latimes--2020-03-05--Electric scooter sparks fire in San Francisco, sending one to hospital

An electric scooter sparked a blaze in a San Francisco building that sent one person to a hospital Thursday morning @ @ @ @ @ fire was reported shortly before 5 a.m. in the SoMa neighborhood , according to the @ @ @ @ @ Firefighters arriving at the scene reported seeing heavy smoke on the building ’ s ninth @ @ @ @ @ a handle on the blaze and rescued two people , as well as a dog @ @ @ @ @ .
One person was taken to a hospital , officials said .
The fire originated @ @ @ @ @ an e-scooter , according to the department .
It was not immediately clear what caused @ @ @ @

San Francisco officials said an e-scooter sparked a fire that sent one person to a hospital Thursday morning.
An electric scooter sparked a blaze in a San Francisco building that sent one person to a hospital Thursday morning, officials said.
The fire was reported shortly before 5 a.m. in the SoMa neighborhood, according to the San Francisco Fire Department. Firefighters arriving at the scene reported seeing heavy smoke on the building’s ninth floor.
Crews quickly got a handle on the blaze and rescued two people, as well as a dog, according to the department. One person was taken to a hospital, officials said.
No residents were displaced.
The fire originated in the electrical components of an e-scooter, according to the department. It was not immediately clear what caused it to ignite.


latimes--2020-03-05--Coronavirus cases spread across California; Las Vegas reports first case

New cases of coronavirus were reported in several areas of California on Thursday while Nevada reported its first case , in Las Vegas .
The Las Vegas case was a man in his 50s who had recently traveled to Washington state ; he is hospitalized in isolation , officials said .
Meanwhile , San Francisco reported its first cases .
The two San Francisco patients are not related and have no travel history to areas where the coronavirus has spread , officials said .
“ We do not know at this point how they were exposed to the virus , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ community , ” Dr. Grant Colfax , San Francisco ’ s director of health , said in a statement .
Santa Clara and Solano counties also have reported so-called community spread cases .
Both patients were tested by the city ’ s Department of Public Health lab on Wednesday , officials said .
They are being treated under isolation at separate San Francisco hospitals .
One patient is a man in his 90s who has underlying health conditions and is in serious condition , officials said .
The other patient is a woman @ @ @ @ @ @ @ condition .
Meanwhile , the Grand Princess cruise ship was being kept offshore amid concerns that more people on board might be sick after it was announced that a 71-year-old male passenger on an earlier voyage had fallen ill and died this week of the virus .
Sonoma County health officials confirmed Thursday that a second passenger on the cruise tested positive after announcing another positive result earlier in the week .
Both that patient and the one announced previously were in isolation rooms at a hospital .
Health officials said they had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were on the cruise , as well as the shuttle to and from the ship , and were continuing to contact passengers to make them aware of the possibility they may have contracted the virus .
In California , COVID-19 has been reported in 12 counties and sickened more than 50 people .
Additional cases were announced elsewhere in the state Thursday , including four patients in Los Angeles County who had recently returned from a group trip to northern Italy .
Health officials had announced Wednesday that three travelers in that same @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Santa Clara County announced Thursday that the number of cases there had grown to 20 from 14 .
Of the county ’ s 20 cases , four are related to travel , nine had contacts with other confirmed COVID-19 cases and seven were believed to have caught it in the community .
Of the six new cases — three men and three women — four are at home and two are hospitalized , officials said .
“ Our cases to date indicate to us that the risk of exposure to the virus in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sara Cody , health officer for Santa Clara County and director of the Santa Clara County Public Health Department , said Thursday .
County health officials are calling on residents to postpone large gatherings and cancel large events , and for employers to take steps to make it more feasible for employees to work in ways that minimize large groups and contact with others .
They include suspending nonessential employee travels , canceling large in-person meetings and conference , and considering using telecommuting options and staggering start and end times to reduce large @ @ @ @ @ @ @ aren ’ t currently recommending that schools be closed but said they ’ ll consider such closures on a case-by-case basis if a school staffer or student is confirmed to have COVID-19 .
The San Diego area reported its third case when an employee of an AT & T retail store in Chula Vista tested positive for the virus , the company said Thursday in a statement .
Six stores were closed and deep-cleaned “ out of an abundance of caution , ” the company said .
The employee , who had recently @ @ @ @ @ @ @ risk for coronavirus , went to work Monday but went home sick later that day and notified the company , spokesman Fletcher Cook said .
AT & T received notice Tuesday that the employee had tested positive for the virus , he said .
As the virus continues to spread , the U.S. Senate voted 96 to 1 on Thursday to approve $ 8.3 billion in emergency aid to help fight the outbreak .
The measure next goes to President Trump , who is expected to quickly sign it .
The funding package @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vaccine , with millions going directly to states and cities grappling with the disease .
The hardest hit state so far is Washington , where the number of confirmed cases jumped to 70 and 10 people have died .
In total , 51 cases have been reported in King County , 18 in Snohomish County and one in Grant County .
The Grand Princess cruise passenger is the first person to die in California from the illness .
After the man ’ s death , the cruise line said it was notified by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Prevention that the agency was investigating a small cluster of coronavirus cases in Northern California related to the cruise .
The company said that 62 guests who had made the same Mexico voyage the man who died was on remained aboard the Grand Princess for a subsequent trip to Hawaii .
That trip was cut short , and guests and crew members who might have come in close contact with the passenger who died were asked to remain in their cabins until they could be screened .
Those people and any others experiencing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tested on Thursday , according to the cruise line .
The U.S. Coast Guard delivered kits via helicopter Thursday morning so the ship ’ s medical team could administer the tests .
The samples then were to be flown to a lab in Richmond , Calif. , for processing , Princess Cruises said .
Passengers on the vessel — both current and those who may have been exposed earlier — told the Los Angeles Times that the response to the outbreak by the company and health officials had been filled with missteps .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Cruises was lax on health screening protocols prior to boarding and withheld information about the risks they faced , even as the ship ’ s condition became international news .
Placer County was asking any other individuals who were on the cruise to Mexico to self-quarantine .
County officials on Tuesday declared a local emergency in response to the outbreak .
The ship was supposed to depart for another cruise to Hawaii on Saturday , but that trip was canceled and the cruise line said all guests would receive a full refund .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ a health emergency Wednesday , said he felt confident that the state could prevent the virus from being spread by passengers on the cruise who already had returned to California .
“ We have the resources , ” Newsom said .
“ We have the capacity .
By this evening , we will have contacted every county health official that has someone who came off this cruise .
They will have their contact information and begin a process to contact those individuals.
” Officials were trying to locate hundreds of other Californians who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Francisco last month after the trip to Mexico to determine whether they also might have contracted the virus .
Officials in Nevada County , just north of Placer County , joined Los Angeles County and other areas of the state in declaring a local emergency amid the spread of the virus .
Unlike L.A. County , which reported six news cases Wednesday , including a screener at Los Angeles International Airport , Nevada County has had no confirmed cases of COVID-19 .
“ These declarations enhance Nevada County ’ s ability to proactively @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a confirmed coronavirus case happens in Nevada County , ” Jill Blake , the county ’ s public health director , said in a statement .
World Health Organization officials emphasized Thursday that it is not too late to beat back the spread of the virus .
Worldwide , there have been 95,265 cases reported globally and 3,281 deaths .
Parts of China — where the outbreak originated — have brought their daily new infection numbers down to the single digits , health officials said .
Eight provinces have not reported any new @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ This is a time for pulling out all the stops , ” WHO director Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said .
“ If we take the approach that there is nothing we can do , that will quickly become a self-fulfilling prophecy .
It ’ s in our hands .
“ Ultimately , how deadly this virus is will depend not only on the virus itself but how we respond to it , ” he said .
At a news conference Thursday , WHO officials were asked about a prediction that 40 % to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ contract the coronavirus .
Officials said they take all predictions into account , but China ’ s progress in containing the virus and lowering case numbers makes that seem increasingly unlikely , said Mike Ryan , who heads the agency ’ s emergencies program .
“ There are obvious real things happening in the real world that contradict that , ” he said .
“ That ’ s flying in the face of that prediction .
“ We need to fight .
We need to fight now , ” he said .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ true if we do nothing.
” Officials emphasized that tried-and-true public health measures , like testing and isolation , are working to control the virus .
Countries need to take proactive steps , said Dr. Maria Van Kerkhove , the WHO ’ s acting head of emerging diseases .
“ You need to look for all of your cases aggressively , ” she said .
Tedros said he was concerned that some countries have not taken the epidemic seriously enough or have decided there is nothing they can do about it .
He @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not seem to match the level of threat faced globally .
There must be strong leadership from the top , he said .
“ This epidemic can be pushed back — but only with a collected , coordinated and comprehensive approach that engages the entire machinery of government , ” Tedros said .
“ We ’ re calling on every county to act with speed , scale and clear-minded determination.
” Chabria reported from Sacramento and Karlamangla and Wigglesworth reported from Los Angeles .
Times staff writers Colleen Shalby in Los Angeles , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Sarah D. Wire in Washington , and San Diego Union-Tribune staff writer Deborah Sullivan Brennan contributed to this report .

