latimes--2020-02-20--California students sued because they were such poor readers. They just won $53 million to help them

Two years ago , a group of students and their teachers sued the state of California for doing a poor job teaching kids how to read — 53 % of California third-graders did not meet state test standards that year , and scores have increased incrementally since .
On Thursday they won $ 53 million so that the state ’ s lowest-performing schools can do better .
Under the settlement with the state , most of the funding will be awarded over three years to 75 public elementary schools , including charters , with the poorest third-grade reading scores in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The plaintiffs were current or former students and educators at La Salle Avenue Elementary School in Los Angeles ; Van Buren Elementary School in Stockton ; and the charter school Children of Promise Preparatory Academy in Inglewood .
La Salle and Van Buren will be among the schools that receive funding , said attorney Mark Rosenbaum at the pro bono law firm Public Counsel , but not all the recipient schools have been named .
“ We know that literacy is the foundation for all learning , and it ’ s an essential @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who can ’ t read and write are often uninformed , are more easily manipulated and less likely to vote , ” UCLA education professor Pedro Noguera said .
This settlement is “ just a step , and I think we shouldn ’ t exaggerate how big a step.
” A Times analysis of the 75 lowest-performing schools on the state ’ s English language arts test , based on California ’ s Common Core standards , illustrates the depth of the reading problem .
Seven out of 10 third-graders in these schools @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to state data from 2018 and 2019 .
The schools have about double the English learners of other elementary schools , and more than 90 % of students at those schools qualify for free or reduced-price lunch — a poverty indicator .
The schools with the lowest test scores also tend to enroll higher percentages of homeless students and foster students , Noguera said .
The settlement money to improve learning will exclude hundreds of elementary schools whose students are also struggling to meet reading standards .
In more than 500 of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the majority of third-grade students scored Level 1 — the lowest — in English tests , according to the Times analysis .
About 80 % of the schools ’ population are black and Latino , higher than the state average of 60 % .
The scenario is also troubling in the fourth grade , with California students lagging behind the national averages in reading on the 2019 National Assessment of Education Progress , a standardized test taken across the country .
“ We shouldn ’ t have to be filing lawsuits to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said Rosenbaum , who filed the suit along with the law firm Morrison & Foerster .
Rosenbaum said he hopes the state will expand the targeted funding to more schools without more litigation .
But settling for 75 schools now means that students will get help sooner .
“ The settlement is a step in the right direction , but only a small step , ” L.A. schools Supt .
Austin Beutner said in a statement .
California schools lag behind most states in per-pupil funding and need more to adequately educate students @ @ @ @ @ @ @ talent in every seat in every classroom in every one of the 1,386 schools in Los Angeles Unified .
But there is not always opportunity.
” To receive their grant , each school will design a California Department of Education-approved plan that analyzes why its reading rates are so low and identifies how it will measure progress and spend the money , which can be used for a range of services , including literacy coaches , social-emotional learning , bilingual reading specialists , and training teachers on methods to improve school discipline that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ meant for students in grades K-3 , and is contingent on the state Legislature ’ s approval of the governor ’ s block grant — if denied , the case goes back to court .
“ California is committed to closing opportunity gaps by directing extra support and resources to school districts and schools that serve students who need extra help , ” Gov .
Gavin Newsom ’ s spokeswoman Vicky Waters said in an email statement .
In addition to Newsom ’ s budget proposal to spend $ 600 million on grants @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the literacy settlement “ focuses on strengthening early literacy programs , which are critical to a child ’ s later success in school , ” she said .
Up to $ 3 million of the settlement can be used for outside resources to support the schools ’ plans , including an “ expert lead on literacy ” at the California Collaborative for Educational Excellence , a state agency that assists schools and districts in capacity-building , said Aida Palma , an organizer and researcher at Public Counsel .
Such support is important @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that are already struggling .
“ You don ’ t want to just pour money into failing schools that don ’ t have capacity to use it , ” Noguera said .

Student Mary Hereford and Principal Aleta Parker-Taylor at La Salle Avenue Elementary School in Los Angeles in 2017. La Salle was one of the schools named in the lawsuit.
Two years ago, a group of students and their teachers sued the state of California for doing a poor job teaching kids how to read — 53% of California third-graders did not meet state test standards that year, and scores have increased only incrementally since. On Thursday they won $53 million so that the state’s lowest-performing schools have the resources to do better.
Under the settlement with the state, most of the funding will be awarded over three years to 75 public elementary schools, including charters, with the poorest third-grade reading scores in California over the last two years. The agreement comes after the novel lawsuit contended that the students’ low literacy levels violated California’s constitutional mandate to provide all children with equal access to an education, said attorney Mark Rosenbaum at the pro bono law firm Public Counsel.
“We shouldn’t have to be filing lawsuits to establish a right to read,” Rosenbaum said.
The plaintiffs included current or former students and educators at La Salle Avenue Elementary School in Los Angeles; Van Buren Elementary School in Stockton; and the charter school Children of Promise Preparatory Academy in Inglewood. La Salle and Van Buren will be among the schools that receive funding, Rosenbaum said, but not all the recipient schools have been named.
“We know that literacy is the foundation for all learning, and it’s an essential part of participating in democracy. People who can’t read and write are often uninformed, are more easily manipulated and less likely to vote,” said Pedro Noguera, a professor of education at UCLA. This settlement is “just a step, and I think we shouldn’t exaggerate how big a step.”
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A Times analysis of the 75 lowest-performing schools on the state’s English language arts test, based on California’s Common Core standards, illustrates the depth of the reading problem. Seven out of 10 third-graders in these schools did not meet the standards, according to state data from 2018 and 2019. The schools have about double the English learners of other elementary schools, and more than 90% of students at those schools qualify for free or reduced-price lunch — a poverty indicator.
The schools with the lowest test scores also tend to enroll higher percentages of homeless students and foster students, Noguera said.
The settlement money to improve learning will exclude hundreds of elementary schools whose students are also struggling to meet reading standards.
In more than 500 of the state’s approximately 6,000 elementary schools, the majority of third-grade students scored Level 1 — the lowest — in English tests, according to the Times analysis. About 80% of the schools’ population are black and Latino, higher than the state average of 60%.
The scenario is also troubling in the fourth grade, with California students lagging behind the national averages in reading on the 2019 National Assessment of Education Progress, a standardized test taken across the country.
Rosenbaum, who filed the suit along with the law firm Morrison & Foerster, said he hopes the state will expand the targeted funding to more schools without more litigation. But settling for 75 schools now means that students will get help sooner.
The heart of their argument — rooted in the state’s constitutional mandate for an equal education for all students — is one that public interest lawyers have successfully used before, though not for reading specifically. In 2004, the American Civil Liberties Union settled for about $1 billion a lawsuit that accused the state of denying poor children adequate textbooks, trained teachers and safe classrooms.
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Suing the state is more effective than suing individual districts, Rosenbaum said, because “the relief can be applied to every child in California.”
“This is a way to get a lot more far-reaching reforms and I think it’s good to remind everybody about the state’s obligations to provide that education for all students,” said Victor Leung, an attorney with the ACLU of Southern California who specializes in education issues.
Literacy experts including Nell Duke, a University of Michigan education professor, analyzed school records, depositions and assessment results at the schools named in the lawsuit to determine how well they taught reading. They found problems with classroom instruction, discipline and the lack of adequate intervention for struggling students — all of which probably contributed to the low literacy rates, Duke said.
She believes that California will be a model for other states.
“I wouldn’t be surprised if other suits in other states follow and I wouldn’t be surprised if some states and jurisdictions take this as a cautionary tale” and start directing more aid toward helping their neediest students learn to read, Duke said
“The settlement is a step in the right direction, but only a small step,” L.A. schools Supt. Austin Beutner said in a statement. California schools lag behind most states in per-pupil funding and need more to adequately educate students, he said. “There is talent in every seat in every classroom in every one of the 1,386 schools in Los Angeles Unified. But there is not always opportunity.”
To receive their grant, each school will design a California Department of Education-approved plan that analyzes why its reading rates are so low and identifies how it will measure progress and spend the money, which can be used for a range of services, including literacy coaches, social-emotional learning, bilingual reading specialists, and training teachers on methods to improve school discipline that can disrupt education. The funding is meant for students in grades K-3, and is contingent on the state Legislature’s approval of the governor’s block grant. If denied, the case goes back to court.
“California is committed to closing opportunity gaps by directing extra support and resources to school districts and schools that serve students who need extra help,” Gov. Gavin Newsom’s spokeswoman Vicky Waters said in an email statement. In addition to Newsom’s budget proposal to spend $600 million on grants and services for low-performing, high-poverty schools, the literacy settlement “focuses on strengthening early literacy programs, which are critical to a child’s later success in school,” she said.
The settlement includes up to $50 million in grants for the elementary schools, plus $3 million to support the schools’ plans, including a literacy expert to guide them from the California Collaborative for Educational Excellence, a state agency that assists schools and districts in capacity-building.
Such support is important, Noguera said, especially at schools that are already struggling.
“You don’t want to just pour money into failing schools that don’t have capacity to use it,” Noguera said.
Results will vary at schools. Some may see fast growth in state standardized test results, Noguera said, although that kind of improvement typically takes time, he said.
One of the plaintiffs, retired La Salle teacher David Moch, said he is most heartened that the settlement requires schools to garner parent and community feedback on the plans, as well as provisions that allow the funding to be used for creating safer and more welcoming learning environments for children who have experienced trauma. He would look not just at test results to measure improvement, but at parent involvement in the schools, and whether suspensions and referrals to school administrators decrease.
Moch taught for 20 years in South L.A.’s Vermont corridor, an area of high crime rates in the city.
“We had to always teach with the recognition that we have to understand and make accommodations for whatever it is they went through that night or that evening or that morning,” Moch said. But when had enough supports in his classroom — 10 students in a specialized literacy program and computers and money for culturally relevant resources—the students thrived.


