latimes--2020-04-27--In the coronavirus crisis, California isn't under one-party rule, it's under one-man rule

California no longer has one-party rule in Sacramento .
It now has one-man rule .
Gov .
Gavin Newsom has told everyone who doesn ’ t have an “ essential ” job to stay home and protect themselves and others from the coronavirus .
If they must venture out , he lectured , stay six feet from anyone .
Legislating officially is an essential job , but it ’ s hard to perform without cozying up to colleagues .
And when meeting in their majestic chambers , lawmakers must sit close to seatmates .
So the Legislature did the healthy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s decree and is essentially staying home for seven weeks .
Legislators are mostly staying out of the state Capitol anyway .
“ It ’ s been kind of an eerie ghost town in there , ” says Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon ( D-Lakewood ) .
But power abhors a vacuum .
With the legislative and judicial branches basically shut down because of the virus , the executive has seized almost complete control over state government .
And many legislators are smarting .
They ’ re antsy to reenter the political arena and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ regarding the state ’ s approach to taming the virus , returning to normal life , restoring the economy and managing a bleeding state budget .
The Legislature is scheduled to reconvene May 4 .
“ We ’ re not in Sacramento , and that makes it hard for us to be the influence we ’ d like , ” state Senate President Pro Tem Toni Atkins ( D-San Diego ) says .
“ It ’ s hard for us to sit back and not be in the works .
“ My colleagues @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s frustration not being there and doing what they can.
” Rendon says Newsom ’ s constant issuing of executive orders “ makes it a different way of governing .
That ’ s part of why we want to come back .
We want to have an influence .
That ’ s our job.
” The legislators ’ pique was evident at an Assembly budget hearing last week when lawmakers heard distressing news about the gloomy prospects for state tax revenues .
“ We have not been engaged and we have been trying @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Wood ( D-Santa Rosa ) .
“ We often hear maybe five minutes before an executive order comes out or by watching live the governor ’ s daily updates… .
And that ’ s a challenge.
” Newsom has issued reams of executive orders — around 30 so far .
They include shutting down businesses , altering court operations , increasing spending on homeless shelters , providing worker benefits and allowing grocers to issue free single-use plastic bags to customers — which voters had previously outlawed .
It ’ s all apparently legal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said any of it is illegal , although some small businesses have filed a lawsuit in federal court challenging the constitutionality of the governor ’ s shelter-in-place order .
A governor has awesome power once he proclaims a state of emergency .
He can temporarily suspend laws and impose rules without legislative permission .
And Newsom has made full use of his police power .
One action that got heads shaking was Newsom ’ s unilateral decision to OK a $ 1-billion contract with a Chinese company to provide 200 million masks a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ half the money up front .
But so far the state hasn ’ t received any masks .
Despite requests from legislators and the news media to review the contract , Newsom has kept it secret .
A $ 1-billion expenditure is hefty even in good times , but it ’ s especially weighty when we ’ re heading into a bad recession .
It ’ s the kind of spending that should require legislative input .
When the Legislature returns , the two houses may operate differently .
All Assembly members will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as usual .
There won ’ t be floor sessions until June , when lawmakers scramble to pass a budget .
But the Senate is considering giving lawmakers an option to legislate remotely if they fear contracting the virus .
There would be lots of videoconferencing .
Assembly attorneys say remote legislating may be illegal .
Senate attorneys say it ’ s OK. Do whatever works , I say .
These are desperate times .
Forget purity .
Don ’ t expect an economic stimulus package using state tax money .
States can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can .
President Trump and Congress will do all the stimulating .
But Atkins and Rendon want to tap into infrastructure bonds that have already been authorized by voters and quickly push the borrowed money out into job-creating projects .
There ’ s $ 42 billion in unsold bond authorization .
Rendon is also contemplating a November bond issue to finance retraining of unemployed workers for environmentally clean “ green jobs.
” Don ’ t even think about paying for such new programs out of the General Fund budget .
The state has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ slightly more than $ 17 billion .
But that will dissipate fast as tax revenues wither .
It ’ s looking like the Great Recession all over again .
“ Without question , we got hit hard , ” says H.D .
Palmer , a spokesman for the state Department of Finance .
Legislators have been told to plan for a $ 35-billion budget deficit in the next fiscal year — with deeper holes in the future .
“ We ’ re going to have to rein in our expectations , ” Atkins @ @ @ @ @ @ @ colleagues have never been through this.
” By May 14 , Newsom will pare down the $ 222-billion budget he proposed in January .
The Legislature must pass a budget by June 15 for the fiscal year starting July 1 .
But Rendon says that this time the June budget will only be an interim spending plan .
It will be updated in August after taxpayers file their returns and mail in their checks by July 15 .
Then the revenue picture will be clearer — and probably darker .
By then , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rule .

