latimes--2020-08-04--Census workers are trying to reach more poor Californians and people of color. But the coronavirus c

Census workers are trying to reach more poor Californians and people of color. But the coronavirus could make the wealthy harder to find

For more than year , state officials and community groups in California have pushed a singular message : the importance of filling out the decennial count .
Organizations canvassed neighborhoods , and hosted rallies and information sessions where they explained how census data turns into federal dollars that trickle down to cities and states .
After the coronavirus pandemic wiped out the chance to gather in person , they started phone banks and honed social media campaigns .
Those efforts , officials said , have achieved some of the best results in the country in getting the hardest-to-count communities to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to 4.1 million households in that category , some 2 million have replied — although there is still work to be done to ensure a more complete count of historically underrepresented groups .
Now officials have discovered a different problem to worry about : Some affluent California neighborhoods have fallen far behind in their response rates compared with the 2010 count .
“ In Los Angeles , we see a low response from Malibu to Beverly Hills and even into Studio City , ” Ditas Katague , director of the California Complete Count @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Monday call with reporters .
“ That ’ s concerning and alarming to us.
” Although some of those regions fell below the statewide self-response rate in 2010 , the roughly 36 percent response rate in parts of Malibu — and the resulting 20 percentage point gap from the last count — is “ unprecedented , ” officials said .
Katague said her office has seen a similar phenomenon in other upscale areas of the state , such as parts of Newport Beach and Carmel-by-the-Sea .
Several of the state ’ s difficult-to-count @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and representative inclusion — are behind their 2010 self-response rates , such as spots in Boyle Heights and Santa Ana .
But more surprising were pockets in the Bay Area ’ s Marina , Cow Hollow , Pacific Heights and Presidio neighborhoods where there is a nearly 20-point lag in response rates , census workers said .
Officials said it isn ’ t clear what ’ s behind the drop in participation .
But demographers have pointed to the pandemic as a major source of the problem .
Some say that , as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ may have fled their homes for vacation houses .
Others believe it could be that some households haven ’ t responded because their California addresses don ’ t represent their main residence .
“ It ’ s the Manhattan effect .
It ’ s the same thing in New York , ” said USC demographer Dowell Myers .
“ In San Francisco , people who have alternate locations shifted away from the danger , and the middle class and working class stayed put .
“ The [ U.S. ] Census Bureau put a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , but they didn ’ t plan on this other thing happening .
How could they ?
” The pandemic has disrupted the count in many communities , Myers said , “ but you do need to sort of shock them with the consequences.
” “ If they don ’ t get counted , they will get public resources diverted from their communities , ” he said .
“ There will be downward pressure on their share of the public dollars , on their share of services , on their share of everything.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ s responses “ regardless of economic background , regardless of political party , ” said Emilio Vaca , deputy director of the California Complete Count Census 2020 Office .
“ What gets impacted is the social networks that people go to , and so in the hard-to-count communities , people may not be able to go to the local library or family resource center because they ’ re sheltered in place , ” he said .
The state made a sizable investment in the 2020 count , according to the Public Policy Institute @ @ @ @ @ @ @ million into census-related activities since 2018 .
The census office in California said it has focused its outreach on the most difficult to track households — including communities of color , those who don ’ t have broadband internet access , people who speak English as a second language and those who live at or near the poverty line — because they have historically been at greater risk of being missed in the census .
Households in Malibu and Beverly Hills typically haven ’ t needed the extra nudge to participate , said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Count .
“ You ’ re also seeing a potential behavior change when it comes to people ’ s prioritization of day-to-day activity and civic engagement , ” she said .
“ If you ’ re caring for a loved one or someone with COVID , maybe the census is the last thing on your mind.
” States draw on census data to form school district boundaries , and many of the services that people rely on in California , such as nutrition programs and housing assistance , are tied to funds calculated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the most recent year for which an estimate is available , California received about $ 77 billion in census-related funding — “ more than 80 % of the total federal funds the state received that year , ” according to a report from PPIC .
In fiscal year 2017 , 316 federal spending programs called on 2010 census-derived data to distribute $ 1.5 trillion to state and local governments , nonprofits , businesses and households throughout the country , research from the George Washington Institute of Public Policy shows .
At stake are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also political redistricting and the reapportionment of seats that each state is allocated in the U.S. House of Representatives .
So far , 9.7 million California households have responded to the census .
California ’ s self-response rate is above the national average , at 64.2 % versus 62.9 % , but ranks 22nd among all U.S. states .
Those figures belie another problem with census replies , said Paul Ong , director of UCLA ’ s Center for Neighborhood Knowledge : the high chance of a “ differential undercount , ” in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be included than another group .
“ Historically , this has included low-income households , people of color , Indigenous individuals , and immigrants .
There are enormous political and economic implications from a racially biased census count , ” Ong said .
“ Marginalized populations will be further disenfranchised and disproportionately left out for public funds and services.
” Ong said he believes that the country is facing a “ massive problem ” at this stage of the census count compared to 2010 .
The next phase of the enumeration , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in most of the nation Aug. 11 , will determine the size of a racial differential undercount , he said .
That process , in which census workers will begin crucial door-knocking efforts , “ will face many barriers and challenges to close the looming and massive bias.
” Those field data collection efforts — as well as self-response options — will end Sept. 30 , a month sooner than initially scheduled .
It ’ s “ certainly true ” that some wealthier areas are not responding at their typical rates , Ong @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t discount the issue .
But to him , that ’ s not the biggest problem .
“ If we have to put in more resources in the last few months of the count , that is not my priority .
It ’ s more important to get the hard-to-count communities , because they are the ones on average really left behind , ” he said .
“ Think about a hurricane hitting New Orleans again .
You could always make stories that even rich neighborhoods have been hurt , but that narrative @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the poor neighborhoods , with the least resources , disproportionately hurt .
”

In California, some affluent neighborhoods have fallen far behind their 2010 census response rates.
For more than a year, state officials and community groups in California have pushed a singular message: the importance of filling out the decennial count.
Organizations canvassed neighborhoods, and hosted rallies and information sessions where they explained how census data turns into federal dollars that trickle down to cities and states. After the coronavirus pandemic wiped out the chance to gather in person, they started phone banks and honed social media campaigns.
Those efforts, officials said, have achieved some of the best results in the country in getting the hardest-to-count communities to respond — of the estimated 3.5 million to 4.1 million households in that category, some 2 million have replied — although there is still work to be done to ensure a more complete count of historically underrepresented groups.
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Now officials have discovered a different problem to worry about: Some affluent California neighborhoods have fallen far behind in their response rates compared with the 2010 count.
“In Los Angeles, we see a low response from Malibu to Beverly Hills and even into Studio City,” Ditas Katague, director of the California Complete Count Census 2020 Office, said on a Monday call with reporters. “That’s concerning and alarming to us.”
Although some of those regions fell below the statewide self-response rate in 2010, the roughly 36 percent response rate in parts of Malibu — and the resulting 20 percentage point gap from the last count — is “unprecedented,” officials said. Katague said her office has seen a similar phenomenon in other upscale areas of the state, such as parts of Newport Beach and Carmel-by-the-Sea.
Several of the state’s difficult-to-count tracts — where barriers exist to full and representative inclusion — are behind their 2010 self-response rates, such as spots in Boyle Heights and Santa Ana. But more surprising were pockets in the Bay Area’s Marina, Cow Hollow, Pacific Heights and Presidio neighborhoods where there is a nearly 20-point lag in response rates, census workers said.
Officials said it isn’t clear what’s behind the drop in participation. But demographers have pointed to the pandemic as a major source of the problem. Some say that, as in New York City, rich Californians may have fled their homes for vacation houses. Others believe it could be that some households haven’t responded because their California addresses don’t represent their main residence.
“It’s the Manhattan effect. It’s the same thing in New York,” said USC demographer Dowell Myers. “In San Francisco, people who have alternate locations shifted away from the danger, and the middle class and working class stayed put.
“The [U.S.] Census Bureau put a lot of effort into the hard-to-count areas, but they didn’t plan on this other thing happening. How could they?”
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The pandemic has disrupted the count in many communities, Myers said, “but you do need to sort of shock them with the consequences.”
“If they don’t get counted, they will get public resources diverted from their communities,” he said. “There will be downward pressure on their share of the public dollars, on their share of services, on their share of everything.”
The virus is affecting people’s responses “regardless of economic background, regardless of political party,” said Emilio Vaca, deputy director of the California Complete Count Census 2020 Office.
“What gets impacted is the social networks that people go to, and so in the hard-to-count communities, people may not be able to go to the local library or family resource center because they’re sheltered in place,” he said.
The state made a sizable investment in the 2020 count, according to the Public Policy Institute of California, pouring some $187 million into census-related activities since 2018.
The census office in California said it has focused its outreach on the most difficult to track households — including communities of color, those who don’t have broadband internet access, people who speak English as a second language and those who live at or near the poverty line — because they have historically been at greater risk of being missed in the census.
Households in Malibu and Beverly Hills typically haven’t needed the extra nudge to participate, said Diana Crofts-Pelayo, spokeswoman for California Complete Count.
“You’re also seeing a potential behavior change when it comes to people’s prioritization of day-to-day activity and civic engagement,” she said. “If you’re caring for a loved one or someone with COVID, maybe the census is the last thing on your mind.”
States draw on census data to form school district boundaries, and many of the services that people rely on in California, such as nutrition programs and housing assistance, are tied to funds calculated using the census. In 2015, the most recent year for which an estimate is available, California received about $77 billion in census-related funding — “more than 80% of the total federal funds the state received that year,” according to a report from PPIC.
In fiscal year 2017, 316 federal spending programs called on 2010 census-derived data to distribute $1.5 trillion to state and local governments, nonprofits, businesses and households throughout the country, research from the George Washington Institute of Public Policy shows. At stake are not only federal tax dollars, but also political redistricting and the reapportionment of seats that each state is allocated in the U.S. House of Representatives.
So far, 9.7 million California households have responded to the census. California’s self-response rate is above the national average, at 64.2% versus 62.9%, but ranks 22nd among all U.S. states.
Those figures belie another problem with census replies, said Paul Ong, director of UCLA’s Center for Neighborhood Knowledge: the high chance of a “differential undercount,” in which one group is less likely to be included than another group.
“Historically, this has included low-income households, people of color, Indigenous individuals, and immigrants. There are enormous political and economic implications from a racially biased census count,” Ong said.
“Marginalized populations will be further disenfranchised and disproportionately left out for public funds and services.”
Ong said he believes that the country is facing a “massive problem” at this stage of the census count compared to 2010. The next phase of the enumeration, the “Nonresponse Followup Operation” that begins in most of the nation Aug. 11, will determine the size of a racial differential undercount, he said.
That process, in which census workers will begin crucial door-knocking efforts, “will face many barriers and challenges to close the looming and massive bias.” Those field data collection efforts — as well as self-response options — will end Sept. 30, a month sooner than initially scheduled.
It’s “certainly true” that some wealthier areas are not responding at their typical rates, Ong said, adding that he doesn’t discount the issue. But to him, that’s not the biggest problem.
“If we have to put in more resources in the last few months of the count, that is not my priority. It’s more important to get the hard-to-count communities, because they are the ones on average really left behind,” he said.
“Think about a hurricane hitting New Orleans again. You could always make stories that even rich neighborhoods have been hurt, but that narrative misses the fact that it is really the poor neighborhoods, with the least resources, disproportionately hurt.”


