latimes--2020-03-09--Ex-L.A. Councilman Englander charged with obstruction in probe alleging lavish spending and escorts

Former Los Angeles City Councilman Mitchell Englander has been charged with obstructing an investigation into his alleged acceptance of cash , female escort services , hotel rooms and expensive meals from a businessman during trips to Las Vegas and Palm Springs , federal officials announced Monday .
Englander , 49 , is the first City Hall figure to be publicly charged in connection with a sweeping probe that has delved into the worlds of L.A. politics and real estate development .
In all , he faces seven counts — three of witness tampering , three for allegedly making false statements @ @ @ @ @ @ @ falsify facts .
He surrendered to federal authorities Monday morning and is expected to make an initial appearance in court Monday afternoon .
Englander could not immediately be reached for comment .
The federal indictment alleges that Englander got cash , lavish meals and escort services from an unidentified businessman who was “ seeking to increase his business opportunities in the city.
” That businessman later began cooperating with the FBI and U.S. attorney ’ s office in their investigation .
In June 2017 , Englander and one of his top aides went @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with the businessman , along with another city staffer , a lobbyist and a real estate developer , according to the indictment .
The businessman got them hotel rooms and “ amenities ordinarily limited to VIP customers , ” investigators found .
At the resort , Englander took an envelope containing $ 10,000 in cash from the businessman in a bathroom , according to the indictment .
The businessman also gave Englander roughly $ 1,000 in casino chips , treated the group to $ 2,481 in dinner and drinks at a restaurant at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 24,000 for bottle service and alcohol at a nightclub , federal investigators found .
In the early morning , after they returned to their hotel , the businessman told Englander he was ordering female escorts for the group , whom he paid $ 300 to $ 400 in cash for their services , the indictment states .
Englander is the only person identified by name in the indictment , but his former aide John Lee , who was later elected to fill his seat , said Monday that he was on the Las @ @ @ @ @ @ @ everything in my power to pay for and reimburse expenses related to this trip.
” “ I was unaware of any illegal activities for which Councilmember Englander is being charged , ” Lee said in a statement .
“ I completely cooperated with the FBI when they contacted me for voluntary interviews in July and August 2017 and will continue to do so.
” Lee recently ran for reelection , facing off with college educator Loraine Lundquist , and has been ahead in votes tallied in that race so far .
In a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ should have had this “ critical information ” before they went to the polls and demanded , “ What did John Lee know , when did he know it , and was he involved in the cover-up ?
” “ The fact of the matter is Englander engineered his succession plan in the special election , propping up John Lee , even though he was under federal investigation and was fully aware of it , ” Lundquist said .
The indictment also details meetings Englander had with the unnamed businessman in Palm Springs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an envelope with $ 5,000 in cash from the businessman during a brief encounter in a casino bathroom while the men attended a golf tournament .
A week later , Englander brought the businessman to lunch with a person identified in the indictment as “ Developer B , ” whom prosecutors described as the CEO of a construction company .
The purpose of the lunch , the indictment said , was to give the businessman a chance to introduce himself and his company to the developer .
After the lunch , the developer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the lunch and suggested another meeting to allow the businessman to make a “ presentation , ” according to the indictment .
FBI agents and prosecutors from the U.S. attorney ’ s public corruption unit turned their attention to Englander in June 2017 , when they intercepted a phone call in which the participants discussed perks and payments the unnamed businessman allegedly provided to public officials , according to the indictment .
The call led investigators to begin digging into whether Englander , a second City Council member referred to in the indictment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ two staffers who worked for Englander and the unnamed council member had received “ personal benefits ” from the businessman .
The following month , agents and prosecutors approached Englander ’ s staffer .
After two requests for an interview , the staffer agreed , speaking to investigators about the Las Vegas trip , according to the indictment .
Investigators also confronted the businessman , who agreed to be interviewed with his attorney present .
A few weeks later , the businessman accepted an offer from prosecutors to formally cooperate in the investigation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ chance to win a more lenient sentence in exchange for their help gathering evidence against other suspects and testifying against others at trials .
After learning of the federal investigation , Englander told the businessman who had lavished him with cash and meals to lie to investigators , including about the “ massage lady ” in Las Vegas , according to the indictment .
He also contacted the businessman through an encrypted messaging service , telling him that he wanted to reimburse him for portions of the Las Vegas trip , the indictment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ then sent a check to the businessman meant to appear as if he had sought to reimburse the businessman before the FBI contacted him .
In interviews with the FBI , Englander repeatedly made false statements , including about the perks he had gotten from the businessman , the indictment alleges .
The same day that he resigned from the council , Englander was asked if he had gotten anything other than a hotel room , dinners and some casino chips that he had paid back , the indictment states .
Englander replied @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” according to the indictment .
Englander also failed to report the $ 15,000 he had received from the businessman on annual forms that lawmakers are required to fill out , federal investigators alleged .
If convicted of the seven charges , Englander could face a maximum of 50 years in federal prison .
Englander was first elected to the council in 2011 and reelected in 2015 , then announced he was stepping down before the end of his term to take a job with Oak View Group , a sports and entertainment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ identified himself as president of the government relations group E-Venture .
When he first ran for City Council , Englander campaigned as the “ official public safety candidate , ” touting his support from the Los Angeles Police Protective League , the union that represents rank-and-file officers , as well as other law enforcement groups .
In one campaign mailer , he can be seen in his LAPD uniform , which he wore as a reserve officer .
“ Mitch Englander is the official public safety candidate , endorsed by the men and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ safe !
” the mailer reads .
Englander represented the northwestern stretches of the San Fernando Valley on the council , including neighborhoods like Chatsworth , Porter Ranch and Granada Hills , and sat on three of the most powerful committees at City Hall — one focused on the budget , another on public safety , and a third that vetted real estate development .
The councilman also served as an LAPD reserve officer and made an unsuccessful run for the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors .
Englander announced he was planning @ @ @ @ @ @ @ month before FBI agents descended on the home and offices of Councilman Jose Huizar and toted out boxes of materials in November 2018 .
Real estate developers with projects in downtown Los Angeles soon started getting grand jury subpoenas asking them to identify donations they had made to political committees that backed Huizar and his wife , who was launching her own bid for the council .
A federal search warrant filed more than a year ago indicated that agents have been seeking evidence of potential crimes including bribery , kickbacks , extortion @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dozen people , including Huizar and aides in his office ; Councilman Curren Price , who represents part of South Los Angeles ; Deron Williams , who works as a top aide to Councilman Herb Wesson ; and former Department of Building and Safety chief Ray Chan , among other city officials and business figures .
Federal officials have not publicly announced charges against those individuals .
Englander was not mentioned in that 2018 search warrant .

