latimes--2020-01-16--5-year-old's shooting in South L.A. home prompts abuse investigation

The 5-year-old girl who was shot in her South Los Angeles home Wednesday evening is under investigation by the Los Angeles Police Department ’ s Abused Child Unit , authorities said Thursday .
The Los Angeles Fire Department responded about 5:30 p.m. to treat a small child suffering from a gunshot wound , spokeswoman Margaret Stewart said .
The shooting occurred near 41st Place and Woodlawn Avenue .
The child , who was taken in critical condition to the L.A. County-USC Medical Center , was moved from the emergency room to the intensive care unit later that night , KABC-TV @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s siblings were in the home when officers arrived , but it is unclear whether they were there at the time of the shooting , police told the station .
“ There ’ s other family members that were in the house , and at this point , we just don ’ t know what happened in here , ” Lt. Raul Jovel with the LAPD told KTLA-TV Channel 5 .
“ We don ’ t know if it ’ s a criminal act or negligence or an accident.
” Jovel said one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ over 18 and two are minors .
Family members are being questioned , and special detectives from the juvenile division will also interview the children who were home , KTLA reported .
Neighbors told ABC 7 that the girl ’ s parents were at work when the shooting occurred .
It was not immediately clear who fired the shot or who owns the gun , but investigators say the weapon was found inside the house .
“ Any weapons in the law shall be secured out of access for children , ” Jovel @ @ @ @ @ @ @ factor that ’ ll be closely examined here .
”

The 5-year-old girl who was shot in her South Los Angeles home Wednesday evening is under investigation by the Los Angeles Police Department’s Abused Child Unit, authorities said Thursday.
The Los Angeles Fire Department responded about 5:30 p.m. to treat a small child suffering from a gunshot wound, spokeswoman Margaret Stewart said. The shooting occurred near 41st Place and Woodlawn Avenue.
The child, who was taken in critical condition to the L.A. County-USC Medical Center, was moved from the emergency room to the intensive care unit later that night, KABC-TV Channel 7 reported.
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The child’s siblings were in the home when officers arrived, but it is unclear whether they were there at the time of the shooting, police told the station.
“There’s other family members that were in the house, and at this point, we just don’t know what happened in here,” Lt. Raul Jovel with the LAPD told KTLA-TV Channel 5. “We don’t know if it’s a criminal act or negligence or an accident.”
Jovel said one of the girl’s siblings is over 18 and two are minors.
Family members are being questioned, and special detectives from the juvenile division will also interview the children who were home, KTLA reported.
Neighbors told ABC 7 that the girl’s parents were at work when the shooting occurred. It was not immediately clear who fired the shot or who owns the gun, but investigators say the weapon was found inside the house.
“Any weapons in the law shall be secured out of access for children,” Jovel said. “That’s a factor that’ll be closely examined here.”
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Additional details weren’t immediately available.
Times staff writer Jaclyn Cosgrove contributed to this report.


latimes--2020-01-16--Where's the rain? Chilly winter storm is creeping south toward L.A.

Break out the cozy blankets and find a spot by the fireplace Thursday evening because a chilly winter storm is set to arrive in Southern California , bringing rain and snow to the region .
The storm , which originated south of Alaska and is moving slower than forecasters expected , was lingering in San Francisco on Thursday morning , meaning Los Angeles will have to wait a few more hours for any significant rainfall .
The storm is expected to creep down the coast throughout the day before reaching Los Angeles County about 8 p.m. , said Ryan Kittell @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Service in Oxnard .
“ Thankfully , most people will be home by then , ” Kittell said .
“ The rain should continue into Friday morning until about 3 a.m. , and then it should be pretty much done.
” The storm is expected to dump a quarter to three-quarters of an inch of rain along the coast and in the valleys .
The foothills will see a little more precipitation , with three-quarters to 1½ inches falling overnight , Kittell said .
Cold winds are also blowing in , with 15- @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
That will keep temperatures in the 40s overnight and the low 60s during the day Thursday and Friday .
The system also is set to drop snow levels considerably in the region , down to 3,500 feet by Thursday night , meaning the Interstate 5 corridor through the Grapevine will likely get a couple of inches of fresh powder .
Elevations 5,500 feet and higher could see 4 to 8 inches of powder , while areas at 4,500 to 5,500 feet are expected to get 2 to 4 inches .
“ If @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you should be fine , but anytime after midnight , there ’ s a chance for some snow to accumulate , ” Kittell said .
“ It shouldn ’ t be enough to close the Grapevine , but it will certainly cause some slowdowns.
” The storm has already spurred the weather service to issue winter storm warnings for much of the Sierra Nevada range in Northern California , warning of major travel delays , road closures and whiteout conditions through early Friday .
Up to 2 feet of snow are expected at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the National Weather Service in Sacramento .
The fresh snowfall will be good news for the state ’ s , which provides about 30 % of the annual water supply for the state .
The spring and summer snowmelt feeds rivers and reservoirs and eventually is distributed to various water agencies for farm irrigation , landscaping and urban drinking supplies .
After a likely dry weekend , forecasts are suggesting a chance of light rain Monday and Tuesday , but on the heels of a wet December , January has been mostly dry @ @ @ @ @ @ @ good for the season even though January has been a little drier than normal , ” Kittell said .
“ Usually February is our wettest month , so we have plenty of reason to hope for more rain .
”

Denton Wright, 21, of Westwood runs at Malibu Lagoon State Beach on Wednesday before the area’s first winter storm of 2020 rolls in.
Break out the cozy blankets and find a spot by the fireplace Thursday evening because a chilly winter storm is set to arrive in Southern California, bringing rain and snow to the region.
The storm, which originated south of Alaska and is moving slower than forecasters expected, was lingering in San Francisco on Thursday morning, meaning Los Angeles will have to wait a few more hours for any significant rainfall. The storm is expected to creep down the coast throughout the day before reaching Los Angeles County about 8 p.m., said Ryan Kittell, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Oxnard.
“Thankfully, most people will be home by then,” Kittell said. “The rain should continue into Friday morning until about 3 a.m., and then it should be pretty much done.”
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The storm is expected to dump a quarter to three-quarters of an inch of rain along the coast and in the valleys. The foothills will see a little more precipitation, with three-quarters to 1½ inches falling overnight, Kittell said.
Cold winds are also blowing in, with 15- to 25-mph breezes expected along the coasts. That will keep temperatures in the 40s overnight and the low 60s during the day Thursday and Friday.
The system also is set to drop snow levels considerably in the region, down to 3,500 feet by Thursday night, meaning the Interstate 5 corridor through the Grapevine will likely get a couple of inches of fresh powder. Elevations 5,500 feet and higher could see 4 to 8 inches of powder, while areas at 4,500 to 5,500 feet are expected to get 2 to 4 inches.
“If you’re traveling this evening, you should be fine, but anytime after midnight, there’s a chance for some snow to accumulate,” Kittell said. “It shouldn’t be enough to close the Grapevine, but it will certainly cause some slowdowns.”
The storm has already spurred the weather service to issue winter storm warnings for much of the Sierra Nevada range in Northern California, warning of major travel delays, road closures and whiteout conditions through early Friday. Up to 2 feet of snow are expected at elevations above 2,000 feet, according to the National Weather Service in Sacramento.
The fresh snowfall will be good news for the state’s plush snowpack , which provides about 30% of the annual water supply for the state. The spring and summer snowmelt feeds rivers and reservoirs and eventually is distributed to various water agencies for farm irrigation, landscaping and urban drinking supplies.
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After a likely dry weekend, forecasts are suggesting a chance of light rain Monday and Tuesday, but on the heels of a wet December, January has been mostly dry.
“We’re still looking good for the season even though January has been a little drier than normal,” Kittell said. “Usually February is our wettest month, so we have plenty of reason to hope for more rain.”


latimes--2020-01-16--Chris Erskine: Can I say I took a polar plunge if the water is 58 degrees?

