latimes--2020-02-04--D.A. to drop sexual assault charges against O.C. surgeon and girlfriend

The Orange County district attorney on Tuesday announced that he planned to drop all charges against a Newport Beach doctor and his girlfriend who were accused of drugging and sexually assaulting several women after a review of their case found insufficient evidence they committed any assaults .
When prosecutors filed charges against Grant Robicheaux , 39 , and Cerissa Riley , 32 , in 2018 , the Orange County district attorney ’ s office initially painted the couple as sexual predators who used their good looks to prey on vulnerable women , drug them and take them back to their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Robicheaux was accused of assaulting seven women and Riley five .
One woman described the couple as a “ Bonnie and Clyde ” team who drugged her and forced her to engage in sex acts , according to court documents .
Robicheaux and Riley have both pleaded not guilty and have repeatedly denied having nonconsensual sex with their accusers .
Despite the disturbing picture presented by authorities at the time , Orange County Dist .
Atty .
Todd Spitzer said issues with the case began to surface almost immediately .
In October @ @ @ @ @ @ @ district attorneys to review all evidence collected after another prosecutor in his office indicated there were “ serious proof problems ” with the case , Spitzer said .
The review team agreed unanimously that there was “ insufficient evidence to prove this case beyond a reasonable doubt , ” he said .
Over the course of three months , prosecutors reviewed thousands of photographs and videos from computers , hundreds of hours of audio recordings , thousands of pages of documents and tens of thousands of text messages between Robicheaux and Riley spanning @ @ @ @ @ @ @ through emails from accusers and law enforcement and thousands of conversations between the couple and women on social media and dating sites .
“ There is not a single piece of evidence or video or photo that shows an unconscious or incapacitated woman being sexually assaulted , ” Spitzer said .
“ Not one.
” Spitzer has been involved in the case since he was running for Orange County district attorney in 2018 and has been critical of former Dist .
Atty .
Tony Rackauckas ’ pretrial statements about the case .
Just @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in 2018 , Rackauckas and Spitzer held dueling news conferences outside the Harbor Justice Center in Newport Beach .
Spitzer at the time publicly accused his political rival of being slow to file charges and using the case to bolster his profile as his reelection prospects sagged .
Spitzer defeated Rackauckas decisively in the November 2018 election .
Spitzer alleged Tuesday that Rackauckas and his staff had manufactured details about the case and repeatedly misstated evidence to garner headlines and further Rackauckas ’ reelection campaign .
Spitzer and defense attorneys representing the couple @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a September 2018 news conference that investigators had “ thousands of videos ” in evidence that showed there could be “ hundreds ” or “ more than a thousand ” victims .
Weeks later , the district attorney ’ s office in a statement said it “ never said all the images are incriminating , sexual in nature or show incapacitation or intoxication.
” In a deposition taken by defense attorneys last year , Rackauckas admitted that he expected to get publicity over the case and that it might be helpful to his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reached for comment Tuesday .
Philip Cohen , an attorney representing Robicheaux in the case , wrote in a January 2019 court filing that prosecutors did not have any videos depicting victims of sexual assault .
He alleged in the filing that Rackaukas ’ statements “ set off a frenzy that completely destroyed the integrity of this case and the defendants ’ ability to obtain a fair trial.
” Spitzer said his office ’ s review of the case backed that claim .
“ The reason this is so significant is because of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
“ It led to a worldwide discussion of this case .
Headlines all over the world carried the same message over and over and over.
” Late last year , Spitzer asked the California attorney general ’ s office to consider taking over the case because of a perceived conflict of interest .
State prosecutors declined .
Spitzer said he made the request because of complaints from defense attorneys about alleged politicization of the trial and its effect on the credibility of his office .
“ This is not a close @ @ @ @ @ @ @ letter to the attorney general .
“ It is a blatant abuse of power and misuse of government resources for personal gain by the former administration of this office .
This office can not suffer any more credibility setbacks given its history of prosecutorial abuse.
” The couple were initially charged with sexual assaults on two women that allegedly occurred in 2016 .
After the case was publicized in 2018 , charges involving five more women were filed .
Robicheaux was charged with 17 felonies , including five rape charges , while Riley @ @ @ @ @ @ @ charges include rape by use of drugs , kidnap to commit rape and oral copulation by anesthesia .
Spitzer said prosecutors would make the request to the court to dismiss the charges this week .
He invited any of the women who lodged allegations against the couple to meet with him to discuss his decision .
He also offered a public apology to the women involved and to Robicheaux and Riley , calling what happened in the case a “ travesty.
” “ I didn ’ t create this situation , but it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” Spitzer said .
“ Doing justice is not always pretty , and it ’ s not pleasant many times .
This is not pleasant at all , but these are important decisions that affect people ’ s lives .
”

Grant Robicheaux and his girlfriend, Cerissa Riley, shown in October 2018, were charged with drugging and raping multiple women.
The Orange County district attorney on Tuesday announced that he planned to drop all charges against a Newport Beach doctor and his girlfriend who were accused of drugging and sexually assaulting several women after a review of their case found insufficient evidence they committed any assaults.
When prosecutors filed charges against Grant Robicheaux, 39, and Cerissa Riley, 32, in 2018, the Orange County district attorney’s office initially painted the couple as sexual predators who used their good looks to prey on vulnerable women, drug them and take them back to their posh Newport Beach home to assault them.
Robicheaux was accused of assaulting seven women and Riley five. One woman described the couple as a “Bonnie and Clyde” team who drugged her and forced her to engage in sex acts, according to court documents. Robicheaux and Riley have both pleaded not guilty and have repeatedly denied having nonconsensual sex with their accusers.
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Despite the disturbing picture presented by authorities at the time, Orange County Dist. Atty. Todd Spitzer said issues with the case began to surface almost immediately.
In October 2019, Spitzer assigned two veteran deputy district attorneys to review all evidence collected after another prosecutor in his office indicated there were “serious proof problems” with the case, Spitzer said.
The review team agreed unanimously that there was “insufficient evidence to prove this case beyond a reasonable doubt,” he said.
Over the course of three months, prosecutors reviewed thousands of photographs and videos from computers, hundreds of hours of audio recordings, thousands of pages of documents and tens of thousands of text messages between Robicheaux and Riley spanning a four-year period.
They also combed through emails from accusers and law enforcement, and thousands of conversations between the couple and women on social media and dating sites.
“There is not a single piece of evidence or video or photo that shows an unconscious or incapacitated woman being sexually assaulted,” Spitzer said. “Not one.”
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Spitzer has been involved in the case since he was running for Orange County district attorney in 2018 and has been critical of former Dist. Atty. Tony Rackauckas’ pretrial statements about the case.
Just after charges were filed against the couple in 2018, Rackauckas and Spitzer held dueling news conferences outside the Harbor Justice Center in Newport Beach. Spitzer at the time publicly accused his political rival of being slow to file charges and using the case to bolster his profile as his reelection prospects sagged. Spitzer defeated Rackauckas decisively in the November 2018 election.
Spitzer alleged Tuesday that Rackauckas and his staff had manufactured details about the case and repeatedly misstated evidence to garner headlines and further Rackauckas’ reelection campaign.
Spitzer and defense attorneys representing the couple took issue with Rackauckas’ claim during a September 2018 news conference that investigators had “thousands of videos” in evidence that showed there could be “hundreds” or “more than a thousand” victims.
Weeks later, the district attorney’s office in a statement said it “never said all the images are incriminating, sexual in nature or show incapacitation or intoxication.”
In a deposition taken by defense attorneys last year, Rackauckas admitted that he expected to get publicity over the case and that it might be helpful to his campaign.
In a statement late Tuesday, Rackauckas defended his handling of the case and suggested the dismissal was a possible “political vendetta against me.”
“Certainly, any prosecutor should think long and hard before dismissing such a case where multiple women have independently come forward and subjected themselves to the hard process of bearing their souls to the authorities,” Rackauckas said. “I just hope they’re not being sold down the river for some twisted political motive.”
He added: “My heart goes out to the women who had the courage to come forward with their complaint, because I believed their complaints based on the evidence I had before leaving office.”
Philip Cohen, an attorney representing Robicheaux in the case, wrote in a January 2019 court filing that prosecutors did not have any videos depicting victims of sexual assault. He alleged in the filing that Rackaukas’ statements “set off a frenzy that completely destroyed the integrity of this case and the defendants’ ability to obtain a fair trial.”
Spitzer said his office’s review of the case backed that claim.
“The reason this is so significant is because of what it led to,” Spitzer said. “It led to a worldwide discussion of this case. Headlines all over the world carried the same message over and over and over.”
Late last year, Spitzer asked the California attorney general’s office to consider taking over the case because of a perceived conflict of interest. State prosecutors declined.
Spitzer said he made the request because of complaints from defense attorneys about alleged politicization of the trial and its effect on the credibility of his office.
“This is not a close call,” Spitzer wrote in the letter to the attorney general. “It is a blatant abuse of power and misuse of government resources for personal gain by the former administration of this office. This office cannot suffer any more credibility setbacks given its history of prosecutorial abuse.”
The couple were initially charged with sexual assaults on two women that allegedly occurred in 2016. After the case was publicized in 2018, charges involving five more women were filed. Robicheaux was charged with 17 felonies, including five rape charges, while Riley was charged with 13 felonies. The charges include rape by use of drugs, kidnap to commit rape and oral copulation by anesthesia.
Cohen said Robicheaux and Riley’s lives have likely been forever altered by the allegations lodged against them.
“I don’t think anyone can truly understand what Grant and Cerissa are going through,” Cohen said. “They’ve gone to bed every night, eaten every meal with the threat of prison hanging over their heads. That has to be an unbelievably devastating way to live.”
Spitzer said prosecutors would make the request to the court to dismiss the charges this week. He invited any of the women who lodged allegations against the couple to meet with him to discuss his decision.
He also offered a public apology to the women involved and to Robicheaux and Riley, calling what happened in the case a “travesty.”
“I didn’t create this situation, but it’s my responsibility to fix it,” Spitzer said. “Doing justice is not always pretty, and it’s not pleasant many times. This is not pleasant at all, but these are important decisions that affect people’s lives.”
Times staff writer Richard Winton contributed to this report.


