latimes--2020-05-02--Drought makes early start of the fire season likely in Northern California

Expanding and intensifying drought in Northern California portends an early start to the wildfire season , and the National Interagency Fire Center is predicting above-normal potential for large wildfires by midsummer .
Mountain snowpack has been below average across the High Sierra , southern Cascades and the Great Basin , and the agency warns that these areas need to be monitored closely as fuels continue to dry out .
The agency also cites a warm , dry pattern in Oregon and central and eastern Washington , and assigns all of these areas a higher-than-average likelihood of wildfires in July .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ and the high-elevation snowpack in Northern California peaked in early April at 60-70 % of normal snow-to-water content .
But with a warmer , drier May predicted , the snowpack is expected to be gone by early June , several weeks earlier than normal .
The outlook calls for normal to slightly warmer- and drier-than-average conditions through August , resulting in dry fuel conditions .
The most recent Drought Monitor data released on Thursday show conditions throughout Central and Northern California , northern Nevada , most of Oregon and central and eastern Washington @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Four Corners region and into northwestern Kansas .
Much of northwestern California and western Oregon is in severe drought , and a patch of northwestern California and southwestern Oregon is considered to be in extreme drought .
The National Interagency Fire Center map shows a below-normal potential for major wildfires along a coastal strip — indicated with green — from San Diego to the Bay Area , in recognition of late season rains .
Some Southern California locations are at or above normal for the rainfall season , but heading north along the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ example , Santa Maria is at 77 % of normal for the season as of May 1 .
San Francisco stands at 49 % .
Climatologist Bill Patzert finds this misleading .
Referring to the map , he says , “ The rainfall this winter has just fueled up this coastal zone .
Give these areas a month to desiccate and the green will be red.
” Patzert wonders about adding an early start of the fire season to the public health and economic hardships already associated with the coronavirus outbreak .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a pandemic ?
” he wonders , citing the close quarters of firefighters in the field and people forced to shelter in evacuation centers .
“ It ’ s frightening to consider .
I ’ m sure firefighters are experiencing high anxieties anticipating another long fire season.
” “ Rather than May gray and June gloom , which tends to temper our low humidity and high temperatures in early summer , high pressure seems to be building over the West , which will dry us out and promote an early fire season , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a pattern that has become more frequent in past decades , leading to earlier and longer-lasting fire seasons .
”

Expanding and intensifying drought in Northern California portends an early start to the wildfire season, and the National Interagency Fire Center is predicting above-normal potential for large wildfires by midsummer.
Mountain snowpack has been below average across the High Sierra, southern Cascades and the Great Basin, and the agency warns that these areas need to be monitored closely as fuels continue to dry out. The agency also cites a warm, dry pattern in Oregon and central and eastern Washington, and assigns all of these areas a higher-than-average likelihood of wildfires in July.
Precipitation was below normal in April, and the high-elevation snowpack in Northern California peaked in early April at 60-70% of normal snow-to-water content. But with a warmer, drier May predicted, the snowpack is expected to be gone by early June, several weeks earlier than normal. The outlook calls for normal to slightly warmer- and drier-than-average conditions through August, resulting in dry fuel conditions.
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Northern California and the Pacific Northwest are gripped by an expanding drought. (Paul Duginski / Los Angeles Times)
The most recent Drought Monitor data released on Thursday show conditions throughout Central and Northern California, northern Nevada, most of Oregon and central and eastern Washington. Drought conditions extend east through the Four Corners region and into northwestern Kansas.
Much of northwestern California and western Oregon is in severe drought, and a patch of northwestern California and southwestern Oregon is considered to be in extreme drought.
The National Interagency Fire Center map shows a below-normal potential for major wildfires along a coastal strip — indicated with green — from San Diego to the Bay Area, in recognition of late season rains. Some Southern California locations are at or above normal for the rainfall season, but heading north along the coast, many are below. For example, Santa Maria is at 77% of normal for the season as of May 1. San Francisco stands at 49%.
Climatologist Bill Patzert finds this misleading. Referring to the map, he says, “The rainfall this winter has just fueled up this coastal zone. Give these areas a month to desiccate and the green will be red.”
Patzert wonders about adding an early start of the fire season to the public health and economic hardships already associated with the coronavirus outbreak. “How do you fight a wildfire in a pandemic?” he wonders, citing the close quarters of firefighters in the field and people forced to shelter in evacuation centers. “It’s frightening to consider. I’m sure firefighters are experiencing high anxieties anticipating another long fire season.”
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“Rather than May gray and June gloom, which tends to temper our low humidity and high temperatures in early summer, high pressure seems to be building over the West, which will dry us out and promote an early fire season,” said Patzert. “This is a pattern that has become more frequent in past decades, leading to earlier and longer-lasting fire seasons.”


latimes--2020-05-02--Protesters rally in Orange County to denounce Newsom's beach closure

On the seventh Saturday of the state ’ s stay-at-home order , the division over mandatory closures widened , and the flashpoint in Southern California was once again the beaches of Orange County .
Surfers hopped fences .
Walkers strolled with their dogs , and parking lots became impromptu Chautauquas to debate policy and voice opinion .
The actions are in defiance of the orders issued Thursday by Gov .
Gavin Newsom calling for a “ hard close ” of all state and local beaches , a mandate that singled out the sandy stretches of Orange County for last week @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from an early heatwave .
In a letter to the Orange County Board of Supervisors , the governor ’ s office of emergency services stated that the “ high concentration of beach visitors in close proximity ... threaten the health of both beach visitors and community members.
” “ In response , our State Department of Parks and Recreation is shifting to full closure of all Orange County State Beaches on a temporary basis.
” The restriction applied as well to beaches operated by local governments in Orange County .
At the Huntington @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fog lifted — about 50 protesters gathered to pick up where they had left off on Friday .
The turnout was light , but the rhetoric was just as passionate .
“ The orders of Newsom are not constitutional , and they are not effective in any way , ” said Kyle Richardson , who had designed a poster the night before .
Waving to passing cars on Pacific Coast Highway , Richardson portrayed Gov .
Gavin Newsom in a Nazi uniform beneath a red flag and a swastika .
“ Obey the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Opposite were a hand-drawn star , surfboard and the words , “ Come and Get it , ” a reference to the first battle of the Texas Revolution in 1835 .
“ There isn ’ t a COVID-19 problem in Orange County , ” said Richardson , 35 .
“ This punitive measure of shutting down beaches and keeping everything closed is not accomplishing anything.
” County health officials on Saturday announced two new coronavirus-related fatalities , bringing the death toll to 52 .
The county also reported 99 new cases , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
At the north side of the Newport Beach pier , the parking lot was crowded with people wanting to get out onto the sand .
American flags competed with red MAGA hats .
At noon , the gathering — numbering nearly 70 — started walking across the beach to the ocean .
Newport Beach police officers advised them to turn back , and a helicopter from the Orange County Sheriff Department flew over , announcing the closure over a loudspeaker .
As a few people went into the water , lifeguards in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ informed them that the beach was closed .
Eventually the crowd dispersed , but a half dozen stood their ground and debated their case with police officers not far from the water .
Bill Beukers was among them .
He and his wife had driven down from Lancaster , and uncertain how the conversation would go , she filmed the exchange while the couple ’ s children bodysurfed .
Beukers , 48 , said afterward that he was willing to get arrested and that the discussion had less to do with the beach @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ Where do we go from here ?
” he recalled asking the officers .
“ What side of history do you want to be on ?
Someone has to stand their ground .
We ’ re on a slippery slope , and we might end up where we might not want to be.
” He cited the 2nd Amendment and Rosa Parks , and in the end , the parties shook hands and the police departed .
In Huntington Beach , law enforcement was also trying to interpret and enforce the closures @ @ @ @ @ @ @ entrance to a bike path .
A police motorcycle and a SUV were parked at the base of the pier , where yellow caution tape had been strung .
The day before , Huntington Beach resident Pete Hamborg stood on the sand with a garden hoe , carving out the letters to a vaguely obscene insult directed to the governor .
While not participating in the Huntington Beach demonstration , Hamborg sympathizes with the protesters .
He believes that the beach closure creates a dangerous precedent in the event there are additional outbreaks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that public health compliance is necessary .
“ This isn ’ t the first pandemic and will not be the last , ” he said .
“ The virus can mutate , or someone can eat a bat or an aardvark and hop on an airliner .
It will happen again.
” But he worries that unpopular actions like the beach closure will exhaust the public tolerance and good will .
“ If leadership is unreasonable , ” he said , “ there will be a cost to be paid in the future @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it .
They will not have the attitude to comply as they have already .
We can ’ t overreact because this might not be the only time we need to react .
We need to have good will in the bank.
” Hamborg , who recently retired from the Orange County Fire Authority , takes his time on the beach seriously .
He walks the strand , surfs and paddle-boards .
Since the stay-at-home orders were issued in March , he tries to get down to the beach at least once a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” he says .
“ I need to go to a 12-step program , and it ’ s called 12-steps in the sand.
” Residents of Huntington Beach , like Hamborg , believe that Gov .
Newsom doesn ’ t understand their community and singled it out for more reasons than just the pandemic .
“ I was waiting for the governor to put his foot on our neck , ” Hamborg said .
“ And this seems like a political power play because Huntington Beach hasn ’ t been cooperative with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ walks the beach every day , often joining his friends — “ we call ourselves the Wally Boys ” — on the wall at the pavilion .
He believes the closure was an overreach .
“ It ’ s kinda like martial law , ” he says .
Brewer believes Newsom is reacting over the 2018 decision by the Orange County Board of Supervisors to join the Trump administration ’ s federal lawsuit against California over its immigration laws .
“ My personal opinion is that the governor is upset with Orange County @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with the state ’ s amnesty or sanctuary polities , and this is his way to pay back , ” Brewer said .
In arguing against the closure , Brewer would like to see data that support the decision .
From his perspective , the sunshine and ocean air are a good way of keeping the coronavirus away .
Later at the demonstration , Richardson decided it was time to hit the water .
The sun was out , and the day was beautiful .
Waving off the police officers who warned him @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a misdemeanor , Richardson continued across the empty stretch of sand .
He put down his signs and in red , white and blue board shorts , stepped into the surf .
Once beyond the breakers , he looked back and saw no one on the beach , a rarity .
“ It was so glorious , ” he said afterward .
“ It could not have been more perfect : cool enough to be refreshing and not too cold .
It was a perfect Orange County Day.
” Back on shore , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to Laguna Beach to continue their action , Richardson was ready to bail .
“ I ’ m tired and sunburned , ” he said .
“ I think I ’ ll go grab some tacos.
” Times staff photographers Wally Skalij , Luis Sinco and Allen J. Schaben contributed to this report .

