latimes--2020-04-16--This is the latest list of L.A. County communities with coronavirus cases

Los Angeles County announced 399 new coronavirus infections Thursday , bringing its total case count to almost 10,900 .
Health officials also reported 55 more deaths linked to COVID-19 — the highest one-day total since the outbreak began — as the county ’ s total rose to 455 .
“ The increase this week in the number of deaths attributed to COVID-19 is distressing and a stark reminder of the devastation caused by COVID-19 , ” county Department of Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer said in a statement .
“ Public Health is planning for our county ’ s eventual @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we can ease the health officer orders .
Our goal is to get people back to work by gradually relaxing restrictions in a measured and disciplined way to avoid experiencing a resurgence of cases that overwhelms our healthcare system and threatens our collective well-being .
Many routines will still be different and practicing physical distancing , wearing face coverings , and keeping our hands clean will be very important until we have a vaccine.
” Here is the latest list of Los Angeles County communities with confirmed coronavirus cases .
For more information @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Case totals in the following communities are reported as ranges : Santa Catalina Island 1-4 Hawaiian Gardens 1-4 Saugus 1-4 Pearblossom/Llano 1-4 Sierra Madre 1-4 Mandeville Canyon 1-4 South El Monte 1-4 Faircrest Heights 1-4 Exposition 1-4 Manchester Square 1-4 Playa del Rey 1-4 St. Elmo Village 1-4 North Whittier 1-4 Sun Village 1-4 El Camino Village 1-4 Sunrise Village 1-4 Acton 1-4 Longwood 1-4 East Whittier 1-4 La Habra Heights 1-4 Littlerock/Pearblossom 1-4 Littlerock/Juniper Hills 1-4 Toluca Woods 1-4 Twin Lakes/Oat Mountain 1-4 Unincorporated Angeles National Forest 1-4 Unincorporated Arcadia 1-4 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hawthorne 1-4 Unincorporated La Verne 1-4 Kagel/Lopez Canyons 1-4 Unincorporated South El Monte 1-4 Unincorporated West L.A. 1-4 Unincorporated Whittier 1-4 University Hills 1-4 Valencia 1-4 Palisades Highlands 1-4 Desert View Highlands 1-4 Del Sur 1-4 Rolling Hills 1-4 Little Tokyo 1-4 Chinatown 1-4 Rosewood 1-4 Rosewood/West Rancho Dominguez 1-4 Wellington Square 1-4 West Antelope Valley 1-4 Bradbury 1-4 Bouquet Canyon 1-4 Industry 1-4 West Rancho Dominguez 1-4 Avocado Heights 1-4 Lake Manor 1-4 White Fence Farms 1-4 Whittier Narrows 1-4 Angelino Heights 1-4 Angeles National Forest 1-4 Agua Dulce 1-4 Wiseburn 1-4

A passenger wearing personal protective equipment checks his flight status in the Tom Bradley International Terminal at Los Angeles International Airport on Wednesday.
Los Angeles County announced 399 new coronavirus infections Thursday, bringing its total case count to almost 10,900.
Health officials also reported 55 more deaths linked to COVID-19 — the highest one-day total since the outbreak began — as the county’s total rose to 455.
“The increase this week in the number of deaths attributed to COVID-19 is distressing and a stark reminder of the devastation caused by COVID-19,” county Department of Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer said in a statement. “Public Health is planning for our county’s eventual recovery and preparing for a time when we can ease the health officer orders. Our goal is to get people back to work by gradually relaxing restrictions in a measured and disciplined way to avoid experiencing a resurgence of cases that overwhelms our healthcare system and threatens our collective well-being. Many routines will still be different and practicing physical distancing, wearing face coverings, and keeping our hands clean will be very important until we have a vaccine.”
Here is the latest list of Los Angeles County communities with confirmed coronavirus cases. For more information, see The Times’ coronavirus tracker.
Long Beach 379
Glendale 288
Melrose 223
Pasadena 184
Santa Clarita 178
Torrance 163
North Hollywood 148
Inglewood 137
Carson 135
Sylmar 128
Hollywood 125
Palmdale 123
Burbank 117
South Gate 116
East Los Angeles 116
Downey 114
West Hollywood 107
Van Nuys 104
Santa Monica 100
Lancaster 96
Canoga Park 92
Norwalk 90
Hawthorne 90
Westlake 90
Lynwood 89
Reseda 87
Silver Lake 86
Gardena 86
Sherman Oaks 85
Redondo Beach 84
West Vernon 81
Compton 79
Beverly Hills 78
Woodland Hills 78
Panorama City 78
Pico Rivera 73
Unincorporated Florence-Firestone 71
Bell 71
Palms 70
Glassell Park 67
Pacoima 67
Boyle Heights 66
Montebello 66
Pico-Union 66
Pomona 63
Koreatown 61
Temple-Beaudry 59
Whittier 59
Brentwood 58
Exposition Park 58
Northridge 58
Winnetka 58
San Pedro 58
Wilshire Center 58
Manhattan Beach 57
Bellflower 57
Granada Hills 57
Encino 56
North Hills 56
Covina 55
East Hollywood 54
West Adams 53
Florence-Firestone 52
Central 51
Hancock Park 51
Little Armenia 51
West Covina 50
Tarzana 50
Paramount 49
Eagle Rock 48
Sun Valley 48
Vernon Central 48
Hollywood Hills 47
South Park 46
Rancho Palos Verdes 46
Huntington Park 46
El Sereno 46
Lakewood 46
Crestview 45
Valley Village 43
Wilmington 42
Highland Park 41
Bell Gardens 41
Lake Balboa 40
Westchester 40
Athens-Westmont 40
Altadena 39
Mar Vista 39
Little Bangladesh 38
Chatsworth 38
Alhambra 38
Valley Glen 38
El Monte 38
West Los Angeles 37
Westwood 37
Carthay 37
Palos Verdes Estates 36
Del Rey 36
Sunland 36
Baldwin Hills 36
Culver City 36
Monterey Park 35
Baldwin Park 35
Arleta 35
Hacienda Heights 34
Cerritos 34
Harbor Gateway 34
Pacific Palisades 33
Vermont Vista 33
Venice 32
Lawndale 32
Century Palms/Cove 32
Maywood 32
Porter Ranch 31
West Carson 31
Harvard Park 31
South Whittier 31
Watts 30
Country Club Park 29
Wholesale District 29
University Park 28
Mission Hills 28
Downtown 27
San Fernando 27
Glendora 27
Calabasas 26
Beverly Crest 26
Willowbrook 26
Century City 26
Arcadia 26
West Hills 26
Leimert Park 25
Harbor City 25
La Mirada 25
Mid-City 25
Cudahy 25
Harvard Heights 25
Hyde Park 25
Historic Filipinotown 24
Lomita 24
La Cañada Flintridge 24
Walnut Park 24
Studio City 22
Azusa 22
Beverlywood 22
Crenshaw District 22
Agoura Hills 22
Lincoln Heights 22
Los Feliz 21
Tujunga 21
Bel-Air 21
Miracle Mile 21
Diamond Bar 21
La Puente 21
Vermont Knolls 20
South Carthay 20
South Pasadena 20
Temple City 20
Lennox 19
Rowland Heights 19
Lakeview Terrace 19
Green Meadows 19
Victoria Park 18
San Dimas 18
Vermont Square 18
Hermosa Beach 17
West Whittier/Los Nietos 17
Malibu 17
Duarte 17
Adams-Normandie 16
Rosemead 16
View Park/Windsor Hills 16
Mount Washington 16
San Gabriel 15
Canyon Country 15
Ladera Heights 15
Monrovia 14
Walnut 14
Unincorporated Covina 13
Claremont 13
Quartz Hill 12
El Segundo 12
Cheviot Hills 12
Gramercy Place 12
East Rancho Dominguez 12
Cloverdale/Cochran 12
Valinda 12
Stevenson Ranch 11
Rolling Hills Estates 11
La Crescenta-Montrose 11
Playa Vista 11
Figueroa Park Square 10
Echo Park 10
La Verne 9
Castaic 9
Covina (Charter Oak) 9
Park La Brea 9
Atwater Village 9
Reseda Ranch 9
Santa Fe Springs 9
Thai Town 9
Bassett 9
Elysian Valley 9
Rancho Park 8
Marina Peninsula 8
San Marino 8
Rancho Dominguez 8
South San Gabriel 7
Toluca Lake 7
Santa Monica Mountains 7
Lafayette Square 7
Alsace 7
Shadow Hills 7
Athens Village 7
Northeast San Gabriel 7
Cadillac-Corning 7
Lake Los Angeles 7
Artesia 7
Westlake Village 6
West Puente Valley 6
Marina del Rey 6
San Jose Hills 6
Reynier Village 6
La Rambla 5
View Heights 5
Del Aire 5
Unincorporated Monrovia 5
Elysian Park 5
Signal Hill 5
East La Mirada 5
Commerce 5
Jefferson Park 5
Case totals in the following communities are reported as ranges:
Santa Catalina Island 1-4
Hawaiian Gardens 1-4
Saugus 1-4
Pearblossom/Llano 1-4
Sierra Madre 1-4
Mandeville Canyon 1-4
South El Monte 1-4
Faircrest Heights 1-4
Exposition 1-4
Manchester Square 1-4
Playa del Rey 1-4
St. Elmo Village 1-4
North Whittier 1-4
Sun Village 1-4
El Camino Village 1-4
Sunrise Village 1-4
Acton 1-4
Longwood 1-4
East Whittier 1-4
La Habra Heights 1-4
Littlerock/Pearblossom 1-4
Littlerock/Juniper Hills 1-4
Toluca Woods 1-4
Twin Lakes/Oat Mountain 1-4
Unincorporated Angeles National Forest 1-4
Unincorporated Arcadia 1-4
Unincorporated Azusa 1-4
Regent Square 1-4
Unincorporated Hawthorne 1-4
Unincorporated La Verne 1-4
Kagel/Lopez Canyons 1-4
Unincorporated South El Monte 1-4
Unincorporated West L.A. 1-4
Unincorporated Whittier 1-4
University Hills 1-4
Valencia 1-4
Palisades Highlands 1-4
Desert View Highlands 1-4
Del Sur 1-4
Rolling Hills 1-4
Little Tokyo 1-4
Chinatown 1-4
Rosewood 1-4
Rosewood/West Rancho Dominguez 1-4
Wellington Square 1-4
West Antelope Valley 1-4
Bradbury 1-4
Bouquet Canyon 1-4
Industry 1-4
West Rancho Dominguez 1-4
Avocado Heights 1-4
Lake Manor 1-4
White Fence Farms 1-4
Whittier Narrows 1-4
Angelino Heights 1-4
Angeles National Forest 1-4
Agua Dulce 1-4
Wiseburn 1-4


