latimes--2020-08-17--Some California cities think they're safe from sea level rise. They're not, new data show

Just north of the Golden Gate Bridge , yet a world away from San Francisco , in an unincorporated and oft-overlooked area known as Marin City , sea level rise is rarely the first worry that comes to mind .
Traditional flood maps for this predominantly Black and working-class community suggest that the area is safe until sea level rise reaches 3 feet or more .
But sea level rise is a lot more complicated than just waves breaking over seawalls and beaches disappearing .
Imagine the groundwater beneath your feet .
As the ocean moves inland , it will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it breaks the surface .
Basements will heave , brackish water could corrode sewer pipes , toxic contaminants buried in the soil could bubble up and spread .
In many areas along San Francisco Bay , this sea beneath us is already leaking out of the ground , said Kristina Hill , whose research at UC Berkeley focuses on this less-talked-about vulnerability .
With even 1 foot more of sea rise , an unexpected swath of Marin City could increasingly flood .
Aside from homes and roads , human health is also a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Any pollution in the soil , capped from above but lying just below , will be re-mobilized.
” From Northern to Southern California , scientists and planners are waking up to the reality that rising seas will threaten not only California ’ s precious shoreline , but also areas once considered less vulnerable from flooding .
In the Bay Area alone , Hill and her team found that more than twice as much land could flood from groundwater as the ocean rises .
Little data exist to help map the problem .
Another @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has spent years piecing information together for the first time for the entire state — identifying particularly problematic areas and figuring out more refined ways to study this emerging issue .
“ We can build protections , walls , berms to prevent overland flooding , but that ’ s not going to stop the groundwater , ” said Patrick Barnard , research director of the USGS Climate Impacts and Coastal Processes Team and coauthor of a study published Monday in the journal Nature Climate Change .
“ It ’ s this slow creep @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and roadbeds.
” Seawater has also increasingly pushed into rivers and deeper aquifers , burdening communities that rely on groundwater .
Wells are going salty for coastal farmers in the Salinas Valley .
So is a critical water supply under the Oxnard Plain .
In Los Angeles County , water officials have fought for decades against the sea ’ s silent march underground .
These compounding problems come at a time when more officials across California are starting to confront the social , economic and environmental catastrophe looming over the shore .
In @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Legislative Analyst ’ s Office urged state lawmakers to remember that while this issue may seem less pressing compared to the COVID-19 pandemic , “ the state and its coastal communities can not afford to defer all preparation efforts until economic conditions have fully rebounded from the recent crisis.
” At least $ 8 billion in property could be underwater by 2050 , with an additional $ 10 billion at risk during high tides .
In just the next decade , the sea could rise more than half a foot — with heavy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to make things even worse .
At a meeting held earlier this year by a special committee of state lawmakers who had started to revive these much-needed discussions on sea level rise , Assemblyman Kevin Mullin ( D-San Mateo ) , who serves as speaker pro tem , didn ’ t mince words : “ I ’ m feeling the urgency , ” he said , “ and blown away , frankly , by the magnitude of the challenge that we have in front of us.
” As for Hill , who teaches @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about overlooked communities like Marin City and historically industrial areas like East Oakland , where much of the soil is contaminated .
When talking about groundwater , there are two types to consider : One , the kind Hill studies , is the unconfined water that gathers in the pore spaces of soil very close to the surface .
It ’ s the water that runs off streets and soaks into the ground .
The other type , confined in aquifers many hundreds of feet deep , is the water that we tap @ @ @ @ @ @ @ inland , the shallow fresh water tends to float on top of the denser salt water — and gets pushed upward toward the surface as ocean levels rise .
Because the shallow groundwater is not for drinking , however , few people have studied or understand this layer of water in California .
Analyzing data from 10,000 wells across the San Francisco Bay Area , Hill and her team mapped for the first time the region ’ s shallow groundwater .
She homed in on Marin City , which was a straightforward example @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The topography here is shaped like a bowl , she said , which makes it relatively simple to project where the emerging groundwater would flood ( the bottom of the bowl ) .
Much of the area was also built on filled-in wetlands , where water naturally wants to go .
Hill noted that these first approximation maps laid the groundwork for more complex scientific analyses .
Kevin Befus , a hydrologist who in 2016 modeled shallow groundwater along the entire East Coast for the USGS , has spent the last few @ @ @ @ @ @ @ across California ’ s more than 1,200-mile shoreline — analyzing and refining until he was able to create a statewide model that identified critical data gaps and areas particularly vulnerable to groundwater problems .
Using high-resolution topography data , he studied the physics of how the groundwater would drain or flood depending on the terrain and any nearby creeks or rivers .
He found that about 30 % of California ’ s coast had similar groundwater conditions as the cities Hill has been studying in the Bay Area .
Developed areas , especially @ @ @ @ @ @ @ top of filled-in wetlands , face increasing threats underground .
Venice and other low-lying stretches from Long Beach down toward San Diego — all these areas have infrastructure that could be impacted as the groundwater rises with the sea .
In one section of Huntington Beach , areas farther inland that do not show up in traditional flood maps could be flooded by groundwater lurking just a few feet below ground .
Airports are also particularly vulnerable .
Many are built on flat , low-elevation areas by the water , researchers noted , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ drainage features .
Ports and Navy infrastructure in Ventura and Los Angeles counties also need to consider groundwater impacts when planning for sea level rise .
Add rain on top of all this , Befus said , and any drainage system could quickly get overwhelmed .
In Honolulu , where groundwater is already impacting buried infrastructure , a high tide can back up storm drains and wastewater pipes so much that residents sometimes wake up to dirty flooded roads on a sunny day .
How to defend against this kind of flooding is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ higher seawalls and levees would not stop flooding on the inland side as the groundwater equalizes with sea level .
Pumping the groundwater is also costly and could cause the land itself to sink to lower elevations — allowing more flooding from the rising ocean .
“ It comes down to a value : What do people value , what do they want to protect ?
What are they OK with giving up on ?
” said Befus , now an assistant professor of geosciences at the University of Arkansas and lead author @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Water has a way of finding the lowest spot — we can pump it out , but at some point , when is that not financially feasible anymore ?
” Befus and the USGS are working to make the model more complex — perhaps adding storms or analyzing how much valuable infrastructure is at stake .
City and county leaders , in the meantime , could also do more site-specific studies to figure out areas that should be more closely monitored .
The San Francisco Bay Conservation and Development Commission is working on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ maps , and cities including Alameda and Hayward have started their own plans .
Marin City , officials also noted , is in the process of assessing vulnerabilities , and environmental groups are helping the community restore wetlands that could help mitigate future flooding .
As for our drinking water deeper underground , saltwater intrusion has called for costly and elaborate measures .
In Los Angeles County , water officials for decades have operated hundreds of “ barrier wells , ” stretching from Los Angeles International Airport to the Palos Verdes Hills — @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than 200 feet deep to prevent any salt water from moving in .
Salty groundwater was detected more than a century ago , and rampant pumping as population grew led to an overdraft that allowed the sea to contaminate 600,000 acre-feet of fresh water — water that could have supplied 4.8 million people in L.A. for a year .
The aquifer today supplies about half of the water needed for 43 cities in Los Angeles County — and remains significantly below sea level .
“ These wells are running nonstop , 24 hours @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” said Ted Johnson , assistant general manager of the Water Replenishment District of Southern California , a voter-initiated agency created in the 1950s to save the region ’ s groundwater .
“ They have to be balanced all the time for the right amount of water.
” A few inches of sea level rise can easily be factored into existing monitoring and calculations , Johnson said , but increasing costs and finite supplies are front of mind .
Officials have been finding ways to inject the aquifer with recycled water , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ regions that also increasingly need fresh water .
Mark Gold , the governor ’ s deputy secretary for coast and ocean policy , said that seawater pushing into both deep and shallow groundwater are threats that California can not ignore .
In a set of targets guided by Gov .
Gavin Newsom ’ s administration , many agencies recently agreed to prepare California for at least 3.5 feet of sea level rise by 2050 .
Gold has been working with these agencies to better understand which roads , rail lines and other coastal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ seas .
But when it comes to sewage pipes , pump stations and other infrastructure underground , it ’ s not easy knowing where to start .
The information that scientists are now piecing together , he said , is critical .
“ What you don ’ t see , ” he said , “ can be as devastating as what you do see .
”