latimes--2020-02-04--Deputy shot in 'premeditated' attack is saved when bullet hits body cam

The Santa Clara County Sheriff ’ s Office is searching for a gunman who shot a deputy Friday , calling it a “ premeditated attempted murder on a law enforcement officer.
” Shortly before 11 p.m. Friday , a vehicle approached Deputy Sukhdeep Gill , who was in uniform and standing outside his patrol car near a reservoir on a rural mountain road in the foothills of Morgan Hill .
As the vehicle got closer to the deputy , the car ’ s headlights vanished and multiple shots were fired at Gill , authorities said .
One of the bullets @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Photos released Monday show the camera was pierced in the center .
Two other bullets struck the back of the deputy ’ s patrol car in what officials have called an “ unprovoked attack.
” Gill returned fire , but it ’ s unclear whether the suspect was struck before fleeing northbound on Uvas Road in what the deputy described as a 2000s-model silver sedan .
The lawman was taken to an area hospital and is recovering , authorities said .
The Sheriff ’ s Office is actively searching for a suspect @ @ @ @ @ @ @ call the investigations main line at ( 408 ) 808-4500 .

The Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Office is searching for a gunman who shot a deputy Friday, calling it a “premeditated attempted murder on a law enforcement officer.”
Shortly before 11 p.m. Friday, a vehicle approached Deputy Sukhdeep Gill, who was in uniform and standing outside his patrol car near a reservoir on a rural mountain road in the foothills of Morgan Hill.
As the vehicle got closer to the deputy, the car’s headlights vanished and multiple shots were fired at Gill, authorities said. One of the bullets struck his body-worn camera and body armor. Photos released Monday show the camera was pierced in the center.
Two other bullets struck the back of the deputy’s patrol car in what officials have called an “unprovoked attack.”
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Gill returned fire, but it’s unclear whether the suspect was struck before fleeing northbound on Uvas Road in what the deputy described as a 2000s-model silver sedan. The lawman was taken to an area hospital and is recovering, authorities said.
The Sheriff’s Office is actively searching for a suspect and is asking anyone with information to call the investigations main line at (408) 808-4500.


latimes--2020-02-04--Child under coronavirus quarantine in Riverside County is taken to hospital with fever

A child who has been quarantined and monitored for the novel coronavirus with 194 others at March Air Reserve Base has been taken to a hospital after developing a fever , Riverside County health officials said Tuesday .
The child , accompanied by a parent , was taken by ambulance to Riverside University Health System Medical Center on Monday night .
Both are undergoing testing and observation for the virus .
Samples will be submitted to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention , and results are expected later this week , officials said .
“ The child has no @ @ @ @ @ @ @ temperature , ” Riverside County Department of Public Health spokesman Jose Arballo Jr. said .
Nearly 200 people arrived at the base last week after fleeing China amid the coronavirus outbreak and have been under a 14-day federal quarantine set by the CDC .
There have been six confirmed cases of coronavirus in California , but none in Riverside County .
In a separate incident Monday , an individual who flew into Los Angeles International Airport from China has been transferred to the base and is also under quarantine , health officials said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of novel coronavirus but was moved to March out of an abundance of caution and because of their travel history , ” Riverside County health officials said in a statement .
The traveler will be isolated from the other people at the base for the next few days .
In preparation for additional passengers being taken to March Air Reserve Base , workers have set up three large tents on the tarmac to be used for medical screenings .
The action followed a request by the Department of Health and Human Services for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people in individual rooms through Feb. 29 , in anticipation of additional travelers who may need to be quarantined at March .
The CDC has confirmed 11 cases of coronavirus in the United States and expects that number will grow .

Nearly 200 people who arrived by plane at March Air Reserve Base in Riverside from Wuhan, China, are under quarantine.
A child who has been quarantined and monitored for the novel coronavirus with 194 others at March Air Reserve Base has been taken to a hospital after developing a fever, Riverside County health officials said Tuesday.
The child, accompanied by a parent, was taken by ambulance to Riverside University Health System Medical Center on Monday night. Both are undergoing testing and observation for the virus. Samples will be submitted to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and results are expected later this week, officials said.
“The child has no other symptoms or issues other than the temperature,” Riverside County Department of Public Health spokesman Jose Arballo Jr. said.
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Nearly 200 people arrived at the base last week after fleeing China amid the coronavirus outbreak and have been under a 14-day federal quarantine set by the CDC. There have been six confirmed cases of coronavirus in California, but none in Riverside County.
In a separate incident Monday, an individual who flew into Los Angeles International Airport from China has been transferred to the base and is also under quarantine, health officials said.
“The individual has no symptoms of novel coronavirus but was moved to March out of an abundance of caution and because of their travel history,” Riverside County health officials said in a statement.
The traveler will be isolated from the other people at the base for the next few days.
In preparation for additional passengers being taken to March Air Reserve Base, workers have set up three large tents on the tarmac to be used for medical screenings.
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The action followed a request by the Department of Health and Human Services for facilities capable of housing at least 250 people in individual rooms through Feb. 29, in anticipation of additional travelers who may need to be quarantined at March.
The CDC has confirmed 11 cases of coronavirus in the United States and expects that number will grow.


latimes--2020-02-04--Former Upland police officer charged with sexually assaulting ex-girlfriend

A former Upland police officer is facing three felony charges in the sexual assault of his ex-girlfriend in Pomona , authorities say .
Joshua Michaels Duarte , 31 , of Rowland Heights was charged with sexual battery by restraint , dissuading a witness from prosecuting a crime and assault with intent to commit a sex crime , according to the Los Angeles County district attorney ’ s office .
On Monday , he pleaded not guilty .
Prosecutors said Duarte attacked a 29-year-old woman after asking her to meet him in his vehicle on Dec. 30 , which was shortly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ him .
He was off-duty at the time .
Duarte joined the Upland Police Department as a probationary officer Aug. 19 and was “ released from employment ” on Jan. 11 , according to the agency .
The Pomona Police Department arrested him shortly afterward .
“ I can tell you that I am disturbed by the allegations , ” Upland Police Chief Darren Goodman said in a statement on Jan. 14 .
“ The alleged conduct is inconsistent with the expectations of an Upland police officer and does not reflect the majority @ @ @ @ @ @ @ day to maintain the trust and support of our community.
” Duarte faces a maximum sentence of eight years in state prison , according to the district attorney ’ s office .
His bail has been set at $ 200,000 .

A former Upland police officer is facing three felony charges in the sexual assault of his ex-girlfriend in Pomona, authorities say.
Joshua Michaels Duarte, 31, of Rowland Heights was charged with sexual battery by restraint, dissuading a witness from prosecuting a crime and assault with intent to commit a sex crime, according to the Los Angeles County district attorney’s office. On Monday, he pleaded not guilty.
Prosecutors said Duarte attacked a 29-year-old woman after asking her to meet him in his vehicle on Dec. 30, which was shortly after she’d broken up with him. He was off-duty at the time.
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Duarte joined the Upland Police Department as a probationary officer Aug. 19 and was “released from employment” on Jan. 11, according to the agency. The Pomona Police Department arrested him shortly afterward.
“I can tell you that I am disturbed by the allegations,” Upland Police Chief Darren Goodman said in a statement on Jan. 14. “The alleged conduct is inconsistent with the expectations of an Upland police officer and does not reflect the majority of our officers who work hard every day to maintain the trust and support of our community.”
Duarte faces a maximum sentence of eight years in state prison, according to the district attorney’s office. His bail has been set at $200,000.


latimes--2020-02-04--Power nearly restored in L.A. after fierce winds, with more on the way

