latimes--2020-12-26--Overwhelmed L.A. hospitals brace for post-Christmas COVID wave

California health officials are bracing for the potential for a new round of infections from Christmas gatherings , though it could take several weeks to determine how bad such a wave would be .
A surge of COVID-19 fueled by Thanksgiving gatherings have pushed hospitals across Southern California to the breaking point , with intensive care units having few or no available beds , facilities running low on oxygen and other supplies and patients waiting hours for care .
Infections are spreading unchecked , and deaths are also hitting new highs .
It ’ s difficult to know whether people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ avoided big Christmas gatherings .
Los Angeles International Airport , however , saw surges in passengers , which some took as a bad sign .
“ It ’ s getting worse , and we haven ’ t even hit the Christmas or New Year ’ s surge yet , so I feel like the number of people that are going to die because the hospital system is beyond overwhelmed will shoot up , ” one doctor at an L.A. County hospital said .
Ali Mokdad , an epidemiologist at the University of Washington @ @ @ @ @ @ @ being driven largely by gatherings indoors .
Holiday celebrations that bring together multiple generations may be particularly dangerous , with younger people who are more likely to be asymptomatic potentially exposing older , more vulnerable family members .
People tend to feel safer indoors and also have a false sense of security when they are around their family members .
“ These are your loved ones ... You ’ re more likely to take off your mask and let down your guard , ” he said .
Humans are falsely programmed to feel @ @ @ @ @ @ @ indoors around my friends and family is even safer.
” The next big test will be whether there are many New Year ’ s Eve and New Year ’ s Day gatherings .
L.A. County public health director Barbara Ferrer said in an interview last week that crowded shopping malls are also a big concern .
Under the state ’ s regional stay-at-home orders , shopping malls are supposed to be capped at 20 % of capacity , but it ’ s clear that those limits are not being followed .
“ We @ @ @ @ @ @ @ look this weekend at the shopping malls because the pictures we ’ ve been seeing are … another little mini-disaster , ” Ferrer said .
“ The occupancy is supposed to be down to 20 % .
But when you look around , they look way more crowded than 20 % .
And that just means a complete breakdown of what we are requiring.
” Inspectors will be out over the post-Christmas weekend , Ferrer said , “ and we ’ re going to have to take a hard look at what we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a place where it really be completely unacceptable for there to be crowding , ” Ferrer said .
“ The only way that those malls conceivably could be opened is because there wasn ’ t going to be any crowding .
So if there ’ s a lot of crowding , that ’ s a situation that we have to actually get fixed right away .
That can get fixed by shopping malls taking more responsibility , or that can get fixed … by us going ahead and looking at whether we need @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Ferrer said .
“ But I think the right place to start is to go and take a hard look at what ’ s going on.
” Shopping malls have come under fire from the L.A. County public health department recently .
County investigators issue fines of up to $ 500 for serious violations of COVID-19 precautions .
At malls , these would include not prohibiting eating and drinking , not facilitating social distancing in common spaces and not keeping occupancy below 20 % of capacity , among other safety measures.The Glendale @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Citadel Outlets in Commerce have been cited four times , and The Grove in Los Angeles twice .
Officials are most concerned about the situation in local hospitals .
Patients are waiting as many as eight hours in ambulances before they can enter the emergency room .
With intensive care units having few or no available beds , health officials are urging that people avoid emergency rooms or dialing 911 for assistance unless absolutely necessary .
Some hospitals in L.A. County are running dangerously low on their supplies of oxygen , a person @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Oxygen is critical to treating severely ill COVID-19 patients who have begun to suffocate because the virus has inflamed their lungs .
So now , hospitals need 10 times more oxygen than they did before .
There have been periods of time when hospitals have run dangerously low on their stores of oxygen before obtaining additional supplies , said the source , who spoke on the condition of anonymity .
Hospitals are also running short of other key supplies , such as the special plastic tubes used to bring the oxygen into @ @ @ @ @ @ @ County scientists have begun to test samples of the coronavirus from local patients to determine whether a new , potentially more contagious strain that is circulating in Britain has arrived , as some officials believe is likely amid a major surge of infections .
The variant is a concern because it may make the virus from one person to another , officials said .
But once a person has the virus , the variant doesn ’ t appear to make the person more likely to die .

Soumya Karlamangla, Dakota Smith, Rong-Gong Lin II

California health officials are bracing for the potential for a new round of infections from Christmas gatherings, though it could take several weeks to determine how bad such a wave would be.
A surge of COVID-19 fueled by Thanksgiving gatherings have pushed hospitals across Southern California to the breaking point, with intensive care units having few or no available beds, facilities running low on oxygen and other supplies and patients waiting hours for care. Infections are spreading unchecked, and deaths are also hitting new highs.
It’s difficult to know whether people followed the plea from health experts and avoided big Christmas gatherings. Los Angeles International Airport, however, saw surges in passengers, which some took as a bad sign.
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“It’s getting worse, and we haven’t even hit the Christmas or New Year’s surge yet, so I feel like the number of people that are going to die because the hospital system is beyond overwhelmed will shoot up,” one doctor at an L.A. County hospital said.
Ali Mokdad, an epidemiologist at the University of Washington, said California’s cases are being driven largely by gatherings indoors.
Holiday celebrations that bring together multiple generations may be particularly dangerous, with younger people who are more likely to be asymptomatic potentially exposing older, more vulnerable family members. People tend to feel safer indoors and also have a false sense of security when they are around their family members.
“These are your loved ones ... You’re more likely to take off your mask and let down your guard,” he said. Humans are falsely programmed to feel as though “indoors is safe — indoors around my friends and family is even safer.”
The next big test will be whether there are many New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day gatherings.
L.A. County public health director Barbara Ferrer said in an interview last week that crowded shopping malls are also a big concern. Under the state’s regional stay-at-home orders, shopping malls are supposed to be capped at 20% of capacity, but it’s clear that those limits are not being followed.
“We’re going to take a hard look this weekend at the shopping malls because the pictures we’ve been seeing are … another little mini-disaster,” Ferrer said. “The occupancy is supposed to be down to 20%. But when you look around, they look way more crowded than 20%. And that just means a complete breakdown of what we are requiring.”
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Inspectors will be out over the post-Christmas weekend, Ferrer said, “and we’re going to have to take a hard look at what we see.”
“That’s just a place where it really be completely unacceptable for there to be crowding,” Ferrer said. “The only way that those malls conceivably could be opened is because there wasn’t going to be any crowding. So if there’s a lot of crowding, that’s a situation that we have to actually get fixed right away. That can get fixed by shopping malls taking more responsibility, or that can get fixed … by us going ahead and looking at whether we need to change [health] orders,” Ferrer said. “But I think the right place to start is to go and take a hard look at what’s going on.”
Shopping malls have come under fire from the L.A. County public health department recently. County investigators issue fines of up to $500 for serious violations of COVID-19 precautions. At malls, these would include not prohibiting eating and drinking, not facilitating social distancing in common spaces and not keeping occupancy below 20% of capacity, among other safety measures.The Glendale Galleria was cited last week. The Citadel Outlets in Commerce have been cited four times, and The Grove in Los Angeles twice.
Officials are most concerned about the situation in local hospitals.
Patients are waiting as many as eight hours in ambulances before they can enter the emergency room. With intensive care units having few or no available beds, health officials are urging that people avoid emergency rooms or dialing 911 for assistance unless absolutely necessary.
Some hospitals in L.A. County are running dangerously low on their supplies of oxygen, a person familiar with the matter told The Times.
Oxygen is critical to treating severely ill COVID-19 patients who have begun to suffocate because the virus has inflamed their lungs. So now, hospitals need 10 times more oxygen than they did before. There have been periods of time when hospitals have run dangerously low on their stores of oxygen before obtaining additional supplies, said the source, who spoke on the condition of anonymity. Hospitals are also running short of other key supplies, such as the special plastic tubes used to bring the oxygen into the lungs.
Meanwhile, Los Angeles County scientists have begun to test samples of the coronavirus from local patients to determine whether a new, potentially more contagious strain that is circulating in Britain has arrived, as some officials believe is likely amid a major surge of infections.


latimes--2020-12-26--Beverly Hills denounces plans for 'discreet' dinner at La Scala

Beverly Hills officials last week moved to thwart plans for a “ speakeasy ” -style New Year ’ s Eve dinner amid the coronavirus spike at one of the city ’ s venerable restaurants , reminding the management about Los Angeles County ’ s dining ban .
The officials were responding to an invitation sent to some area residents from La Scala , the fine-dining Italian restaurant on North Canon Drive in Beverly Hills , that appeared to signal plans for a secret dinner that would violate restrictions imposed by public health experts .
The invitations were put inside the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Welcome back to the 20 ’ s Prohibition , ” read the message , in a formal cursive script .
“ We are currently taking reservations for New Year ’ s Eve dinner .
Inside.
” The message continued , “ Please keep this discreet , but tell all your friends.
” Keith Sterling , a spokesman for the city of Beverly Hills , told The Times by email that city officials contacted La Scala on Christmas Eve about the event to remind its management about restrictions in the county ’ s order @ @ @ @ @ @ @ incredibly difficult time for all of our businesses , ” the statement read , “ however the County Order does currently prohibit indoor and outdoor dining , including in the City of Beverly Hills.
” The invitation , which was on Twitter , sparking scores of negative comments , had earlier prompted a reaction from the Beverly Hills Police Department .
The department that its code enforcement officials were aware and “ handling the matter.
” Management at , an upscale eatery known for its chopped salad and famous customers , couldn ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ A message on the restaurant ’ s website said it was closed for Christmas and New Year ’ s Eve .
The potential dinner event is the latest conflict between public health officials and local restaurants , who have been frustrated by the decision last month to reinstate the dining ban as California and Los Angeles County experienced a new spike of COVID-19 cases .
The restrictions had previously prompted some of the 88 cities in the county to vent about potentially creating their own health departments in an effort to write their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the county ’ s ban , citing the “ detrimental impact on local businesses ” and a “ lack of scientific evidence.
” In September , La Scala posted an image on Instagram complaining to Beverly Hills Mayor Lester Friedman , reading : “ Hey … you ’ re hurting our Restaurants !
”