Marin City, Calif., with Richardson Bay in the background. Rising groundwater could affect areas once considered less vulnerable to flooding.
Just north of the Golden Gate Bridge, yet a world away from San Francisco, in an unincorporated and oft-overlooked area known as Marin City, sea level rise is rarely the first worry that comes to mind.
Traditional flood maps for this predominantly Black and working-class community suggest that the area is safe until sea level rise reaches 3 feet or more.
But sea level rise is a lot more complicated than just waves breaking over seawalls and beaches disappearing.
Imagine the groundwater beneath your feet. As the ocean moves inland, it will push all this trapped water upward until it breaks the surface. Basements will heave, brackish water could corrode sewer pipes, toxic contaminants buried in the soil could bubble up and spread.
Advertisement
In many areas along San Francisco Bay, this sea beneath us is already leaking out of the ground, said Kristina Hill, whose research at UC Berkeley focuses on this less-talked-about vulnerability. With even 1 foot more of sea rise, an unexpected swath of Marin City could increasingly flood.
Aside from homes and roads, human health is also a huge concern, she said. “Any pollution in the soil, capped from above but lying just below, will be re-mobilized.”
From Northern to Southern California, scientists and planners are waking up to the reality that rising seas will threaten not only California’s precious shoreline but also areas once considered less vulnerable to flooding. In the Bay Area alone, Hill and her team found that more than twice as much land could flood from groundwater as the ocean rises.
Little data exist to help map the problem. Another research team at the U.S. Geological Survey has spent years piecing information together for the first time for the entire state — identifying particularly problematic areas and figuring out more refined ways to study this emerging issue.
“We can build protections, walls, berms to prevent overland flooding, but that’s not going to stop the groundwater,” said Patrick Barnard, research director of the USGS Climate Impacts and Coastal Processes Team and coauthor of a study published Monday in the journal Nature Climate Change. “It’s this slow creep upward that gets into garages and foundations and roadbeds.”
Seawater has also increasingly pushed into rivers and deeper aquifers, burdening communities that rely on groundwater. Wells are going salty for coastal farmers in the Salinas Valley. So is a crucial water supply under the Oxnard Plain. In Los Angeles County, water officials have fought for decades against the sea’s silent march underground.
Advertisement
These compounding problems come at a time when more officials across California are starting to confront the social, economic and environmental catastrophe looming over the shore. In a stark report last week, the Legislative Analyst’s Office urged state lawmakers to remember that while this issue may seem less pressing compared with the COVID-19 pandemic, “the state and its coastal communities cannot afford to defer all preparation efforts until economic conditions have fully rebounded from the recent crisis.”
At least $8 billion in property could be underwater by 2050, with an additional $10 billion at risk during high tides. In just the next decade, the sea could rise more than half a foot — with heavy storms and cycles of El Niño projected to make things even worse.
At a meeting held earlier this year by a special committee of state lawmakers who had started to revive these much-needed discussions on sea level rise, Assemblyman Kevin Mullin (D-San Mateo), who serves as speaker pro tem, didn’t mince words:
“I’m feeling the urgency,” he said, “and blown away, frankly, by the magnitude of the challenge that we have in front of us.”
As for Hill, who teaches environmental planning, she’s worried about overlooked communities like Marin City and historically industrial areas like East Oakland, where much of the soil is contaminated.
When talking about groundwater, there are two types to consider: One, the kind Hill studies, is the unconfined water that gathers in the pore spaces of soil very close to the surface. It’s the water that runs off streets and soaks into the ground. The other type, confined in aquifers many hundreds of feet deep, is the water that we tap for drinking.
When the sea moves inland, the shallow fresh water tends to float on top of the denser salt water — and gets pushed upward toward the surface as ocean levels rise. Because the shallow groundwater is not for drinking, however, few people have studied or understand this layer of water in California.
(Lorena Iñiguez Elebee / Los Angeles Times)
Analyzing data from 10,000 wells across the San Francisco Bay Area, Hill and her team mapped for the first time the region’s shallow groundwater. She homed in on Marin City, which was a straightforward example of an issue that quickly gets complicated.
The topography here is shaped like a bowl, she said, which makes it relatively simple to project where the emerging groundwater would flood (the bottom of the bowl). Much of the area was also built on filled-in wetlands, where water naturally wants to go.
Hill noted that these first approximation maps laid the groundwork for more complex scientific analyses.
Kevin Befus, a hydrologist who in 2016 modeled shallow groundwater along the entire East Coast for the USGS, has spent the last few years sorting through all the available data across California’s more than 1,200-mile shoreline — analyzing and refining until he was able to create a statewide model that identified critical data gaps and areas particularly vulnerable to groundwater problems.
Using high-resolution topography data, he studied the physics of how the groundwater would drain or flood depending on the terrain and any nearby creeks or rivers. He found that about 30% of California’s coast had groundwater conditions similar to conditions in the cities Hill has been studying in the Bay Area.
A drone view of where the Santa Ana River meets the Pacific Ocean in Newport Beach. Developed areas along river plains are particularly vulnerable to rising groundwater. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
Developed areas, especially along river plains and lagoons or on top of filled-in wetlands, face increasing threats underground. Venice and other low-lying stretches from Long Beach down toward San Diego — all these areas have infrastructure that could be impacted as the groundwater rises with the sea. In one section of Huntington Beach, areas farther inland that do not show up in traditional flood maps could be flooded by groundwater lurking just a few feet below ground.
Airports are also particularly vulnerable. Many are built on flat, low-elevation areas by the water, researchers noted, with grading that has filled in natural drainage features. Ports and Navy infrastructure in Ventura and Los Angeles counties also need to consider groundwater impacts when planning for sea level rise.
Add rain on top of all this, Befus said, and any drainage system could quickly get overwhelmed. In Honolulu, where groundwater is already impacting buried infrastructure, a high tide can back up storm drains and wastewater pipes so much that residents sometimes wake up to dirty flooded roads on a sunny day.
How to defend against this kind of flooding is tricky — spending millions of dollars on higher seawalls and levees would not stop flooding on the inland side as the groundwater equalizes with sea level. Pumping the groundwater is also costly and could cause the land itself to sink to lower elevations — allowing more flooding from the rising ocean.
“It comes down to a value: What do people value, what do they want to protect? What are they OK with giving up on?” said Befus, now an assistant professor of geosciences at the University of Arkansas and lead author of Monday’s study. “Water has a way of finding the lowest spot — we can pump it out, but at some point, when is that not financially feasible anymore?”
Befus and the USGS are working to make the model more complex — perhaps adding storms or analyzing how much valuable infrastructure is at stake. City and county leaders, in the meantime, could also do more site-specific studies to figure out areas that should be more closely monitored.
The San Francisco Bay Conservation and Development Commission is working on implementing groundwater into its sea level rise maps, and cities including Alameda and Hayward have started their own plans. Marin City, officials also noted, is in the process of assessing vulnerabilities, and environmental groups are helping the community restore wetlands that could help mitigate future flooding.
As for our drinking water deeper underground, saltwater intrusion has called for costly and elaborate measures.
In Los Angeles County, water officials for decades have operated hundreds of “barrier wells,” stretching from Los Angeles International Airport to the Palos Verdes Hills — a system that injects fresh water more than 200 feet deep to prevent any salt water from moving in.
Salty groundwater was detected more than a century ago, and rampant pumping as population grew led to an overdraft that allowed the sea to contaminate 600,000 acre-feet of fresh water — water that could have supplied 4.8 million people in L.A. for a year. The aquifer today supplies about half of the water needed for 43 cities in Los Angeles County — and remains significantly below sea level.
“These wells are running nonstop, 24 hours a day, seven days a week,” said Ted Johnson, assistant general manager of the Water Replenishment District of Southern California, a voter-initiated agency created in the 1950s to save the region’s groundwater. “They have to be balanced all the time for the right amount of water.”
A few inches of sea level rise can easily be factored into existing monitoring and calculations, Johnson said, but increasing costs and finite supplies are front of mind. Officials have been finding ways to inject the aquifer with recycled water, rather than importing large amounts from other regions that also increasingly need fresh water.
Mark Gold, the governor’s deputy secretary for coast and ocean policy, said that seawater pushing into both deep and shallow groundwater is a threat that California cannot ignore. In a set of targets guided by Gov. Gavin Newsom’s administration, many agencies recently agreed to prepare California for at least 3.5 feet of sea level rise by 2050.
Gold has been working with these agencies to better understand which roads, rail lines and other coastal infrastructure are most at risk to rising seas. But when it comes to sewage pipes, pump stations and other infrastructure underground, it’s not easy knowing where to start. The information that scientists are now piecing together, he said, is crucial.
“What you don’t see,” he said, “can be as devastating as what you do see.”


latimes--2020-08-17--3.2 magnitude quake shakes near Healdsburg, Calif.

A magnitude 3.2 earthquake was reported Monday morning at 6:23 a.m. Pacific time 11 miles from Healdsburg , Calif. , according to the U.S. Geological Survey .
The earthquake occurred 12 miles from Clearlake , Calif. , 17 miles from Windsor , Calif. , 21 miles from Santa Rosa , Calif. and 28 miles from Ukiah , Calif .
In the last 10 days , there has been one earthquake of magnitude 3.0 or greater centered nearby .
An average of 234 earthquakes with magnitudes between 3.0 and 4.0 occur per year in California and Nevada , according to a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ occurred at a depth of 1.7 miles .
Did you feel this earthquake ?
Consider reporting what you felt to the USGS .
Even if you didn ’ t feel this small earthquake , you never know when the Big One is going to strike .
Ready yourself by following our five-step earthquake preparedness guide and building your own emergency kit .
This story was automatically generated by Quakebot , a computer application that monitors the latest earthquakes detected by the USGS .
A Times editor reviewed the post before it was published @ @ @ @ @ @ @ learning more about the system , visit our list of frequently asked questions .