Anita Chabria, Soumya Karlamangla, Alex Wigglesworth

The Grand Princess cruise ship arrives in San Francisco on Feb. 11. The vessel is being kept offshore amid coronavirus concerns.
Authorities in Santa Clara County on Thursday announced that a Sunnyvale man might be California’s second death connected to the coronavirus.
The Sunnyvale Department of Public Safety said a 72-year-old man who had been on a cruise where others contracted the coronavirus was found unresponsive Thursday at his home and officers performed CPR. He later died.
“It was later learned the patient had recently been on a cruise with two passengers were suspected of having COVID-19,” the agency said in a statement.
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“We don’t yet know if the patient had COVID-19,” said Phan Ngo, chief of the Sunnyvale Department of Public Safety. The officers, who did not perform mouth to mouth resuscitation, were quarantined at home, he said.
Santa Clara County has seen at least 20 coronavirus cases, and health officials Thursday issued more stringent recommendations meant to slow the spread of the virus. Guidelines urge residents to postpone large gatherings and cancel large events. Employers should also take steps to make it more feasible for employees to work in ways that minimize large groups and contact with others.
New cases were reported in several areas of California, while Nevada reported its first case, in Las Vegas.
The Las Vegas case was a man in his 50s who had recently traveled to Washington state; he is hospitalized in isolation, officials said.
San Francisco reported its first cases. The two patients are not related and have no travel history to areas where the coronavirus has spread, officials said.
“We do not know at this point how they were exposed to the virus, which suggests it is spreading in the community,” Dr. Grant Colfax, San Francisco’s director of health, said in a statement. Santa Clara and Solano counties also have reported so-called community spread cases.
Both San Francisco patients were tested by the city’s Department of Public Health lab Wednesday, officials said. They are being treated under isolation at separate San Francisco hospitals.
One patient is a man in his 90s who has underlying health conditions and is in serious condition, officials said. The other patient is a woman in her 40s who is in fair condition.
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The Grand Princess cruise ship was being kept offshore amid concerns that more people onboard might be sick after it was announced that a 75-year-old male passenger on an earlier voyage had fallen ill and died this week of the virus.
Sonoma County health officials confirmed Thursday that a second passenger on the cruise tested positive after announcing another positive result earlier in the week. Both patients were in isolation rooms at a hospital.
Health officials said they had a list of Sonoma County residents who were on the cruise, as well as the shuttle to and from the ship, and were continuing to contact passengers to make them aware of the possibility they may have contracted the virus.
In California, COVID-19 has been reported in 12 counties and sickened at least 60 people.
Additional cases were announced elsewhere in the state Thursday, including four patients in Los Angeles County who had recently returned from a group trip to northern Italy. Health officials had announced Wednesday that three travelers in that same group tested positive for the virus.
Santa Clara County announced Thursday that the number of cases there had grown to 20 from 14. Of the county’s 20 cases, four are related to travel, nine had contacts with other confirmed COVID-19 cases and seven were believed to have caught it in the community.
Of the six new cases — three men and three women — four are at home and two are hospitalized, officials said.
“Our cases to date indicate to us that the risk of exposure to the virus in our community is increasing,” Dr. Sara Cody, health officer for Santa Clara County and director of the Santa Clara County Public Health Department, said Thursday.
County health officials are calling on employers to suspend nonessential employee travel, cancel large in-person meetings and conferences, and consider using telecommuting options and staggering start and end times to reduce large numbers of people gathering.
Health officials aren’t recommending that schools be closed but said they’ll consider such closures on a case-by-case basis if a school staffer or student is confirmed to have COVID-19.
The San Diego area reported its third case when an employee of an AT&T retail store in Chula Vista tested positive for the virus, the company said Thursday in a statement. Six stores were closed and deep-cleaned “out of an abundance of caution,” the company said.
The employee, who had recently traveled to a region considered at high risk for the coronavirus, went to work Monday but went home sick later that day and notified the company, spokesman Fletcher Cook said. AT&T received notice Tuesday that the employee had tested positive for the virus, he said.
As the virus continues to spread, the U.S. Senate voted 96 to 1 on Thursday to approve $8.3 billion in emergency aid to help fight the outbreak. The measure next goes to President Trump, who is expected to sign it. The funding package will be spent on helping develop a vaccine, with millions going directly to states and cities grappling with the disease.
The hardest hit state so far is Washington, where the number of confirmed cases jumped to 70 and 11 people have died. In total, 51 cases have been reported in King County, 18 in Snohomish County and one in Grant County.
Visiting Washington state Thursday afternoon, Vice President Mike Pence acknowledged that the federal government still has not been able to get enough coronavirus tests to hospitals, clinics and health departments around the country.
“We still have a ways to go,” Pence said. But he again promised millions would be on the way soon, predicting that 4 million tests would be distributed by the end of next week. Pence and other Trump administration officials had promised that 1 million would be distributed by the end of this week, but there has been no verification that this has occurred.
The Grand Princess cruise passenger is the first person to die in California from the illness. After the man’s death, the cruise line said it was notified by the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that the agency was investigating a small cluster of coronavirus cases in Northern California related to the cruise.
Route of the Grand Princess (Thomas Suh Lauder / Los Angeles Times)
The company said that 62 guests who had made the same Mexico voyage the man who died was on remained aboard the Grand Princess for a subsequent trip to Hawaii. That trip was cut short, and guests and crew members who might have come in close contact with the passenger who died were asked to remain in their cabins until they could be screened.
Those people and any others experiencing flu-like symptoms or other respiratory distress were tested on Thursday, according to the cruise line.
The U.S. Coast Guard delivered kits via helicopter Thursday morning so the ship’s medical team could administer the tests. The samples then were flown to a lab in Richmond, Calif., for processing, Princess Cruises said.
The ship, which is currently off the coast of San Francisco, will not be allowed to dock until those test results are back, Gov. Gavin Newsom said at a news conference Wednesday.
Princess Cruises spokeswoman Negin Kamali said she had no information on when results are expected or when the ship might return to port.
A passenger said that she had been told results may come tomorrow.
Passengers on the vessel — both current and those who may have been exposed earlier — told the Los Angeles Times that the response to the outbreak by the company and health officials had been filled with missteps. In particular, passengers said that Princess Cruises was lax on health screening protocols prior to boarding and withheld information about the risks they faced, even as the ship’s condition became international news.
Thursday afternoon, two passengers aboard the Grand Princess said all passengers had been confined to their quarters, with public activities canceled. Meals are being delivered by room service beginning this evening, a passenger said.
Kamali confirmed that the CDC had “recommended that guests should remain in their staterooms for the remainder of the cruise.”
Placer County was asking any other individuals who were on the cruise to Mexico to self-quarantine. County officials on Tuesday declared a local emergency in response to the outbreak.
The ship was supposed to depart for another cruise to Hawaii on Saturday, but that trip was canceled and the cruise line said all guests would receive a full refund.
Newsom, who declared a health emergency Wednesday, said he felt confident that the state could prevent the virus from being spread by passengers on the cruise who already had returned to California.
“We have the resources,” Newsom said. “We have the capacity. By this evening, we will have contacted every county health official that has someone who came off this cruise. They will have their contact information and begin a process to contact those individuals.”
Officials were trying to locate hundreds of other Californians who disembarked from the Grand Princess in San Francisco last month after the trip to Mexico to determine whether they also might have contracted the virus.
Officials in Nevada County, just north of Placer County, joined Los Angeles County and other areas of the state in declaring a local emergency amid the spread of the virus. Unlike L.A. County, which reported six new cases Wednesday, including a screener at Los Angeles International Airport, Nevada County has had no confirmed cases of COVID-19.
“These declarations enhance Nevada County’s ability to proactively respond to local needs if or when a confirmed coronavirus case happens in Nevada County,” Jill Blake, the county’s public health director, said in a statement.
World Health Organization officials emphasized Thursday that it is not too late to beat back the spread of the virus.
Worldwide, there have been 95,265 cases reported globally and 3,281 deaths. Parts of China — where the outbreak originated — have brought their daily new infection numbers down to the single digits, health officials said. Eight provinces have not reported any new cases in the last 14 days.
“This is a time for pulling out all the stops,” WHO director Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said. “If we take the approach that there is nothing we can do, that will quickly become a self-fulfilling prophecy. It’s in our hands.
“Ultimately, how deadly this virus is will depend not only on the virus itself but how we respond to it,” he said.
At a news conference Thursday, WHO officials were asked about a prediction that 40% to 70% of the world will ultimately contract the coronavirus. Officials said they take all predictions into account, but China’s progress in containing the virus and lowering case numbers makes that seem increasingly unlikely, said Mike Ryan, who heads the agency’s emergencies program.
“There are obvious real things happening in the real world that contradict that,” he said. “That’s flying in the face of that prediction.
“We need to fight. We need to fight now,” he said. “Our [direst] predictions will come true if we do nothing.”
Officials emphasized that tried-and-true public health measures, like testing and isolation, are working to control the virus. Countries need to take proactive steps, said Dr. Maria Van Kerkhove, the WHO’s acting head of emerging diseases.
“You need to look for all of your cases aggressively,” she said.
Tedros said he was concerned that some countries have not taken the epidemic seriously enough or have decided there is nothing they can do about it. He said some countries’ political commitment does not seem to match the level of threat faced globally. There must be strong leadership from the top, he said.
“This epidemic can be pushed back — but only with a collected, coordinated and comprehensive approach that engages the entire machinery of government,” Tedros said. “We’re calling on every county to act with speed, scale and clear-minded determination.”
Chabria reported from Sacramento and Karlamangla and Wigglesworth reported from Los Angeles.
Times staff writers Colleen Shalby in Los Angeles, Taryn Luna and Melody Gutierrez in Sacramento, Noam Levey and Sarah D. Wire in Washington, and San Diego Union-Tribune staff writer Deborah Sullivan Brennan contributed to this report.


latimes--2020-03-05--Empty halls. No handshakes. What happens when coronavirus cancels conferences