latimes--2020-02-20--Paraglider rescued after getting stuck in power lines

A paraglider ’ s flight took an unexpected turn from soaring success to tangled mess when he became trapped in a cluster of power lines for several hours Wednesday .
While trying to land at the Yuba County airport during a training exercise , the paraglider veered into electrical lines in Olivehurst , about 40 miles north of Sacramento .
Officials with the Olivehurst Fire Department said the power wires , which were live when the man flew into them , served as his only support while first responders worked to rescue him .
Power was cut from the lines @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , who has not yet been identified .
No major injuries were reported .
“ The difficulty was making sure that the lines were de-energized to make sure that our firefighters were safe before we could make patient contact , ” Battalion Chief Randy York said .
“ Our main focus was letting him know to stay in contact with the aircraft and not to reach out and touch us so that the aircraft stayed still , ” York said .
“ He ’ s exhausted , but all his vitals seem to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the scene show the man dangling precariously over the side of a road while perched among the power lines .
A Pacific Gas & Electric Co. truck was on site during the rescue , as was a firetruck .
According to the U.S .
Hang Gliding and Paragliding Assn.
, two paragliders died from the sport in 2018 , and seven died in 2017 .
The Associated Press contributed to this report .

A paraglider’s flight took an unexpected turn from soaring success to tangled mess when he became trapped in a cluster of power lines for several hours Wednesday.
While trying to land at the Yuba County airport during a training exercise, the paraglider veered into electrical lines in Olivehurst, about 40 miles north of Sacramento. Officials with the Olivehurst Fire Department said the power wires, which were live when the man flew into them, served as his only support while first responders worked to rescue him.
Power was cut from the lines while crews worked to save the paraglider, who has not yet been identified. No major injuries were reported.
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“The difficulty was making sure that the lines were de-energized to make sure that our firefighters were safe before we could make patient contact,” Battalion Chief Randy York said.
“Our main focus was letting him know to stay in contact with the aircraft and not to reach out and touch us so that the aircraft stayed still,” York said. “He’s exhausted, but all his vitals seem to be stable.”
Happening now: PG&E crews are working on the power lines to help the paraglider stuck in the lines. Yuba County Sheriff & Olivehurst Fire Department also out here. pic.twitter.com/US2mfeGzIa — Marlei Martinez (@MarleiMartinez) February 20, 2020
Video and photos from the scene show the man dangling precariously over the side of a road while perched among the power lines. A Pacific Gas & Electric Co. truck was on site during the rescue, as was a firetruck.
According to the U.S. Hang Gliding and Paragliding Assn., two paragliders died from the sport in 2018, and seven died in 2017.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.


latimes--2020-02-20--After report of a woman lying in a pool of blood, 3 bodies found in Hemet home

The bodies of three women were found inside a home in Hemet on Wednesday night , authorities said .
Officers @ @ @ @ @ in the 1400 block of Rabbit Peak Way shortly before 9 p.m. in response to @ @ @ @ @ lying in a pool of blood , the Hemet Police Department said in a news @ @ @ @ @ find three women dead inside the home , according to investigators .
No other details @ @ @ @ @ s names or how they died , were released .
The investigation was continuing .
@ @ @ @ @ slayings was asked to call Hemet police Sgt .
Gomez at ( 951 ) 765-2396 @

The bodies of three women were found inside a home in Hemet, and two people were arrested in connection with their deaths, authorities said Thursday.
Officers were sent to the home in the 1400 block of Rabbit Peak Way shortly before 9 p.m. Wednesday in response to a report of a woman lying in a pool of blood, the Hemet Police Department said in a news release.
They arrived to find three women dead inside the home, according to investigators. Authorities identified the women as Wendy Lopez-Araiza, 46; Genesis Lopez-Araiza, 21; and Trinity Clyde, 18, but did not say how they died or release any other information about the incident.
Two people were arrested, and no other suspects were being sought, police said in a news release Thursday evening. The suspects’ names were not released.
Police said they will hold a media briefing Friday afternoon and no additional details would be released before then.
Anyone with information about the slayings was asked to call Hemet police Sgt. Gomez at (951) 765-2396.


latimes--2020-02-20--There's rain in the weekend forecast but not enough to help the snowpack

A smattering of rain is forecast for portions of California this week , including precipitation from a small storm expected to arrive late Friday .
Still , the state ’ s parched winter appears to be continuing , with unusually dry conditions expanding across a wider swath of the landscape .
A report released by the U.S. Drought Monitor on Thursday shows that nearly 60 % of the state — including much of Northern California and portions of the Central Coast and Los Angeles County — is considered abnormally dry , up from 46 % last week .
The amount @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a moderate drought remains at 9.5 % .
Although precipitation in November and December provided a solid start to winter across the state , a persistent high-pressure ridge hovering over the eastern Pacific Ocean has kept wet weather at bay for much of January and early February , said Joe Sirard , a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Oxnard .
The ridge has recently shifted to the west , which has allowed a small storm to creep off the California coast .
That system , which is expected to hit portions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Friday , could provide some of the first measurable rain in Los Angeles County this month .
The storm is predicted to drop one-tenth to a quarter of an inch of rain on the coasts and valleys and up to half an inch in the mountains .
But it won ’ t be enough to make up for the winter rain deficit , Sirard said .
Typically , downtown Los Angeles receives 6.92 inches of rain in January and February .
This year , downtown L.A. got 0.32 inches of rain in January @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the wettest month of the year — the area has received just a trace amount of precipitation .
The total seasonal rainfall so far in downtown L.A. is also more than an inch below normal , coming in at just 7.28 inches , data show .
“ We ’ re running way , way , way below normal for the winter , ” Sirard said .
“ We ’ re going to need a wet March to get us back to even close to normal .
With the way this winter ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ optimistic about that.
” The latest storm , which will miss large swaths of Northern California entirely , also isn ’ t expected to generate much snow for the Sierra Nevada , aside from the possibility of a light dusting in the southern section .
The lack of rain has taken its toll on the Sierra snowpack , a key source of the state ’ s water supply .
As of Wednesday , the statewide snowpack measured 53 % of average for the time of year .
At roughly the same time last @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of average .
Two satellite photos released by the National Weather Service in Sacramento this week show the stark difference in the snowy layer from last winter to the current one .
In the image above , the Sierra Nevada is shown , at left , blanketed with snow on Feb. 18 , 2019 .
At right , the same portion of California is shown , with scant snow cover , on Feb. 17 of this year .
The snow season typically begins in December and ends on the first day of April @ @ @ @ @ @ @ its highest .
How much snow falls during this period is critical to California ’ s annual water outlook and is watched closely by state water managers .
Last year at this time , the northern Sierra had a snowpack that was 129 % of normal for the date .
This year , the snowpack in the northern Sierra stands at 58 % of normal .
Last winter ’ s snowpack was bolstered significantly by a series of atmospheric rivers that pounded the state with precipitation .
This year , the high-pressure ridge @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hitting California .
The snowpack provides about 30 % of the annual freshwater supply for the state .
Its spring and summer runoff feeds rivers and reservoirs , and part of it is distributed to water agencies for farm irrigation , landscaping and urban drinking supplies .
The good news , officials say , is that the state ’ s reservoirs , including Folsom Lake and Shasta Lake , are near or above their averages for this time of year , thanks in part to solid rainfall last winter .
Precipitation figures suggest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ scientist Bill Patzert .
Measurements of rainfall in downtown L.A. showed 14 years from 1999 through 2019 that were below the 143-year average , although there were a few wet years interspersed during that period .
“ I think of droughts in the long term , not year to year .
Droughts tend to be long , they tend to be large and they wax and wane , ” Patzert told the Los Angeles Times last week .
“ The other thing is , they fool you .
You think you ’ re @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in .
”