When a Los Angeles businessman treated then-City Councilman Mitchell Englander to a night out in Las Vegas in 2017, he pulled out all the stops, according to a federal indictment unsealed Monday.
The perks allegedly included a hotel room with amenities reserved for high rollers, an envelope stuffed with $10,000 in cash, lavish meals and bottle service at a nightclub, and a female escort sent to his room at the end of a long night of partying.
For the record: An earlier version of this article said Englander sent the businessman a text message thanking him for an enjoyable trip. The person who allegedly sent the text message was an Englander aide who is not identified by name in the indictment.
But when FBI agents grilled Englander about what happened in Vegas, the councilman said he had taken no cash from the businessman — one of several alleged lies that would compound Englander’s legal woes. And when asked if he had gotten any freebies besides the hotel room, dinner and casino chips that he had paid back, Englander said, “Not that I recall.”
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Englander, 49, surrendered to federal authorities Monday and was charged with obstructing an investigation into his allegedly accepting such gifts from the businessman during trips to Las Vegas and Palm Springs. He faces seven criminal counts — three of witness tampering, three for allegedly making false statements and a single count of scheming to falsify facts. Englander pleaded not guilty and was released on a $50,000 bond guaranteed by his wife.
The former councilman is the first City Hall figure to be publicly charged in connection with a sweeping probe that has delved into the worlds of L.A. politics and real estate development. Federal officials billed the charges against Englander as part of “an ongoing public corruption investigation.”
Englander announced he was planning to step down from the council in 2018, less than a month before FBI agents descended on the home and offices of Councilman Jose Huizar. A federal search warrant filed more than a year ago indicated that agents have been seeking evidence of potential crimes including bribery, kickbacks, extortion and money laundering involving more than a dozen people, including Huizar and other city officials and business figures.
Federal officials have not publicly announced charges against any of those individuals. Englander, who was not mentioned in that warrant, would face a maximum of 50 years in federal prison if convicted on all charges. He was ordered to surrender his passport, not contact any other defendants or potential witnesses, and to return to court Thursday.
His attorney Janet Levine said in a statement Monday that Englander was proud of the work he had done for his community. “Despite this setback, with the support of his family and friends, he looks forward to continuing his lifelong contributions to the community that has given him so much,” Levine said.
Englander made the trip to Vegas in June 2017 with an unidentified businessman who was “seeking to increase his business opportunities in the city,” according to the indictment. Accompanying Englander were one of his top aides, another city staffer, a lobbyist and a real estate developer whom prosecutors dubbed “Developer A.”
The businessman got people in the group hotel rooms and “amenities ordinarily limited to VIP customers,” investigators found. In a bathroom at the resort, the man also handed Englander an envelope containing $10,000 in cash, according to the indictment.
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Read the federal indictment Former Los Angeles City Councilman Mitchell Englander has been charged with obstructing an investigation into him accepting cash, female escort services, hotel rooms and expensive meals from a businessman during trips to Las Vegas and Palm Springs, federal officials announced Monday.
The businessman also gave Englander roughly $1,000 in casino chips, which the councilman used to gamble before returning chips to the businessman. The indictment did not specify the value of the chips he returned.
The man also treated the group to $2,481 in dinner and drinks at a restaurant at the Vegas resort and paid about $24,000 for bottle service and alcohol at a nightclub, which the real estate developer supplemented with an additional $10,000 for drinks, federal investigators found.
In the early morning, after they returned to their hotel, the businessman told Englander he was ordering female escorts for the group, whom he paid $300 to $400 in cash for their services, the indictment states.
Englander is the only person identified by name in the document. His former chief of staff John Lee — who was later elected to fill his seat — said Monday that he had been on the Las Vegas trip with Englander and “did everything in my power to pay for and reimburse expenses related to this trip.”
“I was unaware of any illegal activities for which Councilmember Englander is being charged,” Councilman Lee said in a statement, later adding that he was unaware that escorts were allegedly involved. “I completely cooperated with the FBI when they contacted me for voluntary interviews in July and August 2017 and will continue to do so.”
Lee recently ran for reelection against college educator Loraine Lundquist, who has lagged behind him in votes tallied as of Friday. Lundquist said voters should have had this “critical information” before going to the polls, and she demanded, “What did John Lee know, when did he know it, and was he involved in the cover-up?”
The indictment also details meetings Englander had with the unnamed businessman in Palm Springs in June 2017. Englander allegedly accepted an envelope with $5,000 in cash from the businessman in a casino bathroom while the men attended a golf tournament.
A week later, Englander brought the businessman to lunch with a person identified in the indictment as “Developer B,” whom prosecutors described as the CEO of a construction company. The purpose of the lunch, the indictment said, was to introduce the businessman and his company to the developer.
After the lunch, the developer emailed the men to thank them and suggested another meeting to allow the businessman to make a “presentation,” according to the indictment.
FBI agents and prosecutors from the U.S. attorney’s public corruption unit turned their attention to Englander in June 2017, when they intercepted a phone call about perks the unnamed businessman allegedly provided to public officials, according to the indictment.
The call led investigators to begin digging into whether Englander, a second City Council member referred to in the indictment as “Councilmember A,” and two staffers — one who worked for Englander, the other for the unnamed council member — had received “personal benefits” from the businessman.
The businessman soon agreed to cooperate with the federal investigation and relayed conversations in which Englander repeatedly told him to lie to investigators, according to the indictment.
“You and I have never had a conversation” about what to tell FBI agents, Englander instructed the businessman during a private conversation at a political fundraiser, according to the indictment.
Englander also allegedly told the businessman to falsely tell agents that Englander had tried repeatedly to reimburse the man for his hotel room and meals on the Las Vegas trip. As for the “massage lady,” federal investigators say that Englander told the businessman, “Don’t say it … Don’t mention … No, no, don’t mention it,” according to the indictment.
When the two men met days later in Englander’s car, the councilman allegedly turned up the volume of music that was playing in an attempt to thwart any listening devices and, while driving in circles around downtown Los Angeles, again instructed the man to lie to agents, the indictment said.
After learning about the federal investigation, Englander also contacted the businessman through an encrypted messaging service, telling him that he wanted to reimburse him for portions of the Las Vegas trip, the indictment states. Federal investigators say that Englander then sent a $442 check to the businessman backdated to appear as if he had sought to reimburse the businessman before the FBI contacted him.
The package also included a second check, marked with the same date, from the Englander aide. Lundquist, the candidate who ran against Councilman Lee, said that if it was Lee who backdated the check, “he should resign.”
In interviews with the FBI, Englander repeatedly made false statements, including about the perks he had gotten from the businessman, the indictment alleges.
Englander also failed to report the $15,000 he had received from the businessman on annual forms that lawmakers are required to fill out about gifts, federal investigators alleged.
Englander was first elected to the council in 2011 and reelected in 2015, then announced he was stepping down before the end of his term to take a job with Oak View Group, a sports and entertainment firm.
When he first ran for City Council, Englander campaigned as the “official public safety candidate,” touting his support from the Los Angeles Police Protective League, the union that represents rank-and-file officers, and other law enforcement groups. In one campaign mailer, he can be seen in his LAPD uniform, which he wore as a reserve officer.
Englander represented the northwestern stretches of the San Fernando Valley on the council, including Chatsworth, Porter Ranch and Granada Hills, and sat on three of the most powerful committees at City Hall — one focused on the budget, another on public safety, and a third that vetted real estate development. The councilman also made an unsuccessful run for the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors.
Times staff writer David Zahniser contributed to this report.


latimes--2020-03-09--Atmospheric river to unleash heavy rain in Southern California starting tonight

A moisture-rich atmospheric river approaching the coast of Southern California is expected to unleash the first significant rainfall of the year beginning late Monday .
The storm— fed by a plume of subtropical water vapor at the lower and middle levels of the atmosphere — could bring 1 to 3 inches of rain to the area through at least Wednesday .
Some southern areas , including the foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains , could see up to 4 inches of rain , said Richard Thompson , a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Oxnard .
The heaviest rain @ @ @ @ @ @ @ chances for both an ugly morning and evening commute .
Forecasters also are keeping an eye on conditions that could produce thunderstorms across the region .
If a thunderstorm does form , it will be able to produce rainfall rates in excess of an inch per hour .
Officials say these rates would likely cause flooding near recent burn areas .
The rain is expected to lessen by Wednesday , but scattered showers could linger through Thursday and Friday , forecasters said .
While the northern section of the state saw a few @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the weekend that largely missed Southern California , that region won ’ t be seeing much moisture from the atmospheric river , Thompson said .
“ Southern California is going to be the big winner from this storm , ” he said .
The rain appears to be just in time to help the region rebound from disappointing precipitation totals after a parched start to 2020 .
A high-pressure ridge that lingered over the eastern Pacific Ocean for much of January and February rerouted winter storms that typically soak California and the Pacific @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s wettest months .
A total of 0.04 inches of rain fell in downtown Los Angeles last month , placing it in a tie with February 1899 for .
Downtown L.A. also had its fourth-driest combined January and February on record after just 0.36 inches fell during the first two months of 2020 .
The driest combined and February occurred in 1912 , when a scant 0.07 inches of rain fell in downtown .
Forecasters and water managers keeping a close eye on precipitation are hopeful that a wet month , a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ miracle March , ” may help bolster lackluster winter rain totals and help keep the state out of drought conditions .
A dry few months have already taken their toll on much of the state .
Nearly 70 % of California , including much of Los Angeles County , is considered to be in .
Just over 34 % of the state , including portions of the Bay Area and much of the San Joaquin Valley , is considered to be in , according to maps released last week by the U.S. @ @ @

Forecasters say to expect significant rainfall in Los Angeles on Tuesday from the first atmospheric river storm of 2020.
A moisture-rich atmospheric river approaching the coast of Southern California is expected to unleash the first significant rainfall of the year beginning late Monday.
The storm— fed by a plume of subtropical water vapor at the lower and middle levels of the atmosphere — could bring 1 to 3 inches of rain to the area through at least Wednesday. Some southern areas, including the foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains, could see up to 4 inches of rain, said Richard Thompson, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Oxnard.
The heaviest rain is expected throughout Tuesday, upping the chances for both an ugly morning and evening commute. Forecasters also are keeping an eye on conditions that could produce thunderstorms across the region. If a thunderstorm does form, it will be able to produce rainfall rates in excess of an inch per hour. Officials say these rates would likely cause flooding near recent burn areas.
The rain is expected to lessen by Wednesday, but scattered showers could linger through Thursday and Friday, forecasters said.
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While the northern section of the state saw a few scattered showers from an earlier storm over the weekend that largely missed Southern California, that region won’t be seeing much moisture from the atmospheric river, Thompson said.
“Southern California is going to be the big winner from this storm,” he said.
Latest radar loop as of 6 AM.
Light rain (< 0.25") will fall across #SanLuisObispo & #SantaBarbara counties this morning.
Moderate to locally heavy rain still on track for all of #SoCal tonight
thru Wed. #cawx pic.twitter.com/2HLGaS8Nnf — NWS Los Angeles (@NWSLosAngeles) March 9, 2020
The rain appears to be just in time to help the region rebound from disappointing precipitation totals after a parched start to 2020. A high-pressure ridge that lingered over the eastern Pacific Ocean for much of January and February rerouted winter storms that typically soak California and the Pacific Northwest during what are usually the state’s wettest months.
A total of 0.04 inches of rain fell in downtown Los Angeles last month, placing it in a tie with February 1899 for the 10th-driest February on record . Downtown L.A. also had its fourth-driest combined January and February on record after just 0.36 inches fell during the first two months of 2020. The driest combined January and February occurred in 1912, when a scant 0.07 inches of rain fell in downtown.
Forecasters and water managers keeping a close eye on precipitation are hopeful that a wet month, a phenomenon known by weather experts as a “miracle March,” may help bolster lackluster winter rain totals and help keep the state out of drought conditions.
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latimes--2020-03-09--To fight coronavirus, L.A. restaurant chain takes temperatures before letting patrons dine