As the coronavirus outbreak spreads , a Santa Monica tech conference sought to reassure its attendees that they would be safe — because it would be watching them .
Organizers of the Montgomery Summit hired medical staff to watch the gathering of about 600 people this week .
If any showed signs of sickness , organizers said , they would be asked to leave .
Doorknobs were wiped down over and over .
Handshakes were shunned .
After the keynote panel , attendees made a beeline for a nearby table stocked with hand sanitizer .
“ It ’ s just @ @ @ @ @ @ @ chief executive and co-founder of fraud prevention company Forter , said as he disinfected his hands .
“ I ’ m not going to stop going to conferences because of the coronavirus.
” That is , if the conferences are even happening .
Many conventions and trade shows are proceeding , but many others have been canceled , postponed or refashioned into online-only events .
That means exhibitors eager to show off samples won ’ t be able to reach nearly as many potential buyers .
Concessionaires peddling snacks on the convention floor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ business .
Convention centers will stand empty .
Nearby hotels and restaurants will take a hit too .
And without crowds of people ready to network , away goes a key opportunity for making the kinds of face-to-face connections that lead to business deals .
Or food-to-mouth connections .
“ One of the most important things you can do in the food business is get try-out of your product , ” said Alex Corsini , founder and CEO of Alex ’ s Awesome Sourdough , an organic pizza company in the San Francisco @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a now-canceled expo in Anaheim .
“ We want people to taste the difference .
The more we can get in front of people , the better.
” In Europe alone , at least 260 conferences have been canceled because of the coronavirus outbreak , said Sherrif Karamat , president and chief executive of PCMA , a trade association representing the business events industry .
Most of those were in Italy , where more than 3,000 people have been diagnosed with the virus .
In the U.S. , several major industry gatherings , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ conference in San Jose to an oil-and-gas convention in Houston , have been canceled .
Others were postponed after many scheduled attendees dropped out .
Major companies have clamped down on their workers ’ travel for fear of exposure to the virus .
And when key players don ’ t go to a conference , it ’ s often not worthwhile for anyone else either .
“ We spend so much money to go to a show , ” said Jeffrey Ovadya , director of sales , support and marketing for motion-capture company @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the potential customers don ’ t show up ... then is it worth the cost of going ?
” Over the last 20 years , the conference and convention industry has grown rapidly as the global economy has expanded .
In 2017 , about $ 1 trillion was spent worldwide on business events , including funds to plan and produce the events and related travel , according to an Events Industry Council report .
North America alone accounted for $ 381 billion .
Convention centers and similar facilities rely on these events to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in advance .
At San Francisco ’ s Moscone Center , the Game Developers Conference is one of the 10 biggest events of the year , said Bob Sauter , the center ’ s general manager .
That conference was supposed to happen in less than two weeks — but now it ’ s on hold , and two others at that location , including a Facebook marketing summit , have been canceled since the coronavirus outbreak reached the United States .
With the gaming conference postponed — organizers are aiming to reschedule @ @ @ @ @ @ @ isn ’ t yet getting the cash infusion it expected .
The facility will probably be empty that week .
On such short notice , Sauter said , there ’ s no time to book a substitute conference for those days .
” We ’ ve not experienced anything like this before , ” Sauter said .
“ GDC is a very big deal to us .
It ’ s a big blow .
But we get it.
” Those two cancellations hurt too .
In general , Moscone Center at least gets @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that cancels less than 18 months ahead of time .
But for good customers , there ’ s room for negotiation .
Facebook scrapped its marketing summit , but Sauter described the company as a “ wonderful ” client that comes every year .
“ We ’ re certainly not going to do anything to jeopardize our relationship , ” he said .
But “ by the same token , a contract is a contract.
” The Anaheim Convention Center is scrambling too after organizers slammed the brakes on Natural Products Expo West @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that usually draws about 85,000 people and is one of the center ’ s biggest events , Anaheim city spokesman Mike Lyster said .
Expo organizers said it expected 40 % to 60 % of attendees to drop out , then put the event on hold the day before it was set to begin .
The convention center ’ s investment in food and the time it had spent setting up : wasted .
Outright cancellations are not refunded .
But when clients face unforeseen circumstances , the convention center ’ s general @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pain by helping them reschedule at no additional cost .
Expo organizers said they ’ d announce a new date next month .
“ Everything we will have prepared for and worked towards ... will not come to fruition this week , ” Lyster said .
“ This is the nature of the convention business .
It doesn ’ t happen that often , but we prepare for these types of contingencies.
” The business events industry has learned from past public health crises , including the outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2003 and killed nearly 800 people , and the 2009 H1N1 outbreak , which killed hundreds of thousands of people worldwide .
Today , conference organizers often insure their events .
But that doesn ’ t help the companies that rely on large conferences and trade shows to network with retailers and show off their products .
Seattle food exporter Excel Trade had planned to meet with potential customers from more than 30 countries at the expo this week .
“ As a small company , to try to generate that new business @ @ @ @ @ @ @ show , ” said Sally Cox , the company ’ s president .
The Anaheim expo is “ our Super Bowl , ” said Andrew Abraham , founder of Orgain , an Irvine-based company that sells protein powders and shakes .
It spent more than $ 250,000 on expenses related to the conference this year , including travel and accommodations for more than 20 employees .
The expo had been Orgain ’ s springboard into the mainstream , Abraham said : Whole Foods Market saw the company ’ s booth 12 years ago @ @ @ @ @ @ @ its products at the high-end supermarket chain .
That ’ s the kind of interest Costa Mesa start-up Opkix was hoping to spark at the Long Beach Convention Center on Wednesday .
The company , which started selling its wearable action-sports cameras just last year , is eager to show off to the hordes at the Fred Hall outdoor-recreation show .
Coronavirus fears didn ’ t seem to dent the turnout .
A steady stream of cars funneled into the convention center parking lot on the event ’ s first day , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ families lined up along the building before the gates opened .
“ It ’ s such a big show , ” Opkix CEO Lawrence Greaves said .
“ When people see this product for the first time , they might say to themselves , ‘ Hey , this is what I ’ ve been missing .
’ ”

Samantha Masunaga, Suhauna Hussain, Emmanuel Morgan

Marc Fata of Walnut wears a handkerchief over his nose and mouth while attending the Fred Hall Show, which showcases boats, hunting and fishing equipment, at the Long Beach Convention Center. He said he takes care of his 84-year-old mother and doesn’t want to expose her to the coronavirus.
As the coronavirus outbreak spreads, a Santa Monica tech conference sought to reassure its attendees that they would be safe — because it would be watching them.
Organizers of the Montgomery Summit hired medical staff to watch the gathering of about 600 people this week. If any showed signs of sickness, organizers said, they would be asked to leave.
Doorknobs were wiped down over and over. Handshakes were shunned. After the keynote panel, attendees made a beeline for a nearby table stocked with hand sanitizer.
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“It’s just a precaution,” Michael Reitblat, chief executive and co-founder of fraud prevention company Forter, said as he disinfected his hands. “I’m not going to stop going to conferences because of the coronavirus.”
That is, if the conferences are even happening. Many conventions and trade shows are proceeding, but many others have been canceled, postponed or refashioned into online-only events.
That means exhibitors eager to show off samples won’t be able to reach nearly as many potential buyers. Concessionaires peddling snacks on the convention floor won’t see that rush of business. Convention centers will stand empty. Nearby hotels and restaurants will take a hit too.
And without crowds of people ready to network, away goes a key opportunity for making the kinds of face-to-face connections that lead to business deals.
Or food-to-mouth connections. “One of the most important things you can do in the food business is get try-out of your product,” said Alex Corsini, founder and CEO of Alex’s Awesome Sourdough, an organic pizza company in the San Francisco Bay Area that had planned to attend a now-canceled expo in Anaheim. “We want people to taste the difference. The more we can get in front of people, the better.”
In Europe alone, at least 260 conferences have been canceled because of the coronavirus outbreak, said Sherrif Karamat, president and chief executive of PCMA, a trade association representing the business events industry. Most of those were in Italy, where more than 3,000 people have been diagnosed with the virus.
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In the U.S., several major industry gatherings, ranging from Facebook’s F8 developer conference in San Jose to an oil-and-gas convention in Houston, have been canceled. Others were postponed after many scheduled attendees dropped out.
Major companies have clamped down on their workers’ travel for fear of exposure to the virus. And when key players don’t go to a conference, it’s often not worthwhile for anyone else either.
“We spend so much money to go to a show,” said Jeffrey Ovadya, director of sales, support and marketing for motion-capture company Vicon Motion Systems. “If half the potential customers don’t show up ... then is it worth the cost of going?”
Over the last 20 years, the conference and convention industry has grown rapidly as the global economy has expanded.
In 2017, about $1 trillion was spent worldwide on business events, including funds to plan and produce the events and related travel, according to an Events Industry Council report. North America alone accounted for $381 billion.
Convention centers and similar facilities rely on these events to survive, often booking major ones years in advance.
At San Francisco’s Moscone Center, the Game Developers Conference is one of the 10 biggest events of the year, said Bob Sauter, the center’s general manager. That conference was supposed to happen in less than two weeks — but now it’s on hold, and two others at that location, including a Facebook marketing summit, have been canceled since the coronavirus outbreak reached the United States.
With the gaming conference postponed — organizers are aiming to reschedule it for the summer — Moscone Center isn’t yet getting the cash infusion it expected. The facility will probably be empty that week. On such short notice, Sauter said, there’s no time to book a substitute conference for those days.
”We’ve not experienced anything like this before,” Sauter said. “GDC is a very big deal to us. It’s a big blow. But we get it.”
Those two cancellations hurt too. In general, Moscone Center at least gets to keep the deposit for any event that cancels less than 18 months ahead of time. But for good customers, there’s room for negotiation.
Facebook scrapped its marketing summit, but Sauter described the company as a “wonderful” client that comes every year. “We’re certainly not going to do anything to jeopardize our relationship,” he said. But “by the same token, a contract is a contract.”
The Anaheim Convention Center is scrambling too after organizers slammed the brakes on Natural Products Expo West, a natural and organic foods conference that usually draws about 85,000 people and is one of the center’s biggest events, Anaheim city spokesman Mike Lyster said.
Expo organizers said it expected 40% to 60% of attendees to drop out, then put the event on hold the day before it was set to begin. The convention center’s investment in food and the time it had spent setting up: wasted.
Outright cancellations are not refunded. But when clients face unforeseen circumstances, the convention center’s general policy is to absorb some of the pain by helping them reschedule at no additional cost. Expo organizers said they’d announce a new date next month.
“Everything we will have prepared for and worked towards ... will not come to fruition this week,” Lyster said. “This is the nature of the convention business. It doesn’t happen that often, but we prepare for these types of contingencies.”
The business events industry has learned from past public health crises, including the outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome, or SARS, which peaked in 2003 and killed nearly 800 people, and the 2009 H1N1 outbreak, which killed hundreds of thousands of people worldwide. Today, conference organizers often insure their events.
But that doesn’t help the companies that rely on large conferences and trade shows to network with retailers and show off their products.
Seattle food exporter Excel Trade had planned to meet with potential customers from more than 30 countries at the expo this week. “As a small company, to try to generate that new business would be virtually impossible without a trade show,” said Sally Cox, the company’s president.
The Anaheim expo is “our Super Bowl,” said Andrew Abraham, founder of Orgain, an Irvine-based company that sells protein powders and shakes. It spent more than $250,000 on expenses related to the conference this year, including travel and accommodations for more than 20 employees.
The expo had been Orgain’s springboard into the mainstream, Abraham said: Whole Foods Market saw the company’s booth 12 years ago and later struck a deal to sell its products at the high-end supermarket chain.
That’s the kind of interest Costa Mesa start-up Opkix was hoping to spark at the Long Beach Convention Center on Wednesday.
The company, which started selling its wearable action-sports cameras just last year, is eager to show off to the hordes at the Fred Hall outdoor-recreation show.
Coronavirus fears didn’t seem to dent the turnout. A steady stream of cars funneled into the convention center parking lot on the event’s first day, and a line of fishing enthusiasts and their families lined up along the building before the gates opened.
“It’s such a big show,” Opkix CEO Lawrence Greaves said. “When people see this product for the first time, they might say to themselves, ‘Hey, this is what I’ve been missing.’”