A cold front moves over downtown L.A. in January. The region is expected to see the first measurable rain of February beginning late Friday.
A smattering of rain is forecast for portions of California this week, including precipitation from a small storm expected to arrive late Friday. Still, the state’s parched winter appears to be continuing, with unusually dry conditions expanding across a wider swath of the landscape.
A report released by the U.S. Drought Monitor on Thursday shows that nearly 60% of the state — including much of Northern California and portions of the Central Coast and Los Angeles County — is considered abnormally dry, up from 46% last week. The amount of the state considered to be in a moderate drought remains at 9.5%.
Although precipitation in November and December provided a solid start to winter across the state, a persistent high-pressure ridge hovering over the eastern Pacific Ocean has kept wet weather at bay for much of January and early February, said Joe Sirard, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Oxnard.
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Abnormally dry (D-0) conditions expand to 59.98% of California, up from 46.15% last week. D-1 moderate drought levels remain constant for now as parts of the state have yet to see measurable rain for February #CAwx pic.twitter.com/iqSKoaAzoL — Rob Mayeda (@RobMayeda) February 20, 2020
The ridge has recently shifted to the west, which has allowed a small storm to creep off the California coast. That system, which is expected to hit portions of Central and Southern California by late Friday, could provide some of the first measurable rain in Los Angeles County this month.
The storm is predicted to drop one-tenth to a quarter of an inch of rain on the coasts and valleys and up to half an inch in the mountains. But it won’t be enough to make up for the winter rain deficit, Sirard said.
Typically, downtown Los Angeles receives 6.92 inches of rain in January and February. This year, downtown L.A. got 0.32 inches of rain in January. So far in February — typically the wettest month of the year — the area has received just a trace amount of precipitation.
The total seasonal rainfall so far in downtown L.A. is also more than an inch below normal, coming in at just 7.28 inches, data show.
“We’re running way, way, way below normal for the winter,” Sirard said. “We’re going to need a wet March to get us back to even close to normal. With the way this winter’s going, I’m not too optimistic about that.”
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The latest storm, which will miss large swaths of Northern California entirely, also isn’t expected to generate much snow for the Sierra Nevada, aside from the possibility of a light dusting in the southern section.
The lack of rain has taken its toll on the Sierra snowpack, a key source of the state’s water supply. As of Wednesday, the statewide snowpack measured 53% of average for the time of year. At roughly the same time last year, the snowpack measured 153% of average.
Two satellite photos released by the National Weather Service in Sacramento this week show the stark difference in the snowy layer from last winter to the current one.
Satellite images released by the National Weather Service office in Sacramento on Monday. (Paul Duginski)
In the image above, the Sierra Nevada is shown, at left, blanketed with snow on Feb. 18, 2019. At right, the same portion of California is shown, with scant snow cover, on Feb. 17 of this year.
The snow season typically begins in December and ends on the first day of April, when the snowpack is normally at its highest. How much snow falls during this period is critical to California’s annual water outlook and is watched closely by state water managers.
Last year at this time, the northern Sierra had a snowpack that was 129% of normal for the date. This year, the snowpack in the northern Sierra stands at 58% of normal.
Last winter’s snowpack was bolstered significantly by a series of atmospheric rivers that pounded the state with precipitation. This year, the high-pressure ridge has blocked any significant storm activity from hitting California.
The snowpack provides about 30% of the annual freshwater supply for the state. Its spring and summer runoff feeds rivers and reservoirs, and part of it is distributed to water agencies for farm irrigation, landscaping and urban drinking supplies.
The good news, officials say, is that the state’s reservoirs, including Folsom Lake and Shasta Lake, are near or above their averages for this time of year, thanks in part to solid rainfall last winter.
Precipitation figures suggest that California has been locked in a two-decade drought , according to climate scientist Bill Patzert. Measurements of rainfall in downtown L.A. showed 14 years from 1999 through 2019 that were below the 143-year average, although there were a few wet years interspersed during that period.
“I think of droughts in the long term, not year to year. Droughts tend to be long, they tend to be large and they wax and wane,” Patzert told the Los Angeles Times last week. “The other thing is, they fool you. You think you’re out, and they pull you back in.”


latimes--2020-02-20--Time Warner Cable customers duped by misleading ads to get nearly $17 million in credits

A three-year investigation into deceptive advertising practices by the former Time Warner Cable has resulted in an $ 18.8-million settlement — the largest ever in a consumer protection action brought by the Los Angeles County district attorney .
L.A. County Dist .
Atty .
Jackie Lacey announced the settlement Thursday , saying her office found that 170,000 customers of Time Warner Cable , previously the region ’ s largest cable TV and internet service provider , were paying for internet speeds that they were not receiving .
District attorneys in San Diego and Riverside counties joined Los Angeles County in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was filed last week in Los Angeles County Superior Court .
In the complaint , prosecutors accused Time Warner Cable of misleading subscribers , beginning in 2013 , to get them to pay for internet speeds that the company couldn ’ t deliver .
In some instances , customers were given outdated modems , which prevented them from receiving the broadband speeds they had purchased .
“ This historic settlement serves as a warning to all companies in California that deceptive practices are bad for consumers and bad for business , ” Lacey @ @ @ @ @ @ @ resolution .
“ We as prosecutors demand that all service providers — large and small — live up to their claims and fairly market their products.
” As part of the settlement , $ 16.9 million in restitution will be paid to eligible customers who received internet service from Time Warner Cable before its sale in May 2016 to Connecticut-based Charter Communications .
A few months later , Charter ditched the Time Warner Cable moniker and rebranded its cable TV , phone and internet service under the Spectrum banner .
The money will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ days as a one-time credit on their monthly internet bills .
Eligible subscribers will receive a one-time credit of about $ 90 on their bills , according to the district attorney ’ s office .
“ That ’ s nothing to sneeze at , ” Lacey said in a phone interview with The Times .
Time Warner Cable customers who were given outdated modems will receive as much as $ 180 .
In addition , the nearly 2 million Time Warner Cable internet customers in Southern California will be offered three free months @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who simply subscribe to Spectrum ’ s internet service will be offered a free month of a streaming package called Spectrum TV Choice , which is valued at about $ 40 .
Charter agreed that it would “ not make misrepresentations or omit material information in connection with advertising , marketing or sales of its internet services , ” according to the court settlement .
In addition , Charter will be barred from making claims about internet speeds over Wi-Fi unless it could demonstrate that its wireless routers are capable of delivering such @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tests , as required by the Federal Communications Commission , to verify that it routinely delivers its advertised speeds during peak usage hours of 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. “ We are pleased to have reached this settlement with California regarding certain Time Warner Cable advertising practices in California prior to our 2016 merger , ” Charter said in a statement .
“ We cooperated fully in the review , have resolved this matter comprehensively , and this is expressly not a finding nor an admission of liability.
” The case began in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ customer complained to the district attorney ’ s office after realizing that outdated equipment provided by the company limited his internet speeds .
“ We just started investigating to see how systemic the problem was , ” Lacey said .
To gauge the scope of the problem , her Consumer Protection Division investigators scoured public sources , including the Better Business Bureau , and a private database kept by the Federal Trade Commission .
“ We saw a pattern of complaints , and we asked the company to come in , ” said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ attorney in Lacey ’ s office .
“ We give companies the chance to explain themselves and cooperate in the investigation .
Most businesses , when they are made aware of a problem , cooperate .
They want to get things right.
” Chun declined to say whether the office has been investigating other high-speed internet service providers .
Charter also must pay $ 1.9 million to the district attorney ’ s offices of Los Angeles , San Diego and Riverside counties to cover their costs associated with the investigation and future consumer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ split evenly among the three offices .
The settlement comes less than three weeks before a high-profile primary contest between Lacey and two other candidates , former San Francisco Dist .
Atty .
George Gascón and former public defender Rachel Rossi , who are vying for Lacey ’ s job .
Lacey has served two terms .
Unless one of the three candidates receives more than 50 % of the vote , the top two finishers will go head-to-head in November .
Last week , L.A. County Superior Court Judge Gregory Keosian signed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lawsuit over the allegedly deceptive practices .
Charter , for its part , has dramatically raised the internet speeds provided to customers since the Time Warner Cable takeover .
Seven years ago , most customers received speeds of less than 50 megabits per second .
Charter now offers starting speeds in the Los Angeles area of about 200 megabits per second .
“ Charter has made , and continues to make , substantial investments enhancing internet service across the state , ” the company said .

A three-year investigation into deceptive advertising practices by the former Time Warner Cable has resulted in an $18.8-million settlement — the largest ever in a consumer protection action brought by the Los Angeles County district attorney.
L.A. County Dist. Atty. Jackie Lacey announced the settlement Thursday, saying her office found that 170,000 customers of Time Warner Cable, previously the region’s largest cable TV and internet service provider, were paying for internet speeds that they were not receiving.
District attorneys in San Diego and Riverside counties joined Los Angeles County in the unlawful business practices lawsuit, which was filed last week in Los Angeles County Superior Court. In the complaint, prosecutors accused Time Warner Cable of misleading subscribers, beginning in 2013, to get them to pay for internet speeds that the company couldn’t deliver.
In some instances, customers were given outdated modems, which prevented them from receiving the broadband speeds they had purchased.
“This historic settlement serves as a warning to all companies in California that deceptive practices are bad for consumers and bad for business,” Lacey said in a news conference announcing the resolution. “We as prosecutors demand that all service providers — large and small — live up to their claims and fairly market their products.”
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As part of the settlement, $16.9 million in restitution will be paid to eligible customers who received internet service from Time Warner Cable before its sale in May 2016 to Connecticut-based Charter Communications. A few months later, Charter ditched the Time Warner Cable moniker and rebranded its cable TV, phone and internet service under the Spectrum banner.
The money will be returned to Spectrum customers within 60 days as a one-time credit on their monthly internet bills. Eligible subscribers will receive a one-time credit of about $90 on their bills, according to the district attorney’s office.
“That’s nothing to sneeze at,” Lacey said in a phone interview with The Times.
Time Warner Cable customers who were given outdated modems will receive as much as $180. In addition, the nearly 2 million Time Warner Cable internet customers in Southern California will be offered three free months of premium cable channel Showtime. Customers who simply subscribe to Spectrum’s internet service will be offered a free month of a streaming package called Spectrum TV Choice, which is valued at about $40.
Charter agreed that it would “not make misrepresentations or omit material information in connection with advertising, marketing or sales of its internet services,” according to the court settlement. In addition, Charter will be barred from making claims about internet speeds over Wi-Fi unless it can demonstrate that its wireless routers are capable of delivering such speeds.
Charter also must conduct speed tests, as required by the Federal Communications Commission, to verify that it routinely delivers its advertised speeds during peak usage hours of 7 p.m. to 11 p.m.
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“We are pleased to have reached this settlement with California regarding certain Time Warner Cable advertising practices in California prior to our 2016 merger,” Charter said in a statement. “We cooperated fully in the review, have resolved this matter comprehensively, and this is expressly not a finding nor an admission of liability.”
The case began in late 2016 when a Time Warner Cable customer complained to the district attorney’s office after realizing that outdated equipment provided by the company limited his internet speeds. “We just started investigating to see how systemic the problem was,” Lacey said.
To gauge the scope of the problem, her Consumer Protection Division investigators scoured public sources, including the Better Business Bureau, and a private database kept by the Federal Trade Commission.
“We saw a pattern of complaints, and we asked the company to come in,” said Hoon Chun, assistant head deputy district attorney in Lacey’s office. “We give companies the chance to explain themselves and cooperate in the investigation. Most businesses, when they are made aware of a problem, cooperate. They want to get things right.”
Chun declined to say whether the office has been investigating other high-speed internet service providers.
Charter also must pay $1.9 million to the district attorney’s offices of Los Angeles, San Diego and Riverside counties to cover their costs associated with the investigation and future consumer protection cases. The amount will be split evenly among the three offices.
The settlement comes less than three weeks before a high-profile primary contest with Lacey and two other candidates, former San Francisco Dist. Atty. George Gascón and former public defender Rachel Rossi, who are vying for Lacey’s job. Lacey has served two terms. Unless one of the three candidates receives more than 50% of the vote, the top two finishers will go head-to-head in November.
Last week, L.A. County Superior Court Judge Gregory Keosian signed the stipulated final judgment, ending the lawsuit over the allegedly deceptive practices.
Charter, for its part, has dramatically raised the internet speeds provided to customers since the Time Warner Cable takeover. Seven years ago, most customers received speeds of less than 50 megabits per second. Charter now offers starting speeds in the Los Angeles area of about 200 megabits per second.
“Charter has made, and continues to make, substantial investments enhancing internet service across the state,” the company said.


