latimes--2020-10-08--Tory Lanez charged in shooting of Megan Thee Stallion

Rapper Tory Lanez was charged Thursday with assaulting Megan Thee Stallion in a July incident in which the female recording artist reported she was shot in the foot .
Daystar Peterson , also known as Tory Lanez , is accused of one felony count each of assault with a semiautomatic firearm , personal use of a firearm and carrying a loaded , unregistered firearm in a vehicle .
Prosecutors say Lanez and a 25-year-old victim got into an argument while riding in an SUV in the Hollywood Hills .
The victim exited the vehicle , and Lanez allegedly shot several @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The victim is identified in charging documents as Megan P. Stallion , who was born Megan Pete .
If convicted , Lanez faces a maximum sentence of 22 years and eight months in state prison .
The case remains under investigation by the Los Angeles Police Department ’ s Hollywood Division .
Medical records reviewed by The Times show that Stallion underwent a surgical procedure to remove a foreign object from her heel hours after the July 12 incident .
She had a 4-by-4-centimeter wound , records show .
The “ WAP @ @ @ @ @ @ @ treated at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center .
She reported that she “ felt pain in both feet.
” Stallion did not initially identify Lanez as the person who shot her after a night of partying .
But in August , she took to her Instagram Live account to accuse the fellow hip-hop artist .
Stallion said it was time for Lanez to admit to shooting her .
“ Yes ... Tory shot me .
You shot me , and you got your publicist and your people going to these blogs lying , ” the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Why lie ?
I don ’ t understand.
” Stallion acknowledged that when police first responded to a report of a shooting and found the two recording artists outside an SUV , she did not tell officers she had been shot because she was afraid of the legal repercussions and afraid for her safety .
“ I didn ’ t tell the police nothing because I didn ’ t want us to get in no more trouble , ” she said in the video , explaining that she feared being shot by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gun in the vehicle .
She also said she wanted to spare Lanez the trouble and did not explain how she was injured .
Initially , she told officials she thought it was a glass cut , not realizing the nature of the wound .
She was barefoot at the time .
Lanez was arrested on suspicion of possession of a concealed weapon after the vehicle he was in was stopped by the LAPD .
Video from the scene showed Lanez and Stallion limping barefoot .
Lanez was released on bail .
L.A. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ felony assault with a firearm investigation from the LAPD but sent it back for further investigation .
Stallion is one of the most influential and popular rappers to emerge in the last few years .
Hailing from Houston , the emcee made her name for brash , technically exacting rapping and preternatural self-confidence ( the widely memed phrase “ Hot Girl Summer ” came from her ) .
She ’ s also a force on the pop charts , with two No .
1 singles in 2020 — a remix of her single @ @ @ @ @ @ @ turn from Beyoncé , and her collaboration with Cardi B , “ WAP.
” The latter — a lively and X-rated ode to female sexuality — earned more than 240 million views on YouTube for its racy , star-packed video , and 350 million plays on Spotify .
Most recently , she commanded the “ Saturday Night Live ” stage with a powerful performance emphasizing America ’ s failure to defend Black women like Breonna Taylor .
The rapper played clips of speeches from Malcolm X — “ The most disrespected , unprotected @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Black woman ” — and contemporary activist Tamika Mallory .
“ We need to protect our Black women and love our Black women , because at the end of the day , we need our Black women , ” Stallion said onstage .
“ We need to protect our Black men and stand up for our Black men , because at the end of the day , we ’ re tired of seeing hashtags of our Black men.
” Lanez , from suburban Toronto , straddled hip-hop and R & B .
Signed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ imprint Mad Love , he made his studio debut in 2016 , and his 2019 album “ Chixtape 5 ” hit No .
2 on the Billboard 200 .
After months of social media gossip , Lanez responded to Stallion ’ s allegations with a hastily released independent 2020 album , “ Daystar , ” which directly addressed the shooting and became a weapon for his defense where he rapped his denial that he shot Stallion .
“ How the f— you get shot in your foot , don ’ t hit no @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on “ Money Over Fallouts.
” He continued : “ Megan people trying to frame me for a shooting / But them boys ain ’ t clean enough ...
Girl , you had the nerve to write that statement on that affidavit knowing I ain ’ t do it but I ’ m coming at my truest.
” On the track “ Queen and Slim , ” Lanez said : “ I wasn ’ t the wrong one that night , you was just too drunk to even see it … I ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ya.
” On the track “ In the Air ” he raps “ I ’ ve never hit no woman , ” and says the situation is a test from God : “ He ’ s usin ’ Megan as a vessel and a test of faith.
” The album mostly repelled rap fans for seeming to capitalize on the controversy .
Some rap-focused media outlets like Highsnobiety , which said it would refrain from covering his career in perpetuity , calling “ Daystar ” “ the most toxic album of the year.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ made any other statements about the incident .
But Stallion , in her comments , said she believed his publicist and people had been lying about the incident to deflect blame .
Stallion , her friend , Lanez and his security guard were in an SUV after a party at a home owned by Kylie Jenner in the early hours of July 12 .
Stallion said an argument erupted and that she decided to walk away .
She said she was minutes from the house she was staying in .
She then alleged @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fired at her from the back seat .
“ You shot me .
I didn ’ t get cut by no glass .
But I tell you why they are saying that , ” Stallion said .
On that night in July , L.A. police officers swarmed the 1800 block of Nichols Canyon about 4:30 a.m. after receiving a report of gunfire .
According to the LAPD , “ witnesses to the incident provided a description of a suspect ( s ) and their vehicle.
” Officers stopped a vehicle matching the description @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Lanez , according to a statement .
In a video of the aftermath , Lanez and Stallion can be seen in handcuffs as officers try to determine what happened .
Stallion repeatedly said she expected to fully recover .
In subsequent posts , she said the shooting and surgery were “ super scary ” and “ the worst experience of my life , ” and she felt blessed that the gunfire hit where it did .

Rapper Tory Lanez was charged Thursday with assaulting Megan Thee Stallion in a July incident in which the female recording artist reported she was shot in the foot.
Daystar Peterson, also known as Tory Lanez, is accused of one felony count each of assault with a semiautomatic firearm, personal use of a firearm and carrying a loaded, unregistered firearm in a vehicle.
Prosecutors say Lanez and a 25-year-old victim got into an argument while riding in an SUV in the Hollywood Hills. The victim exited the vehicle, and Lanez allegedly shot several times at her feet, wounding her. The victim is identified in charging documents as Megan P. Stallion, who was born Megan Pete.
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If convicted, Lanez faces a maximum sentence of 22 years and eight months in state prison.
The case remains under investigation by the Los Angeles Police Department’s Hollywood Division.
Medical records reviewed by The Times show that Stallion underwent a surgical procedure to remove a foreign object from her heel hours after the July 12 incident. She had a 4-by-4-centimeter wound, records show.
The “WAP” and “Savage” rapper was treated at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. She reported that she “felt pain in both feet.”
Stallion did not initially identify Lanez as the person who shot her after a night of partying. But in August, she took to her Instagram Live account to accuse the fellow hip-hop artist.
Stallion said it was time for Lanez to admit to shooting her.
“Yes ... Tory shot me. You shot me, and you got your publicist and your people going to these blogs lying,” the 25-year-old rapper said. “Stop lying. Why lie? I don’t understand.”
Stallion acknowledged that when police first responded to a report of a shooting and found the two recording artists outside an SUV, she did not tell officers she had been shot because she was afraid of the legal repercussions and afraid for her safety.
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“I didn’t tell the police nothing because I didn’t want us to get in no more trouble,” she said in the video, explaining that she feared being shot by the police if they heard of a gun in the vehicle.
She also said she wanted to spare Lanez the trouble and did not explain how she was injured. Initially, she told officials she thought it was a glass cut, not realizing the nature of the wound. She was barefoot at the time.
Lanez was arrested on suspicion of possession of a concealed weapon after the vehicle he was in was stopped by the LAPD. Video from the scene showed Lanez and Stallion limping barefoot. Lanez was released on bail.
L.A. County prosecutors on July 24 received a felony assault with a firearm investigation from the LAPD but sent it back for further investigation.
Stallion is one of the most influential and popular rappers to emerge in the last few years. Hailing from Houston, the emcee made her name for brash, technically exacting rapping and preternatural self-confidence (the widely memed phrase “Hot Girl Summer” came from her).
She’s also a force on the pop charts, with two No. 1 singles in 2020 — a remix of her single “Savage,” with a guest turn from Beyoncé, and her collaboration with Cardi B, “WAP.” The latter — a lively and X-rated ode to female sexuality — earned more than 240 million views on YouTube for its racy, star-packed video, and 350 million plays on Spotify.
Most recently, she commanded the “Saturday Night Live” stage with a powerful performance emphasizing America’s failure to defend Black women like Breonna Taylor. The rapper played clips of speeches from Malcolm X — “The most disrespected, unprotected, neglected person in America is the Black woman” — and contemporary activist Tamika Mallory.
“We need to protect our Black women and love our Black women, because at the end of the day, we need our Black women,” Stallion said onstage. “We need to protect our Black men and stand up for our Black men, because at the end of the day, we’re tired of seeing hashtags of our Black men.”
Lanez, from suburban Toronto, straddled hip-hop and R&B. Signed to superproducer Benny Blanco’s Interscope imprint Mad Love, he made his studio debut in 2016, and his 2019 album “Chixtape 5” hit No. 2 on the Billboard 200.
After months of social media gossip, Lanez responded to Stallion’s allegations with a hastily released independent 2020 album, “Daystar,” which directly addressed the shooting and became a weapon for his defense where he rapped his denial that he shot Stallion.
“How the f— you get shot in your foot, don’t hit no bones or tendons,” he sang on “Money Over Fallouts.” He continued: “Megan people trying to frame me for a shooting / But them boys ain’t clean enough...Girl, you had the nerve to write that statement on that affidavit knowing I ain’t do it but I’m coming at my truest.”
On the track “Queen and Slim,” Lanez said: “I wasn’t the wrong one that night, you was just too drunk to even see it … I’ve never even had an argument with ya.” On the track “In the Air” he raps “I’ve never hit no woman,” and says the situation is a test from God: “He’s usin’ Megan as a vessel and a test of faith.”
The album mostly repelled rap fans for seeming to capitalize on the controversy. Some rap-focused media outlets like Highsnobiety, which said it would refrain from covering his career in perpetuity, calling “Daystar” “the most toxic album of the year.”
Lanez, 28, has not made any other statements about the incident. But Stallion, in her comments, said she believed his publicist and people had been lying about the incident to deflect blame.
Stallion, her friend, Lanez and his security guard were in an SUV after a party at a home owned by Kylie Jenner in the early hours of July 12. Stallion said an argument erupted and that she decided to walk away. She said she was minutes from the house she was staying in. She then alleged that as she walked away, Lanez fired at her from the back seat.
“You shot me. I didn’t get cut by no glass. But I tell you why they are saying that,” Stallion said.
On that night in July, L.A. police officers swarmed the 1800 block of Nichols Canyon about 4:30 a.m. after receiving a report of gunfire. According to the LAPD, “witnesses to the incident provided a description of a suspect(s) and their vehicle.” Officers stopped a vehicle matching the description, detained multiple people and eventually arrested Lanez, according to a statement.
In a video of the aftermath, Lanez and Stallion can be seen in handcuffs as officers try to determine what happened.
Stallion repeatedly said she expected to fully recover. In subsequent posts, she said the shooting and surgery were “super scary” and “the worst experience of my life,” and she felt blessed that the gunfire hit where it did.
Times staff writer August Brown contributed to this report.


