latimes--2020-09-23--Nearly half of voters polled back Prop. 15, a property tax overhaul aimed at California businesses

Nearly half of California voters in a new statewide poll support Proposition 15 , a November ballot measure that would loosen tax limits on commercial and industrial properties and spend the resulting revenues on local governments and schools .
Though supporters dominate the survey released Wednesday by UC Berkeley ’ s Institute of Governmental Studies , only a plurality of likely voters , 49 % , said they would cast a ballot for Proposition 15 while 34 % said they will oppose it and 17 % remain undecided .
Even so , the snapshot of the current political landscape offers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ say the proposal is a sensible overhaul of 1978 ’ s landmark Proposition 13 — than the measure ’ s business sector opponents , who predict it would strike a damaging blow to California ’ s struggling economy .
“ I think the chances for passage are fairly decent , ” said Mark DiCamillo , the poll ’ s director .
Political analysts have long believed that most California ballot measures with support hovering near the 50 % threshold in polls close to an election will come up short .
Even when applying @ @ @ @ @ @ @ — plus or minus two percentage points — it ’ s possible that support for Proposition 15 could be slightly stronger , but even then only at a razor-thin majority of the voters surveyed .
But DiCamillo said the conventional wisdom may not apply in an election where so many high-profile issues are struggling to get the attention of an electorate consumed less with state politics than the race for president and the dangers of the COVID-19 pandemic .
“ In this new world , or at least this particular cycle where so @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , I think any lead is significant , ” DiCamillo said .
Supporters of Proposition 15 noted another public poll , released last week , found a similar level of support .
“ Throughout this campaign , the polling has been consistent : Wide margins of voters support closing corporate tax loopholes to bring investments back into local communities , ” said Alex Stack , a spokesman for the Yes on 15 campaign .
Almost 6,000 likely voters took part in the online survey over a six-day period beginning on Sept. 9 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s official ballot title and summary .
California voters will begin receiving ballots in the mail in less than two weeks .
Since 1978 , all property taxes in California have been levied under the system adopted by voters with Proposition 13 .
The value of a property is based on its most recent purchase price , even if it last changed hands decades earlier and similar properties nearby sold more recently and are subject to higher taxes .
Proposition 13 limits the tax rate to 1 % of the assessed value amount @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more than 2 % a year .
The new ballot measure would keep all existing rules in place for residential properties .
But commercial and industrial properties would quickly be reassessed , with updated values that better reflect current real estate market conditions — resulting in more taxes paid by their owners .
Exemptions would be made for business properties worth less than $ 3 million and land used for agriculture .
Opponents contend the measure ’ s impact will be far greater than advertised and insist that many of Proposition 15 ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hoping to someday revisit current property tax limitations for homeowners .
“ This survey underscores the simple point — as voters begin to realize that Prop .
15 is the largest property tax increase in state history , is the first step to undoing Prop .
13 in its entirety , and will have a devastating impact on small businesses and farmers , they are overwhelmingly rejecting it , ” said Michael Bustamante , a spokesman for the No on 15 campaign .
Large corporations , likely to see substantially higher property tax @ @ @ @ @ @ @ target of Proposition 15 .
Overall , the independent Legislative Analyst ’ s Office projects the change would generate as much as $ 11.5 billion in new tax revenue a year once fully implemented .
Sixty percent of the new funds would go to local governments , 40 % to K-12 schools and community colleges .
The UC Berkeley poll found Democrats and Republicans hold sharply different opinions about the commercial property tax increase , with a large majority of Democrats in support and a slightly larger majority of Republicans opposed .
Notable @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ethnicity and income .
Opposition to Proposition 15 is strongest among white voters and those over age 50 .
In almost every other subset , including both low-income and high-income earners , a slim majority or more of voters surveyed say they favor the plan .
DiCamillo said the poll offers the clearest evidence so far that the anti-tax appeal of Proposition 13 , one of the state ’ s most potent political brands , is waning .
“ The cracks are now appearing , ” he said .
“ You ’ re @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s coming in and saying , ‘ We need more money for the schools.
’ They ’ re not tied to the past.
” DiCamillo said supporters or those leaning in that direction might also take their cue from Gov .
Gavin Newsom , who endorsed the commercial property tax change last week .
The early sparring over Proposition 15 has focused on whether its exemption for less valuable commercial properties is generous enough and whether businesses will ultimately pass along higher costs to consumers or choose to leave the state for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ decades , critics of Proposition 13 ’ s tax limits have insisted business properties should not receive the same protections as homeowners .
They have pointed to a variety of large California-based corporations with property holdings still taxed on the land ’ s value dating back to the mid-20th century .
Proposition 15 would begin the process of updating those values in 2022 , with property owned by smaller companies reassessed beginning in 2025 .

Commercial properties would be taxed on values more closely linked to the current real estate market if voters approve Proposition 15.
Nearly half of California voters in a new statewide poll support Proposition 15, a November ballot measure that would loosen tax limits on commercial and industrial properties and spend the resulting revenues on local governments and schools.
Though supporters dominate the survey released Wednesday by UC Berkeley’s Institute of Governmental Studies, only a plurality of likely voters, 49%, said they would cast a ballot for Proposition 15 while 34% said they will oppose it and 17% remain undecided.
Even so, the snapshot of the current political landscape offers more encouragement for liberal activists — who say the proposal is a sensible overhaul of 1978’s landmark Proposition 13 — than the measure’s business sector opponents, who predict it would strike a damaging blow to California’s struggling economy.
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“I think the chances for passage are fairly decent,” said Mark DiCamillo, the poll’s director.
Political analysts have long believed that most California ballot measures with support hovering near the 50% threshold in polls close to an election will come up short. Even when applying the poll’s margin of error — plus or minus two percentage points — it’s possible that support for Proposition 15 could be slightly stronger, but even then only at a razor-thin majority of the voters surveyed.
But DiCamillo said the conventional wisdom may not apply in an election where so many high-profile issues are struggling to get the attention of an electorate consumed less with state politics than the race for president and the dangers of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“In this new world, or at least this particular cycle where so many voters aren’t paying attention, I think any lead is significant,” DiCamillo said.
Supporters of Proposition 15 noted another public poll, released last week, found a similar level of support.
“Throughout this campaign, the polling has been consistent: Wide margins of voters support closing corporate tax loopholes to bring investments back into local communities,” said Alex Stack, a spokesman for the Yes on 15 campaign.
Almost 6,000 likely voters took part in the online survey over a six-day period beginning on Sept. 9, weighing in after reading Proposition 15’s official ballot title and summary. California voters will begin receiving ballots in the mail in less than two weeks.
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Since 1978, all property taxes in California have been levied under the system adopted by voters with Proposition 13. The value of a property is based on its most recent purchase price, even if it last changed hands decades earlier and similar properties nearby sold more recently and are subject to higher taxes. Proposition 13 limits the tax rate to 1% of the assessed value amount and that estimate can increase by no more than 2% a year.
The new ballot measure would keep all existing rules in place for residential properties. But commercial and industrial properties would quickly be reassessed, with updated values that better reflect current real estate market conditions — resulting in more taxes paid by their owners. Exemptions would be made for business properties worth less than $3 million and land used for agriculture.
Opponents contend the measure’s impact will be far greater than advertised and insist that many of Proposition 15’s supporters are also on record as hoping to someday revisit current property tax limitations for homeowners.
“This survey underscores the simple point — as voters begin to realize that Prop. 15 is the largest property tax increase in state history, is the first step to undoing Prop. 13 in its entirety, and will have a devastating impact on small businesses and farmers, they are overwhelmingly rejecting it,” said Michael Bustamante, a spokesman for the No on 15 campaign.
Large corporations, likely to see substantially higher property tax payments, are perhaps the most obvious target of Proposition 15.
Overall, the independent Legislative Analyst’s Office projects the change would generate as much as $11.5 billion in new tax revenue a year once fully implemented. Sixty percent of the new funds would go to local governments, 40% to K-12 schools and community colleges.
The UC Berkeley poll found Democrats and Republicans hold sharply different opinions about the commercial property tax increase, with a large majority of Democrats in support and a slightly larger majority of Republicans opposed.
Notable splits are also found by age, ethnicity and income. Opposition to Proposition 15 is strongest among white voters and those over age 50. In almost every other subset, including both low-income and high-income earners, a slim majority or more of voters surveyed say they favor the plan.
DiCamillo said the poll offers the clearest evidence so far that the anti-tax appeal of Proposition 13, one of the state’s most potent political brands, is waning.
“The cracks are now appearing,” he said. “You’re getting this new wave of voter who’s coming in and saying, ‘We need more money for the schools.’ They’re not tied to the past.”
DiCamillo said supporters or those leaning in that direction might also take their cue from Gov. Gavin Newsom, who endorsed the commercial property tax change last week.
The early sparring over Proposition 15 has focused on whether its exemption for less valuable commercial properties is generous enough and whether businesses will ultimately pass along higher costs to consumers or choose to leave the state for lower-tax regions of the country.
For decades, critics of Proposition 13’s tax limits have insisted business properties should not receive the same protections as homeowners. They have pointed to a variety of large California-based corporations with property holdings still taxed on the land’s value dating back to the mid-20th century. Proposition 15 would begin the process of updating those values in 2022, with property owned by smaller companies reassessed beginning in 2025.


