latimes--2020-02-07--Roommate strangles 64-year-old woman and dumps body in trash, authorities say

An El Monte man has been charged with murder after authorities say he strangled his 64-year-old roommate and dumped her body in a trash bin near their home .
David Stanley Lemus Orellana , 22 , faces one count of murder , the Los Angeles County district attorney ’ s office announced .
If convicted as charged , he faces a maximum sentence of 25 years to life in state prison , according to Deputy Dist .
Atty .
Jeffrey Tang .
Members of the Los Angeles County Sheriff ’ s Homicide Bureau arrived at the 3300 block of Maxson @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the El Monte Police Department after they received a call about “ suspicious circumstances ” in the area .
Someone had reported to police that a man was seen dragging a woman ’ s body toward a set of nearby dumpsters , according to a news release from the Sheriff ’ s Department .
When officers arrived , they found the body of Florinda Hernandez Vasquez inside a trash bin .
Police arrested Lemus Orellana later that day .
Jail records show he is being held at the Twin Towers Correctional Facility and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2 million .
The case remains under investigation .
Anyone with information can call the Homicide Bureau at ( 323 ) 890-5500 .

An El Monte man has been charged with murder after authorities say he strangled his 64-year-old roommate and dumped her body in a trash bin near their home.
David Stanley Lemus Orellana, 22, faces one count of murder, the Los Angeles County district attorney’s office announced. If convicted as charged, he faces a maximum sentence of 25 years to life in state prison, according to Deputy Dist. Atty. Jeffrey Tang.
Members of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Homicide Bureau arrived at the 3300 block of Maxson Road about 10:30 a.m. Tuesday to assist the El Monte Police Department after they received a call about “suspicious circumstances” in the area. Someone had reported to police that a man was seen dragging a woman’s body toward a set of nearby dumpsters, according to a news release from the Sheriff’s Department.
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When officers arrived, they found the body of Florinda Hernandez Vasquez inside a trash bin.
Police arrested Lemus Orellana later that day. Jail records show he is being held at the Twin Towers Correctional Facility and his bail has been set at $2 million.
The case remains under investigation. Anyone with information can call the Homicide Bureau at (323) 890-5500.


latimes--2020-02-07--Judge delays dismissing rape charges against doctor, saying politics have 'infected this case'

Despite a public request from the county ’ s top prosecutor , an Orange County judge on Friday deferred a decision on whether to dismiss charges against a doctor and his girlfriend in a sensational sexual assault case .
Judge Gregory Jones said he would take Orange County Dist .
Atty .
Todd Spitzer ’ s recommendation into consideration but would examine the evidence against Dr. Grant Robicheaux and Cerissa Riley more carefully “ so that I can make an intelligent , meaningful ” decision .
“ Politics have infected this case , ” the judge said in court during @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with prosecution gives you a toxic cocktail.
” After the judge ’ s announcement , Riley leaned against Robicheaux ’ s shoulder and wept .
The next hearing in the case is scheduled April 3 .
Prosecutors had accused the prominent Newport Beach doctor , 39 , and his girlfriend , 32 , of being , drugged them and took them back to their posh home to sexually assault them .
But on Tuesday , Spitzer announced that he planned to against the couple .
He said Friday that he would be “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the entire case so that Judge Jones can do justice in his decision.
” “ Judge Jones has been involved in this case from its inception , and it is completely reasonable that he would want a thorough understanding of the facts , ” he said .
Spitzer has accused his predecessor and longtime political foe , Tony Rackauckas , of botching the case and making accusations that could not be proved .
“ I didn ’ t create this situation , but it ’ s my responsibility to fix it , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ Doing justice is not always pretty , and it ’ s not pleasant many times .
This is not pleasant at all , but these are important decisions that affect people ’ s lives.
” Rackauckas in a statement defended his handling of the case and suggested the dismissal was a possible “ political vendetta against me.
” “ Certainly , any prosecutor should think long and hard before dismissing such a case where multiple women have independently come forward and subjected themselves to the hard process of baring their souls @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ I just hope they ’ re not being sold down the river for some twisted political motive.
” Philip Cohen , an attorney representing Robicheaux , said earlier this week that the doctor ’ s and Riley ’ s lives have been forever altered by the allegations lodged against them .
“ I don ’ t think anyone can truly understand what Grant and Cerissa are going through , ” Cohen said .
“ They ’ ve gone to bed every night , eaten every meal with the threat of prison @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to be an unbelievably devastating way to live.
” Spitzer has invited any of the women who previously accused the couple to meet with him .
He also offered a public apology to the women , as well as to Robicheaux and Riley , calling what happened in the case a “ travesty.
” Rackauckas said Tuesday in a statement that he too feels for the accusers .
“ My heart goes out to the women who had the courage to come forward with their complaint because I believed their complaints based on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Ahead of Friday ’ s hearing , Robicheaux and Riley said the last two years have been a nightmare , but they were pleased that the criminal charges could soon be behind them .
“ I ’ m still in shock .
I still can ’ t believe this has happened to us , ” Robicheaux told ABC ’ s “ Good Morning America ” in an interview .
Robicheaux said that he and his girlfriend have faced death threats since the charges were filed in 2018 , adding that he worried @ @ @ @ @ @ @ walking his dog .
He continued to deny any of the charges made against him .
“ Never , never , never .
Not even close .
Consenting adults that were having a great time , ” he told ABC .
“ An unconscious woman is not very fun to have a party with.
” Riley said she was also stunned by the turn of events .
“ I feel like I finally woke up from a bad nightmare and feel like I can breathe again , ” she told “ Good Morning @ @ @

Luke Money, Christopher Goffard, Richard Winton

Dr. Grant Robicheaux, center, and girlfriend Cerissa Riley arrive at the Harbor Justice Center in Newport Beach on Friday.
Despite a public request from the county’s top prosecutor, an Orange County judge on Friday deferred a decision on whether to dismiss charges against a doctor and his girlfriend in a sensational sexual assault case.
Judge Gregory Jones said he would take Orange County Dist. Atty. Todd Spitzer’s recommendation into consideration but would examine the evidence against Dr. Grant Robicheaux and Cerissa Riley more carefully “so that I can make an intelligent, meaningful” decision.
“Politics have infected this case,” the judge said in court during a morning hearing. “Mixing politics with prosecution gives you a toxic cocktail.”
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After the judge’s announcement, Riley leaned against Robicheaux’s shoulder and wept.
The next hearing in the case is scheduled April 3.
Prosecutors had accused the prominent Newport Beach doctor, 39, and his girlfriend, 32, of being sexual predators who lured vulnerable women , drugged them and took them back to their posh home to sexually assault them.
But on Tuesday, Spitzer announced that he planned to drop all charges against the couple. He said Friday that he would be “more than pleased to share the evaluation of the entire case so that Judge Jones can do justice in his decision.”
“Judge Jones has been involved in this case from its inception, and it is completely reasonable that he would want a thorough understanding of the facts,” he said.
Spitzer has accused his predecessor and longtime political foe, Tony Rackauckas, of botching the case and making accusations that could not be proved.
“I didn’t create this situation, but it’s my responsibility to fix it,” Spitzer said at a news conference. “Doing justice is not always pretty, and it’s not pleasant many times. This is not pleasant at all, but these are important decisions that affect people’s lives.”
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Rackauckas in a statement defended his handling of the case and suggested the dismissal was a possible “political vendetta against me.”
“Certainly, any prosecutor should think long and hard before dismissing such a case where multiple women have independently come forward and subjected themselves to the hard process of baring their souls to the authorities,” Rackauckas said. “I just hope they’re not being sold down the river for some twisted political motive.”
Philip Cohen, an attorney representing Robicheaux, said earlier this week that the doctor’s and Riley’s lives have been forever altered by the allegations lodged against them.
“I don’t think anyone can truly understand what Grant and Cerissa are going through,” Cohen said. “They’ve gone to bed every night, eaten every meal with the threat of prison hanging over their heads. That has to be an unbelievably devastating way to live.”
Spitzer has invited any of the women who previously accused the couple to meet with him. He also offered a public apology to the women, as well as to Robicheaux and Riley, calling what happened in the case a “travesty.”
Rackauckas said Tuesday in a statement that he too feels for the accusers.
“My heart goes out to the women who had the courage to come forward with their complaint because I believed their complaints based on the evidence I had before leaving office.”
Ahead of Friday’s hearing, Robicheaux and Riley said the last two years have been a nightmare, but they were pleased that the criminal charges could soon be behind them.
“I’m still in shock. I still can’t believe this has happened to us,” Robicheaux told ABC’s “Good Morning America” in an interview.
Robicheaux said that he and his girlfriend have faced death threats since the charges were filed in 2018, adding that he worried about being attacked when he was out walking his dog.
He continued to deny any of the charges made against him. “Never, never, never. Not even close. Consenting adults that were having a great time,” he told ABC. “An unconscious woman is not very fun to have a party with.”
Riley said she was also stunned by the turn of events.
“I feel like I finally woke up from a bad nightmare and feel like I can breathe again,” she told “Good Morning America.”
Times staff writer Hannah Fry contributed to this report.


latimes--2020-02-07--The powerful symbolism of memorializing Kobe and Gigi Bryant on 2/24 at Staples Center

There is a powerful symbolism in having the public memorial for Kobe Bryant on Feb. 24 at Staples Center .
First , consider the date .
“ 24 '' was Bryant ’ s Lakers number , and “ 2 '' was the youth basketball number of his daughter Gigi , who died in last Sunday ’ s helicopter crash in Calabasas , along with the NBA great and seven others .
Staples Center is where Bryant created one of the greatest careers in professional basketball history and where , after his death , thousands of fans grieved for days and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we know about the memorial ?
The date was selected after discussions with Bryant ’ s widow , Vanessa , the Lakers organization and Staples Center .
A source told The Times there will be no procession before the memorial , and the event will conclude in time to allow a previously scheduled Clippers game against the Memphis Grizzlies to go forward in the evening .
The memorial will fall between two Lakers home games , one against the Boston Celtics and another against the New Orleans Pelicans .
Information about timing and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ released .
With limited seating , however , entry is expected to be severely restricted , sources say .
On Thursday , Vanessa Bryant posted photos on her Instagram account of a memorial at Gigi ’ s school , where her “ 2 '' jersey was retired .
“ My Gigi .
I love you !
I miss you .
You ’ ve taught us all that no act of kindness is ever too small .
Mommy is still and will ALWAYS be so proud of you mamacita , ” she wrote .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Staples Center ?
The complex has become a go-to place for large public memorials .
In 2009 , after Michael Jackson died , his memorial was held there .
It was a big undertaking , and there were concerns about crowd control and traffic as throngs of fans were expected to converge on the downtown L.A. site .
“ There ’ s no precedent for this , ” one city official said at the time .
But the tribute was pulled off without major problems .
The service was televised live around the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Center as early as 1 a.m .
The lucky ones wore gold and silver wristbands , which designated them as the holders of approximately 17,500 tickets to the memorial service , given out through an online lottery .
Last year , slain rapper Nipsey Hussle was also remembered at Staples .
His memorial was followed by a 25.5-mile procession through streets lined with people on foot , on motorcycles and doing wheelies on ATVs .
Last Friday , before a game against the Portland Trail Blazers at Staples Center , the Lakers put @ @ @ @ @ @ @ James to Bryant .
What should we expect at the Bryant memorial ?
Few details have been made public .
But Mayor Eric Garcetti said last week it would be a tribute to more than Bryant ’ s basketball career .
“ 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 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he was on the court , ” he told reporters .
“ 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 .

