latimes--2020-05-13--Amid partial reopening, hodgepodge of Bay Area orders leaves residents dazed, confused

Jason Tripp owns a distillery in this once-surfer-friendly town in San Mateo County .
Since mid-March , he ’ d been selling craft vodka , gin and rum , as well as a commodity in high demand — hand sanitizer — to local patrons from his storefront .
All that ended May 5 , when the city ’ s police chief emailed Tripp and told him to shut it down .
Tripp has since been vocally portraying himself as a victim of geographically arbitrary government edicts , trying to get his story out to anyone who will listen .
He @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Los Angeles Times ’ tip line , and San Francisco ’ s ABC affiliate , KGO-TV , aired a story about his plight last week .
“ Why is it OK to go into a store and buy alcohol but not OK to stay outside and buy from a storefront ?
” he said Wednesday , speaking from inside his store .
Tripp ’ s situation , and that of other Bay Area business owners , was not resolved Wednesday when San Mateo and other Bay Area counties announced their intent to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more closely align with the state .
Tripp is unsure whether the new order means he can reopen .
“ I think we ’ ll hold off answering any specifics about the new order until it ’ s announced later this week , ” said Preston Merchant , county spokesman .
In mid-March , seven Bay Area counties worked in unison to submit some of the nation ’ s first and most restrictive orders , designed to protect residents from the fast-spreading coronavirus .
The orders varied little from county to county , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and names .
Over the last few weeks , however , that uniformity has been stirred into a mishmash of geographic interpretations , orders and enforcement decisions — from the county level down to the city and even block level .
For instance , on April 27 , the Bay Area county health officials announced together that they were extending the stay-at-home orders until the end of the month .
However , it soon became clear that each health officer and county counsel interpreted the orders and extensions differently .
For instance , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ residents could play tennis with immediate household members .
But across the narrow , now-dry San Francisquito Creek , residents in San Mateo County were forbidden .
“ We spent hours discussing it , far more time than the subject was worth , ” Dr. Scott Morrow , the San Mateo County public health officer , said in an email .
“ While I never thought tennis to be a particularly high-risk activity , the group of Bay Area Health Officers decided to go with a rubric disallowing sports that share equipment .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ has since lifted that restriction , as long as certain thresholds are met ( only household members may play together , for example , and singles from different households may not share balls ) .
Morrow also restricted San Mateo County residents from traveling more than 10 miles for recreation — a limit not imposed elsewhere .
He said that was largely to prevent people from flocking to the beach in risky numbers , and to provide law enforcement with a concrete metric for enforcing the orders .
“ The county ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of thousands of people , many coming from great distances , ” said Morrow , who owns a beachside house in Half Moon Bay .
“ The beaches can be a significant problem with uncontrollable gatherings as we have seen in other areas of the state and country.
” According to data from the San Mateo County sheriff , at least 370 written warnings , 1,088 verbal warnings and 604 parking citations were issued along the county ’ s coast between April 20 and May 3 for violations of the county ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ May 4 and May 11 , the most recent period on the sheriff ’ s website .
The May 5 email to Tripp from Pacifica Police Chief William Glasgo was not included in those warnings .
The Tripp Distillery is an award-winning craft distillery in a converted garage down an alley off Palmetto Avenue .
In every way , it looks like the product of a 48-year-old man who figured out how to turn a hobby into a sustainable income — more a “ way of life ” than an office setting for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are strewn about , the floor is sticky , and graffiti and cocktail mix recipes populate the wall space .
On Wednesday morning , a little bedraggled after a “ long night of quality control , ” Tripp explained he ’ d had to lay off four part-time employees this past week ; his biggest buyers , including the NHL ’ s San Jose Sharks , have either shut down or , in the case of restaurants , can ’ t sell his product in-house and therefore have stopped buying .
And now @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his storefront — a prohibition he finds confusing and confounding , considering customers can enter a BevMo or a Safeway store and buy alcohol from the shelf — he has no money to pay anyone .
He pointed to a tweet from a distillery in Half Moon Bay that is still operating — selling craft spirits and hand sanitizer to local customers .
A call to the Half Moon Bay Distillery was not returned .
However , the company ’ s outgoing message and its website indicate storefront sales are continuing .
Daniel @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Police Department , confirmed the city has interpreted county orders to prohibit distilleries and breweries from storefront sales — unless they include restaurants .
“ One of the differences between our brewery and distillery [ order ] from some of the others in the county is that they do not operate as a restaurant , ” Steidle said in an email .
According to the Half Moon Bay Distillery website , liquor is the only product sold .
Confusion also reigns in the dog grooming universe .
Many grooming services have been shut @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but mobile pet grooming vans are regularly seen in the region .
Jimmy Yeung , the owner of Wagmore Mobile Pet Spa , said he ’ d seen those other vans .
He , however , has remained parked in a lot in Santa Clara County ’ s Mountain View , attending to clients on site .
“ I know the orders say dog grooming is not essential , ” he said , “ but because it affects their health , how can it not be ?
” He said he doesn ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ relaxation of orders , which will allow dog grooming , will affect him much — despite most of his clients residing in the county , in Menlo Park and Atherton .
He said that because Santa Clara County is still restricting grooming , it ’ s possible he could get caught in some jurisdictional confusion crossing county lines to groom .
“ It ’ s too risky , ” he said .
In any case , although he ’ s currently operating in a “ gray area , ” he ’ s got @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had .
“ I ’ ve been turning jobs down , ” he said .
“ There ’ s just too much .
”

Jason Tripp in his distillery in Pacifica, south of San Francisco, on Wednesday. Tripp has been shut down the last week, even as he tries to sell booze and hand sanitizer.
Jason Tripp owns a distillery in this once-surfer-friendly town in San Mateo County. Since mid-March, he’d been selling craft vodka, gin and rum, as well as a commodity in high demand — hand sanitizer — to local patrons from his storefront.
All that ended May 5, when the city’s police chief emailed Tripp and told him to shut it down.
Tripp has since been vocally portraying himself as a victim of geographically arbitrary government edicts, trying to get his story out to anyone who will listen. He sent a message about his situation to the Los Angeles Times’ tip line, and San Francisco’s ABC affiliate, KGO-TV, aired a story about his plight last week.
Advertisement
“Why is it OK to go into a store and buy alcohol but not OK to stay outside and buy from a storefront?” he said Wednesday, speaking from inside his store.
Tripp’s situation, and that of other Bay Area business owners, was not resolved Wednesday when San Mateo and other Bay Area counties announced their intent to relax several orders in an attempt to more closely align with the state. Tripp is unsure whether the new order means he can reopen.
A county spokesman didn’t help clarify the matter.
“I think we’ll hold off answering any specifics about the new order until it’s announced later this week,” said Preston Merchant, county spokesman.
In mid-March, seven Bay Area counties worked in unison to submit some of the nation’s first and most restrictive orders, designed to protect residents from the fast-spreading coronavirus. The orders varied little from county to county, the only material differences being geographical boundaries and names.
Over the last few weeks, however, that uniformity has been stirred into a mishmash of geographic interpretations, orders and enforcement decisions — from the county level down to the city and even block level.
For instance, on April 27, the Bay Area county health officials announced together that they were extending the stay-at-home orders until the end of May.
However, it soon became clear that each health officer and county counsel interpreted the orders and extensions differently.
For instance, in Santa Clara County, officials decided residents could play tennis with immediate household members. But across the narrow, now-dry San Francisquito Creek, residents in San Mateo County were forbidden.
“We spent hours discussing it, far more time than the subject was worth,” Dr. Scott Morrow, the San Mateo County public health officer, said in an email. “While I never thought tennis to be a particularly high-risk activity, the group of Bay Area Health Officers decided to go with a rubric disallowing sports that share equipment. That would mean no tennis.”
Advertisement
Morrow has since lifted that restriction, as long as certain thresholds are met (only household members may play together, for example, and singles from different households may not share balls).
Morrow also restricted San Mateo County residents from traveling more than 10 miles for recreation — a limit not imposed elsewhere. He said that was largely to prevent people from flocking to the beach in risky numbers, and to provide law enforcement with a concrete metric for enforcing the orders.
“The county’s coastside area is a draw for tens of thousands of people, many coming from great distances,” said Morrow, who owns a beachside house in Half Moon Bay. “The beaches can be a significant problem with uncontrollable gatherings as we have seen in other areas of the state and country.”
According to data from the San Mateo County sheriff, at least 370 written warnings, 1,088 verbal warnings and 604 parking citations were issued along the county’s coast between April 20 and May 3 for violations of the county’s stay-at-home order. None were logged between May 4 and May 11, the most recent period on the sheriff’s website.
The May 5 email to Tripp from Pacifica Police Chief William Glasgo was not included in those warnings.
The Tripp Distillery is an award-winning craft distillery in a converted garage down an alley off Palmetto Avenue.
In every way, it looks like the product of a 48-year-old man who figured out how to turn a hobby into a sustainable income — more a “way of life” than an office setting for a future IPO.
Boxes and equipment are strewn about, the floor is sticky, and graffiti and cocktail mix recipes populate the wall space.
On Wednesday morning, a little bedraggled after a “long night of quality control,” Tripp explained he’d had to lay off four part-time employees this past week; his biggest buyers, including the NHL’s San Jose Sharks, have either shut down or, in the case of restaurants, can’t sell his product in-house and therefore have stopped buying.
And now that he can’t sell from his storefront — a prohibition he finds confusing and confounding, considering customers can enter a BevMo or a Safeway store and buy alcohol from the shelf — he has no money to pay anyone.
He pointed to a tweet from a distillery in Half Moon Bay that is still operating — selling craft spirits and hand sanitizer to local customers.
A call to the Half Moon Bay Distillery was not returned. However, the company’s outgoing message and its website indicate storefront sales are continuing.
Daniel Steidle, a spokesman for the Pacifica Police Department, confirmed the city has interpreted county orders to prohibit distilleries and breweries from storefront sales — unless they include restaurants.
“One of the differences between our brewery and distillery [order] from some of the others in the county is that they do not operate as a restaurant,” Steidle said in an email.
According to the Half Moon Bay Distillery website, liquor is the only product sold.
Confusion also reigns in the dog grooming universe. Many grooming services have been shut down per Bay Area county orders, but mobile pet grooming vans are regularly seen in the region.
Jimmy Yeung, the owner of Wagmore Mobile Pet Spa, said he’d seen those other vans. He, however, has remained parked in a lot in Santa Clara County’s Mountain View, attending to clients on site.
“I know the orders say dog grooming is not essential,” he said, “but because it affects their health, how can it not be?”
He said he doesn’t think San Mateo County’s relaxation of orders, which will allow dog grooming, will affect him much — despite most of his clients residing in the county, in Menlo Park and Atherton.
He said that because Santa Clara County is still restricting grooming, it’s possible he could get caught in some jurisdictional confusion crossing county lines to groom.
“It’s too risky,” he said.
In any case, although he’s currently operating in a “gray area,” he’s got more business than he’s ever had.
“I’ve been turning jobs down,” he said. “There’s just too much.”