Weekend beach crowds, such as those in Huntington Beach, spurred alarm among some officials. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
A motorist makes a statement via a back window as pedestrians walk past a store display in Newport Beach that features a mannequin in a mask. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
A man in a protective mask walks his dog past a closed park near the pier in Newport Beach on Tuesday. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
A surfer catches a wave while joining some of the thousands of beachgoers over the weekend in Newport Beach. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
An aerial view shows visitors enjoying the sun and sand near the pier in Newport Beach on Tuesday. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
An aerial view of Huntington Beach after Gov. Newsom announced the “hard close” of all Orange County state and local beaches. (Allen J. Schaben/Los Angeles Times)
Emergency room nurse Rebecca McFarlane, of Covina, relaxes on her one day off from treating COVID-19 patients, on an open stretch of sand far away from other beach-goers on the last day of open beaches in Huntington Beach. “As a nurse, I have to wear all the PPE and on my one day off, I just want to relax on the beach,” McFarlane said. (Allen J. Schaben/Los Angeles Times)
Surfers ride the waves on the north side of the Huntington Beach Pier Friday, May 1, 2020. Gov. Gavin Newsom ordered Orange County beaches closed on Thursday despite opposition from local leaders. (Allen J. Schaben/Los Angeles Times)
Steve Christopher, right, reads a book in the shade of the pier as a beach-goer does flips across the beach on the last day of open beaches in Huntington Beach. “I think it’s what needs to be done,” Christopher said. “I saw it last week and it was packed.” (Allen J. Schaben/Los Angeles Times)
Huntington Beach lifeguards patrol with a boat to try to get surfers to stop defying Gov. Gavin Newsom’s “hard close” order. (Allen J. Schaben/Los Angeles Times)
An aerial view of a mostly empty Huntington Beach following Gov. Newsom’s “hard close” of Orange County beaches. (Allen J. Schaben/Los Angeles Times)
Protesters wave a variety of flags, including a Confederate one, along Pacific Coast Highway in Laguna Beach on Saturday. (Luis Sinco/Los Angeles Times)
Saturday’s beach closure did not keep surfers out of the water in Newport Beach. (Wally Skalij/Los Angeles Times)
Surfers and others ventured to the beach in Newport Beach on Saturday despite the governor’s closure order. (Wally Skalij/Los Angeles Times)
A motorcycle officer watches the bike path near the Huntington Beach Pier on Saturday. California Gov. Gavin Newson ordered a hard closure of Orange County beaches this weekend. (Luis Sinco/Los Angeles Times)
A couple walks along the sand while others venture into the surf in Newport Beach even though Gov. Gavin Newsom ordered Orange County beaches closed. (Wally Skalij/Los Angeles Times)
Under the watchful eyes of police officers, protesters against beach closures walk along Newport Beach even though a beach closure went into effect Saturday. (Wally Skalij/Los Angeles Times)
People enjoy the sun near the pier in Huntington Beach on Saturday. (Luis Sinco/Los Angeles Times)
People walk on the sand in Newport Beach despite the beach closure that went into effect Saturday. (Wally Skalij/Los Angeles Times)
Protesters against beach closures walk in Newport Beach even though a beach closure went into effect Saturday. (Wally Skalij/Los Angeles Times)
Huntington Beach resident Kyle Richardson, 35, holds a sign telling California Gov. Gavin Newson to lift stay-at-home orders and reopen beaches, parks and the California economy, during a protest near the Huntington Beach Pier on Saturday. (Luis Sinco/Los Angeles Times)
Newport Beach lifeguards and police clear the beach during a closure that went into effect Saturday. (Wally Skalij/Los Angeles Times)
A surfer climbs over a barrier meant to keep visitors off the beach in Newport Beach on Saturday morning. (Wally Skalij/Los Angeles Times)
Bill Beukers and his wife, Teresa, claim their constitutional rights as they speak to Newport Beach police officers. (Wally Skalij/Los Angeles Times)
An aerial view of the Newport Beach pier, where a few surfers and beach-goers enjoy a nice day at the beach despite Gov. Gavin Newsom’s hard closure, which is still in place in Newport Beach. (Allen J. Schaben/Los Angeles Times)
Bicyclists and pass the closed Boardwalk Sports store on the boardwalk in Newport Beach, on Monday. The business is only renting bicycles but is hoping to fully open after Gov. Newsom’s announcement that some businesses will be able to reopen. (Allen J. Schaben/Los Angeles Times)
An aerial view of a few surfers and beach-goers enjoying a nice day at the beach despite Gov. Gavin Newsom’s hard closure, which is still in place in Newport Beach on Monday. (Allen J. Schaben/Allen J. Schaben/Los Angeles Times)
An aerial view of a few surfers and beach-goers enjoying a nice day at the beach despite Gov. Gavin Newsom’s hard closure, which is still in place in Newport Beach. (Allen J. Schaben/Los Angeles Times)
An aerial view of beach-goers playing volleyball on a nice day at the beach despite Gov. Gavin Newsom’s hard closure, which is still in place in Newport Beach. (Allen J. Schaben/Los Angeles Times)
People stroll along Laguna’s Main Beach after it reopened its beaches for active use only. (Irfan Khan/Los Angeles Times)
Cathie Lawler with her dogs, Milo and Charlie, said “Absolutely fabulous. So good to see the beach” as she walked along Laguna Beach after it reopened for active use only. (Irfan Khan/Los Angeles Times)
Mathew Hanna jumps on a skim board at Laguna’s Main Beach on Tuesday morning as city reopened its beaches for active use only. (Irfan Khan/Los Angeles Times)
People stroll along Laguna’s Main Beach after it reopened its beaches for active use only. (Irfan Khan/Los Angeles Times)
On the seventh Saturday of the state’s stay-at-home order, the division over mandatory closures widened, and the flashpoint in Southern California was once again the beaches of Orange County.
Surfers hopped fences. Walkers strolled with their dogs, and parking lots became impromptu Chautauquas to debate policy and voice opinion.
The actions are in defiance of the orders issued Thursday by Gov. Gavin Newsom calling for a “hard close” of all state and local beaches, a mandate that singled out the sandy stretches of Orange County for last week’s crowds who were seeking relief from an early heatwave.
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In a letter to the Orange County Board of Supervisors, the governor’s office of emergency services stated that the “high concentration of beach visitors in close proximity ... threaten the health of both beach visitors and community members.”
“In response, our State Department of Parks and Recreation is shifting to full closure of all Orange County State Beaches on a temporary basis.”
The restriction applied as well to beaches operated by local governments in Orange County.
California Facing protests, Newsom says easing stay-at-home rules could be ‘days’ away California Gov. Gavin Newsom is facing growing impatience with stay-at-home orders meant to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus, and a legal showdown looms over his closure of Orange County beaches.
At the Huntington Beach pier — as a light morning fog lifted — about 50 protesters gathered to pick up where they had left off on Friday. The turnout was light, but the rhetoric was just as passionate.
“The orders of Newsom are not constitutional, and they are not effective in any way,” said Kyle Richardson, who had designed a poster the night before.
Waving to passing cars on Pacific Coast Highway, Richardson portrayed Gov. Gavin Newsom in a Nazi uniform beneath a red flag and a swastika. “Obey the Fuhrer,” it read the script. Opposite were a hand-drawn star, surfboard and the words, “Come and Get it,” a reference to the first battle of the Texas Revolution in 1835.
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“There isn’t a COVID-19 problem in Orange County,” said Richardson, 35. “This punitive measure of shutting down beaches and keeping everything closed is not accomplishing anything.”
County health officials on Saturday announced two new coronavirus-related fatalities, bringing the death toll to 52. The county also reported 99 new cases, with the total number standing at 2,636.
At the north side of the Newport Beach pier, the parking lot was crowded with people wanting to get out onto the sand. American flags competed with red MAGA hats.
At noon, the gathering — numbering nearly 70 — started walking across the beach to the ocean. Newport Beach police officers advised them to turn back, and a helicopter from the Orange County Sheriff Department flew over, announcing the closure over a loudspeaker.
As a few people went into the water, lifeguards in a boat just beyond the surf line informed them that the beach was closed.
Eventually the crowd dispersed, but a half dozen stood their ground and debated their case with police officers not far from the water. Bill Beukers was among them. He and his wife had driven down from Lancaster, and uncertain how the conversation would go, she filmed the exchange while the couple’s children bodysurfed.
Beukers, 48, said afterward that he was willing to get arrested and that the discussion had less to do with the beach than the constitutionality of the closure.
“Where do we go from here?” he recalled asking the officers. “What side of history do you want to be on? Someone has to stand their ground. We’re on a slippery slope, and we might end up where we might not want to be.”
He cited the 2nd Amendment and Rosa Parks, and in the end, the parties shook hands and the police departed.
In Huntington Beach, law enforcement was also trying to interpret and enforce the closures. About two police cruisers blocked the entrance to a bike path. A police motorcycle and a SUV were parked at the base of the pier, where yellow caution tape had been strung.
The day before, Huntington Beach resident Pete Hamborg stood on the sand with a garden hoe, carving out the letters to a vaguely obscene insult directed to the governor.
While not participating in the Huntington Beach demonstration, Hamborg sympathizes with the protesters. He believes that the beach closure creates a dangerous precedent in the event there are additional outbreaks or a new pandemic.
Hamborg argues that public health compliance is necessary. “This isn’t the first pandemic and will not be the last,” he said. “The virus can mutate, or someone can eat a bat or an aardvark and hop on an airliner. It will happen again.”
But he worries that unpopular actions like the beach closure will exhaust the public tolerance and good will.
“If leadership is unreasonable,” he said, “there will be a cost to be paid in the future because people will not put up with it. They will not have the attitude to comply as they have already. We can’t overreact because this might not be the only time we need to react. We need to have good will in the bank.”
Hamborg, who recently retired from the Orange County Fire Authority, takes his time on the beach seriously. He walks the strand, surfs and paddle-boards. Since the stay-at-home orders were issued in March, he tries to get down to the beach at least once a day.
“I have an addiction,” he says. “I need to go to a 12-step program, and it’s called 12-steps in the sand.”
Residents of Huntington Beach, like Hamborg, believe that Gov. Newsom doesn’t understand their community and singled it out for more reasons than just the pandemic.
“I was waiting for the governor to put his foot on our neck,” Hamborg said. “And this seems like a political power play because Huntington Beach hasn’t been cooperative with him.”
Chuck Brewer, 65, walks the beach every day, often joining his friends — “we call ourselves the Wally Boys” — on the wall at the pavilion. He believes the closure was an overreach. “It’s kinda like martial law,” he says.
Brewer believes Newsom is reacting over the 2018 decision by the Orange County Board of Supervisors to join the Trump administration’s federal lawsuit against California over its immigration laws.
“My personal opinion is that the governor is upset with Orange County because it didn’t go along with the state’s amnesty or sanctuary polities, and this is his way to pay back,” Brewer said.
In arguing against the closure, Brewer would like to see data that support the decision. From his perspective, the sunshine and ocean air are a good way of keeping the coronavirus away.
Later at the demonstration, Richardson decided it was time to hit the water. The sun was out, and the day was beautiful.
Waving off the police officers who warned him that going on the beach would be a misdemeanor, Richardson continued across the empty stretch of sand.
He put down his signs and in red, white and blue board shorts, stepped into the surf. Once beyond the breakers, he looked back and saw no one on the beach, a rarity.
“It was so glorious,” he said afterward. “It could not have been more perfect: cool enough to be refreshing and not too cold. It was a perfect Orange County Day.”
Back on shore, as the protesters made plans to head to Laguna Beach to continue their action, Richardson was ready to bail.
“I’m tired and sunburned,” he said. “I think I’ll go grab some tacos.”
Times staff photographers Wally Skalij, Luis Sinco and Allen J. Schaben contributed to this report.


