latimes--2020-01-30--Mysterious light streaks across Southern California's night sky. What was it?

What the heck was that ?
Videos posted by Southern Californians on social media Wednesday night showed a celestial object streaking overhead before disintegrating into dazzling pieces .
Residents from all over the Southland logged their sightings , and the American Meteor Society fielded witness reports ranging from Santa Barbara to Imperial Beach , and as far inland as Bakersfield and Indio .
Cami Buckman , 23 , of El Segundo , said she noticed the impromptu light show while driving on the 405 Freeway near Los Angeles International Airport .
“ I never see these kinds of things , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a plane , ” said Buckman , an editor for “ L.A .
Times Today , ” a Spectrum News show focusing on L.A. Times news .
“ But then , it looked like it was breaking apart , which was when it caught my attention more.
” As she watched , the object “ slowly became this long line of fragmented lights , and then it disappeared.
” “ My first thought was , ‘ UFO ?
’ ” she said with a laugh .
“ But then I realized it was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s unclear exactly what the object was .
But Mike Hankey , operations manager with the American Meteor Society , said his money was on some kind of space debris , based on the speed of the object and how long it was visible .
“ It ’ s more likely to be space debris than a weird , rogue , super-slow asteroid , ” he said .
Another piece of evidence , he said , was how the object broke apart .
When something is made of a hard material like @ @ @ @ @ @ @ there ’ s usually “ a big ball that blows up , ” he said .
“ Here , there was nothing like that , ” he said .
“ There ’ s no burst .
It more just sort of falls apart , which is also very characteristic of a space object like a satellite or rocket engine or something like that.
” Paul Lynam , an astronomer at the Lick Observatory near San Jose , said all the evidence he ’ s seen also would indicate “ that this was more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ He estimated the object ’ s size was probably “ a matter of inches or less.
” “ The typical shooting star you see is only like a grain of sand most of the time .
...
It ’ s a good demonstration of the physical forces at work when you see these spectacular things , ” he said .
Both natural and man-made objects can cause bright lights in the sky when they enter the atmosphere .
Naturally occurring meteors are far from a rare sight in the Southland .
The Quadrantids @ @ @ @ @ @ @ another — the Lyrids — will be active in April , according to Griffith Observatory .
Although events like Wednesday ’ s also are not uncommon from a global perspective , Lynam said that those who got to see it were very lucky .
“ The fact it was over a major urban populated area with the moon setting , it was tailor-made for people to get a spectacular view , ” he said .

What the heck was that?
Videos posted by Southern Californians on social media Wednesday night showed a celestial object streaking overhead before disintegrating into dazzling pieces. Residents from all over the Southland logged their sightings, and the American Meteor Society fielded witness reports ranging from Santa Barbara to Imperial Beach, and as far inland as Bakersfield and Indio.
Space debris re-entry caught on AllSky6 camera over SoCal last night - more info here: https://t.co/DFLp4Yconc pic.twitter.com/ulZZQJNjyR — AMSMETEORS (@amsmeteors) January 30, 2020
Cami Buckman, 23, of El Segundo, said she noticed the impromptu light show while driving on the 405 Freeway near Los Angeles International Airport.
Advertisement
“I never see these kinds of things, so at first I thought it was a plane,” said Buckman, an editor for “L.A. Times Today,” a Spectrum News show focusing on L.A. Times news. “But then, it looked like it was breaking apart, which was when it caught my attention more.”
As she watched, the object “slowly became this long line of fragmented lights, and then it disappeared.”
“My first thought was, ‘UFO?’” she said with a laugh. “But then I realized it was just a meteor.”
Actually, it’s unclear exactly what the object was. But Mike Hankey, operations manager with the American Meteor Society, said his money was on some kind of space debris, based on the speed of the object and how long it was visible.
“It’s more likely to be space debris than a weird, rogue, super-slow asteroid,” he said.
Another piece of evidence, he said, was how the object broke apart. When something is made of a hard material like solid ice, rock or metal, there’s usually “a big ball that blows up,” he said.
Advertisement
“Here, there was nothing like that,” he said. “There’s no burst. It more just sort of falls apart, which is also very characteristic of a space object like a satellite or rocket engine or something like that.”
Paul Lynam, an astronomer at the Lick Observatory near San Jose, said all the evidence he’s seen also would indicate “that this was more likely a piece of space junk.”
He estimated the object’s size was probably “a matter of inches or less.”
“The typical shooting star you see is only like a grain of sand most of the time. ... It’s a good demonstration of the physical forces at work when you see these spectacular things,” he said.
My boyfriend caught this video of the meteor shower in california and wanted me to post it!! ☄ #meteor #SanDiego pic.twitter.com/muBQ8p10rz — kimmy (@renfriiiii) January 30, 2020
Both natural and man-made objects can cause bright lights in the sky when they enter the atmosphere.
Naturally occurring meteors are far from a rare sight in the Southland. The Quadrantids shower peaked earlier this month, and another — the Lyrids — will be active in April, according to Griffith Observatory.
Although events like Wednesday’s also are not uncommon from a global perspective, Lynam said that those who got to see it were very lucky.
“The fact it was over a major urban populated area with the moon setting, it was tailor-made for people to get a spectacular view,” he said.


latimes--2020-01-30--L.A. Archdiocese settles priest abuse case for $1.9 million

The kids in the parish knew him only as Father Larry .
That ’ s how he was known to one boy , referred to in court documents as John BR Doe , while he was an altar boy at San Gabriel Mission Church in 1982-84 , years during which the priest sexually abused him , he said , from ages 9 to 11 .
As a teen , Doe told church officials what he ’ d suffered .
Years later , he would learn that Father Larry — Lawrence Lovell — had been convicted of child molestation in 2003 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
And he would find a redacted version of his own account on the internet , detailing the abuse he said Lovell enacted when he was a child .
He ’ d also learn he wasn ’ t Lovell ’ s only victim .
“ It ’ s been 35 years since I ’ ve been dealing with this , ” he said .
On Tuesday , attorneys representing Doe , now 47 , announced a $ 1.9-million settlement with the Archdiocese of Los Angeles , Lovell and the Claretian Missionaries , where @ @ @ @ @ @ @ complaint , filed in September 2018 , is the first case settled with a Catholic diocese in the state since the passage of AB 218 , a law that expands the time frame for filing child sexual abuse allegations .
“ Since the law came into effect about three weeks ago , it opened all these avenues for survivors to get justice through the civil justice system , ” said Alex Cunny , Doe ’ s attorney .
The legislation was introduced following additional allegations against priests accused of abuse , as well @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Olympic gymnastics team doctor Larry Nassar for molesting young athletes .
Previously , a lawsuit had to be filed within eight years of a claimant reaching adulthood or three years of “ delayed reasonable discovery , ” the time after someone recognizes the damage suffered because of an abuse .
Under the new law , a person has until the age of 40 to come forward .
The law also increases the period of delayed reasonable discovery to five years .
A teenage Doe alerted church officials more than six years after his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , authorities paid for six months of counseling before Doe was hospitalized for suicide-prevention treatment .
Now married and a father of four , all of whom have been baptized in the Catholic church , Doe decided to take action .
Lovell served in the Phoenix Diocese before moving to Los Angeles and returned there after leaving L.A. in 1984 .
He was removed from the ministry in 1986 and placed on three years ’ probation after being convicted in L.A. of abusing a 14-year-old boy .
In 2003 , he was indicted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s Yavapai County , where he ’ d been assigned to Sacred Heart Parish in Prescott , and in Maricopa County .
According to the Arizona Department of Corrections , Rehabilitation and Reentry , Lovell is set to be released in March 2021 .
Doe , who works as an electrical supervisor for the Los Angeles Unified School District , said he believed the settlement payout was the closest he ’ d get to a direct apology for the abuse he ’ d suffered .
For years , he said , he fought @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he finally felt at peace and hoped other potential victims would come forward too .
“ We don ’ t have to be in the shadows , and we don ’ t have to hide in our rooms anymore , ” he said .
“ We can look outside and see sunshine .
”

The Archdiocese of Los Angeles has finalized a $1.9-million settlement with a man who said he was abused by a priest who was convicted of molesting altar boys.
The children in the parish knew him only as Father Larry.
One of those children, referred to in court documents as John BR Doe, was an altar boy at San Gabriel Mission Church from 1982 to 1984 when, he said, the priest sexually abused him.
As a teen, Doe told church officials what he’d suffered. Years later, he would learn that Father Larry — Lawrence Lovell — had been convicted of child molestation in 2003 and sentenced to 14 years in prison. And he would find a redacted version of his own account on the internet, detailing the abuse he said Lovell carried out when he was a child.
He’d also learn he wasn’t Lovell’s only victim.
“It’s been 35 years since I’ve been dealing with this,” he said.
On Tuesday, attorneys representing Doe, now 47, announced a $1.9-million settlement with the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, Lovell and the Claretian Missionaries, where Lovell served as a priest. The complaint, filed in September 2018, is the first case settled with a Catholic diocese in the state since the passage of Assembly Bill 218, a law that expanded the time frame for filing child sexual abuse allegations.
Advertisement
“Since the law came into effect about three weeks ago, it opened all these avenues for survivors to get justice through the civil justice system,” said Alex Cunny, Doe’s attorney.
The legislation was introduced after a series of other abuse allegations against priests were made public, as well as the 2018 sentencing of former U.S. Olympic gymnastics team doctor Larry Nassar for molesting young athletes.
Previously, a lawsuit had to be filed within eight years of a claimant reaching adulthood or within three years of “delayed reasonable discovery,” the time after someone recognizes the damage suffered because of an abuse. Under the new law, a person has until the age of 40 to come forward. The law also increases the window after delayed reasonable discovery to five years.
A teenage Doe alerted church officials more than six years after his abuse began. According to the lawsuit, authorities paid for six months of counseling before Doe was hospitalized for suicide-prevention treatment.
Now married and a father of four children, all of whom have been baptized in the Catholic church, Doe decided to take action.
Lovell served in the Phoenix Diocese before moving to Los Angeles and returned there after leaving L.A. in 1984. He was removed from the ministry in 1986 and placed on three years’ probation after being convicted in L.A. of abusing a 14-year-old boy.
In 2003, he was indicted on charges of sexually abusing children in Arizona’s Yavapai County, where he’d been assigned to Sacred Heart Parish in Prescott, and in Maricopa County. He took plea deals in both cases.
According to the Arizona Department of Corrections, Rehabilitation and Reentry, Lovell is set to be released in March 2021.
Advertisement
Doe, who works as an electrical supervisor for the Los Angeles Unified School District, said he believed the settlement payout was the closest he’d get to a direct apology for the abuse he’d suffered. For years, he said, he fought depression and bipolar disorder. He said he finally felt at peace and hoped other potential victims would come forward too.
“We don’t have to be in the shadows, and we don’t have to hide in our rooms anymore,” he said. “We can look outside and see sunshine.”
Times staff writer Patrick McGreevy contributed to this report.


