latimes--2020-01-24--Homeless people and activists protest at Echo Park Lake, call for meeting with councilman

Homeless people and scores of activists protested as city crews arrived Friday for a cleanup at Echo Park Lake , publicly calling on Los Angeles City Councilman Mitch O ’ Farrell to meet with them and work out a deal allowing them to remain at the park .
If the city ejects the encampment , “ it ’ s like breaking up a family , ” said Davon Brown , who said he has lived in the Echo Park encampment for four months .
“ This is not a cleanup .
This is a homeless eviction.
” Tents have become @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the park surrounding Echo Park Lake .
The homeless encampment has been a frustration to some Echo Park neighbors and become a cause for others .
When sanitation workers and park rangers showed up Friday morning , protesters blocked a pathway in front of a city truck , sat on flattened tarps and stood guard by tents , demanding that workers spare tents and other belongings .
Many residents of the homeless encampment had already moved their tents to a sidewalk across the street before the crews arrived , but a few @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
At times , protesters began chanting , “ Fight , fight , fight !
Housing is a human right !
” or argued with city workers , surrounded by reporters and activists holding up smartphones to record them .
One woman shouted as a crew of sanitation workers moved on , “ Where are people supposed to go ?
This is where they live.
” Chief park ranger Joe Losorelli said that no one was being “ evicted ” from the park , as the activists had asserted , and that they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ something that we do in every city park every single day.
” Losorelli said the protests had not stopped them from doing that work .
“ We ’ re going to continue to address the things that are happening here , like the drinking , the smoking marijuana , the things that the community are concerned with ...
It can not be ignored , ” Losorelli said .
As city workers began to leave the park , Jed Parriott , a Street Watch L.A. organizer , said it “ feels like we won @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been tossed out .
“ But this is just one day , ” Parriott said .
At one point , Brown and another resident of the encampment , Ayman Ahmed , spoke with LAPD Cmdr .
Vito Palazzolo , saying that as they awaited a meeting with the councilman , they were willing to keep their tents down during the day and comply with cleanups twice a month if they could be spared from citations for being in the park late at night , end “ unpredictable and frequent raids or sweeps , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for “ minor infractions.
” Palazzolo said the Police Department didn ’ t authorize cleanups and that he could not agree to not enforce an existing law .
( Under the Municipal Code , people are generally not allowed to stay in parks between 10:30 p.m. and 5 a.m. ) Police did , however , say they would avoid coming out late at night to talk to people about the rules .
Brown was unsatisfied by their answers .
“ It ’ s the same thing all over again , ” he said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lives in the encampment along Echo Park Lake , said he had been on a waiting list for housing for six months .
“ What am I supposed to do in the meantime ?
” said Edward , who said he had been homeless for roughly two years .
“ I have no choice but to be outside.
” In their letter to O ’ Farrell , who represents the area , residents of the homeless encampment offered up a pact : They would keep the park clean , be respectful to neighbors @ @ @ @ @ @ @ line with activist demands .
In return , they asked to not be harassed , intimidated or subjected to excessive or unpredictable cleanups , among other requests .
An O ’ Farrell spokesman did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the letter .
In a news release , his office called the Friday cleanup “ a regular maintenance day.
” “ All city parks must be kept clean , safe , and accessible for people of all ages and income levels , ” O ’ Farrell said .
“ People @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Lake will continue to be offered services while we work on securing temporary indoor shelter and ultimately permanent housing.
” O ’ Farrell noted in a recent motion that a pilot program to allow people to park and sleep in their cars at a nearby library was about to launch , said his office had been partnering with a local business to offer laundry services and clean bedding , and invoked plans to build permanent housing for homeless people just up the street from Echo Park Lake .
Some neighbors have been irritated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , nearby resident Mike Hughes stopped by to show his support for a cleanup , complaining about trash and fighting at the park .
“ Seeing this gathering of tents is somewhat of an eyesore , ” Hughes said .
“ It ’ s not really what the park was intended for.
” Other Echo Park residents , however , have joined with people living in the homeless encampment to argue against any crackdown .
Clarendon Johnston , who lives in Echo Park , said he was alarmed by escalating enforcement in recent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ meet and listen to the concerns of people living in the park .
“ It ’ s a ‘ boots on the ground ’ kind of thing , ” Johnston said .
“ Understand what services he needs to provide.
” O ’ Farrell recently introduced a proposal to allocate more than $ 500,000 for “ a six month activation of emergency measures to address basic hygiene needs at Echo Park Lake.
” He also released a proposal Friday to temporarily allow 24-hour access to the restrooms in the northwest corner of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ urgent hygiene and public health needs .
”

Activists and encampment residents sit down in front of a Parks and Recreation truck at the Echo Park Lake tent encampment Friday morning to form a blockade to stop a scheduled clean up at Echo Park Lake, arguing that homeless people should be able to continue camping out at the park as Parks and Recreation workers try to clean the park area which contains tents of a homeless encampment.