latimes--2020-04-16--L.A. County now requires residents to wear face coverings. Here are the details

Los Angeles County ’ s new requirement on wearing face coverings went into effect Wednesday night .
Here ’ s a look at how that new law works , as well as similar orders around California .
Customers of essential businesses are required to wear a face covering while inside .
Also , employers of essential businesses must give all employees — whose duties require contact with other people — a cloth face covering to wear while working with other people .
Do I have to wear it while in the backyard or walking alone outside ?
The L.A. County @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people who live in Los Angeles County , does not require mask wearing while in the backyard or while on a solitary run or walk .
Barbara Ferrer , director of the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health , said wearing face coverings protects other people from your own germs in case you ’ re infected and don ’ t realize it .
She also suggested wearing the face covering while you ’ re in places with other people , such as on a bus or a train while making an essential @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all by yourself ... you can put it on if you want to , but you ’ re not required to , ” Ferrer said .
People who live together also are not required to wear masks while on a walk or a jog , Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti said .
The cities of Long Beach and Pasadena , which have their own health departments , issued similar orders to be consistent with L.A. County ’ s order .
A similar order for the city of Los Angeles , with a population @ @ @ @ @ @ @ effect Friday .
Have some cities issued even stronger face covering rules ?
Beverly Hills and Glendale require face coverings whenever people leave homes , including for walks through the neighborhood .
Under the order , drivers traveling alone or with members of their households do not need to wear face coverings unless they lower their vehicle ’ s windows for any reason , including to interact with first responders , food service workers or others who are not members of their household .
What about other counties in Southern California ?
San @ @ @ @ @ @ @ contact with the public to wear a cloth face covering , such as grocery stores , pharmacies , convenience stores , gas stations , banks , on public transit and for childcare providers while serving food .
Orange County is strongly encouraging residents to wear face coverings when leaving home , as well as employees at essential businesses while working .
The city of Costa Mesa , however , is generally making face coverings mandatory when residents or visitors are outside their home or personal vehicle while performing or accessing an essential service @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a face covering when leaving home .
San Bernardino County requires everyone to wear a face covering when outside the home for essential activities .
Ventura County is urging residents to wear a face covering if they will be around others .
What about the San Francisco Bay Area ?
Six counties in the San Francisco Bay Area have issued recommendations to wear face coverings while interacting with other people while doing essential activities , including the counties of San Francisco , Santa Clara , Alameda , Contra Costa , San Mateo and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the doctor ’ s office and visiting supermarkets and pharmacies .
Sonoma County is requiring face coverings before entering any indoor facility outside their home , such as grocery stores , dry cleaners , offices and post offices ; in any enclosed open space , like construction sites , taxi and rideshares or buses ; and in outdoor areas when people are unable to keep six feet away from others at all times , like farmers markets , gas stations and drive-through .
Fremont , a suburb in the East Bay , is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ while inside essential businesses .
What do state and federal authorities say ?
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends wearing cloth face coverings in public settings such as grocery stores and pharmacies , where it ’ s hard to keep six feet away from other people .
The California Department of Public Health says wearing face coverings may reduce asymptomatic transmission of the virus and reinforce physical distancing .
“ There is limited evidence to suggest that use of cloth face coverings by the public during a pandemic could help @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
“ Their primary role is to reduce the release of infectious particles into the air when someone speaks , coughs , or sneezes , including someone who has COVID-19 but feels well .
“ Cloth face coverings are not a substitute for physical distancing and washing hands and staying home when ill , but they may be helpful when combined with these primary interventions , ” the agency said .
What are ideas for face covers beyond a cloth face covering ?
Bandannas , fabric masks and neck gaiters are acceptable @ @ @ @ @ @ @ medical-grade masks and N-95 respirators for medical professionals and first responders .
How should I care for my face covering ?
• It ’ s a good idea to wash your cloth face covering frequently , ideally after each use , or at least daily .
• Have a bag or bin to keep cloth face coverings in until they can be laundered with detergent and hot water and dried on a hot cycle .
• If you must re-wear your cloth face covering before washing , wash your hands immediately after putting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ face .
• Discard cloth face coverings that no longer cover the nose and mouth , have stretched-out or damaged ties or straps , can not stay on the face , or have holes or tears in the fabric

Los Angeles County’s new requirement on wearing face coverings went into effect Wednesday night. Here’s a look at how that new law works, as well as similar orders around California.
How does L.A. County’s face-covering order work?
Customers of essential businesses are required to wear a face covering while inside.
Also, employers of essential businesses must give all employees whose duties require contact with other people a cloth face covering to wear while working with other people.
Advertisement
Do I have to wear it while in the backyard or walking alone outside?
The L.A. County order, effective for all 10 million people who live in Los Angeles County, does not require mask-wearing while in the backyard or while on a solitary run or walk.
Barbara Ferrer, director of the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, said wearing face coverings protects other people from your germs in case you’re infected and don’t realize it.
She suggested wearing the face covering while you’re in places with other people, such as on a bus or a train while making an essential trip.
“If you’re all by yourself ... you can put it on if you want to, but you’re not required to,” Ferrer said.
People who live together also are not required to wear masks while on a walk or a jog, Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti said.
The cities of Long Beach and Pasadena, which have their own health departments, issued similar orders to be consistent with L.A. County’s order. A similar order for the city of Los Angeles, with a population of 4 million people, went into effect Friday.
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Have some cities issued even stronger face-covering rules?
Beverly Hills and Glendale require face coverings whenever people leave home, including for walks through the neighborhood.
Under the order, drivers traveling alone or with members of their households do not need to wear face coverings unless they lower their vehicle’s windows for any reason, including to interact with first responders, food service workers or others who are not members of their household.
What about other counties in Southern California?
San Diego County requires employees who may have contact with the public to wear a cloth face covering, such as in grocery stores, pharmacies, convenience stores, gas stations and banks, as well as on public transit and for childcare providers while serving food.
Orange County is strongly encouraging residents to wear face coverings when leaving home, as well as employees at essential businesses while working. The city of Costa Mesa, however, is generally making face coverings mandatory when residents or visitors are outside their home or personal vehicle while performing or accessing an essential service.
Riverside County requires everyone to wear a face covering when leaving home.
San Bernardino County requires everyone to wear a face covering when outside the home for essential activities.
Ventura County is urging residents to wear a face covering if they will be around others.
What about the San Francisco Bay Area?
A number of San Francisco Bay Area counties, including San Francisco, Alameda, Contra Costa, San Mateo and Marin, are requiring face coverings for people when they are outside their homes to access essential businesses such as grocery stores or pharmacies, while seeking healthcare services and while waiting for and riding public transit. Masks aren’t required for children 12 or younger. They also aren’t required while at home, in cars alone or with members of the same household or while walking, hiking, cycling or running outdoors, although people are asked to have one readily accessible.
Sonoma County is requiring people to wear face coverings before entering any indoor facility outside their home, such as grocery stores, dry cleaners, offices and post offices; in any enclosed open space, like construction sites; in taxis, ride-hail vehicles and buses; and in outdoor areas when people are unable to keep six feet away from others at all times, such as farmers markets, gas stations and drive-thrus.
Santa Clara County is urging people to wear face masks in public.
What do state and federal authorities say?
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends wearing cloth face coverings in public settings such as grocery stores and pharmacies, where it can be hard to keep six feet away from other people.
The California Department of Public Health says wearing face coverings may reduce asymptomatic transmission of the virus and reinforce physical distancing.
“There is limited evidence to suggest that use of cloth face coverings by the public during a pandemic could help reduce disease transmission,” the agency said. “Their primary role is to reduce the release of infectious particles into the air when someone speaks, coughs or sneezes, including someone who has COVID-19 but feels well.
“Cloth face coverings are not a substitute for physical distancing and washing hands and staying home when ill, but they may be helpful when combined with these primary interventions,” the agency said.
What kinds of face coverings are acceptable?
Bandannas, fabric masks and neck gaiters are permitted. Officials are urging residents to reserve medical-grade masks and N95 respirators for medical professionals and first responders.
How should I care for my face covering?
Here’s some advice by California health officials:


latimes--2020-04-16--This mother and daughter were inseparable. They died from coronavirus on the same day