I try hard to surround myself with bad influences .
Keeps suburban life interesting , if you know what I mean .
As the kids grow older , my friends grow in number .
I could fill my life with them , which is one of the reasons I ’ m stuck in L.A. after 30 years .
What the apostles did for Jesus , my pals do for me .
The other day , a bunch of us took a polar bear plunge in the Pacific .
We gathered at Verge ’ s little beach shack in Santa Monica @ @ @ @ @ @ @ holes in the thick ice , then we all darted into the surf .
After the holidays , it was nice to be around any water that did not have a jigger or two of hooch in it .
“ Vodka is my spirit animal , ” I ’ d warned my sister on New Year ’ s Eve .
“ Vodka ’ s not an animal , ” she said .
“ But it ’ s a spirit , ” I reminded her , and things went quickly downhill from there .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ late New Year ’ s Eve , so we walked home from the bar at midnight , chased by our various spirit animals ( mine bit me ) .
That was December , when it was mostly gloomy .
Now it is January , and the sun won ’ t stop .
So it was the perfect day for a polar bear plunge , not too bitter .
Boston and Chicago might scoff at a polar plunge in 58-degree water , but it ’ s all relative .
Besides , we needed something @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the horizon got all bleary-eyed and tempting .
I wanted to swim to it — like in that old version of “ A Star Is Born , ” just swim straight out to sea , though I ’ d probably get run over by a freighter between here and Catalina .
Or swallowed by an orca .
Or both .
“ Your son looks like a zipper , ” Ulf says when we finally get out of the water .
“ You ever feed him ?
” That ’ s right , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ He ’ s got his own zipper , a long scar on the jaw from his drinking days at USC , and that trademark Ulf twinkle he got from his dad , Frank .
Swedes , huh ?
Put them in the cold sea , and they light up like eels .
“ I really like your crazy friends , ” my sister tells me .
Still , a pleasure to take this polar/solar plunge .
Splashing in the sweet sea seemed to energize everyone after long weeks of holiday wine and cheddar @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a little pregnant .
Typically , January is kind of rotten .
Everything tastes like cigarettes .
There is , suddenly , no music .
The other day at Starbucks , I watched strangers swipe at sniffy noses with their fists , the punch-drunk fighters of midwinter .
They were probably wondering if they were catching something or whether it was just the cumulative effects of that awful furnace air , which smells like feet .
Here in flu season , you might think it risky that we plunge into a cold ocean @ @ @ @ @ @ @ contains more germs .
Coffee can ’ t compete with cold saltwater when it comes to putting a little bounce back in your step .
This year , 26 idiots took the plunge , compared to four a year ago .
It ’ s simple : We run into the water , we run out again .
I collect the towels people forgot along the shore and scamper back to the house , where a hot tub awaits like a giant cauldron of soup .
If you know L.A. , you know this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the California Incline that sweeps down to PCH from Santa Monica .
During the Kennedy era , it was the site of the Western White House .
Peter Lawford had a place and , by turn , so did JFK .
The Rat Pack goofed around here , studio moguls kept second homes , even F. Scott Fitzgerald had a house where he hammered out screenplays between gin rickeys .
Some residents back then purportedly hosted orgies , but that seems written in the wind .
Who can really say ?
You don @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pureness of their hearts .
Maybe they were just checking each other for ticks .
I try to think the best of people , which is why I ’ m still friends with Bittner and Ulf .
We need pals when we ’ re 10 ; we need them even more now .
And one day on this same beach — on a moody winter afternoon when the sea looked like silt — Marilyn Monroe wrapped herself in a fluffy beige towel and took the last photo she would ever take , right @ @ @ @ @ @ @ our second annual polar bear plunge .
So we ’ re toasting a lot of important treasures today .
The sun , the sea , the linen of a movie legend ’ s hair … Most of all , California .

Polar plunge participants head into the water on a wintry day. It’s more solar, than polar. But so what?
I try hard to surround myself with bad influences. Keeps suburban life interesting, if you know what I mean.
As the kids grow older, my friends grow in number. I could fill my life with them, which is one of the reasons I’m stuck in L.A. after 30 years. What the apostles did for Jesus, my pals do for me.
The other day, a bunch of us took a polar bear plunge in the Pacific. We gathered at Verge’s little beach shack in Santa Monica, sent the kids out to chip holes in the thick ice, then we all darted into the surf.
After the holidays, it was nice to be around any water that did not have a jigger or two of hooch in it.
“Vodka is my spirit animal,” I’d warned my sister on New Year’s Eve.
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“Vodka’s not an animal,” she said.
“But it’s a spirit,” I reminded her, and things went quickly downhill from there. We couldn’t get an Uber late New Year’s Eve, so we walked home from the bar at midnight, chased by our various spirit animals (mine bit me).
That was December, when it was mostly gloomy. Now it is January, and the sun won’t stop.
So it was the perfect day for a polar bear plunge, not too bitter. Boston and Chicago might scoff at a polar plunge in 58-degree water, but it’s all relative. Besides, we needed something to do.
As the sun set, the horizon got all bleary-eyed and tempting. I wanted to swim to it — like in that old version of “A Star Is Born,” just swim straight out to sea, though I’d probably get run over by a freighter between here and Catalina. Or swallowed by an orca. Or both.
“Your son looks like a zipper,” Ulf says when we finally get out of the water. “You ever feed him?”
That’s right, my old pal Ulf is back. He’s got his own zipper, a long scar on the jaw from his drinking days at USC, and that trademark Ulf twinkle he got from his dad, Frank. Swedes, huh? Put them in the cold sea, and they light up like eels.
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“I really like your crazy friends,” my sister tells me.
“Give ’em time,” I say.
Moguls and movie stars used to romp on this stretch of Santa Monica sand. John F. Kennedy too. (Chris Erskine / Los Angeles Times)
Still, a pleasure to take this polar/solar plunge. Splashing in the sweet sea seemed to energize everyone after long weeks of holiday wine and cheddar balls. Even my buddy Bittner looked a little pregnant.
Typically, January is kind of rotten. Everything tastes like cigarettes. There is, suddenly, no music.
The other day at Starbucks, I watched strangers swipe at sniffy noses with their fists, the punch-drunk fighters of midwinter. They were probably wondering if they were catching something or whether it was just the cumulative effects of that awful furnace air, which smells like feet.
Here in flu season, you might think it risky that we plunge into a cold ocean. But I suspect the average Starbucks contains more germs. Coffee can’t compete with cold saltwater when it comes to putting a little bounce back in your step. This year, 26 idiots took the plunge, compared to four a year ago.
It’s simple: We run into the water, we run out again. I collect the towels people forgot along the shore and scamper back to the house, where a hot tub awaits like a giant cauldron of soup.
If you know L.A., you know this magnificent stretch of sand just north of the California Incline that sweeps down to PCH from Santa Monica.
During the Kennedy era, it was the site of the Western White House. Peter Lawford had a place and, by turn, so did JFK. The Rat Pack goofed around here, studio moguls kept second homes, even F. Scott Fitzgerald had a house where he hammered out screenplays between gin rickeys.
Some residents back then purportedly hosted orgies, but that seems written in the wind. Who can really say? You don’t know the context or the pureness of their hearts. Maybe they were just checking each other for ticks.
I try to think the best of people, which is why I’m still friends with Bittner and Ulf. We need pals when we’re 10; we need them even more now.
And one day on this same beach — on a moody winter afternoon when the sea looked like silt — Marilyn Monroe wrapped herself in a fluffy beige towel and took the last photo she would ever take, right here, at the exact location of our second annual polar bear plunge.
So we’re toasting a lot of important treasures today. The sun, the sea, the linen of a movie legend’s hair …
Most of all, California.
Chris.Erskine@latimes.com


latimes--2020-01-16--Federal lawsuit alleges Santa Ana officers left two detainees in hot van for hours

A federal lawsuit filed this week alleges that two Santa Ana employees left two federal detainees locked and chained inside a hot van for four hours after returning the pair from their court hearings .
On April 8 , Dongyuan Li , a 41-year-old Chinese citizen , and Romaldo Marchan Delgado , a 56-year-old Mexican citizen , were put in handcuffs , ankle shackles and waist chains , and placed in the back of the transport van after their hearings at the Ronald Reagan Federal Building and U.S .
Courthouse for a return trip to the Santa Ana jail , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the proximity of the federal courthouse to the city jail , the U.S .
Marshals Service — which is responsible for housing federal pretrial detainees and certain other federal inmates — contracts with the city of Santa Ana to hold some detainees and inmates at the city ’ s jail , according to the lawsuit .
After Caroline Contreras , a correctional officer at the jail , parked the van and turned off the engine , she and Officer Ricky Prieto of the Santa Ana Police Department went inside the jail “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Li and Marchan Delgado inside , the lawsuit reads .
The van was left in direct sunlight with the windows rolled up , according to the lawsuit .
The outside air temperature that day was about 84 degrees , according to the lawsuit .
On a day when the temperature outside is 80 degrees , the temperature inside a car can reach 123 degrees in an hour , according to the National Weather Service .
Li and Marchan Delgado were inside the van for four hours , according to the lawsuit .
As @ @ @ @ @ @ @ crying and sweating profusely ... they struggled to breathe and wondered why they had been abandoned by the very persons who were charged with ensuring their safety .
[ Li and Marchan Delgado ] eventually began to despair ; with no end to their suffering in sight , they believed that they would die in that van , ” the lawsuit reads .
At one point , a police vehicle pulled up alongside and parked next to the van .
Prieto got out of the vehicle and walked around the perimeter of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Marchan Delgado tried to get Prieto ’ s attention by hitting the side of the van .
Prieto went inside the jail and didn ’ t return , according to the lawsuit .
Near the four-hour mark , Li saw another Santa Ana police officer walk alongside the van .
With little strength left , she banged the side of the van to try to draw the officer ’ s attention .
Soon , several officers unlocked and opened the van and removed Li and Marchan Delgado .
The two were suffering from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in and out of consciousness .
They were taken by ambulance to Orange County Global Medical Center , where they remained for about two days .
When they returned to jail , the medical staff refused to provide them “ adequate follow-up medical care , ” according to the lawsuit .
Neither Prieto nor Contreras could be reached for comment .
A spokesman with the Santa Ana Police Department said he wasn ’ t familiar with the case and referred The Times to Paul Eakins , the city spokesman .
Eakins declined to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t comment on pending litigation .
Thomas P. O ’ Brien , an attorney representing Li and Marchan Delgado , said Marchan Delgado was facing charges for returning to the United States after being deported and is serving time in federal prison .
Li was sentenced to 10 months in prison for running a so-called birth tourism scheme that catered to wealthy pregnant foreign nationals , usually from China , helping them travel to the United States and give birth here so their children would receive birthright U.S. citizenship , according to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Central District of California .
O ’ Brien said Li has returned to China .
O ’ Brien , a former U.S. attorney , said it remains unclear why the officers left his clients in the van , whether the officers were punished or whether the city has taken any action .
“ They were absolutely helpless , chained up in the back of this sweltering van , and both of them , we think , almost died , ” O ’ Brien said .
“ They ’ re traumatized to this day @ @ @ @ @ @ @ find out why it happened and make sure it doesn ’ t happen to anyone else .
”