Amid the continuing coronavirus outbreak , one restaurant is giving a whole new meaning to the phrase , “ Check , please.
” Since late January , Sichuan Impression has used infrared thermometers — which can take a person ’ s temperature without touching them — to screen patrons at its three locations in Alhambra , Tustin and West Los Angeles .
If someone is running a fever or exhibits other abnormal symptoms , employees help them contact medical services .
Those who refuse to have their temperature checked are declined service .
“ We at Sichuan Impression respect and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all corners of the world , ” the restaurant wrote in a Jan. 26 Instagram post .
“ Offering you a healthy and safe dining environment is also upheld as our top priority.
” The restaurant also is encouraging to-go orders , and has offered discounts for those .
“ It has been six years since Sichuan Impression opened , and to treat everyone who comes to dine equally has always been our basic principle , ” the Instagram post said .
“ We are grateful for your cooperation during this extraordinary period.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ announcement was largely positive on Instagram , with a handful of commenters responding with thumbs-up and heart emojis .
“ I ’ m in absolute awe , ” one user wrote .
“ Honestly , I wish many employers were this forward-thinking and focused on preventing large-scale breakouts.
” Not everyone was a fan , however .
“ Guess I ain ’ t going to [ your ] restaurant anymore , ” one user wrote .
When asked Monday about businesses doing this type of screening , Los Angeles County Department of Public @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ We appreciate that our businesses are being creative ; we understand that there is a lot of concern , and we welcome the fact that folks are looking at ways to minimize exposures within their businesses.
” But , she cautioned , “ those infrared thermometers are not 100 % .
” “ The most important thing that we can do is stay home when we ’ re sick , ” she said .
“ And I mean , no matter how mild your illness is , you need to stay home @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The coronavirus first emerged in Wuhan , China , around the beginning of the year .
There are now reported cases in more than 100 countries , according to the World Health Organization .
So far , the disease has infected more than 500 people in the United States — including 114 in California , health officials say .
Stateside , 22 people have died from the virus , most of them in Washington state .
There ’ s been one confirmed death in California : a man in Placer County .
Because @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been blamed for sparking bias , misinformation and racism against Asian Americans .
Businesses and usually bustling gathering spots in Chinatowns and other Asian communities also have felt the sting as customers and tourists are staying away amid the scare .

Customer Grace Magallon, 63, right, of East Los Angeles after having her temperature taken by Sophia Huang, a supervisor at Sichuan Impression restaurant in Alhambra.
Amid the continuing coronavirus outbreak, one restaurant is giving a whole new meaning to the phrase, “Check, please.”
Since late January, Sichuan Impression has used infrared thermometers — which can take a person’s temperature without touching them — to screen patrons at its three locations in Alhambra, Tustin and West Los Angeles.
If someone is running a fever or exhibits other abnormal symptoms, employees help them contact medical services.
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Those who refuse to have their temperature checked are declined service.
“We at Sichuan Impression respect and enjoy having our guests who come from all corners of the world,” the restaurant wrote in a Jan. 26 Instagram post. “Offering you a healthy and safe dining environment is also upheld as our top priority.”
The restaurant also is encouraging to-go orders, and has offered discounts for those.
“It has been six years since Sichuan Impression opened, and to treat everyone who comes to dine equally has always been our basic principle,” the Instagram post said. “We are grateful for your cooperation during this extraordinary period.”
Reaction to the restaurant’s announcement was largely positive on Instagram, with a handful of commenters responding with thumbs-up and heart emojis.
Advertisement
“I’m in absolute awe,” one user wrote. “Honestly, I wish many employers were this forward-thinking and focused on preventing large-scale breakouts.”
Not everyone was a fan, however.
“Guess I ain’t going to [your] restaurant anymore,” one user wrote.
When asked Monday about businesses doing this type of screening, Los Angeles County Department of Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer told reporters, “We appreciate that our businesses are being creative; we understand that there is a lot of concern, and we welcome the fact that folks are looking at ways to minimize exposures within their businesses.”
But, she cautioned, “those infrared thermometers are not 100%.”
“The most important thing that we can do is stay home when we’re sick,” she said. “And I mean, no matter how mild your illness is, you need to stay home until you’re fully well.”
The coronavirus first emerged in Wuhan, China, around the beginning of the year. There are now reported cases in more than 100 countries, according to the World Health Organization.
So far, the disease has infected more than 500 people in the United States — including 114 in California, health officials say.
Stateside, 22 people have died from the virus, most of them in Washington state. There’s been one confirmed death in California: a man in Placer County.
Because of its origins, the disease has been blamed for sparking bias, misinformation and racism against Asian Americans. Businesses and usually bustling gathering spots in Chinatowns and other Asian communities also have felt the sting as customers and tourists are staying away amid the scare.


latimes--2020-03-09--10 Cal State Long Beach students self-quarantine after possible coronavirus exposure

Ten Cal State Long Beach students and two community-member club advisors are in self-quarantine amid concerns they may have been exposed to coronavirus during a recent event in Washington , D.C. , officials announced Sunday .
College officials said the students and advisors have not shown any symptoms after attending an event last week in Washington , D.C. , where three attendees — who are not connected to the campus — tested positive for COVID-19 , which is caused by the new coronavirus .
The self-quarantine is being done “ out of an abundance of caution , ” Dr. Kimberly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at the college , said in a prepared statement .
The college did not specify what out-of-state event the group attended .
“ Because one of our attendees at the event in Washington lives in student housing , that facility is also being specially cleaned as a preventative measure , ” the statement read .
“ As noted in an email to campus yesterday , our campus has initiated additional cleaning protocols across campus.
” There are at least 114 coronavirus cases in California and more than 500 nationally as officials struggle to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ confirmed cases at the college or in the city of Long Beach .
However , the virus ’ spread has forced several schools in the state to close , and Stanford University will switch to online classes for the next few weeks , college administrators announced .
An oil price war triggered by the illness has sent already anxious financial markets into chaos , with stocks diving and crude prices collapsing in a worldwide panic that threatens a global economic recession .
Public health officials have warned that the number of Californians testing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the coming days as testing becomes more widely available .
Though only 788 tests have been conducted statewide so far , California currently has kits for 8,000 individuals .
A private lab , Quest Diagnostics in San Juan Capistrano , will be able to process 2,000 tests each day , beginning Monday , if needed , officials said .

Ten Cal State Long Beach students and two community-member club advisors are in self-quarantine amid concerns they may have been exposed to coronavirus during a recent event in Washington, D.C., officials announced Sunday.
College officials said the students and advisors have not shown any symptoms after attending an event last week in Washington, D.C., where three attendees — who are not connected to the campus — tested positive for COVID-19, which is caused by the new coronavirus. The self-quarantine is being done “out of an abundance of caution,” Dr. Kimberly Fodran, co-director of student health services at the college, said in a prepared statement.
The college did not specify what out-of-state event the group attended.
“Because one of our attendees at the event in Washington lives in student housing, that facility is also being specially cleaned as a preventative measure,” the statement read. “As noted in an email to campus yesterday, our campus has initiated additional cleaning protocols across campus.”
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There are at least 114 coronavirus cases in California and more than 500 nationally as officials struggle to contain the virus. There are no confirmed cases at the college or in the city of Long Beach.
However, the virus’ spread has forced several schools in the state to close, and Stanford University will switch to online classes for the next few weeks, college administrators announced. An oil price war triggered by the illness has sent already anxious financial markets into chaos, with stocks diving and crude prices collapsing in a worldwide panic that threatens a global economic recession.
Public health officials have warned that the number of Californians testing positive for the virus will likely rise in the coming days as testing becomes more widely available.
Though only 788 tests have been conducted statewide so far, California currently has kits for 8,000 individuals. A private lab, Quest Diagnostics in San Juan Capistrano, will be able to process 2,000 tests each day, beginning Monday, if needed, officials said.


latimes--2020-03-09--Plans set for keeping the public safe from coronavirus as cruise ship passengers exit in Oakland

The Grand Princess cruise ship — stuck off the San Francisco coast for days because of a coronavirus outbreak — will dock at noon Monday in Oakland .
Officials stressed they are taking aggressive action to keep passengers who might have the virus isolated from the larger population as they do the evacuation .
It is unclear how deeply the virus spread aboard the ship .
Several days ago , the Coast Guard sent 45 tests , and 21 came back positive for COVID-19 , the disease caused by the new coronavirus .
Here is what state and federal authorities @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 3,000 people onboard : Getting off the ship – Of the 2,500 passengers aboard the ship , those in need of immediate medical care or those with preexisting medical conditions will get off the ship first .
– The second group off will be California residents .
– People who live out of state will be taken to federal facilities closer to their homes .
– Before disembarking , they will have their temperatures taken and be assessed for either transfer or treatment at regional medical facilities or quarantine at state military bases @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it could be take several days to complete the process .
– The 962 California passengers who did not need immediate medical attention would be taken to Travis Air Force Base in nearby Solano County for 14 days of quarantine , with a smaller number going to the Marine Corps Air Station in San Diego .
– The remaining American passengers would be sent to military bases in Texas and Georgia .
– Oakland International Airport will handle charter flights to the other bases , and out of the country .
“ There @ @ @ @ @ @ @ population terminals at Oakland Airport , ” Newsom said .
– Foreign passengers would be flown to their home countries .
– When the evacuation is finished , the Grand Princess would sail out of San Francisco Bay .
– The remaining 1,094 crew members — mostly foreign nationals — would remain quarantined onboard .

