latimes--2020-06-14--L.A.'s homeless agency faces calls to dissolve ties with police

As protests roiled Los Angeles , the head of the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority was spurred to speak out after seeing a gruesome image of a homeless man bleeding from his eye — an injury allegedly caused by a round fired by police .
“ Police violence is unacceptable against all and especially against vulnerable people experiencing homelessness who have nowhere else to go , ” Heidi Marston wrote on Twitter on June 6 .
“ We are calling for immediate and lasting reforms.
” That same morning , a LAHSA supervisor was chastised for sending all her coworkers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : To immediately end their partnerships with police agencies .
In an impassioned email to her coworkers , Kristy Lovich had argued that working with police defied their core values and undermined their work , especially since Black people make up a disproportionate share of people who are homeless .
The episode is the latest eruption of a longstanding debate within the agency , which handles homeless outreach and services across Los Angeles County , over how — or whether — to work with law enforcement .
As protests over police brutality and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , that debate has exploded into public view .
Lovich , who is white , wrote in her petition about talking to a Black woman suffering serious illness while living on the streets .
The woman shared experiences of police harassment and abuse and asked Lovich , “ I am still a viable person , right ?
” “ I would not have been able to make this kind of connection with police officers at my side , ” Lovich wrote .
Some coworkers chimed in to support Lovich and her petition , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ garnering thousands of signatures .
But her supervisor told her the email was inappropriate and had caused pain to many of LAHSA ’ s Black staff .
Others at the agency felt their experiences were “ erased by your implication that meaningful connections and relationships can not be achieved by our teams who work with law enforcement , ” Victor Hinderliter wrote , asking to meet with Lovich .
Soon after , Lovich decided to take sick leave .
In an interview , she said she feared her job was in jeopardy and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
LAHSA declined to comment on her claims , saying it was a personnel matter .
The petition comes amid a broader push to pare back the budgets and scope of police agencies , which critics argue are poorly equipped to handle a host of problems that could be better addressed by reinvesting in other services .
Marston said the agency does not fund or contract with law enforcement , but its employees do sometimes work alongside police or deputies .
As long as people are living outside , Marston said , they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ So to the extent that that is unavoidable , ” Marston said , “ we want our partnerships with those entities to be positive and to be able to reflect the values that LAHSA upholds in how we treat individuals who are unsheltered.
” Marston added that “ we have consistently said we want to see law enforcement as a last resort.
” Under guidelines issued last year , the agency has cautioned cities that “ standard law enforcement activities such as requests for identification can be perceived as threatening , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to successful service connections.
” Sarah Dusseault , chairperson of the LAHSA Commission , said she hoped to use this “ very unique moment ... to prioritize access to services and break away from systems that criminalize homelessness , ” but it is too soon to say what might change at the agency .
Dusseault added that although there have been concerns about working with law enforcement , LAHSA has also had positive interactions with “ rock star folks ” such as LAPD Officer Deon Joseph , who has patrolled skid row .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ identified because they are not authorized to speak to the media , expressed a wide range of views on police involvement .
One said he was hurt by the petition ; another enthusiastically endorsed it .
A third said many of her coworkers saw the roles of LAHSA and police as inherently overlapping .
Some want police to play “ a very distant role when homeless encampments are being cleaned up so that police presence doesn ’ t result in elevated tensions with the unhoused population , ” SEIU 721 president Bob Schoonover @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said in a written statement , “ while other LAHSA members have expressed the need to have police nearby to help them deal with those specific situations where weapons may pose a danger.
” Long before the wave of recent protests , LAHSA was drawn into a tug-of-war over how the city should clean up around homeless encampments , including the degree of involvement of law enforcement .
The CARE system was supposed to be more sensitive to the needs of homeless people , but within months of its rollout , the program @ @ @ @ @ @ @ being slower to crack down on what people keep on the streets , CARE program supervisors were told that sanitation workers had the final say on what should be tossed .
In January , L.A. said police would go out automatically with cleanup teams wherever sanitation workers had safety concerns .
“ It just reverted back to how it was , ” said Jane Nguyen of the homeless outreach and advocacy group KTown for All .
The changes frustrated some LAHSA workers , who felt that being part of the cleanups — but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hurt their ability to do outreach .
Homeless advocates who work with other groups echoed that sentiment : Jo Dominguez , who does outreach in northeast Los Angeles for a Department of Health Services contractor , said he has had to tell clients living on the street , “ No , we ’ re not LAHSA.
” That reputation comes in part , Dominguez said , from when “ you come in with the police .
People fear they ’ re going to get arrested or get their items taken or put in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that she would not oversee cleanup teams , and the work was reshuffled to other supervisors .
By February , there was talk of walkouts over concerns with how CARE was being implemented .
In an email obtained by The Times , one union steward encouraged LAHSA workers to call her about speaking out about the program , but cautioned that “ there should be no walkouts your jobs are not protected unless you are doing it with the union.
” Some employees felt they had reason to worry : After outreach worker @ @ @ @ @ @ @ earlier this year , she publicly asserted that she had been dismissed as the direct result of complaints from Councilman Mitch O ’ Farrell and other city officials about her advocating against clearing an encampment at Echo Park Lake .
LAHSA declined to comment ; an O ’ Farrell spokesman said neither he nor his staff had complained about Bennett demonstrating at Echo Park Lake .
Marston said LAHSA had worked with the city to ensure police were not “ immediately visible ” during cleanups .
In addition , she said outreach workers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cleanups , instead of during them .
An LAPD homeless coordinator did not respond to messages seeking comment on the petition .
As of Friday , more than 6,000 people had signed the petition .
Other Angelenos balked at the idea .
Rick Swinger , a Venice resident who has raised concerns about pollution from encampments , complained that LAHSA “ really doesn ’ t have the authority needed to clean the streets ” without police to assist .
After Lovich sent out her petition , Marston replied and said she appreciated the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the appropriate communication channels for these discussions.
” Marston said in a later interview that she wants staff to feel they have a voice , but it needs to happen in a way that is “ safe for everybody who ’ s involved.
” Lovich said that despite worries about speaking up , she decided to share the petition after hearing a LAHSA commissioner declare last week that it was time to take action .
“ We ’ re in a critical moral moment , ” Lovich said , “ and I do @ @ @ @ @ @ @ organization to come up with the so-called ‘ appropriate ’ way to do this .
”

As protests roiled Los Angeles, the head of the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority was spurred to speak out after seeing a gruesome image of a homeless man bleeding from his eye — an injury allegedly caused by a round fired by police.
“Police violence is unacceptable against all and especially against vulnerable people experiencing homelessness who have nowhere else to go,” Heidi Marston wrote on Twitter on June 6. “We are calling for immediate and lasting reforms.”
That same morning, a LAHSA supervisor was chastised for sending all her coworkers a petition with a much broader demand: To immediately end their partnerships with police agencies.
Advertisement
In an impassioned email to her coworkers, Kristy Lovich had argued that working with police defied their core values and undermined their work, especially since Black people make up a disproportionate share of people who are homeless.
The episode is the latest eruption of a longstanding debate within the agency, which handles homeless outreach and services across Los Angeles County, over how — or whether — to work with law enforcement. As protests over police brutality and racism sweep Los Angeles and the country, that debate has exploded into public view.
Lovich, who is white, wrote in her petition about talking to a Black woman suffering serious illness while living on the streets. The woman shared experiences of police harassment and abuse and asked Lovich, “I am still a viable person, right?”
“I would not have been able to make this kind of connection with police officers at my side,” Lovich wrote.
Some coworkers chimed in to support Lovich and her petition, which soon spread beyond the agency, garnering thousands of signatures. But her supervisor told her the email was inappropriate and had caused pain to many of LAHSA’s Black staff.
Others at the agency felt their experiences were “erased by your implication that meaningful connections and relationships cannot be achieved by our teams who work with law enforcement,” Victor Hinderliter wrote, asking to meet with Lovich.
Advertisement
Soon after, Lovich decided to take sick leave. In an interview, she said she feared her job was in jeopardy and felt her work environment had become hostile. LAHSA declined to comment on her claims, saying it was a personnel matter.
The petition comes amid a broader push to pare back the budgets and scope of police agencies, which critics argue are poorly equipped to handle a host of problems that could be better addressed by reinvesting in other services.
Marston said the agency does not fund or contract with law enforcement, but its employees do sometimes work alongside police or deputies. As long as people are living outside, Marston said, they are bound to interact with law enforcement.
“So to the extent that that is unavoidable,” Marston said, “we want our partnerships with those entities to be positive and to be able to reflect the values that LAHSA upholds in how we treat individuals who are unsheltered.”
Marston added that “we have consistently said we want to see law enforcement as a last resort.”
Under guidelines issued last year, the agency has cautioned cities that “standard law enforcement activities such as requests for identification can be perceived as threatening, harassing, or intimidating and therefore disruptive to successful service connections.”
Sarah Dusseault, chairperson of the LAHSA Commission, said she hoped to use this “very unique moment ... to prioritize access to services and break away from systems that criminalize homelessness,” but it is too soon to say what might change at the agency.
Dusseault added that although there have been concerns about working with law enforcement, LAHSA has also had positive interactions with “rock star folks” such as LAPD Officer Deon Joseph, who has patrolled skid row.
LAHSA employees, who declined to be identified because they are not authorized to speak to the media, expressed a wide range of views on police involvement. One said he was hurt by the petition; another enthusiastically endorsed it. A third said many of her coworkers saw the roles of LAHSA and police as inherently overlapping.
Some want police to play “a very distant role when homeless encampments are being cleaned up so that police presence doesn’t result in elevated tensions with the unhoused population,” SEIU 721 president Bob Schoonover, whose union represents LAHSA workers, said in a written statement, “while other LAHSA members have expressed the need to have police nearby to help them deal with those specific situations where weapons may pose a danger.”
Long before the wave of recent protests, LAHSA was drawn into a tug-of-war over how the city should clean up around homeless encampments, including the degree of involvement of law enforcement.
The CARE system was supposed to be more sensitive to the needs of homeless people, but within months of its rollout, the program was adjusted. After complaints about teams being slower to crack down on what people keep on the streets, CARE program supervisors were told that sanitation workers had the final say on what should be tossed.
In January, L.A. said police would go out automatically with cleanup teams wherever sanitation workers had safety concerns.
“It just reverted back to how it was,” said Jane Nguyen of the homeless outreach and advocacy group KTown for All.
The changes frustrated some LAHSA workers, who felt that being part of the cleanups — but not in control of them — had hurt their ability to do outreach. Homeless advocates who work with other groups echoed that sentiment: Jo Dominguez, who does outreach in northeast Los Angeles for a Department of Health Services contractor, said he has had to tell clients living on the street, “No, we’re not LAHSA.”
That reputation comes in part, Dominguez said, from when “you come in with the police. People fear they’re going to get arrested or get their items taken or put in jail.”
Lovich eventually informed her supervisor that she would not oversee cleanup teams, and the work was reshuffled to other supervisors.
By February, there was talk of walkouts over concerns with how CARE was being implemented. In an email obtained by The Times, one union steward encouraged LAHSA workers to call her about speaking out about the program, but cautioned that “there should be no walkouts your jobs are not protected unless you are doing it with the union.”
Some employees felt they had reason to worry: After outreach worker Ashley Bennett was terminated from her job earlier this year, she publicly asserted that she had been dismissed as the direct result of complaints from Councilman Mitch O’Farrell and other city officials about her advocating against clearing an encampment at Echo Park Lake.
LAHSA declined to comment; an O’Farrell spokesman said neither he nor his staff had complained about Bennett demonstrating at Echo Park Lake.
Marston said LAHSA had worked with the city to ensure police were not “immediately visible” during cleanups. In addition, she said outreach workers started meeting with homeless people ahead of cleanups, instead of during them.
An LAPD homeless coordinator did not respond to messages seeking comment on the petition. As of Friday, more than 6,000 people had signed the petition. Other Angelenos balked at the idea. Rick Swinger, a Venice resident who has raised concerns about pollution from encampments, complained that LAHSA “really doesn’t have the authority needed to clean the streets” without police to assist.
After Lovich sent out her petition, Marston replied and said she appreciated the passion, but wanted “to clarify the appropriate communication channels for these discussions.” Marston said in a later interview that she wants staff to feel they have a voice, but it needs to happen in a way that is “safe for everybody who’s involved.”
Lovich said that despite worries about speaking up, she decided to share the petition after hearing a LAHSA commissioner declare last week that it was time to take action.
“We’re in a critical moral moment,” Lovich said, “and I do not feel compelled to wait for this organization to come up with the so-called ‘appropriate’ way to do this.”