Carolina Tovar and Letty Ramirez were an inseparable mother-and-daughter duo — the twin matriarchs of their family .
They were often standing side by side in the kitchen , sharing traditional recipes that they would serve their children .
In the evenings , they watched classic Mexican films , the ones starring Vicente Fernandez .
They got their nails done together and talked about everything .
As Tovar aged , Ramirez was her most trusted caregiver .
She guided her in and out of hospitals for her weekly dialysis .
She was always there .
But in March , breathing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ room .
This time , they would not leave together , hand in hand , as they had done so many times before .
On April 3 , mother and daughter died from COVID-19 , hours apart in separate hospitals .
A tight-knit family whose members normally find comfort in one another ’ s presence is now learning to adjust to life without two mothers .
As they grieve , some family members are also recovering from COVID-19 themselves and struggling with the financial difficulties that have come with the health crisis .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ stomach , ” said 28-year-old Alexis Ramirez , Letty Ramirez ’ s eldest daughter .
“ It happened so quickly , nobody could believe it.
” The week before the women were hospitalized , they spent their evenings together as they had always done .
Ramirez , 54 , had a dry cough , mostly in the mornings , but otherwise felt well enough to go to work as a mortgage broker .
But on March 19 , her oxygen levels fell , and her daughter rushed her to the emergency room .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Medical Center in Fullerton , feeling guilty that she couldn ’ t stay by her mother ’ s side because of the hospital ’ s isolation requirements .
Tovar , 86 , who had seemed in good health , fell ill shortly afterward and was admitted to the same hospital days after Ramirez .
Letty Ramirez ’ s husband was also hospitalized with COVID-19 symptoms that weekend .
Each day , family members updated one another on the status of Tovar and Ramirez via FaceTime .
They were hopeful .
Tovar had been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ strong .
Ramirez was young and seemed to have a lot of life left to live .
At first , it seemed as if Ramirez would get better .
She was able to talk to her daughter over the phone and told her she ’ d be home in just a few days .
Within hours of that call , she was put on a ventilator and transferred to Providence St. John ’ s Health Center in Santa Monica where doctors hoped better equipment would give her a chance .
Doctors told her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and kidney failure , something they hadn ’ t been aware of before .
She also suffered from asthma .
During the Ramirez family ’ s next FaceTime call with her , Letty Ramirez was only able to open her eyes .
She looked like she might have wanted to say something , but Alexis couldn ’ t understand .
“ I just told her , ‘ Mom , please keep fighting .
We still need you here .
We want you to come home.
’ ” At St. Jude ’ s , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ She was just telling us , ‘ I gave it my all .
I ’ m ready to go now , ’ ” said Maribell Tovar , one of her daughters .
On April 2 , when doctors informed the family Tovar would need to be put on a ventilator , another one of Tovar ’ s daughters negotiated her way into her hospital room .
She called the family on FaceTime and , together , they decided to respect Tovar ’ s wishes not to be put on a ventilator .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Tovar ’ s children and grandchildren spent the night with her , their voices enveloping her as she let out her last breath .
Letty Ramirez was one of few missing .
“ She was ready , and we prepared ourselves too , ” Alexis said of Tovar .
“ We were all still talking to her , telling her we loved her , that we ’ re going to be OK and she doesn ’ t have to fight anymore.
” It was a painful moment for the family to share , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ unexpected , given her age and history of kidney failure .
She had lived a beautiful life , marrying her husband , who recently died from cancer , when she was 13 in Zacatecas , Mexico , and later immigrating to California .
She had six daughters , two sons and many grandchildren who would take her on trips to Las Vegas and the beaches of Rosarito , Mexico , and host parties year-round .
The parties were often hosted by Letty Ramirez at her Rowland Heights home .
She and her mother @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ramirez ’ s green pozole was a family favorite .
“ She was the one that kept the family together on holidays , ” said Ramirez ’ s niece Vanessa Padilla .
Tovar was as caring as her daughter was .
“ My mom , she was just a sweet lady , ” Maribell said .
“ She was very giving and never criticized you .
She was the best mom.
” “ Mama Carolina was the matriarch of the family , ” said Art Aguilar , one of her grandsons , in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ example , time after time , teaching and inspiring love , trust , empathy , courage , tolerance , kindness , and fairness without ever preaching it.
” “ She loved to make sure we were OK , ” Alexis said .
“ She would love to feed us .
If you didn ’ t eat all your plate , she would be like ‘ Why are you starving yourself ?
’ ” The family hadn ’ t had time to recover from the news of Tovar ’ s death before Alexis got @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Her mother wasn ’ t improving .
Her toes were black .
Any more time on the ventilator would not help her , the doctor told her .
Alexis made the decision to remove her from the machines , and she died within minutes , just before 6 p.m. Letty Ramirez never learned about her mother ’ s death .
Alexis called her family again on FaceTime , and together , they cried .
“ It was just hard that we couldn ’ t be together to console one another , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t be there for [ my mom ] like she was there for us .
We felt so powerless.
” Alexis said the last couple of weeks have left her feeling numb and overwhelmed .
The older of her two brothers also tested positive for the virus and she believes she and her youngest brother were also infected .
She is scrambling to look for a job after she was laid off days before her mom ’ s death .
Ramirez was her family ’ s primary provider .
Alexis ’ 18- and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to school .
Her 76-year-old father , who is retired , was released from the hospital after a week and is recovering from the virus .
But he is struggling with the loss of his wife of 26 years .
He refuses to speak to other family members and seeks the constant company of his children .
“ She was the love of his life , ” Alexis said .
“ He tells me , ‘ What am I going to do without your mom ?
” “ In the end , Tia @ @ @ @ @ @ @ her life for her mom , ” Aguilar said , using the Spanish word for aunt .
“ How ironic that you could not separate these two women in life and that fate had made it so that they wouldn ’ t have to be separated after death .
”