Kobe Bryant shares a laugh with his daughter Gianna at a women’s basketball game between Long Beach State and Oregon on Dec. 14.
There is a powerful symbolism in having the public memorial for Kobe Bryant on Feb. 24 at Staples Center.
First, consider the date. “24” was Bryant’s Lakers number, and “2” was the youth basketball number of his daughter Gigi, who died in last Sunday’s helicopter crash in Calabasas, along with the NBA great and seven others.
Staples Center is where Bryant created one of the greatest careers in professional basketball history and where, after his death, thousands of fans grieved for days and built a makeshift memorial.
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A makeshift memorial to Kobe Bryant, fed by a steady stream of fans, grew day by day outside Staples Center. (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)
What do we know about the memorial?
The date was selected after discussions with Bryant’s widow, Vanessa, the Lakers organization and Staples Center. A source told The Times there will be no procession before the memorial, and the event will conclude in time to allow a previously scheduled Clippers game against the Memphis Grizzlies to go forward in the evening. The memorial will fall between two Lakers home games, one against the Boston Celtics and another against the New Orleans Pelicans.
Information about timing and tickets for the ceremony has not been released. With limited seating, however, entry is expected to be severely restricted, sources say.
On Thursday, Vanessa Bryant posted photos on her Instagram account of a memorial at Gigi’s school, where her “2” jersey was retired.
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“My Gigi. I love you! I miss you. You’ve taught us all that no act of kindness is ever too small. Mommy is still and will ALWAYS be so proud of you mamacita,” she wrote.
Fans gather at a memorial for Kobe Bryant at L.A. Live on Feb. 2. (Christina House / Los Angeles Times)
Why will the memorial be held at Staples Center?
The complex has become a go-to place for large public memorials.
In 2009, after Michael Jackson died, his memorial was held there. It was a big undertaking, and there were concerns about crowd control and traffic as throngs of fans were expected to converge on the downtown L.A. site.
“There’s no precedent for this,” one city official said at the time.
But the tribute was pulled off without major problems.
The service was televised live around the globe. Fans started gathering outside Staples Center as early as 1 a.m. The lucky ones wore gold and silver wristbands, which designated them as the holders of approximately 17,500 tickets to the memorial service, given out through an online lottery.
Last year, slain rapper Nipsey Hussle was also remembered at Staples. His memorial was followed by a 25.5-mile procession through streets lined with people on foot, on motorcycles and doing wheelies on ATVs.
Last Friday, before a game against the Portland Trail Blazers at Staples Center, the Lakers put on an emotional tribute led by LeBron James to Bryant.
What should we expect at the Bryant memorial?
Few details have been made public. But Mayor Eric Garcetti said last week it would be a tribute to more than Bryant’s basketball career.
“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,” he told reporters.
“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.


latimes--2020-02-07--False tsunami alarm wakes Huntington Beach residents

Some Huntington Beach residents got a rude awakening Friday morning when an emergency tsunami alarm sounded at multiple locations in the city , authorities said .
Despite the alarm that went off about 4 a.m. , “ there is no current threat to our community , ” the Huntington Beach Police Department said on Facebook shortly afterward .
Officials have determined the errant alarm was the result of a malfunction in the system that controls the sirens at Huntington Beach ’ s fire stations .
“ This siren system is just one of multiple systems that are used to notify @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to a statement from the city .
“ It is a priority of the city to resolve the issue as quickly as possible and we apologize for any inconvenience.
” The system has been taken offline temporarily until the issue is resolved , the city added .
The emergency sirens are typically tested on the first Friday of each month at noon .
Friday ’ s scheduled test was canceled following the false alarm .
Reactions to the false alarm ranged from lighthearted to annoyed .
“ Good thing that person wasn ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” one resident wrote in response to the department ’ s post .
“ I guess I ’ m screwed if there ’ s a real emergency , ” another added .
“ I tossed and turned all night yet didn ’ t hear a thing .
”

A surfer leaves the water at Huntington Beach Pier. Early Feb. 7, a tsunami alarm sounded across the city, but officials said it was made in error.
Some Huntington Beach residents got a rude awakening Friday morning when an emergency tsunami alarm sounded at multiple locations in the city, authorities said.
Despite the alarm that went off about 4 a.m., “there is no current threat to our community,” the Huntington Beach Police Department said on Facebook shortly afterward.
Officials have determined the errant alarm was the result of a malfunction in the system that controls the sirens at Huntington Beach’s fire stations.
“This siren system is just one of multiple systems that are used to notify residents of an emergency,” according to a statement from the city. “It is a priority of the city to resolve the issue as quickly as possible and we apologize for any inconvenience.”
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The system has been taken offline temporarily until the issue is resolved, the city added.
The emergency sirens are typically tested on the first Friday of each month at noon. Friday’s scheduled test was canceled following the false alarm.
Reactions to the false alarm ranged from lighthearted to annoyed.
“Good thing that person wasn’t in charge of nuclear weapons,” one resident wrote in response to the department’s post.
“I guess I’m screwed if there’s a real emergency,” another added. “I tossed and turned all night yet didn’t hear a thing.”
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latimes--2020-02-07--Gray whales are migrating along California's coast right now. Here's where to see them

The gray whales are back , hugging the California coast while they make their 10,000-mile journey from Alaska to breed in the warm-water lagoons of Baja , Mexico , and back .
Earlier this month , crew members on a whale-watching boat used a drone to record a baby gray whale and its mom off Salt Creek Beach in Dana Point .
Capt .
Frank Brennan of Dana Wharf ’ s Ocean Adventure estimated that the calf spotted Jan. 7 was a day or so old , according to the Associated Press .
“ You could still see the fetal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” he said of the young whale .
( You can watch video at bit.ly/babygraywhale . )
Want to have your own whale encounter ?
Pacific gray whales are on the move now through April , heading north or south along the coast .
Here ’ s what you need to know to see them .
Where to watch from land Palos Verdes Peninsula : Every year since 1984 , trained volunteers with the Los Angeles Chapter of the American Cetacean Society count the number of whales as they make their way past @ @ @ @ @ @ @ own binoculars and watch from the same spot as counters mark their daily and season totals on a board for all to see .
Number of whales seen as of Feb. 1 : 312 , including 28 calves heading south .
Info : Point Vicente Interpretive Center , 31501 Palos Verdes Drive West , Rancho Palos Verdes ; bit.ly/ptvincente Ventura : The end of the Ventura Pier is a good place to spot migrating grays when they pass between the Channel Islands and the mainland .
The pier , built in 1872 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ free .
Info : Ventura Pier , 750 Harbor Blvd.
, Ventura ; bit.ly/venturapier Dana Point : You ’ ll have a good vantage point at the 60-acre Dana Point Headlands Conservation Area .
Go to the nature center ’ s patio for the best views of the ocean and the whales ( the center will let you check out binoculars for free ) .
You can also attend a free Whale Walk & Talk at 9 to 11 a.m. the second Saturday of the month .
Info : Dana Point Headlands , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bit.ly/danapointwhales For more whale-watching places from land , go to thewhaletrail.org , which maps sites from San Diego to British Columbia , Canada .
Where to take a whale-watching tour in Southern California Tours usually include a naturalist on board to help identify whales plus other wildlife such as dolphins and seals .
Most operate until mid-April .
Where to see gray whales to the north • Golden Gate Whale Watch , Pier 39 , just off The Embarcadero ; $ 45 ( 2.5 hours ) • Gray Whale Watching Tour , Pier @ @ @ @ @ @ @ $ 59 ( 3.5 hours ) ▶ Plan ahead : Winter is prime time for whale-watching in California , which means trips can fill up fast .
Make reservations in advance .
▶ Dress warmly : Although it may feel warm on land , layer up with a windbreaker or other jacket on top .
Temperatures may be 10 to 15 degrees cooler on the ocean than on land .
▶ Bring sun block : Wear enough sunscreen even if it seems overcast or gray .
You can get sunburn even under cloudy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the water ’ s surface .
▶ Take binoculars : It ’ s the only way to get an up-close look at the whales .
▶ Wear flat , rubber-soled shoes : The deck is likely to get wet as you sail , and a wet deck is a slippery deck .
▶ Take seasick medication before you go : If you are prone to seasickness , make sure to take medications at least an hour before you board .