latimes--2020-06-14--California's gas tax is going up again. Amid coronavirus, some say now is not the time

California ’ s gas tax is set to increase July 1 , but some lawmakers are calling for a freeze on the higher levy , citing the financial burden of the coronavirus-spawned recession on millions of the state ’ s residents .
The automatic increase pegged to inflation — the third increase in the last four years — comes as a long-simmering dispute over the gas tax law enacted three years ago has again flared up at the state Capitol .
The tax is set to increase by 3.2 cents , to 50.5 cents per gallon , and state officials @ @ @ @ @ @ @ $ 440 million to state coffers in the coming fiscal year .
The hike is triggered by the increase in the consumer price index and is built into SB 1 , the legislation that boosted the tax by 12 cents per gallon in 2017 and 5.6 cents last year .
In all , the fuel taxes are expected to raise $ 7 billion during the new fiscal year to pay for road and bridge repairs .
But a group of Republican lawmakers says this is the wrong time to raise taxes on Californians @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have lost jobs during the COVID-19 pandemic .
Assemblyman Vince Fong ( R-Bakersfield ) , vice chairman of the Assembly Transportation Committee , said the increase “ further rubs Sacramento salt into the wounds of California residents who are struggling with uncertainty and real financial pain ” during the coronavirus crisis .
Assembly Republican Leader Marie Waldron of Escondido said it was “ inconceivable ” that the state would raise costs on Californians at this time .
“ Unemployment continues to rise and all the ways California was unaffordable prior to the pandemic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ increase is the least that could be done , ” Waldron said .
Delaying or canceling the gas tax increase would require a vote of the Legislature , and Democrats who control the state Senate and Assembly say they have no plans to take that action .
Newsom has not proposed halting the increase , a spokesman for the governor said .
State Sen. Holly Mitchell ( D-Los Angeles ) , chairwoman of the Senate Budget Committee , said local governments hurting financially because of the pandemic are depending on the tax revenue @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we talk about stimulating our local economy and how long it takes infrastructure projects , I don ’ t think now is the time to take our foot off the pedal , ” Mitchell said .
She said the tax increase ’ s effect on consumer pocketbooks is blunted by the fact that gas prices in California are down from what they were a year ago .
The average price of a gallon of gas Friday was $ 2.98 , compared with the $ 3.86 average a year earlier , according to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ( D-San Francisco ) , chairman of the Assembly Budget Committee , agreed that the Legislature should allow the increase to take effect .
“ The annual [ consumer price index ] adjustment allows us to continue the progress we ’ re making to fix our crumbling roads and bridges , ” Ting said .
Newsom ’ s statewide order in mid-March for Californians to stay home during the pandemic reduced driving significantly in the state .
An analysis by the California Department of Transportation in April shows that traffic volume on state @ @ @ @ @ @ @ compared to the same time last year .
Though having fewer people on the roads during the stay-at-home order has allowed road construction projects to accelerate , it has also negatively affected the amount of money available .
State estimates of gas and diesel tax revenue have declined by almost 7 % this year and are projected to drop by 7.6 % in the fiscal year starting July 1 .
The decline will mean a loss of about $ 1.2 billion in revenue over the two years , though the governor ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 7 billion in fuel taxes for the new fiscal year .
For those who drive electric cars and don ’ t pay a gas tax , a new $ 100 road improvement fee kicks in July 1 , but only for zero-emission vehicles with a model year of 2020 or later .
Though orders that closed businesses are easing across the state , the prospect that a slow recovery could continue to reduce fuel tax revenue has officials watching closely .
“ In light of revenue projections , Caltrans is monitoring any potential @ @ @ @ @ @ @ forward , ” Caltrans spokesman Matt Rocco said .
“ However , at this time , all ongoing projects are expected to continue without delay or stoppage.
” Because California has the second-highest gas prices in the country , after Hawaii , the issue of fuel taxes has long been contentious .
In 2018 , voters recalled from office then-state Sen. Josh Newman ( D-Fullerton ) for voting in favor of the gas tax increase .
Voters that year rejected an initiative that would have repealed the gas tax hike and instead approved @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , that required that revenue to be spent on transportation projects .
The debate flared up again last month when a Senate budget subcommittee rebuffed a proposal by Newsom to divert $ 130 million in interest from the State Highway Account , which is funded by the gas tax , and instead use the funds to balance the general fund budget .
Mark Monroe , an assistant budget manager for Newsom ’ s Department of Finance , said during a May 24 legislative hearing that the transfers “ are important components of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ But after the independent Legislative Analyst ’ s Office suggested lawmakers confer with their attorney for an opinion on whether such a transfer was legal , both Democratic and Republican legislators said such action would run afoul of what was promised to voters in Proposition 69 .
“ I think this is a broken promise , ” Sen. Mike McGuire ( D-Healdsburg ) said of the proposal .
“ I believe this money could be better spent in the way intended , fixing the roads of California.
” McGuire noted the reduction in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ costing the state $ 600 million in gas tax funds for repairs .
“ We have decreasing revenues because of the situation we are in , and we are going to need every penny to go to the roads , ” said Sen. Brian Dahle ( R-Bieber ) , who opposes transferring the $ 130 million to the general fund .
“ I don ’ t think this is the time .
”