Carolina Tovar and Letty Ramirez were an inseparable mother-and-daughter duo — the twin matriarchs of their family.
They were often standing side by side in the kitchen, sharing traditional recipes that they would serve their children. In the evenings, they watched classic Mexican films, the ones starring Vicente Fernandez. They got their nails done together and talked about everything.
As Tovar aged, Ramirez was her most trusted caregiver. She guided her in and out of hospitals for her weekly dialysis. She was always there.
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But in March, breathing difficulties brought both women to the emergency room. This time, they would not leave together, hand in hand, as they had done so many times before. On April 3, mother and daughter died from COVID-19, hours apart in separate hospitals.
A tight-knit family whose members normally find comfort in one another’s presence is now learning to adjust to life without two mothers. As they grieve, some family members are also recovering from COVID-19 themselves and struggling with the financial difficulties that have come with the health crisis.
“It felt like somebody kicked my stomach,” said 28-year-old Alexis Ramirez, Letty Ramirez’s eldest daughter. “It happened so quickly, nobody could believe it.”
The week before the women were hospitalized, they spent their evenings together as they had always done. Ramirez, 54, had a dry cough, mostly in the mornings, but otherwise felt well enough to go to work as a mortgage broker.
But on March 19, her oxygen levels fell, and her daughter rushed her to the emergency room. Alexis dropped her off at St. Jude Medical Center in Fullerton, feeling guilty that she couldn’t stay by her mother’s side because of the hospital’s isolation requirements.
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Tovar, 86, who had seemed in good health, fell ill shortly afterward and was admitted to the same hospital days after Ramirez. Letty Ramirez’s husband was also hospitalized with COVID-19 symptoms that weekend.
Each day, family members updated one another on the status of Tovar and Ramirez via FaceTime. They were hopeful. Tovar had been through hospitalizations and had always come out strong. Ramirez was young and seemed to have a lot of life left to live.
At first, it seemed as if Ramirez would get better. She was able to talk to her daughter over the phone and told her she’d be home in just a few days. Within hours of that call, she was put on a ventilator and transferred to Providence St. John’s Health Center in Santa Monica where doctors hoped better equipment would give her a chance.
Doctors told her family they had diagnosed Ramirez with diabetes and kidney failure, something they hadn’t been aware of before. She also suffered from asthma.
During the Ramirez family’s next FaceTime call with her, Letty Ramirez was only able to open her eyes. She looked like she might have wanted to say something, but Alexis couldn’t understand.
“I just told her, ‘Mom, please keep fighting. We still need you here. We want you to come home.’”
Letty Ramirez, (upper left) and her siblings celebrate the birthday of their mother, Carolina Tovar (lower center). (Alexis Ramirez)
At St. Jude’s, her grandmother began speaking of death.
“She was just telling us, ‘I gave it my all. I’m ready to go now,’” said Maribell Tovar, one of her daughters.
On April 2, when doctors informed the family Tovar would need to be put on a ventilator, another one of Tovar’s daughters negotiated her way into her hospital room. She called the family on FaceTime and, together, they decided to respect Tovar’s wishes not to be put on a ventilator.
Through FaceTime, about a dozen of Tovar’s children and grandchildren spent the night with her, their voices enveloping her as she let out her last breath. Letty Ramirez was one of few missing.
“She was ready, and we prepared ourselves too,” Alexis said of Tovar. “We were all still talking to her, telling her we loved her, that we’re going to be OK and she doesn’t have to fight anymore.”
It was a painful moment for the family to share, but one that wasn’t wholly unexpected, given her age and history of kidney failure.
She married her husband, who recently died from cancer, when she was 13 in Zacatecas, Mexico, and later immigrated to California. She had six daughters, two sons and many grandchildren who would take her on trips to Las Vegas and the beaches of Rosarito, Mexico, and host parties year-round.
The parties were often hosted by Letty Ramirez at her Rowland Heights home. She and her mother made enchiladas, mole, tamales. Ramirez’s green pozole was a family favorite.
“She was the one that kept the family together on holidays,” said Ramirez’s niece Vanessa Padilla.
Tovar was as caring as her daughter was.
“My mom, she was just a sweet lady,” Maribell said. “She was very giving and never criticized you. She was the best mom.”
“Mama Carolina was the matriarch of the family,” said Art Aguilar , one of her grandsons, in an email. “She led by example, time after time, teaching and inspiring love, trust, empathy, courage, tolerance, kindness, and fairness without ever preaching it.”
“She loved to make sure we were OK,” Alexis said. “She would love to feed us. If you didn’t eat all your plate, she would be like ‘Why are you starving yourself?’”
The family hadn’t had time to recover from the news of Tovar’s death before Alexis got a call from a doctor that evening. Her mother wasn’t improving. Her toes were black. Any more time on the ventilator would not help her, the doctor told her.
Alexis made the decision to remove her from the machines, and she died within minutes, just before 6 p.m. Letty Ramirez never learned about her mother’s death. Alexis called her family again on FaceTime, and together, they cried.
“It was just hard that we couldn’t be together to console one another,” Alexis said. “We couldn’t be there for [my mom] like she was there for us. We felt so powerless.”
Alexis said the last couple of weeks have left her feeling numb and overwhelmed. The older of her two brothers also tested positive for the virus and she believes she and her youngest brother were also infected.
She is scrambling to look for a job after she was laid off days before her mom’s death. Ramirez was her family’s primary provider. Alexis’ 18- and 23-year-old brothers work part time and go to school.
Her 76-year-old father, who is retired, was released from the hospital after a week and is recovering from the virus. But he is struggling with the loss of his wife of 26 years. He refuses to speak to other family members and seeks the constant company of his children.
“She was the love of his life,” Alexis said. “He tells me, ‘What am I going to do without your mom?”
“In the end, Tia Letty, quite literally and figuratively gave her life for her mom,” Aguilar said, using the Spanish word for aunt. “How ironic that you could not separate these two women in life and that fate had made it so that they wouldn’t have to be separated after death.”


latimes--2020-04-16--Coronavirus has kept mariachis out of work. They sung to L.A.'s mayor for help

Cielito lindo , vienen bajando ( Sweet little heaven , is prancing down ) , Cielito lindo , de contrabando @ @ @ @ @ is sneaking by ) .
More than a dozen musicians from mariachi groups in Boyle @ @ @ @ @ gathered to play several songs at Mariachi Plaza , asking Mayor Eric Garcetti and Los @ @ @ @ @ economic support during the coronavirus pandemic sweeping Los Angeles County .
The musicians have been @ @ @ @ @ weeks and need help to pay rent and bills and to support their families .
@ @ @ @ @ , many of their jobs have dried up .
As the mariachis played , passing @ @ @ @ @ A small crowd gathered to hear the heartwarming music so often heard at the plaza @ @ @ @ @ When they finished playing , the crowd began to applaud and asked for more .

De la Sierra Morena (From the Sierra Morena) ,
Cielito lindo, vienen bajando (Sweet little heaven, is prancing down),
Un par de ojitos negros (A pair of little black eyes),
Cielito lindo, de contrabando (Sweet little heaven, is sneaking by).
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More than a dozen musicians from mariachi groups in Boyle Heights and the surrounding area gathered to play several songs at Mariachi Plaza, asking Mayor Eric Garcetti and Los Angeles Councilman Jose Huizar for economic support during the coronavirus pandemic sweeping Los Angeles County.
Ay, ay, ay, ay ( Ay, ay, ay, ay),
Canta y no llores ( Sing, don’t cry),
Porque cantando se alegran ( Because singing makes rejoice),
Cielito lindo, los corazones ( Sweet little heaven, our hearts),
The musicians have been out of work for six weeks and need help to pay rent and bills and to support their families. Since the pandemic broke out, many of their jobs have dried up.
Alex Cisneros, second from left, with other mariachis. (Gary Coronado/Los Angeles Times)
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Alejandro Bustos with his trumpet. (Gary Coronado/Los Angeles Times)
Fernando Cortes walks home along First Street after the performance. (Gary Coronado/Los Angeles Times)
“We are asking for support, we would like for our message to get out to organizations that can help us because all of the mariachi are in a disastrous situation.” — Israel Moreno, of Boyle Heights
Francisco Hernandez performs with other mariachis. (Gary Coronado/Los Angeles Times)
Alejandro Bustos uses his tie as a mask. (Gary Coronado/Los Angeles Times)
Alejandro Bustos, left, crosses First Street after the performance. (Gary Coronado/Los Angeles Times)
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As the mariachis played, passing cars honked in support. A small crowd gathered to hear the heartwarming music so often heard at the plaza and at community events. When they finished playing, the crowd began to applaud and asked for more.


latimes--2020-04-16--Coronavirus spreads among workers at California state agencies, striking fear in employees

