latimes--2020-05-12--New signs that coronavirus restrictions are here for the long haul in California

Even as officials laid out more tentative plans to reopen California ’ s battered economy , there were growing signs Tuesday that life would not be getting back to normal any time soon .
The 23-campus California State University system plans to all but cancel in-person classes in the fall and instead will offer instruction primarily online , with some limited exceptions that allow for in-person activity .
The decision comes as schools throughout the country grapple with how long to keep campuses closed amid the coronavirus crisis .
“ Our university when open without restrictions and fully in person @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people come together in close and vibrant proximity , ” Chancellor Timothy White said at a meeting of Cal State ’ s Board of Trustees .
“ That approach sadly just isn ’ t in the cards now.
” He also acknowledged that the university system lacks the resources to provide coronavirus testing for everybody and trace the contacts of infected people should there be an outbreak on a campus .
Health officials in Los Angeles County — a coronavirus hot spot in California with more than 1,600 deaths — also signaled that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with some stay-at-home orders lasting well into the summer .
Los Angeles County Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer told the Board of Supervisors on Tuesday that she didn ’ t see the timeline shortening without “ dramatic change to the virus and tools at hand.
” She later added that while the stay-at-home policy would likely remain , some individual restrictions will be “ gradually relaxed ” under the county ’ s five-step plan .
“ Our hope is that by using the data , we ’ d be able to slowly lift @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” she said .
But without widely available testing for the coronavirus or rapid home kits that would allow people to test themselves daily , it seems unlikely that the social distancing directives and stay-at-home orders would be completely eased , she said .
Other local officials said they would support lifting more rules if conditions improved and health experts said it ’ s safe to do so .
“ I am eager to reopen more of L.A. County as soon as it ’ s safe to do so , ” said Los @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I ’ m confident that the more our communities continue to comply , the sooner we can resume normalcy.
” Officials noted that Los Angeles County beaches are Wednesday — with some restrictions on activities and other rules in place — just days after officials also lifted restrictions on hiking trails , parks and golf courses , and allowed curbside pickup at nonessential businesses .
But there is no specific timetable for what rules could be lifted next .
“ We ’ re not moving past COVID-19 , we ’ re learning to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mayor Eric Garcetti said .
Officials were urging caution in other parts of California as well .
Silicon Valley ’ s health officer announced Tuesday that Santa Clara County has no immediate plans to weaken its strict stay-at-home order , saying she couldn ’ t take that step without increasing the risk to public safety .
The Bay Area ’ s most populous county , Santa Clara County , was California ’ s original hot spot of the COVID-19 pandemic .
And while levels of the disease haven ’ t surged to catastrophic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and even a small increase in disease transmission would heighten the risk to vulnerable communities , said Dr. Sara Cody , a key architect of the nation ’ s first regional shelter-in-place order .
“ We ’ re not there yet , ” Cody told the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday .
“ The conditions really haven ’ t changed in our county ... .
We don ’ t suddenly have a vaccine .
We have exactly the same conditions we had in March .
If we did ease @ @ @ @ @ @ @ return of cases , of hospitalizations , and a brisk return of deaths , to be quite blunt.
” There has been a big push in recent weeks to restart the state ’ s depressed economy .
Gov .
Gavin Newsom last week announced new protocols for retail stores and some workplaces to reopen .
On Tuesday , Newsom added that California restaurants and shopping malls can soon reopen in counties that meet state standards for testing and success at reducing cases of the coronavirus , but all businesses will have to abide @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cleaning regimens .
Counties must have adequate testing and hospital capacity , and the ability to trace those who have been in contact with ill people .
Restaurants can in counties certified as meeting those benchmarks , but they should implement changes to guard against spreading the virus .
Shopping centers including strip malls and outlet malls will be allowed to reopen with in-store customers in counties certified to have contained COVID-19 , while car washes and pet groomers can also resume operating with safeguards .
Some rural counties that have seen relatively @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to meet those benchmarks more quickly than urban counties such as Los Angeles .
Indeed , some rural counties with few coronavirus cases in some cases have defied Newsom ’ s order and reopened earlier than the state allowed .
found that most big California counties are not close to meeting Newsom ’ s standards .
The analysis looked at which counties could pass just the first two — whether deaths have stopped in the last 14 days , and whether there is no more than one case per 10,000 residents in that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ failed that test , including Los Angeles County .
Newsom has suggested that the guidelines would be later modified on a statewide basis , allowing larger counties hit hardest by the outbreak to also reopen more broadly .
The state said Tuesday that seven of California ’ s 58 counties — mostly rural — have been certified to have met the state ’ s conditions for additional businesses to reopen : Amador , Butte , El Dorado , Lassen , Nevada , Placer and Shasta counties .
“ There are some unique characteristics @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on all cylinders , ” Newsom said .
Talks are underway with 27 other counties to discuss whether they can expand the reopenings , the governor said , but he noted that conditions are still too serious in Los Angeles and San Francisco counties to modify the guidelines for resuming business .
Cal State officials said they believe it was best to make the decision about the fall term now rather than wait until the summer .
White , the chancellor , said that for the small number of classes where in-person instruction @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” — such as clinical nursing courses , biology labs or merchant marine training — sufficient resources and protocols will have to be in place to ensure the health and safety of students and teachers .
“ The enrollment per section will be less ; for instruction and research laboratories the distance between participants greater ; the need for personal protective equipment appropriate to the circumstance prevalent ; and the need to sanitize and disinfect spaces and equipment between users essential , ” White said .
On some campuses and within some departments @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
McGreevy reported from Sacramento , and Shalby and Agrawal from Southern California .
Times staff writers Sarah Parvini and Rong-Gong Lin II contributed to this report .

Patrick McGreevy, Colleen Shalby, Nina Agrawal

Kim Abt, left, and Rachel Portugal walk the beach after a social media workout Tuesday morning in Santa Monica. Los Angeles County beaches should reopen Wednesday with some restrictions on activities and other rules in place, officials say.
Even as officials laid out more tentative plans to reopen California’s battered economy, there were growing signs Tuesday that life would not be getting back to normal any time soon.
The 23-campus California State University system plans to all but cancel in-person classes in the fall and instead will offer instruction primarily online, with some limited exceptions that allow for in-person activity. The decision comes as schools throughout the country grapple with how long to keep campuses closed amid the coronavirus crisis.
“Our university when open without restrictions and fully in person … is a place where over 500,000 people come together in close and vibrant proximity,” Chancellor Timothy White said at a meeting of Cal State’s Board of Trustees. “That approach sadly just isn’t in the cards now.”
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He also acknowledged that the university system lacks the resources to provide coronavirus testing for everybody and trace the contacts of infected people should there be an outbreak on a campus.
Health officials in Los Angeles County — a coronavirus hot spot in California with more than 1,600 deaths — also signaled that progress toward reopening could be slow, with some stay-at-home orders lasting well into the summer.
Los Angeles County Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer told the Board of Supervisors on Tuesday that she didn’t see the timeline shortening without “dramatic change to the virus and tools at hand.” She later added that while the stay-at-home policy would likely remain, some individual restrictions will be “gradually relaxed” under the county’s five-step plan.
“Our hope is that by using the data, we’d be able to slowly lift restrictions over the next three months,” she said. But without widely available testing for the coronavirus or rapid home kits that would allow people to test themselves daily, it seems unlikely that the social distancing directives and stay-at-home orders would be completely eased, she said.
Other local officials said they would support lifting more rules if conditions improved and health experts said it’s safe to do so.
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“I am eager to reopen more of L.A. County as soon as it’s safe to do so,” said Los Angeles County Supervisor Kathryn Barger. “I’m confident that the more our communities continue to comply, the sooner we can resume normalcy.”
Officials noted that Los Angeles County beaches are set to reopen Wednesday — with some restrictions on activities and other rules in place — just days after officials also lifted restrictions on hiking trails, parks and golf courses, and allowed curbside pickup at nonessential businesses. But there is no specific timetable for what rules could be lifted next.
“We’re not moving past COVID-19, we’re learning to live with it,” Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti said.
Officials were urging caution in other parts of California as well. Silicon Valley’s health officer announced Tuesday that Santa Clara County has no immediate plans to weaken its strict stay-at-home order, saying she couldn’t take that step without increasing the risk to public safety.
The Bay Area’s most populous county, Santa Clara County, was California’s original hot spot of the COVID-19 pandemic. And while levels of the disease haven’t surged to catastrophic levels, they’ve remained steady, and even a small increase in disease transmission would heighten the risk to vulnerable communities, said Dr. Sara Cody, a key architect of the nation’s first regional shelter-in-place order.
“We’re not there yet,” Cody told the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday. “The conditions really haven’t changed in our county.... We don’t suddenly have a vaccine. We have exactly the same conditions we had in March. If we did ease up, we would see a brisk return of cases, of hospitalizations, and a brisk return of deaths, to be quite blunt.”
There has been a big push in recent weeks to restart the state’s depressed economy. Gov. Gavin Newsom last week announced new protocols for retail stores and some workplaces to reopen.
On Tuesday, Newsom added that California restaurants and shopping malls can soon reopen in counties that meet state standards for testing and success at reducing cases of the coronavirus, but all businesses will have to abide by state guidelines for physical distancing and cleaning regimens.
Counties must have adequate testing and hospital capacity, and the ability to trace those who have been in contact with ill people.
Restaurants can reopen for dine-in service in counties certified as meeting those benchmarks, but they should implement changes to guard against spreading the virus.
Shopping centers including strip malls and outlet malls will be allowed to reopen with in-store customers in counties certified to have contained COVID-19, while car washes and pet groomers can also resume operating with safeguards.
Some rural counties that have seen relatively few cases are likely to be able to meet those benchmarks more quickly than urban counties such as Los Angeles. Indeed, some rural counties with few coronavirus cases in some cases have defied Newsom’s order and reopened earlier than the state allowed.
A Times data analysis last week found that most big California counties are not close to meeting Newsom’s standards. The analysis looked at which counties could pass just the first two criteria — whether deaths have stopped in the last 14 days, and whether there is no more than one case per 10,000 residents in that same time period.
Most of California failed that test, including Los Angeles County. Newsom has suggested that the guidelines would be later modified on a statewide basis, allowing larger counties hit hardest by the outbreak to also reopen more broadly.
The state said Tuesday that seven of California’s 58 counties — mostly rural — have been certified to have met the state’s conditions for additional businesses to reopen: Amador, Butte, El Dorado, Lassen, Nevada, Placer and Shasta counties.
“There are some unique characteristics in some counties where they are hitting on all cylinders,” Newsom said.
Talks are underway with 27 other counties to discuss whether they can expand the reopenings, the governor said, but he noted that conditions are still too serious in Los Angeles and San Francisco counties to modify the guidelines for resuming business.
Cal State officials said they believe it was best to make the decision about the fall term now rather than wait until the summer.
White, the chancellor, said that for the small number of classes where in-person instruction is “indispensable and can be justified” — such as clinical nursing courses, biology labs or merchant marine training — sufficient resources and protocols will have to be in place to ensure the health and safety of students and teachers.
“The enrollment per section will be less; for instruction and research laboratories the distance between participants greater; the need for personal protective equipment appropriate to the circumstance prevalent; and the need to sanitize and disinfect spaces and equipment between users essential,” White said.
On some campuses and within some departments, course offerings will be exclusively virtual.
McGreevy reported from Sacramento, and Shalby and Agrawal from Southern California. Times staff writers Sarah Parvini and Rong-Gong Lin II contributed to this report.