California Gov. Gavin Newsom discusses at an April 14 news conference an outline for what it will take to lift coronavirus restrictions.
California no longer has one-party rule in Sacramento. It now has one-man rule.
Gov. Gavin Newsom has told everyone who doesn’t have an “essential” job to stay home and protect themselves and others from the coronavirus. If they must venture out, he lectured, stay six feet from anyone.
Legislating officially is an essential job, but it’s hard to perform without cozying up to colleagues. And when meeting in their majestic chambers, lawmakers must sit close to seatmates.
Advertisement
1 / 83 Socially distanced bikers and walkers, against a backdrop of the Queen Mary, make their way along pedestrian and beach bike path on the first day that Long Beach reopened the path on Monday May 11, 2020. The city of Long Beach eased a few of its public health restrictions, allowing under certain guidelines the reopening of pedestrian and beach bike paths, tennis centers and courts. Beach bathrooms are also reopening, but the parking lots and beaches still remain closed. (Genaro Molina/Los Angeles Times) 2 / 83 Traffic remains light on the southbound 110 Freeway headed toward downtown Los Angeles on April 28. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times) 3 / 83 Dominique Barrett, center, known as “King Vader” to his 2.4 million TikTok followers, prepares to shoot a video on April 30 in Glendora. (Dania Maxwell / Los Angeles Times) 4 / 83 Cody Purcell of Redondo Beach rides a wave, glowing from the bioluminescence, in Hermosa Beach, CA, after midnight Friday morning, May 8. (Jay L. Clendenin/Los Angeles Times) 5 / 83 Friends play spikeball, a game perfect for social distancing on an open but restricted San Buenaventura State Beach. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times) 6 / 83 The majority of golfers are wearing masks while hitting balls on the driving range at Van Buren Executive Golf Course in Riverside. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times) 7 / 83 Beaches including Harbor Cove Beach were open but beachgoers were not supposed to be sitting on the sand. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times) 8 / 83 Tango instructor Yelizaveta Nersesova leads a Zoom tango event from her Los Angeles home April 27 that brought together hundreds of dancers from around the world. (Jason Armond / Los Angeles Times) 9 / 83 Grocery store workers, joined by United Food and Commercial Workers International Union Local 770 representatives and community members, hold a rally in support of strict social distancing on May 1 at a Ralphs store in Hollywood where 19 employees have tested positive for COVID-19. (Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times) 10 / 83 Mostly masked commuters keep their distance from one another on a Metro bus in downtown Los Angeles on April 29. (Gabriella Angotti-Jones / Los Angeles Times) 11 / 83 Gregory Kuhl, 69, heads home after a shopping trip in Hollywood on April 28. Big cracks in the street, cars parked in driveways blocking sidewalks and uneven pavement levels make navigating his route difficult. (Dania Maxwell / Los Angeles Times) 12 / 83 Tenants and their supporters from across Los Angeles gather at city hall to call on L.A. Mayor Eric Garcetti, the L.A. City Council and California Gov. Gavin Newsom to cancel rent and mortgage payments during the COVID-19 crisis. (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times) 13 / 83 Aerial view of over 100 vehicles lined up at the West Valley COVID-19 testing center at Warner Center in Woodland Hills. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times) 14 / 83 Senior Mason Wise, left, helps his sister, Mackenzie, a sophomore, clean out her PE locker at El Camino Real Charter High School in Woodland Hills. School officials were allowing no more than five students at a time on campus to take home their belongings. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times) 15 / 83 Shuttered storefront businesses in the garment district of Los Angeles. California’s unemployment rate has skyrocketed since the statewide coronavirus shutdown took effect. (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times) 16 / 83 Healthcare workers celebrate as Claudia Martinez is discharged from the ICU after she recovered from COVID-19 at Scripps Mercy Hospital in Chula Vista. (Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times) 17 / 83 Carson residents Kaeli Burks, 3, left, and her cousin Bailey Watson, 5, look out the window of their car after their mothers helped them with self-testing at a new drive-up testing site for COVID-19 in Carson. Free COVID-19 testing is available to all city residents thanks to a partnership between the city and US Health Fairs. (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times) 18 / 83 Norm and Tracy Kahn enjoy eating dinner outside on a small cafe table sitting in blue chairs on their side yard during the coronavirus pandemic on April 27 in Riverside. “During this pandemic, eating outside offers us an opportunity to change surrounding and appreciate the calmness of being outdoors among trees, scents from nature and the sounds of birds,” she said. Also adding, “Mixing up where we eat puts variety into our days and takes away the sameness of feeling trapped at home.” (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times) 19 / 83 Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center nurses carry supplies outside the hospital. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times) 20 / 83 Tom Sean Foley pauses on a walk with his kids, Cathelen Claire, “C.C.,” 3, and Timothy Joseph, 4, to take a photo in front of the “Love Wall,” mural by artist Curtis Kulig, outside of Smashbox Studios in Culver City. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 21 / 83 Protesters stand along Mission Blvd. in Pacific Beach during A Day of Liberty rally on April 26. The protesters were against the government shutdown due to the coronavirus. (K.C. Alfred / San Diego Union-Tribune) 22 / 83 People make orders at a food truck along Shoreline Avenue in Long Beach. (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times) 23 / 83 Medical staff, wearing protective gear, work inside a COVID-19 isolation area inside the emergency department at Los Angeles County-USC Medical Center in Los Angeles, where patients with the virus are being treated. (Mel Melcon / Los Angeles Times) 24 / 83 Neighbors practice social distancing while enjoying the nice weather near The Strand in Hermosa Beach. (Gabriella Angotti-Jones / Los Angeles Times) 25 / 83 Counter-protesters attend a protest to call on state and local officials to reopen the economy in downtown Los Angeles. (Christina House / Los Angeles Times) 26 / 83 A group of protesters cheer on cars during a vehicle caravan protest to call on state and local officials to reopen the economy in downtown Los Angeles. (Christina House / Los Angeles Times) 27 / 83 Cedar Mountain Post Acute Rehabilitation staff member Navi Cavaltera waters a flower pot put up by the community to show their support for the nursing staff of the facility in Yucaipa. Eighteen of 20 coronavirus-related deaths in Yucaipa were residents of the skilled nursing facility. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times) 28 / 83 A pedestrian wearing a protective mask passes a mural on a store on Melrose Avenue in the Fairfax district of Los Angeles. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times) 29 / 83 Jonte Florence, a freestyle dancer, does a handstand on a mostly empty Hollywood Walk of Fame. Florence said he normally performs for hundreds of tourists along the busy street. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times) 30 / 83 The Tyrannosaurus rex overlooking the intersection of Hollywood Boulevard and Highland Avenue wears a protective mask while practicing social distancing. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times) 31 / 83 Businesses are shuttered and pedestrians are few and far between on Hollywood Boulevard. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times) 32 / 83 Daniel Rogerson wears a vintage military gas mask while riding a bike along the beach path in Santa Monica, which is closed to enforce social distancing because of the coronavirus pandemic. (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times) 33 / 83 A face mask seller in colorful dress appears to be part of a mural behind a bus stop on Soto Street in Los Angeles. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times) 34 / 83 Life around Cesar E. Chavez Boulevard and Soto Street has slowed down as California officials extended stay-at-home orders into May and residents entered Easter weekend with unprecedented limits on their movements. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times) 35 / 83 UC Irvine Medical Center health care workers return their gratitude as about 25 Orange County first responder vehicles participate in a drive-by parade of gratitude as they battle COVID-19 at the hospital. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times) 36 / 83 Billy Budd, 55, of Hollywood, walks along Hollywood Boulevard with a protective face covering. Budd is a scenic artist for movies and television who is currently out of work due to the coronavirus outbreak. (Mel Melcon / Los Angeles Times) 37 / 83 Stuart Reyes and his sister, Stephanie, sell masks for $5 each on the 3000 block of West Century Boulevard in Inglewood. Stuart Reyes said he is selling masks to support his mother. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times) 38 / 83 A jogger runs on a closed trail past dozens of pieces of caution tape, torn off by hikers and mountain bikers at El Escorpion Canyon Park in West Hills. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times) 39 / 83 Alex Herron and nurse Mercy Pineda at a blood drive sponsored by USC athletics and the American Red Cross at USC’s Galen Center. (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times) 40 / 83 Los Angeles City Hall displays blue lights to show support for healthcare workers and first responders. (Gary Coronado / Los Angeles Times) 41 / 83 After being indoors for several days because of rainy weather and coronavirus stay-at-home orders, Olivia Jacobs, 4, and her mom, Cia Jacobs, enjoy a warm and sunny afternoon making chalk drawings on the sidewalk in front of their home in West Hills. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times) 42 / 83 An Oceanview Plaza security guard sports a whimsical mask while on patrol. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times) 43 / 83 Jacob De Wilde, left, and Lesli Lytle load a car with food during a food distribution organized to mark Good Friday. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times) 44 / 83 As a late season storm continues to make its way across the Southland, a young basketball player dribbles along an alley through an Elysian Park neighborhood in Los Angeles. (Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times) 45 / 83 People are silhouetted in a window of an apartment building in Hollywood, where a stay-at-home order remains in effect to help curb the spread of the coronavirus. (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times) 46 / 83 The Wilshire Grand Center display blue lights and a heart to show support for healthcare workers and first responders. (Gary Coronado / Los Angeles Times) 47 / 83 Women wear masks as they stroll along Highland Avenue in Hollywood. Wearing masks while outdoors is mandatory in the city of Los Angeles. (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times) 48 / 83 Patients are removed from Magnolia Rehabilitation and Nursing Center after 39 tested positive for the coronavirus and nursing staff was not showing up to work. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times) 49 / 83 A specimen is turned in at the new mobile testing site for people with symptoms of the coronavirus at Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science in South Los Angeles. (Christina House / Los Angeles Times) 50 / 83 Hippie Kitchen in Los Angeles hands out food, water and toiletries to homeless people and residents of skid row. Additionally, masks were offered to help reduce the spread of the coronavirus. (Myung J. Chun / Los Angeles Times) 51 / 83 Nurses pose for a fun photo during a break in drive-through public testing for the coronavirus at Arrowhead Regional Medical Center in Colton. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times) 52 / 83 A woman shows a notice from her doctor that allows her to obtain a test for coronavirus at a new drive-up testing site in a parking lot at the South Bay Galleria in Redondo Beach. (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times) 53 / 83 A person who wishes to remain anonymous strikes from her car to support McDonald’s employees who are demanding the company cover healthcare costs of any worker or immediate family member who gets sick from COVID-19 in Los Angeles. (Dania Maxwell / Los Angeles Times) 54 / 83 Cassidy Roosen, with Beach Cities Health District, holds up a sign that says, “We’re All in This Together,” while waiting to direct cars at a drive-through, appointment-only coronavirus testing location at the South Bay Galleria in Redondo Beach. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 55 / 83 Juliann Hartman, center, and her husband, Butch, wave signs they created to cheer up people on Calabasas Road in Calabasas during the pandemic. (Mel Melcon / Los Angeles Times) 56 / 83 Grace Carter, 15, of Riverside, practices a dance routine at home after dance classes and school were canceled. She has to use the Zoom app on her iPhone to practice with her dance group. “It’s hard,” she said. “My bedroom is a smaller space. I miss all my friends at the studio.” (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times) 57 / 83 A man works from his home in Long Beach. (Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times) 58 / 83 A San Bernardino County healthcare worker takes a sample at a coronavirus drive-through testing site at the county fairgrounds in Victorville. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times) 59 / 83 A Metro general service employee disinfects a bench in Boyle Heights. (Gary Coronado / Los Angeles Times) 60 / 83 A runner jogs past the Pottery Barn in Pasadena. Some businesses in the area have boarded up their stores. (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times) 61 / 83 Raquel Lezama and daughter Monica Ramos collect meals for their family at Manual Arts High School. Lezama was laid off from her $17.76-an-hour job at a Beverly Hills hotel. (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times) 62 / 83 The Iron City Tavern in San Pedro tries an incentive to lure takeout customers. (Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times) 63 / 83 Healthcare workers gather outside UCLA Ronald Reagan Medical Center to call for further action from the federal government in response to the COVID-19 outbreak. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times) 64 / 83 Kristen Edgerle, of Victorville, collects information from a blood donor before drawing blood at The Richard Nixon Presidential Library blood drive during the coronavirus pandemic in Yorba Linda. (Jason Armond / Los Angeles Times) 65 / 83 Shauna Jin, of Los Angeles, with her dog, Bodhi, practices social distancing with John Kiss, of Los Angeles, at the entrance of Runyon Canyon Park in Los Angeles. (Gary Coronado / Los Angeles Times) 66 / 83 A lending library had some additional useful items, including a roll of toilet paper and cans of beans and corn, in a Hermosa Beach neighborhood. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 67 / 83 Protesters drive by the Getty House, the home of L.A. Mayor Eric Garcetti, in Hancock Park. Tenant advocates are demanding a total moratorium on evictions during the coronavirus crisis. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times) 68 / 83 Venice residents Emily Berry and Gavin Kelley take a break at Venice Beach. Berry, a cocktail waitress at Enterprise Fish Co., lost her job due to the coronavirus outbreak. Kelley, a manager at a performing arts school with a focus on music, said that he still has a job and that classes at the school will resume online this coming Monday. (Mel Melcon / Los Angeles Times) 69 / 83 The JW Marriott at L.A. Live is sharing a message of hope with red lights in 34 windows, creating a 19-story display on the hotel’s north side. (Gary Coronado / Los Angeles Times) 70 / 83 Juan Diaz Jr., a lifelong Dodgers fan, prays that the season will start by May in front of Dodger Stadium on what would have been opening day. (Mel Melcon / Los Angeles Times) 71 / 83 Hayley, CEO and founder of Love My Neighbor Foundation, right, dances with Crystal Armster, 51, while she and her colleagues continue to feed the homeless on skid row amid the pandemic. (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times) 72 / 83 A masked passenger on a Metro bus in downtown Los Angeles. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times) 73 / 83 Dede Oneal waits for a coronavirus test at the Crenshaw Christian Center in South Los Angeles. (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times) 74 / 83 A man in a mask passes a closed restaurant along Spring Street in downtown Los Angeles. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times) 75 / 83 Artist Corie Mattie paints a mural on the side of a pop-up store as a man takes a picture in West Hollywood. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times) 76 / 83 Medical assistant Zoila Villalta works with Rosie Boston, 32, of Glendale, who is donating blood for her first time at L.A. Care Health Plan downtown. (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times) 77 / 83 A couple wait for a bus outside the Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles. (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times) 78 / 83 With all Los Angeles schools closed until further notice, LAUSD buses sit idle in Gardena. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times) 79 / 83 A lone traveler makes his way to catch a flight in Tom Bradley International Terminal. (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times) 80 / 83 Denise Young looks on as her daughter, Allison, 9, a fourth-grader at EARThS (Environmental Academy of Research Technology and Earth Sciences) Magnet School in Newbury Park, receives a Chromebook. (Mel Melcon / Los Angeles Times) 81 / 83 Hollywood Boulevard is devoid of the usual crowds. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times) 82 / 83 Michael Ray, 11, plays before a movie at the Paramount Drive-In. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times) 83 / 83 Isabella Leader, 15, counts how many flags have been left for World War II veteran Lt. Col. Sam Sachs who was celebrating his 105th birthday at the Mom & Dad’s House, an assisted living facility, in Lakewood. Lt. Col. Sachs appealed to the public for birthday cards after the coronavirus pandemic forced the cancellation of a big celebration and wound up receiving thousands, including a letter and photo from President Trump. (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)
So the Legislature did the healthy thing. It submitted to Newsom’s decree and is essentially staying home for seven weeks. Legislators are mostly staying out of the state Capitol anyway.
“It’s been kind of an eerie ghost town in there,” says Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon (D-Lakewood).
But power abhors a vacuum. With the legislative and judicial branches basically shut down because of the virus, the executive has seized almost complete control over state government. And many legislators are smarting.
They’re antsy to reenter the political arena and resume exerting influence over decision-making, particularly regarding the state’s approach to taming the virus, returning to normal life, restoring the economy and managing a bleeding state budget.
The Legislature is scheduled to reconvene May 4.
Advertisement
“We’re not in Sacramento, and that makes it hard for us to be the influence we’d like,” state Senate President Pro Tem Toni Atkins (D-San Diego) says. “It’s hard for us to sit back and not be in the works.
“My colleagues want to get back. There’s frustration not being there and doing what they can.”
Rendon says Newsom’s constant issuing of executive orders “makes it a different way of governing. That’s part of why we want to come back. We want to have an influence. That’s our job.”
The legislators’ pique was evident at an Assembly budget hearing last week when lawmakers heard distressing news about the gloomy prospects for state tax revenues.
“We have not been engaged and we have been trying to engage,” complained Assemblyman Jim Wood (D-Santa Rosa). “We often hear maybe five minutes before an executive order comes out or by watching live the governor’s daily updates…. And that’s a challenge.”
Newsom has issued reams of executive orders — around 30 so far. They include shutting down businesses, altering court operations, increasing spending on homeless shelters, providing worker benefits and allowing grocers to issue free single-use plastic bags to customers — which voters had previously outlawed.
It’s all apparently legal. At least, no judge has said any of it is illegal, although some small businesses have filed a lawsuit in federal court challenging the constitutionality of the governor’s shelter-in-place order.
A governor has awesome power once he proclaims a state of emergency. He can temporarily suspend laws and impose rules without legislative permission. And Newsom has made full use of his police power.
One action that got heads shaking was Newsom’s unilateral decision to OK a $1-billion contract with a Chinese company to provide 200 million masks a month. The governor gave the company half the money up front. But so far the state hasn’t received any masks.
Despite requests from legislators and the news media to review the contract, Newsom has kept it secret.
A $1-billion expenditure is hefty even in good times, but it’s especially weighty when we’re heading into a bad recession. It’s the kind of spending that should require legislative input.
When the Legislature returns, the two houses may operate differently.
All Assembly members will be present and attend committee hearings, as usual. There won’t be floor sessions until June, when lawmakers scramble to pass a budget.
But the Senate is considering giving lawmakers an option to legislate remotely if they fear contracting the virus. There would be lots of videoconferencing.
Assembly attorneys say remote legislating may be illegal. Senate attorneys say it’s OK.
Do whatever works, I say. These are desperate times. Forget purity.
Don’t expect an economic stimulus package using state tax money. States can’t print dollars like the feds can. President Trump and Congress will do all the stimulating.
But Atkins and Rendon want to tap into infrastructure bonds that have already been authorized by voters and quickly push the borrowed money out into job-creating projects. There’s $42 billion in unsold bond authorization.
Rendon is also contemplating a November bond issue to finance retraining of unemployed workers for environmentally clean “green jobs.”
Don’t even think about paying for such new programs out of the General Fund budget. The state has a “rainy day” reserve of slightly more than $17 billion. But that will dissipate fast as tax revenues wither.
It’s looking like the Great Recession all over again.
“Without question, we got hit hard,” says H.D. Palmer, a spokesman for the state Department of Finance.
Legislators have been told to plan for a $35-billion budget deficit in the next fiscal year — with deeper holes in the future.
“We’re going to have to rein in our expectations,” Atkins says. “A lot of my colleagues have never been through this.”
By May 14, Newsom will pare down the $222-billion budget he proposed in January. The Legislature must pass a budget by June 15 for the fiscal year starting July 1.
But Rendon says that this time the June budget will only be an interim spending plan. It will be updated in August after taxpayers file their returns and mail in their checks by July 15. Then the revenue picture will be clearer — and probably darker.
By then, some lawmakers may be fondly recalling one-man rule.