latimes--2020-02-20--Firefighters died after rushing into Porterville library to ensure everyone was out, officials say

The two firefighters who perished battling a blaze that tore through a public library in Central California had rushed into the building to make sure that everyone else had gotten out safely , officials said Thursday .
Firefighter Patrick Jones , 25 , and Fire Capt .
Ray Figueroa , 35 , were killed fighting the Porterville library fire , which erupted about 4:15 p.m. Tuesday .
After arriving on the scene , the two were “ unable to confirm if all citizens had been able to exit the building ” and rushed in to search , Tulare County Fire @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
A “ mayday ” was called after that .
Figueroa was found and taken to a hospital , where he was pronounced dead , Bear said .
Jones was initially reported missing , but his body was later located in the charred structure , Porterville Fire Department officials said Wednesday night .
“ We continue to work with the families of the fallen firefighters to ensure that they are informed every step of the way during this tragic time , ” Bear said .
Officials suspect that the blaze was the result @ @ @ @ @ @ @ arrested and booked into the Tulare County Juvenile Detention Facility on suspicion of arson , manslaughter and conspiracy , authorities said .
Figueroa started his career with the city in 2007 , and Jones was hired as a full-time firefighter in 2017 .
“ Patrick was quick to make friends with everyone in the department and known for always having a smile on his face , ” officials wrote in a statement .
“ Patrick was always quick to help any of his fellow brothers or sisters on- or off-duty .
His positive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
His dedication to his training was seen in his work ethic , as he spent many evenings practicing and becoming proficient as a firefighter.
” Officials said Figueroa was known for his mantra : “ KSA ” — which stood for “ knowledge , skill , ability.
” “ When he came to work , his priorities showed , as he was also known for saying , ‘ my men , the mission , then me , ’ ” according to a department statement .
“ Ray not only served the citizens @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he often responded to large wildland fires across California through his career.
” A visibly emotional Porterville Fire Chief Dave LaPere called both men “ consummate professionals ” and thanked all those who have assisted or stood with his department in recent days .
“ The outpouring of support that we have received is indescribable , ” he told reporters Thursday .
“ It ’ s just been heartfelt and we ’ ve needed it , absolutely.
” The city library , about 500 feet from the Fire Department , was built in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ system , Bear said .
Times staff writers Colleen Shalby and Jaclyn Cosgrove contributed to this report .

The two firefighters who perished battling a blaze that tore through a public library in Central California had rushed into the building to make sure that everyone else had gotten out safely, officials said Thursday.
Firefighter Patrick Jones, 25, and Fire Capt. Ray Figueroa, 35, were killed fighting the Porterville library fire, which erupted about 4:15 p.m. Tuesday.
After arriving on the scene, the two were “unable to confirm if all citizens had been able to exit the building” and rushed in to search, Tulare County Fire Capt. Joanne Bear told reporters Thursday. A “mayday” was called after that.
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Figueroa was found and taken to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead, Bear said. Jones was initially reported missing, but his body was later located in the charred structure, Porterville Fire Department officials said Wednesday night.
“We continue to work with the families of the fallen firefighters to ensure that they are informed every step of the way during this tragic time,” Bear said.
Officials suspect that the blaze was the result of arson. Two 13-year-old boys were arrested and booked into the Tulare County Juvenile Detention Facility on suspicion of arson, manslaughter and conspiracy, authorities said.
Figueroa started his career with the city in 2007, and Jones was hired as a full-time firefighter in 2017.
“Patrick was quick to make friends with everyone in the department and known for always having a smile on his face,” the Fire Department wrote in a statement. “Patrick was always quick to help any of his fellow brothers or sisters on- or off-duty. His positive attitude was infectious around the fire station. His dedication to his training was seen in his work ethic, as he spent many evenings practicing and becoming proficient as a firefighter.”
Officials said Figueroa was known for his mantra: “KSA,” which stood for “knowledge, skill, ability.”
“When he came to work, his priorities showed, as he was also known for saying, ‘my men, the mission, then me,’” according to a department statement. “Ray not only served the citizens and community in and around Porterville, he often responded to large wildland fires across California through his career.”
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A visibly emotional Porterville Fire Chief Dave LaPere called both men “consummate professionals” and thanked all those who have assisted or stood with his department in recent days.
“The outpouring of support that we have received is indescribable,” he told reporters Thursday. “It’s just been heartfelt and we’ve needed it, absolutely.”
The city library, about 500 feet from the Fire Department, was built in 1953 and did not have a sprinkler system, Bear said.
Times staff writers Colleen Shalby and Jaclyn Cosgrove contributed to this report.


latimes--2020-02-20--Partial skull and other bones found in O.C. backyard are human, authorities say

Bones unearthed in the backyard of a Mission Viejo home earlier this week were determined to be human , authorities @ @ @ @ @ found at the home in the 24000 block of Via Madrugada include bone fragments and @ @ @ @ @ to the Orange County Sheriff ’ s Department , which is continuing to investigate the @ @ @ @ @ will be actively working with coroner forensic anthropologists to ID the decedent , ” sheriff @ @ @ @ @ a statement .
Additional information was not immediately available “ due to the ongoing investigation @ @ @ @ @ The Sheriff ’ s Department said the home ’ s resident found the bones while @ @ @ @ @ investigators were working to determine their origin .
“ Obviously , if these are human @ @ @ @ @ very much changes the investigation for us , ” sheriff ’ s spokeswoman Carrie Braun @ @ @ @ @ not a typical occurrence .
”

Bones unearthed in the backyard of a Mission Viejo home earlier this week were determined to be human, authorities said.
The skeletal remains found at the home in the 24000 block of Via Madrugada include bone fragments and a partial skull, according to the Orange County Sheriff’s Department, which is continuing to investigate the discovery.
“Homicide investigators will be actively working with coroner forensic anthropologists to ID the decedent,” sheriff’s officials wrote in a statement.
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Additional information was not immediately available “due to the ongoing investigation,” officials said.
The Sheriff’s Department said the home’s resident found the bones while doing yard work Monday and investigators were working to determine their origin.
“Obviously, if these are human and not animal, that very much changes the investigation for us,” sheriff’s spokeswoman Carrie Braun said. “This is not a typical occurrence.”


latimes--2020-02-20--Security video shows at least 4 fleeing after rapper Pop Smoke fatally shot, sources say

Los Angeles police say at least four people are connected to Wednesday ’ s shooting death of rapper Pop Smoke at a Hollywood Hills home , law enforcement sources told The Times .
Detectives have reviewed security camera video , which the sources said also may have captured images of the getaway car .
In addition to home cameras , there are nearby locations that have license plate reader technology that also could aid in the investigation , the sources added .
While initial reports described the incident that led to the rapper ’ s shooting as a home invasion @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said they are still trying to sort out what happened .
“ I am not comfortable calling it a robbery right now , ” Robbery Homicide Division Capt .
Jonathan Tippet said .
“ There is a lot of information available .
We have some work to do .
“ We are not ruling out a robbery , but that doesn ’ t appear based on the evidence to be the motive , ” Tippet said .
The captain said items may have been taken from the home , but security footage doesn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ house in a way typically seen in fast-moving home invasion robberies .
Video reviewed by investigators shows no cash , jewels or other valuables being carried away from the home by the assailants .
Law enforcement sources familiar with the investigation said it appears Pop Smoke was targeted in the planned attack but that whether that meant his assailants intended to kill him from the onset remains to be determined .
Tippet said detectives are looking for evidence in the neighborhood as well as scanning the internet for clues to a motive .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ may have inadvertently posted an image showing the address of the home where he was staying to social media , giving away his location to those who may have wished him ill. Because Pop Smoke was considered by law enforcement to be affiliated with the Crips street gang , detectives are investigating whether the slaying may have been gang-related , officials said .
Officers were sent to the home about 5 a.m. after someone calling from the East Coast reported that several people , at least one of whom wore a black mask @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had entered their friend ’ s home in Los Angeles , LAPD Capt .
Steve Lurie said .
When officers arrived at the $ 2.5-million mansion in the 2000 block of Hercules Drive , they found the 20-year-old rapper , whose legal name is Bashar Barakah Jackson , with gunshot wounds .
He was taken to a hospital , where he was pronounced dead .
Officers detained several people inside the house , but they were later released .
At least four suspects fled the scene , authorities said .
Pop Smoke , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Hercules Drive home with others in the evening before the shooting .
It is unclear whether there is any connection between that gathering and the shooting .
The Hollywood Hills home is owned by Teddi Mellencamp of “ The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills ” and her husband , Edwin Arroyave , according to property records .
Mellencamp wrote on Instagram that she was informed about the shooting early Wednesday by a third-party leasing and management company that oversees the rental property .