latimes--2020-05-12--Man whose wife and daughter died in crash that killed Kobe Bryant sues helicopter owner

Christopher Chester , whose wife and daughter died in the helicopter crash that killed Kobe Bryant , has sued the company that operated the helicopter and the estate of the deceased pilot .
Sarah Chester , 45 , and 13-year-old Payton died Jan. 26 when the Sikorsky S-76B carrying them and seven others plunged into a hillside in Calabasas .
Everyone onboard was killed .
In a complaint filed Monday in Los Angeles County Superior Court , Chester made an argument similar to those raised in lawsuits filed by Bryant ’ s widow , Vanessa , and two other families @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Island Express Helicopters , was negligent in allowing the pilot , Ara Zobayan , to fly in “ adverse weather conditions , ” Chester ’ s attorneys alleged .
Chester , who lives in Orange County with his twin sons , is seeking unspecified damages from Island Express Helicopters and Zobayan ’ s estate .
An attorney for Island Express Helicopters didn ’ t immediately respond to a request for comment Tuesday .
In response to the lawsuit filed by Vanessa Bryant , Zobayan ’ s brother Berge Zobayan said in a court @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the basketball star and his fellow passengers made a “ knowing and voluntary encounter with the risks involved.
” Also in court papers filed Monday , attorneys for Island Express Helicopters said everyone onboard knew the “ particular dangers ” of traveling by helicopter but voluntarily assumed them .
The crash , moreover , was an “ unavoidable accident , ” the company ’ s attorneys said .
The National Transportation Safety Board , the federal agency investigating the crash , said the Sikorsky ’ s engines showed no signs of serious @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Monica Mountains the morning of the crash , Ara Zobayan had requested special permission from air traffic controllers to fly in low-visibility conditions .
Just before the craft slammed into a hillside , Zobayan told an air traffic controller he intended to climb above the cloud layer to 4,000 feet , according to the NTSB .
Zobayan , 50 , had worked for Island Express Helicopters for 10 years , logging about 8,200 hours of flight experience at the time of his last medical examination , the NTSB said .
The helicopter , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ date on inspections , according to the agency .

Christopher Chester, whose wife and daughter died in the helicopter crash that killed Kobe Bryant, has sued the company that operated the helicopter and the estate of the deceased pilot.
Sarah Chester, 45, and 13-year-old Payton died Jan. 26 when the Sikorsky S-76B carrying them and seven others plunged into a hillside in Calabasas. Everyone onboard was killed.
In a complaint filed Monday in Los Angeles County Superior Court, Chester made an argument similar to those raised in lawsuits filed by Bryant’s widow, Vanessa, and two other families: The craft’s operator, Island Express Helicopters, was negligent in allowing the pilot, Ara Zobayan, to fly in “adverse weather conditions,” Chester’s attorneys alleged.
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Chester, who lives in Orange County with his twin sons, is seeking unspecified damages from Island Express Helicopters and Zobayan’s estate.
An attorney for Island Express Helicopters didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment Tuesday. In response to the lawsuit filed by Vanessa Bryant, Zobayan’s brother Berge Zobayan said in a court filing Monday that in boarding the helicopter, the basketball star and his fellow passengers made a “knowing and voluntary encounter with the risks involved.”
Also in court papers filed Monday, attorneys for Island Express Helicopters said everyone onboard knew the “particular dangers” of traveling by helicopter but voluntarily assumed them. The crash, moreover, was an “unavoidable accident,” the company’s attorneys said.
The National Transportation Safety Board, the federal agency investigating the crash, said the Sikorsky’s engines showed no signs of serious failure. With fog shrouding the Santa Monica Mountains the morning of the crash, Ara Zobayan had requested special permission from air traffic controllers to fly in low-visibility conditions.
Just before the craft slammed into a hillside, Zobayan told an air traffic controller he intended to climb above the cloud layer to 4,000 feet, according to the NTSB.
Zobayan, 50, had worked for Island Express Helicopters for 10 years, logging about 8,200 hours of flight experience at the time of his last medical examination, the NTSB said. The helicopter, manufactured in 1991, was up to date on inspections, according to the agency.


latimes--2020-05-12--CSU plans to cancel most in-person classes and go online this fall, chancellor says

California State University , the nation ’ s largest four-year college system , plans to cancel most in-person classes in the fall and instead offer instruction primarily online , Chancellor Timothy White announced Tuesday .
The vast majority of classes across the 23-campus Cal State system will be taught online , White said , with some limited exceptions that allow for in-person activity .
“ Our university , when open without restrictions and fully in person … is a place where over 500,000 people come together in close and vibrant proximity , ” White said at a meeting of Cal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ That approach sadly just isn ’ t in the cards now.
” The decision to continue remotely reflects how schools throughout the country are grappling with reopening challenges inflicted by the coronavirus crisis — and what campuses will look like when they do decide to reopen .
University of California officials are examining the parameters of what it would take to open their campuses and are expected to announce plans in June or July .
UC spokeswoman Claire Doan reiterated Tuesday that campuses were exploring a “ mixed approach with some instruction @ @ @ @ @ @ @ while other classes will be primarily online.
” President Janet Napolitano said campuses will first be required to satisfy systemwide guidelines to ensure public health and safety , and any reopening “ will probably be greatly reduced.
” White said his decision resulted from a confluence of issues around COVID-19 , including the health and safety of students , faculty and staff , as well as significant financial constraints .
The Cal State system is projecting losses of $ 337 million for the spring term alone as a result of the pandemic , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , parking and campus bookstores , as well as unanticipated costs related to cleaning , overtime and the shift to distance education .
The figure does not reflect offsets from federal aid or operational savings .
White ’ s announcement came the same day that infectious disease expert Dr. Anthony Fauci , a key member of the White House coronavirus task force , told a Senate panel it would be “ a bridge too far ” to think treatments or vaccines could be available in time to facilitate students ’ reentry into schools @ @ @ @ @ @ @ earlier move by Cal State Fullerton , which in late April became one of the first universities in the nation to announce it was planning for remote instruction this fall .
White said that for the small number of classes where in-person instruction is “ indispensable and can be justified ” — such as clinical nursing courses , biology labs or merchant marine training — sufficient resources and protocols will have to be in place to ensure the health and safety of students and teachers .
“ The enrollment per section will be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the distance between participants greater ; the need for personal protective equipment appropriate to the circumstance prevalent ; and the need to sanitize and disinfect spaces and equipment between users essential , ” White said .
On some campuses and within some departments , course offerings will be exclusively virtual .
At others that rely heavily on hands-on experience , there may be more exceptions .
White said planning for an online fall term was necessary because of the forecast of additional waves of COVID-19 outbreaks later this year , possibly coupled @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said it would be “ irresponsible ” to wait until August to make a decision , only to “ scramble and not be prepared to provide a robust learning and support environment.
” He also acknowledged that the university system lacks the resources to provide coronavirus testing for everybody and to trace the contacts of infected people should there be an outbreak on a campus .
CSU students and families , along with faculty and staff , can expect to receive more information this month from their respective campuses about instruction in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be reduced , and student athletes shouldn ’ t expect to resume regular sports before faculty and students return to campuses , White said .
White reached the decision about the fall term with all 23 campus presidents and also had discussions with representatives of faculty and student groups , a spokesman for the chancellor ’ s office said .
The statewide academic senate has not adopted any resolution about instruction in the fall and was not formally asked for feedback on the decision to go primarily online , Chair Catherine Nelson said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I am not surprised by the decision , given the incredible complexity of mounting any level of in-person courses in the fall.
” Nelson said the senate has asked campuses to conduct surveys of their faculties ’ needs and will request resources to meet them , such as professional development , hardware and software .
While many campuses have extended the deadline for students to submit their “ intent to register , ” CSU officials told trustees Tuesday that early numbers show generally normal enrollment levels .
White urged incoming and current students @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their pursuit of higher education .
“ This is not the time to pause or decline an opportunity to attend a CSU campus , ” he said .
“ Robust financial aid remains available.
” Trustees did not make any decisions about tuition or fees for the fall term .
But several of them , led by ex officio trustee Lt. Gov .
Eleni Kounalakis , urged the board to avoid considering a tuition hike to plug budget holes .
“ There ’ s going to be a lot of students questioning the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ education if you ’ re not physically in the classroom , ” Kounalakis said .

