she said. “It makes up about 40% to 70% of our business, and that’s going to be nonexistent for a couple of years.”
Tracking the coronavirus in L.A. County The latest maps and charts on the spread of COVID-19 in Los Angeles County, including cases, deaths, closures and restrictions.
Hanley said this has led her to fear that generations of families who have helped preserve the city’s Mexican heritage are on the verge of disappearing unless they get help.
“Ninety years of our legacy gone because of 90 days of hardship,” she said. “We have families that have up to six generations on the street. How do you recover that?”
Hanley’s ties to the area stretch back to 1930, around the time Olvera Street was established as a marketplace. She said her father worked there shining shoes.
“The only time he left the street was to fight in World War II,” Hanley said, adding that he took part in the invasion of Normandy. “His other brothers fought in the Pacific. They all came back alive.”
In the 1960s, her parents opened a business on Olvera Street, selling pottery, religious articles, piñatas and other items. They continue to sell the same types of products.
Baltazar Ayala, a cook at La Noche Buena, served a takeout meal to a customer on Wednesday. (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)
On a warm Wednesday afternoon, Guillermo Garcia sat under the shade of a tree on Olvera Street, contemplating the future of his restaurant, La Noche Buena, and his shop, Memo’s Place. He also thought about the merchants and employees he has befriended over the decades.
The 61-year-old resident of Silver Lake said he had reopened his restaurant for takeout the previous week because he wanted his employees to make money to pay their rent and bills. He said he has gone from 10 workers to just three, including himself.
“I’m trying,” he said, looking down. “I’m trying to help my workers, but not many people have showed up.”
In an effort to boost business, Garcia joined food delivery apps such as Postmates. Even then, he said, it was slow.
His Mexican restaurant was one of the first to have opened on Olvera Street. Before the coronavirus, the little restaurant was often filled with customers eating tacos and taquitos. Now, the wooden stools are stacked up and the tables crammed inside. At this rate, Garcia said, he could continue for another five months before he will be forced to close.
He said he needs to make about $40,000 each month to be able to pay his rent, employees, bills and other expenses.
Looking around, Garcia said seeing an empty Olvera Street was making him depressed and nostalgic for the days when crowds would swarm the marketplace. He said schoolchildren on tours would run around, and cultural events brought thousands to the street. He also missed the office workers his business depended on during the week.
“I look around and can’t believe what I am seeing,” he said. “It’s empty and sad.”
Garcia was a teen when he arrived in the United States from Durango, Mexico. He had come to work for his grandmother, who opened the restaurant in 1929. He took it over in 1993. He said he took over the shop from a friend four years later.
Financial hardship is not new for Garcia. His businesses have survived economic downturns, including the one after 9/11. Despite how difficult it got, people came to eat and shop on Olvera Street.
But now for the first time, there is nothing.
“I’m trying,” he said. “I don’t know what will happen.”
As the sun began to set over the quiet marketplace, Isabel Caballero, 73, took a bite of a taquito. Her two friends sat next to her. The Pomona resident had grown up around the historic district. Seeing such a desolate place worried her.
“This is our history,” she said. “We can’t lose this place, for the sake of our grandchildren.”


latimes--2020-05-18--10-year-old boy killed in car-to-car shooting in La Puente

A 10-year-old boy was shot and killed in La Puente on Sunday night , authorities said .
The child was @ @ @ @ @ North Hacienda Boulevard and Amar Road shortly after 9:40 p.m. when someone in a dark-colored @ @ @ @ @ upper torso with a handgun , according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff ’ s @ @ @ @ @ taken to a hospital , where he later died .
Authorities did not identify the @ @ @ @ @ told KTLA-TV Channel 5 that he was in the car with his parents when the @ @ @ @ @ not publicly identified a suspect or released information about a possible motive for the shooting @ @ @ @ @ , sheriff ’ s officials said .
Anyone with information is asked to contact the @ @ @ @ @ Bureau at ( 323 ) 890-5500 .
Tips also can be made anonymously by calling @ @ @ @ @ or online at

A 10-year-old boy was shot and killed while riding in a car in La Puente on Sunday night, according to authorities.
A 10-year-old boy was shot and killed in La Puente on Sunday night, authorities said.
The child was riding in a vehicle near North Hacienda Boulevard and Amar Road shortly after 9:40 p.m. when someone in a dark-colored sedan shot him in the upper torso with a handgun, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.
The boy was taken to a hospital, where he later died.
The scene in La Puente on Sunday night where a 10-year-old boy was shot and killed while riding in a car, authorities said. (ONSCENE.TV)
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Authorities did not identify the child. A family member told KTLA-TV Channel 5 that he was in the car with his parents when the shooting occurred. Authorities have not publicly identified a suspect or released information about a possible motive for the shooting. The investigation is ongoing, sheriff’s officials said.


latimes--2020-05-18--As California reopens, officials hope social distancing prevents new coronavirus outbreaks