latimes--2020-04-26--Earthquake: Magnitude 4.0 quake reported near Ridgecrest, Calif.

A magnitude 4.0 earthquake was reported Sunday evening at 8:46 p.m. Pacific time six miles from Ridgecrest , Calif. , according to the U.S. Geological Survey .
The earthquake occurred 28 miles from California City , 57 miles from Barstow , 63 miles from Tehachapi and 63 miles from Rosamond .
In the last 10 days , there have been two earthquakes of magnitude 3.0 or greater centered nearby .
An average of 25 earthquakes with magnitudes between 4.0 and 5.0 occur per year in California and Nevada , according to a recent three-year data sample .
The earthquake occurred @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Did you feel this earthquake ?
Consider reporting what you felt to the USGS .
Even if you didn ’ t feel this small earthquake , you never know when the Big One is going to strike .
Ready yourself by following our five-step earthquake preparedness guide and building your own emergency kit .
This story was automatically generated by Quakebot , a computer application that monitors the latest earthquakes detected by the USGS .
A Times editor reviewed the post before it was published .
If you ’ re interested in learning @ @ @ @ @ @ @ list of frequently asked questions .

A magnitude 4.0 earthquake was reported Sunday evening at 8:46 p.m. Pacific time six miles from Ridgecrest, Calif., according to the U.S. Geological Survey.
The earthquake occurred 28 miles from California City, 57 miles from Barstow, 63 miles from Tehachapi and 63 miles from Rosamond.
In the last 10 days, there have been two earthquakes of magnitude 3.0 or greater centered nearby.
An average of 25 earthquakes with magnitudes between 4.0 and 5.0 occur per year in California and Nevada, according to a recent three-year data sample.
Advertisement
The earthquake occurred at a depth of 5.4 miles. Did you feel this earthquake? Consider reporting what you felt to the USGS.
Even if you didn’t feel this small earthquake, you never know when the Big One is going to strike. Ready yourself by following our five-step earthquake preparedness guide and building your own emergency kit.
This story was automatically generated by Quakebot, a computer application that monitors the latest earthquakes detected by the USGS. A Times editor reviewed the post before it was published. If you’re interested in learning more about the system, visit our list of frequently asked questions.


latimes--2020-04-27--Newsom sued by California residents demanding end to stay-at-home rules

Two Sacramento County residents on Monday filed a federal lawsuit challenging Gov .
Gavin Newsom ’ s sweeping stay-at-home order that is credited with helping slow the spread of coronavirus .
The lawsuit , filed on behalf of Ron Givens of the Sacramento Gun Club and Christine “ Chris ” Bish , a real estate agent and a Republican candidate for Congress running against Rep. Doris Matsui ( D-Sacramento ) , alleges that the California Highway Patrol unconstitutionally denied their requests for permits to hold a protest outside the state Capitol .
Givens wants to protest the state ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ buying firearms , and Bish hopes to protest the stay-at-home order , according to the lawsuit .
“ At a time when Californians are rightfully questioning the duration and extent of the stay-at-home orders , which are unevenly enforced and which have resulted in other constitutional challenges , Gov .
Newsom has reacted to citizen protests not by addressing widespread concern , but simply by shutting down protest at the Capitol altogether , making no reasonable accommodations for this fundamental function in a free society , ” said Harmeet K. Dhillon , one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The Newsom administration previously announced the six key goals to meet before the governor ’ s stay-at-home mandate is altered , including the ability to closely monitor and track potential cases , prevent infection of high-risk people , increase surge capacity at hospitals , develop therapeutics , and ensure physical distance at schools , businesses and childcare facilities .
Some communities have urged Newsom to urge the rules , while others have said they are in no hurry , On Monday , a bipartisan group of state lawmakers , mayors and other elected @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s northern interior urged the governor to allow the region to ease restrictions and start the process of reopening their economy .
They said that in that area the spread of , with only one person with the virus hospitalized in an intensive care unit as of Monday .
“ We believe that the local public health data , in addition to our area ’ s ability to continue monitoring cases , should allow our counties to soon begin a science-based , thoughtful reopening of our economy , consistent with national guidelines , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ back to work , ” Last week , San Luis Obispo County officials said they had bent the coronavirus curve and were beginning to craft a second phase that would allow some businesses to reopen .
According to a California Health Care Foundation/Ipsos survey , 75 % of residents want the order to continue as long as it ’ s needed .
Only 11 % wanted to stop the stay-at-home order , while 13 % had no opinion .
Among low-income residents , support was even stronger : 78 % support the stay-at-home @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Ninety-five percent of respondents said they supported L.A. elected officials ’ decision to implement a stay-at-home order for all but essential personnel , according to a Loyola Marymount University poll of Los Angeles County residents .