latimes--2020-09-23--Proposition 21 rent control expansion faces steep hurdle to passage, new poll shows

A bid to expand rent control in California faces a large hurdle to pass in November , a new poll of voters statewide has found .
Just 37 % of likely voters are supporting Proposition 21 , which would give cities and counties greater authority to implement rent control in their communities , according to a poll from UC Berkeley ’ s Institute of Governmental Studies , which surveyed Californians earlier this month .
Another 37 % percent of likely voters were opposed to the measure with 26 % still undecided , the poll found .
Though a large number @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their mind , the fact that so few voters are in favor of the ballot measure six weeks before election day means that proponents face major challenges , said Mark DiCamillo , the institute ’ s poll director .
Typically supporters would need to have majority support at this stage to withstand an onslaught of negative advertising aimed at sowing doubts about an initiative ’ s effectiveness and potential unintended consequences , he said .
“ The burden of proof is always on the ‘ yes ’ side , ” DiCamillo said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ people to change the status quo .
It ’ s a tall order.
” Currently , local governments in California face limits on implementing rent controls due to the Costa-Hawkins Rental Housing Act .
The law prohibits cities from controlling rents on buildings constructed after 1995 , the year the law passed , or earlier in some cities , such as Los Angeles and San Francisco , that had prior rent control policies .
If passed , Proposition 21 would give cities significantly more authority to expand rent controls .
Local governments could @ @ @ @ @ @ @ apartments that are at least 15 years old .
They could also put rent controls on single-family home or condominium rentals if the landlord owns more than two properties .
And cities would be allowed to control rents on apartments when existing tenants vacate them — new renters could pay lower rates , provided that cities allow landlords to increase rents on vacant units by at least 15 % .
The Costa-Hawkins law currently prohibits rent controls on single-family homes , condominiums and on vacant units .
Support and opposition for Proposition 21 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the poll shows .
A majority of Democrats back the measure while nearly three-quarters of Republicans are opposed , the poll found .
Half of renters are in favor compared to only 28 % of homeowners .
Voters under 50 are significantly more likely to support Proposition 21 than senior citizens .
The poll also found that nearly 6 in 10 Black likely voters are backing the initiative while just one-third of white likely voters do .
Proposition 21 is a modified version of a rent control initiative that appeared as Proposition @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Proposition 10 would have repealed Costa-Hawkins , giving cities free rein over rent control policies .
Nearly 60 % of voters rejected that measure .
Supporters could find some hope that the electorate in a presidential election year — with expected higher turnout of renters and younger and non-white voters — is likely to be more friendly to a rent control initiative than those who voted in 2018 , DiCamillo said .
“ It ’ s an optimal electorate for something like this , ” he said .
“ But I still think @ @ @ @ @ @ @ even.
” The Los Angeles-based AIDS Healthcare Foundation is bankrolling Proposition 21 , and has raised nearly $ 23 million for its campaign .
The organization also was behind the rent control initiative two years ago .
The 2018 campaign topped $ 100 million with opponents , predominately large landlord interests , outraising supporters more than 3 to 1 .
Landlord groups are expected to significantly outspend supporters again this year .
The UC Berkeley poll was administered online in English and Spanish Sept. 9-15 among 5,942 likely California voters in the Nov. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sampling error is approximately plus or minus 2 % and with a higher margin of error among demographic subgroups .

A bid to expand rent control in California faces a large hurdle to pass in November, a new poll of voters statewide has found.
Just 37% of likely voters are supporting Proposition 21, which would give cities and counties greater authority to implement rent control in their communities, according to a poll from UC Berkeley’s Institute of Governmental Studies, which surveyed Californians earlier this month.
Another 37% percent of likely voters were opposed to the measure with 26% still undecided, the poll found.
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Though a large number of Californians have yet to make up their mind, the fact that so few voters are in favor of the ballot measure six weeks before election day means that proponents face major challenges, said Mark DiCamillo, the institute’s poll director.
Typically supporters would need to have majority support at this stage to withstand an onslaught of negative advertising aimed at sowing doubts about an initiative’s effectiveness and potential unintended consequences, he said.
“The burden of proof is always on the ‘yes’ side,” DiCamillo said. “You’ve got to convince people to change the status quo. It’s a tall order.”
Currently, local governments in California face limits on implementing rent controls due to the Costa-Hawkins Rental Housing Act. The law prohibits cities from controlling rents on buildings constructed after 1995, the year the law passed, or earlier in some cities, such as Los Angeles and San Francisco, that had prior rent control policies.
If passed, Proposition 21 would give cities significantly more authority to expand rent controls. Local governments could pass local laws allowing rent control on apartments that are at least 15 years old. They could also put rent controls on single-family home or condominium rentals if the landlord owns more than two properties. And cities would be allowed to control rents on apartments when existing tenants vacate them — new renters could pay lower rates, provided that cities allow landlords to increase rents on vacant units by at least 15%. The Costa-Hawkins law currently prohibits rent controls on single-family homes, condominiums and on vacant units.
Support and opposition for Proposition 21 fall among expected partisan and demographic lines, the poll shows.
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A majority of Democrats back the measure while nearly three-quarters of Republicans are opposed, the poll found. Half of renters are in favor compared with only 28% of homeowners. Voters under 50 are significantly more likely to support Proposition 21 than senior citizens. The poll also found that nearly 6 in 10 Black likely voters are backing the initiative while just one-third of white likely voters do.
Proposition 21 is a modified version of a rent control initiative that appeared as Proposition 10 on the ballot in 2018. Proposition 10 would have repealed Costa-Hawkins, giving cities free rein over rent control policies. Nearly 60% of voters rejected that measure.
Supporters could find some hope that the electorate in a presidential election year — with expected higher turnout of renters and younger and nonwhite voters — is likely to be more friendly to a rent control initiative than those who voted in 2018, DiCamillo said.
“It’s an optimal electorate for something like this,” he said. “But I still think its chances of passing are less than even.”
The Los Angeles-based AIDS Healthcare Foundation is bankrolling Proposition 21, and has raised nearly $23 million for its campaign. The organization also was behind the rent control initiative two years ago. The 2018 campaign topped $100 million, with opponents, predominately large landlord interests, outraising supporters more than 3 to 1. Landlord groups are expected to significantly outspend supporters again this year.
The UC Berkeley poll was administered online in English and Spanish Sept. 9-15 among 5,942 likely California voters in the Nov. 3 election. The overall margin of sampling error is approximately plus or minus 2% and with a higher margin of error among demographic subgroups.


latimes--2020-09-23--Californians not sold on treating Uber, Lyft drivers as independent contractors, new poll shows