A magnitude 3.2 earthquake was reported this morning at 6:23 a.m., 11 miles from Healdsburg, Calif.
A magnitude 3.2 earthquake was reported Monday morning at 6:23 a.m. Pacific time 11 miles from Healdsburg, Calif., according to the U.S. Geological Survey.
The earthquake occurred 12 miles from Clearlake, Calif., 17 miles from Windsor, Calif., 21 miles from Santa Rosa, Calif. and 28 miles from Ukiah, Calif.
In the last 10 days, there has been one earthquake of magnitude 3.0 or greater centered nearby.
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An average of 234 earthquakes with magnitudes between 3.0 and 4.0 occur per year in California and Nevada, according to a recent three-year data sample.
The earthquake occurred at a depth of 1.7 miles. Did you feel this earthquake? Consider reporting what you felt to the USGS.
Even if you didn’t feel this small earthquake, you never know when the Big One is going to strike. Ready yourself by following our five-step earthquake preparedness guide and building your own emergency kit.
This story was automatically generated by Quakebot, a computer application that monitors the latest earthquakes detected by the USGS. A Times editor reviewed the post before it was published. If you’re interested in learning more about the system, visit our list of frequently asked questions.


latimes--2020-08-17--Party in a pandemic: TikTok star Bryce Hall's birthday celebration prompts visit by LAPD

The phenomenon of social media stars living together in lavish Los Angeles homes and documenting their lives — and parties — on TikTok is quickly turning into a cautionary tale during the pandemic .
TMZ reported that a popular TikTok video creator Bryce Hall held a birthday party in the Hollywood Hills over the weekend , a bash that attracted a massive crowd of people who didn ’ t appear to be wearing masks or social distancing , according to online videos .
Hall has 12.9 million followers on TikTok .
The rise in influencer houses comes amid reports of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about the COVID-19 pandemic and ignore warnings from public health officials that gatherings help spread the virus throughout the community .
Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti , who had already banned large gatherings , recently authorized the city to shut off L.A. Department of Water and Power services at residences where the hosts defy public health orders .
But the parties continue , including those hosted by some prominent TikTok stars : young individuals who live together in picturesque homes , document their lives and relationships to their millions of followers and make @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hollywood Hills bash believed to have been held by social media stars was shut down by police over the weekend , marking at least the second time in several days that officers from the L.A. Police Department have been forced to visit the home .
Mike Lopez , an LAPD spokesman , said he had no information about the TMZ report .
He said that officers responded to complaints about noise at a home in the 8700 block of Appian Way early Saturday morning .
Sources said TikTok influencers live in a house @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t determine if the home was the location of the party identified by TMZ .
On Sunday morning , two young men , one shirtless and the other wearing a red sweatshirt and shorts , walked out of the house on Appian Way to briefly speak to a Times reporter .
The man in the sweatshirt said about 20 people had been at the home , suggesting a large party hadn ’ t taken place .
Both men declined to identify themselves .
A “ Notice of Violation ” was visible on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stated that police had visited the home on Aug. 14 and Aug. 8 , and observed violations pertaining to hosting “ loud and unruly ” parties and “ disturbing the peace.
” Another sign taped on the property , dated Aug. 14 , was a final notice of noncompliance with the mayor ’ s guidelines prohibiting large gatherings .
The warning stated that the final notice may be referred to the Los Angeles deputy mayor of public safety or his designee for review and issuance of a directive to shut off utility services @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , LAPD officers who respond to a large party at a property can request the utilities be cut within 48 hours .
Homes where parties regularly occur are the target , Garcetti has said .
A spokesman for the mayor didn ’ t respond to a request for comment Sunday .
A woman who lives in this section of the Hollywood Hills said she ’ s uneasy about the apparent defiance of those holding gatherings during the pandemic .
“ It doesn ’ t make me feel good , ” said the woman @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Allen Carpenter , a neighbor who lives on Appian Way , criticized the mayor ’ s rules dictating gatherings and the threats to cut off utility services .
He said that young people should decide whether they want to risk getting sick from the coronavirus and should be able to have parties if they want .
“ They ’ re young people , ” Carpenter said , adding that “ they ’ re probably not going to die.
” As the number of coronavirus cases surged over the summer , Garcetti and other @ @ @ @ @ @ @ under increasing pressure to find ways to persuade people to follow orders such as wearing masks and avoiding large gatherings .
The recent jump in infections in the region has only made those orders more important , officials say .
Separately , police union leaders have balked at the mayor ’ s call for officers to help enforce his strategy for closing down the parties , arguing that Garcetti should instead enlist civilian workers to carry out those orders .
L.A. is home to nearly a dozen influencer houses that started because of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ two years ago .
The viral video streaming app , owned by China-based ByteDance , is under pressure from the U.S. government over concerns about how TikTok handles U.S. user data .
President Trump has ordered ByteDance to divest its U.S. operations in TikTok by Nov. 12 .
TikTok said it has not and will not give U.S. user information to the Chinese government .
Some digital creators , like YouTuber Michelle Khare , criticized Hall and “ everyone else who went to these parties.
” Khare wrote on Twitter that her father @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hadn ’ t seen her family in seven months .
“ You ’ re selfish to a degree I didn ’ t know humanly possible , ” tweeted Khare , referring to Hall .

The phenomenon of social media stars living together in lavish Los Angeles homes and documenting their lives — and parties — on TikTok is quickly turning into a cautionary tale during the pandemic.
TMZ reported that a popular TikTok video creator Bryce Hall held a birthday party in the Hollywood Hills over the weekend, a bash that attracted a massive crowd of people who didn’t appear to be wearing masks or social distancing, according to online videos. Hall has 12.9 million followers on TikTok.
The rise in influencer houses comes amid reports of house parties as revelers shrug off concerns about the COVID-19 pandemic and ignore warnings from public health officials that gatherings help spread the virus throughout the community.
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Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti, who had already banned large gatherings, recently authorized the city to shut off L.A. Department of Water and Power services at residences where the hosts defy public health orders.
But the parties continue, including those hosted by some prominent TikTok stars: young individuals who live together in picturesque homes, document their lives and relationships to their millions of followers and make money by promoting brands.
A large Hollywood Hills bash believed to have been held by social media stars was shut down by police over the weekend, marking at least the second time in several days that officers from the L.A. Police Department have been forced to visit the home.
Mike Lopez, an LAPD spokesman, said he had no information about the TMZ report. He said that officers responded to complaints about noise at a home in the 8700 block of Appian Way early Saturday morning. Sources said TikTok influencers live in a house on the street.
The Times couldn’t determine if the home was the location of the party identified by TMZ.
On Sunday morning, two young men, one shirtless and the other wearing a red sweatshirt and shorts, walked out of the house on Appian Way to briefly speak to a Times reporter. The man in the sweatshirt said about 20 people had been at the home, suggesting a large party hadn’t taken place. Both men declined to identify themselves.
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A “Notice of Violation” was visible on the property Sunday. The city notice stated that police had visited the home on Aug. 14 and Aug. 8, and observed violations pertaining to hosting “loud and unruly” parties and “disturbing the peace.”
Another sign taped on the property, dated Aug. 14, was a final notice of noncompliance with the mayor’s guidelines prohibiting large gatherings. The warning stated that the final notice may be referred to the Los Angeles deputy mayor of public safety or his designee for review and issuance of a directive to shut off utility services.
Under the mayor’s directive, LAPD officers who respond to a large party at a property can request the utilities be cut within 48 hours. Homes where parties regularly occur are the target, Garcetti has said.
A spokesman for the mayor didn’t respond to a request for comment Sunday.
A woman who lives in this section of the Hollywood Hills said she’s uneasy about the apparent defiance of those holding gatherings during the pandemic. “It doesn’t make me feel good,” said the woman, who asked to remain anonymous.
Allen Carpenter, a neighbor who lives on Appian Way, criticized the mayor’s rules dictating gatherings and the threats to cut off utility services. He said that young people should decide whether they want to risk getting sick from the coronavirus and should be able to have parties if they want.
“They’re young people,” Carpenter said, adding that “they’re probably not going to die.”
As the number of coronavirus cases surged over the summer, Garcetti and other elected officials in Southern California have come under increasing pressure to find ways to persuade people to follow orders such as wearing masks and avoiding large gatherings.
The recent jump in infections in the region has only made those orders more important, officials say.
Separately, police union leaders have balked at the mayor’s call for officers to help enforce his strategy for closing down the parties, arguing that Garcetti should instead enlist civilian workers to carry out those orders.
L.A. is home to nearly a dozen influencer houses that started because of TikTok, which debuted in the U.S. two years ago. The viral video streaming app, owned by China-based ByteDance, is under pressure from the U.S. government over concerns about how TikTok handles U.S. user data. President Trump has ordered ByteDance to divest its U.S. operations in TikTok by Nov. 12.
TikTok said it has not and will not give U.S. user information to the Chinese government.
Some digital creators, like YouTuber Michelle Khare, criticized Hall and “everyone else who went to these parties.” Khare wrote on Twitter that her father works at a hospital, and she hadn’t seen her family in seven months.
“You’re selfish to a degree I didn’t know humanly possible,” tweeted Khare, referring to Hall.


latimes--2020-08-17--Banks: Is it time for L.A. to become a real party pooper to fight the spread of COVID-19?