latimes--2020-05-13--Rise in hate incidents toward Asian Americans during coronavirus crisis, officials say

Hate crimes and incidents directed at Asian Americans have surged during the coronavirus outbreak , according to the Los Angeles County Commission on Human Relations , whose director said Wednesday that civic groups and police departments had fielded more than 100 reports of hate incidents tied to the pandemic from February through April .
Many of these incidents were “ acts of hate-motivated hostility ” that did not amount to hate crimes but were no less jarring , the commission ’ s director , Robin Toma , said in a virtual town hall .
He described several reported incidents : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at an Asian American woman walking her dog .
A resident of an apartment complex , assuming an Asian tenant had contracted the coronavirus , tried to get that tenant evicted .
A bomb threat targeted “ a major Asian American institution , ” which Toma didn ’ t identify by name .
Throughout the country , law enforcement has identified hate crimes directed at Asian Americans and believed to be motivated by the pandemic .
In New York , teenage girls accosted a 51-year-old Asian woman on a bus , hitting her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ making “ anti-Asian statements , ” city police said .
Three 15-year-old girls were charged with hate crimes .
In Midland , Texas , a 19-year-old man stabbed an Asian American father and his children , ages 2 and 6 , at a Sam ’ s Club , law enforcement authorities said .
“ The suspect indicated that he stabbed the family because he thought the family was Chinese , and infecting people with the coronavirus , ” FBI agents wrote in an intelligence report circulated to local law enforcement agencies and reported @ @ @ @ @ @ @ four months of this year , the Los Angeles Police Department has investigated 10 hate crimes , three of them “ COVID-driven , ” Dominic Choi , an LAPD deputy chief , said during the virtual town hall .
The department noted four hate crimes in the same period last year .
Choi said city residents probably had suffered more hate crimes than the numbers reflected because such encounters often go unreported .
Los Angeles County Dist .
Atty .
Jackie Lacey , whose deputies prosecute felony hate crimes , said some of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ being yelled at , insulted , heckled — could not be charged as crimes .
But if a person is physically injured or threatened , has property vandalized , or if a communal building such as a church is damaged , those crimes will be prosecuted , Lacey said .
A hate allegation can add years to a prison sentence , she said , and in a homicide case , it can bring life in prison .
Lacey urged anyone who had experienced a hate crime or hate-motivated incident to report it .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ who committed the crime , even though you may not know the identity , who knows ?
” she said .
“ That incident may help us prove a crime in the future .
”

Hate crimes and incidents directed at Asian Americans have surged during the coronavirus outbreak, according to the Los Angeles County Commission on Human Relations, whose director said Wednesday that civic groups and police departments had fielded more than 100 reports of hate incidents tied to the pandemic from February through April.
Many of these incidents were “acts of hate-motivated hostility” that did not amount to hate crimes but were no less jarring, the commission’s director, Robin Toma, said in a virtual town hall.
He described several reported incidents: A man spewed racial and misogynistic epithets at an Asian American woman walking her dog. A resident of an apartment complex, assuming an Asian tenant had contracted the coronavirus, tried to get that tenant evicted. A bomb threat targeted “a major Asian American institution,” which Toma didn’t identify by name.
Advertisement
Throughout the country, law enforcement has identified hate crimes directed at Asian Americans and believed to be motivated by the pandemic. In New York, teenage girls accosted a 51-year-old Asian woman on a bus, hitting her over the head with an umbrella and making “anti-Asian statements,” city police said. Three 15-year-old girls were charged with hate crimes.
In Midland, Texas, a 19-year-old man stabbed an Asian American father and his children, ages 2 and 6, at a Sam’s Club, law enforcement authorities said. “The suspect indicated that he stabbed the family because he thought the family was Chinese, and infecting people with the coronavirus,” FBI agents wrote in an intelligence report circulated to local law enforcement agencies and reported by ABC News.
In the first four months of this year, the Los Angeles Police Department has investigated 10 hate crimes, three of them “COVID-driven,” Dominic Choi, an LAPD deputy chief, said during the virtual town hall. The department noted four hate crimes in the same period last year. Choi said city residents probably had suffered more hate crimes than the numbers reflected because such encounters often go unreported.
Los Angeles County Dist. Atty. Jackie Lacey, whose deputies prosecute felony hate crimes, said some of the incidents Toma described — Asian Americans being yelled at, insulted, heckled — could not be charged as crimes. But if a person is physically injured or threatened, has property vandalized, or if a communal building such as a church is damaged, those crimes will be prosecuted, Lacey said. A hate allegation can add years to a prison sentence, she said, and in a homicide case, it can bring life in prison.
Lacey urged anyone who had experienced a hate crime or hate-motivated incident to report it.
“Even though you may not know who committed the crime, even though you may not know the identity, who knows?” she said. “That incident may help us prove a crime in the future.”


latimes--2020-05-15--6.4 earthquake hits western Nevada; shaking reportedly felt in California

A magnitude 6.4 earthquake was reported Friday morning at 4:03 a.m. Pacific time near Tonopah , Nev. , halfway between Reno and Las Vegas , according to the U.S. Geological Survey .
The initial quake struck about 4.7 miles ( 7.6 kilometers ) deep , the USGS said , and at least six sizable aftershocks were recorded shortly thereafter , including two with estimated magnitudes of 5.4 .
People from Salt Lake City , Utah , to California ’ s Central Valley tweeted that they felt the quake .
An average of five earthquakes with magnitudes between 6.0 and 7.0 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , according to a recent three-year data sample .
Did you feel this earthquake ?
Consider reporting what you felt to the USGS .
Find out what to do before , and during , an earthquake near you by reading our five-step earthquake preparedness guide .
This story was automatically generated by Quakebot , a computer application that monitors the latest earthquakes detected by the USGS .
A Times editor reviewed the post before it was published .
If you ’ re interested in learning more about the system , visit our list @ @ @ @ @

A 6.5 magnitude earthquake struck a remote area of western Nevada close to the California border on Friday morning, producing shaking that was felt in Southern California.
The U.S. Geological Service reported the the temblor hit at 4:03 a.m. about 35 miles west of Tonopah, halfway between Reno and Las Vegas, and just east of the Sierra Nevada range. The quake was upgraded after being initially reported at 6.4-magnitude.
The main highway between Las Vegas and Reno was damaged and closed early Friday. Nevada Highway Patrol photos showed cracks on U.S. 95.
Advertisement
No injuries were reported and crews were working to reopen the highway.
The initial quake struck about 4.7 miles deep, the USGS said, and dozens of aftershocks were recorded in the next three hours, including two with estimated magnitudes of 4.9.
The quake occurred in a remote area of the state and people from Salt Lake City, Utah, to California’s Central Valley tweeted that they felt it.
“It really shook a lot of groceries off the shelves,” Keith Hasty, an employee at a gas station in Tonopah, told the Las Vegas Review-Journal.
Hasty said residents who frequented the store were all talking about the quake.
“We have a lot of locals coming in saying their TVs were shaking, they felt it,” said Hasty. “No damage that I’ve heard of. My boss just called and said his garage shook.”


latimes--2020-05-15--LAPD officers shoot and kill man with handgun in Harbor Gateway

Los Angeles police on Thursday shot and killed a man they say came out of a home with a handgun @ @ @ @ @ a home on 123rd Street in the Harbor Gateway area shortly before 1 p.m. by @ @ @ @ @ dispute that then became a call of a shooting in progress , police said .
@ @ @ @ @ man with a gun left the home and there was a police shooting , authorities @ @ @ @ @ pronounced dead at the scene .
His name wasn ’ t immediately released .
Details @ @ @ @ @ ’ t immediately available .
No officers were hurt , police said .