Crews with the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power continued working Tuesday to restore electric service to customers who lost power amid strong winds a day earlier .
More than 24,000 customers who lost power as fierce winds buffeted the area Monday have had service restored .
As of 10 a.m. , the utility estimated that fewer than 200 customers were without power and that all the lights would be back on by noon .
The area , however , could see further outages as the week progresses and northeasterly Santa Ana winds move into the region .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s going through the region associated with an area of low pressure that ’ s diving into eastern California , ” said David Sweet , a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Oxnard .
“ It ’ s going to stay on the cool and windy side ... before things start to settle down as we head into a warming trend.
” Temperatures fell to teeth-chattering levels overnight , with widespread swaths of the Southland reporting near- or below-freezing conditions .
The mercury reached a bone-chilling 10 degrees in Big Pines and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Antelope Valley .
Lower-lying areas weren ’ t spared the nighttime chill .
Some parts of the San Gabriel Valley and coastal Los Angeles County threatened the freezing mark , and temperatures dipped below 30 degrees in portions of Ventura County and the Santa Ynez Valley .
“ As a result of a very cold air mass , two preliminary record-low temps were set this morning , ” meteorologists said — at Paso Robles Municipal Airport , which hit 21 degrees , and at Santa Barbara Airport , which tied its record @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of 20 to 30 mph with gusts up to 45 mph are expected for much of the San Fernando Valley , including Thousand Oaks , Simi Valley , Moorpark , Newbury Park , Woodland Hills , Northridge , Burbank and Universal City through Tuesday .
Higher elevations could see gusts up to 55 mph , forecasters say .
The weather service issued a wind advisory for the region , warning of gusts that could uproot trees , turn unsecured objects into projectiles and make driving difficult , especially for high-profile vehicles .
In @ @ @ @ @ @ @ out at 50 mph .
Elsewhere , gusts reached 57 mph in Saugus , 53 mph at Van Nuys Airport , 55 mph in Santa Monica , 47 mph in Inglewood and 45 mph at Los Angeles International Airport and Catalina Island , according to weather service data .
The wind knocked over massive trees in the Hollywood Hills and Sierra Madre .
In Granada Hills , footage from OnScene.TV showed a tree that had crashed onto a house .
In Porter Ranch , winds toppled a large pine on the westbound 118 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lanes .
On Monday evening , a large sign fell onto a car parked outside an El Super grocery store in the Vermont Knolls area of South Los Angeles .
At LAX , a cargo jet was damaged when it struck a trash bin that had been blown onto a runway .
The weather service issued a freeze warning Monday for much of the San Fernando Valley , and only a slight warm-up , with a low of 33 degrees , is expected for Wednesday .
In Los Angeles , daytime temperatures were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Tuesday before warming slightly .
By the weekend , forecasters expect a high of 70 degrees across much of Los Angeles County .
The chilly temperatures come on the heels of what was a for Southern California , with highs soaring above 80 degrees in some areas .
A record high of 81 degrees was set at LAX on Saturday , surpassing the previous mark of 79 degrees for the day in 1954 .
In Long Beach , a temperature of 84 degrees Saturday bested the previous record of 83 degrees set on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dramatic swing in temperatures can be uncomfortable and is a bit unusual for winter in Southern California , Sweet said .
“ It can happen , ” he said , “ but it doesn ’ t happen very often .
”

Winds toppled a large tree in the 700 block of Fairview Avenue in Sierra Madre on Monday.
Crews with the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power continued working Tuesday to restore electric service to customers who lost power amid strong winds a day earlier.
More than 24,000 customers who lost power as fierce winds buffeted the area Monday have had service restored. As of 10 a.m., the utility estimated that fewer than 200 customers were without power and that all the lights would be back on by noon.
The area, however, could see further outages as the week progresses and northeasterly Santa Ana winds move into the region.
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“We have a cold front that’s going through the region associated with an area of low pressure that’s diving into eastern California,” said David Sweet, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Oxnard. “It’s going to stay on the cool and windy side ... before things start to settle down as we head into a warming trend.”
Temperatures fell to teeth-chattering levels overnight, with widespread swaths of the Southland reporting near- or below-freezing conditions.
The mercury reached a bone-chilling 10 degrees in Big Pines and plummeted to 14 degrees in parts of the Antelope Valley.
Lower-lying areas weren’t spared the nighttime chill. Some parts of the San Gabriel Valley and coastal Los Angeles County threatened the freezing mark, and temperatures dipped below 30 degrees in portions of Ventura County and the Santa Ynez Valley.
“As a result of a very cold air mass, two preliminary record-low temps were set this morning,” meteorologists said — at Paso Robles Municipal Airport, which hit 21 degrees, and at Santa Barbara Airport, which tied its record of 32 degrees.
Strong northeast winds of 20 to 30 mph with gusts up to 45 mph are expected for much of the San Fernando Valley, including Thousand Oaks, Simi Valley, Moorpark, Newbury Park, Woodland Hills, Northridge, Burbank and Universal City through Tuesday. Higher elevations could see gusts up to 55 mph, forecasters say.
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The weather service issued a wind advisory for the region, warning of gusts that could uproot trees, turn unsecured objects into projectiles and make driving difficult, especially for high-profile vehicles.
In downtown L.A. on Monday, winds topped out at 50 mph. Elsewhere, gusts reached 57 mph in Saugus, 53 mph at Van Nuys Airport, 55 mph in Santa Monica, 47 mph in Inglewood and 45 mph at Los Angeles International Airport and Catalina Island, according to weather service data.
The wind knocked over massive trees in the Hollywood Hills and Sierra Madre. In Granada Hills, footage from OnScene.TV showed a tree that had crashed onto a house. In Porter Ranch, winds toppled a large pine on the westbound 118 Freeway at Reseda Boulevard, blocking two lanes.
On Monday evening, a large sign fell onto a car parked outside an El Super grocery store in the Vermont Knolls area of South Los Angeles. At LAX, a cargo jet was damaged when it struck a trash bin that had been blown onto a runway.
The weather service issued a freeze warning Monday for much of the San Fernando Valley, and only a slight warm-up, with a low of 33 degrees, is expected for Wednesday.
In Los Angeles, daytime temperatures were expected to linger in the low 60s Tuesday before warming slightly. By the weekend, forecasters expect a high of 70 degrees across much of Los Angeles County.
The chilly temperatures come on the heels of what was a record-breaking warm weekend for Southern California, with highs soaring above 80 degrees in some areas.
A record high of 81 degrees was set at LAX on Saturday, surpassing the previous mark of 79 degrees for the day in 1954. In Long Beach, a temperature of 84 degrees Saturday bested the previous record of 83 degrees set on the same day in 1995.
The dramatic swing in temperatures can be uncomfortable and is a bit unusual for winter in Southern California, Sweet said.
“It can happen,” he said, “but it doesn’t happen very often.”


latimes--2020-02-04--Frantic 911 callers report Kobe Bryant helicopter crash, cite foggy conditions

As investigators continue to probe the cause of the helicopter crash that killed Kobe Bryant and eight others , authorities have made public a series of 911 calls fielded by emergency operators on that foggy Sunday morning .
“ I am walking on the trail .
I could hear the plane .
I think it was in the clouds , but I couldn ’ t see it then .
We just heard a boom and a dead sound , and then I could see the flames , ” said a man on a nearby hiking trail in Calabasas .
An @ @ @ @ @ @ @ National Transportation Safety Board released the 911 calls .
They were released by the Los Angeles County Fire Department .
Elsewhere in the article , Jennifer Homendy was described as an NTSB investigator .
She is a board member with the agency .
A second caller said , “ A helicopter crashed into a mountain .
We heard it .
And now I ’ m looking at the flames.
” A third caller : “ It went over my head .
It ’ s thick in clouds .
And then I heard a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ If this guy doesn ’ t have night vision , he is completely IFR [ instrument flight rules ] .
” Two of the callers noted the foggy conditions at the time of the crash , which is one of the subjects of the investigation .
Of the numerous calls that flooded operators , the Los Angeles County Fire Department released five .
The recordings come as the NTSB continues to investigate the cause of the crash .
The agency is expected to release preliminary findings in the coming days .
Jennifer Homendy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the helicopter was at 2,300 feet when it lost communication with air traffic controllers .
The helicopter was descending at more than 2,000 feet per minute at the time of impact .
“ So we know that this was a high-energy-impact crash , ” she said , “ and the helicopter was in a descending left bank.
” The chopper hit the hillside at an elevation of 1,085 feet , about 20 to 30 feet below an outcropping of a hill , killing all nine people on board .

As investigators continue to probe the cause of the helicopter crash that killed Kobe Bryant and eight others, authorities have made public a series of 911 calls fielded by emergency operators on that foggy Sunday morning.
“I am walking on the trail. I could hear the plane. I think it was in the clouds, but I couldn’t see it then. We just heard a boom and a dead sound, and then I could see the flames,” said a man on a nearby hiking trail in Calabasas.
For the record: An earlier version of this article stated the National Transportation Safety Board released the 911 calls. They were released by the Los Angeles County Fire Department. Elsewhere in the article, Jennifer Homendy was described as an NTSB investigator. She is a board member with the agency.
A second caller said, “A helicopter crashed into a mountain. We heard it. And now I’m looking at the flames.”
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A third caller: “It went over my head. It’s thick in clouds. And then I heard a pop, and it immediately stopped. If this guy doesn’t have night vision, he is completely IFR [instrument flight rules].”
Two of the callers noted the foggy conditions at the time of the crash, which is one of the subjects of the investigation. Of the numerous calls that flooded operators, the Los Angeles County Fire Department released five.
The recordings come as the NTSB continues to investigate the cause of the crash. The agency is expected to release preliminary findings in the coming days.
Jennifer Homendy, an NTSB board member, said the helicopter was at 2,300 feet when it lost communication with air traffic controllers. The helicopter was descending at more than 2,000 feet per minute at the time of impact.
“So we know that this was a high-energy-impact crash,” she said, “and the helicopter was in a descending left bank.”


latimes--2020-02-04--Greyhound passengers disarmed gunman who killed 1, wounded 5 on bus, CHP says