latimes--2020-03-05--Hunting for coronavirus, Orange County seeking people who came in contact with 2 presumptive patient

Hunting for coronavirus, Orange County seeking people who came in contact with 2 presumptive patients

Orange County health officials are looking for anyone who might have come in contact with two residents who are believed to have coronavirus .
Officials have said the two presumptive coronavirus cases had recently been in countries where the virus has spread .
“ We are conducting robust contact investigations — if there is a chance that you were exposed to either of these cases while they were out in the community while infectious and you are at risk for contracting illness as a result , you will hear from health officials , ” the Orange County Health Care agency @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not providing any details about the patients or where they lived but said they are in good condition and resting at home .
“ We are not releasing the city/cities of residence for good reason .
We have a duty to protect the privacy of these patients , and sharing any information that could be used by the community to identify them could do harm , ” the healthcare agency said on Twitter .
“ Knowing city where a case resides does not offer you any protection from public health standpoint when it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ being monitored but did not require hospitalization .
A Los Angeles International Airport worker was confirmed as having the virus Tuesday and so far has a mild case and has been isolated , the sources said .
Family members of the person also have been tested .
The person is one of seven confirmed cases of coronavirus in Los Angeles County , which on Wednesday declared a local emergency amid the outbreak , hours before the entire state of California issued a similar order .

Orange County health officials are looking for anyone who might have come in contact with two residents who are believed to have coronavirus.
Officials have said the two presumptive coronavirus cases had recently been in countries where the virus has spread.
“We are conducting robust contact investigations — if there is a chance that you were exposed to either of these cases while they were out in the community while infectious and you are at risk for contracting illness as a result, you will hear from health officials,” the Orange County Health Care agency said.
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The agency said it was not providing any details about the patients or where they lived but said they are in good condition and resting at home.
“We are not releasing the city/cities of residence for good reason. We have a duty to protect the privacy of these patients, and sharing any information that could be used by the community to identify them could do harm,” the healthcare agency said on Twitter. “Knowing city where a case resides does not offer you any protection from public health standpoint when it comes to COVID19.”
#COVID19 testing performed today in our Public Health Lab. Employees wear appropriate personal protective equipment for step at hand (team member pictured is working with a closed system, which is why she is not wearing a hood). Please credit Edward Mertz, OC Health Care Agency. pic.twitter.com/tCQYaJgJM4 — Health Care Agency (@ochealth) March 5, 2020
The patients are being monitored but did not require hospitalization.
A Los Angeles International Airport worker was confirmed as having the virus Tuesday and so far has a mild case and has been isolated, the sources said. Family members of the person also have been tested.
The person is one of seven confirmed cases of coronavirus in Los Angeles County, which on Wednesday declared a local emergency amid the outbreak, hours before the entire state of California issued a similar order.


latimes--2020-03-05--Tire-squealing road rage attack is caught on video in North Hollywood

A 27-year-old man was arrested this week in connection with a road rage incident that was captured on video in North Hollywood .
David Zulalyan of Van Nuys was taken into custody Monday night on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon after video showed him behind the wheel of a white sedan ramming a pickup truck at Victory and Laurel Canyon boulevards , LAPD Officer Lizeth Lomeli said .
Video taken by another motorist waiting at a red light shows the white sedan with its driver-side door open and tires squealing and smoking as it pushes a truck through @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bumper on the sedan dangles off the frame as the car ’ s shrieking rear tires create a cloud of smoke during the encounter .
Zulalyan continued to pursue the truck down the street , eventually slamming into the side of the vehicle , the video shows .
Authorities said they received several 911 calls from the intersection .
Zulalyan remained at the scene and was arrested at 7 p.m .
He was released from jail Tuesday after posting $ 30,000 bond , according to jail records .
“ There was no denial @ @ @ @ @ @ @ told NBC .
“ He claimed there was a prior traffic collision and that our victim was running from that.
” However , Fournier said there was no evidence a crash had occurred before the encounter .
Court records indicate this is not Zulalyan ’ s first bad behavior behind the wheel .
In 2018 , a man with the same name and birth date pleaded no contest to a vehicle code violation for exhibition of speed and was sentenced to probation , two days in jail and community labor .
In 2013 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ driving and was sentenced to two years of probation and community labor , according to Los Angeles County court records .

A 27-year-old man was arrested this week in connection with a road rage incident that was captured on video in North Hollywood.
David Zulalyan of Van Nuys was taken into custody Monday night on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon after video showed him behind the wheel of a white sedan ramming a pickup truck at Victory and Laurel Canyon boulevards, LAPD Officer Lizeth Lomeli said.
Video taken by another motorist waiting at a red light shows the white sedan with its driver-side door open and tires squealing and smoking as it pushes a truck through the intersection. Part of the front bumper on the sedan dangles off the frame as the car’s shrieking rear tires create a cloud of smoke during the encounter.
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Zulalyan continued to pursue the truck down the street, eventually slamming into the side of the vehicle, the video shows.
An arrest for Assault with a Deadly Weapon has been made in connection with this incident, which occurred Monday evening in the area of Victory Blvd & Laurel Canyon.
pic.twitter.com/0NVDI4riDE — LAPD HQ (@LAPDHQ) March 4, 2020
Authorities said they received several 911 calls from the intersection.
Zulalyan remained at the scene and was arrested at 7 p.m. He was released from jail Tuesday after posting $30,000 bond, according to jail records.
“There was no denial,” LAPD Det. Dan Fournier told NBC. “He claimed there was a prior traffic collision and that our victim was running from that.”
However, Fournier said there was no evidence a crash had occurred before the encounter.
Court records indicate this is not Zulalyan’s first bad behavior behind the wheel. In 2018, a man with the same name and birth date pleaded no contest to a vehicle code violation for exhibition of speed and was sentenced to probation, two days in jail and community labor. In 2013, he pleaded no contest to reckless driving and was sentenced to two years of probation and community labor, according to Los Angeles County court records.


latimes--2020-03-05--Testing continues at LAX after coronavirus screener contracts virus

After a worker at Los Angeles International Airport became ill and later tested positive for the coronavirus , officials have tested other workers , according to a source familiar with the case .
So far , officials said no LAX passengers or other workers have tested positive for COVID-19 , which has infected more than 50 people in California .
The worker was confirmed as having the virus Tuesday and so far has a mild case and has been isolated , the sources said .
Family members of the person also have been tested .
In a statement , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as a medical screener who “ wore all the correct protective equipment and took necessary protections on the job.
” “ As soon as the individual began to feel sick , they self-quarantined , saw a physician , and reported to the appropriate authorities and officials , ” a DHS spokesperson said in the statement .
The person is one of seven confirmed cases of coronavirus in Los Angeles County , which on Wednesday declared a local emergency amid the outbreak , hours before the entire state of California issued a similar order @ @ @ @ @ @ @ believed to be “ community spread , ” officials said .
All individuals were exposed to COVID-19 through close contact with others who were infected .

