latimes--2020-07-01--Real estate firm puts executive on leave amid Jose Huizar pay-to-play probe

A San Francisco-based real estate firm has put one of its executives on leave amid the federal corruption probe that led to the arrest of Los Angeles City Councilman Jose Huizar .
Carmel Partners , the developer of an Arts District project mentioned in the criminal complaint against Huizar , said in a statement that “ there are a number of concerning allegations outlined in the complaint that require investigation ” and that it plans to take “ appropriate disciplinary actions as needed ” against the executive .
The company declined to identify the executive or answer questions about whether @ @ @ @ @ @ @ paid while on leave .
In a statement , the firm said that the members of its executive and management committees “ did not knowingly participate in any pay-to-play scheme outlined in the U.S. Attorney ’ s charges against Mr. Huizar.
” Carmel Partners also said there were “ numerous false and/or misleading conclusions , suppositions , innuendos , and opinions in the complaint ” against Huizar , but did not provide further details about which statements it believed to be false .
A U.S. Department of Justice spokesman declined to comment on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a racketeering charge stemming from allegations that he ran a sprawling pay-to-play scheme in which real estate developers were shaken down for bribes and political donations .
His attorneys said last week that the councilman “ intends to respond to the government ’ s allegations in court.
” Although federal prosecutors did not name Carmel Partners in their complaint , The Times and other news outlets identified its 520 Mateo project as one of the developments mentioned in the corruption case based on details included by prosecutors , including the dates of key @ @ @ @ @ @ @ criminal complaint , prosecutors alleged that Huizar schemed with the developer of the unnamed Arts District project and its lobbyist to provide “ direct and indirect financial benefits ” to the councilman in exchange for his help at City Hall .
An FBI investigator said in an affidavit that the company had provided tens of thousands of dollars in donations to political action committees tied to Huizar and that one of its executives gave the councilman damaging information about two former aides who sued him for harassment .
Carmel Partners did not respond @ @ @ @ @ @ @ provided opposition research on Huizar aides , but said that its donations to political action committees , also known as PACs , were legal .
“ We believe that the accusation that donations to a PAC were the reason 520 Mateo gained approval is incorrect and it diminishes the more than four years of work we did with the community to achieve its support , ” the company said , adding that “ it is our strong view that the project would have received that broad support regardless of any of the legal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also argued that the Arts District project ended up having much less affordable housing because of changes backed by Huizar .
At a press conference , U.S. Atty .
Nick Hanna said that “ thanks to Mr. Huizar , the development would have minimal affordable housing units.
” The City Planning Commission had recommended that 11 % of the housing units at 520 Mateo go to “ very low income ” households .
Huizar instead recommended that only 6 % of the units be set aside for “ moderate income ” residents and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ area be reserved as affordable work space .
Carmel Partners said that the amount of affordable housing at 520 Mateo had “ evolved substantially , ” but that such changes were “ mostly driven by the community , ” which wanted a more expensive kind of construction , “ even if it meant that due to increased construction costs affordable units as a percentage of the overall project would be reduced.
” The company added that it had made a $ 2.25-million payment to a city fund for affordable housing as part of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the project .
Carmel Partners also said it was exploring legal action against a lobbyist involved with the project , “ as the complaint revealed to us that he was not acting exclusively in Carmel ’ s best interests and was deceptive in conduct and his advice.
” Lobbyist Morrie Goldman , whom The Times previously identified as being mentioned in the criminal complaint against Huizar , did not respond to a request for comment .

A San Francisco-based real estate firm has put one of its executives on leave amid the federal corruption probe that led to the arrest of Los Angeles City Councilman Jose Huizar.
Carmel Partners, the developer of an Arts District project mentioned in the criminal complaint against Huizar, said in a statement that “there are a number of concerning allegations outlined in the complaint that require investigation” and that it plans to take “appropriate disciplinary actions as needed” against the executive.
The company declined to identify the executive or answer questions about whether he or she was continuing to be paid while on leave. In a statement, the firm said that the members of its executive and management committees “did not knowingly participate in any pay-to-play scheme outlined in the U.S. Attorney’s charges against Mr. Huizar.”
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Carmel Partners also said there were “numerous false and/or misleading conclusions, suppositions, innuendos, and opinions in the complaint” against Huizar, but did not provide further details about which statements it believed to be false. A U.S. Department of Justice spokesman declined to comment on the Carmel Partners statement.
Huizar faces a racketeering charge stemming from allegations that he ran a sprawling pay-to-play scheme in which real estate developers were shaken down for bribes and political donations. His attorneys said last week that the councilman “intends to respond to the government’s allegations in court.”
Although federal prosecutors did not name Carmel Partners in their complaint, The Times and other news outlets identified its 520 Mateo project as one of the developments mentioned in the corruption case based on details included by prosecutors, including the dates of key hearings at City Hall.
In the criminal complaint, prosecutors alleged that Huizar schemed with the developer of the unnamed Arts District project and its lobbyist to provide “direct and indirect financial benefits” to the councilman in exchange for his help at City Hall.
An FBI investigator said in an affidavit that the company had provided tens of thousands of dollars in donations to political action committees tied to Huizar and that one of its executives gave the councilman damaging information about two former aides who sued him for harassment.
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Carmel Partners did not respond to questions about whether its executive had provided opposition research on Huizar aides, but said that its donations to political action committees, also known as PACs, were legal.
“We believe that the accusation that donations to a PAC were the reason 520 Mateo gained approval is incorrect and it diminishes the more than four years of work we did with the community to achieve its support,” the company said, adding that “it is our strong view that the project would have received that broad support regardless of any of the legal PAC contributions we made.”
Federal prosecutors also argued that the Arts District project ended up having much less affordable housing because of changes backed by Huizar. At a press conference, U.S. Atty. Nick Hanna said that “thanks to Mr. Huizar, the development would have minimal affordable housing units.”
The City Planning Commission had recommended that 11% of the housing units at 520 Mateo go to “very low income” households. Huizar instead recommended that only 6% of the units be set aside for “moderate income” residents and that 5% of its commercial floor area be reserved as affordable work space.
Carmel Partners said that the amount of affordable housing at 520 Mateo had “evolved substantially,” but that such changes were “mostly driven by the community,” which wanted a more expensive kind of construction, “even if it meant that due to increased construction costs affordable units as a percentage of the overall project would be reduced.”
The company added that it had made a $2.25-million payment to a city fund for affordable housing as part of a “community benefits package” for the project.
Carmel Partners also said it was exploring legal action against a lobbyist involved with the project, “as the complaint revealed to us that he was not acting exclusively in Carmel’s best interests and was deceptive in conduct and his advice.”
Lobbyist Morrie Goldman, whom The Times previously identified as being mentioned in the criminal complaint against Huizar, did not respond to a request for comment.


latimes--2020-07-01--Orange County restaurants close for cleaning as coronavirus cases continue to climb

A handful of Orange County restaurants have temporarily closed in the last week to deep clean and sanitize their spaces , some after discovering that employees had been infected with COVID-19 , business owners said .
Bluegold/LSXO at Pacific City in Huntington Beach said in an Instagram message Monday that it planned to close Tuesday through Thursday to demonstrate its “ commitment to staying safe and promoting health.
” “ During this time we will take care of our employees , deep clean our space , and tighten our safety plans to bring you and your family a safe and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Red O , a Mexican restaurant at Fashion Island in Newport Beach , also announced Tuesday that it was voluntarily closing for a deep cleaning .
Neither restaurant said its closure was the result of an employee testing positive for the coronavirus , which causes COVID-19 .
Other restaurants have been more specific about the reason behind their closures , which were first reported by the Orange County Register .
The Dylan in Brea wrote on Instagram last week that it closed after an employee tested positive .
The restaurant noted that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a mask while working .
No other employees have reported symptoms .
“ They sought out testing on their own when they lost their sense of taste on Monday , ” the restaurant wrote .
“ We have done everything in our power to provide a safe environment for everyone .
Employees get masks , their own bottle of hand sanitizer and we have multiple sanitizing stations around the restaurant as well as people dedicated to cleaning high contact surfaces among many other precautions.
” Cha for Tea near the UC Irvine campus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ roughly weeklong closure prompted by an employee testing positive .
The restaurant wrote on social media that the employee tested positive after going to a bar with friends where face coverings were not being used .
Clancy ’ s bar in Seal Beach also announced a temporary closure on Saturday after one or more individuals who had recently visited the bar tested positive for the virus .
It is not clear when the bar plans to reopen .
Orange County health officials have declined to confirm or deny whether any specific restaurant closure @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Angeles County keeps a list online of businesses where employees have tested positive .
As of Wednesday morning , 58 restaurants , stores and other workplaces had confirmed cases among their staffs countywide .
Officials in Orange County have said that if a staff member at any business reports having COVID-19 , the public health services team will reach out to the facility to provide guidance .
“ If there is a cluster of cases , depending on the number of cases and the size of the facility , we may either mandate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ facility close for a period of time until it is clearly safe to reopen , ” Marc Meulman , chief of operations for Orange County Public Health Services , said in a statement last month .
Beachwood BBQ & Brewing , which has locations in Long Beach , Huntington Beach and Seal Beach , announced Wednesday that it plans to permanently close its flagship location on Main Street in Seal Beach .
The brewery ’ s owners pointed to the challenges of operating a small space amid the coronavirus pandemic as a key @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
On Wednesday , Orange County health officials ordered all bars , pubs , breweries and brewpubs that do not offer dine-in meals to close beginning at midnight Thursday , a move health experts say is necessary in light of a troubling surge in coronavirus cases .
Orange County confirmed 10 additional coronavirus-related deaths and 779 new COVID-19 cases on Tuesday , the largest single-day number of new infections the county has reported since the pandemic hit .
The daily tally brings the total number of coronavirus cases in Orange County to 13,843 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .

People sit outside restaurants at Pacific City in Huntington Beach in this 2016 file photo. Bluegold/LSXO, a restaurant in the outdoor mall, said Monday it was closing for deep cleaning amid the coronavirus crisis.
A handful of Orange County restaurants have temporarily closed in the last week to deep clean and sanitize their spaces, some after discovering that employees had been infected with COVID-19, business owners said.
Bluegold/LSXO at Pacific City in Huntington Beach said in an Instagram message Monday that it planned to close Tuesday through Thursday to demonstrate its “commitment to staying safe and promoting health.”
“During this time we will take care of our employees, deep clean our space, and tighten our safety plans to bring you and your family a safe and fun experience,” the restaurant wrote.
Red O, a Mexican restaurant at Fashion Island in Newport Beach, also announced Tuesday that it was voluntarily closing for a deep cleaning.
Neither restaurant said its closure was the result of an employee testing positive for the coronavirus, which causes COVID-19.
Other restaurants have been more specific about the reason behind their closures, which were first reported by the Orange County Register.
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The Dylan in Brea wrote on Instagram last week that it closed after an employee tested positive. The restaurant noted that the employee was asymptomatic and always wore a mask while working. No other employees have reported symptoms.
“They sought out testing on their own when they lost their sense of taste on Monday,” the restaurant wrote. “We have done everything in our power to provide a safe environment for everyone. Employees get masks, their own bottle of hand sanitizer and we have multiple sanitizing stations around the restaurant as well as people dedicated to cleaning high contact surfaces among many other precautions.”
Cha for Tea near the UC Irvine campus is expected to reopen Wednesday after a roughly weeklong closure prompted by an employee testing positive. The restaurant wrote on social media that the employee tested positive after going to a bar with friends where face coverings were not being used.
Clancy’s bar in Seal Beach also announced a temporary closure on Saturday after one or more individuals who had recently visited the bar tested positive for the virus. It is not clear when the bar plans to reopen.
Orange County health officials have declined to confirm or deny whether any specific restaurant closure is due to the coronavirus. Los Angeles County keeps a list online of businesses where employees have tested positive. As of Wednesday morning, 58 restaurants, stores and other workplaces had confirmed cases among their staffs countywide.
Officials in Orange County have said that if a staff member at any business reports having COVID-19, the public health services team will reach out to the facility to provide guidance.
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“If there is a cluster of cases, depending on the number of cases and the size of the facility, we may either mandate that all staff be tested and/or a facility close for a period of time until it is clearly safe to reopen,” Marc Meulman, chief of operations for Orange County Public Health Services, said in a statement last month.
Beachwood BBQ & Brewing, which has locations in Long Beach, Huntington Beach and Seal Beach, announced Wednesday that it plans to permanently close its flagship location on Main Street in Seal Beach. The brewery’s owners pointed to the challenges of operating a small space amid the coronavirus pandemic as a key reason for their decision not to reopen.
On Wednesday, Orange County health officials ordered all bars, pubs, breweries and brewpubs that do not offer dine-in meals to close beginning at midnight Thursday, a move health experts say is necessary in light of a troubling surge in coronavirus cases.
Orange County confirmed 10 additional coronavirus-related deaths and 779 new COVID-19 cases on Tuesday, the largest single-day number of new infections the county has reported since the pandemic hit. The daily tally brings the total number of coronavirus cases in Orange County to 13,843. Officials have reported 340 deaths countywide.


latimes--2020-07-01--L.A. revamps rules for cannabis licensing, hoping to redress harm from war on drugs

Los Angeles is revamping its rules for handing out licenses to cannabis businesses , amid anger and disappointment over the tumultuous rollout of a program meant to address the damage done by criminalizing marijuana .
The rules passed unanimously Wednesday by the Los Angeles City Council tighten the criteria for new applicants seeking to qualify for the “ social equity ” program , which is supposed to ensure that people from communities hit hardest by the war on drugs benefit from marijuana legalization .
“ We all know social equity has been a failure , here in L.A. and across @ @ @ @ @ @ @ This is the first real hope for social equity to succeed , ” Lynne Lyman , who led the Drug Policy Action campaign for the legalization of recreational cannabis in California , said at a recent city meeting on the changes .
Until now , the social equity program has broadly targeted people who have cannabis convictions or have lived in areas with disproportionate arrests for marijuana crimes , but critics said the rules were too loose .
Many complained that Black entrepreneurs were underrepresented , despite the heavy toll of cannabis criminalization @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Los Angeles previously designated the areas hit hardest by marijuana arrests by ZIP codes , looping in wealthier areas along with poorer ones that had high levels of arrests .
Among the eligible ZIP codes was 90027 , which includes affluent , predominantly white stretches of Los Feliz .
Now the city is narrowing the eligible areas to police reporting districts — a move that Department of Cannabis Regulation head Cat Packer said would better target the most drastically affected communities .
“ We agree that this process needs improvement ... and we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as reflective as we can of the feedback that we received , ” Packer said .
Los Angeles will also change the way cannabis entrepreneurs compete in the next round of licensing for shops .
The last time around , hundreds of people rapidly flooded a first-come , first-serve application system that became embroiled in controversy .
Cannabis entrepreneurs are suing the city over the “ flawed process , ” arguing that some competitors got an unfair advantage because they accessed the application system before the official launch time .
This time the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Social equity applicants vying for the next round of retail licenses in that lottery must have a California cannabis arrest or conviction to be eligible , in addition to being either low-income or living a decade in the hardest-hit areas .
L.A. previously permitted applicants who had lived in the designated neighborhoods but didn ’ t necessarily have an arrest or conviction .
But other paths to running a cannabis business — including licenses for other kinds of marijuana businesses besides shops — remain open to applicants who don ’ t meet @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The first-come , first-serve rush for licenses drew a battery of complaints last time around , but not everyone is pleased with the lottery system for the next round of retail licenses .
The California Minority Alliance , which advocates for more representation of Black and Latino business owners in the cannabis industry , complained that relying solely on a lottery would mean there was no gauge of whether a business was likely to ultimately succeed .
The city is also clarifying its language about how much control a social equity applicant must @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Packer said are meant to strengthen the requirements .
Social equity applicants routinely partner with wealthy investors , raising concerns about predatory agreements .
If those agreements aren ’ t vetted properly , “ what we ’ re setting up is economic apartheid , where you are forcing people to have to be beholden to investors and landlords who control all the decision-making , ” said Sherri Franklin , one of the founders of GoVerde Incubator , which works with social equity applicants .
And the city is also introducing new rules about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the City Council to open their doors in neighborhoods that have already hit limits on the number of marijuana shops .
Critics have raised concerns that the process , which gives a lot of control to council members , could become a path for the politically connected to score licenses as others languish .
Under the new rules , the council must make specific findings to grant such permission and the applicant must get written input from the neighborhood council and others in the area .
It also makes a major change to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Under the previous rules , if the council failed to act promptly on a request to open a shop in a saturated area , the request was automatically approved .
Under the new rules , a request is denied if the council fails to act on it within roughly three months .
One law firm that represents cannabis firms , Margolin & Lawrence , warned in a letter to the council that the new standards “ could still be too vague and leave room for corruption or other improper criteria being used to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ race .
It argued that a better process would include public hearings to “ prevent decisions being made in back rooms.
” Ahead of Wednesday ’ s vote , some cannabis applicants pleaded with the council to allow many more shops , arguing that the limited number of licenses has strangled an economic opportunity .
Hundreds more storefronts “ will bring thousands of much needed jobs for our fellow Angelenos , ” one applicant told the council .