A lawsuit by two Sacramento County residents is contesting California Gov. Gavin Newsom stay-at-home order after their requests for permits to stage a protest outside the state Capitol were denied.
Two Sacramento County residents on Monday filed a federal lawsuit challenging Gov. Gavin Newsom’s sweeping stay-at-home order that is credited with helping slow the spread of coronavirus.
The lawsuit, filed on behalf of Ron Givens of the Sacramento Gun Club and Christine “Chris” Bish, a real estate agent and a Republican candidate for Congress running against Rep. Doris Matsui (D-Sacramento), alleges that the California Highway Patrol unconstitutionally denied their requests for permits to hold a protest outside the state Capitol.
Givens wants to protest the state’s failure to process background checks for people buying firearms, and Bish hopes to protest the stay-at-home order, according to the lawsuit.
Advertisement
“At a time when Californians are rightfully questioning the duration and extent of the stay-at-home orders, which are unevenly enforced and which have resulted in other constitutional challenges, Gov. Newsom has reacted to citizen protests not by addressing widespread concern, but simply by shutting down protest at the Capitol altogether, making no reasonable accommodations for this fundamental function in a free society,” said Harmeet K. Dhillon, one of the attorneys handling the case.
The Newsom administration previously announced the six key goals to meet before the governor’s stay-at-home mandate is altered, including the ability to closely monitor and track potential cases, prevent infection of high-risk people, increase surge capacity at hospitals, develop therapeutics, and ensure physical distance at schools, businesses and childcare facilities.
Some communities have urged Newsom to urge the rules, while others have said they are in no hurry,
On Monday, a bipartisan group of state lawmakers, mayors and other elected officials from six counties in California’s northern interior urged the governor to allow the region to ease restrictions and start the process of reopening their economy. They said that in that area the spread of the coronavirus had subsided , with only one person with the virus hospitalized in an intensive care unit as of Monday.
“We believe that the local public health data, in addition to our area’s ability to continue monitoring cases, should allow our counties to soon begin a science-based, thoughtful reopening of our economy, consistent with national guidelines, which would allow our residents to get back to work,” the letter to Newsom stated.
Last week, San Luis Obispo County officials said they had bent the coronavirus curve and were beginning to craft a second phase that would allow some businesses to reopen.
Advertisement
According to a California Health Care Foundation/Ipsos survey, 75% of residents want the order to continue as long as it’s needed. Only 11% wanted to stop the stay-at-home order, while 13% had no opinion. Among low-income residents, support was even stronger: 78% support the stay-at-home order and only 3% oppose it.
Ninety-five percent of respondents said they supported L.A. elected officials’ decision to implement a stay-at-home order for all but essential personnel, according to a Loyola Marymount University poll of Los Angeles County residents.


latimes--2020-04-27--Lawyers sue Newsom to stop California from transferring inmates to crowded ICE centers

Two lawyer groups have asked the California Supreme Court for an order barring Gov .
Gavin Newsom from continuing to transfer inmates to crowded Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention centers during the coronavirus pandemic .
In a lawsuit filed directly with the state ’ s highest court , associations of criminal defense and immigration lawyers said California was sending inmates into five “ dangerous ” detention centers in California .
“ ICE ’ s abject failure to protect the lives of people in its custody from the deadly COVID-19 is inviting a calamity — a public health crisis that will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the surrounding communities and California as a whole , ” the lawsuit said .
The suit said inmates at the detention facilities can not remain six feet apart and lack access to adequate health care .
Some are on a hunger strike .
“ California ’ s jails and prisons are continuing to voluntarily transfer individuals to ICE custody in the midst of the pandemic , even though they are not legally required to do so , ” the suit said .
In addition to Newsom , Atty .
Gen. Xavier Becerra was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Supreme Court set up an expedited schedule for written arguments .
California-based foundations for the ACLU are representing the California Attorneys for Criminal Justice and the Southern California chapter of the American Immigration Lawyers Assn .
in the case .

Two lawyer groups have asked the California Supreme Court for an order barring Gov. Gavin Newsom from continuing to transfer inmates to crowded Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention centers during the coronavirus pandemic.
In a lawsuit filed directly with the state’s highest court, associations of criminal defense and immigration lawyers said California was sending inmates to five ICE detention centers, calling them “virulent incubators of the virus.”
“ICE’s abject failure to protect the lives of people in its custody from the deadly COVID-19 is inviting a calamity — a public health crisis that will affect not just the detainees, but the surrounding communities and California as a whole,” the lawsuit said.
The suit said inmates at the detention facilities cannot remain six feet apart and lack access to adequate health care. Some are on a hunger strike.
Advertisement
“California’s jails and prisons are continuing to voluntarily transfer individuals to ICE custody in the midst of the pandemic, even though they are not legally required to do so,” the suit said.
In addition to Newsom, Atty. Gen. Xavier Becerra was named as a defendant. The California Supreme Court set up an expedited schedule for written arguments.
California-based foundations for the ACLU are representing the California Attorneys for Criminal Justice and the Southern California chapter of the American Immigration Lawyers Assn. in the case.
The transfers from California prisons and jails account for most of ICE’s bookings at the detention centers during the pandemic, the suit said. Some of those sent to detention centers, the suit said, had been released early from criminal custody as part of California’s efforts to reduce crowding at jails and prisons during the health crisis.
“Time is of the essence,” the suit said. “Piecemeal litigation in the lower courts is not an option given the dramatic pace at which the crisis is unfolding.”
Advertisement
California is a sanctuary state that generally prohibits city and county law enforcement from transferring inmates to ICE without a warrant or notifying ICE of release dates. County jails can transfer immigrants to ICE only after they are eligible for release.
Under rules set by the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, prison inmates can be transferred to ICE five days before their scheduled release dates.
There are 4,000 immigrants in California’s ICE centers, which lack personal protective equipment and proper sanitation, the suit said, adding that “fundamental constitutional rights to life are at stake.”
Detainees spoke of fear and neglect in sworn declarations presented to the court.
Kelvin Hernandez Roman, who was detained in the Adelanto immigration detention facility in San Bernardino County, said he was crammed into a dorm with 70 to 80 people until a court ordered his release days ago.
A few weeks ago, he became sick with a fever, cough and body aches but could not get medical help, he said. ICE refused his request for a coronavirus test and medication for his asthma, he said.
“The state of California’s continued transfers to ICE at this moment in time is cruel and inhumane,” the suit said, “and it defies every effort this state has already made to ebb the spread of the lethal COVID-19.”
The suit, citing due process rights under both the state and federal constitutions, asked the Supreme Court to issue an order no later than May 4.
Spokespersons for Newsom and Becerra were not immediately available for comment.


latimes--2020-04-27--Two Inland Empire men accused in $4-million scam to sell N95 masks

Two Inland Empire men were arrested after allegedly seeking more than $ 4 million for N95 respirators they did not have , federal authorities said .
Donald Lee Allen , 62 , of Riverside and Manuel Revolorio , 37 , of Rancho Cucamonga were charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud , the U.S. attorney ’ s office said .
They were scheduled to appear Monday in federal court in Los Angeles .
“ The defendants sought to take advantage of the urgent national need for lifesaving personal protective equipment through a fraudulent scheme designed to line their own pockets @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the Eastern District of New York , said in a statement .
The pair created a website misrepresenting the nature of their business and their inventory , falsely claiming to have been in the medical supply business since 2014 , the U.S. attorney ’ s office said .
They also allegedly falsely claimed that their business had contracts and agreements in place to resell millions of masks .
To bolster their claims , Allen and Revolorio displayed sealed and shrink-wrapped boxes at their office , saying they were filled with N95 respirators @ @ @ @ @ @ @ criminal complaint .
Most of the boxes were actually empty .
The pair displayed more than 1 million masks owned by an unrelated third party to a federal agent posing as the representative of an investor .
The charges come as hospitals battling the coronavirus grapple with a nationwide shortage of protective gear and a rise of counterfeit masks on the market .
State officials are paying inflated prices for gear as they navigate a marketplace rife with fraud and price gouging in search of millions of masks for healthcare workers , inmates @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The public should be on guard against these types of schemes , ” Craig Carpenito , head of the Department of Justice task force on COVID-19 hoarding and price gouging , said in a statement .