latimes--2020-05-02--Bobby Lee Verdugo, East L.A. student walkout leader and Latino youth mentor, dies at 69

Bobby Lee Verdugo had only two biological children — daughters Maricela and Monica .
Yet they , along with their mom , Yolanda Rios , proudly say that he has children all across Southern California and the United States .
They ’ re referring to the thousands of young Latinos whom Verdugo mentored for decades — first as a student organizer who helped lead the 1968 Chicano student walkouts in East Los Angeles , then as a social worker who focused on at-risk Latino males , and finally as an elder who spoke alongside Rios at student conferences across the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ us , he was our silly dad , always a jokester , ” Monica said .
“ But to a lot of people out there , he was their dad , too.
” “ We have a big family all over , ” Maricela added .
“ He was loved , because of what he did for people.
” Verdugo died May 1 of a heart attack .
He was 69 .
His childhood showed no hints of Verdugo ever dedicating himself to social justice .
Born to Chicano parents in Lincoln Heights @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his family .
His father was a truck driver and coached a youth baseball team ; his mother was involved in the PTA and volunteered for Bobby ’ s Boy Scouts troop .
But the white teachers who dominated the local schools at the time regularly mistreated Verdugo and his Latino classmates .
They subjected him and others to paddlings in front of fellow students for speaking Spanish in class , incidents that he bitterly remembered decades later .
“ As a young Chicano , I want to be tough , so you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ much , thinking … ’ I can take this , ’ ” he told NPR in 2019 .
“ But it hurt the spirit , you know .
Little by little , they were breaking me.
” Verdugo ’ s grades were falling by the time he entered Lincoln High School in the mid-1960s .
But everything changed when he took a social science class taught by Sal Castro , a fellow native Eastsider who urged Latino students to no longer remain quiet about their abuse .
The teacher connected Verdugo and Rios @ @ @ @ @ @ @ neighborhood — to other students across the Eastside .
Together , they and others organized high school walkouts that drew worldwide attention .
The moment was dramatized in the 2006 HBO film “ Walkout , ” with Verdugo portrayed by Efren Ramirez .
Despite a newfound sense of belonging , Verdugo dropped out of Lincoln High .
He eventually earned a GED and enrolled at UCLA but left before graduating .
He married Rios in 1979 , fathered Maricela and Monica , and settled into a career that saw him work as a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a community organizer .
But at age 40 , Verdugo decided to enroll at Cal State L.A. to earn a degree that would allow him to become a social worker .
“ That ’ s what he always wanted to do , ” said Rios , a retired labor organizer .
“ It was a calling for him to help youth.
” Verdugo quickly noticed there were few resources for young at-risk men that weren ’ t punitive .
So in 1995 , he co-founded Con Los Padres , an innovative program that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with them by organizing círculos : talking circles modeled on Mesoamerican traditions in which his young acolytes could drop their machismo and freely discuss their feelings while reconnecting with their roots .
“ People were telling them , ‘ Now that you ’ re a teen father , that ’ s it , your life is over , you got nothing to look forward to , ” he told the National Compadres Network , a group he belonged to , in 2018 .
“ That ’ s how I felt , and I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that I could teach them how to feel good about themselves and that there are men like me who will not give up on them.
” His advocacy for young fathers earned Verdugo speaking invitations as far away as Oxford , England , and positions on federal and state councils .
He also became a regular presence at Latino high school youth conferences across the country .
“ He always connected to the students , because was very honest and real about how he felt at the time [ of the walkouts ] @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Gerardo Correa , president of the Chicano Latino Youth Leadership Project , which holds an annual gathering in Sacramento attended by hundreds of high schoolers from across California .
“ He was the same age as them , and he and others made history — and Bobby would tell them they could too.
” Verdugo ’ s passion to mentor was such that he would spend a week a year at the Latino Leadership and College Experience Camp , held at Eastern Kentucky University ; a tutoring center there is named after him @ @ @ @ @ @ @ him was that he realized that even today , there ’ s still inequalities going on in the classroom , ” Rios said .
“ He ’ d always tell students , ‘ It ’ s important to fight for your rights and what you believe in.
’ ” On his off-time , Verdugo loved to golf and take his family to Yosemite .
He also enjoyed karaoke , with Cream ’ s “ White Room ” and the Animals ’ cover of “ Don ’ t Let Me Be Misunderstood ” his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s OK to be angry , ” he told NPR , “ but what do you do about it , you know ?
”

Bobby Lee Verdugo speaks to students in an undated photo. The Lincoln Heights native mentored thousands of students and helped organize the 1968 East L.A. student walkouts
Bobby Lee Verdugo had only two biological children — daughters Maricela and Monica. Yet they, along with their mom, Yolanda Rios, proudly say that he has children all across Southern California and the United States.
They’re referring to the thousands of young Latinos whom Verdugo mentored for decades — first as a student organizer who helped lead the 1968 Chicano student walkouts in East Los Angeles, then as a social worker who focused on at-risk Latino males, and finally as an elder who spoke alongside Rios at student conferences across the country about their lives.
“To us, he was our silly dad, always a jokester,” Monica said. “But to a lot of people out there, he was their dad, too.”
“We have a big family all over,” Maricela added. “He was loved, because of what he did for people.”
Verdugo died May 1 of a heart attack. He was 69.
His childhood showed no hints of Verdugo ever dedicating himself to social justice.
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Born to Chicano parents in Lincoln Heights, Verdugo lived an all-American life with his family. His father was a truck driver and coached a youth baseball team; his mother was involved in the PTA and volunteered for Bobby’s Boy Scouts troop.
But the white teachers who dominated the local schools at the time regularly mistreated Verdugo and his Latino classmates. They subjected him and others to paddlings in front of fellow students for speaking Spanish in class, incidents that he bitterly remembered decades later.
“As a young Chicano, I want to be tough, so you don’t want to complain too much, thinking … ‘I can take this,’” he told NPR in 2019. “But it hurt the spirit, you know. Little by little, they were breaking me.”
Verdugo’s grades were falling by the time he entered Lincoln High School in the mid-1960s. But everything changed when he took a social science class taught by Sal Castro, a fellow native Eastsider who urged Latino students to no longer remain quiet about their abuse. The teacher connected Verdugo and Rios — both grew up in the same neighborhood — to other students across the Eastside.
Together, they and others organized high school walkouts that drew worldwide attention. The moment was dramatized in the 2006 HBO film “Walkout,” with Verdugo portrayed by Efren Ramirez.
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Despite a newfound sense of belonging, Verdugo dropped out of Lincoln High. He eventually earned a GED and enrolled at UCLA but left before graduating. He married Rios in 1979, fathered Maricela and Monica, and settled into a career that saw him work as a bus dispatcher, a labor advocate and a community organizer.
But at age 40, Verdugo decided to enroll at Cal State L.A. to earn a degree that would allow him to become a social worker. “That’s what he always wanted to do,” said Rios, a retired labor organizer. “It was a calling for him to help youth.”
Verdugo quickly noticed there were few resources for young at-risk men that weren’t punitive. So in 1995, he co-founded Con Los Padres, an innovative program that counseled teenage Latino fathers. He connected with them by organizing círculos: talking circles modeled on Mesoamerican traditions in which his young acolytes could drop their machismo and freely discuss their feelings while reconnecting with their roots.
“People were telling them, ‘Now that you’re a teen father, that’s it, your life is over, you got nothing to look forward to,’” he told the National Compadres Network, a group he belonged to, in 2018. “That’s how I felt, and I realized what Sal Castro taught me, that I could teach them how to feel good about themselves and that there are men like me who will not give up on them.”
His advocacy for young fathers earned Verdugo speaking invitations as far away as Oxford, England, and positions on federal and state councils. He also became a regular presence at Latino high school youth conferences across the country.
“He always connected to the students, because he was very honest and real about how he felt at the time [of the walkouts], which was fearful,” said Gerardo Correa, president of the Chicano Latino Youth Leadership Project, which holds an annual gathering in Sacramento attended by hundreds of high-schoolers from across California. “He was the same age as them, and he and others made history — and Bobby would tell them they could too.”
Bobby Verdugo and his wife, Yolanda Rios, speak at the Chicano Latino Youth Leadership Project in Sacramento. The two helped organize the 1968 high school walkouts in East Los Angeles that galvanized the Chicano movement (Chicano Latino Youth Leadership Project)
Verdugo’s passion to mentor was such that he would spend a week a year at the Latinx Leadership and College Experience Camp, held yearly in Kentucky; a tutoring center at Eastern Kentucky University is named after him and his wife.
“What motivated him was that he realized that even today, there’s still inequalities going on in the classroom,” Rios said. “He’d always tell students, ‘It’s important to fight for your rights and what you believe in.’”
On his off-time, Verdugo loved to golf and take his family to Yosemite National Park. He also enjoyed karaoke, with Cream’s “White Room” and the Animals’ cover of “Don’t Let Me Be Misunderstood” his favorite torch songs.
“It’s OK to be angry,” he told NPR, “but what do you do about it, you know?”