The gray whales are back, hugging the California coast while they make their 10,000-mile journey from Alaska to breed in the warm-water lagoons of Baja, Mexico, and back. In January, crew members on a whale-watching boat used a drone to record a baby gray whale and its mom off Salt Creek Beach in Dana Point.
Capt. Frank Brennan of Dana Wharf Whale Watching estimated that the calf spotted Jan. 7 was a day or so old, the Associated Press reported. “You could still see the fetal folds on it behind the blowhole,” he said. (You can watch video at bit.ly/babygraywhale.)
Want to spot a whale on your own? Pacific gray whales are on the move through April along the coast. Here’s what you need to know to see them.
Where to watch from land
Palos Verdes Peninsula: Every year since 1984, trained volunteers with the Los Angeles Chapter of the American Cetacean Society count the number of whales as they make their way past the Palos Verdes Peninsula. Bring your own binoculars and watch from the same spot as counters mark their daily and season totals on a board for all to see. Number of whales seen as of early February: 392, including 33 calves heading south.
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Info: Point Vicente Interpretive Center, 31501 Palos Verdes Drive West, Rancho Palos Verdes; bit.ly/ptvincente
Ventura: The end of the Ventura Pier is a good place to spot migrating grays when they pass between the Channel Islands and the mainland. The pier, built in 1872, is open year-round and it’s free.
Info: Ventura Pier, 750 Harbor Blvd., Ventura; bit.ly/venturapier
Dana Point: You’ll have a good vantage point at the 60-acre Dana Point Headlands Conservation Area. Go to the nature center’s patio for the best views of the ocean and the whales. (The center will let you check out binoculars for free.) You can also attend a free Whale Walk & Talk at 9 to 11 a.m. the second Saturday of the month.
Info: Dana Point Headlands, 34558 Scenic Drive, Dana Point; bit.ly/danapointwhales
For more whale-watching places from land, go to TheWhaleTrail.org, which maps sites from San Diego to British Columbia, Canada.
Where to take a whale-watching tour in Southern California
Tours usually include a naturalist on board to help identify whales plus other wildlife such as dolphins and seals. Most operate until mid-April.
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Los Angeles County
Orange County
San Diego
Channel Islands
Where to see gray whales to the north
Santa Cruz
Santa Cruz Whale Watching, 1718 Brommer St.; adult: $51.00, child (ages 4-13): $36.
Mendocino
San Francisco
Golden Gate Whale Watch, Pier 39, just off the Embarcadero; $45 (2½ hours)
Gray Whale Watching Tour, Pier 39, just off the Embarcadero; $59 (3½ hours)
Moss Landing
Sanctuary Cruises, 7881 Sandholdt Road; $45 (two to three hours)
Blue Ocean Whale Watch, 7881 Sandholdt Road; $50 (three to four hours)
Monterey
Tips for whale watchers
▶ Planning is key: Winter is prime time for whale-watching in California, which means trips can fill up fast. Make reservations.
▶ Dress warmly: Although it may feel warm on land, layer up with a windbreaker or other jacket on top. Temperatures may be 10 to 15 degrees cooler on the ocean.
▶ Carry sun block: Wear sunscreen even if it is overcast or gray. You can get sunburned even under cloudy skies because sunlight bounces back up from the water’s surface.
▶ Take binoculars: It’s the only way to get an up-close look at the whales.
▶ Wear flat, rubber-soled shoes: The deck is likely to get wet, and a wet deck is a slippery deck.
▶ Take seasickness medication before you go: If you are prone to seasickness, take medications at least an hour before you board.


latimes--2020-02-07--Space heater sparks Mid-City hotel fire that kills 1, sends 5 to the hospital

A space heater sparked a fire at a hotel in the Mid-City area of Los Angeles early Friday that killed one person and sent five others to a hospital , authorities said .
The blaze was reported just after 2 a.m. at the Venice Hotel , 8686 Venice Blvd.
, according to the Los Angeles Fire Department .
“ We had heavy fire in one second-floor unit , and very quickly thereafter , flames spread to other parts of the building , ” department spokesman Brian Humphrey said .
“ We made an aggressive attack on the fire and encountered @ @ @ @ @ @ @ did.
” People were breaking out windows in an effort to escape the flames , fire officials said .
One man — identified by the Los Angeles County coroner ’ s office as Paul Bisland , 62 , of Los Angeles — was pronounced dead at the scene .
A man and a woman were taken to a hospital in grave condition — meaning they were not breathing and did not have a pulse , Humphrey said — but their conditions were later upgraded to serious , according to the Fire Department .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ condition and the other in fair condition , also were taken to a hospital .
A fifth person later went to a hospital by private vehicle , LAFD spokesman Nicholas Prange said .
One other person was evaluated for injury at the scene but declined to be taken to a hospital .
A firefighter also was being evaluated for a respiratory issue that did not appear to be life-threatening , according to the department .
Firefighters were able to extinguish the flames at 2:43 a.m. , and investigators have “ determined the cause @ @ @ @ @ @ @ space heater coming too close to combustible materials , ” Prange said .
Humphrey said the hotel has at least 28 units on two floors and is home to some long-term residents .
“ We have at least two dozen people who have been displaced by the fire , ” he said , and the American Red Cross has been called to assist them .
One man staying at the hotel told KTLA-TV Channel 5 that he tried to rouse his neighbors when he saw the fire .
“ I started knocking on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the other , one side to the other — yelling , ‘ Fire !
’ ” Tamul Khalfani told the station .
“ People didn ’ t believe me , but I kept yelling and knocking on people ’ s doors .
... By the time they came out , the fire had spread all through the hallway like a tinderbox .
”

LAFD arson investigators examine a charred room at the Venice Hotel, which was gutted in an early morning fire in Los Angeles.
A space heater sparked a fire at a hotel in the Mid-City area of Los Angeles early Friday that killed one person and sent five others to a hospital, authorities said.
The blaze was reported just after 2 a.m. at the Venice Hotel, 8686 Venice Blvd., according to the Los Angeles Fire Department.
“We had heavy fire in one second-floor unit, and very quickly thereafter, flames spread to other parts of the building,” department spokesman Brian Humphrey said. “We made an aggressive attack on the fire and encountered several people who needed rescue as we did.”
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People were breaking out windows in an effort to escape the flames, fire officials said.
One man — identified by the Los Angeles County coroner’s office as Paul Bisland, 62, of Los Angeles — was pronounced dead at the scene. A man and a woman were taken to a hospital in grave condition — meaning they were not breathing and did not have a pulse, Humphrey said — but their conditions were later upgraded to serious, according to the Fire Department.
Two other men, one in critical condition and the other in fair condition, also were taken to a hospital. A fifth person later went to a hospital by private vehicle, LAFD spokesman Nicholas Prange said. One other person was evaluated for injury at the scene but declined to be taken to a hospital.
A firefighter also was being evaluated for a respiratory issue that did not appear to be life-threatening, according to the department.
Firefighters were able to extinguish the flames at 2:43 a.m., and investigators have “determined the cause to be accidental, due to a space heater coming too close to combustible materials,” Prange said.
Humphrey said the hotel has at least 28 units on two floors and is home to some long-term residents.
“We have at least two dozen people who have been displaced by the fire,” he said, and the American Red Cross has been called to assist them.
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One person was killed and others hospitalized by a fire at the Venice Hotel, which is home to some long-term residents. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)
One man staying at the hotel told KTLA-TV Channel 5 that he tried to rouse his neighbors when he saw the fire.
“I started knocking on everybody’s door — one side to the other, one side to the other — yelling, ‘Fire!’ ” Tamul Khalfani told the station. “People didn’t believe me, but I kept yelling and knocking on people’s doors. ... By the time they came out, the fire had spread all through the hallway like a tinderbox.”


latimes--2020-02-07--Get in line now. California's DMV is really, really behind in issuing Real IDs

California is falling perilously short of its targets for issuing Real IDs and will have to more than double the number issued each month to reach the millions of drivers still without the federally required identification card before an Oct. 1 deadline , officials said Thursday .
With eight months to go , the state Department of Motor Vehicles has issued Real IDs to just 25 % of California ’ s 27 million drivers since it began providing the new licenses in January 2018 .
The DMV would have to issue at least 1.1 million Real IDs each month to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to apply for one by October .
The problem took on new urgency on Thursday when the DMV reported issuing an estimated 381,570 Real IDs in January , a drop from the number issued in each of the previous six months , including December ’ s total of 485,000 cards .
Adding to the uncertainty is the troubled history of the DMV , which has been beset by problems in the last two years including frequent computer system crashes , staffing problems , turnover of leadership and burdensome paperwork processes that in 2018 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ four to five hours .
The failure of the DMV to mobilize and accommodate more residents needing the new federal cards could prevent millions of people lacking proper identification from boarding domestic airline flights this fall , officials say .
The new identification will be required by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security as an extra public safety measure for air travel within the United States and to access secure federal facilities and military bases .
The DMV might receive a deluge of late applications as the deadline approaches and residents could again @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , some officials worry .
Assemblyman Jim Patterson ( R-Fresno ) said he is not surprised that the number of Real IDs issued decreased last month , while average wait times have crept up .
“ We have been picking up on these growing delays in Central California , ” said Patterson , vice chairman of the Assembly Committee on Accountability and Administrative Review .
“ The problem is the same as it ’ s always been .
The DMV simply doesn ’ t have the capacity to do something this important on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is a huge meltdown as the clock starts to run out .
Californians , get ready for long wait times everywhere , all over again.
” DMV officials say they expect 16 million motorists to have applied for a Real ID before Oct. 1 , and 7.1 million have been issued .
The figure is based on expectations that many will wait until after the deadline because they don ’ t have air travel plans , or have a U.S. passport or other federal IDs that are also acceptable to board planes , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ apply at all because they don ’ t want a Real ID .
DMV Director Steve Gordon said Thursday he is not satisfied with the number of people who have gotten Real IDs so far , but he isn ’ t yet able to fully explain why the January numbers were down .
“ We are very concerned , ” said Gordon , who was appointed last year by Gov .
Gavin Newsom as part of a shakeup of the beleaguered agency .
“ We are doing everything in our power to drive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to give a nudge , trying to get people to take action.
” The director said changes to the process will be implemented in the coming days to reduce the time Real ID applicants spend at the counter , and new technology , including the ability to upload information by computer , is also coming soon .
DMV officials said one factor that may have contributed to the January drop in Real IDs is there were two holidays that month when offices were closed — New Year ’ s Day and Martin Luther @ @ @ @ @ @ @ meant those scheduling a time to get a Real ID are being told they have to wait three to four months for an appointment , so DMV officials are urging people to go to a field office as a walk-in .
Times writer Christopher Reynolds documented this week how repeated computer crashes and long lines required three trips to the DMV office in downtown Los Angeles to get his teenage daughter a learner ’ s permit .
Assemblyman Phil Ting ( D-San Francisco ) , who has held hearings on the Real ID @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Committee , said it was “ disappointing to see the Real ID numbers trend down last month.
” “ We are less than eight months away from the Oct. 1 start date , and I remain worried we ’ ll see an uptick in wait times , especially as we get closer to summer when the added resources we ’ ve given DMV will be put to the test , ” Ting said .
Concerns over the looming deadline extend beyond California to other states .
Eight U.S. senators , including the chairman @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Science and Transportation , sent a letter on Jan. 24 to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security asking what contingency plans it has for the possibility that many residents will not have proper ID by October .
“ We are increasingly concerned about potential disruptions to air travel if significant numbers of travelers present themselves at Transportation Security Administration ( TSA ) checkpoints without acceptable forms of identification , ” the senators wrote .
Rep. Grace F. Napolitano ( D-Norwalk ) said she supports the letter requesting attention to the issue .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ compliance deadline and the potential of thousands of Californians being denied access to their flights if preparedness does not improve , ” she said .
Lawmakers noted that the TSA estimates only 27 % of Americans have been issued a Real ID-compliant license .
A study commissioned by the United States Travel Assn .
estimated that only 43 % of Americans are aware of the deadline , and 78,500 people in the nation seeking to fly could possibly be turned away the first day of Real ID implementation .
That translates to 549,000 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , said Caroline Beteta , president and CEO of Visit California , a nonprofit organization created to market California as a travel destination .
“ California could lose nearly $ 5 million a day if travelers don ’ t comply with Real ID requirements , ” she said .
The prospect of a return to hours-long wait times has many state officials worried .
The average wait time for applicants visiting field offices with no appointment was 43 minutes in January , up from 37 minutes in December .
DMV spokeswoman Anita Gore @ @ @ @ @ @ @ million people in its offices in January , and provides other services including vehicle registration .
“ We are building capacity by reducing transaction times , but with more people coming in , wait times increased slightly , ” Gore said .
“ As more people decide to come in to get a Real ID as October gets closer , we anticipate wait times will continue to increase .
This is why we are encouraging people to come in now.
” Gordon predicted wait times will fall again when new processes are put @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The increase in wait times in January happened as the field offices were open fewer days .
“ You had a whole bunch of people going through a small funnel , ” he said .
Newsom , whose office did not respond to a request for comment on the issue Thursday , has boosted the DMV budget by $ 200 million this year , allowing the hiring of more than 700 additional employees and reducing wait times from their peak in the summer of 2018 .
“ Anyone happy about that ?
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ times at a Jan. 10 news conference .
“ No .
Is there a mission accomplished sign ?
Absolutely not .
Are my eyes wide open about the Real ID program coming in October ?
Absolutely.
” Gordon said that the new funding , staffing and improvements to computer technology , including an expansion of the number of self-serve kiosks , are allowing the DMV to handle larger volumes of residents showing up at field offices .
Asked how confident he is that the DMV will be able to issue at least 16 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Gordon said , “ I feel very confident that we will have the capacity to do that .
”