Los Angeles is revamping its rules for handing out licenses to cannabis businesses, amid anger and disappointment over the tumultuous rollout of a program meant to address the damage done by criminalizing marijuana.
The rules passed unanimously Wednesday by the Los Angeles City Council tighten the criteria for new applicants seeking to qualify for the “social equity” program, which is supposed to ensure that people from communities hit hardest by the war on drugs benefit from marijuana legalization.
“We all know social equity has been a failure, here in L.A. and across most jurisdictions. Too many loopholes ... This is the first real hope for social equity to succeed,” Lynne Lyman, who led the Drug Policy Action campaign for the legalization of recreational cannabis in California, said at a recent city meeting on the changes.
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Until now, the social equity program has broadly targeted people who have cannabis convictions or have lived in areas with disproportionate arrests for marijuana crimes, but critics said the rules were too loose. Many complained that Black entrepreneurs were underrepresented, despite the heavy toll of cannabis criminalization on Black communities.
For instance, Los Angeles previously designated the areas hit hardest by marijuana arrests by ZIP codes, looping in wealthier areas along with poorer ones that had high levels of arrests. Among the eligible ZIP codes was 90027, which includes affluent, predominantly white stretches of Los Feliz.
Now the city is narrowing the eligible areas to police reporting districts — a move that Department of Cannabis Regulation head Cat Packer said would better target the most drastically affected communities.
“We agree that this process needs improvement ... and we’ve tried to make our recommendations as reflective as we can of the feedback that we received,” Packer said.
Los Angeles will also change the way cannabis entrepreneurs compete in the next round of licensing for shops.
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The last time around, hundreds of people rapidly flooded a first-come, first-serve application system that became embroiled in controversy. Cannabis entrepreneurs are suing the city over the “flawed process,” arguing that some competitors got an unfair advantage because they accessed the application system before the official launch time.
This time the city plans to use a lottery system. Social equity applicants vying for the next round of retail licenses in that lottery must have a California cannabis arrest or conviction to be eligible, in addition to being either low-income or living a decade in the hardest-hit areas.
L.A. previously permitted applicants who had lived in the designated neighborhoods but didn’t necessarily have an arrest or conviction. But other paths to running a cannabis business — including licenses for other kinds of marijuana businesses besides shops — remain open to applicants who don’t meet the new requirements, Packer said.
The first-come, first-serve rush for licenses drew a battery of complaints last time around, but not everyone is pleased with the lottery system for the next round of retail licenses.
The California Minority Alliance, which advocates for more representation of Black and Latino business owners in the cannabis industry, complained that relying solely on a lottery would mean there was no gauge of whether a business was likely to ultimately succeed.
The city is also clarifying its language about how much control a social equity applicant must have in a business, changes that Packer said are meant to strengthen the requirements. Social equity applicants routinely partner with wealthy investors, raising concerns about predatory agreements.
If those agreements aren’t vetted properly, “what we’re setting up is economic apartheid, where you are forcing people to have to be beholden to investors and landlords who control all the decision-making,” said Sherri Franklin, one of the founders of GoVerde Incubator, which works with social equity applicants.
And the city is also introducing new rules about when cannabis companies can get permission from the City Council to open their doors in neighborhoods that have already hit limits on the number of marijuana shops.
Critics have raised concerns that the process, which gives a lot of control to council members, could become a path for the politically connected to score licenses as others languish. Under the new rules, the council must make specific findings to grant such permission and the applicant must get written input from the neighborhood council and others in the area.
It also makes a major change to the way such requests are approved: Under the previous rules, if the council failed to act promptly on a request to open a shop in a saturated area, the request was automatically approved. Under the new rules, a request is denied if the council fails to act on it within roughly three months.
One law firm that represents cannabis firms, Margolin & Lawrence, warned in a letter to the council that the new standards “could still be too vague and leave room for corruption or other improper criteria being used to approve or deny,” such as race. It argued that a better process would include public hearings to “prevent decisions being made in back rooms.”
Ahead of Wednesday’s vote, some cannabis applicants pleaded with the council to allow many more shops, arguing that the limited number of licenses has strangled an economic opportunity. Hundreds more storefronts “will bring thousands of much needed jobs for our fellow Angelenos,” one applicant told the council.


latimes--2020-07-01--Restaurant dining rooms, wineries, card rooms to close for at least three weeks in 19 California cou

Restaurant dining rooms, wineries, card rooms to close for at least three weeks in 19 California counties

Gov .
Gavin Newsom on Wednesday ordered tougher restrictions on indoor activities for most of the state , marking a major step backward in the reopening and an attempt to slow an alarming rise of the coronavirus in 19 counties .
The governor took action to halt visits to indoor restaurants , bars , wineries and tasting rooms , entertainment centers , movie theaters , zoos , museums and card rooms for the next three weeks in Los Angeles , Riverside , Ventura , Orange , San Bernardino and Sacramento counties and other regions hard hit by the virus .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ effort to reduce opportunities for people to gather indoors in advance of the July 4 holiday weekend , when officials fear disaster if Californians continue to ignore safety guidelines and businesses remain open in areas already experiencing significant spikes in coronavirus infections .
As of Wednesday at 5 p.m. , there were 237,068 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in California , following record increases earlier in the week , and 6,152 total deaths , according to data tracked by The Times .
“ We have to be much more vigilant in terms of maintaining @ @ @ @ @ @ @ much more vigilant as it relates to the prospects of being in situations where we are transmitting COVID-19 , ” Newsom said .
“ The decisions we ’ re making here today — we do so soberly but thoughtfully and deliberately with an idea on mitigating the spread of this virus.
” The change signals a reversal in the state ’ s reopening that began in early May and quickly progressed by June 12 to allow retail stores , dine-in restaurants , bars , religious services , hair salons , gyms and other @ @ @ @ @ @ @ counties that met state guidelines .
Newsom is also recommending the cancellation of all fireworks shows on the Fourth of July in the affected counties , and is urging Californians to rethink having large get-togethers with friends and neighbors to celebrate the holiday .
The governor emphasized that the new mandates would allow businesses to remain open for outdoor service and take out .
Bars and other drinking establishments in the affected counties are also allowed to seat guests outdoors as long as they sell a meal with drinks in the same transaction @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as restaurants .
The state applied the closures to counties that have been flagged for at least three consecutive days based on troubling longer-term data on key public health metrics , including hospitalizations , community transmission and hospital capacity .
The state has been using the data to determine when counties are safe to open businesses and now to decide when to “ toggle back , ” as Newsom has described the process of reversing course and closing down .
Newsom ’ s order immediately applies to the affected indoor business activities in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Imperial , Kern , Kings , Los Angeles , Merced , Orange , Riverside , Sacramento , San Bernardino , San Joaquin , Santa Barbara , Santa Clara , Solano , Stanislaus , Tulare and Ventura counties .
State officials have long anticipated that reopening would lead to an increase in cases and risk of more deaths as Newsom shifted power to counties in May to open businesses at their own pace .
Newsom began sounding the alarm about growing spread of the virus on June 18 by requiring Californians to wear masks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ high-risk settings .
But the state continued to speed up the reopening process and allowed personal care services in one of the highest-risk sectors , such as nail salons , massage parlors , tattoo shops and waxing services , to resume the next day .
The governor defended his administration ’ s approach to reopening the state ’ s economy on Wednesday , saying it relied heavily on local public health officials to assess the severity of the outbreak in their areas and to determine the safest approach .
He has continually said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ state to ensure there was adequate hospital capacity along with personal protective gear , ventilators and other necessary medical supplies to handle a surge .
.
“ The whole purpose of the original stay-at-home was to buy us time , not put us into a permanent state of closure , ” Newsom told The Times .
“ No one advertised that we would shut down the fifth largest economy for a year .
That would create a health crisis the likes of which the nation has never seen in history.
” So far @ @ @ @ @ @ @ surge in cases and hospitalizations that could threaten the progress the state made during the shutdown .
After local health officials tied the flood of new cases to infections around Memorial Day , Newsom took action on Sunday to “ toggle back ” reopening for the first time and demanded a limited closure of bars in seven counties that are experiencing increases in virus transmission .
Under criteria to reverse reopening at the local level , a county is flagged and placed on the state ’ s watch list if it reports an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as more than 100 cases reported per 100,000 residents over two weeks , or more than 25 cases per 100,000 residents in two weeks and a positivity rate of at least 8 % of tests concluded over one week .
A spike in hospitalizations of more than 10 % over three days compared to the prior three days , or a drop in hospital capacity to fewer than 20 % of beds , or fewer than 25 % of ventilators available could also result in a county landing on the watch list .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ experiencing trouble .
State guidance says such counties should consider adopting parts of the stay-at-home order again if they fail to make progress on containing the disease or lowering hospitalizations , or the state public health officer may take action to do so for them .
Newsom has so far resisted using a heavy-handed approach when it comes to enforcing his coronavirus restrictions , however , choosing instead to encourage compliance and educate residents about the benefits of safeguards against spread of the virus .
Still , he has threatened to cut coronavirus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ enacted state budget , invoking provisions in the spending plan that link compliance with COVID-19 guidelines to cash distributed to counties each month .
Newsom said he was not “ Pollyannaish ” about the difficultly in enforcing the restrictions in a state as large and diverse as California .
“ You have 40 million people in the state of California and if 40 million people turn their back on these guidelines and common sense , that is not something we can enforce , ” Newsom said .
“ No one is naive about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ against the wall and say ‘ I told you so , ’ but that ’ s not going to sit well and I don ’ t want to do that.
” Newsom said that even during the Fourth of July holiday , state agents will go after businesses that are “ thumbing their nose ” at the state-imposed restrictions and putting customers and employees at risk .
He said the state has put together a strike team composed of agents from seven different agencies , including Division of Occupational Safety and Health , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the boards that regulate barbers and salons .
“ Why have rules , why have regulations , why have laws if you ’ re not willing to enforce ?
One must be willing .
So it ’ s targeted .
It ’ s where there are abuses , ” Newsom said .
The state will rely heavily on local governments to enforce the coronavirus restrictions and , overall , most have been cooperative , Newsom said .
Brian Vaughan , the public health officer in Northern California ’ s Yolo County , said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ always been planned for , especially since many epidemiological experts expected another surge in COVID-19 infections to hit eventually .
In an interview in June , Vaughn , said he expects residents to understand the severity of the situation and to act accordingly if tougher restrictions are reimposed .
“ The seriousness in which our community has addressed it was a huge reason why we were able to flatten our curve and we didn ’ t see a big spike , ” Vaughn said .
“ So I would assume that , if @ @ @ @ @ @ @ re sharing our data , and things start ticking up in terms of infections that the community would be behind us.
” Imperial County in the southeast corner of California remains one of the state ’ s hardest hit areas .
Last week , nearly one of every four people tested in Imperial County has been positive for the coronavirus over a 14-day period , far above the statewide average of one in every 20 residents .
More than 500 hospital patients have been transferred out of the county to relieve pressure on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Newsom recommended the county reimpose a strict stay-at-home order , mandating that all residents not classified as essential workers remain at home expect for trips to buy groceries , seek medical care and care for other critical needs .
The Imperial County board of supervisors on Monday released a plan to reimpose the restrictions , which is awaiting approval from the Newsom administration .
The governor ’ s mask order also faced backlash in some parts of the state almost immediately .
Sheriffs in Orange , Riverside , Fresno and Sacramento counties , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ enforce the Newsom administration ’ s mask order despite the fact that violating the mandate is a misdemeanor and could financial penalties .