latimes--2020-08-04--Sidewalk superheroes and the rest of the Hollywood Boulevard economy are being devastated by coronav

Sidewalk superheroes and the rest of the Hollywood Boulevard economy are being devastated by coronavirus

Javie Rubio , better known as the Mickey Mouse who greets pedestrians along the Hollywood Walk of Fame , stood under an awning , staring into a mostly empty street .
He furrowed his brows as he thought about how much he would be able to take home for the day .
Along Hollywood Boulevard , Rubio and others dressed as cartoon characters roamed the charcoal terrazzo sidewalks , periodically extending an arm to the scattering of tourists walking by .
Normally , the fist bumps he offers to entice visitors into taking a photo work like magic .
But @ @ @ @ @ @ @ since the pandemic hit .
Now , most people fear physical contact .
After four hours in the summer sunshine , Rubio — who sprays his costume each day with disinfectant — had $ 53 in his pocket .
This time last year , he would return home to his wife and son with 10 times that .
“ The only thing we ’ re trying to do now is to survive , ” he said .
The coronavirus has fundamentally changed life at one of Los Angeles ’ most bustling and bizarre @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of tourists each year .
Hollywood Boulevard is the center of L.A. 's tourist economy , a place so crowded with pedestrians that the city has considered closing a stretch of the famed street to cars .
But that was before March , when businesses closed down , tourism dried up and the mantra of social distancing trumped the desire to see and be seen .
Summer is typically Hollywood Boulevard ’ s busy season , when tourists from around the world join locals to go to movies , nightclubs and eateries .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Highland Avenue is far from deserted , missing is the chaotic blend of street performers , tour buses , souvenir hawkers and people taking selfies in front of TCL Chinese Theatre .
With the boulevard ’ s entire ecosystem built around big crowds willing to mingle in close quarters , some wonder whether COVID-19 is going to permanently change a place that has been a destination of dreams for nearly a century .
While the glamour of 1940s Tinseltown may have faded , Hollywood ’ s busiest block has always bustled with tourists @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Come time for a movie premiere or Oscar ’ s night , the crowd is unmatched .
Rubio could always count on being surrounded by throngs of people with money in hand to snap a quick photo .
But with the block ’ s iconic movie theaters and museums now closed , there is little left for tourists to do .
Outside the TCL Chinese Theatre — where visitors until recently had to pay $ 5 to see the famed celebrity handprints and footprints set off from the sidewalk by barricades — @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Huang , were trying to briefly put aside the misfortune they ’ ve encountered during the pandemic .
They had made the trip from Atlanta so that Huang , 29 , could get a test she needed to leave the country to seek medical attention in China .
“ We ’ ve both lost our jobs due to COVID-19 and we don ’ t have health insurance , ” said Daysal , 34 .
“ We ’ re just trying to spend our last day together before she leaves.
” The side trip @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Most places were closed , but on the bright side , the few people populating the street made for better photos .
“ At least the traffic wasn ’ t that bad , ” Huang said .
Across the street , the blinking lights of the El Capitan Theatre shimmered off the sidewalk for few to see .
Its entrance was dark .
Even the giant dinosaur on the roof of Ripley ’ s Believe It or Not !
museum donned a mask .
Outside , half of the street was blocked off @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Matter ” chalk art on the pavement .
A street once lined by vendors was reduced to a single hot dog cart with a rainbow umbrella at the corner of Hollywood and Highland .
Armando Lopez , 60 , prepped the bell peppers and onions , meticulously flipped the bacon-wrapped hot dogs to ensure even cooking and called out to potential customers .
In the last few weeks , he ’ s been selling 10 hot dogs a day , if he ’ s lucky — one fourth of his usual sales .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ street performances once reverberated along the sidewalk , the silence was broken by the screeching escalators in the hollow blue-tiled Metro stop .
Data comparing June 2019 with June 2020 at Metro ’ s Hollywood and Highland bus stops showed a 71 % drop in ridership .
Red Line ridership saw a decrease of 83 % .
At noon , a drummer set up to perform a set of classic rock to a nearly empty street .
The pandemic has swept away competing performers , giving him the perfect opportunity to break into @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t found anyone else who wants to do what I ’ m doing right now , ” said Patrick Lamay , 53 .
“ I ’ m just living out a dream.
” The days when double-decker sightseeing buses paraded through the palm tree-lined streets also are long gone .
Only a fourth of the tour companies returned when the economy began to reopen , giving some hope to like Hollywood Value Tours .
Owner Mohammed Jewel was the first of the two dozen touring companies to start up again .
Though having @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people were patronizing his business .
Jewel cut his staff , leaving only himself , the manager and a couple of drivers .
On a normal July day , he would give 16 tours .
Now , the number has dwindled to two .
On top of that , he had to discount the price of his private tours to persuade people to ride .
Across the board , businesses have reported 80 % revenue declines and a staggering number of furloughs and layoffs , said Hollywood Chamber of Commerce President Rana Ghadban @ @ @ @ @ @ @ what to expect .
It ’ s the uncertainty of not knowing what ’ s going to happen and how to comply , ” she said .
Some stores rehired employees when they were able to reopen , but cut them once more when Gov .
Gavin Newsom ordered a .
Britney Hernandez , a manager for Souvenirs of Hollywood and the Hollywood Experience , has kept her stores open but said she fears for her safety .
“ The people that do come , the few tourists , don ’ t follow @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hernandez said .
“ It ’ s really concerning because we want to move forward , but I still get angry customers yelling at me for asking them to wear a mask.
” Hernandez ’ s kitsch souvenir shop , which touts $ 5 T-shirts and 99-cent magnets , was used to the ebb and flow of foot traffic , but nothing compared to this .
But until tourists return , the show must go on .