People stand at a DMV office in Los Angeles in 2014. Wait times could grow longer this year as the agency struggles to issue new Real IDs to millions of Californians.
California is falling perilously short of its targets for issuing Real IDs and will have to more than double the number issued each month to reach the millions of drivers still without the federally required identification card before an Oct. 1 deadline, officials said Thursday.
With eight months to go, the state Department of Motor Vehicles has issued Real IDs to just 25% of California’s 27 million drivers since it began providing the new licenses in January 2018. The DMV would have to issue at least 1.1 million Real IDs each month to get them to all licensed drivers expected to apply for one by October.
The problem took on new urgency on Thursday when the DMV reported issuing an estimated 381,570 Real IDs in January, a drop from the number issued in each of the previous six months, including December’s total of 485,000 cards.
Adding to the uncertainty is the troubled history of the DMV, which has been beset by problems in the last two years including frequent computer system crashes, staffing problems, turnover of leadership and burdensome paperwork processes that in 2018 had some people waiting in line for four to five hours.
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The failure of the DMV to mobilize and accommodate more residents needing the new federal cards could prevent millions of people lacking proper identification from boarding domestic airline flights this fall, officials say. The new identification will be required by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security as an extra public safety measure for air travel within the United States and to access secure federal facilities and military bases.
The DMV might receive a deluge of late applications as the deadline approaches and residents could again experience hours-long wait times at field offices, some officials worry.
Assemblyman Jim Patterson (R-Fresno) said he is not surprised that the number of Real IDs issued decreased last month, while average wait times have crept up.
“We have been picking up on these growing delays in Central California,” said Patterson, vice chairman of the Assembly Committee on Accountability and Administrative Review. “The problem is the same as it’s always been. The DMV simply doesn’t have the capacity to do something this important on time. What’s coming next is a huge meltdown as the clock starts to run out. Californians, get ready for long wait times everywhere, all over again.”
DMV officials say they expect 16 million motorists to have applied for a Real ID before Oct. 1, and 7.1 million have been issued. The figure is based on expectations that many will wait until after the deadline because they don’t have air travel plans, or they have a U.S. passport or other federal IDs that are also acceptable to board planes, agency officials said. Some might not apply at all because they don’t want a Real ID.
DMV Director Steve Gordon said Thursday he is not satisfied with the number of people who have gotten Real IDs so far, but he isn’t yet able to fully explain why the January numbers were down.
“We are very concerned,” said Gordon, who was appointed last year by Gov. Gavin Newsom as part of a shakeup of the beleaguered agency. “We are doing everything in our power to drive awareness. We have pivoted from awareness to give a nudge, trying to get people to take action.”
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The director said changes to the process will be implemented in the coming days to reduce the time Real ID applicants spend at the counter, and new technology, including the ability to upload information by computer, is also coming soon.
DMV officials said one factor that may have contributed to the January drop in Real IDs is there were two holidays that month when offices were closed — New Year’s Day and Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
The crush has meant those scheduling a time to get a Real ID are being told they have to wait three to four months for an appointment, so DMV officials are urging people to go to a field office as a walk-in.
Times writer Christopher Reynolds documented this week how repeated computer crashes and long lines required three trips to the DMV office in downtown Los Angeles to get his teenage daughter a learner’s permit.
Assemblyman Phil Ting (D-San Francisco), who has held hearings on the Real ID crush as chairman of the Assembly Budget Committee, said it was “disappointing to see the Real ID numbers trend down last month.”
“We are less than eight months away from the Oct. 1 start date, and I remain worried we’ll see an uptick in wait times, especially as we get closer to summer when the added resources we’ve given DMV will be put to the test,” Ting said.
Concerns over the looming deadline extend beyond California to other states.
Eight U.S. senators, including the chairman of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, sent a letter on Jan. 24 to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security asking what contingency plans it has for the possibility that many residents will not have proper ID by October.
“We are increasingly concerned about potential disruptions to air travel if significant numbers of travelers present themselves at Transportation Security Administration (TSA) checkpoints without acceptable forms of identification,” the senators wrote.
Rep. Grace F. Napolitano (D-Norwalk) said she supports the letter requesting attention to the issue.
“I have major concerns about the fast-approaching compliance deadline and the potential of thousands of Californians being denied access to their flights if preparedness does not improve,” she said.
Lawmakers noted that the TSA estimates only 27% of Americans have been issued a Real ID-compliant license.
A study commissioned by the United States Travel Assn. estimated that only 43% of Americans are aware of the deadline, and 78,500 people in the nation seeking to fly could possibly be turned away the first day of Real ID implementation. That translates to 549,000 being turned away in the first week, said Caroline Beteta, president and CEO of Visit California, a nonprofit organization created to market California as a travel destination.
“California could lose nearly $5 million a day if travelers don’t comply with Real ID requirements,” she said.
The prospect of a return to hours-long wait times has many state officials worried. The average wait time for applicants visiting field offices with no appointment was 43 minutes in January, up from 37 minutes in December.
Business The Real ID deadline is really coming. Should airlines warn you? The TSA will require fliers to have a Real ID, passport or military ID, starting Oct. 1. But 99 million Americans don’t have any of these and airlines are doing little to notify fliers.
DMV spokeswoman Anita Gore noted the agency served a record 2 million people in its offices in January, and provides other services including vehicle registration.
“We are building capacity by reducing transaction times, but with more people coming in, wait times increased slightly,” Gore said. “As more people decide to come in to get a Real ID as October gets closer, we anticipate wait times will continue to increase. This is why we are encouraging people to come in now.”
Gordon predicted wait times will fall again when new processes are put in place in the coming weeks. The increase in wait times in January happened as the field offices were open fewer days.
“You had a whole bunch of people going through a small funnel,” he said.
Newsom, whose office did not respond to a request for comment on the issue Thursday, has boosted the DMV budget by $200 million this year, allowing the hiring of more than 700 additional employees and reducing wait times from their peak in the summer of 2018.
“Anyone happy about that?” he asked of the sub-40-minute wait times at a Jan. 10 news conference. “No. Is there a mission accomplished sign? Absolutely not. Are my eyes wide open about the Real ID program coming in October? Absolutely.”
Gordon said that the new funding, staffing and improvements to computer technology, including an expansion of the number of self-serve kiosks, are allowing the DMV to handle larger volumes of residents showing up at field offices.
Asked how confident he is that the DMV will be able to issue at least 16 million Real IDs by Oct. 1, Gordon said, “I feel very confident that we will have the capacity to do that.”


latimes--2020-02-07--L.A. versus S.F.: How the 'cultural divide' is determining housing policy in California