Beverly Hills officials this week moved to thwart plans for a “speakeasy”-style New Year’s Eve dinner amid the coronavirus spike at one of the city’s venerable restaurants, reminding the management about Los Angeles County’s dining ban.
The officials were responding to an invitation sent to some area residents from La Scala, the fine-dining Italian restaurant on North Canon Drive in Beverly Hills, that appeared to signal plans for a secret dinner that would violate restrictions imposed by public health experts. The invitations were put inside the restaurant’s take-out bags.
“Welcome back to the 20’s Prohibition,” read the message, in a formal cursive script. “We are considering taking reservations for New Year’s Eve dinner. Inside.”
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The message continued, “Please keep this discreet, but tell all your friends.”
Merry Christmas everyone! La Scala’s Beverly Hills location is tucking these invitations to an indoor New Year’s Eve dinner in their takeout bags: “Please keep this discreet, but tell all your friends.” 💀💀💀 pic.twitter.com/hu4cJGYxce — Alissa Walker (@awalkerinLA) December 25, 2020
Keith Sterling, a spokesman for the city of Beverly Hills, told The Times by email that city officials contacted La Scala on Christmas Eve about the event to remind its management about restrictions in the county’s order.
“We understand this is an incredibly difficult time for all of our businesses,” the statement read, “however the County Order does currently prohibit indoor and outdoor dining, including in the City of Beverly Hills.”
The invitation, which was widely shared on Twitter, sparking scores of negative comments, had earlier prompted a reaction from the Beverly Hills Police Department.
The department posted that its code enforcement officials were aware and “handling the matter.”
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Management at La Scala , an upscale eatery known for its chopped salad and famous customers, couldn’t immediately be reached for comment. A message on the restaurant’s website said it was closed for Christmas and New Year’s Eve.
The potential dinner event is the latest conflict between public health officials and local restaurants, who have been frustrated by the decision last month to reinstate the dining ban as California and Los Angeles County experienced a new spike of coronavirus cases.
The restrictions had previously prompted some of the 88 cities in the county to vent about potentially creating their own health departments in an effort to write their own rules.
The Beverly Hills City Council earlier this month adopted a resolution against the county’s ban, citing the “detrimental impact on local businesses” and a “lack of scientific evidence.”
In September, La Scala posted an image on Instagram and complained about Beverly Hills Mayor Lester Friedman: “Hey … you’re hurting our Restaurants!”


latimes--2020-12-26--A pregnancy loss, a coronavirus diagnosis and a recovery in isolation

In the predawn hours on the Saturday before Thanksgiving , Alyssa Fetters awoke her fiance in severe pain .
Fetters was six weeks pregnant and had learned about two weeks prior that her pregnancy was ectopic — when the egg grows outside of the uterus .
Learning that there would be no way for the egg to survive and that her own health could be in danger , she had already started the difficult treatment to stop the cells from growing .
On that Saturday morning , something had gone wrong .
Mark Fitzgerald drove his pregnant partner to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ COVID-19 protocols , was forced to wait for word outside the walls of the hospital .
Over the phone , he would learn that the egg had ruptured and that Fetters would be prepped for emergency surgery to tend to her internal bleeding .
When she awoke , safe , in an anesthetic daze , Fetters learned that she had tested positive for the coronavirus .
She was asymptomatic but , per protocol , was rushed to the hospital ’ s COVID-19 wing , where her physical and emotional recovery in isolation began @ @ @ @ @ @ @ things , we ’ re really lucky .
We ’ re both still working , we ’ re both still in our home , ” Fetters , 36 , said .
“ But it was horrible — I wouldn ’ t want it to happen again.
” More than 2 million people have tested positive for the coronavirus in California .
More than 20,000 have died , and thousands more have faced a tenuous recovery .
In every instance , the infection sentences a person to isolation , away from family , roommates @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bear the burden in a hospital room ; others have been more fortunately able to return to their living spaces .
There , the sick and the healthy are often separated by a mere wall , when home becomes a haven and a confine .
Californians who have isolated or quarantined after a coronavirus exposure told The Times that even when the physical distance between loved ones is slight , the emotional distance can sometimes feel vast .
“ No hugs , no touching my wife of 33 years , no life really @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was depressing and at times infuriating , ” said William Burns , 66 , of San Diego after he was exposed to the virus at work .
“ The quarantine fell over two birthdays , so kids couldn ’ t celebrate their birthdays with the family in our small bubble .
Arguing and restlessness were frequent , ” said Alison Evans , 47 , of Moorpark .
In the case of Fitzgerald and Fetters , that need for separation arrived with the weight of trauma .
But the time to process their loss @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It would have been our first child , ” Fetters said .
Fitzgerald , who recently turned 40 , retrieved his fiancee from the hospital at about 10:30 that Saturday night .
He learned a few days later that he had tested negative for the virus , but already he had turned their bedroom into Fetters ’ domain and shifted all of his attention to her recovery .
“ I was definitely compartmentalizing things , ” he said .
“ I was very much focused on the moment and what she needed.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and a mask while helping Fetters to the bathroom , delivering her food and nursing her back to health .
But contact would remain limited .
Fetters utilized the Alexa app to speak to Fitzgerald from the bedroom , and the couple FaceTimed each other from inside the house .
The dogs were kept outside the room .
At one point , the cat broke in , allowing Fetters to spend some moments with a visitor .
“ All I wanted was my mom , ” Fetters said .
But endangering someone else @ @ @ @ @ @ @ risk she was willing to take .
Fetters , a developmental therapist who works with children on their foundational developmental skills , and Fitzgerald , a production manager at an animation studio , met five years ago .
They planned to get married in October , but like so many others , postponed until next year to avoid burdening guests financially or putting them through unnecessary fear .
Their focus soon turned to starting a family .
When Fetters ’ isolation period had ended , she and her fiance embraced .
The couple @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in weeks .
In time , they will process and look toward the future .
For now , they will continue to hold each other up , one day at a time .
“ On Dec. 31 , we ’ ll have a drink , we ’ ll celebrate the ball dropping .
Then I ’ m ready to wake up in 2022 , ” Fitzgerald said , knowing that 2021 will not begin with perfection .
“ It ’ s been one hell of a year .
”

Alyssa Fetters and Mark Fitzgerald went through a pregnancy loss, then Fetters then learned she was coronavirus-positive.
In the predawn hours on the Saturday before Thanksgiving, Alyssa Fetters awoke her fiance in severe pain.
Fetters was six weeks pregnant and had learned about two weeks prior that her pregnancy was ectopic — when the egg grows outside of the uterus. Learning that there would be no way for the egg to survive and that her own health could be in danger, she had already started the difficult treatment to stop the cells from growing.
On that Saturday morning, something had gone wrong.
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Mark Fitzgerald drove his pregnant partner to the emergency room and then, due to COVID-19 protocols, was forced to wait for word outside the walls of the hospital. Over the phone, he would learn that the egg had ruptured and that Fetters would be prepped for emergency surgery to tend to her internal bleeding.
When she awoke, safe, in an anesthetic daze, Fetters learned that she had tested positive for the coronavirus. She was asymptomatic but, per protocol, was rushed to the hospital’s COVID-19 wing, where her physical and emotional recovery in isolation began.
::
“In the grand scheme of things, we’re really lucky. We’re both still working, we’re both still in our home,” Fetters, 36, said. “But it was horrible — I wouldn’t want it to happen again.”
More than 2 million people have tested positive for the coronavirus in California. More than 20,000 have died, and thousands more have faced a tenuous recovery. In every instance, the infection sentences a person to isolation, away from family, roommates and friends. Some have had to bear the burden in a hospital room; others have been more fortunately able to return to their living spaces. There, the sick and the healthy are often separated by a mere wall, when home becomes a haven and a confine.
Californians who have isolated or quarantined after a coronavirus exposure told The Times that even when the physical distance between loved ones is slight, the emotional distance can sometimes feel vast.
“No hugs, no touching my wife of 33 years, no life really for more than a week. It was depressing and at times infuriating,” said William Burns, 66, of San Diego after he was exposed to the virus at work.
For others, restlessness looms.
“The quarantine fell over two birthdays, so kids couldn’t celebrate their birthdays with the family in our small bubble. Arguing and restlessness were frequent,” said Alison Evans, 47, of Moorpark.
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In the case of Fitzgerald and Fetters, that need for separation arrived with the weight of trauma. But the time to process their loss together would have to wait.
“It would have been our first child,” Fetters said.
::
Fitzgerald, who recently turned 40, retrieved his fiancee from the hospital at about 10:30 that Saturday night. He learned a few days later that he had tested negative for the virus, but already he had turned their bedroom into Fetters’ domain and shifted all of his attention to her recovery.
“I was definitely compartmentalizing things,” he said. “I was very much focused on the moment and what she needed.”
Fitzgerald would enter the room wearing gloves and a mask while helping Fetters to the bathroom, delivering her food and nursing her back to health. But contact would remain limited. Fetters utilized the Alexa app to speak to Fitzgerald from the bedroom, and the couple FaceTimed each other from inside the house.
The dogs were kept outside the room. At one point, the cat broke in, allowing Fetters to spend some moments with a visitor.
“All I wanted was my mom,” Fetters said. But endangering someone else’s health wasn’t a risk she was willing to take.
Fetters, a developmental therapist who works with children on their foundational developmental skills, and Fitzgerald, a production manager at an animation studio, met five years ago. They planned to get married in October, but like so many others, postponed until next year to avoid burdening guests financially or putting them through unnecessary fear.
Their focus soon turned to starting a family.
::
When Fetters’ isolation period had ended, she and her fiance embraced. The couple held each other for the first time in weeks.
In time, they will process and look toward the future. For now, they will continue to hold each other up, one day at a time.
“On Dec. 31, we’ll have a drink, we’ll celebrate the ball dropping. Then I’m ready to wake up in 2022,” Fitzgerald said, knowing that 2021 will not begin with perfection. “It’s been one hell of a year.”