Los Angeles police on Thursday shot and killed a man they say came out of a home with a handgun.
Officers were called to a home on 123rd Street in the Harbor Gateway area shortly before 1 p.m. by a report of a family dispute that then became a call of a shooting in progress, police said.
At some point, a man with a gun left the home and there was a police shooting, authorities said.
Advertisement
The man was pronounced dead at the scene. His name wasn’t immediately released.
Details of the shooting also weren’t immediately available.
No officers were hurt, police said.


latimes--2020-05-15--4 killed in suspected DUI crash in  San Jose; driver arrested

A suspected drunk driver crashed an SUV in San Jose , killing four passengers , authorities said Thursday .
The @ @ @ @ @ when the driver lost control and crashed on State Route 85 late Wednesday night , @ @ @ @ @ Patrol .
The SUV rolled over several times .
A 25-year-old man and two 26-year-old @ @ @ @ @ and a 25-year-old woman died at the hospital , according to the CHP .
A @ @ @ @ @ his injuries weren ’ t considered life-threatening , authorities said .
“ Two individuals were @ @ @ @ @ .
It hasn ’ t been determined if a seat belt was worn , or @ @ @ @ @ Officer Mike Sakamoto told KPIX-TV .
Rabbi Kumar Khanna , 26 , of San Jose @ @ @ @ @ driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol , according to the CHP .
He @ @ @ @ @ manslaughter .
It wasn ’ t immediately clear if Khanna had an attorney who could @ @ @ @ @

A suspected drunk driver crashed an SUV in San Jose, killing four passengers, authorities said Thursday.
The 2005 Dodge Durango was speeding when the driver lost control and crashed on State Route 85 late Wednesday night, according to the California Highway Patrol.
The SUV rolled over several times.
A 25-year-old man and two 26-year-old men died at the scene and a 25-year-old woman died at the hospital, according to the CHP.
Advertisement
A 24-year-old man was hospitalized but his injuries weren’t considered life-threatening, authorities said.
“Two individuals were ejected out of this vehicle. It hasn’t been determined if a seat belt was worn, or worn correctly,” CHP Officer Mike Sakamoto told KPIX-TV.
Rabbi Kumar Khanna, 26, of San Jose was booked on suspicion of driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol, according to the CHP.
He could face charges of vehicular manslaughter.
It wasn’t immediately clear if Khanna had an attorney who could speak on his behalf.


latimes--2020-05-14--Coronavirus threatened their spring musical. But theater students say the show must go on

Adam Castrillon was sitting in an Orange County School of the Arts classroom in mid-March , listening to morning announcements , when he heard the news that upended the rest of his school year .
All spring performances were being canceled amid the coronavirus outbreak .
Castrillon ’ s heart sank .
For months , the senior had been looking forward to the final performance of his high school career at the arts-focused charter school in Santa Ana .
Soon after , OCSA students would learn that all classes and other in-person gatherings would be nixed as well .
Theater @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dance recitals have been canceled across the country , leaving disappointed students and faculty alike .
Yet at an arts school , performances aren ’ t an extracurricular activity — they are at the heart of these young artists ’ specialized education .
The prospect of canceling the spring musical , for Castrillon and others , stung more than missing out on prom or graduation .
“ I walked around with a cloud over my head for pretty much the rest of the day , ” the 18-year-old Mission Viejo resident said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ wasn ’ t ready to give up .
He envisioned a different kind of musical , one that wouldn ’ t need a stage and could allow performers to record their own vocals at home and film themselves with their own wardrobes and props .
Enter the new world of high school Zoomsicle and OCSA ’ s production of “ Now .
Here .
This.
” The original off-Broadway musical that was recently re-imagined for high school and college performers was re-imagined again by Barnhardt and 20 OCSA students .
The show — @ @ @ @ @ @ @ entirely online — debuts Thursday evening on YouTube .
The production will be available through Sunday .
“ This was about progress , not perfection , ” Barnhardt said .
“ It was about finding a way through this difficult moment .
We had to grieve that we couldn ’ t do this show the way we wanted .
We had to grieve that we didn ’ t get this finish line for the 11 graduating seniors , but there was also an opportunity to take pause and find a way through.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Jeff Bowen , “ Now .
Here .
This.
” originally debuted at the Vineyard Theatre in New York in 2012 .
Told over a series of short musical scenes and based on the adolescent experiences of the three original creators , the show delves into questions and emotions that most teens grapple with .
In OCSA ’ s performance , the themes of longing for attention , wishing for something more out of life and struggling with self-acceptance play out in a series of vignettes performed by the cast members over @ @ @ @ @ @ @ weeks into rehearsals at school when the pandemic hit .
Blackwell , one of the original writers , had arranged to fly from her home in upstate New York to Orange County to work with the group in adapting the musical , but stay-at-home orders thwarted that plan so they carried on with their lessons via Zoom .
A week later , the first virtual meeting included cast members ’ reading of the script .
It was glitchy and far from perfect , but the raw talent of the performers floored Blackwell , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s disappointment was palpable on the video chat .
Blackwell urged them to imagine what each scene would look like as a music video or film and to brainstorm some ideas .
She encouraged them not to give up .
“ I don ’ t care how they see you .
I want people to see your work .
I want people to see you .
I believe in you so much , ” she told them on the call .
At first , they didn ’ t know where to start @ @ @ @ @ @ @ before .
After getting the green light from the show ’ s licensing house , Concord Theatricals , and school administrators , the group began working on one virtual number .
“ One became two , ” Blackwell said .
“ Two became three , then four and it grew from there .
The students were into it .
The students ’ parents were into it .
They were seeing their kids energized in a way that they hadn ’ t seen in any other context during the quarantine.
” Some scenes were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , others were captured on Zoom and some even incorporated effects from social media platforms like TikTok .
Junior Rebeka Hoblik ended up pulling her sister , brother and parents into her number , “ Give Me Your Attention.
” The catchy , comical song follows three girls in their quest to get attention from their parents .
Hoblik plays a girl trying to get her family to notice her by singing a song in the living room after Christmas dinner .
“ Her dad stops it because it ’ s a very @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hear it , ” Hoblik said .
`` [ The girl ] talks about how she has this insatiable need for attention and doesn ’ t really understand even why she feels that way — which is very relatable , I think , to a lot of people.
” The 17-year-old from Anaheim spent three hours in her father ’ s small walk-in closet recording vocals for the piece , hoping that the clothes hanging inside would absorb some of the sound to improve the quality , a process she described as “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ online scene , Hoblik got her mom to help transform her into an ‘ 80s teen with a Madonna-inspired hairstyle .
The process , though starkly different from traditional stage prep , gave her a new appreciation for letting go of expectations .
“ Most of the time performing , you can ’ t see yourself , but when you ’ re in front of a camera , it ’ s right there in your face .
It ’ s so easy to be judgmental of yourself and feel inadequate , ” she @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to get footage I could be proud of and be OK with watching .
I had to learn to accept what I had done and accept the work I had done and just let go.
” Castrillon , who has performed in four main-stage productions over the past three years , was initially skeptical about how the group could pull off an online-only production .
But he said he ’ s since realized it doesn ’ t take a live audience to make a performance .
“ The show will go on , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s possible to still be creative and expressive and invite people to share your art even if it ’ s from your bedroom.
” Ultimately , Barnhardt said the video performance captures an essential lesson from the coronavirus quarantine : Sometimes life doesn ’ t go as planned — and sometimes what happens instead is even better .
“ If we ’ re just looking at the creative project and process , there ’ s almost something cooler in what we ’ ve accomplished .
They ’ ll have this video diary of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” he said .
“ There are these little silver linings and really cool moments throughout this dark time that we can look back on and be grateful to have .
”

Musical theater students at the Orange County School of the Arts take their spring musical “Now. Here. This.” online amid the coronavirus outbreak.
Adam Castrillon was sitting in an Orange County School of the Arts classroom in mid-March, listening to morning announcements, when he heard the news that upended the rest of his school year.
All spring performances were being canceled amid the coronavirus outbreak.
Castrillon’s heart sank. For months, the senior had been looking forward to the final performance of his high school career at the arts-focused charter school in Santa Ana.
Advertisement
Soon after, OCSA students would learn that all classes and other in-person gatherings would be nixed as well.
Theater productions, concerts, art exhibitions and dance recitals have been canceled across the country, leaving disappointed students and faculty alike. Yet at an arts school, performances aren’t an extracurricular activity — they are at the heart of these young artists’ specialized education. The prospect of canceling the spring musical, for Castrillon and others, stung more than missing out on prom or graduation.
“I walked around with a cloud over my head for pretty much the rest of the day,” the 18-year-old Mission Viejo resident said.
But OCSA musical theater instructor Scott Barnhardt wasn’t ready to give up. He envisioned a different kind of musical, one that wouldn’t need a stage and could allow performers to record their own vocals at home and film themselves with their own wardrobes and props.
Enter the new world of high school Zoomsicle and OCSA’s production of “Now. Here. This.”
The original off-Broadway musical that was recently re-imagined for high school and college performers was re-imagined again by Barnhardt and 20 OCSA students. The show — two months in the making and performed entirely online — debuts Thursday evening on YouTube. The production will be available through Sunday.
Advertisement
“This was about progress, not perfection,” Barnhardt said. “It was about finding a way through this difficult moment. We had to grieve that we couldn’t do this show the way we wanted. We had to grieve that we didn’t get this finish line for the 11 graduating seniors, but there was also an opportunity to take pause and find a way through.”
Based on a collaboration by Hunter Bell, Michael Berresse, Susan Blackwell, Heidi Blickenstaff, Jeff Bowen and Larry Pressgrove, “Now. Here. This.” originally debuted at the Vineyard Theatre in New York in 2012. Told over a series of short musical scenes and based on the experiences of the original creators, the show delves into questions and emotions that most teens grapple with.
In OCSA’s performance, the themes of longing for attention, wishing for something more out of life and struggling with self-acceptance play out in a series of vignettes performed by the cast members over roughly 90 minutes.
The students were weeks into rehearsals at school when the pandemic hit. Blackwell, one of the original writers, had arranged to fly from her home in upstate New York to Orange County to work with the group in adapting the musical, but stay-at-home orders thwarted that plan so they carried on with their lessons via Zoom.
A week later, the first virtual meeting included cast members’ reading of the script. It was glitchy and far from perfect, but the raw talent of the performers floored Blackwell, she said.
Still, the student’s disappointment was palpable on the video chat. Blackwell urged them to imagine what each scene would look like as a music video or film and to brainstorm some ideas. She encouraged them not to give up.
“I don’t care how they see you. I want people to see your work. I want people to see you. I believe in you so much,” she told them on the call.
At first, they didn’t know where to start. It hadn’t been done before. After getting the green light from the show’s licensing house, Concord Theatricals, and school administrators, the group began working on one virtual number.
“One became two,” Blackwell said. “Two became three, then four and it grew from there. The students were into it. The students’ parents were into it. They were seeing their kids energized in a way that they hadn’t seen in any other context during the quarantine.”
Some scenes were recorded by parents or siblings on cellphones, others were captured on Zoom and some even incorporated effects from social media platforms like TikTok.
Junior Rebeka Hoblik ended up pulling her sister, brother and parents into her number, “Give Me Your Attention.” The catchy, comical song follows three girls in their quest to get attention from their parents. Hoblik plays a girl trying to get her family to notice her by singing a song in the living room after Christmas dinner.
“Her dad stops it because it’s a very annoying song and nobody really wants to hear it,” Hoblik said. “[The girl] talks about how she has this insatiable need for attention and doesn’t really understand even why she feels that way — which is very relatable, I think, to a lot of people.”
The 17-year-old from Anaheim spent three hours in her father’s small walk-in closet recording vocals for the piece, hoping that the clothes hanging inside would absorb some of the sound to improve the quality, a process she described as “painstaking” but fulfilling.
In another online scene, Hoblik got her mom to help transform her into an ‘80s teen with a Madonna-inspired hairstyle. The process, though starkly different from traditional stage prep, gave her a new appreciation for letting go of expectations.
“Most of the time performing, you can’t see yourself, but when you’re in front of a camera, it’s right there in your face. It’s so easy to be judgmental of yourself and feel inadequate,” she said. “It was difficult trying to get footage I could be proud of and be OK with watching. I had to learn to accept what I had done and accept the work I had done and just let go.”
Castrillon, who has performed in four main-stage productions over the past three years, was initially skeptical about how the group could pull off an online-only production. But he said he’s since realized it doesn’t take a live audience to make a performance.
“The show will go on,” he said. “It’s possible to still be creative and expressive and invite people to share your art even if it’s from your bedroom.”
Ultimately, Barnhardt said the video performance captures an essential lesson from the coronavirus quarantine: Sometimes life doesn’t go as planned — and sometimes what happens instead is even better.
“If we’re just looking at the creative project and process, there’s almost something cooler in what we’ve accomplished. They’ll have this video diary of quarantine that actually has a positive spin,” he said. “There are these little silver linings and really cool moments throughout this dark time that we can look back on and be grateful to have.”