Two weeks after the California Department of Motor Vehicles closed its field offices to the public in response to the COVID-19 pandemic , the agency ’ s director sent a memo to employees that confirmed what many of them had suspected .
“ There have been DMV team member cases of COVID-19 in multiple offices in the state , including the Sacramento Headquarters building , ” DMV Director Steve Gordon wrote in a message to employees April 9 , adding that offices were being cleaned and proper authorities notified “ as we maximize telework to the extent possible.
” The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ panic , ” said one DMV worker , who asked not to be identified because of a lack of approval to speak publicly .
Because the DMV has not said where all infected employees were assigned , employees throughout the agency are concerned about which offices may have been exposed , the worker said .
“ Everybody just became afraid and wanted to go home and not come back to the building , ” the employee said .
Dozens of employees at state agencies , including the DMV , have been infected @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and uncertainty in the workforce as some civil servants say the state has been slow to protect them and has deemed too many services essential , requiring people to stay on the job .
At least 157 state workers , including 11 employees of the California Highway Patrol , have reported they have the virus , according to state officials .
But union leaders say the real numbers of infections are higher because the state is tracking only those cases self-reported by employees and says it does not have complete information on how @ @ @ @ @ @ @ confirmed spread of the virus to more than 26,000 Californians has caused many state agencies , including the DMV , to close offices to the public and allow some employees to work from home , yet there are widespread complaints that state government was too slow in moving people to telework .
In cases in which employees are still expected to report to the office , many workers are calling in sick or deciding to use family leave hours so they can stay home to take care of children who are out of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ interviewed in multiple state agencies .
For those still at work , there are persistent complaints that workers in contact with the public and in crowded offices have not been given enough personal protective equipment , including masks and gloves , according to representatives of Service Employees International Union Local 1000 , which represents 96,000 state workers .
“ We appreciate that California state and local officials are working hard to help our citizens stay healthy and stay fed , ” said SEIU spokesman Brian Nash , who called the state ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Andrew LaMar , spokesman for the California Department of Human Resources , said thousands of state employees are working from home , but he did not respond to questions about the availability of masks and other protective gear .
“ For jobs that can not be done via telework , employees have been instructed to abide by social distancing and hygiene guidelines to protect themselves and prevent the spread of coronavirus , ” LaMar said .
The consternation over worker safety has been particularly high at the state Department of Motor Vehicles , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as “ the retail face of government.
” On March 27 , the DMV took the dramatic step of closing all 170 of its field offices to the public after some employees tested positive for COVID-19 .
The closures happened after the DMV started requiring appointments to visit DMV offices , a change that failed to calm the nerves of employees , including several who spoke to The Times on condition of anonymity .
One San Joaquin Valley employee said there was too much close contact with customers , and a San Jose @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of health and safety concerns .
The DMV has since shifted to a virtual office system in which many transactions can be conducted online with remote assistance available from employees working in the field offices .
“ DMV is making every effort to continue to keep DMV facilities safe from contamination and/or spread of COVID-19 and we need everyone ’ s support , ” Gordon wrote in the email obtained by The Times .
“ DMV continues to be an essential public service and I appreciate your support and understanding as we continue @ @ @ @ @ @ @ employees were absent from the office a day after Gordon ’ s memo notifying them of new COVID-19 cases , a worker said .
At the California Department of Social Services branch office in Covina , employee David Jimenez said the agency has been slow to shift people to working from home and provide clear information on options for taking time off .
“ In my department , people feel that the state dragged its feet quite a bit , ” said Jimenez , an SEIU shop steward who processes disability benefit applications @ @ @ @ @ @ @ off to care for his 20-month-old daughter after her day care closed .
He said the response was slow to employee complaints about a lack of hand sanitizer and insufficient office cleaning .
In an email to employees Monday , one DSS manager said the “ earliest delivery date ” for hand sanitizer remained April 15 , while for wipes , tissues and gloves , it remained April 30 .
“ There is still no guarantee on anything right now per the vendors , ” the memo said .
At other agencies , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ work is essential , requiring them to work away from home .
That dispute boiled over at the California Lottery , where workers claim the agency took too long to protect workers , including a sales representative who was hospitalized in serious condition because of COVID-19 .
“ We have lost confidence in lottery leadership to guide the lottery during this global crisis , to protect the workers , to protect the retailers and to protect the public , ” said Paulina Vasquez , a sales representative and union shop steward , during @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ We were left on the front lines too long.
” Vasquez , who said she suffered through COVID-19 symptoms but like many others wasn ’ t tested , said sales workers who visit retailers were kept on the job too long .
They were told they could work from home when Newsom issued his March 19 order for Californians to stay at home to stop the spread of the virus .
Lottery warehouse workers are supposed to remain on the job , she said , even though many blocks of lottery @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one day last week , only 13 of 21 people assigned to one warehouse were at work , with others taking sick days or other time off , a union official said .
Vasquez questioned the decision of state officials to keep lottery operations going as an officially designated essential service .
Lottery Director Alva Johnson responded during the meeting that his agency has worked to improve the safety of employees and accommodated those who needed time off .
“ We have been adapting to this crisis and working 24/7 to address the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ communities , ” Johnson told the commission .
“ We have implemented a number of changes , sometimes being amongst the first state agencies to respond.
” He defended the decision to continue lottery operations during the pandemic given that voters required that a large portion of revenue go to education .
“ It is [ an ] essential function to provide funding to California schools , ” he said .
Meanwhile , the California Highway Patrol has seen four uniformed officers and seven civilian workers test positive for COVID-19 , according to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ steps to protect themselves from exposure , including using masks while on duty and practicing social distancing “ as much as possible , ” said Carrie Lane , executive director of the California Assn .
of Highway Patrolmen , which represents officers .
“ The CHP has more than 150 offices from the border of Mexico to the border of Oregon , ” Lane said .
“ As such , it can be challenging to implement sweeping organizational changes quickly and efficiently.
” CHP Commissioner Warren Stanley also closed the CHP Academy last @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ I can not accept the risk that any one of the cadets or staff becomes ill and then be faced with having to quarantine the entire campus , ” Stanley said .
The pandemic has also had an effect on the California Legislature , which has reported that one staff member in a district office tested positive for COVID-19 last month .
Lawmakers recessed early in response to the virus and had hoped to resume regular work schedules Monday , but they recently canceled most hearings and meetings until May 4 to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Despite the fear of the virus , state workers are making sure important public services continue .
The state Employment Development Department has been flooded with more than 2.7 million new applications for unemployment benefits from people left jobless by the pandemic .
Newsom said Wednesday during his daily public briefing that EDD employees working long hours were given an option to rest Easter Sunday rather than continue to process unemployment claims that day .
“ Five hundred of those state employees refused that time off because they care more about you than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ So while many of us may have spent time with our family , they did not .
”

Before the DMV closed all 170 of its field offices in response to COVID-19, an employee talks to customers March 24 outside the Glendale field office. Some workers are concerned the state was slow to protect them from the virus, which has infected at least 157 of their colleagues.
Two weeks after the California Department of Motor Vehicles closed its field offices to the public in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the agency’s director sent a memo to employees that confirmed what many of them had suspected.
“There have been DMV team member cases of COVID-19 in multiple offices in the state, including the Sacramento Headquarters building,” DMV Director Steve Gordon wrote in a message to employees April 9, adding that offices were being cleaned and proper authorities notified “as we maximize telework to the extent possible.”
The response to Gordon’s message was “panic,” said one DMV worker, who asked not to be identified because of a lack of approval to speak publicly. Because the DMV has not said where all infected employees were assigned, employees throughout the agency are concerned about which offices may have been exposed, the worker said.
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“Everybody just became afraid and wanted to go home and not come back to the building,” the employee said.
Dozens of employees at state agencies, including the DMV, have been infected by COVID-19 in California, raising fear and uncertainty in the workforce as some civil servants say the state has been slow to protect them and has deemed too many services essential, requiring people to stay on the job.
At least 157 state workers, including 11 employees of the California Highway Patrol, have reported they have the virus, according to state officials. But union leaders say the real numbers of infections are higher because the state is tracking only those cases self-reported by employees and says it does not have complete information on how many workers have tested positive.
The confirmed spread of the virus to more than 26,000 Californians has caused many state agencies, including the DMV, to close offices to the public and allow some employees to work from home, yet there are widespread complaints that state government was too slow in moving people to telework.
In cases in which employees are still expected to report to the office, many workers are calling in sick or deciding to use family leave hours so they can stay home to take care of children who are out of school, according to union shop stewards interviewed in multiple state agencies.
For those still at work, there are persistent complaints that workers in contact with the public and in crowded offices have not been given enough personal protective equipment, including masks and gloves, according to representatives of Service Employees International Union Local 1000, which represents 96,000 state workers.
“We appreciate that California state and local officials are working hard to help our citizens stay healthy and stay fed,” said SEIU spokesman Brian Nash, who called the state’s response to employee concerns “inconsistent.”
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Andrew LaMar, spokesman for the California Department of Human Resources, said thousands of state employees are working from home, but he did not respond to questions about the availability of masks and other protective gear.
“For jobs that cannot be done via telework, employees have been instructed to abide by social distancing and hygiene guidelines to protect themselves and prevent the spread of coronavirus,” LaMar said.
The consternation over worker safety has been particularly high at the state Department of Motor Vehicles, which Gov. Gavin Newsom once described as “the retail face of government.”
On March 27, the DMV took the dramatic step of closing all 170 of its field offices to the public after some employees tested positive for COVID-19.
The closures happened after the DMV started requiring appointments to visit DMV offices, a change that failed to calm the nerves of employees, including several who spoke to The Times on condition of anonymity. One San Joaquin Valley employee said there was too much close contact with customers, and a San Jose manager had stopped going to work because of health and safety concerns.
The DMV has since shifted to a virtual office system in which many transactions can be conducted online with remote assistance available from employees working in the field offices.
“DMV is making every effort to continue to keep DMV facilities safe from contamination and/or spread of COVID-19 and we need everyone’s support,” Gordon wrote in the email obtained by The Times. “DMV continues to be an essential public service and I appreciate your support and understanding as we continue these efforts.”
Still, numerous headquarters employees were absent from the office a day after Gordon’s memo notifying them of new COVID-19 cases, a worker said.
At the California Department of Social Services branch office in Covina, employee David Jimenez said the agency has been slow to shift people to working from home and provide clear information on options for taking time off.
“In my department, people feel that the state dragged its feet quite a bit,” said Jimenez, an SEIU shop steward who processes disability benefit applications but has recently had to take time off to care for his 20-month-old daughter after her day care closed.
He said the response was slow to employee complaints about a lack of hand sanitizer and insufficient office cleaning.
In an email to employees Monday, one DSS manager said the “earliest delivery date” for hand sanitizer remained April 15, while for wipes, tissues and gloves, it remained April 30. “There is still no guarantee on anything right now per the vendors,” the memo said.
At other agencies, employees are challenging the determination that their work is essential, requiring them to work away from home. That dispute boiled over at the California Lottery, where workers claim the agency took too long to protect workers, including a sales representative who was hospitalized in serious condition because of COVID-19.
“We have lost confidence in lottery leadership to guide the lottery during this global crisis, to protect the workers, to protect the retailers and to protect the public,” said Paulina Vasquez, a sales representative and union shop steward, during the last Lottery Commission telemeeting March 30. “We were left on the front lines too long.”
Vasquez, who said she suffered through COVID-19 symptoms but like many others wasn’t tested, said sales workers who visit retailers were kept on the job too long. They were told they could work from home when Newsom issued his March 19 order for Californians to stay at home to stop the spread of the virus.
Lottery warehouse workers are supposed to remain on the job, she said, even though many blocks of lottery tickets are being returned unsold. On one day last week, only 13 of 21 people assigned to one warehouse were at work, with others taking sick days or other time off, a union official said.
Vasquez questioned the decision of state officials to keep lottery operations going as an officially designated essential service. Lottery Director Alva Johnson responded during the meeting that his agency has worked to improve the safety of employees and accommodated those who needed time off.
“We have been adapting to this crisis and working 24/7 to address the needs of our team members and our communities,” Johnson told the commission. “We have implemented a number of changes, sometimes being amongst the first state agencies to respond.”
He defended the decision to continue lottery operations during the pandemic given that voters required that a large portion of revenue go to education.
“It is [an] essential function to provide funding to California schools,” he said.
Meanwhile, the California Highway Patrol has seen four uniformed officers and seven civilian workers test positive for COVID-19, according to spokeswoman Fran Clader.
Officers have taken steps to protect themselves from exposure, including using masks while on duty and practicing social distancing “as much as possible,” said Carrie Lane, executive director of the California Assn. of Highway Patrolmen, which represents officers.
“The CHP has more than 150 offices from the border of Mexico to the border of Oregon,” Lane said. “As such, it can be challenging to implement sweeping organizational changes quickly and efficiently.”
CHP Commissioner Warren Stanley also closed the CHP Academy last month, sending 177 cadets home.
“I cannot accept the risk that any one of the cadets or staff becomes ill and then be faced with having to quarantine the entire campus,” Stanley said.
The pandemic has also had an effect on the California Legislature, which has reported that one staff member in a district office tested positive for COVID-19 last month. Lawmakers recessed early in response to the virus and had hoped to resume regular work schedules Monday, but they recently canceled most hearings and meetings until May 4 to extend efforts to keep infections down.
Despite the fear of the virus, state workers are making sure important public services continue.
The state Employment Development Department has been flooded with more than 2.7 million new applications for unemployment benefits from people left jobless by the pandemic.
Newsom said Wednesday during his daily public briefing that EDD employees working long hours were given an option to rest Easter Sunday rather than continue to process unemployment claims that day.
“Five hundred of those state employees refused that time off because they care more about you than they did themselves,” Newsom said. “So while many of us may have spent time with our family, they did not.”