latimes--2020-12-26--As sheriff struggles to contain COVID-19 outbreaks, active infections in San Diego jails exceed 500

Nine months after the novel coronavirus took root in San Diego County jails , cases are continuing to spread , and employees and inmates say they are afraid for their safety .
The Sheriff ’ s Department is now reporting more than 400 active cases of the coronavirus among its inmates — or 11 % of the total jail population .
Hundreds of staff members also have been infected .
Some sheriff ’ s deputies say their commanders are not doing nearly enough to protect them from the virus .
Some inmates say conditions inside the jails are fast approaching @ @ @ @ @ @ @ — horrible , ” said one inmate who contacted the San Diego Union-Tribune this week .
“ We are on 24-hour lockdown .
We get out for 15 minutes a day , when we can take a shower or use the phone.
” The detainee , who did not want to be identified due to fear of retaliation , said mail deliveries and television privileges had been suspended and that many members of the kitchen staff had been sent home .
The inmates have been eating peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for weeks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the inmate said .
The Sheriff ’ s Department said jail commanders were employing the best practices they could to stem the spread of the virus .
A spokesman also said the department had not experienced any widespread disruption to its food services operation and continued to offer a varied menu .
He said moving inmates between facilities was necessary to manage the population .
“ This is especially true during the COVID-19 pandemic , ” spokesman Lt. Ricardo Lopez said by email .
“ The purpose behind general inmate movement between facilities @ @ @ @ @ @ @ beds at our three intake facilities to keep all newly booked inmates there long term.
” Lopez said the department remained committed to inmate safety , health and welfare — and said only some “ routine community-based medical appointments ” had been deferred , either to limit possible exposure or because some outside clinics had closed due to the pandemic .
“ As many community organizations and services have been impacted by the pandemic as well , we are working with our community partners to continue ongoing care and management plans , such @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and treatment , ” he said .
According to data posted early this week on the Sheriff ’ s Department website , the total number of coronavirus cases has surpassed 1,000 , including more than 500 active infections among inmates and employees .
A total of 757 inmates have been infected with the virus so far this year , the department said , including 414 active cases .
Another 114 inmates have been placed into isolation , the department reported .
Among sheriff ’ s deputies and other staff , the number of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Of those , 134 are active infections .
The department said 181 employees had recovered from the virus and one person had died .
Early in the pandemic , the department teamed up with judges and lawyers to reduce the jail population , which dropped from about 5,500 early this year to fewer than 3,800 .
But the structured release of inmates suspected of committing low-level offenses has largely stalled .
The jail population Thursday was just over 3,750 , and deputies continue to book offenders on relatively minor charges .
In @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , for example , the Sheriff ’ s Department booked 11 people into custody , each on a single charge of being drunk in public , records show .
One sheriff ’ s deputy told the Union-Tribune that despite what department officials had stated publicly , jail commanders continue to expose employees and inmates to the virus unnecessarily .
“ They have upped the protocols , but [ they are ] still moving inmates around , which we can ’ t understand , ” said the deputy , who requested to remain unidentified @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to reporters .
“ It ’ s the detentions ’ upper command , ” the deputy added , referring to the department ’ s Detention Services Bureau , which operates the county ’ s seven jails .
“ Big-time disconnect .
Useless !
” The union that represents jail nurses and counselors said the escalating caseload was indicative of Sheriff Bill Gore ’ s response to the pandemic .
The union said Gore ’ s response had been inadequate — and continues to put public health at risk .
“ This is the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ medical services and subordinating the judgment of healthcare professionals to command staff , ” said David Garcias , president of the local Service Employees International Union chapter , who is challenging the sheriff ’ s plan to outsource all medical services in his jails .
“ The county should put COVID-19 response and containment in the jails under the Health and Human Services Agency , ” Garcias said .
“ The sheriff ’ s negligence in this case shows he is unfit for command.
” The Sheriff ’ s Department has a history @ @ @ @ @ @ @ most cases .
The Union-Tribune last month asked department officials about an outbreak it learned of at the George Bailey Detention Facility in Otay Mesa , the county ’ s largest jail .
They issued a news release later saying that 55 inmates had tested positive and new protocols were being implemented to reduce infections .
“ We do not underestimate the challenges we face to keep COVID-19 from entering San Diego County Sheriff ’ s Department jails and have taken immediate action to safeguard the lives of people in our custody and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” the release said .
Part of the department response , however , included moving some inmates to other jails — at least one of which also experienced a wave of new cases .
According to data obtained by KPBS and reported earlier this week , the outbreak at the George Bailey jail was the worst in San Diego County last month .
The facility recorded no fewer than 149 cases in November .
The Vista Detention Center recorded the fourth-highest number of coronavirus cases last month at 81 .
McDonald and Davis @ @ @ @ @ @ @

More than 540 active coronavirus cases have been confirmed in San Diego County jails, including San Diego Central Jail, above.
Nine months after the novel coronavirus took root in San Diego County jails, cases are continuing to spread, and employees and inmates say they are afraid for their safety.
The Sheriff’s Department is now reporting more than 400 active cases of the coronavirus among its inmates — or 11% of the total jail population. Hundreds of staff members also have been infected.
Some sheriff’s deputies say their commanders are not doing nearly enough to protect them from the virus. Some inmates say conditions inside the jails are fast approaching desperation.
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“It’s horrible — horrible,” said one inmate who contacted the San Diego Union-Tribune this week. “We are on 24-hour lockdown. We get out for 15 minutes a day, when we can take a shower or use the phone.”
The detainee, who did not want to be identified due to fear of retaliation, said mail deliveries and television privileges had been suspended and that many members of the kitchen staff had been sent home. The inmates have been eating peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for weeks.
“We are hostages,” the inmate said.
The Sheriff’s Department said jail commanders were employing the best practices they could to stem the spread of the virus.
A spokesman also said the department had not experienced any widespread disruption to its food services operation and continued to offer a varied menu. He said moving inmates between facilities was necessary to manage the population.
“This is especially true during the COVID-19 pandemic,” spokesman Lt. Ricardo Lopez said by email. “The purpose behind general inmate movement between facilities is simple. There are not enough beds at our three intake facilities to keep all newly booked inmates there long term.”
Lopez said the department remained committed to inmate safety, health and welfare — and said only some “routine community-based medical appointments” had been deferred, either to limit possible exposure or because some outside clinics had closed due to the pandemic.
Advertisement
“As many community organizations and services have been impacted by the pandemic as well, we are working with our community partners to continue ongoing care and management plans, such as dialysis, HIV and oncologic evaluation and treatment,” he said.
According to data posted early this week on the Sheriff’s Department website, the total number of coronavirus cases has surpassed 1,000, including more than 500 active infections among inmates and employees.
A total of 757 inmates have been infected with the virus so far this year, the department said, including 414 active cases. Another 114 inmates have been placed into isolation, the department reported.
Among sheriff’s deputies and other staff, the number of cumulative positive cases has climbed to 316. Of those, 134 are active infections. The department said 181 employees had recovered from the virus and one person had died.
Early in the pandemic, the department teamed up with judges and lawyers to reduce the jail population, which dropped from about 5,500 early this year to fewer than 3,800.
But the structured release of inmates suspected of committing low-level offenses has largely stalled. The jail population Thursday was just over 3,750, and deputies continue to book offenders on relatively minor charges.
In a 24-hour period from Monday to Tuesday, for example, the Sheriff’s Department booked 11 people into custody, each on a single charge of being drunk in public, records show.
One sheriff’s deputy told the Union-Tribune that despite what department officials had stated publicly, jail commanders continue to expose employees and inmates to the virus unnecessarily.
“They have upped the protocols, but [they are] still moving inmates around, which we can’t understand,” said the deputy, who requested to remain unidentified because they were not authorized to speak to reporters.
“It’s the detentions’ upper command,” the deputy added, referring to the department’s Detention Services Bureau, which operates the county’s seven jails. “Big-time disconnect. Useless!”
The union that represents jail nurses and counselors said the escalating caseload was indicative of Sheriff Bill Gore’s response to the pandemic. The union said Gore’s response had been inadequate — and continues to put public health at risk.
“This is the outcome of critically low levels of understaffing medical services and subordinating the judgment of healthcare professionals to command staff,” said David Garcias, president of the local Service Employees International Union chapter, who is challenging the sheriff’s plan to outsource all medical services in his jails.
“The county should put COVID-19 response and containment in the jails under the Health and Human Services Agency,” Garcias said. “The sheriff’s negligence in this case shows he is unfit for command.”
The Sheriff’s Department has a history of not detailing which facilities have the most cases.
The Union-Tribune last month asked department officials about an outbreak it learned of at the George Bailey Detention Facility in Otay Mesa, the county’s largest jail. They issued a news release later saying that 55 inmates had tested positive and new protocols were being implemented to reduce infections.
“We do not underestimate the challenges we face to keep COVID-19 from entering San Diego County Sheriff’s Department jails and have taken immediate action to safeguard the lives of people in our custody and those who work in our facilities,” the release said.
Part of the department response, however, included moving some inmates to other jails — at least one of which also experienced a wave of new cases.
According to data obtained by KPBS and reported earlier this week, the outbreak at the George Bailey jail was the worst in San Diego County last month. The facility recorded no fewer than 149 cases in November.
The Vista Detention Center recorded the fourth-highest number of coronavirus cases last month at 81.
McDonald and Davis write for the San Diego Union-Tribune.


latimes--2020-12-26--Are tattoos free speech that should override coronavirus restrictions? California artists say yes