Despite amassing the largest campaign war chest in California history , Uber , Lyft and other app-based companies are in danger of coming up short with voters on a ballot measure that would allow them to again classify their workers as independent contractors , a new statewide poll shows .
The UC Berkeley Institute of Governmental Studies poll shows that 39 % of the 5,900 likely voters surveyed from Sept. 9-15 would side with the companies and vote yes on Proposition 22 , compared with 36 % who said they would vote no and 25 % still undecided .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ plus or minus two points .
With just over 40 days left before the November election , pollster Mark DiCamillo says Uber , Lyft , Instacart , Postmates and DoorDash — which have collectively put an unprecedented $ 180 million into their campaign — have a long way to go to earn more than 50 % of the vote , a necessary threshold for a ballot measure to pass .
“ So , it ’ s a tall order for the yes side , but with the resources they have and the fact @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to judgment ... it ’ s still open , ” DiCamillo said .
“ I think it ’ s anybody ’ s guess right now.
” Proposition 22 is the app-based companies ’ answer to the hotly debated Assembly Bill 5 , a 2019 law that requires dozens of industries to classify their workers as employees instead of independent contractors and provide them with job protections .
The law sought to clarify a 2018 California Supreme Court ruling that to determine employment status .
Labor unions argue that Uber , Lyft and other @ @ @ @ @ @ @ AB 5 was necessary to require the businesses to appropriately classify nearly 500,000 workers in California that state audits found have been improperly treated as independent contractors .
AB 5 gives them access to workers ’ compensation , family leave , minimum wage , vacation , sick leave and other benefits .
Proposition 22 is an attempt by the app-based companies to buy their way out of the state law and the new poll shows it isn ’ t working , opponents say .
“ After spending record-shattering amounts on TV , radio @ @ @ @ @ @ @ available starting in July , I guess more isn ’ t always better , ” said Gale Kaufman , chief consultant for the labor-funded opposition campaign .
“ When you ’ ve got the measure they have , a measure that rips basic benefits and protections away from their workers , even they can ’ t hide that.
” The app-based companies have long argued that AB 5 would upend their business model and tried to convince the California Legislature to carve out an exemption that would have allowed them to continue to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ But as AB 5 moved through the Legislature and talks with labor unions came to a halt last year , the companies turned their attention to the 2020 ballot .
Ballot measure contests often favor the campaign with the most money to pay for ads on television , streaming services , radio , mail and other mediums to reach voters .
It ’ s not unusual in California for companies to launch an initiative as a method of convincing their opponents in the Legislature to give them what they want — or risk @ @ @ @ @ @ @ campaign .
Uber , Lyft and DoorDash appeared to use the tactic in August 2019 , when they committed $ 90 million to seek an exemption to AB 5 through the ballot initiative process .
At the time , Uber ’ s chief legal officer Tony West described the ballot initiative as a last resort while the app-based companies continued to pursue legislative relief , which never materialized .
Gov .
Gavin Newsom signed AB 5 into law one year ago , saying it “ will help reduce worker misclassification — workers being @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rather than employees , which erodes basic worker protections like the minimum wage , paid sick days and health insurance benefits.
” But the state alleged in a May lawsuit that Uber and Lyft have continued to flout the law and treat their drivers as independent contractors .
As the court process plays out , Uber and Lyft have threatened to temporarily shut down their operations in California .
Proposition 22 qualified for the November ballot in May and so far Uber , Lyft , DoorDash , Instacart and Postmates are the only @ @ @ @ @ @ @ yes campaign , including $ 70 million on Sept. 4 to bring the total to more than $ 180 million .
The measure would put in place the exemption to AB 5 that the app-based ride-hailing and delivery companies have been seeking .
Provisions in the proposal would also give some limited benefits to qualifying workers , including 120 % of the local minimum wage for hours that they are driving , but not those spent waiting for riders or orders , according to an analysis by the independent Legislative Analyst ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , but those who work more than 15 hours a week — a total also calculated by hours driving and not including hours between orders or rides — would be eligible for a stipend for health insurance .
The companies argue that their drivers want the flexibility that working as independent contractors provides .
They say drivers work for multiple app-based companies at one time and choose their own hours , which they would no longer be allowed to do unless the companies are exempt from AB 5 .
“ As voters learn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ benefits provided to both drivers and customers , we are seeing growing support across the political spectrum , ” said Geoff Vetter , a spokesman for the “ Yes on 22 '' campaign .
“ Prop .
22 provides that independence to drivers , along with historic new benefits like a minimum earnings guarantee and healthcare , and will save hundreds of thousands of ride-share and delivery jobs and the services millions rely on.
” Although app-based companies pushing the measure are blanketing television , streaming services and radio with advertisements featuring drivers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ workers also rallied in support of AB 5 and oppose the ballot measure .
Labor unions , led by the Service Employees International Union , United Food and Commercial Workers and the Teamsters Union , have raised about $ 10 million for their opposition campaign .
With a built-in pool of union workers to conduct phone banks and knock on doors , organized labor in California can typically put up a good fight against campaigns with more money .
But the pandemic has made it harder to gather union workers together to make @ @ @ @ @ @ @ voters and created new concerns about door-to-door contacts .
Despite the potential of being outspent 18 to 1 , labor hopes the title and summary of the ballot measure , which explicitly notes that app-based transportation and delivery companies would be exempt from providing employee benefits , is a boon to their cause .
“ Voters are smart and when they see and understand who is behind this and what their motivations are , they immediately get this is about corporations who want to buy themselves a law to keep exploiting their workers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spokesman for the “ No on Prop 22 '' campaign .
The Berkeley poll found a few key differences among likely voters , with 42 % of Democrats opposing Proposition 22 compared with 53 % of Republicans who support it and many still undecided .
Opinions seemed to track with political leanings across California .
Opposition is the highest in the Bay Area , where 42 % of voters are against exempting app-based companies from having to treat their workers as employees .
In Orange County , 46 % of likely voters support @ @ @ @ @ @ @ inclined to oppose Proposition 22 , while older voters were more likely to show support .

An Uber-Lyft driver queues up alongside taxicab drivers at LAX. California voters are mixed on Proposition 22, a ballot measure that would allow app-based ride-hailing and delivery companies to treat their workers as independent contractors.
Despite amassing the largest campaign war chest in California history, Uber, Lyft and other app-based companies are in danger of coming up short with voters on a ballot measure that would allow them to again classify their workers as independent contractors, a new statewide poll shows.
The UC Berkeley Institute of Governmental Studies poll shows that 39% of the 5,900 likely voters surveyed from Sept. 9-15 would side with the companies and vote yes on Proposition 22, compared with 36% who said they would vote no and 25% still undecided. The poll’s margin of error is plus or minus two points.
With just over 40 days left before the November election, pollster Mark DiCamillo says Uber, Lyft, Instacart, Postmates and DoorDash — which have collectively put an unprecedented $180 million into their campaign — have a long way to go to earn more than 50% of the vote, a necessary threshold for a ballot measure to pass.
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“So, it’s a tall order for the yes side, but with the resources they have and the fact that voters really haven’t come to judgment...it’s still open,” DiCamillo said. “I think it’s anybody’s guess right now.”
Proposition 22 is the app-based companies’ answer to the hotly debated Assembly Bill 5, a 2019 law that requires dozens of industries to classify their workers as employees instead of independent contractors and provide them with job protections. The law sought to clarify a 2018 California Supreme Court ruling that imposed a new test to determine employment status.
Labor unions argue that Uber, Lyft and other companies had been skirting the law and AB 5 was necessary to require the businesses to appropriately classify nearly 500,000 workers in California that state audits found have been improperly treated as independent contractors. AB 5 gives them access to workers’ compensation, family leave, minimum wage, vacation, sick leave and other benefits.
Proposition 22 is an attempt by the app-based companies to buy their way out of the state law and the new poll shows it isn’t working, opponents say.
“After spending record-shattering amounts on TV, radio, and every other platform imaginable and available starting in July, I guess more isn’t always better,” said Gale Kaufman, chief consultant for the labor-funded opposition campaign. “When you’ve got the measure they have, a measure that rips basic benefits and protections away from their workers, even they can’t hide that.”
The app-based companies have long argued that AB 5 would upend their business model and tried to convince the California Legislature to carve out an exemption that would have allowed them to continue to treat their workers as independent contractors. But as AB 5 moved through the Legislature and talks with labor unions came to a halt last year, the companies turned their attention to the 2020 ballot.
Ballot measure contests often favor the campaign with the most money to pay for ads on television, streaming services, radio, mail and other mediums to reach voters.
It’s not unusual in California for companies to launch an initiative as a method of convincing their opponents in the Legislature to give them what they want — or risk having to wage an expensive ballot measure campaign.
Advertisement
Uber, Lyft and DoorDash appeared to use the tactic in August 2019, when they committed $90 million to seek an exemption to AB 5 through the ballot initiative process. At the time, Uber’s chief legal officer Tony West described the ballot initiative as a last resort while the app-based companies continued to pursue legislative relief, which never materialized.
Gov. Gavin Newsom signed AB 5 into law one year ago, saying it “will help reduce worker misclassification — workers being wrongly classified as ‘independent contractors’ rather than employees, which erodes basic worker protections like the minimum wage, paid sick days and health insurance benefits.”
But the state alleged in a May lawsuit that Uber and Lyft have continued to flout the law and treat their drivers as independent contractors. As the court process plays out, Uber and Lyft have threatened to temporarily shut down their operations in California.
Proposition 22 qualified for the November ballot in May and so far Uber, Lyft, DoorDash, Instacart and Postmates are the only companies that have contributed money to the yes campaign, including $70 million on Sept. 4 to bring the total to more than $180 million.
The measure would put in place the exemption to AB 5 that the app-based ride-hailing and delivery companies have been seeking. Provisions in the proposal would also give some limited benefits to qualifying workers, including 120% of the local minimum wage for hours that they are driving, but not those spent waiting for riders or orders, according to an analysis by the independent Legislative Analyst’s Office.
Most workers are part time, but those who work more than 15 hours a week — a total also calculated by hours driving and not including hours between orders or rides — would be eligible for a stipend for health insurance.
The companies argue that their drivers want the flexibility that working as independent contractors provides. They say drivers work for multiple app-based companies at one time and choose their own hours, which they would no longer be allowed to do unless the companies are exempt from AB 5.
“As voters learn more about Prop. 22 and the benefits provided to both drivers and customers, we are seeing growing support across the political spectrum,” said Geoff Vetter, a spokesman for the “Yes on 22” campaign. “Prop. 22 provides that independence to drivers, along with historic new benefits like a minimum earnings guarantee and healthcare, and will save hundreds of thousands of ride-share and delivery jobs and the services millions rely on.”
Although app-based companies pushing the measure are blanketing television, streaming services and radio with advertisements featuring drivers in support of Proposition 22, many workers also rallied in support of AB 5 and oppose the ballot measure.
Labor unions, led by the Service Employees International Union, United Food and Commercial Workers and the Teamsters Union, have raised about $10 million for their opposition campaign.
With a built-in pool of union workers to conduct phone banks and knock on doors, organized labor in California can typically put up a good fight against campaigns with more money. But the pandemic has made it harder to gather union workers together to make hundreds or thousands of calls to potential voters and created new concerns about door-to-door contacts.
Despite the potential of being outspent 18 to 1, labor hopes the title and summary of the ballot measure, which explicitly notes that app-based transportation and delivery companies would be exempt from providing employee benefits, is a boon to their cause.
“Voters are smart and when they see and understand who is behind this and what their motivations are, they immediately get this is about corporations who want to buy themselves a law to keep exploiting their workers,” said Mike Roth, a spokesman for the “No on Prop 22” campaign.
The Berkeley poll found a few key differences among likely voters, with 42% of Democrats opposing Proposition 22 compared with 53% of Republicans who support it and many still undecided.
Opinions seemed to track with political leanings across California. Opposition is the highest in the Bay Area, where 42% of voters are against exempting app-based companies from having to treat their workers as employees. In Orange County, 46% of likely voters support the measure.
Younger voters were more inclined to oppose Proposition 22, while older voters were more likely to show support.