latimes--2020-05-03--Some California businesses reopen in defiance of coronavirus stay-at-home orders

As Californians prepare to enter the seventh week of stay-at-home restrictions , signs of fatigue are becoming evident .
From the high desert to the beach enclaves of Orange County , a growing number of businesses deemed nonessential are choosing to reopen in defiance of orders from local and state authorities .
In Victorville , 24-hour fitness studio the Gym reopened Friday with an 8-by-10-foot printout of the Constitution posted by the front door .
Employees changed the colors of the studio ’ s sign to red , white and blue and hung banners that read # GymsAreEssential and # @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Lewis .
Lewis said he chose to reopen after hearing from members who were struggling with issues ranging from flare-ups of chronic health conditions to declines in mental health since they had been unable to patronize his gym .
He also feels that some media outlets and government officials have exaggerated the scope of the COVID-19 outbreak to justify what he views as an overblown response that infringes on people ’ s personal freedom .
“ This virus is political , ” he said .
“ It comes down to our civil rights @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people in power forget , one thing that makes us all the same , and that ’ s the Constitution.
” The gym has stepped up cleanings and turned off every other piece of cardio equipment to better maintain social distancing .
Steam rooms , showers and saunas are still shut down , and group exercise classes remain canceled .
Lewis , who has been vocal on social media about his decision to reopen , said he had received death threats and ominous texts from anonymous phone numbers .
“ But on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ receiving calls from around the country saying how inspiring it is , ” he said .
He estimated that over the past three days , he had spoken to 200 business owners who were seeking advice as they , too , prepare to reopen .
“ It ’ s pretty awesome to see that one person can start something , ” he said .
About 100 miles southwest , in San Clemente , self-described “ surfer soul food ” restaurant Nomads Canteen reopened for dine-in service at noon Friday .
The owner , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for comment Sunday .
The San Clemente Times reported that when the restaurant first reopened , tables were spread out , and patrons appeared to be keeping their distance from one another .
But later Friday , Nomads became crowded with people who had just departed a nearby protest against the state ’ s stay-at-home orders , the paper reported .
“ We ’ re doing what we can do and letting people make their own decisions , ” Gourley told the San Clemente Times on Friday .
“ That ’ s kind @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The restaurant has been outspoken about the reopening on its Facebook account .
On Friday , it posted a meme of a flag recalling the “ Don ’ t tread on me ” logo , except the snake was wrapped around a bottle of tequila .
“ Take back your freedom , go for a surf , open your business , have a cold beer with your friends , ” it read .
Dine-in restaurants , along with bars , nightclubs , gyms and theaters , were told to shut down March 19 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a sweeping order aimed at slowing the spread of the novel coronavirus by dramatically restricting public movement .
Many counties issued similar orders locally through their public health departments .
California was first to impose a statewide stay-at-home order , and experts credit that with helping the state see a fraction of the deaths of other coronavirus hot spots , such as New York .
Still , the virus has affected California unevenly , with the densest population center of Los Angeles County home to more than half the deaths reported in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and some rural and suburban areas seeing much smaller shares .
That has led to tension between the state and some residents and local authorities , who say their lower case counts and death tolls mean they should be allowed to reopen their economies sooner .
In San Clemente , sheriff ’ s deputies on Friday visited Nomads Canteen with officials from the Orange County Health Care Agency , said Carrie Braun , spokeswoman for the county sheriff ’ s department .
“ Our Environmental Health division was able to reach the owner @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in violation of the governor ’ s order , ” Jessica Good , public information manager for the Health Care Agency , wrote Sunday in an email .
“ A written warning will be issued , which could lead to permit suspension.
” Authorities also were eyeing action against the Gym in Victorville .
City officials reported the fitness center to San Bernardino County authorities and on Friday received permission to issue a notice of violation through city code enforcement , Sue Jones , spokeswoman for Victorville , said Sunday .
The notice @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ; otherwise , the county will take enforcement action , she said .
She said most establishments in Victorville are complying with stay-at-home orders , noting that city officials had canvassed more than 725 nonessential businesses over the past month and that none of them were found to be in violation until now .
“ Like so many in our community , we are appalled by the Gym ’ s egregious violation of the order issued by the San Bernardino County Department of Public Health , ” Jones said in an email .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ health and our city and county efforts to reduce the spread of COVID-19 in our community.
” Lewis said he does not believe the county or state has the authority to take action against his business .
“ They can ’ t force us to shut our doors , ” he said .
“ We did it voluntarily in the beginning because they hyped it so much , but guess what ?
They lied to us.
” He said that if government authorities cut off his power , he ’ ll have a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hours .
And if they issue fines , he ’ ll let them pile up and then mount a legal challenge in federal court .
“ I already have attorneys ready to rock that want me to do it , ” he said .
“ What I ’ m saying is , I ’ m riding this out until we get back to normal .
”

As Californians prepare to enter the seventh week of stay-at-home restrictions, signs of fatigue are becoming evident.
From the high desert to the beach enclaves of Orange County, a growing number of businesses deemed nonessential are choosing to reopen in defiance of orders from local and state authorities.
In Victorville, 24-hour fitness studio the Gym reopened Friday with an 8-by-10-foot printout of the Constitution posted by the front door. Employees changed the colors of the studio’s sign to red, white and blue and hung banners that read #GymsAreEssential and #ReopenAmerica, according to owner Jacob D. Lewis.
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Lewis said he chose to reopen after hearing from members who were struggling with issues ranging from flare-ups of chronic health conditions to declines in mental health since they had been unable to patronize his gym.
He also feels that some media outlets and government officials have exaggerated the scope of the COVID-19 outbreak to justify what he views as an overblown response that infringes on people’s personal freedom.
“This virus is political,” he said. “It comes down to our civil rights. There’s one thing that people in power forget, one thing that makes us all the same, and that’s the Constitution.”
The gym has stepped up cleanings and turned off every other piece of cardio equipment to better maintain social distancing. Steam rooms, showers and saunas are still shut down, and group exercise classes remain canceled.
Lewis, who has been vocal on social media about his decision to reopen, said he had received death threats and ominous texts from anonymous phone numbers.
“But on the flip side, I’ve been receiving calls from around the country saying how inspiring it is,” he said.
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He estimated that over the past three days, he had spoken to 200 business owners who were seeking advice as they, too, prepare to reopen.
“It’s pretty awesome to see that one person can start something,” he said.
About 100 miles southwest, in San Clemente, self-described “surfer soul food” restaurant Nomads Canteen reopened for dine-in service at noon Friday.
The owner, Jeff Gourley, could not be reached for comment Sunday.
The San Clemente Times reported that when the restaurant first reopened, tables were spread out, and patrons appeared to be keeping their distance from one another. But later Friday, Nomads became crowded with people who had just departed a nearby protest against the state’s stay-at-home orders, the paper reported.
“We’re doing what we can do and letting people make their own decisions,” Gourley told the San Clemente Times on Friday. “That’s kind of where we’re at.”
The restaurant has been outspoken about the reopening on its Facebook account.
On Friday, it posted a meme of a flag recalling the “Don’t tread on me” logo, except the snake was wrapped around a bottle of tequila. “Take back your freedom, go for a surf, open your business, have a cold beer with your friends,” it read.
Dine-in restaurants, along with bars, nightclubs, gyms and theaters, were told to shut down March 19, when Gov. Gavin Newsom issued a sweeping order aimed at slowing the spread of the novel coronavirus by dramatically restricting public movement. Many counties issued similar orders locally through their public health departments.
California was first to impose a statewide stay-at-home order, and experts credit that with helping the state see a fraction of the deaths of other coronavirus hot spots, such as New York.
Still, the virus has affected California unevenly, with the densest population center of Los Angeles County home to more than half the deaths reported in the state and nearly half the cases, and some rural and suburban areas seeing much smaller shares.
That has led to tension between the state and some residents and local authorities, who say their lower case counts and death tolls mean they should be allowed to reopen their economies sooner.
In San Clemente, sheriff’s deputies on Friday visited Nomads Canteen with officials from the Orange County Health Care Agency, said Carrie Braun, spokeswoman for the county sheriff’s department.
“Our Environmental Health division was able to reach the owner, who understood that he is operating in violation of the governor’s order,” Jessica Good, public information manager for the Health Care Agency, wrote Sunday in an email. “A written warning will be issued, which could lead to permit suspension.”
Authorities also were eyeing action against the Gym in Victorville.
City officials reported the fitness center to San Bernardino County authorities and on Friday received permission to issue a notice of violation through city code enforcement, Sue Jones, spokeswoman for Victorville, said Sunday. The notice gave the Gym three days to comply; otherwise, the county will take enforcement action, she said.
She said most establishments in Victorville are complying with stay-at-home orders, noting that city officials had canvassed more than 725 nonessential businesses over the past month and that none of them were found to be in violation until now.
“Like so many in our community, we are appalled by the Gym’s egregious violation of the order issued by the San Bernardino County Department of Public Health,” Jones said in an email. “This violation demonstrates disregard for public health and our city and county efforts to reduce the spread of COVID-19 in our community.”
Lewis said he does not believe the county or state has the authority to take action against his business.
“They can’t force us to shut our doors,” he said. “We did it voluntarily in the beginning because they hyped it so much, but guess what? They lied to us.”
He said that if government authorities cut off his power, he’ll have a generator up and running within a couple hours. And if they issue fines, he’ll let them pile up and then mount a legal challenge in federal court.
“I already have attorneys ready to rock that want me to do it,” he said. “What I’m saying is, I’m riding this out until we get back to normal.”