The push to remake California from a state of single-family homes and suburban sprawl into one of apartments near transit stops and jobs has run into a brick wall : Los Angeles .
Nearly unanimous opposition from senators from L.A. County last week dealt the decisive blow to Senate Bill 50 , which would have forced cities and counties to allow mid-rise apartments near mass transit and fourplexes in single-family neighborhoods .
The lawmakers argued that SB 50 would fail to deliver enough affordable housing , wipe out local control over development decisions , harm the preservation of historic neighborhoods @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of wildfires .
But the intensity of L.A. ’ s resistance belied what the real effects of SB 50 likely would have been .
The bill probably would have led to a lot more development in the Bay Area than in the Southland , according to independent analyses of the legislation , with Los Angeles potentially exempt from SB 50 ’ s most aggressive provisions .
Sen. Scott Wiener ( D-San Francisco ) , the bill ’ s author , called L.A. housing politics “ very challenging.
” One reason is the Bay @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The median home price in San Francisco is $ 1.4 million , about double what it is in Los Angeles , according to Zillow .
“ Sometimes the situation has to get so bad that it compels fundamental change , ” Wiener said .
“ I think things have gotten so bad in the Bay Area that there ’ s more openness to new approaches to housing .
I think L.A. , unfortunately , is moving in that direction.
” The disconnect between the state ’ s most populous and politically powerful regions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Gavin Newsom , who after SB 50 ’ s failure promised to advance what he called “ a historic housing production bill ” this year .
Though Bay Area politicians , including Newsom and Wiener , have been shaping California ’ s most high-profile housing ideas , their success is dependent on lawmakers and interest groups from Los Angeles County believing the state ’ s largest metropolitan region will benefit from the plans .
“ The focus has to be on a solution that works for Los Angeles , ” said Laura Raymond @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Transit Los Angeles , an organization behind the city ’ s plans to increase housing near transit stops and an SB 50 opponent .
“ Because Bay Area politics , it doesn ’ t translate exactly to our region.
” Case in point : Raymond said Wiener ’ s belief that Bay Area lawmakers supported SB 50 because housing is more expensive there is dismissive of local concerns .
For instance , a recent poll of L.A. County voters conducted for The Times found that Angelenos believed homelessness and housing affordability were the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ It ’ s such a crisis here , ” she said .
“ It ’ s on everybody ’ s mind.
” Wiener ’ s L.A. problem has been clear for a long time , and his efforts to resolve it never secured a high-profile ally from Los Angeles .
The bill ’ s first iteration in 2018 sparked intense reaction from activists who believed it would ruin local growth plans for South Los Angeles .
They also feared SB 50 would undermine a new program , called Transit Oriented Communities , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ complexes near Metro rail stations and high-frequency bus lines in exchange for dedicating a portion of their buildings to low-income housing .
Wiener and his allies began courting Raymond ’ s group and others in the county — an effort that intensified after the bill ’ s failure .
By the time an updated version of the bill was headed toward a vote last year , it required projects that were larger than 10 units to set aside funding or space for low-income housing .
It also prohibited developers from demolishing homes for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tenants have lived .
And it exempted land in Los Angeles covered by the Transit Oriented Communities program .
Nevertheless , Sen. Anthony Portantino , a Democrat who represents the upscale bedroom community of La Cañada Flintridge in L.A. County , shelved SB 50 in a Senate fiscal committee prior to a decision on the floor .
Portantino argued that the bill took away too much power from local governments .
Then earlier this year , Wiener changed the bill again , giving cities and counties two years to develop their own blueprints @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to SB 50 .
Local governments would still ultimately have to allow fourplexes in single-family neighborhoods , but developers would be limited to remodeling existing homes rather than demolishing them and building anew .
All these amendments led Mayor Eric Garcetti to believe that L.A. likely would not have to do anything new — beyond permitting fourplexes — to comply .
Yet Garcetti contended that the bill ’ s details remained too vague and left communities without a roadmap for how it might work — notably cities in Southern California .
“ There @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is a unique place compared to L.A. , ” said Garcetti , who didn ’ t take a position on the bill .
“ Tell me how this works in Artesia .
Show me what this means in Long Beach.
” In December , the California Community Foundation , a major Los Angeles civic nonprofit , released a report showing that SB 50 ’ s effects in L.A. County , while significant , would be muted compared to those in the Bay Area .
The report , authored by researchers with UC Berkeley @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that the bill could increase housing production by 50 % in the county , the equivalent of about 9,000 new homes a year .
While the report examined an earlier version of the bill that didn ’ t include the fourplex or local alternative provisions , a similar UC Berkeley analysis of the Bay Area found that growth there could as much as quadruple under SB 50 .
The California Community Foundation report concluded that SB 50 would lead to moderately dense projects across L.A. County with the most intense development in hotter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Pasadena .
In the Bay Area , intense development would occur throughout a broad range of the region ’ s many wealthy communities such as Palo Alto and Menlo Park .
That ’ s because the Bay Area would command higher prices and the market would still lead developers to build more parking spaces alongside their projects in L.A. , even though the bill waived some of those requirements .
In the city of Los Angeles , the report found , the effects would be even less pronounced because the bill exempted parcels @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Ann Sewill , the California Community Foundation ’ s vice president for health and housing , said the report gave her pause about SB 50 .
Developers have proposed more than 20,000 new homes under the Transit Oriented Communities program since it went into effect in late 2017 , according to city data .
Sewill worried that the bill might divert interest to land near transit that has been zoned for single-family homes , which are exempt from the city ’ s program but would ’ ve been covered under SB 50 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for low-income residents , she said .
“ We do feel like solutions that have come out of L.A. are not very well known and not very much talked about in Sacramento , ” Sewill said .
Other factors heightened the political hostility in Los Angeles .
The City Council voted multiple times to oppose Wiener ’ s bills , citing worries about losing control over development decisions , upending single-family neighborhoods and fueling displacement of existing residents .
The AIDS Healthcare Foundation , an L.A.-based nonprofit which has sponsored unsuccessful local and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rent control , fomented resistance by staging protests outside the offices of state senators and mailers in senate districts across the state .
On the eve of the vote , the Los Angeles County Democratic Party also sent out an urgent email asking its members to tell senators to oppose the bill .
“ SB 50 is an unprecedented taking of local planning powers that hands city and community decision making directly to luxury housing developers , ” the email read .
As Los Angeles lawmakers , one by one , rose on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ against the bill , Wiener struck back at their contentions that SB 50 would undermine L.A. ’ s efforts to increase housing production near transit .
He noted correctly that his bill had protections against tearing down existing apartments that the Los Angeles process doesn ’ t have .
“ I don ’ t think it ’ s accurate to suggest that this bill will somehow make it easier to evict tenants or demolish buildings in Los Angeles , ” Wiener said .
“ This will make it harder.
” The rebuttal didn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ state senators from Los Angeles County , 10 voted no or abstained , including nine of Wiener ’ s Democratic colleagues .
The bill failed by three votes .

The push to remake California from a state of single-family homes and suburban sprawl into one of apartments near transit stops and jobs has run into a brick wall: Los Angeles.
Nearly unanimous opposition from senators from L.A. County last week dealt the decisive blow to Senate Bill 50, which would have forced cities and counties to allow mid-rise apartments near mass transit and fourplexes in single-family neighborhoods. The lawmakers argued that SB 50 would fail to deliver enough affordable housing, wipe out local control over development decisions, harm the preservation of historic neighborhoods and promote building in communities at risk of wildfires.
But the intensity of L.A.’s resistance belied what the real effects of SB 50 likely would have been. The bill probably would have led to a lot more development in the Bay Area than in the Southland, according to independent analyses of the legislation, with Los Angeles potentially exempt from SB 50’s most aggressive provisions.
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Sen. Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco), the bill’s author, called L.A. housing politics “very challenging.” One reason is the Bay Area’s higher housing costs. The median home price in San Francisco is $1.4 million, about double what it is in Los Angeles, according to Zillow.
“Sometimes the situation has to get so bad that it compels fundamental change,” Wiener said. “I think things have gotten so bad in the Bay Area that there’s more openness to new approaches to housing. I think L.A., unfortunately, is moving in that direction.”
The disconnect between the state’s most populous and politically powerful regions presents a continuing challenge for Gov. Gavin Newsom, who after SB 50’s failure promised to advance what he called “a historic housing production bill” this year. Though Bay Area politicians, including Newsom and Wiener, have been shaping California’s most high-profile housing ideas, their success is dependent on lawmakers and interest groups from Los Angeles County believing the state’s largest metropolitan region will benefit from the plans.
“The focus has to be on a solution that works for Los Angeles,” said Laura Raymond, campaign director for Alliance for Community Transit Los Angeles, an organization behind the city’s plans to increase housing near transit stops and an SB 50 opponent. “Because Bay Area politics, it doesn’t translate exactly to our region.”
Case in point: Raymond said Wiener’s belief that Bay Area lawmakers supported SB 50 because housing is more expensive there is dismissive of local concerns. For instance, a recent poll of L.A. County voters conducted for The Times found that Angelenos believed homelessness and housing affordability were the county’s most serious problems.
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“It’s such a crisis here,” she said. “It’s on everybody’s mind.”
Wiener’s L.A. problem has been clear for a long time, and his efforts to resolve it never secured a high-profile ally from Los Angeles.
The bill’s first iteration in 2018 sparked intense reaction from activists who believed it would ruin local growth plans for South Los Angeles. They also feared SB 50 would undermine a new program, called Transit Oriented Communities, giving developers greater incentive to build apartment complexes near Metro rail stations and high-frequency bus lines in exchange for dedicating a portion of their buildings to low-income housing. Wiener and his allies began courting Raymond’s group and others in the county — an effort that intensified after the bill’s failure.
By the time an updated version of the bill was headed toward a vote last year, it required projects that were larger than 10 units to set aside funding or space for low-income housing. It also prohibited developers from demolishing homes for at least seven years on properties where tenants have lived. And it exempted land in Los Angeles covered by the Transit Oriented Communities program.
Nevertheless, Sen. Anthony Portantino, a Democrat who represents the upscale bedroom community of La Cañada Flintridge in L.A. County, shelved SB 50 in a Senate fiscal committee prior to a decision on the floor. Portantino argued that the bill took away too much power from local governments.
Then earlier this year, Wiener changed the bill again, giving cities and counties two years to develop their own blueprints for growth that could serve as alternatives to SB 50. Local governments would still ultimately have to allow fourplexes in single-family neighborhoods, but developers would be limited to remodeling existing homes rather than demolishing them and building anew.
All these amendments led Mayor Eric Garcetti to believe that L.A. likely would not have to do anything new — beyond permitting fourplexes — to comply. Yet Garcetti contended that the bill’s details remained too vague and left communities without a roadmap for how it might work — notably cities in Southern California.
“There is this cultural divide where San Francisco is a unique place compared to L.A.,” said Garcetti, who didn’t take a position on the bill. “Tell me how this works in Artesia. Show me what this means in Long Beach.”
In December, the California Community Foundation, a major Los Angeles civic nonprofit, released a report showing that SB 50’s effects in L.A. County, while significant, would be muted compared to those in the Bay Area.
The report, authored by researchers with UC Berkeley’s Urban Displacement Project, estimated that the bill could increase housing production by 50% in the county, the equivalent of about 9,000 new homes a year. While the report examined an earlier version of the bill that didn’t include the fourplex or local alternative provisions, a similar UC Berkeley analysis of the Bay Area found that growth there could as much as quadruple under SB 50.
The California Community Foundation report concluded that SB 50 would lead to moderately dense projects across L.A. County with the most intense development in hotter markets, such as Santa Monica and Pasadena. In the Bay Area, intense development would occur throughout a broad range of the region’s many wealthy communities such as Palo Alto and Menlo Park. That’s because the Bay Area would command higher prices and the market would still lead developers to build more parking spaces alongside their projects in L.A., even though the bill waived some of those requirements.
In the city of Los Angeles, the report found, the effects would be even less pronounced because the bill exempted parcels subject to the Transit Oriented Communities program.
Ann Sewill, the California Community Foundation’s vice president for health and housing, said the report gave her pause about SB 50. Developers have proposed more than 20,000 new homes under the Transit Oriented Communities program since it went into effect in late 2017, according to city data. Sewill worried that the bill might divert interest to land near transit that has been zoned for single-family homes, which are exempt from the city’s program but would’ve been covered under SB 50. That would result in fewer homes for low-income residents, she said.
“We do feel like solutions that have come out of L.A. are not very well known and not very much talked about in Sacramento,” Sewill said.
Other factors heightened the political hostility in Los Angeles. The City Council voted multiple times to oppose Wiener’s bills, citing worries about losing control over development decisions, upending single-family neighborhoods and fueling displacement of existing residents. The AIDS Healthcare Foundation, an L.A.-based nonprofit which has sponsored unsuccessful local and state ballot measures promoting slow growth and rent control, fomented resistance by staging protests outside the offices of state senators and mailers in senate districts across the state.
On the eve of the vote, the Los Angeles County Democratic Party also sent out an urgent email asking its members to tell senators to oppose the bill. “SB 50 is an unprecedented taking of local planning powers that hands city and community decision making directly to luxury housing developers,” the email read.
As Los Angeles lawmakers, one by one, rose on the Senate floor last week to speak against the bill, Wiener struck back at their contentions that SB 50 would undermine L.A.’s efforts to increase housing production near transit. He noted correctly that his bill had protections against tearing down existing apartments that the Los Angeles process doesn’t have.
“I don’t think it’s accurate to suggest that this bill will somehow make it easier to evict tenants or demolish buildings in Los Angeles,” Wiener said. “This will make it harder.”
The rebuttal didn’t work. Out of 11 state senators from Los Angeles County, 10 voted no or abstained, including nine of Wiener’s Democratic colleagues. The bill failed by three votes.