latimes--2020-05-15--Sheriff watchdog seeking subpoena for documents in alleged Kobe Bryant crash photo cover-up

Los Angeles County ’ s chief law enforcement watchdog is seeking to subpoena documents related to allegations that Sheriff Alex Villanueva directed a cover-up after deputies shared graphic photos of the helicopter crash that killed Kobe Bryant , his daughter and seven others .
“ The documents are relevant to a pending inquiry into allegations that the Sheriff directed the destruction of evidence and suppressed an administrative investigation to avoid negative publicity , ” Inspector General Max Huntsman said in a letter this week to the chair of the Sheriff Civilian Oversight Commission .
Huntsman said Villanueva had declined to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ subpoena item be placed on the agenda for the commission ’ s May 21 meeting .
Villanueva could not be reached for comment Friday .
The request came less than a week after Vanessa Bryant filed a claim against the Sheriff ’ s Department alleging that it failed to “ adequately investigate the extent of the deputies misconduct.
” The Los Angeles Times that deputies shared photos taken at the scene of the Jan. 26 crash near Calabasas after someone filed a written complaint to the Sheriff ’ s Department .
The complaint @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , said that a young deputy was displaying gruesome crash scene photos at the Baja California Bar & Grill in Norwalk .
For weeks , the leadership of the Sheriff ’ s Department tried to keep a instead of following normal investigative protocols — even after determining that several more deputies had obtained photos .
After it was reported publicly , Villanueva acknowledged that he to delete the photos , a move that some inside the department as well as legal experts said could amount to destruction of evidence .
He said he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Office of the Inspector General to monitor .
Last month , the office requested a list of documents and information , including the identity of any personnel who displayed or saw the photographs as well as those involved in deciding how the matter would be handled .
It also sought information about the cellphones with which the photos were taken , stored or displayed , and the call and text history for all cellphones of employees on the scene .
Villanueva responded in a letter that his investigators “ will maintain full @ @ @ @ @ @ @ discovered until completion.
” He added that the inspector general ’ s office would continue to get weekly updates until the investigation was complete .
Villanueva said earlier this week that the internal affairs investigation was “ getting near its conclusion ” and would be released publicly .
He did not answer questions about how many deputies are under investigation , for what policy violations and what discipline those violations carry .
Huntsman said in his subpoena request that county attorneys need reliable information about Villanueva ’ s conduct to appropriately respond to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the claim , Villanueva “ personally assured ” Vanessa Bryant that deputies were securing the crash site to ensure her privacy .
“ In reality , however , no fewer than eight sheriff ’ s deputies were at the scene snapping cellphone photos of the dead children , parents and coaches , ” said the claim , which is a precursor to a lawsuit .
“ As the department would later admit , there was no investigative purpose for deputies to take pictures at the crash site .
Rather , the deputies @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” The claim also states the department ’ s response to the scandal has been “ grossly insufficient.
” “ Mrs .
Bryant was distressed to learn that the department did not initiate a formal investigation until after the L.A. Times broke the story , ” it said .
The document said five deputies and three trainees or reserve deputies took or shared photos of the scene .
The claim alleges that the deputies who took and shared the photos are liable for negligence , intentional infliction of emotional distress and invasion of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who perished in the crash were ; Christina Mauser ; Payton and Sarah Chester ; John , Keri and Alyssa Altobelli and pilot Ara Zobayan .
Coroner ’ s officials Friday said each died of blunt trauma resulting from an accident .

The chief watchdog for the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department is seeking a subpoena for documents related to deputies sharing graphic photos of the helicopter crash that killed Kobe Bryant, his daughter and seven others.
Los Angeles County’s chief law enforcement watchdog is seeking to subpoena documents related to allegations that Sheriff Alex Villanueva directed a cover-up after deputies shared graphic photos of the helicopter crash that killed Kobe Bryant, his daughter and seven others.
“The documents are relevant to a pending inquiry into allegations that the Sheriff directed the destruction of evidence and suppressed an administrative investigation to avoid negative publicity,” Inspector General Max Huntsman said in a letter this week to the chair of the Sheriff Civilian Oversight Commission.
Huntsman said Villanueva had declined to provide the records and requested that the subpoena item be placed on the agenda for the commission’s May 21 meeting.
Advertisement
Villanueva had already launched an internal investigation into the photo sharing incident. On Friday he said, “monitoring does not give license to interfere or obstruct the investigation. The OIG will receive what they are lawfully entitled to once the investigation is concluded.”
Huntsman’s request came less than a week after Vanessa Bryant filed a claim against the Sheriff’s Department alleging that it failed to “adequately investigate the extent of the deputies misconduct.”
The Los Angeles Times first reported that deputies shared photos taken at the scene of the Jan. 26 crash near Calabasas after someone filed a written complaint to the Sheriff’s Department.
California Blunt force trauma listed as cause of death for Kobe Bryant, others in helicopter crash The Los Angeles County coroner autopsy report says blunt force trauma was cause of death in the crash that killed Kobe Bryant. No illegal substances or alcohol were found in the bloodstream of pilot Ara Zobayan.
The complaint, filed three days after the crash, said that a young deputy was displaying gruesome crash scene photos at the Baja California Bar & Grill in Norwalk.
For weeks, the leadership of the Sheriff’s Department tried to keep a lid on the episode instead of following normal investigative protocols — even after determining that several more deputies had obtained photos.
After it was reported publicly, Villanueva acknowledged that he ordered the deputies to delete the photos, a move that some inside the department as well as legal experts said could amount to destruction of evidence. He said he launched an investigation, which he asked the Office of the Inspector General to monitor.
Advertisement
Last month, the office requested a list of documents and information, including the identity of any personnel who displayed or saw the photographs as well as those involved in deciding how the matter would be handled. It also sought information about the cellphones with which the photos were taken, stored or displayed, and the call and text history for all cellphones of employees on the scene.
Villanueva responded in a letter that his investigators “will maintain full control of the investigation and all information discovered until completion.” He added that the inspector general’s office would continue to get weekly updates until the investigation was complete.
Villanueva said earlier this week that the internal affairs investigation was “getting near its conclusion” and would be released publicly. He did not answer questions about how many deputies are under investigation, for what policy violations and what discipline those violations carry.
California Vanessa Bryant files claim against L.A. County sheriff over Kobe Bryant crash site photos Vanessa Bryant has filed a claim against the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department over deputies sharing “unauthorized” photos of the scene of the helicopter crash that killed her husband, Kobe Bryant, their daughter and seven others.
Huntsman said in his subpoena request that county attorneys need reliable information about Villanueva’s conduct to appropriately respond to Vanessa Bryant’s claim.
According to the claim, Villanueva “personally assured” Vanessa Bryant that deputies were securing the crash site to ensure her privacy.
“In reality, however, no fewer than eight sheriff’s deputies were at the scene snapping cellphone photos of the dead children, parents and coaches,” said the claim, which is a precursor to a lawsuit. “As the department would later admit, there was no investigative purpose for deputies to take pictures at the crash site. Rather, the deputies took photos for their own personal purposes.”
The claim also states the department’s response to the scandal has been “grossly insufficient.”
“Mrs. Bryant was distressed to learn that the department did not initiate a formal investigation until after the L.A. Times broke the story,” it said. The document said five deputies and three trainees or reserve deputies took or shared photos of the scene.
The claim alleges that the deputies who took and shared the photos are liable for negligence, intentional infliction of emotional distress and invasion of her right to privacy.
The others who perished in the crash were Bryant’s 13-year-old daughter, Gianna ; Christina Mauser; Payton and Sarah Chester; John, Keri and Alyssa Altobelli and pilot Ara Zobayan.
Coroner’s officials Friday said each died of blunt trauma resulting from an accident.


latimes--2020-05-15--Man killed by LAPD officers had threatened sister, shot a door, police say

A man killed Thursday by Los Angeles police in the Harbor Gateway area had fired a bullet into a door in his family ’ s home and threatened his sister before officers arrived , according to the Los Angeles Police Department .
The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner-Coroner identified the man Thursday as Anthony Ysaac , 26 , and found he died from multiple gunshot wounds .
According to police , officers responded to the 700 block of W. 123rd Street shortly before 1 p.m. after a caller reported gunfire .
The caller ’ s neighbor , police said , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gun and was attempting to kill her daughter.
” Officers managed to reach Ysaac on the phone and “ learned that he was armed with a gun and had fired a round into a door inside the residence , ” police said .
“ In addition , the suspect was refusing to allow his sister to exit the location.
” Officers fatally shot Ysaac after he exited the home with a revolver , police said .
He was pronounced dead at the scene .
No officers were injured .
As is standard in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ now under investigation by the police department ’ s Force Investigation Division , with monitoring by prosecutors and the police inspector general .
Findings of the investigation will be reviewed by Police Chief Michel Moore and the Police Commission , a civilian panel that oversees the department .
The incident occurred two days after the department released a major report on the use of force by officers in 2019 , which saw the fewest police shootings in 30 years .
There were 12 fatal shootings by police last year .
Thursday ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ officers this year and the third in the last month .
Officers fatally shot two men in two separate incidents last month in South Central : one who police alleged pulled out a gun after an attempted traffic stop and another who they alleged pulled out an “ edged weapon .
”