A 33-year-old Maryland man was arrested on suspicion of murder and attempted murder Monday after authorities say he opened fire aboard a crowded Greyhound bus , killing one person and wounding five others before passengers disarmed him .
Witnesses told authorities that Anthony Devonte Williams of Capitol Heights , Md.
, was cursing and muttering incoherently in the moments before shots rang out on the bus , which was traveling on Interstate 5 through Kern County .
At one point during the journey , Williams got into a fight with another passenger who asked him to quiet down , authorities @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 29 , who was traveling on the bus with his girlfriend , told NBC that the man began shouting expletives before Grabban heard the sound of a gun cock , followed by eight or nine shots .
“ I dove to the floor right to under the seat .
I got to my girlfriend , tried to put her head down .
I was just waiting for the next shot .
I was assuming I was going to get shot , ” he told the station .
“ There was a mother with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 4 or 3 , frozen with fear , and I was shaking , telling them to stay down.
” Lashirah Foy told KTLA-TV that she crouched down in her seat immediately when she heard the shots .
“ I hugged the woman who was sitting next to me and we just ... huddled , ” she told the station .
“ By the time I crouched down , the shots had ceased and he was already off the bus.
” A motive for the shooting was not clear and there was no indication @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , authorities said .
A semi-automatic handgun and several ammunition magazines were found on the bus , California Highway Patrol Sgt .
Brian Pennings said .
Federal agents with the Bureau of Alcohol , Tobacco , Firearms and Explosives are working to trace the weapon .
A 51-year-old woman from Colombia was pronounced dead at the scene .
A 45-year-old man and a 19-year-old woman were hospitalized in critical condition .
A 39-year-old woman had major injuries , a 49-year-old man had moderate injuries and a 50-year-old woman had minor injuries , Pennings @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was not available early Tuesday .
The driver of the bus pulled onto the shoulder of the freeway immediately after the shooting .
Passengers led Williams off the vehicle , and the driver continued to the next freeway exit , at Grapevine Road , while first aid was performed on those who had been injured , Pennings said .
The bus , which had 43 people on board , including the driver and two children , left Los Angeles about 11:30 p.m. Sunday and was scheduled to make stops in the cities of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in San Francisco about 7:20 a.m. Monday .
Some passengers continued their journey to the Bay Area via another Greyhound bus Monday , while others opted for other transportation .
The Associated Press contributed to this report .

Investigators gather in Lebec, Calif., outside a Greyhound that was the scene of a fatal shooting.
A 33-year-old Maryland man was arrested on suspicion of murder and attempted murder Monday after authorities say he opened fire aboard a crowded Greyhound bus, killing one person and wounding five others before passengers disarmed him.
Witnesses told authorities that Anthony Devonte Williams of Capitol Heights, Md., was cursing and muttering incoherently in the moments before shots rang out on the bus, which was traveling on Interstate 5 through Kern County. At one point during the journey, Williams got into a fight with another passenger who asked him to quiet down, authorities and witnesses said.
Mark Grabban, 29, who was traveling on the bus with his girlfriend, told NBC that the man began shouting expletives before Grabban heard the sound of a gun cock, followed by eight or nine shots.
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“I dove to the floor right to under the seat. I got to my girlfriend, tried to put her head down. I was just waiting for the next shot. I was assuming I was going to get shot,” he told the station. “There was a mother with two small girls, who were either 4 or 3, frozen with fear, and I was shaking, telling them to stay down.”
Lashirah Foy told KTLA-TV that she crouched down in her seat immediately when she heard the shots.
“I hugged the woman who was sitting next to me and we just ... huddled,” she told the station. “By the time I crouched down, the shots had ceased and he was already off the bus.”
A motive for the shooting was not clear and there was no indication the gunman knew anyone on the bus, authorities said. A semi-automatic handgun and several ammunition magazines were found on the bus, California Highway Patrol Sgt. Brian Pennings said.
Federal agents with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives are working to trace the weapon.
A 51-year-old woman from Colombia was pronounced dead at the scene. A 45-year-old man and a 19-year-old woman were hospitalized in critical condition. A 39-year-old woman had major injuries, a 49-year-old man had moderate injuries and a 50-year-old woman had minor injuries, Pennings said. Updated information about their conditions was not available early Tuesday.
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The driver of the bus pulled onto the shoulder of the freeway immediately after the shooting. Passengers led Williams off the vehicle, and the driver continued to the next freeway exit, at Grapevine Road, while first aid was performed on those who had been injured, Pennings said.
The bus, which had 43 people on board, including the driver and two children, left Los Angeles about 11:30 p.m. Sunday and was scheduled to make stops in the cities of Avenal and Oakland before ending its route in San Francisco about 7:20 a.m. Monday.
Some passengers continued their journey to the Bay Area via another Greyhound bus Monday, while others opted for other transportation.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.


latimes--2020-02-04--To keep cops in the community, a shuttered LAPD jail in San Pedro reopens

For nearly a decade , the jail in San Pedro stood vacant and shuttered .
Television crews filmed inside on occasion , and police cadets asked to use it on Halloween .
But it had no real inmates .
Sgt .
Catherine Plows of the Los Angeles Police Department ’ s Harbor Division often walked through the jail — which is connected to the station – to flush toilets and punch some buttons , trying to keep it alive .
“ We watched it for 10 years , just rotting , ” she said .
“ It sat very tomb-like @ @ @ @ @ @ @ jail , her division ’ s officers would drive 15 ½ miles on the crowded 110 Freeway to book suspects in South L.A. ’ s 77th Street Regional Jail .
The trips took hours from time that could be otherwise spent patrolling or responding to radio calls .
But not for much longer .
After years of lobbying by community members , the 16,250-square-foot facility will open Feb. 16 .
“ This was demanded by the residents in the Harbor area community , ” said L.A. City Councilman Joe Buscaino , a former @ @ @ @ @ @ @ district includes the jail .
“ We wanted to make sure the street cops are in our area and not being pulled away every time they have to make an arrest.
” The facility , which accommodates men and women , will serve San Pedro , Harbor City , Harbor Gateway and Wilmington .
The Los Angeles Port Police and the California Highway Patrol can also book arrestees there .
It is one of 10 LAPD jails where inmates are held up to 96 hours before being handed over to the Sheriff ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were shuttered in the aftermath of the recession remain temporarily closed .
Reopening them would cost about $ 6.2 million , according to a report sent to the city ’ s Budget and Finance Committee last May .
The chairwoman of the City Council ’ s Public Safety Committee , Monica Rodriguez , said that opening the Harbor jail aligns with LAPD Chief Michel Moore ’ s prioritization of field work .
One of her priorities for the next budgetary cycle will be reopening the other jails .
“ It ’ s huge @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said Capt .
Rolando Solano , who oversees the department ’ s jail operations .
“ This should increase the availability of patrol officers for calls for service.
” The jail opened in 2009 but was closed months later due to lack of detention personnel , Plows said .
The Foothill , Southwest , Devonshire and Wilshire area jails also closed between 2010 and 2012 .
Plows said it takes an officer two to four hours to book a suspect in the 77th Street jail .
A booking van has provided some relief @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Saturday evenings .
In February 2016 , former Police Chief Charlie Beck stood before hundreds of residents at a forum in San Pedro and to reopen the jail within three years .
Community members held a rally in 2017 outside the police station and continued to lobby after Beck retired the next year .
With Moore , they got their wish .
The $ 2.8 million , including health benefits and pensions , approved by the mayor covers 27 detention officers , among other costs .
The jail will be able to hold @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It ’ s had to undergo upgrades .
The cell doors are now all automated and can be opened by a jailer at the command center .
Cameras have been added to cells too — a standard that hadn ’ t been required previously .
“ To get it to come back was a huge lift , ” Mona Sutton , a San Pedro resident who rallied for the jail , said at a commission meeting on Thursday night , when the opening was announced .
“ It means we were heard .
@

Sgt. Catherine Plows stands in the Harbor Jail housed inside the LAPD Harbor Community Police Station in San Pedro. After years of lobbying by residents, the jail will reopen Feb. 16.
For nearly a decade, the jail in San Pedro stood vacant and shuttered. Television crews filmed inside on occasion, and police cadets asked to use it on Halloween. But it had no real inmates.
Sgt. Catherine Plows of the Los Angeles Police Department’s Harbor Division often walked through the jail — which is connected to the station – to flush toilets and punch some buttons, trying to keep it alive.
“We watched it for 10 years, just rotting,” she said. “It sat very tomb-like for a long time.”
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Without the jail, her division’s officers would drive 15 ½ miles on the crowded 110 Freeway to book suspects in South L.A.’s 77th Street Regional Jail. The trips took hours from time that could be otherwise spent patrolling or responding to radio calls.
But not for much longer. After years of lobbying by community members, the 16,250-square-foot facility will open Feb. 16.
“This was demanded by the residents in the Harbor area community,” said L.A. City Councilman Joe Buscaino, a former police officer in the Harbor Division whose district includes the jail. “We wanted to make sure the street cops are in our area and not being pulled away every time they have to make an arrest.”
The facility, which accommodates men and women, will serve San Pedro, Harbor City, Harbor Gateway and Wilmington. The Los Angeles Port Police and the California Highway Patrol can also book arrestees there.
It is one of 10 LAPD jails where inmates are held up to 96 hours before being handed over to the Sheriff’s Department. Four other jails that were shuttered in the aftermath of the recession remain temporarily closed. Reopening them would cost about $6.2 million, according to a report sent to the city’s Budget and Finance Committee last May.
The chairwoman of the City Council’s Public Safety Committee, Monica Rodriguez, said that opening the Harbor jail aligns with LAPD Chief Michel Moore’s prioritization of field work. One of her priorities for the next budgetary cycle will be reopening the other jails.
“It’s huge whenever you open a jail,” said Capt. Rolando Solano, who oversees the department’s jail operations. “This should increase the availability of patrol officers for calls for service.”
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The jail opened in 2009 but was closed months later due to lack of detention personnel, Plows said. The Foothill, Southwest, Devonshire and Wilshire area jails also closed between 2010 and 2012.
Plows said it takes an officer two to four hours to book a suspect in the 77th Street jail. A booking van has provided some relief, but it operates only Thursday through Saturday evenings.
In February 2016, former Police Chief Charlie Beck stood before hundreds of residents at a forum in San Pedro and promised to reopen the jail within three years. Community members held a rally in 2017 outside the police station and continued to lobby after Beck retired the next year.
With Moore, they got their wish. The $2.8 million, including health benefits and pensions, approved by the mayor covers 27 detention officers, among other costs. The jail will be able to hold 45 male and 20 female inmates.
It’s had to undergo upgrades. The cell doors are now all automated and can be opened by a jailer at the command center. Cameras have been added to cells too — a standard that hadn’t been required previously.
“To get it to come back was a huge lift,” Mona Sutton, a San Pedro resident who rallied for the jail, said at a commission meeting on Thursday night, when the opening was announced. “It means we were heard.”