The state’s gas tax is going up July 1, but some state lawmakers say it should not happen because many Californians have been thrown out of work during the COVID-19 pandemic.
California’s gas tax is set to increase July 1, but some lawmakers are calling for a freeze on the higher levy, citing the financial burden of the coronavirus-spawned recession on millions of the state’s residents.
The automatic increase pegged to inflation — the third increase in the last four years — comes as a long-simmering dispute over the gas tax law enacted three years ago has again flared up at the state Capitol.
The tax is set to increase by 3.2 cents, to 50.5 cents per gallon, and state officials estimate it will bring in an additional $440 million to state coffers in the coming fiscal year. The hike is triggered by the increase in the consumer price index and is built into SB 1, the legislation that boosted the tax by 12 cents per gallon in 2017 and 5.6 cents last year.
In all, the fuel taxes are expected to raise $7 billion during the new fiscal year to pay for road and bridge repairs. But a group of Republican lawmakers says this is the wrong time to raise taxes on Californians, more than 6 million of whom have lost jobs during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Advertisement
Assemblyman Vince Fong (R-Bakersfield), vice chairman of the Assembly Transportation Committee, said the increase “further rubs Sacramento salt into the wounds of California residents who are struggling with uncertainty and real financial pain” during the coronavirus crisis.
Assembly Republican leader Marie Waldron of Escondido said it was “inconceivable” that the state would raise costs on Californians at this time.
“Unemployment continues to rise and all the ways California was unaffordable prior to the pandemic still exist — suspending the gas tax increase is the least that could be done,” Waldron said.
Delaying or canceling the gas tax increase would require a vote of the Legislature, and Democrats who control the state Senate and Assembly say they have no plans to take that action. Newsom has not proposed halting the increase, a spokesman for the governor said.
State Sen. Holly Mitchell (D-Los Angeles), chairwoman of the Senate Budget Committee, said local governments hurting financially because of the pandemic are depending on the tax revenue to repair pothole-riddled roads.
“As we talk about stimulating our local economy and how long it takes infrastructure projects, I don’t think now is the time to take our foot off the pedal,” Mitchell said.
She said the tax increase’s effect on consumer pocketbooks is blunted by the fact that gas prices in California are down from what they were a year ago. The average price of a gallon of gas Friday was $2.98, compared with the $3.86 average a year earlier, according to the American Automobile Assn.
Assemblyman Phil Ting (D-San Francisco), chairman of the Assembly Budget Committee, agreed that the Legislature should allow the increase to take effect.
“The annual [consumer price index] adjustment allows us to continue the progress we’re making to fix our crumbling roads and bridges,” Ting said.
Advertisement
Newsom’s statewide order in mid-March for Californians to stay home during the pandemic reduced driving significantly in the state. An analysis by the California Department of Transportation in April shows that traffic volume on state roads was down some 35% as compared with the same time last year.
Though having fewer people on the roads during the stay-at-home order has allowed road construction projects to accelerate, it has also negatively affected the amount of money available.
State estimates of gas and diesel tax revenue have declined by almost 7% this year and are projected to drop by 7.6% in the fiscal year starting July 1. The decline will mean a loss of about $1.2 billion in revenue over the two years, though the governor’s budget estimates the state will receive $7 billion in fuel taxes for the new fiscal year.
For those who drive electric cars and don’t pay a gas tax, a new $100 road improvement fee kicks in July 1, but only for zero-emission vehicles with a model year of 2020 or later.
Though orders that closed businesses are easing across the state, the prospect that a slow recovery could continue to reduce fuel tax revenue has officials watching closely.
“In light of revenue projections, Caltrans is monitoring any potential impacts to maintenance and construction projects moving forward,” Caltrans spokesman Matt Rocco said. “However, at this time, all ongoing projects are expected to continue without delay or stoppage.”
Because California has the second-highest gas prices in the country, after Hawaii, the issue of fuel taxes has long been contentious. In 2018, voters recalled from office then-state Sen. Josh Newman (D-Fullerton) for voting in favor of the gas tax increase.
Voters that year rejected an initiative that would have repealed the gas tax hike and instead approved a separate ballot measure, Proposition 69, that required that revenue to be spent on transportation projects.
The debate flared up again last month when a Senate budget subcommittee rebuffed a proposal by Newsom to divert $130 million in interest from the State Highway Account, which is funded by the gas tax, and instead use the funds to balance the general fund budget.
Mark Monroe, an assistant budget manager for Newsom’s Department of Finance, said during a May 24 legislative hearing that the transfers “are important components of the broader balancing of the state budget.”
But after the independent Legislative Analyst’s Office suggested lawmakers confer with their attorney for an opinion on whether such a transfer was legal, both Democratic and Republican legislators said such action would run afoul of what was promised to voters in Proposition 69.
“I think this is a broken promise,” Sen. Mike McGuire (D-Healdsburg) said of the proposal. “I believe this money could be better spent in the way intended, fixing the roads of California.”
McGuire noted the reduction in vehicle use during the pandemic was already costing the state $600 million in gas tax funds for repairs.
“We have decreasing revenues because of the situation we are in, and we are going to need every penny to go to the roads,” said Sen. Brian Dahle (R-Bieber), who opposes transferring the $130 million to the general fund. “I don’t think this is the time.”


latimes--2020-06-15--Masked transit: Out and about, Angelenos cover up

Southern California is the land of sun and fun .
We like to get out and about , mix in @ @ @ @ @ of all the area has to offer .
So as L.A. County opens up and @ @ @ @ @ mandatory , we offer up this glimpse of Angelenos doing their thing .

Southern California is the land of sun and fun.
We like to get out and about, mix in some exercise and take advantage of all the area has to offer.
So as L.A. County opens up and wearing face coverings remains mandatory, we offer up this glimpse of Angelenos doing their thing.
Masked scooter riders cross the street at the intersection of Laurel Canyon and Ventura boulevards in Studio City. (Mel Melcon / Los Angeles Times)
Taking flight
Pilot David Kuhn steers a United Airlines Boeing 787 away from the terminal at Los Angeles International Airport for a flight to Chicago. (Mel Melcon / Los Angeles Times)
Advertisement
Fare enough
A Metro bus driver waits for passengers to board on 7th Street near Broadway in downtown Los Angeles. (Mel Melcon / Los Angeles Times)
Watchful eye
A masked motorist drives past a mural on Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood. (Mel Melcon / Los Angeles Times)
Making tracks
A man jogs down tree lined 6th Street in Los Angeles. (Mel Melcon / Los Angeles Times)
Water world
Justin Farahi, 34, of Playa Vista wears a mask while riding a water bike in Marina del Rey. (Mel Melcon / Los Angeles Times)
Rolling through DTLA
Rudy Galicia of Los Angeles crosses 5th Street at Broadway in downtown. (Mel Melcon / Los Angeles Times)
Venetian scene
A rollerblader cruises down the boardwalk in Venice Beach. (Mel Melcon / Los Angeles Times)
Advertisement
Happy trails
Sharron Enriquez of Eagle Rock rides her horse Bear along a trail in Burbank.
(Mel Melcon / Los Angeles Times)
Hanging on
Bell Vasquez of Los Angeles gives her son Israel, 4, a spin on the boardwalk in Venice Beach.
(Mel Melcon / Los Angeles Times)
Wings and wheels
A cyclist pedals past a mural on Melrose Avenue. (Mel Melcon / Los Angeles Times)


latimes--2020-06-15--California prosecutors routinely strike Black and Latino people from juries, report says

A UC Berkeley study released Monday found that prosecutors often routinely strike Black and Latino prospective jurors and that appellate courts have failed to rein in the practice .
The study , “ Whitewashing the Jury Box , ” was spearheaded by UC Berkeley law professor Elisabeth Semel , who runs the law school ’ s Death Penalty Clinic .
The report examined nearly 700 cases decided by the state ’ s Courts of Appeal from 2006 through 2018 that involved appeals of prosecutors ’ jury strikes .
In about 72 % of the cases , prosecutors used their peremptory @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the study found .
Prosecutors struck Latinos in about 28 % of the cases , Asian Americans in less than 3.5 % and white people in only 0.5 % .
Semel acknowledged the study was limited in that it looked at only appeals of non-death-penalty verdicts involving peremptory challenges .
It is not surprising that most or many of those appeals would involve the striking of people of color .
But Semel said the evidence of prosecutors overwhelmingly striking Black people was not necessarily anticipated .
More important , she said , were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Latino potential jurors and the success they have in getting courts to uphold these strikes .
She said the report will eventually be submitted to a law review journal .
Intentional discrimination in jury selection is against the law , but prosecutors can justify strikes by offering explanations that aren ’ t based on race .
Most often prosecutors claim the person ’ s demeanor was at issue , the report said , followed by the person knowing someone involved in the criminal justice system , expressing a distrust of law enforcement @ @ @ @ @ @ @ enforcement is biased by race and class .
“ Prosecutors in these cases successfully used their peremptory challenges against African Americans because they had dreadlocks , were slouching , wore a short skirt and ‘ blinged out ’ sandals , visited family members who were incarcerated , had negative experiences with law enforcement … or lived in East Oakland , Los Angeles County ’ s Compton , or San Francisco ’ s Tenderloin , ” the report said .
Prosecutors successfully struck Latino prospective jurors , the report said , for frowning , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stating that a loved one had been wrongfully accused of a crime and expressing a belief that the criminal legal system treats people differently based on their race .
The report also focused on prosecutors ’ training .
It said that prosecutors are instructed to identify the “ ideal juror ” as an educated , stable professional and are advised to avoid jurors who are less educated , blue collar or unemployed or underemployed .
Prosecutorial training also instructs the lawyers to strike prospective jurors who have had or whose family has had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ report said .
“ They are , in other words , instructed to exploit the historic and present-day differential treatment of whites and people of color , especially African Americans and Latino people , by the police , prosecutors , and the courts , ” the report said .
California ’ s appellate courts rarely overturn convictions based on challenges of racial bias in jury selection .
During the last 30 years , the report said , the California Supreme Court has reviewed 142 cases with jury discrimination claims and found violations in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Appeal , which follow the state Supreme Court ’ s precedent , also rarely conclude there was racial bias in jury selection .
In the Court of Appeal decisions the study examined from 2006 through 2018 , the courts found legal error in only 18 of 683 cases .
California Supreme Court Justice Goodwin H. Liu has frequently called for reforms to reduce or eliminate bias in jury selection .
In late January , Chief Justice Tani G. Cantil-Sakauye announced that a jury selection work group would “ study whether modifications or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ impermissible discrimination in jury selection.
” A spokesman for the court said the appointment of members to the group was delayed because of the coronavirus crisis .
This year , Assemblywoman Shirley Weber ( D-San Diego ) introduced a bill , AB 3070 , to change the ground rules for challenges of strikes based on race .
The bill has passed the Assembly .
The California District Attorneys Assn .
did not immediately respond to a request for comment .