Gov. Gavin Newsom on Wednesday ordered tougher restrictions on indoor activities for most of the state, marking a major step backward in the reopening and an attempt to slow an alarming rise of the coronavirus in 19 counties.
The governor took action to halt visits to indoor restaurants, bars, wineries and tasting rooms, entertainment centers, movie theaters, zoos, museums and card rooms for the next three weeks in Los Angeles, Riverside, Ventura, Orange, San Bernardino and Sacramento counties and other regions hard hit by the virus.
Newsom is imposing the restrictions in an effort to reduce opportunities for people to gather indoors in advance of the July 4 holiday weekend, when officials fear disaster if Californians continue to ignore safety guidelines and businesses remain open in areas already experiencing significant spikes in coronavirus infections.
California Newsom warns of more coronavirus restrictions and enforcement ahead of July 4 weekend Gov. Gavin Newsom on Wednesday ordered tougher restrictions on indoor activities for most of the state, marking a major step backward in the reopening and an attempt to slow an alarming rise of the coronavirus in 19 counties.
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As of Wednesday at 5 p.m., there were 237,068 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in California, following record increases earlier in the week, and 6,152 total deaths, according to data tracked by The Times.
“We have to be much more vigilant in terms of maintaining our physical distancing from others and be much more vigilant as it relates to the prospects of being in situations where we are transmitting COVID-19,” Newsom said. “The decisions we’re making here today — we do so soberly but thoughtfully and deliberately with an idea on mitigating the spread of this virus.”
The change signals a reversal in the state’s reopening that began in early May and quickly progressed by June 12 to allow retail stores, dine-in restaurants, bars, religious services, hair salons, gyms and other businesses to open again with modifications in counties that met state guidelines.
Newsom is also recommending the cancellation of all fireworks shows on the Fourth of July in the affected counties, and is urging Californians to rethink having large get-togethers with friends and neighbors to celebrate the holiday.
The governor emphasized that the new mandates would allow businesses to remain open for outdoor service and takeout. Bars and other drinking establishments in the affected counties are also allowed to seat guests outdoors as long as they sell a meal with drinks in the same transaction and meet all of the same safety requirements as restaurants.
The state applied the closures to counties that have been flagged for at least three consecutive days based on troubling longer-term data on key public health metrics, including hospitalizations, community transmission and hospital capacity. The state has been using the data to determine when counties are safe to open businesses and now to decide when to “toggle back,” as Newsom has described the process of reversing course and closing down.
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Lisa and Todd Smith enjoy drinks as they greet a passer-by who said she can’t get used to wearing a protective mask on Main Street Wednesday in Huntington Beach. Bars across Orange County, many of which have only recently reopened, will be forced to shut down again beginning at midnight Thursday, officials announced. (Allen J. Schaben/Los Angeles Times)
Newsom’s order immediately applies to the affected indoor business activities in Contra Costa, Fresno, Glenn, Imperial, Kern, Kings, Los Angeles, Merced, Orange, Riverside, Sacramento, San Bernardino, San Joaquin, Santa Barbara, Santa Clara, Solano, Stanislaus, Tulare and Ventura counties.
State officials have long anticipated that reopening would lead to an increase in cases and risk of more deaths as Newsom shifted power to counties in May to open businesses at their own pace.
Newsom began sounding the alarm about the growing spread of the virus on June 18 by requiring Californians to wear masks or other face coverings in public and high-risk settings. But the state continued to speed up the reopening process and allowed personal care services in one of the highest-risk sectors, such as nail salons, massage parlors, tattoo shops and waxing services, to resume the next day.
The governor defended his administration’s approach to reopening the state’s economy on Wednesday, saying it relied heavily on local public health officials to assess the severity of the outbreak in their areas and to determine the safest approach.
He has continually said that the initial stay-at-home order allowed the state to ensure there was adequate hospital capacity along with personal protective gear, ventilators and other necessary medical supplies to handle a surge.
Luis Estrada serves customers Chrystelle Gooding, 20, of Los Angeles, and Ahsante Morgan, 19, of Inglweood, as they have lunch inside The Original Pantry in downtown Los Angeles. They were the last customers allowed to dine in at the restaurant before it was forced to stop as a result of California Gov. Gavin Newsom new restrictions. (Mel Melcon/Los Angeles Times)
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“The whole purpose of the original stay-at-home was to buy us time, not put us into a permanent state of closure,” Newsom told The Times. “No one advertised that we would shut down the fifth-largest economy for a year. That would create a health crisis the likes of which the nation has never seen in history.”
So far, the reopening has resulted in a surge in cases and hospitalizations that could threaten the progress the state made during the shutdown.
After local health officials tied the flood of new cases to infections around Memorial Day, Newsom took action on Sunday to “toggle back” reopening for the first time and demanded a limited closure of bars in seven counties that are experiencing increases in virus transmission.
Under criteria to reverse reopening at the local level, a county is flagged and placed on the state’s watch list if it reports an elevated transmission of the disease, defined as more than 100 cases reported per 100,000 residents over two weeks, or more than 25 cases per 100,000 residents in two weeks and a positivity rate of at least 8% of tests concluded over one week.
A spike in hospitalizations of more than 10% over three days compared to the prior three days, or a drop in hospital capacity to fewer than 20% of beds, or fewer than 25% of ventilators available could also result in a county landing on the watch list.
The state is providing outreach to counties experiencing trouble. State guidance says such counties should consider adopting parts of the stay-at-home order again if they fail to make progress on containing the disease or lowering hospitalizations, or the state public health officer may take action to do so for them.
Newsom has so far resisted using a heavy-handed approach when it comes to enforcing his coronavirus restrictions, however, choosing instead to encourage compliance and educate residents about the benefits of safeguards against spread of the virus.
Still, he has threatened to cut coronavirus funding for counties earmarked in the newly enacted state budget, invoking provisions in the spending plan that link compliance with COVID-19 guidelines to cash distributed to counties each month.
Newsom said he was not “Pollyannaish” about the difficultly in enforcing the restrictions in a state as large and diverse as California.
“You have 40 million people in the state of California and if 40 million people turn their back on these guidelines and common sense, that is not something we can enforce,” Newsom said. “No one is naive about that and we can beat our heads against the wall and say ‘I told you so,’ but that’s not going to sit well and I don’t want to do that.”
Newsom said that even during the Fourth of July holiday, state agents will go after businesses that are “thumbing their nose” at the state-imposed restrictions and putting customers and employees at risk.
He said the state has put together a strike team composed of agents from seven different agencies, including Division of Occupational Safety and Health, the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control and the boards that regulate barbers and salons.
“Why have rules, why have regulations, why have laws if you’re not willing to enforce? One must be willing. So it’s targeted. It’s where there are abuses,” Newsom said.
The state will rely heavily on local governments to enforce the coronavirus restrictions and, overall, most have been cooperative, Newsom said.
Brian Vaughan, the public health officer in Northern California’s Yolo County, said that an uptick in coronavirus cases has always been planned for, especially since many epidemiological experts expected another surge in COVID-19 infections to hit eventually. In an interview in June, Vaughn, said he expects residents to understand the severity of the situation and to act accordingly if tougher restrictions are reimposed.
“The seriousness in which our community has addressed it was a huge reason why we were able to flatten our curve and we didn’t see a big spike,” Vaughn said. “So I would assume that, if we’re being transparent we’re sharing our data, and things start ticking up in terms of infections that the community would be behind us.”
Imperial County in the southeast corner of California remains one of the state’s hardest hit areas. Last week, nearly one of every four people tested in Imperial County has been positive for the coronavirus over a 14-day period, far above the statewide average of one in every 20 residents.
More than 500 hospital patients have been transferred out of the county to relieve pressure on medical facilities in the rural county. Newsom recommended the county reimpose a strict stay-at-home order, mandating that all residents not classified as essential workers remain at home expect for trips to buy groceries, seek medical care and care for other critical needs.
The Imperial County board of supervisors on Monday released a plan to reimpose the restrictions, which is awaiting approval from the Newsom administration.
The governor’s mask order also faced backlash in some parts of the state almost immediately. Sheriffs in Orange, Riverside, Fresno and Sacramento counties, among others, said they would not enforce the Newsom administration’s mask order despite the fact that violating the mandate is a misdemeanor and could financial penalties.


latimes--2020-07-01--Los Angeles cuts LAPD spending, taking police staffing to its lowest level in 12 years