Los Angeles police officers shot and wounded a woman after they allegedly found her stabbing another person to death.
A man killed Thursday by Los Angeles police in the Harbor Gateway area had fired a bullet into a door in his family’s home and threatened his sister before officers arrived, according to the Los Angeles Police Department.
The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner-Coroner identified the man Thursday as Anthony Ysaac, 26, and found he died from multiple gunshot wounds.
According to police, officers responded to the 700 block of W. 123rd Street shortly before 1 p.m. after a caller reported gunfire. The caller’s neighbor, police said, had “stated her son had a gun and was attempting to kill her daughter.”
Advertisement
Officers managed to reach Ysaac on the phone and “learned that he was armed with a gun and had fired a round into a door inside the residence,” police said.
“In addition, the suspect was refusing to allow his sister to exit the location.”
Officers fatally shot Ysaac after he exited the home with a revolver, police said. He was pronounced dead at the scene. No officers were injured.
As is standard in fatal police shootings, the incident is now under investigation by the police department’s Force Investigation Division, with monitoring by prosecutors and the police inspector general. Findings of the investigation will be reviewed by Police Chief Michel Moore and the Police Commission, a civilian panel that oversees the department.
The incident occurred two days after the department released a major report on the use of force by officers in 2019, which saw the fewest police shootings in 30 years. There were 12 fatal shootings by police last year.
Thursday’s fatal shooting was the fourth involving LAPD officers this year and the third in the last month.
Advertisement
Officers fatally shot two men in two separate incidents last month in South Central: one who police alleged pulled out a gun after an attempted traffic stop and another who they alleged pulled out an “edged weapon.”


latimes--2020-05-15--Earthquake: 3.2 quake reported near Susanville, Calif.

A magnitude 3.2 earthquake was reported Friday at 2:47 p.m. , 30 miles from Susanville , Calif. , according to the U.S. Geological Survey .
The earthquake occurred 38 miles from Magalia , 38 miles from Paradise , 44 miles from Oroville and 45 miles from Chico .
In the last 10 days , there have been no earthquakes of magnitude 3.0 or greater centered nearby .
An average of 234 earthquakes with magnitudes between 3.0 and 4.0 occur per year in California and Nevada , according to a recent three year data sample .
The earthquake occurred at a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ earthquake ?
Consider reporting what you felt to the USGS .
Even if you didn ’ t feel this small earthquake , you never know when the Big One is going to strike .
Ready yourself by following our five-step earthquake preparedness guide and building your own emergency kit .
This story was automatically generated by Quakebot , a computer application that monitors the latest earthquakes detected by the USGS .
A Times editor reviewed the post before it was published .
If you ’ re interested in learning more about the system @ @ @ @ @ @ @ questions .

A magnitude 3.2 earthquake was reported Friday at 2:47 p.m., 30 miles from Susanville, Calif., according to the U.S. Geological Survey.
The earthquake occurred 38 miles from Magalia, 38 miles from Paradise, 44 miles from Oroville and 45 miles from Chico.
In the last 10 days, there have been no earthquakes of magnitude 3.0 or greater centered nearby.
Advertisement
An average of 234 earthquakes with magnitudes between 3.0 and 4.0 occur per year in California and Nevada, according to a recent three year data sample.
The earthquake occurred at a shallow depth. Did you feel this earthquake? Consider reporting what you felt to the USGS.
Even if you didn’t feel this small earthquake, you never know when the Big One is going to strike. Ready yourself by following our five-step earthquake preparedness guide and building your own emergency kit.
This story was automatically generated by Quakebot, a computer application that monitors the latest earthquakes detected by the USGS. A Times editor reviewed the post before it was published. If you’re interested in learning more about the system, visit our list of frequently asked questions.


latimes--2020-05-15--Orange County's coronavirus spike continues as case count passes 4,000

Orange County ’ s recent coronavirus spike continued Friday as health officials reported 158 new infections and four additional fatalities — raising the total number of cases to 4,125 and the death toll to 84 .
The latest update continued a multiday trend that has seen the county ’ s caseload grow significantly , even as officials move forward with lifting coronavirus-related restrictions and allowing more businesses to reopen .
For three consecutive days , the county has reported at least 156 new COVID-19 cases .
It had previously hit that number only once since the outbreak began , according @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Since Wednesday , the county has confirmed 543 new cases — including a single-day high of 229 on Thursday .
The cases added in just the past three days account for roughly 13.2 % of the county ’ s cumulative count of 4,125 .
Officials have cited several possible explanations for the sudden rise in cases .
One reason , officials say , is that more people are becoming infected in nursing homes and jails , settings that allow rapid spread .
“ Most is due to a volume of cases identified @ @ @ @ @ @ @ past two weeks , ” county Health Care Agency Director Clayton Chau said about the recent surge .
“ The congregate care population accounts for a fair proportion.
” Of those who have tested positive for COVID-19 , 430 have been residents of skilled nursing facilities and 335 have been Orange County jail inmates .
Nursing home residents also account for one-fourth of the county ’ s coronavirus-linked fatalities .
No deaths have been reported among jail inmates so far .
“ The infection rate within those congregate living environments has hit Orange @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to some of our large urban peers , but it is here now in Orange County and we have to step up the amount of testing and protocols for cleaning , ” said County Executive Officer Frank Kim .
Those populations also account for many of those who are hospitalized with COVID-19 , officials said .
As of the latest update , 212 people were hospitalized countywide , including 78 who were in intensive care .
Both those numbers were down from the prior two days .
Officials say another factor is testing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the more cases you will uncover .
However , although Orange County dramatically ramped up its testing efforts starting in late April , the past few days have seen fewer test results reported than during the same time last week , according to available data .
Still , County Health Officer Dr. Nichole Quick said Monday that the percentage of people who test positive “ has remained relatively stable and , overall , has been decreasing , which is good .
”

Beachgoers relax by the water in Huntington Beach on Monday.
Orange County’s recent coronavirus spike continued Friday as health officials reported 158 new infections and four additional fatalities — raising the total number of cases to 4,125 and the death toll to 84.
The latest update continued a multiday trend that has seen the county’s caseload grow significantly, even as officials move forward with lifting coronavirus-related restrictions and allowing more businesses to reopen.
For three consecutive days, the county has reported at least 156 new COVID-19 cases. It had previously hit that number only once since the outbreak began, according to the Orange County Health Care Agency.
Advertisement
Since Wednesday, the county has confirmed 543 new cases — including a single-day high of 229 on Thursday.
The cases added in just the past three days account for roughly 13.2% of the county’s cumulative count of 4,125.
Officials have cited several possible explanations for the sudden rise in cases.
One reason, officials say, is that more people are becoming infected in nursing homes and jails, settings that allow rapid spread.
“Most is due to a volume of cases identified in nursing homes and jails in the past two weeks,” county Health Care Agency Director Clayton Chau said about the recent surge. “The congregate care population accounts for a fair proportion.”
Advertisement
Of those who have tested positive for COVID-19, 430 have been residents of skilled nursing facilities and 335 have been Orange County jail inmates.
Nursing home residents also account for one-fourth of the county’s coronavirus-linked fatalities. No deaths have been reported among jail inmates so far.
“The infection rate within those congregate living environments has hit Orange County in a delayed manner, compared to some of our large urban peers, but it is here now in Orange County and we have to step up the amount of testing and protocols for cleaning,” said County Executive Officer Frank Kim.
Those populations also account for many of those who are hospitalized with COVID-19, officials said.
As of the latest update, 212 people were hospitalized countywide, including 78 who were in intensive care. Both those numbers were down from the prior two days.
Officials say another factor is testing. Logically, the more you screen, the more cases you will uncover.
Tracking coronavirus in Orange County The latest maps and charts on the spread of COVID-19 in Orange County, including cases, deaths, closures and restrictions.
However, although Orange County dramatically ramped up its testing efforts starting in late April, the past few days have seen fewer test results reported than during the same time last week, according to available data.
Still, County Health Officer Dr. Nichole Quick said Monday that the percentage of people who test positive “has remained relatively stable and, overall, has been decreasing, which is good.”
Times staff writer Colleen Shalby contributed to this report.


latimes--2020-05-15--L.A. Council president calls for Huizar, a focus of FBI probe, to stop attending meetings