Two men were charged after seeking $4 million for N95 respirators they did not have.
Two Inland Empire men were arrested after allegedly seeking more than $4 million for N95 respirators they did not have, federal authorities said.
Donald Lee Allen, 62, of Riverside and Manuel Revolorio, 37, of Rancho Cucamonga were charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, the U.S. attorney’s office said. Both men were scheduled to be released Monday evening on $50,000 bond each.
“The defendants sought to take advantage of the urgent national need for lifesaving personal protective equipment through a fraudulent scheme designed to line their own pockets,” Richard Donoghue, U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of New York, said in a statement.
Advertisement
The pair created a website misrepresenting the nature of their business and their inventory, falsely claiming to have been in the medical supply business since 2014, the U.S. attorney’s office said. They also allegedly falsely claimed that their business had contracts and agreements in place to resell millions of masks.
To bolster their claims, Allen and Revolorio displayed sealed and shrink-wrapped boxes at their office, saying they were filled with N95 respirators and surgical masks, according to the criminal complaint. Most of the boxes were actually empty.
The pair displayed more than 1 million masks owned by an unrelated third party to a federal agent posing as the representative of an investor.
The charges come as hospitals battling the coronavirus grapple with a nationwide shortage of protective gear and a rise of counterfeit masks on the market.
State officials are paying inflated prices for gear as they navigate a marketplace rife with fraud and price gouging in search of millions of masks for healthcare workers, inmates and government employees deemed essential.
“The public should be on guard against these types of schemes,” Craig Carpenito, head of the Department of Justice task force on COVID-19 hoarding and price gouging, said in a statement.


latimes--2020-04-27--Orange County coronavirus cases surpass 2,100 after weekend surge

After a surge in the number of confirmed coronavirus cases over the weekend , Orange County ’ s total case count hit 2,126 Monday — up more than 500 from a week ago .
Orange County saw its biggest two-day increase in confirmed COVID-19 cases so far over the weekend , reporting 123 — a daily record for the county — on Saturday and 105 on Sunday , county data show .
Public health officials reported 54 new cases of the virus on Monday .
Despite the steady increase — 282 new coronavirus infection cases have been reported in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ did not report any new fatalities on Monday , leaving the death toll at 39 .
Officials also reported that 157 COVID-19 patients are hospitalized with 62 of them in intensive care .
To date , 26,347 people countywide have been tested for coronavirus .
The county ’ s surge in cases comes as some residents continue to call for statewide stay-at-home orders to be relaxed , if not completely lifted .
California has experienced only a fraction of the deaths of coronavirus hot spots such as New York and New Jersey , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ early orders that forced people to observe social distancing and stay home .
Gov .
Gavin Newsom has reiterated that it is too early to lift those rules and urged people to continue to stay home to stem the spread of the virus .
Despite that request , dozens gathered at the circle in Old Towne Orange on Monday amid a chorus of honking cars to protest what they say are unnecessary restrictions on public life .
Few wore masks , and many carried American flags and signs urging officials to “ save @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ reopen California.
” “ Let us live and take our chances , ” one sign read .
“ We ’ re out here protesting in a great way for our freedom , ” Dennis Murphy of Santa Ana told reporters .
“ We want to have O.C .
open up.
” Dr. Nichole Quick , the county ’ s health officer , told the Board of Supervisors last week that staff is working to strengthen six areas that Newsom said earlier this month would need to be in place before he would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ six criteria are the ability to closely monitor and track potential cases ; prevent infection of high-risk people ; prepare hospitals to handle surges ; develop therapies to meet demand ; ensure schools , businesses and childcare facilities can support social distancing ; and develop guidelines for when to ask Californians to stay home again if necessary .
Quick noted that regardless of when state guidelines are relaxed , Orange County will have a local order maintaining certain restrictions , probably for many months .
While outdoor recreational areas and restaurants will at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about face coverings in public and physical distancing mandates will probably continue , she said .
“ We ’ re going to alter our normal , ” Quick said .
“ The last thing we want to do is open the floodgates and watch our case count start to go up again uncontrolled .
”