The Los Angeles City Council voted Wednesday to cut hiring at the Police Department , pushing the number of sworn officers well below 10,000 and abandoning a budget priority once seen as untouchable by city leaders .
Faced with a grim budget outlook and deluged by demands for reductions in police spending , the council voted 12 to 2 to take the Los Angeles Police Department down to 9,757 officers by next summer — a level of staffing not seen in the city since 2008 .
Overall , the council ’ s decision delivered a $ 150-million hit to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from funds earmarked for police overtime pay .
Councilman Curren Price , who pushed for the cuts , said two-thirds of the savings would ultimately be funneled into services for Black , Latino and disenfranchised communities , such as hiring programs and summer youth jobs .
“ This is a step forward , supporting minority communities in ways in which they deserve — with respect , dignity and an even playing field , ” said Price , the only Black member on the council ’ s budget committee .
Councilmen Joe Buscaino and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Buscaino said afterward that the city should have approved more money for a community policing program , not “ a reactive , feel-good budget cut.
” Wednesday ’ s actions showed just how much spending policies and views on public safety have shifted at City Hall following mass protests over police brutality .
As recently as April , Mayor Eric Garcetti had been pushing for a 7 % increase to the LAPD budget , a move he no longer favors .
Reaching and maintaining a 10,000-officer force had been a longtime priority @ @ @ @ @ @ @ celebrated in 2013 when the LAPD reached that number for the first time .
That year , while running for mayor , Garcetti vowed to preserve that staffing level .
The council ’ s decision on Wednesday will allow the LAPD to hire only half the number of officers needed to replace those who resign or retire in the coming year .
The $ 150-million cut to the LAPD fell far short of demands from Black Lives Matter-Los Angeles and its allies , who had pushed for a “ People ’ s Budget @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and redirect the savings to housing , mental health services and other needs .
“ That is literally pocket change , ” said Rebecca Kessler , a resident of Van Nuys who called in to the council this week .
“ It ’ s a slap in the face .
You need to defund the police , take way more money , put way more money into these programs.
” LAPD spokesman Josh Rubenstein said Wednesday that the department is still reviewing the impact of the approved cuts .
The city spends roughly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , once pensions and other expenses are included .
In recent months , progressive activists have called on city leaders to slash that funding and redirect the proceeds to other needs , demanding cuts ranging from 90 % to outright abolition of the LAPD .
In response , council members have begun exploring ways of diverting many calls for help — those that involve nonviolent incidents — away from the LAPD and to other city workers .
Council members voted this week to direct city staffers to come up with an “ unarmed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ review .
Melina Abdullah , co-founder of Black Lives Matter-Los Angeles praised that step .
“ Rolling back police functions has the potential to have a far greater impact on advancing the call to defund the police than approving a meager cut of $ 150 million , ” she said .
Others questioned whether the LAPD cuts would harm neighborhoods .
Ray Rios , president of the Hillside Village Property Owners Assn .
in El Sereno , said his community has been experiencing a spate of car break-ins and illegal fireworks .
City @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the LAPD by focusing on reforms , not reducing the size of the force , he said .
“ Without any enforcement , [ crime ] is going to get worse , ” Rios said .
“ The big question is , who ’ s going to keep order ?
” While activists repeatedly delivered the message “ defund the police , ” council members focused much of their deliberations on the city ’ s financial woes .
Tax revenues have fallen dramatically below projections since the coronavirus outbreak and the shutdown of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s budget analysts have repeatedly warned that the city could find itself short by $ 45 million to $ 409 million .
And in recent days they began sounding new alarms about the resurgence in coronavirus cases across Los Angeles County , and what that could mean for city finances .
On Tuesday , council members quickly passed a plan for pushing as many as 2,850 civilian city employees into retirement , by offering them buyout packages of up to $ 80,000 .
Employees may begin applying for those payments next week @ @ @ @ @ @ @ program takes part , the city would save $ 58.7 million this year and an additional $ 125 million in 2021-22 , said City Administrative Officer Rich Llewellyn , the high-level budget analyst .
Both the LAPD cuts and the employee retirement initiative were also billed as ways to delay another budget-cutting measure : putting nearly 16,000 city workers on furloughs .
The furloughs , which were proposed by Garcetti but opposed by city employee unions , would have forced civilian city workers to take one out of every 10 days off , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of this week ’ s decisions by the council could saddle the city with hefty costs in the future .
Of the $ 150 million in cuts to the LAPD , about $ 97 million would come from cuts to overtime pay for police officers .
Council members and the city ’ s policy analysts cautioned that at least a portion of those overtime hours could still end up being worked by the LAPD , particularly if the city experiences a major emergency .
In those instances , the LAPD could “ bank @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the extra hours but delaying payment until a future year , allowing officers to be paid for those hours at higher salaries .
The plan to cut the civilian city workforce could also come with a delayed cost .
If every eligible employee takes part in the program , the city will need to spend $ 28.5 million on buyout packages this year — $ 10,000 per worker , according to Llewellyn , the budget analyst .
The city would need to spend an additional $ 128.5 million on those payments the following @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the program a “ financial winner for the city , ” but also acknowledged that the mass departure of thousands of city workers would result in a reduction in taxpayer services .
To achieve major savings , he said , the city should replace only a small fraction of the positions that become vacant .
“ Most of these choices are not choices that any of us would have made in a normal circumstance , ” said Councilman Paul Krekorian , who heads the budget committee .
“ But we ’ re not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also said $ 40 million of the money cut from the LAPD budget will be set aside as an “ insurance policy ” to help pay for city services if the retirement program does not generate enough savings .
Another $ 90 million will go into a reserve account titled Preservation of City Services , Reinvestment in Disadvantaged Communities and Communities of Color and Reimagining Public Safety Service Delivery .
Craig Lally , president of the Los Angeles Police Protective League , the union that represents LAPD officers , described that account as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that the planned reduction in police officers would result in slower response times .
Over the next 12 months , officers who do end up working overtime won ’ t be paid until years into the future , and at more expensive rates , Lally said .
“ They passed a budget by putting everything on the city credit card , ” he added .

David Zahniser, Dakota Smith, Emily Alpert Reyes

The Los Angeles City Council voted to cut hiring at the LAPD, pushing the number of sworn officers well below 10,000 and abandoning a budget priority once seen as untouchable by city leaders.
The Los Angeles City Council voted Wednesday to cut hiring at the Police Department, pushing the number of sworn officers well below 10,000 and abandoning a budget priority once seen as untouchable by city leaders.
Faced with a grim budget outlook and deluged by demands for reductions in police spending, the council voted 12 to 2 to take the Los Angeles Police Department down to 9,757 officers by next summer — a level of staffing not seen in the city since 2008.
Overall, the council’s decision delivered a $150-million hit to the LAPD budget, much of it coming from funds earmarked for police overtime pay. Councilman Curren Price, who pushed for the cuts, said two-thirds of the savings would ultimately be funneled into services for Black, Latino and disenfranchised communities, such as hiring programs and summer youth jobs.
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“This is a step forward, supporting minority communities in ways in which they deserve — with respect, dignity and an even playing field,” said Price, the only Black member on the council’s budget committee.
Councilmen Joe Buscaino and John Lee cast the two opposing votes. Buscaino said afterward that the city should have approved more money for a community policing program, not “a reactive, feel-good budget cut.”
Wednesday’s actions showed just how much spending policies and views on public safety have shifted at City Hall following mass protests over police brutality. As recently as April, Mayor Eric Garcetti had been pushing for a 7% increase to the LAPD budget, a move he no longer favors.
Reaching and maintaining a 10,000-officer force had been a longtime priority for city leaders. Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa celebrated in 2013 when the LAPD reached that number for the first time. That year, while running for mayor, Garcetti vowed to preserve that staffing level.
The LAPD currently has a sworn deployment of roughly 10,000 officers, according to a recent report by city budget analysts.
The council’s decision on Wednesday will allow the LAPD to hire only half the number of officers needed to replace those who resign or retire in the coming year.
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The $150-million cut to the LAPD fell far short of demands from Black Lives Matter-Los Angeles and its allies, who had pushed for a “People’s Budget” that would effectively eliminate police spending and redirect the savings to housing, mental health services and other needs.
“That is literally pocket change,” said Rebecca Kessler, a resident of Van Nuys who called in to the council this week. “It’s a slap in the face. You need to defund the police, take way more money, put way more money into these programs.”
LAPD spokesman Josh Rubenstein said Wednesday that the department is still reviewing the impact of the approved cuts.
The city spends roughly $3 billion annually on the LAPD, once pensions and other expenses are included. In recent months, progressive activists have called on city leaders to slash that funding and redirect the proceeds to other needs, demanding cuts ranging from 90% to outright abolition of the LAPD.
In response, council members have begun exploring ways of diverting many calls for help — those that involve nonviolent incidents — away from the LAPD and to other city workers. Council members voted this week to direct city staffers to come up with an “unarmed model of crisis response” for further review.
Melina Abdullah, co-founder of Black Lives Matter-Los Angeles praised that step. “Rolling back police functions has the potential to have a far greater impact on advancing the call to defund the police than approving a meager cut of $150 million,” she said.
Others questioned whether the LAPD cuts would harm neighborhoods.
Ray Rios, president of the Hillside Village Property Owners Assn. in El Sereno, said his community has been experiencing a spate of car break-ins and illegal fireworks. City leaders should address demands for change at the LAPD by focusing on reforms, not reducing the size of the force, he said.
“Without any enforcement, [crime] is going to get worse,” Rios said. “The big question is, who’s going to keep order?”
While activists repeatedly delivered the message “defund the police,” council members focused much of their deliberations on the city’s financial woes. Tax revenues have fallen dramatically below projections since the coronavirus outbreak and the shutdown of an array of businesses.
The city’s budget analysts have repeatedly warned that the city could find itself short by $45 million to $409 million. And in recent days they began sounding new alarms about the resurgence in coronavirus cases across Los Angeles County, and what that could mean for city finances.
On Tuesday, council members quickly passed a plan for pushing as many as 2,850 civilian city employees into retirement, by offering them buyout packages of up to $80,000. Employees may begin applying for those payments next week.
If everyone eligible for the retirement program takes part, the city would save $58.7 million this year and an additional $125 million in 2021-22, said City Administrative Officer Rich Llewellyn, the high-level budget analyst.
Both the LAPD cuts and the employee retirement initiative were also billed as ways to delay another budget-cutting measure: putting nearly 16,000 city workers on furloughs. The furloughs, which were proposed by Garcetti but opposed by city employee unions, would have forced civilian city workers to take one out of every 10 days off, cutting salaries by 10%.
Some of this week’s decisions by the council could saddle the city with hefty costs in the future.
Of the $150 million in cuts to the LAPD, about $97 million would come from cuts to overtime pay for police officers. Council members and the city’s policy analysts cautioned that at least a portion of those overtime hours could still end up being worked by the LAPD, particularly if the city experiences a major emergency.
In those instances, the LAPD could “bank” that overtime, letting officers work the extra hours but delaying payment until a future year, allowing officers to be paid for those hours at higher salaries.
The plan to cut the civilian city workforce could also come with a delayed cost. If every eligible employee takes part in the program, the city will need to spend $28.5 million on buyout packages this year — $10,000 per worker, according to Llewellyn, the budget analyst.
The city would need to spend an additional $128.5 million on those payments the following year, he said.
Llewellyn called the program a “financial winner for the city,” but also acknowledged that the mass departure of thousands of city workers would result in a reduction in taxpayer services. To achieve major savings, he said, the city should replace only a small fraction of the positions that become vacant.
“Most of these choices are not choices that any of us would have made in a normal circumstance,” said Councilman Paul Krekorian, who heads the budget committee. “But we’re not living in a normal circumstance.”
Krekorian also said $40 million of the money cut from the LAPD budget will be set aside as an “insurance policy” to help pay for city services if the retirement program does not generate enough savings. Another $90 million will go into a reserve account titled Preservation of City Services, Reinvestment in Disadvantaged Communities and Communities of Color and Reimagining Public Safety Service Delivery.
Craig Lally, president of the Los Angeles Police Protective League, the union that represents LAPD officers, described that account as a “slush fund.” He warned that the planned reduction in police officers would result in slower response times.
Over the next 12 months, officers who do end up working overtime won’t be paid until years into the future, and at more expensive rates, Lally said.
“They passed a budget by putting everything on the city credit card,” he added.