Los Angeles City Council President Nury Martinez has called on Councilman Jose Huizar to stop attending council meetings or casting votes until there is “ legal clarity ” on the federal probe into corruption at City Hall , one of her aides said Friday .
Martinez chief of staff Ackley Padilla said the councilwoman made the request in a letter to Huizar .
The Times requested a copy of that document , but her office did not immediately release it .
Huizar responded with a statement saying that he would “ respect the council president ’ s wishes that I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to meet the needs of my district.
” Huizar did not explain how he would limit his participation , saying through a spokeswoman that the details were still being worked out .
In his statement , Huizar said he did not want to be a “ distraction ” to the council ’ s work and intends to continue carrying out his duties to “ protect the safety and economic well being of the residents of Los Angeles ” during the COVID-19 crisis .
Huizar , who has been representing an Eastside district since @ @ @ @ @ @ @ publicly charged with a crime .
But federal prosecutors have made clear that he is the unnamed L.A. City Council member enmeshed in the pay-to-play probe , providing biographical information in their court filings that applies only to Huizar .
Another council member went further than Martinez : In a statement Friday , Councilman Bob Blumenfield said that from what he had read in federal court filings and news reports , Huizar “ should no longer hold a seat on our city council.
” “ My blood boils as I learn more details @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Blumenfield said .
“ This is the absolute antithesis of what public service is all about.
” The push for Huizar to skip meetings or step down entirely comes after a drumbeat of revelations in the federal probe .
Real estate consultant George Chiang agreed this week to plead guilty to participating in a criminal scheme in which Chinese real estate developers allegedly bribed a council member in exchange for help on a hotel-and-residential project .
In March , real estate appraiser Justin Jangwoo Kim admitted to helping arrange a $ 500,000 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ smooth the way for another development project .
In both cases , key details in the federal filings point to Huizar , whose attorneys have repeatedly declined to comment .
Huizar had long been known to be under federal investigation — FBI agents raided his home and offices in 2018 — but the filings shed new light on the allegations involved in the case .
The councilman was stripped of many committee assignments shortly after the raids , including the powerful panel that vets real estate developments but has continued to attend council @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Monica Alcaraz , a community activist who lives in Highland Park , said Martinez should not have demanded that Huizar stop participating in council meetings , since he has not been charged or given the opportunity to tell his side of the story .
Residents in Huizar ’ s Eastside district need him to continue casting votes on such issues as homelessness , evictions and protections for vulnerable renters , Alcaraz said .
“ To not have somebody representing our needs is not acceptable , ” she added .
Gerren Kelsaw , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ DTLA Strong , said it makes sense for Huizar to stop going to council meetings , considering the allegations of “ brazen ” misconduct in the court documents — and that he should also resign .
Although Huizar should have the opportunity to fight the allegations , “ it ’ s clear that he can not function for the downtown neighborhood in the way we need him to , ” said Kelsaw , who said he was speaking for himself and not his organization .
“ Are we going to have a dearth @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to hang onto the job ?
” Kelsaw asked .
Huizar is scheduled to step down at the end of the year due to term limits .
Former State Sen. Kevin de Leon has already won the election to replace him but is not set to be sworn in until December .
The City Charter , which serves as the governing document for Los Angeles City Hall , allows a council member to be suspended if they are pending criminal trial for “ violation of official duties.
” The council can also publicly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the charter , the council can pass a resolution of “ censure ” with respect to any council member “ whose actions constitute a gross failure to meet such high standards , even if the action does not constitute a ground for removal for office under the charter.
” Asked whether Huizar should step down or take a leave of absence in light of the recent Department of Justice filings , City Atty .
Mike Feuer , who is running for Los Angeles mayor , said Friday that if any council member is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ do would be to step down.
” The city attorney ’ s office was raided by FBI agents last summer as part of a separate investigation involving the Department of Water and Power .
No one has been publicly charged in that investigation .
A failure to attend council meetings could become a legal issue .
Under the charter , an elected office can become vacant when the incumbent “ has ceased to discharge the duties of the office for 90 consecutive days , except when prevented by illness , injury , or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ state that members shall attend regular and special meetings unless they are sick or they have been granted a leave of absence .

Emily Alpert Reyes, David Zahniser, Dakota Smith

L.A. City Council President Nury Martinez has asked Councilman Jose Huizar, shown, to stop attending council meetings until there is “legal clarity” on the federal corruption investigation at City Hall.
Days after federal prosecutors described a Los Angeles City Council member as the ringleader of a “criminal enterprise,” a chorus of public officials called on Councilman Jose Huizar to resign.
“Whatever ends up happening to Jose Huizar on the legal front, it is blatantly obvious he has compromised his ability to represent his district and should step down immediately,” Councilman Joe Buscaino said Friday.
Huizar, who has been representing an Eastside district since 2005, has not been arrested or publicly charged with a crime. But federal prosecutors have made clear that he is the unnamed L.A. City Council member embroiled in their ongoing corruption probe of City Hall, providing biographical information in their court filings that matches Huizar.
Advertisement
Buscaino was joined in his calls Friday by City Controller Ron Galperin and Councilmen Paul Krekorian, David Ryu and Bob Blumenfield. Said Blumenfield: “My blood boils as I learn more details about this horrific tale of corruption.”
As of Friday afternoon, Council President Nury Martinez had stopped short of asking Huizar to resign but instead asked the councilman to stop attending council meetings and casting votes until there is “legal clarity” on the federal probe, according to her chief of staff, Ackley Padilla. Mayor Eric Garcetti later said he supported Martinez’s request.
Huizar responded Friday with a statement that he would “respect the council president’s wishes that I limit my participation in council while working to meet the needs of my district” but did not explain how he would do so, saying through a spokeswoman that the details were still being worked out.
Huizar said he didn’t want to be a “distraction” to the council’s work but intends to continue carrying out his duties to “protect the safety and economic well-being of the residents of Los Angeles” during the COVID-19 crisis.
The push for Huizar to skip meetings or step down entirely comes after a drumbeat of new revelations in the federal probe. Real estate consultant George Chiang agreed this week to plead guilty to participating in a criminal scheme in which Chinese real estate developers allegedly bribed a council member in exchange for help on a hotel-and-residential project. The plea deal described the unnamed council member as the leader of a broader “criminal enterprise.”
Advertisement
In March, real estate appraiser Justin Jangwoo Kim admitted to helping arrange a $500,000 bribe intended for a council member to smooth the way for another development project. In both cases, key details in the federal filings point to Huizar, whose attorneys have repeatedly declined to comment.
Huizar had long been known to be under federal investigation — FBI agents raided his home and offices in 2018 — but the filings revealed new details about the allegations involved in the case.
The councilman was stripped of many committee assignments shortly after the raids, including the powerful panel that vets real estate developments, but has continued to attend council meetings, draft proposals and cast votes.
Until recently, council members had remained largely silent about the ongoing investigation. Some federal probes involving city officials — including an investigation involving donors to Martinez — have not resulted in charges in the past, making some reluctant to jump to conclusions based merely on the existence of an investigation.
But the specific allegations now laid out by federal prosecutors, along with public disgust at the claims, appear to have shifted the calculus for some council members. Blumenfield said the latest filings were the catalyst for him, adding that it was a “big problem” for the public to be left questioning the integrity of council decisions as the city faces a crisis.
Krekorian said in a statement that although he recognized that no criminal charges had been filed against Huizar, it was clear that he was the councilman referenced in the federal filings, and therefore, Angelenos “can no longer have confidence that council member Huizar is representing their interests fairly and honestly, and with his full attention.”
Some residents balked at the push for Huizar to pull back from the council.
Monica Alcaraz, a community activist who lives in Highland Park, said Martinez should not have demanded that Huizar stop participating in council meetings, since he has not been charged or given the opportunity to tell his side of the story.
Residents in Huizar’s Eastside district need him to continue casting votes on such issues as homelessness, evictions and protections for vulnerable renters, Alcaraz said.
“To not have somebody representing our needs is not acceptable,” she added.
But Gerren Kelsaw, a founder of the downtown advocacy group DTLA Strong, said that considering the allegations of “brazen” misconduct in the court documents, Huizar should not only stop going to council meetings but should resign.
Although Huizar should have the opportunity to fight the allegations, “it’s clear that he cannot function for the downtown neighborhood in the way we need him to,” said Kelsaw, who said he was speaking for himself and not his organization. “Are we going to have a dearth of leadership right now because he wants to hang onto the job?”
Huizar is scheduled to step down at the end of the year due to term limits. Former State Sen. Kevin de Leon has already won the election to replace him but is not set to be sworn in until December.
The City Charter, which serves as the governing document for Los Angeles City Hall, allows a council member to be suspended if they are pending criminal trial for “violation of official duties.”
The council can also publicly rebuke one of its members. Under the charter, the council can pass a resolution of “censure” with respect to any council member “whose actions constitute a gross failure to meet such high standards, even if the action does not constitute a ground for removal from office under the charter.”
Asked whether Huizar should step down or take a leave of absence in light of the recent Department of Justice filings, City Atty. Mike Feuer, who is running for Los Angeles mayor, said Friday that if any council member is indicted, “the right thing to do would be to step down.”
The city attorney’s office was raided by FBI agents last summer as part of a separate investigation involving the Department of Water and Power. No one has been publicly charged in that investigation.
A failure to attend council meetings could become a legal issue. Under the charter, an elected office can become vacant when the incumbent “has ceased to discharge the duties of the office for 90 consecutive days, except when prevented by illness, injury or other reasonable cause.”
Council rules also state that members shall attend regular and special meetings unless they are sick or have been granted a leave of absence.


latimes--2020-05-15--Orange County coronavirus cases: Here are the latest numbers by community

Orange County health officials announced 158 new coronavirus infections Friday , boosting the region ’ s cumulative count to 4,125 @ @ @ @ @ a recent spike of confirmed coronavirus activity in the county .
On each of the @ @ @ @ @ county has added at least 156 new cases to its total — a number it @ @ @ @ @ since the outbreak began , according to the Orange County Health Care Agency .
The @ @ @ @ @ coronavirus-linked deaths Friday , bringing its total death toll to 84 .
Countywide , 212 @ @ @ @ @ the latest update , including 78 who were in intensive care .
Note : The @ @ @ @ @ unincorporated areas , as well as cases in the county ’ s jails .
Daily @ @ @ @ @ to change as the county receives new information .