We ’ re shuttering businesses , inspecting workplaces and re-imagining education to keep COVID-19 at bay .
But we ’ re all thumbs when it comes to dealing with what has become the Achilles ’ heel of our coronavirus prevention plan : rogue parties that have helped send infection rates soaring among young people in Los Angeles County .
It seems like almost every week some illicit event with super-spreader potential makes news — at a mansion in the Hollywood Hills , a celebrity compound in Calabasas , an estate in Holmby Hills , a warehouse in the industrial Harbor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ don ’ t do much — unless a partygoer gets shot , which has happened during at least three recent events , including a Hollywood Hills party where a woman died .
Elected officials seem to have little to offer but threats to cut power to venues that are “ egregious ” offenders .
And health experts keep hoping that education about the risks will persuade partygoers to stay home .
You ’ d have to live in a cave right now not to know what precautions to take to keep yourself safe @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wear a mask , keep your distance from anyone you don ’ t live with .
Yet some folks are still living it up — unmasked and unafraid — as if COVID-19 didn ’ t exist .
Party videos show jam-packed dance floors , crowds queued up at makeshift bars and buses continually dropping newcomers off .
I understand the urge that drives the lack of inhibition .
We are all weary of being masked , monitored and cooped up .
For young people , in the prime of their partying days , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ re impatient and bored , tired of social isolation and desperate for company .
You can ’ t go to school , your job is on hold , the county ’ s bars and clubs have shut down .
And you ’ ve been attuned by social media to expect instant gratification .
So you convince yourself that you ’ re entitled to a night of raucous fun .
But your indiscretions can wind up threatening the health of anyone else you encounter .
So maybe it ’ s time for us @ @ @ @ @ @ @ re all in this together ’ mantra rings hollow in some quarters .
We may need to rely on punishment instead .
Los Angeles County Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer has been watching the progression of infections with trepidation .
More than a quarter of new cases have been among 18- to 29-year-olds , a group that was mostly untouched in the pandemic ’ s early days .
Now they have the highest rate of new cases of any age group .
“ I don ’ t like to see those pictures of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
“ When we see people blatantly defying sensible orders , that makes others feel like , ‘ If they can do it , we can do it too.
’ It ’ s frustrating , because what we ’ re asking is not a big thing to do .
It ’ s not saying parties are banned forever , it ’ s just saying don ’ t have a party for a few months.
” Ferrer admits that some responsibility for the violations may be linked to well-meaning officials and fumbles early @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to figure out how best to deal with a deadly virus we had never encountered before .
“ Months ago we were telling people they didn ’ t need to wear a mask , ” she recalled .
“ Now masks are lifesaving.… People are confused about messages we think should be clear.
” Ferrer spends a lot of time asking strangers what they do to stay safe , and that ’ s been eye-opening .
“ I ’ m actually astounded how little understanding they have about what the science is around @ @ @ @ @ @ @ We obviously haven ’ t done as good a job as we need to do in explaining to people how powerful they can be in stopping the spread.
” Or maybe that message is just particularly hard for young people to absorb .
“ They look around , and it doesn ’ t seem to be causing all this devastation , ” Ferrer said , because until now mostly older people had been dying .
“ They say , ‘ I ’ m young , I ’ m healthy , and I ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ socialize the way I want.
’ ” The county is revamping its messaging to reach young people who seem to think they are invincible .
Billboards , videos and social media posts now feature people in their 20s and 30s who suffered and still haven ’ t recovered from coronavirus infections .
It ’ s a “ scared straight ” approach for young folks who might be wavering .
But is fear of getting sick enough to stave off the party circuit ?
I don ’ t think so .
When I see @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all the young people I know who are sacrificing and staying at home to protect themselves , their mothers , aunties , grandfathers .
They are tired of the isolation , too .
And we dishonor their commitment when we turn a blind eye to those who brazenly break the rules , threatening public health with their selfishness .
Education instead of enforcement is a nice sentiment , but maybe it ’ s time to raise the stakes for those determined to flout public safety rules .
We have to accept that some @ @ @ @ @ @ @ health risks .
But maybe they ’ ll care when their party favors are tickets for mask violations — subject to $ 100 fines or community service .
Other communities have already taken that sort of hard line .
Calabasas declared “ zero tolerance ” a month ago , after a raid on a large party hosted by YouTube star Jake Paul .
“ The warning period has ended , ” Mayor Alicia Weintraub declared in a Facebook post .
“ The sheriff understands that all parties are to be broken up immediately.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Angeles , strained relations between the LAPD and Mayor Eric Garcetti mean enforcement isn ’ t on the table yet .
They ’ re stuck on logistics , confusion over whether the mayor ’ s “ Safer L.A. ” order applies to parties in private homes and concern that enforcement orders would force a standoff with police , whose union is at war with the mayor over proposed budget cuts .
Police were called several times by neighbors , worried by the chaos around the Mulholland Drive mansion where three people would be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the LAPD arrived , the officers tended to parking problems , then “ met with the responsible party ” hosting the event and helped usher “ the people back into the private party , ” LAPD Lt. Chris Ramirez said at a media briefing .
As if anyone at that party could really be considered “ responsible.
” When that ’ s the police response , it ’ s easy to understand why partygoers think “ no harm , no foul.
” I asked Ferrer what she thinks about adding enforcement to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , we should use , ” she said .
She likes the idea of big fines for party hosts .
That doesn ’ t mean Ferrer thinks people should be arrested for being scofflaws in these situations .
“ I respect the fact that law enforcement has a lot of work to do , ” she said .
“ Arresting everybody at a party ?
What are we going to do ?
Put them all on a bus , book them and release them ?
” Besides , a crowded bus taking people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the coronavirus to spread .
And yet , back in June , that ’ s exactly what we did to thousands of lawful young protesters , who took to the streets to try to stop an epidemic of police brutality .

We’re shuttering businesses, inspecting workplaces and re-imagining education to keep COVID-19 at bay.
But we’re all thumbs when it comes to dealing with what has become the Achilles’ heel of our coronavirus prevention plan: rogue parties that have helped send infection rates soaring among young people in Los Angeles County.
It seems like almost every week some illicit event with super-spreader potential makes news — at a mansion in the Hollywood Hills, a celebrity compound in Calabasas, an estate in Holmby Hills, a warehouse in the industrial Harbor Gateway neighborhood.
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Police show up but don’t do much — unless a partygoer gets shot, which has happened during at least three recent events, including a Hollywood Hills party where a woman died. Elected officials seem to have little to offer but threats to cut power to venues that are “egregious” offenders. And health experts keep hoping that education about the risks will persuade partygoers to stay home.
You’d have to live in a cave right now not to know what precautions to take to keep yourself safe from contagion: Wash your hands, wear a mask, keep your distance from anyone you don’t live with.
Yet some folks are still living it up — unmasked and unafraid — as if COVID-19 didn’t exist. Party videos show jam-packed dance floors, crowds queued up at makeshift bars and buses continually dropping newcomers off.
I understand the urge that drives the lack of inhibition. We are all weary of being masked, monitored and cooped up. For young people, in the prime of their partying days, it must seem especially cruel.
You’re impatient and bored, tired of social isolation and desperate for company. You can’t go to school, your job is on hold, the county’s bars and clubs have shut down. And you’ve been attuned by social media to expect instant gratification. So you convince yourself that you’re entitled to a night of raucous fun.
But your indiscretions can wind up threatening the health of anyone else you encounter. So maybe it’s time for us to acknowledge that the ‘We’re all in this together’ mantra rings hollow in some quarters. We may need to rely on punishment instead.
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::
Los Angeles County Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer has been watching the progression of infections with trepidation. More than a quarter of new cases have been among 18- to 29-year-olds, a group that was mostly untouched in the pandemic’s early days. Now they have the highest rate of new cases of any age group.
“I don’t like to see those pictures of all the people partying,” she said. “When we see people blatantly defying sensible orders, that makes others feel like, ‘If they can do it, we can do it too.’ It’s frustrating, because what we’re asking is not a big thing to do. It’s not saying parties are banned forever, it’s just saying don’t have a party for a few months.”
Ferrer admits that some responsibility for the violations may be linked to well-meaning officials and fumbles early on — when we were all trying to figure out how best to deal with a deadly virus we had never encountered before.
“Months ago we were telling people they didn’t need to wear a mask,” she recalled. “Now masks are lifesaving.… People are confused about messages we think should be clear.”
Ferrer spends a lot of time asking strangers what they do to stay safe, and that’s been eye-opening.
“I’m actually astounded how little understanding they have about what the science is around COVID-19,” she said. “We obviously haven’t done as good a job as we need to do in explaining to people how powerful they can be in stopping the spread.”
Or maybe that message is just particularly hard for young people to absorb.
“They look around, and it doesn’t seem to be causing all this devastation,” Ferrer said, because until now mostly older people had been dying. “They say, ‘I’m young, I’m healthy, and I’m tired of not being able to socialize the way I want.’”
::
The county is revamping its messaging to reach young people who seem to think they are invincible. Billboards, videos and social media posts now feature people in their 20s and 30s who suffered and still haven’t recovered from coronavirus infections. It’s a “scared straight” approach for young folks who might be wavering.
But is fear of getting sick enough to stave off the party circuit? I don’t think so.
When I see those party videos, I think of all the young people I know who are sacrificing and staying at home to protect themselves, their mothers, aunties, grandfathers. They are tired of the isolation, too. And we dishonor their commitment when we turn a blind eye to those who brazenly break the rules, threatening public health with their selfishness.
Education instead of enforcement is a nice sentiment, but maybe it’s time to raise the stakes for those determined to flout public safety rules.
We have to accept that some folks just don’t care about health risks. But maybe they’ll care when their party favors are tickets for mask violations — subject to $100 fines or community service.
Other communities have already taken that sort of hard line.
Calabasas declared “zero tolerance” a month ago, after a raid on a large party hosted by YouTube star Jake Paul.
“The warning period has ended,” Mayor Alicia Weintraub declared in a Facebook post. “The sheriff understands that all parties are to be broken up immediately.”
But in the city of Los Angeles, strained relations between the LAPD and Mayor Eric Garcetti mean enforcement isn’t on the table yet. They’re stuck on logistics, confusion over whether the mayor’s “Safer L.A.” order applies to parties in private homes and concern that enforcement orders would force a standoff with police, whose union is at war with the mayor over proposed budget cuts.
Police were called several times by neighbors, worried by the chaos around the Mulholland Drive mansion where three people would be shot earlier this month. But when the LAPD arrived, the officers tended to parking problems, then “met with the responsible party” hosting the event and helped usher “the people back into the private party,” LAPD Lt. Chris Ramirez said at a media briefing.
As if anyone at that party could really be considered “responsible.” When that’s the police response, it’s easy to understand why partygoers think “no harm, no foul.”
I asked Ferrer what she thinks about adding enforcement to the arsenal.
“Every tool we have, we should use,” she said. She likes the idea of big fines for party hosts.
That doesn’t mean Ferrer thinks people should be arrested for being scofflaws in these situations.
“I respect the fact that law enforcement has a lot of work to do,” she said. “Arresting everybody at a party? What are we going to do? Put them all on a bus, book them and release them?”
Besides, a crowded bus taking people to jail is the perfect place for the coronavirus to spread.
And yet, back in June, that’s exactly what we did to thousands of lawful young protesters, who took to the streets to try to stop an epidemic of police brutality.