Protesters gather in Orange to speak out against Gov. Gavin Newsom’s stay-at-home order amid the coronavirus pandemic.
After a surge in the number of confirmed coronavirus cases over the weekend, Orange County’s total case count hit 2,126 Monday — up more than 500 from a week ago.
Orange County saw its biggest two-day increase in confirmed COVID-19 cases so far over the weekend, reporting 123 — a daily record for the county — on Saturday and 105 on Sunday, county data show. Public health officials reported 54 new cases of the virus on Monday.
Despite the steady increase — 282 new coronavirus infection cases have been reported in the last three days alone — the county did not report any new fatalities on Monday, leaving the death toll at 39.
Advertisement
Officials also reported that 157 COVID-19 patients are hospitalized with 62 of them in intensive care. To date, 26,347 people countywide have been tested for coronavirus.
The county’s surge in cases comes as some residents continue to call for statewide stay-at-home orders to be relaxed, if not completely lifted. California has experienced only a fraction of the deaths of coronavirus hot spots such as New York and New Jersey, and experts attribute that in part to early orders that forced people to observe social distancing and stay home.
Gov. Gavin Newsom has reiterated that it is too early to lift those rules and urged people to continue to stay home to stem the spread of the virus. Despite that request, dozens gathered at the circle in Old Towne Orange on Monday amid a chorus of honking cars to protest what they say are unnecessary restrictions on public life.
Few wore masks, and many carried American flags and signs urging officials to “save California’s small businesses” and “reopen California.”
“Let us live and take our chances,” one sign read.
“We’re out here protesting in a great way for our freedom,” Dennis Murphy of Santa Ana told reporters. “We want to have O.C. open up.”
Advertisement
Dr. Nichole Quick, the county’s health officer, told the Board of Supervisors last week that staff is working to strengthen six areas that Newsom said earlier this month would need to be in place before he would consider loosening the stay-at-home order.
1 / 37 Customers defy social distancing and the wearing of masks to stand in line at the recently opened Nomads Canteen in San Clemente. The restaurant opened its doors to dine-in services over the weekend in defiance of the California’s stay-at-home order. (Gina Ferazzi/Los Angeles Times) 2 / 37 Christina Dagle and her daughter, Eleanor Eades, 4, of Seal Beach, wait in line to buy flowers for a friend from Devynn’s Garden in Seal Beach. (Allen J. Schaben/Los Angeles Times) 3 / 37 Station 17 owner Cynthia Freund says that roller skates, shown at left, has been her most popular on-line sale item as she reopens for curb-side shopping in Seal Beach. (Allen J. Schaben/Los Angeles Times) 4 / 37 Armando Mendoza, of Anaheim, celebrates with all his health-care professionals and his family and supporters as he is released after spending 45 days at St. Joseph Hospital in Orange. (Allen J. Schaben/Los Angeles Times) 5 / 37 Health care workers dance and take images while a mariachi band plays as Armando Mendoza, of Anaheim, gets released from St. Joseph Hospital in Orange. Mendoza was the hospital’s second-ever COVID-19 patient and spent 45 days at St. Joseph Hospital before being released. (Allen J. Schaben/Los Angeles Times) 6 / 37 People stroll along Main Beach in Laguna Beach as city ,with State’s blessings, reopened its beaches for active use only. (Irfan Khan/Los Angeles Times) 7 / 37 Ian Hanna skimboards along the shoreline on Main Beach in Laguna Beach, after it reopened to active use only. (Irfan Khan/Los Angeles Times) 8 / 37 A sailboat cruises by as a lone beach-goer in Newport Beach, despite Gov. Gavin Newsom’s hard closure of the beach. (Allen J. Schaben/Los Angeles Times) 9 / 37 An aerial view of a few surfers and beach-goers in Newport Beach despite Gov. Gavin Newsom’s hard closure. (Allen J. Schaben/Los Angeles Times) 10 / 37 Beach goers ignore social distancing and beach closures as they walk in groups to the beach access stairs to Salt Creek Beach. ( Gina Ferazzi/Los Angeles Times) 11 / 37 Elizabeth Robles of Laguna decides to park in a “No Parking” zone and get the $30 ticket so she could walk to Salt Creek Beach to surf. “The ticket is worth it to me. I broke my arm recently and haven’t surfed in 8 months,” she said. ( Gina Ferazzi/Los Angeles Times) 12 / 37 With parking lots closed, a man heads to the beach on the bike path with kids, beach chairs and paddle board loaded on his electric bike in Capistrano Beach. (Allen J. Schaben/Los Angeles Times) 13 / 37 John and Jamie Garcia, of La Habra, celebrate Jamie’s birthday by relaxing in loungers at the Beachcomber Inn with a view of an empty, closed beach and pier due to the coronavirus restrictions amid a heat wave in San Clemente. The council voted to reopen the beach for recreational activity such as walking, running, swimming and surfing, but have also said residents should not bring a blanket and hang out. (Allen J. Schaben/Los Angeles Times) 14 / 37 Cal State Fullerton student Linh Trinh, 21, right, and her boyfriend Tan Nguyen, 21, walk around a deserted CSUF campus. The school is planning to begin fall semester with online classes, one of the first universities in the nation to make that move as campuses throughout the country grapple with how long to stay closed to most students amid the coronavirus outbreak. (Christina House/Los Angeles Times) 15 / 37 Russel and Kathleen Sion, of Torrance, celebrate tying the knot in a parking lot at the Honda Center in Anaheim, where the County of Orange Clerk Recorder is performing wedding ceremonies. (Christina House/Los Angeles Times) 16 / 37 Irvine couple Xiakuan Qian, left, and Qingyun Zhu, get married in a parking lot at the Honda Center in Anaheim. (Christina House/Los Angeles Times) 17 / 37 UC Irvine Medical Center healthcare workers wave as about 25 Orange County first-responder vehicles participate in a drive-by parade of gratitude as healthcare staff battle COVID-19 at the hospital. (Allen J. Schaben/Los Angeles Times) 18 / 37 UC Irvine Medical Center healthcare workers bang on the windows as they watch about 25 Orange County first-responder vehicles participate in a drive-by parade of gratitude as they battle COVID-19 at the hospital, which currently has eight patients with the virus. (Allen J. Schaben/Los Angeles Times) 19 / 37 Healthcare workers tend to a driver in line at a drive-through coronavirus testing site at the Westminster Mall in Westminster. (Allen J. Schaben/Los Angeles Times) 20 / 37 MaryAnn Lawson collects prayer requests from people gathering in their cars in a parking lot in Santa Ana to worship in an Easter service by Rev. Robert A. Schuller. Schuller is reviving a practice that launched his father to worldwide acclaim -- the drive-in ministry. (Christina House/Los Angeles Times) 21 / 37 Security guard Carlos Reyes wears a protective mask and gloves while patrolling the nearly empty Santa Ana Regional Transportation Center amid coronavirus physical distancing restrictions in Santa Ana. (Allen J. Schaben/Los Angeles Times) 22 / 37 Charlton Paul, 31, and his soon-to-be wife, Heather Paul, 32, arrive at the Honda Center where the County of Orange Clerk-Recorder set up three booths for marriage licenses and weddings in Anaheim. (Raul Roa/Times Community News) 23 / 37 Paul Jones, left, wears a custom-made face mask as does his bride, Annamarie Sucher-Jones, during their wedding in a parking lot at the Honda Center where the County of Orange Clerk-Recorder set up three booths for marriage licenses and weddings in Anaheim. (Raul Roa/Times Community News) 24 / 37 Kayakers, boaters and a paddle boarder observe coronavirus social distancing rules while exercising and gliding through Huntington Harbor on the first warm day in weeks with a view of recently snow-capped San Gabriel Mountains in Huntington Beach. (Allen J. Schaben/Los Angeles Times) 25 / 37 UC Irvine Medical Center healthcare workers react as an Anaheim police officer joins about 25 Orange County first-responder vehicles participating in a drive-by parade of gratitude as healthcare staff battle COVID-19 at the hospital. (Allen J. Schaben/Los Angeles Times) 26 / 37 Ashley Amon, and her daughters, Alysha, 2, and Alexandria, 4, who are currently homeless, attend a gathering with fellow worshipers in their cars in a parking lot in Santa Ana to worship in an Easter service by Rev. Robert A. Schuller. (Christina House/Los Angeles Times) 27 / 37 An aerial view of the closed San Clemente pier and beach. Officials said the Orange County Sheriff’s Department, Marine Safety, Code Enforcement and Park Rangers will increase monitoring and people who do not comply could be cited. (Allen J. Schaben/Los Angeles Times) 28 / 37 A couple takes in a sunset together near the San Clemente pier after San Clemente closed its beaches to help curb the spread of the coronavirus. (Allen J. Schaben/Los Angeles Times) 29 / 37 Kristen Edgerle of Victorville collects information from a blood donor before drawing blood at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library blood drive during the coronavirus pandemic in Yorba Linda. (Jason Armond/Los Angeles Times) 30 / 37 Protest organizer Elizabeth Coe, waves the American flag out of her sun roof and Laguna Woods resident Debbie Bloom, 67, left, parades her sign while joining mostly Laguna Woods seniors protesting after learning nearby Ayres Hotel will be used to treat homeless COVID-19 patients in Laguna Woods. (Allen J. Schaben/Los Angeles Times) 31 / 37 Kylie Wortham, who was laid off when her entire company was closed due to coronavirus restrictions, relaxes with a book in a hammock overlooking the beach in Huntington Beach. (Allen J. Schaben/Los Angeles Times) 32 / 37 A social distancing sign alerts visitors to keep their distance from other people on the mostly empty board walk in Huntington Beach. (Allen J. Schaben/Los Angeles Times) 33 / 37 Jose Secundino, center, joins fellow recently hired Second Harvest Food Bank of Orange County temporary employees, who have been laid off from restaurant jobs due to the coronavirus pandemic, as they pack boxes of food for the needy. (Allen J. Schaben/Los Angeles Times) 34 / 37 Daniel Guzman, right, an unemployed pool supervisor from Garden Grove, sits alone in the mostly closed and normally crowded Pacific City shopping mall in Huntington Beach. (Allen J. Schaben/Los Angeles Times) 35 / 37 Jessica Estebane, a temporarily unemployed restaurant worker from Huntington Beach, rests from her jog in front of closed Huntington Surf & Sport. (Allen J. Schaben/Los Angeles Times) 36 / 37 Laguna Beach closes all city beaches and their adjacent parks. (Christina House/Los Angeles Times) 37 / 37 Laguna Beach has closed all city beaches and their adjacent parks (Christina House/Los Angeles Times)
The six criteria are the ability to closely monitor and track potential cases; prevent infection of high-risk people; prepare hospitals to handle surges; develop therapies to meet demand; ensure schools, businesses and childcare facilities can support social distancing; and develop guidelines for when to ask Californians to stay home again if necessary.
Quick noted that regardless of when state guidelines are relaxed, Orange County will have a local order maintaining certain restrictions, probably for many months.
While outdoor recreational areas and restaurants will at some point begin to reopen, recommendations about face coverings in public and physical distancing mandates will probably continue, she said.
“We’re going to alter our normal,” Quick said. “The last thing we want to do is open the floodgates and watch our case count start to go up again uncontrolled.”


latimes--2020-04-27--The latest list of Orange County communities with coronavirus cases

Orange County health officials on Monday announced 54 new confirmed coronavirus cases , bringing the countywide total to 2,126 .
@ @ @ @ @ additional COVID-19-related fatalities , leaving the county ’ s death toll at 39 .
The @ @ @ @ @ also reported 157 hospitalizations , with 62 of those patients in intensive care .
Countywide @ @ @ @ @ administered to date , according to the agency .
Note : The “ other ” @ @ @ @ @ Daily updates are preliminary and subject to change as the county receives new information .

People congregate at Huntington Beach amid the coronavirus pandemic on Sunday.
Orange County health officials on Monday announced 54 new confirmed coronavirus cases, bringing the countywide total to 2,126.
Officials did not report any additional COVID-19-related fatalities, leaving the county’s death toll at 39. The Orange County Health Care Agency also reported 157 hospitalizations, with 62 of those patients in intensive care.
Countywide, 26,347 tests have been administered to date, according to the agency.
Advertisement
Tracking coronavirus in Orange County The latest maps and charts on the spread of COVID-19 in Orange County, including cases, deaths, closures and restrictions.
Age breakdown of cases
0-17 — 36
18-24 — 187
25-34 — 353
35-44 — 318
45-54 — 411
55-64 — 377
65-74 — 227
75-84 — 133
85+ — 84
Age breakdown of deaths
0-17 — 0
18-24 — 0
25-34 — 2
35-44 — 3
45-54 — 4
55-64 — 7
65-74 — 5
75-84 — 11
85+ — 7
Cases by community
Aliso Viejo — 18
Anaheim — 289
Brea — 19
Buena Park — 74
Costa Mesa — 37
Coto de Caza — 5
Cypress — 41
Dana Point — 22
Fountain Valley — 29
Fullerton — 68
Garden Grove — 89
Huntington Beach — 183
Irvine — 127
La Habra — 44
La Palma — 12
Ladera Ranch — 12
Laguna Beach — 36
Laguna Hills — 18
Laguna Niguel — 33
Laguna Woods — 8
Lake Forest — 27
Los Alamitos — 20
Midway City — 6
Mission Viejo — 41
Newport Beach — 96
Orange — 76
Placentia — 49
Rancho Mission Viejo — 6
Rancho Santa Margarita — 14
San Clemente — 45
San Juan Capistrano — 22
Santa Ana — 306
Seal Beach — 11
Stanton — 19
Trabuco Canyon — 10
Tustin — 37
Villa Park — 6
Westminster — 36
Yorba Linda — 48
Other — 2
Unknown — 83
Note: The “other” category includes unincorporated areas. Daily updates are preliminary and subject to change as the county receives new information.


latimes--2020-04-27--Bill Gardner spun classic R&B on the L.A. airwaves for four decades. Then came the coronavirus