latimes--2020-05-03--Santa Barbara News-Press owner compares COVID restrictions to Nazi Germany; editor exits

The Santa Barbara News-Press lost its editor in chief this weekend after the newspaper published an editorial by owner and co-publisher Wendy McCaw that accused Democratic lawmakers of using the coronavirus for their own political agenda and compared stay-at-home orders to Nazi Germany .
“ Our liberties are being stripped for what , a virus ?
?
Think about this , ” McCaw wrote in the editorial , published Friday and titled “ We are living in tyranny .
” She continued : “ If this country can be put into this situation by a virus , what would it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Soviet Union or Nazi Germany ?
We are not that far away now , having to stand in line to get into supermarkets ... .
” A note at the end of the editorial read : “ Wendy P. McCaw is the co-publisher of the News-Press and the views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of the SBNP staff.
” On Saturday , reported that News-Press editor in chief Nick Masuda had stepped down from his 18-month stint at the helm of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the News-Press website is dated April 30 .
A source said that with Masuda ’ s departure , 12 journalists remain in the newsroom .
Whether Masuda was fired or quit is still unclear , according to the Independent .
When reached by an LA Times reporter , Masuda confirmed that his last day at the paper was Friday but said he had no other comment at this time .
Masuda started at the paper in 1998 , when he was a 19-year-old student at UC Santa Barbara .
He left the paper @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stint as deupty sports editor in 2004 , then came back again to take the top job in 2018 .
In a Facebook post published soon after his departure , he wrote that he never took his position for granted but added , “ We all have bosses and sometimes you simply just don ’ t see the world the same way.
” “ Sometimes you simply can ’ t coexist , especially when views go against all that you stand for as a human , ” he wrote .
McCaw has long @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The ex-wife of a cellular phone pioneer , she bought the Santa Barbara News-Press in 2000 , one year after she was ranked 159th on Forbes ’ list of America ’ s richest individuals .
Under McCaw the paper has taken a stand against turkey dinner on Thanksgiving — “ a tradition that involves the death of an unwilling participant ” — and attacked the minimum wage and a living wage proposal , saying they “ force a counterfeit value on labor.
” In 2015 scores of protesters marched outside the News-Press @ @ @ @ @ @ @ headline that read “ Illegals line up for driver ’ s licenses.
” In 2016 it was the first of only three American newspapers to endorse Trump for president .
The report from the Independent suggests that Masuda was a good editor who brought more local news to the front page of the paper in his short reign .
“ Masuda ’ s departure is no cause for celebration — it is a sad victory for the bitter , the paranoid , the kooky and the wacky , ” wrote Nick Welsh of @ @ @ @ @

The Santa Barbara News-Press drew supporters in 2015 after running the headline “Illegals line up for driver’s license.” The newspaper has just lost its latest editor in chief.
The Santa Barbara News-Press lost its editor in chief this weekend after the newspaper published an editorial by owner and co-publisher Wendy McCaw that accused Democratic lawmakers of using the coronavirus for their own political agenda and compared stay-at-home orders to Nazi Germany.
“Our liberties are being stripped for what, a virus?? Think about this,” McCaw wrote in the editorial, published Friday and titled “ We are living in tyranny .”
She continued: “If this country can be put into this situation by a virus, what would it take to completely turn us into the Soviet Union or Nazi Germany? We are not that far away now, having to stand in line to get into supermarkets....”
A note at the end of the editorial read: “Wendy P. McCaw is the co-publisher of the News-Press and the views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of the SBNP staff.”
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On Saturday, the Santa Barbara Independent reported that News-Press editor in chief Nick Masuda had stepped down from his 18-month stint at the helm of the paper. His last byline on the News-Press website is dated April 30. A source said that with Masuda’s departure, 12 journalists remain in the newsroom.
Whether Masuda was fired or quit is still unclear, according to the Independent. When reached by an LA Times reporter, Masuda confirmed that his last day at the paper was Friday but said he had no other comment at this time.
Masuda started at the paper in 1998, when he was a 19-year-old student at UC Santa Barbara. He left the paper in 2001, returned for a quick stint as deputy sports editor in 2004, then came back again to take the top job in 2018.
In a Facebook post published soon after his departure, he wrote that he never took his position for granted but added, “We all have bosses and sometimes you simply just don’t see the world the same way.”
“Sometimes you simply can’t coexist, especially when views go against all that you stand for as a human,” he wrote.
McCaw has long been a controversial media figure in California. The ex-wife of a cellular phone pioneer, she bought the Santa Barbara News-Press in 2000, one year after she was ranked 159th on Forbes’ list of America’s richest individuals.
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Under McCaw the paper has taken a stand against turkey dinner on Thanksgiving — “a tradition that involves the death of an unwilling participant” — and attacked the minimum wage and a living wage proposal, saying they “force a counterfeit value on labor.”
In 2015 scores of protesters marched outside the News-Press offices after the paper ran a front-page headline that read “Illegals line up for driver’s licenses.” In 2016 it was the first of only three American newspapers to endorse Trump for president.
The report from the Independent suggests that Masuda was a good editor who brought more local news to the front page of the paper in his short reign.
“Masuda’s departure is no cause for celebration — it is a sad victory for the bitter, the paranoid, the kooky and the wacky,” wrote Nick Welsh of the Santa Barbara Independent.


latimes--2020-05-03--Earthquake: 3.2 quake reported near Simi Valley

A magnitude-3.2 earthquake was reported Sunday at 2:45 p.m. near Simi Valley , according to the U.S. Geological Survey .
The earthquake occurred one mile from Simi Valley , seven miles from Calabasas , seven miles from Santa Clarita and seven miles from Stevenson Ranch .
In the past 10 days , there has been one earthquake of magnitude 3.0 or greater centered nearby .
An average of five earthquakes with magnitudes of 3.0 to 4.0 occur each year in the Greater Los Angeles area , according to a recent three-year data sample .
The earthquake occurred at a depth @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 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 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ asked questions .

A magnitude-3.2 earthquake was reported at 2:45 p.m. Sunday in Los Angeles, according to the USGS.
A magnitude-3.2 earthquake was reported Sunday at 2:45 p.m. near Simi Valley, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.
The earthquake occurred one mile from Simi Valley, seven miles from Calabasas, seven miles from Santa Clarita and seven miles from Stevenson Ranch.
In the past 10 days, there has been one earthquake of magnitude 3.0 or greater centered nearby.
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An average of five earthquakes with magnitudes of 3.0 to 4.0 occur each year in the Greater Los Angeles area, according to a recent three-year data sample.
The earthquake occurred at a depth of 3.8 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--2020-05-03--L.A. County coronavirus cases top 25,000, with more than 1,200 deaths

Los Angeles County public health officials on Sunday reported 21 additional coronavirus-related deaths and 781 new cases overall , pushing the county ’ s total number to more than 25,000 .
“ The people lost to COVID-19 are mourned by all of us in L.A. County , and to their loved ones , we wish you peace and healing , ” Barbara Ferrer , the county health director , said in a statement .
Long Beach , which has its own health department , reported 15 additional cases , bringing the county ’ s total to 25,677 cases and 1,229 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ per 100,000 people continue to be seen among black people , those who identify as Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander , and people who live in communities with high levels of poverty , the county Department of Public Health said in a news release .
Nearly 159,000 people in L.A. County have now been tested and have received their results , with about 14 % testing positive .
Statewide , more than 54,000 cases of coronavirus infection have been reported in California , and more than 2,200 people have died .
Ferrer urged @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vigilant against the spread of the virus .
“ We have all worked together in ways that have saved lives and slowed the spread of COVID-19 , ” she said .
“ As we continue to plan for and move into recovery , we will need to continue using the best tools at our disposal , which includes isolating at home if sick , quarantining for 14 days if you ’ re a close contact to a person positive for COVID-19 , always physical distancing , wearing cloth face coverings when in contact @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Meanwhile , in neighboring Orange County , coronavirus-related deaths topped 50 as of Saturday , officials announced , along with two new fatalities , bringing the death toll to 52 .
The county also reported 99 new cases , 2,636 .
The total number of people hospitalized stood at 202 .
Gov .
Gavin Newsom closed local beaches over after the previous weekend .
Many local officials have pushed back , saying there has been enough progress in the fight against the coronavirus to allow people at the beach .
Newport Beach @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for an injunction to block Newsom ’ s directive to close their beaches .
On Friday afternoon , Orange County Superior Court Judge Nathan Scott seeking a temporary restraining order to keep beaches open .
He set a hearing for May 11 to consider the cities ’ request .