Street performer Javie Rubio, dressed as Mickey Mouse, looks for customers to pose for photos on an empty stretch of the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Javie Rubio, better known as the Mickey Mouse who greets pedestrians along the Hollywood Walk of Fame, stood under an awning, staring into a mostly empty street. He furrowed his brows as he thought about how much he would be able to take home for the day.
Along Hollywood Boulevard, Rubio and others dressed as cartoon characters roamed the charcoal terrazzo sidewalks, periodically extending an arm to the scattering of tourists walking by. Normally, the fist bumps he offers to entice visitors into taking a photo work like magic. But he hasn’t had much luck since the pandemic hit. Now, most people fear physical contact.
After four hours in the summer sunshine, Rubio — who sprays his costume each day with disinfectant — had $53 in his pocket. This time last year, he would return home to his wife and son with 10 times that.
Advertisement
“The only thing we’re trying to do now is to survive,” he said.
The coronavirus has fundamentally changed life at one of Los Angeles’ most bustling and bizarre crossroads, a place that draws millions of tourists each year. Hollywood Boulevard is the center of L.A.’s tourist economy, a place so crowded with pedestrians that the city has considered closing a stretch of the famed street to cars.
But that was before March, when businesses closed down, tourism dried up and the mantra of social distancing trumped the desire to see and be seen.
Summer is typically Hollywood Boulevard’s busy season, when tourists from around the world join locals to go to movies, nightclubs and eateries. And though the intersection of Hollywood and Highland Avenue is far from deserted, missing is the chaotic blend of street performers, tour buses, souvenir hawkers and people taking selfies in front of TCL Chinese Theatre.
With the boulevard’s entire ecosystem built around big crowds willing to mingle in close quarters, some wonder whether COVID-19 is going to permanently change a place that has been a destination of dreams for nearly a century.
Street performer Javie Rubio walks down a deserted section of Hollywood Boulevard. The pandemic has greatly affected the tourist hub. (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)
While the glamour of 1940s Tinseltown may have faded, Hollywood’s busiest block has always bustled with tourists and the commerce that caters to them. Come time for a movie premiere or Oscar night, the crowd is unmatched.
Rubio could always count on being surrounded by throngs of people with money in hand to snap a quick photo. But with the block’s iconic movie theaters and museums now closed, there is little left for tourists to do.
Advertisement
Outside the TCL Chinese Theatre — where visitors until recently had to pay $5 to see the famed celebrity handprints and footprints set off from the sidewalk by barricades — Kevin Daysal and his wife, Yuqing Huang, were trying to briefly put aside the misfortune they’ve encountered during the pandemic.
A street performer dressed as Spider-Man looks for customers to pose for photos in front of the landmark TCL Chinese Theatre on Hollywood Boulevard. (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)
They had made the trip from Atlanta so that Huang, 29, could get a test she needed to leave the country to seek medical attention in China.
“We’ve both lost our jobs due to COVID-19 and we don’t have health insurance,” said Daysal, 34. “We’re just trying to spend our last day together before she leaves.”
The side trip wasn’t what they expected. Most places were closed, but on the bright side, the few people populating the street made for better photos.
“At least the traffic wasn’t that bad,” Huang said.
Across the street, the blinking lights of the El Capitan Theatre shimmered off the sidewalk for few to see. Its entrance was dark. Even the giant dinosaur on the roof of Ripley’s Believe It or Not! museum wore a mask.
Jorge Martinez, with Calvada Survey Inc., surveys Hollywood Boulevard near the famed El Capitan and Dolby theaters.
(Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)
A handful of tourists visit the Hollywood Walk of Fame, which still shows evidence of recent Black Lives Matter protests. Most storefronts and theaters on the famed thoroughfare are closed because of the pandemic. (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)
Outside, half of the street was blocked off to protect the “All Black Lives Matter” chalk art on the pavement. A street once lined by vendors was reduced to a single hot dog cart with a rainbow umbrella at the corner of Hollywood and Highland.
Armando Lopez, 60, prepped the bell peppers and onions, meticulously flipped the bacon-wrapped hot dogs to ensure even cooking and called out to potential customers. In the last few weeks, he’s been selling 10 hot dogs a day, if he’s lucky — one fourth of his usual sales.
Several feet away, where music from street performances once reverberated along the sidewalk, the silence was broken by the screeching escalators in the hollow blue-tiled Metro stop. Data comparing June 2019 with June 2020 at Metro’s Hollywood and Highland bus stops showed a 71% drop in ridership. Red Line ridership saw a decrease of 83%.
At noon, a drummer set up to perform a set of classic rock to a nearly empty street. The pandemic has swept away competing performers, giving him the perfect opportunity to break into the scene.
“I haven’t found anyone else who wants to do what I’m doing right now,” said Patrick Lamay, 53. “I’m just living out a dream.”
The days when double-decker sightseeing buses paraded through the palm tree-lined streets also are long gone. Only a fourth of the tour companies returned when the economy began to reopen, giving some hope to smaller operations like Hollywood Value Tours.
Marty Minogue, 63, manager of Hollywood Value Tours, sits in an empty sightseeing car that would take visitors on tours of celebrities’ homes. (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)
Owner Mohammed Jewel was the first of the two dozen touring companies to start up again. Though having less competition was favorable, not many people were patronizing his business.
Jewel cut his staff, leaving only himself, the manager and a couple of drivers. On a normal July day, he would give 16 tours. Now, the number has dwindled to two.
On top of that, he had to discount the price of his private tours to persuade people to ride.
Across the board, businesses have reported 80% revenue declines and a staggering number of furloughs and layoffs, said Hollywood Chamber of Commerce President Rana Ghadban.
“Businesses don’t know what to expect. It’s the uncertainty of not knowing what’s going to happen and how to comply,” she said.
Some stores rehired employees when they were able to reopen, but cut them once more when Gov. Gavin Newsom ordered a second lockdown of California .
Street performer Javie Rubio, dressed as Mickey Mouse, waits for tourists to pose with in front of Souvenirs of Hollywood. “The only thing we’re trying to do now is to survive,” he said. (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)
Britney Hernandez, a manager for Souvenirs of Hollywood and the Hollywood Experience, has kept her stores open but said she fears for her safety.
“The people that do come, the few tourists, don’t follow safety precautions in the store,” Hernandez said. “It’s really concerning because we want to move forward, but I still get angry customers yelling at me for asking them to wear a mask.”
Hernandez’s kitsch souvenir shop, which touts $5 T-shirts and 99-cent magnets, was used to the ebb and flow of foot traffic, but nothing compared to this.
“It’s a ghost town here,” she said.
But until tourists return, the show must go on.


latimes--2020-08-04--Trump's base starting to erode, new poll shows

President Trump ’ s support among Republicans and other conservative voters has begun to erode amid the continued coronavirus pandemic and its associated economic havoc , a new poll from UC Berkeley ’ s Institute of Governmental Studies shows .
The poll shows Trump far behind Joe Biden , the presumptive Democratic nominee , in California .
That ’ s no surprise — even at his strongest Trump was unlikely ever to be competitive in California , a heavily Democratic state .
What is notable , however , is the size of the gap and the degree to which approval @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has declined among groups that until now have supported him .
Biden leads Trump in California by 39 percentage points , 67 % to 28 % , the poll found .
That ’ s 9 points larger than the margin by which Hillary Clinton beat Trump statewide in 2016 — a record at the time .
And the share of Californians who approve of Trump ’ s performance in office , which has held steady in the mid-to-low 30 % range for nearly his entire tenure , has now ticked downward to just @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with other polls nationally and in battleground states that show a nationwide tide lifting Biden , swelling his margin in states like California , moving him solidly ahead in close-fought states like Pennsylvania and Michigan and making him potentially competitive in states that Trump won more handily last time , such as Texas and Georgia .
“ There was a question of whether his support was already so low in the state that it couldn ’ t go lower , ” said Berkeley political scientist Eric Schickler , co-director of the Institute of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the answer is no.
” Aides to both candidates believe the biggest factor in Trump ’ s decline is voters ’ fear of the coronavirus and belief that the administration has botched its handling of the pandemic .
The poll provides further evidence of that .
About two-thirds of the state ’ s voters see the health threat from the coronavirus getting worse .
They back Biden 84 % to 11 % .
By contrast , about 1 in 8 say the health threat is getting less serious ; they back Trump 87 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in 5 voters say the threat from the virus is about the same as it ’ s been ; they ’ re closely divided .
The poll also found California Democrats reacting favorably to the possibility of Biden choosing either of two state officeholders on his short list of potential running mates .
Sen. Kamala Harris is better known statewide than Rep. Karen Bass of Los Angeles , but Democratic voters expressed support for Biden picking either of them .
For Harris , Democratic voters approved 68 % to 20 % with 12 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ case , support was 46 % to 10 % with 44 % expressing no opinion .
Democratic voters in Los Angeles County were more likely than those elsewhere in the state to have an opinion of Bass , who represents parts of the Westside and Central Los Angeles in Congress .
They favored her selection 56 % to 11 % .
Opinions of Harris , who lives in Los Angeles but spent most of her career in the Bay Area , were roughly the same in Los Angeles as statewide .
For @ @ @ @ @ @ @ comeback .
In December , a Berkeley IGS poll conducted for the Los Angeles Times showed that by 61 % to 24 % , likely Democratic primary voters in California thought she should quit the presidential race .
She did so just before the poll was published .
Opinions of Trump , by contrast , have gotten worse since the winter .
A Berkeley IGS poll in January showed 33 % of the state ’ s voters approved of the way he is handling his job as president .
In the most recent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 29 % , with 71 % disapproving , including 63 % who say they “ strongly ” disapprove .
Since the vast majority of Democrats already disapproved of Trump , the drop in approval comes mostly among Republicans and nonpartisan voters .
Among voters who identified themselves as moderate conservatives , for example , approval dropped 11 points , from 76 % in January to 65 % now .
Erosion of Trump ’ s support among moderate conservatives is another trend seen nationwide in recent surveys .
In California , the decline shows @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the state .
In the Inland Empire , approval of Trump dropped 8 points , from 43 % in January to 35 % in the current poll .
In the Central Valley , it dropped 7 points , from 44 % in January to 37 % now .
“ There ’ s evidence nationally of a decline for Trump in more rural areas where the coronavirus has spread , ” Schickler said .
The poll seems to be “ showing a similar thing here.
” Overall , 70 % of the state ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump , 28 % see him favorably .
By contrast , 56 % of the state ’ s voters have a favorable view of Biden , compared with 40 % who have an unfavorable view .
In Los Angeles , 24 % have a favorable view of Trump , and 60 % have a favorable view of Biden .
About 15 % of voters have an unfavorable view of both candidates .
That group supports Biden by 5 to 1 .
That ’ s a big shift from 2016 , when voters nationwide @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump ’ s favor .
Biden has a huge lead in the state not only because Democrats heavily outnumber Republicans in California , but also because the former vice president has a big lead among non-partisan voters and has made inroads among traditionally Republican groups while Trump has almost no traction among traditionally Democratic groups .
For example , Biden gets about one-quarter of California voters who call themselves “ somewhat conservative ” — about 1 in 6 California voters .
By contrast , Trump gets almost no support among voters who call @ @ @ @ @ @ @ make up about 1 in 5 of the state ’ s voters .
The state ’ s nonpartisan voters back Biden by about 4 to 1 , the poll found .
Biden gets backing from white voters , 66 % to 31 % ; from Blacks , 87 % to 7 % ; from Asian and Pacific Islanders , 72 % to 21 % ; and from Latinos , 63 % to 30 % , the poll found .
About 15 % of Latinos who primarily speak Spanish remain undecided , the poll @ @ @ @ @ @ @ past elections in which Spanish-dominant Latinos , many of whom are relatively new citizens , have tended to tune in to the election later than many other voters .
The group tends to be heavily Democratic , suggesting that Biden ’ s support from them is likely to grow as the election nears .
In liberal California , even white men without college educations — Trump ’ s strong point nationwide — back Biden .
The former vice president leads among that group 54 % to 42 % , the poll found .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ support among college-educated women , however .
They back him 79 % to 17 % .
Evangelical Christians , who are among Trump ’ s most steadfast backers nationwide , form one of the few major demographic groups in the state that gives majority support to the president .
California voters who say they are evangelicals back Trump 56 % to 39 % , the poll found .
Trump , who has pitched multiple campaign appeals to racial prejudice , also gets strong support from the roughly 30 % of the state ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Lives Matter movement .
Those who disapprove of the movement back Trump over Biden 83 % to 11 % , the poll found .
The much larger group that approves of the movement backs Biden 93 % to 3 % .
The Berkeley IGS poll , supervised by pollster Mark DiCamillo , was administered online in English and Spanish from July 21-27 among 8,328 registered voters , 6,756 of whom are considered likely to vote in the November election .
The margin of error for the full sample is estimated at roughly 2 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ details on the poll questions and data can be found at the Berkeley IGS website .