latimes--2020-10-08--Column: Harris showed Black women how to be 'angry' and handle a condescending white man

Up until the start of Wednesday ’ s vice presidential debate , I had been worried that Kamala Harris would fall victim to Mike Pence ’ s Midwestern-nice shtick , honed during his time as governor of Indiana .
That if the California senator came after him like the hard-charging former prosecutor that she is , Pence would just shake his head and smile that smarmy smile , making Harris look like an angry Black woman and himself the picture of calm and civility .
But then it happened .
With just one exchange , Harris out-Midwestern-niced the Midwestern nice @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , condescending , weak and scared white man that he really is .
And even more importantly , she put a different kind of dent in the glass ceiling .
Using a perfectly timed combination of pointed statements , glares , smiles and exasperated sighs , Harris reset the notion of what is acceptable behavior for Black women interacting with white men in power .
Being assertive and uncompromising doesn ’ t have to mean being “ angry.
” “ The truth and the fact is , ” Harris began , “ Joe @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will not raise taxes on anybody who makes less than $ 400,000 a year.
” Pence interrupted her , one of 16 times , according to NBC News .
“ He said he ’ s going to repeal the Trump tax cut.
” “ Mr .
Vice President , ” Harris interjected , in a tone usually reserved for a mother addressing a talkative teenager , “ I ’ m speaking.
” Her annoyed glare turned to a broad smile .
“ I ’ m speaking.
” Pence : “ What ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the truth.
” Pence : “ Joe Biden has failed twice in the debate last week but he ’ s going to repeal the Trump tax cut .
That was tax cuts that gave the average working family $ 2,000 in a tax break every single year.
” Pence : “ ... Is he only cutting , is he only going to repeal part of the Trump tax cuts ?
” “ If you don ’ t mind letting me finish , ” Harris said , taking a deep breath and raising her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a conversation .
OK ?
” What is so remarkable about this exchange is that Harris was able to genuinely articulate the range of emotions that Black women experience every single day , but that we so often feel unable to express without being written off — especially in workplaces .
She was righteously angry .
She was patronizing .
She was kind .
She was amused .
She was annoyed .
She was gracious .
She was aggressive .
Of course , there ’ s not a woman in this country who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ modulate her behavior to get ahead in a man ’ s world .
Women of all races get unfairly punished for expressing such emotions , usually getting ignored and treated as lesser beings .
Pence on Wednesday also spoke over the moderator , USA Today ’ s Washington Bureau Chief Susan Page , who is white .
And I suspect no woman has been mansplained as many times and by as many powerful men as Hillary Clinton .
But intersectionality is a thing and so , as Black women , we face another @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and comments from Republican politicians and right-wing media commenters about Harris being ill-tempered are proof enough of that .
On Wednesday during the debate , she was attacked for her “ face and head roll , ” her “ sass , ” “ pursing her lips and horrendous body language , ” being “ angry and laughing , ” “ acting like a crazy person ” and having a “ bitchy black female attitude.
” Then on Thursday , President Trump called her a “ monster ” — as in “ this monster @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Harris was the first Black woman — as well as the first South Asian woman — to represent a major-party ticket in a general election debate .
And yet , she is still a Black woman and Black women , by most metrics of American society , including pay and access to healthcare , rank at or near the bottom in terms of equity .
And this is a big part of what makes the old angry Black woman trope so insidious and so often a self-fulfilling prophecy .
The more we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ years of systemic racism , the angrier we get — understandably so — and the more opportunities are denied to us .
What I saw on that debate stage in Salt Lake City on Wednesday was Harris beginning to break that cycle .
The vice presidential debate might not have changed a lot of minds in terms of who to vote for , but it will go down in history as setting a new standard and example for Black women ascending the ranks of power .
In the coming years , expect a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Harris , refuse “ to sit here and be lectured by the vice president ” or anyone else .

So I was wrong.
Up until the start of Wednesday’s vice presidential debate, I had been worried that Kamala Harris would fall victim to Mike Pence’s Midwestern-nice shtick, honed during his time as governor of Indiana.
That if the California senator came after him like the hard-charging former prosecutor that she is, Pence would just shake his head and smile that smarmy smile, making Harris look like an angry Black woman and himself the picture of calm and civility.
But then it happened.
With just one exchange, Harris out-Midwestern-niced the Midwestern nice master, exposing Pence for the overconfident, condescending, weak and scared white man that he really is.
And even more importantly, she put a different kind of dent in the glass ceiling. Using a perfectly timed combination of pointed statements, glares, smiles and exasperated sighs, Harris reset the notion of what is acceptable behavior for Black women interacting with white men in power. Being assertive and uncompromising doesn’t have to mean being “angry.”
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“The truth and the fact is,” Harris began, “Joe Biden has been very clear. He will not raise taxes on anybody who makes less than $400,000 a year.”
Pence interrupted her, one of 16 times, according to NBC News. “He said he’s going to repeal the Trump tax cut.”
“Mr. Vice President,” Harris interjected, in a tone usually reserved for a mother addressing a talkative teenager, “I’m speaking.” Her annoyed glare turned to a broad smile. “I’m speaking.”
Pence: “What’s important, as you said, is the truth.”
Harris laughed.
Pence: “Joe Biden has failed twice in the debate last week but he’s going to repeal the Trump tax cut. That was tax cuts that gave the average working family $2,000 in a tax break every single year.”
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Harris, nodding slowly and smiling : “That is…”
Pence: “Senator…”
Harris: “That is…”
Pence: “...that’s the math.”
Harris: “...absolutely not true. That tax bill…”
Pence: “...Is he only cutting, is he only going to repeal part of the Trump tax cuts?”
“If you don’t mind letting me finish,” Harris said, taking a deep breath and raising her hand, “we can then have a conversation. OK?”
What is so remarkable about this exchange is that Harris was able to genuinely articulate the range of emotions that Black women experience every single day, but that we so often feel unable to express without being written off — especially in workplaces. She was righteously angry. She was patronizing. She was kind. She was amused. She was annoyed. She was gracious. She was aggressive.
That’s hard.
Of course, there’s not a woman in this country who hasn’t felt the need to modulate her behavior to get ahead in a man’s world. Women of all races get unfairly punished for expressing such emotions, usually getting ignored and treated as lesser beings.
Pence on Wednesday also spoke over the moderator, USA Today’s Washington Bureau Chief Susan Page, who is white. And I suspect no woman has been mansplained as many times and by as many powerful men as Hillary Clinton.
But intersectionality is a thing and so, as Black women, we face another level of scrutiny entirely. The tweets and comments from Republican politicians and right-wing media commenters about Harris being ill-tempered are proof enough of that.
On Wednesday during the debate, she was attacked for her “face and head roll,” her “sass,” “pursing her lips and horrendous body language,” being “angry and laughing,” “acting like a crazy person” and having a “bitchy black female attitude.” Then on Thursday, President Trump called her a “monster” — as in “this monster that was on stage with Mike Pence.”
Harris was the first Black woman — as well as the first South Asian woman — to represent a major-party ticket in a general election debate. And yet, she is still a Black woman and Black women, by most metrics of American society, including pay and access to healthcare, rank at or near the bottom in terms of equity.
And this is a big part of what makes the old angry Black woman trope so insidious and so often a self-fulfilling prophecy. The more we are denied opportunities because of years upon years of systemic racism, the angrier we get — understandably so — and the more opportunities are denied to us.
What I saw on that debate stage in Salt Lake City on Wednesday was Harris beginning to break that cycle.
The vice presidential debate might not have changed a lot of minds in terms of who to vote for, but it will go down in history as setting a new standard and example for Black women ascending the ranks of power. In the coming years, expect a lot more of us to, like Harris, refuse “to sit here and be lectured by the vice president” or anyone else.


latimes--2020-10-08--Dozens infected, nine dead in COVID-19 outbreak at a Santa Cruz County nursing home

A skilled nursing home in Santa Cruz County is suffering a severe outbreak of COVID-19 , with 61 people having tested positive and nine dead , a county health spokeswoman said Thursday .
Of the 61 infected at the Watsonville Post-Acute Center , nine were staff .
All those who died were residents and ranged in age from their early 70s to 90s , said Corinne Hyland , a public information officer for the county Department of Public Health .
The facility is licensed for 95 beds .
Hyland said the facility had been following state guidelines for employee testing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ center reported the outbreak to the county on Sept. 17 after a resident tested positive .
An outbreak at a nursing home is defined as an infection in one resident .
Visitors have been barred during the pandemic , she said .
“ It spread pretty quickly , ” Hyland said .
“ Unfortunately , this is a very vulnerable population.
” Dr. David Ghilarducci , deputy health officer for Santa Cruz County , said the county ’ s public health staff was working closely with the facility to control the outbreak .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ visiting the facility daily to review protocols on isolation , quarantine , testing and screening , and to respond to requests for more resources .
Officials from the California Department of Public Health have made multiple visits to the facility to assess the situation and make recommendations , and the California National Guard also is providing help , the county said .
Because many nursing home employees work in more than one facility , the county immediately alerted other homes of the outbreak , Hyland said .
She added that the county was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ This is really a large outbreak , ” Hyland said .
“ We haven ’ t seen this sort of thing in our county until now.
” The Watsonville center ’ s website has reported previous infections in the past but in small numbers .
The website indicates that past infections have been among employees .
Gerald E. Hunter , the facility ’ s administrator , said on the website there were 23 residents and four staff members who were positive for the virus on Oct. 5 .
He said the county @ @ @ @ @ @ @ since the outbreak started .
“ Each day we evaluate all of our residents following CDPH and County of Santa Cruz guidelines to determine whom meets the criteria to be transferred out of the unit , ” said Hunter on the website .
He did not immediately respond to a request for an interview .