Los Angeles police say at least four people are connected to Wednesday’s shooting death of rapper Pop Smoke at a Hollywood Hills home, law enforcement sources told The Times.
Detectives have reviewed security camera video, which the sources said also may have captured images of the getaway car. In addition to home cameras, there are nearby locations that have license plate reader technology that also could aid in the investigation, the sources added.
While initial reports described the incident that led to the rapper’s shooting as a home invasion robbery, Los Angeles Police Department officials said they are still trying to sort out what happened.
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“I am not comfortable calling it a robbery right now,” Robbery Homicide Division Capt. Jonathan Tippet said. “There is a lot of information available. We have some work to do.
“We are not ruling out a robbery, but that doesn’t appear based on the evidence to be the motive,” Tippet said.
The captain said items may have been taken from the home, but security footage doesn’t show the suspects ransacking the house in a way typically seen in fast-moving home invasion robberies. Video reviewed by investigators shows no cash, jewels or other valuables being carried away from the home by the assailants.
Law enforcement sources familiar with the investigation said it appears Pop Smoke was targeted in the planned attack but that whether that meant his assailants intended to kill him from the onset remains to be determined. Tippet said detectives are looking for evidence in the neighborhood as well as scanning the internet for clues to a motive.
Sources said they are aware the rapper may have inadvertently posted an image showing the address of the home where he was staying to social media, giving away his location to those who may have wished him ill.
Because Pop Smoke was considered by law enforcement to be affiliated with the Crips street gang, detectives are investigating whether the slaying may have been gang-related, officials said.
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Officers were sent to the home about 5 a.m. after someone calling from the East Coast reported that several people, at least one of whom wore a black mask and was armed with a handgun, had entered their friend’s home in Los Angeles, LAPD Capt. Steve Lurie said.
When officers arrived at the $2.5-million mansion in the 2000 block of Hercules Drive, they found the 20-year-old rapper, whose legal name is Bashar Barakah Jackson, with gunshot wounds.
He was taken to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead. Officers detained several people inside the house, but they were later released. At least four suspects fled the scene, authorities said.
Pop Smoke, according to sources, had partied at the Hercules Drive home with others in the evening before the shooting. It is unclear whether there is any connection between that gathering and the shooting.
The Hollywood Hills home is owned by Teddi Mellencamp of “The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills” and her husband, Edwin Arroyave, according to property records. Mellencamp wrote on Instagram that she was informed about the shooting early Wednesday by a third-party leasing and management company that oversees the rental property.


latimes--2020-02-20--What Newsom didn't mention: To address homelessness in California, a tax hike is inevitable

OK , I ’ m waiting to hear about the tax increase that will be needed to pay for Gov .
Gavin Newsom ’ s ambitious plan to solve homelessness .
A tax hike is inevitable , but the T-word was conspicuously missing from Newsom ’ s frequently applauded State of the State address on Wednesday to a joint session of the California Legislature , which is tightly controlled by fellow Democrats .
Not that a tax increase wouldn ’ t be justified to remedy what Newsom correctly called “ a disgrace ” in the richest state of the richest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ details — about who gets taxed and how the money is spent — and probably require a special interest-sponsored ballot initiative .
For the Legislature to place a measure on this November ’ s ballot or to raise taxes on its own would require a two-thirds majority vote .
And that ’ s not likely to happen , especially in an election year .
“ There are 1.6 million fewer Californians living in poverty today than in 2011 , ” Newsom said , “ but no amount of progress can camouflage the most @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ultimate manifestation of poverty , screaming for our attention : homelessness… .
“ As Californians , we pride ourselves on our unwavering sense of compassion and justice for humankind .
But there ’ s nothing compassionate about allowing fellow Californians to live on the streets , huddled in cars or makeshift encampments.
” The governor received a standing ovation with cheers for that line .
“ The problem has persisted for decades — caused by massive failures in our mental health system and disinvestment in our social safety net , exacerbated by widening @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shortage .
“ The hard truth is we ignored the problem.
” And Newsom went on like that for several hundred words , redundantly reciting the problem and scolding everyone for averting their eyes — or at least trying to .
Then deep into the speech , he tucked in a vague allusion to taxes : “ The public has lost patience , you have all lost patience and I ’ ve lost patience , ” he said .
“ To reverse decades of neglect and turn around a crisis this deep-rooted , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more than one-time funding .
We need significantly sustainable revenue .
It ’ s the truth .
I know this is always the toughest thing… .
“ I pledge to work closely with you to identify this ongoing revenue to provide the safer , cleaner streets our communities deserve .
It ’ s time to muster the political will to meet the moment .
The people of California are demanding bold , permanent solutions… .
“ In order to get the job done , we ’ ve got to match this new money @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this crisis head on [ while ] requiring that our new funding isn ’ t replacing existing spending but creating new solutions.
” Check the code words : “ sustainable revenue , ” “ ongoing revenue , ” “ new money ” that “ isn ’ t replacing existing spending.
” That ’ s a roundabout way of spelling T-A-X .
There ’ s no way to acquire new money that ’ s ongoing and doesn ’ t replace existing spending without raising taxes .
I can ’ t see the governor and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the middle class .
There ’ s talk of once again slamming million-dollar earners , who are already paying by far the highest state income tax rate in the nation : 13.3 % .
Hey , good thinking .
Drive more job producers out of the Golden State .
Homelessness is everyone ’ s problem .
And if higher taxes are needed — and maybe they are , but it ’ s yet to be proved — then all of us should pay for it .
Targeting the rich is cowardly .
Assemblyman @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to introduce legislation that would allocate $ 2 billion a year to fight homelessness .
But he hasn ’ t identified the money source .
Meanwhile , there ’ s growing criticism in the Capitol about how money is being spent to combat homelessness , and it ’ s not coming mainly from Republicans .
Democratic Assemblyman David Chiu of San Francisco this week advocated a hard look at homelessness spending .
“ No one today can tell me how much money is being spent on homelessness in California on all levels , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Anthony Rendon ( D-Lakewood ) reported Wednesday that “ we have set aside $ 7 billion for housing solutions in recent years.
” This year , Newsom has proposed spending an additional $ 750 million to move homeless people into shelters .
He ’ s also asking for nearly $ 700 million to expand homeless services under Medi-Cal , the healthcare program for the poor .
That ’ s on top of the $ 1 billion the state has already been doling out to address homelessness .
Recently , the nonpartisan legislative analyst @ @ @ @ @ @ @ homelessness , asserting it “ falls short of articulating a clear strategy.
” That presumably was what the governor ’ s State of the State address was all about .
“ We will reduce street homelessness quickly and humanely through emergency actions , ” Newsom vowed .
“ We will be laser-focused on getting the mentally ill out of tents and into treatment .
We will provide stable funding to get sustainable results .
We will tackle the underproduction of affordable housing .
And we will do all of this with real accountability @ @ @ @ @ @ @ raise taxes .
But that wasn ’ t said .