The California Supreme Court has overwhelmingly upheld criminal verdicts in cases challenged on the basis of alleged jury discrimination, a report found.
A UC Berkeley study released Monday found that prosecutors often routinely strike Black and Latino prospective jurors and that appellate courts have failed to rein in the practice.
The study, “Whitewashing the Jury Box,” was spearheaded by UC Berkeley law professor Elisabeth Semel, who runs the law school’s Death Penalty Clinic. The report examined, among other things, nearly 700 cases decided by the state’s Courts of Appeal from 2006 through 2018 that involved appeals of prosecutors’ jury strikes.
In about 72% of the cases, prosecutors used their peremptory challenges to remove Black prospective jurors, the study found. Prosecutors struck Latinos in about 28% of the cases, Asian Americans in less than 3.5% and white people in only 0.5%.
Semel acknowledged that part of the study was limited in that it looked at only appeals of non-death-penalty verdicts involving peremptory challenges. It is not surprising that most or many of those appeals would involve the striking of people of color. But Semel said the evidence of prosecutors overwhelmingly striking Black people was consistent with other studies of appellate decisions.
More important, she said, were the reasons prosecutors gave for striking Black and Latino potential jurors and the success they have in getting courts to uphold these strikes. She said the report will eventually be submitted to a law review journal.
Advertisement
Intentional discrimination in jury selection is against the law, but prosecutors can justify strikes by offering explanations that aren’t based on race. Most often prosecutors claim the person’s demeanor was at issue, the report said, followed by the person knowing someone involved in the criminal justice system, expressing a distrust of law enforcement, or expressing a belief that law enforcement is biased by race and class.
California California’s top court overturns convictions because prosecutor excluded Latinos from jury For the first time in 16 years, the California Supreme Court has found that racial bias improperly tainted a jury selection, prompting the court to overturn three convictions — two for attempted murder.
“Prosecutors in these cases successfully used their peremptory challenges against African Americans because they had dreadlocks, were slouching, wore a short skirt and ‘blinged out’ sandals, visited family members who were incarcerated, had negative experiences with law enforcement … or lived in East Oakland, Los Angeles County’s Compton, or San Francisco’s Tenderloin,” the report said.
Prosecutors successfully struck Latino prospective jurors, the report said, for frowning, appearing confused, wearing large earrings, stating that a loved one had been wrongfully accused of a crime and expressing a belief that the criminal legal system treats people differently based on their race.
The report also focused on prosecutors’ training. It said that prosecutors are instructed to identify the “ideal juror” as an educated, stable professional and are advised to avoid jurors who are less educated, blue collar or unemployed or underemployed. Prosecutorial training also instructs the lawyers to strike prospective jurors who have had or whose family has had negative experiences with law enforcement, the report said.
“They are, in other words, instructed to exploit the historic and present-day differential treatment of whites and people of color, especially African Americans and Latino people, by the police, prosecutors, and the courts,” the report said.
California’s appellate courts rarely overturn convictions based on challenges of racial bias in jury selection. During the last 30 years, the report said, the California Supreme Court has reviewed 142 cases with jury discrimination claims and found violations in only three.
World & Nation Supreme Court rules that prosecutors intentionally kept Black people off jury The Supreme Court rebuked Georgia prosecutors and judges Monday for having excluded Black citizens from the murder trial of a Black defendant, and then denying his claims of racial bias even after stark new evidence was revealed.
California’s Courts of Appeal, which follow the state Supreme Court’s precedent, also rarely conclude there was racial bias in jury selection. In the Court of Appeal decisions the study examined from 2006 through 2018, the courts found legal error in only 18 of 683 cases.
California Supreme Court Justice Goodwin H. Liu has frequently called for reforms to reduce or eliminate bias in jury selection. In late January, Chief Justice Tani G. Cantil-Sakauye announced that a jury selection work group would “study whether modifications or additional measures are needed to guard against impermissible discrimination in jury selection.”
A spokesman for the court said the appointment of members to the group was delayed because of the coronavirus crisis.
This year, Assemblywoman Shirley Weber (D-San Diego) introduced a bill, AB 3070, to change the ground rules for challenges of strikes based on race. The bill has passed the Assembly.
Advertisement
The California District Attorneys Assn. did not respond to a request for comment.


latimes--2020-06-15--Column: Already devastated by the coronavirus, seniors stand to lose again in Newsom's budget

Do you kick impoverished old people in the shins now or wait until the feds can join in ?
Or maybe Washington will protect the seniors by sending Sacramento billions more to fund their critical services .
It ’ s unlikely but possible .
Or perhaps legislators and the governor will agree to ease up on seniors and pick on something else — such as good government .
These are the options the Legislature and Gov .
Gavin Newsom have been arguing over in their efforts to negotiate agreement on a new pandemic-pummeled state budget .
Lawmakers must pass a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pay for every day it ’ s delayed .
So they ’ ll pass something .
But in violation of the deadline spirit — if not letter of the law — their product won ’ t be a complete budget .
It will contain huge holes to be filled later by what ’ s being called “ Budget Junior.
” Junior presumably will be negotiated and passed before the new fiscal year begins July 1 .
Or in late summer .
Who knows ?
So Monday ’ s budget will mainly be a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ there ’ ll also be budget “ trailer bills ” that will follow with details .
It ’ s ironic : COVID-19 hit vulnerable seniors the hardest .
To control the coronavirus spread , Newsom and other state governors crippled the economy .
Inevitably , this greatly diminished tax revenues that fund programs for needy seniors .
Now , seniors are hammered not only by the virus but also by the potential loss of crucial government services .
Here ’ s the landscape in Sacramento : Newsom projects a $ 54-billion hole in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ January .
So last month , he downsized his budget request by $ 19 billion , down to a total $ 203 billion .
Among the governor ’ s whacks were $ 14 billion in “ trigger ” cuts .
These severed programs — mainly in education and health and human services — would be triggered back into existence if Congress and President Trump send the states another huge pandemic relief package .
“ Nothing breaks my heart more than making budget cuts , ” Newsom told reporters when he proposed them .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ every single number … a dream denied.
” Advocates for seniors I talked with told me they ’ re really tired of hearing “ breaks my heart ” language from the governor and other politicians .
It fits into the same script book with “ thoughts and prayers ” after mass shootings .
Anyway , the Legislature has rejected Newsom ’ s idea .
Instead , it wants to reverse the trigger concept .
Under the legislators ’ plan , the cuts would be triggered only if the feds don ’ t come @ @ @ @ @ @ @ probably not .
The Legislature would prefer to borrow , defer some spending , turn to accounting gimmicks and empty the “ rainy day ” reserve bucket — the traditional playbook for budget deficits , except this is the first time there has been a reserve .
Lawmakers could also , on paper , arbitrarily reduce the projected deficit and raise revenue expectations .
That ’ s bad government .
But worse is smacking low-income seniors , many of them frail and disabled .
“ Why don ’ t we continue the programs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the federal funding is coming ?
” says Assemblyman Adrin Nazarian ( D-North Hollywood ) , who chairs the Aging and Long-Term Care Committee .
“ Once we know it ’ s not coming , then we can make the cuts.
” Newsom wants to get it done and over — not kick the can down the road .
Problem is , that immediately kicks struggling seniors .
Hardly anyone wants to raise taxes .
“ They ’ re not going to do that in an election year , ” says Marty Omoto @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Community Action Network .
“ That could affect retention of Democratic congressional seats and the legislative supermajority .
Even Democrats don ’ t want to do that yet on businesses not fully back.
” “ We ’ re all nervous as hell because we don ’ t know what [ cuts ] they ’ re ultimately going to agree to.
” Nazarian says of taxes : “ We ’ re trying to avoid doing that because we have implemented quite a few taxes over the last five or six years.
” But he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ conversations about ‘ how do we pay for long-term care ?
’ — whether there should be a small payroll tax that goes into a long-term-care fund .
In the next 15 years , we ’ re expecting the senior population to grow from 12 % [ of the population ] to 25 % .
” Maybe not if we don ’ t get a vaccine for the coronavirus fairly soon .
And all those proposed cuts to senior programs could force old folks into nursing homes where they become much more vulnerable @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ They ’ re cutting what people need to stay out of assisted care facilities or nursing homes , ” says Blanca Castro , California advocacy director for AARP .
“ The last place you should target for cuts is older people during a pandemic , ” says Anthony Wright , executive director of Health Access California , an advocacy coalition .
“ These are the programs that should be the response to the pandemic — not the things we cut in this emergency .
“ It ’ s troubling to see how @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are in nursing homes .
You ’ d expect we would double down to keep people from going into these homes.
” Among the programs lined up for sharp whacks or even the dumpster : in-home supportive services .
And community centers where seniors can engage with social workers and other old folks .
Newsom also proposes to make it harder to qualify for Medi-Cal by making sure you ’ re worse off than merely poor .
So kick the can .
This is a case when bad government becomes good government .

People line up to pick up food for seniors at the Jim Gilliam Recreational Center in Baldwin Village.
Do you kick impoverished old people in the shins now or wait until the feds can join in?
Or maybe Washington will protect the seniors by sending Sacramento billions more to fund their critical services. It’s unlikely but possible.
Or perhaps legislators and the governor will agree to ease up on seniors and pick on something else — such as good government.
Advertisement
These are the options the Legislature and Gov. Gavin Newsom have been arguing over in their efforts to negotiate agreement on a new pandemic-pummeled state budget.
Lawmakers must pass a budget by midnight Monday or lose their pay for every day it’s delayed. So they’ll pass something.
But in violation of the deadline spirit — if not letter of the law — their product won’t be a complete budget. It will contain huge holes to be filled later by what’s being called “Budget Junior.” Junior presumably will be negotiated and passed before the new fiscal year begins July 1. Or in late summer. Who knows?
So Monday’s budget will mainly be a stopgap salary-saver. In coming days, there’ll also be budget “trailer bills” that will follow with details.
It’s ironic: COVID-19 hit vulnerable seniors the hardest. To control the coronavirus spread, Newsom and other state governors crippled the economy. Inevitably, this greatly diminished tax revenues that fund programs for needy seniors. Now, seniors are hammered not only by the virus but also by the potential loss of crucial government services.
It’s a double whammy.
Here’s the landscape in Sacramento: Newsom projects a $54-billion hole in the budget that he originally proposed in January. So last month, he downsized his budget request by $19 billion, down to a total $203 billion.
Among the governor’s whacks were $14 billion in “trigger” cuts. These severed programs — mainly in education and health and human services — would be triggered back into existence if Congress and President Trump send the states another huge pandemic relief package.
Advertisement
“Nothing breaks my heart more than making budget cuts,” Newsom told reporters when he proposed them. “There’s a human behind every single number … a dream denied.”
Advocates for seniors I talked with told me they’re really tired of hearing “breaks my heart” language from the governor and other politicians. It fits into the same script book with “thoughts and prayers” after mass shootings.
Anyway, the Legislature has rejected Newsom’s idea. Instead, it wants to reverse the trigger concept. Under the legislators’ plan, the cuts would be triggered only if the feds don’t come through with billions — and even then probably not.
The Legislature would prefer to borrow, defer some spending, turn to accounting gimmicks and empty the “rainy day” reserve bucket — the traditional playbook for budget deficits, except this is the first time there has been a reserve. Lawmakers could also, on paper, arbitrarily reduce the projected deficit and raise revenue expectations.
That’s bad government. But worse is smacking low-income seniors, many of them frail and disabled.
“Why don’t we continue the programs until we find out for sure whether the federal funding is coming?” says Assemblyman Adrin Nazarian (D-North Hollywood), who chairs the Aging and Long-Term Care Committee. “Once we know it’s not coming, then we can make the cuts.”
Newsom wants to get it done and over — not kick the can down the road. Problem is, that immediately kicks struggling seniors.
Hardly anyone wants to raise taxes.
“They’re not going to do that in an election year,” says Marty Omoto, director of the California Disability Senior Community Action Network. “That could affect retention of Democratic congressional seats and the legislative supermajority. Even Democrats don’t want to do that yet on businesses not fully back.”
“We’re all nervous as hell because we don’t know what [cuts] they’re ultimately going to agree to.”
Nazarian says of taxes: “We’re trying to avoid doing that because we have implemented quite a few taxes over the last five or six years.”
But he adds: “There already are some conversations about ‘how do we pay for long-term care?’ — whether there should be a small payroll tax that goes into a long-term-care fund. In the next 15 years, we’re expecting the senior population to grow from 12% [of the population] to 25%.”
Maybe not if we don’t get a vaccine for the coronavirus fairly soon. And all those proposed cuts to senior programs could force old folks into nursing homes where they become much more vulnerable to being infected with the virus. “They’re cutting what people need to stay out of assisted care facilities or nursing homes,” says Blanca Castro, California advocacy director for AARP.
“The last place you should target for cuts is older people during a pandemic,” says Anthony Wright, executive director of Health Access California, an advocacy coalition. “These are the programs that should be the response to the pandemic — not the things we cut in this emergency.
“It’s troubling to see how many of these [COVID-19] deaths are in nursing homes. You’d expect we would double down to keep people from going into these homes.”
Among the programs lined up for sharp whacks or even the dumpster: in-home supportive services. And community centers where seniors can engage with social workers and other old folks.
Newsom also proposes to make it harder to qualify for Medi-Cal by making sure you’re worse off than merely poor.
So kick the can. This is a case when bad government becomes good government.