Anita Chabria, Joe Mozingo, Alex Wigglesworth

The Grand Princess maintains a holding pattern about 30 miles off the coast of San Francisco on Sunday.
The Grand Princess cruise ship — stuck off the San Francisco coast for days because of a coronavirus outbreak — will dock at noon Monday in Oakland.
Officials stressed they are taking aggressive action to keep passengers who might have the virus isolated from the larger population as they do the evacuation.
It is unclear how deeply the virus spread aboard the ship. Several days ago, the Coast Guard sent 45 tests, and 21 came back positive for COVID-19, the disease caused by the new coronavirus.
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Here is what state and federal authorities plan to do with the more than 3,000 people onboard:
Getting off the ship
– Of the 2,500 passengers aboard the ship, those in need of immediate medical care or those with preexisting medical conditions will get off the ship first.
– The second group off will be California residents.
– People who live out of state will be taken to federal facilities closer to their homes.
– Before disembarking, they will have their temperatures taken and be assessed for either transfer or treatment at regional medical facilities or quarantine at state military bases.
– Gov. Gavin Newsom warned it could be take several days to complete the process.
Out of Oakland
– The 962 California passengers who did not need immediate medical attention would be taken to Travis Air Force Base in nearby Solano County for 14 days of quarantine, with a smaller number going to the Marine Corps Air Station in San Diego.
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– The remaining American passengers would be sent to military bases in Texas and Georgia.
– Oakland International Airport will handle charter flights to the other bases, and out of the country. “There will be no contact with the general population terminals at Oakland Airport,” Newsom said.
– Foreign passengers would be flown to their home countries.
The ship
– When the evacuation is finished, the Grand Princess would sail out of San Francisco Bay.
– The remaining 1,094 crew members — mostly foreign nationals — would remain quarantined onboard.


latimes--2020-03-09--Coronavirus prompts San Francisco to cancel group events at city facilities

San Francisco has banned group events of more than 50 people at many city facilities amid the growing spread of coronavirus , part of a larger effort in California to contain the outbreak .
The ban will last for two weeks and includes such iconic locations as City Hall , the Embarcadero piers , the Palace of Fine Arts and Bill Graham Civic Auditorium .
The San Francisco Public Library announced Monday it was canceling all programs , classes and events , including community use of meeting rooms , through March 31 .
All library locations will remain open during @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ issued on the basis of scientific evidence and best practices as currently known and available to protect vulnerable members of the public from avoidable risk of serious illness or death resulting from exposure to coronavirus , ” the city said .
The move was prompted by a perception among officials that the risk of the virus ’ spread is increasing .
who were infected with COVID-19 , neither of whom had a history of travel to places with confirmed coronavirus cases nor had a known contact with a person with a confirmed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ did have known contact with an infected person tested positive for the virus Saturday .
“ We must reduce the times and places where people come together , ” Dr. Grant Colfax , San Francisco ’ s director of health , said at a Friday night .
“ Human viruses need people to carry them .
They thrive in normal social circumstances .
If we wait longer to take stronger action until we have multiple confirmed cases and deaths , the window of opportunity that we have now will have closed.
” The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Day Parade , originally slated for this weekend , was postponed .
San Francisco Symphony concerts have been scrapped .
Heeding San Francisco ’ s call to cancel large gatherings , such as concerts , sporting events and conventions , even a volunteer tree planting scheduled for Arbor Week was pulled .
In San Mateo County , home to Facebook ’ s headquarters , the health officer warned of the potential for the virus to spread into a pandemic .
In a worst-case scenario , he warned , a pandemic will cause disruptions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cancellation of public events and restrict the ability to travel .
“ It has likely been spreading for weeks , perhaps months , ” Dr. Scott Morrow said in a .
“ We now all need to take assertive actions to inhibit the spread of this new virus.
” Authorities decided to allow the Los Angeles Marathon to proceed Sunday as scheduled .
But health officials urged spectators to keep six feet away from strangers , the maximum distance at which droplets loaded with virus from an infected person ’ s cough or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ground .
Organizers of the BNP Paribas Open on Sunday canceled this year ’ s tournament at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden , citing the public health emergency declared by the Riverside County Public Health Department following a recently confirmed local case of coronavirus .
The fate of the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival remains unclear .

Visitors to Pier 39 in San Francisco watch all-male California sea lions, sun bathing on the docks below. The city is banning group events of more than 50 people at iconic locations as City Hall, the Embarcadero piers, the Palace of Fine Arts and Bill Graham Civic Auditorium, amid the growing spread of coronavirus.
San Francisco has banned group events of more than 50 people at many city facilities amid the growing spread of coronavirus, part of a larger effort in California to contain the outbreak.
The ban will last for two weeks and includes such iconic locations as City Hall, the Embarcadero piers, the Palace of Fine Arts and Bill Graham Civic Auditorium.
The San Francisco Public Library announced Monday it was canceling all programs, classes and events, including community use of meeting rooms, through March 31. All library locations will remain open during the ban.
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The citywide order was “issued on the basis of scientific evidence and best practices as currently known and available to protect vulnerable members of the public from avoidable risk of serious illness or death resulting from exposure to coronavirus,” the city said.
The move was prompted by a perception among officials that the risk of the virus’ spread is increasing.
Officials identified two San Francisco residents who were infected with COVID-19, neither of whom had a history of travel to places with confirmed coronavirus cases nor had a known contact with a person with a confirmed infection. An additional six San Francisco residents who did have known contact with an infected person tested positive for the virus Saturday.
“We must reduce the times and places where people come together,” Dr. Grant Colfax, San Francisco’s director of health, said at a news conference Friday night. “Human viruses need people to carry them. They thrive in normal social circumstances. If we wait longer to take stronger action until we have multiple confirmed cases and deaths, the window of opportunity that we have now will have closed.”
The city’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade, originally slated for this weekend, was postponed. San Francisco Symphony concerts have been scrapped. Heeding San Francisco’s call to cancel large gatherings, such as concerts, sporting events and conventions, even a volunteer tree planting scheduled for Arbor Week was pulled.
In San Mateo County, home to Facebook’s headquarters, the health officer warned of the potential for the virus to spread into a pandemic. In a worst-case scenario, he warned, a pandemic will cause disruptions to goods and services, cause the cancellation of public events and restrict the ability to travel.
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“It has likely been spreading for weeks, perhaps months,” Dr. Scott Morrow said in a statement . “We now all need to take assertive actions to inhibit the spread of this new virus.”
Authorities decided to allow the Los Angeles Marathon to proceed Sunday as scheduled. But health officials urged spectators to keep six feet away from strangers, the maximum distance at which droplets loaded with virus from an infected person’s cough or sneeze can fly before falling to the ground.
Organizers of the BNP Paribas Open on Sunday canceled this year’s tournament at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden, citing the public health emergency declared by the Riverside County Public Health Department following a recently confirmed local case of coronavirus.
The fate of the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival remains unclear.


latimes--2020-03-09--UC Berkeley suspends classes, will go online as more schools close amid coronavirus spread

UC Berkeley announced Monday it will suspend most in-person classes starting Tuesday , becoming the second major California university to transition to online learning because of the coronavirus outbreak that is spreading in the Bay Area .
The campus , including student housing and dining , will remain open .
In an email to the campus community Chancellor Carol Christ emphasized that there are no confirmed cases at UC Berkeley but that officials decided to take these steps proactively to protect the community .
All lectures , seminars and exams will be offered through digital platforms , and any events @ @ @ @ @ @ @ canceled or postponed .
Classes that require in-person instruction , including labs and performing arts , will continue to meet .
The changes will be in place through at least March 29 .
Starting Monday , Stanford University had also moved its classes online for the final two weeks of winter quarter after a faculty member tested positive .
Christ said that “ in our assessment of the current situation , including the likelihood that the Berkeley campus could have a coronavirus case here at any time , we believe that this is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and the broader Berkeley community.
” Berkeley joins a growing list of schools and universities across the state whose educational activities have been disrupted by the virus .
The largest school district in Northern California , Elk Grove Unified School District , canceled classes and sports games through Friday amid the growing spread of the coronavirus .
Murrieta Valley High School in Murrieta was closed Monday , as well as Lowell and Riordan high schools in San Francisco .
USC will test online classes later this week and remained in operation as usual @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the schools and colleges around California affected by the coronavirus , but they could offer a preview for elsewhere as the coronavirus spreads .
“ It ’ s a question of when — not if — some California public schools will face closure because of COVID-19 , ” Gov .
Gavin Newsom said Saturday in a statement .
“ School districts must prepare for these scenarios so that parents and children can plan for what would happen if their local school faced closure.
” State officials have offered new guidance for schools @ @ @ @ @ @ @ could close a school .
School officials are racing to educate students and families about the epidemic and slow the spread of germs among children , while also preparing contingency plans if they are forced to shut their doors as a last resort .
At the Los Angeles Unified School District , an official checks in every day with the county health department and asks three questions : Is anyone sick in L.A. County ?
Are there any exposures affecting schools ?
Can we go about things normally ?
At the school level @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for deeper and more thorough cleaning of “ high-touch ” areas .
Such areas include towel dispensers , doorknobs , staircase railings , computer keyboards , toys , bus seats , the coffee pot handle in the faculty lounge .
So far , only a small number of schools in California have closed , and often only temporarily for cleaning .
Concerns over the virus prompted Harkham Hillel Hebrew Academy in Beverly Hills to close until at least Thursday , according to an email blast sent by head of school Rabbi Y. Boruch @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be available to students .
Messages left for the academy Monday weren ’ t returned .
Clifton Middle School in Monrovia was deep-cleaned Thursday after officials became aware that a person who might have the virus had been on campus .
Monrovia Unified School District President Robb Hammond said officials hired a company to disinfect the school .
In San Jose , a preschool after a teacher tested positive for the virus .
An Oakland charter school was closed through the end of last week because of a possible , and an exclusive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the weekend after a potential exposure of someone connected to the school .
UC Irvine Chancellor Howard Gillman said the campus will remain open after assessing that the risk of transmission is low , but he said the university is ready to switch gears at any time .
“ We will continue to monitor and assess the risk , but at the present time , there is no reason for us to suspend ordinary instructional activity , ” Gillman said .
“ In-person classroom meetings will be under normal operation for the week @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his statement that school closures would have major impacts on families .
“ It ’ s also not lost on anyone that these scenarios would put significant stress on families — especially those with the least financial resources .
Already , we are seeing how this outbreak is having significant economic impact on families , workers , businesses and communities across California .
”