Cal State Fullerton is among the 23 CSU campuses that will go mainly online for fall classes.
California State University, the nation’s largest four-year college system, plans to cancel most in-person classes in the fall and instead offer instruction primarily online, Chancellor Timothy White announced Tuesday.
The vast majority of classes across the 23-campus Cal State system will be taught online, White said, with some limited exceptions that allow for in-person activity.
“Our university, when open without restrictions and fully in person … is a place where over 500,000 people come together in close and vibrant proximity,” White said at a meeting of Cal State’s Board of Trustees. “That approach sadly just isn’t in the cards now.”
The decision to continue remotely reflects how schools throughout the country are grappling with reopening challenges inflicted by the coronavirus crisis — and what campuses will look like when they do decide to reopen.
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University of California officials are examining the parameters of what it would take to open their campuses and are expected to announce plans in June or July. UC spokeswoman Claire Doan reiterated Tuesday that campuses were exploring a “mixed approach with some instruction delivered in classroom and lab settings, while other classes will be primarily online.”
President Janet Napolitano said campuses will first be required to satisfy systemwide guidelines to ensure public health and safety, and any reopening “will probably be greatly reduced.”
California A patient’s return to hospital COVID-19 unit underscores uncertainty to come Janice Brown was the first patient at Desert Valley Hospital’s COVID-19 unit. And the first to be released. Neither she nor her doctors or nurses expected her to return. Within weeks, she tested positive again.
White said his decision resulted from a confluence of issues around COVID-19, including the health and safety of students, faculty and staff, as well as significant financial constraints.
The Cal State system is projecting losses of $337 million for the spring term alone as a result of the pandemic, including loss of revenue from student housing, parking and campus bookstores, as well as unanticipated costs related to cleaning, overtime and the shift to distance education. The figure does not reflect offsets from federal aid or operational savings.
White’s announcement came the same day that infectious disease expert Dr. Anthony Fauci, a key member of the White House coronavirus task force, told a Senate panel it would be “a bridge too far” to think treatments or vaccines could be available in time to facilitate students’ reentry into schools this fall.
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It also follows an earlier move by Cal State Fullerton, which in late April became one of the first universities in the nation to announce it was planning for remote instruction this fall.
White said that for the small number of classes where in-person instruction is “indispensable and can be justified” — such as clinical nursing courses, biology labs or merchant marine training — sufficient resources and protocols will have to be in place to ensure the health and safety of students and teachers.
“The enrollment per section will be less; for instruction and research laboratories, the distance between participants greater; the need for personal protective equipment appropriate to the circumstance prevalent; and the need to sanitize and disinfect spaces and equipment between users essential,” White said.
On some campuses and within some departments, course offerings will be exclusively virtual. At others that rely heavily on hands-on experience, there may be more exceptions.
White said planning for an online fall term was necessary because of the forecast of additional waves of COVID-19 outbreaks later this year, possibly coupled with a difficult flu season. He said it would be “irresponsible” to wait until August to make a decision, only to “scramble and not be prepared to provide a robust learning and support environment.”
He also acknowledged that the university system lacks the resources to provide coronavirus testing for everybody and to trace the contacts of infected people should there be an outbreak on a campus.
CSU students and families, along with faculty and staff, can expect to receive more information this month from their respective campuses about instruction in the fall.
Availability of on-campus housing will be reduced, and student athletes shouldn’t expect to resume regular sports before faculty and students return to campuses, White said.
White reached the decision about the fall term with all 23 campus presidents and also had discussions with representatives of faculty and student groups, a spokesman for the chancellor’s office said.
The statewide academic senate has not adopted any resolution about instruction in the fall and was not formally asked for feedback on the decision to go primarily online, Chair Catherine Nelson said. But, she said, “I am not surprised by the decision, given the incredible complexity of mounting any level of in-person courses in the fall.”
Nelson said the senate has asked campuses to conduct surveys of their faculties’ needs and will request resources to meet them, such as professional development, hardware and software.
While many campuses have extended the deadline for students to submit their “intent to register,” CSU officials told trustees Tuesday that early numbers show generally normal enrollment levels.
White urged incoming and current students to stay the course and persist in their pursuit of higher education.
“This is not the time to pause or decline an opportunity to attend a CSU campus,” he said. “Robust financial aid remains available.”
Trustees did not make any decisions about tuition or fees for the fall term. But several of them, led by ex officio trustee Lt. Gov. Eleni Kounalakis, urged the board to avoid considering a tuition hike to plug budget holes.
“There’s going to be a lot of students questioning the value of going into debt for higher education if you’re not physically in the classroom,” Kounalakis said.
Times staff writer Teresa Watanabe contributed to this report.


latimes--2020-05-12--Riverside County sees rise in coronavirus cases after vote to rescind local public health orders

Following a controversial vote on Friday to allow local health officials to rescind Riverside County ’ s public health orders , officials on Monday reported 150 new coronavirus cases and 12 deaths .
With 5,189 confirmed cases and 217 deaths , the county now has the second-highest number of cases in the state , behind Los Angeles County , which had more than 32,000 cases as of Monday morning .
Riverside County officials also reported that 199 coronavirus patients are in the hospital , including 74 in intensive care , and 2,645 others have recovered from COVID-19 , 26 more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 73,149 people , both those with and without symptoms , have been tested for the virus .
Public health officials are particularly encouraging teenagers and young adults to get tested for the coronavirus .
According to census data , people 18 and younger make up about 25 % of Riverside County ’ s population , but only 6.6 % of the appointments at testing sites , officials said .
“ We would like to get a more complete picture of the illness as it has spread among young people , ” said Kim @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of public health .
“ This will [ help ] us better understand who in the community has the disease and how it might be moving among children and families.
” Records show that nearly 200 residents between the ages of 5 to 17 have tested positive for the virus .
Of residents 18 to 39 years old , 1,705 have tested positive .
Increased testing is one of and other public spaces .
On Friday , Riverside County ’ s Board of Supervisors voted to rescind all of the county ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s restrictions .
That included lifting the closure of vocational and higher education schools , ending the restriction on golf courses , eliminating limitations on short-term lodging , and removing the requirements to wear face coverings and engage in social distancing .
Cameron Kaiser , the county ’ s public health officer , had put the restrictions in place until June 19 .
Saruwatari said testing is available for everyone in Riverside County at no cost , regardless of insurance or immigration status .
Minors are required to get a parent ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ four drive-up testing sites on an appointment basis .
To schedule an appointment , call ( 800 ) 945-6171 .
Appointments are also required at the eight state-operated walk-up testing sites spread throughout the county .
To make an appointment at a state site , go to or call ( 888 ) 634-1123 .

Residents who want public health orders rescinded wait to enter the County Administrative Center to speak during an emergency Riverside County Board of Supervisors meeting last week.
Following a controversial vote on Friday to allow local health officials to rescind Riverside County’s public health orders, officials on Monday reported 150 new coronavirus cases and 12 deaths.
With 5,189 confirmed cases and 217 deaths, the county now has the second-highest number of cases in the state, behind Los Angeles County, which had more than 32,000 cases as of Monday morning.
Riverside County officials also reported that 199 coronavirus patients are in the hospital, including 74 in intensive care, and 2,645 others have recovered from COVID-19, 26 more than on Sunday.
So far, 73,149 people, both those with and without symptoms, have been tested for the virus. Public health officials are particularly encouraging teenagers and young adults to get tested for the coronavirus. According to census data, people 18 and younger make up about 25% of Riverside County’s population, but only 6.6% of the appointments at testing sites, officials said.
“We would like to get a more complete picture of the illness as it has spread among young people,” said Kim Saruwatari, the county’s director of public health. “This will [help] us better understand who in the community has the disease and how it might be moving among children and families.”
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Records show that nearly 200 residents between the ages of 5 to 17 have tested positive for the virus. Of residents 18 to 39 years old, 1,705 have tested positive.
Increased testing is one of Gov. Gavin Newsom’s criteria for reopening businesses and other public spaces. On Friday, Riverside County’s Board of Supervisors voted to rescind all of the county’s stay-at-home orders that went beyond the governor’s restrictions. That included lifting the closure of vocational and higher education schools, ending the restriction on golf courses, eliminating limitations on short-term lodging, and removing the requirements to wear face coverings and engage in social distancing.
Cameron Kaiser, the county’s public health officer, had put the restrictions in place until June 19.
Saruwatari said testing is available for everyone in Riverside County at no cost, regardless of insurance or immigration status. Minors are required to get a parent’s permission.
The county currently operates four drive-up testing sites on an appointment basis. To schedule an appointment, call (800) 945-6171.


latimes--2020-05-13--Republicans stake congressional victory, claim seat Democrat Katie Hill vacated