The Sundial Bridge in Redding. Coronavirus outbreaks have recently hit nursing homes in that Northern California city and also in Santa Cruz County.
After a steady slide in the statewide number of new coronavirus infections at skilled nursing homes, facilities in Santa Cruz and Shasta Counties are grappling with severe outbreaks, with several dozen people at both places testing positive and residents dying of COVID-19.
The outbreaks raise questions on whether a May directive by state health officials, requiring regular testing of nursing home residents and staff, is being comprehensively implemented. Some watchdogs fear another spike could be in the offing at facilities that care for some of California’s most frail and vulnerable.
“Something is terribly wrong because they shouldn’t be having deaths,” Charlene Harrington, a professor emeritus at UC San Francisco who studies skilled nursing facilities, said Thursday. “There is a breakdown.”
At the Watsonville-Post Acute Center in Santa Cruz County, 61 people, including nine staff members, have tested positive since mid-September. Nine residents, whose ages ranged from the low 70s to 90s, have died, county health spokeswoman Corinne Hyland said Tuesday.
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The facility is licensed for 95 beds.
In Redding, the Windsor Redding Care Center, another skilled nursing home, also is coping with an outbreak. Sixty residents and 20 staff members have contracted the virus, and seven have died from COVID-19, said Shasta County Health and Human Services spokeswoman Kerri Schuette.
Patricia McGinnis, executive director of California Advocates for Nursing Home Reform, said new California testing requirements imposed on nursing homes were being followed only sporadically and with little follow-up enforcement from the state.
In addition, rapid antigen tests the federal government has sent to nursing homes recently have been “absolutely useless,” she said. They produce too many false results.
State officials did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
State records show that about a half-dozen facilities across the state have significant outbreaks, and more have minor ones. Though the worst toll of the virus for elder care and skilled nursing facilities came early in the pandemic, infection numbers crept up again in August before once again declining in California.
In July and August, there were about 1,000 deaths a month in nursing homes and assisted living facilities, according to The Times’ coronavirus tracker. That number dipped to 562 in the month of September, according to the tracker. But danger persists. Over the last week, those facilities have averaged 142 new cases and 13.7 new deaths per day.
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Hyland said the Watsonville facility had been following state guidelines for employee testing, which exposed the outbreak. The center reported an infected resident on Sept. 17. An outbreak at a nursing home is defined as an infection in one resident. Visitors have been barred during the pandemic, she said.
“It spread pretty quickly,” Hyland said. “Unfortunately, this is a very vulnerable population.”
Dr. David Ghilarducci, deputy health officer for Santa Cruz County, said the county’s public health staff was working closely with the facility to control the outbreak.
California Fatal cases of COVID-19 at nursing facilities prompt new California law With skilled nursing homes hit particularly hard by the COVID-19 pandemic, Gov. Gavin Newsom on Tuesday signed a law requiring the facilities in California to report disease-related deaths to health authorities within 24 hours during declared emergencies.
Santa Cruz County health officials have been visiting the facility daily to review protocols on isolation, quarantine, testing and screening, and to respond to requests for more resources.
Officials from the California Department of Public Health also have made multiple visits to the facility to assess the situation and make recommendations, and the California National Guard is also providing help, the county said.
Because many nursing home employees work in more than one facility, the county immediately alerted other homes of the outbreak, Hyland said. She added that the county was tracing the contacts of the infected.
“This is really a large outbreak,” Hyland said. “We haven’t seen this sort of thing in our county until now.”
Tracking the coronavirus in California The latest maps and charts on the spread of COVID-19 in California.
The Watsonville center’s website has reported previous infections in the past but in small numbers. The website indicates that past infections have been among employees.
Gerald E. Hunter, the facility’s administrator, said on the website that there were 23 residents and four staff members who were still positive for the virus on Oct. 5. He said the county’s numbers reflected the total infected since the outbreak started.
“Each day we evaluate all of our residents following CDPH and County of Santa Cruz guidelines to determine whom meets the criteria to be transferred out of the unit,” said Hunter on the website. He did not respond to a request for an interview.
Shasta County’s Schuette said the Windsor Redding Care Center was not accepting visitors when the outbreak occurred. The county and state public health teams, she said, were working with the facility to control the infections.
To date, nursing homes and senior facilities have accounted for 7% of California’s coronavirus cases, but 36% of its deaths, according to The Times’ coronavirus tracker.
On Sept. 29, Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a law requiring skilled nursing facilities in California to report disease-related deaths to health authorities within 24 hours during declared emergencies.
The law was written in response to concerns that health agencies were slow to respond to outbreaks because they did not receive timely information about the facilities.
Earlier, in May, California required testing of all residents and staff in nursing facilities to halt the spread of the coronavirus. The effect has varied.
“It depends on the place, it depends on the facility, and I am not sure there is a lot of follow-up,” said McGinnis, the nursing home reformer.


latimes--2020-10-08--Rescued mountain lion cub recovers her roar

With wide eyes and a nervous look on her face , the mountain lion cub cautiously pawed her way to a hidden camera .
She sniffed around the lens , then opened her mouth , baring her teeth — and yelped .
The 4-month-old cub couldn ’ t eke out much more than a squeak when she was found by two firefighters with the U.S. Forest Service .
They were on their way to a hike near Idyllwild on Sept. 2 when they found the cub lying in the road .
“ The mother was not around , ” Forest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ [ The cub ] wasn ’ t really moving , seemed distressed ” and had labored breathing .
The firefighters — engineer Joe Colvin and assistant engineer Nick Gillott — retrieved a cat carrier from the nearby station and caught the cub .
They turned the animal over to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife , which then gave her to the San Diego Humane Society .
“ She was semiconscious , extremely emaciated , dehydrated , weak and had tremors , ” the San Diego Humane Society said in a statement @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be 14 weeks old when she was found .
At the Humane Society , she began a daily diet of medication and ground protein with milk replacer to regain her strength , according to the society .
Now weighing 22 pounds , the cub is getting her roar back .
“ With each passing day , she becomes more active and responsive , and though she still has some medical issues to overcome from being in such a fragile state , we are delighted she has responded well to our treatment and are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” Christine Barton , director of Operations and Wildlife Rehabilitation at the San Diego Humane Society ’ s Ramona campus , said .
“ Mountain lions are special predators , and we are proud to have an expert team trusted by the state of California to care for the species.
” Mountain lions typically stay with their mother until they are at least a year old .
Given the cub ’ s emaciated state when she was found alone , the Humane Society presumes she was orphaned .
When sufficiently stabilized in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ transferred to the Southwest Wildlife Conservation Center in Scottsdale , Ariz. , Humane Society spokeswoman Nina Thompson said .
For now , caregivers are keeping an eye on her through the wildlife camera stationed in her facility .
“ They want [ wildlife animals ] to be able to be scared around humans , and actually not be comfortable around humans , because that wouldn ’ t be good for them in the wild , ” Thompson said .
“ As little human interaction as possible ... is key to rehabilitating wildlife.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lion cub from the Zogg fire in Northern California .
The 4-pound cub , Capt .
Cal , is recovering at the Oakland Zoo .
Animals are not immune from the wildfires raging across California .
Last year , California ’ s Department of Fish and Wildlife housed three bears and a mountain lion from the Thomas and Camp fires , according to spokeswoman Kirsten Macintyre .
This year , the department is housing three animals — and fire season has just begun , Macintyre noted .
To prepare for the inevitable influx @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Monday it had teamed up with the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine to propose a “ Wildlife Disaster Network ” to rescue wild animals from natural disasters .
“ There ’ s always been this prevailing mindset that ‘ they ’ ll get out of the way , ’ or that they can manage if left alone , but that needs to change .
With the increase in frequency and severity of disasters , wildlife can not escape , ” UC Davis veterinarian Dr. Jamie Peyton said .
“ Without human interference @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , due not only to their injuries but also to the loss of food , water and habitat .
It is our obligation to provide the missing link for the wildlife that share our home.
” According to a news release , the new group would be responsible for every aspect of rescuing wildlife victims of natural disasters , including search and rescue , field triage and rehabilitation .
In addition to rescuing animals , the group of veterinarians , biologists , ecologists and animal care volunteers would collect data to increase research @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .

The cub, who has doubled her in weight in a month, is set to be transferred to the Southwest Wildlife Conservation Center in Arizona.
With wide eyes and a nervous look on her face, the mountain lion cub cautiously pawed her way to a hidden camera. She sniffed around the lens, then opened her mouth, baring her teeth — and yelped.
The 4-month-old cub couldn’t eke out much more than a squeak when she was found by two firefighters with the U.S. Forest Service. They were on their way to a hike near Idyllwild on Sept. 2 when they found the cub lying in the road.
“The mother was not around,” Forest Service spokesman Zach Behrens said. “[The cub] wasn’t really moving, seemed distressed” and had labored breathing.
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The firefighters — engineer Joe Colvin and assistant engineer Nick Gillott — retrieved a cat carrier from the nearby station and caught the cub. They turned the animal over to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, which then gave her to the San Diego Humane Society.
“She was semiconscious, extremely emaciated, dehydrated, weak and had tremors,” the San Diego Humane Society said in a statement about the 10.5-pound cub, estimated to be 14 weeks old when she was found.
At the Humane Society, she began a daily diet of medication and ground protein with milk replacer to regain her strength, according to the society.
Now weighing 22 pounds, the cub is getting her roar back.
“With each passing day, she becomes more active and responsive, and though she still has some medical issues to overcome from being in such a fragile state, we are delighted she has responded well to our treatment and are hopeful she will make a full recovery,” Christine Barton, director of Operations and Wildlife Rehabilitation at the San Diego Humane Society’s Ramona campus, said.
“Mountain lions are special predators, and we are proud to have an expert team trusted by the state of California to care for the species.”
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Mountain lions typically stay with their mother until they are at least a year old. Given the cub’s emaciated state when she was found alone, the Humane Society presumes she was orphaned.
When sufficiently stabilized in about a week, she will be transferred to the Southwest Wildlife Conservation Center in Scottsdale, Ariz., Humane Society spokeswoman Nina Thompson said.
For now, caregivers are keeping an eye on her through the wildlife camera stationed in her facility.
“They want [wildlife animals] to be able to be scared around humans, and actually not be comfortable around humans, because that wouldn’t be good for them in the wild,” Thompson said. “As little human interaction as possible ... is key to rehabilitating wildlife.”
Last week, firefighters saved another mountain lion cub from the Zogg fire in Northern California. The 4-pound cub, Capt. Cal, is recovering at the Oakland Zoo.
Animals are not immune from the wildfires raging across California. Last year, California’s Department of Fish and Wildlife housed three bears and a mountain lion from the Thomas and Camp fires, according to spokeswoman Kirsten Macintyre. This year, the department is housing three animals — and fire season has just begun, Macintyre noted.
To prepare for the inevitable influx of injured wildlife, the department announced Monday it had teamed up with the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine to propose a “Wildlife Disaster Network” to rescue wild animals from natural disasters.
“There’s always been this prevailing mindset that ‘they’ll get out of the way,’ or that they can manage if left alone, but that needs to change. With the increase in frequency and severity of disasters, wildlife cannot escape,” UC Davis veterinarian Dr. Jamie Peyton said.
“Without human interference, these animals will suffer and succumb, due not only to their injuries but also to the loss of food, water and habitat. It is our obligation to provide the missing link for the wildlife that share our home.”
According to a news release, the new group would be responsible for every aspect of rescuing wildlife victims of natural disasters, including search and rescue, field triage and rehabilitation. In addition to rescuing animals, the group of veterinarians, biologists, ecologists and animal care volunteers would collect data to increase research on the effects of wildfires on wildlife.


latimes--2020-10-08--Two more beloved L.A. indie bookstores reach an existential crossroads

Another beloved Los Angeles bookstore is in trouble .
Chevalier ’ s Books , an 80-year-old independent bookstore located in Larchmont Village , sent some 3,000 readers an email Monday calling on them for increased support .
When COVID-19 led to a general shutdown in March , “ like most retailers , our sales fell about 40 % , ” wrote owners Bert Deixler and Darryl Holter .
“ A [ Paycheck Protection Program ] loan , a dedicated staff and loyal customers kept us just afloat.
” Then came another hardship .
`` [ O ] ur new landlords @ @ @ @ @ @ @ extend our lease and required us to be out of this space by the end of the year .
“ So , Chevalier ’ s Books is now at a crossroads .
We ’ ve located a vacant space on Larchmont that could be a new home for us , but the rent there will be more than double what we currently pay .
There will also be significant moving and design costs .
It will be a huge financial undertaking for us , made even more daunting by the uncertainty that Covid-19 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s lives , ” they wrote in the letter .
“ We are now asking you to help keep Chevalier ’ s Books a part of the Larchmont community.
” The Hancock Park shop joins a growing list of independent bookstores asking for financial help from their customers .
Some — like Hollywood ’ s Larry Edmunds Bookshop and Diesel , A Bookstore — launched GoFundMes to help keep their businesses alive as the novel coronavirus continued to impact sales .
Others , like Vroman ’ s Bookstore and now Chevalier ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from them , especially as the holiday season approaches .
These two bookstores are the latest to make urgent community appeals in order to stave off grave losses .
The end of Chevalier ’ s lease has added another stressor to the Larchmont bookstore : Along with other businesses in the building on Larchmont Boulevard , they have to vacate by Dec. 31 .
The reason ?
The commercial real estate developers who own the property the bookstore has leased for decades decided to “ turn the space into a more upscale setting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” according to Deixler , who is also a lawyer .
Half of the spaces have already been vacated , he said .
That ’ s not the whole picture , according to Lawrence N. Taylor , president and founder of Christina Development , which owns the building .
“ The previous owner of the property set all tenant leases to expire at the end of 2020 , ” Taylor told The Times in an email .
“ This decision was intentional so the building could undergo necessary repairs , which are long @ @ @ @ @ @ @ businesses running during the restoration , he said , but that “ the noise and disturbances ” would be too disruptive to tenants .
“ We welcome and encourage all existing tenants to return to the building and will initiate those conversations once we have a firm date for completion , ” he said , adding that he still expects the storefronts to be occupied by “ smaller , neighborhood-friendly tenants.
” The announcement triggered Chevalier ’ s desperate search for a new home on the same historic street with its small-town feel @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has been a battleground between small businesses and developers .
Deixler and Holter purchased Chevalier ’ s six years ago and transformed it into a neighborhood cultural hub .
They remodeled the store , expanded their inventory , launched in-store readings and author events , and stabilized finances .
“ We took it from a store that was really struggling and turned it around , ” Holter told The Times in April .
“ We turned it into part of the intellectual infrastructure of the city in order to compete with Amazon and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sights set on a larger , pricier location across the street .
“ We want to make sure that we have people who will support us to help us pay the rent by buying books , ” said Deixler .
The open letter seems to have worked .
“ We ’ re overrun with sales , we ’ re selling gift certificates like crazy , and we have all these people offering to help us , ” he said .
“ The response has been overwhelming.
” Asked if he ’ s optimistic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Monday ] was any indication , I ’ ve never been more confident about anything in my life !
... We really want this to work .
We really want to keep this store open .
I always tell people that [ buying Chevalier ’ s ] is easily the worst economic investment I ’ ve ever made in my life — and I ’ ve made some bad investments — but we ’ ve gotten so much pleasure out of serving a community.
” On Sept. 28 , the bookstore tweeted a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ grim message : “ Friends , the past few months have been the most difficult in our company ’ s 126-year history and Vroman ’ s needs your help to stay open.
” Foot traffic and sales have steadily improved for months , but remain almost 40 % below previous years because of the pandemic .
If it is going to survive , according to its website , “ sales must increase significantly from now through the holidays.
” Joel Sheldon , Vroman ’ s chairman and a co-owner , said the past @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s most profitable , “ and all of a sudden , you fall off a cliff.
” It was a cliff they had been confident they could quickly rescale — perhaps overconfident .
Their monthly projections weren ’ t synchronizing with actual sales .
“ We were losing more cash than we had anticipated , ” Sheldon said .
Cash reserves and a PPP loan have kept the store afloat into the coming holiday season .
“ But after that , ” he said , “ nobody knows.
” So Sheldon , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been active in the Pasadena community for decades , decided to launch a “ Support Vroman ’ s ” campaign .
`` [ I ] t is critical now that our sales volumes return to much higher levels , ” he wrote to about 50 friends and influencers in an email two weeks ago .
“ Up until now I have resisted asking for community support — it ’ s a very humbling experience .
But it is now time.
” In the email , he implored bookworms and locals to buy from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ do the same .
He urged them to shop in October and November before the holiday rush , and to buy in-store on weekday mornings , which are quieter than weekends and afternoons .
Sheldon said it reached at least 100,000 people through a contact ’ s mailing list .
“ The store has been completely crowded almost all the time ever since , ” he said .
“ The parking lot and as many people as we can let in.
” Online purchases have also skyrocketed .
On social media , people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ personal anecdotes about what the bookstore means to them .
“ As an art student I went to the children ’ s dept to read books that would inspire me to become a children ’ s book author and illustrator , ” wrote Dan Santat , the New York Times bestselling author of “ The Adventures of Beekle : The Unimaginary Friend , ” in a tweet .
“ This store is the center of our universe.
” Sheldon said sales at its Colorado Boulevard location increased 169 % the week of Sept. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ week before .
But it ’ s not out of the woods yet .
Survival will hinge on the holiday season , a month that accounts for at least 20 % of annual sales and contributes almost all the annual profit , he said .
“ The next few months will determine the future of Vroman ’ s , ” Sheldon ’ s letter says .
“ I truly appreciate your friendship and support during this critical time .
”