latimes--2020-04-16--L.A. was already facing financial troubles. Then came the coronavirus outbreak

Even before the arrival of the coronavirus outbreak , Los Angeles city leaders had been facing a budget crunch , in large part because of new pay raises and increased benefits for the city workforce .
Now , the shutdowns triggered by a global health crisis have unleashed a new and potentially more dire financial threat , endangering the city ’ s ability to maintain existing public services .
Mayor Eric Garcetti , who is preparing to release his proposed 2020-21 budget next week , has begun looking at the possibility of pay cuts and furloughs for city workers who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and fire departments , one city official said .
During his coronavirus briefing Wednesday , the mayor said he and the city ’ s budget analysts are working to protect as many core services as possible .
“ But make no mistake , ” he added .
“ There will be big cuts.
” Garcetti ’ s remarks stand in sharp contrast to the triumphal tone from city politicians about the budget in recent years , as a booming economy allowed them to boost funding to combat homelessness , fix more streets and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Buoyed by low unemployment , new construction and increased tourism , the city saw year-over-year growth in the money that flows into its general fund , which pays for such basic services as police officers , firefighters and paramedics .
That money comes in part from taxes on hotel stays , sales of consumer goods and property sales .
The latest economic downturn represents the biggest financial challenge to the city since the Great Recession , when elected officials chose to lay off hundreds of employees and eliminate thousands of jobs .
It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ restore services reduced during that crisis .
On Wednesday , City Controller Ron Galperin warned that revenues for the coming budget year could be as much as $ 600 million below previous projections .
And that is not the only challenge facing city leaders .
L.A. is facing rising costs from both the packages of employee raises and new efforts to assist the city ’ s homeless population , Galperin said .
Meanwhile , any major decline in the stock market could force the city to put a greater share of taxpayer funds @ @ @ @ @ @ @ That means less money available for city services , ” he said .
Galperin ’ s projections for the coming year rely on a wide range of scenarios , depending on when the region emerges from the crisis .
Because the future is so uncertain , some have questioned the city ’ s ability to lay out accurate spending and revenue projections .
“ No city or business can budget right now because you just don ’ t know when this will end , ” said Stuart Waldman , president of the Valley @ @ @ @ @ @ @ organization based in the San Fernando Valley .
The city hired consulting firm Beacon Economics last month to evaluate the size of the drop-off in revenue .
Some departments have already begun sharing their findings with The Times .
As part of Garcetti ’ s $ 10.6-billion budget plan for 2019-20 , the city anticipated bringing in $ 300 million in hotel taxes this fiscal year , assuming there would be an occupancy rate of 90 % .
But in mid-March , the occupancy rate was less than 30 % , according to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ firm .
The Los Angeles Zoo will lose an estimated $ 3.2 million following a five-week closure .
And the Convention Center lost $ 2 million from the cancellation of North America ’ s largest gaming event , Electronic Entertainment Expo , or E3 .
At least eight other events have also been scrapped , and it ’ s unclear when the Convention Center , which is now being used as a field medical facility , will hold large gatherings again .
Some smaller city departments also rely on funding streams that are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Cultural Affairs Department receives funding generated by hotel stays .
And the city-owned El Pueblo de Los Angeles Historical Monument is helped by money from filming activity , which has largely come to a standstill .
One labor leader declined to directly address questions about the possibility of furloughs and pay cuts , saying instead that his workers have been “ on the front lines of this epidemic ” — many of them with minimal access to protective equipment .
“ We expect city leaders to not forget our members ’ heroic role @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that public workers have been the ones stepping up and keeping our city safe and functioning during this crisis , ” said Bob Schoonover , president of Service Employees International Union Local 721 , which represents such workers as custodians , tree trimmers and sanitation workers .
In a forecast released this month , UCLA economists said the state ’ s unemployment rate may peak at 16.4 % in the second quarter of this year and could reach 8.5 % two years from now .
That would be more than twice as high @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rate .
“ A sharp contraction in income and taxable sales will cause increased stress for state and local government at a time when the demands on them are increasing , ” the forecast advised .
Even without the health crisis , the city had been looking at the prospect of yearly budget shortfalls of $ 200 million to $ 400 million in the wake of employee pay raises — or between 3 % and 6 % of the general fund .
City Administrative Officer Rich Llewellyn , who helps prepare the city @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cost of those more expensive salary agreements would turn projected budget surpluses into deficits .
One Fire Department union said in a bulletin to its members last year that they were getting raises of more than 15 % over three years .
Llewellyn told The Times the raises are closer to 10 % , not including special wage adjustments and bonuses .
City Councilman Paul Krekorian , who heads the committee that oversees the budget , said he is worried about the loss of revenues in the coming year .
However , he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the city ’ s reserve funds , which stand at about $ 500 million and can be tapped in an emergency .
City leaders have already authorized $ 20 million from those reserves , money that ’ s helping pay for masks , hand sanitizer and healthcare staff for homeless shelters .
Politicians are counting on federal money to help ease the city ’ s unexpected spending on efforts to contain the COVID-19 outbreak , but it ’ s far from clear how much will be offered .
Christopher Thornberg , founding @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hired to assess the city ’ s finances , said the economic fallout from the pandemic will be deep but short-lasting .
He dismissed comparisons to the Great Recession , saying he expects city revenues will start to return in the first half of 2021 .
Thornberg also noted the city was already spending more than it took in before the pandemic .
“ They weren ’ t exactly on good fiscal ground in the first place , ” Thornberg said .