Republican Mike Garcia claimed victory Wednesday in the race for an open congressional seat north of Los Angeles , the first time the GOP has flipped a California district from blue to red in more than 20 years .
Garcia , 44 , a defense industry executive and former Navy fighter pilot , held a double-digit lead over Democratic state Assemblywoman Christy Smith , who issued a statement conceding even as more than 20,000 ballots remained to be processed .
“ While it ’ s critical to ensure every vote is counted and recorded , we believe that the current @ @ @ @ @ @ @ victor , ” Smith said .
“ As such , I ’ d like to congratulate him.
” The election Tuesday was held to fill the seat vacated by former Democratic Rep. Katie Hill .
She resigned last fall after nude photos of her were leaked and the House Ethics Committee opened a probe into allegations that the congresswoman had an affair with a Hill staffer .
Garcia was chosen to finish out the term ending in January ; he will face Smith again in November in a bid to win a full @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ m ready to go to work , ” Garcia said in a victory statement .
Republicans were quick to trumpet their success — President Trump issued a celebratory tweet even before the race was decided — and said it would boost their chances of taking back control of the House in November .
The last time the GOP flipped a Democratic-held California district was 1998 , when Republicans Doug Ose and Steve Kuykendall won open seat contests in , respectively , Sacramento and the South Bay .
“ Winning in California bodes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ability to win anywhere else in the country , ” said Don Conston , head of the Congressional Leadership Fund , a Republican political action committee that spent hundreds of thousands of dollars on Garcia ’ s behalf .
But more impartial analysts warned against reading too much into the results , noting the idiosyncratic nature of special elections like the one held in the 25th Congressional District .
“ Garcia is something of a political unicorn , ” said David Wasserman , a nonpartisan elections expert with the Cook Political Report .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ is a lot of things Trump isn ’ t : a military veteran , a son of a Mexican immigrant and an even-keeled defense executive.
” Hill broke a decades-long Republican hold on the district , which sprawls from Simi Valley to the high desert communities of Palmdale and Lancaster , winning a decisive victory over Rep. Steve Knight in the November 2018 midterm election .
When Hill quit , Smith , who had just won her Assembly seat , quickly became the party ’ s favorite to take Hill ’ s place @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 3 primary , but fell well short of the majority needed to win the seat outright .
Garcia , making his first try for political office , ran second in the crowded field , beating Knight and setting up Tuesday ’ s runoff .
Although registered Democrats outnumber Republicans , both sides believed the contest would be competitive .
Lower-turnout elections like Tuesday ’ s vote tend to draw an older and whiter electorate , which typically benefits Republicans .
Also , get-out-the-vote efforts were heavily circumscribed by the COVID-19 pandemic , which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ foreclosed door-knocking and other personal campaigning that is most effective in coaxing inattentive voters to the polls .
Still , some Democrats felt they could — and should — have won the contest , given Trump ’ s enormous unpopularity in California and Garcia ’ s unabashed support for the president .
“ No excuses , ” said Bob Mulholland , a veteran state political strategist , who said Democrats were too complacent and “ full of themselves.
” “ They let Christy Smith down , ” he said .
Still , Mulholland @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the fall and the much larger turnout expected in November , giving Smith the chance for a do-over of sorts .
“ By October , Garcia will have a Trump tattoo on his forehead , ” Mulholland said .
“ Democrats had better not fail .
”

Former Navy combat pilot Mike Garcia defeated Christy Smith in the runoff to fill former Rep. Katie Hill’s seat in Congress.
Republican Mike Garcia claimed victory Wednesday in the race for an open congressional seat north of Los Angeles, the first time the GOP has flipped a California district from blue to red in more than 20 years.
Garcia, 44, a defense industry executive and former Navy fighter pilot, held a double-digit lead over Democratic state Assemblywoman Christy Smith, who issued a statement conceding even as more than 20,000 ballots remained to be processed.
“While it’s critical to ensure every vote is counted and recorded, we believe that the current tally shows Mike Garcia is the likely victor,” Smith said. “As such, I’d like to congratulate him.”
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The election Tuesday was held to fill the seat vacated by former Democratic Rep. Katie Hill. She resigned last fall after nude photos of her were leaked and the House Ethics Committee opened a probe into allegations that the congresswoman had an affair with a Hill staffer.
Garcia was chosen to finish out the term ending in January; he will face Smith again in November in a bid to win a full two years in Congress.
“I’m ready to go to work,” Garcia said in a victory statement.
Republicans were quick to trumpet their success — President Trump issued a celebratory tweet even before the race was decided — and said it would boost their chances of taking back control of the House in November.
The last time the GOP flipped a Democratic-held California district was 1998, when Republicans Doug Ose and Steve Kuykendall won open seat contests in, respectively, Sacramento and the South Bay.
“Winning in California bodes extremely well for the GOP’s ability to win anywhere else in the country,” said Dan Conston, head of the Congressional Leadership Fund, a Republican political action committee that spent hundreds of thousands of dollars on Garcia’s behalf.
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But more impartial analysts warned against reading too much into the results, noting the idiosyncratic nature of special elections like the one held in the 25th Congressional District.
“Garcia is something of a political unicorn,” said David Wasserman, a nonpartisan elections expert with the Cook Political Report. “He’s a Republican who is a lot of things Trump isn’t: a military veteran, a son of a Mexican immigrant, and an even-keeled defense executive.”
Hill broke a decades-long Republican hold on the district, which sprawls from Simi Valley to the high desert communities of Palmdale and Lancaster, winning a decisive victory over Rep. Steve Knight in the November 2018 midterm election. When Hill quit, Smith, who had just won her Assembly seat, quickly became the party’s favorite to take Hill’s place.
Smith finished first in the March 3 primary, but fell well short of the majority needed to win the seat outright. Garcia, making his first try for political office, ran second in the crowded field, beating Knight and setting up Tuesday’s runoff.
Although registered Democrats outnumber Republicans, both sides believed the contest would be competitive.
Lower-turnout elections like Tuesday’s vote tend to draw an older and whiter electorate, which typically benefits Republicans. Also, get-out-the-vote efforts were heavily circumscribed by the COVID-19 pandemic, which limited the candidates to virtual appearances and foreclosed door-knocking and other personal campaigning that is most effective in coaxing inattentive voters to the polls.
Politics Coronavirus threatens the November election. Can vote by mail save it? It may not be safe to go to the polls in November. There is still time for states to switch to a mail-in ballot nationwide, but not much, and some states continue to resist.
Still, some Democrats felt they could — and should — have won the contest, given Trump’s enormous unpopularity in California and Garcia’s unabashed support for the president.
“No excuses,” said Bob Mulholland, a veteran state political strategist, who said Democrats were too complacent and “full of themselves.”
“They let Christy Smith down,” he said.
Still, Mulholland insisted the dynamic will be different come the fall and the much larger turnout expected in November, giving Smith the chance for a do-over of sorts.
“By October, Garcia will have a Trump tattoo on his forehead,” Mulholland said. “Democrats had better not fail.”


latimes--2020-05-13--Newsom promises new wildfire prevention efforts during coronavirus crisis

Gov .
Gavin Newsom said on Wednesday that California ’ s response to the COVID-19 pandemic has not blunted efforts to prepare for what is expected to be an active wildfire season , emphasizing the state ’ s effort to reduce or prevent power shutoffs by utilities when fires are a major threat .
Newsom said the California Public Utilities Commission is creating a 106-person wildfire safety division to monitor the state ’ s investor-owned utilities to ensure they abide by requirements to modernize their electrical systems and transmission lines to reduce the risk of igniting a wildfire .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ efforts would be accounted for in his revised state spending plan to be presented Thursday .
“ I want folks to know that we have been preparing for the upcoming wildfire season , and we ’ re not stepping back our efforts .
We ’ re in fact stepping them up , ” Newsom said during a news conference at the Cameron Park Fire Department just outside of Sacramento .
“ The budget I will announce tomorrow , we ’ ll include enhancements for wildfire preparation and preparedness across the board , as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be more resilient in our recovery strategies.
” This year already has been a bad wildfire year for California .
Newsom said there ’ s been a 60 % increase in fires from January to May 10 compared with the same period last year .
Last year , Pacific Gas & Electric and the state ’ s two other largest utilities shut off power and left millions in the dark to prevent downed power lines from igniting fires when high winds substantially increased fire danger .
Newsom said that PG & E , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ make good on its assurance that it will reduce the duration of power shutoffs by 50 % .
“ I am not naive that these utilities are where they need to be — quite the contrary , ” Newsom said .
“ But rest assured that we are taking these efforts very , very seriously , holding this company into account in ways they haven ’ t been in the past.
” Newsom ’ s announcement comes one day before he submits a revised state budget proposal to the Legislature , a spending @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with a projected $ 54.3-billion deficit between now and June 2021 .
Most of that shortfall , according to an analysis released last week by the governor ’ s budget advisors , is due to rapidly declining tax collections .
As a result , lawmakers and state budget analysts have expected Newsom to focus on a limited number of spending priorities — including coronavirus response efforts , homelessness help , schools and wildfire prevention .
The Legislature is required by law to send Newsom a spending plan by June 15 for the fiscal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Newsom said his revised budget will include a $ 127-million increase for the Office of Emergency Services to provide ongoing monitoring for wildfires and other hazards .
The budget also will include $ 50 million to help counties affected by power shutoffs , and an additional $ 85.7 million for the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection to improve surge capacity by hiring more personnel before the peak of this year ’ s fire season .
During Wednesday ’ s press conference Newsom momentarily stepped away from the microphone after a trucker @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fire station , blasted his horn .
The trucker then raised his middle finger .
It ’ s unclear if the trucker knew Newsom was inside the station ’ s engine bay .
Television news trucks were parked outside , however .