After a worker at Los Angeles International Airport became ill and later tested positive for the coronavirus, officials have tested other workers, according to a source familiar with the case.
So far, officials said no LAX passengers or other workers have tested positive for COVID-19, which has infected more than 50 people in California.
The worker was confirmed as having the virus Tuesday and so far has a mild case and has been isolated, the sources said. Family members of the person also have been tested.
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In a statement, the Department of Homeland Security described the worker as a medical screener who “wore all the correct protective equipment and took necessary protections on the job.”
“As soon as the individual began to feel sick, they self-quarantined, saw a physician, and reported to the appropriate authorities and officials,” a DHS spokesperson said in the statement.
The person is one of seven confirmed cases of coronavirus in Los Angeles County, which on Wednesday declared a local emergency amid the outbreak, hours before the entire state of California issued a similar order.
None of the new cases are believed to be “community spread,” officials said. All individuals were exposed to COVID-19 through close contact with others who were infected.


latimes--2020-03-05--A man wearing a Russian-language 'MAGA' hat was beaten. His attacker now faces prison

A 32-year-old man accused of attacking a Hermosa Beach restaurant patron because he was wearing a Russian-language “ Make America @ @ @ @ @ no contest Wednesday , authorities said .
Winnetka resident David Delgado pleaded to one felony @ @ @ @ @ of force likely to produce great bodily injury , according to the Los Angeles County @ @ @ @ @ .
He is scheduled to be sentenced May 28 and faces four years in state @ @ @ @ @ attack took place Sept. 2 after Delgado approached another man in the restroom at Tower @ @ @ @ @ hat .
The man ’ s red cap had white Cyrrilic lettering that translated to @ @ @ @ @ ” — the campaign slogan for President Trump .
After hearing this , authorities said @ @ @ @ @ repeatedly punched the man in the face until he fell to the ground .
Delgado @ @ @ @ @ before grabbing his hat and fleeing , Hermosa Beach police said at the time .
@ @ @ @ @ , prosecutors said .

A 32-year-old man accused of attacking a Hermosa Beach restaurant patron because he was wearing a Russian-language “Make America Great Again” hat pleaded no contest Wednesday, authorities said.
Winnetka resident David Delgado pleaded to one felony count of assault by means of force likely to produce great bodily injury, according to the Los Angeles County district attorney’s office. He is scheduled to be sentenced May 28 and faces four years in state prison.
Authorities said the attack took place Sept. 2 after Delgado approached another man in the restroom at Tower 12 and asked about his hat. The man’s red cap had white Cyrrilic lettering that translated to “Make America Great Again” — the campaign slogan for President Trump.
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After hearing this, authorities said, Delgado became angry and repeatedly punched the man in the face until he fell to the ground. Delgado then continued hitting the man before grabbing his hat and fleeing, Hermosa Beach police said at the time.
The victim suffered serious injuries, prosecutors said.


latimes--2020-03-05--Runoffs likely in union-versus-charter battle over L.A. school board

Jackie Goldberg appears headed to reelection on the Los Angeles Board of Education , but little has been settled with certainty in the hard-fought , expensive and pivotal contests to influence the direction of the nation ’ s second-largest school system .
With many ballots yet to be counted , two races seem on their way toward a November runoff , but it is not yet clear who will be in those contests .
In the west San Fernando Valley , incumbent Scott Schmerelson was leading in ongoing tallies , making him a good bet to be in a runoff @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
For a board seat that includes parts of South L.A. and the Harbor area , four candidates are locked in a tight contest over the two spots in the runoff .
Leading the pack Wednesday was Patricia Castellanos , but many votes were yet to be tallied .
The outcome in only one race was unequivocal , as incumbent George McKenna was the only candidate on the ballot for a seat representing portions of south and southwest L.A .
Throughout the campaign season , these contests were a battle between supporters of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and that scenario is likely to continue until the November general election .
The stakes are high for both sides on a board that has divided closely over issues affecting charter schools .
The four seats up in this election have all been held by board members friendly to the teachers union — and the union has been campaigning to keep it that way .
Charter advocates are concerned about new state laws that give school boards more authority to limit charter growth and have been campaigning for candidates more likely to support @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and compete with the school system for students .
Most charters are nonunion .
“ The new rules for charter approval would let a pro-union board cut back on charter growth in L.A. in a big way , but the unions , to take advantage of that opportunity , can ’ t afford to lose either of these last two seats , ” said Dan Schnur , who teaches political communications at USC and Pepperdine .
“ This is going to be a classic charter-versus-union faceoff .
Both sides are all in.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the inconclusive results .
The union focused on two endorsed candidates — Goldberg and McKenna — winning seats outright .
Two others — Schmerelson and Castellanos — are sitting for now with first-place primary finishes in contests headed toward a runoff .
These results , union officials said , come after charter advocates far outspent United Teachers Los Angeles , which represents teachers , nurses , counselors and librarians .
“ UTLA ran the most robust ground game in our history , proving the power of people versus money , ” the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ While the charter lobby put hate ads in the mail , we put people in the streets , walking and talking to voters.
” Gregory McGinity , the head of a pro-charter political action committee , cited the failure of an outright majority-vote win by the union-backed Schmerelson and Castellanos as boding well for their side .
Schmerelson , he said , was in clear jeopardy .
“ When an incumbent officeholder gets barely over 40 % in a contested primary , that incumbent is in a lot of trouble , ” said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Schools Assn .
Advocates .
McGinity also noted that Goldberg ’ s margin of victory was likely to be much smaller than last May , when she won a special election to fill the last year of an open seat .
“ There ’ s clearly a significant number of families that challenge her vision of where LAUSD is going , ” said McGinity , “ and her desire to close down high-performing schools , ” a reference to the charter sector he represents .
The campaign against Goldberg barely referred to charters @ @ @ @ @ @ @ claims that Goldberg opposes gun control and wants to cut funding for schools .
The high-cost mailer attack also asserted that Goldberg doesn ’ t care about Latino students .
“ I think I had a deep enough base that even with someone spending $ 1.2 million against me it didn ’ t turn everyone off , ” said Goldberg , referring to expenditures by Bill Bloomfield , a major past contributor to CCSA Advocates .
Bloomfield also spent $ 2.9 million in the South L.A.-Harbor area race .
His two favored candidates @ @ @ @ @ @ @ — remain in contention along with Castellanos for the runoff .
That spending included more than $ 580,000 in a negative campaign against Castellanos .
Also still in the running as votes continue to be tallied is Long Beach second grade teacher Lydia Gutiérrez , who had no notable financial support .
She was the target of a nearly quarter-million dollar negative ad campaign by Bloomfield .

Jackie Goldberg appears headed to reelection on the Los Angeles Board of Education, but little has been settled with certainty in the hard-fought, expensive and pivotal contests to influence the direction of the nation’s second-largest school system.
With many ballots yet to be counted, two races seem on their way toward a November runoff, but it is not yet clear who will be in those contests.
In the west San Fernando Valley, incumbent Scott Schmerelson was leading in ongoing tallies, making him a good bet to be in a runoff against either Marilyn Koziatek or Elizabeth Bartels-Badger.
For a board seat that includes parts of South L.A. and the Harbor area, four candidates are locked in a tight contest over the two spots in the runoff. Leading the pack Wednesday was Patricia Castellanos, but many votes were yet to be tallied.
The outcome in only one race was unequivocal, as incumbent George McKenna was the only candidate on the ballot for a seat representing portions of south and southwest L.A.
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Throughout the campaign season, these contests were a battle between supporters of charter schools and the teachers union — and that scenario is likely to continue until the November general election. The stakes are high for both sides on a board that has divided closely over issues affecting charter schools.
The four seats up in this election have all been held by board members friendly to the teachers union — and the union has been campaigning to keep it that way. Charter advocates are concerned about new state laws that give school boards more authority to limit charter growth and have been campaigning for candidates more likely to support their schools.
Charters are privately operated and compete with the school system for students. Most charters are nonunion.
“The new rules for charter approval would let a pro-union board cut back on charter growth in L.A. in a big way, but the unions, to take advantage of that opportunity, can’t afford to lose either of these last two seats,” said Dan Schnur, who teaches political communications at USC and Pepperdine. “This is going to be a classic charter-versus-union faceoff. Both sides are all in.”
Each side has put a positive spin on the inconclusive results.
The union focused on two endorsed candidates — Goldberg and McKenna — winning seats outright. Two others — Schmerelson and Castellanos — are sitting for now with first-place primary finishes in contests headed toward a runoff. These results, union officials said, come after charter advocates far outspent United Teachers Los Angeles, which represents teachers, nurses, counselors and librarians.
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“UTLA ran the most robust ground game in our history, proving the power of people versus money,” the union said in a statement. “While the charter lobby put hate ads in the mail, we put people in the streets, walking and talking to voters.”
Gregory McGinity, the head of a pro-charter political action committee, cited the failure of an outright majority-vote win by the union-backed Schmerelson and Castellanos as boding well for their side. Schmerelson, he said, was in clear jeopardy.
“When an incumbent officeholder gets barely over 40% in a contested primary, that incumbent is in a lot of trouble,” said McGinity, executive director of California Charter Schools Assn. Advocates.
McGinity also noted that Goldberg’s margin of victory was likely to be much smaller than last May, when she won a special election to fill the last year of an open seat.
“There’s clearly a significant number of families that challenge her vision of where LAUSD is going,” said McGinity, “and her desire to close down high-performing schools,” a reference to the charter sector he represents.
The campaign against Goldberg barely referred to charters schools. Instead, it raised inaccurate claims that Goldberg opposes gun control and wants to cut funding for schools. The high-cost mailer attack also asserted that Goldberg doesn’t care about Latino students.
“I think I had a deep enough base that even with someone spending $1.2 million against me it didn’t turn everyone off,” said Goldberg, referring to expenditures by Bill Bloomfield, a major past contributor to CCSA Advocates.
Bloomfield also spent $2.9 million in the South L.A.-Harbor area race. His two favored candidates — Tanya Ortiz Franklin and Mike Lansing — remain in contention along with Castellanos for the runoff. That spending included more than $580,000 in a negative campaign against Castellanos. Also still in the running as votes continue to be tallied is Long Beach second grade teacher Lydia Gutiérrez, who had no notable financial support. She was the target of a nearly quarter-million dollar negative ad campaign by Bloomfield.


latimes--2020-03-05--In D.A.'s race, will Jackie Lacey vanquish her challengers or face a major November clash?