President Trump returns to the White House on Saturday after a trip to his golf resort in Virginia.
President Trump’s support among Republicans and other conservative voters has begun to erode amid the continued coronavirus pandemic and its associated economic havoc, a new poll from UC Berkeley’s Institute of Governmental Studies shows.
The poll shows Trump far behind Joe Biden, the presumptive Democratic nominee, in California. That’s no surprise — even at his strongest Trump was unlikely ever to be competitive in California, a heavily Democratic state.
What is notable, however, is the size of the gap and the degree to which approval of Trump’s work as president has declined among groups that until now have supported him.
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Biden leads Trump in California by 39 percentage points, 67% to 28%, the poll found. That’s 9 points larger than the margin by which Hillary Clinton beat Trump statewide in 2016 — a record at the time. And the share of Californians who approve of Trump’s performance in office, which has held steady in the mid-to-low 30% range for nearly his entire tenure, has now ticked downward to just 29%.
That’s consistent with other polls nationally and in battleground states that show a nationwide tide lifting Biden, swelling his margin in states like California, moving him solidly ahead in close-fought states like Pennsylvania and Michigan and making him potentially competitive in states that Trump won more handily last time, such as Texas and Georgia.
“There was a question of whether his support was already so low in the state that it couldn’t go lower,” said Berkeley political scientist Eric Schickler, co-director of the Institute of Governmental Studies. The poll “shows the answer is no.”
Aides to both candidates believe the biggest factor in Trump’s decline is voters’ fear of the coronavirus and belief that the administration has botched its handling of the pandemic. The poll provides further evidence of that.
About two-thirds of the state’s voters see the health threat from the coronavirus getting worse. They back Biden 84% to 11%. By contrast, about 1 in 8 say the health threat is getting less serious; they back Trump 87% to 10%. About 1 in 5 voters say the threat from the virus is about the same as it’s been; they’re closely divided.
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The poll also found California Democrats reacting favorably to the possibility of Biden choosing either of two state officeholders on his short list of potential running mates.
Sen. Kamala Harris is better known statewide than Rep. Karen Bass of Los Angeles, but Democratic voters expressed support for Biden picking either of them. For Harris, Democratic voters approved 68% to 20% with 12% expressing no opinion; in Bass’ case, support was 46% to 10% with 44% expressing no opinion.
Democratic voters in Los Angeles County were more likely than those elsewhere in the state to have an opinion of Bass, who represents parts of the Westside and Central Los Angeles in Congress. They favored her selection 56% to 11%. Opinions of Harris, who lives in Los Angeles but spent most of her career in the Bay Area, were roughly the same in Los Angeles as statewide.
For Harris, the support marked a notable comeback. In December, a Berkeley IGS poll conducted for the Los Angeles Times showed that by 61% to 24%, likely Democratic primary voters in California thought she should quit the presidential race. She did so just before the poll was published.
Opinions of Trump, by contrast, have gotten worse since the winter. A Berkeley IGS poll in January showed 33% of the state’s voters approved of the way he is handling his job as president. In the most recent poll, that’s dropped to 29%, with 71% disapproving, including 63% who say they “strongly” disapprove.
Since the vast majority of Democrats already disapproved of Trump, the drop in approval comes mostly among Republicans and nonpartisan voters. Among voters who identified themselves as moderate conservatives, for example, approval dropped 11 points, from 76% in January to 65% now.
Erosion of Trump’s support among moderate conservatives is another trend seen nationwide in recent surveys.
In California, the decline shows up in the more conservative regions of the state. In the Inland Empire, approval of Trump dropped 8 points, from 43% in January to 35% in the current poll. In the Central Valley, it dropped 7 points, from 44% in January to 37% now.
“There’s evidence nationally of a decline for Trump in more rural areas where the coronavirus has spread,” Schickler said. The poll seems to be “showing a similar thing here.”
Overall, 70% of the state’s voters have an unfavorable view of Trump, 28% see him favorably. By contrast, 56% of the state’s voters have a favorable view of Biden, compared with 40% who have an unfavorable view. In Los Angeles, 24% have a favorable view of Trump, and 60% have a favorable view of Biden.
About 15% of voters have an unfavorable view of both candidates. That group supports Biden by 5 to 1. That’s a big shift from 2016, when voters nationwide who disliked both candidates broke heavily in Trump’s favor.
Biden has a huge lead in the state not only because Democrats heavily outnumber Republicans in California, but also because the former vice president has a big lead among non-partisan voters and has made inroads among traditionally Republican groups while Trump has almost no traction among traditionally Democratic groups.
For example, Biden gets about one-quarter of California voters who call themselves “somewhat conservative” — about 1 in 6 California voters. By contrast, Trump gets almost no support among voters who call themselves “somewhat liberal,” who make up about 1 in 5 of the state’s voters.
The state’s nonpartisan voters back Biden by about 4 to 1, the poll found.
Biden gets backing from white voters, 66% to 31%; from Black people 87% to 7%; from Asian and Pacific Islanders, 72% to 21%; and from Latinos, 63% to 30%, the poll found.
About 15% of Latinos who primarily speak Spanish remain undecided, the poll found. That’s consistent with past elections in which Spanish-dominant Latinos, many of whom are relatively new citizens, have tended to tune in to the election later than many other voters. The group tends to be heavily Democratic, suggesting that Biden’s support from them is likely to grow as the election nears.
In liberal California, even white men without college educations — Trump’s strong point nationwide — back Biden. The former vice president leads among that group 54% to 42%, the poll found. That pales compared to Biden’s support among college-educated women, however. They back him 79% to 17%.
Evangelical Christians, who are among Trump’s most steadfast backers nationwide, form one of the few major demographic groups in the state that gives majority support to the president. California voters who say they are evangelicals back Trump 56% to 39%, the poll found.
Trump, who has pitched multiple campaign appeals to racial prejudice, also gets strong support from the roughly 30% of the state’s voters who disapprove of the Black Lives Matter movement. Those who disapprove of the movement back Trump over Biden 83% to 11%, the poll found. The much larger group that approves of the movement backs Biden 93% to 3%.
Politics How the Berkeley IGS poll is done The UC Berkeley Institute of Governmental Studies poll that The Times is publishing uses a method that differs from traditional phone-based surveys.
The Berkeley IGS poll, supervised by pollster Mark DiCamillo, was administered online in English and Spanish from July 21-27 among 8,328 registered voters, 6,756 of whom are considered likely to vote in the November election. The margin of error for the full sample is estimated at roughly 2 percentage points in either direction. Further details on the poll questions and data can be found at the Berkeley IGS website.


latimes--2020-08-04--3 people shot during wild party at Mulholland Drive mansion

Three people were shot early Tuesday during a large party at a mansion on Mulholland Drive , authorities said .
According to the Los Angeles Fire Department , two of the victims were in critical condition and a third was in grave condition .
Few details were available , but the LAFD said the shooting occurred around 12:45 a.m .
Videos from the mansion posted on social media appear to capture bursts of gunfire .
It was unclear if anyone had been arrested .
Earlier Monday night , Officers were called to a home in the 1300 block of Mulholland @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a disturbance , said LAPD spokesman Officer Mike Lopez .
To prevent the spread of the coronavirus , the L.A. County Department of Public Health has banned “ parties of any size.
” Footage broadcast by KCAL 9-TV Channel 9 showed dozens of people on the mansion ’ s terrace .
Some danced while others socialized in a swimming pool .
When bars initially closed during the pandemic , the LAPD reported receiving an increase in calls about large , illicit parties in the Hollywood Hills .
In May , officers responded to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 100 people that ended when a partygoer accidentally shot himself in the groin .