Gov. Gavin Newsom said on Wednesday that California’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic has not blunted efforts to prepare for what is expected to be an active wildfire season, emphasizing the state’s effort to reduce or prevent power shutoffs by utilities when fires are a major threat.
Newsom said the California Public Utilities Commission is creating a 106-person wildfire safety division to monitor the state’s investor-owned utilities to ensure they abide by requirements to modernize their electrical systems and transmission lines to reduce the risk of igniting a wildfire. The governor also noted that new wildfire prevention efforts would be accounted for in his revised state spending plan to be presented Thursday.
“I want folks to know that we have been preparing for the upcoming wildfire season, and we’re not stepping back our efforts. We’re in fact stepping them up,” Newsom said during a news conference at the Cameron Park Fire Department just outside of Sacramento. “The budget I will announce tomorrow, we’ll include enhancements for wildfire preparation and preparedness across the board, as well as suppression strategies and opportunities to be more resilient in our recovery strategies.”
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This year already has been a bad wildfire year for California. Newsom said there’s been a 60% increase in fires from January to May 10 compared with the same period last year.
Last year, Pacific Gas & Electric and the state’s two other largest utilities shut off power and left millions in the dark to prevent downed power lines from igniting fires when high winds substantially increased fire danger. Newsom said that PG&E, despite being in bankruptcy, still must make good on its assurance that it will reduce the duration of power shutoffs by 50%.
“I am not naive that these utilities are where they need to be — quite the contrary,” Newsom said. “But rest assured that we are taking these efforts very, very seriously, holding this company into account in ways they haven’t been in the past.”
Newsom’s announcement comes one day before he submits a revised state budget proposal to the Legislature, a spending plan expected to offer solutions for contending with a projected $54.3-billion deficit between now and June 2021. Most of that shortfall, according to an analysis released last week by the governor’s budget advisors, is due to rapidly declining tax collections.
As a result, lawmakers and state budget analysts have expected Newsom to focus on a limited number of spending priorities — including coronavirus response efforts, homelessness help, schools and wildfire prevention. The Legislature is required by law to send Newsom a spending plan by June 15 for the fiscal year that begins on July 1.
Newsom said his revised budget will include a $127-million increase for the Office of Emergency Services to provide ongoing monitoring for wildfires and other hazards. The budget also will include $50 million to help counties affected by power shutoffs, and an additional $85.7 million for the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection to improve surge capacity by hiring more personnel before the peak of this year’s fire season.
During Wednesday’s press conference Newsom momentarily stepped away from the microphone after a trucker, who was slowly driving by the fire station, blasted his horn. The trucker then raised his middle finger.
It’s unclear if the trucker knew Newsom was inside the station’s engine bay. Television news trucks were parked outside, however.


latimes--2020-05-13--Orange County coronavirus death toll reaches 80 as hospitalizations hit new high

Orange County health officials on Wednesday reported a new high for coronavirus hospitalizations , noting there are currently 248 COVID-19 @ @ @ @ @ county .
While the total number of those hospitalized increased from 230 reported the day @ @ @ @ @ patients in intensive care dropped to 98 from 100 the previous day .
The number @ @ @ @ @ on Wednesday , with an additional 157 infections among residents , bringing the overall total @ @ @ @ @ county .
Officials also confirmed three new deaths , for a total of 80 coronavirus-related @ @ @ @ @ have tested positive for the virus , 400 were in skilled nursing homes and 322 @ @ @ @ @ , according to county data .
Countywide , 57,167 tests have been administered , with @ @ @ @ @ , according to the agency .
Note : The “ other ” category includes unincorporated @ @ @ @ @ preliminary and subject to change as the county receives new information .

Lifeguard Nathan Thompson in Seal Beach, which reopened for active use along the shore during daylight hours Monday through Thursday.
Orange County health officials on Wednesday reported a new high for coronavirus hospitalizations, noting there are currently 248 COVID-19 patients in hospitals in the county.
While the total number of those hospitalized increased from 230 reported the day before, the number of patients in intensive care dropped to 98 from 100 the previous day.
The number of coronavirus cases also rose on Wednesday, with an additional 157 infections among residents, bringing the overall total to 3,749 cases in the county. Officials also confirmed three new deaths, for a total of 80 coronavirus-related fatalities.
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Of those who have tested positive for the virus, 400 were in skilled nursing homes and 322 are Orange County jail inmates, according to county data.
Countywide, 57,167 tests have been administered, with 550 new tests reported Wednesday, according to the agency.
Age breakdown of cases
0-17 — 100
18-24 — 366
25-34 — 670
35-44 — 554
45-54 — 653
55-64 — 608
65-74 — 372
75-84 — 253
85+ — 172
Age breakdown of deaths
25-34 —2
35-44 — 4
45-54 — 8
55-64 — 11
65-74 — 13
75-84 — 22
85+ — 20
Cases by community
Aliso Viejo — 21
Anaheim — 581
Brea — 27
Buena Park —110
Costa Mesa — 51
Coto de Caza— 5
Cypress — 49
Dana Point — 22
Fountain Valley — 41
Fullerton — 132
Garden Grove — 191
Huntington Beach — 272
Irvine — 144
La Habra — 66
La Palma — 15
Ladera Ranch —12
Laguna Beach — 43
Laguna Hills — 26
Laguna Niguel — 35
Laguna Woods — 8
Lake Forest — 35
Los Alamitos — 53
Midway City — 9
Mission Viejo — 56
Newport Beach — 130
Orange — 184
Placentia — 71
Rancho Mission Viejo — 6
Rancho Santa Margarita —17
San Clemente — 53
San Juan Capistrano — 35
Santa Ana — 586
Seal Beach — 13
Stanton — 38
Trabuco Canyon — 11
Tustin — 55
Villa Park — 5
Westminster — 63
Yorba Linda — 58
Other — 314
Unknown — 106
Note: The “other” category includes unincorporated areas. Daily updates are preliminary and subject to change as the county receives new information.


latimes--2020-05-13--California's $1-billion masks deal with Chinese automaker faces uncertainty. Here's why

Federal regulators offered new details Wednesday about problems that have delayed a $ 1-billion deal between California and a Chinese automaker for respirators , saying they denied certification of the masks after inspections of the company ’ s factories in China and a review of critical documents belonging to the project .
In a statement to The Times , the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health said it notified car maker BYD on May 4 that on-site visits to the company ’ s manufacturing and production facilities in China had resulted in a rating of “ Not Acceptable.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of documentation provided to NIOSH for the design , manufacturing and quality inspection of the device was concerning.
” NIOSH said it denied BYD ’ s bid for federal approval of its N95 masks “ based on a number of factors ” but declined to elaborate , saying that information is confidential under federal rules .
The company has submitted a total of four applications of N95 respirators , according to a letter from the regulatory agency .
Three of the applications were denied and a fourth was withdrawn , a NIOSH official @ @ @ @ @ @ @ BYD application for N95 approval currently pending , and the company hasn ’ t yet submitted another application to NIOSH , agency officials said , raising questions over whether the company will be able to meet a May 31 contract deadline to obtain the certification .
California has agreed to pay $ 990 million to the company for 300 million N95 protective masks at a cost of $ 3.30 apiece .
The price is considered high for N95 masks -- the city of Los Angeles recently inked a deal with an American manufacturer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a piece -- but BYD has promised to deliver the masks faster .
Frank Girardot , a BYD spokesman , said the company expects to “ resubmit , if not today then by the end of this week , ” and that the only issues flagged by federal regulators were minor changes to engineering drawings that would be “ easily fixed.
” “ They have no issue with our quality or production lines , ” Girardot said , adding that the masks had passed the agency ’ s laboratory testing .
The new @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s massive deal with the Chinese electric car maker .
The masks are highly coveted by frontline workers in the novel coronavirus pandemic because they filter 95 % of particles , providing crucial protection to nurses and other essential workers .
The masks have been notoriously hard to come by , and nurses have staged protests demanding the gear before they ’ re forced to interact with patients who test positive for COVID-19 , the disease caused by the virus .
BYD ’ s contract with the state had been shrouded in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ April .
The governor ’ s office initially refused to disclose the contract to lawmakers and journalists -- even though government contracts are public under state law -- citing concerns that the masks might somehow be seized if that information were released .
The state relented earlier this month amid mounting pressure for more details about the deal .
The contract showed that BYD had missed its initial April 30 deadline to obtain NIOSH certification of the masks , and needed to reimburse the state half its nearly $ 500-million upfront payment .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ for certification to the end of this month .
Despite the setbacks , Brian Ferguson , a spokesman with the California Governor ’ s Office of Emergency Services , said the BYD deal “ has already proven to be successful ” because the company had delivered 18 million surgical masks , which don ’ t offer the same degree of protection as the N95 but have still “ been key to the state ’ s ability to reopen the economy and protect public health and safety.
” Ferguson said state officials “ remain @ @ @ @ @ @ @ certification of the company ’ s N95 .
“ Should the contractor fail to meet that high standard , we have built in strong provisions to protect the state , ” Ferguson said .
Dan Glucksman , director of government affairs for the International Safety Equipment Assn.
, or ISEA , the trade organization for personal protective equipment and technologies , said he could not comment specifically on the BYD mask deal .
But he noted that N95 masks submitted to NIOSH for certification must undergo rigorous testing for filtration efficiency , breathing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also reviews design elements and the components used in making the masks , as well as the manufacturer ’ s own test results and a raft of other documentation it must submit .
“ All of this is factored into the final certification , ” Glucksman said , noting that “ paperwork aspects are critical ” to securing NIOSH approval for N95 respirators .
“ They are simple , disposable items , but there is a lot of science and engineering , and a lot of industrial quality control , that goes into @ @ @ @ @ @ @ issue that emerged with Chinese-made masks , generally , involves how they are held in place , Glucksman said .
Many are turning up with ear loops , rather than elastic bands .
While federal regulations do not mandate elastic bands , they generally make for a tighter fit -- and better protection , he said .
It is unclear if that is an issue with BYD masks .
Charles Johnson , ISEA president , said the COVID-19 crisis also has sparked a “ proliferation of fraudulent masks that have been mislabeled one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ complicated the task of ensuring that personal protective gear meets standards .
Some masks bear FDA labels , which are never used , Johnson said , or claim to be approved for children , “ for which there is no such thing.
” Others “ completely fail to meet the provision of the standards to which they attest , ” he said .
“ It is a major concern , ” Johnson said .
“ The FDA has revoked some prior approvals for some Chinese masks because of worries that those masks are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ attest .
”