Los Angeles County public health officials on Sunday reported 21 additional coronavirus-related deaths and 781 new cases overall, pushing the county’s total number to more than 25,000.
“The people lost to COVID-19 are mourned by all of us in L.A. County, and to their loved ones, we wish you peace and healing,” Barbara Ferrer, the county health director, said in a statement.
Long Beach, which has its own health department, reported 15 additional cases, bringing the county’s total to 25,677 cases and 1,229 related deaths.
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The highest death rates per 100,000 people continue to be seen among black people, those who identify as Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander, and people who live in communities with high levels of poverty, the county Department of Public Health said in a news release.
Nearly 159,000 people in L.A. County have now been tested and have received their results, with about 14% testing positive.
Statewide, more than 54,000 cases of coronavirus infection have been reported in California, and more than 2,200 people have died.
Ferrer urged L.A. County residents to continue to be vigilant against the spread of the virus.
“We have all worked together in ways that have saved lives and slowed the spread of COVID-19,” she said. “As we continue to plan for and move into recovery, we will need to continue using the best tools at our disposal, which includes isolating at home if sick, quarantining for 14 days if you’re a close contact to a person positive for COVID-19, always physical distancing, wearing cloth face coverings when in contact with others, and washing hands frequently.”
Meanwhile, in neighboring Orange County, coronavirus-related deaths topped 50 as of Saturday, officials announced, along with two new fatalities, bringing the death toll to 52.
The county also reported 99 new cases, bringing the total to 2,636. The total number of people hospitalized stood at 202.
Gov. Gavin Newsom closed local beaches over the objections of Orange County officials after crowds turned out the previous weekend.
Many local officials have pushed back, saying there has been enough progress in the fight against the coronavirus to allow people at the beach.
Newport Beach, Dana Point and Huntington Beach filed for an injunction to block Newsom’s directive to close their beaches.
On Friday afternoon, Orange County Superior Court Judge Nathan Scott rejected the request seeking a temporary restraining order to keep beaches open. He set a hearing for May 11 to consider the cities’ request.
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latimes--2020-05-03--Off-duty police officers' camping trip erupts in gunfire; one injured, another in custody

A Los Angeles police officer has been booked on attempted murder after allegedly shooting another off-duty officer early Sunday morning while camping in Apple Valley in San Bernardino County , authorities said .
Officer Ismael Tamayo , a 13-year-veteran of the LAPD , was booked by the county sheriff ’ s department in connection with the 1 a.m. shooting at the Stoddard Wells Off-Highway Vehicle Area , Los Angeles police said in a statement .
The 44-year-old Ontario resident is being held in lieu of $ 1 million bail .
San Bernardino County sheriff ’ s deputies responding to a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ LAPD officers at the scene suffering from a gunshot wound to the upper body , authorities said .
The injured officer was airlifted to a nearby hospital and is in stable condition and expected to survive .
Tamayo was found nearby and taken into custody , police said .
At the time of his arrest , he was in possession of a firearm , according to the LAPD statement .
Both officers work in the department ’ s Newton Division .
Investigators from the LAPD ’ s Force Investigation Division of Professional Standards @ @ @ @ @ @ @ initiated an administrative investigation .
“ The Department is fully cooperating with the San Bernardino County Sheriff ’ s Office in their criminal investigation , ” officials said .
Police Chief Michel Moore issued a statement Sunday about the incident , expressing disappointment and frustration .
“ The events overnight culminating in the serious injury to our off-duty officer , apparently at the hands of another member of this Department , give me great concern , ” Moore said .
“ I spoke earlier this morning with San Bernardino Sheriff John McMahon , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ investigation .
I am thankful our injured officer is in stable condition and expected to survive .
I am committed to determining what and how this occurred.
” Tamayo has been relieved of his police powers pending the outcome of the criminal and administrative investigations .

Officer Ismael Tamayo, a 13-year veteran of the LAPD, was booked by the county Sheriff’s Department in connection with the 1 a.m. shooting at the Stoddard Wells Off-Highway Vehicle Area, Los Angeles police said in a statement.
A Los Angeles police officer has been booked on suspicion of attempted murder after allegedly shooting another off-duty officer early Sunday morning while camping in Apple Valley in San Bernardino County, authorities said.
Officer Ismael Tamayo, a 13-year veteran of the LAPD, was booked by the county Sheriff’s Department in connection with the 1 a.m. shooting at the Stoddard Wells Off-Highway Vehicle Area, Los Angeles police said in a statement. The 44-year-old Ontario resident is being held in lieu of $1 million bail.
San Bernardino County sheriff’s deputies responding to a shooting call found one of three off-duty LAPD officers at the scene suffering from a gunshot wound to the upper body, authorities said. The injured officer was airlifted to a nearby hospital and is in stable condition and expected to survive.
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Tamayo was found nearby and taken into custody, police said. At the time of his arrest, he was in possession of a firearm, according to the LAPD statement.
Both officers work in the department’s Newton Division.
Investigators from the LAPD’s Force Investigation Division of Professional Standards Bureau, responded to the scene and initiated an administrative investigation.
“The department is fully cooperating with the San Bernardino County sheriff’s office in their criminal investigation,” officials said.
L.A. Police Chief Michel Moore issued a statement Sunday about the incident, expressing disappointment and frustration.
“The events overnight culminating in the serious injury to our off-duty officer, apparently at the hands of another member of this department, give me great concern,” Moore said. “I spoke earlier this morning with San Bernardino Sheriff John McMahon, pledging our full support of their criminal investigation. I am thankful our injured officer is in stable condition and expected to survive. I am committed to determining what and how this occurred.”
Tamayo has been relieved of his police powers pending the outcome of the criminal and administrative investigations.


latimes--2020-05-03--California stay-at-home order faces revolts at beaches and in rural communities

Pressure to reopen parts of California continued to build over the weekend , with more rural counties vowing to ease stay-at-home restrictions and protesters marching against the , a move intended to slow the spread of the coronavirus .
Polls show most Californians , which have been credited with helping California avoid the massive death toll of New York and other hot spots , and fear that lifting them too soon could cause more outbreaks .
But the social-distancing restrictions , and some parts of California that have not been hit particularly hard by the coronavirus are pushing to get @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Newsom said he understood the frustrations and suggested he would announce an easing of some rules as early as this week .
“ I just want folks to know we ’ re getting very close to making really meaningful augmentations to that stay-at-home order , ” Newsom said Friday .
“ I want to say many days , not weeks , as long as we continue to be prudent and thoughtful.
” The governor has described the next phase of his stay-at-home order as allowing some lower-risk businesses to reopen in communities across @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sites and small businesses .
“ The only thing that ’ s gon na hold us back is the spread of this virus , ” Newsom said .
“ And the only thing that is sure to advance the spread of the virus is thousands of people congregating together .
Practicing social distancing or physical distance , we can avoid that.
” A poll from the UC Berkeley Institute of Governmental Studies last week showed California voters give broad approval to Newsom amid the coronavirus crisis , and despite widely felt economic pain @ @ @ @ @ @ @ time in ending restrictions on business and public gatherings .
By 70 % to 30 % , the state ’ s voters say they ’ re more worried that shelter-in-place orders will end too soon , causing the illness to spread more , than they are that such orders will continue for too long and damage the economy .
Two weeks ago , 75 % of people surveyed wanted the order to continue as long as it ’ s needed , according to a California Health Care Foundation/Ipsos survey .
Only 11 % @ @ @ @ @ @ @ while 13 % had no opinion .
Among low-income residents , support was even stronger : 78 % supported the stay-at-home order and only 3 % opposed it .
Still , there have been protests across the state in recent days against the order , and some counties in rural California are taking matters into their own hands .
Yuba and Sutter counties in Northern California are set to allow many businesses to reopen Monday in defiance of Newsom ’ s statewide six-week-old stay-at-home order .
The two counties near the state ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ county in California ’ s northeastern corner , , with fewer than 9,000 residents , that on Friday all businesses , schools and churches to reopen as long as people inside can stay six feet apart .
The move by Yuba and Sutter counties — with a combined population of 171,000 people and just 50 coronavirus cases and three deaths — comes as other California counties on the and are demanding to reopen more businesses .
Newsom ’ s stay-at-home order , issued March 19 , was the first to be issued by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ see a fraction of deaths of places like New York state , with .
This compares with more than 2,100 fatalities in the Golden State , with 55 % of those occurring in .
A day after demonstrators congregated at the intersection of Main Street and Pacific Coast Highway in against stay-at-home orders , another organized protest took place Saturday in Laguna Beach .
At the start of the day , an orange netted barrier was put up around the town ’ s beach access points .
Those barriers did not hold , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sand and continued the demonstration in the afternoon .
The Laguna Beach City Council recently voted to allow active use of its beaches from 6 to 10 a.m. on weekdays only .
Laguna Beach Mayor Pro Tem Steve Dicterow said there had been overwhelming support for the phased opening plan , but he backed Newsom ’ s right to close the beach .
“ I think it ’ s unfortunate because whether I agree or not with what the governor said , I think he has the legal right to do that , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that , ” Dicterow said in reaction to the protest .
“ He created a path for us to go forward .
He said to submit a plan , so we submitted a plan , and we ’ re waiting to see how the governor will react .
I ’ m hopeful and optimistic that our plan will meet with his approval , and we ’ ll be able to open the beaches.
” At the north side of the Newport Beach pier Saturday , a group of about 70 was in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the sand .
American flags were seen alongside red MAGA hats .
At noon , they started walking across the beach to the ocean .
Newport Beach police officers advised them to turn back , and a helicopter from the Orange County Sheriff ’ s Department flew over , announcing the closure over a loudspeaker .
Bill Beukers was among them .
He and his wife had driven down from Lancaster , and uncertain how the conversation would go , she filmed the exchange while the couple ’ s children bodysurfed .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ he was willing to get arrested and that the discussion had less to do with the beach than the constitutionality of the closure .
“ Where do we go from here ?
” he recalled asking the officers .
“ What side of history do you want to be on ?
Someone has to stand their ground .
We ’ re on a slippery slope , and we might end up where we might not want to be.
” He cited the 2nd Amendment and civil rights activist Rosa Parks , and in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and the police departed .
In an interview with Fox News on Sunday , White House coronavirus task force coordinator , Dr. Deborah Birx , said the sight of anti-shutdown protesters crowded together in public , often unmasked , is “ devastatingly worrisome.
” “ We need to protect each other at the same time as we ’ re voicing our discontent , ” she said .
Asked whether it was safe for people to flock to beaches in California , Birx said that depended on proximity .
“ If it ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” she said .
“ If it ’ s not done with social distancing , no .
”