latimes--2020-01-30--American under coronavirus quarantine after trying to leave California base

Riverside County health officials have issued a quarantine order for one of the passengers from Wuhan , China , who was evacuated to March Air Reserve Base after fleeing the coronavirus outbreak overseas .
After the passengers were asked to remain at the base under observation , the traveler tried to leave the facility , prompting Dr. Cameron Kaiser with the Riverside County Public Health Department to issue the quarantine order Thursday .
The passenger now must stay at the base for the entire 14-day incubation period of the virus , or until the person is otherwise cleared , authorities @ @ @ @ @ @ @ private plane to evacuate diplomats stationed at the Wuhan consulate , along with their families .
On Wednesday , 201 Americans , including a month-old baby and several teenagers , arrived in California after fleeing the outbreak in China .
There is nothing to indicate that the passenger , or any of the others who arrived in California on Wednesday , has contracted the coronavirus , health officials said .
All of the passengers are continuing to undergo health evaluations .
There have been only a handful of coronavirus cases diagnosed in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Angeles and Orange counties , as well as in Chicago , Arizona and Washington state .
But on Thursday , the World Health Organization declared a public health emergency over the outbreak .

Riverside County health officials have issued a quarantine order for one of the passengers from Wuhan, China, who was evacuated to March Air Reserve Base after fleeing the coronavirus outbreak overseas.
After the passengers were asked to remain at the base under observation, the traveler tried to leave the facility, prompting Dr. Cameron Kaiser with the Riverside County Public Health Department to issue the quarantine order Thursday. The passenger now must stay at the base for the entire 14-day incubation period of the virus, or until the person is otherwise cleared, authorities say.
The State Department chartered a private plane to evacuate diplomats stationed at the Wuhan consulate, along with their families. On Wednesday, 201 Americans, including a month-old baby and several teenagers, arrived in California after fleeing the outbreak in China.
Advertisement
There is nothing to indicate that the passenger, or any of the others who arrived in California on Wednesday, has contracted the coronavirus, health officials said. All of the passengers are continuing to undergo health evaluations.


latimes--2020-01-30--'This city is broken': L.A. planning memorial event for Kobe Bryant, Garcetti says

Saying “ this city is broken , ” Mayor Eric Garcetti said Los Angeles is planning a memorial for Kobe Byrant and others killed in the Sunday helicopter crash , but that no date has yet been set .
“ There will absolutely be a memorial to mark the contributions of this incredible man and not only him , but to commemorate the loss of his daughter and all the other families that were there , ” Garcetti said Thursday .
“ We don ’ t have that date finalized but we ’ ve been talking every day to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ [ Bryant ’ s widow , Vanessa ] as well .
I think one message that I would say is this is not just about a man who was a basketball player , this is about a father , this is about a leader , this is about a filmmaker , this is about an artist , this is about somebody who was so much more than just how he was on the court.
” Bryant ’ s death has unleashed an outpouring of grief across Los Angeles , with thousands converging on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ numerous memorial murals going up .
For two days after the crash , thousands also went to the crash site in Calabasas .
“ It ’ s a reminder how much unity we have , though .
We are one city that believes in each other , believes in something bigger than ourselves and we will absolutely do everything to make sure that this is done so that everybody can come to it as well , ” the mayor said .
It ’ s unclear whether the Bryant memorial would be at Staples @ @ @ @ @ @ @ events memorializing both rapper Nipsey Hustle and singer Michael Jackson .

Saying “this city is broken,” Mayor Eric Garcetti said Los Angeles is planning a memorial for Kobe Byrant and others killed in the Sunday helicopter crash, but that no date has yet been set.
“There will absolutely be a memorial to mark the contributions of this incredible man and not only him, but to commemorate the loss of his daughter and all the other families that were there,” Garcetti said Thursday. “We don’t have that date finalized but we’ve been talking every day to the Lakers, and most importantly, to [Bryant’s widow, Vanessa] as well. I think one message that I would say is this is not just about a man who was a basketball player, this is about a father, this is about a leader, this is about a filmmaker, this is about an artist, this is about somebody who was so much more than just how he was on the court.”
Bryant’s death has unleashed an outpouring of grief across Los Angeles, with thousands converging on Staples Center and L.A. Live, and numerous memorial murals going up. For two days after the crash, thousands also went to the crash site in Calabasas.
“It’s a reminder how much unity we have, though. We are one city that believes in each other, believes in something bigger than ourselves and we will absolutely do everything to make sure that this is done so that everybody can come to it as well,” the mayor said.
It’s unclear whether the Bryant memorial would be at Staples Center, which was the site for events memorializing both rapper Nipsey Hussle and singer Michael Jackson.


latimes--2020-01-30--At Harvey Weinstein trial, prosecutors try to overcome image of a 'harmless old man' in court

Moments before opening statements in his landmark criminal trial last week , Harvey Weinstein entered the courtroom hanging onto another man ’ s arm , looking as if he ’ d collapse to the ground if left to walk on his own .
Moving slowly with a pronounced limp , the 67-year-old disgraced Hollywood titan was led to the defense table .
Other days , he would use a walker to reach his seat .
As Manhattan Assistant Dist .
Atty .
Meghan Hast outlined the horrific acts Weinstein is accused of , she repeatedly described a very different version @ @ @ @ @ @ @ towering figure who enjoyed an extreme height and weight advantage over the women he was accused of terrorizing .
“ The man seated on that side of the courtroom , despite what your eyes are looking at , is not a harmless old man , ” Hast said .
Through the first week of testimony at Weinstein ’ s sexual assault trial , prosecutors have continually asked witnesses to describe the mogul ’ s girth and physical stature in the early 1990s , 2006 and 2013 — the time frames in which three @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Manhattan .
Causing jurors to focus on images of a confident , 6-foot , 300-plus-pound version of Weinstein from back then , rather than the frail man struggling to stand on his own two feet now , could play a significant role in deliberations , legal experts say .
“ If you ’ re not a fully functioning human , the judge or jury may make a conscious or subconscious calculation : that you can ’ t be held fully responsible for your actions , ” said Wendy Murphy , a professor of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Boston and a former sex crimes prosecutor .
Weinstein is charged with first-degree rape , two counts of predatory sexual assault , one count of first-degree sexual assault and one count of third-degree rape .
He has denied all wrongdoing and his attorneys have argued that each alleged assault was a consensual affair .
Weinstein underwent spinal decompression surgery in December , just weeks before his trial was set to begin , leaving him bent over and reliant on a walker .
The mogul has said the surgery was needed because he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ involved in an August 2019 car crash in Bedford , N.Y. Bedford police , however , have said Weinstein was not hospitalized as a result of the crash and that there were no injuries reported to them on the day of the accident .
Four of Weinstein ’ s accusers have taken the stand in the last week , and prosecutors have asked each to contrast their own slight frames with the mogul ’ s .
Pictures of the Miramax co-founder ’ s barrel-like build have been displayed on a projector between the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ after day , oftentimes dwarfing the women who were detailing their allegations just a few feet away .
As actress Annabella Sciorra recounted the night she says Weinstein forced his way into her apartment and raped her in 1993 or 1994 , she described herself as a full foot shorter and nearly 200 pounds lighter than he was .
At one point , prosecutors asked her to stand up and demonstrate why she couldn ’ t run past him to escape .
“ He kept coming at me and I felt very overpowered @ @ @ @ @ @ @ she said last week .
Tarale Wulff and Mimi Haleyi , who both say Weinstein raped them in his SoHo apartment in 2005 and 2006 , respectively , gave similar descriptions of how the mogul used his height and bulk to back them farther into his residence , until they wound up trapped in a bedroom with him .
Wulff , who testified Wednesday , said she met Weinstein while she was working as a waitress at Cipriani ’ s in Manhattan in 2005 .
She claimed Weinstein , a friend of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ away from a VIP area and into an unused terrace section of the restaurant , where she said he masturbated under his clothes in front of her .
A few weeks later , after agreeing to what Wulff said she expected to be an audition at Miramax ’ s New York offices , she said he raped her .
“ He was certainly bigger and heavier and weighed me down , ” said Wulff , whose case is not among those charged because the crime is too old to prosecute .
Weinstein and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was timed to have any influence on the trial .
“ It was a back problem that grew more painful and worsened with every step he took after that accident , which eventually led to the need for the surgery , ” said Juda Engelmayer , a spokesman for Weinstein .
“ There is no strategy on this .
Harvey would prefer to be healthier and walking without assistance.
” Weinstein was alone in his Jeep on the morning of Aug. 17 when he was involved in a crash in Westchester County , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , public information officer for the Bedford Police Department .
Weinstein ’ s car landed on its side , and he told police he was trying to avoid a deer in the roadway , Bellantone said .
Weinstein was not treated for any injuries on the scene , according to Bellantone , who described the incident as “ a whole lot of nothing.
” A New York doctor did , however , affirm that Weinstein was “ totally incapacitated ” on a disability certificate signed shortly before the mogul underwent surgery last month @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The Times .
Legal experts said it is not uncommon for a defendant to try to appear nonthreatening or put distance between their current appearance and their image at the time of an alleged crime .
Murphy pointed to the 2005 criminal trial in which Michael Jackson was accused of molesting a 13-year-old boy .
Jackson appeared one day in a Santa Barbara County court wearing pajamas and limping awkwardly .
The larger-than-life pop star seemed small and childish in that moment , and mentally unwell , according to Murphy .
Bill Cosby @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he revealed that he had gone blind in an interview published just one month before his trial on sexual assault charges in Pennsylvania began .
The comedian , who faced a wave of accusations similar to those against Weinstein , claimed he ’ d woke up unable to see nearly two years beforehand .
He was ultimately convicted of drugging and molesting a Temple University employee .
Murphy said that a defendant ’ s diminished physical and mental state — or the appearance of one — sometimes translates into reduced charges or punishment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ guilty .
“ If I had a nickel for every one of those cases in my career where a guy was perfectly fine and then he shows up with wheelchair or cane , ” Murphy said , adding there is usually no way to know whether the defendant is feigning their condition .
The same will likely remain true in Weinstein ’ s case .
Despite the potential of his appearance to influence the jury , any evidence or argument around the necessity of his surgery would almost certainly be inadmissible unless he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Shakhnevich , a criminal defense attorney who now teaches at the John Jay School of Criminal Justice in Manhattan .
Whether or not the surgery was strategic , Shakhnevich warned that the timing could backfire , regardless if jurors become skeptical that Weinstein is seeking to manipulate them .
“ I don ’ t know if it ’ s going to win much sympathy , ” Shakhnevich said .
“ Some folks think that this is a timed surgery , that the medical procedure was timed with the trial.
” Queally reported from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .

Moments before opening statements in his landmark criminal trial last week, Harvey Weinstein entered the courtroom hanging onto another man’s arm, looking as if he’d collapse to the ground if left to walk on his own.
Moving slowly with a pronounced limp, the 67-year-old disgraced Hollywood titan was led to the defense table. Other days, he would use a walker to reach his seat.
As Manhattan Assistant Dist. Atty. Meghan Hast outlined the horrific acts Weinstein is accused of, she repeatedly described a very different version of the mogul — a hulking, towering figure who enjoyed an extreme height and weight advantage over the women he was accused of terrorizing.
Advertisement
“The man seated on that side of the courtroom, despite what your eyes are looking at, is not a harmless old man,” Hast said.
Through the first week of testimony at Weinstein’s sexual assault trial, prosecutors have continually asked witnesses to describe the mogul’s girth and physical stature in the early 1990s, 2006 and 2013 — the time frames in which three different women say Weinstein raped them in Manhattan.
Causing jurors to focus on images of a confident, 6-foot, 300-plus-pound version of Weinstein from back then, rather than the frail man struggling to stand on his own two feet now, could play a significant role in deliberations, legal experts say.
“If you’re not a fully functioning human, the judge or jury may make a conscious or subconscious calculation: that you can’t be held fully responsible for your actions,” said Wendy Murphy, a professor of sexual violence law at New England Law in Boston and a former sex crimes prosecutor.
Weinstein is charged with first-degree rape, two counts of predatory sexual assault, one count of first-degree sexual assault and one count of third-degree rape. He has denied all wrongdoing and his attorneys have argued that each alleged assault was a consensual affair.
Weinstein underwent spinal decompression surgery in December, just weeks before his trial was set to begin, leaving him bent over and reliant on a walker. The mogul has said the surgery was needed because he developed severe back pain after he was involved in an August 2019 car crash in Bedford, N.Y.
Advertisement
Bedford police, however, have said Weinstein was not hospitalized as a result of the crash and that there were no injuries reported to them on the day of the accident.
Four of Weinstein’s accusers have taken the stand in the last week, and prosecutors have asked each to contrast their own slight frames with the mogul’s. Pictures of the Miramax co-founder’s barrel-like build have been displayed on a projector between the jury box and the witness stand day after day, oftentimes dwarfing the women who were detailing their allegations just a few feet away.
As actress Annabella Sciorra recounted the night she says Weinstein forced his way into her apartment and raped her in 1993 or 1994, she described herself as a full foot shorter and nearly 200 pounds lighter than he was. At one point, prosecutors asked her to stand up and demonstrate why she couldn’t run past him to escape.
“He kept coming at me and I felt very overpowered because he was very big,” she said last week.
Tarale Wulff and Mimi Haleyi, who both say Weinstein raped them in his SoHo apartment in 2005 and 2006, respectively, gave similar descriptions of how the mogul used his height and bulk to back them farther into his residence, until they wound up trapped in a bedroom with him.
Wulff, who testified Wednesday, said she met Weinstein while she was working as a waitress at Cipriani’s in Manhattan in 2005. She claimed Weinstein, a friend of the venue’s owner, led her away from a VIP area and into an unused terrace section of the restaurant, where she said he masturbated under his clothes in front of her.
A few weeks later, after agreeing to what Wulff said she expected to be an audition at Miramax’s New York offices, she said he raped her.
“He was certainly bigger and heavier and weighed me down,” said Wulff, whose case is not among those charged because the crime is too old to prosecute.
Weinstein and his associates have denied the back surgery was timed to have any influence on the trial.
“It was a back problem that grew more painful and worsened with every step he took after that accident, which eventually led to the need for the surgery,” said Juda Engelmayer, a spokesman for Weinstein. “There is no strategy on this. Harvey would prefer to be healthier and walking without assistance.”
Weinstein was alone in his Jeep on the morning of Aug. 17 when he was involved in a crash in Westchester County, N.Y., according to Lt. Andrew Bellantone, public information officer for the Bedford Police Department. Weinstein’s car landed on its side, and he told police he was trying to avoid a deer in the roadway, Bellantone said.
Weinstein was not treated for any injuries on the scene, according to Bellantone, who described the incident as “a whole lot of nothing.”
A New York doctor did, however, affirm that Weinstein was “totally incapacitated” on a disability certificate signed shortly before the mogul underwent surgery last month, according to a document reviewed by The Times.
Legal experts said it is not uncommon for a defendant to try to appear nonthreatening or put distance between their current appearance and their image at the time of an alleged crime.
Murphy pointed to the 2005 criminal trial in which Michael Jackson was accused of molesting a 13-year-old boy. Jackson appeared one day in a Santa Barbara County court wearing pajamas and limping awkwardly. The larger-than-life pop star seemed small and childish in that moment, and mentally unwell, according to Murphy.
Bill Cosby was met with skepticism in 2017 when he revealed that he had gone blind in an interview published just one month before his trial on sexual assault charges in Pennsylvania began. The comedian, who faced a wave of accusations similar to those against Weinstein, claimed he’d woke up unable to see nearly two years beforehand. He was ultimately convicted of drugging and molesting a Temple University employee.
Murphy said that a defendant’s diminished physical and mental state — or the appearance of one — sometimes translates into reduced charges or punishment, even when a defendant is found guilty.
“If I had a nickel for every one of those cases in my career where a guy was perfectly fine and then he shows up with wheelchair or cane,” Murphy said, adding there is usually no way to know whether the defendant is feigning their condition.
The same will likely remain true in Weinstein’s case. Despite the potential of his appearance to influence the jury, any evidence or argument around the necessity of his surgery would almost certainly be inadmissible unless he chooses to testify, according to Dmitriy Shakhnevich, a criminal defense attorney who now teaches at the John Jay School of Criminal Justice in Manhattan.
Whether or not the surgery was strategic, Shakhnevich warned that the timing could backfire, regardless if jurors become skeptical that Weinstein is seeking to manipulate them.
“I don’t know if it’s going to win much sympathy,” Shakhnevich said. “Some folks think that this is a timed surgery, that the medical procedure was timed with the trial.”
Queally reported from New York and Newberry from Los Angeles.


latimes--2020-01-30--Berkeley law school removes Boalt's name from building, citing his anti-Chinese legacy