latimes--2020-08-17--Skelton: With Kamala Harris as VP pick, Gavin Newsom's White House hopes have stalled

Maybe you ’ ve noticed : Gov .
Gavin Newsom no longer looks like a promising future presidential prospect .
He has been leaped over and left behind by a California ally , Sen. Kamala Harris .
Since Newsom was elected governor in 2018 , the expectation has been that he would seize the first opportunity after this year to run for president .
Newsom , 52 , wasn ’ t ready this year .
But if President Trump won reelection , the Oval Office would be open in 2024 .
And if a Democrat ousted Trump , there ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ California governors have long had their eyes on the White House .
After all , this is the state with by far the biggest blocs of convention delegates and electoral votes .
Democrat Jerry Brown ran three times for president .
Republican Pete Wilson ran once .
Ronald Reagan finally won on his third attempt .
The late Assembly Speaker Bob Moretti of Van Nuys candidly told me after losing the 1974 gubernatorial primary to Brown that the only reason he ran for governor was to gain a launching pad for the presidency @ @ @ @ @ @ @ any liftoff for Newsom .
His potential route to the White House has been abruptly blocked by Harris ’ ascent to the Democratic vice presidential slot .
“ Kamala is smart .
She ’ s tough , ” presumptive presidential nominee Joe Biden told a TV audience of millions in explaining why he chose her as his running mate .
“ She ’ s ready to do this job … .
“ As the child of immigrants , she knows personally how immigrant families enrich our country , as well as the challenges @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Black and Indian American in the United States … .
Her story is an American story.
” That ’ s a priceless public introduction by the man who ’ s likely to become the next president .
Harris , 55 , undoubtedly will run for president again at her next opportunity , which will be when Biden , 77 , isn ’ t running — either in 2024 or 2028 .
It isn ’ t like Newsom to run against her .
He and Harris have been political stablemates , operating as a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ top offices .
In running for governor and the Senate , they shared the same political strategist , Ace Smith .
When former California Sen. Barbara Boxer retired in 2016 , then-Atty .
Gen. Harris and then-Lt. Gov .
Newsom quickly agreed : She ’ d seek the Senate seat that year and he ’ d run for governor in 2018 .
And even if Newsom did attempt to compete against Harris for the presidency , he probably wouldn ’ t get far .
“ No matter what happens in November , Kamala @ @ @ @ @ @ @ list in the next presidential race , ” says Rose Kapolczynski , a longtime Democratic consultant who managed Boxer ’ s Senate campaigns .
“ If somehow the Biden-Harris ticket loses to Trump , Kamala Harris will be the front-runner for 2024 .
“ And if they win … you can see Kamala Harris dominating Democratic politics for the next 16 years — as vice president and then as the elected president.
” Bob Shrum , a veteran Democratic consultant who is director of the Center for the Political Future at USC , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ beyond Newsom ’ s reach .
“ Obviously Kamala Harris , especially if she and Biden win , which I think they will , becomes the front-runner in 2024 or 2028 , ” Shrum says .
“ And that makes any path to the White House for Newsom more difficult … .
“ California political power and resources would unite behind Harris because she ’ s the vice president.
” Shrum points out that a sitting vice president hasn ’ t lost a nomination for president since Democrat Alben Barkley in 1952 .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ in 1960 , Democrat Hubert H. Humphrey in 1968 , Republican George H.W .
Bush in 1988 and Democrat Al Gore in 2000 .
“ Kamala ’ s a charismatic candidate now , ” Shrum says .
“ She ’ ll become a deeper and even better candidate if she runs for president ” after being VP .
Newsom may also have another problem : He ’ s a white male in a party in which power is trending toward women and people of color .
“ I think it ’ s very @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the Democratic ticket again , ” Kapolczynski says .
In selecting a woman of color as his running mate , she says , Biden “ cast his vote for the future of the Democratic Party.
” Actually , there hasn ’ t been an all-male white Democratic ticket since 2004 .
“ We ’ ve been seeing a major cultural shift over the last several years , ” Kapolczynski says .
Newsom is the only white male holding elective statewide office .
Both U.S. senators have been women for nearly 28 years @ @ @ @ @ @ @ most powerful members of Congress : U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi of San Francisco .
An estimated 61 % of the state ’ s likely Democratic voters are women , the Public Policy Institute of California reported last year .
Roughly half are white and half are people of color .
On Thursday night , he needs to take full advantage of an invaluable gift : a prime-time speaking slot at the Democratic National Convention .
Newsom ’ s speech must be concise and hard-hitting , unlike many of his ramblings .
In @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Winning should be a snap , assuming some big “ ifs ” — if he can bring the spread of the coronavirus under control , reboot California ’ s economy and fix state government ’ s computer mess that has plagued seemingly everything , including COVID-19 data collecting , DMV renewals , payment of unemployment benefits .
Then he should take a hard look at running for Sen. Dianne Feinstein ’ s Senate seat when she ’ s up for reelection in 2024 .
Feinstein will be 91 and it ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Or maybe Harris can find Newsom a Cabinet job .

Sen. Kamala Harris endorsed then-Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom in the California governor’s race in an appearance at USC’s Ronald Tutor Campus Center on Feb. 16, 2018.
Maybe you’ve noticed: Gov. Gavin Newsom no longer looks like a promising future presidential prospect. He has been leaped over and left behind by a California ally, Sen. Kamala Harris.
Since Newsom was elected governor in 2018, the expectation has been that he would seize the first opportunity after this year to run for president.
Newsom, 52, wasn’t ready this year. But if President Trump won reelection, the Oval Office would be open in 2024. And if a Democrat ousted Trump, there’d be another opportunity in 2028.
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California governors have long had their eyes on the White House. After all, this is the state with by far the biggest blocs of convention delegates and electoral votes.
Democrat Jerry Brown ran three times for president. Republican Pete Wilson ran once. Ronald Reagan finally won on his third attempt.
The late Assembly Speaker Bob Moretti of Van Nuys candidly told me after losing the 1974 gubernatorial primary to Brown that the only reason he ran for governor was to gain a launching pad for the presidency.
But now you can forget about any liftoff for Newsom. His potential route to the White House has been abruptly blocked by Harris’ ascent to the Democratic vice presidential slot.
“Kamala is smart. She’s tough,” presumptive presidential nominee Joe Biden told a TV audience of millions in explaining why he chose her as his running mate. “She’s ready to do this job ….
“As the child of immigrants, she knows personally how immigrant families enrich our country, as well as the challenges of what it means to grow up Black and Indian American in the United States …. Her story is an American story.”
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That’s a priceless public introduction by the man who’s likely to become the next president.
Harris, 55, undoubtedly will run for president again at her next opportunity, which will be when Biden, 77, isn’t running — either in 2024 or 2028.
It isn’t like Newsom to run against her. He and Harris have been political stablemates, operating as a team, dividing up California’s top offices. In running for governor and the Senate, they shared the same political strategist, Ace Smith.
When former California Sen. Barbara Boxer retired in 2016, then-Atty. Gen. Harris and then-Lt. Gov. Newsom quickly agreed: She’d seek the Senate seat that year and he’d run for governor in 2018.
And even if Newsom did attempt to compete against Harris for the presidency, he probably wouldn’t get far.
“No matter what happens in November, Kamala Harris goes to the top of the list in the next presidential race,” says Rose Kapolczynski, a longtime Democratic consultant who managed Boxer’s Senate campaigns. “If somehow the Biden-Harris ticket loses to Trump, Kamala Harris will be the front-runner for 2024.
“And if they win … you can see Kamala Harris dominating Democratic politics for the next 16 years — as vice president and then as the elected president.”
Bob Shrum, a veteran Democratic consultant who is director of the Center for the Political Future at USC, agrees that Harris has been elevated probably beyond Newsom’s reach.
“Obviously Kamala Harris, especially if she and Biden win, which I think they will, becomes the front-runner in 2024 or 2028,” Shrum says. “And that makes any path to the White House for Newsom more difficult ….
“California political power and resources would unite behind Harris because she’s the vice president.”
Shrum points out that a sitting vice president hasn’t lost a nomination for president since Democrat Alben Barkley in 1952.
The winning VPs: Republican Richard Nixon in 1960, Democrat Hubert H. Humphrey in 1968, Republican George H.W. Bush in 1988 and Democrat Al Gore in 2000.
“Kamala’s a charismatic candidate now,” Shrum says. “She’ll become a deeper and even better candidate if she runs for president” after being VP.
Newsom may also have another problem: He’s a white male in a party in which power is trending toward women and people of color.
“I think it’s very unlikely we will see two white men on the Democratic ticket again,” Kapolczynski says. In selecting a woman of color as his running mate, she says, Biden “cast his vote for the future of the Democratic Party.”
Actually, there hasn’t been an all-male white Democratic ticket since 2004.
“We’ve been seeing a major cultural shift over the last several years,” Kapolczynski says.
California is a leading example.
Politics The progressive Indian grandfather who inspired Kamala Harris With P.V. Gopalan, an upright civil servant and doting patriarch, Kamala Harris forged one of the defining relationships of her life.
Newsom is the only white male holding elective statewide office. Both U.S. senators have been women for nearly 28 years. So is one of the two most powerful members of Congress: U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi of San Francisco.
An estimated 61% of the state’s likely Democratic voters are women, the Public Policy Institute of California reported last year. Roughly half are white and half are people of color.
Newsom’s political future?
On Thursday night, he needs to take full advantage of an invaluable gift: a prime-time speaking slot at the Democratic National Convention. Newsom’s speech must be concise and hard-hitting, unlike many of his ramblings.
In 2022, Newsom will run for reelection. Winning should be a snap, assuming some big “ifs” — if he can bring the spread of the coronavirus under control, reboot California’s economy and fix state government’s computer mess that has plagued seemingly everything, including COVID-19 data collecting, DMV renewals, payment of unemployment benefits.
Then he should take a hard look at running for Sen. Dianne Feinstein’s Senate seat when she’s up for reelection in 2024. Feinstein will be 91 and it’s a good bet she’ll retire.
Or maybe Harris can find Newsom a Cabinet job.