Unsure whether he could hold a funeral for his grandmother who succumbed to COVID-19 , the man turned to Tiffany Mitchell for another way to memorialize her .
He “ couldn ’ t just get the phone call and go , ‘ OK , she ’ s dead ’ and just leave it at that and do nothing at all , ” said Mitchell , who owns Black Raven Tattoo in Torrance .
“ For a lot of people , a tattoo is one of the only outlets they have to honor somebody.
” With a whirring tattoo gun , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” on his forearm .
This was during a brief window beginning in October , when Los Angeles County tattoo parlors opened after being shuttered for the second time by coronavirus restrictions .
A state order that went into effect earlier this month brought about a third wave of closures across most of California .
Mitchell and two other Southern California tattoo parlor owners have sued Gov .
Gavin Newsom over the mandated closures .
On Wednesday , a federal judge denied their request to temporarily lift the restrictions .
For public health @ @ @ @ @ @ @ into the personal care services category that includes nail salons and barbers — all requiring prolonged , close contact with clients .
But unlike nail and hair styling , tattoos are considered a form of constitutionally protected free speech in some jurisdictions .
About a decade ago , the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals , which covers California and other Western states , ruled in a case involving an Hermosa Beach shop that a “ tattoo itself , the process of tattooing , and even the business of tattooing are ... purely @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Amendment.
” In her Wednesday ruling , U.S. District Judge Dale Fischer said state officials did not specifically target the speech expressed by the tattooing .
The state ’ s public health interest in containing the coronavirus trumps the tattoo parlors ’ free speech interest , she said .
Although their stores are closed , Fischer said in her order that tattoo artists could plan future designs or create temporary tattoos for clients .
Robert Moest , an attorney for the tattoo artists , said Fischer ’ s suggestions showed a misunderstanding of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ put ‘ Mom ’ on your arm in magic marker , it might not be as meaningful to Mom , ” said Moest , who won free speech protections for tattoos in the Hermosa Beach case and others .
Tattoo artists say they undergo rigorous annual training that covers blood-borne pathogens and contamination risks .
Getting inked during a pandemic is safe , they say .
“ We have the same practices and procedures , say , a dentist would have , ” Mitchell said .
Recalling a recent trip to a crowded @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his business was “ much safer.
” West , who owns Palace Art Tattoo in Thousand Oaks , is a plaintiff in the lawsuit .
Not all health experts are on board .
Natascha Tuznik , UC Davis Health associate professor of infectious disease , called tattooing “ one of the riskiest services you can get , ” in a Q & A published in June .
She says the close physical contact , coupled with piercing the skin , means elevated risk , regardless of sterilization techniques .
Amid the health and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s an urgent issue at stake : They ’ re trying to keep a roof over their heads and food on the table .
It ’ s a painful refrain echoed by business owners across many sectors struggling during the pandemic .
West said he had burned through savings and a government loan .
“ That covered the first shutdown .
Like , what now ?
” said West , who has three children .
Four other tattoo artists in his shop are also suffering from the closure , he said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , said she was also fighting to keep the lights on .
Early in the pandemic , she took out a small-business loan for nearly $ 90,000 and is facing mounting debt as interest racks up .
Mitchell and West both owe their tattoo parlors ’ existence to battles against bans in their respective cities , with Moest as their attorney .
Now , after the judge ruled against them this week , they ’ re grappling with whether to push forward with their coronavirus lawsuit .
“ I ’ m not one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been , really , ” West said , adding that he still needed to confer with his co-plaintiffs .
During the few weeks his shop was open , there was a steady stream of requests for pandemic-related tattoos .
He has inked cartoon versions of the spiky virus on people , with facial features and sometimes the year “ 2020 ” written alongside .
One client asked for a tattoo of himself sitting on the couch playing video games — his quarantine hobby .
West anticipates that similar requests will roll in when @ @ @ @ @ @ @ People are going to want to forget about it , ” he said , “ but also remember it .
”

Tiffany Mitchell stands outside of her Black Raven Tattoo shop in Torrance. A judge on Wednesday ruled against her and two other tattoo shop owners who sought an exemption from state-mandated business closures. Now they’re weighing what to do next.
Unsure whether he could hold a funeral for his grandmother who succumbed to COVID-19, the man turned to Tiffany Mitchell for another way to memorialize her.
He “couldn’t just get the phone call and go, ‘OK, she’s dead’ and just leave it at that and do nothing at all,” said Mitchell, who owns Black Raven Tattoo in Torrance. “For a lot of people, a tattoo is one of the only outlets they have to honor somebody.”
For the record: An earlier version of this article referred to U.S. District Judge Dale Fischer as a man. Fischer is a woman.
With a whirring tattoo gun, she emblazoned the words “Grandma RIP” on his forearm.
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This was during a brief window beginning in October, when Los Angeles County tattoo parlors opened after being shuttered for the second time by coronavirus restrictions. A state order that went into effect earlier this month brought about a third wave of closures across most of California.
Mitchell and two other Southern California tattoo parlor owners have sued Gov. Gavin Newsom over the mandated closures. On Wednesday, a federal judge denied their request to temporarily lift the restrictions.
For public health purposes, the state lumps tattoo parlors into the personal care services category that includes nail salons and barbers — all requiring prolonged, close contact with clients.
But unlike nail and hair styling, tattoos are considered a form of constitutionally protected free speech in some jurisdictions.
About a decade ago, the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals, which covers California and other Western states, ruled in a case involving an Hermosa Beach shop that a “tattoo itself, the process of tattooing, and even the business of tattooing are ... purely expressive activity fully protected by the 1st Amendment.”
In her Wednesday ruling, U.S. District Judge Dale Fischer said state officials did not specifically target the speech expressed by the tattooing. The state’s public health interest in containing the coronavirus trumps the tattoo parlors’ free speech interest, she said.
Although their stores are closed, Fischer said in her order that tattoo artists could plan future designs or create temporary tattoos for clients.
Advertisement
Robert Moest, an attorney for the tattoo artists, said Fischer’s suggestions showed a misunderstanding of the art form.
“If you put ‘Mom’ on your arm in magic marker, it might not be as meaningful to Mom,” said Moest, who won free speech protections for tattoos in the Hermosa Beach case and others.
Tattoo artists say they undergo rigorous annual training that covers blood-borne pathogens and contamination risks. Getting inked during a pandemic is safe, they say.
“We have the same practices and procedures, say, a dentist would have,” Mitchell said.
Recalling a recent trip to a crowded Target, tattoo artist Glenn West said his business was “much safer.” West, who owns Palace Art Tattoo in Thousand Oaks, is a plaintiff in the lawsuit.
Not all health experts are on board. Natascha Tuznik, UC Davis Health associate professor of infectious disease, called tattooing “one of the riskiest services you can get,” in a Q&A published in June.
She says the close physical contact, coupled with piercing the skin, means elevated risk, regardless of sterilization techniques.
Amid the health and constitutional debates, the artists say there’s an urgent issue at stake: They’re trying to keep a roof over their heads and food on the table. It’s a painful refrain echoed by business owners across many sectors struggling during the pandemic.
West said he had burned through savings and a government loan.
“That covered the first shutdown. Like, what now?” said West, who has three children. Four other tattoo artists in his shop are also suffering from the closure, he said.
Mitchell, who has a young daughter, said she was also fighting to keep the lights on. Early in the pandemic, she took out a small-business loan for nearly $90,000 and is facing mounting debt as interest racks up.
Mitchell and West both owe their tattoo parlors’ existence to battles against bans in their respective cities, with Moest as their attorney.
Now, after the judge ruled against them this week, they’re grappling with whether to push forward with their coronavirus lawsuit.
“I’m not one to give up. I never have been, really,” West said, adding that he still needed to confer with his co-plaintiffs.
During the few weeks his shop was open, there was a steady stream of requests for pandemic-related tattoos.
He has inked cartoon versions of the spiky virus on people, with facial features and sometimes the year “2020” written alongside.
One client asked for a tattoo of himself sitting on the couch playing video games — his quarantine hobby.
West anticipates that similar requests will roll in when he is able to reopen.
“People are going to want to forget about it,” he said, “but also remember it.”


latimes--2020-12-26--Los Angeles must change use of gang injunctions under court settlement