Three people were shot, one fatally, at a party at a home on Mulholland Drive where police had investigated a disturbance hours earlier.
What started as a massive, boisterous party held in defiance of coronavirus-related health orders ended in gunfire early Tuesday, leaving one woman dead, four other people injured and raising new concerns about private gatherings as a way of spreading COVID-19.
The shooting was reported about 12:45 a.m., hours after Los Angeles police were first called to the home in the 13200 block of Mulholland Drive following numerous complaints from neighbors about the size of the gathering after buses were seen dropping off partygoers.
For the record: An earlier version of this article misidentified the location where officers were called to a house party on Mulholland Drive. Police were called to a home in the 13200 block of Mulholland Drive, not the 1300 block.
LAPD Lt. Chris Ramirez said officers found two women and a man suffering from gunshot wounds.
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People who attended the party last night watch from Mulholland Drive as LAPD Police investigate a shooting at a home on 13200 Mulholland Drive in the Beverly Crest area of Los Angeles. (Al Seib/Los Angeles Times)
With bars and nightclubs closed because of the COVID-19 pandemic, health officials have expressed concern about private parties being held in upscale neighborhoods. The LAPD has reported receiving an increase in calls about large, illicit parties in the Hollywood Hills in particular.
When asked about the incident during a briefing Tuesday, California Health and Human Services Secretary Dr. Mark Ghaly said the party sounded “like a high-risk experience for those who were there and, frankly, for the loved ones that they go home to.”
He added that the state depends on its local partners to help ensure compliance with coronavirus-related health orders and that any issues need to be addressed head-on.
“I hope that we continue to have our local partners not just saying and reminding people of the message, but enforcing public health orders — not just the state public health orders, but the orders at the local level that I know, in L.A. County, are strong as well,” Ghaly said.
Aerial view of a large house party on Mulholland Drive in Beverly Crest, where three people were shot. (KTLA)
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Three of the victims were hit by gunfire, according to the Los Angeles Fire Department. All the victims were taken to hospitals in critical or grave condition. A 35-year-old woman later died, police said. The other two were stable, officials said.
Two more people were injured in the incident, authorities said, but it was unclear how. One woman went to a hospital on her own, and a man was taken to a hospital from nearby, according to Ramirez. Both have since been discharged.
Ramirez said the shooting is considered a gang-related homicide. Social media activity, in part, led detectives to tie the shooting to gang activity, he added.
A vehicle departs the shooting scene at 13200 Mulholland Drive in the Beverly Crest area of Los Angeles. (Al Seib/Los Angeles Times)
No arrests have been made.
Videos from the mansion posted on social media appear to capture bursts of gunfire.
About 200 people were at the party in the Beverly Crest mansion when police first entered about 7 p.m. Although officers cited and impounded some vehicles that were illegally parked, they did not break up the party — even though gatherings of any size are prohibited under Los Angeles County’s coronavirus health order.
“When the officers arrived, they did notice large amounts of people on the roadway and vehicles kind of blocking, double-parked and stuff, stacked on the roadway,” Ramirez said during a morning media briefing.
“At that point, the officers met with the responsible party and security officers at that location. They were able to get their compliance, to help get the people back into the private party, and at the same time, did some enforcement.”
Video broadcast by KCAL-TV showed dozens of people on the mansion’s terrace. Some danced, while others socialized in a swimming pool.
In May, officers went to a raging house party with more than 100 people that ended when a partygoer accidentally shot himself in the groin.
Rapper Megan Thee Stallion said she suffered “gunshot wounds” outside a Hollywood Hills mansion in July — though an LAPD account of the incident made no mention of her being struck by gunfire and referred only to her suffering a foot injury. The department is continuing to investigate that incident.
Sheila Irani, a member of the Hollywood United Neighborhood Council, said police are constantly responding to calls for noise violations in the hills since coronavirus restrictions were put in place.
“Since COVID, they’ve moved all the parties to the hills,” she said. “The kids are going stir crazy.”
She said fines, threats by the city and other sanctions don’t seem to deter some property owners. In her neighborhood, residents have taken to bombarding property management companies with complaints and trying to pressure short-term rental firms into delisting properties.
In 2018, the Los Angeles City Council approved an ordinance proposed by Councilman David Ryu, who represents Hollywood Hills, that imposed fines on both party hosts and homeowners.
After the May shooting, Ryu said he was looking at expanding the ordinance to crack down on those who continue to flout the law and put others at risk.
“This has always been dangerous, but during a pandemic, it is especially selfish and stupid,” he said. “This is no longer a standard-of-life issue; it’s a standard-of-health issue. Whether it’s by expanding the party-house law or stronger enforcement of physical distancing rules, we must crack down on these parties and hold party hosts and homeowners accountable.”
The Los Angeles city attorney’s office has said homeowners with a history of renting to partygoers will face more than a slap on the wrist.
“The consequences can range from a citation up to criminal prosecution and six months in jail. Those consequences don’t just apply to the person throwing the party; it can apply to ... the homeowner,” said Ethan Weaver, the office’s Hollywood-area prosecutor.
“If your house has been cited for a party violation in the past, you as a property owner can be held responsible, even if you are not present.”


latimes--2020-08-03--L.A. County Health Department investigating 'first responder' party at Sassafras Saloon

Los Angeles County ’ s top public health official Monday announced an investigation into a party thrown for “ first responders ” at a Hollywood bar over the weekend that seemed to fly in the face of social distancing requirements as coronavirus cases continue to rise in Southern California .
Barbara Ferrer , director of the county ’ s public health department , said both her office and the state Department of Alcohol and Beverage Control would be investigating the July 31 event at Sassafras Saloon on Vine Street .
“ We had inspectors out there the very next day @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that place is shuttered and closed for business .
The owners have said they only opened for that private party , ” Ferrer said .
“ There is really zero tolerance for having indoor parties at your business places.
” News of the party drew outrage after a video obtained by the website Knock L.A. , which is affiliated with progressive activist group Ground Game L.A. , showed several men saying “ yeah ” outside the bar after they were asked if they were there for the “ LASD party , ” referring @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Department .
A second video appeared to show people inside dancing to loud music .
“ Whether it is a private or public party , you ’ ve potentially created a lot of exposures , and the possibility that that moves into the community would be a very unfortunate place for us to be right now as everyone else is working so hard to reduce the rate of transmission , ” Ferrer said .
A person with knowledge of the event , who spoke to The Times on the condition of anonymity for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at the bar had been told that a party involving the L.A. County Sheriff ’ s Department had been booked for Friday night .
The Sheriff ’ s Department has denied it had anything to do with arranging the party and said Saturday that none of the men who identified themselves in the video were employed by the agency .
A review of county payroll records by The Times did not turn up the names of any of the three men who identify themselves in the video as Sheriff ’ s Department employees @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is similar to that of a Los Angeles Police Department employee .
The LAPD said Monday it was reviewing whether any department employees were at the gathering .
A spokesman for the city attorney ’ s office said Monday that complaints about the event had been referred to the health department .
The Sheriff ’ s Department , however , published a tweet Monday referring to reports connecting the incident to the agency as a “ hoax perpetrated by social activists.
” Sassafras is operated by the 1933 Group , which owns a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , including Idle Hour in North Hollywood , the Bigfoot Lodge in Atwater Village and the Highland Park Bowl .
In a statement issued Saturday , the group said the “ gathering was booked by an individual who wanted to honor a group of first responders.
” The restaurant group denied the event was organized by the Sheriff ’ s Department and said it could not confirm if personnel from that agency or the LAPD were in attendance .
A spokeswoman for the group declined to say how many people attended or what @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ We did everything possible to provide our staff and guests with ample outdoor spaces that completely adhered to current safety precautions and social distancing expectations , ” the restaurant group said in response to videos that showed people partying inside the venue .
“ Unfortunately , there were a number of guests that did not comply .
We unequivocally do not condone this behavior and have no intention of agreeing to additional private events , charitable or otherwise , until the state allows .
”