California Gov. Gavin Newsom delivers his State of the State address to a joint session of the legislature at the Capitol in Sacramento.
OK, I’m waiting to hear about the tax increase that will be needed to pay for Gov. Gavin Newsom’s ambitious plan to solve homelessness.
A tax hike is inevitable, but the T-word was conspicuously missing from Newsom’s frequently applauded State of the State address on Wednesday to a joint session of the California Legislature, which is tightly controlled by fellow Democrats.
Not that a tax increase wouldn’t be justified to remedy what Newsom correctly called “a disgrace” in the richest state of the richest nation. But that would depend on details — about who gets taxed and how the money is spent — and probably require a special interest-sponsored ballot initiative.
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For the Legislature to place a measure on this November’s ballot or to raise taxes on its own would require a two-thirds majority vote. And that’s not likely to happen, especially in an election year.
“There are 1.6 million fewer Californians living in poverty today than in 2011,” Newsom said, “but no amount of progress can camouflage the most pernicious crisis in our midst, the ultimate manifestation of poverty, screaming for our attention: homelessness….
“As Californians, we pride ourselves on our unwavering sense of compassion and justice for humankind. But there’s nothing compassionate about allowing fellow Californians to live on the streets, huddled in cars or makeshift encampments.”
The governor received a standing ovation with cheers for that line.
“The problem has persisted for decades — caused by massive failures in our mental health system and disinvestment in our social safety net, exacerbated by widening income equality and California’s housing shortage.
“The hard truth is we ignored the problem.”
And Newsom went on like that for several hundred words, redundantly reciting the problem and scolding everyone for averting their eyes — or at least trying to.
Then deep into the speech, he tucked in a vague allusion to taxes:
Advertisement
“The public has lost patience, you have all lost patience and I’ve lost patience,” he said. “To reverse decades of neglect and turn around a crisis this deep-rooted, we’re also going to need more than one-time funding. We need significantly sustainable revenue. It’s the truth. I know this is always the toughest thing….
“I pledge to work closely with you to identify this ongoing revenue to provide the safer, cleaner streets our communities deserve. It’s time to muster the political will to meet the moment. The people of California are demanding bold, permanent solutions….
“In order to get the job done, we’ve got to match this new money with a new legal obligation to address this crisis head on [while] requiring that our new funding isn’t replacing existing spending but creating new solutions.”
Check the code words: “sustainable revenue,” “ongoing revenue,” “new money” that “isn’t replacing existing spending.” That’s a roundabout way of spelling T-A-X.
There’s no way to acquire new money that’s ongoing and doesn’t replace existing spending without raising taxes.
I can’t see the governor and Legislature raising taxes on everyone, particularly the middle class. There’s talk of once again slamming million-dollar earners, who are already paying by far the highest state income tax rate in the nation: 13.3%. Hey, good thinking. Drive more job producers out of the Golden State.
Homelessness is everyone’s problem. And if higher taxes are needed — and maybe they are, but it’s yet to be proved — then all of us should pay for it. Targeting the rich is cowardly.
Assemblyman Miguel Santiago (D-Los Angeles) plans to introduce legislation that would allocate $2 billion a year to fight homelessness. But he hasn’t identified the money source.
Meanwhile, there’s growing criticism in the Capitol about how money is being spent to combat homelessness, and it’s not coming mainly from Republicans.
Democratic Assemblyman David Chiu of San Francisco this week advocated a hard look at homelessness spending.
“No one today can tell me how much money is being spent on homelessness in California on all levels,” the legislator complained.
Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon (D-Lakewood) reported Wednesday that “we have set aside $7 billion for housing solutions in recent years.”
This year, Newsom has proposed spending an additional $750 million to move homeless people into shelters. He’s also asking for nearly $700 million to expand homeless services under Medi-Cal, the healthcare program for the poor. That’s on top of the $1 billion the state has already been doling out to address homelessness.
Recently, the nonpartisan legislative analyst criticized Newsom’s budget proposal on homelessness, asserting it “falls short of articulating a clear strategy.”
That presumably was what the governor’s State of the State address was all about.
“We will reduce street homelessness quickly and humanely through emergency actions,” Newsom vowed.
“We will be laser-focused on getting the mentally ill out of tents and into treatment. We will provide stable funding to get sustainable results. We will tackle the underproduction of affordable housing. And we will do all of this with real accountability and real consequences.”
And they will raise taxes. But that wasn’t said.


latimes--2020-02-21--Rita Walters, a fierce advocate for equality and trailblazing elected official, dies at 89

During the tumultuous battle over mandatory busing in Los Angeles public schools in the late 1970s and 1980s , Rita Walters served as the only black member of a school board whose majority opposed forced integration .
When her pro-busing side won in court , she expressed dismay over an integration plan that excluded the black children of Watts .
“ I find it very interesting that the lines around the black community correspond almost to the street to the lines of the curfew area during the Watts uprising , ” she said in a 1980 interview , referring to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ It becomes another stigma , another burden , that black people are asked to bear.
” Walters , a trailblazing African American leader who advocated fiercely for racial equality on the L.A. school board from 1979 through 1991 , and then on the L.A. City Council in the 1990s , died Monday in hospice care in Los Angeles of complications from Alzheimer ’ s disease and an infection .
She was 89 .
Walters was largely on the losing side of the city ’ s bitter integration wars , but she @ @ @ @ @ @ @ children of different backgrounds would benefit by going to school together .
Through decades of public service she extended her commitment to fighting for black workers and other minorities to gain equal access to employment .
“ We have overcome against all of those odds and we ’ re going to keep on doing it , ” she said .
“ It ’ s not going to happen today .
It ’ s not going to happen tomorrow .
And it probably won ’ t happen in my lifetime .
But the struggle @ @ @ @ @ @ @ her time on the school board the district ’ s limited mandatory busing never fully took effect .
A state ballot initiative in 1979 ultimately relieved the district of that obligation .
But Walters recalibrated — embracing a voluntary integration program that resulted in sought-after magnet schools , although she challenged their placement in predominantly whiter and more affluent areas .
“ Rita brought all the issues of inequality in the education system right to the fore and her passion was in dealing with those issues , ” said Howard Miller , who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it .
“ She was sometimes a difficult person to work with because she had strict beliefs she didn ’ t bend on , but students in the district never had a better advocate , ” said Jackie Goldberg , who served on the school board with her and recently returned to the board .
In 1991 , Walters became the first black woman elected to the Los Angeles City Council , winning by just 76 votes .
Her council colleague , Zev Yaroslavsky , recalled her as an early champion of questioning @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of color and for making sure that the city hired a diverse workforce .
“ She was unintimidated by the chief of police and there was a time when that was a refreshing thing , ” Yaroslavsky said , adding that Walters forcefully rejected political influence peddling .
“ She made a lot of adversaries because of that , ” he said , “ but her mission was to represent everybody , not just the people who had access to her.
” Former City Councilwoman Jan Perry , who served as a council @ @ @ @ @ @ @ watching her corner then-Mayor Richard Riordan in an elevator and tell him she wanted a park built on a Department of Water and Power lot at Slauson and Compton avenues .
“ They weren ’ t necessarily the best of friends so he tried to disregard what she said , ” said Perry .
“ But in the end , she got what she needed for the community.
” “ She was always assertive , all the time , ” Perry added .
Walters drew citywide attention over her opposition in 1997 to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ district .
Earlier , Walters supported the plan for what is today known as Staples Center , but ultimately cast a vote against it because she worried that the city-subsidized project would plunge Los Angeles into debt .
Rita Delores White was born in Chicago , the oldest of five children on Aug. 14 , 1930 .
The family moved to Kansas soon after .
Her father Henry worked as a Pullman porter .
Her mother Verter cleaned houses .
The future leader was determined to get an education , being among the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and then going to college in Alabama for a year before the family called her home to work .
She caused a stir as the first black salesgirl at a jewelry store , said her daughter Susan .
Until then , the black workers had to stay out of sight in the back .
Rita followed friends to Los Angeles in 1955 in search of opportunity and found work as a clerk with the county probation department .
In L.A. she met Wilbur E. Walters , who would forge a career as an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Year ’ s Eve of 1955 .
Walters left the work force for 14 years to focus on raising three children and was outraged when her son ’ s elementary school wanted to expel him permanently because of his learning disability .
She refused to accept that fate , he stayed in school , and David Walters now works as a campus aide at a school for children with disabilities .
She ran for the school board twice and lost , winning her seat on the third try .
By this time , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ education that would culminate in a master ’ s in business administration at UCLA .
During the integration wars , Walters once publicly speculated about whether her anti-busing board colleague Roberta Weintraub was a racist .
Yet the two gradually developed a mutual respect and later a friendship that continued for the rest of their lives .
Walters even insisted that her daughter get to know Weintraub and Tom Bartman , another anti-busing board member .
“ She would make me talk to Tom and Roberta , ” Susan Walters recalled .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ angry about them.
” Walters also is survived by her third child , Philip .
Public memorial arrangements are being organized by the local office of Rep. Karen Bass .
Dakota Smith and Scott Wilson contributed to this report .

Councilwoman Rita Walters was an early champion of questioning the police use of force against people of color, said her council colleague Zev Yaroslavsky.
During the tumultuous battle over mandatory busing in Los Angeles public schools in the late 1970s and 1980s, Rita Walters served as the only black member of a school board whose majority opposed forced integration. When her pro-busing side won in court, she expressed dismay over an integration plan that excluded the black children of Watts.
“I find it very interesting that the lines around the black community correspond almost to the street to the lines of the curfew area during the Watts uprising,” she said in a 1980 interview, referring to the five days of rioting in 1965. “It becomes another stigma, another burden, that black people are asked to bear.”
Walters, a trailblazing African American leader who advocated fiercely for racial equality on the L.A. school board from 1979 through 1991, and then on the L.A. City Council in the 1990s, died Monday in hospice care in Los Angeles of complications from Alzheimer’s disease and an infection. She was 89.
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Walters was largely on the losing side of the city’s bitter integration wars, but she never gave up on her belief that children of different backgrounds would benefit by going to school together. Through decades of public service she extended her commitment to fighting for black workers and other minorities to gain equal access to employment.
“We have overcome against all of those odds and we’re going to keep on doing it,” she said. “It’s not going to happen today. It’s not going to happen tomorrow. And it probably won’t happen in my lifetime. But the struggle has to be kept up.”
During her time on the school board the district’s limited mandatory busing never fully took effect. A state ballot initiative in 1979 ultimately relieved the district of that obligation.
But Walters recalibrated — embracing a voluntary integration program that resulted in sought-after magnet schools, although she challenged their placement in predominantly whiter and more affluent areas.
“Rita brought all the issues of inequality in the education system right to the fore and her passion was in dealing with those issues,” said Howard Miller, who left the board as Walters was joining it.
“She was sometimes a difficult person to work with because she had strict beliefs she didn’t bend on, but students in the district never had a better advocate,” said Jackie Goldberg, who served on the school board with her and recently returned to the board.
In 1991, Walters became the first black woman elected to the Los Angeles City Council, winning by just 76 votes. Her council colleague, Zev Yaroslavsky, recalled her as an early champion of questioning the police use of force against people of color and for making sure that the city hired a diverse workforce.
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“She was unintimidated by the chief of police and there was a time when that was a refreshing thing,” Yaroslavsky said, adding that Walters forcefully rejected political influence peddling.
“She made a lot of adversaries because of that,” he said, “but her mission was to represent everybody, not just the people who had access to her.”
Former City Councilwoman Jan Perry, who served as a council chief of staff to Walters, recalled watching her corner then-Mayor Richard Riordan in an elevator and tell him she wanted a park built on a Department of Water and Power lot at Slauson and Compton avenues.
“They weren’t necessarily the best of friends so he tried to disregard what she said,” said Perry. “But in the end, she got what she needed for the community.”
“She was always assertive, all the time,” Perry added.
Walters drew citywide attention over her opposition in 1997 to a planned downtown sports arena in her district. Earlier, Walters supported the plan for what is today known as Staples Center, but ultimately cast a vote against it because she worried that the city-subsidized project would plunge Los Angeles into debt.
Rita Delores White was born in Chicago, the oldest of five children on Aug. 14, 1930. The family moved to Kansas soon after. Her father Henry worked as a Pullman porter. Her mother Verter cleaned houses.
The future leader was determined to get an education, being among the first to integrate a local community college and then going to college in Alabama for a year before the family called her home to work. She caused a stir as the first black salesgirl at a jewelry store, said her daughter Susan. Until then, the black workers had to stay out of sight in the back.
Rita followed friends to Los Angeles in 1955 in search of opportunity and found work as a clerk with the county probation department. In L.A. she met Wilbur E. Walters, who would forge a career as an aerospace engineer. They married on New Year’s Eve of 1955.
Walters left the work force for 14 years to focus on raising three children and was outraged when her son’s elementary school wanted to expel him permanently because of his learning disability. She refused to accept that fate, he stayed in school, and David Walters now works as a campus aide at a school for children with disabilities.
She ran for the school board twice and lost, winning her seat on the third try. By this time, she was divorced and gradually completing an education that would culminate in a master’s in business administration at UCLA.
During the integration wars, Walters once publicly speculated about whether her anti-busing board colleague Roberta Weintraub was a racist. Yet the two gradually developed a mutual respect and later a friendship that continued for the rest of their lives.
Walters even insisted that her daughter get to know Weintraub and Tom Bartman, another anti-busing board member.
“She would make me talk to Tom and Roberta,” Susan Walters recalled. “She wouldn’t let me be angry about them.”
Walters also is survived by her third child, Philip.
Public memorial arrangements are being organized by the local office of Rep. Karen Bass.
Dakota Smith and Scott Wilson contributed to this report.