latimes--2020-02-04--A mural at a troubled park was meant to honor Native Americans. Instead, it caused anger

Last summer , Joe Ded painted a mural on a dilapidated bandstand at Tony Cerda Park in Pomona as a symbol of hope .
Its theme : a hodgepodge of Native American symbols to honor the park ’ s namesake , a boxing coach who grew up nearby and was the longtime chair of the Costanoan Band of Carmel Mission Indians , also known as the Ohlone .
The children and parents who helped Ded hailed the mural as a first step toward bringing back dignity to the green space , long neglected by the city and long infamous as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to ever get a break .
The four-acre expanse of cracked walkways , patches of dead grass , tagged-up trees and gross restrooms was originally called Sharkey Park after Pomona ’ s oldest Latino gang .
In 1970 , police raided a softball game and arrested 53 people , inciting a riot ; in the years that followed , so many shootings and killings and brawls plagued Sharkey that residents accused officers of being too scared to patrol it .
A City Council member even suggested the park get bulldozed and sold off @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was having its intended effect .
Spoken-word nights were organized there .
Baby agave planted by residents next to it began to grow .
Graffiti stayed away .
Families sat where cholos once glared .
Then the park got snakebit by controversy once more .
Native American activists soon complained that the icons depicted on the mural — Mayan glyphs , an Aztec eagle , a Zia sun symbol , the Southwestern fertility god Kokopelli — weren ’ t indigenous to the region and thus offensive .
They wanted the mural gone .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ complain .
Pomona ’ s parks and recreation committee meetings — usually placid affairs — became the stage for heated accusations about how the mural committed “ cultural genocide.
” “ We have justification for feeling the way we do , ” Dee Dee Manzanares , chair of an Ohlone faction , told the Pomona City Council during its Jan. 6 meeting .
“ I have never been so humiliated like I was here in my own hometown .
I felt so small.
” Native Americans , tired of the endless appropriation and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the city ’ s elected officials to take a stand on their behalf .
The decision , though , wasn ’ t so easy .
“ It created confusion , anger , frustration , ” said Pomona Mayor Tim Sandoval during the Jan. 6 meeting .
“ We as a community have so many challenges , the last thing we need to do is fight with each other over a mural.
” Paul Apodaca , a Chapman University sociology professor who was a founding contributor to the Smithsonian Institution National Museum of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mural had every right to feel upset .
“ The specificity of each American culture , like the specificity of each European culture , is important , ” he said .
“ The move away from stereotype and cultural appropriation requires some research and effort to present culture groups and their representation with respect , care and input from the cultures represented .
“ Councilman Victor Preciado , who grew up in Pomona and whose district includes Tony Cerda Park , said the park “ wasn ’ t a priority ” for previous @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Pomona , the city ’ s traditional Latino barrio .
Now , the 31-year-old said , “ we ’ re creating surveys and talking to people to see what they want there.
” And one of those things was a mural .
But the council , much to Ded ’ s anger , voted unanimously to destroy the artwork — with Preciado recusing himself .
It was painted over within 24 hours .
“ Dang , what was this , the Berlin Wall ?
” he said .
“ People have too much @ @ @ @ @ @ @ something that makes a park pretty.
” But the mural ’ s demise has unwittingly accomplished its goal .
Residents angered by the the situation vow to continue to nurture the park .
Sofie Reyes , 53 , has lived across the street from Tony Cerda for 30 years , but always took her children and grandchildren to Salazar Park in East Los Angeles for weekend fun .
Now she ’ s part of a group that regularly cleans up the park and wants more events such as poetry readings and concerts .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ there was a [ bandstand ] here until the mural , ” she said .
“ That ’ s how little people use the park .
There ’ s nothing there .
Nothing.
” On a recent weekday morning , Tony Cerda Park was empty save for 28-year-old Jhonny Galvan , who watched his son run around in the playpen .
Nearby , remnants of the mural — a child ’ s hand print , the outline of a feather — peeked through the glops of white paint that covered it , a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Meanwhile , someone had scribbled “ Pomona 12 '' on the edge , the modern moniker of the Sharkeys .
Galvan thought the mural “ was cool ” and didn ’ t understand why anyone would find it problematic .
“ Anything to bring more positiveness back here is good , ” he said .
What ’ s now Tony Cerda Park started out as a vacant lot .
Residents carved out a baseball field in the late 1960s , and asked the City Council for funds to build picnic benches , a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cans and a youth center , among other amenities .
They got the trash cans .
Council members said there wasn ’ t enough money to make the park nicer , and even delayed the construction of restrooms for years .
About the only nod to neighborhood demands was a name change in 1973 from Madison Park to Sharkey , in an effort to get the gang and other area youths to take care of their stomping grounds .
No one voiced any dissent at the time ; instead , parks and recreation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gang ’ s name on it so that city staff could get the spelling right .
Soon , Sharkey became notorious as one of the roughest areas in a city that became nationally known for gang violence .
“ If we ventured over there , we could run into trouble , and it could cost us our lives , ” said Carlos Goytia , a lifelong Pomona resident .
“ It was a horrendous experience to grow up in.
” The scene became so bad that then-Councilman Clay Bryant argued for the park @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it ’ s getting to be the more parks you have , the more hangouts you have for the gangs , ” he said .
His effort went nowhere , but in 1989 the city changed the name back to Madison to shake off the park ’ s stigma .
( It was renamed Tony Cerda in 2008 ) .
The Cinco de Mayo and Mexican Independence Day celebrations and Easter egg hunts that once regularly happened here disappeared , leaving the park largely empty except for weekend soccer leagues and an annual @ @ @ @ @ @ @ remained at the park became so decrepit that a light pole fell just feet away from players during a match in September .
By the time Pomona parks and recreation Commissioner Fabian Pavon visited last spring , he hadn ’ t stepped foot in it since preschool , even though he grew up just a block away .
“ I was part of a generation of kids that was told , ‘ You go , you ’ re gon na get shot up , you ’ re gon na get gangbanged , ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to “ a sense of fear ” when he returned to Tony Cerda Park .
But those feelings turned into disgust .
On Instagram , he posted photos of unsightly concrete slabs where picnic tables once stood , and ratty curtains installed by residents in the men ’ s restroom between a urinal and a toilet because there was no stall .
The woman ’ s restroom , meanwhile , featured a paint bucket as a trash can .
“ The conditions were a disgrace , ” he said .
With the help @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a cleanup and asked Ded to do the mural .
Its removal , Pavon said , was “ a disrespect ” to a community that ’ s “ been thrown under the bus and taken advantage of for generations.
” Mayor Sandoval says the decision to remove Ded ’ s tableau was purely procedural : Ded never pulled a permit .
( The city ’ s cultural arts commission retroactively granted one in November . )
He wants to bring more programming to Tony Cerda Park beyond the occasional film nights the city @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sandoval points out that the city is slowly improving its infrastructure as part of $ 720,000 set aside for park facilities in Pomona ’ s budget .
In November , the city replaced all the light poles and installed four picnic benches .
There ’ s even plans for an official mural on the restrooms .
“ When people go to parks , they want to have a good park , ” Sandoval said .
“ We just wanted to bring life to a park , ” said the 50-year-old , who represents @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Three Valleys Metropolitan Water District .
“ Instead , we got whitewashed.
” But he ’ s at least happy that the hubbub has reinvigorated residents .
“ Now , ” Goytia said , “ the park is getting the attention that it ’ s deserved for decades on decades .
”