Los Angeles police and prosecutors can no longer blanket entire areas of the city with gang injunctions and must instead use them in a more targeted , deliberate way under the terms of a court settlement reached last month .
The settlement resolves a class action lawsuit filed four years ago by the American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California and the Youth Justice Coalition .
In the lawsuit , the groups accused the city of violating the civil rights of thousands of residents who were swept up in the gang injunctions without being given the chance to challenge their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ A federal judge ruled in March 2018 that if the case proceeded to trial it was likely that the city ’ s process for enforcing injunctions would be struck down and barred the city from enforcing nearly all of its active injunctions .
The injunctions , which are civil court orders issued by judges , are used throughout the state and were designed to make it difficult for gangs to operate by barring members from congregating with each other or associates , wearing clothes with gang colors or engaging in other activities in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a specific gang ’ s turf .
Suspected violators were typically detained by police and charged with criminal contempt .
The LAPD has relied heavily on injunctions since the 1980s , when street gangs began to flourish in Los Angeles .
When seeking injunctions , however , city officials typically asked judges to impose them on an entire street gang or a gang ’ s faction , rather than alleged members of the gang .
After a judge approved an injunction , LAPD investigators and prosecutors from the City Attorney ’ s office @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or associates who were subject to the injunction .
In the lawsuit , lawyers for the ACLU argued that process was unconstitutional since the city did not have to meet any burden of proof before including someone in an injunction .
The claims took on heightened significance as the LAPD came under fire for the way it polices gang activity in recent years .
Three officers were charged with falsely labeling people as gang members earlier this year , a scandal that has forced the Los Angeles County district attorney ’ s office @ @ @ @ @ @ @ officers testified in .
The California attorney general ’ s office also barred other law enforcement agencies from using LAPD records uploaded to the state ’ s embattled gang database earlier this year , due to concerns about the accuracy of the information LAPD had provided .
Across the city there are currently 46 “ permanent orders ” enjoining 79 different gangs or factions .
In light of the settlement , however , police are not enforcing them against any individual people , said Rob Wilcox , a spokesman for the city attorney @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gang injunctions can only be enforced against named defendants who have been given a chance to challenge their gang designation in court , according to the terms of the settlement .
Injunctions will also expire after five years .
The settlement does not include any payouts by the city .
Melanie Ochoa , a senior staff attorney with the ACLU who worked on the case , said the lawsuit ’ s class was made up of an estimated 9,000 people who were subject to a gang injunction in Los Angeles without being given @ @ @ @ @ @ @ court .
“ This agreement strikes the right balance — safeguarding individual civil liberties while protecting communities from gang violence , ” Los Angeles City Atty .
Mike Feuer said in response to questions about the settlement .
Feuer said he planned to continue using gang injunctions but might do so more judiciously on “ a case by case basis.
” Ochoa criticized the LAPD ’ s long history of using injunctions , saying the department ’ s sweeping , unchecked approach unfairly profiled communities of color .
She said she was relieved @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ I don ’ t know how many more of these instances need to happen for the LAPD to really just change its approach and to give up trying to find new and creative ways to give an official veneer to harassing Black and Latino [ men ] , particularly young men , who are just trying to exist in these communities , ” she said .
Questions about the necessity and value of injunctions have lingered for years .
There were roughly 8,900 people subject to the injunctions in 2016 , when @ @ @ @ @ @ @ year later , the city attorney ’ s office released the results of an audit of its injunction rolls and found more than 7,300 people who no longer needed to be subject to the court orders .
Many people were still subject to the injunctions in L.A. despite either moving out of the neighborhood where the orders were relevant or having long severed ties with any gangs .
In some cases , dead people ’ s names were still affixed to the injunctions .
Police agencies across California have begun to move away @ @ @ @ @ @ @ years , due to a mix of public backlash or concerns about due process violations similar to those alleged in Los Angeles .
While gang violence and violent crime overall in the city have fallen dramatically over the past few decades , the downward trend stalled this year as shootings and homicides surged amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic .
The city had seen 335 homicides as of Saturday , marking a 33 % increase over last year .
Shootings were up nearly 40 % .
Officials have blamed much of that violence on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ grown increasingly brazen in their willingness to open fire on groups of people .
According to LAPD data through Dec. 5 , homicides that police have determined were gang related were up 29 % compared to last year .
Asked about the injunction settlement , LAPD Chief Michel Moore said he supports the revised approach , adding that the new policy will ensure restrictions on gang members are “ warranted and a result of their individual conduct , and not a broad based description of their gang lifestyle .
”

Peter Arellano was the subject of an Echo Park gang injunction, along with his father, despite having never been proven to be a gang member in court.
Los Angeles police and prosecutors can no longer blanket entire areas of the city with gang injunctions and must instead use them in a more targeted, deliberate way under the terms of a court settlement reached last month.
The settlement resolves a class action lawsuit filed four years ago by the American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California and the Youth Justice Coalition. In the lawsuit, the groups accused the city of violating the civil rights of thousands of residents who were swept up in the gang injunctions without being given the chance to challenge their designation as gang members in court.
A federal judge ruled in March 2018 that if the case proceeded to trial it was likely that the city’s process for enforcing injunctions would be struck down and barred the city from enforcing nearly all of its active injunctions.
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The injunctions, which are civil court orders issued by judges, are used throughout the state and were designed to make it difficult for gangs to operate by barring members from congregating with each other or associates, wearing clothes with gang colors or engaging in other activities in neighborhoods that law enforcement considered to be a specific gang’s turf. Suspected violators were typically detained by police and charged with criminal contempt.
The LAPD has relied heavily on injunctions since the 1980s, when street gangs began to flourish in Los Angeles. When seeking injunctions, however, city officials typically asked judges to impose them on an entire street gang or a gang’s faction, rather than alleged members of the gang. After a judge approved an injunction, LAPD investigators and prosecutors from the City Attorney’s office would then identify individuals as gang members or associates who were subject to the injunction.
In the lawsuit, lawyers for the ACLU argued that process was unconstitutional since the city did not have to meet any burden of proof before including someone in an injunction.
The claims took on heightened significance as the LAPD came under fire for the way it polices gang activity in recent years.
Three officers were charged with falsely labeling people as gang members earlier this year, a scandal that has forced the Los Angeles County district attorney’s office to review hundreds of cases that the officers testified in. The California attorney general’s office also barred other law enforcement agencies from using LAPD records uploaded to the state’s embattled gang database earlier this year, due to concerns about the accuracy of the information LAPD had provided.
Across the city there are currently 46 “permanent orders” enjoining 79 different gangs or factions. In light of the settlement, however, police are not enforcing them against any individual people, said Rob Wilcox, a spokesman for the city attorney’s office.
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Going forward, gang injunctions can only be enforced against named defendants who have been given a chance to challenge their gang designation in court, according to the terms of the settlement. Injunctions will also expire after five years.
The settlement does not include any payouts by the city. Melanie Ochoa, a senior staff attorney with the ACLU who worked on the case, said the lawsuit’s class was made up of an estimated 9,000 people who were subject to a gang injunction in Los Angeles without being given a chance to challenge their inclusion in court.
“This agreement strikes the right balance — safeguarding individual civil liberties while protecting communities from gang violence,” Los Angeles City Atty. Mike Feuer said in response to questions about the settlement.
Feuer said he planned to continue using gang injunctions but might do so more judiciously on “a case by case basis.”
Ochoa criticized the LAPD’s long history of using injunctions, saying the department’s sweeping, unchecked approach unfairly profiled communities of color. She said she was relieved to see their use severely curtailed.
“I don’t know how many more of these instances need to happen for the LAPD to really just change its approach and to give up trying to find new and creative ways to give an official veneer to harassing Black and Latino [men], particularly young men, who are just trying to exist in these communities,” she said.
Questions about the necessity and value of injunctions have lingered for years. There were roughly 8,900 people subject to the injunctions in 2016, when the ACLU filed its lawsuit. One year later, the city attorney’s office released the results of an audit of its injunction rolls and found more than 7,300 people who no longer needed to be subject to the court orders.
Many people were still subject to the injunctions in L.A. despite either moving out of the neighborhood where the orders were relevant or having long severed ties with any gangs. In some cases, dead people’s names were still affixed to the injunctions. Police agencies across California have begun to move away from the use of injunctions in recent years, due to a mix of public backlash or concerns about due process violations similar to those alleged in Los Angeles.
While gang violence and violent crime overall in the city have fallen dramatically over the past few decades, the downward trend stalled this year as shootings and homicides surged amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The city had seen 335 homicides as of Saturday, marking a 33% increase over last year. Shootings were up nearly 40%.
Officials have blamed much of that violence on gang members, who police believe have grown increasingly brazen in their willingness to open fire on groups of people. According to LAPD data through Dec. 5, homicides that police have determined were gang related were up 29% compared to last year.
Asked about the injunction settlement, LAPD Chief Michel Moore said he supports the revised approach, adding that the new policy will ensure restrictions on gang members are “warranted and a result of their individual conduct, and not a broad based description of their gang lifestyle.”
Times Staff Writer Kevin Rector contributed to this report.


latimes--2020-12-27--For young Californians, climate change is a mental health crisis too

Maddie Cole in eighth grade stopped running cross country .
She ’ d competed the year before , but the was so bad that she got sick during a race ; she soon learned she had asthma .
The next year the sky above Sacramento turned gray with smoke from .
Maddie and her classmates went to school with masks on .
“ It felt , ” she said , “ like a futuristic apocalypse.
” The situation has only worsened as wildfires and their devastation have become so routine that she and her classmates are “ just used to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 16 and a junior .
This fall “ it was just like , ‘ Yeah , California ’ s on fire again .
It ’ s that time of year.
’ ” Neither the polluted air nor the wildfires punctuating Maddie ’ s adolescence are random .
Both are being , and the future they portend has left Maddie feeling helpless , anxious and scared .
Climate anxiety and other mental health struggles are rampant among Maddie ’ s generation , according to experts who warn that young Californians are growing up in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dealing with the that comes with it .
The scope of the problem is enormous .
The Earth ’ s temperature has skyrocketed since the Industrial Age , fueled by human activity and accompanying greenhouse gas emissions .
Dramatic reductions in those emissions , and in fossil fuel use , will be necessary to prevent temperatures from reaching a tipping point by 2030 , the United Nations ’ Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change warned two years ago .
Without reducing those emissions , climate change will make natural disasters , food shortages and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ say .
The world is not yet on track to make the changes necessary to ameliorate its worst effects .
Such dire predictions can affect mental health , particularly among young people .
Polls have found that climate change-related stress for 47 % of America ’ s young adults ; over half of teenagers about climate change ; and 72 % of young adults are concerned that it will .
played a central role in teenage activist Greta Thunberg ’ s political awakening , and according to Varshini Prakash — executive director of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ — it ’ s not uncommon for her group to meet kids who have contemplated .
“ Surveys have found that young people often experience more fear , sadness and anger regarding climate change than their older counterparts , as well as an increased sense of helplessness or hopelessness , ” said Hasina Samji , an assistant professor at Simon Fraser University who has of climate change on young people , in an email .
In particular , “ areas that suffer direct , visible effects of climate change … have been observed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , shock and PTSD.
” Young Angelenos described similar emotions and mental stress when contemplating the climate crisis .
Kate Shapiro , 15 , said humanity ’ s selfishness , greed and “ lack of foresight ” about the warming planet contributes to her depression .
Sarah Allen , 25 , said she shudders in “ real terror ” when contemplating the plight of future generations .
And Sam Jackson , 29 , said the enormity of the problem leaves him feeling “ exhausted.
” To cope , many have become activists or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the planet .
Some go vegetarian or vegan .
Others have opted not to buy a car , even in car-centric Los Angeles , or are making plans to leave Los Angeles before the fires and droughts become unbearable .
And a few said the looming environmental disaster has discouraged them from having children .
“ As I ’ ve gotten to learn more about how much or how disproportionate an impact an additional American has … [ I ’ m ] less and less inclined to create a new person , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Palms .
Others are throwing themselves into climate activism as a way to deal with the stress .
Lifestyle changes “ empower individuals to feel like they can act , ” said Abby Austin , 23 , the political lead for the Sunrise Movement ’ s L.A. branch — echoing medical professionals who say that even small personal actions can help people feel like .
Getting involved with activism can serve a similar function .
Many young Californians said volunteering with climate advocacy groups like the Sunrise Movement or for politicians who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in their platforms has given them a sense of purpose .
“ A lot of the people who are in Sunrise , ” Austin said , “ are literally organizing out of climate anxiety .
”