A federal lawsuit filed this week alleges that two Santa Ana employees left two federal detainees locked and chained inside a hot van for four hours after returning the pair from their court hearings.
On April 8, Dongyuan Li, a 41-year-old Chinese citizen, and Romaldo Marchan Delgado, a 56-year-old Mexican citizen, were put in handcuffs, ankle shackles and waist chains, and placed in the back of the transport van after their hearings at the Ronald Reagan Federal Building and U.S. Courthouse for a return trip to the Santa Ana jail, where they were being housed.
Because of the proximity of the federal courthouse to the city jail, the U.S. Marshals Service — which is responsible for housing federal pretrial detainees and certain other federal inmates — contracts with the city of Santa Ana to hold some detainees and inmates at the city’s jail, according to the lawsuit.
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After Caroline Contreras, a correctional officer at the jail, parked the van and turned off the engine, she and Officer Ricky Prieto of the Santa Ana Police Department went inside the jail “without a backward glance,” leaving Li and Marchan Delgado inside, the lawsuit reads. The van was left in direct sunlight with the windows rolled up, according to the lawsuit.
The outside air temperature that day was about 84 degrees, according to the lawsuit. On a day when the temperature outside is 80 degrees, the temperature inside a car can reach 123 degrees in an hour, according to the National Weather Service. Li and Marchan Delgado were inside the van for four hours, according to the lawsuit.
As the temperature increased, both “began crying and sweating profusely ... they struggled to breathe and wondered why they had been abandoned by the very persons who were charged with ensuring their safety. [Li and Marchan Delgado] eventually began to despair; with no end to their suffering in sight, they believed that they would die in that van,” the lawsuit reads.
At one point, a police vehicle pulled up alongside and parked next to the van. Prieto got out of the vehicle and walked around the perimeter of the van, according to the lawsuit. Marchan Delgado tried to get Prieto’s attention by hitting the side of the van. Prieto went inside the jail and didn’t return, according to the lawsuit.
Near the four-hour mark, Li saw another Santa Ana police officer walk alongside the van. With little strength left, she banged the side of the van to try to draw the officer’s attention.
Soon, several officers unlocked and opened the van and removed Li and Marchan Delgado. The two were suffering from extreme dehydration and heat exhaustion, drifting in and out of consciousness. They were taken by ambulance to Orange County Global Medical Center, where they remained for about two days.
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When they returned to jail, the medical staff refused to provide them “adequate follow-up medical care,” according to the lawsuit.
Neither Prieto nor Contreras could be reached for comment.
A spokesman with the Santa Ana Police Department said he wasn’t familiar with the case and referred The Times to Paul Eakins, the city spokesman. Eakins declined to comment, noting the city doesn’t comment on pending litigation.
Thomas P. O’Brien, an attorney representing Li and Marchan Delgado, said Marchan Delgado was facing charges for returning to the United States after being deported and is serving time in federal prison.
Li was sentenced to 10 months in prison for running a so-called birth tourism scheme that catered to wealthy pregnant foreign nationals, usually from China, helping them travel to the United States and give birth here so their children would receive birthright U.S. citizenship, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California. O’Brien said Li has returned to China.
O’Brien, a former U.S. attorney, said it remains unclear why the officers left his clients in the van, whether the officers were punished or whether the city has taken any action.
“They were absolutely helpless, chained up in the back of this sweltering van, and both of them, we think, almost died,” O’Brien said. “They’re traumatized to this day, understandably, and we want to find out why it happened and make sure it doesn’t happen to anyone else.”
Times staff writer Richard Winton contributed to this report.


latimes--2020-01-16--L.A.'s citation program is 'unnavigable' for homeless and disabled people, lawsuit argues

Seven years ago , Los Angeles leaders decided to create a new , alternative system to handle minor violations of the Municipal Code such as drinking in public , riding a bicycle on the sidewalk or letting a dog run off leash .
Under the Administrative Citation Enforcement program , such violators are ticketed and fined instead of facing a criminal charge , avoiding the repercussions of a criminal record .
Now the city is being sued over the program by a skid row group , which argues that the program denies people a chance at a fair hearing where @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also provides no chance to seek a lower fine or community service based on financial hardship , according to the lawsuit .
And the suit also contends that the program is not accessible to disabled people .
One of the plaintiffs is Larry Dunn , who was cited in September for having an open container of beer in public .
The handwritten citation indicated that Dunn would get more information in the mail within two weeks , but that never happened , according to the lawsuit .
Dunn turned to the Los Angeles @ @ @ @ @ @ @ advocacy group that is now the other plaintiff in the suit , for help at a pro bono legal clinic .
The 66-year-old “ explained that he did not understand the administrative ticket and could not easily respond to it because he didn ’ t use the internet ” and his disability made it difficult to talk on the phone , according to the complaint .
By the time he sought help , he had missed a deadline to respond — one that was not listed in his initial citation — and was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ possible penalties , the suit says .
“ For individuals who are disabled , homeless , and indigent , the program is unnavigable at every step , setting up unwarranted and unlawful barriers to compliance with disability laws , ” the lawsuit states .
The suit was filed Wednesday by civil rights attorney Carol Sobel , who has repeatedly sued the city over the rights of homeless people .
It seeks to stop the city from issuing more citations without adequate notice and hearings .
Rob Wilcox , a spokesman for City Atty @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would review the complaint and declined to comment further Wednesday .
Los Angeles city officials have raised concerns about the program before : More than three years ago , Councilmen Curren Price , Jose Huizar and David Ryu backed a motion asking for recommendations on how to improve the program , stating that the hearing process is “ problematic.
” Asking for a hearing “ requires an individual to pay upfront costs and if the citation is upheld , pay additional administrative costs , ” the motion backed by Price , Huizar and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to many individuals not using the administrative hearing process , especially when they face financial constraints.
” The motion suggested the city “ consider setting fines based upon an individual ’ s ability to pay , and allow for community service as an alternative to payment.
” The proposal was never heard at City Hall and expired more than a year ago .
In the last budget year , the city issued thousands of administrative citations and collected nearly $ 1.2 million in such fines , according to a December report .
An @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been levied that year but left unpaid .

Seven years ago, Los Angeles leaders decided to create a new, alternative system to handle minor violations of the Municipal Code such as drinking in public, riding a bicycle on the sidewalk or letting a dog run off leash.
Under the Administrative Citation Enforcement program, such violators are ticketed and fined instead of facing a criminal charge, avoiding the repercussions of a criminal record.
Now the city is being sued over the program by a skid row group, which argues that the program denies people a chance at a fair hearing where they can present evidence.
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The system also provides no chance to seek a lower fine or community service based on financial hardship, according to the lawsuit. And the suit also contends that the program is not accessible to disabled people.
One of the plaintiffs is Larry Dunn, who was cited in September for having an open container of beer in public.
The handwritten citation indicated that Dunn would get more information in the mail within two weeks, but that never happened, according to the lawsuit. Dunn turned to the Los Angeles Community Action Network, a skid row advocacy group that is now the other plaintiff in the suit, for help at a pro bono legal clinic.
The 66-year-old “explained that he did not understand the administrative ticket and could not easily respond to it because he didn’t use the internet” and his disability made it difficult to talk on the phone, according to the complaint.
By the time he sought help, he had missed a deadline to respond — one that was not listed in his initial citation — and was facing a $300 fine plus other possible penalties, the suit says.
“For individuals who are disabled, homeless, and indigent, the program is unnavigable at every step, setting up unwarranted and unlawful barriers to compliance with disability laws,” the lawsuit states.
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The suit was filed Wednesday by civil rights attorney Carol Sobel, who has repeatedly sued the city over the rights of homeless people. It seeks to stop the city from issuing more citations without adequate notice and hearings.
Rob Wilcox, a spokesman for City Atty. Mike Feuer, said the city would review the complaint and declined to comment further Wednesday.
Los Angeles city officials have raised concerns about the program before: More than three years ago, Councilmen Curren Price, Jose Huizar and David Ryu backed a motion asking for recommendations on how to improve the program, stating that the hearing process is “problematic.”
Asking for a hearing “requires an individual to pay upfront costs and if the citation is upheld, pay additional administrative costs,” the motion backed by Price, Huizar and Ryu stated. “These hurdles lead to many individuals not using the administrative hearing process, especially when they face financial constraints.”
The motion suggested the city “consider setting fines based upon an individual’s ability to pay, and allow for community service as an alternative to payment.” The proposal was never heard at City Hall and expired more than a year ago.
In the last budget year, the city issued thousands of administrative citations and collected nearly $1.2 million in such fines, according to a December report. An additional $1.58 million in fines had been levied that year but left unpaid.