More of California was reopening Monday as coronavirus restrictions continued to be eased in the state , with hopes the changes will help the economy without causing a rise in new cases .
At least three Bay Area counties — San Francisco , San Mateo and Marin — plan to incrementally ease their social-distancing restrictions starting Monday .
They join many other counties across California — including Los Angeles — that are allowing curbside service at some retailers .
Officials hope physical distancing rules will allow the businesses to reopen without creating new public health problems .
In large counties @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Area , malls as well as nonessential offices remain closed .
San Francisco Mayor London Breed announced last week that all curbside retailers would be allowed to reopen as of Monday for pickup and delivery .
She had cautioned for weeks that San Francisco would be slow to reopen .
But at a news conference Wednesday , she said the city ’ s next phase meant that 95 % of San Francisco ’ s retailers would be allowed to open starting Monday .
Warehouses and manufacturers also are allowed to reopen , but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the number of employees allowed in each business .
“ We do see the numbers flattening , ” Breed said .
“ They have not declined , but the fact is , we are in a better place.
” She said hospitalizations for COVID-19 remained flat , and hospital capacity was stable .
Retailers open for curbside pickup are allowed to have no more than 10 employees on site ; if the store is small , no more than five .
Manufacturers and warehouses may have no more than 50 workers on site @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of health for the city .
All open businesses must ensure social distancing , mask-wearing and have in place a health and safety plan , he said .
officials said conditions had improved enough to modify the stay-at-home requirements .
“ I want to remind everyone these modifications are not being made because it is safe to be out and about , ” Scott Morrow , the county ’ s public health officer , said in a statement .
“ The virus continues to circulate in our community , and this increase in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the virus at a higher rate.
” Santa Clara County , Northern California ’ s most populous county , will join the rest of the San Francisco Bay Area in moving into Phase 2 of Gov .
Gavin Newsom ’ s reopening plan , allowing for curbside pickup at many retail stores .
Health officers in the Bay Area said they have seen a number of positive signs since the last loosening of stay-at-home orders executed on May 4 , which allowed all construction and certain businesses that primarily do work outdoors , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Businesses around the Los Angeles area this weekend began to figure out what the looked like as restrictions were eased .
Curbside pickup was allowed , but social-distancing rules required that the public not enter stores that didn ’ t provide essential services such as food and medicine .
At the Original Farmers Market in Los Angeles , Kip ’ s Toyland reopened with only one worker per shift as coronavirus stay-at-home orders finally eased a bit .
The store was not allowing anyone inside Saturday , but that didn ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have had a surprising amount of people that have actually come up to the door even though we ’ ve been trying to do mainly phone orders , ” employee Eli Margolis said , “ so I ’ ve been doing this kind of crazy thing of having to run around the whole store and show them something they might like .
“ It was kind of difficult .
But that ’ s on me to kind of figure out and make suggestions.
” Margolis said there had been four customers at the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
He sold some puzzles , a hobbyhorse and the Sorry !
board game .
“ For the most part , I think it ’ s still kind of this weird stagnant period right now , especially with everyone still trying to refigure out — especially stores like us trying to redo our whole game plan and figure out how to kind of function in this new world , ” he said .
“ It ’ s strange for sure.
” Other retailers said it would take time to figure out this new @ @ @ @ @ @ @ feel normal , ” said Donna Tabut , assistant manager of Book Alley in Pasadena .
“ We ’ re primarily a used-books store .
A lot of customers , they like to look at the book.
” Browsing is a key part of the store ’ s business model , she said .
“ Someone will come in , they can ’ t find the book that they were looking for , and they ’ ll come up to the register with 10 books that they weren ’ t expecting to find.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ orders through its website , as well as by phone and email .
Customers were also able to walk up and look at the display window .
“ As long as you ’ re six feet away from the store wearing a facial covering , we ’ ll try to assist you in whatever way we can , ” Tabut said .
“ But we can ’ t allow anyone into the store at this moment.
” Urban parts of California have been hit much harder than many rural areas , and some @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than urban areas .
As the state moves into what Newsom has deemed , it has become possible for those regions less impacted by the coronavirus to go further in terms of reopening businesses , provided they meet certain criteria .
Nearly a third of California ’ s 58 counties have certified to the state that they have contained the spread of the virus , which allows them to reopen restaurants to dine-in service , as well as shopping malls and other businesses , Newsom said Thursday .
Those 19 counties are mostly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ small populations .
They represent about 4.5 % of the state ’ s population and do not include urban centers such as Los Angeles or San Francisco .
The state is continuing talks with other counties that are trying to reopen to ensure they meet state standards for testing , hospital availability and numbers of coronavirus cases .