latimes--2020-02-21--Inmate confesses in letter to killing 2 child molesters in California prison

A California prison inmate confessed in a letter that he beat two child molesters to death with a cane while behind bars just hours after his urgent warning to a counselor that he might become violent was ignored , a news report said Thursday .
Jonathan Watson , 41 , confessed in the letter to the Bay Area News Group in Northern California that he clubbed both men in the head on Jan. 16 at the California Substance Abuse Treatment Facility and State Prison in Corcoran .
David Bobb , 48 , died that day .
Graham De Luis-Conti , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a hospital .
Both were serving life sentences for aggravated sexual assault of a child under 14 .
“ We can ’ t comment on an active investigation , ” Dana Simas , spokesman for the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation , wrote in an email .
Days before the attack , he said his security classification was changed and he was transferred from a single-person cell to a lower-security dormitory pod at the Central Valley facility .
Watson called the switch a careless mistake and said he had protested the decision @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he arrived at the prison , a child molester moved into the pod .
Watson believed the man began taunting other inmates by watching children ’ s television programming .
Watson said in the letter he couldn ’ t sleep that night “ having not done what every instinct told me I should ’ ve done right then and there.
” Two hours before the attacks the next day , Watson told a prison counselor that he urgently needed to be transferred back to higher-level security “ before I really [ expletive ] @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but the counselor “ scoffed and dismissed “ him .
Watson said he returned to his housing pod .
“ I was mulling it all over when along came Molester # 1 and he put his TV right on PBS Kids again , ” he wrote , according to the newspaper chain .
“ But this time , someone else said something to the effect of ‘ Is this guy really going to watch this right in front of us ?
’ and I recall saying , ‘ I got this.
’ And @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to work on him.
” Watson said he then left the housing pod to find a guard and turn himself in , but on the way , he saw “ a known child trafficker , and I figured I ’ d just do everybody a favor , ” Watson wrote .
“ In for a penny , in for a pound.
” Watson said he then told a guard , who didn ’ t believe him “ until he looked around the corner and saw the mess I ’ d left in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Watson is in segregated housing while he is under investigation for the killings .
He hasn ’ t been charged .
“ Being a lifer , I ’ m in a unique position where I sometimes have access to these people and I have so little to lose , ” Watson wrote .
“ And trust me , we get it , these people are every parent ’ s worst nightmare.
“

A California prison inmate confessed in a letter that he beat two child molesters to death with a cane while behind bars just hours after his urgent warning to a counselor that he might become violent was ignored, a news report said Thursday.
Jonathan Watson, 41, confessed in the letter to the Bay Area News Group in Northern California that he clubbed both men in the head on Jan. 16 at the California Substance Abuse Treatment Facility and State Prison in Corcoran.
David Bobb, 48, died that day. Graham De Luis-Conti, 62, died three days later at a hospital. Both were serving life sentences for aggravated sexual assault of a child under 14.
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“We can’t comment on an active investigation,” Dana Simas, spokesman for the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, wrote in an email.
Watson is serving a life sentence for a 2009 murder conviction.
Days before the attack, he said his security classification was changed and he was transferred from a single-person cell to a lower-security dormitory pod at the Central Valley facility. Watson called the switch a careless mistake and said he had protested the decision.
Watson wrote that six days after he arrived at the prison, a child molester moved into the pod. Watson believed the man began taunting other inmates by watching children’s television programming. Watson said in the letter he couldn’t sleep that night “having not done what every instinct told me I should’ve done right then and there.”
Two hours before the attacks the next day, Watson told a prison counselor that he urgently needed to be transferred back to higher-level security “before I really [expletive] one of these dudes up,” but the counselor “scoffed and dismissed“ him.
Watson said he returned to his housing pod.
“I was mulling it all over when along came Molester #1 and he put his TV right on PBS Kids again,” he wrote, according to the newspaper chain. “But this time, someone else said something to the effect of ‘Is this guy really going to watch this right in front of us?’ and I recall saying, ‘I got this.’ And I picked up the cane and went to work on him.”
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Watson said he then left the housing pod to find a guard and turn himself in, but on the way, he saw “a known child trafficker, and I figured I’d just do everybody a favor,” Watson wrote. “In for a penny, in for a pound.”
Watson said he then told a guard, who didn’t believe him “until he looked around the corner and saw the mess I’d left in the dorm area,” Watson wrote.
Watson is in segregated housing while he is under investigation for the killings. He hasn’t been charged.
“Being a lifer, I’m in a unique position where I sometimes have access to these people and I have so little to lose,” Watson wrote. “And trust me, we get it, these people are every parent’s worst nightmare.”


latimes--2020-02-20--Manhunt underway for suspect in killing of 3 men in a Perris  cemetery

Authorities are looking for a man suspected of killing three men in a Perris cemetery near the grave of another man who was killed in Mexico in December , the Riverside County Sheriff ’ s Department said Thursday .
Investigators believe that 33-year-old Jose Luis Torres Garcia was with the three victims Sunday night , visiting restaurants with them before killing them at the cemetery at an unknown time and fleeing in a vehicle .
The men , whose bodies were found Monday , were identified as Perris residents Jaime Covarrubias Espindola , 50 ; Jose Maria Aguilar-Espejel , 38 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sheriff Chad Bianco did not say how the men were killed .
At a Tuesday press conference , Bianco said detectives were investigating whether the killings were gang- or cartel-related .
“ I mean , three people killed at the same time , that was a message for something , whether it was for someone else , or whether it was to them , ” Bianco said .
During Thursday ’ s press conference , he said that Torres Garcia acted alone .
Bianco said the killings were not random , and Perris @ @ @ @ @ @ @ news outlets reported that the grave where the men where killed is that of 36-year-old Uver Hernandez Castaneda , who was killed in the Mexican state of Michoacán while on his way from the U.S. to visit family for the holidays .
According to Mexican news outlets , authorities found evidence that he was shot and tortured .
Bianco said Torres Garcia has ties to Michoacán as well as San Jose .
He has been deported from the U.S. twice , and has two outstanding warrants , one for a DUI in Riverside @ @ @ @ @ @ @ San Mateo County .
The suspect ’ s current immigration status is unknown , but he has spent time in the the Perris-Mead Valley area , Bianco said .
Bianco said Torres Garcia is traveling either in a dark blue 2001 GMC Yukon SUV with a license plate 4PDH363 or a green Kawasaki motorcycle .
He is considered armed and dangerous .
Anyone with information about Torres Garcia ’ s whereabouts can contact the Sheriff ’ s Department at ( 951 ) 955-2777 .