Bottles hang from a rotating mechanism over the bar at Sassafras Saloon, a Southern-based bar built from a former townhouse imported from Savannah, Ga.
Los Angeles County’s top public health official announced an investigation into a party thrown for “first responders” at a Hollywood bar over the weekend that seemed to fly in the face of social distancing requirements as coronavirus cases continue to rise in Southern California.
Barbara Ferrer, director of the county’s public health department, said both her office and the state Department of Alcohol and Beverage Control would be investigating the July 31 event at Sassafras Saloon on Vine Street.
“We had inspectors out there the very next day. As many of you know, that place is shuttered and closed for business. The owners have said they only opened for that private party,” Ferrer said. “There is really zero tolerance for having indoor parties at your business places.”
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News of the party drew outrage after a video obtained by the website Knock L.A., which is affiliated with progressive activist group Ground Game L.A., showed several men saying “yeah” outside the bar after they were asked if they were there for the “LASD party,” referring the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. A second video appeared to show people inside dancing to loud music.
“Whether it is a private or public party, you’ve potentially created a lot of exposures, and the possibility that that moves into the community would be a very unfortunate place for us to be right now as everyone else is working so hard to reduce the rate of transmission,” Ferrer said.
A person with knowledge of the event, who spoke to The Times on the condition of anonymity for fear of reprisals, said staff members at the bar had been told that a party involving the L.A. County Sheriff’s Department had been booked for Friday night. The Sheriff’s Department has denied it had anything to do with arranging the party and said Saturday that none of the men who identified themselves in the video were employed by the agency.
A review of county payroll records by The Times did not turn up the names of any of the three men who identify themselves in the video as Sheriff’s Department employees, though one man’s name is similar to that of a Los Angeles Police Department employee.
The LAPD said Monday it was reviewing whether any department employees were at the gathering. A spokesman for the city attorney’s office said Monday that complaints about the event had been referred to the health department.
The Sheriff’s Department, however, published a tweet Monday referring to reports connecting the incident to the agency as a “hoax perpetrated by social activists.”
Sassafras is operated by the 1933 Group, which owns a number of popular Los Angeles cocktail bars, including Idle Hour in North Hollywood, the Bigfoot Lodge in Atwater Village and the Highland Park Bowl. In a statement issued Saturday, the group said the “gathering was booked by an individual who wanted to honor a group of first responders.”
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The restaurant group denied the event was organized by the Sheriff’s Department and said it could not confirm if personnel from that agency or the LAPD were in attendance. A spokeswoman for the group declined to say how many people attended or what Sassafras was paid to host the event.
“We did everything possible to provide our staff and guests with ample outdoor spaces that completely adhered to current safety precautions and social distancing expectations,” the restaurant group said in response to videos that showed people partying inside the venue.
“Unfortunately, there were a number of guests that did not comply. We unequivocally do not condone this behavior and have no intention of agreeing to additional private events, charitable or otherwise, until the state allows.”


latimes--2020-08-03--Some California elementary schools could reopen if they meet state waiver rules

Some California elementary schools may be able to reopen for in-person classes this fall under a strict waiver system announced Monday by state officials .
But because of the detailed rules , smaller schools — especially private and parochial campuses with more flexibility — will probably be among the most successful at meeting the special guidelines , prompting concern from some that select reopenings could add to gaps in educational equity .
Last month , Gov .
Gavin Newsom announced that both public and private schools in California counties where the coronavirus continues to spread would be required to begin @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s guidance , which covers 38 of California ’ s most populous counties , means the majority of children in the state are unlikely to see the inside of a classroom until COVID-19 cases significantly decline .
But state health officials this week released criteria for local officials to use to evaluate if some schools can be exempted from Newsom ’ s order .
Under the waivers , schools can petition their county health departments to allow hybrid online and in-person learning , or request full returns to classrooms .
The waiver @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , whose young children have the most difficulty with online learning .
Dr. Erica S. Pan , California state epidemiologist and deputy director for the Center for Infectious Diseases , said available data suggest younger children are at lower risk of transmitting COVID-19 to other children and to adults .
She said the waivers are intended to “ prioritize young children ” and create flexibility for “ certain parts of our state that are in a grayer area.
” The state guidance requires individual schools that want to reopen to submit plans that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for how to handle outbreaks , a plan for testing if exposures do occur and criteria for when to close , among other information .
District approval would be required for any school that seeks the waiver .
The plans must be posted publicly .
Each school would have to come up with a plan specific to its circumstances , and the state guidance discourages waivers from being granted in counties where the infection rate is more than twice the threshold for being placed on the state monitoring list .
Because of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ maintain six feet distance between students at all times — some education experts said the waiver is most likely to be granted in smaller public school districts and in private and parochial schools with fewer students .
Public schools , most of which are already planning for remote education , would find it difficult to maintain the waiver standards , they said , and to pivot to attempting to qualify for a waiver quickly .
Deborah Dowling , executive director of the California Assn .
of Independent Schools , which represents about 230 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ believes many private schools will request the waiver .
Prior to Newsom ’ s announcement of required distance learning , many parochial and independent schools around the state had already created plans for in-person learning and were taken by surprise when the governor included them in closures .
“ I think what it really comes down to is , is the school nimble enough to find a way to meet the requirements , and being small makes you more nimble , ” Dowling said .
“ If a school can safely reopen within @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to students and teachers and other employees , then it is very much in kids ’ interest to learn in person.
” Lincoln Snyder , executive director and superintendent of schools for the Catholic diocese of Sacramento , said he understands concerns over equity , but many of the schools in his diocese include children from low-income households , and parents in the schools he oversees overwhelmingly are asking for in-person instruction .
He has already begun working on waivers for 38 schools in seven counties .
He is hopeful they will be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the public health officers I have spoken with directly have a strong desire to see kids back in class , ” Snyder said .
“ Our public health officers have been very open with us about wanting to work through this waiver process.
” Most private and parochial schools also have nonunion staff .
Although the state guidance requires schools to confer with teachers and unions , if there is one , it does not require teacher or union consent to reopen under a waiver .
Unions and their members have been vocal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ virus is controlled .
Jeff Freitas , president of the California Federation of Teachers , said his organization opposes the waivers for that reason .
The state ’ s two largest teacher unions — Los Angeles and San Diego — have just negotiated distance learning plans .
“ If a county is on the monitoring list , there is a reason they are on the monitoring list , and without the testing and tracing the state needs to provide , it is not safe until these numbers come down , ” Freitas said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ communities are going to be applying for those waivers , and it will create an additional inequality.
” For those schools that don ’ t qualify for waivers , the process of returning to campus is complicated .
Schools in the counties being monitored for coronavirus spread would not be able to reopen until they log at least 14 consecutive days of declining coronavirus cases and are removed from the watch list .
In counties with fewer coronavirus cases , the threshold for closing schools is dependent on outbreaks — classrooms where a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to quarantine at home .
If multiple classes are infected , the school could be required to close .
If more than a quarter of schools in a district have outbreaks , the entire district could be required to shut down .

Wearing masks for protection, Rosie Roth, left, Penelope Roth and Ellie Bristow walk to a cooking class during home school in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic in Riverside, California.
Some California elementary schools may be able to reopen for in-person classes this fall under a strict waiver system announced Monday by state officials.
But because of the detailed rules, smaller schools — especially private and parochial campuses with more flexibility — will probably be among the most successful at meeting the special guidelines, prompting concern from some that select reopenings could add to gaps in educational equity.
Last month, Gov. Gavin Newsom announced that both public and private schools in California counties where the coronavirus continues to spread would be required to begin the fall with distance learning. Newsom’s guidance, which covers 38 of California’s most populous counties, means the majority of children in the state are unlikely to see the inside of a classroom until COVID-19 cases significantly decline.
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But state health officials this week released criteria for local officials to use to evaluate if some schools can be exempted from Newsom’s order. Under the waivers, schools can petition their county health departments to allow hybrid online and in-person learning, or request full returns to classrooms. The waiver process is available only to elementary schools, whose young children have the most difficulty with online learning.
Dr. Erica S. Pan, California state epidemiologist and deputy director for the Center for Infectious Diseases, said available data suggest younger children are at lower risk of transmitting COVID-19 to other children and to adults.
She said the waivers are intended to “prioritize young children” and create flexibility for “certain parts of our state that are in a grayer area.”
The state guidance requires individual schools that want to reopen to submit plans that include rules for social distancing, protocols for how to handle outbreaks, a plan for testing if exposures do occur and criteria for when to close, among other information. District approval would be required for any school that seeks the waiver. The plans must be posted publicly.
Each school would have to come up with a plan specific to its circumstances, and the state guidance discourages waivers from being granted in counties where the infection rate is more than twice the threshold for being placed on the state monitoring list.
Because of the rules — such as a requirement to maintain six feet distance between students at all times — some education experts said the waiver is most likely to be granted in smaller public school districts and in private and parochial schools with fewer students. Public schools, most of which are already planning for remote education, would find it difficult to maintain the waiver standards, they said, and to pivot to attempting to qualify for a waiver quickly.
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Deborah Dowling, executive director of the California Assn. of Independent Schools, which represents about 230 private schools in California, said she believes many private schools will request the waiver.
Prior to Newsom’s announcement of required distance learning, many parochial and independent schools around the state had already created plans for in-person learning and were taken by surprise when the governor included them in closures.
“I think what it really comes down to is, is the school nimble enough to find a way to meet the requirements, and being small makes you more nimble,” Dowling said. “If a school can safely reopen within the medical guidelines and minimize the danger to students and teachers and other employees, then it is very much in kids’ interest to learn in person.”
Lincoln Snyder, executive director and superintendent of schools for the Catholic diocese of Sacramento, said he understands concerns over equity, but many of the schools in his diocese include children from low-income households, and parents in the schools he oversees overwhelmingly are asking for in-person instruction. He has already begun working on waivers for 38 schools in seven counties. He is hopeful they will be granted soon.
“A number of the public health officers I have spoken with directly have a strong desire to see kids back in class,” Snyder said. “Our public health officers have been very open with us about wanting to work through this waiver process.”
Most private and parochial schools also have nonunion staff. Although the state guidance requires schools to confer with teachers and unions, if there is one, it does not require teacher or union consent to reopen under a waiver. Unions and their members have been vocal about safety concerns of returning before the virus is controlled.
Jeff Freitas, president of the California Federation of Teachers, said his organization opposes the waivers for that reason. The state’s two largest teacher unions — Los Angeles and San Diego — have just negotiated distance learning plans.
“If a county is on the monitoring list, there is a reason they are on the monitoring list, and without the testing and tracing the state needs to provide, it is not safe until these numbers come down,” Freitas said. “We feel that more privileged communities are going to be applying for those waivers, and it will create an additional inequality.”
For those schools that don’t qualify for waivers, the process of returning to campus is complicated.
Schools in the counties being monitored for coronavirus spread would not be able to reopen until they log at least 14 consecutive days of declining coronavirus cases and are removed from the watch list.
In counties with fewer coronavirus cases, the threshold for closing schools is dependent on outbreaks — classrooms where a student or teacher tests positive would need to quarantine at home. If multiple classes are infected, the school could be required to close. If more than a quarter of schools in a district have outbreaks, the entire district could be required to shut down.
Sacramento bureau chief John Myers contributed to this report.