latimes--2020-07-01--Offensive behavior by 'All Lives Matter' group against Black protesters sparks concerns, Norco offic

Offensive behavior by 'All Lives Matter' group against Black protesters sparks concerns, Norco officials say

Following a violent clash between Black Lives Matter demonstrators and counterprotesters in Norco on Monday , the city has declared a local emergency and issued a daily curfew .
The 6 p.m.-to-6 a.m. curfew will be in place indefinitely , city officials said Tuesday in announcing the measure .
The curfew , like others implemented across Southern California in early June amid protests over the death of George Floyd , prohibits residents from being in any public area , with the exception of police and first responders , essential workers and homeless people .
The move came one day after @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Americans was held at Neal Snipes Park , followed by a march to Norco City Hall .
The gathering was marred by what city officials called “ offensive ” behavior from a group toting “ All Lives Matter ” signs and waving American flags and Trump 2020 banners .
The initial group of 40 or 50 mostly college-age demonstrators was outnumbered nearly 2-to-1 by counterprotesters .
A video posted on Instagram shows a man with a neo-Nazi symbol on his shirt flipping his middle finger and cursing at the crowd before shoving a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ protester ’ s Black Lives Matter sign and throws it behind him , while other counterprotesters continue taunting those in the initial gathering .
“ The counterprotesters were revving their engines , trying to disrupt our reading and our guest speakers , ” said Elizabeth Kavainain , who was among the protest organized by Norconians for Racial Justice .
“ As a group together , our voice was strong , and our voice was loud .
I think that that really says something.
” Though agitators threatened her and screamed profanities directly at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t deter the group , noting that she hopes to continue fighting for racial justice in Norco .
By Wednesday , another profanity-laced video showing scores of counterprotesters mocking the racial justice group had more than 32,500 views on Instagram .
“ Get out of here , ” one man shouts , while another is heard calling out , “ Mask-wearing cowards , ” as deputies escorted the Black Lives Matter group along the road toward City Hall .
A faint chant of “ No Justice , No Peace ” can be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the post condemned the agitators — nearly all of whom were white — for “ assaulting women.
” City officials announced Tuesday the incident is under investigation , noting that “ Norco does not condone these actions and denounces the offensive behavior of some of the counterprotesters.
” A joint statement from Riverside County sheriff ’ s Lt. Andrew Elia and Norco City Manager Andy Okoro stated that “ the images displayed yesterday do not reflect the level of respect Norconians typically extend to their neighbors.
” “ Norco residents have had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ grief , anger and demand for change by the Black Lives Matter movement that has recently swept the nation , ” the statement said .
“ While individuals in our community are entitled to their First Amendment rights to peacefully assemble and express their views , the violent behavior exhibited yesterday does not in any way represent the values of our organization .
”

Norco in Riverside County has declared a local emergency and issued a daily curfew following a violent clash between Black Lives Matter demonstrators and counterprotesters Monday.
Following a violent clash between Black Lives Matter demonstrators and counterprotesters in Norco on Monday, the city has declared a local emergency and issued a daily curfew.
The 6 p.m.-to-6 a.m. curfew will be in place indefinitely, city officials said Tuesday in announcing the measure. The curfew, like others implemented across Southern California in early June amid protests over the death of George Floyd, prohibits residents from being in any public area, with the exception of police and first responders, essential workers and homeless people.
The move came one day after a rally protesting police treatment of Black Americans was held at Neal Snipes Park, followed by a march to Norco City Hall. The gathering was marred by what city officials called “offensive” behavior from a group toting “All Lives Matter” signs and waving American flags and Trump 2020 banners.
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The initial group of 40 or 50 mostly college-age demonstrators was outnumbered nearly 2-to-1 by counterprotesters.
A video posted on Instagram shows a man with a neo-Nazi symbol on his shirt flipping his middle finger and cursing at the crowd before shoving a protester. The man then grabs another protester’s Black Lives Matter sign and throws it behind him, while other counterprotesters continue taunting those in the initial gathering.
“The counterprotesters were revving their engines, trying to disrupt our reading and our guest speakers,” said Elizabeth Kavainain, who was among the protest organized by Norconians for Racial Justice. “As a group together, our voice was strong, and our voice was loud. I think that that really says something.”
Though agitators threatened her and screamed profanities directly at her, Kavainain said their behavior didn’t deter the group, noting that she hopes to continue fighting for racial justice in Norco.
By Wednesday, another profanity-laced video showing scores of counterprotesters mocking the racial justice group had more than 32,500 views on Instagram. “Get out of here,” one man shouts, while another is heard calling out, “Mask-wearing cowards,” as deputies escorted the Black Lives Matter group along the road toward City Hall.
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A faint chant of “No Justice, No Peace” can be heard in the background.
Many commenters on the post condemned the agitators — nearly all of whom were white — for “assaulting women.”
City officials announced Tuesday the incident is under investigation, noting that “Norco does not condone these actions and denounces the offensive behavior of some of the counterprotesters.”
A joint statement from Riverside County sheriff’s Lt. Andrew Elia and Norco City Manager Andy Okoro stated that “the images displayed yesterday do not reflect the level of respect Norconians typically extend to their neighbors.”
“Norco residents have had widely divergent reactions to the outpouring of grief, anger and demand for change by the Black Lives Matter movement that has recently swept the nation,” the statement said. “While individuals in our community are entitled to their First Amendment rights to peacefully assemble and express their views, the violent behavior exhibited yesterday does not in any way represent the values of our organization.”


latimes--2020-07-01--Orange County must close bars, indoor restaurants amid coronavirus surge

Bars across Orange County , many of which have only recently reopened , will be forced to shut down again beginning at midnight Thursday , authorities announced .
County officials on Wednesday announced the closure of bars , pubs , breweries and brewpubs that do not offer dine-in meals amid a troubling surge in coronavirus cases that has resulted in an increased hospitalization rate .
The county ’ s order requires that establishments can serve alcohol only in the same transaction as a meal .
The county ’ s decision , under guidance from the California Department of Public Health @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , breaking records for new daily infections .
“ While we would prefer not to close bars at this time , many of our neighboring counties have closed their bars , and it ’ s important to take precautions to ensure the safety of the general public , ” Board of Supervisors Chairwoman Michelle Steel said .
Less than two hours after the county issued its new order , Gov .
Gavin Newsom announced that Orange County — along with 18 other counties — must immediately close bars and cease indoor operations at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ movie theaters , family entertainment centers , zoos , museums and card rooms .
The new rules will remain in place for at least three weeks , Newsom said .
“ This doesn ’ t mean restaurants are shut down , ” Newsom said .
“ It means that we ’ re trying to take the activities , as many activities as we can — these mixed activities , these concentrated activities — and move them outdoors , which is a way of mitigating the spread of this virus.
” The change marks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s reopening process that began in early May and quickly progressed by June 12 to allow retail stores , dine-in restaurants , bars , religious services , card rooms , hair and nail salons , gyms and other businesses to open again with modifications in regions like Orange County that met state guidelines .
State officials and health experts have long anticipated that reopening would lead to an increase in cases and the risk of more deaths , a situation that has been playing out in Southern California for the past several weeks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to more than 3 million people , has the fourth-highest number of coronavirus cases among the state ’ s 58 counties and the fourth most deaths .
Orange County confirmed five additional coronavirus-related deaths and 570 new COVID-19 cases on Wednesday .
The daily tally brings the total number of cases in Orange County to 14,413 with 345 deaths .
The county has a case rate of 115.2 per 100,000 residents and a positive test rate of 9.9 % , according to health officials .
The state has set a desired standard average @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a 14-day period , and a seven-day average positive test rate of 8 % .
“ As we experience a rise in positive cases and hospitalizations , it is important that we take swift and prudent action so that we do not overload our healthcare system or jeopardize the progress we have made in reopening our economy , ” Supervisor Lisa Bartlett said .
The effort to scale back certain business sectors comes just days ahead of the Fourth of July holiday .
During a news conference Wednesday , Newsom urged the public @ @ @ @ @ @ @ maintain physical distancing and avoid congregating with friends and extended family members over the holiday weekend in an effort to stem further spread of the virus .
In line with this effort , parking lots at state beaches in Orange County will be closed over the weekend to try to keep crowds from flocking to the coast .
While most of the county ’ s 42 miles of coastline will remain open , Laguna Beach officials voted Tuesday to close city-operated beaches entirely on July 4 , a day that typically draws massive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had previously canceled its fireworks show in an effort to thin crowds but took the issue a step further after Los Angeles County closed its beaches and residents began expressing concerns over a possible influx of beachgoers .
“ Particularly on the Fourth of July when there were fireworks ... it looked like sardines in a can , ” Mayor Pro Tem Steve Dicterow said .
“ There was no space in between people .
My concern is that even without the fireworks , there just may be a huge density of people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Laguna Beach become overwhelming , the city manager can extend the beach closures to Friday and Sunday .
In L.A. County , all public beaches , piers , public beach parking lots , beach bike paths “ that traverse that sanded portion of the beach ” and beach access points will be closed from 12:01 a.m. Friday to 5 a.m. Monday .
Ventura County beaches , parking lots and restrooms will also be shuttered from Friday through Monday to discourage gatherings .
Officials in Newport Beach on Wednesday are expected to discuss closing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ two seasonal lifeguards tested positive for COVID-19 .
If officials opt to leave the beach open , lifeguards say they are prepared for an influx beyond the typical Fourth of July crush as displaced L.A. County beachgoers look for the next closest sand and surf .
Brian O ’ Rourke , a Newport lifeguard battalion chief , said the ocean beaches will be staffed similarly to last year , with about 60 people on duty to staff 35 towers , 10 vehicles , three rescue boats and the headquarters on Newport Pier , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ if the turnout demands it .
“ We ’ re prepared to go , ” he said .
Other Orange County beach cities have given no indication that they will block access to their coastline .
Laguna Beach was the first city in the county to curb access to its shores as part of the initial coronavirus shutdown in March .
Newport Beach and Huntington Beach made headlines earlier in the pandemic when a heat wave and waning patience with the state ’ s stay-at-home order drew thousands to the sand .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the county on April 30 .
They were reopened for “ active use ” about a week later , and fully reopened in June .
Daily Pilot staff writers Lilly Nguyen and Hillary Davis contributed to this report .