latimes--2020-02-07--Unattended encampment may be source of brush fire that caused evacuations in Riverside

An unattended encampment may have sparked a fast-moving brush fire in Riverside that quickly grew to 70 acres and briefly prompted evacuations Thursday , authorities said .
The fire — which officials said was “ human-caused , most probable due to an unattended encampment ” — erupted in the Santa Ana River bottom off Grand and Rubidoux avenues shortly before 10 a.m. , spurring the closure of the Santa Ana River trail between Ryan Bonaminio and Anza Narrows parks , Riverside Fire Capt .
Brian Guzzetta said .
By 12:30 p.m. , the size of the blaze was estimated at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hour later , though , authorities reported a significant increase in activity .
Flames had burned up to the backyards of several homes that overlook the river bottom , and firefighting efforts were hampered by a heavy cover of dry brush , Guzzetta said .
Authorities ordered the evacuation of about 25 homes along Old Ranch Road and Park Cliff Court and opened an evacuation center at a seniors center .
All evacuation orders were lifted about an hour later .
Officials credited a shift in the winds and the arrival of mutual-aid @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fire was holding at 70 acres and was 50 % contained as of 8 p.m. Full containment is expected late Friday evening , fire officials said .
No structures were damaged , and no injuries were reported .

An unattended encampment may have sparked a fast-moving brush fire in Riverside that quickly grew to 70 acres and briefly prompted evacuations Thursday, authorities said.
The fire — which officials said was “human-caused, most probable due to an unattended encampment” — erupted in the Santa Ana River bottom off Grand and Rubidoux avenues shortly before 10 a.m., spurring the closure of the Santa Ana River trail between Ryan Bonaminio and Anza Narrows parks, Riverside Fire Capt. Brian Guzzetta said.
By 12:30 p.m., the size of the blaze was estimated at 7 to 10 acres. About an hour later, though, authorities reported a significant increase in activity. Flames had burned up to the backyards of several homes that overlook the river bottom, and firefighting efforts were hampered by a heavy cover of dry brush, Guzzetta said.
Authorities ordered the evacuation of about 25 homes along Old Ranch Road and Park Cliff Court and opened an evacuation center at a seniors center.
All evacuation orders were lifted about an hour later. Officials credited a shift in the winds and the arrival of mutual-aid firefighting resources, including aircraft.
The fire was holding at 70 acres and was 50% contained as of 8 p.m. Full containment is expected late Friday evening, fire officials said.
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No structures were damaged, and no injuries were reported.


latimes--2020-02-09--Amid coronavirus quarantine, Santa Clarita couple blogs from cruise ship cabin

Two Santa Clarita residents are among the 3,700 passengers and crew members quarantined on a cruise ship docked in Japan after an outbreak of the coronavirus .
Carl Goldman decided to give his wife , Jeri Seratti-Goldman , a combined surprise birthday and Christmas gift of a 16-day Southeast Asia cruise aboard the Diamond Princess .
The trip was supposed to end last week .
But after a passenger who departed the ship in Hong Kong was diagnosed with the virus , Japanese health officials placed the ship under a two-week quarantine .
The quarantine is scheduled to end Feb. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Clarita radio station KHTS and have been documenting their experiences in a diary on the station ’ s website .
“ My wife smiled and told me , ‘ Tiny house living is happening now , ’ ” wrote Carl Goldman , recalling the moment when they learned about the two-week quarantine .
“ I did a quick calendar projection and told her , ‘ Happy Valentine ’ s Day.
’ ” So far , 70 people on board have been diagnosed with the virus , with six new cases being reported on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the ship , which is docked in Yokohama , Japan , have been telling stories on social media of kindnesses by crew members and also dwindling supplies and comforts .
On the third day of the quarantine , the couple saw dozens of ambulances and people in hazmat gear whisking away victims .
They also had run out of bottled water and took to boiling available water before drinking it .
The next day , they realized they were running out of clean clothes and deodorant and the charge on their electric @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the day , Princess Cruises restocked the ship at port with food and bottled water .
“ My wife ’ s reaction to the toilet paper was like giving her a diamond ring , ” Carl Goldman wrote .
Saturday evening , Princess Cruises President Jan Swartz released a video statement , saying the company had received requests for about 2,000 medications from those on board .
“ Our team has been sorting and distributing the medications as soon as we get them , ” Swartz said .
The company has recently @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 50 movies to the ship ’ s programming , which also includes fitness and exercise videos , it said in a statement .
In a video posted on Facebook Sunday morning in Japan — Saturday afternoon in Los Angeles — Jeri Seratti-Goldman said the couple had been tested for the virus three times a day and had not contracted it .
Seratti-Goldman said they were able to leave their room Saturday for the first time in five days , and they went on the ship ’ s balcony and walked for an hour @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also have been keeping the mood lighthearted , noting that the expansion of available movies has allowed them to move on from viewings of “ Dumbo.
” “ Will Carl and Jeri ’ s marriage make it through another eleven days quarantined inside their cabin ?
” they wrote in the diary on Friday .
“ Join us on Monday for updates on their adventures.
” The Associated Press contributed to this report .

A Japanese Coast Guard patrol boat, left, is brought alongside the Diamond Princess last week to take passengers who test positive for coronavirus to hospitals near Tokyo.
Two Santa Clarita residents are among the 3,700 passengers and crew members quarantined on a cruise ship docked in Japan after an outbreak of the coronavirus.
Carl Goldman decided to give his wife, Jeri Seratti-Goldman, a combined surprise birthday and Christmas gift of a 16-day Southeast Asia cruise aboard the Diamond Princess. The trip was supposed to end last week. But after a passenger who departed the ship in Hong Kong was diagnosed with the virus, Japanese health officials placed the ship under a two-week quarantine. The quarantine is scheduled to end Feb. 19.
The couple own the Santa Clarita radio station KHTS and have been documenting their experiences in a diary on the station’s website.
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“My wife smiled and told me, ‘Tiny house living is happening now,’ ” wrote Carl Goldman, recalling the moment when they learned about the two-week quarantine. “I did a quick calendar projection and told her, ‘Happy Valentine’s Day.’ ”
So far, 70 people on board have been diagnosed with the virus, with six new cases being reported on Saturday. The Goldmans and other passengers on the ship, which is docked in Yokohama, Japan, have been telling stories on social media of kindnesses by crew members and also dwindling supplies and comforts.
On the third day of the quarantine, the couple saw dozens of ambulances and people in hazmat gear whisking away victims. They also had run out of bottled water and took to boiling available water before drinking it.
The next day, they realized they were running out of clean clothes and deodorant and the charge on their electric toothbrushes was running low. Later in the day, Princess Cruises restocked the ship at port with food and bottled water.
“My wife’s reaction to the toilet paper was like giving her a diamond ring,” Carl Goldman wrote.
Saturday evening, Princess Cruises President Jan Swartz released a video statement, saying the company had received requests for about 2,000 medications from those on board.
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“Our team has been sorting and distributing the medications as soon as we get them,” Swartz said.
The company has recently added satellite TV stations and more than 50 movies to the ship’s programming, which also includes fitness and exercise videos, it said in a statement.
In a video posted on Facebook Sunday morning in Japan — Saturday afternoon in Los Angeles — Jeri Seratti-Goldman said the couple had been tested for the virus three times a day and had not contracted it. Seratti-Goldman said they were able to leave their room Saturday for the first time in five days, and they went on the ship’s balcony and walked for an hour.
In their posts, the Goldmans also have been keeping the mood lighthearted, noting that the expansion of available movies has allowed them to move on from viewings of “Dumbo.”
“Will Carl and Jeri’s marriage make it through another eleven days quarantined inside their cabin?” they wrote in the diary on Friday. “Join us on Monday for updates on their adventures.”
The Associated Press contributed to this report.