Alex Wigglesworth, Christopher Goffard, Susanne Rust, Rong-Gong Lin II, Maura Dolan

Beverly Weinkauf prepared Toujours Lingerie in San Francisco to open Monday after a closure of almost two months due to shutdown orders.
More of California was reopening Monday as coronavirus restrictions continued to be eased in the state, with hopes the changes will help the economy without causing a rise in new cases.
At least three Bay Area counties — San Francisco, San Mateo and Marin — plan to incrementally ease their social-distancing restrictions starting Monday.
They join many other counties across California — including Los Angeles — that are allowing curbside service at some retailers. Officials hope physical distancing rules will allow the businesses to reopen without creating new public health problems. In large counties in both Southern California and the Bay Area, malls as well as nonessential offices remain closed.
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Which California counties are reopening? To contain the spread of COVID-19, parks, restaurants and stores are slowly reopening.
San Francisco Mayor London Breed announced last week that all curbside retailers would be allowed to reopen as of Monday for pickup and delivery.
She had cautioned for weeks that San Francisco would be slow to reopen. But at a news conference Wednesday, she said the city’s next phase meant that 95% of San Francisco’s retailers would be allowed to open starting Monday. Warehouses and manufacturers also are allowed to reopen, but the city has imposed a limit on the number of employees allowed in each business.
“We do see the numbers flattening,” Breed said. “They have not declined, but the fact is, we are in a better place.” She said hospitalizations for COVID-19 remained flat, and hospital capacity was stable.
Retailers open for curbside pickup are allowed to have no more than 10 employees on site; if the store is small, no more than five. Manufacturers and warehouses may have no more than 50 workers on site, said Dr. Grant Colfax, director of health for the city.
A U.S. Postal Service letter carrier stands in the middle of Powell Street in San Francisco. San Francisco, San Mateo and Marin plan to incrementally ease their social-distancing restrictions starting Monday. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
All open businesses must ensure social distancing, mask-wearing and have in place a health and safety plan, he said.
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San Mateo County officials said conditions had improved enough to modify the stay-at-home requirements.
“I want to remind everyone these modifications are not being made because it is safe to be out and about,” Scott Morrow, the county’s public health officer, said in a statement. “The virus continues to circulate in our community, and this increase in interactions among people is likely to spread the virus at a higher rate.”
Santa Clara County, Northern California’s most populous county, will join the rest of the San Francisco Bay Area in moving into Phase 2 of Gov. Gavin Newsom’s reopening plan, allowing for curbside pickup at many retail stores.
Health officers in the Bay Area said they have seen a number of positive signs since the last loosening of stay-at-home orders executed on May 4, which allowed all construction and certain businesses that primarily do work outdoors, like gardening and landscaping, to resume.
Businesses around the Los Angeles area this weekend began to figure out what the new normal looked like as restrictions were eased. Curbside pickup was allowed, but social-distancing rules required that the public not enter stores that didn’t provide essential services such as food and medicine.
At the Original Farmers Market in Los Angeles, Kip’s Toyland reopened with only one worker per shift as coronavirus stay-at-home orders finally eased a bit.
The store was not allowing anyone inside Saturday, but that didn’t stop customers from trying.
“We have had a surprising amount of people that have actually come up to the door even though we’ve been trying to do mainly phone orders,” employee Eli Margolis said, “so I’ve been doing this kind of crazy thing of having to run around the whole store and show them something they might like.
“It was kind of difficult. But that’s on me to kind of figure out and make suggestions.”
Margolis said there had been four customers at the retro toy shop by early Saturday afternoon. He sold some puzzles, a hobbyhorse and the Sorry! board game.
“For the most part, I think it’s still kind of this weird stagnant period right now, especially with everyone still trying to refigure out — especially stores like us trying to redo our whole game plan and figure out how to kind of function in this new world,” he said. “It’s strange for sure.”
Other retailers said it would take time to figure out this new moment.
“It doesn’t feel normal,” said Donna Tabut, assistant manager of Book Alley in Pasadena. “We’re primarily a used-books store. A lot of customers, they like to look at the book.”
Browsing is a key part of the store’s business model, she said.
“Someone will come in, they can’t find the book that they were looking for, and they’ll come up to the register with 10 books that they weren’t expecting to find.”
Still, the store was taking orders through its website, as well as by phone and email. Customers were also able to walk up and look at the display window.
“As long as you’re six feet away from the store wearing a facial covering, we’ll try to assist you in whatever way we can,” Tabut said. “But we can’t allow anyone into the store at this moment.”
Urban parts of California have been hit much harder than many rural areas, and some rural counties are reopening at a much faster clip than urban areas. As the state moves into what Newsom has deemed Phase 2 of its reopening plan , it has become possible for those regions less impacted by the coronavirus to go further in terms of reopening businesses, provided they meet certain criteria.
Nearly a third of California’s 58 counties have certified to the state that they have contained the spread of the virus, which allows them to reopen restaurants to dine-in service, as well as shopping malls and other businesses, Newsom said Thursday.
Those 19 counties are mostly in rural areas of Northern California with small populations. They represent about 4.5% of the state’s population and do not include urban centers such as Los Angeles or San Francisco.
The state is continuing talks with other counties that are trying to reopen to ensure they meet state standards for testing, hospital availability and numbers of coronavirus cases.