Adam Elmahrek, Melody Gutierrez, Kim Christensen

Federal regulators offered new details Wednesday about problems that have delayed a $1-billion deal between California and a Chinese automaker for respirators, saying they denied certification of the masks after inspections of the company’s factories in China and a review of critical documents belonging to the project.
In a statement to The Times, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health said it notified electric car maker BYD on May 4 that on-site visits to the company’s manufacturing and production facilities in China had resulted in a rating of “Not Acceptable.” The agency also said its “review of documentation provided to NIOSH for the design, manufacturing and quality inspection of the device was concerning.”
NIOSH said it denied BYD’s bid for federal approval of its N95 masks “based on a number of factors” but declined to elaborate, saying that information is confidential under federal rules.
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The company has submitted a total of four applications of N95 respirators, according to a letter from the regulatory agency. Three of the applications were denied and a fourth was withdrawn, a NIOSH official told The Times.
There is no BYD application for N95 approval currently pending, and the company hasn’t yet submitted another application to NIOSH, agency officials said, raising questions over whether the company will be able to meet a May 31 contract deadline to obtain the certification.
California has agreed to pay $990 million to the company for 300 million N95 protective masks at a cost of $3.30 apiece. The price is considered high for N95 masks — the city of Los Angeles recently inked a deal with an American manufacturer for N95s at less than a dollar a piece — but BYD promised to deliver the masks more quickly.
Frank Girardot, a BYD spokesman, said the company expected to “resubmit, if not today then by the end of this week,” and that the only issues flagged by federal regulators were minor changes to engineering drawings that would be “easily fixed.”
“They have no issue with our quality or production lines,” Girardot said, adding that the masks had passed the agency’s laboratory testing.
The new details add to the uncertainty surrounding California’s massive deal with the Chinese company. The masks are highly coveted by frontline workers in the novel coronavirus pandemic because they filter 95% of particles, providing crucial protection to nurses and other essential workers.
The masks have been notoriously hard to come by, and nurses have staged protests demanding the gear before they’re forced to interact with patients who test positive for COVID-19, the disease caused by the virus.
Advertisement
BYD’s contract with the state had been shrouded in secrecy since it was signed in early April. The governor’s office initially refused to disclose the contract to lawmakers and journalists — even though government contracts are public under state law — citing concerns that the masks might somehow be seized if that information were released.
The state relented earlier this month amid mounting pressure for more details about the deal. The contract showed that BYD had missed its initial April 30 deadline to obtain NIOSH certification of the masks, and needed to reimburse the state half its nearly $500-million upfront payment. The state agreed to extend the deadline for certification to the end of this month.
Despite the setbacks, Brian Ferguson, a spokesman with the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services, said the BYD deal “has already proven to be successful” because the company had delivered 18 million surgical masks, which don’t offer the same degree of protection as the N95 but have still “been key to the state’s ability to reopen the economy and protect public health and safety.”
Ferguson said state officials “remain optimistic” that BYD will obtain NIOSH certification of the company’s N95.
“Should the contractor fail to meet that high standard, we have built in strong provisions to protect the state,” Ferguson said.
Dan Glucksman, director of government affairs for the International Safety Equipment Assn., or ISEA, the trade organization for personal protective equipment and technologies, said he could not comment specifically on the BYD mask deal.
But he noted that N95 masks submitted to NIOSH for certification must undergo rigorous testing for filtration efficiency, breathing resistance and multiple other factors. NIOSH also reviews design elements and the components used in making the masks, as well as the manufacturer’s own test results and a raft of other documentation it must submit.
“All of this is factored into the final certification,” Glucksman said, noting that “paperwork aspects are critical” to securing NIOSH approval for N95 respirators.
“They are simple, disposable items, but there is a lot of science and engineering, and a lot of industrial quality control, that goes into them,” he said.
One issue that emerged with Chinese-made masks, generally, involves how they are held in place, Glucksman said. Many are turning up with ear loops, rather than elastic bands. While federal regulations do not mandate elastic bands, they generally make for a tighter fit — and better protection, he said.
It is unclear if that is an issue with BYD masks.
Charles Johnson, ISEA president, said the COVID-19 crisis also has sparked a “proliferation of fraudulent masks that have been mislabeled one way or another,” which has complicated the task of ensuring that personal protective gear meets standards.
Some masks bear FDA labels, which are never used, Johnson said, or claim to be approved for children, “for which there is no such thing.” Others “completely fail to meet the provision of the standards to which they attest,” he said.
“It is a major concern,” Johnson said. “The FDA has revoked some prior approvals for some Chinese masks because of worries that those masks are not meeting the standards for which they attest.”


latimes--2020-05-13--San Francisco and at least two other Bay Area counties plan to partially reopen Monday

At least three Bay Area counties — San Francisco , San Mateo and Marin — plan to incrementally ease their social distancing restrictions starting Monday , a departure from Santa Clara County , which on Tuesday said it would not be easing its current restrictions .
San Mateo previously issued some of California ’ s most stringent shelter-in-place orders , but county health officials said Wednesday that conditions had improved enough to modify the requirements .
“ I want to remind everyone these modifications are not being made because it is safe to be out and about , ” said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ public health officer , in a statement .
“ The virus continues to circulate in our community , and this increase in interactions among people is likely to spread the virus at a higher rate.
” In San Francisco , Mayor London Breed announced Wednesday that all curbside retailers would be allowed to reopen as of May 18 for pickup and delivery .
She had cautioned for weeks that San Francisco would be slow to reopen .
But at a news conference , she said the city ’ s next phase meant that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ retailers would be allowed to open starting Monday .
Warehouses and manufacturers are also allowed to reopen , but the city has imposed a limit on the number of employees allowed in each business .
“ We do see the numbers flattening , ” Breed said .
“ They have not declined , but the fact is we are in a better place.
” She said hospitalizations for COVID-19 remained flat and hospital capacity was stable .
Dr. Grant Colfax , director of health for the city , said San Francisco ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that of Los Angeles and 35 times lower than New York City ’ s .
“ Thank you , San Francisco , for doing everything you can to slow the spread of the coronavirus here in San Francisco and the Bay Area as well , ” he said .
Retailers open for curbside pickup are allowed to have no more than 10 employees on site ; if the store is small , no more than five .
Manufacturers and warehouses may have no more than 50 workers on site , he said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , mask-wearing and have in place a health and safety plan , he said .
On Tuesday , Dr. Sara Cody , a key architect of the nation ’ s first regional shelter-in-place order , told Santa Clara County officials it was too soon to move to a Phase 2 reopening along with much of the rest of the state .
“ The conditions really haven ’ t changed in our county , ” she said .
“ We don ’ t suddenly have herd immunity ; we don ’ t have a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ conditions as we did in March.
” Cody described Santa Clara County as precariously balanced .
The outbreak is steady — neither seeming to grow dramatically or reduce considerably .
For every one person infected , that person on average infects one other person .
If that number , known as the basic reproduction number , rose slightly to 1.1 or 1.2 , that would cause a significant rise in deaths , Cody said .
Contra Costa County is also not ready to weaken its stay-at-home order , Dr. Chris Farnitano , health @ @ @ @ @ @ @ third most populous county , said Tuesday .
“ We are not yet where we want to be before a fuller opening up of the stay-at-home order , ” Farnitano told the Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors , which governs a county of 1.1 million people east of Oakland .
Farnitano said he ’ d like to have a few weeks pass to observe the effects of an earlier loosening of stay-at-home orders that went to effect on May 4 , which lifted restrictions on all construction projects and allowed certain businesses @ @ @ @ @ @ @ like gardeners , landscapers and nurseries .
“ We wanted to … see the effect of this increased business and social activity on the spread of COVID-19 across the Bay Area before substantial loosening of additional business sectors , ” such as allowing local retail businesses to be opened up for curbside pickup , Farnitano said .
Dr. Matt Willis , health officer for Marin County , said earlier this week Marin County is prepared to allow retail businesses to open for curbside pickup on Monday .
But Willis , who was previously @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Marin County may need to reverse course if it sees a surge in cases .
Marin County has reason to be worried — the average age of its residents is the oldest of any California county , with almost 1 in 3 residents older than 60 years of age , Willis said .
Marin County , with a population of 260,000 people , tied for ninth place in terms of the most numbers of deaths per 100,000 residents of California ’ s 58 counties , Willis said Monday , which showed a rate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from COVID-19 .
That ’ s a worse rate than in San Francisco and Alameda counties.As of Wednesday , 14 people in Marin County had died from the virus .
“ The most important thing is that we recognize that reopening does not mean the virus has gone , ” Willis said .
“ It means that we think we are prepared to take the next step : Knowing the virus is here and that we remain at risk .
We have no zero risk options .
… We will define success in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ between the harms of an ongoing restricted shelter-in-place [ and ] the harms of COVID-19 spread.
” The Alameda County Public Health Department said in a statement released Tuesday that it ’ s possible the agency would allow additional approved activities for local businesses starting Monday .
Sonoma , Napa and Solano counties last week implemented the relaxations allowed by Newsom and have allowed nonessential retail business to make sales by curbside pickup , while easing restrictions on manufacturing , supply chain and logistical support businesses .
Gov .
Gavin Newsom outlined the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ allows for curbside pickup at strip malls and outlet malls , as well as the opening of car-washing facilities , pet-grooming services , and landscaping businesses — as long as social distancing rules and other guidelines are put into effect .
Outdoor museums can also begin to reopen .
Los Angeles County has already allowed some portions of local economy to reopen as Newsom has allowed , allowing stores selling books , clothes , flowers and sporting goods to open for curbside pickup on Friday .
On Wednesday , L.A. County continued easing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for pickup service and manufacturing companies that supply those stores .
Twelve of California ’ s 58 counties , most of them rural , , have been certified as meeting stricter state criteria to allow for an even broader reopening of businesses faster than the statewide standard , like restaurant dining rooms and allowing in-store customers at shopping centers , including strip malls and outlet malls , while operating with additional safeguards .
Amador , Butte , El Dorado , Lassen , Nevada , Placer , Plumas , Sierra , Tuolumne , Yuba @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as meeting the state ’ s conditions for additional businesses to reopen .
Times staff writers Hannah Fry , Patrick McGreevy and Colleen Shalby contributed to this article .