People relax on the sand in Huntington Beach on Monday, despite the state’s active-use-only allowance. The city of Huntington Beach is still pursuing a lawsuit against the state to reopen the beach to all forms of activities.
Orange County health officials announced 158 new coronavirus infections Friday, boosting the region’s cumulative count to 4,125.
The latest update continues a recent spike of confirmed coronavirus activity in the county. On each of the last three days, the county has added at least 156 new cases to its total — a number it had previously hit only once since the outbreak began, according to the Orange County Health Care Agency.
The agency also confirmed four more coronavirus-linked deaths Friday, bringing its total death toll to 84.
Advertisement
Countywide, 212 people were hospitalized as of the latest update, including 78 who were in intensive care.
Age breakdown of cases:
0-17 — 128
18-24 — 412
25-34 — 744
35-44 — 614
45-54 — 713
55-64 — 654
65-74 — 412
75-84 — 267
85+ — 180
Unknown — 1
Tracking coronavirus in Orange County The latest maps and charts on the spread of COVID-19 in Orange County, including cases, deaths, closures and restrictions.
Age breakdown of deaths:
25-34 — 2
35-44 — 4
45-54 — 8
55-64 — 11
65-74 — 13
75-84 — 26
85+ — 20
California Do you know someone who has lost the battle with COVID-19? In our effort to cover this pandemic as thoroughly as possible, we’d like to hear from the loved ones of people who have died from the coronavirus.
Cases by community:
Aliso Viejo — 23
Anaheim — 652
Brea — 28
Buena Park — 125
Costa Mesa — 62
Coto de Caza — 6
Cypress — 53
Dana Point — 23
Fountain Valley — 47
Fullerton — 144
Garden Grove — 207
Huntington Beach — 285
Irvine — 149
La Habra — 72
La Palma — 16
Ladera Ranch — 13
Laguna Beach — 44
Laguna Hills — 27
Laguna Niguel — 35
Laguna Woods — 8
Lake Forest — 35
Los Alamitos — 55
Midway City — 9
Mission Viejo — 59
Newport Beach — 132
Orange — 191
Placentia — 75
Rancho Mission Viejo — 6
Rancho Santa Margarita — 18
San Clemente — 54
San Juan Capistrano — 44
Santa Ana — 683
Seal Beach — 15
Stanton — 41
Trabuco Canyon — 11
Tustin — 61
Villa Park — 5
Westminster — 72
Yorba Linda — 62
Other — 336
Unknown — 142
Note: The “other” category includes unincorporated areas, as well as cases in the county’s jails. Daily updates are preliminary and subject to change as the county receives new information.


latimes--2020-05-15--USC's first-ever online graduation: Surreal pomp, unprecedented circumstances

With virtual pomp amid unprecedented circumstances , USC celebrated its first-ever online graduation Friday , conferring degrees on 19,832 members of the Class of 2020 , as the coronavirus crisis forces universities throughout the country to postpone the grandeur of traditional ceremonies and instead attempt small-screen celebrations .
USC was one of the first universities in California to roll out a virtual graduation , marking efforts to give graduates some sense of accomplishment and joy amid the disappointment of their canceled mega-event on a packed campus .
President Carol Folt , wearing a ceremonial cardinal robe and her gold presidential @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the world as her mask-wearing staff looked on .
She spoke from her campus office , alluding to the letdown and assuring graduates that USC would hold a real commencement as soon as it was safe to do so .
“ This is a ceremony for the record books , and you ’ re lucky you ’ ll get a second ceremony , I promise , in person , ” Folt said .
“ Like all of you , I imagined we ’ d be under a blue sky this morning , strolling @ @ @ @ @ @ @ picture today is quite different , but the important thing is , whether in person or virtually , we ’ re coming together to celebrate.
” The main celebration kicked off at 9 a.m. in English , Mandarin and Spanish and was to continue throughout the day with 34 other celebrations held by 23 different schools and units .
The 45-minute main ceremony featured a surprise guest — actor Will Ferrell , who told graduates to “ hug your neighbors , your family and friends while still staying six feet apart if you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ played the classic school songs “ Fight On ” and “ Conquest ” in a performance stitched together with individual members playing tubas , trombones , percussion , flute and other instruments .
The 2020Trojan.usc.edu website featured social media congratulatory posts , recorded messages from celebrated alumni and a live comment board .
Maria Del Pilar Morales , receiving her degree in global health , watched the celebration from her home in Orange with her mother , stepfather and brother .
She said she had had misgivings about a virtual graduation , but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of her favorite moments , she said , were Ferrell ’ s appearance and the performance by her fellow band members .
Best of all , she was able to share the moment with family and friends in Mexico City , Los Angeles , Riverside and Garden Grove .
They broke out in smiles and claps when Folt conferred the degrees and declared , “ Congratulations , graduates !
You are officially USC alumni.
” “ I was almost tearing up , ” Morales said .
“ It was really cool to be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It ’ s all for my family .
”

Maria Del Pilar Morales, center, a member of the USC Class of 2020, attends her virtual graduation via Zoom from her home in Orange. With her are, from left, her brother Manny Morales; her mother, Pilar Morales; and stepdad Victor Ramos.
Maria Del Pilar Morales, a member of the USC class of 2020, wore a cardinal-and-gold graduation sash but no cap and gown. She gathered with her family to receive her undergraduate degree in global health, but not on campus.
When USC President Carol Folt conferred more than 19,000 degrees Friday morning, Morales was sitting on the couch in her Orange home, watching a virtual ceremony on her TV screen. She could not throw her black mortarboard high into the air at the culmination of a colorful campus ceremony featuring a regal procession, a confetti cannon and the release of doves. Instead, Morales and graduates throughout the country are celebrating this major milestone with surreal pomp amid unprecedented circumstances.
It wasn’t what she imagined graduation day would be like — but she was grateful for the efforts.
Advertisement
“It’s just the feeling of wanting something in person and dreaming of throwing your cap in the air.... I didn’t know if that would translate well into a virtual platform,” Morales said. “For the most part, I really appreciated everything that they did.... USC has just really shown that they care about the graduates.”
Mid-May marks the beginning of what will go down as a history-making commencement season, as the COVID-19 crisis has forced universities throughout the country to postpone the grandeur of traditional ceremonies and instead attempt small-screen celebrations.
USC was one of the first universities in California to roll out a virtual graduation, marking efforts to give graduates some sense of accomplishment and joy amid the disappointment of a canceled mega-event on a packed campus. Facebook and Instagram hosted a star-studded national celebration Friday featuring Oprah Winfrey, while former President Barack Obama will speak to high school graduates Saturday in a virtual event sponsored by the XQ Institute, the LeBron James Family Foundation and the Entertainment Industry Foundation.
Like USC, most University of California and California State University campuses have announced plans to delay commencement ceremonies until it is safe to gather in person.
On Saturday, the date planned for commencement before the pandemic hit, UC Berkeley will host a simulated mock ceremony in a virtual California Memorial Stadium built by students using the Minecraft video game. The ceremony will feature a greeting from Chancellor Carol Christ, the playing of “Hail to California,” flying mortarboards and the unofficial conferring of degrees. A formal in-person ceremony will be held later.
USC however, planned an official degree conferral. President Carol Folt, wearing a ceremonial cardinal robe and her gold presidential medallion, greeted online viewers from around the world as her mask-wearing staff looked on. She spoke from her campus office, alluding to the letdown and assuring graduates that USC would hold a real commencement as soon as it is safe to do so.
Advertisement
“This is a ceremony for the record books, and you’re lucky you’ll get a second ceremony, I promise, in person,” Folt said. “Like all of you, I imagined we’d be under a blue sky this morning, strolling the well-traveled paths across campus. The picture today is quite different, but the important thing is, whether in person or virtually, we’re coming together to celebrate.”
Thank you to our 2020 valedictorian, Isabella Hauptman, for that beautiful speech. Congratulations! #USCGrad #2020Trojan pic.twitter.com/fQpa84QENZ — Carol Folt (@PresidentFolt) May 15, 2020
USC’s main celebration kicked off at 9 a.m., simulcast in Mandarin and Spanish, and was to continue throughout the day with 34 other celebrations held by 23 schools and units. The 45-minute main ceremony featured a surprise guest — actor and alumnus Will Ferrell, who told graduates to “hug your neighbors, your family and friends while still staying six feet apart if you can.”
The celebrated Trojan Marching Band played the classic school songs “Fight On” and “Conquest” in a performance stitched together with individual members playing tubas, trombones, percussion, flute and other instruments. The 2020Trojan.usc.edu website featured social media congratulatory posts, recorded messages from notable alumni and a live comment board. Each of the 23 schools had separate pages with social media streams to give graduates an intimate sense of graduating with their academic family.
Other creative touches: a “celebration” button that, when clicked, would release confetti in cardinal and gold; a virtual memory book that will be delivered to each graduate; and augmented reality filters that allowed graduates to take selfies, seemingly wearing graduation caps while posing in front of Tommy Trojan, Doheny Library and other campus landmarks.
Had a great time with the virtual commencement at @USC. Can’t wait for our in person ceremony! I dreamed of attending USC as a kid and now I’m an alumni! #FightOn! #USCGrad #USCSocialWork #2020Trojan #Classof2019 #2020Commencement pic.twitter.com/EKzh82gCAP — Travis Ruiz (@USC_Travis) May 15, 2020
Hundreds of USC staff pulled off the complex virtual celebration after just three weeks of planning. Their decisions were guided by a survey that found that the overwhelming majority of 14,000 students polled wanted to keep an in-person commencement and would return to campus in the fall, or even next spring, to attend.
“They were clear that nothing is replacing the experience and emotion behind the commencement in person,” said Adam Rosen, a USC associate vice president who oversees university events. “We don’t want to take away anything with a virtual ceremony.”
The team scrambled to secure closed-captioning for 41 ceremonies in order to comply with federal disability rights laws. They set up password-protected access to avoid nasty Zoom bombs, which marred Oklahoma City University’s recent celebration. They obtained special broadcasting licenses for the marching band’s music. And they arranged for live Mandarin-language translation since viewers in China would not be able to access a recording on YouTube.
Morales said the efforts underscored the support she has received during her years at USC. Although she entered the university with a 4.9 GPA from high school, she said she floundered badly in her first semester, struggling with the academic rigor, unfamiliarity with campus resources and feelings of being an “imposter” as a first-generation student.
But she soon found mentors through the Latino Alumni Association. A tenor sax player, she joined the marching band. She started a support group for Latino students interested in medicine. She became involved with an environmental justice group, helping to lobby for an end to urban oil drilling in South Los Angeles. And she networked with supporters of the Norman Topping Student Aid Fund, which awarded scholarships to her and other high-achieving, low-income students.
On Friday, Morales celebrated with her mother, stepfather and brother in their Orange home — and shared the moment with family and friends in Mexico City, Los Angeles, Riverside and Garden Grove. They made congratulatory signs with hearts and displayed balloons decorated with pandas, Morales’ favorite animal. Her uncle Juan Lerma called her a hero and a role model.
“May God bless you, hija,” her 95-year-old great-grandmother, Guadalupe Contreras, told her.
They broke out in smiles and applause when Folt conferred the degrees and declared, “Congratulations, graduates! You are officially USC alumni.”
“I was almost tearing up,” Morales said. “It was really cool to be able to share the experience.”
One family member was particularly close to her heart this day: Her father, who died from H1N1 flu when she was 12. Like her mother, her father pushed her to go to college, and his illness inspired her to enter the healthcare field.
“I wanted to fulfill that dream that my father had for us to go to college,” she said. “At the end of the day, it’s an achievement for me to be able to have a diploma, but it’s all for my family.”