latimes--2020-02-09--Public memorial service for helicopter crash victims set for Angel Stadium

A public memorial service is scheduled Monday at Angel Stadium in Anaheim for three members of the Altobelli family , who were among nine people killed in a Jan. 26 helicopter crash crash in Calabasas that also took the life of former Laker Kobe Bryant and his 13-year-old daughter , Gianna .
Orange Coast College baseball coach John Altobelli , 56 , his wife , Keri , 46 , and their daughter Alyssa , 14 , will be honored at the 4 p.m. service .
Doors open at 3 p.m .
Admission and parking are free .
John Altobelli was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ College history .
He guided the Pirates to four California state community college championships and more than 700 victories in his 27 years at the school .
Alyssa played on the same club team as Gianna Bryant , which was coached by Kobe .
All were headed to a tournament at Kobe ’ s Mamba Sports Academy in Thousand Oaks when their helicopter crashed into a hillside in dense fog .
The exact cause of the crash remains under investigation .
The Altobellis are survived by two other children : J.J. Altobelli , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Red Sox , and his sister Alexis Altobelli , 16 , a high school junior in Newport Beach .
The Orange Coast College Foundation has set up a memorial fund to cover their educational and living expenses .
The Los Angeles Angels have also announced that the team will honor the family ’ s memory by wearing Orange Coast College hats for the opening split squad games of Cactus League play Feb. 22 .
More than 2,000 people attended a private memorial honoring two other victims of the crash , Sarah Chester , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 13 .
The service was held Saturday afternoon at St. Margaret ’ s Episcopal School in San Juan Capistrano , where Payton was a student .
“ We will miss them and think of them often as we now begin the arduous process of trying to live our lives without Sarah and Payton , ” Chris Chester , Sarah ’ s husband and Payton ’ s father , said in a statement .
Payton was a teammate of Gianna Bryant and Alyssa Altobelli on the Mamba Sports Academy girls ’ club basketball team @ @ @ @ @ @ @ girls more than anything in the world and considered them her second family , ” Chris Chester said .
“ She was determined to play basketball in college and the WNBA .
I have no doubt she would have achieved all her goals and dreams.
” “ I am heartbroken for her brothers , my family , and her friends .
But I am also heartbroken for the rest of the world , because we lost someone who was going to do great things and make the world a better place.
” A @ @ @ @ @ @ @ daughter Gianna is set for 10 a.m. Feb. 24 at Staples Center .
Kobe ’ s widow , Vanessa Bryant , has said on Instagram that the date of 2-24 has symbolic significance because Gianna wore No .
2 and Kobe wore No .
24 as basketball players , and that the 20 denoting the current year represented the number of years Kobe played for the Lakers .
The service will follow weeks of impromptu vigils and memorials honoring the basketball great that have popped up around the Los Angeles area , including @ @ @ @ @ @ @ crash site in Calabasas .

A public memorial service is scheduled Monday at Angel Stadium in Anaheim for three members of the Altobelli family, who were among nine people killed in a Jan. 26 helicopter crash in Calabasas that also took the life of former Laker Kobe Bryant and his 13-year-old daughter, Gianna.
Orange Coast College baseball coach John Altobelli, 56, his wife, Keri, 46, and their daughter Alyssa, 14, will be honored at the 4 p.m. service. Doors open at 3 p.m. Admission and parking are free.
John Altobelli was the longest-tenured baseball coach in Orange Coast College history. He guided the Pirates to four California state community college championships and more than 700 victories in his 27 years at the school. Alyssa played on the same club team as Gianna Bryant, which was coached by Kobe Bryant.
All were headed to a tournament at Kobe Bryant’s Mamba Sports Academy in Thousand Oaks when their helicopter crashed into a hillside in dense fog. The exact cause of the crash remains under investigation.
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The Altobellis are survived by two other children: J.J. Altobelli, 29, a scout for the Boston Red Sox, and his sister Alexis Altobelli, 16, a high school junior in Newport Beach. The Orange Coast College Foundation has set up a memorial fund to cover their educational and living expenses.
The Los Angeles Angels have also announced that the team will honor the family’s memory by wearing Orange Coast College hats for the opening split squad games of Cactus League play Feb. 22.
On Saturday afternoon, more than 2,000 people attended a private memorial honoring two other victims of the crash, Sarah Chester, 45, and her daughter Payton, 13. The service was held at St. Margaret’s Episcopal School in San Juan Capistrano, where Payton was a student.
“We will miss them and think of them often as we now begin the arduous process of trying to live our lives without Sarah and Payton,” Chris Chester, Sarah’s husband and Payton’s father, said in a statement.
Payton was a teammate of Gianna Bryant and Alyssa Altobelli on the Mamba Sports Academy girls’ club basketball team.
“She loved her Team Mamba girls more than anything in the world and considered them her second family,” Chris Chester said. “She was determined to play basketball in college and the WNBA. I have no doubt she would have achieved all her goals and dreams.”
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“I am heartbroken for her brothers, my family, and her friends. But I am also heartbroken for the rest of the world, because we lost someone who was going to do great things and make the world a better place.”
A vendor sells flowers to Kobe Bryant fans in front of a giant electronic billboard featuring the former NBA star near Staples Center in downtown Los Angeles on Jan. 30. (Associated Press)
A public memorial for Kobe and Gianna Bryant is set for 10 a.m. Feb. 24 at Staples Center.
Bryant’s widow, Vanessa Bryant, has said on Instagram that the date of 2-24 has symbolic significance because Gianna wore No. 2 and her father wore No. 24 as basketball players, and that the 20 denoting the current year represented the number of years he played for the Lakers.
The service will follow weeks of impromptu vigils and memorials honoring the basketball great that have popped up around the Los Angeles area, including outside Staples Center and near the helicopter crash site in Calabasas.


latimes--2020-02-09--Some streets around Hollywood's Dolby Theatre to remain closed days after today's Oscars

Many street closures are in effect around the Dolby Theatre for Sunday ’ s Academy Awards ceremony , and some will remain closed several days after Hollywood ’ s biggest event of the year .
Hollywood Boulevard between Orange Drive and Highland Avenue will remain closed until 6 a.m. Wednesday .
The northernmost curb lane of Hollywood Boulevard , along with much of the north sidewalk , is closed in front of the Hollywood & Highland complex and will remain blocked until Wednesday .
Curb lanes of Orange Drive north of Hollywood Boulevard have already been closed .
More street @ @ @ @ @ @ @ *The north curb lane of Hawthorn Avenue between Highland and Orange is closed ( until 6 a.m. Wednesday ) ; * The south sidewalk of Hollywood Boulevard between Orange and Highland , with the exception of an 8-foot pedestrian access ; * The north sidewalk of Hollywood Boulevard directly in front of the Dolby Theatre portal ; * The north sidewalk of Hollywood Boulevard from Highland to Orange , with the exception of an 8-foot pedestrian access ; * The pedestrian mid-block crosswalk on Hollywood Boulevard between Highland and Orange ; and * @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from Highland to Orange .
* Hawthorn Avenue between Highland and Orange ( until 6 a.m. Monday ) ; * Orchid Street from 60 feet south of Franklin Boulevard to Orchid Alley ; * Orange from Orchid Alley to Hollywood Boulevard ; * North and south sidewalks of Hawthorn Avenue from Highland to Orange ; * West sidewalk of Highland from Johnny Grant Way south to Hollywood Boulevard ; * Johnny Grant Way from Highland to Orchid Street ; On Oscar Sunday , the following restrictions will be in effect : * The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Highland will close .
* Orange will close from Lanewood Avenue to Hollywood Boulevard .
* The north and south sidewalks of Hollywood Boulevard from Highland to 300 feet east of Highland will close , with an 8-foot pedestrian access on the south side .
* The south sidewalk of Hollywood Boulevard will close directly in front of the north-south running Hawthorn Alley .
* The east sidewalk and curb lane of Highland from Yucca Street to Sunset Boulevard will close , except for an 8-foot pedestrian access .
* The west sidewalk @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will close , along with the west curb of Highland from Johnny Grant Way to Hollywood Boulevard .
* The north and south crosswalks on Hollywood Boulevard at the Highland intersection will close .
* Highland Avenue will close from Sunset to Franklin Avenue .
* Hollywood Boulevard will be closed from La Brea Boulevard to Orange Drive , and from Highland Avenue to Cahuenga Boulevard .
* Hawthorn Avenue will close between Orange Drive and La Brea , and from Highland and McCadden Place .
* McCadden Place will close from Yucca @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Avenue will close between Sunset and Cahuenga boulevards .
Metro Red Line trains will bypass the Hollywood and Highland station today .
Regular service will resume at 6 a.m. Monday .
Metro bus routes along Hollywood Boulevard will be rerouted during the street closures .