For months , criminal justice reform advocates in Southern California hoped a national wave of victories by progressive candidates in district attorney ’ s races might crest in Los Angeles and knock over Jackie Lacey .
Locked in a tough primary against opponents who were either well-funded or had strong ground games , Lacey seemed to be struggling to the finish line .
She bailed on a number of candidate forums and limited public appearances after protesters disrupted a January debate .
Then a scary confrontation at her home on the eve of the election ended with her husband pointing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
But Lacey made a strong showing in early returns , jumping out to a significant lead over former San Francisco Dist .
Atty .
George Gascón and former public defender Rachel Rossi .
Her share of the vote has since slipped closer to 50 % , indicating she could still have to face a November runoff .
But political observers said the returns show Lacey ’ s entrenched law enforcement support and experience could still serve as a bulwark against Gascón or Rossi ’ s idealistic and policy heavy approaches in November @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hype around Gascón , but it ’ s on Twitter and it ’ s among the activist class , ” said Brian VanRiper , a consultant who has worked on a number of L.A. City Council races .
“ Did it break through to the average voter ?
” Mac Zilber , a consultant on Lacey ’ s campaign , said he was “ thrilled that the people of L.A. County have delivered D.A .
Lacey such a strong first-place finish , by a margin that virtually nobody expected.
” Gascón has gained @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the L.A. County Registrar .
By Wednesday night , he held about 27 % of the vote .
Rossi has hovered around 22 % since the first wave of returns .
There are approximately 573,000 votes left to tally , and county officials said vote totals could be updated again Thursday .
Political consultants said it is likely Gascón will be able to drag the contest into November .
“ These things are directional and obviously there ’ s a trend downward , ” said Eric Hacopian , a Los Angeles-based political consultant @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is far greater than her winning outright.
” In the run-up to the primary , some had questioned if Rossi would siphon progressive voters from Gascón , making it easier for Lacey to avoid a runoff .
The two campaigns had sniped at each other periodically in recent months : Gascón filed a legal challenge in late December to stop Rossi from identifying herself as a public defender on the ballot , while Rossi took occasional potshots at Gascón for overstating his reformer resume on debate stages in recent weeks .
Lacey ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Steve Cooley , said the strong performance might carry extra weight for the veteran prosecutor given the clash at her doorstep on Monday .
“ I think she will relish a victory , even just by 1 vote , because it is sort of a reaffirmation that there ’ s a lot of people out there that admire her work , and support her and like her , ” Cooley said .
“ She ’ s had a very rough week .
It was very obvious this had taken its toll on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ remains under investigation by the Los Angeles Police Department .
Dermot Givens , a Los Angeles-based consultant who has been involved in past district attorney ’ s races , said the fiasco may have actually helped Lacey at the polls .
“ I think it did boost Jackie ’ s followers among law enforcement , women and some black people , ” Givens said .
“ Going to somebody ’ s front door like that is kind of extreme .
Probably legally right , but everyone knows how that feels when somebody comes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wasn ’ t her .
It was her husband defending her.
” In each new wave of returns , Gascón has been able to separate himself from Rossi and would likely finish in second place if a runoff is forced .
Some supporters believe Gascón and Rossi voters would unite to overwhelm Lacey if the race extends into the fall .
“ Gascón , Rossi , and their supporters have always been united against Lacey — and they ’ ll be joined by a much larger and more favorable electorate in November that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , a political strategist involved with an outside committee called Run George , Run , said in an email to The Times .
Other observers questioned the effectiveness of committees supporting Gascón , wondering how he could receive millions of dollars from progressive boosters but still end up polling relatively close to Rossi .
The public defender attracted zero dollars in outside committee money and received far less than Gascón in direct donations .
“ There was nothing compelling about what they were talking about ... about why he ’ s a reformer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you look at the money that they spent , the fact that he came in in the 20s , there ’ s no excuse for that.
” Rossi said she remained hopeful that she could climb into second place and believed her strong showing highlighted an appetite for a true alternative in the district attorney ’ s office .
“ The fact that we ’ ve received as many votes as we have with so much less funding and so much of a smaller team than the other candidates , I think it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that L.A. County is ready for something new , and tired of the politicians and candidates who are purchased and recycled , ” she said .
Many voters likely flocked to Rossi because she was the only candidate without a law enforcement background , experts said .
Her appeal among groups that backed Democratic presidential primary victor Bernie Sanders , including the Los Angeles chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America , may have also contributed to her strong showing .
With Sanders still a contender to be the Democratic nominee , those @ @ @ @ @ @ @ November .
But whether they would shift allegiance to Gascón is far from certain .
“ I think it was the Bernie people voting for [ Rossi ] .
The super progressive , ultra left-wing people came out and they voted the full ballot .
I don ’ t think those were Gascón ’ s votes , and they weren ’ t Lacey ’ s votes , ” Givens said .
“ They were hers and Bernie ’ s votes .
”

For months, criminal justice reform advocates in Southern California hoped a national wave of victories by progressive candidates in district attorney’s races might crest in Los Angeles and knock over Jackie Lacey.
Locked in a tough primary against opponents who were either well-funded or had strong ground games, Lacey seemed to be struggling to the finish line. She bailed on a number of candidate forums and limited public appearances after protesters disrupted a January debate. Then a scary confrontation at her home on the eve of the election ended with her husband pointing a gun at Black Lives Matter demonstrators.
But Lacey made a strong showing in early returns, jumping out to a significant lead over former San Francisco Dist. Atty. George Gascón and former public defender Rachel Rossi. Her share of the vote has since slipped closer to 50%, indicating she could still have to face a November runoff. But political observers said the returns show Lacey’s entrenched law enforcement support and experience could still serve as a bulwark against Gascón or Rossi’s idealistic and policy heavy approaches in November.
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“There was a lot of hype around Gascón, but it’s on Twitter and it’s among the activist class,” said Brian VanRiper, a consultant who has worked on a number of L.A. City Council races. “Did it break through to the average voter?”
Mac Zilber, a consultant on Lacey’s campaign, said he was “thrilled that the people of L.A. County have delivered D.A. Lacey such a strong first-place finish, by a margin that virtually nobody expected.”
Gascón has gained ground with each wave of updates from the L.A. County Registrar. By Wednesday night, he held about 27% of the vote. Rossi has hovered around 22% since the first wave of returns.
On Friday, the registrar said there were roughly 678,000 votes left to tally. The new figure included mail-in ballots that had been dropped off on election day at polling centers.
Political consultants said it is likely Gascón will be able to drag the contest into November.
“These things are directional and obviously there’s a trend downward,” said Eric Hacopian, a Los Angeles-based political consultant. “The likelihood of a runoff is far greater than her winning outright.”
In the run-up to the primary, some had questioned if Rossi would siphon progressive voters from Gascón, making it easier for Lacey to avoid a runoff. The two campaigns had sniped at each other periodically in recent months: Gascón filed a legal challenge in late December to stop Rossi from identifying herself as a public defender on the ballot, while Rossi took occasional potshots at Gascón for overstating his reformer resume on debate stages in recent weeks.
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Lacey’s mentor, former Dist. Atty. Steve Cooley, said the strong performance might carry extra weight for the veteran prosecutor given the clash at her doorstep on Monday.
“I think she will relish a victory, even just by 1 vote, because it is sort of a reaffirmation that there’s a lot of people out there that admire her work, and support her and like her,” Cooley said. “She’s had a very rough week. It was very obvious this had taken its toll on her emotionally and physically.”
The incident remains under investigation by the Los Angeles Police Department. Dermot Givens, a Los Angeles-based consultant who has been involved in past district attorney’s races, said the fiasco may have actually helped Lacey at the polls.
“I think it did boost Jackie’s followers among law enforcement, women and some black people,” Givens said. “Going to somebody’s front door like that is kind of extreme. Probably legally right, but everyone knows how that feels when somebody comes to their front door. And it wasn’t her. It was her husband defending her.”
In each new wave of returns, Gascón has been able to separate himself from Rossi and would likely finish in second place if a runoff is forced. Some supporters believe Gascón and Rossi voters would unite to overwhelm Lacey if the race extends into the fall.
“Gascón, Rossi, and their supporters have always been united against Lacey — and they’ll be joined by a much larger and more favorable electorate in November that also embraces reform,” Dan Newman, a political strategist involved with an outside committee called Run George, Run, said in an email to The Times.
Other observers questioned the effectiveness of committees supporting Gascón, wondering how he could receive millions of dollars from progressive boosters but still end up polling relatively close to Rossi. The public defender attracted zero dollars in outside committee money and received far less than Gascón in direct donations.
“There was nothing compelling about what they were talking about ... about why he’s a reformer,” Hacopian said. “If you look at the money that they spent, the fact that he came in in the 20s, there’s no excuse for that.”
Rossi said she remained hopeful that she could climb into second place and believed her strong showing highlighted an appetite for a true alternative in the district attorney’s office.
“The fact that we’ve received as many votes as we have with so much less funding and so much of a smaller team than the other candidates, I think it’s really reflective of the fact that L.A. County is ready for something new, and tired of the politicians and candidates who are purchased and recycled,” she said.
Many voters likely flocked to Rossi because she was the only candidate without a law enforcement background, experts said. Her appeal among groups that backed Democratic presidential primary victor Bernie Sanders, including the Los Angeles chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America, may have also contributed to her strong showing.
With Sanders still a contender to be the Democratic nominee, those voters could be out in droves in November. But whether they would shift allegiance to Gascón is far from certain.
“I think it was the Bernie people voting for [Rossi]. The super progressive, ultra left-wing people came out and they voted the full ballot. I don’t think those were Gascón’s votes, and they weren’t Lacey’s votes,” Givens said. “They were hers and Bernie’s votes.”