Susanne Rust, Maura Dolan, Rong-Gong Lin II

San Francisco and at least two other Bay Area counties plan to partly relax restrictions aimed at preventing spread of the coronavirus.
At least three Bay Area counties — San Francisco, San Mateo and Marin — plan to incrementally ease their social distancing restrictions starting Monday, a departure from Santa Clara County, which on Tuesday said it would not be easing its current restrictions.
San Mateo previously issued some of California’s most stringent shelter-in-place orders, but county health officials said Wednesday that conditions had improved enough to modify the requirements.
“I want to remind everyone these modifications are not being made because it is safe to be out and about,” said Scott Morrow, the county’s public health officer, in a statement. “The virus continues to circulate in our community, and this increase in interactions among people is likely to spread the virus at a higher rate.”
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In San Francisco, Mayor London Breed announced Wednesday that all curbside retailers would be allowed to reopen as of May 18 for pickup and delivery.
She had cautioned for weeks that San Francisco would be slow to reopen. But at a news conference, she said the city’s next phase meant that 95% of San Francisco’s retailers would be allowed to open starting Monday. Warehouses and manufacturers are also allowed to reopen, but the city has imposed a limit on the number of employees allowed in each business.
“We do see the numbers flattening,” Breed said. “They have not declined, but the fact is we are in a better place.” She said hospitalizations for COVID-19 remained flat and hospital capacity was stable.
Dr. Grant Colfax, director of health for the city, said San Francisco’s mortality rate was four times lower than that of Los Angeles and 35 times lower than New York City’s.
“Thank you, San Francisco, for doing everything you can to slow the spread of the coronavirus here in San Francisco and the Bay Area as well,” he said.
Retailers open for curbside pickup are allowed to have no more than 10 employees on site; if the store is small, no more than five. Manufacturers and warehouses may have no more than 50 workers on site, he said.
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All open businesses must ensure social distancing, mask-wearing and have in place a health and safety plan, he said.
On Tuesday, Dr. Sara Cody, a key architect of the nation’s first regional shelter-in-place order, told Santa Clara County officials it was too soon to move to a Phase 2 reopening along with much of the rest of the state.
“The conditions really haven’t changed in our county,” she said. “We don’t suddenly have herd immunity; we don’t have a vaccine. We have exactly the same conditions as we did in March.”
Cody described Santa Clara County as precariously balanced. The outbreak is steady — neither seeming to grow dramatically or reduce considerably. For every one person infected, that person on average infects one other person. If that number, known as the basic reproduction number, rose slightly to 1.1 or 1.2, that would cause a significant rise in deaths, Cody said.
Contra Costa County is also not ready to weaken its stay-at-home order, Dr. Chris Farnitano, health officer for the Bay Area’s third most populous county, said Tuesday.
“We are not yet where we want to be before a fuller opening up of the stay-at-home order,” Farnitano told the Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors, which governs a county of 1.1 million people east of Oakland.
Farnitano said he’d like to have a few weeks pass to observe the effects of an earlier loosening of stay-at-home orders that went to effect on May 4, which lifted restrictions on all construction projects and allowed certain businesses that do work outdoors to resume, like gardeners, landscapers and nurseries.
“We wanted to … see the effect of this increased business and social activity on the spread of COVID-19 across the Bay Area before substantial loosening of additional business sectors,” such as allowing local retail businesses to be opened up for curbside pickup, Farnitano said.
Dr. Matt Willis, health officer for Marin County, said earlier this week Marin County is prepared to allow retail businesses to open for curbside pickup on Monday. But Willis, who was previously infected by the virus, warned that Marin County may need to reverse course if it sees a surge in cases.
Marin County has reason to be worried — the average age of its residents is the oldest of any California county, with almost 1 in 3 residents older than 60 years of age, Willis said.
Marin County, with a population of 260,000 people, tied for ninth place in terms of the most numbers of deaths per 100,000 residents of California’s 58 counties, Willis said Monday, which showed a rate of 5.4 of every 100,000 residents dead from COVID-19. That’s a worse rate than in San Francisco and Alameda counties.As of Wednesday, 14 people in Marin County had died from the virus.
“The most important thing is that we recognize that reopening does not mean the virus has gone,” Willis said. “It means that we think we are prepared to take the next step: Knowing the virus is here and that we remain at risk. We have no zero risk options. … We will define success in this next stage as finding the balance between the harms of an ongoing restricted shelter-in-place [and] the harms of COVID-19 spread.”
The Alameda County Public Health Department said in a statement released Tuesday that it’s possible the agency would allow additional approved activities for local businesses starting Monday.
Sonoma, Napa and Solano counties last week implemented the relaxations allowed by Newsom and have allowed nonessential retail business to make sales by curbside pickup, while easing restrictions on manufacturing, supply chain and logistical support businesses.
Gov. Gavin Newsom outlined the guidance for Phase 2 reopening, which allows for curbside pickup at strip malls and outlet malls, as well as the opening of car-washing facilities, pet-grooming services, and landscaping businesses — as long as social distancing rules and other guidelines are put into effect. Outdoor museums can also begin to reopen.
Los Angeles County has already allowed some portions of local economy to reopen as Newsom has allowed, allowing stores selling books, clothes, flowers and sporting goods to open for curbside pickup on Friday. On Wednesday, L.A. County continued easing restrictions, allowing more retailers to open for pickup service and manufacturing companies that supply those stores.
Twelve of California’s 58 counties, most of them rural,, have been certified as meeting stricter state criteria to allow for an even broader reopening of businesses faster than the statewide standard, like restaurant dining rooms and allowing in-store customers at shopping centers, including strip malls and outlet malls, while operating with additional safeguards.
Amador, Butte, El Dorado, Lassen, Nevada, Placer, Plumas, Sierra, Tuolumne, Yuba, Sutter and Shasta have been certified as meeting the state’s conditions for additional businesses to reopen.
Times staff writers Hannah Fry, Patrick McGreevy and Colleen Shalby contributed to this article.


latimes--2020-05-13--L.A. City Hall corruption: Consultant agrees to plead guilty in racketeering scheme

A real estate consultant has agreed to plead guilty to a racketeering charge in the ongoing federal pay-to-play corruption probe at Los Angeles City Hall , federal prosecutors said Wednesday .
George Chiang , 41 , will admit to playing a lead role in a real estate scheme that included public officials and a Chinese developer under a plea agreement with prosecutors made public Wednesday .
As part of the agreement , Chiang will fully cooperate in the government ’ s ongoing investigation .
Prosecutors said Chiang , a Granada Hills resident , was involved in a conspiracy in which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ public officials demanded cash , stays at luxury hotels , casino chips and prostitution services .
An attorney for Chiang , Stanley Friedman , said his client regrets his conduct .
“ It ’ s obviously very serious conduct , ” he said .
“ He ’ s met with the FBI .
He ’ s met with the U.S. Attorney ’ s Office .
He ’ s agreed to be called upon , to the extent that they need any additional information as part of their investigation.
” According to federal investigators @ @ @ @ @ @ @ $ 66,000 to an associate of the city councilman while it sought approval of a massive real estate development project in downtown Los Angeles .
The money came in the form of consulting fees , according to prosecutors .
Details in federal filings have repeatedly made clear that the unnamed council member is Councilman Jose Huizar .
Huizar ’ s attorney , Vicki Podberesky , declined to comment .
The company represented by Chiang also pledged to provide $ 100,000 to a political action committee that was designed to benefit a relative of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
In 2018 , Huizar had been working to have his wife , Richelle Huizar , replace him on the council , raising money on her behalf .
Prosecutors said that the council member told Chiang and his business partner over breakfast at a Boyle Heights restaurant that he needed the donation to the political action committee “ as soon as possible , ” so that when his relative announced her candidacy , “ she would have money to pour into the campaign and scare everyone else from running against her.
” Key @ @ @ @ @ @ @ including the square footage , number of hotel rooms and the dates on which it was approved — correspond with a proposal to redevelop the Luxe City Center Hotel on Figueroa Street across from the L.A. Live entertainment complex .
Real estate developer Shenzhen Hazens received city approval in 2017 to demolish the nine-story Luxe and replace it with skyscrapers housing a 300-room hotel and 650 units of housing .
Chiang worked as a consultant on the Luxe project as its owners sought city approvals .
In their filing , federal prosecutors said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to financially enrich the council member , including an unnamed official who previously headed the Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety and worked as Mayor Eric Garcetti ’ s deputy mayor for economic development .
Prosecutors said the former deputy mayor involved in the scheme also created a real estate company called CCC Investment Group with Chiang .
Former Garcetti deputy mayor Raymond Chan held both those jobs at City Hall and later worked with Chiang at the CCC firm .
Chan did not immediately respond to phone messages Wednesday seeking comment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ former deputy mayor involved in the scheme “ used his official position as the deputy mayor to pressure subordinate city officials to take favorable official actions ” on the real estate project .
Chiang had agreed to provide the official a portion of his consulting fees for the project in exchange for such help , prosecutors said .
Chiang is the third person in the City Hall corruption case to agree to plead guilty over the past two months .
Former Los Angeles City Councilman Mitchell Englander , who represented the northwest San @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to scheming to falsify facts in a probe of his acceptance of envelopes of cash and other gifts .
In addition , former City Planning Commissioner Justin Jangwoo Kim has agreed to plead guilty to a single bribery charge in a case involving a downtown real estate developer and a paper bag containing $ 400,000 .