latimes--2020-01-16--Body cams contradict LAPD's gang designations. It's another milestone in their use

Few issues have generated more controversy in California law enforcement circles than how police determine whether someone is a gang member .
Such a designation can carry harsh repercussions .
Critics have long argued that police unfairly target African Americans and Latinos as gang members with the use of field interviews in which officers ask those they pull over whether they have a gang affiliation .
Proving those allegations of police bias has sometimes been difficult .
But police leaders now have millions of recordings to review from more than 7,000 body cameras as a scandal widens over allegations that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s elite Metro unit falsely portrayed people as gang members .
The technology has become pivotal in helping the LAPD ’ s internal investigators determine whether at least 20 officers committed crimes by falsifying department reports .
The officers are suspected of falsifying field interview cards during stops and entering incorrect information about those questioned in an effort to boost stop statistics .
The LAPD received a letter from a Van Nuys mother saying she believed her son was misidentified as a gang member during an interview with officers .
Officials reviewed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and they found inaccuracies by the officer .
Since then , the LAPD has reviewed much more video footage to see whether the gang affiliations marked on the cards matched what those interviewed said .
As a result , officials said , the investigation has grown to include at least 20 officers .
Law enforcement experts said the scandal underscores how body cameras are revolutionizing police oversight .
In the same way cameras can help resolve disputes over police use of force , they can also be used to fact-check paperwork such as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ much more evidence of what happened .
It may not be the be-all and end-all , but it is certainly an improvement over what we had before , ” said Merrick Bobb , executive director of the Police Assessment Resource Center .
“ It gives you far more information than words from an officer on a piece of paper.
” LAPD , the nation ’ s third-largest police department , began field testing body-worn cameras in 2014 and collects about 14,000 recordings a day .
It has accumulated recordings totaling 2.1 million hours @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dollars to purchase and maintain , citizens and many police leaders across the country say they provide transparency after high-profile incidents .
In October , L.A. Police Chief Michel Moore praised the department ’ s use of its more than 7,000 cameras .
He and the police union reached an accord late last year for supervisors to review footage to look for training lapses .
“ It helps both sides of the camera , ” Moore told The Times .
“ The existence of that camera helps answer : Did the alleged act @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Moore said Wednesday that he expects to make initial discipline determinations this week on the first wave of cases under review in the gang-reports investigation .
“ I will make a finding on the basis of the completed investigation as to appropriate disposition , ” Moore said .
“ I don ’ t mean this to go on for months or years.
” Mayor Eric Garcetti said the LAPD took immediate action to look into the allegations and pledged a thorough investigation .
“ We have a department that didn ’ t shove @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
“ I think the chief took the right action .
Secondly , we have to make sure due process is afforded.
” So far , 10 officers have had their police powers suspended and been assigned to home .
Another 10 have been removed from the street and are not allowed to have contact with the public .
The vast majority of names on the state ’ s CalGang database of gang members and associates come from the field interview cards .
Police departments around the state enter information into the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the LAPD officers under investigation has been removed from the system as a cautionary step to avoid any potential harm to prosecutions and future investigations , regardless of whether in-car or body-worn camera footage has been reviewed , according to multiple law enforcement sources .
So far , the LAPD and prosecutors aren ’ t aware of any false information from the field cards being used in a criminal case , and none of the officers under investigation have testified in a matter related to the cards , the sources said .
Still @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Spying Coalition said the cameras are not a solution , regardless of whether the footage showed officers falsely labeling gang members .
“ This is the continued pattern of the LAPD , ” she said .
“ They lie .
This is the same stuff.
” The LAPD requires officers to document how they establish that a person is a gang member .
To enter someone into the gang database after an encounter on the street , officers are required to document “ at least two required gang membership criteria ” out of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Some criteria include a person admitting to gang membership , an informant identifying the person as a member or the person having a known gang tattoo .
Officers are also required to state how the gang membership was established .
Supervisors must then review and approve the cards , according to the manual .
The cards in every officer ’ s pocket are primarily an intelligence tool , used to identify possible suspects in gang-related crimes .
Officers use a range of signs to identify someone as a suspected gang member or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and where and with whom the person is hanging out .
Sometimes , people self-identify as gang members .
The cards themselves are small , 3 inches by 2 inches .
On the front are the person ’ s name and physical description and the location of the stop .
On the back are the names of whomever he or she was associating with at the time of the interview .
Officers do not take fingerprints for the cards .
A law enforcement official who spoke on the condition of anonymity compared the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ card catalog : “ You can pick out a card and get a synopsis , but in order to understand the substance of it you need to pull it off the shelf and open it up .
You can ’ t use the [ field interview ] card to automatically say , ‘ So and so is a gang member.
’ ” The field interview cards are sometimes referred to as `` shake cards ” by civil rights and defense attorneys who say the cards are nothing more than a tool for officers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ probable cause .
They have long been a means to gather details on people the LAPD comes into contact with on a daily basis .
Before the computer era , the cards were designed to gather details from the area where crimes occurred and to document encounters that stopped short of an arrest or citation .
But civil rights lawyers have long questioned the validity of the information on the cards because there was no vetting of the information until an officer was called to court to testify in a criminal prosecution .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ as a gang member without any officer having to testify or be subject to cross-examination , ” said Peter Bibring , a veteran civil rights attorney with the American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California .
The cards have a dark history within the LAPD .
At the height of the Rampart scandal , in which officers in the late 1990s were accused of a widespread pattern of civil rights violations in neighborhoods west of downtown , the cards were among the evidence that victims said officers falsified to set them up .

Mark Puente, Richard Winton, Matthew Ormseth

Few issues have generated more controversy in California law enforcement circles than how police determine whether someone is a gang member.
Such a designation can carry harsh repercussions. Critics have long argued that police unfairly target African Americans and Latinos as gang members with the use of field interviews in which officers ask those they pull over whether they have a gang affiliation.
Proving those allegations of police bias has sometimes been difficult.
But police leaders now have millions of recordings to review from more than 7,000 body cameras as a scandal widens over allegations that officers with the Los Angeles Police Department’s elite Metro unit falsely portrayed people as gang members.
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The technology has become pivotal in helping the LAPD’s internal investigators determine whether at least 20 officers committed crimes by falsifying department reports.
The officers are suspected of falsifying field interview cards during stops and entering incorrect information about those questioned in an effort to boost stop statistics. The LAPD received a letter from a Van Nuys mother saying she believed her son was misidentified as a gang member during an interview with officers. Officials reviewed body-worn camera footage and other information, and they found inaccuracies by the officer.
Since then, the LAPD has reviewed much more video footage to see whether the gang affiliations marked on the cards matched what those interviewed said. As a result, officials said, the investigation has grown to include at least 20 officers.
Law enforcement experts said the scandal underscores how body cameras are revolutionizing police oversight. In the same way cameras can help resolve disputes over police use of force, they can also be used to fact-check paperwork such as the cards.
“Cameras certainly allow much more evidence of what happened. It may not be the be-all and end-all, but it is certainly an improvement over what we had before,” said Merrick Bobb, executive director of the Police Assessment Resource Center. “It gives you far more information than words from an officer on a piece of paper.”
LAPD, the nation’s third-largest police department, began field testing body-worn cameras in 2014 and collects about 14,000 recordings a day. It has accumulated recordings totaling 2.1 million hours.
Though the cameras cost millions of dollars to purchase and maintain, citizens and many police leaders across the country say they provide transparency after high-profile incidents. In October, L.A. Police Chief Michel Moore praised the department’s use of its more than 7,000 cameras. He and the police union reached an accord late last year for supervisors to review footage to look for training lapses.
“It helps both sides of the camera,” Moore told The Times. “The existence of that camera helps answer: Did the alleged act occur or did it not?”
Moore said Wednesday that he expects to make initial discipline determinations this week on the first wave of cases under review in the gang-reports investigation.
“I will make a finding on the basis of the completed investigation as to appropriate disposition,” Moore said. “I don’t mean this to go on for months or years.”
Mayor Eric Garcetti said the LAPD took immediate action to look into the allegations and pledged a thorough investigation.
“We have a department that didn’t shove that under the rug,” Garcetti said. “I think the chief took the right action. Secondly, we have to make sure due process is afforded.”
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So far, 10 officers have had their police powers suspended and been assigned to home. Another 10 have been removed from the street and are not allowed to have contact with the public.
The vast majority of names on the state’s CalGang database of gang members and associates come from the field interview cards. Police departments around the state enter information into the database.
Every field card generated by the LAPD officers under investigation has been removed from the system as a cautionary step to avoid any potential harm to prosecutions and future investigations, regardless of whether in-car or body-worn camera footage has been reviewed, according to multiple law enforcement sources.
So far, the LAPD and prosecutors aren’t aware of any false information from the field cards being used in a criminal case, and none of the officers under investigation have testified in a matter related to the cards, the sources said.
Still, Jamie Garcia of the Stop LAPD Spying Coalition said the cameras are not a solution, regardless of whether the footage showed officers falsely labeling gang members.
“This is the continued pattern of the LAPD,” she said. “They lie. This is the same stuff.”
The LAPD requires officers to document how they establish that a person is a gang member. To enter someone into the gang database after an encounter on the street, officers are required to document “at least two required gang membership criteria” out of 10, according to a detective manual.
Some criteria include a person admitting to gang membership, an informant identifying the person as a member or the person having a known gang tattoo. Officers are also required to state how the gang membership was established. Supervisors must then review and approve the cards, according to the manual.
The cards in every officer’s pocket are primarily an intelligence tool, used to identify possible suspects in gang-related crimes. Officers use a range of signs to identify someone as a suspected gang member or associate, including clothing, tattoos, and where and with whom the person is hanging out. Sometimes, people self-identify as gang members.
The cards themselves are small, 3 inches by 2 inches. On the front are the person’s name and physical description and the location of the stop. On the back are the names of whomever he or she was associating with at the time of the interview.
Officers do not take fingerprints for the cards. A law enforcement official who spoke on the condition of anonymity compared the field cards to a library’s card catalog: “You can pick out a card and get a synopsis, but in order to understand the substance of it you need to pull it off the shelf and open it up. You can’t use the [field interview] card to automatically say, ‘So and so is a gang member.’”
The field interview cards are sometimes referred to as “shake cards” by civil rights and defense attorneys who say the cards are nothing more than a tool for officers to stop and shake down minorities without probable cause. They have long been a means to gather details on people the LAPD comes into contact with on a daily basis.
Before the computer era, the cards were designed to gather details from the area where crimes occurred and to document encounters that stopped short of an arrest or citation. But civil rights lawyers have long questioned the validity of the information on the cards because there was no vetting of the information until an officer was called to court to testify in a criminal prosecution.
“These cards can cast a person as a gang member without any officer having to testify or be subject to cross-examination,” said Peter Bibring, a veteran civil rights attorney with the American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California.
The cards have a dark history within the LAPD. At the height of the Rampart scandal, in which officers in the late 1990s were accused of a widespread pattern of civil rights violations in neighborhoods west of downtown, the cards were among the evidence that victims said officers falsified to set them up.
Times staff writer Leila Miller contributed to this report.