Rong-Gong Lin II, Alex Wigglesworth, Thomas Curwen, Laura King

Weekend beach crowds, such as those in Huntington Beach, spurred alarm among some officials. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
A man in a protective mask walks his dog past a closed park near the pier in Newport Beach on Tuesday. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
A surfer catches a wave while joining some of the thousands of beachgoers over the weekend in Newport Beach. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
An aerial view shows visitors enjoying the sun and sand near the pier in Newport Beach on Tuesday. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
An aerial view of Huntington Beach after Gov. Newsom announced the “hard close” of all Orange County state and local beaches. (Allen J. Schaben/Los Angeles Times)
Emergency room nurse Rebecca McFarlane, of Covina, relaxes on her one day off from treating COVID-19 patients, on an open stretch of sand far away from other beach-goers on the last day of open beaches in Huntington Beach. “As a nurse, I have to wear all the PPE and on my one day off, I just want to relax on the beach,” McFarlane said. (Allen J. Schaben/Los Angeles Times)
Surfers ride the waves on the north side of the Huntington Beach Pier Friday, May 1, 2020. Gov. Gavin Newsom ordered Orange County beaches closed on Thursday despite opposition from local leaders. (Allen J. Schaben/Los Angeles Times)
Steve Christopher, right, reads a book in the shade of the pier as a beach-goer does flips across the beach on the last day of open beaches in Huntington Beach. “I think it’s what needs to be done,” Christopher said. “I saw it last week and it was packed.” (Allen J. Schaben/Los Angeles Times)
Huntington Beach lifeguards patrol with a boat to try to get surfers to stop defying Gov. Gavin Newsom’s “hard close” order. (Allen J. Schaben/Los Angeles Times)
Saturday’s beach closure did not keep surfers out of the water in Newport Beach. (Wally Skalij/Los Angeles Times)
Surfers and others ventured to the beach in Newport Beach on Saturday despite the governor’s closure order. (Wally Skalij/Los Angeles Times)
A motorcycle officer watches the bike path near the Huntington Beach Pier on Saturday. California Gov. Gavin Newson ordered a hard closure of Orange County beaches this weekend. (Luis Sinco/Los Angeles Times)
A couple walks along the sand while others venture into the surf in Newport Beach even though Gov. Gavin Newsom ordered Orange County beaches closed. (Wally Skalij/Los Angeles Times)
Under the watchful eyes of police officers, protesters against beach closures walk along Newport Beach even though a beach closure went into effect Saturday. (Wally Skalij/Los Angeles Times)
People walk on the sand in Newport Beach despite the beach closure that went into effect Saturday. (Wally Skalij/Los Angeles Times)
Protesters against beach closures walk in Newport Beach even though a beach closure went into effect Saturday. (Wally Skalij/Los Angeles Times)
Huntington Beach resident Kyle Richardson, 35, holds a sign telling California Gov. Gavin Newson to lift stay-at-home orders and reopen beaches, parks and the California economy, during a protest near the Huntington Beach Pier on Saturday. (Luis Sinco/Los Angeles Times)
Newport Beach lifeguards and police clear the beach during a closure that went into effect Saturday. (Wally Skalij/Los Angeles Times)
A surfer climbs over a barrier meant to keep visitors off the beach in Newport Beach on Saturday morning. (Wally Skalij/Los Angeles Times)
Bill Beukers and his wife, Teresa, claim their constitutional rights as they speak to Newport Beach police officers. (Wally Skalij/Los Angeles Times)
An aerial view of the Newport Beach pier, where a few surfers and beach-goers enjoy a nice day at the beach despite Gov. Gavin Newsom’s hard closure, which is still in place in Newport Beach. (Allen J. Schaben/Los Angeles Times)
Bicyclists and pass the closed Boardwalk Sports store on the boardwalk in Newport Beach, on Monday. The business is only renting bicycles but is hoping to fully open after Gov. Newsom’s announcement that some businesses will be able to reopen. (Allen J. Schaben/Los Angeles Times)
An aerial view of a few surfers and beach-goers enjoying a nice day at the beach despite Gov. Gavin Newsom’s hard closure, which is still in place in Newport Beach on Monday. (Allen J. Schaben/Allen J. Schaben/Los Angeles Times)
An aerial view of a few surfers and beach-goers enjoying a nice day at the beach despite Gov. Gavin Newsom’s hard closure, which is still in place in Newport Beach. (Allen J. Schaben/Los Angeles Times)
An aerial view of beach-goers playing volleyball on a nice day at the beach despite Gov. Gavin Newsom’s hard closure, which is still in place in Newport Beach. (Allen J. Schaben/Los Angeles Times)
People stroll along Laguna’s Main Beach after it reopened its beaches for active use only. (Irfan Khan/Los Angeles Times)
Cathie Lawler with her dogs, Milo and Charlie, said “Absolutely fabulous. So good to see the beach” as she walked along Laguna Beach after it reopened for active use only. (Irfan Khan/Los Angeles Times)
Mathew Hanna jumps on a skim board at Laguna’s Main Beach on Tuesday morning as city reopened its beaches for active use only. (Irfan Khan/Los Angeles Times)
People stroll along Laguna’s Main Beach after it reopened its beaches for active use only. (Irfan Khan/Los Angeles Times)
Pressure to reopen parts of California continued to build over the weekend, with more rural counties vowing to ease stay-at-home restrictions and protesters marching against the closure of Orange County beaches , a move intended to slow the spread of the coronavirus.
Polls show most Californians support stay-at-home rules , which have been credited with helping California avoid the massive death toll of New York and other hot spots, and fear that lifting them too soon could cause more outbreaks.
But the social-distancing restrictions have devastated the economy , and some parts of California that have not been hit particularly hard by the coronavirus are pushing to get back in business .
Gov. Gavin Newsom said he understood the frustrations and suggested he would announce an easing of some rules as early as this week.
“I just want folks to know we’re getting very close to making really meaningful augmentations to that stay-at-home order,” Newsom said Friday. “I want to say many days, not weeks, as long as we continue to be prudent and thoughtful.”
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The governor has described the next phase of his stay-at-home order as allowing some lower-risk businesses to reopen in communities across California, including retail locations, manufacturing sites and small businesses.
“The only thing that’s gonna hold us back is the spread of this virus,” Newsom said. “And the only thing that is sure to advance the spread of the virus is thousands of people congregating together. Practicing social distancing or physical distance, we can avoid that.”
A poll from the UC Berkeley Institute of Governmental Studies last week showed California voters give broad approval to Newsom amid the coronavirus crisis, and despite widely felt economic pain.
Voters want officials to take their time in ending restrictions on business and public gatherings. By 70% to 30%, the state’s voters say they’re more worried that shelter-in-place orders will end too soon, causing the illness to spread more, than they are that such orders will continue for too long and damage the economy.
Two weeks ago, 75% of people surveyed wanted the order to continue as long as it’s needed, according to a California Health Care Foundation/Ipsos survey. Only 11% wanted to stop the stay-at-home order, while 13% had no opinion. Among low-income residents, support was even stronger: 78% supported the stay-at-home order and only 3% opposed it.
Still, there have been protests across the state in recent days against the order, and some counties in rural California are taking matters into their own hands.
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Yuba and Sutter counties in Northern California are set to allow many businesses to reopen Monday in defiance of Newsom’s statewide six-week-old stay-at-home order.
The two counties near the state’s capital would join a sparsely populated county in California’s northeastern corner, Modoc County , with fewer than 9,000 residents, that on Friday allowed all businesses, schools and churches to reopen as long as people inside can stay six feet apart.
The move by Yuba and Sutter counties — with a combined population of 171,000 people and just 50 coronavirus cases and three deaths — comes as other California counties on the Central Coast and San Joaquin Valley are demanding to reopen more businesses.
Newsom’s stay-at-home order, issued March 19, was the first to be issued by any governor in the nation, and experts credit that with helping California see a fraction of deaths of places like New York state, with more than 24,000 deaths . This compares with more than 2,100 fatalities in the Golden State, with 55% of those occurring in Los Angeles County .
A day after demonstrators congregated at the intersection of Main Street and Pacific Coast Highway in Huntington Beach to rally against stay-at-home orders, another organized protest took place Saturday in Laguna Beach.
At the start of the day, an orange netted barrier was put up around the town’s beach access points.
Those barriers did not hold, as protesters made their way onto the sand and continued the demonstration in the afternoon.
The Laguna Beach City Council recently voted to allow active use of its beaches from 6 to 10 a.m. on weekdays only. Laguna Beach Mayor Pro Tem Steve Dicterow said there had been overwhelming support for the phased opening plan, but he backed Newsom’s right to close the beach.
“I think it’s unfortunate because whether I agree or not with what the governor said, I think he has the legal right to do that, and I think the courts have determined that,” Dicterow said in reaction to the protest. “He created a path for us to go forward. He said to submit a plan, so we submitted a plan, and we’re waiting to see how the governor will react. I’m hopeful and optimistic that our plan will meet with his approval, and we’ll be able to open the beaches.”
At the north side of the Newport Beach pier Saturday, a group of about 70 was in the parking lot, wanting to get out on the sand. American flags were seen alongside red MAGA hats.
At noon, they started walking across the beach to the ocean. Newport Beach police officers advised them to turn back, and a helicopter from the Orange County Sheriff’s Department flew over, announcing the closure over a loudspeaker.
Bill Beukers was among them. He and his wife had driven down from Lancaster, and uncertain how the conversation would go, she filmed the exchange while the couple’s children bodysurfed.
Beukers, 48, said afterward that he was willing to get arrested and that the discussion had less to do with the beach than the constitutionality of the closure.
“Where do we go from here?” he recalled asking the officers. “What side of history do you want to be on? Someone has to stand their ground. We’re on a slippery slope, and we might end up where we might not want to be.”
He cited the 2nd Amendment and civil rights activist Rosa Parks, and in the end, the parties shook hands and the police departed.
In an interview with Fox News on Sunday, White House coronavirus task force coordinator, Dr. Deborah Birx, said the sight of anti-shutdown protesters crowded together in public, often unmasked, is “devastatingly worrisome.”
“We need to protect each other at the same time as we’re voicing our discontent,” she said.
Asked whether it was safe for people to flock to beaches in California, Birx said that depended on proximity.
“If it’s done with social distancing, yes,” she said. “If it’s not done with social distancing, no.”