UC Berkeley removed the name “ Boalt Hall ” from a building of its prestigious law school Thursday , officially acknowledging that the virulent anti-Chinese views expressed by attorney John Henry Boalt will no longer be honored at the university .
After years of deliberation , the hall will now simply be known as the Law Building , UC Berkeley Chancellor Carol Christ wrote in a letter sent to the campus community Thursday .
“ This is the first time a UC Berkeley building has had its name removed because the values of its namesake were so out of sync @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Christ wrote .
“ There is no question that building names are powerful symbols for those who walk across our campus .
I believe that removing the Boalt name from our law building — while still acknowledging our ties to the Boalt family — will help us recognize a troubled part of Berkeley ’ s history while better supporting the diverse membership of our academic community.
” The law school ’ s buildings have carried Boalt ’ s name in one way or another since 1911 , first in the “ Boalt Memorial @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Boalt Hall when the law school moved into a new facility in 1951 .
Though “ Boalt ” was never officially part of the law school ’ s name , many in the California legal community referred to the Berkeley School of Law simply as Boalt Hall , and alumni called themselves “ Boalties.
” But in 2017 , law professor Charles Reichmann wrote a Berkeley law review article and a San Francisco Chronicle op-ed that exposed Boalt , a 19th century San Francisco attorney , as virulently anti-Chinese .
The revelations rocked @ @ @ @ @ @ @ national debate over what to do when honored historical figures turn out to have unsavory pasts .
The controversy came as other schools , such as Stanford , the University of San Francisco and Cal State Long Beach , were reexamining California ’ s past and changing building names or dropping mascots associated with those who kept slaves or mistreated Native Americans and Asian Americans .
Boalt was instrumental in pushing the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 — the nation ’ s first immigration ban on a specific group of people .
In @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Chinese were unassimilable liars , murderers and misogynists who provoked “ unconquerable repulsion.
” Public sentiment against Chinese immigrants had grown in the 19th century as more than 300,000 came to California as laborers .
The op-ed prompted a strong response from Berkeley faculty , students and alumni , and a committee led by law school dean Erwin Chemerinsky recommended the name be removed in 2018 .
The university ’ s building name review committee agreed , and UC President Janet Napolitano approved the decision this month .
Tar Rakhra and Ryan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the name to be removed , were at the law school entrance at 7 a.m. Thursday to watch the letters come down .
The whole thing took one man about five minutes , said Sun , a third-year law student .
The discovery of Boalt ’ s racist views was jarring to Sun , who is Chinese American and chose Berkeley in part because of the area ’ s Asian American community .
“ I was ... trying to achieve whatever dreams or passions that I had , and it felt like @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” Sun said .
“ You ’ re attending class in a building named after someone who doesn ’ t want you to be there in the building , let alone in the country.
” Sun has become a leader at the law school — he ’ s surrounded by friends who are Asian American and Pacific Islander , and is the editor in chief of Berkeley ’ s Asian American Law Journal .
But walking into the building Thursday morning was a particularly gratifying experience — “ a sense of closure @ @ @ @ @

UC Berkeley removed the name “Boalt Hall” from a building of its prestigious law school Thursday, officially acknowledging that the virulent anti-Chinese views expressed by attorney John Henry Boalt will no longer be honored at the university.
After years of deliberation, the hall will now simply be known as the Law Building, UC Berkeley Chancellor Carol Christ wrote in a letter sent to the campus community Thursday.
“This is the first time a UC Berkeley building has had its name removed because the values of its namesake were so out of sync with those of our institution,” Christ wrote. “There is no question that building names are powerful symbols for those who walk across our campus. I believe that removing the Boalt name from our law building — while still acknowledging our ties to the Boalt family — will help us recognize a troubled part of Berkeley’s history while better supporting the diverse membership of our academic community.”
The law school’s buildings have carried Boalt’s name in one way or another since 1911, first in the “Boalt Memorial Hall of Law” and then with Boalt Hall when the law school moved into a new facility in 1951. Though “Boalt” was never officially part of the law school’s name, many in the California legal community referred to the Berkeley School of Law simply as Boalt Hall, and alumni called themselves “Boalties.”
But in 2017, law professor Charles Reichmann wrote a Berkeley law review article and a San Francisco Chronicle op-ed that exposed Boalt, a 19th century San Francisco attorney, as virulently anti-Chinese. The revelations rocked the school and plunged it into the national debate over what to do when honored historical figures turn out to have unsavory pasts. The controversy came as other schools, such as Stanford, the University of San Francisco and Cal State Long Beach, were reexamining California’s past and changing building names or dropping mascots associated with those who kept slaves or mistreated Native Americans and Asian Americans.
Advertisement
Boalt was instrumental in pushing the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 — the nation’s first immigration ban on a specific group of people. In one influential treatise, he wrote that the Chinese were unassimilable liars, murderers and misogynists who provoked “unconquerable repulsion.” Public sentiment against Chinese immigrants had grown in the 19th century as more than 300,000 came to California as laborers.
The op-ed prompted a strong response from Berkeley faculty, students and alumni, and a committee led by law school dean Erwin Chemerinsky recommended the name be removed in 2018. The university’s building name review committee agreed, and UC President Janet Napolitano approved the decision this month.
Tar Rakhra and Ryan Sun, Berkeley law students who advocated for the name to be removed, were at the law school entrance at 7 a.m. Thursday to watch the letters come down. The whole thing took one man about five minutes, said Sun, a third-year law student.
The discovery of Boalt’s racist views was jarring to Sun, who is Chinese American and chose Berkeley in part because of the area’s Asian American community.
“I was ... trying to achieve whatever dreams or passions that I had, and it felt like I was not meant to be here,” Sun said. “You’re attending class in a building named after someone who doesn’t want you to be there in the building, let alone in the country.”
Sun has become a leader at the law school — he’s surrounded by friends who are Asian American and Pacific Islander, and is the editor in chief of Berkeley’s Asian American Law Journal. But walking into the building Thursday morning was a particularly gratifying experience — “a sense of closure,” he said.
Advertisement
Times staff writer Teresa Watanabe contributed to this report.


latimes--2020-01-30--201 Americans fleeing China's coronavirus are now in California. Here's what they face

There have been only a handful of coronavirus cases diagnosed in the U.S. , with one each in Los Angeles County , Orange County , Chicago , Arizona and Washington state .
Yet the rapid spread of the virus in China has sparked alarm in the United States .
The U.S. State Department chartered a private plane to evacuate diplomats stationed at the Wuhan consulate , along with their families .
On Wednesday , 201 Americans , including a month-old baby and several teenagers , arrived in California after fleeing the outbreak in China .
They will be held for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Riverside County and monitored by federal , state and county health officials .
Officials say dealing with this situation has required a delicate balancing act , in part because of misinformation and ignorance about the flight and those on board .
Here ’ s what we know : Are these Americans being forced to stay away from the general public ?
The passengers aren ’ t under an official quarantine , but Dr. Chris Braden of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention told reporters during a news conference Wednesday that everyone @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with the three-day hold .
At the time of the flight ’ s boarding on Wednesday , Rear Adm. Nancy Knight , who ’ s with the CDC , said none of the passengers were deemed “ high risk.
” “ We try and balance how to protect these people , how to respect their rights , how to be the least restrictive possible , and still be very careful about evaluation they go under so that everybody is safe , ” Braden said .
“ This is a balance .
If we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ order that restricts people and takes away their rights , that ’ s what we ’ ll do.
” How long will they be there ?
During the hold , passengers will be housed in a cordoned-off area at the base , where they ’ ll undergo lab work and have their temperature monitored every 12 hours .
Officials said lab results could be turned around in less than 72 hours .
A mobile healthcare unit also will be near the site .
Passengers are encouraged to remain at the base for an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the virus ’ incubation period .
But if passengers decide to return to their home states , area public officials will continue to monitor them for the same time frame .
If a passenger is deemed a danger to the community , Braden said a quarantine would be issued for that person .
Local county officials would likely take similar action , he added .
Officials dressed in white protective suits were seen Wednesday morning after the flight ’ s arrival loading passengers ’ luggage onto three buses .
Passengers , who had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ inside the base .
The chartered plane was initially bound for Ontario International Airport before it was diverted to the Riverside County base , which has facilities capable of housing passengers for roughly two weeks , Braden said .
Passengers were screened before boarding the flight by Chinese and U.S. officials , again when the plane stopped in Anchorage to refuel , and again when they arrived in Riverside County , Knight said .
Curt Hagman , chairman of the San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors , said Tuesday he had heard from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ concerned about the flight landing in Ontario .
Because of a lack of information and misinformation shared online , there was a misunderstanding by some that the flight was “ full of sick people ” rather than diplomats and their families who wanted to get out of harm ’ s way , he said .
“ People are concerned — they wanted to make sure the government is protecting them , ” Hagman said .

There have been only a handful of coronavirus cases diagnosed in the U.S., with one each in Los Angeles County, Orange County, Chicago, Arizona and Washington state.
Yet the rapid spread of the virus in China has sparked alarm in the United States. The U.S. State Department chartered a private plane to evacuate diplomats stationed at the Wuhan consulate, along with their families. On Wednesday, 201 Americans, including a month-old baby and several teenagers, arrived in California after fleeing the outbreak in China.
They will be held for several days at March Air Reserve Base in Riverside County and monitored by federal, state and county health officials.
Advertisement
Officials say dealing with this situation has required a delicate balancing act, in part because of misinformation and ignorance about the flight and those on board.
Here’s what we know:
Are these Americans being forced to stay away from the general public?
No.
The passengers aren’t under an official quarantine, but Dr. Chris Braden of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention told reporters during a news conference Wednesday that everyone on the flight seemed to be cooperating with the three-day hold.
At the time of the flight’s boarding on Wednesday, Rear Adm. Nancy Knight, who’s with the CDC, said none of the passengers were deemed “high risk.”
“We try and balance how to protect these people, how to respect their rights, how to be the least restrictive possible, and still be very careful about evaluation they go under so that everybody is safe,” Braden said. “This is a balance. If we can do that without a federal quarantine order that restricts people and takes away their rights, that’s what we’ll do.”
Advertisement
How long will they be there?
During the hold, passengers will be housed in a cordoned-off area at the base, where they’ll undergo lab work and have their temperature monitored every 12 hours. Officials said lab results could be turned around in less than 72 hours.
A mobile healthcare unit also will be near the site.
Passengers are encouraged to remain at the base for an additional 14 days — the duration of the virus’ incubation period. But if passengers decide to return to their home states, area public officials will continue to monitor them for the same time frame.
If a passenger is deemed a danger to the community, Braden said a quarantine would be issued for that person. Local county officials would likely take similar action, he added.
Officials dressed in white protective suits were seen Wednesday morning after the flight’s arrival loading passengers’ luggage onto three buses. Passengers, who had gathered outside the plane, were taken inside the base.
Why March Air Force Base?
The chartered plane was initially bound for Ontario International Airport before it was diverted to the Riverside County base, which has facilities capable of housing passengers for roughly two weeks, Braden said.
Passengers were screened before boarding the flight by Chinese and U.S. officials, again when the plane stopped in Anchorage to refuel, and again when they arrived in Riverside County, Knight said.
Curt Hagman, chairman of the San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors, said Tuesday he had heard from several people in his district who were concerned about the flight landing in Ontario.
Because of a lack of information and misinformation shared online, there was a misunderstanding by some that the flight was “full of sick people” rather than diplomats and their families who wanted to get out of harm’s way, he said.
“People are concerned — they wanted to make sure the government is protecting them,” Hagman said.