latimes--2020-09-22--Anaheim man killed trying to stop thief from stealing his van

An Anaheim man was killed Tuesday morning while trying to stop the theft of his work van from his driveway @ @ @ @ @ DeJesus Berrelleza , 33 , was getting ready for work about 6 a.m. when he @ @ @ @ @ steal his van from his home in the 100 block of South Melinda Circle , @ @ @ @ @ of the Anaheim Police Department .
Berrelleza ran outside and tried to stop the theft @ @ @ @ @ the ground and was run over by his own van , Carringer said .
He @ @ @ @ @ scene .
Police found the van two hours later and about 1.5 miles from Berrelleza @ @ @ @ @ said .
Several people inside the vehicle were detained .
Investigators were still trying to @ @ @ @ @ crime , Carringer said , and no one had been charged as of Tuesday evening @

Jose DeJesus Berrelleza, 33, was killed Tuesday morning while trying to stop a thief from stealing his van.
(Jeff Mundy)
An Anaheim man was killed Tuesday morning while trying to stop the theft of his work van from his driveway, police said.
Jose DeJesus Berrelleza, 33, was getting ready for work about 6 a.m. when he noticed someone was trying to steal his van from his home in the 100 block of South Melinda Circle, said Sgt. Shane Carringer of the Anaheim Police Department.
Berrelleza ran outside and tried to stop the theft, but he fell to the ground and was run over by his own van, Carringer said.
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He was pronounced dead at the scene.
Police found the van two hours later and about 1.5 miles from Berrelleza’s home, Carringer said. Several people inside the vehicle were detained. Investigators were still trying to determine their involvement in the crime, Carringer said, and no one had been charged as of Tuesday evening.


latimes--2020-09-22--Bobcat fire burns 112,000 acres and at least 29 structures, and is only 17% contained

At least 29 structures have been destroyed by the Bobcat fire in northeastern Los Angeles County , and the number could reach 85 , officials said Tuesday .
The U.S. Forest Service , one of the agencies fighting the blaze , said Tuesday evening that the voracious fire has expanded to more than 112,000 acres and is just 17 % contained .
“ It ’ s a very dynamic incident , ” Los Angeles County Fire Chief Daryl Osby said in a Monday evening .
“ This is Day 16 of the Bobcat incident .
I am humbled for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” The Antelope Valley communities of Cima Mesa , Juniper Hills , Pearblossom and Devil ’ s Punchbowl likely bore the brunt of structure losses , officials said , but they couldn ’ t immediately confirm how many of the burned structures are homes .
An assessment team will move through the area to provide an updated count .
One structure confirmed to have been damaged is the nature center at the Devil ’ s Punchbowl Natural Area , a 1,310-acre rock canyon that receives a reported 130,000 visitors each year .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Recreation that no animals or staff were injured in the fire and that the staff office at the wildlife sanctuary survived .
The fire ’ s containment numbers dipped to 13 % Monday evening but had climbed back to 17 % by Tuesday , thanks to progress along the eastern edge of the blaze off the Highway 39 corridor , according to U.S. Forest Service public information officer Andrew Mitchell .
But fire crews had a setback Tuesday as personnel numbers dropped from 1,700 to 1,500 — something Mitchell attributed to required rest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ re only allowed to work 14 days straight before we have to take a mandatory two days off , ” he said .
“ You ’ ll probably see the number grow back in the next couple of days.
” The remaining crews have been divided by the fire ’ s multidirectional growth , which includes a northward creep into Antelope Valley and a “ hard push ” southwest toward the famed Mt .
Wilson Observatory .
“ Mt .
Wilson is definitely critical , ” Mitchell said Tuesday .
“ It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ really putting a lot of effort into today.
” The Forest Service said the fire ’ s encroachment on the mountaintop was because of “ as well as patches of dry fuels , such as conifer trees .
Lower temperatures and higher humidity levels Tuesday helped tamp down some of the fire ’ s activity , officials said in an update Tuesday evening , but they predicted that conditions would become hotter and drier overnight .
They warned of a “ a significant warming and drying trend ” beginning this weekend , along @ @ @ @ @ @ @ winds ” that could affect fire conditions .
Overnight aerial video showed flames approaching the communications towers at the top of the mountain , which are reportedly valued at $ 1 billion and provide frequencies for television and radio channels , including KPCC , KTLA and KNBC .
Mitchell said at least one spot fire has broken out at Mt .
Harvard , a nearby hillside with additional communications infrastructure , but it was quickly contained by fire crews .
In San Bernardino County , meanwhile , an honor guard Tuesday morning carried @ @ @ @ @ @ @ battling another blaze , the El Dorado Fire , from the county coroner ’ s office to a mortuary in Orange County .
Charles Morton , a 14-year veteran who led the Big Bear Interagency Hotshots , died Sept. 17 .
He was 39 .
As a motorcade escorted his body from San Bernardino to Ferrara Colonial Mortuary in Orange , fire crews lined up along the route , some standing atop their engines , to salute the procession .
Morton is survived by his wife , daughter , parents and two brothers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ several communities in the Angeles National Forest and the foothills north of the blaze .
Evacuation warnings also remain for Pasadena , Altadena and other areas threatened by the fire .
New evacuations were ordered Monday afternoon near Colby Ranch and Hidden Springs .
An American Red Cross has been set up at Palmdale High School in the Antelope Valley .
Red Cross spokeswoman Marilyn Jimenez Davila said 190 individuals have used the evacuation point and disaster distress hotline to receive hot water , meals and hotel accommodations .
Smoke advisories related to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fire in San Bernardino County have been extended through Tuesday , according to the , which noted that the Bobcat fire is “ producing substantial amounts of smoke.
” With Tuesday marking the first day of fall , Mitchell said officials hope lower temperatures and increased humidity will arrive at some point to help contain the spread of the blaze — but the National Weather Service is more warm and dry conditions for the day .
“ We are in extreme conditions right now , ” fire behavior analyst Patrick Doyle said during @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It ’ s very dry out .
... Fire danger indices right now are very high.
” Speaking at a news conference Monday , Gov .
Gavin Newsom said an estimated 6,400 structures have burned in California this year — the wildfire season on record .
Newsom said estimates of the wildfires ’ damage are based only on what crews have seen so far .
“ By no stretch of the imagination do we think this tells the entire story , ” he said .
“ As we get back in , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ back into their communities , we will determine more structure loss .
”