Alejandra Reyes-Velarde, Alex Wigglesworth, Nina Agrawal

More California universities and colleges, including UC Berkeley and UC San Diego, announced Monday that they were transitioning to online learning because of the coronavirus outbreak.
San Jose State, San Francisco State and Santa Clara University were among the institutions that were suspending all or most in-person classes immediately or in coming weeks.
In an email, UC Berkeley Chancellor Carol Christ emphasized that there are no confirmed cases at the university but that officials had decided to take steps to protect the community.
All lectures, seminars and exams at the flagship university will be offered through digital platforms, and any events with more than 150 attendees will be canceled or postponed. Classes that require in-person instruction, including labs and performing arts, will continue to meet. The changes will be in place through at least March 29.
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At UC San Diego, Chancellor Pradeep K. Khosla announced that classes will continue to meet for the last week of winter quarter, but beginning in spring quarter, all lectures and discussions will be held remotely.
Starting Monday, Stanford University had also moved its classes online for the final two weeks of winter quarter after a faculty member tested positive.
Christ said that “in our assessment of the current situation, including the likelihood that the Berkeley campus could have a coronavirus case here at any time, we believe that this is the best action for our campus community and the broader Berkeley community.”
The largest school K-12 district in Northern California, Elk Grove Unified School District, canceled classes and sports games through Friday amid the growing spread of the coronavirus.
Murrieta Valley High School in Murrieta was closed Monday, as well as Lowell and Riordan high schools in San Francisco.
USC will test online classes later this week and remained in operation as usual Monday.
Murrieta Valley High School was closed Monday. (Myung J. Chun / Los Angeles Times)
These represent only a fraction of the schools and colleges around California affected by the coronavirus, but they could offer a preview for elsewhere as the coronavirus spreads.
“It’s a question of when — not if — some California public schools will face closure because of COVID-19,” Gov. Gavin Newsom said Saturday in a statement. “School districts must prepare for these scenarios so that parents and children can plan for what would happen if their local school faced closure.”
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State officials have offered new guidance for schools, suggesting various scenarios under which educators could close a school.
School officials are racing to educate students and families about the epidemic and slow the spread of germs among children, while also preparing contingency plans if they are forced to shut their doors as a last resort.
At the Los Angeles Unified School District, an official checks in every day with the county health department and asks three questions: Is anyone sick in L.A. County? Are there any exposures affecting schools? Can we go about things normally?
At the school level, overtime pay is available to allow for deeper and more thorough cleaning of “high-touch” areas. Such areas include towel dispensers, doorknobs, staircase railings, computer keyboards, toys, bus seats, the coffee pot handle in the faculty lounge.
So far, only a small number of schools in California have closed, and often only temporarily for cleaning.
Concerns over the virus prompted Harkham Hillel Hebrew Academy in Beverly Hills to close until at least Thursday, according to an email blast sent by head of school Rabbi Y. Boruch Sufrin, who said digital classes would be available to students. Messages left for the academy Monday weren’t returned.
Clifton Middle School in Monrovia was deep-cleaned Thursday after officials became aware that a person who might have the virus had been on campus. Monrovia Unified School District President Robb Hammond said officials hired a company to disinfect the school.
In San Jose, a preschool closed after a teacher tested positive for the virus. An Oakland charter school was closed through the end of last week because of a possible exposure , and an exclusive private school in Atherton was closed through the weekend after a potential exposure of someone connected to the school.
UC Irvine Chancellor Howard Gillman said the campus will remain open after assessing that the risk of transmission is low, but he said the university is ready to switch gears at any time.
“We will continue to monitor and assess the risk, but at the present time, there is no reason for us to suspend ordinary instructional activity,” Gillman said. “In-person classroom meetings will be under normal operation for the week of March 9.”
Newsom said in his statement that school closures would have major impacts on families.
“It’s also not lost on anyone that these scenarios would put significant stress on families — especially those with the least financial resources. Already, we are seeing how this outbreak is having significant economic impact on families, workers, businesses and communities across California.”


latimes--2020-03-09--Nursing home at center of coronavirus deaths spurs precautions across U.S.

Curtis Luterman moved his mother , Mary , into the Life Care Center of Kirkland , Wash. , in June .
She is 89 years old .
She ’ d been living on the East Coast , nearly 3,000 miles away .
He wanted her to “ experience the beautiful Pacific Northwest.
” He wanted to change her life for the better .
Instead , she ended up in the nursing home at the terrifying center of the coronavirus outbreak .
Thirteen residents of the facility who died amid the epidemic tested positive for COVID-19 .
Eleven others died in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ I never would have thought that something like this could have happened to her after trying to bring her [ here ] to improve her life , ” Luterman told reporters Thursday during a news conference on the leafy nursing home grounds .
“ I don ’ t blame the staff in here for this incident .
What I do blame right now is the response from our government officials .
... “ If the CDC ’ s doing such a bad response on a small little place like this , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this was happening in a large nursing home in downtown Los Angeles or in New York City.
” Nursing home operators and government officials have been imagining just that , and such nightmare scenarios have spurred new precautions at facilities across the country .
There are cries for widespread testing , fears of protective gear shortages and staffing problems , and confusion about how best to balance the needs of frail elderly residents against the safety of the wider community .
Few places are more fraught with risk than a skilled nursing facility @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people live in close quarters .
Since the outbreak at Life Care Center of Kirkland hit the headlines , at least three more Seattle-area nursing homes or senior-living centers have announced possible outbreaks .
Two residents at Issaquah Nursing & Rehabilitation have been hospitalized and “ reported to have presumptive positive Covid-19 results , ” according to the facility ’ s website .
One resident at Ida Culver House Ravenna has had a similar diagnosis .
A staff member at Aegis Living Marymoor in Redmond has been diagnosed with the virus , a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a collision of two vulnerable groups — older people and those in healthcare facilities , ” said Michael Dark , staff attorney at California Advocates for Nursing Home Reform .
“ The concern is people on the outside are bringing in the virus .
“ We ’ re going to be facing a period , maybe months long , where many nursing home staff who are underpaid and overworked may be afraid to go to work , ” Dark said .
“ Staffing levels , which are already low , may get much @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had 180 employees before the outbreak hit .
At weekend briefings , company spokesman Timothy Killian said that 70 employees have been quarantined in their homes because they have exhibited symptoms consistent with COVID-19 .
Three employees have been hospitalized , he said , and one has tested positive for the virus .
Killian said Sunday that Life Care would like to test all of its employees for the virus and has asked for the necessary test kits .
“ We don ’ t have test kits to do that , ” he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to us.
” “ Various government agencies ” have helped Life Care Center beef up its depleted staff , the company said in a fact sheet , sending several nurses , two nurse practitioners and a doctor .
That help , however , did not arrive until Saturday .
Staffing problems have bubbled up in sometimes dramatic fashion at the Kirkland nursing home since the outbreak began .
Residents ’ family members called the Thursday news conference to raise the alarm about conditions and take government officials to task for not stepping in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , she talked about how much her mother loved Life Care Center , the elderly woman ’ s home for the last seven years , about how Elaine Herrick would hand out roses on Mother ’ s Day to residents and staff alike and how she would make sure the workers got Christmas gifts , too .
Then , Herrick broke down in tears .
“ I got a phone call this morning that she passed , at 3:30 in the morning , ” Herrick said Thursday .
“ She ’ d been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ knew , she wasn ’ t sick.
” But then the phone rang again , Herrick said , about seven hours later .
Another Life Care employee was on the line .
This one told Herrick that her mother was just fine , no fever , no symptoms .
This one was wrong .
The nurse who had called to report the elderly woman ’ s death was so swamped , Herrick said , that she hadn ’ t updated the dead woman ’ s chart .
Herrick said she has compassion for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Her good thoughts , however , did not extend to the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Vice President Mike Pence , who has been put in charge of the coronavirus response .
“ I think it ’ s tragic that they didn ’ t have the support here to do the work that needed to be done in a good way , ” Herrick said .
“ How do we contain this ?
How do we deal with people that are ill ?
How do we protect ourselves ?
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ whose fastest-growing age group is people 85 and older .
According to the National Center for Health Statistics , there were 15,600 long-term care facilities in the U.S. in 2016 , and nursing homes had 1.3 million residents in 2015 .
Those are the agency ’ s most up-to-date numbers .
On Wednesday , the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services said nursing homes should screen visitors and staff for symptoms of respiratory infection , for international travel to restricted countries and for contact with anyone who has or is suspected to have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ screening , the agency ’ s guidance said , “ facilities may restrict their entry.
” Workers with symptoms of a respiratory infection “ should not report to work.
” In a conference call with reporters , industry representatives said the federal guidelines allowing them to limit visitors are much needed .
“ We have implemented a travel screen and a respiratory signs and symptoms screen that visitors fill out , ” said Janet Snipes , executive director of Holly Heights Nursing Center in Denver .
“ Some of them have been quite @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Kirkland has prohibited all visitors .
Family members have resorted to knocking on windows and holding up messages for their loved ones inside .
Those who can , call regularly .
But people like Annissa Walsh are out of luck .
Her mother-in-law has severe dementia , Walsh said Thursday , “ so we don ’ t know how she is .
We can ’ t talk to her on the phone .
We can ’ t get her to tell us how she ’ s doing.
” Aegis Living Marymoor has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ visitors , closing dining rooms and canceling group activities .
Issaquah Nursing also has barred all visitors , while Ida Culver House is “ restricting all nonessential visitors ” and delivering meals to residents ’ apartments .
Dr. Noah Marco , chief medical officer of the Los Angeles Jewish Home , was in a meeting with facility leadership on Wednesday when the federal guidance landed in his email .
“ And I said , ‘ Hey , guess what I just got.
’ And we immediately started our planning process.
” The Jewish @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Reseda .
It cares for more than 1,000 residents in a variety of settings , including a skilled nursing facility for 550 , a 10-bed geriatric psych ward , assisted living , independent living , memory care and short-term rehabilitation .
On Thursday , Marco emailed residents and family members laying out the Jewish Home ’ s plans to protect the most vulnerable members of its community .
On Friday , a tent went up in the courtyard with a sign that read , “ Mandatory Screening.
” All visitors have their temperature @ @ @ @ @ @ @ out a questionnaire that asks about recent international travel , symptoms of respiratory illness and contact with someone infected with COVID-19 .
Anyone who fails the screening will be turned away .
Visiting hours — normally 24/7 — are now limited to an eight-hour stretch from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friends and family members have been asked to minimize visits .
The home is still admitting new patients , but they must be screened , too .
There are hand-cleansing stations throughout the facility , stocked with masks and sanitizer .
Off-campus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ out , and so are trips to what Marco described as residents ’ two favorite destinations : the 99 Cents Only Stores and a local Chinese restaurant .
Community groups that normally would visit with or entertain residents are barred for the foreseeable future .
Marco said he worried that the federal guidelines were vague about what it meant to screen visitors .
And he feared that family members and friends would panic when they got his email describing the new world of COVID-19 prevention .
“ People might have falsely assumed , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ m going to be coming to this facility , and they ’ re going to take my blood , they ’ re going to do something invasive , they ’ re going to test me for COVID , and , oh , my God , am I going to have to be at home for two weeks ?
’ “ No , ” he said , “ we ’ re just going to ask you , ‘ Are you a high-risk person ?
’ ...
If you ’ re high risk , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ low risk , come on in .
”