Los Angeles City Hall is expected to face dramatic losses in revenue, hurting its ability to budget funds for non-essential services in the coming months.
Even before the arrival of the coronavirus outbreak, Los Angeles city leaders had been facing a budget crunch, in large part because of new pay raises and increased benefits for the city workforce.
Now, the shutdowns triggered by a global health crisis have unleashed a new and potentially more dire financial threat, endangering the city’s ability to maintain existing public services.
Mayor Eric Garcetti, who is preparing to release his proposed 2020-21 budget next week, has begun looking at the possibility of pay cuts and furloughs for city workers who don’t work in the police and fire departments, one city official said. During his coronavirus briefing Wednesday, the mayor said he and the city’s budget analysts are working to protect as many core services as possible.
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“But make no mistake,” he added. “There will be big cuts.”
Garcetti’s remarks stand in sharp contrast to the triumphal tone from city politicians about the budget in recent years, as a booming economy allowed them to boost funding to combat homelessness, fix more streets and sidewalks and support generous labor agreements.
Buoyed by low unemployment, new construction and increased tourism, the city saw year-over-year growth in the money that flows into its general fund, which pays for such basic services as police officers, firefighters and paramedics. That money comes in part from taxes on hotel stays, sales of consumer goods and property sales.
The latest economic downturn represents the biggest financial challenge to the city since the Great Recession, when elected officials chose to lay off hundreds of employees and eliminate thousands of jobs. It took several years for city leaders to restore services reduced during that crisis.
On Wednesday, City Controller Ron Galperin warned that revenues for the coming budget year could be as much as $600 million below previous projections. And that is not the only challenge facing city leaders.
L.A. is facing rising costs from both the packages of employee raises and new efforts to assist the city’s homeless population, Galperin said. Meanwhile, any major decline in the stock market could force the city to put a greater share of taxpayer funds into city employee retirement benefits.
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“That means less money available for city services,” he said.
Galperin’s projections for the coming year rely on a wide range of scenarios, depending on when the region emerges from the crisis. Because the future is so uncertain, some have questioned the city’s ability to lay out accurate spending and revenue projections.
“No city or business can budget right now because you just don’t know when this will end,” said Stuart Waldman, president of the Valley Industry and Commerce Assn., a business organization based in the San Fernando Valley.
The city hired consulting firm Beacon Economics last month to evaluate the size of the drop-off in revenue. Some departments have already begun sharing their findings with The Times.
As part of Garcetti’s $10.6-billion budget plan for 2019-20, the city anticipated bringing in $300 million in hotel taxes this fiscal year, assuming there would be an occupancy rate of 90%. But in mid-March, the occupancy rate was less than 30%, according to STR Global, a hotel data tracking firm.
The Los Angeles Zoo will lose an estimated $3.2 million following a five-week closure. And the Convention Center lost $2 million from the cancellation of North America’s largest gaming event, Electronic Entertainment Expo, or E3.
At least eight other events have also been scrapped, and it’s unclear when the Convention Center, which is now being used as a field medical facility, will hold large gatherings again.
Some smaller city departments also rely on funding streams that are in jeopardy. The city’s Cultural Affairs Department receives funding generated by hotel stays. And the city-owned El Pueblo de Los Angeles Historical Monument is helped by money from filming activity, which has largely come to a standstill.
One labor leader declined to directly address questions about the possibility of furloughs and pay cuts, saying instead that his workers have been “on the front lines of this epidemic” — many of them with minimal access to protective equipment.
“We expect city leaders to not forget our members’ heroic role in this pandemic, and to remember that public workers have been the ones stepping up and keeping our city safe and functioning during this crisis,” said Bob Schoonover, president of Service Employees International Union Local 721, which represents such workers as custodians, tree trimmers and sanitation workers.
In a forecast released this month, UCLA economists said the state’s unemployment rate may peak at 16.4% in the second quarter of this year and could reach 8.5% two years from now. That would be more than twice as high as February’s 3.9% unemployment rate.
“A sharp contraction in income and taxable sales will cause increased stress for state and local government at a time when the demands on them are increasing,” the forecast advised.
Even without the health crisis, the city had been looking at the prospect of yearly budget shortfalls of $200 million to $400 million in the wake of employee pay raises — or between 3% and 6% of the general fund. City Administrative Officer Rich Llewellyn, who helps prepare the city budget, warned last fall that the cost of those more expensive salary agreements would turn projected budget surpluses into deficits.
One Fire Department union said in a bulletin to its members last year that they were getting raises of more than 15% over three years. Llewellyn told The Times the raises are closer to 10%, not including special wage adjustments and bonuses.
City Councilman Paul Krekorian, who heads the committee that oversees the budget, said he is worried about the loss of revenues in the coming year. However, he said he is comforted by the size of the city’s reserve funds, which stand at about $500 million and can be tapped in an emergency.
City leaders have already authorized $20 million from those reserves, money that’s helping pay for masks, hand sanitizer and healthcare staff for homeless shelters. Politicians are counting on federal money to help ease the city’s unexpected spending on efforts to contain the COVID-19 outbreak, but it’s far from clear how much will be offered.
Christopher Thornberg, founding partner of Beacon Economics, the company hired to assess the city’s finances, said the economic fallout from the pandemic will be deep but short-lasting. He dismissed comparisons to the Great Recession, saying he expects city revenues will start to return in the first half of 2021.
Thornberg also noted the city was already spending more than it took in before the pandemic.
“They weren’t exactly on good fiscal ground in the first place,” Thornberg said.


latimes--2020-04-16--Three sisters set aside a dressmaking rivalry to kick coronavirus butt

For years , the Cerpas sisters engaged in friendly competition .
All three ran their own dress shops , the eldest from her home in Corona and the two youngest just a block away from each other in downtown Santa Ana ’ s 4th Street district .
They sold gowns marking life passages : baptisms , communions , quinceañeras and weddings .
A few years ago , Lilia Cerpas , the middle sister , opted to stand out from the rest and added the word “ boutique ” to the end of her shop ’ s name to lure a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , business dried up for the sisters as the coronavirus spread to Southern California .
Lilia Cerpas , 57 , fielded calls from brides who had postponed their weddings .
Mothers called off communions , birthday parties and quinceañeras .
She was stuck with the dresses and only half the payment .
Her two sisters , Patricia Cerpas , 59 , and Vicky Cerpas , 51 , also watched their orders and incomes plummet .
“ What am I going to do ?
” Lilia thought .
“ I ’ ll have to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ she shuttered her store , Lilia got a call from a friend at the Santa Ana Business Council who told her about designers in New York City crafting fabric face masks .
Her friend encouraged her to do the same .
“ Yes !
” Lilia said immediately .
But she was low on cash and the month ’ s rent was due .
She ’ d have to reach out to her sisters .
Lilia reminded them of what their mother , a clothing designer , used to say : “ Nothing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bit of convincing , the two sisters were in .
They set aside their “ friendly rivalry ” and for the first time in many years are in business together .
The three sisters grew up among the hum of sewing machines and mountains of fabric in their mother ’ s dress shop in Apatzingán in Mexico ’ s Michoacán state .
They helped their mother in her shop , and she taught them how to sew at an early age .
The sisters have always been close , despite being quite different @ @ @ @ @ @ @ impulsive .
She ’ s known as the risk-taker — redesigning her shop and forgoing the more traditional ruffled dresses a few years ago to appeal to downtown 4th Street ’ s younger arrivals , a more affluent — and predominantly non-Latino — clientele .
To finance the sisters ’ new mask-making venture , she nearly maxed out her credit card for supplies and materials , such as fabric , elastic and thread .
The youngest sister , Vicky , is more cautious and calculating .
For years , she hesitated to launch @ @ @ @ @ @ @ partnered with her older sister , Patricia .
She took over one of her sister ’ s shops and Patricia eventually moved her business to her home in Corona .
The store hasn ’ t changed much since then .
It ’ s more traditional , the kind of place where colorful , fluffy and embellished quinceañera dresses take center stage .
For their new joint project , Vicky said she would follow Lilia ’ s lead and was willing to lend a hand and work the sewing machines .
But she was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ own money .
Patricia is the trailblazer — the first to move to the United States in the 1980s to open her shop on 4th Street .
Her younger sisters followed her to Santa Ana , and all three worked together for a few years before Lilia set off on her own .
For the trio ’ s new venture , Patricia bankrolled the payroll with an infusion of cash , Lilia said .
Patricia is also the most reserved and private , her sisters said , so much so that she declined @ @ @ @ @ @ @ She ’ s always been quiet , ” Vicky said .
“ She is the shy one.
” Most of the face masks are made in a room the size of a walk-in closet just across a long hallway that connects with Lilia ’ s second-floor shop on Broadway , just off 4th Street .
A large table with mounds of fabric cut into squares , a sewing machine and ironing board are crammed in between bedazzled bridal gowns ready for pick up .
The gowns had yet to meet their brides because @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the help of two assistants , Patricia makes a few of the masks from her home in Corona , her sisters said .
Lilia ’ s son drives up a few times a week to pick them up .
On most days , Lilia and Vicky are shuttered inside the workshop from morning to late nights , sometimes as late as 11 p.m .
In their sewing refuge , they shut out the world and news about the virus .
They forget about how a once-bustling 4th Street has suddenly become deserted and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ most stores .
The sisters lose themselves in the rhythmic clatter of the sewing machine mixed with whatever Spanish-language crooner happens to be emanating from their radio .
Sometimes they forget to eat .
Their focus is on the task at hand , which can be taxing but also therapeutic , the sisters said .
On a recent weekday , Lilia ironed perfect pleats into a burgundy-colored piece of fabric .
A couple of steps away , Vicky took charge of the sewing machine , fusing the fabric ’ s edges with a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Victoria Lopez , 18 , answered calls and attended to a couple who had dropped by the shop to buy a few pairs of face coverings .
The stairs leading to the upstairs shop are marked with blue tape — six feet apart — for social distancing guidance .
The sisters and Lopez wear masks .
Every night , they disinfect the shop with Lysol , the sisters said .
As of Tuesday , they had sold more than 5,000 face coverings .
Lopez manages the shop ’ s Instagram account , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ isn ’ t picking up the phone , which is constantly ringing with people wanting to place orders .
Sometimes she also sews , helping her mother finish off the masks .
The masks are simple , double-pleated , and washable .
The fabric is a cotton blend — 80 % cotton and 20 % polyester — to keep costs down but not sacrifice quality , Lilia said .
“ I wanted to make them as affordable as possible so people can protect others and themselves , ” Lilia said .
They sell @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are offered for larger orders .
Hospital administrators and restaurant workers have placed most of the orders .
The sisters said they also donated some to local families and a few police officers .
The venture has become a family affair , particularly after two of Lilia ’ s seamstresses left to make their own face masks .
“ I don ’ t fault them , ” she said .
“ Now it ’ s just family .
It ’ s a difficult situation , but we have to have faith in God.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ a struggle .
Prices spiked recently , prompting Lilia to make a drive to Los Angeles in the rain to hunt for reasonably priced cloth .
The sisters look for bright and fun fabric .
Some masks showcase yellow and pink flowers splattered on a royal blue background .
Others feature white dots scattered on black or blue .
A few depict speckled purple and pink reindeer standing at attention — those are nearly sold out .
“ We try to have nice and joyful designs , so people feel uplifted , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t want people to feel like they are sick .
We chose happy colors.
” She said it feels good to create a product that helps people protect their loved ones and themselves .
The best part is getting to work alongside her adult nephews and sisters ; the hardest part is that the family is used to greeting each other with embraces and pecks on the cheek .
“ We love to hug , but now we can ’ t .
It ’ s not recommended , ” Vicky said .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ love for each other without hugging.
” So , for now , they keep their distance .