David Zahniser, Emily Alpert Reyes, Joel Rubin

A Granada Hills real estate consultant has agreed to plead guilty and cooperate with the ongoing federal corruption investigation at Los Angeles City Hall.
A real estate consultant has agreed to plead guilty to a racketeering charge in the ongoing federal pay-to-play corruption probe at Los Angeles City Hall, federal prosecutors said Wednesday.
George Chiang, 41, of Granada Hills, will admit to playing a lead role in a scheme in which a Chinese real estate company allegedly bribed a Los Angeles City Council member in exchange for help on a major development project, according to a plea agreement between Chiang and federal prosecutors.
Court Documents: George Chiang’s role in pay-to-play scheme Court documents describe George Chiang’s role in a pay-to-play scheme at Los Angeles City Hall.
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Under the agreement, which was made public Wednesday, Chiang will fully cooperate in the government’s ongoing investigation into cash payments, air travel, free tickets and other perks prosecutors say were provided to the council member and other city officials.
The plea agreement and charging documents also detail years of secret negotiations between Chiang, the unnamed council member and other participants. Their scheming, the government alleged, amounted to a criminal conspiracy that violated the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, a legal cudgel favored by prosecutors in criminal cases because of the hefty prison sentences it can carry.
An attorney for Chiang, Stanley Friedman, said his client regrets his “obviously very serious conduct.”
“He’s met with the FBI. He’s met with the U.S. Attorney’s Office,” Friedman said. “He’s agreed to be called upon, to the extent that they need any additional information as part of their investigation.”
A court hearing for Chiang to plead guilty has not yet been scheduled. He faces up to 20 years in prison, but is likely to receive a far lighter sentence, especially if, in cooperating with prosecutors, he provides useful information.
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The case against Chiang is certain to ratchet up pressure on Councilman Jose Huizar. Although prosecutors have not named him, details in the filings against Chiang and in previous cases have made clear Huizar is the councilman at the heart of the City Hall probe. Huizar’s attorney, Vicki Podberesky, declined to comment.
At the center of the allegations against Chiang is a downtown development proposal sought by a Chinese real estate company. Although prosecutors did not name the project, details in the filing make clear it is the planned redevelopment of the Luxe City Center Hotel on Figueroa Street, across from the L.A. Live entertainment complex.
Chiang, who previously had worked as a real estate broker in the San Gabriel Valley, signed on as a consultant with the developers. Although it is not named in court records, the company pursuing city approval for the Luxe project was Shenzhen Hazens.
Over the years that followed, according to court records, Chiang worked on behalf of the company to help orchestrate an elaborate array of bribes meant to win the council member’s support for the project. As the head of the planning committee, which reviewed major development projects, and as the representative of downtown, the council member wielded enormous power over the project’s fate.
Through Chiang, the company allegedly funneled monthly payments totaling $66,000 to an associate of the councilman as it sought approval for a redevelopment project with 650 homes and 300 hotel rooms. Prosecutors alleged the money was cloaked as consulting fees and was paid through a complex arrangement involving a relative of the real estate company’s chairman.
Court Documents: Read Chiang’s plea agreement George Chiang agreed to plea guilty on a racketeering charge in the ongoing federal pay-to-play corruption probe at Los Angeles City Hall.
The company represented by Chiang also pledged to provide $100,000 to a political action committee that was expected to support the campaign of the council member’s relative, the filing states. In 2018, Huizar was working to have his wife, Richelle Huizar, replace him on the council, raising money on her behalf.
Over breakfast at a Boyle Heights restaurant, the council member told Chiang and his business partner that he needed the donation “as soon as possible,” prosecutors said. That way, when she announced her candidacy, she would have money pour into the campaign and “scare everyone else from running against her,” the council member said, according to the filing.
Chiang also arranged for the council member and his family members to take a trip to China, where they visited the chairman of the company seeking approval of the hotel and residential project, according to prosecutors. He also paid approximately $1,000 for alcohol for a party for a relative of the council member, as well as concert and Lakers tickets, prosecutors said.
The Luxe City Center Hotel, a favorite spot for L.A. politicians to hold fundraisers, is one of several L.A. businesses to come under scrutiny from the FBI. (Dania Maxwell / Los Angeles Times)
The effort paid off, according to prosecutors. In exchange for bribes, the council member pushed the hotel project through the planning committee. In December 2017, the full council approved the development.
The plea agreement and accompanying documents shed new light on another figure in the probe, who left City Hall three years ago. Although he is not named in the filing, biographical information provided by prosecutors made clear that the figure is Raymond Chan, a former deputy mayor to Mayor Eric Garcetti.
While working in Garcetti’s office, Chan reached an agreement with Chiang to get paid to push the hotel and residential project through the city’s approval process, according to the details in the filing. The money did not arrive until later in the year, prosecutors said.
Prosecutors said the deputy mayor used his official position to “pressure subordinate city officials to take favorable official actions” on the hotel project. At one point, the official met with a member of the City Planning Commission, whose members are appointed by Mayor Eric Garcetti and vet major development projects, to urge the project’s approval, the filing states.
In June 2017, the deputy mayor asked Chiang for his “20 grand” in cash and Chiang responded, “I got it sitting in the car,” according to the plea agreement documents.
The deputy mayor told Chiang to “keep it there for now,” the filing states.
Chan retired from the city roughly a week later. He received $112,000 from Chiang’s company in 2017 — money described by prosecutors as compensation for shepherding the project through City Hall while working in Garcetti’s office.
Chan did not respond to phone messages seeking comment Wednesday. But Garcetti said the allegations, if true, soil “everybody here at City Hall.”
“If he or anybody else has broken the law, I hope they get the full extent of punishment from the law as well,” the mayor said.
Chiang is the third person in the City Hall corruption case to agree to plead guilty over the past two months.
Former Los Angeles City Councilman Mitchell Englander agreed to plead guilty to scheming to falsify facts in a probe of his acceptance of envelopes of cash and other gifts. In addition, former City Planning Commissioner Justin Jangwoo Kim agreed to plead guilty to bribery in a case involving a real estate developer and a paper bag containing $400,000.


latimes--2020-05-13--California allows 12 counties to reopen; 31 others lobby to join them

California officials said Wednesday that 12 of the state ’ s 58 counties — most of them rural — will be allowed to more fully reopen .
Amador , Butte , El Dorado , Lassen , Nevada , Placer , Plumas , Sierra , Tuolumne , Yuba , Sutter and Shasta have been certified as meeting the state ’ s conditions for additional businesses to reopen .
“ This is a dynamic process , and we don ’ t want to delay unnecessarily based on timelines , ” Gov .
Gavin Newsom said during his daily coronavirus news conference .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , it ’ s not about deadlines .
It ’ s simply about data and it ’ s about health.
” Talks are underway with 31 other California counties to discuss whether they can expand their reopenings , the governor said , but he noted that conditions are still too serious in Los Angeles and San Francisco counties to modify guidelines for resuming business in those areas .
Newsom said this week that could soon reopen in counties that meet state standards for testing and reductions in coronavirus cases , but all businesses @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for physical distancing and cleaning regimens .
Under the state plan , counties must have adequate testing and hospital capacity and the ability to trace those who have been in contact with ill people .
Restaurants can in counties certified as meeting those benchmarks , but they should implement changes to guard against spreading the virus .
Shopping centers , including strip malls and outlet malls , will be allowed to reopen with in-store customers in counties certified to have contained COVID-19 , while car washes and pet groomers can also resume operating @ @ @ @ @ @ @ last week found most big California counties were not close to meeting Newsom ’ s standards .
The analysis looked at which counties could pass just the first two — no new deaths reported in the last 14 days and no more than one confirmed case per 10,000 residents in that same time period .
Most of California failed that test .
In fact , 95 % of Californians live in counties that don ’ t meet that standard , the Times analysis found .
Not a single county in Southern California or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ criteria .
Officials in Orange County continue to ‘ s more cautious approach .
They contend that the economic havoc wreaked by the regulations makes it vital to loosen the rules .
“ I think it ’ s time to open up , ” Orange County Board of Supervisors Chairwoman Michelle Steel said Tuesday .
“ Maybe it ’ s too late .
It ’ s going to be very tough to catch up .
”

Tracy Manley, center, waits on Ruslan Batko of Yuba City; his wife, Angela Batko; and their twin 7-year-old daughters, Avery, facing, and Audrey, at Linda’s Soda Bar and Grill in Yuba City.
California officials said Wednesday that 12 of the state’s 58 counties — most of them rural — will be allowed to more fully reopen.
Amador, Butte, El Dorado, Lassen, Nevada, Placer, Plumas, Sierra, Tuolumne, Yuba, Sutter and Shasta have been certified as meeting the state’s conditions for additional businesses to reopen.
“This is a dynamic process, and we don’t want to delay unnecessarily based on timelines,” Gov. Gavin Newsom said during his daily coronavirus news conference. “It’s not about timelines, it’s not about deadlines. It’s simply about data and it’s about health.”
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Talks are underway with 31 other California counties to discuss whether they can expand their reopenings, the governor said, but he noted that conditions are still too serious in Los Angeles and San Francisco counties to modify guidelines for resuming business in those areas.
Newsom said this week that California restaurants and shopping malls could soon reopen in counties that meet state standards for testing and reductions in coronavirus cases, but all businesses will have to abide by state guidelines for physical distancing and cleaning regimens.
Under the state plan, counties must have adequate testing and hospital capacity and the ability to trace those who have been in contact with ill people.
Restaurants can reopen for dine-in service in counties certified as meeting those benchmarks, but they should implement changes to guard against spreading the virus. Shopping centers, including strip malls and outlet malls, will be allowed to reopen with in-store customers in counties certified to have contained COVID-19, while car washes and pet groomers can also resume operating with safeguards.
A Times data analysis last week found most big California counties were not close to meeting Newsom’s standards. The analysis looked at which counties could pass just the first two criteria — no new deaths reported in the last 14 days and no more than one confirmed case per 10,000 residents in that same time period.
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Most of California failed that test. In fact, 95% of Californians live in counties that don’t meet that standard, the Times analysis found. Not a single county in Southern California or the San Francisco Bay Area met the criteria.
Officials in Orange County continue to express frustration with the state ‘s more cautious approach. They contend that the economic havoc wreaked by the regulations makes it vital to loosen the rules.
“I think it’s time to open up,” Orange County Board of Supervisors Chairwoman Michelle Steel said Tuesday. “Maybe it’s too late. It’s going to be very tough to catch up.”