Bartender Brianna Van De Mortel takes an order from a customer at Kelly’s Korner in Placentia in May.
Bars across Orange County, many of which have only recently reopened, will be forced to shut down again beginning at midnight Thursday, authorities announced.
County officials on Wednesday announced the closure of bars, pubs, breweries and brewpubs that do not offer dine-in meals amid a troubling surge in coronavirus cases that has resulted in an increased hospitalization rate. The county’s order requires that establishments can serve alcohol only in the same transaction as a meal.
The county’s decision, under guidance from the California Department of Public Health, comes as coronavirus cases mount statewide, breaking records for new daily infections.
“While we would prefer not to close bars at this time, many of our neighboring counties have closed their bars, and it’s important to take precautions to ensure the safety of the general public,” Board of Supervisors Chairwoman Michelle Steel said.
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California Orange County restaurants close for cleaning as coronavirus cases continue to climb A handful of Orange County restaurants have temporarily closed in the last week to deep clean and sanitize their spaces, some after discovering that employees had been infected with COVID-19, business owners said.
Less than two hours after the county issued its new order, Gov. Gavin Newsom announced that Orange County — along with 18 other counties — must immediately close bars and cease indoor operations at restaurants, wineries and tasting rooms, movie theaters, family entertainment centers, zoos, museums and card rooms. The new rules will remain in place for at least three weeks, Newsom said.
“This doesn’t mean restaurants are shut down,” Newsom said. “It means that we’re trying to take the activities, as many activities as we can — these mixed activities, these concentrated activities — and move them outdoors, which is a way of mitigating the spread of this virus.”
The change marks a major reversal in the state’s reopening process that began in early May and quickly progressed by June 12 to allow retail stores, dine-in restaurants, bars, religious services, card rooms, hair and nail salons, gyms and other businesses to open again with modifications in regions like Orange County that met state guidelines.
State officials and health experts have long anticipated that reopening would lead to an increase in cases and the risk of more deaths, a situation that has been playing out in Southern California for the past several weeks.
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Orange County, which is home to more than 3 million people, has the fourth-highest number of coronavirus cases among the state’s 58 counties and the fourth most deaths.
Orange County confirmed five additional coronavirus-related deaths and 570 new COVID-19 cases on Wednesday. The daily tally brings the total number of cases in Orange County to 14,413, with 345 deaths.
The county has a case rate of 115.2 per 100,000 residents and a positive test rate of 9.9%, according to health officials.
The state has set a desired standard average of 25 positive cases per 100,000 over a 14-day period and a seven-day average positive test rate of 8%.
“As we experience a rise in positive cases and hospitalizations, it is important that we take swift and prudent action so that we do not overload our healthcare system or jeopardize the progress we have made in reopening our economy,” Supervisor Lisa Bartlett said.
The effort to scale back certain business sectors comes just days ahead of the Fourth of July holiday.
During a news conference Wednesday, Newsom urged the public to continue to wear face coverings, maintain physical distancing and avoid congregating with friends and extended family members over the holiday weekend in an effort to stem further spread of the virus.
In line with this effort, parking lots at state beaches in Orange County will be closed over the weekend to try to keep crowds from flocking to the coast.
While most of the county’s 42 miles of coastline will remain open, Laguna Beach officials voted Tuesday to close city-operated beaches entirely on July 4, a day that typically draws massive crowds to the city. The city had previously canceled its fireworks show in an effort to thin crowds but took the issue a step further after Los Angeles County closed its beaches and residents began expressing concerns over a possible influx of beachgoers.
“Particularly on the Fourth of July when there were fireworks ... it looked like sardines in a can,” Mayor Pro Tem Steve Dicterow said. “There was no space in between people. My concern is that even without the fireworks, there just may be a huge density of people on the beaches.”
If crowds in Laguna Beach become overwhelming, the city manager can extend the beach closures to Friday and Sunday.
On Wednesday, Seal Beach followed with its own closure of beaches, beach parking lots, volleyball courts, the Seal Beach Pier and restrooms. The amenities will reopen the morning of July 5, but the city may extend the closure until further notice “if it is believed the reopening will be detrimental to the health of the community,” city officials said in a news release.
Newport Beach is putting its beaches under a hard closure on the Fourth of July after two lifeguards tested positive for COVID-19. Twenty-three colleagues are in quarantine. One of them is showing symptoms but hasn’t been tested yet. The number of lifeguards out would leave the remaining ones stretched too thin, according to city officials. Newport’s beaches will be shut down from 10 p.m. Friday to 6 a.m. Sunday.
Other Orange County beach cities have given no indication that they will block access to their coastline. Laguna Beach was the first city in the county to curb access to its shores as part of the initial coronavirus shutdown in March.
Newport Beach and Huntington Beach made headlines earlier in the pandemic when a heat wave and waning patience with the state’s stay-at-home order drew thousands to the sand. The situation prompted Newsom to close all beaches in the county on April 30. They were reopened for “active use” about a week later and fully reopened in June.
Daily Pilot staff writers Lilly Nguyen and Hillary Davis contributed to this report.


latimes--2020-07-01--L.A. County to shutter indoor dining at restaurants amid coronavirus spike