An ambulance backs into a parking lot Friday at the Life Care Center in Kirkland, Wash., which has become the epicenter of the COVID-19 coronavirus outbreak in Washington state.
Curtis Luterman moved his mother, Mary, into the Life Care Center of Kirkland, Wash., in June. She is 89 years old. She’d been living on the East Coast, nearly 3,000 miles away. He wanted her to “experience the beautiful Pacific Northwest.” He wanted to change her life for the better.
Instead, she ended up in the nursing home at the terrifying center of the coronavirus outbreak. Thirteen residents of the facility who died amid the epidemic tested positive for COVID-19. Eleven others died in the last 2½ weeks of as-yet-unknown causes.
“I never would have thought that something like this could have happened to her after trying to bring her [here] to improve her life,” Luterman told reporters Thursday during a news conference on the leafy nursing home grounds. “I don’t blame the staff in here for this incident. What I do blame right now is the response from our government officials. ...
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“If the CDC’s doing such a bad response on a small little place like this,” he said, “imagine if this was happening in a large nursing home in downtown Los Angeles or in New York City.”
Nursing home operators and government officials have been imagining just that, and such nightmare scenarios have spurred new precautions at facilities across the country. There are cries for widespread testing, fears of protective gear shortages and staffing problems, and confusion about how best to balance the needs of frail elderly residents against the safety of the wider community.
Few places are more fraught with risk than a skilled nursing facility, where sick, elderly and vulnerable people live in close quarters. Since the outbreak at Life Care Center of Kirkland hit the headlines, at least three more Seattle-area nursing homes or senior-living centers have announced possible outbreaks.
Two residents at Issaquah Nursing & Rehabilitation have been hospitalized and “reported to have presumptive positive Covid-19 results,” according to the facility’s website. One resident at Ida Culver House Ravenna has had a similar diagnosis. A staff member at Aegis Living Marymoor in Redmond has been diagnosed with the virus, a company spokeswoman said.
“This is a collision of two vulnerable groups — older people and those in healthcare facilities,” said Michael Dark, staff attorney at California Advocates for Nursing Home Reform. “The concern is people on the outside are bringing in the virus.
Advertisement
“We’re going to be facing a period, maybe months long, where many nursing home staff who are underpaid and overworked may be afraid to go to work,” Dark said. “Staffing levels, which are already low, may get much worse.”
Life Care Center of Kirkland had 180 employees before the outbreak hit. At weekend briefings, company spokesman Timothy Killian said that 70 employees have been quarantined in their homes because they have exhibited symptoms consistent with COVID-19. Three employees have been hospitalized, he said, and one has tested positive for the virus.
Killian said Sunday that Life Care would like to test all of its employees for the virus and has asked for the necessary test kits. “We don’t have test kits to do that,” he said. “It’s concerning to us.”
“Various government agencies” have helped Life Care Center beef up its depleted staff, the company said in a fact sheet, sending several nurses, two nurse practitioners and a doctor. That help, however, did not arrive until Saturday.
Staffing problems have bubbled up in sometimes dramatic fashion at the Kirkland nursing home since the outbreak began. Residents’ family members called the Thursday news conference to raise the alarm about conditions and take government officials to task for not stepping in sooner.
Pat Herrick holds a photo of her mother, Elaine, a resident of Life Care Center in Kirkland, Wash., who died earlier in the day on Thursday. (Steve Ringman / Seattle Times)
When Pat Herrick faced reporters, she talked about how much her mother loved Life Care Center, the elderly woman’s home for the last seven years, about how Elaine Herrick would hand out roses on Mother’s Day to residents and staff alike and how she would make sure the workers got Christmas gifts, too.
Then, Herrick broke down in tears.
“I got a phone call this morning that she passed, at 3:30 in the morning,” Herrick said Thursday. “She’d been really well. As far as we knew, she wasn’t sick.”
But then the phone rang again, Herrick said, about seven hours later. Another Life Care employee was on the line. This one told Herrick that her mother was just fine, no fever, no symptoms.
This one was wrong.
The nurse who had called to report the elderly woman’s death was so swamped, Herrick said, that she hadn’t updated the dead woman’s chart.
Herrick said she has compassion for employees of the afflicted nursing home. Her good thoughts, however, did not extend to the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Vice President Mike Pence, who has been put in charge of the coronavirus response.
“I think it’s tragic that they didn’t have the support here to do the work that needed to be done in a good way,” Herrick said. “How do we contain this? How do we deal with people that are ill? How do we protect ourselves?”
Those questions loom large in a country whose fastest-growing age group is people 85 and older. According to the National Center for Health Statistics, there were 15,600 long-term care facilities in the U.S. in 2016, and nursing homes had 1.3 million residents in 2015. Those are the agency’s most up-to-date numbers.
On Wednesday, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services said nursing homes should screen visitors and staff for symptoms of respiratory infection, for international travel to restricted countries and for contact with anyone who has or is suspected to have COVID-19.
If a visitor fails the screening, the agency’s guidance said, “facilities may restrict their entry.” Workers with symptoms of a respiratory infection “should not report to work.”
In a conference call with reporters, industry representatives said the federal guidelines allowing them to limit visitors are much needed.
“We have implemented a travel screen and a respiratory signs and symptoms screen that visitors fill out,” said Janet Snipes, executive director of Holly Heights Nursing Center in Denver. “Some of them have been quite reluctant to comply.”
Life Care Center of Kirkland has prohibited all visitors. Family members have resorted to knocking on windows and holding up messages for their loved ones inside. Those who can, call regularly. But people like Annissa Walsh are out of luck. Her mother-in-law has severe dementia, Walsh said Thursday, “so we don’t know how she is. We can’t talk to her on the phone. We can’t get her to tell us how she’s doing.”
Aegis Living Marymoor has instituted “community-wide isolation,” barring visitors, closing dining rooms and canceling group activities. Issaquah Nursing also has barred all visitors, while Ida Culver House is “restricting all nonessential visitors” and delivering meals to residents’ apartments.
Dr. Noah Marco, chief medical officer of the Los Angeles Jewish Home, was in a meeting with facility leadership on Wednesday when the federal guidance landed in his email. “And I said, ‘Hey, guess what I just got.’ And we immediately started our planning process.”
The Jewish Home’s main campus is in Reseda. It cares for more than 1,000 residents in a variety of settings, including a skilled nursing facility for 550, a 10-bed geriatric psych ward, assisted living, independent living, memory care and short-term rehabilitation.
On Thursday, Marco emailed residents and family members laying out the Jewish Home’s plans to protect the most vulnerable members of its community.
On Friday, a tent went up in the courtyard with a sign that read, “Mandatory Screening.” All visitors have their temperature taken on arrival. They must fill out a questionnaire that asks about recent international travel, symptoms of respiratory illness and contact with someone infected with COVID-19. Anyone who fails the screening will be turned away.
Visiting hours — normally 24/7 — are now limited to an eight-hour stretch from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friends and family members have been asked to minimize visits. The home is still admitting new patients, but they must be screened, too.
There are hand-cleansing stations throughout the facility, stocked with masks and sanitizer. Off-campus activities such as concerts and movies are out, and so are trips to what Marco described as residents’ two favorite destinations: the 99 Cents Only Stores and a local Chinese restaurant. Community groups that normally would visit with or entertain residents are barred for the foreseeable future.
Marco said he worried that the federal guidelines were vague about what it meant to screen visitors. And he feared that family members and friends would panic when they got his email describing the new world of COVID-19 prevention.
“People might have falsely assumed,” he said, “‘I’m going to be coming to this facility, and they’re going to take my blood, they’re going to do something invasive, they’re going to test me for COVID, and, oh, my God, am I going to have to be at home for two weeks?’
“No,” he said, “we’re just going to ask you, ‘Are you a high-risk person?’ ... If you’re high risk, go away. If you’re low risk, come on in.”
La Ganga reported from Los Angeles, Read reported from Kirkland.