latimes--2020-06-14--Man killed, two wounded in Sylmar shooting

One man was killed and two were wounded during a shooting Sunday night in a residential area of Sylmar , @ @ @ @ @ erupted just before 7 p.m. in the 12900 block of Borden Avenue , said Los @ @ @ @ @ Prange .
Paramedics encountered three wounded men when they arrived at the scene .
“ @ @ @ @ @ and will be handled by the coroner , ” Prange said in a written statement @ @ @ @ @ serious condition and taken to the hospital , Prange said .
A woman was also @ @ @ @ @ not injured , according to authorities .
No further details were available as of 8 @ @ @

One man was killed and two were wounded during a shooting Sunday night in a residential area of Sylmar, according to authorities.
Gunfire erupted just before 7 p.m. in the 12900 block of Borden Avenue, said Los Angeles Fire Department spokesman Nicholas Prange.
Paramedics encountered three wounded men when they arrived at the scene.
Advertisement
“One was beyond medical help and will be handled by the coroner,” Prange said in a written statement.
Two others were in serious condition and taken to the hospital, Prange said. A woman was also at the scene but was not injured, according to authorities.
No further details were available as of 8 p.m. Sunday.


latimes--2020-06-14--Protest blocks westbound lanes of Bay Bridge in San Francisco

Protesters in San Francisco on Sunday afternoon shut down all westbound traffic on the Bay Bridge , which connects the city with Oakland .
As of 5 p.m. , all westbound lanes of I-80 were blocked by several cars that formed a barrier across lanes near Treasure Island , the California Highway Patrol said .
At least one lane had opened by 6:30 p.m .
Protesters attempted to paint `` # BLM ” on the bridge ’ s upper level , but were stopped by police who appeared to be detaining people , KPIX 5 reports .
The demonstration is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in motion by the killing of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin .
In Los Angeles on Sunday , thousands marched down Hollywood Boulevard to advocate for LGBTQ rights and racial justice .
Some drivers stuck on the bridge tweeted in solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement .
“ Protesters have painted # BLM on the bay bridge and this is the least angry I ’ ve been while parked at a standstill on the bay bridge for an actual hour , ” wrote Amy Foote .

Protesters attempted to paint “#BLM” on the Bay Bridge’s upper level, but were stopped by police.
Protesters in San Francisco on Sunday afternoon shut down all westbound traffic on the Bay Bridge, which connects the city with Oakland.
As of 5 p.m., all westbound lanes of I-80 were blocked by several cars that formed a barrier across lanes near Treasure Island, the California Highway Patrol said. At least one lane had opened by 6:30 p.m.
Protesters attempted to paint “#BLM” on the bridge’s upper level, but were stopped by police who appeared to be detaining people, KPIX 5 reports.
The demonstration is likely connected to the nationwide uprising set in motion by the killing of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin. In Los Angeles on Sunday, thousands marched down Hollywood Boulevard to advocate for LGBTQ rights and racial justice.
Some drivers stuck on the bridge tweeted in solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement.
Advertisement
“Protesters have painted #BLM on the bay bridge and this is the least angry I’ve been while parked at a standstill on the bay bridge for an actual hour,” wrote Amy Foote.
https://twitter.com/SantiagoMejia/status/1272336323106312192?s=20


latimes--2020-06-15--No California budget deal yet as Newsom, lawmakers approach big deadlines

Gov .
Gavin Newsom and Democratic leaders of the California Legislature said Monday they were still working toward an agreement on a new state budget , but the lateness of the negotiations left lawmakers in the awkward position of voting on an earlier framework — one without Newsom ’ s support — a few hours before their annual deadline to do so .
Approval of the earlier-drafted budget bill by both houses means that substantial alterations will be needed in the coming days to reflect the ultimate deal between Newsom and lawmakers .
The action by the state Senate and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ minimum constitutional standard for an approved budget to ensure that legislators won ’ t forfeit any of their pay .
Senate President Pro Tem Toni Atkins ( D-San Diego ) said the legislative plan relies on the substantial cash reserves the state has set aside since the Great Recession .
“ Over the past decade , we ’ ve worked hard to be in a position to weather just such a storm , ” Atkins said .
“ This budget enables us to weather it responsibly and with precision so that we avoid @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” No issue has loomed larger over the negotiations than whether a portion of the state ’ s budget deficit — estimated at $ 54.3 billion — will be erased by billions of dollars in new coronavirus assistance yet to be approved by President Trump and Congress .
“ We can not encourage them more to move expeditiously , ” the governor said on Monday of federal officials .
“ And I remain confident that something will happen at the federal level to help mitigate the impact of cuts at the state level.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ will need at least $ 14 billion in federal money , asked legislators to be cautious and make cuts with an expectation that the money wouldn ’ t arrive .
The legislative budget plan rejects that approach , choosing instead to assume the arrival of funds from Washington , and would impose additional cuts only if no help arrives by the end of September .
Even then , lawmakers want to soften the blow in the event of a federal stalemate by tapping more of the state ’ s cash reserves .
A @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spend on K-12 education , which saw sweeping cuts under the governor ’ s May budget proposal .
Lawmakers rejected those cuts , allowing schools to continue spending at existing levels , though a portion of that amount would have to be found in school reserve funds or through borrowing to be repaid later by the state .
School advocates have warned that the unprecedented shift to distance learning due to precautions taken to slow the spread of coronavirus would add to their burden .
And though the budget offers one-time assistance with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the federal CARES Act , education groups still have worried about how those dollars would be divvied up .
Local governments , too , were worried that even a budget more generous than Newsom ’ s preferred version would still come up short .
The agreement is expected to provide only about one-third of $ 3 billion in lost tax revenues for counties , used to fund public and mental health programs , social services and public safety .
“ Without continued investment in our safety net services , the dire consequences @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more Californians , ” Los Angeles County Supervisor Hilda Solis said .
The protracted budget negotiations served as the latest example of tensions over how to govern California during the COVID-19 pandemic , an issue that recently led some legislators to accuse Newsom of usurping their authority while the Legislature was out of session .
Newsom and legislative leaders sought to downplay their disagreements on Monday , insisting the delay was due to the complexity of solving a historic budget deficit .
“ I ’ m very pleased at the conversations we ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said during a midday event on the state ’ s coronavirus response .

Assemblyman Phil Ting (D-San Francisco) urges lawmakers to approve the budget plan at the state Capitol on Monday. The spending plan will probably change as negotiations continue with Gov. Gavin Newsom on how to cover a $54.3-billion deficit.
Gov. Gavin Newsom and Democratic leaders of the California Legislature worked Monday toward a final deal on a new state budget, leaving lawmakers in the awkward position of voting on their own spending plan — one that did not have Newsom’s support — a few hours before their annual deadline to take action.
Although both Newsom and legislators expressed optimism as negotiations continued into Monday night, the eventual agreement will mean substantial alterations need to be made in the bill adopted in party-line votes by the Senate and Assembly.
That plan, however, did meet the minimum constitutional standard for an approved budget to ensure that legislators won’t forfeit any of their pay.
Advertisement
Senate President Pro Tem Toni Atkins (D-San Diego) said the legislative plan relies on the substantial cash reserves the state has set aside since the Great Recession.
“Over the past decade, we’ve worked hard to be in a position to weather just such a storm,” Atkins said during Monday’s vote. “This budget enables us to weather it responsibly and with precision so that we avoid wreaking further havoc on Californians’ lives.”
No issue loomed larger over the negotiations than whether a portion of the state’s budget deficit — estimated at $54.3 billion — will be erased by billions of dollars in new coronavirus assistance yet to be approved by President Trump and Congress.
“We cannot encourage them more to move expeditiously,” the governor said on Monday of federal officials. “And I remain confident that something will happen at the federal level to help mitigate the impact of cuts at the state level.”
Newsom, who projected the state will need at least $14 billion in new federal money, asked legislators to be cautious and make cuts with an expectation that the money wouldn’t arrive. The legislative budget plan rejected that approach, choosing instead to assume the arrival of funds from Washington, and would impose additional cuts only if no help arrives by the end of September. Even then, lawmakers want to soften the blow in the event of a federal stalemate by tapping more of the state’s cash reserves.
A key debate has been how much to spend on K-12 education, which saw sweeping cuts under the governor’s May budget proposal. Lawmakers rejected those cuts, allowing schools to continue spending at existing levels, though a portion of that amount would have to be found in school reserve funds or through borrowing to be repaid later by the state.
Advertisement
School advocates have warned that the unprecedented shift to distance learning due to precautions taken to slow the spread of coronavirus would add to their burden. And though the budget offers one-time assistance with funds from the state’s portion of the federal CARES Act, education groups still have worried about how those dollars would be divvied up.
Local governments, too, were worried that even a budget more generous than Newsom’s preferred version would still come up short. The agreement is expected to provide only about one-third of $3 billion in lost tax revenues for counties, used to fund public and mental health programs, social services and public safety.
“Without continued investment in our safety net services, the dire consequences of poverty will be felt by even more Californians,” Los Angeles County Supervisor Hilda Solis said.
The protracted budget negotiations served as the latest example of tensions over how to govern California during the COVID-19 pandemic, an issue that recently led some legislators to accuse Newsom of usurping their authority while the Legislature was out of session.
Newsom and legislative leaders sought to downplay their disagreements on Monday, insisting the delay was due to the complexity of solving a historic budget deficit.
“I’m very pleased at the conversations we’ve been having,” the governor said during a midday event on the state’s coronavirus response.