Gov .
Gavin Newsom on Wednesday ordered the immediate closure of indoor operations at restaurants , wineries , tasting rooms , movie theaters , zoos , museums and card rooms in 19 counties — including Los Angeles County — that California officials have been monitoring for increases in coronavirus cases and hospitalizations .
“ The bottom line is that the spread of this virus continues at a rate that is particularly concerning , ” Newsom said , noting that closures will last for at least three weeks .
In L.A. County , where officials Wednesday announced 35 additional coronavirus-related deaths @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the fourth day in a row , officials said that staff and customers at fitness facilities will be required to wear cloth face coverings and gloves at all times .
The mandate follows L.A. County officials ’ announcement Monday that 49 % of bars and 33 % of restaurants in the county were not adhering to social distancing protocols in the last week .
Additionally , inspectors found that workers at 54 % of bars and 44 % of restaurants were not wearing face masks or shields .
Health officials said that on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ County gave the green light for bars , breweries , wineries and similar businesses to reopen — more than 500,000 people visited the county ’ s newly reopened nightlife spots .
Officials had previously said that of 3,571 restaurants that had been visited over three consecutive weekends from May 30 to June 13 , 83 % were not in full compliance with coronavirus safety rules .
There are more than 40,000 restaurants in L.A. County , and the county ’ s public health director , Barbara Ferrer , said officials are trying to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with those that have had past citations .
But the order of inspection is fairly random , she said .
The latest closures were ordered after California broke a record for new daily coronavirus infections — 8,610 cases , according to — for the second consecutive day .
It was the second time the state has recorded more than 8,000 cases in a single day , another troubling sign that COVID-19 is spreading more rapidly in communities across the state .
The percentage of coronavirus tests coming back positive in California continues to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a Los Angeles Times analysis found , up from 5.28 % a week earlier and 4.45 % a week before that .
That ’ s another indication that the virus ’ spread is worsening .
In L.A. County , officials said 1,889 individuals are hospitalized with COVID-19 , the highest number the county has reported since early May .
Officials said that the demographic for hospitalizations has recently started to shift toward younger residents , who now account for the bulk of cases in the state .
Further details about individuals ’ ages @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
As of Wednesday , there were no available appointments at county- or city-run test sites .
Officials had warned Monday that testing would be limited this week due to the upcoming holiday weekend , but in recent weeks , getting a test has already proved to be a challenge .
Last week , appointment slots filled up amid officials ’ ongoing calls for residents to get tested .
Dr. Christina Ghaly , director of health services , said Wednesday that the demand for testing has increased and that more slots would be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ expand testing to areas most impacted by the virus , and Ghaly said individuals who have symptoms , work in high-risk settings or have come into contact with someone known to be positive are most in need of testing .
If someone experiencing any of those factors can not get tested through the county- or city-run sites , Ghaly encouraged them not to wait and to instead contact their medical provider .
“ This is a time for universal caution , ” she said .
The rate of positive infections in the county @ @ @ @ @ @ @ does not meet the state ’ s positivity rate threshold of 8 % or less for continued reopening of businesses .
As several clusters of cases have been linked to gatherings , officials have encouraged people not to congregate in crowded or confined settings , and resists mixing households over the holiday weekend .
Despite the fact that people are defying the county order and gathering , Ferrer said there are no immediate plans to offer guidance for how people should safely gather , as has been done in some Northern California communities @ @ @ @ @ @ @ county officials are preparing guidance documents for when the time comes that people can safely mix again .
But at this point , officials are focusing on the need for people to minimize exposure .
“ Unfortunately , our numbers at this point in time warrant us not to get into expanded bubbles , ” Ferrer said .
“ I would really encourage people to get back in your household bubble — we ’ re really at a pivotal point.
” Earlier Wednesday , Newsom said that in the course of this pandemic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more vulnerable ” time for people with preexisting health conditions as there is now .
The state is monitoring 19 counties for surges in cases and hospitalizations : Contra Costa , Fresno , Glenn , Imperial , Kern , Kings , Los Angeles , Merced , Orange , Riverside , Sacramento , San Bernardino , San Joaquin , Santa Barbara , Santa Clara , Solano , Stanislaus , Tulare and Ventura .
At a news conference Tuesday , Newsom said four more counties were likely to be added to the watch list , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Monday brought L.A. 's highest single-day tally to date — 2,903 — which pushed the county .
“ The L.A. County community needs to come together again to slow the spread of COVID-19 , and we need to act with haste and urgency , ” Ferrer said in a statement .
Orange County set its own daily record Tuesday , with 779 new confirmed coronavirus cases .
The county now has nearly On the same day , California as a whole hit a grim milestone when it exceeded 6,000 deaths .
That is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spots , such as New York and New Jersey , but the increase in overall case numbers and the stress on hospitals are raising alarms .
The enormous surge in California cases , to more than 223,900 , prompted to order that anyone traveling to his state from California — and 15 other states that have seen recent surges — to self-quarantine for 14 days .
Newsom on Tuesday compared pending new restrictions to dialing back a dimmer switch , saying , “ If you ’ re not going to stay home , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wear masks in public , we have to enforce , and we will.
” In Orange County , Laguna Beach City Council members voted to close city beaches , Huntington Beach officials opted to keep them open and Newport Beach officials are still mulling plans .

Colleen Shalby, Rong-Gong Lin II, Alejandra Reyes-Velarde

Gov. Gavin Newsom on Wednesday ordered the immediate closure of indoor operations at restaurants, wineries, tasting rooms, movie theaters, zoos, museums and card rooms in 19 counties — including Los Angeles County — that California officials have been monitoring for increases in coronavirus cases and hospitalizations.
“The bottom line is that the spread of this virus continues at a rate that is particularly concerning,” Newsom said, noting that closures will last for at least three weeks.
In L.A. County, where officials Wednesday announced 35 additional coronavirus-related deaths and more than 2,000 new cases for the fourth day in a row, officials said that staff and customers at fitness facilities will be required to wear cloth face coverings and gloves at all times.
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The mandate follows L.A. County officials’ announcement Monday that 49% of bars and 33% of restaurants in the county were not adhering to social distancing protocols in the last week. Additionally, inspectors found that workers at 54% of bars and 44% of restaurants were not wearing face masks or shields.
Health officials said that on June 20 — one day after L.A. County gave the green light for bars, breweries, wineries and similar businesses to reopen — more than 500,000 people visited the county’s newly reopened nightlife spots.
Officials had previously said that of 3,571 restaurants that had been visited over three consecutive weekends from May 30 to June 13, 83% were not in full compliance with coronavirus safety rules.
There are more than 40,000 restaurants in L.A. County, and the county’s public health director, Barbara Ferrer, said officials are trying to inspect every one of them, starting with those that have had past citations. But the order of inspection is fairly random, she said.
In his Wednesday evening media briefing, Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti encouraged restaurant owners to work with officials to secure outdoor dining permits using the L.A. Al Fresco program.
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“This is a painful decision, especially for our restaurateurs,” he said of Newsom’s order. “I hope our residents will continue to support our city’s wonderful restaurants. You just cannot eat inside for this at least three-week period.”
Garcetti said about 560 restaurants so far have received permits to serve on sidewalks, parking lots or streets.
“This spike in infections and in hospitalizations is serious,” he said. “I know we’re exhausted. I know that we let down our guard. I know some of us think that we’re invincible. But this disease reminds us that we are not.”
In light of the case surge, Garcetti introduced a new color-coded system to signal the level of danger due to the coronavirus: green, yellow, orange and red.
We’re in the “orange” category, Garcetti said, which indicates a high risk and requires residents to leave home only for essential activities.
If the city reaches the “red” category, there could be another stay-at-home mandate, Garcetti said.
The latest closures were ordered after California broke a record for new daily coronavirus infections — 8,610 cases, according to The Times’ tracker — for the second consecutive day.
It was the second time the state has recorded more than 8,000 cases in a single day, another troubling sign that COVID-19 is spreading more rapidly in communities across the state.
The percentage of coronavirus tests coming back positive in California continues to rise — hitting 5.95% Tuesday, a Los Angeles Times analysis found, up from 5.28% a week earlier and 4.45% a week before that. That’s another indication that the virus’ spread is worsening.
In L.A. County, officials said 1,889 individuals are hospitalized with COVID-19, the highest number the county has reported since early May. Officials said that the demographic for hospitalizations has recently started to shift toward younger residents, who now account for the bulk of cases in the state. Further details about individuals’ ages or health conditions were not immediately provided.
As of Wednesday, there were no available appointments at county- or city-run test sites. Officials had warned Monday that testing would be limited this week due to the upcoming holiday weekend, but in recent weeks, getting a test has already proved to be a challenge. Last week, appointment slots filled up amid officials’ ongoing calls for residents to get tested.
Dr. Christina Ghaly, director of health services, said Wednesday that the demand for testing has increased and that more slots would be added Friday. The county plans to expand testing to areas most impacted by the virus, and Ghaly said individuals who have symptoms, work in high-risk settings or have come into contact with someone known to be positive are most in need of testing.
If someone experiencing any of those factors cannot get tested through the county- or city-run sites, Ghaly encouraged them not to wait and to instead contact their medical provider.
“This is a time for universal caution,” she said.
The rate of positive infections in the county has increased to 9%, which does not meet the state’s positivity rate threshold of 8% or less for continued reopening of businesses. As several clusters of cases have been linked to gatherings, officials have encouraged people not to congregate in crowded or confined settings, and resists mixing households over the holiday weekend.
Despite the fact that people are defying the county order and gathering, Ferrer said there are no immediate plans to offer guidance for how people should safely gather, as has been done in some Northern California communities. That said, Ferrer said that county officials are preparing guidance documents for when the time comes that people can safely mix again. But at this point, officials are focusing on the need for people to minimize exposure.
“Unfortunately, our numbers at this point in time warrant us not to get into expanded bubbles,” Ferrer said. “I would really encourage people to get back in your household bubble — we’re really at a pivotal point.”
Earlier Wednesday, Newsom said that in the course of this pandemic, there has never been a “more vulnerable” time for people with preexisting health conditions as there is now.
The state is monitoring 19 counties for surges in cases and hospitalizations: Contra Costa, Fresno, Glenn, Imperial, Kern, Kings, Los Angeles, Merced, Orange, Riverside, Sacramento, San Bernardino, San Joaquin, Santa Barbara, Santa Clara, Solano, Stanislaus, Tulare and Ventura.
At a news conference Tuesday, Newsom said four more counties were likely to be added to the watch list, but he did not name them.
Monday brought L.A.’s highest single-day tally to date — 2,903 — which pushed the county past 100,000 infections .
“The L.A. County community needs to come together again to slow the spread of COVID-19, and we need to act with haste and urgency,” Ferrer said in a statement.
Orange County set its own daily record Tuesday, with 779 new confirmed coronavirus cases. The county now has nearly 14,000 cases and 340 deaths.
On the same day, California as a whole hit a grim milestone when it exceeded 6,000 deaths. That is still far fewer than other coronavirus hot spots, such as New York and New Jersey, but the increase in overall case numbers and the stress on hospitals are raising alarms.
The enormous surge in California cases, to more than 223,900, prompted New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo to order that anyone traveling to his state from California — and 15 other states that have seen recent surges — to self-quarantine for 14 days.
Newsom on Tuesday compared pending new restrictions to dialing back a dimmer switch, saying, “If you’re not going to stay home, and you’re not going to wear masks in public, we have to enforce, and we will.”
On Tuesday, Ventura County joined Los Angeles County in closing beaches during the holiday.
In Orange County, Laguna Beach City Council members voted to close city beaches, Huntington Beach officials opted to keep them open and Newport Beach officials are still mulling plans.