Last summer, Joe Ded painted a mural on a dilapidated bandstand at Tony Cerda Park in Pomona as a symbol of hope.
Its theme: a hodgepodge of Native American symbols to honor the park’s namesake, a boxing coach who grew up nearby and was the longtime chair of the Costanoan Band of Carmel Mission Indians, also known as the Ohlone. The children and parents who helped Ded hailed the mural as a first step toward bringing back dignity to the green space, long neglected by the city and long infamous as a place that can’t seem to ever get a break.
The four-acre expanse of cracked walkways, patches of dead grass, tagged-up trees and gross restrooms was originally called Sharkey Park after Pomona’s oldest Latino gang. In 1970, police raided a softball game and arrested 53 people, inciting a riot; in the years that followed, so many shootings and killings and brawls plagued Sharkey that residents accused officers of being too scared to patrol it. A City Council member even suggested the park get bulldozed and sold off to developers.
Advertisement
But the bandstand mural was having its intended effect. Spoken-word nights were organized there. Baby agave planted by residents next to it began to grow. Graffiti stayed away. Families sat where cholos once glared.
Then the park got snakebit by controversy once more.
Native American activists soon complained that the icons depicted on the mural — Mayan glyphs, an Aztec eagle, a Zia sun symbol, the Southwestern fertility god Kokopelli — weren’t indigenous to the region and thus offensive. They wanted the mural gone.
Opponents interrupted readings at the mural to complain. Pomona’s parks and recreation committee meetings — usually placid affairs — became the stage for heated accusations about how the mural committed “cultural genocide.”
“We have justification for feeling the way we do,” Dee Dee Manzanares, chair of an Ohlone faction, told the Pomona City Council during its Jan. 6 meeting. “I have never been so humiliated like I was here in my own hometown. I felt so small.”
Native Americans, tired of the endless appropriation and mislabeling of their culture, were asking the city’s elected officials to take a stand on their behalf.
Advertisement
The decision, though, wasn’t so easy.
“It created confusion, anger, frustration,” said Pomona Mayor Tim Sandoval during the Jan. 6 meeting. “We as a community have so many challenges, the last thing we need to do is fight with each other over a mural.”
Brissia Enriquez, 13, left, of Pomona swings with her sister Ashley Enriquez, 15, on the playground at Tony Cerda Park. They have been coming to the park since they were children. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)
Paul Apodaca, a Chapman University sociology professor who was a founding contributor to the Smithsonian Institution National Museum of the American Indian, said critics of the mural had every right to feel upset.
“The specificity of each American culture, like the specificity of each European culture, is important,” he said. “The move away from stereotype and cultural appropriation requires some research and effort to present culture groups and their representation with respect, care and input from the cultures represented. “
Councilman Victor Preciado, who grew up in Pomona and whose district includes Tony Cerda Park, said the park “wasn’t a priority” for previous administrations because of its location: south Pomona, the city’s traditional Latino barrio. Now, the 31-year-old said, “we’re creating surveys and talking to people to see what they want there.”
And one of those things was a mural.
But the council, much to Ded’s anger, voted unanimously to destroy the artwork — with Preciado recusing himself. It was painted over within 24 hours.
“Dang, what was this, the Berlin Wall?” he said. “People have too much time on their hands. Just accept something that makes a park pretty.”
But the mural’s demise has unwittingly accomplished its goal. Residents angered by the the situation vow to continue to nurture the park.
Sofie Reyes, 53, has lived across the street from Tony Cerda for 30 years, but always took her children and grandchildren to Salazar Park in East Los Angeles for weekend fun. Now she’s part of a group that regularly cleans up the park and wants more events such as poetry readings and concerts.
“I didn’t even know there was a [bandstand] here until the mural,” she said. “That’s how little people use the park. There’s nothing there. Nothing.”
On a recent weekday morning, Tony Cerda Park was empty save for 28-year-old Jhonny Galvan, who watched his son run around in the playpen. Nearby, remnants of the mural — a child’s hand print, the outline of a feather — peeked through the glops of white paint that covered it, a ghostly reminder of what once was. Meanwhile, someone had scribbled “Pomona 12” on the edge, the modern moniker of the Sharkeys.
Galvan thought the mural “was cool” and didn’t understand why anyone would find it problematic. “Anything to bring more positiveness back here is good,” he said.
What’s now Tony Cerda Park started out as a vacant lot. Residents carved out a baseball field in the late 1960s, and asked the City Council for funds to build picnic benches, a football field, drinking fountains, trash cans and a youth center, among other amenities.
They got the trash cans.
Council members said there wasn’t enough money to make the park nicer, and even delayed the construction of restrooms for years. About the only nod to neighborhood demands was a name change in 1973 from Madison Park to Sharkey, in an effort to get the gang and other area youths to take care of their stomping grounds.
No one voiced any dissent at the time; instead, parks and recreation commissioners asked for a jacket with the gang’s name on it so that city staff could get the spelling right.
Soon, Sharkey became notorious as one of the roughest areas in a city that became nationally known for gang violence. “If we ventured over there, we could run into trouble, and it could cost us our lives,” said Carlos Goytia, a lifelong Pomona resident. “It was a horrendous experience to grow up in.”
The scene became so bad that then-Councilman Clay Bryant argued for the park’s eradication in 1988 — “it’s getting to be the more parks you have, the more hangouts you have for the gangs,” he said. His effort went nowhere, but in 1989 the city changed the name back to Madison to shake off the park’s stigma. (It was renamed Tony Cerda in 2008).
The Cinco de Mayo and Mexican Independence Day celebrations and Easter egg hunts that once regularly happened here disappeared, leaving the park largely empty except for weekend soccer leagues and an annual powwow run by the Costanoans. What remained at the park became so decrepit that a light pole fell just feet away from players during a match in September.
Parks Commissioner Fabian Pavon has been instrumental in cleaning up Tony Cerda Park in Pomona. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)
By the time Pomona parks and recreation Commissioner Fabian Pavon visited last spring, he hadn’t stepped foot in it since preschool, even though he grew up just a block away.
“I was part of a generation of kids that was told, ‘You go, you’re gonna get shot up, you’re gonna get gangbanged,’” the 25-year-old said.
Pavon admitted to “a sense of fear” when he returned to Tony Cerda Park. But those feelings turned into disgust. On Instagram, he posted photos of unsightly concrete slabs where picnic tables once stood, and ratty curtains installed by residents in the men’s restroom between a urinal and a toilet because there was no stall. The woman’s restroom, meanwhile, featured a paint bucket as a trash can.
“The conditions were a disgrace,” he said.
With the help of Goytia and others, Pavon organized a cleanup and asked Ded to do the mural. Its removal, Pavon said, was “a disrespect” to a community that’s “been thrown under the bus and taken advantage of for generations.”
Mayor Sandoval says the decision to remove Ded’s tableau was purely procedural: Ded never pulled a permit. (The city’s cultural arts commission retroactively granted one in November.) He wants to bring more programming to Tony Cerda Park beyond the occasional film nights the city has offered for some years.
And Sandoval points out that the city is slowly improving its infrastructure as part of $720,000 set aside for park facilities in Pomona’s budget. In November, the city replaced all the light poles and installed four picnic benches. There’s even plans for an official mural on the restrooms.
“When people go to parks, they want to have a good park,” Sandoval said.
Goytia remains unconvinced about the city’s efforts.
“We just wanted to bring life to a park,” said the 50-year-old, who represents Pomona as a board member of the Three Valleys Metropolitan Water District. “Instead, we got whitewashed.”
But he’s at least happy that the hubbub has reinvigorated residents.
“Now,” Goytia said, “the park is getting the attention that it’s deserved for decades on decades.”


latimes--2020-02-04--He went from nanny to artist. His muse is the men and women who make L.A. work

When he was a boy in San Bernardino , Ramiro Gómez Jr. shared his dreams of becoming an artist with his grandmother .
From his dreams , he vowed to make hers come true : “ When I grow up , I ’ m going to buy you a house , ” he told her .
Gómez — whose parents are Mexican immigrants who once lived in the country illegally — did grow up to be an artist .
Today , his work sells for thousands of dollars .
It ’ s part of museum collections , including at the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ He ’ s been a guest lecturer at UCLA , Duke and Harvard .
He has an upcoming show with the Art Dealers Assn .
of America in New York .
And he just wrapped up another one at the Charlie James Gallery in Los Angeles .
His grandmother , however , was not around to see it .
She died just as his career as an artist was taking off .
Lately , Gómez has been watching a lot of Harry Potter movies .
The films provide him with a sense of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with the responsibility on my shoulders , ” he said .
But when he saw the third film in the series , directed by the Academy Award-winning Mexican filmmaker Alfonso Cuarón , it left him in emotional shambles .
In it , Gómez explained , the main characters get hold of a “ time-turner , ” a trinket that enables them to travel through time to alter the past and change the present .
That was the year he dropped out of the California Institute of the Arts — despite his parents ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ began working at a child-care center and discovered that he enjoyed that more than going to class .
That was the year his now-husband , film editor David Feldman , suggested that he work as a nanny to help make ends meet .
And that was the year he watched his grandmother ’ s health deteriorate .
The year she died of a heart attack .
“ That year was hard , ” Gómez said .
“ I felt the full failure.
” From that failure sprang a career whose muse is L.A. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Literally .
After dropping out of art school , he became a full-time nanny and , while the children he cared for took a nap , he engaged in a quiet rebellion : He pored through his bosses ’ discarded lifestyle magazines .
Then he inserted figures of the often overlooked domestic workers who make it all possible .
At the Charlie James Gallery in Los Angeles ’ historic and gentrifying Chinatown , visitors encountered a large green-blue canvas on which a gardener with giant bird wings starts to take flight .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ left behind .
Another piece , titled “ Ruido , ” featured a yard being tended to by a man carrying a leaf blower .
The piece , Gómez said , was inspired by actress Julie Newmar , who is best known for her portrayal of Catwoman .
When her neighbor in Brentwood refused to stop his Latino gardener from using the machine , the actress spray-painted the Spanish word for “ noise ” on his wall .
In “ After the Fire , ” three exhausted firefighters lay to rest beside luxurious @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the background .
Beside them , a darker-skinned man in a baseball cap waters the lawn .
That piece , Gómez said , was influenced by an article in The Times that details how the owners of million-dollar homes recently failed to communicate with their employees about an evacuation order during a brush fire .
Then there was “ West Hollywood Park Nanny , ” which , Gómez acknowledged , serves as homage to the women who taught him the ropes of the business , ultimately giving him the confidence to ask @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Spanish , Gómez remembered the other nannies telling him : “ Mijo , you speak English , you ’ re young , you ’ re strong .
¿Y te están pagando $ 10 an hour ?
” Because laborers are a core part of his subject matter , Gómez is often critiqued as profiting from the toil of others .
The artist himself shares this concern and addresses it in his art .
In real life , it gets even more complicated .
When he received payment for commissioned artwork in West @ @ @ @ @ @ @ month to bring himself to cash the check .
Erika Hirugami , whose company , CuratorLove , places a premium on diversity in the art world , said many of the questions Gómez deals with are often not asked of others .
“ The fact that he ’ s making a living off of his work doesn ’ t exclude him from the greater narrative , ” Hirugami said .
“ He is going to be questioned for the rest of his career because he ’ s not a white artist in that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t mean that his voice isn ’ t as important .
That just means that he doesn ’ t fit the mold.
” A decade into his career , Gómez continues to push boundaries with increasingly personal work that builds on questions of labor .
His father , Ramiro Gómez Sr. , works as a trucker and his mother , María Elena , as a janitor .
At his show at the Charlie James Gallery , “ Here , for a Moment ” and “ My Cousins and Aunt Without My Tío Carlos @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on families .
In the former , a woman sobs as a detained man is taken away .
In the latter , a man-shaped hole in a family portrait marks the spot where a graduate ’ s father should have been .
In late December , the artist ’ s parents traveled from their home in Highland to see their internationally acclaimed son ’ s exhibit at the gallery .
His mother said she always thought her son would grow up to be a veterinarian because he loved animals and always peppered her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Gómez was a student at Golden Valley Middle School , he entered a drawing contest for the team mascot .
“ Well , actually , ” she said , “ he did so twice.
” Using his name , Gómez submitted an entry in the boys ’ division .
Then , his cousin Elizabeth submitted another entry , passing off another one of his drawings as her own .
“ One might say he cheated , ” Gómez ’ s mother said .
With a grin , she added , “ But my @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the basement of the gallery , a piece titled “ Boy Playing While His Parents Are Sleeping , ” featured a child clad in a skirt and fairy wings gazing at a couple asleep in an embrace .
The piece , Gómez said , speaks to the importance of “ finding a little temporary moment to fantasize and play.
” Plus , he said , it ’ s nice to see your parents resting .
“ It ’ s because of my parents ’ labor that I now have this fantasy , this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
”