Fire officials say the number of burned structures could rise as high as 85 as the blaze continues to grow.
At least 29 structures have been destroyed by the Bobcat fire in northeastern Los Angeles County, and the number could reach 85, officials said Tuesday.
The U.S. Forest Service, one of the agencies fighting the blaze, said Tuesday evening that the voracious fire has expanded to more than 112,000 acres and is just 17% contained.
“It’s a very dynamic incident,” Los Angeles County Fire Chief Daryl Osby said in a virtual community meeting Monday evening. “This is Day 16 of the Bobcat incident. I am humbled for the people who have lost homes or property.”
California Photos: Bobcat fire rages in the Angeles National Forest Fears of a significant spread of the Bobcat fire dissipated as Santa Ana winds failed to materialize, but foothill communities remain on high alert.
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The Antelope Valley communities of Cima Mesa, Juniper Hills, Pearblossom and Devil’s Punchbowl likely bore the brunt of structure losses, officials said, but they couldn’t immediately confirm how many of the burned structures are homes. An assessment team will move through the area to provide an updated count.
One structure confirmed to have been damaged is the nature center at the Devil’s Punchbowl Natural Area, a 1,310-acre rock canyon that receives a reported 130,000 visitors each year. The Los Angeles County Department of Parks & Recreation tweeted Saturday that no animals or staff were injured in the fire and that the staff office at the wildlife sanctuary survived.
The fire’s containment numbers dipped to 13% Monday evening but had climbed back to 17% by Tuesday, thanks to progress along the eastern edge of the blaze off the Highway 39 corridor, according to U.S. Forest Service public information officer Andrew Mitchell.
But fire crews had a setback Tuesday as personnel numbers dropped from 1,700 to 1,500 — something Mitchell attributed to required rest days for beleaguered personnel.
“We’re only allowed to work 14 days straight before we have to take a mandatory two days off,” he said. “You’ll probably see the number grow back in the next couple of days.”
The remaining crews have been divided by the fire’s multidirectional growth, which includes a northward creep into Antelope Valley and a “hard push” southwest toward the famed Mt. Wilson Observatory.
#Bobcat Fire is making a hard push at Mt. Wilson, defensive strategic operations are beginning from Mt. Wilson to the west. Photo credit: Brian Lugo, Bobcat IC Crew 12 pic.twitter.com/9CZwWlqYt7 — Angeles_NF (@Angeles_NF) September 21, 2020
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“Mt. Wilson is definitely critical,” Mitchell said Tuesday. “It’s something that we’re really putting a lot of effort into today.”
The Forest Service said the fire’s encroachment on the mountaintop was because of “ unfavorable” wind conditions as well as patches of dry fuels, such as conifer trees.
Lower temperatures and higher humidity levels Tuesday helped tamp down some of the fire’s activity, officials said in an update Tuesday evening, but they predicted that conditions would become hotter and drier overnight.
They warned of a “a significant warming and drying trend” beginning this weekend, along with a chance of “gusty northeast winds” that could affect fire conditions.
Overnight aerial video showed flames approaching the communications towers at the top of the mountain, which are reportedly valued at $1 billion and provide frequencies for television and radio channels, including KPCC, KTLA and KNBC.
Mitchell said at least one spot fire has broken out at Mt. Harvard, a nearby hillside with additional communications infrastructure, but it was quickly contained by fire crews.
In San Bernardino County, meanwhile, an honor guard Tuesday morning carried the body of a firefighter who died battling another blaze, the El Dorado Fire, from the county coroner’s office to a mortuary in Orange County. Charles Morton, a 14-year veteran who led the Big Bear Interagency Hotshots, died Sept. 17. He was 39.
As a motorcade escorted his body from San Bernardino to Ferrara Colonial Mortuary in Orange, fire crews lined up along the route, some standing atop their engines, to salute the procession.
Morton is survived by his wife, daughter, parents and two brothers.
A smoky sunset as seen from 121st. E as the Bobcat Fire continues to burn in the Angeles National Forest. (Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times)
Evacuation orders remain in place for several communities in the Angeles National Forest and the foothills north of the blaze. Evacuation warnings also remain for Pasadena, Altadena and other areas threatened by the fire.
New evacuations were ordered Monday afternoon near Colby Ranch and Hidden Springs.
An American Red Cross evacuation point has been set up at Palmdale High School in the Antelope Valley. Red Cross spokeswoman Marilyn Jimenez Davila said 190 individuals have used the evacuation point and disaster distress hotline to receive hot water, meals and hotel accommodations.
Smoke advisories related to the Bobcat fire and the El Dorado fire in San Bernardino County have been extended through Tuesday, according to the South Coast Air Quality Management District , which noted that the Bobcat fire is “producing substantial amounts of smoke.”
With Tuesday marking the first day of fall, Mitchell said officials hope lower temperatures and increased humidity will arrive at some point to help contain the spread of the blaze — but the National Weather Service is forecasting more warm and dry conditions for the day.
“We are in extreme conditions right now,” fire behavior analyst Patrick Doyle said during the virtual community meeting Monday. “It’s very dry out. ... Fire danger indices right now are very high.”
Speaking at a news conference Monday, Gov. Gavin Newsom said an estimated 6,400 structures have burned in California this year — the most destructive wildfire season on record. Newsom said estimates of the wildfires’ damage are based only on what crews have seen so far.
“By no stretch of the imagination do we think this tells the entire story,” he said. “As we get back in, and people are able to repopulate and go back into their communities, we will determine more structure loss.”


latimes--2020-09-22--Riverside County moves to dump state's plan and allow a quicker coronavirus reopening

Riverside County will set its own reopening agenda , apart from the state ’ s timeline — although it still may not be fast enough for one county supervisor and his constituents .
The county Board of Supervisors on Tuesday approved draft language of Supervisor Jeff Hewitt ’ s plan for Riverside-specific guidelines , but will wait two weeks instead of implementing it immediately .
The 3-2 vote came hours after California Health and Human Services Secretary Mark Ghaly announced Riverside would move from the state ’ s most limiting purple tier to red .
The looser restrictions mean that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ capacity , including dine-in restaurants , gyms , hair salons and barbershops , retailers , shopping malls , tattoo parlors , places of worship , nail salons , museums , movie theaters and libraries .
“ We want to be slow and stringent so as we move forward , we can be best prepared in case we see some increase in transmission , that it doesn ’ t cause us to take some giant step backward , ” Ghaly said in a virtual briefing .
As of Tuesday afternoon , the county had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ deaths .
Hewitt ’ s two-page proposal called for the immediate reopening of many in-person services , but did not account for Riverside ’ s move Tuesday to the red tier .
His fellow supervisors suggested delaying the plan until the board ’ s Oct. 6 meeting , after a county economic recovery task force and staff could review it and iron out exactly which businesses could reopen .
In the meantime , the state ’ s red-tier restrictions for Riverside County stands .
“ I would love to reopen everything up tomorrow @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that , ” Hewitt said .
“ We ’ ve moved to red , things are all rosy .
But we ’ ve seen this movie before , and we ’ re still a long ways away.
” Under Hewitt ’ s original proposal , the county would reopen entirely by Nov. 3 , with certain industries opening immediately , followed by a second phase on Oct. 13 for wedding receptions , group meetings and events .
The final phase would allow indoor operations to resume at fitness centers , movie theaters and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ such as gyms and movie theaters , are now permitted under the red tier .
Blazing its own course could cost Riverside County $ 28 million to $ 656 million in state funding , cautioned County Executive Officer George Johnson .
Gov .
Gavin Newsom has threatened to cut funding to counties that don ’ t comply with the state ’ s COVID-19 guidelines for reopening .
Hewitt scoffed at the warning , saying Riverside would “ lose out on a whole lot of revenue based upon an economy that is crushed.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ voted against the measure , said he preferred to “ stay the course.
” He pointed to the success of Orange County , Riverside ’ s neighbor to the west , which recently moved from purple to red and is fast on its way to the orange tier with even fewer limitations .
The vote came after an hours-long meeting in which a passionate — and at times unruly — crowd of dozens of residents pleaded with supervisors to reopen Riverside .
A few people cried behind the microphone .
Others brought handmade @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” and “ open our schools.
” Some yelled at supervisors .
One woman waved an American flag .
All expressed desperation at the continued closures in the county .
“ It is heartbreaking , because as a mother , I can not explain to [ my children ] that a political pandemic has changed their lives , ” said one mother of two children with special needs .
“ This distance learning thing is so stressful for them .
It ’ s stressful on the parents .
It is ridiculous that we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , as a mother , I am begging you.
” Growing cheers prompted Perez to ask the audience to wave their hands instead of making noise .
Some grumbled loudly in response , and one person shouted , “ You work for us !
” Perez then called for a recess , which lasted an hour before the board resumed to discuss Hewitt ’ s proposal .
Kira Boranian told supervisors that when her Corona salon Lather Studio closed in March , she cried every single day , wondering how to pay her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ every penny in every [ piggy ] bank ” into building her salon , Boranian said she was “ ruined.
” So she reopened Lather Studio three weeks later — against state orders .
She had deemed the livelihoods of her stylists “ essential , ” she said .
“ My salon is cleaner than a Target .
Every single thing is sanitized .
A comb doesn ’ t get used on one client until it ’ s cleaned again , ” Boranian said .
“ This has ruined small businesses .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ pandemic should have shut down our entire lives.
” Warnie Enochs , a former councilman in Murrieta , said his sons had to “ pretty much ” close their business because of the pandemic .
“ The poor , small businessman ’ s doing terrible .
He can ’ t make it , ” Enochs said .
“ I can ’ t believe you guys let it go this long .
I can ’ t believe anybody ’ s let it go this long .
It ’ s totally ridiculous.
” In a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ welcome in January of diplomats from Wuhan , China , site of the first recorded coronavirus outbreak .
Riverside made “ bold and swift actions ” early on , Hewitt wrote , and yet major aspects of the economy remain closed .
He accused the state of shifting goalposts just as Riverside County had achieved standards for reopening .
“ The state ’ s lack of clear guidelines has left thousands of people uncertain about their abilities to pay bills and provide for their families , ” Hewitt wrote .
“ Today the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ businesses and hundreds of thousands of jobs have been lost due to the shutdown of our economy .
We will feel the burden of these economic impacts for years to come .
It is time for Riverside County to take responsibility for our own wellbeing.
” Hewitt ’ s proposal came less than two years after his election to the Board of Supervisors — marking only the third time in the nation that a Libertarian won a district representing more than 50,000 residents .
In an interview with The Times last year , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ values : smaller government and non-interventionism .
”