latimes--2020-01-16--This log cabin is a haven for sobriety groups. Beverly Hills wants it removed

On a posh stretch of Robertson Boulevard , one of these really stands out : A Kundalini yoga studio .
A restaurant owned by former “ Real Housewives of Beverly Hills ” star Lisa Vanderpump .
The headquarters of the Hollywood Foreign Press Assn .
A log cabin .
Far from the forest , the shabby little cabin with peeling paint and battered wooden doors has become the center of a property dispute between West Hollywood and Beverly Hills , two tony cities where land is both scarce and expensive .
The log cabin — the site of some two @ @ @ @ @ @ @ — is in West Hollywood .
But it sits on a lot owned by Beverly Hills , which wants it gone .
“ To many people , the log cabin looks rustic .
It looks like a crappy building , ” said West Hollywood City Councilman John Duran .
“ To us , it ’ s a place where a lot of miracles have happened.
” For decades , the cabin has been managed by the West Hollywood Lions Club , whose emblem is displayed prominently on the building ’ s facade .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ learned that the Lions Club lease expired in 1977 and that the longtime nominal rent of $ 1 per year had not been paid for more than four decades .
“ I can ’ t speak to why years have passed and it wasn ’ t discussed earlier , ” Beverly Hills spokesman Keith Sterling told the Los Angeles Times .
“ A few years ago , we started to take a closer look at our real estate holdings , the current status of leases and agreements , and this was discovered.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ George Chavez told the Lions Club in a letter that they must remove the cabin and its foundation from the property at 621 N. Robertson by March 31 .
Gyula Kangiszer , president of the West Hollywood Lions Club , said his small club was “ completely surprised ” by the notice and had held prior discussions with Beverly Hills officials over how to extend the dormant lease and keep the building open for the sobriety groups .
“ We have been serving a community need , and the cities were appreciative of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ Now , I can only guess what the motivation would be .
“ Beverly Hills has not collected the $ 1 rent for quite some time .
I can make a check to Beverly Hills and send it : ‘ Here ’ s $ 100 for 100 years.
’ ” The sudden deadline also came as a surprise to West Hollywood officials , who have discussed acquiring the lot from their neighboring city .
The West Hollywood City Council discussed the price and terms of a possible lease in a closed-session meeting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ negotiations are publicly available .
A West Hollywood historic resources survey filled out by a former assistant city planner in 1987 says the log cabin was built in 1928 as a Boy Scouts clubhouse on land donated by the Lions Club .
Other city documents say it was built in the 1930s .
It predates West Hollywood becoming a city in 1984 , and , for a time , Beverly Hills operated a water well on the site , Sterling said .
West Hollywood spokeswoman Lisa Belsanti said the West Hollywood City Council @ @ @ @ @ @ @ price ” for the lot and is primarily concerned with keeping it available for addiction recovery .
West Hollywood already leases a small parking lot on the property , she said .
“ We ’ ve tried , but we were not able to reach an agreement in terms of the value , ” Duran said .
“ Beverly Hills was was looking for highest and best value , and we ’ re saying current use .
...
This stuff spans decades , and no one ’ s cared until just recently because @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said Beverly Hills does not currently have development plans for the property .
Beverly Hills ’ demand that the building be removed — and the fear that it could be demolished — sparked an outcry in the sober community and beyond , with many people saying meetings at the cabin saved their lives .
A Change.org petition asking that the cabin be preserved had collected about 8,000 signatures as of Wednesday .
Erin Khar , an author whose upcoming memoir about her longtime heroin addiction mentions the cabin , attended her first Alcoholics @ @ @ @ @ @ @ when she was 23 .
She came to Monday-night meetings for years .
The building was unique in that it was almost entirely dedicated to recovery groups , unlike church basements and other multi-purpose rooms where meetings typically take place , she said .
“ I loved that it was this weird little log cabin right there on Robertson , ” Khar said .
“ There was some element in the way that it looked and the conversations and the fellowship that took place not just inside but on the steps out front @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ For a lot of people in recovery , that sense of community is important.
” Duran said he has been attending weekly Alcoholics Anonymous meetings at the cabin for the last 23 years .
Each recovery group is autonomous , with its own key to the building , and each is now scrambling to find a new meeting place , he said .
There is a critical shortage of spaces in West Hollywood that can and will accommodate addiction recovery groups , he said .
The newly renovated West Hollywood Recovery @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the street from the log cabin , already has a full meeting schedule , he said .
“ The demand for recovery is very high , and the space is very limited , ” said Duran .
Amid the public outcry this week , Beverly Hills and West Hollywood put out a joint statement saying they were trying to determine a “ shared approach ” to finding space for the recovery groups .
Beverly Hills , the statement said , has offered to provide meeting locations as discussions over the property continue .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hills contractor recently “ found portions of the building in poor condition.
” West Hollywood city officials said the log cabin has no central heat or air conditioning and needs renovations to become compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act .
Kangiszer , who became president of the West Hollywood Lions Club a few months ago , said his club has invested in the building , upgrading its floor , painting the exterior trim purple , making repairs and installing security cameras .
But the club — which consists of about 30 aging @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Los Angeles and Orange counties in addition to the log cabin — has held off on other upgrades for at least a year because of uncertainty about the property , he said .
“ We as the Lions Club are committed to improving the surroundings and the building , ” Kangiszer said .
“ We just want to make sure the building will be able to stay there for generations to come .
”