latimes--2020-06-15--Black Lives Matter leaders meet with L.A. politicians, saying 'defund the police'

In an extraordinary face-to-face meeting , a coalition of activists led by Black Lives Matter-Los Angeles urged members of the City Council on Monday to end the city ’ s reliance on police officers and embrace new strategies for keeping neighborhoods safe .
Seated in the council chamber at City Hall , activists told council members they have an opening to move money away from the L.A. Police Department and into mental health counselors , gang intervention workers and other public employees who can address trauma and prevent violence from breaking out .
“ The world is speaking right now @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Black Lives Matter-L.A. , her voice choked with emotion .
“ They ’ re saying we don ’ t want a system of policing that puts targets on the backs of black people especially , but also is a regular assailant and traumatizer of our entire community .
“ We are saying defund the police , ” Abdullah added later .
“ We ’ re also saying reimagine public safety.
” The remarks were part of a nearly two-hour special meeting devoted to the People ’ s Budget , an alternative spending @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Black Lives Matter-L.A. , Ground Game L.A. , Sunrise Movement Los Angeles and a coalition of other activist organizations .
The session followed weeks of pressure from those groups , both before and after mass protests broke out nationally and in L.A. over the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis .
Five of the council ’ s 15 members , who have spent years overseeing a steady increase in police spending , attended the presentation .
At least a few signaled an interest in the ideas put before them .
“ It ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not rocket science , ” said Council President Nury Martinez , after hearing the activists ’ presentation .
“ This is exactly how you reimagine neighborhoods.
” The People ’ s Budget effectively calls for widespread reductions at the LAPD , with the proceeds devoted to housing , healthcare , mental health , parks and many other services .
Such a move would represent a dramatic shift in priorities for L.A. , whose political leaders spent decades working to staff up the LAPD with 10,000 officers .
Councilman Paul Krekorian , who heads @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said he expected city leaders to have an ongoing conversation about police spending .
But Councilman Herb Wesson , whose ongoing bid for county supervisor received a $ 50,000 boost from the police union , said he would work to ensure the council doesn ’ t “ miss this moment.
” “ I don ’ t want to be part of history , ” he said .
“ I want to make it.
” “ But will you commit ?
” asked Akili , an organizer with Black Lives Matter-L.A. , who was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ goes by a single name .
Abdullah pressed council members to ignore demands from the Los Angeles Police Protective League to protect the LAPD from deep cuts .
After Monday ’ s presentation , a spokesman for the league called the People ’ s Budget a “ fairy tale that will end in a city of chaos , crime and fear.
” “ Who will respond to the thousands of rapes , assaults , murders , and shootings that happen throughout this city if the ‘ People ’ s Budget ’ is enacted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ?
” said Dustin DeRollo , a spokesman for the union .
“ Every resident in this city deserves to feel safe and be safe in their neighborhood.
” The council is scheduled Tuesday to take up a request from Martinez , Wesson and several others to cut the LAPD ’ s budget by $ 100 million to $ 150 million , and put the money into other programs .
Mayor Eric Garcetti has also signed on to the idea .
But so far , neither he nor the council has explained how @ @ @ @ @ @ @ council ’ s Budget and Finance Committee voted unanimously on Monday to move forward with the proposal , which won ’ t be finalized until later this month .
But Councilman Paul Koretz , who represents part of the Westside , questioned whether those cuts were “ arbitrary ” — and said he ’ d heard from hundreds of constituents opposed to defunding the police .
“ They ’ re fearful of slower response times and a lessened ability for the LAPD to protect residents from crime , ” he said .
Even @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the LAPD will be more expensive than it was just four years ago .
Garcetti ’ s budget included a 7 % increase for the LAPD in the budget for the coming fiscal year , which begins July 1 .
Council members say they intend to rework the mayor ’ s spending plan .
And the LAPD ’ s aggressive response to weeks of protests — including the use of batons and other weapons — have only intensified calls for cuts to the LAPD .
Kendrick Sampson , an actor and a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which focuses on radical social change , told council members he had been struck repeatedly by rubber bullets during a protest that began in Pan Pacific Park .
Those projectiles left him with a permanent scar on his chest , he said .
“ We know that public safety is not policing , ” said Sampson , whose group helped stage the protest .
The LAPD says tactical projectiles it fired were sponge and foam bullets , as well as beanbags .
The sight of the activists seated before council members to discuss @ @ @ @ @ @ @ turning point .
Abdullah said she had been pulled out of City Hall by police officers on several occasions but never invited to make a presentation like the one given Monday .
Abdullah said she appreciated the efforts of Martinez and Wesson , along with “ tens of thousands of people ” who pressured the city ’ s leaders to allow for a formal presentation .
But she signaled that activists will need to keep pressing for the adoption of their plan .
“ The verbal response we got was great , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ commitment .
”

Melina Abdullah, a co-founder of Black Lives Matter-Los Angeles, told L.A. City Council members Monday that there is widespread support for defunding the LAPD.
In an extraordinary face-to-face meeting, a coalition of activists led by Black Lives Matter-Los Angeles urged members of the City Council on Monday to end the city’s reliance on police officers and embrace new strategies for keeping neighborhoods safe.
Seated in the council chamber at City Hall, activists told council members they have an opening to move money away from the L.A. Police Department and into mental health counselors, gang intervention workers and other public employees who can address trauma and prevent violence from breaking out.
“The world is speaking right now,” said Melina Abdullah, co-founder of Black Lives Matter-L.A., her voice choked with emotion. “They’re saying we don’t want a system of policing that puts targets on the backs of Black people especially, but also is a regular assailant and traumatizer of our entire community.
Advertisement
“We are saying defund the police,” Abdullah added later. “We’re also saying reimagine public safety.”
× Nationwide, protesters and activists have been calling to “defund the police.” But what does it actually mean? And why are so many people calling for it to happen?
The remarks were part of a nearly two-hour special meeting devoted to the People’s Budget, an alternative spending plan for the city budget advanced by Black Lives Matter-L.A., Ground Game L.A., Sunrise Movement Los Angeles and a coalition of other activist organizations.
The session followed weeks of pressure from those groups, both before and after mass protests broke out nationally and in L.A. over the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis.
Five of the council’s 15 members, who have spent years overseeing a steady increase in police spending, attended the presentation. At least a few signaled an interest in the ideas put before them.
Advertisement
“It’s not complicated. It’s not rocket science,” said council President Nury Martinez, after hearing the activists’ presentation. “This is exactly how you reimagine neighborhoods.”
The People’s Budget effectively calls for widespread reductions at the LAPD, with the proceeds devoted to housing, healthcare, mental health, parks and many other services. Such a move would represent a dramatic shift in priorities for L.A., whose political leaders spent decades working to staff up the LAPD with 10,000 officers.
Councilman Paul Krekorian, who heads the council’s budget committee, said he expected city leaders to have an ongoing conversation about police spending. But Councilman Herb Wesson, whose ongoing bid for county supervisor received a $50,000 boost from the police union, said he would work to ensure the council doesn’t “miss this moment.”
“I don’t want to be part of history,” he said. “I want to make it.”
“But will you commit?” asked Akili, an organizer with Black Lives Matter-L.A., who was one of Monday’s presenters and goes by a single name.
“I just did,” Wesson replied.
Abdullah pressed council members to ignore demands from the Los Angeles Police Protective League to protect the LAPD from deep cuts. After Monday’s presentation, a spokesman for the league called the People’s Budget a “fairy tale that will end in a city of chaos, crime and fear.”
“Who will respond to the thousands of rapes, assaults, murders, and shootings that happen throughout this city if the ‘People’s Budget’ is enacted and the city fires 9,000 police officers?” said Dustin DeRollo, a spokesman for the union. “Every resident in this city deserves to feel safe and be safe in their neighborhood.”
The council is scheduled Tuesday to take up a request from Martinez, Wesson and several others to cut the LAPD’s budget by $100 million to $150 million, and put the money into other programs.
× Nationwide, protesters and activists have been calling to “defund the police.” But what does it actually mean? And why are so many people calling for it to happen?
Mayor Eric Garcetti has also signed on to the idea. But so far, neither he nor the council has explained how those reductions would be achieved.
The council’s Budget and Finance Committee voted unanimously on Monday to move forward with the proposal, which won’t be finalized until later this month. But Councilman Paul Koretz, who represents part of the Westside, questioned whether those cuts were “arbitrary” — and said he’d heard from hundreds of constituents opposed to defunding the police.
“They’re fearful of slower response times and a lessened ability for the LAPD to protect residents from crime,” he said.
Even if the council approves the short-term reductions, the LAPD will be more expensive than it was just four years ago. Garcetti’s budget included a 7% increase for the LAPD in the budget for the coming fiscal year, which begins July 1.
Council members say they intend to rework the mayor’s spending plan. And the LAPD’s aggressive response to weeks of protests — including the use of batons and other weapons — have only intensified calls for cuts to the LAPD.
Kendrick Sampson, an actor and a founder of the group BLD PWR, which focuses on radical social change, told council members he had been struck repeatedly by rubber bullets during a protest that began in Pan Pacific Park. Those projectiles left him with a permanent scar on his chest, he said.
“We know that public safety is not policing,” said Sampson, whose group helped stage the protest.
The LAPD says tactical projectiles it fired were sponge and foam bullets, as well as beanbags.
The sight of the activists seated before council members to discuss defunding the LAPD marked something of a turning point. Abdullah said she had been pulled out of City Hall by police officers on several occasions but never invited to make a presentation like the one given Monday.
Abdullah said she appreciated the efforts of Martinez and Wesson, along with “tens of thousands of people” who pressured the city’s leaders to allow for a formal presentation. But she signaled that activists will need to keep pressing for the adoption of their plan.
“The verbal response we got was great,” she said. “We want a commitment.”
Times staff writer Kevin Rector contributed to this report.