Students in San Francisco march as part of the international Youth Climate Strike on March 15, 2019, inspired by young Swedish activist Greta Thunberg.
Maddie Cole in eighth grade stopped running cross country. She’d competed the year before, but the air quality in her native Sacramento was so bad that she got sick during a race; she soon learned she had asthma.
The next year the sky above Sacramento turned gray with smoke from the 2018 Camp fire . Maddie and her classmates went to school with masks on. “It felt,” she said, “like a futuristic apocalypse.”
The situation has only worsened as wildfires and their devastation have become so routine that she and her classmates are “just used to it,” said Maddie, now 16 and a junior. This fall “it was just like, ‘Yeah, California’s on fire again. It’s that time of year.’”
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Neither the polluted air nor the wildfires punctuating Maddie’s adolescence are random. Both are being exacerbated by climate change , and the future they portend has left Maddie feeling helpless, anxious and scared. Climate anxiety and other mental health struggles are rampant among Maddie’s generation, according to experts who warn that young Californians are growing up in the shadow of looming catastrophe — and dealing with the emotional and psychological fallout that comes with it.
The scope of the problem is enormous.
The Earth’s temperature has skyrocketed since the Industrial Age, fueled by human activity and accompanying greenhouse gas emissions. Dramatic reductions in those emissions, and in fossil fuel use, will be necessary to prevent temperatures from reaching a tipping point by 2030, the United Nations’ Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change warned two years ago.
Without reducing those emissions, climate change will make natural disasters, food shortages and rising sea levels even worse, experts say. The world is not yet on track to make the changes necessary to ameliorate its worst effects.
Such dire predictions can affect mental health, particularly among young people. Polls have found that climate change-related stress affects daily life for 47% of America’s young adults; over half of teenagers feel afraid and angry about climate change; and 72% of young adults are concerned that it will harm their community .
Climate depression played a central role in teenage activist Greta Thunberg’s political awakening, and according to Varshini Prakash — executive director of youth-focused climate activism group the Sunrise Movement — it’s not uncommon for her group to meet kids who have contemplated suicide over the climate crisis .
“Surveys have found that young people often experience more fear, sadness and anger regarding climate change than their older counterparts, as well as an increased sense of helplessness or hopelessness,” said Hasina Samji, an assistant professor at Simon Fraser University who has explored the mental toll of climate change on young people, in an email. In particular, “areas that suffer direct, visible effects of climate change … have been observed to face acute impacts such as trauma, shock and PTSD.”
Young Angelenos described similar emotions and mental stress when contemplating the climate crisis. Kate Shapiro, 15, said humanity’s selfishness, greed and “lack of foresight” about the warming planet contributes to her depression. Sarah Allen, 25, said she shudders in “real terror” when contemplating the plight of future generations. And Sam Jackson, 29, said the enormity of the problem leaves him feeling “exhausted.”
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To cope, many have become activists or taken steps to reduce their own effect on the planet. Some go vegetarian or vegan. Others have opted not to buy a car, even in car-centric Los Angeles, or are making plans to leave Los Angeles before the fires and droughts become unbearable. And a few said the looming environmental disaster has discouraged them from having children.
“As I’ve gotten to learn more about how much or how disproportionate an impact an additional American has … [I’m] less and less inclined to create a new person,” said Elliott Lee, 26, of Palms.
Others are throwing themselves into climate activism as a way to deal with the stress.
Lifestyle changes “empower individuals to feel like they can act,” said Abby Austin, 23, the political lead for the Sunrise Movement’s L.A. branch — echoing medical professionals who say that even small personal actions can help people feel like broader change remains possible .
Getting involved with activism can serve a similar function. Many young Californians said volunteering with climate advocacy groups like the Sunrise Movement or for politicians who have made climate change a central plank in their platforms has given them a sense of purpose.
“A lot of the people who are in Sunrise,” Austin said, “are literally organizing out of climate anxiety.”


latimes--2020-12-27--Christmas Day in an O.C. ICU: Not many miracles but plenty of pain

In the morning , Angelica Rojas got the best present of her life .
The doctor told her that the man she had married six years ago was awake and getting better after nearly a month in the intensive care unit at Providence St. Jude Medical Center .
By the afternoon , the virus sought to steal back the gift .
“ Heavenly Father , please eradicate this fever out of his system , ” Rojas prayed Friday , as she watched Eduardo through an iPad screen .
A damp washcloth lay on the 50-year-old ’ s head .
A @ @ @ @ @ @ @ On Christmas Day in the intensive care unit in Fullerton , there were no carols — just a chorus of beeps that nurses knew signaled a low heart rate or oxygen levels dropping .
There were no decorations , no tree , not much joy .
The only splashes of red and green in the 32 rooms were the wires snaking across some patient beds .
“ Heal him from the top of his head to the bottom of his feet , ” Rojas pleaded .
“ We ask this in the precious @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Holy Spirit , amen.
” In the summer , at its peak , Providence St. Jude in Orange County had about 70 patients with COVID-19 .
As of Christmas morning , there were 190 .
Of those , 42 were in the ICU .
That day , in 4 North ICU , a family said goodbye to a loved one taken off the ventilator .
The painful Christmas scene unfolded in a county that has been the most vocal against statewide restrictions .
Earlier this month , the sheriff said he would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s stay-at-home order .
In Huntington Beach — ground zero for protests against statewide shutdowns — the mayor pro tem has refused to wear a mask at public events .
Dr. Harry Peled , medical director of the ICU , called the last few weeks , “ incredibly grim when you look at the numbers of cases and the people refusing to wear masks.
” He called the resistance to following health directives , “ highly aggravating for all of us in healthcare.
” They had come up with a solution for those @ @ @ @ @ @ @ You get to walk the COVID rooms without any PPE.
” For healthcare workers , the dire 2020 holiday season has underscored how dangerous and volatile the pandemic has become .
In Orange County , as of Saturday there are nearly 2,000 people hospitalized , 432 of them in the ICU .
“ We see what these patients are going through , ” said Dr. Michael Katz , a critical care doctor .
“ It ’ s hard for us to predict which person once they get the coronavirus will be one of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lot of the ones who become severely ill don ’ t do well , despite our best efforts.
” Suffering through a surge that they believe stems from Thanksgiving travel and gatherings , they fear what ’ s coming next .
“ We ’ re very concerned that people getting together for Christmas and New Year ’ s is going to lead to an even bigger wave , ” Katz said .
Every room is a window into the indiscriminate cruelty of the virus .
There are patients in their 90s , 50s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the night before and others who have been there for weeks .
Behind sliding doors , some wore pressurized masks — the max level of support patients can receive , short of going on a ventilator .
Many of the patients were sedated .
When they woke up , nurses had to tell them where they were .
Staff shifted patients ’ positions throughout the day so they wouldn ’ t get bed sores .
Inside Room 22 , nurse practitioner Gloria Franklin held a purple iPad up to Margaret Gallegos-Capetello .
Her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their two children were waiting to greet her .
“ We love you Aunt Margaret , ” her family called out from the screen .
The 91-year-old , who once helped put together airplanes for McDonnell Douglas , had gotten sick with COVID about a week before in her senior living community .
When her oxygen level dropped , she was admitted .
“ You need to try and get better , OK ?
” said her niece , Rosemary Kinder , her voice cracking with emotion .
“ Stay strong for me.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , her nurses urged her to take deep breaths .
When the aqua number — which signaled her oxygen level — began to drop , Franklin told the family they would have to end the call .
“ For all that you ’ ve been through , you ’ re doing great and we love you very much , ” her great nephew , Robert Kinder , said .
“ Aunt Margaret , we want you to know that we ’ re here for you and we ’ re always watching you.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Angelica Rojas told her husband over and over that she loved him .
When she asked if he loved her , he moved his mouth to form the words but was unable to speak .
The virus had swept through Eduardo ’ s family .
First it was Eduardo ’ s brother , then his parents , another brother , then himself and his wife .
Then two of her daughters were infected ; one is 22 , the other is 31 and pregnant .
Eduardo , Katz said , “ almost @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Christmas Eve was the first day that he began to wake up .
The next morning , Katz saw him communicating with a nurse , the first time he ’ d seen him able to do so .
“ When I heard this morning that he said good morning to the nurse in ICU , it was like the best feeling I ’ ve ever felt in years , ” Rojas said .
“ This is the best Christmas gift that I ’ ve ever received in my entire life.
” Like @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Rojas said a prayer , thankful that her husband ’ s eyes were open .
This , she said , was “ the most beautiful Christmas.
” “ Jesus is holding your hand , ” Rojas told her husband .
“ Don ’ t let go.
” That afternoon , nurses called their own families from the break room , where someone had brought in surgical masks decorated with snowmen , trees and candy canes .
“ Merry Christmas , I love you guys , ” a registered nurse told his mom over @ @ @ @ @ @ @ board , a sign read , “ There is hope even when your brain tells you there isn ’ t. ” Elizabeth Waite , a registered nurse , volunteered to work Christmas because she doesn ’ t have children and she wanted some of the other nurses to be able to spend time with their kids .
That morning , she and her husband exchanged cards before she started her shift .
In an attempt to be festive , she wore Christmas-tree earrings , her surgical mask featured Santa and her grey socks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Christmas and I don ’ t mind , it ’ s normally not a big deal .
But it ’ s sad here , ” Waite said , tears rolling out of the corners of her eyes behind her protective lenses .
“ It ’ s harder this year.
” “ I just pray every night for these people.
” Joan Pung , a registered nurse , had celebrated the holiday the night before with her husband and two sons , 7 and 2 , after she finished her shift at 7:40 p.m @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The next morning , she was back by 6 a.m. , ahead of another 12 hour shift .
She marked the occasion with a long-sleeved green shirt that read , “ All I want for Christmas is peace rainbows and unicorns.
” “ I do miss them , ” she said of her sons .
“ But then I know work is also in need.
” The last few weeks , Pung said , had been “ unbearable.
” For a while , it felt as if every day there was a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ She barely got a chance to take a drink of water or sit down .
But Christmas , Pung said , felt “ like a good day.
” There weren ’ t many patients they had lost or come close to losing .