Many street closures are in effect around the Dolby Theatre for Sunday’s Academy Awards ceremony, and some will remain closed several days after Hollywood’s biggest event of the year.
Hollywood Boulevard between Orange Drive and Highland Avenue will remain closed until 6 a.m. Wednesday. The northernmost curb lane of Hollywood Boulevard, along with much of the north sidewalk, is closed in front of the Hollywood & Highland complex and will remain blocked until Wednesday.
Curb lanes of Orange Drive north of Hollywood Boulevard have already been closed.
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More street and sidewalk closures are as follows:
*The north curb lane of Hawthorn Avenue between Highland and Orange is closed (until 6 a.m. Wednesday);
* The south sidewalk of Hollywood Boulevard between Orange and Highland, with the exception of an 8-foot pedestrian access;
* The north sidewalk of Hollywood Boulevard directly in front of the Dolby Theatre portal;
* The north sidewalk of Hollywood Boulevard from Highland to Orange, with the exception of an 8-foot pedestrian access;
* The pedestrian mid-block crosswalk on Hollywood Boulevard between Highland and Orange; and
* The south curb lane of Hawthorn Avenue from Highland to Orange.
* Hawthorn Avenue between Highland and Orange (until 6 a.m. Monday);
* Orchid Street from 60 feet south of Franklin Boulevard to Orchid Alley;
* Orange from Orchid Alley to Hollywood Boulevard;
* North and south sidewalks of Hawthorn Avenue from Highland to Orange;
* West sidewalk of Highland from Johnny Grant Way south to Hollywood Boulevard;
* Johnny Grant Way from Highland to Orchid Street;
On Oscar Sunday, the following restrictions will be in effect:
* The remainder of Hawthorn Alley from Orange to Highland will close.
* Orange will close from Lanewood Avenue to Hollywood Boulevard.
* The north and south sidewalks of Hollywood Boulevard from Highland to 300 feet east of Highland will close, with an 8-foot pedestrian access on
the south side.
* The south sidewalk of Hollywood Boulevard will close directly in front of the north-south running Hawthorn Alley.
* The east sidewalk and curb lane of Highland from Yucca Street to Sunset Boulevard will close, except for an 8-foot pedestrian access.
* The west sidewalk of Highland between Hollywood and Sunset boulevards will close, along with the west curb of Highland from Johnny Grant
Way to Hollywood Boulevard.
* The north and south crosswalks on Hollywood Boulevard at the Highland intersection will close.
* Highland Avenue will close from Sunset to Franklin Avenue.
* Hollywood Boulevard will be closed from La Brea Boulevard to Orange Drive, and from Highland Avenue to Cahuenga Boulevard.
* Hawthorn Avenue will close between Orange Drive and La Brea, and from Highland and McCadden Place.
* McCadden Place will close from Yucca Street to Hollywood Boulevard.
* Wilcox Avenue will close between Sunset and Cahuenga boulevards.
Metro Red Line trains will bypass the Hollywood and Highland station today. Regular service will resume at 6 a.m. Monday. Metro bus routes along Hollywood Boulevard will be rerouted during the street closures.


latimes--2020-02-09--Simi Valley police searching for gunman involved in road-rage shooting

Simi Valley police on Sunday were searching for a motorist who shot at another driver ’ s vehicle in a @ @ @ @ @ .
A man was driving his vehicle west on Los Angeles Avenue shortly after 2 @ @ @ @ @ to pass the male driver of a Toyota Tundra pickup truck as they both turned @ @ @ @ @ police said in a statement .
The man in the pickup truck , through his @ @ @ @ @ window , fired a round at the other man , which struck his front passenger @ @ @ @ @ The driver was not hurt .
The pickup truck driver then sped away and was @ @ @ @ @ Cochran streets .
Police described the suspect as a man in his mid-30s with neck @ @ @ @ @ navy blue Washington Nationals baseball cap and driving a newer-model dark blue or gray Toyota @ @ @ @ @ .
Anyone with information is asked to contact the Simi Valley Police Department Major Crimes @ @ @ @ @ ) 583-6950 .

A road-rage dispute in Simi Valley ended when one driver fired at the other, police said.
Simi Valley police on Sunday were searching for a motorist who shot at another driver’s vehicle in a road-rage incident, police said.
A man was driving his vehicle west on Los Angeles Avenue shortly after 2 p.m. Saturday when he tried to pass the male driver of a Toyota Tundra pickup truck as they both turned north onto Stearns Street, police said in a statement.
The man in the pickup truck, through his open driver’s side window, fired a round at the other man, which struck his front passenger door, police said. The driver was not hurt.
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The pickup truck driver then sped away and was last seen at Stearns and Cochran streets.
Police described the suspect as a man in his mid-30s with neck tattoos who was wearing a navy blue Washington Nationals baseball cap and driving a newer-model dark blue or gray Toyota Tundra crew cab pickup truck.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the Simi Valley Police Department Major Crimes Detective Unit at (805) 583-6950.


latimes--2020-02-09--Orson Bean's death on Venice street sparks mourning, concern over pedestrian safety

The death of Orson Bean , the 91-year-old veteran actor-comedian , has prompted an outpouring of grief in the Los Angeles theater community and also prompted new concerns about pedestrian safety in a city that has struggled to reduce deaths .
Bean was killed when he was hit by two cars Friday night while crossing Venice Boulevard on his way to see a play .
Here is what we know : Bean ’ s death comes as new figures show that the number of people killed in car crashes in Los Angeles remains stubbornly high .
In 2019 , four @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Vision Zero initiative to eliminate traffic deaths on city streets , 244 people died in collisions in Los Angeles , including 134 pedestrians and 19 cyclists .
Since Vision Zero was launched in 2015 , the number of pedestrians , vehicle occupants , bicyclists and motorcyclists killed annually in traffic crashes has risen 33 % .
Fatalities from 183 to 253 , and have fallen 3.6 % since then .
Los Angeles has yet to achieve the first major benchmark set out in Vision Zero : a 20 % reduction in deaths that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Reducing deaths by half by 2020 , the next goal on the city ’ s list , would require reducing fatalities this year by more than 100 .
Los Angeles police said Bean was on Venice Boulevard near the Pacific Resident Theater outside a marked crosswalk around 7:30 p.m. Friday when he was struck by a Honda Civic traveling west .
He was hit a second time by a Toyota Prius .
Both drivers remained on the scene .
Judith Borne , publicist for the theater , said Bean was on his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mills , who was volunteering as an usher , to watch a production of Arthur Miller ’ s play “ All My Sons.
” He had parked on the opposite side of the street and was crossing alone .
“ Many of us do this , including the audience , ” Borne said .
“ The crosswalk is out of the way .
Many people … just cross ” the lanes .
Borne , who did not witness the incident but heard from others who were at the scene , said that after @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fell .
Then a second car hit him and didn ’ t stop right away .
Bean was dragged for about a quarter of a block , she said .
Marilyn Fox , the theater ’ s artistic director , was outside when the crash happened .
She said Saturday she saw an “ explosion ” of debris and that Mills ran after a car .
Someone went inside to tell others that Bean had been struck .
Friday night ’ s performance , scheduled for 8 p.m. , was canceled .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to have a show at that moment , ” Fox said .
Pedestrians are involved in a fraction of the traffic crashes in Los Angeles , but represent a disproportionate number of the victims .
Over a five-year period in the last decade , people on foot were involved in 8 % of collisions but represented 44 % of those killed , according to city data .
The death of a by a driver while she was walking to school with her mother in Koreatown became a rallying cry .
The driver , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ crosswalk , had her own children in the backseat , police said .
The girl ’ s death sparked an outcry among advocates , who staged a “ die-in ” at Los Angeles City Hall to voice their frustrations with the city ’ s lack of progress on Vision Zero .
In response to the most pedestrian death numbers , the Transportation Department made more changes to streets in L.A. in 2019 than in the prior two years combined , spokeswoman Connie Llanos told The Times earlier this month .
Those 1,529 modifications @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and other elements of the street are designed to improve the safety of the street .

A makeshift memorial for actor Orson Bean, who died after being struck by two cars Friday night in Venice.
The death of Orson Bean, the 91-year-old veteran actor-comedian, has prompted an outpouring of grief in the Los Angeles theater community and also prompted new concerns about pedestrian safety in a city that has struggled to reduce deaths.
Bean was killed when he was hit by two cars Friday night while crossing Venice Boulevard on his way to see a play.
Here is what we know:
A daunting problem
Bean’s death comes as new figures show that the number of people killed in car crashes in Los Angeles remains stubbornly high. In 2019, four years after Mayor Eric Garcetti launched the Vision Zero initiative to eliminate traffic deaths on city streets, 244 people died in collisions in Los Angeles, including 134 pedestrians and 19 cyclists.
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Since Vision Zero was launched in 2015, the number of pedestrians, vehicle occupants, bicyclists and motorcyclists killed annually in traffic crashes has risen 33%. Fatalities surged in 2016 from 183 to 253, and have fallen 3.6% since then.
Los Angeles has yet to achieve the first major benchmark set out in Vision Zero: a 20% reduction in deaths that officials had hoped to achieve in 2017. Reducing deaths by half by 2020, the next goal on the city’s list, would require reducing fatalities this year by more than 100.
A death in Venice
Los Angeles police said Bean was on Venice Boulevard near the Pacific Resident Theatre outside a marked crosswalk around 7:30 p.m. Friday when he was struck by a Honda Civic traveling west. He was hit a second time by a Toyota Prius. Both drivers remained on the scene.
Judith Borne, publicist for the theater, said Bean was on his way to meet his wife, Alley Mills, who was volunteering as an usher, to watch a production of Arthur Miller’s play “All My Sons.” He had parked on the opposite side of the street and was crossing alone.
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“Many of us do this, including the audience,” Borne said. “The crosswalk is out of the way. Many people … just cross” the lanes.
Borne, who did not witness the incident but heard from others who were at the scene, said that after the first vehicle clipped Bean, he fell. Then a second car hit him and didn’t stop right away. Bean was dragged for about a quarter of a block, she said.
Marilyn Fox, the theater’s artistic director, was outside when the crash happened. She said Saturday she saw an “explosion” of debris and that Mills ran after a car. Someone went inside to tell others that Bean had been struck. Friday night’s performance, scheduled for 8 p.m., was canceled.
“There was no way we were going to have a show at that moment,” Fox said.
A larger movement
Pedestrians are involved in a fraction of the traffic crashes in Los Angeles but represent a disproportionate number of the victims. Over a five-year period in the last decade, people on foot were involved in 8% of collisions but represented 44% of those killed, according to city data.
The death of a 4-year-old struck and killed by a driver while she was walking to school with her mother in Koreatown became a rallying cry. The driver, who made a left turn into the crosswalk, had her own children in the backseat, police said.
The girl’s death sparked an outcry among advocates, who staged a “die-in” at Los Angeles City Hall to voice their frustrations with the city’s lack of progress on Vision Zero.
In response to the most pedestrian death numbers, the Transportation Department made more changes to streets in L.A. in 2019 than in the prior two years combined, spokeswoman Connie Llanos told The Times earlier this month. Those 1,529 modifications to crosswalks, traffic signals, intersections and other elements of the street are designed to improve the safety of the street.
Times staff writer Laura J. Nelson contributed to this report.