Riverside County will set its own reopening agenda, apart from the state’s timeline — although it still may not be fast enough for one county supervisor and his constituents.
The county Board of Supervisors on Tuesday approved draft language of Supervisor Jeff Hewitt’s plan for Riverside-specific guidelines, but will wait two weeks instead of implementing it immediately.
The 3-2 vote came hours after California Health and Human Services Secretary Mark Ghaly announced Riverside would move from the state’s most limiting purple tier to red.
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The looser restrictions mean that some indoor services can resume with decreased capacity, including dine-in restaurants, gyms, hair salons and barbershops, retailers, shopping malls, tattoo parlors, places of worship, nail salons, museums, movie theaters and libraries.
“We want to be slow and stringent so as we move forward, we can be best prepared in case we see some increase in transmission, that it doesn’t cause us to take some giant step backward,” Ghaly said in a virtual briefing. As of Tuesday afternoon, the county had counted 57,482 confirmed positive cases and 1,172 deaths.
Hewitt’s two-page proposal called for the immediate reopening of many in-person services, but did not account for Riverside’s move Tuesday to the red tier. His fellow supervisors suggested delaying the plan until the board’s Oct. 6 meeting, after a county economic recovery task force and staff could review it and iron out exactly which businesses could reopen. In the meantime, the state’s red-tier restrictions for Riverside County stands.
“I would love to reopen everything up tomorrow. I’d love to do that,” Hewitt said. “We’ve moved to red, things are all rosy. But we’ve seen this movie before, and we’re still a long ways away.”
Under Hewitt’s original proposal, the county would reopen entirely by Nov. 3, with certain industries opening immediately, followed by a second phase on Oct. 13 for wedding receptions, group meetings and events. The final phase would allow indoor operations to resume at fitness centers, movie theaters and bars. Some of those industries, such as gyms and movie theaters, are now permitted under the red tier.
Blazing its own course could cost Riverside County $28 million to $656 million in state funding, cautioned County Executive Officer George Johnson. Gov. Gavin Newsom has threatened to cut funding to counties that don’t comply with the state’s COVID-19 guidelines for reopening. Hewitt scoffed at the warning, saying Riverside would “lose out on a whole lot of revenue based upon an economy that is crushed.”
Board Chairman V. Manuel Perez, who voted against the measure, said he preferred to “stay the course.” He pointed to the success of Orange County, Riverside’s neighbor to the west, which recently moved from purple to red and is fast on its way to the orange tier with even fewer limitations.
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The vote came after an hours-long meeting in which a passionate — and at times unruly — crowd of dozens of residents pleaded with supervisors to reopen Riverside. A few people cried behind the microphone. Others brought handmade signs saying, “churches are essential” and “open our schools.” Some yelled at supervisors. One woman waved an American flag. All expressed desperation at the continued closures in the county.
“It is heartbreaking, because as a mother, I cannot explain to [my children] that a political pandemic has changed their lives,” said one mother of two children with special needs. “This distance learning thing is so stressful for them. It’s stressful on the parents. It is ridiculous that we are doing school through Zoom. Please, as a mother, I am begging you.”
Growing cheers prompted Perez to ask the audience to wave their hands instead of making noise. Some grumbled loudly in response, and one person shouted, “You work for us!” Perez then called for a recess, which lasted an hour before the board resumed to discuss Hewitt’s proposal.
Kira Boranian told supervisors that when her Corona salon Lather Studio closed in March, she cried every single day, wondering how to pay her bills. Just two years after putting “every penny in every [piggy] bank” into building her salon, Boranian said she was “ruined.” So she reopened Lather Studio three weeks later — against state orders. She had deemed the livelihoods of her stylists “essential,” she said.
“My salon is cleaner than a Target. Every single thing is sanitized. A comb doesn’t get used on one client until it’s cleaned again,” Boranian said. “This has ruined small businesses. ... There is no reason that this pandemic should have shut down our entire lives.”
Warnie Enochs, a former councilman in Murrieta, said his sons had to “pretty much” close their business because of the pandemic. “The poor, small businessman’s doing terrible. He can’t make it,” Enochs said. “I can’t believe you guys let it go this long. I can’t believe anybody’s let it go this long. It’s totally ridiculous.”
Riverside County Board of Supervisors approved draft language of Supervisor Jeff Hewitt’s proposal for the immediate reopening of many in-person services, but will wait two weeks before implementation. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)
In a memo, Hewitt touted Riverside’s welcome in January of diplomats from Wuhan, China, site of the first recorded coronavirus outbreak. Riverside made “bold and swift actions” early on, Hewitt wrote, and yet major aspects of the economy remain closed. He accused the state of shifting goalposts just as Riverside County had achieved standards for reopening.
“The state’s lack of clear guidelines has left thousands of people uncertain about their abilities to pay bills and provide for their families,” Hewitt wrote. “Today the economic impacts are clear, thousands of businesses and hundreds of thousands of jobs have been lost due to the shutdown of our economy. We will feel the burden of these economic impacts for years to come. It is time for Riverside County to take responsibility for our own wellbeing.”
Hewitt’s proposal came less than two years after his election to the Board of Supervisors — marking only the third time in the nation that a Libertarian won a district representing more than 50,000 residents. In an interview with The Times last year, Hewitt said he offers “true conservative values: smaller government and non-interventionism.”


latimes--2020-09-23--Federal judge deems L.A. in contempt of court over 'bulky item' notices

A federal judge concluded Wednesday that Los Angeles defied an April order that prohibits the city from seizing and destroying bulky objects such as mattresses and carts based solely on their size , deeming it to be in contempt of court because it had posted notices that violated her ruling .
In her decision , Judge Dale S. Fischer did not impose financial sanctions on the city , but told it to draft “ remedial notices ” that would be posted for at least two weeks in the same areas as the improper notices .
Attorneys representing the homeless outreach @ @ @ @ @ @ @ several homeless people complained that L.A. had posted signs ahead of a cleanup in San Pedro indicating that “ Bulky items are always prohibited , ” as well as other improper notices in three other neighborhoods .
The violations occurred , they said , after L.A. resumed some “ comprehensive cleanups ” earlier this year — cleanings that require unhoused people to move their tents .
Putting up such signs is “ not simply a harmless act , ” the attorneys wrote , because people are likely to abandon their belongings thinking they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ way of knowing that the city is enjoined from actually doing so.
” Under the April order issued by Fischer , bulky belongings can still be confiscated in other circumstances , including if they are blocking the sidewalk or threaten public safety .
But city crews are not supposed to remove items simply because they are big , according to the preliminary injunction .
Los Angeles city attorneys countered that the “ vast majority ” of its actions were in line with the court injunction , saying it had posted more than 1,000 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ decision and “ not a single one ” violated the ruling .
Attorneys for the city said there were merely “ four isolated instances ” in which faulty notices were issued .
“ To be clear , despite these errant notices , no bulky items were removed or destroyed based on their size during these cleanups , ” the city contended in a court filing , and “ there is no evidence that any person relied on these notices to their detriment or suffered any harm as a result of the notices.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a city attorney about how word had gotten out to city employees about the court injunction .
In her written decision , the federal judge concluded that the city failed to show it had “ substantially complied ” with her order or “ took all reasonable steps ” to do so .
Fischer decided not to impose monetary sanctions or award attorney fees , but directed the city to meet with the homeless advocates to come up with a remedial notice , which must be filed with the court by the end of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ state that the court has barred enforcement of the “ bulky item ” rule , one advocate said at the hearing .

A federal judge concluded Wednesday that Los Angeles defied an April order that prohibits the city from seizing and destroying bulky objects such as mattresses and carts based solely on their size, deeming it to be in contempt of court because it had posted notices that violated her ruling.
In her decision, Judge Dale S. Fischer did not impose financial sanctions on the city, but told it to draft “remedial notices” that would be posted for at least two weeks in the same areas as the improper notices.
Attorneys representing the homeless outreach and advocacy group Ktown for All and several homeless people complained that L.A. had posted signs ahead of a cleanup in San Pedro indicating that “Bulky items are always prohibited,” as well as other improper notices in three other neighborhoods.
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The violations occurred, they said, after L.A. resumed some “comprehensive cleanups” earlier this year — cleanings that require unhoused people to move their tents.
Putting up such signs is “not simply a harmless act,” the attorneys wrote, because people are likely to abandon their belongings thinking they will be removed, with “no way of knowing that the city is enjoined from actually doing so.”
California Program to house homeless people in hotels is ending after falling short of goal After reaching less than 30% of its goal to shelter homeless people who are vulnerable to the coronavirus, Project Roomkey is starting to phase out in the face of funding uncertainty.
Under the April order issued by Fischer, bulky belongings can still be confiscated in other circumstances, including if they are blocking the sidewalk or threaten public safety. But city crews are not supposed to remove items simply because they are big, according to the preliminary injunction.
Los Angeles city attorneys countered that the “vast majority” of its actions were in line with the court injunction, saying it had posted more than 1,000 permanent signs about cleanup operations after the decision and “not a single one” violated the ruling. Attorneys for the city said there were merely “four isolated instances” in which faulty notices were issued.
“To be clear, despite these errant notices, no bulky items were removed or destroyed based on their size during these cleanups,” the city contended in a court filing, and “there is no evidence that any person relied on these notices to their detriment or suffered any harm as a result of the notices.”
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At a Wednesday hearing, Fischer grilled a city attorney about how word had gotten out to city employees about the court injunction. In her written decision, the federal judge concluded that the city failed to show it had “substantially complied” with her order or “took all reasonable steps” to do so.
Fischer decided not to impose monetary sanctions or award attorney fees, but directed the city to meet with the homeless advocates to come up with a remedial notice, which must be filed with the court by the end of the month.
Such notices could simply state that the court has barred enforcement of the “bulky item” rule, one advocate said at the hearing.