Ramiro Gómez Jr. poses for a portrait in January on the closing day of his show, “Here, for a Moment,” at the Charlie James Gallery in L.A.
When he was a boy in San Bernardino, Ramiro Gómez Jr. shared his dreams of becoming an artist with his grandmother.
From his dreams, he vowed to make hers come true: “When I grow up, I’m going to buy you a house,” he told her.
Gómez — whose parents are Mexican immigrants who once lived in the country illegally — did grow up to be an artist.
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Today, his work sells for thousands of dollars. It’s part of museum collections, including at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art. He’s been a guest lecturer at UCLA, Duke and Harvard. He has an upcoming show with the Art Dealers Assn. of America in New York. And he just wrapped up another one at the Charlie James Gallery in Los Angeles.
His grandmother, however, was not around to see it. She died just as his career as an artist was taking off.
Lately, Gómez has been watching a lot of Harry Potter movies. The films provide him with a sense of respite, “a way to cope with the responsibility on my shoulders,” he said. But when he saw the third film in the series, directed by the Academy Award-winning Mexican filmmaker Alfonso Cuarón, it left him in emotional shambles.
In it, Gómez explained, the main characters get hold of a “time-turner,” a trinket that enables them to travel through time to alter the past and change the present.
The artist thinks a lot about 2009.
That was the year he dropped out of the California Institute of the Arts — despite his parents’ sacrifices. That was the year he began working at a child-care center and discovered that he enjoyed that more than going to class.
That was the year his now-husband, film editor David Feldman, suggested that he work as a nanny to help make ends meet.
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And that was the year he watched his grandmother’s health deteriorate. The year she died of a heart attack.
“That year was hard,” Gómez said. “I felt the full failure.”
From that failure sprang a career whose muse is L.A. and the people who make it work. Literally.
After dropping out of art school, he became a full-time nanny and, while the children he cared for took a nap, he engaged in a quiet rebellion: He pored through his bosses’ discarded lifestyle magazines. Then he inserted figures of the often overlooked domestic workers who make it all possible.
At the Charlie James Gallery in Los Angeles’ historic and gentrifying Chinatown, visitors encountered a large green-blue canvas on which a gardener with giant bird wings starts to take flight. His lawnmower and his day-to-day duties are left behind.
Another piece, titled “Ruido,” featured a yard being tended to by a man carrying a leaf blower. The piece, Gómez said, was inspired by actress Julie Newmar, who is best known for her portrayal of Catwoman. When her neighbor in Brentwood refused to stop his Latino gardener from using the machine, the actress spray-painted the Spanish word for “noise” on his wall.
In “After the Fire,” three exhausted firefighters lay to rest beside luxurious outdoor patio furniture, a charred hillside in the background. Beside them, a darker-skinned man in a baseball cap waters the lawn. That piece, Gómez said, was influenced by an article in The Times that details how the owners of million-dollar homes recently failed to communicate with their employees about an evacuation order during a brush fire.
Then there was “West Hollywood Park Nanny,” which, Gómez acknowledged, serves as homage to the women who taught him the ropes of the business, ultimately giving him the confidence to ask for a raise. Seamlessly interweaving English and Spanish, Gómez remembered the other nannies telling him: “Mijo, you speak English, you’re young, you’re strong. ¿Y te están pagando $10 an hour?”
Because laborers are a core part of his subject matter, Gómez is often critiqued as profiting from the toil of others. The artist himself shares this concern and addresses it in his art. In real life, it gets even more complicated. When he received payment for commissioned artwork in West Hollywood, it took him about a month to bring himself to cash the check.
Erika Hirugami, whose company, CuratorLove, places a premium on diversity in the art world, said many of the questions Gómez deals with are often not asked of others.
“The fact that he’s making a living off of his work doesn’t exclude him from the greater narrative,” Hirugami said. “He is going to be questioned for the rest of his career because he’s not a white artist in that larger narrative, but that doesn’t mean that his voice isn’t as important. That just means that he doesn’t fit the mold.”
A decade into his career, Gómez continues to push boundaries with increasingly personal work that builds on questions of labor. His father, Ramiro Gómez Sr., works as a trucker and his mother, María Elena, as a janitor.
At his show at the Charlie James Gallery, “Here, for a Moment” and “My Cousins and Aunt Without My Tío Carlos” touched on the effects of deportation on families. In the former, a woman sobs as a detained man is taken away. In the latter, a man-shaped hole in a family portrait marks the spot where a graduate’s father should have been.
In late December, the artist’s parents traveled from their home in Highland to see their internationally acclaimed son’s exhibit at the gallery.
His mother said she always thought her son would grow up to be a veterinarian because he loved animals and always peppered her with fun animal facts. But when Gómez was a student at Golden Valley Middle School, he entered a drawing contest for the team mascot.
“Well, actually,” she said, “he did so twice.”
Using his name, Gómez submitted an entry in the boys’ division. Then, his cousin Elizabeth submitted another entry, passing off another one of his drawings as her own.
“One might say he cheated,” Gómez’s mother said. With a grin, she added, “But my son won in both categories.”
In the basement of the gallery, a piece titled “Boy Playing While His Parents Are Sleeping,” featured a child clad in a skirt and fairy wings gazing at a couple asleep in an embrace. The piece, Gómez said, speaks to the importance of “finding a little temporary moment to fantasize and play.”
Plus, he said, it’s nice to see your parents resting.
“It’s because of my parents’ labor that I now have this fantasy, this ability to be creative and express myself.”


latimes--2020-02-04--Waiting for college decisions? In Lynwood, 381 admissions are offered in a day