It was a perfectly COVID Christmas.
In the morning, Angelica Rojas got the best present of her life. The doctor told her that the man she had married six years ago was awake and getting better after nearly a month in the intensive care unit at Providence St. Jude Medical Center.
By the afternoon, the virus sought to steal back the gift.
“Heavenly Father, please eradicate this fever out of his system,” Rojas prayed Friday, as she watched Eduardo through an iPad screen. A damp washcloth lay on the 50-year-old’s head. A tube stuck out from his neck.
Brenda Lorenzo wears a Santa hat and a leopard mask over her N95 in the ICU at Providence St. Jude Medical Center. (Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times)
On Christmas Day in the intensive care unit in Fullerton, there were no carols — just a chorus of beeps that nurses knew signaled a low heart rate or oxygen levels dropping. There were no decorations, no tree, not much joy. The only splashes of red and green in the 32 rooms were the wires snaking across some patient beds.
“Heal him from the top of his head to the bottom of his feet,” Rojas pleaded. “We ask this in the precious name of your son Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit, amen.”
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In the summer, at its peak, Providence St. Jude in Orange County had about 70 patients with COVID-19. As of Christmas morning, there were 190. Of those, 42 were in the ICU.
RN Joan Pung weaves her way through IV lines as she brings medication to a patient’s room. (Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times)
That day, in 4 North ICU, a family said goodbye to a loved one taken off the ventilator.
The painful Christmas scene unfolded in a county that has been the most vocal against statewide restrictions. Earlier this month, the sheriff said he would not enforce Gov. Gavin Newsom’s stay-at-home order. In Huntington Beach — ground zero for protests against statewide shutdowns — the mayor pro tem has refused to wear a mask at public events.
Dr. Harry Peled, medical director of the ICU, called the last few weeks, “incredibly grim when you look at the numbers of cases and the people refusing to wear masks.” He called the resistance to following health directives, “highly aggravating for all of us in healthcare.”
They had come up with a solution for those people, he joked wryly: “You get to walk the COVID rooms without any PPE.”
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Nurse practitioner Gloria Franklin holds an iPad up to patient Margaret Gallegos-Capetello, 91, as RN Ana Ramos, right, assists. (Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times)
For healthcare workers, the dire 2020 holiday season has underscored how dangerous and volatile the pandemic has become. In Orange County, as of Saturday there are nearly 2,000 people hospitalized, 432 of them in the ICU.
“We see what these patients are going through,” said Dr. Michael Katz, a critical care doctor. “It’s hard for us to predict which person once they get the coronavirus will be one of the ones who become severely ill. A lot of the ones who become severely ill don’t do well, despite our best efforts.”
Suffering through a surge that they believe stems from Thanksgiving travel and gatherings, they fear what’s coming next.
RN Ana Ramos holds the hand of Margaret Gallegos-Capetello as her family talks to her over an iPad.
(Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times)
“We’re very concerned that people getting together for Christmas and New Year’s is going to lead to an even bigger wave,” Katz said.
Every room is a window into the indiscriminate cruelty of the virus.
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There are patients in their 90s, 50s, 40s and 20s, some admitted the night before and others who have been there for weeks. Behind sliding doors, some wore pressurized masks — the max level of support patients can receive, short of going on a ventilator.
Many of the patients were sedated. When they woke up, nurses had to tell them where they were. Staff shifted patients’ positions throughout the day so they wouldn’t get bed sores.
Inside Room 22, nurse practitioner Gloria Franklin held a purple iPad up to Margaret Gallegos-Capetello. Her niece, niece’s husband and their two children were waiting to greet her.
Nurse Elizabeth Waite begins to cry. “I always work Christmas and I don’t mind, it’s normally not a big deal. But it’s sad here,” she said.
(Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times)
“Margaret, open your eyes darling,” Franklin coaxed.
“We love you Aunt Margaret,” her family called out from the screen.
The 91-year-old, who once helped put together airplanes for McDonnell Douglas, had gotten sick with COVID about a week before in her senior living community. When her oxygen level dropped, she was admitted.
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“You need to try and get better, OK?” said her niece, Rosemary Kinder, her voice cracking with emotion. “Stay strong for me.”
RN Ana Ramos helps Margaret Gallegos-Capetello in the ICU.
(Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times)
As Gallegos-Capetello struggled against her mask, her nurses urged her to take deep breaths. When the aqua number — which signaled her oxygen level — began to drop, Franklin told the family they would have to end the call.
“For all that you’ve been through, you’re doing great and we love you very much,” her great nephew, Robert Kinder, said. “Aunt Margaret, we want you to know that we’re here for you and we’re always watching you.”
Down the hall, in Room 3, Angelica Rojas told her husband over and over that she loved him. When she asked if he loved her, he moved his mouth to form the words but was unable to speak.
Joseph Demesa of RCP Respiratory Services works with a patient.
(Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times)
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The virus had swept through Eduardo’s family. First it was Eduardo’s brother, then his parents, another brother, then himself and his wife. Then two of her daughters were infected; one is 22, the other is 31 and pregnant.
Eduardo, Katz said, “almost died every day for about two weeks.” Christmas Eve was the first day that he began to wake up.
The next morning, Katz saw him communicating with a nurse, the first time he’d seen him able to do so.
Daniel Guerrero, left, and RN Joan Pung don their isolation gowns in the hallway. The IV stands have been placed outside the rooms of COVID patients to minimize nurses’ exposure. (Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times)
“When I heard this morning that he said good morning to the nurse in ICU, it was like the best feeling I’ve ever felt in years,” Rojas said. “This is the best Christmas gift that I’ve ever received in my entire life.”
Like she does every time she calls, Rojas said a prayer, thankful that her husband’s eyes were open. This, she said, was “the most beautiful Christmas.”
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“Jesus is holding your hand,” Rojas told her husband. “Don’t let go.”
RN Kat Yi holds an iPad up to Eduardo Rojas so that his wife can talk to him. Rojas is director of maintenance and operations with San Gabriel Unified School District.
(Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times)
That afternoon, nurses called their own families from the break room, where someone had brought in surgical masks decorated with snowmen, trees and candy canes.
“Merry Christmas, I love you guys,” a registered nurse told his mom over video chat. On a nearby bulletin board, a sign read, “There is hope even when your brain tells you there isn’t.”
Elizabeth Waite, a registered nurse, volunteered to work Christmas because she doesn’t have children and she wanted some of the other nurses to be able to spend time with their kids.
That morning, she and her husband exchanged cards before she started her shift. In an attempt to be festive, she wore Christmas-tree earrings, her surgical mask featured Santa and her grey socks had snowflakes.
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A COVID patient in a negative-pressure room inside the ICU. Patients with COVID, active TB or shingles are placed in negative-pressure rooms whenever possible. (Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times)
“I always work Christmas and I don’t mind, it’s normally not a big deal. But it’s sad here,” Waite said, tears rolling out of the corners of her eyes behind her protective lenses. “It’s harder this year.”
“I just pray every night for these people.”
Joan Pung, a registered nurse, had celebrated the holiday the night before with her husband and two sons, 7 and 2, after she finished her shift at 7:40 p.m. They had opened presents until midnight.
Juan Richardson of RCP Respiratory Services dons his isolation gown before entering Eduardo Rojas’ room.
(Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times)
The next morning, she was back by 6 a.m., ahead of another 12 hour shift. She marked the occasion with a long-sleeved green shirt that read, “All I want for Christmas is peace rainbows and unicorns.”
“I do miss them,” she said of her sons. “But then I know work is also in need.”
The last few weeks, Pung said, had been “unbearable.” For a while, it felt as if every day there was a code. Another life slipping away. She barely got a chance to take a drink of water or sit down.
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But Christmas, Pung said, felt “like a good day.” There weren’t many patients they had lost or come close to losing.
“It’s a Christmas miracle,” she said.
Times staff photographer Francine Orr contributed to this report.


latimes--2020-12-26--Virginia Ellis, who exposed California government scandal for The Times, dies at 77