Authorities are looking for a man suspected of killing three men in a Perris cemetery near the grave of another man who was killed in Mexico in December, the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department said Thursday.
Investigators believe that 33-year-old Jose Luis Torres Garcia was with the three victims Sunday night, visiting restaurants with them before killing them at the cemetery at an unknown time and fleeing in a vehicle.
The men, whose bodies were found Monday, were identified as Perris residents Jaime Covarrubias Espindola, 50; Jose Maria Aguilar-Espejel, 38; and Rodrigo Aguilar-Espejel, 28. Sheriff Chad Bianco did not say how the men were killed.
At a Tuesday press conference, Bianco said detectives were investigating whether the killings were gang- or cartel-related.
“I mean, three people killed at the same time, that was a message for something, whether it was for someone else, or whether it was to them,” Bianco said.
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During Thursday’s press conference, he said that Torres Garcia acted alone. Bianco said the killings were not random, and Perris residents are not in danger.
Mexican news outlets reported that the grave where the men where killed is that of 36-year-old Uver Hernandez Castaneda, who was killed in the Mexican state of Michoacán while on his way from the U.S. to visit family for the holidays. According to Mexican news outlets, authorities found evidence that he was shot and tortured.
Bianco said Torres Garcia has ties to Michoacán as well as San Jose. He has been deported from the U.S. twice, and has two outstanding warrants, one for a DUI in Riverside and another for a drug charge in San Mateo County.
The suspect’s current immigration status is unknown, but he has spent time in the the Perris-Mead Valley area, Bianco said.
Bianco said Torres Garcia is traveling either in a dark blue 2001 GMC Yukon SUV with a license plate 4PDH363 or a green Kawasaki motorcycle. He is considered armed and dangerous.
Anyone with information about Torres Garcia’s whereabouts can contact the Sheriff’s Department at (951) 955-2777.


latimes--2020-02-20--Swarm of up to 40,000 bees in Pasadena sends 5 people to the hospital with stings

Thousands of bees swarming near Pasadena City College sent five people to the hospital with stings and shut down Colorado Boulevard on Thursday afternoon .
About 4 p.m. , firefighters responded to a call of a person who was stung by a bee near Colorado Boulevard and North Sierra Bonita Avenue .
Pasadena Fire Department spokeswoman Lisa Derderian said first responders saw a “ huge influx of bees ” about a block long buzzing around both sides of the street .
An apiarist called to the scene estimated there were 30,000 to 40,000 bees and told authorities the colony was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
“ We have firefighters who have been working here for many , many years , and they said this is by far the most bees they ’ ve seen at one location , ” Derderian said .
The colony was living between the eaves and roof of the Howard Johnson hotel on Colorado Boulevard .
The bees wounded at least six people , including one firefighter stung more than 15 times .
Two firefighters , one police officer and two civilians were taken to a hospital , and one civilian declined @ @ @ @ @ @ @ near Pasadena City College for a few hours and urged students , faculty and staff at the college to stay indoors .
The apiarist worked with firefighters to remove the bees , using a ladder truck to reach the colony before spraying carbon dioxide and foam into the nest .
The apiarist will return to the hotel Friday to ensure that none of the bees are living in the walls of the hotel .

Thousands of bees swarming near Pasadena City College sent five people to the hospital with stings and shut down Colorado Boulevard on Thursday afternoon.
About 4 p.m., firefighters responded to a call of a person who was stung by a bee near Colorado Boulevard and North Sierra Bonita Avenue.
Pasadena Fire Department spokeswoman Lisa Derderian said first responders saw a “huge influx of bees” about a block long buzzing around both sides of the street.
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An apiarist called to the scene estimated there were 30,000 to 40,000 bees and told authorities the colony was made up of Africanized bees, Derderian said.
“We have firefighters who have been working here for many, many years, and they said this is by far the most bees they’ve seen at one location,” Derderian said.
The colony was living between the eaves and roof of the Howard Johnson hotel on Colorado Boulevard.
The bees wounded at least six people, including one firefighter stung more than 15 times. Two firefighters, one police officer and two civilians were taken to a hospital, and one civilian declined transport.
Authorities shut down Colorado Boulevard near Pasadena City College for a few hours and urged students, faculty and staff at the college to stay indoors.
The apiarist worked with firefighters to remove the bees, using a ladder truck to reach the colony before spraying carbon dioxide and foam into the nest.
The apiarist will return to the hotel Friday to ensure that none of the bees are living in the walls of the hotel.


latimes--2020-02-21--No ticket to the Kobe Bryant memorial on Monday? Here's how to watch

Monday ’ s memorial service for Kobe Bryant and his daughter Gianna , who were killed along with seven others in a helicopter crash last month , will be steeped in symbolism .
The jersey numbers of the basketball legend and his budding prodigy — 24 and 2 , respectively — are intrinsically rooted in the details .
Everything from the date of the event — Feb. 24 ( 02/24/20 ) — to the ticket prices — $ 24.02 , two for $ 224 or $ 224 each — relates to those special numbers .
Twenty thousand mourners will fill @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ the house that Kobe built ” — to celebrate the lives of the 41-year-old Lakers star and his 13-year-old daughter , who were killed alongside seven others in the air crash over Calabasas .
Outside the arena , screens will go dark , and the entire space around LA Live will be barricaded to those who do not have tickets to the sold-out memorial .
Officials have advised the public to stay away from the vicinity , echoing a similar command given last year ahead of the memorial service for slain rapper @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : There will be nothing to be seen here , ” Staples Center President Lee Zeidman said Friday .
Those who didn ’ t receive a ticket to the memorial can still watch from home or elsewhere .
The service will be streamed live on several outlets .
Here ’ s what you need to know : The memorial begins at 10 a.m. Monday and is expected to conclude by 1 p.m .
Spectrum News 1 will carry the memorial , as will ABC News Live ( the network ’ s streaming service @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Hulu , Facebook Watch and Apple TV .
Viewers also can watch live on latimes.com .
Local networks also are expected to broadcast the live event .
In Orange County , home to all nine of the crash victims , the city of Santa Ana will offer a service at City Hall for those hoping to watch the event in solidarity with others .
A prayer and a moment of silence will precede the memorial .
“ To commemorate Kobe Bryant , his daughter Gianna and the seven other members of our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in a helicopter crash last month , the city of Santa Ana is inviting the public to watch live broadcasts of the memorial event on Monday , Feb. 24 , at City Hall , ” city officials said in a statement .
The city of Lynwood , a predominantly Latino community that embraced Bryant , will show the memorial at the Lynwood Community Center gymnasium .
Staples Center has instructed people not to enter the surrounding LA Live area during the service .
It ’ s unclear how restaurants and other venues in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ businesses are preparing to open later than normal because pedestrian access will be restricted .
There will be no procession before the memorial , and the service will conclude in time to allow for Clippers game against the Memphis Grizzlies .
Mayor Eric Garcetti previously said that the memorial would serve as a tribute to more than Bryant ’ s basketball career .
“ I think one message that I would say is this is not just about a man who was a basketball player , this is about a father , this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about a filmmaker , this is about an artist , this is about somebody who was so much more than just how he was on the court , ” he told reporters .
“ It ’ s a reminder how much unity we have , though .
We are one city that believes in each other , believes in something bigger than ourselves and we will absolutely do everything to make sure that this is done so that everybody can come to it as well , ” the mayor said .

Today’s memorial service for Kobe Bryant and his daughter Gianna, who were killed along with seven others in a helicopter crash last month, will be steeped in symbolism.
The jersey numbers of the basketball legend and his budding prodigy — 24 and 2, respectively — are intrinsically rooted in the details. Everything from the date of the event — Feb. 24 (02/24/20) — to the ticket prices — $24.02, two for $224 or $224 each — relates to those special numbers.
Twenty-thousand mourners will fill downtown Los Angeles’ Staples Center — “the house that Kobe built” — to celebrate the lives of the 41-year-old Lakers star and his 13-year-old daughter, who were killed in the air crash over Calabasas.
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Outside the arena, screens will go dark, and the entire space around LA Live will be barricaded to those who do not have tickets to the sold-out memorial. Officials have advised the public to stay away from the vicinity, echoing a similar command given last year before the memorial service for slain rapper Nipsey Hussle.
“Heed our message: There will be nothing to be seen here,” Staples Center President Lee Zeidman said Friday.
Those who didn’t receive a ticket to the memorial can still watch from home or elsewhere. The service will be streamed live on several outlets. Here’s what you need to know:
MEMORIAL START TIME
The memorial begins at 10 a.m. Monday and is expected to conclude by 1 p.m.
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HOW TO WATCH
Spectrum News 1 will carry the memorial, as will ABC News Live (the network’s streaming service) on various platforms, including Roku, Hulu, Facebook Watch and Apple TV. Viewers also can watch live on latimes.com.
Local networks also are expected to broadcast the live event.
California How Los Angeles is remembering Kobe Bryant As news of the crash spread, people set to mourning collectively and individually. Paint dried, ink settled into skin, and a city speckled purple and gold.
In Orange County, home to all nine of the crash victims, the city of Santa Ana will offer a service at City Hall for those hoping to watch the event in solidarity with others. A prayer and a moment of silence will precede the memorial.
“To commemorate Kobe Bryant, his daughter Gianna and the seven other members of our Orange County community who lost their lives in a helicopter crash last month, the city of Santa Ana is inviting the public to watch live broadcasts of the memorial event on Monday, Feb. 24, at City Hall,” city officials said in a statement.
The city of Lynwood, a predominantly Latino community that embraced Bryant, will show the memorial at the Lynwood Community Center gymnasium.
Staples Center has instructed people not to enter the surrounding LA Live area during the service. It’s unclear how restaurants and other venues in the vicinity will be affected. Some businesses are preparing to open later than normal because pedestrian access will be restricted.
WHAT TO EXPECT
There will be no procession before the memorial, and the service will conclude in time to allow for Clippers game against the Memphis Grizzlies.
Mayor Eric Garcetti previously said that the memorial would serve as a tribute to more than Bryant’s basketball career.
“I think one message that I would say is this is not just about a man who was a basketball player, this is about a father, this is about a leader, this is about a filmmaker, this is about an artist, this is about somebody who was so much more than just how he was on the court,” he told reporters.
“It’s a reminder how much unity we have, though. We are one city that believes in each other, believes in something bigger than ourselves and we will absolutely do everything to make sure that this is done so that everybody can come to it as well,” the mayor said.
Times staff writer Richard Winton contributed to this report.