latimes--2020-05-03--All lighted up with no movies to play: Hollywood theaters in limbo

At 8 o ’ clock on a Saturday night , the scene outside the Regal LA Live & 4DX theater complex in downtown L.A. would normally be packed .
Moviegoers would be rushing to arrive by showtime , packing crosswalks and backing up traffic on a busy Olympic Boulevard .
Across from the cineplex , taco trucks would be drawing their own crowds .
On this particular Saturday night , however , with California ’ s stay-at-home order in effect , there were no cars , no moviegoers , no movies .
Of course , there were supposed to be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ theaters across the country would have been playing in recent days : “ A Quiet Place Part II , ” which was set to open just as stay-at-home orders began .
The live-action remake of Disney ’ s “ Mulan.
” The James Bond film “ No Time to Die.
” Marvel ’ s “ Black Widow , ” which would have opened Friday .
Coming weeks would have seen the releases of “ F9 , ” the next “ Fast & Furious ” sequel ; “ Wonder Woman 1984 '' ; Lin-Manuel @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” ; and “ Top Gun Maverick.
” Those potential blockbusters will have to wait for later theater premieres while dozens of other films head for streaming or premium video-on-demand releases .
Meanwhile , the theaters themselves remain in limbo , with no substantial summer slate of films anticipated until July , when it ’ s hoped that Christopher Nolan ’ s “ Tenet ” will open , followed by a very different awards season .
For as The Times ’ Justin Chang and Glenn Whipp discuss in their conversation of summer movies @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Xanadu of a giant screen , air conditioning , darkness , Milk Duds and a big Hollywood movie in a packed theater .
While movie studios are planning safe ways to get cameras rolling again , theater owners work out plans for reopening multiplexes , documentary makers are finding socially distant ways to shoot , and film professionals all over are discussing the ways their jobs will change in a post-quarantine Hollywood .
We asked L.A. Times photographer Jay L. Clendenin to capture Hollywood ’ s movie houses in this pandemic moment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ play .
It ’ s part of our special report , “ Reopening Hollywood : What ’ s next for movies ?
”

At 8 o’clock on a Saturday night, the scene outside the Regal LA Live & 4DX theater complex in downtown L.A. would normally be packed. Moviegoers would be rushing to arrive by showtime, packing crosswalks and backing up traffic on a busy Olympic Boulevard. Across from the cineplex, taco trucks would be drawing their own crowds.
On this particular Saturday night, however, with California’s stay-at-home order in effect, there were no cars, no moviegoers, no movies.
Of course, there were supposed to be movies. These are a few that theaters across the country would have been playing in recent days: “A Quiet Place Part II,” which was set to open just as stay-at-home orders began. The live-action remake of Disney’s “Mulan.” The James Bond film “No Time to Die.” Marvel’s “Black Widow,” which would have opened Friday.
Coming weeks would have seen the releases of “F9,” the next “Fast & Furious” sequel; “Wonder Woman 1984”; Lin-Manuel Miranda’s “In the Heights”; and “Top Gun Maverick.” Those potential blockbusters will have to wait for later theater premieres while dozens of other films head for streaming or premium video-on-demand releases. Meanwhile, the theaters themselves remain in limbo, with no substantial summer slate of films anticipated until July, when it’s hoped that Christopher Nolan’s “Tenet” will open, followed by a very different awards season. For as The Times’ Justin Chang and Glenn Whipp discuss in their conversation of summer movies past, there’s nothing like the Xanadu of a giant screen, air conditioning, darkness, Milk Duds and a big Hollywood movie in a packed theater.
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While movie studios are planning safe ways to get cameras rolling again, theater owners work out plans for reopening multiplexes, documentary makers are finding socially distant ways to shoot, and film professionals all over are discussing the ways their jobs will change in a post-quarantine Hollywood.
We asked L.A. Times photographer Jay L. Clendenin to capture Hollywood’s movie houses in this pandemic moment — all lighted up with nothing to play. It’s part of our special report, “Reopening Hollywood: What’s next for movies?”
— Laurie Ochoa, Sunday Calendar editor
The Regal LA Live & 4DX
The Regal LA Live & 4DX theater complex sits empty at 8 p.m. on a recent Saturday night in downtown Los Angeles. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
I wish it were possible to see a big dumb blockbuster surrounded by people in a movie theater. ... Am I losing my mind, Justin? Are you jonesing for an overpriced box of Milk Duds too? — Glenn Whipp to film critic Justin Chang
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For pure summer moviegoing pleasure ... “There’s Something About Mary.” What a movie to see in a packed house; I laughed so hard during the hair-gel scene that I was afraid I might pass out. — Justin Chang to entertainment columnist Glenn Whipp
The New Beverly Cinema
The New Beverly Cinema, shown on April 19, is owned by filmmaker Quentin Tarantino. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
The New Beverly opened as a candy shop in 1929 and later served as nightclub Slapsy Maxie’s. It’s been showing movies since the 1950s. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
REOPENING HOLLYWOOD | SPECIAL REPORT: What’s next for movies?
Theaters opening now, I think, is a bit silly. There’s no content to show, and people are going to be nervous about congregating. — Eric Handler, MKM Partners analyst
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It will be a methodical, gradual return. Folks will come back, we just have to see how quickly. — Ted Mundorff, president of ArcLight Cinemas
The Vista
The Vista on Sunset Boulevard, shown April 21, was originally called the Lou Bard Playhouse and opened in 1923. Its first film was “Tips,” starring child star Baby Peggy. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
I don’t really imagine you’re going to be doing giant scenes with thousands of extras right off the bat. But ... I believe protocols will evolve to create workplaces where crews, who are hungry to get back to work, will feel safe. — Tom Rothman, chair of Sony Pictures’ Motion Picture Group
Company Town Reopening California: Hollywood is figuring out how to start rolling again Hollywood is eager to get back to work after the coronavirus outbreak, but union officials, studio executives and others must first agree on new protocols to make filming safe again.
It’s going to be an interesting test of creative thinking and ingenuity. I don’t think there’s a standard way in which this is all going to progress. — John Sloss, founder of Cinetic Media
The Fairfax Cinema
The Fairfax Cinema was showing “The Treasure of the Sierra Madre” the week the coronavirus spurred L.A.’s shutdown. The Fairfax was closed in 2017 after harassment allegations and other issues with Cinefamily, which previously programmed the theater. It reopened in 2019. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
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I love sharing stories and watching them together on the big screen, being part of audiences that laugh or get scared or get thrilled together. ... We’re going to have to adapt ... but I do think that a desire for the communal experience is who we are. — Kenneth Branagh, actor, producer, director whose “Artemis Fowl” will stream on Disney+
Movies What will a post-pandemic Hollywood look like? We asked Hollywood From director’s chairs to executive suites to movie theater seats, no element of Hollywood will be untouched as society movies forward from the pandemic. We asked people all around the industry what the future might look like.
To me, watching a movie on TV or a show on TV or streaming is the equivalent to a Zoom call, whereas seeing a movie in a theater is the equivalent of a live meeting. — Jason Blum, producer, and founder and CEO of Blumhouse Productions
Los Feliz Theatre
Los Feliz Theatre has filled its marquee with quotes from classic movies, including a Charlie Chaplin quote from “The Great Dictator”: “We all want to help one another. Human beings are like that.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
Instead of five people going to shoot an interview, maybe there are two. Vérité filmmaking is going to be harder. — Courtney Sexton, senior vice president for CNN Films
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Movies Film production is shut down but documentaries are still being made. Here’s how From a look at Barack Obama’s White House photographer to a personal production on the streets of Germany, many documentaries are still in production during quarantine thanks to technology, smaller crews and archival footage.
El Capitan
El Capitan Theatre, in the heart of Hollywood, features “Big Hero 6” character Baymax and a thank you to healthcare workers battling the coronavirus. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
Also flashing up on the marquee at El Capitan is a fitting quote from “Toy Story’s” Buzz Lightyear: “The important thing is that we stick together.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
Characters from Disney Pixar’s “The Incredibles” also make an appearance on El Capitan Theatre’s marquee. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
If there’s a movie awards season this year, there’s only one certainty: Like everything else in this pandemic-altered world, it’s not going to look like anything we’ve ever seen before. — Glenn Whipp
Movies 2020 has plenty of promising Oscar contenders ... if the Oscars actually happen With movie theaters closed for at least a significant chunk of the year, the impact on awards season is not yet known, but several Oscar contenders will be ready to go when moviegoing resumes.
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The Nuart
The marquee, with the message “Be safe,” is dark on April 18 at Landmark’s Nuart Theater. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)