latimes--2020-08-17--Death Valley hits 130 degrees, thought to be highest temperature on Earth in nearly a century

Temperatures in Death Valley skyrocketed to a blistering 130 degrees on Sunday — possibly the highest mercury reading on Earth in almost 90 years .
The National Weather Service recording , which is awaiting confirmation , is among the top three highest temperatures ever measured in Death Valley , as well as the highest temperature seen there during the month of August , according to park and weather service data .
The temperature in Death Valley hit 130 degrees at 3:41 p.m. Sunday , the National Weather Service said in a tweet .
Death Valley holds the record for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : 134 degrees in 1913 , according to Guinness World Records .
That reading has been disputed , however .
In 1931 , the mercury hit 131 degrees in Kebili , Tunisia , according to the World Meteorological Organization , but that reading also is disputed .
Since then , a 129-degree reading was recorded in Death Valley in 2013 .
Sunday ’ s reading comes amid an epic heat wave that continues to grip most of the southwestern U.S .
Multiple daily heat records were set Saturday .
The National Weather Service @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hills , breaking the record of 108 set in 1977 , and a high of 92 at UCLA , breaking the record of 90 set in 2003 .
Downtown Los Angeles hit 98 degrees , tying a record set in 1994 .

The Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes in Death Valley National Park. The temperature recorded Sunday could be among the top three highest temperatures ever measured in Death Valley.
Temperatures in Death Valley skyrocketed to a blistering 130 degrees on Sunday — possibly the highest mercury reading on Earth in almost 90 years.
The National Weather Service recording, which is awaiting confirmation, is among the top three highest temperatures ever measured in Death Valley, as well as the highest temperature seen there during the month of August, according to park and weather service data.
For the record: An earlier version of this article stated Sunday’s preliminary temperature in Death Valley was possibly the highest mercury reading on Earth since 1913, when Death Valley recorded a high of 134 degrees. A temperature of 131 degrees was recorded in Tunisia in 1931. Both readings have been disputed.
The temperature in Death Valley hit 130 degrees at 3:41 p.m. Sunday, the National Weather Service said in a tweet.
Per the climate data in xmACIS2, this is the first time since 1913 that Death Valley has reached 130F. In July 2013, it last reached 129F. If valid, it would be the hottest August temperature at the site by 3F. @NWSVegas pic.twitter.com/gZNBW4NXI4 — NWS WPC (@NWSWPC) August 16, 2020
Death Valley holds the record for the highest temperature ever recorded on the planet: 134 degrees in 1913, according to Guinness World Records. That reading has been disputed, however.
In 1931, the mercury hit 131 degrees in Kebili, Tunisia, according to the World Meteorological Organization, but that reading also is disputed.
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Since then, a 129-degree reading was recorded in Death Valley in 2013.
Sunday’s reading comes amid an epic heat wave that continues to grip most of the southwestern U.S.
Multiple daily heat records were set Saturday. The National Weather Service reported a high of 112 in Woodland Hills, breaking the record of 108 set in 1977, and a high of 92 at UCLA, breaking the record of 90 set in 2003. Downtown Los Angeles hit 98 degrees, tying a record set in 1994.


latimes--2020-08-18--'Are we ready?' LAUSD's first day back to school, online and on Zoom, is anything but normal

New back-to-school shoes , but no recess to run around .
Decorative Zoom backgrounds instead of artwork newly stapled on bulletin boards .
Freshly waxed floors with no students to scuff them up .
A new school year like no other begins Tuesday in Los Angeles when some 500,000 students are expected to sign on and show up at a distance — and for many , at a disadvantage — devoid of the traditional in-person joy of seeing friends and teachers .
Campuses are deserted except for a skeleton staff , but some 30,000 teachers from 1,400 schools will fire @ @ @ @ @ @ @ beckoning children to participate in online learning as they test their first daily schedule since mid-March , when the COVID-19 pandemic forced campuses to close .
At the time , educators — in L.A. and throughout the state and the nation — abandoned campuses almost overnight , leaving many families without computers or internet for weeks and exacerbating the academic divide that separates those with resources from those with fewer advantages , including low-income Latino and Black families .
“ We have had months to prepare for online school in the fall , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Rossier School of Education at USC .
“ The question is : Are we ready ?
Beyond access to technology and the internet , we will soon see if teachers know how to deliver meaningful instruction to the broad range of students .
... We serve large numbers of students with special needs , who are still learning English , and who reside in challenging home environments .
The majority of these kids need the support that schools provide .
We will soon see if they can provide the support needed remotely.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Unified says it has enough computers and internet hot spots for all — but anxieties remain , fueled in part by the loss of familiar fall rituals .
Jordan Powell , 5 , has new shoes and expected to wear them on his first walk into kindergarten at Baldwin Hills Elementary .
The isolation of the pandemic has been hard ; going to school , like for his older brothers , was something he ’ d been excited about .
Instead , he ’ ll start the school year at home on an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ve been at this , the tougher it ’ s been not being around any kids his age and being confined to the house , ” said his mother , Tunette Powell .
L.A. Unified will offer a predictable regimen with regular interaction among classmates online .
School will start at 9 a.m. and end at 2:15 p.m. — shorter than a traditional day but a change from the spring , when there was no mandated scheduling .
Except for independent charter schools , which set their own schedule , this week ramps @ @ @ @ @ @ @ akin to a schoolwide assembly on Tuesday , a brief meet-the-teacher on Wednesday and regular instruction on Thursday .
Academia Moderna , a charter elementary school in Huntington Park , wants to reinforce the notion of routine .
Last week , staff members lent school desks along with computers .
They also had backpacks filled with pencils , crayons , notepads and other learning materials .
And just to drive the point home , they handed out a free school uniform for use at home .
Long stretches at a computer worry Maria @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is entering first grade at Gardner Elementary School in Hollywood .
Last year , after campuses closed , Anna worked off only paper packets .
“ She ’ s not patient and I will have to be in front of her all that time and he will not let me , ” she said , referring to a 2-year-old in a stroller .
“ That ’ s what I ’ m afraid about.
” Like everyone else , Isaeva had been greeted cheerfully by Principal Karen Hollis , who wore a mask as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ covered her hair with a bandanna or scarf .
She spoke fluent Spanish as needed ; other staff members helped parents who spoke Russian , Georgian or Korean .
Byata Dikker , who like her husband is a chef , was concerned about child care .
“ I ’ m having a little bit of struggle , ” Dikker said .
“ We have two businesses that we run .
It ’ s just putting us in a really weird space to not have a resource .
Either one of us shuts down @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , or we pay for child care which is $ 25 an hour every day.
” School board member Nick Melvoin , who was at Gardner , repeated often that L.A. Unified was working on solutions .
Teachers , he noted , will have access to district-provided child care because they are classified as essential workers during the pandemic .
Many low-income district parents also are essential workers , and it should soon be feasible to expand free child care for them as well , he predicted .
In East Los Angeles , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ surge of optimism after she picked up computers , a hot spot and school supplies at First Street Elementary .
Meneses had been touched by annotations left for her daughter , Sabrina , by her soon-to-be kindergarten teacher .
“ There were these hand-packed squares and notes on big gray papers in this math journal that the teacher wrote out , ” Meneses said .
“ I know the district has had its problems , but it ’ s little things like that that make me appreciate the teachers and make me think @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Most of the Monday action in L.A. Unified was via Zoom , in the homes of teachers and administrators who were going through training .
Like parents , they had technology issues , too .
A start-of-session video in a training for substitute teachers would not play , so a coordinator switched quickly to calming breathing exercises .
They may have helped , but a snap poll still showed that more than half the subs on the Zoom did not feel ready for the new year to begin .
At a Zoom @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , staff members on Monday brainstormed on meeting students ’ social and emotional needs .
“ A lot of what we picked up on was that kids were basically sleeping in until 2 in the afternoon , ” said Emily Dillon , a school psychiatric social worker .
“ A lot of the kids I talked to said that they were feeling depressed because they could not figure out how to create their own habits and self-care routines.
” The Marshall team discussed setting up help sessions with students .
The team also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ parents with the district ’ s technology platform , called Schoology .
“ I don ’ t think that everyone ’ s going to be connected , ” said Karla Alvarado-Goldberg , another psychiatric social worker .
For teachers at Patrick Henry Middle School in Granada Hills , coordinator Karen Shane got things going with an appropriate greeting : “ Welcome back to a new and unusual year.
” As an unintended icebreaker , teachers traded tales of marginal connectivity .
Technology teacher Darren Abraham reported that his cable company is so strained @ @ @ @ @ @ @ what you ’ re paying ” — service is still slow .
One teacher had to return a dysfunctional hot spot ; more hot spots for teachers are on order and should be arriving soon , the assistant principal reported .
A couple of teachers experienced technology glitches during the meeting , but others clearly were pros .
Math teacher Kwasi Gee won praise for a Zoom background with a murky black-and-white noirish feel .
He declined to explain .
Linda Haley ’ s background put her somewhere in outer space .
Devon @ @ @ @ @ @ @ painting of sunflowers .
Session leader Shane , fresh off a crash course in Schoology , had nearly all the answers but summoned help from colleagues when needed .
Near the end , during a pause , English and history teacher Wendi Davis had something to say : “ I miss everyone of you and seeing you every day.
” Officials this year are trying to run all educational activities — within reason — through a common platform to track student work and collect data districtwide .
In the spring , educators had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ campuses shut down .
Many lacked data on when students had attended online classes .
That should change ; state regulations now mandate taking online attendance and providing state-required minimum instructional minutes .
“ My biggest concern is the technology and whether it will handle the load of all of the district students and teachers logging on simultaneously , ” said Patrick Henry Principal Maria Elena Rico-Aguilera .
“ My hope for the coming school year is that teachers can connect and form bonds with students , and students form bonds with peers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are not meeting students ’ social emotional needs.
” Powell , whose son has the new shoes , has two older sons , Joah , 9 , and Jason Jr. , 11 .
In the spring , Joah ’ s computer never worked , the technician at his school couldn ’ t fix it and Powell said she was not able to get through on the district ’ s telephone help line , causing him to miss out on learning .
“ There ’ s a part of me that gave up on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ last school year because I was just so overwhelmed , ” she said .
Powell can only hope that the district has developed a learning system that will work , but that won ’ t solve all her problems .
She works from home in a job that keeps her busy with video meetings throughout the day , yet she ’ ll also have to help her youngest son navigate kindergarten .
She wants to be hopeful and excited .
But it ’ s not easy .