latimes--2020-09-23--LAPD says it has found no body-camera video in wounding of plaintiff in BLM protest lawsuit

The Los Angeles Police Department ’ s investigation into a woman ’ s claim that her jaw was fractured by a police projectile during summer protests has so far turned up zero police video of the shooting — possibly because many of the officers at the scene weren ’ t wearing cameras , LAPD officials said Wednesday .
“ There are limited body worn videos for this incident due to officers and detectives responding from assignments that do not issue body worn cameras , ” the LAPD said in a video released online Wednesday .
Instead , police released footage @ @ @ @ @ @ @ time and area where the injured was suffered by Abigail Rodas — one of several named plaintiffs in a sprawling class-action lawsuit over the LAPD ’ s protest tactics .
The video they released shows officers complaining of rocks , bottles and other projectiles being lobbed at them near the intersection of Beverly Boulevard and Edinburgh Avenue .
At one point , an officer tells a supervisor that his ankle has been injured .
At another point , the footage is slowed down show what appear to be water bottles being lobbed in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , an attorney for Rodas , accused the LAPD of releasing footage with little relevance to his client ’ s case in order to serve its own interests .
“ They ’ re cherry-picking videos that corroborate the narrative they want to support , ” Gonzalez said .
“ This video to me is a half-ass attempt to try to justify what they did.
” In her lawsuit , Rodas alleges she was trying to leave a protest in the Fairfax district on May 30 when she was shot in the face and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and rushed into surgery for a severe fracture to her right mandible , leaving two days later with a steel plate along her jawbone , she said .
The lawsuit , brought alongside Black Lives Matter-Los Angeles and other activist groups , included a picture of Rodas ’ bloodied , gauze-filled mouth .
The LAPD is required to release footage in incidents in which officers hospitalize people , and has done so in a string of other cases in which protesters alleged they were badly wounded this summer .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ with his hands up was shot in the head with a projectile .
In another , a man appears to kick an officer before he is shot in the groin with a projectile .
In a third , a man has a protest sign ripped from his hands before he also is shot in the groin .
The video released in Rodas ’ case Wednesday does not show her shooting in any way .
Instead , it purports to show the circumstances as they existed in the area where Rodas was injured , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ — which her attorney said was about 7 p.m .
The LAPD said Wednesday that it has not concluded its investigation into Rodas ’ shooting or made any conclusions as to the appropriateness of the actions of the officer or officers who may have been involved .
Investigators are still reviewing body-worn and private video “ in an attempt to corroborate the incident , ” said Capt .
Stacy Spell , an LAPD spokesman .
Gonzalez questioned why more officers at the scene — dozens can be seen in the video — weren @ @ @ @ @ @ @ if some were detectives and other types of officers who aren ’ t normally issued cameras .
The LAPD has previously said that it was also investigating why some supervisors had told officers working the protests not to wear their cameras .
That investigation is ongoing .
Gonzalez said that nothing in the video released justifies what happened to his client .
He said she was simply walking down the street with a couple of friends to leave the area , not in a crowd of people , when officers shot her in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to use projectiles only on individual targets who represent a direct threat , and requires them to aim for the belt line and never for the head or face .
According to Rodas ’ lawsuit , the wounds to her head and jaw left her unable to speak for 10 days after the incident and unable to eat any solid food for a week .
Several weeks after the incident , she still had “ screws in her gums and rubber bands to immobilize her jaw while the bones rejoin .
”

The LAPD’s investigation into a woman’s claim that her jaw was fractured by a police projectile during this summer’s protests has so far uncovered zero police video of the shooting.
The Los Angeles Police Department’s investigation into a woman’s claim that her jaw was fractured by a police projectile during summer protests has so far turned up zero police video of the shooting — possibly because many of the officers at the scene weren’t wearing cameras, LAPD officials said Wednesday.
“There are limited body worn videos for this incident due to officers and detectives responding from assignments that do not issue body worn cameras,” the LAPD said in a video released online Wednesday.
Instead, police released footage that they said was from the general time and area where the injury was suffered by Abigail Rodas — one of several named plaintiffs in a sprawling class-action lawsuit over the LAPD’s protest tactics.
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The video they released shows officers complaining of rocks, bottles and other projectiles being lobbed at them near the intersection of Beverly Boulevard and Edinburgh Avenue. At one point, an officer tells a supervisor that his ankle has been injured. At another point, the footage is slowed down to show what appear to be water bottles being lobbed in the direction of police.
Jorge Gonzalez, an attorney for Rodas, accused the LAPD of releasing footage with little relevance to his client’s case in order to serve its own interests.
“They’re cherry-picking videos that corroborate the narrative they want to support,” Gonzalez said. “This video to me is a half-ass attempt to try to justify what they did.”
In her lawsuit, Rodas alleges she was trying to leave a protest in the Fairfax district on May 30 when she was shot in the face and lost consciousness. She was then driven to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and rushed into surgery for a severe fracture to her right mandible, leaving two days later with a steel plate along her jawbone, she said.
The lawsuit, brought alongside Black Lives Matter-Los Angeles and other activist groups, included a picture of Rodas’ bloodied, gauze-filled mouth.
The LAPD is required to release footage in incidents in which officers hospitalize people, and it has done so in a string of other cases in which protesters alleged they were badly wounded this summer. In one, a man standing still with his hands up was shot in the head with a projectile. In another, a man appears to kick an officer before he is shot in the groin with a projectile. In a third, a man has a protest sign ripped from his hands before he also is shot in the groin.
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The video released in Rodas’ case Wednesday does not show her shooting in any way. Instead, it purports to show the circumstances as they existed in the area where Rodas was injured, at about the time she was injured — which her attorney said was about 7 p.m.
The LAPD said Wednesday that it has not concluded its investigation into Rodas’ shooting or made any conclusions as to the appropriateness of the actions of the officer or officers who may have been involved. Investigators are still reviewing body-worn and private video “in an attempt to corroborate the incident,” said Capt. Stacy Spell, an LAPD spokesman.
Gonzalez questioned why more officers at the scene — dozens can be seen in the video — weren’t wearing body cameras, even if some were detectives and other types of officers who aren’t normally issued cameras.
The LAPD has previously said that it was also investigating why some supervisors had told officers working the protests not to wear their cameras. That investigation is ongoing.
Gonzalez said that nothing in the video released justifies what happened to his client.
He said she was simply walking down the street with a couple of friends to leave the area, not in a crowd of people, when officers shot her in the face.
LAPD policy requires officers to use projectiles only on individual targets who represent a direct threat, and it requires them to aim for the belt line and never for the head or face.
According to Rodas’ lawsuit, the wounds to her head and jaw left her unable to speak for 10 days after the incident and unable to eat solid food for a week. Several weeks after the incident, she still had “screws in her gums and rubber bands to immobilize her jaw while the bones rejoin.”


latimes--2020-09-23--Northern California and Bay Area face high winds, critical fire danger this weekend

The National Weather Service said Wednesday that strong gusts , hot temperatures and low humidity from Saturday through Monday morning will place parts of the Bay Area and other regions in Northern California in critical fire danger .
The service issued a fire watch notice for the East Bay hills , the I-680 corridor and I-580 east of Altamont , as well as the Highway 4 corridor , starting Saturday morning .
The region includes the Oakland hills and Orinda and stretches from Martinez to Pleasanton to Livermore , said meteorologist Drew Peterson .
The hills of northeast Sonoma and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ face critical fire danger .
The strongest winds are expected near Mt .
St. Helena and in Marin County , Mt .
Tamalpais , a service advisory said .
Another watch was issued for parts of the interior of Northern California , including the west side of the Sacramento Valley , the coastal range , the Sierra Nevada foothills and the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta .
Peterson said the regions are forecast to experience sustained winds of 14 mph to 25 mph and gusts up to 55 mph .
“ The atmosphere is going @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all these ingredients together lead to critical fire weather , ” he said .
The warning comes as fire crews have mostly contained the lightning-sparked wildfires that exploded several weeks ago .
As of Wednesday , the SCU Lightning Complex fire , south of Livermore , was 98 % contained , as was the LNU Lightning Complex fire in the North Bay .
But the big winds could mean trouble for firefighters battling the North Complex fire in Butte County , which was only 75 % contained as of Wednesday .
Peterson said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ to get the word out there quickly and as widespread as we can so everyone is prepared.
” “ Unfortunately , ” he said , “ once fires start we have all the conditions that will lead to rapid fire spread.
” Air quality in the Bay Area will also deteriorate as shifting winds bring more smoke to the region , he said .
Jeff Smith , a spokesman for PG & E , said its meteorologists were closely monitoring the conditions but the utility has made no decision about possible power @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ It is important for our customers to prepare as much as they possibly can for the possibility of public power shutoffs during this season .
”