For years, the Cerpas sisters engaged in friendly competition. All three ran their own dress shops, the eldest from her home in Corona and the two youngest just a block away from each other in downtown Santa Ana’s 4th Street district.
They sold gowns marking life passages: baptisms, communions, quinceañeras and weddings. A few years ago, Lilia Cerpas, the middle sister, opted to stand out from the rest and added the word “boutique” to the end of her shop’s name to lure a more affluent clientele.
But in mid-March, business dried up for the sisters as the coronavirus spread to Southern California. Lilia Cerpas, 57, fielded calls from brides who had postponed their weddings. Mothers called off communions, birthday parties and quinceañeras. She was stuck with the dresses and only half the payment. Her two sisters, Patricia Cerpas, 59, and Vicky Cerpas, 51, also watched their orders and incomes plummet.
“What am I going to do?” Lilia thought. “I’ll have to close.”
But a few days after she shuttered her store, Lilia got a call from a friend at the Santa Ana Business Council who told her about designers in New York City crafting fabric face masks. Her friend encouraged her to do the same.
Lilia Cerpas, center, owner of Genesis Bridal Boutique, flanked by sister Vicky Cerpas, owner of Creaciones Alejandra photo studio and bridal shop, and Alexi Gonzalez, 16, make handmade mask at Genesis Bridal Boutique in Santa Ana, CA. (Gary Coronado/Los Angeles Times)
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“Yes!” Lilia said immediately. But she was low on cash and the month’s rent was due. She’d have to reach out to her sisters.
Lilia reminded them of what their mother, a clothing designer, used to say: “Nothing ventured. Nothing gained.”
After a bit of convincing, the two sisters were in. They set aside their “friendly rivalry” and for the first time in many years are in business together.
The three sisters grew up among the hum of sewing machines and mountains of fabric in their mother’s dress shop in Apatzingán in Mexico’s Michoacán state. They helped their mother in her shop, and she taught them how to sew at an early age.
The sisters have always been close, despite being quite different.
Lilia always has been the most impulsive. She’s known as the risk-taker — redesigning her shop and forgoing the more traditional ruffled dresses a few years ago to appeal to downtown 4th Street’s younger arrivals, a more affluent — and predominantly non-Latino — clientele. To finance the sisters’ new mask-making venture, she nearly maxed out her credit card for supplies and materials, such as fabric, elastic and thread.
The youngest sister, Vicky, is more cautious and calculating. For years, she hesitated to launch her own shop. Instead, she partnered with her older sister, Patricia. She took over one of her sister’s shops and Patricia eventually moved her business to her home in Corona.
The store hasn’t changed much since then. It’s more traditional, the kind of place where colorful, fluffy and embellished quinceañera dresses take center stage. For their new joint project, Vicky said she would follow Lilia’s lead and was willing to lend a hand and work the sewing machines. But she was too scared to invest any of her own money.
Vicky Cerpas, owner of Creaciones Alejandra photo studio and bridal shop, with sister Lilia Cerpas, owner of Genesis Bridal Boutique, at Genesis Bridal Boutique in Santa Ana. Three sisters, who each have quinceanera shops, had to close their shops after business dried up because of the coronavirus pandemic. They have joined forces to make face masks. (Gary Coronado/Los Angeles Times)
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Patricia is the trailblazer — the first to move to the United States in the 1980s to open her shop on 4th Street. Her younger sisters followed her to Santa Ana, and all three worked together for a few years before Lilia set off on her own.
For the trio’s new venture, Patricia bankrolled the payroll with an infusion of cash, Lilia said. Patricia is also the most reserved and private, her sisters said, so much so that she declined an interview for this story.
“She’s always been quiet,” Vicky said. “She is the shy one.”
Most of the face masks are made in a room the size of a walk-in closet just across a long hallway that connects with Lilia’s second-floor shop on Broadway, just off 4th Street.
A large table with mounds of fabric cut into squares, a sewing machine and ironing board are crammed in between bedazzled bridal gowns ready for pick up. The gowns had yet to meet their brides because the coronavirus postponed those weddings.
With the help of two assistants, Patricia makes a few of the masks from her home in Corona, her sisters said. Lilia’s son drives up a few times a week to pick them up.
Crystal Gutierrez, of Santa Ana, purchased two dozen handmade face mask at Genesis Bridal Boutique in Santa Ana. (Gary Coronado/Los Angeles Times)
On most days, Lilia and Vicky are shuttered inside the workshop from morning to late nights, sometimes as late as 11 p.m.
In their sewing refuge, they shut out the world and news about the virus. They forget about how a once-bustling 4th Street has suddenly become deserted and how security grates line the windows of most stores.
The sisters lose themselves in the rhythmic clatter of the sewing machine mixed with whatever Spanish-language crooner happens to be emanating from their radio. Sometimes they forget to eat. Their focus is on the task at hand, which can be taxing but also therapeutic, the sisters said.
“We lose track of time,” Lilia said.
On a recent weekday, Lilia ironed perfect pleats into a burgundy-colored piece of fabric. A couple of steps away, Vicky took charge of the sewing machine, fusing the fabric’s edges with a vertical stitch.
Vicky’s daughter, Victoria Lopez, 18, answered calls and attended to a couple who had dropped by the shop to buy a few pairs of face coverings. The stairs leading to the upstairs shop are marked with blue tape — six feet apart — for social distancing guidance.
The sisters and Lopez wear masks. Every night, they disinfect the shop with Lysol, the sisters said.
As of Tuesday, they had sold more than 5,000 face coverings. Lopez manages the shop’s Instagram account, responding to messages and posts whenever she isn’t picking up the phone, which is constantly ringing with people wanting to place orders. Sometimes she also sews, helping her mother finish off the masks.
The masks are simple, double-pleated, and washable. The fabric is a cotton blend — 80% cotton and 20% polyester — to keep costs down but not sacrifice quality, Lilia said.
“I wanted to make them as affordable as possible so people can protect others and themselves,” Lilia said.
They sell at $7.50 apiece, and discounts are offered for larger orders. Hospital administrators and restaurant workers have placed most of the orders. The sisters said they also donated some to local families and a few police officers.
The venture has become a family affair, particularly after two of Lilia’s seamstresses left to make their own face masks.
“I don’t fault them,” she said. “Now it’s just family. It’s a difficult situation, but we have to have faith in God.”
Finding affordable fabric has also become a struggle. Prices spiked recently, prompting Lilia to make a drive to Los Angeles in the rain to hunt for reasonably priced cloth.
The sisters look for bright and fun fabric. Some masks showcase yellow and pink flowers splattered on a royal blue background. Others feature white dots scattered on black or blue. A few depict speckled purple and pink reindeer standing at attention — those are nearly sold out.
“We try to have nice and joyful designs, so people feel uplifted,” Vicky said. “We don’t want people to feel like they are sick. We chose happy colors.”
She said it feels good to create a product that helps people protect their loved ones and themselves. The best part is getting to work alongside her adult nephews and sisters; the hardest part is that the family is used to greeting each other with embraces and pecks on the cheek.
“We love to hug, but now we can’t. It’s not recommended,” Vicky said. “It’s hard to demonstrate our love for each other without hugging.”
So, for now, they keep their distance.