latimes--2020-01-30--At Kobe Bryant crash site, hazardous materials cleanup will take some time

With the recovery effort completed at the site where Kobe Bryant and eight others died in a helicopter crash Sunday , officials are now working to clean up hazardous materials in the hillside above Calabasas .
The area is still closed to the public as officials remove debris and deal with magnesium and other hazardous and toxic materials in the ground following the crash .
It will take some time to fully remove the substances from the area , experts say .
The National Transportation Safety Board investigation into the cause of the crash continues , with investigators collecting the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ helicopter was taking Bryant and his group from Orange County to a basketball tournament at his Mamba Sports Academy in Thousand Oaks .
The retired NBA player was scheduled to coach his daugther Gianna ’ s team in a game .
Accompanying the Bryants were John Altobelli , 56 , longtime baseball coach at Orange Coast College ; his wife , Keri , 46 ; their daughter Alyssa , 13 ; Christina Mauser , 38 , an assistant basketball coach at the Mamba Sports Academy ; Sarah Chester , 45 ; Chester ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the pilot , 50-year-old Ara Zobayan .
On Tuesday , the NTSB said the chopper was not equipped with a terrain alarm system that could have warned the pilot he was approaching a hillside .
NTSB investigator Jennifer Homendy said at a news conference that the helicopter was at 2,300 feet when it lost communication with air traffic controllers .
It was descending at more than 2,000 feet per minute at the time of impact .
Homendy said her agency had recommended 16 years ago that the Federal Aviation Administration require that all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ equipped with a terrain awareness and warning system , adding that the FAA has “ failed to act ” on the proposal .
Because the FAA didn ’ t follow the recommendation , the helicopter that crashed Sunday was not legally required to have the system .
Shortly after the news conference , an FAA spokesman disputed that assessment , noting that the FAA requires the terrain alarm systems for helicopter air ambulance operations .
It remained unclear what the pilot knew about the terrain surrounding him or whether he had become disoriented @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the public for its support and expressed her grief over the crash that killed her husband and daughter .
“ There aren ’ t enough words to describe our pain right now .
I take comfort in knowing that Kobe and Gigi both knew that they were so deeply loved .
We were so incredibly blessed to have them in our lives .
I wish they were here with us forever .
They were our beautiful blessings taken from us too soon , ” she wrote on Instagram .
“ I ’ m @ @ @ @ @ @ @ today , and it ’ s impossible to imagine life without them .
But we wake up each day , trying to keep pushing because Kobe , and our baby girl , Gigi , are shining on us to light the way .
Our love for them is endless — and that ’ s to say , immeasurable .
I just wish I could hug them , kiss them and bless them .
Have them here with us , forever .
”

Investigators collect what appears to be part of a helicopter rotor blade at the crash site where Kobe Bryant and eight other people were killed Sunday morning in Calabasas.
With the recovery effort completed at the site where Kobe Bryant and eight others died in a helicopter crash Sunday, officials are now working to clean up hazardous materials in the hillside above Calabasas.
The area is still closed to the public as officials remove debris and deal with magnesium and other hazardous and toxic materials in the ground following the crash. It will take some time to fully remove the substances from the area, experts say.
The National Transportation Safety Board investigation into the cause of the crash continues, with investigators collecting the shattered parts of the chopper.
Advertisement
The helicopter was taking Bryant and his group from Orange County to a basketball tournament at his Mamba Sports Academy in Thousand Oaks. The retired NBA player was scheduled to coach his daugther Gianna’s team in a game.
Accompanying the Bryants were John Altobelli, 56, longtime baseball coach at Orange Coast College; his wife, Keri, 46; their daughter Alyssa, 13; Christina Mauser, 38, an assistant basketball coach at the Mamba Sports Academy; Sarah Chester, 45; Chester’s daughter Payton, 13; and the pilot, 50-year-old Ara Zobayan.
On Tuesday, the NTSB said the chopper was not equipped with a terrain alarm system that could have warned the pilot he was approaching a hillside.
NTSB investigator Jennifer Homendy said at a news conference that the helicopter was at 2,300 feet when it lost communication with air traffic controllers. It was descending at more than 2,000 feet per minute at the time of impact.
Homendy said her agency had recommended 16 years ago that the Federal Aviation Administration require that all helicopters carrying six or more passengers be equipped with a terrain awareness and warning system, adding that the FAA has “failed to act” on the proposal. Because the FAA didn’t follow the recommendation, the helicopter that crashed Sunday was not legally required to have the system.
Advertisement
Shortly after the news conference, an FAA spokesman disputed that assessment, noting that the FAA requires the terrain alarm systems for helicopter air ambulance operations.
It remained unclear what the pilot knew about the terrain surrounding him or whether he had become disoriented.
On Wednesday, Vanessa Bryant thanked the public for its support and expressed her grief over the crash that killed her husband and daughter.
“There aren’t enough words to describe our pain right now. I take comfort in knowing that Kobe and Gigi both knew that they were so deeply loved. We were so incredibly blessed to have them in our lives. I wish they were here with us forever. They were our beautiful blessings taken from us too soon,” she wrote on Instagram.
“I’m not sure what our lives hold beyond today, and it’s impossible to imagine life without them. But we wake up each day, trying to keep pushing because Kobe, and our baby girl, Gigi, are shining on us to light the way. Our love for them is endless — and that’s to say, immeasurable. I just wish I could hug them, kiss them and bless them. Have them here with us, forever.”


latimes--2020-01-30--Dry, sunny days in January have taken a toll on California's snowpack

All of those dry January days have taken a toll on California ’ s snowpack , but officials say it ’ s too early to worry about drought conditions .
Surveyors with the California Department of Water Resources trekked through a snow-covered field Thursday at the department ’ s Phillips station , above Lake Tahoe , to take the second seasonal measurement that serves as an important marker for the state ’ s water supply .
The result — 40.5 inches deep — is 79 % of average for the time of year at that location .
If all the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would amount to about 14.5 inches of water , said Sean de Guzman , chief of the agency ’ s snow surveys and water supply forecasting section .
The measurement taken on Jan. 2 was a few inches shallower — 33.5 inches — but amounted to a promising start at the time , according to water managers .
Then storm activity slowed considerably .
“ Snow and precipitation statewide were well below average [ in January ] , ” de Guzman said .
“ But we still need to wait and see what @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” The snow season typically begins in December and ends on the first day of April , when the snowpack is normally at its highest .
However , surveyors will continue to measure the pack as long as there ’ s snow on the ground , often through May .
How much snow falls during this period is critical to California ’ s annual water outlook and is watched closely by state water managers .
Thursday ’ s reading at the Phillips station was 58 % of the April 1 average for that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ % of the annual freshwater supply for the state .
Its spring and summer runoff feeds rivers and reservoirs , and part of it is distributed to water agencies for farm irrigation , landscaping and urban drinking supplies .
The good news , officials say , is that the state ’ s reservoirs are either at or above their averages for this time of year , thanks in part to solid rainfall last winter .
The Phillips station , 30 miles west of Tahoe , was grassy and dry when surveyors attempted to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ In 2019 , conditions were significantly better , with the January snowpack measuring 25.5 inches , or 80 % of average for the date .
That 2019 snowpack — which picked up later in the winter , boosted by a series of atmospheric rivers paired with cold fronts that pounded the state — was ultimately the fifth best in recorded history .
“ It just shows how unpredictable snow and precipitation are here in California and how just a few atmospheric rivers can really drastically change a water year , ” de Guzman @ @ @ @ @ @ @ measurement comes as Southern Californians are preparing for a winter warm-up heading into February .
Strong winds that have blown through the region this week began to diminish Thursday , making way for toasty temperatures through Saturday .
Highs of 5 to 10 degrees above normal are expected before dipping quickly back down on Sunday , said Jayme Laber , a hydrologist with the National Weather Service in Oxnard .
“ It ’ s not going to be hot by summer standards , but for this time of year , we ’ re @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he said .
Temperatures in downtown Los Angeles are expected to be in the low 80s Friday and Saturday .
Inland areas of L.A. and Orange counties — including Pasadena , Glendale , Santa Ana and Irvine — will see similar temperatures .
Forecasters are predicting more mild temperatures in the mid-70s for coastal cities in the two counties .
A wetter-than-normal November and December had pushed the region above average for rainfall tallies for the water year , which runs from October through September .
But precipitation in January was meager , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a smattering of rain to the region , Laber said .
“ It ’ s been dry enough that it ’ s brought us down into the normal range for the water year , ” he said .
“ If the drying trend continues , it ’ s going to be a long shot to stay in the normal range.
” February is typically the state ’ s wettest month , but current forecast models are showing mostly dry weather for the next couple of weeks .
One model predicts a slight chance @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s still too early for forecasters to say whether Los Angeles will see much , if any , rain from that system , Laber said .
Temperatures for the start of this February contrast starkly with the same time last year .
In February 2019 , the mercury did not reach 70 degrees in downtown Los Angeles for the entire month .
It was the first time since forecasters began recording data — at least 142 years — that the region failed to top 69 degrees .
That threshold will be breached @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .

All of those dry January days have taken a toll on California’s snowpack, but officials say it’s too early to worry about drought conditions.
Surveyors with the California Department of Water Resources trekked through a snow-covered field Thursday at the department’s Phillips station, above Lake Tahoe, to take the second seasonal measurement that serves as an important marker for the state’s water supply.
The result — 40.5 inches deep — is 79% of average for the time of year at that location. If all the snow were to melt at once it would amount to about 14.5 inches of water, said Sean de Guzman, chief of the agency’s snow surveys and water supply forecasting section.
Advertisement
The measurement taken on Jan. 2 was a few inches shallower — 33.5 inches — but amounted to a promising start at the time, according to water managers. Then storm activity slowed considerably.
“Snow and precipitation statewide were well below average [in January],” de Guzman said. “But we still need to wait and see what the next few months will bring us.”
The snow season typically begins in December and ends on the first day of April, when the snowpack is normally at its highest. However, surveyors will continue to measure the pack as long as there’s snow on the ground, often through May. How much snow falls during this period is critical to California’s annual water outlook and is watched closely by state water managers. Thursday’s reading at the Phillips station was 58% of the April 1 average for that location.
The snowpack provides about 30% of the annual freshwater supply for the state. Its spring and summer runoff feeds rivers and reservoirs, and part of it is distributed to water agencies for farm irrigation, landscaping and urban drinking supplies. The good news, officials say, is that the state’s reservoirs are either at or above their averages for this time of year, thanks in part to solid rainfall last winter.
The Phillips station, 30 miles west of Tahoe, was grassy and dry when surveyors attempted to measure the snowpack in January 2018. In 2019, conditions were significantly better, with the January snowpack measuring 25.5 inches, or 80% of average for the date.
That 2019 snowpack — which picked up later in the winter, boosted by a series of atmospheric rivers paired with cold fronts that pounded the state — was ultimately the fifth best in recorded history.
“It just shows how unpredictable snow and precipitation are here in California and how just a few atmospheric rivers can really drastically change a water year,” de Guzman said.
Advertisement
Thursday’s lackluster snowpack measurement comes as Southern Californians are preparing for a winter warm-up heading into February.
Strong winds that have blown through the region this week began to diminish Thursday, making way for toasty temperatures through Saturday. Highs of 5 to 10 degrees above normal are expected before dipping quickly back down on Sunday, said Jayme Laber, a hydrologist with the National Weather Service in Oxnard.
“It’s not going to be hot by summer standards, but for this time of year, we’re definitely going to be warm,” he said.
Temperatures in downtown Los Angeles are expected to be in the low 80s Friday and Saturday. Inland areas of L.A. and Orange counties — including Pasadena, Glendale, Santa Ana and Irvine — will see similar temperatures. Forecasters are predicting more mild temperatures in the mid-70s for coastal cities in the two counties.
A wetter-than-normal November and December had pushed the region above average for rainfall tallies for the water year, which runs from October through September. But precipitation in January was meager, with only a few storms bringing just a smattering of rain to the region, Laber said.
“It’s been dry enough that it’s brought us down into the normal range for the water year,” he said. “If the drying trend continues, it’s going to be a long shot to stay in the normal range.”
February is typically the state’s wettest month, but current forecast models are showing mostly dry weather for the next couple of weeks. One model predicts a slight chance of showers Sunday night, but it’s still too early for forecasters to say whether Los Angeles will see much, if any, rain from that system, Laber said.
Temperatures for the start of this February contrast starkly with the same time last year. In February 2019, the mercury did not reach 70 degrees in downtown Los Angeles for the entire month. It was the first time since forecasters began recording data — at least 142 years — that the region failed to top 69 degrees. That threshold will be breached hours after the calendar flips this year.


latimes--2020-01-30--Gigi and Kobe Bryant befriended a small-town basketball star and her trainer dad

Hailey Van Lith lives basketball in her tiny town — Cashmere , Wash. , population 3,152 — and as the nation ’ s No .
1 guard and No .
2 overall player on the women ’ s basketball ranking site Prospects Nation , the 18-year-old knows a bit about celebrity and fame .
But last summer , as she waited in a Thailand airport after a Team USA game , she wasn ’ t prepared for a message from basketball legend Kobe Bryant .
“ The text was from one of Kobe ’ s main guys — I called @ @ @ @ @ @ @ just basically said that Kobe knew about me , loved my game and really wanted to get me to L.A. to work with him and talk about basketball , ” Hailey said in a phone interview Monday as she drove to practice at Cashmere High School .
“ I couldn ’ t believe it , that he actually knew who I was and thought I was a good player .
When I later asked him , ‘ Why me ?
’ he basically said the way I play , my work ethic and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of himself , and it compelled him to reach out to me.
” But Bryant , the father of four daughters and a strong supporter of women ’ s basketball , had other motives too , said Hailey ’ s father , Corey Van Lith , who has served as his daughter ’ s trainer since she was small .
“ He wanted to help Hailey , but he also wanted to put someone in front of his daughter she could relate to , because Hailey is an incredibly hard worker , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ her life so far to becoming the best person and basketball player she can possibly be , and he wanted to show Gigi , ‘ If you do this , you can attain the goals you want to attain.
’ ” And there was also a third — “ dad-to-dad ” — component that interested Bryant , Corey said : his relationship with Hailey as her trainer .
“ He wanted to know how I made that work , ” he said , “ because he was going down that road with his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ out to him a couple of weeks ago , asking him to send some of the workouts he does with his daughter .
“ He was one of the greatest basketball players of all time ... but he was always wanting to learn , ” Corey said .
“ His ego wasn ’ t too big to ask somebody like me , who is nobody in the basketball world , ‘ Hey , how did you find success in getting your daughter to where she ’ s at ?
’ ” Corey , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his wife , Jessica , attended the University of Puget Sound on a baseball scholarship , where he also played basketball .
He ’ s been training his daughter since she was in elementary school , he said , when her athleticism and competitive drive became apparent .
They train together two to three hours a night , before or after team workouts , and that ’ s what interested Bryant .
“ When you spend that amount of time with somebody , things can ’ t get too boring or they won @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
“ So I ’ m constantly coming up with new things.
” Hailey and her dad visited Bryant last August and she practiced with Gigi ’ s Mamba team .
She visited again in September , this time with her mother , Jessica .
Hailey said Bryant gave her advice for both on and off the court .
“ He told me to study the game .
‘ Make yourself a well-rounded player and just master the game , ’ ” she said .
He told her to focus on her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ her how he had pushed himself mentally to get through injuries and hardships .
Hailey shared some of that advice in a tribute to Bryant and Gigi before a game Tuesday night .
“ Thank you for teaching me that it is OK to be unapologetically great , ” she wrote in her statement , hugging her teammates and fighting back tears as it was read to the crowd in Cashmere .
Bryant also told her to make a list of players she thought were better than she was and then , one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ beat them on the court .
“ He told me I had to be better than them in every aspect of the game , and each time I met them and bested them , I could check them off the list , ” she said .
“ So I did that .
I made a list of 20 girls , and so far I ’ m seven down .
I still have 13 to go.
” Hailey also practiced with Gigi and came to feel like a friend and mentor to the younger @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , shy girl , polite and very reserved outside of the game of basketball , but on the court , she had that killer instinct .
She was a competitor , fearless on the court .
I played her one-on-one , and she was not scared of me .
She didn ’ t care that I was supposed to be better than her , taller and older .
She just played with everything she had , and that was something cool to see.
” She and Gigi often texted each other about their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ super excited ” about starting high school basketball in the fall , she said , and already had dreams of attending the University of Connecticut and playing in the WNBA .
“ It was awesome to see a girl so young be so driven to accomplish her dreams.
” It was during their summer Mamba Academy workouts that Bryant told her he would come to Cashmere to watch her team play , Hailey said , “ I was like , ‘ OK , Kobe , whatever , ’ but he ended up @ @ @ @ @ @ @ me that he was super serious about advocating for girl ’ s basketball and giving Gigi every opportunity he could to be surrounded by the game she loved.
” The Bryants ’ visit on Jan. 11 lighted up social media around the entire Wenatchee Valley .
The Van Liths had told only a few people that Bryant was coming .
But the night before , rumors of his visit spread .
Cashmere is a fiercely sports-focused town , with powerhouse teams despite its small size .
That Saturday around 3 p.m. , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a rare overflow crowd .
“ We ’ d never seen anything like that , ” Corey said .
About three minutes after the girls ’ varsity team hit the floor , the Bryants arrived .
They ’ d flown by private jet to the nearby airport in East Wenatchee .
“ You could see everybody taking out their phones , but people respected that he was there as a fan , to watch Hailey , ” Corey said .
“ He didn ’ t want it to be about him .
He @ @ @ @ @ @ @ location as discreet as possible and enjoy the game.
” Cashmere won the game 62-27 , with Hailey — who has committed to the University of Louisville — finishing with 35 points and nine steals .
“ Halftime was a circus , ” he said .
“ Everybody wanted to stand within 20 feet and take photos , but nobody got out of control.
” Bryant signed jerseys , cards and basketballs and posed for photos with both teams .
He also took time to talk to Hailey ’ s team in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and looked at all the girls and said , ‘ You guys play like a bunch of dogs , just nasty tough , ’ ” Cashmere head coach Brent Darnell told the Wenatchee World news outlet .
“ It was a great compliment from him and a special night for us.
” For Hailey , the visit was a gracious gift to her community .
“ We ’ re a smaller town , and nothing even close to that has ever happened here , ” she said .
Bryant and daughter Gianna “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It was inspirational just being around them ; it made you feel alive .
... To have them come and support my team was something my community will never forget.
” The visit touched Corey too , but his connection to Bryant was more as a dad .
That parental link was the first thing Corey thought of when he and his wife heard the news about the helicopter crash that killed Bryant , his daughter and seven others .
“ We just immediately imagined how it must have been for him , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ knew his daughter was in trouble , ” Corey said .
The main thing Corey carries away is his last conversation with Bryant on Jan. 25 , the night before Bryant was killed .
That was the night LeBron James surpassed Bryant ’ s career scoring record .
He said Bryant didn ’ t mention the record when he texted Corey that evening .
He just wanted to brag about Gigi .
“ He was proud that she was playing great at both ends of the floor , on offense and defense , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ so proud of all his kids , and that ’ s how we shared : dad to dad .
Kobe didn ’ t need me as a friend , and it wasn ’ t like I needed Kobe , but he was a friend because we had a mutual passion for developing our daughters and giving them their greatest success .
”