latimes--2020-03-09--California bullet train officials say they were told to suppress bad news and 'shut up'

When Mark Styles was hired in October 2018 to help oversee Central Valley scheduling for the California bullet train , he soon learned he had walked into a mess .
Over the previous half decade the project had repeatedly fallen behind schedule , and the cost by 2018 had jumped from $ 64 billion to $ 77 billion in two years .
A core problem was the project ’ s operating culture , in which managers for WSP , the bullet train ’ s lead consultant , threatened to punish or terminate employees if they failed to toe the company @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was told to shut up and not say anything , ” said Styles , a career construction manager who was hired as WSP ’ s senior supervisory scheduler in the project ’ s Fresno office .
“ I was told that I didn ’ t understand the political arena the project was in .
I told them I am not going to shut up .
This is my job.
” The atmosphere described by Styles has been corroborated by a half dozen current and former senior officials knowledgeable about the project ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ helps explain why California ’ s high-speed rail endeavor has barreled ahead for more than a decade , despite warnings it was structured on risky assumptions and could run out of money before any trains operate .
WSP spokeswoman Denise Turner Roth rejected Styles ’ claims .
“ We always work carefully with our client to evaluate the demands of each project and to prepare realistic and transparent recommendations regarding schedule and budget , ” she said .
But other ex-WSP employees in the Fresno office , including engineer Vera Lovejoy and project @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were also discouraged from sharing bad news with bosses .
“ I wanted the project to succeed , ” said Lovejoy , who left the project in 2019 after one year .
“ I was eager to help deliver it .
But I couldn ’ t stay .
If you rock the boat , you are labeled as not a team player.
” Bilstein also left in 2019 after a nine-month tenure .
“ If I was to give a talk at a construction conference , I would say they were not following @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he said .
The company ’ s failures , he said , ran the gamut of estimating costs , scheduling construction and managing change orders .
“ Revealing bad news was discouraged , ” he added .
“ I just couldn ’ t continue to work there .
I don ’ t work that way .
American professionals don ’ t work that way.
” Styles , who has no lawsuit or other legal claims , is also no longer with WSP .
He left in November , calling it “ the worst @ @ @ @ @ @ @ moved to a new construction job out of state .
Brian Kelly , chief executive of the California High-Speed Rail Authority , said in a statement that the agency “ takes seriously any claim of wrongdoing by an employee or contractor .
We have procedures in place for any such claim to be raised and reviewed .
We have an expectation that all employees act within the law and that our contractors meet the requirements of state and federal law.
” He added in an interview , “ Our focus is on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the last half year , Kelly has moved to make changes in his organization ’ s culture , replacing numerous middle-level management officials , orchestrating more documentation for its plans and vowing to improve transparency in the agency operations .
WSP and Parsons Brinckerhoff , which merged in 2014 , have been on the project since the 1990s .
The Montreal firm , one of the largest infrastructure engineering organizations , is working under a $ 666-million contract .
When he arrived at the project ’ s Fresno office , Styles said , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had never seen before — a pressured environment that aimed to contain bad news that could damage the project ’ s fortunes .
At the time , the rail authority was confronting delay claims , resulting from its slow acquisition of land , and change orders — both amounting to millions of dollars in higher costs .
Within days , he asked to see the detailed justification documents for the change orders .
He said he wanted to understand the delays and how they would affect future construction , a routine part of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ management , he said , told him that he didn ’ t need to see the documents .
WSP was pushing to “ keep the numbers looking good , ” which in some cases involved altering reports written by its staff to make construction progress look better , he alleges .
Styles and other sources speaking off the record say that the bullet train schedule , which calls for installing 119 miles of track and a complex signal system from Madera to Wasco by 2022 , is “ impossible , ” even though @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the completion date .
To install track by 2022 would normally require all of the bridges , viaducts , trenches and other structures to be completed beforehand .
As a stopgap measure , the rail authority now plans to install track in five-mile discontinuous segments , which the Federal Railroad Administration has criticized as illogical .
A more likely scenario would have the current construction completed between 2025 and 2028 , which would drive costs up and force the state to either find new money or curtail the project , Styles and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Parker said the agency has acknowledged repeatedly that “ the deadline is a challenge.
” It will require boosting monthly construction spending from the current $ 46 million to $ 70 million , said chief financial officer Brian Annis , who added that its construction pace is improving .
Sylmar-based Tutor Perini , which is building rail structures in Madera and Fresno counties , said a week ago it will complete its work in 2023 .
The company ’ s contract was initially $ 1 billion , but delay claims and change orders @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ron Tutor told security analysts in a recorded telephone call on Feb. 26 , “ With our extending the completion date from the end of ’ 21 to the first quarter of ’ 23 , once again , we are in discussions with the owner to resolve payment for that further delay .
However , it seems certain that given all of the results and resolves over the last 90 days that that should be the final end date for high-speed rail.
” It would mean that the rail authority could not begin @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that construction is completed .
When The Times asked the rail authority if it had comment on Tutor ’ s statement , it received an email Friday from Tutor saying his statement to investors had caused “ some confusion.
” He said that he hopes that “ substantial completion ” of his company ’ s work would occur in early 2022 , leaving “ paperwork , acceptances and contractual documentation ” to be completed in early in 2023 .
Turning around the multibillion-dollar project has proved difficult for years , given California ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and past decisions , officials close to the project say .
Executives in civil engineering firms say the rail authority lacks technical resources .
“ They have all these people in top jobs with no technical background , ” said a top executive at a major European engineering firm , who worked on the project .
“ They are politicians .
They never disclose the full cost .
They give you incremental truth .
They believe that is a successful business model .
They should cancel the contracts and start over.
” The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of dollars in grants , has long warned the rail authority it risked missing deadlines and was headed for big cost overruns .
In December 2016 , the FRA warned the statethat the cost of the Central Valley construction could jump by $ 3.6 billion .
After The Times obtained a copy of the confidential report and published its findings , the rail authority denied the legitimacy of the analysis .
Today , the cost is even higher than the FRA projected .
WSP said it stands by the job it is doing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the extent WSP prepares cost and schedule estimates for the program as a whole , WSP brings world-class talent to the project that prepare professional estimates based on client needs and the information available when generated , ” Turner Roth said .
Styles said he was shut out of work not long after taking the job at WSP , though the company did not fire him .
Over many months , Styles , who was being paid $ 170,000 annually , said he kept advising management about the problems and writing procedures for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in June , Styles wrote that he had been warned by a co-worker “ to be careful ” and “ you know too much ” and to take a lower profile .
“ I ’ d rather be dead than a coward , ” he wrote .
Styles filed an ethics complaint against his former employer in June , which was examined by a management committee in Chicago .
“ The committee concluded there was no proof that WSP violated ethics with the state , ” he said .
Turner Roth said , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who has since left the company — raised a question about the schedule data submitted to WSP by the construction managers and construction contractors .
In response to this question , WSP thoroughly investigated the matter , and concluded there was no wrongful conduct by WSP employees in their review of contractor submissions.
” As for Lovejoy , whose career includes engineering jobs at major public agencies and corporations , she said problems started more a decade ago when the Obama administration issued a $ 2.5-billion grant from its economic stimulus program , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ grant came about four years before the first construction contract was issued , and actual work did not begin for two more years .
“ It was so far from shovel-ready , ” Lovejoy said .
Another former WSP employee , who spoke anonymously out of concern that he would face retribution , supported Styles ’ assertion that monthly and annual reports submitted by staff often were changed by WSP management before they were reviewed in meetings and sent to state executives .
“ We gave them the bad news and they wouldn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
The Times has previously reported that the project has struggled to relocate pipes , electrical lines and other infrastructure that stands in the way of securing parcels and laying track .
Today , the rail authority is short by 497 of the 2,042 parcels it needs , according to its most recent progress report .
In December , the authority acquired only five parcels .
In late 2018 , Hemanth Kundeti , a database manager , was hired into the project to help improve property records , but he lasted only @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of a subconsultant to WSP , said he developed his own software tool that could track the work more accurately .
It would have allowed the state to replace a subcontractor that was charging $ 2 million annually to maintain the records , he said .
When he proposed the tool to WSP and state officials , it was rejected .
In February 2019 , he was twice reprimanded for “ insubordination ” for continuing to promote his software , according to a copy of the reprimand .
In response , he wrote @ @ @ @ @ @ @ without healthy debate is dangerous for any organization.
” He was terminated a few weeks later .
“ I am still reeling from the after-effects of being terminated for trying to save taxpayers ’ money from being wasted , ” said Kundeti , who has found a new job .