latimes--2020-08-03--Suspect killed and Culver City officer wounded in police shooting

A Culver City police officer was wounded by friendly fire and a suspect was killed in a shooting Monday afternoon , officials said .
The incident occurred about 3 p.m. in the 8800 block of Washington Boulevard in Culver City , according to a media statement from the L.A. County Sheriff ’ s Department .
Detectives with the department ’ s homicide bureau are helping investigate the shooting .
About 2:25 pm , the Culver City Police Department received a call about an armed man in a parking structure , said Sheriff ’ s Department Lt. Derrick Alfred .
A @ @ @ @ @ @ @ water leak by a stairwell in the structure had come across a man he said appeared to have been tampering with the water system .
Alfred said that when the maintenance worker asked the man to leave , he instead brandished a knife .
Officers who arrived at the scene found the suspect moving between different levels of the parking garage .
At one point , he tried to barricade himself behind a door , and as officers tried to pry it open , the man charged forward with a knife , Alfred @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and the suspect was struck .
During the encounter , an officer who was on scene was shot in the leg , presumably by one of the officers who had fired at the suspect , Alfred said .
The wounded officer was taken to a hospital in fair condition while the suspect died at a hospital .
Alfred said the dead man hasn ’ t been identified yet .

A Culver City police officer was wounded by friendly fire and a suspect was killed in a shooting Monday afternoon, officials said.
The incident occurred about 3 p.m. in the 8800 block of Washington Boulevard in Culver City, according to a media statement from the L.A. County Sheriff’s Department. Detectives with the department’s homicide bureau are helping investigate the shooting.
About 2:25 pm, the Culver City Police Department received a call about an armed man in a parking structure, said Sheriff’s Department Lt. Derrick Alfred. A maintenance worker who had been investigating a water leak by a stairwell in the structure had come across a man he said appeared to have been tampering with the water system.
Alfred said that when the maintenance worker asked the man to leave, he instead brandished a knife.
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Officers who arrived at the scene found the suspect moving between different levels of the parking garage. At one point, he tried to barricade himself behind a door, and as officers tried to pry it open, the man charged forward with a knife, Alfred said. Two officers fired their guns and the suspect was struck.
During the encounter, an officer who was on scene was shot in the leg, presumably by one of the officers who had fired at the suspect, Alfred said.
The wounded officer was taken to a hospital in fair condition while the suspect died at a hospital.
Alfred said the dead man hasn’t been identified yet.


latimes--2020-08-03--LAUSD, teachers reach tentative deal on remote learning

After a troubled and uneven spring of distance learning , Los Angeles schools will reopen in two weeks with a major reboot for learning at home that includes a structured schedule , mandatory attendance-taking and more required online time with teachers and counselors , under a tentative agreement between the teachers union and the district .
The official schedule will be shorter than a normal on-campus school day , beginning at 9 a.m. and ending at 2:15 p.m. , with teachers expected to work an average of six hours while exercising broad discretion over how much time they spend teaching @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and supervising students working independently .
Time also will be set aside for the social and emotional needs of students and families through counseling .
The pact appears to resolve a major hurdle that was creating uncertainty among parents as the Aug. 18 start of the school year quickly approaches .
“ We have all learned from our experiences with distance learning since March and we ’ ve applied what we learned to this agreement , ” said L.A. schools Supt .
Austin Beutner and teachers union President Cecily Myart-Cruz in a joint @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to provide the best possible education for students in our schools.
” Similar agreements — which specify the amount of live online instruction and establish consistent schedules for families — are being hammered out across the state and nation .
San Diego Unified announced an agreement with its teachers union last week as did Green Dot Public Schools , a unionized charter-school organization that operates 19 campuses in Los Angeles and Inglewood .
After campuses closed in March due to the coronavirus , L.A. Unified and other school systems worked quickly to hand @ @ @ @ @ @ @ computers and Wi-Fi hotspots , and train teachers in online instruction .
But in the end , say experts , the shutdown appeared to exacerbate learning gaps affecting Black and Latino students , those from low-income families and those with disabilities .
“ Live , quality , instruction , consistently tracking student engagement across the year , and clear communication with parents are all more important than ever for equity this fall , ” said Elisha Smith Arrillaga , executive director of Education Trust-West , an Oakland-based research and advocacy group .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ steps in each of these areas but hope even more detail will be provided.
” The more structured , 30-hour minimum week contrasts with an agreement in April with no set schedule and a 20-hour minimum week for teachers — although many went far beyond that .
UC Berkeley education professor Bruce Fuller called the new pact a vast improvement , but added that the obvious missing piece is attention to child care and academic supervision for low-income families , including those of essential workers .
“ It ’ s a strong model @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stay home , ” Fuller said .
“ But I see no specificity for how educators will connect with kids in working-class families who fail to log on with teachers , ” especially , he said , those parents who “ must return to work to keep food on the table , working swing shifts and irregular hours , unable to oversee their child ’ s online learning.
” Another quick take was offered by Robin Lake , director of the Center on Reinventing Public Education at the University of Washington .
Compared @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has looked at , the L.A. plan provides “ very little time for kids to feel connected and engaged in school , ” Lake said .
“ Given how many LAUSD kids seem to have checked out last spring and how many must be struggling with isolation , this hardly seems like a good idea.
” She added : “ The day itself is shorter than most districts we ’ ve looked at.
” A group of parents last week threatened to sue the district if the learning environment did not improve considerably @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Monday they continue to weigh their options as they review the new learning plan .
Speak Up , an advocacy group that has complained about the quantity and quality of distance learning , praised the consistent schedules and daily live instruction , but said the plan contains too little teaching time , especially given the accumulated learning loss .
There also needs to be an opportunity for ongoing parent input , said Katie Braude , the group ’ s chief executive .
Concerns over academic progress spurred state lawmakers to insert instructional requirements @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to take online attendance and document student learning .
The rules reimposed the state ’ s minimum daily instructional minutes of 180 for kindergarten , 230 minutes for grades 1 through 3 , and 240 minutes for grades 4 through 12 .
Another provision of the six-page agreement would limit a session of screen time for preschoolers to no more than 45 minutes .
The pact also establishes work expectations for non-teaching union members such as counselors , nurses and librarians , some of whom had difficulty connecting with the students they served @ @ @ @ @ @ @ closed .
Numerous parents have complained about inadequate services for students with disabilities and those learning English .
Under the tentative agreement , principals appear to have some latitude in assigning non-teachers duties when they can not perform their regular tasks or can not perform them in the usual way .
In addition , the district has agreed to a union demand to suspend annual performance evaluations of tenured teachers for the soon-to-begin academic year .
The union also achieved other concessions in terms of supervision and evaluation .
Administrators , for example @ @ @ @ @ @ @ courses and web-conferencing sessions .
And live instruction can not be recorded by the district without prior notice and the consent of the instructor .
Negotiations continued until 10 p.m. Sunday .
In general , the district was pushing for a longer school day than the union , which favored more flexibility .
Under orders by Gov .
Gavin Newsom , public and private schools located in counties on the state ’ s coronavirus watchlist can not reopen for the start of school .
Campuses could potentially reopen once virus transmission recedes and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can petition to reopen sooner .
The teachers union plans to have its members vote on the agreement next week .
The school board , which also must approve the pact , is scheduled to meet Tuesday and could take up the matter .
A major item already on that agenda is whether the board will put a $ 7-billion school facilities bond before voters in November .
Officials have said the bond would help replenish funds spent in response to the pandemic as well as to meet other needs .
The agreement @ @ @ @ @ @ @ until campuses reopen .
Negotiations are continuing over how things will work when campuses are allowed to reopen .