Hailey Van Lith lives basketball in her tiny town — Cashmere, Wash., population 3,152 — and as the nation’s No. 1 guard and No. 2 overall player on the women’s basketball ranking site Prospects Nation, the 18-year-old knows a bit about celebrity and fame.
But last summer, as she waited in a Thailand airport after a Team USA game, she wasn’t prepared for a message from basketball legend Kobe Bryant.
“The text was from one of Kobe’s main guys — I called him ‘T,’ and he just basically said that Kobe knew about me, loved my game and really wanted to get me to L.A. to work with him and talk about basketball,” Hailey said in a phone interview Monday as she drove to practice at Cashmere High School.
“I couldn’t believe it, that he actually knew who I was and thought I was a good player. When I later asked him, ‘Why me?’ he basically said the way I play, my work ethic and mentality on the court, reminded him of himself, and it compelled him to reach out to me.”
Advertisement
But Bryant, the father of four daughters and a strong supporter of women’s basketball, had other motives too, said Hailey’s father, Corey Van Lith, who has served as his daughter’s trainer since she was small.
“He wanted to help Hailey, but he also wanted to put someone in front of his daughter she could relate to, because Hailey is an incredibly hard worker. Hailey has devoted her life so far to becoming the best person and basketball player she can possibly be, and he wanted to show Gigi, ‘If you do this, you can attain the goals you want to attain’,” Van Lith said, using a nickname for Bryant’s daughter Gianna.
And there was also a third — “dad-to-dad” — component that interested Bryant, Corey said: his relationship with Hailey as her trainer.
“He wanted to know how I made that work,” he said, “because he was going down that road with his daughter Gigi.”
He said Bryant reached out to him a couple of weeks ago, asking him to send some of the workouts he does with his daughter.
“He was one of the greatest basketball players of all time ... but he was always wanting to learn,” Corey said. “His ego wasn’t too big to ask somebody like me, who is nobody in the basketball world, ‘Hey, how did you find success in getting your daughter to where she’s at?’ ”
Advertisement
Corey, co-owner of a custom home-building business with his wife, Jessica, attended the University of Puget Sound on a baseball scholarship, where he also played basketball. He’s been training his daughter since she was in elementary school, he said, when her athleticism and competitive drive became apparent.
They train together two to three hours a night, before or after team workouts, and that’s what interested Bryant.
“When you spend that amount of time with somebody, things can’t get too boring or they won’t stay interested,” Corey said. “So I’m constantly coming up with new things.”
Hailey and her dad visited Bryant last August and she practiced with Gianna’s Mamba team. She visited again in September, this time with her mother, Jessica. Hailey said Bryant gave her advice for both on and off the court.
“He told me to study the game. ‘Make yourself a well-rounded player and just master the game,’ ” she said. He told her to focus on her footwork over dribbling, and he told her how he had pushed himself mentally to get through injuries and hardships.
Hailey shared some of that advice in a tribute to Bryant and Gianna before a game Tuesday night. “Thank you for teaching me that it is OK to be unapologetically great,” she wrote in her statement, hugging her teammates and fighting back tears as it was read to the crowd in Cashmere.
Bryant also told her to make a list of players she thought were better than she was and then, one by one, find a way to beat them on the court.
“He told me I had to be better than them in every aspect of the game, and each time I met them and bested them, I could check them off the list,” she said. “So I did that. I made a list of 20 girls, and so far I’m seven down. I still have 13 to go.”
Hailey also practiced with Gianna and came to feel like a friend and mentor to the younger girl.
“She was a nice, shy girl, polite and very reserved outside of the game of basketball, but on the court, she had that killer instinct. She was a competitor, fearless on the court. I played her one-on-one, and she was not scared of me. She didn’t care that I was supposed to be better than her, taller and older. She just played with everything she had, and that was something cool to see.”
She and Gianna often texted each other about their games, Hailey said. Gianna was “super excited” about starting high school basketball in the fall, she said, and already had dreams of attending the University of Connecticut and playing in the WNBA.
“It was awesome to see a girl so young be so driven to accomplish her dreams.”
It was during their summer Mamba Academy workouts that Bryant told her he would come to Cashmere to watch her team play, Hailey said, “I was like, ‘OK, Kobe, whatever,’ but he ended up coming. And that just affirmed to me that he was super serious about advocating for girl’s basketball and giving Gigi every opportunity he could to be surrounded by the game she loved.”
The Bryants’ visit on Jan. 11 lighted up social media around the entire Wenatchee Valley. The Van Liths had told only a few people that Bryant was coming.
But the night before, rumors of his visit spread. Cashmere is a fiercely sports-focused town, with powerhouse teams despite its small size. That Saturday around 3 p.m., the junior varsity team got to play before a rare overflow crowd.
“We’d never seen anything like that,” Corey said.
About three minutes after the girls’ varsity team hit the floor, the Bryants arrived. They’d flown by private jet to the nearby airport in East Wenatchee.
“You could see everybody taking out their phones, but people respected that he was there as a fan, to watch Hailey,” Corey said. “He didn’t want it to be about him. He just wanted to sit in a certain location as discreet as possible and enjoy the game.”
Cashmere won the game 62-27, with Hailey — who has committed to the University of Louisville — finishing with 35 points and nine steals.
“Halftime was a circus,” he said. “Everybody wanted to stand within 20 feet and take photos, but nobody got out of control.”
Bryant signed jerseys, cards and basketballs and posed for photos with both teams. He also took time to talk to Hailey’s team in the locker room.
“He came in and looked at all the girls and said, ‘You guys play like a bunch of dogs, just nasty tough,’ ” Cashmere head coach Brent Darnell told the Wenatchee World news outlet. “It was a great compliment from him and a special night for us.”
For Hailey, the visit was a gracious gift to her community.
“We’re a smaller town, and nothing even close to that has ever happened here,” she said. Bryant and daughter Gianna “had such a passion for life. It was inspirational just being around them; it made you feel alive. ... To have them come and support my team was something my community will never forget.”
The visit touched Corey too, but his connection to Bryant was more as a dad. That parental link was the first thing Corey thought of when he and his wife heard the news about the helicopter crash that killed Bryant, his daughter and seven others.
“We just immediately imagined how it must have been for him, moments before it happened, when he knew his daughter was in trouble,” Corey said.
The main thing Corey carries away is his last conversation with Bryant on Jan. 25, the night before Bryant was killed. That was the night LeBron James surpassed Bryant’s career scoring record. He said Bryant didn’t mention the record when he texted Corey that evening. He just wanted to brag about Gianna.
“He was proud that she was playing great at both ends of the floor, on offense and defense,” Corey said. “He was so proud of all his kids, and that’s how we shared: dad to dad. Kobe didn’t need me as a friend, and it wasn’t like I needed Kobe, but he was a friend because we had a mutual passion for developing our daughters and giving them their greatest success.”


latimes--2020-01-30--Man ditches car, sprints into house and is arrested after police pursuit

A man who police say led them on a vehicle pursuit through Long Beach before dawn then jumped out of the moving car was arrested after he ran into a home in San Pedro early Thursday .
Long Beach officers began chasing a dark-colored Honda sedan about 6 a.m .
The vehicle was seen on TV weaving through traffic heading west on the 91 Freeway before transitioning onto the southbound 710 Freeway , where the driver sped past other vehicles .
It is not clear why the pursuit began .
The driver then led officers away from Long Beach onto @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
He continued on surface streets in San Pedro , winding through alleys apparently in an effort to lose the pursuing cruisers .
One patrol vehicle attempted several so-called PIT maneuvers — a tactic law enforcement uses to force a fleeing car to turn sideways abruptly , forcing the driver to lose control and stop — but was not successful .
Eventually , one of the cruisers completed the maneuver near an intersection , spinning the suspect ’ s car around while two other patrol cars tried to block its way .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ between the cars and get away , driving onto a residential street , where he jumped out of the moving car and ran into a house , video showed .
The car continued rolling down the street , eventually coming to rest against a curb .
The man , whose name has not been released , surrendered to officers outside the home about 7 a.m .