Another beloved Los Angeles bookstore is in trouble.
Chevalier’s Books, an 80-year-old independent bookstore located in Larchmont Village, sent some 3,000 readers an email Monday calling on them for increased support.
When COVID-19 led to a general shutdown in March, “like most retailers, our sales fell about 40%,” wrote owners Bert Deixler and Darryl Holter. “A [Paycheck Protection Program] loan, a dedicated staff and loyal customers kept us just afloat.” Then came another hardship. “[O]ur new landlords announced we would not be able to extend our lease and required us to be out of this space by the end of the year.
“So, Chevalier’s Books is now at a crossroads. We’ve located a vacant space on Larchmont that could be a new home for us, but the rent there will be more than double what we currently pay. There will also be significant moving and design costs. It will be a huge financial undertaking for us, made even more daunting by the uncertainty that Covid-19 poses for our business and everybody’s lives,” they wrote in the letter.
“We are now asking you to help keep Chevalier’s Books a part of the Larchmont community.”
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The Hancock Park shop joins a growing list of independent bookstores asking for financial help from their customers. Some — like Hollywood’s Larry Edmunds Bookshop and Diesel, A Bookstore — launched GoFundMes to help keep their businesses alive as the novel coronavirus continued to impact sales.
Others, like Vroman’s Bookstore and now Chevalier’s, are urging readers to keep buying from them, especially as the holiday season approaches. These two bookstores are the latest to make urgent community appeals in order to stave off grave losses.
The end of Chevalier’s lease has added another stressor to the Larchmont bookstore: Along with other businesses in the building on Larchmont Boulevard, they have to vacate by Dec. 31.
The reason? The commercial real estate developers who own the property the bookstore has leased for decades decided to “turn the space into a more upscale setting and try to attract national chains,” according to Deixler, who is also a lawyer. Half of the spaces have already been vacated, he said.
That’s not the whole picture, according to Lawrence N. Taylor, president and founder of Christina Development, which owns the building.
“The previous owner of the property set all tenant leases to expire at the end of 2020,” Taylor told The Times in an email. “This decision was intentional so the building could undergo necessary repairs, which are long overdue.” The company wanted to keep businesses running during the restoration, he said, but that “the noise and disturbances” would be too disruptive to tenants.
“We welcome and encourage all existing tenants to return to the building and will initiate those conversations once we have a firm date for completion,” he said, adding that he still expects the storefronts to be occupied by “smaller, neighborhood-friendly tenants.”
Advertisement
The announcement triggered Chevalier’s desperate search for a new home on the same historic street with its small-town feel: In recent years, Larchmont Boulevard has been a battleground between small businesses and developers.
A letter to our community.
xoxo
Chevalier's Books pic.twitter.com/KvN55TgaI1 — Chevalier's Books (@ChevaliersBooks) October 5, 2020
Deixler and Holter purchased Chevalier’s six years ago and transformed it into a neighborhood cultural hub. They remodeled the store, expanded their inventory, launched in-store readings and author events, and stabilized finances.
“We took it from a store that was really struggling and turned it around,” Holter told The Times in April. “We turned it into part of the intellectual infrastructure of the city in order to compete with Amazon and survive.”
Now the owners have their sights set on a larger, pricier location across the street. “We want to make sure that we have people who will support us to help us pay the rent by buying books,” said Deixler.
The open letter seems to have worked.
“We’re overrun with sales, we’re selling gift certificates like crazy, and we have all these people offering to help us,” he said. “The response has been overwhelming.”
Asked if he’s optimistic, Deixler responded: “If [Monday] was any indication, I’ve never been more confident about anything in my life! ... We really want this to work. We really want to keep this store open. I always tell people that [buying Chevalier’s] is easily the worst economic investment I’ve ever made in my life — and I’ve made some bad investments — but we’ve gotten so much pleasure out of serving a community.”
Last week, Vroman’s made a similar public plea.
(1/5) Friends, the past few months have been the most difficult in our company’s 126-year history and Vroman’s needs your help to stay open. Here's how you can support your local indie! **A Thread** #Vromans #ShopVromans #ShopLocal #Indiebookstore #indpendentbookstore pic.twitter.com/lt8JAqCo7p — Vroman's Bookstore (@vromans) September 28, 2020
On Sept. 28, the bookstore tweeted a thread to its 21,000 followers with a grim message: “Friends, the past few months have been the most difficult in our company’s 126-year history and Vroman’s needs your help to stay open.”
Foot traffic and sales have steadily improved for months, but remain almost 40% below previous years because of the pandemic. If it is going to survive, according to its website, “sales must increase significantly from now through the holidays.”
Joel Sheldon, Vroman’s chairman and a co-owner, said the past several years had been among the bookstore’s most profitable, “and all of a sudden, you fall off a cliff.”
It was a cliff they had been confident they could quickly rescale — perhaps overconfident. Their monthly projections weren’t synchronizing with actual sales. “We were losing more cash than we had anticipated,” Sheldon said. Cash reserves and a PPP loan have kept the store afloat into the coming holiday season. “But after that,” he said, “nobody knows.”
So Sheldon, who grew up in Altadena and has been active in the Pasadena community for decades, decided to launch a “Support Vroman’s” campaign.
“[I]t is critical now that our sales volumes return to much higher levels,” he wrote to about 50 friends and influencers in an email two weeks ago. “Up until now I have resisted asking for community support — it’s a very humbling experience. But it is now time.”
Line to enter #Vromans bookstore! Excited to support literacy and literature advocats. pic.twitter.com/zd3jtVzD1Q — Dalia Hernandez (@heredaliamaps) October 3, 2020
In the email, he implored bookworms and locals to buy from Vroman’s and encourage others to do the same. He urged them to shop in October and November before the holiday rush, and to buy in-store on weekday mornings, which are quieter than weekends and afternoons.
The message spread like wildfire.
Sheldon said it reached at least 100,000 people through a contact’s mailing list. “The store has been completely crowded almost all the time ever since,” he said. “The parking lot and as many people as we can let in.” Online purchases have also skyrocketed.
On social media, people also began the #MyVromansStory, sharing personal anecdotes about what the bookstore means to them.
“As an art student I went to the children’s dept to read books that would inspire me to become a children’s book author and illustrator,” wrote Dan Santat, the New York Times bestselling author of “The Adventures of Beekle: The Unimaginary Friend,” in a tweet. “This store is the center of our universe.”
Sheldon said sales at its Colorado Boulevard location increased 169% the week of Sept. 25 to Oct. 1 compared with the week before.
But it’s not out of the woods yet. Survival will hinge on the holiday season, a month that accounts for at least 20% of annual sales and contributes almost all the annual profit, he said.
“The next few months will determine the future of Vroman’s,” Sheldon’s letter says. “I truly appreciate your friendship and support during this critical time.”


latimes--2020-10-08--Protests become a 'lifestyle' for some L.A. activists: 'This has been like church for me'

Matthew Sanders had a broken rib and dried blood on his face when he was released from jail Sept. 9 after being arrested on suspicion of failure to disperse during a protest .
For a moment , he questioned whether he could continue showing up at the demonstrations outside the South Los Angeles sheriff ’ s station .
The massive nationwide protests following the killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis police custody had launched Sanders , 30 , into social action .
He spent the summer bouncing between his full-time sales job and rallies in L.A. County against police shootings @ @ @ @ @ @ @ found a community of like-minded people who ’ ve made attending protests part of a weekly routine , in a wave of activism against police brutality that has continued into the fall in L.A. and across the country .
“ I think it ’ s become part of a lifestyle for many people who have lost employment or who are working the gig economy , ” said Shannon Thomas , 28 , a conflict resolution consultant who has driven to the South L.A. protests from Santa Monica .
“ If we ’ re @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are we going to do that feeds our souls ?
This has been like church for me.
” As social activism has risen in the four months since Floyd ’ s death , some demonstrations have been met with increased police use of tear gas , projectiles and other force , fueling more anger and resistance , many in the protest movement said .
Unrest erupted in Portland , Ore. , during clashes with federal agents , in Kenosha , Wis. , after the shooting of Jacob Blake , and in Louisville , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to charge officers in the killing of Breonna Taylor .
Protests have also turned into polarizing political events .
President Trump has castigated protesters as lawless and violent .
After a handful of protesters shouted epithets outside a hospital where two Los Angeles County sheriff ’ s deputies were receiving treatment after being attacked by a gunman , a video of them went viral , becoming a rallying cry for critics .
In South L.A. , protests in front of the sheriff ’ s station condemning the Aug. 31 deputy shooting of Dijon @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of people for weeks .
The protests have been largely peaceful .
But the Sheriff ’ s Department regularly blocks off the entire street in front of the station during rallies while deputies in riot gear patrol crowds .
After a series of protests over Labor Day weekend , the department cast nighttime demonstrators as “ rebellious , self-proclaimed anarchists ” who are “ clad for battle ” and have alarmed locals , alleging that they ’ ve thrown “ frozen water bottles , fireworks , smoke bombs , glass bottles , metal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ create chaos , damage and injury.
” However , of the dozens arrested around that time , virtually all were detained on suspicion of failure to disperse , rather than more serious offenses .
Sheriff Alex Villanueva denounced those protesters as being from disruptive groups that are “ definitely not from this community.
” But those who have tapped into a new zeal for dissent say they march with the support of the neighborhood and of families who have lost loved ones to police shootings .
“ I feel if we don ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nothing ’ s going to change , ” said Demetra Johnson , whose son Anthony Weber was fatally shot by a deputy in Westmont at age 16 .
“ I still have a 14-year-old son that ’ s got to grow up in this neighborhood.
” Some protesters said they have equipped themselves with helmets , cardboard shields and goggles because deputies have used unwarranted , aggressive tactics , a claim the department denies .
At recent protests outside the South L.A. station , Sanders saw new friends get hit by projectiles and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gear .
He said he was tackled and punched multiple times by a deputy without provocation the night he was arrested .
Austin Baffa , 27 , a freelance videographer from Orange County , said that during more than a week of protests at the station , he observed a few instances in which water bottles and a fireworks device were thrown by people in the crowd .
He ’ s noted several people who he said came to the protests “ just looking for a fight ” by taunting deputies to shoot @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of hundreds of others who were not combative .
“ The outside agitator narrative just doesn ’ t seem to fit what I saw from the families ’ support for people coming and protesting peacefully , ” he said .
Plaintiffs in a class-action lawsuit allege that the Sheriff ’ s Department has improperly used force to disperse crowds without giving those present enough time to obey orders , saying deputies used projectiles , tear gas and other chemical agents indiscriminately against peaceful protesters , journalists and legal observers .
The department has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in response to protesters who threw rocks and bottles at officials , and not to cause them to disperse .
The injuries have not deterred Sanders .
“ I ’ m Black and Hispanic , and this feels like my fight and what I ’ m supposed to be doing , ” said the North Hollywood resident .
“ I feel compelled to this and to keep going if I can bring change so the next generation doesn ’ t grow up in fear of the cops.
” The Sheriff ’ s Department @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bike on the wrong side of the street when he was stopped by two deputies .
A pursuit ensued , ending with the deputies firing 19 shots at him .
Officials said Kizzee pointed a gun at deputies , but an attorney for Kizzee ’ s family said witnesses didn ’ t see anything in his hands .
Fernando Guerra , director of the Center for the Study of Los Angeles at Loyola Marymount University , said the subsequent weeks-long sustained protest movement is historic .
“ One of the most difficult things @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to get people to physically take action , to get people to take time out of the day , ” he said .
Attempts to delegitimize protests may also help mobilize people , he said .
Many attending marches at the South L.A. sheriff ’ s station have became regulars .
That ’ s the case for Jessica Rogers of North Hollywood , who was moved by the Floyd protests and now attends every action she can , quick to acknowledge privileges she has as a white woman .
Rogers , 30 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ demand answers when a Black man was found hanging from a tree near City Hall , a death later determined to be a suicide .
She ’ s demonstrated outside Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti ’ s home twice and has protested at Trump rallies .
“ I don ’ t know why I didn ’ t show up before , ” she said .
“ I ’ ve always had the same beliefs I have right now , but I haven ’ t actively fought for them… .
I think it was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at the South L.A. sheriff ’ s station , a projectile struck Rogers ’ upper thigh .
She decided to equip herself with a gas mask , rugged helmet , durable ear plugs and a paintball vest for future protests .
She tenses up at sudden noises but feels “ survivor ’ s guilt ” if she misses a protest .
“ It ’ s a very hectic lifestyle , but it feels normal , ” she said .
“ It feels like the only option.
” That ’ s also true for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ street medic at protests .
She carries a 40-pound backpack with saline solution for pepper spray , ice packs , gauze , insulin and trauma kits .
She ’ s seen head injuries from projectiles and an eye hit with a pepper ball .
Despite being arrested at a Kizzee protest on suspicion of failure to disperse , Riley , who is Black , said the protests are too meaningful to quit .
“ I have had feelings of backing out , but then I remember what I ’ m doing and the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ she said .
“ Dijon Kizzee is a big deal and all the murders in L.A. are a big deal.
” Others attend protests to document .
Baffa , the videographer , is part of a group that coordinates protest coverage .
He ’ s bothered , he said , when peaceful protests against police violence are called “ riots , ” and he said he posts raw footage online to help inform the public .
“ It ’ s language that I hear a lot — riots , looting , outside agitator @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ I want to show things as they are.
” A recent Saturday protest brought hundreds to the residential street where Kizzee was killed before they marched to the sheriff ’ s station .
Deja Roquemore , 32 , crouched in front of her house — across the street from the site of the shooting — to spray-paint “ Black Lives Matter ” on a black , red and green flag .
She said that she ’ s taught her 6-year-old daughter not to fear the police , but this incident brought @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they ’ ve made it seem the protesters are out for something else other than this life and Black lives , ” Roquemore said of the Sheriff ’ s Department .
“ I love the camaraderie .
I love the energy of togetherness .
I love all of that , and that ’ s really what I ’ ve been seeing.
” That sense of unity has been important for Mike Ojo .
Ojo , 31 , a professional basketball player in Japan who grew up in Ladera Heights , has spent the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ during his offseason .
He said that while walking with a friend to a recent Kizzee protest near the station , a sheriff ’ s vehicle pulled up next to them .
Ojo said they were detained and handcuffed without explanation .
After Ojo , who is Black , repeatedly asked why , he said he was told he fit the description of a suspect in the area allegedly carrying a gun .
Another sheriff ’ s vehicle arrived shortly after , and Ojo and his friend were forced into separate cars .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ liberty violated by these people , ” Ojo said .
“ It honestly kind of justified every bit of why I wanted to be out there .
I am being accosted by the police for absolutely no reason other than being a Black man.
” They were released after about 10 minutes , left shaken .
The officers , Ojo said , would not disclose their badge numbers — with several pretending not to hear his requests .
He continued toward the sheriff ’ s station and took photographs into the night , @ @ @