Flames engulf the Paradise Inn hotel as the Camp fire tears through Paradise, north of Sacramento, on Nov. 9, 2018.
The National Weather Service said Wednesday that strong gusts, hot temperatures and low humidity from Saturday through Monday morning will place parts of the Bay Area and other regions in Northern California in critical fire danger.
The service issued a fire watch notice for the East Bay hills, the I-680 corridor and I-580 east of Altamont, as well as the Highway 4 corridor, starting Saturday morning. The region includes the Oakland hills and Orinda and stretches from Martinez to Pleasanton to Livermore, said meteorologist Drew Peterson.
The hills of northeast Sonoma and Napa counties above 1,000 feet also will face critical fire danger. The strongest winds are expected near Mt. St. Helena and in Marin County, Mt. Tamalpais, a service advisory said.
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Another watch was issued for parts of the interior of Northern California, including the west side of the Sacramento Valley, the coastal range, the Sierra Nevada foothills and the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta.
Peterson said the regions are forecast to experience sustained winds of 14 mph to 25 mph and gusts up to 55 mph.
“The atmosphere is going to be dry and warm, and all these ingredients together lead to critical fire weather,” he said.
The warning comes as fire crews have mostly contained the lightning-sparked wildfires that exploded several weeks ago. As of Wednesday, the SCU Lightning Complex fire, south of Livermore, was 98% contained, as was the LNU Lightning Complex fire in the North Bay. But the big winds could mean trouble for firefighters battling the North Complex fire in Butte County, which was only 75% contained as of Wednesday.
Peterson said the weather service issued the warning Wednesday “to get the word out there quickly and as widespread as we can so everyone is prepared.”
“Unfortunately,” he said, “once fires start we have all the conditions that will lead to rapid fire spread.”
Air quality in the Bay Area will also deteriorate as shifting winds bring more smoke to the region, he said.
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Jeff Smith, a spokesman for PG&E, said its meteorologists were closely monitoring the conditions but the utility has made no decision about possible power shutoffs.
Still, he said, “It is important for our customers to prepare as much as they possibly can for the possibility of public power shutoffs during this season.”


latimes--2020-09-23--L.A. agrees to $23-million settlement after man lost legs in crash

Los Angeles has agreed to spend up to $ 23 million plus interest to settle a lawsuit from a man who had both legs amputated after being struck by a city employee driving a truck .
Gabriel Abikzer sued the city , the city worker and Mercedes-Benz , the maker of Abikzer ’ s car , after the crash nearly three years ago on Mason Avenue near Corbin Avenue in Chatsworth .
In his lawsuit , Abikzer said he got out of his Mercedes-Benz after the car engine abruptly turned off , went to unload some things from the trunk @ @ @ @ @ @ @ employee who “ negligently operated ” a pickup truck .
The employee , Jeffrey Joel , used his truck to visit sites for city inspections , according to the lawsuit .
Joel , a Bureau of Contract Administration inspector , denied the claims and sued Mercedes-Benz , arguing that its negligence had created a hazard that he “ could not reasonably see or avoid.
” Mercedes-Benz , in turn , sued him and the city .
The car company has settled with Abikzer , according to court records .
The city inspector dropped @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mercedes-Benz .
The Los Angeles City Council voted 13 to 0 on Wednesday , without discussion , to approve the settlement .
The agreement will also resolve the claims against the city inspector , according to the city attorney ’ s office .
“ This tragedy has caused Mr. Abikzer great suffering , changing his life forever , ” City Atty .
Mike Feuer said in a statement .
“ Our hearts go out to him , and we hope this resolution will help him and his family move forward.
” Attorneys representing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for comment .
Joel , who has since retired from city employment , said he was unaware of the settlement with Abikzer before being contacted by a reporter .
“ I ’ m happy for him , ” Joel said .
He declined to comment further .

Los Angeles has agreed to spend up to $23 million plus interest to settle a lawsuit from a man who had both legs amputated after being struck by a city employee driving a truck.
Gabriel Abikzer sued the city, the city worker and Mercedes-Benz, the maker of Abikzer’s car, after the crash nearly three years ago on Mason Avenue near Corbin Avenue in Chatsworth.
In his lawsuit, Abikzer said he got out of his Mercedes-Benz after the car engine abruptly turned off, went to unload some things from the trunk, then was struck by a city employee who “negligently operated” a pickup truck. The employee, Jeffrey Joel, used his truck to visit sites for city inspections, according to the lawsuit.
Joel, a Bureau of Contract Administration inspector, denied the claims and sued Mercedes-Benz, arguing that its negligence had created a hazard that he “could not reasonably see or avoid.” Mercedes-Benz, in turn, sued him and the city.
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The car company has settled with Abikzer, according to court records. The city inspector dropped his cross-complaint this year, as did Mercedes-Benz.
The Los Angeles City Council voted 13 to 0 on Wednesday, without discussion, to approve the settlement. The agreement will also resolve the claims against the city inspector, according to the city attorney’s office.
“This tragedy has caused Mr. Abikzer great suffering, changing his life forever,” City Atty. Mike Feuer said in a statement. “Our hearts go out to him, and we hope this resolution will help him and his family move forward.”
Attorneys representing Abikzer did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Joel, who has since retired from city employment, said he was unaware of the settlement with Abikzer before being contacted by a reporter.
“I’m happy for him,” Joel said. He declined to comment further.


latimes--2020-09-23--L.A. County COVID-19  transmission rate increases as officials await Labor Day numbers

There have been 18 % more deaths in Los Angeles County this year than over the same time period in 2017 , 2018 and 2019 .
L.A. County Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer said Wednesday that although not every death in 2020 has been related to COVID-19 , the spike translates to “ thousands of deaths that would not have otherwise occurred ” without the virus .
Ferrer said the data disproves theories that the virus is no more serious than influenza .
The novel coronavirus has killed more than 6,000 people in the county .
Officials announced 31 additional @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more than 260,200 confirmed infections .
In recent weeks , officials have reported a decline in infections , hospitalizations and deaths .
The daily case count is currently seven cases per 100,000 , and the seven-day average positivity rate is 3 % — a notable drop from a reported 8 % in July .
Those low metrics could propel the county forward on the state ’ s reopening system if they hold for two consecutive weeks .
But over the past week , the number of cases has increased slightly , and the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ % to 1.02 % .
It ’ s possible those numbers are early indicators that there will be a spike in infections related to Labor Day weekend activity , but Ferrer said officials are monitoring data through the end of the week to assess whether that may be the reality .
“ This is a crucial week for us , ” she said .
The county has continued to see thousands of testing slots go unfilled .
Wildfires , heat and bad air quality that kept people inside in recent weeks may have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Human Services Director Dr. Christina Ghaly said .
The drop in testing is a concern for the county ’ s understanding of the true rate of infections and how widespread the virus remains .
And while a metric such as hospitalizations is low , it is a lagging indicator for understanding the true scope of the virus because case counts spike before hospitalizations or deaths .
In July , for example , the county saw a relatively low number of hospitalizations before a massive spike occurred following the Fourth of July holiday .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” Ferrer said about how past experiences have informed officials ’ current understanding of the virus .
Under new statewide guidance announced Tuesday , the county is now permitted to open indoor operations at nail salons .
Health officials are working with the Board of Supervisors to determine what that timeline for reopening may look like .
Officials have previously said that any changes would not come until late September , following possible Labor Day weekend data .

There have been 18% more deaths in Los Angeles County this year than over the same time period in 2017, 2018 and 2019.
L.A. County Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer said Wednesday that although not every death in 2020 has been related to COVID-19, the spike translates to “thousands of deaths that would not have otherwise occurred” without the virus.
Ferrer said the data disproves theories that the virus is no more serious than influenza.
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The novel coronavirus has killed more than 6,000 people in the county. Officials announced 31 additional deaths Wednesday and 1,265 cases, totaling more than 260,200 confirmed infections.
In recent weeks, officials have reported a decline in infections, hospitalizations and deaths. The daily case count is currently seven cases per 100,000, and the seven-day average positivity rate is 3% — a notable drop from a reported 8% in July. Those low metrics could propel the county forward on the state’s reopening system if they hold for two consecutive weeks.
But over the past week, the number of cases has increased slightly, and the projected transmission rate has crept past 1% to 1.02%. It’s possible those numbers are early indicators that there will be a spike in infections related to Labor Day weekend activity, but Ferrer said officials are monitoring data through the end of the week to assess whether that may be the reality.
“This is a crucial week for us,” she said.
The county has continued to see thousands of testing slots go unfilled. Wildfires, heat and bad air quality that kept people inside in recent weeks may have contributed to that decline, Health and Human Services Director Dr. Christina Ghaly said. The drop in testing is a concern for the county’s understanding of the true rate of infections and how widespread the virus remains.
And while a metric such as hospitalizations is low, it is a lagging indicator for understanding the true scope of the virus because case counts spike before hospitalizations or deaths.
In July, for example, the county saw a relatively low number of hospitalizations before a massive spike occurred following the Fourth of July holiday.
“I think we learned a lot,” Ferrer said about how past experiences have informed officials’ current understanding of the virus.
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Under new statewide guidance announced Tuesday, the county is now permitted to open indoor operations at nail salons. Health officials are working with the Board of Supervisors to determine what that timeline for reopening may look like. Officials have previously said that any changes would not come until late September, following possible Labor Day weekend data.