Construction for the California high-speed rail project is seen in this 2016 file photo, with downtown Fresno in the background. Delays and cost overruns have plagued the project since.
When Mark Styles was hired in October 2018 to help oversee Central Valley scheduling for the California bullet train, he soon learned he had walked into a mess.
Over the previous half decade the project had repeatedly fallen behind schedule, and the cost by 2018 had jumped from $64 billion to $77 billion in two years.
A core problem was the project’s operating culture, in which managers for WSP, the bullet train’s lead consultant, threatened to punish or terminate employees if they failed to toe the company line, Styles said.
“I was told to shut up and not say anything,” said Styles, a career construction manager who was hired as WSP’s senior supervisory scheduler in the project’s Fresno office. “I was told that I didn’t understand the political arena the project was in. I told them I am not going to shut up. This is my job.”
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The atmosphere described by Styles has been corroborated by a half dozen current and former senior officials knowledgeable about the project’s Fresno office.
The officials say it helps explain why California’s high-speed rail endeavor has barreled ahead for more than a decade, despite warnings it was structured on risky assumptions and could run out of money before any trains operate.
WSP spokeswoman Denise Turner Roth rejected Styles’ claims. “We always work carefully with our client to evaluate the demands of each project and to prepare realistic and transparent recommendations regarding schedule and budget,” she said.
But other ex-WSP employees in the Fresno office, including engineer Vera Lovejoy and project controls coordinator Todd Bilstein, say they were also discouraged from sharing bad news with bosses.
“I wanted the project to succeed,” said Lovejoy, who left the project in 2019 after one year. “I was eager to help deliver it. But I couldn’t stay. If you rock the boat, you are labeled as not a team player.”
Bilstein also left in 2019 after a nine-month tenure.
“If I was to give a talk at a construction conference, I would say they were not following generally accepted project management principles,” he said. The company’s failures, he said, ran the gamut of estimating costs, scheduling construction and managing change orders.
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“Revealing bad news was discouraged,” he added. “I just couldn’t continue to work there. I don’t work that way. American professionals don’t work that way.”
Mark Styles, a former employee of the California High-Speed Rail Authority’s main consultant. (Mark Styles)
Styles, who has no lawsuit or other legal claims, is also no longer with WSP. He left in November, calling it “the worst job of my career,” and moved to a new construction job out of state.
Brian Kelly, chief executive of the California High-Speed Rail Authority, said in a statement that the agency “takes seriously any claim of wrongdoing by an employee or contractor. We have procedures in place for any such claim to be raised and reviewed. We have an expectation that all employees act within the law and that our contractors meet the requirements of state and federal law.”
He added in an interview, “Our focus is on the mission in front of us.”
In the last half year, Kelly has moved to make changes in his organization’s culture, replacing numerous middle-level management officials, orchestrating more documentation for its plans and vowing to improve transparency in the agency operations.
WSP and Parsons Brinckerhoff, which merged in 2014, have been on the project since the 1990s. The Montreal firm, one of the largest infrastructure engineering organizations, is working under a $666-million contract.
When he arrived at the project’s Fresno office, Styles said, he found a dysfunctional operation like he had never seen before — a pressured environment that aimed to contain bad news that could damage the project’s fortunes.
At the time, the rail authority was confronting delay claims, resulting from its slow acquisition of land, and change orders — both amounting to millions of dollars in higher costs.
Within days, he asked to see the detailed justification documents for the change orders. He said he wanted to understand the delays and how they would affect future construction, a routine part of a scheduler’s job.
WSP management, he said, told him that he didn’t need to see the documents. WSP was pushing to “keep the numbers looking good,” which in some cases involved altering reports written by its staff to make construction progress look better, he alleges.
Styles and other sources speaking off the record say that the bullet train schedule, which calls for installing 119 miles of track and a complex signal system from Madera to Wasco by 2022, is “impossible,” even though the project’s budget is predicated on the completion date.
To install track by 2022 would normally require all of the bridges, viaducts, trenches and other structures to be completed beforehand. As a stopgap measure, the rail authority now plans to install track in five-mile discontinuous segments, which the Federal Railroad Administration has criticized as illogical.
A more likely scenario would have the current construction completed between 2025 and 2028, which would drive costs up and force the state to either find new money or curtail the project, Styles and others said.
Rail authority spokeswoman Annie Parker said the agency has acknowledged repeatedly that “the deadline is a challenge.” It will require boosting monthly construction spending from the current $46 million to $70 million, said chief financial officer Brian Annis, who added that its construction pace is improving.
Sylmar-based Tutor Perini, which is building rail structures in Madera and Fresno counties, said a week ago it will complete its work in 2023. The company’s contract was initially $1 billion, but delay claims and change orders have doubled the amount.
Chief Executive Ron Tutor told security analysts in a recorded telephone call on Feb. 26, “With our extending the completion date from the end of ’21 to the first quarter of ‘23, once again, we are in discussions with the owner to resolve payment for that further delay. However, it seems certain that given all of the results and resolves over the last 90 days that that should be the final end date for high-speed rail.”
It would mean that the rail authority could not begin to install track and signals until after that construction is completed.
When The Times asked the rail authority if it had comment on Tutor’s statement, it received an email Friday from Tutor saying his statement to investors had caused “some confusion.” He said that he hopes that “substantial completion” of his company’s work would occur in early 2022, leaving “paperwork, acceptances and contractual documentation” to be completed in early in 2023.
Turning around the multibillion-dollar project has proved difficult for years, given California’s complex governance structure, flawed contracts and past decisions, officials close to the project say. Executives in civil engineering firms say the rail authority lacks technical resources.
“They have all these people in top jobs with no technical background,” said a top executive at a major European engineering firm, who worked on the project. “They are politicians. They never disclose the full cost. They give you incremental truth. They believe that is a successful business model. They should cancel the contracts and start over.”
The Federal Railroad Administration, which oversees billions of dollars in grants, has long warned the rail authority it risked missing deadlines and was headed for big cost overruns. In December 2016, the FRA warned the state that the cost of the Central Valley construction could jump by $3.6 billion. After The Times obtained a copy of the confidential report and published its findings, the rail authority denied the legitimacy of the analysis. Today, the cost is even higher than the FRA projected.
California How California’s faltering high-speed rail project was ‘captured’ by costly consultants When California shifted its bullet train plan into high gear in 2008, it had just 10 employees to manage and oversee design of the largest public construction project in state history.
WSP said it stands by the job it is doing for the bullet train. “To the extent WSP prepares cost and schedule estimates for the program as a whole, WSP brings world-class talent to the project that prepare professional estimates based on client needs and the information available when generated,” Turner Roth said.
Styles said he was shut out of work not long after taking the job at WSP, though the company did not fire him. Over many months, Styles, who was being paid $170,000 annually, said he kept advising management about the problems and writing procedures for contract compliance.
In a Facebook posting in June, Styles wrote that he had been warned by a co-worker “to be careful” and “you know too much” and to take a lower profile. “I’d rather be dead than a coward,” he wrote.
Styles filed an ethics complaint against his former employer in June, which was examined by a management committee in Chicago. “The committee concluded there was no proof that WSP violated ethics with the state,” he said.
Turner Roth said, “In 2019, an employee — who has since left the company — raised a question about the schedule data submitted to WSP by the construction managers and construction contractors. In response to this question, WSP thoroughly investigated the matter, and concluded there was no wrongful conduct by WSP employees in their review of contractor submissions.”
As for Lovejoy, whose career includes engineering jobs at major public agencies and corporations, she said problems started more than a decade ago when the Obama administration issued a $2.5-billion grant from its economic stimulus program, intended for “shovel-ready projects.”
The grant came about four years before the first construction contract was issued, and actual work did not begin for two more years. “It was so far from shovel-ready,” Lovejoy said.
Another former WSP employee, who spoke anonymously out of concern that he would face retribution, supported Styles’ assertion that monthly and annual reports submitted by staff often were changed by WSP management before they were reviewed in meetings and sent to state executives.
“We gave them the bad news and they wouldn’t accept it,” he said.
The Times has previously reported that the project has struggled to relocate pipes, electrical lines and other infrastructure that stands in the way of securing parcels and laying track. Today, the rail authority is short by 497 of the 2,042 parcels it needs, according to its most recent progress report. In December, the authority acquired only five parcels.
In late 2018, Hemanth Kundeti, a database manager, was hired into the project to help improve property records, but he lasted only several months.
Kundeti, an employee of a subconsultant to WSP, said he developed his own software tool that could track the work more accurately. It would have allowed the state to replace a subcontractor that was charging $2 million annually to maintain the records, he said.
When he proposed the tool to WSP and state officials, it was rejected. In February 2019, he was twice reprimanded for “insubordination” for continuing to promote his software, according to a copy of the reprimand. In response, he wrote on his warning letter that management “without healthy debate is dangerous for any organization.” He was terminated a few weeks later.
“I am still reeling from the after-effects of being terminated for trying to save taxpayers’ money from being wasted,” said Kundeti, who has found a new job.