Matthew Sanders, 30, points out an injury on his arm. He said he was tackled and punched without provocation by a deputy the night he was arrested during a protest at the South L.A. sheriff’s station.
Matthew Sanders had a broken rib and dried blood on his face when he was released from jail Sept. 9 after being arrested on suspicion of failure to disperse during a protest. For a moment, he questioned whether he could continue showing up at the demonstrations outside the South Los Angeles sheriff’s station.
“I felt physically defeated,” he said.
The massive nationwide protests following the killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis police custody had launched Sanders, 30, into social action. He spent the summer bouncing between his full-time sales job and rallies in L.A. County against police shootings of people of color.
He has found a community of like-minded people who’ve made attending protests part of a weekly routine, in a wave of activism against police brutality that has continued into the fall in L.A. and across the country.
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“I think it’s become part of a lifestyle for many people who have lost employment or who are working the gig economy,” said Shannon Thomas, 28, a conflict resolution consultant who has driven to the South L.A. protests from Santa Monica. “If we’re working 24/7 on our computers, what are we going to do that feeds our souls? This has been like church for me.”
As social activism has risen in the four months since Floyd’s death, some demonstrations have been met with increased police use of tear gas, projectiles and other force, fueling more anger and resistance, many in the protest movement said. Unrest erupted in Portland, Ore., during clashes with federal agents, in Kenosha, Wis., after the shooting of Jacob Blake, and in Louisville, Ky., after a grand jury declined to charge officers in the killing of Breonna Taylor.
Protests have also turned into polarizing political events. President Trump has castigated protesters as lawless and violent. After a handful of protesters shouted epithets outside a hospital where two Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputies were receiving treatment after being attacked by a gunman, a video of them went viral, becoming a rallying cry for critics.
In South L.A., protests in front of the sheriff’s station condemning the Aug. 31 deputy shooting of Dijon Kizzee in nearby Westmont have galvanized hundreds of people for weeks.
The protests have been largely peaceful. But the Sheriff’s Department regularly blocks off the entire street in front of the station during rallies while deputies in riot gear patrol crowds.
After a series of protests over Labor Day weekend, the department cast nighttime demonstrators as “rebellious, self-proclaimed anarchists” who are “clad for battle” and have alarmed locals, alleging that they’ve thrown “frozen water bottles, fireworks, smoke bombs, glass bottles, metal pipes, and chunks of cement to create chaos, damage and injury.”
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However, of the dozens arrested around that time, virtually all were detained on suspicion of failure to disperse, rather than more serious offenses.
Sheriff Alex Villanueva denounced those protesters as being from disruptive groups that are “definitely not from this community.”
But those who have tapped into a new zeal for dissent say they march with the support of the neighborhood and of families who have lost loved ones to police shootings.
“I feel if we don’t do something about it now, nothing’s going to change,” said Demetra Johnson, whose son Anthony Weber was fatally shot by a deputy in Westmont at age 16. “I still have a 14-year-old son that’s got to grow up in this neighborhood.”
Demetra Johnson, 51, left, mother of Anthony Weber, who was fatally shot by a sheriff’s deputy in 2018. (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)
Some protesters said they have equipped themselves with helmets, cardboard shields and goggles because deputies have used unwarranted, aggressive tactics, a claim the department denies.
At recent protests outside the South L.A. station, Sanders saw new friends get hit by projectiles and tear gas fired by deputies in riot gear. He said he was tackled and punched multiple times by a deputy without provocation the night he was arrested.
Austin Baffa, 27, a freelance videographer from Orange County, said that during more than a week of protests at the station, he observed a few instances in which water bottles and a fireworks device were thrown by people in the crowd. He’s noted several people who he said came to the protests “just looking for a fight” by taunting deputies to shoot them. But that’s out of hundreds of others who were not combative.
“The outside agitator narrative just doesn’t seem to fit what I saw from the families’ support for people coming and protesting peacefully,” he said.
Plaintiffs in a class-action lawsuit allege that the Sheriff’s Department has improperly used force to disperse crowds without giving those present enough time to obey orders, saying deputies used projectiles, tear gas and other chemical agents indiscriminately against peaceful protesters, journalists and legal observers.
The department has said that deputies used so-called less-lethal force in response to protesters who threw rocks and bottles at officials, and not to cause them to disperse.
The injuries have not deterred Sanders.
“I’m Black and Hispanic, and this feels like my fight and what I’m supposed to be doing,” said the North Hollywood resident. “I feel compelled to this and to keep going if I can bring change so the next generation doesn’t grow up in fear of the cops.”
L.A. Sheriff’s Deputies in riot gear watch protesters by the South L.A. Sheriff’s station during a protest for Dijon Kizzee. (Josie Norris / Los Angeles Times)
The Sheriff’s Department has said that Kizzee was riding his bike on the wrong side of the street when he was stopped by two deputies. A pursuit ensued, ending with the deputies firing 19 shots at him. Officials said Kizzee pointed a gun at deputies, but an attorney for Kizzee’s family said witnesses didn’t see anything in his hands.
Fernando Guerra, director of the Center for the Study of Los Angeles at Loyola Marymount University, said the subsequent weeks-long sustained protest movement is historic.
“One of the most difficult things to do is to mobilize people, to get people to physically take action, to get people to take time out of the day,” he said.
Attempts to delegitimize protests may also help mobilize people, he said.
Many attending marches at the South L.A. sheriff’s station have became regulars.
Jessica Rogers of North Hollywood shows the wounds she said she sustained at a protest by the South L.A. Sheriff’s station. (Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times)
That’s the case for Jessica Rogers of North Hollywood, who was moved by the Floyd protests and now attends every action she can, quick to acknowledge privileges she has as a white woman.
Rogers, 30, drove to Palmdale nearly every day to demand answers when a Black man was found hanging from a tree near City Hall, a death later determined to be a suicide.
She’s demonstrated outside Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti’s home twice and has protested at Trump rallies.
“I don’t know why I didn’t show up before,” she said. “I’ve always had the same beliefs I have right now, but I haven’t actively fought for them…. I think it was just laziness.”
During one evening demonstration at the South L.A. sheriff’s station, a projectile struck Rogers’ upper thigh. She decided to equip herself with a gas mask, rugged helmet, durable ear plugs and a paintball vest for future protests.
She tenses up at sudden noises but feels “survivor’s guilt” if she misses a protest.
“It’s a very hectic lifestyle, but it feels normal,” she said. “It feels like the only option.”
That’s also true for Bri Riley, 23, a volunteer street medic at protests.
She carries a 40-pound backpack with saline solution for pepper spray, ice packs, gauze, insulin and trauma kits. She’s seen head injuries from projectiles and an eye hit with a pepper ball.
Despite being arrested at a Kizzee protest on suspicion of failure to disperse, Riley, who is Black, said the protests are too meaningful to quit.
“I have had feelings of backing out, but then I remember what I’m doing and the people I’m helping,” she said. “Dijon Kizzee is a big deal and all the murders in L.A. are a big deal.”
Others attend protests to document. Baffa, the videographer, is part of a group that coordinates protest coverage.
He’s bothered, he said, when peaceful protests against police violence are called “riots,” and he said he posts raw footage online to help inform the public.
“It’s language that I hear a lot — riots, looting, outside agitator, antifa violence,” he said. “I want to show things as they are.”
Deja Roquemore waves a flag as she is parked on Normandie Ave. during a protest calling for justice and in honor of Dijon Kizzee in South Los Angeles. (Josie Norris/Los Angeles Times)
A recent Saturday protest brought hundreds to the residential street where Kizzee was killed before they marched to the sheriff’s station.
Deja Roquemore, 32, crouched in front of her house — across the street from the site of the shooting — to spray-paint “Black Lives Matter” on a black, red and green flag. She said that she’s taught her 6-year-old daughter not to fear the police, but this incident brought the fear back.
“I think they’ve made it seem the protesters are out for something else other than this life and Black lives,” Roquemore said of the Sheriff’s Department. “I love the camaraderie. I love the energy of togetherness. I love all of that, and that’s really what I’ve been seeing.”
That sense of unity has been important for Mike Ojo.
Ojo, 31, a professional basketball player in Japan who grew up in Ladera Heights, has spent the past few months photographing racial justice protests during his offseason.
He said that while walking with a friend to a recent Kizzee protest near the station, a sheriff’s vehicle pulled up next to them. Ojo said they were detained and handcuffed without explanation. After Ojo, who is Black, repeatedly asked why, he said he was told he fit the description of a suspect in the area allegedly carrying a gun.
Another sheriff’s vehicle arrived shortly after, and Ojo and his friend were forced into separate cars.
“I felt like I had my liberty violated by these people,” Ojo said. “It honestly kind of justified every bit of why I wanted to be out there. I am being accosted by the police for absolutely no reason other than being a Black man.”
They were released after about 10 minutes, left shaken. The officers, Ojo said, would not disclose their badge numbers — with several pretending not to hear his requests.
He continued toward the sheriff’s station and took photographs into the night, he said.