latimes--2020-03-05--Coronavirus plan for California prisons raises inmate and advocate concerns

California prison administrators preparing for the threat of coronavirus within the state ’ s sprawling lockup system are basing those plans off their existing protocol for inmate flu .
But they will not discuss details of what changes might be made to a virus protection plan that currently calls for placing lines of tape on the floor to create isolation zones , and warns that ill individuals might have to share toilets with those who are well .
The lack of information has inmate advocates and others worried .
“ Given the volume of incarcerated people in America , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and the current spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus , there is every reason to question whether American detention facilities , as a whole , are up to this challenge , ” National Assn .
of Criminal Defense Lawyers President Nina J. Ginsberg said in a statement released Wednesday .
The organization called for disclosure of steps to protect not only inmates and staff , “ but also as concerns their loved ones , their communities and the communities in which these facilities are located .
People are concerned , and there is absolutely @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s prison system has struggled for decades to provide minimum medical care , contending not just with overcrowding , but also with a shortage of doctors and antiquated facilities .
So many preventable inmate deaths occurred that the system was put under control of a court-appointed receiver in 2006 .
To date , the state has regained control over medical care in only 19 of its 35 prisons .
They currently house 114,000 inmates , some double-bunked in cells built for one .
Some 4,300 more inmates are in private prisons or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to access .
Another 3,000 prisoners are in camps across the state while helping to fight wildfires , meaning that virus quarantines could impact California ’ s fire response .
The challenges that a highly contagious , very deadly airborne virus presents in those conditions are underscored by past outbreaks : Legionnaire ’ s disease persisted all through 2019 in the water supply system of the state ’ s new medical prison in Stockton , and four other prisons this winter have been hit with outbreaks of mumps , also caused by a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is ... there ’ s no way to stop it in a prison , which is why Japan is closing its schools for a month , ” said Don Specter , executive director of the Prison Law Office , one of the parties in long-running federal litigation over conditions within California ’ s prison system .
Specter said that state corrections officials had briefed him on plans for handling COVID-19 behind bars and they largely centered on existing protocols for the flu .
“ Prisons throw people into the paths of epidemics , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the corona virus , ” said Dr. Gregg Gonsalves , a Yale School of Public Health epidemiologist , in a call arranged by the ACLU .
“ People without proper ventilation , it is a perfect breeding ground for quick transmission of any respiratory virus.
” “ Prison healthcare isn ’ t what it should be ... the question is whether the U.S. , state and local correctional facilities are up to the task of preventing infections and whether they have necessary resources to care for the sick , and I ’ m @ @ @ @ @ @ @ task.
” After several days of questions , the media office for the state prison system and the federal receiver on Monday released only a brief statement .
They noted that there are no current plans to limit inmate visitation , and that prison officials were “ building on the robust influenza infection control guidelines already implemented at each institution.
” Requests by The Times for those prison-specific plans , made under the California Public Records Act , received no response .
Nor did the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation provide a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are not being released .
On Wednesday , prison officials repeated statements made Monday , reiterated that there are no known cases of COVID-19 within the prison system and said the agency will “ maintain open lines of communication with our law enforcement partners.
” The union that represents prison guards , the California Correctional Police Officers Assn , did not respond to requests for information .
State officials did not respond when asked whether CDCR believes it can prevent the widespread circulation of COVID-19 if it enters a state prison population .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ declined to answer questions about whether incoming inmates are being screened for exposure to the virus — a practice already in place in some jails — or about how well-prepared the prison medical system is to isolate and treat severely ill infected inmates .
Questions about supplies of ventilators and masks were also not answered .
The CDCR ’ s flu plan illustrates many of the hurdles to containing an airborne virus .
It notes that quarantined inmates can still eat meals and visit exercise yards where other inmates are present .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to mark the isolation section with a second line of tape 3-6 feet away to mark the well-patient section , ” the plan reads .
It states that , “ Special air handling or ventilation is not required.
” And it notes isolation areas should have bathrooms set aside exclusively for symptomatic patients , “ if possible.
” “ If there is no separate bathroom available , symptomatic patients should wear a surgical facemask when outside the isolation room or area.
” Other correctional institutions were more open about their plans .
In @ @ @ @ @ @ @ local public health emergency , jail officials are screening all incoming inmates , asking about any fevers , past travel to areas where the virus is present , and other possible exposure .
Sgt .
Juan Valencia said any indication that an inmate has been exposed to the virus will trigger a swift response .
“ They ’ ll be taken by ambulance to the hospital , ” Valencia said .
Sheriff ’ s deputies and jail staff meanwhile are reminded to wash their hands frequently , and make use of the hand @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hygiene .
Other health experts also raised concerns about the role prisons can play in spreading the virus back into communities .
“ We ’ ve talked to our local law enforcement agencies about this already , and getting them to think about who they are arresting and why , ” said Scott Burris , director of Temple Law School ’ s Center for Public Health Law Research .
“ Does it make sense to take somebody who may have been exposed to the virus and put them in the jail population where @ @ @ @ @ @ @ potentially to other people and three weeks later set them free ?
“ And that ’ s just part of it .
What about trials ?
How are we going to maintain those kind of activities ?
Or maybe we need to let that rest for a while ?
” Behind judge ’ s chambers at the Sacramento County jail , a clerk on Tuesday was handling motions in preparation for hearings in the case of an accused serial killer , Joseph DeAngelo .
The preliminary hearing in May is scheduled to last @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 150 witnesses for the prosecution , and the hearings are typically jammed with elderly victims , out-of-town media and local spectators .
The clerk said there were no special plans in place for courtroom sanitation , beyond a worker who was walking the halls , wiping bannisters with disenfectant .
She pulled out her bottle of hand sanitizer , and a tub of disenfectant wipes .
“ This is what we ’ re doing , ” she said .

California prison administrators preparing for the threat of coronavirus within the state’s sprawling lockup system are basing those plans off their existing protocol for inmate flu.
But they will not discuss details of what changes might be made to a virus protection plan that currently calls for placing lines of tape on the floor to create isolation zones, and warns that ill individuals might have to share toilets with those who are well.
The lack of information has inmate advocates and others worried.
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“Given the volume of incarcerated people in America, the conditions under which they are detained, and the current spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus, there is every reason to question whether American detention facilities, as a whole, are up to this challenge,” National Assn. of Criminal Defense Lawyers President Nina J. Ginsberg said in a statement released Wednesday.
The organization called for disclosure of steps to protect not only inmates and staff, “but also as concerns their loved ones, their communities and the communities in which these facilities are located. People are concerned, and there is absolutely no substitute for full transparency.”
California’s prison system has struggled for decades to provide minimum medical care, contending not just with overcrowding, but also with a shortage of doctors and antiquated facilities. So many preventable inmate deaths occurred that the system was put under control of a court-appointed receiver in 2006.
To date, the state has regained control over medical care in only 19 of its 35 prisons. They currently house 114,000 inmates, some double-bunked in cells built for one.
Some 4,300 more inmates are in private prisons or programs where medical protocols are even harder to access. An additional 3,000 prisoners are in camps across the state while helping to fight wildfires, meaning that virus quarantines could affect California’s fire response.
The challenges that a highly contagious, very deadly airborne virus presents in those conditions are underscored by past outbreaks: Legionnaires’ disease persisted all through 2019 in the water supply system of the state’s new medical prison in Stockton, and four other prisons this winter have been hit with outbreaks of mumps, also caused by a virus.
“My own lay opinion is … there’s no way to stop it in a prison, which is why Japan is closing its schools for a month,” said Don Specter, executive director of the Prison Law Office, one of the parties in long-running federal litigation over conditions within California’s prison system.
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Specter said that state corrections officials had briefed him on plans for handling COVID-19 behind bars and they largely centered on existing protocols for the flu.
“Prisons throw people into the paths of epidemics, whether it is TB or HIV or the corona virus,” said Gregg Gonsalves, a Yale School of Public Health epidemiologist, in a call arranged by the American Civil Liberties Union.
“People without proper ventilation, it is a perfect breeding ground for quick transmission of any respiratory virus.”
His concerns extend beyond California.
“Prison healthcare isn’t what it should be…. The question is whether the U.S., state and local correctional facilities are up to the task of preventing infections and whether they have necessary resources to care for the sick, and I’m not sure they are up to the task.”
After several days of questions, the media office for the state prison system and the federal receiver on Monday released only a brief statement. They noted that there are no current plans to limit inmate visitation and that prison officials were “building on the robust influenza infection control guidelines already implemented at each institution.”
Requests by The Times for those prison-specific plans, made under the California Public Records Act, received no response. Nor did the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation provide a response to questions about why the documents are not being released.
On Wednesday, prison officials repeated statements made Monday, reiterated that there are no known cases of COVID-19 within the prison system and said the agency will “maintain open lines of communication with our law enforcement partners.”
The union that represents prison guards, the California Correctional Peace Officers Assn., did not respond to requests for information.
State officials did not respond when asked whether the corrections department believes it can prevent the widespread circulation of COVID-19 if it enters a state prison population.
The prison administration and federal receiver also declined to answer questions about whether incoming inmates are being screened for exposure to the virus — a practice already in place in some jails — or about how well-prepared the prison medical system is to isolate and treat severely ill infected inmates. Questions about supplies of ventilators and masks were also not answered.
The department’s flu plan illustrates many of the hurdles to containing an airborne virus. It notes that quarantined inmates can still eat meals and visit exercise yards where other inmates are present. “Tape can be placed on the floor to mark the isolation section with a second line of tape 3-6 feet away to mark the well-patient section,” the plan reads.
It further states that “special air handling or ventilation is not required.”
And it notes isolation areas should have bathrooms set aside exclusively for symptomatic patients, “if possible.”
“If there is no separate bathroom available, symptomatic patients should wear a surgical facemask when outside the isolation room or area.”
Other correctional institutions were more open about their plans.
In Sonoma County, which has declared a local public health emergency, jail officials are screening all incoming inmates, asking about any fevers, past travel to areas where the virus is present, and other possible exposure. Sgt. Juan Valencia said any indication that an inmate has been exposed to the virus will trigger a swift response.
“They’ll be taken by ambulance to the hospital,” Valencia said.
Sheriff’s deputies and jail staff meanwhile are reminded to wash their hands frequently, and make use of the hand sanitizer already provided as part of routine hygiene.
Other health experts also raised concerns about the role prisons can play in spreading the virus back into communities.
“We’ve talked to our local law enforcement agencies about this already, and getting them to think about who they are arresting and why,” said Scott Burris, director of Temple Law School’s Center for Public Health Law Research.
“Does it make sense to take somebody who may have been exposed to the virus and put them in the jail population where they are going to be spreading this potentially to other people and three weeks later set them free?
“And that’s just part of it. What about trials? How are we going to maintain those kind of activities? Or maybe we need to let that rest for a while?”
Behind judge’s chambers at the Sacramento County jail, a clerk on Tuesday was handling motions in preparation for hearings in the case of an accused serial killer, Joseph DeAngelo. The preliminary hearing in May is scheduled to last eight weeks, involving as many as 150 witnesses for the prosecution, and the hearings are typically jammed with elderly victims, out-of-town media and local spectators.
The clerk said there were no special plans in place for courtroom sanitation, beyond a worker who was walking the halls, wiping banisters with disinfectant. She pulled out her bottle of hand sanitizer and a tub of disinfectant wipes.
“This is what we’re doing,” she said.