latimes--2020-05-15--Live video feed helps spot wildfires in Southern California

Stuck at home because of the coronavirus ?
Maybe you can help spot a wildfire .
As part of its mandated fire mitigation plan , Southern California Edison has installed 161 live feed cameras on towers across the region and has invited the public to view them and report signs of trouble .
“ Especially now if people are home ... they can look at free views out there , they can identify a smoke plume immediately , pick up the phone , call the fire folks and they can roll resources almost immediately , ” said Don Daigler , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ business resiliency .
The camera installation was done in partnership with UC San Diego , the University of Oregon and the University of Nevada , Reno .
The utility owns the equipment and feeds the images into the wider , university-run network , AlertWildfire , that has similar cameras set up across the state and parts of Nevada , providing panoramic views of the state ’ s dried , golden hills and forests .
In Southern California , the rotating cameras cover roughly 90 % of Edison territory that is considered to have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Daigler said .
Utility officials hope the video feeds will act as a force multiplier for firefighters when the public begins viewing them .
Such was the case in 2018 , Edison officials say , when a resident concerned for her friend living near the Holy fire in the Inland Empire saw a new plume develop from the fire ’ s footprint — a sign the fire was coming back to life .
The woman alerted firefighters who were able to send aircraft to the area and extinguish it before it raged out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to a recap of the incident from the utility .
While the cameras are useful for both dispatchers and firefighters as an extra reconnaissance tool , the public shouldn ’ t consider the cameras a stand-in for personal responsibility .
“ I hope nobody uses this as a safeguard for their property , ” said Orange County Fire Authority Capt .
Thanh Nguyen .
“ What people should be considering right now is clearing the vegetation around their homes.
” A series of spring rainstorms has left much of Edison ’ s observable @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are predicting normal risk of significant large fires across Southern California through August , with below-normal chances of significant large fires in coastal areas and adjacent ranges .
Many of the cameras perform 360-degree sweeps every minute with 12 high-definition frames per sweep , Edison said .
They ’ re installed near Malibu , in Los Angeles County ; Thousand Oaks , in Ventura County ; Corona , in Riverside County ; and Lake Arrowhead , in San Bernardino County , among other places .
Old images are publicly viewable for up to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and archived by UC San Diego .
The cameras were added as part of Edison ’ s multi-year effort to upgrade and harden its power grid to prevent wildfires .
It has also added hundreds of weather stations across its territory so engineers have real-time data on where the risks of a fire starting from their equipment are greatest , company officials said .
Following California ’ s deadly 2017 and 2018 fire seasons , Southern California Edison , Pacific Gas & Electric and San Diego Gas & Electric are now required to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ regulators , outlining their strategies to avoid causing more deadly blazes .

A photo from one of Southern California Edison’s publicly viewable live feed cameras covering its territory most vulnerable to wildfires.
Stuck at home because of the coronavirus? Maybe you can help spot a wildfire.
As part of its mandated fire mitigation plan, Southern California Edison has installed 161 live feed cameras on towers across the region and has invited the public to view them and report signs of trouble.
“Especially now if people are home ... they can look at free views out there, they can identify a smoke plume immediately, pick up the phone, call the fire folks and they can roll resources almost immediately,” said Don Daigler, Southern California Edison’s director of business resiliency.
Advertisement
The camera installation was done in partnership with UC San Diego, the University of Oregon and the University of Nevada, Reno. The utility owns the equipment and feeds the images into the wider, university-run network, AlertWildfire, that has similar cameras set up across the state and parts of Nevada, providing panoramic views of the state’s dried, golden hills and forests.
In Southern California, the rotating cameras cover roughly 90% of Edison territory that is considered to have an elevated or extreme fire risk, Daigler said. Utility officials hope the video feeds will act as a force multiplier for firefighters when the public begins viewing them.
Such was the case in 2018, Edison officials say, when a resident concerned for her friend living near the Holy fire in the Inland Empire saw a new plume develop from the fire’s footprint — a sign the fire was coming back to life.
The woman alerted firefighters who were able to send aircraft to the area and extinguish it before it raged out of control a second time, according to a recap of the incident from the utility.
While the cameras are useful for both dispatchers and firefighters as an extra reconnaissance tool, the public shouldn’t consider the cameras a stand-in for personal responsibility.
Advertisement
“I hope nobody uses this as a safeguard for their property,” said Orange County Fire Authority Capt. Thanh Nguyen. “What people should be considering right now is clearing the vegetation around their homes.”
A series of spring rainstorms has left much of Edison’s observable region lush and green. Fire forecasters are predicting normal risk of significant large fires across Southern California through August, with below-normal chances of significant large fires in coastal areas and adjacent ranges.
Many of the cameras perform 360-degree sweeps every minute with 12 high-definition frames per sweep, Edison said. They’re installed near Malibu, in Los Angeles County; Thousand Oaks, in Ventura County; Corona, in Riverside County; and Lake Arrowhead, in San Bernardino County, among other places.
Old images are publicly viewable for up to 12 hours before they are digitally downsized and archived by UC San Diego.
The cameras were added as part of Edison’s multi-year effort to upgrade and harden its power grid to prevent wildfires. It has also added hundreds of weather stations across its territory so engineers have real-time data on where the risks of a fire starting from their equipment are greatest, company officials said.
Following California’s deadly 2017 and 2018 fire seasons, Southern California Edison, Pacific Gas & Electric and San Diego Gas & Electric are now required to submit yearly wildfire mitigation plans to state regulators, outlining their strategies to avoid causing more deadly blazes.


latimes--2020-05-15--South Coast Plaza launches curbside pickup

In the latest sign of reopenings , South Coast Plaza — Orange County ’ s world-renown upscale shopping destination — has joined the list of outlets offering contact-free pickup for customers amid the coronavirus pandemic .
The new program , which the Costa Mesa center calls SCP 2 GO , launches Friday .
It works like this : Shoppers will place an order with a participating restaurant or boutique .
When their order is ready , customers will be assigned one of five color-coded pickup stations located throughout South Coast Plaza .
Upon arriving , customers will park in their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ordered from , pop their trunk and wait for delivery .
More than 80 stores and restaurants have already signed on to take part in the program , according to the center .
A full list is available at southcoastplaza.com/scp2go .
“ Our brands are enthusiastic about personally connecting with their customers once more with a program that is safe , contact-less and highly convenient , ” South Coast Plaza spokeswoman Debra Gunn Downing said Friday .
“ If there ’ s anything that our curbside program underscores during this time of isolation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the human connection , even when all you want to do is simply buy a bag , makeup or jewelry.
” South Coast Plaza has been almost entirely shuttered since March 16 , after a store employee tested positive for COVID-19 .
The closure was originally supposed to be for two weeks , but that timeline was upended as the number of confirmed coronavirus infections began to mushroom statewide .
Just days after South Coast Plaza ’ s storefronts went dark , Gov .
Gavin Newsom issued his stay-at-home order — which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ essential , including many retailers .
It was only recently that the state started loosening those restrictions and allowing certain businesses to reopen , though many commercial activities are still limited to curbside transactions .
Even as some economic sectors come back online , state and public health officials have said businesses should take steps to limit person-to-person contact and keep crowds from gathering .
Doing so , they said , will help prevent transmission of the coronavirus , which has infected more than 75,000 Californians and killed more than 3,000 .

South Coast Plaza shoppers visit the Gucci store before the upscale mall was closed amid the coronavirus pandemic. On Friday, 80 stores and restaurants -- including Gucci -- began offering curbside pickup for customers.
Curbside is going chic.
In the latest sign of reopenings, South Coast Plaza — Orange County’s world-renown upscale shopping destination — has joined the list of outlets offering contact-free pickup for customers amid the coronavirus pandemic.
The new program, which the Costa Mesa center calls SCP 2 GO, launches Friday.
Advertisement
It works like this: Shoppers will place an order with a participating restaurant or boutique. When their order is ready, customers will be assigned one of five color-coded pickup stations located throughout South Coast Plaza.
Upon arriving, customers will park in their designated location, call the establishment they ordered from, pop their trunk and wait for delivery.
More than 80 stores and restaurants have already signed on to take part in the program, according to the center. A full list is available at southcoastplaza.com/scp2go.
“Our brands are enthusiastic about personally connecting with their customers once more with a program that is safe, contact-less and highly convenient,” South Coast Plaza spokeswoman Debra Gunn Downing said Friday. “If there’s anything that our curbside program underscores during this time of isolation for many, it is the importance of the human connection, even when all you want to do is simply buy a bag, makeup or jewelry.”
South Coast Plaza has been almost entirely shuttered since March 16, after a store employee tested positive for COVID-19.
Advertisement
The closure was originally supposed to be for two weeks, but that timeline was upended as the number of confirmed coronavirus infections began to mushroom statewide.
Just days after South Coast Plaza’s storefronts went dark, Gov. Gavin Newsom issued his stay-at-home order — which compelled the closure of businesses not deemed essential, including many retailers.
It was only recently that the state started loosening those restrictions and allowing certain businesses to reopen, though many commercial activities are still limited to curbside transactions.
Tracking the coronavirus in California The latest maps and charts on the spread of COVID-19 in California.
Even as some economic sectors come back online, state and public health officials have said businesses should take steps to limit person-to-person contact and keep crowds from gathering.
Doing so, they said, will help prevent transmission of the coronavirus, which has infected more than 75,000 Californians and killed more than 3,000.