latimes--2020-10-08--Column: Newsom should continue working with the Legislature on the housing crisis. Prop. 21 isn't th

Column: Newsom should continue working with the Legislature on the housing crisis. Prop. 21 isn't the answer

Proposition 21 on the Nov. 3 ballot asks voters to decide how far government should interfere in the private marketplace to control residential rents .
It ’ s not about whether there should be government rent control in California .
There is and has been for decades .
It ’ s about how much — whether it should be substantially strengthened and extended to a lot more housing .
Proposition 21 ’ s backers argue that much stronger control is needed to allow middle-income tenants to live within reasonable commute distance of their urban jobs — and to keep poor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ California used to be a very good place to live for people with only a little bit of money , ” says the measure ’ s chief backer , Los Angeles activist Michael Weinstein , president of the AIDS Healthcare Foundation .
“ Now we have the horror of 150,000-plus people living on the streets .
And that ’ s the result of letting the marketplace run without control .
Shelter is not a commodity , it ’ s a necessity.
” “ Right now , ” Weinstein told me Tuesday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from my office window , and I see block-long cardboard boxes and tents .
It ’ s an apocalypse.
” Weinstein ’ s office is at iconic Sunset and Vine in Hollywood .
Opponents of the citizens ’ initiative counter that making the rental industry less profitable — in many cases leaving it a financial loser — would discourage construction of badly needed apartment complexes and ultimately drive rents even higher .
Gov .
Gavin Newsom agrees with that argument .
The Democrat announced his opposition to Proposition 21 in September , noting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ beefed up state rent control .
Newsom called the bill a “ historic version of statewide rent control — the nation ’ s strongest rent caps and renter protections.
” “ But Proposition 21 , like Proposition 10 before it , ” Newsom continued , “ runs the all-too-real risk of discouraging availability of affordable housing in our state.
” Proposition 10 was the first attempt by Weinstein to pass statewide rent control .
It was a more stringent measure than Proposition 21 and voters rejected it by a near-landslide in 2018 .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ that he and the Legislature passed a good chance of working .
It caps annual rent increases at 5 % plus inflation for apartments older than 15 years .
The 15-year grace period is designed to give developers a chance to recoup a large part of their investment before rent controls take hold — and to offer an incentive to build .
The law also provides some tenant protections , requiring “ just cause ” for eviction after one year of occupancy .
Single-family homes and condos owned by individuals are exempt from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by corporations and investors .
The new law took effect in January .
But because of the pandemic-caused recession , it really hasn ’ t been tested .
In many areas , the rental market has gone bust .
“ We have huge vacancies in some places and lower rents , ” says Debra Carlton , executive vice president of the California Apartment Assn .
“ Tenants are dropping their keys at the front desk and leaving .
If their jobs tell them they can work at home , they just leave the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a lower rate .
So , we ’ re seeing lower rents.
” Proposition 21 “ will discourage housing construction at a time when we desperately need it , ” Carlton says .
“ No builder is going to build in a city with the rent control this allows .
They ’ ll just build next door .
And tenants will have long drives .
California ’ s rent control is already confusing , varying from place to place .
Each city is allowed to adopt its own controls , within state restrictions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be controls on housing built in 1995 or after .
Nor can there be on other apartments constructed before 1995 if a city already had rent control then .
In Los Angeles , rent regulations can ’ t be imposed on any apartment built after 1978 .
Landlords also can ’ t be told what they can charge new renters the first time .
Under Proposition 21 , cities and counties could substantially expand their rent control to most housing more than 15 years old .
Rents for single-family homes would be controlled @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dwellings — counting a personal residence .
And even then , the home would need to be in a person ’ s name , not a trust or a partnership .
Landlords would be limited to how much they could raise the rent on new tenants — 15 % all at once or over three years .
Opponents say this wouldn ’ t provide landlords enough rent to fix up a unit badly in need of repairs .
“ I would no longer continue to invest in California , ” says Al Wong @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fourplexes and small apartment buildings .
“ I ’ d say , ‘ Sorry .
I can ’ t do this .
This is not a business anymore .
I ’ m going to go to Washington or Idaho or Nevada.
’ ” Rene Moya , the Proposition 21 campaign director , points out that 30 % of California ’ s renters pay at least half of their earnings in rent — far too much to also afford utilities and food .
But voters apparently aren ’ t convinced .
A recent poll @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Studies found that likely voters are split — 37 % yes , 37 % no and 26 % undecided .
If California wants to control rents , government should build public housing .
Newsom and the Legislature should compromise on a bill to impose new zoning requirements that allow for more multifamily housing .
And streamline building regulations while reducing fees .
Don ’ t put all the burden on private enterprise .

A Celebrate Renters Rally in support of Proposition 21, a statewide rent control ballot measure, was held at Los Angeles City Hall on Sept. 8.
Proposition 21 on the Nov. 3 ballot asks voters to decide how far government should interfere in the private marketplace to control residential rents.
It’s not about whether there should be government rent control in California. There is and has been for decades. It’s about how much — whether it should be substantially strengthened and extended to a lot more housing.
Proposition 21’s backers argue that much stronger control is needed to allow middle-income tenants to live within reasonable commute distance of their urban jobs — and to keep poor tenants under shelter and off the street.
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“California used to be a very good place to live for people with only a little bit of money,” says the measure’s chief backer, Los Angeles activist Michael Weinstein, president of the AIDS Healthcare Foundation.
“Now we have the horror of 150,000-plus people living on the streets. And that’s the result of letting the marketplace run without control. Shelter is not a commodity, it’s a necessity.”
“Right now,” Weinstein told me Tuesday, “I’m looking down from my office window, and I see block-long cardboard boxes and tents. It’s an apocalypse.”
Weinstein’s office is at iconic Sunset and Vine in Hollywood.
Opponents of the citizens’ initiative counter that making the rental industry less profitable — in many cases leaving it a financial loser — would discourage construction of badly needed apartment complexes and ultimately drive rents even higher.
Gov. Gavin Newsom agrees with that argument. The Democrat announced his opposition to Proposition 21 in September, noting that he and the Legislature last year beefed up state rent control.
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Newsom called the bill a “historic version of statewide rent control — the nation’s strongest rent caps and renter protections.”
“But Proposition 21, like Proposition 10 before it,” Newsom continued, “runs the all-too-real risk of discouraging availability of affordable housing in our state.”
Proposition 10 was the first attempt by Weinstein to pass statewide rent control. It was a more stringent measure than Proposition 21 and voters rejected it by a near-landslide in 2018.
Newsom wants to give the new law that he and the Legislature passed a good chance of working. It caps annual rent increases at 5% plus inflation for apartments older than 15 years.
The 15-year grace period is designed to give developers a chance to recoup a large part of their investment before rent controls take hold — and to offer an incentive to build.
The law also provides some tenant protections, requiring “just cause” for eviction after one year of occupancy.
Single-family homes and condos owned by individuals are exempt from rent control — but not those held by corporations and investors.
The new law took effect in January. But because of the pandemic-caused recession, it really hasn’t been tested. In many areas, the rental market has gone bust.
“We have huge vacancies in some places and lower rents,” says Debra Carlton, executive vice president of the California Apartment Assn.
“Tenants are dropping their keys at the front desk and leaving. If their jobs tell them they can work at home, they just leave the high-priced market and move further away to a lower rate. So, we’re seeing lower rents.”
Proposition 21 “will discourage housing construction at a time when we desperately need it,” Carlton says. “No builder is going to build in a city with the rent control this allows. They’ll just build next door. And tenants will have long drives.
“It’s going to make a bad situation worse.”
California’s rent control is already confusing, varying from place to place. Each city is allowed to adopt its own controls, within state restrictions.
Basically, there can’t be controls on housing built in 1995 or after. Nor can there be on other apartments constructed before 1995 if a city already had rent control then.
In Los Angeles, rent regulations can’t be imposed on any apartment built after 1978.
Landlords also can’t be told what they can charge new renters the first time.
Under Proposition 21, cities and counties could substantially expand their rent control to most housing more than 15 years old.
Rents for single-family homes would be controlled unless the owner had only two such dwellings — counting a personal residence. And even then, the home would need to be in a person’s name, not a trust or a partnership.
Landlords would be limited to how much they could raise the rent on new tenants — 15% all at once or over three years.
Opponents say this wouldn’t provide landlords enough rent to fix up a unit badly in need of repairs.
“I would no longer continue to invest in California,” says Al Wong of San Francisco, who owns several fourplexes and small apartment buildings. “I’d say, ‘Sorry. I can’t do this. This is not a business anymore. I’m going to go to Washington or Idaho or Nevada.’”
Rene Moya, the Proposition 21 campaign director, points out that 30% of California’s renters pay at least half of their earnings in rent — far too much to also afford utilities and food.
But voters apparently aren’t convinced. A recent poll by the UC Berkeley Institute of Governmental Studies found that likely voters are split — 37% yes, 37% no and 26% undecided.
I’m a no.
If California wants to control rents, government should build public housing.
Also, provide generous rent subsidies.
Newsom and the Legislature should compromise on a bill to impose new zoning requirements that allow for more multifamily housing. And streamline building regulations while reducing fees.
Don’t put all the burden on private enterprise.