Gaby Regalado’s daughters, Jaqui, left, and Yuliana with headphones they received at a giveaway at the Mar Vista Family Center in April.
After a troubled and uneven spring of distance learning, Los Angeles schools will reopen in two weeks with a major reboot for learning at home that includes a structured schedule, mandatory attendance-taking and more required online time with teachers and counselors, under a tentative agreement between the teachers union and the district.
The official schedule will be shorter than a normal on-campus school day, beginning at 9 a.m. and ending at 2:15 p.m., with teachers expected to work an average of six hours while exercising broad discretion over how much time they spend teaching live online classes versus providing recorded sessions and supervising students working independently.
Time also will be set aside for the social and emotional needs of students and families through counseling.
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The pact appears to resolve a major hurdle that was creating uncertainty among parents as the Aug. 18 start of the school year quickly approaches.
“We have all learned from our experiences with distance learning since March and we’ve applied what we learned to this agreement,” said L.A. schools Supt. Austin Beutner and teachers union President Cecily Myart-Cruz in a joint statement. “Our shared goal is to provide the best possible education for students in our schools.”
Similar agreements — which specify the amount of live online instruction and establish consistent schedules for families — are being hammered out across the state and nation. San Diego Unified announced an agreement with its teachers union last week as did Green Dot Public Schools, a unionized charter-school organization that operates 19 campuses in Los Angeles and Inglewood.
After campuses closed in March due to the coronavirus, L.A. Unified and other school systems worked quickly to hand out work packets and textbooks, provide computers and Wi-Fi hotspots, and train teachers in online instruction. But in the end, say experts, the shutdown appeared to exacerbate learning gaps affecting Black and Latino students, those from low-income families and those with disabilities.
“Live, quality, instruction, consistently tracking student engagement across the year, and clear communication with parents are all more important than ever for equity this fall,” said Elisha Smith Arrillaga, executive director of Education Trust-West, an Oakland-based research and advocacy group. “We are glad this plan includes first steps in each of these areas but hope even more detail will be provided.”
The more structured, 30-hour minimum week contrasts with an agreement in April with no set schedule and a 20-hour minimum week for teachers — although many went far beyond that.
UC Berkeley education professor Bruce Fuller called the new pact a vast improvement, but added that the obvious missing piece is attention to child care and academic supervision for low-income families, including those of essential workers.
“It’s a strong model for attentive parents who can afford to stay home,” Fuller said. “But I see no specificity for how educators will connect with kids in working-class families who fail to log on with teachers,” especially, he said, those parents who “must return to work to keep food on the table, working swing shifts and irregular hours, unable to oversee their child’s online learning.”
Another quick take was offered by Robin Lake, director of the Center on Reinventing Public Education at the University of Washington.
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Compared with other school systems her research team has looked at, the L.A. plan provides “very little time for kids to feel connected and engaged in school,” Lake said. “Given how many LAUSD kids seem to have checked out last spring and how many must be struggling with isolation, this hardly seems like a good idea.”
She added: “The day itself is shorter than most districts we’ve looked at.”
A group of parents last week threatened to sue the district if the learning environment did not improve considerably. A representative for the group said Monday they continue to weigh their options as they review the new learning plan.
Speak Up, an advocacy group that has complained about the quantity and quality of distance learning, praised the consistent schedules and daily live instruction, but said the plan contains too little teaching time, especially given the accumulated learning loss. There also needs to be an opportunity for ongoing parent input, said Katie Braude, the group’s chief executive.
Concerns over academic progress spurred state lawmakers to insert instructional requirements into the budget bill, requiring teachers to take online attendance and document student learning. The rules reimposed the state’s minimum daily instructional minutes of 180 for kindergarten, 230 minutes for grades 1 through 3, and 240 minutes for grades 4 through 12.
Paulina De Loza, 8, holds a computer issued at the Ellen Ochoa Learning Center in Cudahy in April. (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)
Another provision of the six-page agreement would limit a session of screen time for preschoolers to no more than 45 minutes.
The pact also establishes work expectations for non-teaching union members such as counselors, nurses and librarians, some of whom had difficulty connecting with the students they served or adjusting to altered roles after campuses closed. Numerous parents have complained about inadequate services for students with disabilities and those learning English.
Noah Garcia, 3, left, and cousin Mia Porres, 4, pick up meals in March with their grandmother Zoila Umana, right, from LAUSD volunteers. (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)
Under the tentative agreement, principals appear to have some latitude in assigning non-teachers duties when they cannot perform their regular tasks or cannot perform them in the usual way.
In addition, the district has agreed to a union demand to suspend annual performance evaluations of tenured teachers for the soon-to-begin academic year. The union also achieved other concessions in terms of supervision and evaluation. Administrators, for example, must give notice before joining virtual courses and web-conferencing sessions. And live instruction cannot be recorded by the district without prior notice and the consent of the instructor.
Negotiations continued until 10 p.m. Sunday. In general, the district was pushing for a longer school day than the union, which favored more flexibility.
Areas are cordoned off with caution tape in March at Dorsey High School. (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)
Under orders by Gov. Gavin Newsom, public and private schools located in counties on the state’s coronavirus watchlist cannot reopen for the start of school. Campuses could potentially reopen once virus transmission recedes and stabilizes for 14 days. Elementary schools can petition to reopen sooner.
The teachers union plans to have its members vote on the agreement next week. The school board, which also must approve the pact, is scheduled to meet Tuesday and could take up the matter.
A major item already on that agenda is whether the board will put a $7-billion school facilities bond before voters in November. Officials have said the bond would help replenish funds spent in response to the pandemic as well as to meet other needs.
The agreement would be in effect through December or until campuses reopen. Negotiations are continuing over how things will work when campuses are allowed to reopen.


latimes--2020-08-04--No school opening waivers will be considered, L.A. County says, citing high COVID-19 rates

The L.A. County Department of Public Health said Tuesday that it would not consider any applications for waivers enabling elementary schools to reopen , citing high local COVID-19 case rates .
The decision comes one day after the California Department of Public Health announced new guidelines for granting school reopening waivers , indicating that counties with case rates above 200 per 100,000 residents should not consider applications .
The case rate in L.A. County is currently 355 per 100,000 residents .
“ We know that to many families , this is a disappointing announcement , but it ’ s based @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is guiding all of our decision-making .
We need to ensure the health and safety of our children , school teachers and staff and all of their families , ” the department said in a statement .
It added that the decision would be reconsidered once the case rate falls to the levels recommended by the state .
Teachers , staff and administrators will still be allowed to return to school buildings as long as adults follow safety protocols , including physical distancing and infection control measures , such as wearing face coverings @ @ @ @ @ @ @ month that neither public nor private schools may reopen in counties where the coronavirus continues to spread .
He noted that elementary schools , whose young students have difficulties with online-only learning , could seek an exception through a waiver process overseen by local health departments .
The L.A. County health department subsequently said it would soon begin accepting applications for waivers from district superintendents and private school directors seeking to reopen in person for students in transitional kindergarten through sixth grade .
It said it would require letters of support from teachers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , sparking criticism that private and parochial schools without unionized labor would have an advantage in the process .

Short Avenue Elementary School in Mar Vista and others around Los Angeles remain closed due to the coronavirus crisis.
The L.A. County Department of Public Health said Tuesday that it would not consider any applications for waivers enabling elementary schools to reopen, citing high local COVID-19 case rates.
The decision comes one day after the California Department of Public Health announced new guidelines for granting school reopening waivers, indicating that counties with case rates above 200 per 100,000 residents should not consider applications.
The case rate in L.A. County is currently 355 per 100,000 residents.
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“We know that to many families, this is a disappointing announcement, but it’s based on the existing science and data that is guiding all of our decision-making. We need to ensure the health and safety of our children, school teachers and staff and all of their families,” the department said in a statement.
It added that the decision would be reconsidered once the case rate falls to the levels recommended by the state.
Teachers, staff and administrators will still be allowed to return to school buildings as long as adults follow safety protocols, including physical distancing and infection control measures, such as wearing face coverings.
Gov. Gavin Newsom announced last month that neither public nor private schools may reopen in counties where the coronavirus continues to spread. He noted that elementary schools, whose young students have difficulties with online-only learning, could seek an exception through a waiver process overseen by local health departments.
The L.A. County health department subsequently said it would soon begin accepting applications for waivers from district superintendents and private school directors seeking to reopen in person for students in transitional kindergarten through sixth grade.
It said it would require letters of support from teachers unions, parent groups and community-based organizations, sparking criticism that private and parochial schools without unionized labor would have an advantage in the process.