latimes--2020-03-05--On heels of Sheriff's Department scandal, L.A. County voters overwhelmingly back stronger oversight

After nearly a week of scandal within the Los Angeles County Sheriff ’ s Department , voters showed overwhelming support Tuesday for stronger civilian oversight of one of the largest local law enforcement agencies in the nation .
Early returns showed that Measure R , which would allow the Sheriff Civilian Oversight Commission to investigate misconduct using subpoenas , appeared headed for a big win .
With more than 1 million votes tallied as of Wednesday evening , the initiative had garnered more than 71 % of the vote .
“ Measure R is a win for the people , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Black Lives Matter and the chairwoman of the Reform L.A. Jails committee , which co-wrote the initiative .
“ What we ’ re seeing is people wanting to have some form of accountability and casting their ballot to ensure that it happens.
” The measure also requires the oversight commission to develop a plan to reduce the jail population and reinvest those cost savings into mental health treatment and other community-based services .
“ People can ’ t get well in a cell , ” said Cullors , who spearheaded the campaign and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ politicians and Hollywood celebrities , including Sen. Bernie Sanders , Ava DuVernay and John Legend .
The election came as the Sheriff ’ s Department is under fire for trying to keep a lid on allegations that deputies shared graphic images from the helicopter crash that killed Kobe Bryant and eight others — instead of following normal investigative protocols .
Sheriff Alex Villanueva acknowledged this week that he ordered deputies to delete the photos , a move that some inside the department as well as legal experts said could amount to destruction of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , my goodness , Sheriff Villanueva , are you trying to help us get Measure R passed ?
That ’ s what it felt like , ” said Jasmyne Cannick , a political consultant and activist who said she helped gather nearly 250,000 signatures to get the measure on the ballot .
Villanueva ’ s controversial decisions to reinstate fired deputies and what she called his apparent unconcern over the existence of secret societies of tattooed deputies helped garner further support , Cannick said .
The commission already has the ability to direct @ @ @ @ @ @ @ subpoenas .
In January , the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors adopted that ordinance after reports by the inspector general that the office had been stonewalled in obtaining internal records needed to monitor the agency .
It went into effect Feb. 28 .
Measure R strengthens the commission ’ s hand .
“ We know what the board gives , they can take away , ” Cannick said .
Measure R “ can not be undone , unless you put another ballot measure on.
” Villanueva has said he would go to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ personnel records , ongoing criminal and administrative investigations , and confidential victim information .
In a statement Wednesday , the sheriff said the department believes in transparency .
“ This is exactly why I ordered all reports , video , and other information we can legally disclose without impacting active investigations to be loaded onto our website , ” he said .
But in an earlier interview with KPCC 89.3 , Villanueva said he opposed Measure R , calling it a “ taxpayer-funded public shaming effort.
” “ They think it ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they ’ re gon na extract out of it .
And then that does not serve the public well at all , and it ’ s gon na cost a fortune in lawyer fees , ” he told the public radio station after calling in as a self-described private citizen .
The Assn .
for Los Angeles Deputy Sheriffs , the union that represents rank-and-file deputies , had opposed the measure .
Officials declined to comment Wednesday .
The strong support for Measure R shows that the public wants meaningful civilian oversight , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ School professor and member of the civilian oversight panel .
In the past , the department has failed to produce drafts of policies before they are put into effect and information about its actions to address societies of deputies .
“ Now that the public has given us a mandate , I hope that the sheriff ’ s office will just produce the documents that we request , ” Kennedy said .

Activists Patrisse Cullors and Jasmyne Cannick lead a rally on the day the Reform L.A. Jails committee turned in nearly 250,000 signatures to get Measure R on Tuesday’s ballot.
After nearly a week of scandal within the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, voters showed overwhelming support Tuesday for stronger civilian oversight of one of the largest local law enforcement agencies in the nation.
Early returns showed that Measure R, which would allow the Sheriff Civilian Oversight Commission to investigate misconduct using subpoenas, appeared headed for a big win. With more than 1 million votes tallied as of Wednesday evening, the initiative had garnered more than 71% of the vote.
“Measure R is a win for the people,” said Patrisse Cullors, co-founder of Black Lives Matter and the chairwoman of the Reform L.A. Jails committee, which co-wrote the initiative. “What we’re seeing is people wanting to have some form of accountability and casting their ballot to ensure that it happens.”
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The measure also requires the oversight commission to develop a plan to reduce the jail population and reinvest those cost savings into mental health treatment and other community-based services.
“People can’t get well in a cell,” said Cullors, who spearheaded the campaign and helped generate community backing and support from politicians and Hollywood celebrities, including Sen. Bernie Sanders, Ava DuVernay and John Legend.
The election came as the Sheriff’s Department is under fire for trying to keep a lid on allegations that deputies shared graphic images from the helicopter crash that killed Kobe Bryant and eight others — instead of following normal investigative protocols.
Sheriff Alex Villanueva acknowledged this week that he ordered deputies to delete the photos, a move that some inside the department as well as legal experts said could amount to destruction of evidence.
“It’s like, my goodness, Sheriff Villanueva, are you trying to help us get Measure R passed? That’s what it felt like,” said Jasmyne Cannick, a political consultant and activist who said she helped gather nearly 250,000 signatures to get the measure on the ballot.
Villanueva’s controversial decisions to reinstate fired deputies and what she called his apparent unconcern over the existence of secret societies of tattooed deputies helped garner further support, Cannick said.
The commission already has the ability to direct the Office of Inspector General to issue subpoenas. In January, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors adopted that ordinance after reports by the inspector general that the office had been stonewalled in obtaining internal records needed to monitor the agency. It went into effect Feb. 28. Measure R strengthens the commission’s hand.
“We know what the board gives, they can take away,” Cannick said. Measure R “cannot be undone, unless you put another ballot measure on.”
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Villanueva has said he would go to court to block the release of confidential personnel records, ongoing criminal and administrative investigations, and confidential victim information. In a statement Wednesday, the sheriff said the department believes in transparency.
“This is exactly why I ordered all reports, video, and other information we can legally disclose without impacting active investigations to be loaded onto our website,” he said.
But in an earlier interview with KPCC 89.3, Villanueva said he opposed Measure R, calling it a “taxpayer-funded public shaming effort.”
“They think it’s some magical ‘gotcha,’ something they’re gonna extract out of it. And then that does not serve the public well at all, and it’s gonna cost a fortune in lawyer fees,” he told the public radio station after calling in as a self-described private citizen.
The Assn. for Los Angeles Deputy Sheriffs, the union that represents rank-and-file deputies, had opposed the measure. Officials declined to comment Wednesday.
The strong support for Measure R shows that the public wants meaningful civilian oversight, said Sean Kennedy, a Loyola Law School professor and member of the civilian oversight panel.
In the past, the department has failed to produce drafts of policies before they are put into effect and information about its actions to address societies of deputies.
“Now that the public has given us a mandate, I hope that the sheriff’s office will just produce the documents that we request,” Kennedy said.