latimes--2020-06-15--Newsom defends California reopening rules even as coronavirus cases rise

As COVID-19 cases in California continue to climb , and the death toll tops 5,000 , Gov .
Gavin Newsom on Monday defended his administration ’ s decision to allow counties to ease the stay-at-home order and other restrictions .
Newsom said COVID-19 hospitalizations in the state remain stable weeks after restrictions started to be modified , during a period that included the busy Memorial Day weekend , and maintained that the safeguards in place continue to effectively slow the spread of the novel coronavirus .
The governor said requiring residents to remain isolated would threaten their overall well-being , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
More than 5.5 million Californians have applied for unemployment benefits during the pandemic .
“ When you have people that are struggling and suffering with severe mental health and brain health issues , when people are not attending to their physical and emotional needs , those social determinants of health also must be considered , ” Newsom said during a COVID-19 briefing Monday in Sacramento .
“ We have to recognize you can ’ t be in a permanent state where people are locked away — for months and months and months @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lives and livelihoods completely destroyed , without considering the health impact of those decisions as well.
” Newsom in mid-March issued the nation ’ s first stay-at-home order , arguing at the time that the restrictions were necessary to slow the spread of the virus .
The Democratic governor acknowledged the economic and public health consequences of a continued shutdown on Monday as he sought to justify his decision to allow businesses to open across California while deaths and confirmed cases are on the rise .
The governor said the willingness of Californians @ @ @ @ @ @ @ state ’ s hospital system would have enough capacity to care for those stricken with the virus .
The shutdown period also allowed the state to procure enough ventilators and protective gear for healthcare workers should there be a surge in COVID-19 cases .
“ We never made the case that the stay-at-home order was a permanent state .
We wanted to buy time .
We wanted to mitigate a peak and a spike , ” Newsom said .
“ We ultimately wanted to save lives and prepare for a pandemic that needs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , we have immunity , until we have a vaccine.
” Newsom has made it clear that adherence to the reopening standards is the responsibility of the counties — not the state — repeating his oft-used catchphrase “ localism is determinative.
” “ We put up guidelines , but guidelines don ’ t mean go , ” Newsom said .
“ We put up guidelines that create a framework of how we believe we can reopen the economy safely , but we don ’ t prescribe when .
We maintain because of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ state of California , that those decisions should be made with a local lens.
” Still , it was the Newsom administration that established the variance process in May , requiring counties to prove to the state that COVID-19 hospitalizations had stabilized and to ensure that medical centers , nursing homes and other essential services had adequate protective equipment and were prepared to accommodate and care for a surge in patients affected by the virus .
Thus far , the Newsom administration has allowed 52 of the state ’ s 58 counties to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ including Los Angeles County , California ’ s biggest COVID-19 hot spot , with more than 2,900 confirmed deaths out of the roughly 5,083 reported statewide .
Despite those figures , L.A. County last week took another step toward easing stay-at-home rules , allowing gyms , fitness facilities , museums , swimming pools and hotels for leisure travel to reopen .
Music , film and television production were also allowed to resume .
Dr. Mark Ghaly , secretary of California ’ s Health and Human Services Agency , said the Newsom administration is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ set by the state to address the pandemic , including thresholds for hospitalizations and positive COVID-19 tests .
The counties being monitored by the state include Los Angeles , Fresno , Imperial , Kern , Kings , San Joaquin , Santa Barbara , Tulare and Ventura .
State health officials also contacted four other counties that missed a state COVID-19 threshold on at least one day , but they have not been placed on the state ’ s official monitoring list .
Kern County reported an average transmission rate of 79.8 cases per @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , which far exceeds the state ’ s threshold of 25 per 100,000 residents .
L.A. County reported 162.5 cases per 100,000 residents .
Ventura County reported a 13.2 % increase in COVID-19 patients being hospitalized for three days , surpassing the state threshold of 10 % .
Ghaly said the Newsom administration is working with health officials in those 13 counties to ensure they receive state support , whether that means sending additional healthcare workers or ventilators or moving COVID-19 patients to other counties .
“ These 13 counties , for one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ little bit of concern about the data , and we feel like early and frequent engagement around what ’ s going on locally with that added support at the state level — whether those are staff or ventilators or helping move some other patients into other counties to make sure that Californians get the care they need .
“ We ’ re getting in front of issues early and trying to help support counties so that as we look to reopen , we stay very vigilant around the data points that matter , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ghaly said .
Newsom on Monday also urged Californians to remain personally vigilant in stopping the spread of the coronavirus by continuing to socially distance , wear face coverings and frequently wash their hands .
He warned of the possibility of a second wave of the virus in the fall and potentially in the spring , similar to the 1918 Spanish Flu pandemic , which eventually killed 675,000 in the United States and an estimated 50 million worldwide .
“ It ’ s our decisions that determine our fate and future , ” @ @ @

As COVID-19 cases in California continue to climb, and the death toll tops 5,000, Gov. Gavin Newsom on Monday defended his administration’s decision to allow counties to ease the stay-at-home order and other restrictions.
Newsom said COVID-19 hospitalizations in the state remain stable weeks after restrictions started to be modified, during a period that included the busy Memorial Day weekend, and maintained that the safeguards in place continue to effectively slow the spread of the novel coronavirus.
The governor said requiring residents to remain isolated would threaten their overall well-being, including physical and mental health and finances. More than 5.5 million Californians have applied for unemployment benefits during the pandemic.
Advertisement
“When you have people that are struggling and suffering with severe mental health and brain health issues, when people are not attending to their physical and emotional needs, those social determinants of health also must be considered,” Newsom said during a COVID-19 briefing Monday in Sacramento. “We have to recognize you can’t be in a permanent state where people are locked away — for months and months and months and months on end — to see lives and livelihoods completely destroyed, without considering the health impact of those decisions as well.”
Newsom in mid-March issued the nation’s first stay-at-home order, arguing at the time that the restrictions were necessary to slow the spread of the virus. The Democratic governor acknowledged the economic and public health consequences of a continued shutdown on Monday as he sought to justify his decision to allow businesses to open across California while deaths and confirmed cases are on the rise.
The governor said the willingness of Californians to heed that order ensured that the state’s hospital system would have enough capacity to care for those stricken with the virus. The shutdown period also allowed the state to procure enough ventilators and protective gear for healthcare workers should there be a surge in COVID-19 cases.
“We never made the case that the stay-at-home order was a permanent state. We wanted to buy time. We wanted to mitigate a peak and a spike,” Newsom said. “We ultimately wanted to save lives and prepare for a pandemic that needs to take its course until, ultimately, we have immunity, until we have a vaccine.”
Newsom has made it clear that adherence to the reopening standards is the responsibility of the counties — not the state — repeating his oft-used catchphrase “localism is determinative.”
Advertisement
“We put up guidelines, but guidelines don’t mean go,” Newsom said. “We put up guidelines that create a framework of how we believe we can reopen the economy safely, but we don’t prescribe when. We maintain because of the size, scope and scale of the state of California, that those decisions should be made with a local lens.”
Still, it was the Newsom administration that established the variance process in May, requiring counties to prove to the state that COVID-19 hospitalizations had stabilized and to ensure that medical centers, nursing homes and other essential services had adequate protective equipment and were prepared to accommodate and care for a surge in patients affected by the virus.
Thus far, the Newsom administration has allowed 52 of the state’s 58 counties to accelerate the reopening of their economies, including Los Angeles County, California’s biggest COVID-19 hot spot, with more than 2,900 confirmed deaths out of the roughly 5,083 reported statewide.
Despite those figures, L.A. County last week took another step toward easing stay-at-home rules, allowing gyms, fitness facilities, museums, swimming pools and hotels for leisure travel to reopen. Music, film and television production were also allowed to resume.
Dr. Mark Ghaly, secretary of California’s Health and Human Services Agency, said the Newsom administration is assisting 13 counties that have exceeded criteria set by the state to address the pandemic, including thresholds for hospitalizations and positive COVID-19 tests.
The counties being monitored by the state include Los Angeles, Fresno, Imperial, Kern, Kings, San Joaquin, Santa Barbara, Tulare and Ventura. State health officials also contacted four other counties that missed a state COVID-19 threshold on at least one day, but they have not been placed on the state’s official monitoring list.
Kern County reported an average transmission rate of 79.8 cases per 100,000 residents over the past 14 days, which far exceeds the state’s threshold of 25 per 100,000 residents. L.A. County reported 162.5 cases per 100,000 residents. Ventura County reported a 13.2% increase in COVID-19 patients being hospitalized for three days, surpassing the state threshold of 10%.
Ghaly said the Newsom administration is working with health officials in those 13 counties to ensure they receive state support, whether that means sending additional healthcare workers or ventilators or moving COVID-19 patients to other counties.
“These 13 counties, for one reason or another, we have a little bit of concern about the data, and we feel like early and frequent engagement around what’s going on locally with that added support at the state level — whether those are staff or ventilators or helping move some other patients into other counties to make sure that Californians get the care they need.
“We’re getting in front of issues early and trying to help support counties so that as we look to reopen, we stay very vigilant around the data points that matter, and we can support counties,” Ghaly said.
Newsom on Monday also urged Californians to remain personally vigilant in stopping the spread of the coronavirus by continuing to socially distance, wear face coverings and frequently wash their hands. He warned of the possibility of a second wave of the virus in the fall and potentially in the spring, similar to the 1918 Spanish Flu pandemic, which eventually killed 675,000 in the United States and an estimated 50 million worldwide.
“It’s our decisions that determine our fate and future,” Newsom said.
Times staff writer Taryn Luna contributed to this report.