Howard Blume, Paloma Esquivel, Andrew J. Campa

Xavier Reyes, cofounder of Alta Public Schools, shows what a classroom would look like at Academia Moderna, a charter school, when the Huntington Park campus is allowed to reopen.
New back-to-school shoes, but no recess to run around. Decorative Zoom backgrounds instead of artwork newly stapled on bulletin boards. Freshly waxed floors with no students to scuff them up.
A new school year like no other begins Tuesday in Los Angeles when some 500,000 students are expected to sign on and show up at a distance — and for many, at a disadvantage — devoid of the traditional in-person joy of seeing friends and teachers.
Campuses are deserted except for a skeleton staff, but some 30,000 teachers from 1,400 schools will fire up their computers from home, virtually beckoning children to participate in online learning as they test their first daily schedule since mid-March, when the COVID-19 pandemic forced campuses to close.
At the time, educators — in L.A. and throughout the state and the nation — abandoned campuses almost overnight, leaving many families without computers or internet for weeks and exacerbating the academic divide that separates those with resources from those with fewer advantages, including low-income Latino and Black families.
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“We have had months to prepare for online school in the fall,” said Pedro Noguera, dean at the Rossier School of Education at USC. “The question is: Are we ready? Beyond access to technology and the internet, we will soon see if teachers know how to deliver meaningful instruction to the broad range of students. ... We serve large numbers of students with special needs, who are still learning English, and who reside in challenging home environments. The majority of these kids need the support that schools provide. We will soon see if they can provide the support needed remotely.”
Unlike some school systems, L.A. Unified says it has enough computers and internet hot spots for all — but anxieties remain, fueled in part by the loss of familiar fall rituals.
Jordan Powell, 5, has new shoes and expected to wear them on his first walk into kindergarten at Baldwin Hills Elementary. The isolation of the pandemic has been hard; going to school, like for his older brothers, was something he’d been excited about. Instead, he’ll start the school year at home on an iPad.
“The longer we’ve been at this, the tougher it’s been not being around any kids his age and being confined to the house,” said his mother, Tunette Powell.
L.A. Unified will offer a predictable regimen with regular interaction among classmates online. School will start at 9 a.m. and end at 2:15 p.m. — shorter than a traditional day but a change from the spring, when there was no mandated scheduling. Except for independent charter schools, which set their own schedule, this week ramps up gradually for students — with something akin to a schoolwide assembly on Tuesday, a brief meet-the-teacher on Wednesday and regular instruction on Thursday.
Academia Moderna, a charter elementary school in Huntington Park, wants to reinforce the notion of routine. Last week, staff members lent school desks along with computers. They also had backpacks filled with pencils, crayons, notepads and other learning materials. And just to drive the point home, they handed out a free school uniform for use at home.
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Long stretches at a computer worry Maria Isaeva, whose daughter, Anna, is entering first grade at Gardner Elementary School in Hollywood. Last year, after campuses closed, Anna worked off only paper packets.
“She’s not patient and I will have to be in front of her all that time and he will not let me,” she said, referring to a 2-year-old in a stroller. “That’s what I’m afraid about.”
Like everyone else, Isaeva had been greeted cheerfully by Principal Karen Hollis, who wore a mask as well as a face shield and had covered her hair with a bandanna or scarf. She spoke fluent Spanish as needed; other staff members helped parents who spoke Russian, Georgian or Korean.
Byata Dikker, who like her husband is a chef, was concerned about child care.
“I’m having a little bit of struggle,” Dikker said. “We have two businesses that we run. It’s just putting us in a really weird space to not have a resource. Either one of us shuts down the business and stays with the kids, or we pay for child care which is $25 an hour every day.”
School board member Nick Melvoin, who was at Gardner, repeated often that L.A. Unified was working on solutions. Teachers, he noted, will have access to district-provided child care because they are classified as essential workers during the pandemic. Many low-income district parents also are essential workers, and it should soon be feasible to expand free child care for them as well, he predicted.
In East Los Angeles, parent Rebecca Meneses on Monday felt a surge of optimism after she picked up computers, a hot spot and school supplies at First Street Elementary.
Meneses had been touched by annotations left for her daughter, Sabrina, by her soon-to-be kindergarten teacher.
“There were these hand-packed squares and notes on big gray papers in this math journal that the teacher wrote out,” Meneses said. “I know the district has had its problems, but it’s little things like that that make me appreciate the teachers and make me think we’re going to be OK.”
Most of the Monday action in L.A. Unified was via Zoom, in the homes of teachers and administrators who were going through training. Like parents, they had technology issues, too.
A start-of-session video in a training for substitute teachers would not play, so a coordinator switched quickly to calming breathing exercises. They may have helped, but a snap poll still showed that more than half the subs on the Zoom did not feel ready for the new year to begin.
At a Zoom for Marshall High School in Los Feliz, staff members on Monday brainstormed on meeting students’ social and emotional needs.
“A lot of what we picked up on was that kids were basically sleeping in until 2 in the afternoon,” said Emily Dillon, a school psychiatric social worker. “A lot of the kids I talked to said that they were feeling depressed because they could not figure out how to create their own habits and self-care routines.”
The Marshall team discussed setting up help sessions with students. The team also talked about setting aside time to assist parents with the district’s technology platform, called Schoology.
“I don’t think that everyone’s going to be connected,” said Karla Alvarado-Goldberg, another psychiatric social worker.
For teachers at Patrick Henry Middle School in Granada Hills, coordinator Karen Shane got things going with an appropriate greeting: “Welcome back to a new and unusual year.”
As an unintended icebreaker, teachers traded tales of marginal connectivity. Technology teacher Darren Abraham reported that his cable company is so strained that “it doesn’t matter what you’re paying” — service is still slow.
One teacher had to return a dysfunctional hot spot; more hot spots for teachers are on order and should be arriving soon, the assistant principal reported. A couple of teachers experienced technology glitches during the meeting, but others clearly were pros.
Math teacher Kwasi Gee won praise for a Zoom background with a murky black-and-white noirish feel. He declined to explain. Linda Haley’s background put her somewhere in outer space. Devon Woods sat in front of a lovely painting of sunflowers.
Session leader Shane, fresh off a crash course in Schoology, had nearly all the answers but summoned help from colleagues when needed.
Near the end, during a pause, English and history teacher Wendi Davis had something to say: “I miss everyone of you and seeing you every day.”
Officials this year are trying to run all educational activities — within reason — through a common platform to track student work and collect data districtwide. In the spring, educators had limited data on what students accomplished after campuses shut down. Many lacked data on when students had attended online classes.
That should change; state regulations now mandate taking online attendance and providing state-required minimum instructional minutes.
“My biggest concern is the technology and whether it will handle the load of all of the district students and teachers logging on simultaneously,” said Patrick Henry Principal Maria Elena Rico-Aguilera. “My hope for the coming school year is that teachers can connect and form bonds with students, and students form bonds with peers. Learning cannot happen if we are not meeting students’ social emotional needs.”
Powell, whose son has the new shoes, has two older sons, Joah, 9, and Jason Jr., 11.
In the spring, Joah’s computer never worked, the technician at his school couldn’t fix it and Powell said she was not able to get through on the district’s telephone help line, causing him to miss out on learning.
“There’s a part of me that gave up on the inside at the end of the last school year because I was just so overwhelmed,” she said.
Powell can only hope that the district has developed a learning system that will work, but that won’t solve all her problems.
She works from home in a job that keeps her busy with video meetings throughout the day, yet she’ll also have to help her youngest son navigate kindergarten.
She wants to be hopeful and excited. But it’s not easy.


latimes--2020-08-18--Police reform advocates scrutinize police unions, calling them obstacles to reform