On a posh stretch of Robertson Boulevard, one of these really stands out: A Kundalini yoga studio. A restaurant owned by former “Real Housewives of Beverly Hills” star Lisa Vanderpump. The headquarters of the Hollywood Foreign Press Assn. A log cabin.
Yes, a log cabin.
Far from the forest, the shabby little cabin with peeling paint and battered wooden doors has become the center of a property dispute between West Hollywood and Beverly Hills, two tony cities where land is both scarce and expensive.
The log cabin — the site of some two dozen addiction recovery group meetings every week — is in West Hollywood. But it sits on a lot owned by Beverly Hills, which wants it gone.
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“To many people, the log cabin looks rustic. It looks like a crappy building,” said West Hollywood City Councilman John Duran. “To us, it’s a place where a lot of miracles have happened.”
For decades, the cabin has been managed by the West Hollywood Lions Club, whose emblem is displayed prominently on the building’s facade. But Beverly Hills officials said they recently learned that the Lions Club lease expired in 1977 and that the longtime nominal rent of $1 per year had not been paid for more than four decades.
“I can’t speak to why years have passed and it wasn’t discussed earlier,” Beverly Hills spokesman Keith Sterling told the Los Angeles Times. “A few years ago, we started to take a closer look at our real estate holdings, the current status of leases and agreements, and this was discovered.”
Last week, Beverly Hills City Manager George Chavez told the Lions Club in a letter that they must remove the cabin and its foundation from the property at 621 N. Robertson by March 31.
Gyula Kangiszer, president of the West Hollywood Lions Club, said his small club was “completely surprised” by the notice and had held prior discussions with Beverly Hills officials over how to extend the dormant lease and keep the building open for the sobriety groups.
“We have been serving a community need, and the cities were appreciative of this service,” Kangiszer said. “Now, I can only guess what the motivation would be.
Advertisement
“Beverly Hills has not collected the $1 rent for quite some time. I can make a check to Beverly Hills and send it: ‘Here’s $100 for 100 years.’”
The sudden deadline also came as a surprise to West Hollywood officials, who have discussed acquiring the lot from their neighboring city. The West Hollywood City Council discussed the price and terms of a possible lease in a closed-session meeting in September, but few details about negotiations are publicly available.
A West Hollywood historic resources survey filled out by a former assistant city planner in 1987 says the log cabin was built in 1928 as a Boy Scouts clubhouse on land donated by the Lions Club. Other city documents say it was built in the 1930s.
It predates West Hollywood becoming a city in 1984, and, for a time, Beverly Hills operated a water well on the site, Sterling said.
West Hollywood spokeswoman Lisa Belsanti said the West Hollywood City Council was interested in paying “a fair price” for the lot and is primarily concerned with keeping it available for addiction recovery. West Hollywood already leases a small parking lot on the property, she said.
“We’ve tried, but we were not able to reach an agreement in terms of the value,” Duran said. “Beverly Hills was was looking for highest and best value, and we’re saying current use. ... This stuff spans decades, and no one’s cared until just recently because commercial real estate is booming.”
Sterling said Beverly Hills does not currently have development plans for the property.
Beverly Hills’ demand that the building be removed — and the fear that it could be demolished — sparked an outcry in the sober community and beyond, with many people saying meetings at the cabin saved their lives. A Change.org petition asking that the cabin be preserved had collected about 8,000 signatures as of Wednesday.
Erin Khar, an author whose upcoming memoir about her longtime heroin addiction mentions the cabin, attended her first Alcoholics Anonymous meeting at there in 1997, when she was 23. She came to Monday-night meetings for years.
The building was unique in that it was almost entirely dedicated to recovery groups, unlike church basements and other multi-purpose rooms where meetings typically take place, she said.
“I loved that it was this weird little log cabin right there on Robertson,” Khar said. “There was some element in the way that it looked and the conversations and the fellowship that took place not just inside but on the steps out front — it really had that clubhouse feeling.
“For a lot of people in recovery, that sense of community is important.”
Duran said he has been attending weekly Alcoholics Anonymous meetings at the cabin for the last 23 years. Each recovery group is autonomous, with its own key to the building, and each is now scrambling to find a new meeting place, he said.
There is a critical shortage of spaces in West Hollywood that can and will accommodate addiction recovery groups, he said. The newly renovated West Hollywood Recovery Center, in a city-owned building across the street from the log cabin, already has a full meeting schedule, he said.
“The demand for recovery is very high, and the space is very limited,” said Duran.
Amid the public outcry this week, Beverly Hills and West Hollywood put out a joint statement saying they were trying to determine a “shared approach” to finding space for the recovery groups. Beverly Hills, the statement said, has offered to provide meeting locations as discussions over the property continue.
According to the statement, a Beverly Hills contractor recently “found portions of the building in poor condition.”
West Hollywood city officials said the log cabin has no central heat or air conditioning and needs renovations to become compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Kangiszer, who became president of the West Hollywood Lions Club a few months ago, said his club has invested in the building, upgrading its floor, painting the exterior trim purple, making repairs and installing security cameras.
But the club — which consists of about 30 aging members who meet in various locations in Los Angeles and Orange counties in addition to the log cabin — has held off on other upgrades for at least a year because of uncertainty about the property, he said.
“We as the Lions Club are committed to improving the surroundings and the building,” Kangiszer said. “We just want to make sure the building will be able to stay there for generations to come.”


latimes--2020-01-17--Four teachers sue Delta after jet fuel dump over elementary school

Days after a Delta airliner dumped jet fuel over an elementary school in Cudahy , four teachers are suing the company , saying they ’ ve suffered emotional and physical distress because the pilot didn ’ t follow protocol .
“ Without any true necessity , the Delta pilot of Flight 89 caused the plane to release what are believed to be thousands of pounds of fuel per second over the city of Cudahy , Calif. , and areas under its flight path , ” attorney Gloria Allred said during a news conference Friday .
“ At the time , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the fuel it was releasing did not have time to evaporate or dissipate before hitting the ground below.
” The suit , filed in Los Angeles County Superior Court , notes that jet fuel is harmful and dangerous to humans and can cause liver damage , decreased immune response , impaired performance on neurological function tests and impaired hearing , according to the federal Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry .
The plaintiffs seek compensatory damages that would be determined in trial , said Allred , who is representing the four women @ @ @ @ @ @ @ School students were doused by the jet propellant Tuesday morning when the plane abruptly turned back to Los Angeles International Airport shortly after taking off for Shanghai .
The pilot radioed the control tower to say that there was an engine problem but that he did not need to dump any fuel to reduce weight before an emergency landing .
Yet less than 20 minutes later , the jet — flying at about 2,300 feet — dropped fuel over Park Avenue and the surrounding area .
The effects have sparked outrage in a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ center of environmental injustices for decades in Los Angeles County .
Dozens of people — many of them children — were treated by paramedics , but no one was seriously injured .
Three of the four teachers , who were not identified during Friday ’ s news conference , recounted how they saw white plumes overhead and immediately took action once they felt the liquid raining down .
One teacher said she feared they were under terrorist attack while she was taking her first-graders outside for lunch .
“ I thought it was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the ] scent of fuel , ” she said .
She said she yelled at her students to get back inside , noting their safety was paramount .
“ All I could think of was making sure my students were safe and to calm their fears , as they were scared and crying , ” she said through tears .
“ Soon after , my head began to hurt and I started feeling nauseous .
I couldn ’ t smell anything other than gas .
I couldn ’ t taste anything other than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by firefighters and washed off later that day at home .
Still , her headache and nausea remained the next day , so she went to urgent care , she said .
Now she ’ s worried about the long-term health effects for herself , her students , colleagues and friends .
One fifth-grade teacher said her students initially thought what was falling from the sky was rain .
They peered up , only to have the “ noxious liquid ” overwhelm their eyes , mouths , noses , lungs and skin .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ and skin began to burn , she said .
“ We are all very experienced teachers , but we are not equipped to deal with this level of hazardous contamination , ” the teacher said .
“ We had to ensure the decontamination and care of the students as best we could , until help arrived .
In ensuring the immediate care of our students , we were not able to decontaminate ourselves for several hours after the jet fuel had saturated us.
” At least two other L.A. schools were doused with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ added to the suit as additional teachers , students and parents are interviewed , Allred said .
The Federal Aviation Administration has said it is investigating the matter .
Delta Air Lines spokesman Adrian Gee declined to comment Friday , citing pending litigation .
Delta had previously said the pilot was forced to dump fuel over the urban area in order to reduce the plane ’ s weight before its return landing .
However , audio between the pilot and air traffic control at LAX has raised questions over whether that was necessary @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s not yet spoken with the airline .
Normally , pilots offload fuel at higher altitudes so it evaporates before hitting the ground .
This time , the Boeing 777 was 12 miles from the runway and low enough to shower the school and adjacent neighborhoods .
The Delta pilot was roughly five minutes into a flight headed to Shanghai when he realized there were problems with the jet ’ s right engine .
An air traffic controller asked whether he needed to return to the airport immediately or to “ hold to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ responded that they had “ got it back under control ” and would slow down , stay out of terrain and turn back to the airport .
“ OK , so you don ’ t need to hold to dump fuel or anything like that ?
” the tower asked the pilot , who responded , “ Negative.
” It was not immediately clear how much fuel was dropped or what happened between the pilot ’ s last public communications with air traffic control and the time he landed at the airport at @ @ @