latimes--2020-10-09--Coronavirus numbers are rising again in some parts of California, but it's too early to call it a ne

Coronavirus numbers are rising again in some parts of California, but it's too early to call it a new surge

The uptick in coronavirus cases in Los Angeles and several other California counties is cause for concern , but experts said Thursday that it ’ s too early to say whether it represents the start of a larger surge in infections .
The next few weeks will be crucial in seeing whether California can keep case numbers and hospitalizations down even as officials continue to reopen the economy .
The state is hoping its new tier system will avoid the surge in cases that came this summer when the state rapidly allowed businesses to reopen and people returned to old @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s probably bound to be a few more upticks when counties reopen because of the fact that you ’ re now going to be in situations where there is more opportunity for exposures , ” said Dr. Robert Kim-Farley , a medical epidemiologist and infectious disease expert at UCLA Fielding School of Public Health .
Los Angeles County on Wednesday reported its highest daily case count in six weeks .
Riverside County is on the brink of regression from Tier 2 to Tier 1 after its daily case count increased , and in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Tier 2 , hospitalizations have increased over the last two weeks after a surge in cases linked largely to San Diego State .
Up north , two counties — Shasta and Tehama — moved backward on California ’ s reopening system , the first two to do so .
In L.A. County , which has remained at Tier 1 because of a high daily case count , it ’ s unclear if the recent increases are connected to the county ’ s reopenings or if it is a one-off .
Dr. Muntu Davis @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , said Thursday that it ’ s unlikely those cases are linked to Labor Day weekend , but it ’ s too soon to say what may have caused the surge and if it will persist .
On Thursday , the county reported 1,208 cases .
That number is higher than most daily case counts in recent weeks but not abnormal — last Friday ’ s count was more than 1,320 .
“ As with every reopening , we tend to see increases in cases , ” he said .
As more counties @ @ @ @ @ @ @ strategy and further reopen businesses , a resurgence in activity may contribute to a shift in people ’ s behaviors , causing them to take risks that could cause the coronavirus to spread .
“ There ’ s no reason to think there ’ s not ongoing transmission , ” said Dr. George Rutherford , an epidemiologist and infectious diseases expert at UC San Francisco .
There has not been significant evidence to indicate the state has entered its next wave , he said .
Over the last two weeks , Los Angeles @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the first time in months .
Breweries , wineries , card rooms and playgrounds were allowed to reopen outdoor operations , nail salons were allowed to reopen indoors with limitations , and on Wednesday , indoor shopping malls were given the green light to reopen at 25 % capacity .
The vast Beverly Center was busy but far from crowded Thursday afternoon , the second day of its third pandemic reopening since March .
Many of the designer brands that make this mall a tourist destination now featured velvet ropes at the door @ @ @ @ @ @ @ retailers such as Zara and Forever 21 emerged with slimmed down collections and limited inventory .
Mask notices were taped to every storefront , with hand sanitizer stationed nearby .
The mall itself has been significantly reordered since it last shut down July 14 .
Gone are seats and interactive way-finding displays , as well as many cafes and restaurants , per state guidelines .
A new personal protective equipment vending machine with N95 masks , hand wipes and flushable toilet seat covers was installed near the 6th-floor concierge desk .
Managers could @ @ @ @ @ @ @ empty shops .
In addition to their regular duties , retail workers are now responsible for enforcing mask and social distancing rules , including the county ’ s 25 % capacity order .
“ I have an interview at one of the stores here tomorrow , ” said Julio Terrazas , 23 , who was browsing Miniso with his girlfriend , Mady Cordova .
Terrazas said he felt safe returning to the indoor mall .
But Cordova , who works at a Starbucks on Rodeo Drive , had concerns .
“ It ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with the holidays and big sales coming up , ” she said .
“ You ’ ll have a lot of people wanting to come shop , which puts you in danger .
Black Friday ’ s always pretty crazy .
This might make it even worse.
” Still , many shoppers said they were thrilled to get back into stores .
Ruben Nuñez , 20 , and his friends had come from San Bernardino to browse at Dolce & Gabbana and other designer stores .
“ Online everything sells out , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , new and unique outfits were an important social currency .
“ We ’ ve all been in quarantine .
We just want to shop.
” Health experts have said that the key to any safe reopening is to do so at a time when transmission is low .
As transmission increases , the risk of infection does too .
But projections for transmission — what officials use to determine how the virus may spread and affect resources — are based on social behaviors .
“ If our behavior does not remain constant @ @ @ @ @ @ @ transmission rate increase , Dr. Christina Ghaly , L.A. County ’ s human services director , said last week .

A sign tells customers to wear masks to prevent the spread of COVID-19 as shoppers return to indoor shopping at the Westfield Santa Anita shopping mall in Arcadia on Wednesday, the first day L.A. County malls were allowed to reopen at limited capacity.
The uptick in coronavirus cases in Los Angeles and several other California counties is cause for concern, but experts said Thursday that it’s too early to say whether it represents the start of a larger surge in infections.
The next few weeks will be crucial in seeing whether California can keep case numbers and hospitalizations down even as officials continue to reopen the economy. The state is hoping its new tier system will avoid the surge in cases that came this summer when the state rapidly allowed businesses to reopen and people returned to old habits.
“I think there’s probably bound to be a few more upticks when counties reopen because of the fact that you’re now going to be in situations where there is more opportunity for exposures,” said Dr. Robert Kim-Farley, a medical epidemiologist and infectious disease expert at UCLA Fielding School of Public Health.
Los Angeles County on Wednesday reported its highest daily case count in six weeks. Riverside County is on the brink of regression from Tier 2 to Tier 1 after its daily case count increased, and in San Diego, which also remains in Tier 2, hospitalizations have increased over the last two weeks after a surge in cases linked largely to San Diego State.
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Up north, two counties — Shasta and Tehama — moved backward on California’s reopening system, the first two to do so.
In L.A. County, which has remained at Tier 1 because of a high daily case count, it’s unclear if the recent increases are connected to the county’s reopenings or if it is a one-off.
Dr. Muntu Davis, the county’s health officer, said Thursday that it’s unlikely those cases are linked to Labor Day weekend, but it’s too soon to say what may have caused the surge and if it will persist. On Thursday, the county reported 1,208 cases. That number is higher than most daily case counts in recent weeks but not abnormal — last Friday’s count was more than 1,320.
“As with every reopening, we tend to see increases in cases,” he said.
As more counties progress through the state’s tiered strategy and further reopen businesses, a resurgence in activity may contribute to a shift in people’s behaviors, causing them to take risks that could cause the coronavirus to spread.
“There’s no reason to think there’s not ongoing transmission,” said Dr. George Rutherford, an epidemiologist and infectious diseases expert at UC San Francisco. There has not been significant evidence to indicate the state has entered its next wave, he said.
Over the last two weeks, Los Angeles County opened a number of spaces for the first time in months. Breweries, wineries, card rooms and playgrounds were allowed to reopen outdoor operations, nail salons were allowed to reopen indoors with limitations, and on Wednesday, indoor shopping malls were given the green light to reopen at 25% capacity.
Advertisement
The vast Beverly Center was busy but far from crowded Thursday afternoon, the second day of its third pandemic reopening since March. Many of the designer brands that make this mall a tourist destination now featured velvet ropes at the door and beefed up security, while fast-fashion retailers such as Zara and Forever 21 emerged with slimmed down collections and limited inventory.
Mask notices were taped to every storefront, with hand sanitizer stationed nearby.
The mall itself has been significantly reordered since it last shut down July 14. Gone are seats and interactive way-finding displays, as well as many cafes and restaurants, per state guidelines. A new personal protective equipment vending machine with N95 masks, hand wipes and flushable toilet seat covers was installed near the 6th-floor concierge desk.
Managers could be heard orienting new employees in largely empty shops. In addition to their regular duties, retail workers are now responsible for enforcing mask and social distancing rules, including the county’s 25% capacity order.
“I have an interview at one of the stores here tomorrow,” said Julio Terrazas, 23, who was browsing Miniso with his girlfriend, Mady Cordova.
Terrazas said he felt safe returning to the indoor mall. But Cordova, who works at a Starbucks on Rodeo Drive, had concerns.
“It’s a very popular area, especially with the holidays and big sales coming up,” she said. “You’ll have a lot of people wanting to come shop, which puts you in danger. Black Friday’s always pretty crazy. This might make it even worse.”
Still, many shoppers said they were thrilled to get back into stores.
Ruben Nuñez, 20, and his friends had come from San Bernardino to browse at Dolce & Gabbana and other designer stores.
“Online everything sells out,” he said, adding that on Instagram, new and unique outfits were an important social currency. “We’ve all been in quarantine. We just want to shop.”
Health experts have said that the key to any safe reopening is to do so at a time when transmission is low. As transmission increases, the risk of infection does too.
But projections for transmission — what officials use to determine how the virus may spread and affect resources — are based on social behaviors.
“If our behavior does not remain constant, we’ll see” that transmission rate increase, Dr. Christina Ghaly, L.A. County’s human services director, said last week.