A man who police say led them on a vehicle pursuit through Long Beach before dawn then jumped out of the moving car was arrested after he ran into a home in San Pedro early Thursday.
Long Beach officers began chasing a dark-colored Honda sedan about 6 a.m. The vehicle was seen on TV weaving through traffic heading west on the 91 Freeway before transitioning onto the southbound 710 Freeway, where the driver sped past other vehicles. It is not clear why the pursuit began.
The driver then led officers away from Long Beach onto the Vincent Thomas Bridge toward San Pedro. He continued on surface streets in San Pedro, winding through alleys apparently in an effort to lose the pursuing cruisers.
Advertisement
One patrol vehicle attempted several so-called PIT maneuvers — a tactic law enforcement uses to force a fleeing car to turn sideways abruptly, forcing the driver to lose control and stop — but was not successful.
Eventually, one of the cruisers completed the maneuver near an intersection, spinning the suspect’s car around while two other patrol cars tried to block its way. The motorist, however, managed to slip between the cars and get away, driving onto a residential street, where he jumped out of the moving car and ran into a house, video showed.
The car continued rolling down the street, eventually coming to rest against a curb. The man, whose name has not been released, surrendered to officers outside the home about 7 a.m.


latimes--2020-01-30--California lost more manufacturing jobs to China than any other state, report says

California has lost far more jobs to China than any other state , with the San Francisco Bay Area accounting for more than any other region in the nation due to a long outflow of technology manufacturing .
From 2001 , when China joined the World Trade Organization , to 2018 , the Golden State lost 654,100 jobs to the Asian nation .
That ’ s about double the next highest state loss , Texas ’ 334,800 jobs , according to a report released Thursday by the Economic Policy Institute , a labor think tank in Washington , D.C .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ U.S. Census Bureau , and Labor Department data , calculated that among the congressional districts that lost the most jobs to China , six of the top 10 were in California .
Four of those districts were in the Bay Area and Silicon Valley — the 15th , 17th , 18th and 19th districts — where 80 % or more of the lost jobs were in the computer and electronics sector .
The Los Angeles area ’ s 40th Congressional District — encompassing such communities as Downey , East Los Angeles , Commerce @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the top 10 .
More than half of its lost jobs were in the garment industry .
San Diego ’ s 52rd District also ranked in the group , with 80 % of lost jobs in computer and electronics manufacturing .
Although much of the attention surrounding President Trump ’ s trade war has focused on the Midwest , the West Coast was heavily affected by the surge in Chinese manufacturing that led to those trade tensions .
“ California has been particularly hard hit because , surprisingly , the hardest hit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said Robert Scott , director of trade and manufacturing research at the Economic Policy Institute and coauthor of the report with data analyst Zane Mokhiber .
“ You may think of China as being a low-tech , labor-intensive economy , but they moved very rapidly upscale from textiles and apparel into high-tech goods , computers , telephones , electronic products , video screens — and that ’ s the largest single industry in terms of job loss to China.
” Overall , the U.S. goods trade deficit with China grew from $ 83 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in 2018 , according to the report .
Computers and electronics accounted for 44 % of the growth , Scott said .
The Economic Policy Institute , along with its allies in organized labor , has long criticized unfettered free trade , opposing China ’ s entry into the World Trade Organization that was backed by President Clinton .
But the report stops short of endorsing Trump ’ s trade policies .
“ The U.S. trade deficit with China rose from $ 347 billion in 2016 to $ 420 billion in 2018 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the report noted .
“ U.S .
jobs displaced by China trade deficits increased from nearly 3 million in 2016 to 3.7 million in 2018 — a total of more than 700,000 jobs lost or displaced in the first two years of the Trump administration.
” In an interview , Scott praised Trump ’ s tariffs on steel and aluminum as “ effective because China is such a big player and has played such a negative role in the devastation of those two industries .
But the across-the-board tariffs that he imposed on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ China have not helped… .
China is shipping us more goods through other countries like Vietnam , Malaysia and Singapore.
” Although the U.S. trade deficit with China declined last year through November , the drop was due to fracking-induced U.S. oil exports , Scott said .
The imbalance with non-oil goods , including manufactured goods and farm products , continued to grow .
Only rebalancing exchange rates between the U.S. and other currencies will reduce the trade deficit , he said .
“ We need to lower the value of the dollar @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
But Trump hasn ’ t been willing to tangle with the currency issue because Wall Street likes a strong dollar .
That makes it cheap to outsource production.
” If the Economic Policy Institute ’ s data paint a dire picture of the effect of China trade on American workers , its conclusions are open to dispute by other economists .
“ I ’ m bothered by the assumption that if we weren ’ t trading as much with China , all these jobs would magically appear in the U.S. economy , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with Beacon Economics , a Los Angeles consulting firm serving private industry and public agencies .
“ No , they wouldn ’ t .
They ’ d be in Mexico , in Vietnam , in Indonesia.
” Thornberg pointed to California ’ s record low unemployment , at 3.9 % last month , and its record job expansion since the Great Recession .
“ California ’ s share of national personal income has never been higher than it is right now , ” he said .
“ We ’ ve never had it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lost more manufacturing jobs to China than other states results from the fact that 25 years ago “ California was by far and away the dominant manufacturing state in the United States , ” Thornberg said .
“ Los Angeles County all by itself in 1990 had 850,000 jobs in manufacturing .
Today , L.A. County has 325,000 manufacturing jobs .
“ So because manufacturing was such a larger part of the California ’ s economy from an absolute standpoint , the losses look larger here.
” The Economic Policy Institute report , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ economists that fast-growing service sector jobs are a poor replacement for the better-paid manufacturing jobs that would have remained in the U.S. if not for China ’ s trade practices .
“ Even if increases in demand in other sectors absorb all the workers displaced by trade ( which is unlikely ) , job quality will likely suffer , ” the report said .
“ Many nontraded industries such as retail trade and home healthcare pay lower wages and have less comprehensive benefits than traded-goods industries .
”

California has lost far more jobs to China than any other state, with the San Francisco Bay Area accounting for more than any other region in the nation due to a long outflow of technology manufacturing.
From 2001, when China joined the World Trade Organization, to 2018, the Golden State lost 654,100 jobs to the Asian nation. That’s about double the next highest state loss, Texas’ 334,800 jobs, according to a report released Thursday by the Economic Policy Institute, a labor think tank in Washington, D.C.
The study, based on the latest U.S. Census Bureau, and Labor Department data, calculated that among the congressional districts that lost the most jobs to China, six of the top 10 were in California. Four of those districts were in the Bay Area and Silicon Valley — the 15th, 17th, 18th and 19th districts — where 80% or more of the lost jobs were in the computer and electronics sector.
The Los Angeles area’s 40th Congressional District — encompassing such communities as Downey, East Los Angeles, Commerce and South Los Angeles — was also in the top 10. More than half of its lost jobs were in the garment industry.
San Diego’s 52rd District also ranked in the group, with 80% of lost jobs in computer and electronics manufacturing.
Advertisement
Although much of the attention surrounding President Trump’s trade war has focused on the Midwest, the West Coast was heavily affected by the surge in Chinese manufacturing that led to those trade tensions.
“California has been particularly hard hit because, surprisingly, the hardest hit industries have been in electronics,” said Robert Scott, director of trade and manufacturing research at the Economic Policy Institute and coauthor of the report with data analyst Zane Mokhiber.
“You may think of China as being a low-tech, labor-intensive economy, but they moved very rapidly upscale from textiles and apparel into high-tech goods, computers, telephones, electronic products, video screens — and that’s the largest single industry in terms of job loss to China.”
Overall, the U.S. goods trade deficit with China grew from $83 billion in 2001 to $419.5 billion in 2018, according to the report. Computers and electronics accounted for 44% of the growth, Scott said.
The Economic Policy Institute, along with its allies in organized labor, has long criticized unfettered free trade, opposing China’s entry into the World Trade Organization that was backed by President Clinton. But the report stops short of endorsing Trump’s trade policies.
“The U.S. trade deficit with China rose from $347 billion in 2016 to $420 billion in 2018, an increase of 21%,” the report noted. “U.S. jobs displaced by China trade deficits increased from nearly 3 million in 2016 to 3.7 million in 2018 — a total of more than 700,000 jobs lost or displaced in the first two years of the Trump administration.”
Advertisement
In an interview, Scott praised Trump’s tariffs on steel and aluminum as “effective because China is such a big player and has played such a negative role in the devastation of those two industries. But the across-the-board tariffs that he imposed on half or more of our imports from China have not helped…. China is shipping us more goods through other countries like Vietnam, Malaysia and Singapore.”
Although the U.S. trade deficit with China declined last year through November, the drop was due to fracking-induced U.S. oil exports, Scott said. The imbalance with non-oil goods, including manufactured goods and farm products, continued to grow.
Only rebalancing exchange rates between the U.S. and other currencies will reduce the trade deficit, he said. “We need to lower the value of the dollar by 25% or 30%.... But Trump hasn’t been willing to tangle with the currency issue because Wall Street likes a strong dollar. That makes it cheap to outsource production.”
If the Economic Policy Institute’s data paint a dire picture of the effect of China trade on American workers, its conclusions are open to dispute by other economists.
“I’m bothered by the assumption that if we weren’t trading as much with China, all these jobs would magically appear in the U.S. economy,” said Christopher Thornberg, an economist with Beacon Economics, a Los Angeles consulting firm serving private industry and public agencies. “No, they wouldn’t. They’d be in Mexico, in Vietnam, in Indonesia.”
Thornberg pointed to California’s record low unemployment, at 3.9% last month, and its record job expansion since the Great Recession. “California’s share of national personal income has never been higher than it is right now,” he said. “We’ve never had it so good.”
The fact that California lost more manufacturing jobs to China than other states results from the fact that 25 years ago “California was by far and away the dominant manufacturing state in the United States,” Thornberg said. “Los Angeles County all by itself in 1990 had 850,000 jobs in manufacturing. Today, L.A. County has 325,000 manufacturing jobs.
“So because manufacturing was such a larger part of the California’s economy from an absolute standpoint, the losses look larger here.”
The Economic Policy Institute report, however, echoed the contention of many economists that fast-growing service sector jobs are a poor replacement for the better-paid manufacturing jobs that would have remained in the U.S. if not for China’s trade practices.
“Even if increases in demand in other sectors absorb all the workers displaced by trade (which is unlikely), job quality will likely suffer,” the report said. “Many nontraded industries such as retail trade and home healthcare pay lower wages and have less comprehensive benefits than traded-goods industries.”