Days after a Delta airliner dumped jet fuel over an elementary school in Cudahy, four teachers are suing the company, saying they’ve suffered emotional and physical distress because the pilot didn’t follow protocol.
“Without any true necessity, the Delta pilot of Flight 89 caused the plane to release what are believed to be thousands of pounds of fuel per second over the city of Cudahy, Calif., and areas under its flight path,” attorney Gloria Allred said during a news conference Friday. “At the time, Flight 89 was flying so low that the fuel it was releasing did not have time to evaporate or dissipate before hitting the ground below.”
The suit, filed in Los Angeles County Superior Court, notes that jet fuel is harmful and dangerous to humans and can cause liver damage, decreased immune response, impaired performance on neurological function tests and impaired hearing, according to the federal Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry.
The plaintiffs seek compensatory damages that would be determined in trial, said Allred, who is representing the four women.
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At least 20 Park Avenue Elementary School students were doused by the jet propellant Tuesday morning when the plane abruptly turned back to Los Angeles International Airport shortly after taking off for Shanghai. The pilot radioed the control tower to say that there was an engine problem but that he did not need to dump any fuel to reduce weight before an emergency landing. Yet less than 20 minutes later, the jet — flying at about 2,300 feet — dropped fuel over Park Avenue and the surrounding area.
The effects have sparked outrage in a community that’s been at the center of environmental injustices for decades in Los Angeles County. Dozens of people — many of them children — were treated by paramedics, but no one was seriously injured.
Three of the four teachers, who were not identified during Friday’s news conference, recounted how they saw white plumes overhead and immediately took action once they felt the liquid raining down.
One teacher said she feared they were under terrorist attack while she was taking her first-graders outside for lunch.
“I thought it was raining, and then I caught [the] scent of fuel,” she said.
She said she yelled at her students to get back inside, noting their safety was paramount.
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“All I could think of was making sure my students were safe and to calm their fears, as they were scared and crying,” she said through tears. “Soon after, my head began to hurt and I started feeling nauseous. I couldn’t smell anything other than gas. I couldn’t taste anything other than gas.”
The teacher was given oxygen by firefighters and washed off later that day at home. Still, her headache and nausea remained the next day, so she went to urgent care, she said. Now she’s worried about the long-term health effects for herself, her students, colleagues and friends.
One fifth-grade teacher said her students initially thought what was falling from the sky was rain. They peered up, only to have the “noxious liquid” overwhelm their eyes, mouths, noses, lungs and skin. Students cried and screamed as their eyes and skin began to burn, she said.
“We are all very experienced teachers, but we are not equipped to deal with this level of hazardous contamination,” the teacher said. “We had to ensure the decontamination and care of the students as best we could, until help arrived. In ensuring the immediate care of our students, we were not able to decontaminate ourselves for several hours after the jet fuel had saturated us.”
At least two other L.A. schools were doused with jet fuel. More plaintiffs may be added to the suit as additional teachers, students and parents are interviewed, Allred said.
The Federal Aviation Administration has said it is investigating the matter.
Delta Air Lines spokesman Adrian Gee declined to comment Friday, citing pending litigation. Delta had previously said the pilot was forced to dump fuel over the urban area in order to reduce the plane’s weight before its return landing. However, audio between the pilot and air traffic control at LAX has raised questions over whether that was necessary. Allred said Friday that she’s not yet spoken with the airline.
Normally, pilots offload fuel at higher altitudes so it evaporates before hitting the ground. This time, the Boeing 777 was 12 miles from the runway and low enough to shower the school and adjacent neighborhoods.
The Delta pilot was roughly five minutes into a flight headed to Shanghai when he realized there were problems with the jet’s right engine. An air traffic controller asked whether he needed to return to the airport immediately or to “hold to burn fuel,” and the pilot responded that they had “got it back under control” and would slow down, stay out of terrain and turn back to the airport.
“OK, so you don’t need to hold to dump fuel or anything like that?” the tower asked the pilot, who responded, “Negative.”
It was not immediately clear how much fuel was dropped or what happened between the pilot’s last public communications with air traffic control and the time he landed at the airport at 11:56 a.m.


latimes--2020-01-17--Activists call for justice for man killed in police shooting

A group of activists gathered at an intersection near the border of Palms and Culver City on Friday to call for justice for a man shot and killed by Los Angeles police last weekend .
“ Victor Valencia was houseless and apparently struggled with mental health issues , ” said Adam Smith , an organizer with White People 4 Black Lives .
“ Should being poor and sick in Los Angeles be a death sentence ?
” The Los Angeles County Coroner ’ s Office has not released the name of the man killed in the police shooting , but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ him as Valencia .
The coroner ’ s office said that its records indicate the man killed was not homeless , but the activists said people at a nearby encampment recently asked Valencia to leave because of his struggles with mental health .
The rally followed a Los Angeles Police Commission meeting Tuesday during which Moore suggested that Valencia was unarmed at the time of the shooting .
According to Moore , officers received a radio call reporting a man with a gun in the area of South Sepulveda and South Venice boulevards @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is about a block away from a homeless encampment that ’ s tucked under the overpass of the 405 Freeway .
It sits at the border of Los Angeles and Culver City ; the shooting took place on the Culver City side , Moore said .
A field supervisor assigned to the LAPD ’ s Pacific Patrol Division was in the area and responded to the call .
When he arrived , the supervisor saw a man later identified as Valencia pointing what he believed to be a handgun at him , Moore @ @ @ @ @ @ @ number of rounds , striking Valencia , who was taken to a hospital and pronounced dead .
The supervisor ’ s name has not been released .
“ A bicycle part with a physical makeup very similar to a handgun was located at the scene , ” Moore said .
Details of what precipitated the shooting have not been released .
“ I don ’ t care if he had a hot dog that looked like a gun — it wasn ’ t a gun , ” said General Dogon , an organizer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The activists are calling on the LAPD to release the transcript of the 911 call reporting a man with a gun , the body camera footage of the shooting and the name of the officer involved .
They also want police to produce photos of the bicycle part that prompted the encounter .
Under rules adopted by the Police Commission in 2018 , video from “ critical incidents ” involving the police automatically become public within 45 days after they occur , but the activists are calling for the LAPD to release @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ve got to make them stand accountable for Victor , ” Dogon said .
The shooting , advocates say , comes at a time of heightened tension between Los Angeles authorities and the city ’ s growing homeless population .
They say that homeless people have been targeted by increased enforcement , including ramped-up sweeps of encampments , since the start of the year .
Homeless people also have been dying in record numbers on the streets of Los Angeles .
The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health found in October that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ year , from 536 in 2013 to 1,047 in 2018 .
As of December , the tally for 2019 was 963 , it said .
At the rally Friday , the activists held a banner printed with a rough map of where the homeless deaths took place in 2019 and the slogan “ 3 A Day in L.A. ” — the approximate rate at which unsheltered people are dying .
“ We continue to see LAPD as first responders to the struggles of poverty , ” Smith said .
“ We continue to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with mental health .
... And that increased enforcement and contact with the LAPD will continue to produce dire outcomes .
”

A group of activists gathered at an intersection near the border of Palms and Culver City on Friday to call for justice for a man shot and killed by Los Angeles police last weekend.
“Victor Valencia was houseless and apparently struggled with mental health issues,” said Adam Smith, an organizer with White People 4 Black Lives. “Should being poor and sick in Los Angeles be a death sentence?”
The Los Angeles County Coroner’s Office has not released the name of the man killed in the police shooting, but activists and Police Chief Michel Moore identified him as Valencia. The coroner’s office said that its records indicate the man killed was not homeless, but the activists said people at a nearby encampment recently asked Valencia to leave because of his struggles with mental health.
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The rally followed a Los Angeles Police Commission meeting Tuesday during which Moore suggested that Valencia was unarmed at the time of the shooting.
According to Moore, officers received a radio call reporting a man with a gun in the area of South Sepulveda and South Venice boulevards about 12:45 p.m. Saturday.
The intersection is about a block away from a homeless encampment that’s tucked under the overpass of the 405 Freeway. It sits at the border of Los Angeles and Culver City; the shooting took place on the Culver City side, Moore said.
A field supervisor assigned to the LAPD’s Pacific Patrol Division was in the area and responded to the call. When he arrived, the supervisor saw a man later identified as Valencia pointing what he believed to be a handgun at him, Moore said. The supervisor fired an unknown number of rounds, striking Valencia, who was taken to a hospital and pronounced dead. The supervisor’s name has not been released.
“A bicycle part with a physical makeup very similar to a handgun was located at the scene,” Moore said.
Details of what precipitated the shooting have not been released.
“I don’t care if he had a hot dog that looked like a gun — it wasn’t a gun,” said General Dogon, an organizer with the Los Angeles Community Action Network.
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The activists are calling on the LAPD to release the transcript of the 911 call reporting a man with a gun, the body camera footage of the shooting and the name of the officer involved. They also want police to produce photos of the bicycle part that prompted the encounter.
Under rules adopted by the Police Commission in 2018, video from “critical incidents” involving the police automatically become public within 45 days after they occur, but the activists are calling for the LAPD to release the footage immediately.
“We’ve got to make them stand accountable for Victor,” Dogon said.
The shooting, advocates say, comes at a time of heightened tension between Los Angeles authorities and the city’s growing homeless population. They say that homeless people have been targeted by increased enforcement, including ramped-up sweeps of encampments, since the start of the year.
Homeless people also have been dying in record numbers on the streets of Los Angeles. The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health found in October that deaths among homeless people have increased each year, from 536 in 2013 to 1,047 in 2018. As of December, the tally for 2019 was 963, it said.
At the rally Friday, the activists held a banner printed with a rough map of where the homeless deaths took place in 2019 and the slogan “3 A Day in L.A.” — the approximate rate at which unsheltered people are dying.
“We continue to see LAPD as first responders to the struggles of poverty,” Smith said. “We continue to see LAPD as first responders to struggles with mental health. ... And that increased enforcement and contact with the LAPD will continue to produce dire outcomes.”


latimes--2020-01-17--California lawmakers say pot taxes must be cut to help an industry 'on the brink'