latimes--2020-06-15--Column: I'm Black. I'm gay. The high court proved there's nothing equal about equal rights

I ’ m Black .
I ’ m gay .
And I ’ m just going to say it : Monday was a wash for equal rights .
On the one hand , the Supreme Court ruled that Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 , which bans workplace discrimination based on “ race , color , religion , sex , or national origin , ” does indeed protect gay and transgender Americans .
“ The answer is clear , ” Justice Neil M. Gorsuch wrote for the 6-3 majority .
“ An employer who fires an individual @ @ @ @ @ @ @ person for traits or actions it would not have questioned in members of a different sex .
Sex plays a necessary and undistinguishable role in the decision , exactly what Title VII forbids.
” Far from the stunning decision some have made it out to be , we ’ re talking about basic rights .
Rights that , for the most part , have ceased to be seen as controversial or as making some sort of political statement .
And this is true not just in California , but in states all over @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the Supreme Court declined to hear — count ‘ em — eight separate cases that would have opened the door to challenging “ qualified immunity , ” the doctrine that protects police officers from civil lawsuits alleging brutality and other civil rights violations .
So ridiculous was this turn of events that even Justice Clarence Thomas , the court ’ s only Black and most obtusely conservative member , issued an unusual dissent .
At a time when protests are still popping up daily to denounce injustice at the hands — and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s hard not to compare the pace of change and acceptance for the LGBTQ community and the Black community .
Being Black and demanding equal rights is still very much a controversial and a political statement .
But being gay or lesbian or bisexual and demanding the same ?
Not as much .
Not anymore .
Think about it .
It was only eight years ago that Joe Biden , then vice president and now the presumptive Democratic nominee for president , caused a firestorm by merely saying that gay people should @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ I am absolutely comfortable with the fact that men marrying men , women marrying women and heterosexual men and women marrying one another are entitled to the same exact rights , all the civil rights , all the civil liberties , ” he told NBC ’ s “ Meet the Press.
” Three days later , Obama , clearly trying to save face , followed suit .
A few years after that , the Supreme Court ruled that same-sex couples have the right to get married .
And now , every @ @ @ @ @ @ @ developing parade floats , rainbow-colored sneakers and shirts and backpacks , and ad campaigns to tout their commitment to diversity .
In a normal year , the pride parades in Los Angeles and San Francisco are so dominated by Twitter and Google and Netflix and Hulu and Wells Fargo and JPMorgan Chase and the like that it ’ s almost impossible to catch a glimpse of a church or a small nonprofit that does real grass-roots work on the ground .
Though it started as a protest , ironically by transgender people of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is typically thought of as a harmless party .
I ’ m not saying discrimination has completely disappeared for the LGBTQ community .
Far from it .
Especially for transgender Americans , who just last week watched as the Trump administration rolled back protections against sex discrimination for patients under the Affordable Care Act .
But why is it that holding a pride celebration didn ’ t become something akin to a holding political event until word got out about a possible partnership with Black Lives Matter ?
Even though the many protests @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than a week , there ’ s still clearly some fear out there that things might turn ugly .
On Sunday , though , thousands of gathered for an “ All Black Lives Matter ” march , starting in front of the TCL Chinese Theatre on Hollywood Boulevard before heading the few miles into West Hollywood .
It was a beautiful act of protest and solidarity meant to build bridges , as there has always been more than a touch of homophobia in the Black community and far more than a touch of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the very existence of the march also made abundantly clear how far we have to go .
In West Hollywood , I watched as people ate brunch on the newly reopened patio of Rocco ’ s and ignored the dozens of protesters chanting “ no justice , no peace ” while blocking Santa Monica Boulevard .
All around , the names of the Black and dead were scrawled in rainbow colors .
On the glass of the patio .
In chalk on the ground .
Michael Brown .
Tamir Rice .
John Crawford @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
George Floyd .
But still the brunch eaters were oblivious .
Meanwhile , several storefronts remained covered in plywood on Sunday .
Perhaps the owners of those shops and restaurants were worried or afraid that thieves would snatch up their merchandise or that vandals would shatter or spray-paint their windows ?
The truth might be a lot more complex , but the more simplistic message came through loud and clear , and it was disappointing .
It ’ s going to take more than a few murals on plywood insisting Black Lives @ @ @ @ @ @ @ friend — Black , gay , from West Virginia and seemingly out since birth — once told me : “ You ’ ll know you ’ re done coming out , ” pausing to rub his lips together with the shiniest lip gloss I ’ d ever seen , “ when you ’ re as comfortable with your gayness as your blackness.
” Those words stuck with me .
Today , thinking of the protests , I ’ d tweak and flip them .
When America is as comfortable with blackness as gayness @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ re done coming out .

Thousands participate in the All Black Lives Matter solidarity march to mark LGBTQ Pride Month in Hollywood on Sunday.
I’m Black. I’m gay. And I’m just going to say it: Monday was a wash for equal rights.
On the one hand, the Supreme Court ruled that Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which bans workplace discrimination based on “race, color, religion, sex, or national origin,” does indeed protect gay and transgender Americans.
“The answer is clear,” Justice Neil M. Gorsuch wrote for the 6-3 majority. “An employer who fires an individual for being homosexual or transgender fires that person for traits or actions it would not have questioned in members of a different sex. Sex plays a necessary and undistinguishable role in the decision, exactly what Title VII forbids.”
Advertisement
Far from the stunning decision some have made it out to be, we’re talking about basic rights. Rights that, for the most part, have ceased to be seen as controversial or as making some sort of political statement. And this is true not just in California, but in states all over the country.
On the other hand, the Supreme Court declined to hear — count ‘em — eight separate cases that would have opened the door to challenging “qualified immunity,” the doctrine that protects police officers from civil lawsuits alleging brutality and other civil rights violations.
So ridiculous was this turn of events that even Justice Clarence Thomas, the court’s only Black and most obtusely conservative member, issued an unusual dissent.
At a time when protests are still popping up daily to denounce injustice at the hands — and sometimes knees — of police, it’s hard not to compare the pace of change and acceptance for the LGBTQ community and the Black community.
Being Black and demanding equal rights is still very much a controversial and a political statement. But being gay or lesbian or bisexual and demanding the same? Not as much. Not anymore.
Think about it.
It was only eight years ago that Joe Biden, then vice president and now the presumptive Democratic nominee for president, caused a firestorm by merely saying that gay people should have another type of basic equal rights.
Advertisement
“I am absolutely comfortable with the fact that men marrying men, women marrying women and heterosexual men and women marrying one another are entitled to the same exact rights, all the civil rights, all the civil liberties,” he told NBC’s “Meet the Press.”
Three days later, Obama, clearly trying to save face, followed suit. A few years after that, the Supreme Court ruled that same-sex couples have the right to get married.
And now, every June, corporations spend millions of dollars developing parade floats, rainbow-colored sneakers and shirts and backpacks, and ad campaigns to tout their commitment to diversity.
In a normal year, the pride parades in Los Angeles and San Francisco are so dominated by Twitter and Google and Netflix and Hulu and Wells Fargo and JPMorgan Chase and the like that it’s almost impossible to catch a glimpse of a church or a small nonprofit that does real grass-roots work on the ground.
Though it started as a protest, ironically by transgender people of color demanding equal rights, pride today is typically thought of as a harmless party.
I’m not saying discrimination has completely disappeared for the LGBTQ community. Far from it. Especially for transgender Americans, who just last week watched as the Trump administration rolled back protections against sex discrimination for patients under the Affordable Care Act.
But why is it that holding a pride celebration didn’t become something akin to a holding political event until word got out about a possible partnership with Black Lives Matter? Even though the many protests in L.A. have been peaceful for more than a week, there’s still clearly some fear out there that things might turn ugly.
On Sunday, though, thousands of gathered for an “All Black Lives Matter” march, starting in front of the TCL Chinese Theatre on Hollywood Boulevard before heading the few miles into West Hollywood. It was a beautiful act of protest and solidarity meant to build bridges, as there has always been more than a touch of homophobia in the Black community and far more than a touch of racism in the LGBTQ community.
But the very existence of the march also made abundantly clear how far we have to go.
In West Hollywood, I watched as people ate brunch on the newly reopened patio of Rocco’s and ignored the dozens of protesters chanting “no justice, no peace” while blocking Santa Monica Boulevard.
All around, the names of the Black and dead were scrawled in rainbow colors. On the glass of the patio. In chalk on the ground. Michael Brown. Tamir Rice. Tony McDade. John Crawford III. Natasha McKenna. Walter Scott. George Floyd. But still the brunch eaters were oblivious.
Meanwhile, several storefronts remained covered in plywood on Sunday. Perhaps the owners of those shops and restaurants were worried or afraid that thieves would snatch up their merchandise or that vandals would shatter or spray-paint their windows?
The truth might be a lot more complex, but the more simplistic message came through loud and clear, and it was disappointing.
It’s going to take more than a few murals on plywood insisting Black Lives Matter to rectify that.
As a friend — Black, gay, from West Virginia and seemingly out since birth — once told me: “You’ll know you’re done coming out,” pausing to rub his lips together with the shiniest lip gloss I’d ever seen, “when you’re as comfortable with your gayness as your blackness.”
Those words stuck with me. Today, thinking of the protests, I’d tweak and flip them.
When America is as comfortable with blackness as gayness, then you’ll know we’re done coming out.