Activists in the growing movement for police reform in the U.S. have for months targeted large police budgets as a central impediment to change , flooding streets and municipal Zoom meetings with demands to “ defund the police.
” But for years behind the scenes , other reform advocates have pinpointed another roadblock to progress : police unions and the influence they wield .
Now , two prominent organizations — the NAACP Legal Defense Fund and Campaign Zero — have each launched online campaigns challenging police union contracts in big cities like Los Angeles and state laws that have cemented @ @ @ @ @ @ @ DeRay Mckesson , an activist with Campaign Zero , said his group first began researching police union contracts and Officers Bill of Rights laws in 2015 , and quickly came to realize that they are “ one of the key levers that block the transformative change that people have demanded.
” In many cities , the big budget cuts sought by defund activists will only be possible if union contracts that control staffing levels and other personnel decisions — which constitute the bulk of police budgets — are discarded , Mckesson said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ encourage more community activists across the country to study police union provisions in their own cities and push elected officials to revisit the ones that block reform whenever the contracts are next negotiated .
NAACP LDF President Sherrilyn Ifill , in her own statement challenging police unions last week , said her organization supports due process protections for public employees but not contracts that bolster “ a regime of impunity ” for cops who are guilty of misconduct .
“ Understanding how police officers are shielded from accountability for misconduct requires an examination @ @ @ @ @ @ @ contain provisions that preclude the prompt and thorough investigation of unconstitutional police misconduct , ” Ifill said .
Police unions and their collective bargaining agreements with cities have long shaped policing policy , with elected officials under pressure to provide public safety and keen on securing police endorsements agreeing in the past to wide-ranging provisions that limit how , when and whether officers can be investigated and disciplined .
The new campaigns by LDF and Campaign Zero reflect a growing frustration among activists with that influence .
They also follow widespread protests across @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a recent poll that found a majority of Californians — 61 % — favored limiting the power of police unions by reducing their collective bargaining rights .
Both LDF and Campaign Zero raised concerns about policies that limit the time frame under which misconduct investigations can occur , arguing they can block officers who are guilty of misconduct from being held accountable .
In Los Angeles , that limit for LAPD officers is one year .
The groups also raised concerns about policies that prevent city officials and police leaders from firing certain @ @ @ @ @ @ @ misconduct .
In Los Angeles , LAPD Chief Michel Moore recently expressed frustration with his inability to fire officers who disciplinary boards allowed to remain on the force .
L.A. 's contract with the union that represents LAPD officers — which dismissed the latest critiques as misguided — is in force until summer 2022 .
Campaign Zero , which has dubbed its new campaign “ Nix The Six ” for the six union influences it says should be dismantled , has collected and posted hundreds of union contracts from across the country , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ believe block accountability .
Often , those contracts were implemented with little input from the community members who are most impacted by police misconduct , said Sam Sinyangwe , Mckesson ’ s partner at Campaign Zero .
“ Nix The Six is about directly taking on the power of the police unions and holding them accountable for the many ways in which they have sort of rigged the system in favor of officers who have committed misconduct , ” Sinyangwe said .
The campaign criticizes Bill of Rights laws for blocking transparency , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ negotiation of union contracts without public input .
It challenges the destruction of disciplinary records by some departments , as well as rules that delay or restrict interrogations of officers who have been accused of misconduct .
It also challenges the idea that taxpayers should foot the bill for officer misconduct when municipalities are sued for it .
The Nix The Six effort follows another by Campaign Zero , known as “ Eight Can ’ t Wait , ” which encouraged jurisdictions to implement eight policy changes to reduce the use of force @ @ @ @ @ @ @ That campaign helped shift policy nationwide and in Los Angeles , where the L.A. Board of Police Commissioners recently adopted a new use of force policy with some of the provisions the Campaign Zero initiative recommended .
The Police Commission said it continues to consider policy proposals from reform organizations , including about union influence .
“ There are many excellent reform ideas that are being proposed by national and local organizations , ” the board said in a statement to The Times .
“ The Board , with the assistance of its @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all current reform proposals for potential implementation.
” It said the composition of disciplinary boards is one issue currently under review .
Josh Rubenstein , an LAPD spokesman , said the department follows state laws regarding discipline .
The board of the Los Angeles Police Protective League , the union that represents rank-and-file LAPD officers , said the LAPD is a “ national model when it comes to police officer accountability , ” and the league “ is a partner in building and improving that model.
” It challenged whether certain provisions should @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on investigations into misconduct , saying there are statutes of limitation for all crimes and “ the administrative system is no different.
” It backed the current model , under which a panel of civilians mete out final discipline for guilty officers , not Moore , calling it a progressive model .
The league also dismissed the “ Nix The Six ” platform as “ a poorly disguised attack on organized labor , ” saying it targets standard provisions used in union contracts for all sorts of public employees , not just police @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in improving police and community outcomes , they would be joining us in our push for increased training on issues such as crisis intervention and implicit bias and hiring the most qualified officers , ” the league ’ s board said in a statement .
“ The fact that they ’ re not advocating for those initiatives is telling.
” Campaign Zero has also taken heat of late from community organizations that back the defunding of police , who say the group ’ s focused reforms are distractions that help officials avoid more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the reforms they ’ ve helped drive forward have made police more accountable , and hope the new campaign will do the same .

Activist DeRay Mckesson’s group Campaign Zero has released a new platform challenging the influence of police unions.
Activists in the growing movement for police reform in the U.S. have for months targeted large police budgets as a central impediment to change, flooding streets and municipal Zoom meetings with demands to “defund the police.”
But for years behind the scenes, other reform advocates have pinpointed another roadblock to progress: police unions and the influence they wield.
Now, two prominent organizations — the NAACP Legal Defense Fund and Campaign Zero — have each launched online campaigns challenging police union contracts in big cities like Los Angeles and state laws that have cemented union-backed protections in California and elsewhere.
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DeRay Mckesson, an activist with Campaign Zero, said his group first began researching police union contracts and Officers Bill of Rights laws in 2015, and quickly came to realize that they are “one of the key levers that block the transformative change that people have demanded.”
In many cities, the big budget cuts sought by defund activists will only be possible if union contracts that control staffing levels and other personnel decisions — which constitute the bulk of police budgets — are discarded, Mckesson said.
His hope is the new campaign will encourage more community activists across the country to study police union provisions in their own cities and push elected officials to revisit the ones that block reform whenever the contracts are next negotiated.
NAACP LDF President Sherrilyn Ifill, in her own statement challenging police unions last week, said her organization supports due process protections for public employees but not contracts that bolster “a regime of impunity” for cops who are guilty of misconduct.
“Understanding how police officers are shielded from accountability for misconduct requires an examination of police union contracts, which often contain provisions that preclude the prompt and thorough investigation of unconstitutional police misconduct,” Ifill said.
Police unions and their collective bargaining agreements with cities have long shaped policing policy, with elected officials under pressure to provide public safety and keen on securing police endorsements agreeing in the past to wide-ranging provisions that limit how, when and whether officers can be investigated and disciplined.
The new campaigns by LDF and Campaign Zero reflect a growing frustration among activists with that influence. They also follow widespread protests across the country over police brutality, and a recent poll that found a majority of Californians — 61% — favored limiting the power of police unions by reducing their collective bargaining rights.
Advertisement
Both LDF and Campaign Zero raised concerns about policies that limit the time frame under which misconduct investigations can occur, arguing they can block officers who are guilty of misconduct from being held accountable. In Los Angeles, that limit for LAPD officers is one year.
The groups also raised concerns about policies that prevent city officials and police leaders from firing certain officers who have been found guilty of misconduct. In Los Angeles, LAPD Chief Michel Moore recently expressed frustration with his inability to fire officers who disciplinary boards allowed to remain on the force.
L.A.’s contract with the union that represents LAPD officers — which dismissed the latest critiques as misguided — is in force until summer 2022.
Campaign Zero, which has dubbed its new campaign “Nix The Six” for the six union influences it says should be dismantled, has collected and posted hundreds of union contracts from across the country, analyzing them for common provisions that they believe block accountability.
Often, those contracts were implemented with little input from the community members who are most impacted by police misconduct, said Sam Sinyangwe, Mckesson’s partner at Campaign Zero.
“Nix The Six is about directly taking on the power of the police unions and holding them accountable for the many ways in which they have sort of rigged the system in favor of officers who have committed misconduct,” Sinyangwe said.
The campaign criticizes Bill of Rights laws for blocking transparency, police union influence in politics and the negotiation of union contracts without public input. It challenges the destruction of disciplinary records by some departments, as well as rules that delay or restrict interrogations of officers who have been accused of misconduct.
It also challenges the idea that taxpayers should foot the bill for officer misconduct when municipalities are sued for it.
The Nix The Six effort follows another by Campaign Zero, known as “Eight Can’t Wait,” which encouraged jurisdictions to implement eight policy changes to reduce the use of force by officers, among other things. That campaign helped shift policy nationwide and in Los Angeles, where the L.A. Board of Police Commissioners recently adopted a new use of force policy with some of the provisions the Campaign Zero initiative recommended.
The Police Commission said it continues to consider policy proposals from reform organizations, including about union influence.
“There are many excellent reform ideas that are being proposed by national and local organizations,” the board said in a statement to The Times. “The Board, with the assistance of its newly instituted advisory board, is evaluating all current reform proposals for potential implementation.”
It said the composition of disciplinary boards is one issue currently under review.
Josh Rubenstein, an LAPD spokesman, said the department follows state laws regarding discipline.
The board of the Los Angeles Police Protective League, the union that represents rank-and-file LAPD officers, said the LAPD is a “national model when it comes to police officer accountability,” and the league “is a partner in building and improving that model.”
It challenged whether certain provisions should be changed, including the time limit on investigations into misconduct, saying there are statutes of limitation for all crimes and “the administrative system is no different.” It backed the current model, under which a panel of civilians mete out final discipline for guilty officers, not Moore, calling it a progressive model.
The league also dismissed the “Nix The Six” platform as “a poorly disguised attack on organized labor,” saying it targets standard provisions used in union contracts for all sorts of public employees, not just police.
“If they were truly interested in improving police and community outcomes, they would be joining us in our push for increased training on issues such as crisis intervention and implicit bias and hiring the most qualified officers,” the league’s board said in a statement. “The fact that they’re not advocating for those initiatives is telling.”
Campaign Zero has also taken heat of late from community organizations that back the defunding of police, who say the group’s focused reforms are distractions that help officials avoid more substantive changes.
Mckesson and Sinyangwe said the reforms they’ve helped drive forward have made police more accountable, and hope the new campaign will do the same.