Kameron Pryor , a senior at Firebaugh High School in Lynwood , wanted to go to college but figured his grades wouldn ’ t get him very far , at least in California .
His 2.47 GPA is below the average at the University of California and California State University .
But Wiley College , a four-year , historically black liberal arts institution in Texas , showered him with assurances during a visit to his high school last week .
All you need is a 2.0 GPA and high school diploma or equivalent , campus admissions counselor Olivia Johnston told @ @ @ @ @ @ @ up your GPA to a 2.5 , she added , you can apply for a scholarship .
“ Hee haw !
” the elated Kameron said , trying out a Texas twang .
“ You got the campus spirit already !
” Johnston replied with a grin .
As high school seniors across the country enter the dreaded waiting period for college admissions decisions , this was a day of acceptance and affirmation for many low-income students who had struggled in high school .
In a one-day visit to two high schools in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and two dozen other historically black colleges and universities offered students 381 on-the-spot admissions and $ 5.8 million in scholarship awards .
“ My job is to make sure students don ’ t feel defeated by their GPAs , ” said Quen-Taylor Brown , admissions recruiter for Benedict College in Columbia , S.C. “ Even if it ’ s low , there are lots of opportunities for college.
” Efforts to provide higher education to African Americans began proliferating after the Civil War , often in churches , old schoolhouses and even homes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ colleges shut them out .
Today , the U.S. Department of Education recognizes more than 100 historically black colleges and universities , or HBCUs .
They have evolved over time , with some now struggling financially and many reaching out to broaden their enrollment beyond black students to recruit those of other races and ethnicities and from other countries .
At Lynwood Unified , where 94 % of students are Latino and less than 5 % are black , the recruiters welcomed one and all .
Symphony Esqueda , a Mexican American student @ @ @ @ @ @ @ eye on such top universities as Stanford , Yale , UC Berkeley and UCLA .
But she said she had brief second thoughts when Bennett College , a private liberal arts campus for women in Greensboro , N.C. , offered her an on-the-spot acceptance and full-ride scholarship at the recent event .
With so much news about sexual violence on campuses , she said , maybe an all-women ’ s college would be safer .
Esqueda , who hopes to major in film , theater or creative writing , was also drawn to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with the gregarious recruiter who shared her love of the humanities .
“ As much as prestige would be nice , a lot of HBCUs seemed really passionate about their programs , and I want to keep my options open , ” Esqueda said .
She and other Latino students said they were open to attending a predominantly black institution .
“ A lot of universities are predominantly white , so going into an HBCU would not be a huge deal , ” she said .
“ I already know I ’ m @ @ @ @ @ @ @ HBCU campuses have struggled with low graduation rates .
A study by the Education Trust nonprofit found that the average HBCU six-year graduation rate for black students in 2014 was 32.1 % The study found , however , that HBCUs had higher success rates than institutions serving similar populations , such as low-income students .
Spelman College in Atlanta , for instance , has a six-year graduation rate of 76 % , among the highest of HBCUs .
Low graduation rates aren ’ t unique to black colleges .
The Cal State system @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for admission , launched a multimillion-dollar effort to improve , among other things , four-year graduation rates for first-time freshmen from 19 % in 2015 to 40 % by 2025 , and six-year rates from 57 % to 70 % during that same time period .
Theresa Price , the founder of the National College Resources Foundation in Diamond Bar , organized the “ HBCU Caravan ” to Lynwood Unified .
She plans to take it to 17 other California school districts over the next week .
She started the first Black College @ @ @ @ @ @ @ — the annual event took place Saturday at the Los Angeles Convention Center with more than 200 colleges and universities represented — and expanded it to 10 other cities .
The foundation also sponsors enrichment programs to help students with tutoring , mentoring , college applications , career planning and social and emotional support .
“ I don ’ t want any kid to ever feel like they can never do anything or be anything , ” said Price , a whirl of energy who freely gave out hugs and high fives to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ such affirmations was evident on the faces of the Firebaugh students who crowded into the gym with file folders of their academic transcripts for college representatives at tables bedecked with school colors , mascots and brochures .
Johnathon Vincson is still a junior but proudly showed off a letter of acceptance and scholarship offer of $ 57,120 for fall 2021 from Benedict College .
Although he is considering Arizona State University for its business and engineering programs , he said Benedict ’ s instant offer had inspired him to “ work even harder @ @ @ @ @ @ @ redouble efforts to prepare for the SAT later this year using free online programs .
Tyron Smith thought his low grades would mean that he would start his higher-education journey at a community college .
But he ’ s now considering Florida A & M University in Tallahassee , impressed by the recruiter ’ s description of the computer science and football programs , two of his top interests .
“ I didn ’ t think I could do much with a 2.5 , ” he said as he left the school ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was decorated with images of its rattler mascot .
“ But if everything he told me holds up , this looks great.
” Kaneisha Johnson survived a tumultuous childhood of foster home placements , homelessness and , at one point , a 1.7 GPA until she raised it to a C average after working with the foundation ’ s enrichment program .
She earned a two-year associate ’ s degree at Virginia University-Lynchburg , an HBCU campus , then came back to Lynwood to work as a peer counselor for Price ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are encouraging her to pursue her dream of a bachelor ’ s degree in education so she can work with students she has a particular heart for — those with special needs .
Johnson resisted , she said , lacking confidence .
At the event last week , she mustered up her courage , applied to Paul Quinn College in Dallas and got an instant acceptance .

Lisa Fears-Hackett, with the National College Resources Foundation, congratulates Kaneisha Johnson on her acceptance into Paul Quinn College in Dallas.
Kameron Pryor, a senior at Firebaugh High School in Lynwood, wanted to go to college but figured his grades wouldn’t get him very far, at least in California. His 2.47 GPA is below the average at the University of California and California State University.
But Wiley College, a four-year, historically black liberal arts institution in Texas, showered him with assurances during a visit to his high school last week. All you need is a 2.0 GPA and high school diploma or equivalent, campus admissions counselor Olivia Johnston told him. And if you can nudge up your GPA to a 2.5, she added, you can apply for a scholarship.
“Hee haw!” the elated Kameron said, trying out a Texas twang.
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“You got the campus spirit already!” Johnston replied with a grin.
As high school seniors across the country enter the dreaded waiting period for college admissions decisions, this was a day of acceptance and affirmation for many low-income students who had struggled in high school. In a one-day visit to two high schools in the Lynwood Unified School District, Wiley and two dozen other historically black colleges and universities offered students 381 on-the-spot admissions and $5.8 million in scholarship awards.
“My job is to make sure students don’t feel defeated by their GPAs,” said Quen-Taylor Brown, admissions recruiter for Benedict College in Columbia, S.C. “Even if it’s low, there are lots of opportunities for college.”
Efforts to provide higher education to African Americans began proliferating after the Civil War, often in churches, old schoolhouses and even homes, at a time when most U.S. colleges shut them out. Today, the U.S. Department of Education recognizes more than 100 historically black colleges and universities, or HBCUs.
Kareem McLemore, executive director of admissions at Delaware State University, talks to Firebaugh High students. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
They have evolved over time, with some now struggling financially and many reaching out to broaden their enrollment beyond black students to recruit those of other races and ethnicities and from other countries. At Lynwood Unified, where 94% of students are Latino and less than 5% are black, the recruiters welcomed one and all.
Symphony Esqueda, a Mexican American student with a 4.5 GPA, has her eye on such top universities as Stanford, Yale, UC Berkeley and UCLA. But she said she had brief second thoughts when Bennett College, a private liberal arts campus for women in Greensboro, N.C., offered her an on-the-spot acceptance and full-ride scholarship at the recent event. With so much news about sexual violence on campuses, she said, maybe an all-women’s college would be safer.
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Esqueda, who hopes to major in film, theater or creative writing, was also drawn to Dillard University in New Orleans after connecting with the gregarious recruiter who shared her love of the humanities.
“As much as prestige would be nice, a lot of HBCUs seemed really passionate about their programs, and I want to keep my options open,” Esqueda said.
She and other Latino students said they were open to attending a predominantly black institution. “A lot of universities are predominantly white, so going into an HBCU would not be a huge deal,” she said. “I already know I’m going to be a minority.”
Many HBCU campuses have struggled with low graduation rates. A study by the Education Trust nonprofit found that the average HBCU six-year graduation rate for black students in 2014 was 32.1% The study found, however, that HBCUs had higher success rates than institutions serving similar populations, such as low-income students.
Spelman College in Atlanta, for instance, has a six-year graduation rate of 76%, among the highest of HBCUs.
Low graduation rates aren’t unique to black colleges. The Cal State system, which requires a minimum 2.0 GPA for admission, launched a multimillion-dollar effort to improve, among other things, four-year graduation rates for first-time freshmen from 19% in 2015 to 40% by 2025, and six-year rates from 57% to 70% during that same time period.
Theresa Price, the founder of the National College Resources Foundation in Diamond Bar, organized the “HBCU Caravan” to Lynwood Unified. She plans to take it to 17 other California school districts over the next week. She started the first Black College Expo two decades ago in Los Angeles — the annual event took place Saturday at the Los Angeles Convention Center with more than 200 colleges and universities represented — and expanded it to 10 other cities.
Quen-Taylor Brown, right, a recruiter with Benedict College in Columbia, S.C., offered Johnathon Vincson, 18, a scholarship of $57,120. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
The foundation also sponsors enrichment programs to help students with tutoring, mentoring, college applications, career planning and social and emotional support.
“I don’t want any kid to ever feel like they can never do anything or be anything,” said Price, a whirl of energy who freely gave out hugs and high fives to students and staff.
The effect of such affirmations was evident on the faces of the Firebaugh students who crowded into the gym with file folders of their academic transcripts for college representatives at tables bedecked with school colors, mascots and brochures.
Johnathon Vincson is still a junior but proudly showed off a letter of acceptance and scholarship offer of $57,120 for fall 2021 from Benedict College. Although he is considering Arizona State University for its business and engineering programs, he said Benedict’s instant offer had inspired him to “work even harder” to raise his 3.38 GPA and redouble efforts to prepare for the SAT later this year using free online programs.
Tyron Smith thought his low grades would mean that he would start his higher-education journey at a community college. But he’s now considering Florida A&M University in Tallahassee, impressed by the recruiter’s description of the computer science and football programs, two of his top interests.
“I didn’t think I could do much with a 2.5,” he said as he left the school’s orange and green table, which was decorated with images of its rattler mascot. “But if everything he told me holds up, this looks great.”
Kaneisha Johnson survived a tumultuous childhood of foster home placements, homelessness and, at one point, a 1.7 GPA until she raised it to a C average after working with the foundation’s enrichment program. She earned a two-year associate’s degree at Virginia University-Lynchburg, an HBCU campus, then came back to Lynwood to work as a peer counselor for Price’s foundation.
But her colleagues and friends are encouraging her to pursue her dream of a bachelor’s degree in education so she can work with students she has a particular heart for — those with special needs. Johnson resisted, she said, lacking confidence.
At the event last week, she mustered up her courage, applied to Paul Quinn College in Dallas and got an instant acceptance.
She burst into tears.