Virginia Ellis , a trailblazing journalist whose government accountability reporting spanned four decades and culminated in award-winning Los Angeles Times reporting on secret diversions of public funds into the political operations of California ’ s insurance commissioner and led to his resignation , died Thursday .
Ellis served as the Sacramento bureau chief for The Times for seven years until her retirement in 2008 but spent more than four decades in journalism .
She joined the newspaper in the late 1980s after covering statehouses in Florida and Texas .
“ She thought that government should play an important role in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ should be making sure that the role was carried out properly , ” said her son , Barry Schnitt .
“ She had a nose for finding out when it wasn ’ t and explaining why.
” Ellis is also survived by her husband , Paul Schnitt , whom she met in Florida and who also had a long newspaper career in Texas and Sacramento .
The investigation by Ellis into the actions of California Insurance Commissioner Chuck Quackenbush led to her selection as a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize in 2000 .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ year ’ s George Polk Award for political reporting .
She was appointed bureau chief the following year .
Colleagues remember Ellis as a persistent advocate for those who were failed by the government they had elected , a journalist who fought to break barriers placed in front of women in newsrooms throughout the 1970s and ‘ 80s .
In her first job with the Palm Beach Post in Florida , she was assigned to cover politics but required to sit in a section of the newsroom reserved for the women who wrote @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would not be deterred , ” said Evan Halper , a Times staff writer who succeeded Ellis as Sacramento bureau chief .
“ She had a way of building sources in places others were not looking , and a style that was in contrast to the gruff , testosterone-driven cliches of the era.
” Soon after arriving in Sacramento , Ellis wrote her first story about Quackenbush , a relatively unknown Republican in the state Assembly .
By 1994 , the legislator was elected California insurance commissioner and became one of the party @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the time he was reelected in 1998 .
Ellis ’ first stories on what would ultimately lead to a major investigation of Quackenbush were published in the summer of 1999 , when the insurance commissioner faced criticism for allowing a top aide to simultaneously hold four state agency jobs while also running a private law practice .
The following spring , she reported that Quackenbush had collected campaign contributions from insurance companies and used the money to repay loans made to his wife ’ s failed legislative campaign .
Additional funds were paid @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Department of Insurance shelved its investigation into claims filed after the 1994 Northridge earthquake .
In doing so , Ellis reported , recommendations from state lawyers for steep fines against some companies were ignored .
In other cases , companies were coerced into making contributions to the educational foundations by the display of fake , sensationalized news stories .
Linda Rogers , who was Ellis ’ editor at The Times , said the tenacious reporter ’ s curiosity was first piqued by television commercials in 2000 featuring Quackenbush , ads that prominently featured @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the earthquake but seen by some as largely a way to boost his political standing .
“ She was the quintessential watchdog , outing those in public service who were serving themselves instead , ” Rogers said .
“ She couldn ’ t be intimidated .
She saw things other journalists didn ’ t see , which made for great stories.
” A raft of accusations against Quackenbush roiled Sacramento politics throughout the spring of 2000 .
State officials investigated the spending of $ 3 million on television ads featuring Quackenbush , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be used to help earthquake victims .
A separate fund was found to be spending money on public relations efforts .
On June 28 , 2000 , Quackenbush submitted his resignation “ under the cloud of a criminal investigation and facing certain impeachment , ” as Ellis and staff writer Carl Ingram wrote for The Times in a front-page story the following day .
Ellis was praised for her “ persistent reporting that exposed extensive financial improprieties ” in receiving a nomination for the Pulitzer Prize the next year .
But the praise @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , said family and colleagues .
When her coverage of Quackenbush was awarded the Selden Ring Award from USC that year , she used the prize money to pay for repairs to the roof of the family house in Sacramento .
Ellis was a Florida native and worked at newspapers in Palm Beach and Tampa before joining the staff of the St. Petersburg Times in 1967 , where she initially covered local politics and later served as the newspaper ’ s Tallahassee bureau chief from 1975 to 1980 .
She then moved to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Dallas Times Herald from 1980 to 1988 , focusing her efforts on the conditions in the state ’ s nursing homes — leading to action by state legislators — and later on a high-profile investigation of mental health conditions in Texas prisons .
She joined The Times in Sacramento in 1988 .
State politics columnist George Skelton , who preceded Ellis as bureau chief , said she possessed all the traits one would want in a seasoned , watchdog reporter .
When she applied for a position with The Times in Sacramento @ @ @ @ @ @ @ her former colleagues from around the country , urging the newspaper to hire her .
“ She was a very hard-charging journalist .
Very accurate , persistent and tenacious , ” Skelton said , adding that she never shied away from sticking up for her employees against management when budget cuts loomed on the horizon .
Former colleagues said she was a tireless mentor to young journalists .
And friends and family alike note that Ellis knew how to charm those in government , when needed , to ensure they ’ d tell @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a way with people because she [ was ] a kind and honest and generous person , ” said Schnitt , her son .
“ It was disarming , sometimes to that person ’ s peril.
” After retiring from journalism , Ellis served from 2011 until 2014 as a member of the state ’ s Little Hoover Commission , an independent agency tasked with examining California government operations .
In an interview with the Sacramento-based Capitol Morning Report in 2008 , she said covering the work of legislators and state officials was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ It has great powers and it has influence over all these areas , and hardly anybody covers it , ” Ellis said .

Virginia Ellis, a trailblazing journalist whose government accountability reporting spanned four decades and culminated in award-winning Los Angeles Times reporting on secret diversions of public funds into the political operations of California’s insurance commissioner and led to his resignation, died Thursday.
She was 77.
Ellis served as the Sacramento bureau chief for The Times for seven years until her retirement in 2008 but spent more than four decades in journalism. She joined the newspaper in the late 1980s after covering statehouses in Florida and Texas.
“She thought that government should play an important role in people’s lives and that someone should be making sure that the role was carried out properly,” said her son, Barry Schnitt. “She had a nose for finding out when it wasn’t and explaining why.”
Ellis is also survived by her husband, Paul Schnitt, whom she met in Florida and who also had a long newspaper career in Texas and Sacramento.
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The investigation by Ellis into the actions of California Insurance Commissioner Chuck Quackenbush led to her selection as a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize in 2000. Her coverage of the scandal won that year’s George Polk Award for political reporting. She was appointed bureau chief the following year.
Colleagues remember Ellis as a persistent advocate for those who were failed by the government they had elected, a journalist who fought to break barriers placed in front of women in newsrooms throughout the 1970s and ’80s. In her first job, with the Palm Beach Post in Florida, she was assigned to cover politics but was required to sit in a section of the newsroom reserved for the women who wrote about society and fashion.
“She would not be deterred,” said Evan Halper, a Times staff writer who succeeded Ellis as Sacramento bureau chief. “She had a way of building sources in places others were not looking, and a style that was in contrast to the gruff, testosterone-driven cliches of the era.”
Soon after arriving in Sacramento, Ellis wrote her first story about Quackenbush, a relatively unknown Republican in the state Assembly. By 1994, the legislator was elected California insurance commissioner and became one of the party’s most visible statewide leaders by the time he was reelected in 1998.
Ellis’ first stories on what would ultimately lead to a major investigation of Quackenbush were published in the summer of 1999, when the insurance commissioner faced criticism for allowing a top aide to simultaneously hold four state agency jobs while also running a private law practice.
The following spring, she reported that Quackenbush had collected campaign contributions from insurance companies and used the money to repay loans made to his wife’s failed legislative campaign. Additional funds were paid into an educational foundation after the California Department of Insurance shelved its investigation into claims filed after the 1994 Northridge earthquake.
In doing so, Ellis reported, recommendations from state lawyers for steep fines against some companies were ignored. In other cases, companies were coerced into making contributions to the educational foundations by the display of fake, sensationalized news stories.
Advertisement
Linda Rogers, who was Ellis’ editor at The Times, said the tenacious reporter’s curiosity was first piqued by television commercials in 2000 featuring Quackenbush, ads that prominently featured the ambitious Republican offering advice to victims of the earthquake but seen by some as largely a way to boost his political standing.
“She was the quintessential watchdog, outing those in public service who were serving themselves instead,” Rogers said. “She couldn’t be intimidated. She saw things other journalists didn’t see, which made for great stories.”
A raft of accusations against Quackenbush roiled Sacramento politics throughout the spring of 2000. State officials investigated the spending of $3 million on television ads featuring Quackenbush, paid from a settlement fund expected to be used to help earthquake victims. A separate fund was found to be spending money on public relations efforts.
On June 28, 2000, Quackenbush submitted his resignation “under the cloud of a criminal investigation and facing certain impeachment,” as Ellis and staff writer Carl Ingram wrote for The Times in a front-page story the following day.
Ellis was praised for her “persistent reporting that exposed extensive financial improprieties” in receiving a nomination for the Pulitzer Prize the next year. But the praise had little effect on her practical sensibilities, said family and colleagues. When her coverage of Quackenbush was awarded the Selden Ring Award from USC that year, she used the prize money to pay for repairs to the roof of the family house in Sacramento.
Ellis was a Florida native and worked at newspapers in Palm Beach and Tampa before joining the staff of the St. Petersburg Times in 1967, where she initially covered local politics and later served as the newspaper’s Tallahassee bureau chief from 1975 to 1980. She then moved to Texas and was Austin bureau chief for the Dallas Times Herald from 1980 to 1988, focusing her efforts on the conditions in the state’s nursing homes — leading to action by state legislators — and later on a high-profile investigation of mental health conditions in Texas prisons.
She joined The Times in Sacramento in 1988. State politics columnist George Skelton, who preceded Ellis as bureau chief, said she possessed all the traits one would want in a seasoned watchdog reporter. When she applied for a position with The Times in Sacramento, Skelton was flooded with calls from her former colleagues from around the country, urging the newspaper to hire her.
“She was a very hard-charging journalist. Very accurate, persistent and tenacious,” Skelton said, adding that she never shied away from sticking up for her employees against management when budget cuts loomed on the horizon.
Former colleagues said she was a tireless mentor to young journalists. And friends and family alike noted that Ellis knew how to charm those in government, when needed, to ensure they’d tell her their story.
“She had a way with people because she [was] a kind and honest and generous person,” said Schnitt, her son. “It was disarming, sometimes to that person’s peril.”
After retiring from journalism, Ellis served from 2011 until 2014 as a member of the state’s Little Hoover Commission, an independent agency tasked with examining California government operations.
In an interview with the Sacramento-based Capitol Morning Report in 2008, she said covering the work of legislators and state officials was one of the best jobs in journalism.
“It has great powers and it has influence over all these areas, and hardly anybody covers it,” Ellis said.
Times staff writer Joseph Serna contributed to this report