California lawmakers on Friday revived a proposal to temporarily cut taxes on marijuana to boost a legal market that one official said is “ on the brink of collapse , ” drawing encouragement from Gov .
Gavin Newsom as he seeks to overhaul state pot regulators .
The bill would cut the state excise tax on marijuana sales from 15 % to 11 % for three years while eliminating a cultivation tax for that period .
Similar legislation has been shelved in the last two years , with Newsom saying he felt it was too soon after legalization to make @ @ @ @ @ @ @ governor signaled last week that he might be changing his mind , proposing in his new state spending plan a shakeup of the agencies that regulate cannabis sales as well as a streamlining of the method of collecting taxes , and saying he is open to considering other measures to boost a legal industry created when California voters approved Proposition 64 in 2016 .
“ The governor ’ s office through its proposed budget has shown that it understands action needs to be taken , ” said Assemblyman Rob Bonta ( D-Alameda ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bill , who noted that an estimated 75 % of marijuana sales in the state continue to come from the black market .
“ With these steps , we believe that we will be supporting the regulated marketplace for cannabis in California .
It will also help reduce and shrink the unlicensed , illicit market.
” The tax cut was also supported by State Treasurer Fiona Ma and co-authored by three other legislators , including Republican Assemblyman Tom Lackey of Palmdale .
He said Assembly Bill 1948 will “ provide relief to an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ brink of collapse.
” California ’ s legal market has not grown as expected , a problem the cannabis industry and some state officials have attributed to factors including high taxes , bureaucratic red tape and the fact that three-quarters of California cities have banned pot shops .
Josh Drayton of the California Cannabis Industry Assn .
said the new proposal “ is absolutely critical to the survival of California ’ s regulated cannabis industry , ” adding it is “ necessary for regulated operators to compete against a thriving illicit market that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the cost of tested and regulated cannabis products.
” Some supporters of Proposition 64 predicted a legal marijuana market in California would bring in $ 1 billion in annual tax revenue for the state , but the governor ’ s budget last week estimated only $ 479 million will be generated in the current fiscal year and $ 550 million in the budget year beginning July 1 .
“ I was a proponent of the initiative , ” Newsom said last week .
“ We said it would take five to seven years @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
We are marching in that direction.
” Even so , Newsom ’ s new budget proposes combining licensing and enforcement at three state agencies under a new Department of Cannabis Control by July 2021 .
Currently , the state Bureau of Cannabis Control licenses retailers , delivery firms and distributors and enforces the rules , while pot farms are licensed and regulated by the state Department of Food and Agriculture .
Manufacturers of products including edible pot are overseen by the state Department of Public Health .
“ Establishing a stand-alone department @ @ @ @ @ @ @ critical regulatory functions to build a successful legal cannabis market , and create a single point of contact for cannabis licensees and local governments , ” Newsom ’ s advisors wrote in the governor ’ s budget summary .
Details on how the agencies will be merged and operate will be released in the spring , Newsom said .
Lackey said he hopes streamlining licensing and oversight will improve lax enforcement against the illicit market , which he said has led some cities to prohibit pot shops .
Newsom has also proposed simplifying @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of collection for cannabis taxes from the final distributor to the first and the retail excise tax from distributor to retailer .
He said such a plan wouldeliminate a need for the state to estimate an average mark-up rate on cannabis products to determine a wholesale tax rate that ensures the tax paid by the distributor is equal to 15 % of gross receipts at retail .
That process , which resulted in an increase to the tax rate on Jan. 1 , has drawn criticism .
Bonta and Lackey noted that the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ additional tax reform , a position memorialized inNewsom ’ s budget : “ The Administration , in consultation with the industry and stakeholders , will consider other changes to the existing cannabis tax structure , including the number of taxes and tax rates to simplify the system and to support a stronger , safer legal cannabis market , ” the budget summary says .
The tax-reduction bill has also been bolstered by a new report by the state Legislative Analyst ’ s Office , which concluded the existing tax structure is flawed and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the cultivation tax .
California Cannabis Industry Assn .
Executive Director Lindsay Robinson said the budget “ reflects an understanding of our challenges , and furthermore provides solutions that will simplify tax collection , ease licensing , and eventually increase access to the regulated market.
” She said merging the three agencies “ will assist in minimizing differing interpretations of the regulations , ” while also boosting enforcement , “ which is essential in battling against the illicit market while increasing consumer safety.
” The United Cannabis Business Assn.
, which represents @ @ @ @ @ @ @ proposals represent “ a turning of the tide ” on the legal market .
“ Since legalization , the California cannabis industry and its consumers have struggled to navigate an increasingly complex regulatory landscape — a situation that contributed to the growth of the illicit market and the current accessibility of untested products , as well as an increased cost of compliance to license holders , ” said Board President Jerred Kiloh .
But the group said more work is needed .
“ The Governor ’ s budget only lowers the burden of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” the association said in a statement last week .
“ In the coming months we ’ ll be working on identifying specific taxation numbers and processes behind this new structure — only then will we be able to determine the overall impact on the industry .
”

California lawmakers on Friday revived a proposal to temporarily cut taxes on marijuana to boost a legal market that one official said is “on the brink of collapse,” drawing encouragement from Gov. Gavin Newsom as he seeks to overhaul state pot regulators.
The bill would cut the state excise tax on marijuana sales from 15% to 11% for three years while eliminating a cultivation tax for that period. Similar legislation has been shelved in the last two years, with Newsom saying he felt it was too soon after legalization to make changes to the law.
But the governor signaled last week that he might be changing his mind, proposing in his new state spending plan a shakeup of the agencies that regulate cannabis sales as well as a streamlining of the method of collecting taxes, and saying he is open to considering other measures to boost a legal industry created when California voters approved Proposition 64 in 2016.
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“The governor’s office through its proposed budget has shown that it understands action needs to be taken,” said Assemblyman Rob Bonta (D-Alameda), a lead author of the new bill, who noted that an estimated 75% of marijuana sales in the state continue to come from the black market. “With these steps, we believe that we will be supporting the regulated marketplace for cannabis in California. It will also help reduce and shrink the unlicensed, illicit market.”
The tax cut was also supported by State Treasurer Fiona Ma and co-authored by three other legislators, including Republican Assemblyman Tom Lackey of Palmdale. He said Assembly Bill 1948 will “provide relief to an industry that’s clearly on the brink of collapse.”
California’s legal market has not grown as expected, a problem the cannabis industry and some state officials have attributed to factors including high taxes, bureaucratic red tape and the fact that three-quarters of California cities have banned pot shops.
Josh Drayton of the California Cannabis Industry Assn. said the new proposal “is absolutely critical to the survival of California’s regulated cannabis industry,” adding it is “necessary for regulated operators to compete against a thriving illicit market that evades the financial obligations which drive up the cost of tested and regulated cannabis products.”
Some supporters of Proposition 64 predicted a legal marijuana market in California would bring in $1 billion in annual tax revenue for the state, but the governor’s budget last week estimated only $479 million will be generated in the current fiscal year and $550 million in the budget year beginning July 1.
“I was a proponent of the initiative,” Newsom said last week. “We said it would take five to seven years to get close to that billion dollars. We are marching in that direction.”
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Even so, Newsom’s new budget proposes combining licensing and enforcement at three state agencies under a new Department of Cannabis Control by July 2021.
Currently, the state Bureau of Cannabis Control licenses retailers, delivery firms and distributors and enforces the rules, while pot farms are licensed and regulated by the state Department of Food and Agriculture. Manufacturers of products including edible pot are overseen by the state Department of Public Health.
“Establishing a stand-alone department with dedicated enforcement will centralize and align critical regulatory functions to build a successful legal cannabis market, and create a single point of contact for cannabis licensees and local governments,” Newsom’s advisors wrote in the governor’s budget summary.
Details on how the agencies will be merged and operate will be released in the spring, Newsom said.
Lackey said he hopes streamlining licensing and oversight will improve lax enforcement against the illicit market, which he said has led some cities to prohibit pot shops.
Newsom has also proposed simplifying the tax structure by moving the point of collection for cannabis taxes from the final distributor to the first and the retail excise tax from distributor to retailer. He said such a plan wouldeliminate a need for the state to estimate an average mark-up rate on cannabis products to determine a wholesale tax rate that ensures the tax paid by the distributor is equal to 15% of gross receipts at retail. That process, which resulted in an increase to the tax rate on Jan. 1, has drawn criticism.
Bonta and Lackey noted that the governor also left the door open to additional tax reform, a position memorialized inNewsom’s budget: “The Administration, in consultation with the industry and stakeholders, will consider other changes to the existing cannabis tax structure, including the number of taxes and tax rates to simplify the system and to support a stronger, safer legal cannabis market,” the budget summary says.
The tax-reduction bill has also been bolstered by a new report by the state Legislative Analyst’s Office, which concluded the existing tax structure is flawed and recommended changes that could include the elimination of the cultivation tax.
California Cannabis Industry Assn. Executive Director Lindsay Robinson said the budget “reflects an understanding of our challenges, and furthermore provides solutions that will simplify tax collection, ease licensing, and eventually increase access to the regulated market.”
She said merging the three agencies “will assist in minimizing differing interpretations of the regulations,” while also boosting enforcement, “which is essential in battling against the illicit market while increasing consumer safety.”
The United Cannabis Business Assn., which represents many Los Angeles-based retailers, said the proposals represent “a turning of the tide” on the legal market.
“Since legalization, the California cannabis industry and its consumers have struggled to navigate an increasingly complex regulatory landscape — a situation that contributed to the growth of the illicit market and the current accessibility of untested products, as well as an increased cost of compliance to license holders,” said Board President Jerred Kiloh.
But the group said more work is needed.
“The Governor’s budget only lowers the burden of complexity, not the tax itself,” the association said in a statement last week. “In the coming months we’ll be working on identifying specific taxation numbers and processes behind this new structure — only then will we be able to determine the overall impact on the industry.”