Bill Gardner has been broadcasting in Los Angeles for 36 years .
But these days , when his KPFK-FM ( 90.7 ) show “ Rhapsody in Black ” comes on at 2 p.m. on Saturdays , Gardner is listening to it on the radio like anybody else .
“ It ’ s… a little surreal , ” he chuckles .
“ I don ’ t know what they ’ re going to play , and so I just sit back and listen.
” With the COVID-19 pandemic leaving him and his wife , Paulette , under house arrest , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from which he can broadcast , “ Rhapsody in Black , ” like the rest of his life , is on pause .
While Gardner sits quarantined , an engineer at the station pulls out a “ Best of Bill ” CD and slaps it on the air .
Since his weekly show explores the charts for a given year of rhythm and blues history , there ’ s a timelessness built in .
1955 is still 1955 .
But Gardner ’ s fans wonder , given the need to keep the city @ @ @ @ @ @ @ precautions an 81-year-old needs to take , when or if Gardner will once more come into their homes live and direct .
“ He ’ s a great guy , I love him a lot , ” says Billy Vera , a musician , bandleader and onetime radio institution in town himself .
“ Bill doesn ’ t have one of those ‘ professional ’ voices or presentations , and that works in his favor .
What ’ s great about him is he ’ s authentic — he lived the music .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the records were being made .
“ And he ’ s such a gentleman .
He ’ s not one of those jive characters that a lot of jocks tried to be — there ’ s a genuineness about him that ’ s really affecting.
” KPFK is a listener-sponsored Pacifica station operating on a shoestring in Studio City .
Its music shows are overseen by volunteers like Gardner who believe in what they are doing , says music director Maggie LePique .
“ For the most part , ” she adds , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and hosts are prerecording their shows .
If you don ’ t have a home studio , that makes it difficult.
” Gardner remembers the first time he entered the KPFK studio .
It was 1983 , and R & B star Johnny Otis was hosting his own radio program .
Gardner was a fan dropping by , and when Otis asked him to come back , he got pulled in , becoming Otis ’ assistant .
Gardner notes that Otis liked having folks around but that he also needed to be the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I ’ m a good listener , so he liked me , ” he recalls .
“ I learned how to put together a set of songs from Johnny.
” Gardner is a tall , imposing figure with a bald head .
That first time down at the station , he was stopped in the lobby by an older guy in a turtleneck sweater .
“ Are you the man ?
” the guy asked , maybe joking .
It was Roy Milton , a 1940s bandleader and star in the African American @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the air got you a chance to meet Milton , Gardner decided he was in .
He kept coming back , and a few weeks later , Screamin ’ Jay Hawkins was there , waving a skull on a stick at Otis as the two of them cut up .
Now , Otis , Milton and Screamin ’ Jay are all gone .
And Gardner is nervous about leaving the house .
Sitting in his home , shelves of CDs behind him , Gardner has begun work on a memoir .
Along @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been taking out the family photos and putting some up on social media .
There are beauties , for sure : A black and white shot of his dad ’ s auto upholstery shop at the corner of Bronson and Jefferson .
A photo of Bill at 9 or 10 , sitting on the hood of the family ’ s Buick in front of the house .
Gardner was born in 1938 and grew up around 24th Street and San Pedro , just south of downtown .
Those pictures evoke African American life @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
It was an era of some optimism , with small businesses growing and black home-ownership expanding into areas formerly off-limits .
After his parents divorced , his mother took a job at Flash Records , a small black-owned chain that also ran an R & B label .
Music was an interest , and when he attended Jefferson High School in the mid-1950s , Gardner was surrounded by tunes , because Jefferson had long been a cradle for jazz and R & B in town .
One of its biggest musical names @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to become the celebrated composer of “ Louie Louie ” and a one-of-a-kind wit on the scene .
“ He was a recording star to us , ” says Gardner , and he was a guy you could see at the grocery store .
Gardner hoped to play baseball after high school .
“ I could have played semi-pro ball , and I played ball in the Army , but if you were black back then , you couldn ’ t be just an average player and make it.
” He studied social @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one day , while he was playing ball at the school , a Warner Bros. scout asked him to be an extra in the movie “ Damn Yankees.
” He remembers meeting Tab Hunter at L.A. ’ s Wrigley Field .
By the time he started doing his own radio show , at Pasadena-based KPCC-FM ( 89.3 ) in 1984 , the guys he admired in high school had made all the records they were going to make and were now looking back on it all ; his program became a casual hang @ @ @ @ @ @ @ scene , folks like Berry and Don Julian of the Larks and Arthur Lee Maye from the Crowns .
For a while at KPCC , Gardner had two shows back to back : “ Rhythm & Blues Time Capsule , ” with the enviable slogan “ the show that is changing the sleeping habits of Southern California , ” and “ Rhapsody in Black , ” the program he took to KPFK in 2000 .
Commemorating the greats for so long has led to a few commemorations of his own ; last year @ @ @ @ @ @ @ proclamation in celebration of the effect he ’ s had on several generations ’ sleeping habits .
Mexican American conguero Poncho Sanchez and singer-songwriter Jackson Browne are devoted listeners , and Gardner found out first-hand what a fan Phil Spector was .
Not only did he make sizable donations over the years but he also came by KPCC one night when Gardner was on the air .
Spector called from his car , parked outside the radio station , and was invited in .
He didn ’ t want to be interviewed on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as he played his request for some Little Richard .
Over the years ( long before the “ Wall of Sound ” producer ’ s 2009 conviction for second-degree murder ) , Gardner and Spector became pretty good friends , and the DJ went to Spector ’ s celebrity-packed bowling parties .
“ I didn ’ t know who everybody was , but they all looked like KISS , ” he cackles .
“ I actually think I enjoy doing the show more now , ” Gardner adds .
“ The music keeps @ @ @ @ @ @ @ re always trying to get a little better , to please people .
See , back in the 1980s , I regarded it as a hobby.
” Gardner worked for 30 years as a social worker for the L.A. County Department of Children and Family Services , where he investigated allegations of child abuse .
Then , playing vocal groups and funk was blessed relief from the darkness he found on the job .
Now the show is its own reward , and Gardner doesn ’ t want to give it up .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ years ago with his old friend Bill Withers .
The singer and songwriter , who died March 30 , married into Gardner ’ s wife ’ s family , and the two men became close .
“ You know how casual and philosophical he was in his songs ?
He was just that way in real life , ” says Gardner .
“ He was such an interesting person who could really entertain.
” Last week , his brother-in-law died from COVID-19 complications .
Gardner got quiet for a moment , and we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ m worried about KPFK going down , because they have to continue fund-raising to stay on the air , and a lot of people don ’ t have money now , ” he said .
“ I ’ m afraid .
I don ’ t know when I ’ ll be able to get back in the studio .
I ’ m 81 .
Whatever ’ s going to happen , I ’ m gon na be careful .
I might be in the house a year and a half until they find @ @ @ @ @ @ @ go back someday , somewhere , to do ‘ Rhapsody in Black .
’ ”

L.A. radio staple Bill Gardner, whose R&B program “Rhapsody in Black” has aired weekly since 1984. Since the onset of the coronavirus pandemic, he has been unable to do his show.
Bill Gardner has been broadcasting in Los Angeles for 36 years. But these days, when his KPFK-FM (90.7) show “Rhapsody in Black” comes on at 2 p.m. on Saturdays, Gardner is listening to it on the radio like anybody else. “It’s… a little surreal,” he chuckles. “I don’t know what they’re going to play, and so I just sit back and listen.”
With the COVID-19 pandemic leaving him and his wife, Paulette, under house arrest, and no makeshift studio in his Norwalk home from which he can broadcast, “Rhapsody in Black,” like the rest of his life, is on pause. While Gardner sits quarantined, an engineer at the station pulls out a “Best of Bill” CD and slaps it on the air. Since his weekly show explores the charts for a given year of rhythm and blues history, there’s a timelessness built in. 1955 is still 1955. But Gardner’s fans wonder, given the need to keep the city locked down tight, and given the precautions an 81-year-old needs to take, when or if Gardner will once more come into their homes live and direct.
“He’s a great guy, I love him a lot,” says Billy Vera, a musician, bandleader and onetime radio institution in town himself. “Bill doesn’t have one of those ‘professional’ voices or presentations, and that works in his favor. What’s great about him is he’s authentic — he lived the music. He really grew up at that time the records were being made.
“And he’s such a gentleman. He’s not one of those jive characters that a lot of jocks tried to be — there’s a genuineness about him that’s really affecting.”
Advertisement
KPFK is a listener-sponsored Pacifica station operating on a shoestring in Studio City. Its music shows are overseen by volunteers like Gardner who believe in what they are doing, says music director Maggie LePique. “For the most part,” she adds, “we’re working at home and hosts are prerecording their shows. If you don’t have a home studio, that makes it difficult.”
Gardner remembers the first time he entered the KPFK studio. It was 1983, and R&B star Johnny Otis was hosting his own radio program.
Gardner was a fan dropping by, and when Otis asked him to come back, he got pulled in, becoming Otis’ assistant. Gardner notes that Otis liked having folks around but that he also needed to be the center of attention.
“Well, I’m a good listener, so he liked me,” he recalls. “I learned how to put together a set of songs from Johnny.”
Gardner is a tall, imposing figure with a bald head. That first time down at the station, he was stopped in the lobby by an older guy in a turtleneck sweater. “Are you the man?” the guy asked, maybe joking. It was Roy Milton, a 1940s bandleader and star in the African American clubs of Central Avenue. If being on the air got you a chance to meet Milton, Gardner decided he was in. He kept coming back, and a few weeks later, Screamin’ Jay Hawkins was there, waving a skull on a stick at Otis as the two of them cut up.
Now, Otis, Milton and Screamin’ Jay are all gone. And Gardner is nervous about leaving the house.
Advertisement
Sitting in his home, shelves of CDs behind him, Gardner has begun work on a memoir. Along with making notes, he’s been taking out the family photos and putting some up on social media. There are beauties, for sure: A black and white shot of his dad’s auto upholstery shop at the corner of Bronson and Jefferson. A photo of Bill at 9 or 10, sitting on the hood of the family’s Buick in front of the house.
Gardner was born in 1938 and grew up around 24th Street and San Pedro, just south of downtown. Those pictures evoke African American life in Los Angeles after World War II. It was an era of some optimism, with small businesses growing and black home-ownership expanding into areas formerly off-limits.
After his parents divorced, his mother took a job at Flash Records, a small black-owned chain that also ran an R&B label. Music was an interest, and when he attended Jefferson High School in the mid-1950s, Gardner was surrounded by tunes, because Jefferson had long been a cradle for jazz and R&B in town.
One of its biggest musical names, Richard Berry, had already graduated to become the celebrated composer of “Louie Louie” and a one-of-a-kind wit on the scene. “He was a recording star to us,” says Gardner, and he was a guy you could see at the grocery store.
Gardner hoped to play baseball after high school. “I could have played semi-pro ball, and I played ball in the Army, but if you were black back then, you couldn’t be just an average player and make it.” He studied social work at Los Angeles City College; one day, while he was playing ball at the school, a Warner Bros. scout asked him to be an extra in the movie “Damn Yankees.” He remembers meeting Tab Hunter at L.A.’s Wrigley Field.
By the time he started doing his own radio show, at Pasadena-based KPCC-FM (89.3) in 1984, the guys he admired in high school had made all the records they were going to make and were now looking back on it all; his program became a casual hang for some of the greats on the scene, folks like Berry and Don Julian of the Larks and Arthur Lee Maye from the Crowns.
For a while at KPCC, Gardner had two shows back to back: “Rhythm & Blues Time Capsule,” with the enviable slogan “the show that is changing the sleeping habits of Southern California,” and “Rhapsody in Black,” the program he took to KPFK in 2000.
Commemorating the greats for so long has led to a few commemorations of his own; last year, the California State Assembly issued a proclamation in celebration of the effect he’s had on several generations’ sleeping habits.
Mexican American conguero Poncho Sanchez and singer-songwriter Jackson Browne are devoted listeners, and Gardner found out first-hand what a fan Phil Spector was. Not only did he make sizable donations over the years but he also came by KPCC one night when Gardner was on the air. Spector called from his car, parked outside the radio station, and was invited in. He didn’t want to be interviewed on air, but Spector stood over Gardner as he played his request for some Little Richard. Over the years (long before the “Wall of Sound” producer’s 2009 conviction for second-degree murder), Gardner and Spector became pretty good friends, and the DJ went to Spector’s celebrity-packed bowling parties. “I didn’t know who everybody was, but they all looked like KISS,” he cackles.
“I actually think I enjoy doing the show more now,” Gardner adds. “The music keeps growing on you, and you’re always trying to get a little better, to please people. See, back in the 1980s, I regarded it as a hobby.”
Gardner worked for 30 years as a social worker for the L.A. County Department of Children and Family Services, where he investigated allegations of child abuse. Then, playing vocal groups and funk was blessed relief from the darkness he found on the job. Now the show is its own reward, and Gardner doesn’t want to give it up.
KPFK recently replayed an interview he did years ago with his old friend Bill Withers. The singer and songwriter, who died March 30, married into Gardner’s wife’s family, and the two men became close.
“You know how casual and philosophical he was in his songs? He was just that way in real life,” says Gardner. “He was such an interesting person who could really entertain.”
Last week, his brother-in-law died from COVID-19 complications. Gardner got quiet for a moment, and we change the subject.
“I’m worried about KPFK going down, because they have to continue fund-raising to stay on the air, and a lot of people don’t have money now,” he said.
“I’m afraid. I don’t know when I’ll be able to get back in the studio. I’m 81. Whatever’s going to happen, I’m gonna be careful. I might be in the house a year and a half until they find the vaccine. But I plan to go back someday, somewhere, to do ‘Rhapsody in Black.’”


latimes--2020-04-27--L.A. County sheriff says new decontamination center will allow N95 masks to be reused 20 times

Los Angeles County Sheriff Alex Villanueva announced an initiative Monday to decontaminate N95 masks that will allow first-responders and healthcare workers countywide to safely reuse them up to 20 times as they battle the coronavirus .
The new decontamination center comes as hospitals grapple with a nationwide shortage of protective gear and a rise of counterfeit masks on the market .
The cleaning chamber , at the Sybil Brand Institute in Monterey Park , is scheduled to begin operating next week .
It will be able to clean up to 30,000 masks each day and save the Sheriff ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of dollars , Villanueva said .
“ We ’ re trying now to find a way to stretch out our inventory and this decontamination will be the magic solution , ” Villanueva said at a news briefing .
The decontamination system uses a device about the size of a dishwasher that vaporizes hydrogen peroxide and blows out a mist that settles on and cleans the masks hanging on a rack .
The hydrogen peroxide solution costs $ 1,000 for a day ’ s use and the chamber can hold more than 10,000 masks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Chris Kovac , who spearheaded the initiative .
He said he expects the facility to run multiple cycles each day .
“ We want to ensure that everyone who receives a mask back from this decontamination facility can be assured that the mask is just as good and effective as a mask that they would receive new , ” said Welsey Grose , director of the Sheriff ’ s Department ’ s Scientific Services Bureau .
Christina Ghaly , director of the county ’ s Department of Health Services , said healthcare employees @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the county ’ s four public hospitals , 26 clinics and in the L.A. County jails .
“ This can rapidly escalate into a critical shortage that can put our staff at risk , ” she said .
Obtaining additional N95 respirators to meet the ongoing demand has proved difficult , she said .
“ The actual supply of those masks , though , that we ’ re able to bring in is still far short of being able to match our run rate , ” Ghaly said .
“ Given that supply @ @ @ @ @ @ @ decontamination unit comes into place.
” The Sheriff ’ s Department will collect and redistribute the used masks at distribution centers , Kovac said .
Statewide , more than 2,500 healthcare workers have fallen ill with coronavirus infections , sparking concerns among providers .
As of Monday morning , 61 Sheriff ’ s Department employees and 71 L.A. County jail inmates have tested positive for the virus .
One nursing staff member who worked in the jails has died .

L.A. County Sheriff Alex Villanueva said a decontamination center will open to clean tens of thousands of N95 masks a day as hospitals grapple with shortages.
Los Angeles County Sheriff Alex Villanueva announced an initiative Monday to decontaminate N95 masks that will allow first responders and healthcare workers countywide to safely reuse them up to 20 times as they battle the coronavirus.
The new decontamination center comes as hospitals grapple with a nationwide shortage of protective gear and a rise of counterfeit masks on the market.
The cleaning chamber, at the Sybil Brand Institute in Monterey Park, is scheduled to begin operating next week. It will be able to clean up to 30,000 masks each day and save the Sheriff’s Department and other agencies tens of millions of dollars, Villanueva said.
Advertisement
“We’re trying now to find a way to stretch out our inventory and this decontamination will be the magic solution,” Villanueva said at a news briefing.
The decontamination system uses a device about the size of a dishwasher that vaporizes hydrogen peroxide and blows out a mist that settles on and cleans the masks hanging on a rack.
The hydrogen peroxide solution costs $1,000 for a day’s use and the chamber can hold more than 10,000 masks in one cycle, said Capt. Chris Kovac, who spearheaded the initiative. He said he expects the facility to run multiple cycles each day.
“We want to ensure that everyone who receives a mask back from this decontamination facility can be assured that the mask is just as good and effective as a mask that they would receive new,” said Wesley Grose, director of the Sheriff’s Department’s Scientific Services Bureau.
Tracking the coronavirus in California The latest maps and charts on the spread of COVID-19 in California.
Christina Ghaly, director of the county’s Department of Health Services, said healthcare employees run through 10,000 N95 masks daily at the county’s four public hospitals, 26 clinics and in the L.A. County jails.
Advertisement
“This can rapidly escalate into a critical shortage that can put our staff at risk,” she said.
Obtaining additional N95 respirators to meet the ongoing demand has proved difficult, she said.
“The actual supply of those masks, though, that we’re able to bring in is still far short of being able to match our run rate,” Ghaly said. “Given that supply constraint, that’s where this decontamination unit comes into place.”
The Sheriff’s Department will collect and redistribute the used masks at distribution centers, Kovac said.
A similar device arrived last week at the Burbank airport, where it was scheduled to begin operating for hospital use. Brian Ferguson, a spokesman with the state Office of Emergency Services, said 40 hospitals had expressed interest and that a second unit was being set up in Northern California.
“It’s really a game changer,” he said.
Gov. Gavin Newsom first announced the state decontamination program in March, but few details have been released since. On April 13, the Pentagon announced a $415-million contract with Battelle, an Ohio-based scientific research and development company, for 60 of the machines.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Department of Health and Human Services were to decide where the machines would be located, with Battelle staff running them.
Statewide, more than 2,500 healthcare workers have fallen ill with coronavirus infections, sparking concerns among providers.
As of Monday morning, 61 Sheriff’s Department employees and 71 L.A. County jail inmates have tested positive for the virus. One nursing staff member who worked in the jails has died.
Times staff writer Antia Chabria contributed to this report.