Homeless people and scores of activists protested as city crews arrived Friday for a cleanup at Echo Park Lake, publicly calling on Los Angeles City Councilman Mitch O’Farrell to meet with them and work out a deal allowing them to remain at the park.
If the city ejects the encampment, “it’s like breaking up a family,” said Davon Brown, who said he has lived in the Echo Park encampment for four months. “This is not a cleanup. This is a homeless eviction.”
Tents have become a familiar sight in the northern corner of the park surrounding Echo Park Lake. The homeless encampment has been a frustration to some Echo Park neighbors and become a cause for others.
When sanitation workers and park rangers showed up Friday morning, protesters blocked a pathway in front of a city truck, sat on flattened tarps and stood guard by tents, demanding that workers spare tents and other belongings.
Many residents of the homeless encampment had already moved their tents to a sidewalk across the street before the crews arrived, but a few tents remained standing as the cleanup began.
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At times, protesters began chanting, “Fight, fight, fight! Housing is a human right!” or argued with city workers, surrounded by reporters and activists holding up smartphones to record them. One woman shouted as a crew of sanitation workers moved on, “Where are people supposed to go? This is where they live.”
Protesters chant, “Mitch O’Farrell, shame on you!” pic.twitter.com/hJ0ajhGRuR — Emily Alpert Reyes (@AlpertReyes) January 24, 2020
Chief park ranger Joe Losorelli said that no one was being “evicted” from the park, as the activists had asserted, and that they were simply cleaning up trash, “something that we do in every city park every single day.” Losorelli said the protests had not stopped them from doing that work.
“We’re going to continue to address the things that are happening here, like the drinking, the smoking marijuana, the things that the community are concerned with ... It cannot be ignored,” Losorelli said.
As city workers began to leave the park, Jed Parriott, a Street Watch L.A. organizer, said it “feels like we won the day” because tents had not been tossed out.
“But this is just one day,” Parriott said.
At one point, Brown and another resident of the encampment, Ayman Ahmed, spoke with LAPD Cmdr. Vito Palazzolo, saying that as they awaited a meeting with the councilman, they were willing to keep their tents down during the day and comply with cleanups twice a month if they could be spared from citations for being in the park late at night, end “unpredictable and frequent raids or sweeps,” and get warnings before any citations for “minor infractions.”
Palazzolo said the Police Department didn’t authorize cleanups and that he could not agree to not enforce an existing law. (Under the Municipal Code, people are generally not allowed to stay in parks between 10:30 p.m. and 5 a.m.) Police did, however, say they would avoid coming out late at night to talk to people about the rules.
Brown was unsatisfied by their answers. “It’s the same thing all over again,” he said.
Lloyd Edward, another resident who lives in the encampment along Echo Park Lake, said he had been on a waiting list for housing for six months. “What am I supposed to do in the meantime?” said Edward, who said he had been homeless for roughly two years. “I have no choice but to be outside.”
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In their letter to O’Farrell, who represents the area, residents of the homeless encampment offered up a pact: They would keep the park clean, be respectful to neighbors and comply with cleanups that fall in line with activist demands. In return, they asked to not be harassed, intimidated or subjected to excessive or unpredictable cleanups, among other requests.
An O’Farrell spokesman did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the letter. In a news release, his office called the Friday cleanup “a regular maintenance day.”
“All city parks must be kept clean, safe, and accessible for people of all ages and income levels,” O’Farrell said. “People who are experiencing homelessness at Echo Park Lake will continue to be offered services while we work on securing temporary indoor shelter and ultimately permanent housing.”
Los Angeles Police Captain Alfonso Lopez, left, talks with camp residents Davone Brown, left and Jhondell Harris, right, as activists are protesting Friday morning at Echo Park Lake, arguing that homeless people should be able to continue camping out at the park as Parks and Recreation workers try to clean the park area which contains tents of a homeless encampment. (Al Seib/Los Angeles Times)
O’Farrell noted in a recent motion that a pilot program to allow people to park and sleep in their cars at a nearby library was about to launch, said his office had been partnering with a local business to offer laundry services and clean bedding, and invoked plans to build permanent housing for homeless people just up the street from Echo Park Lake.
Some neighbors have been irritated by the encampment: In recent weeks, nearby resident Mike Hughes stopped by to show his support for a cleanup, complaining about trash and fighting at the park.
“Seeing this gathering of tents is somewhat of an eyesore,” Hughes said. “It’s not really what the park was intended for.”
Other Echo Park residents, however, have joined with people living in the homeless encampment to argue against any crackdown. Clarendon Johnston, who lives in Echo Park, said he was alarmed by escalating enforcement in recent weeks and wanted O’Farrell to meet and listen to the concerns of people living in the park.
“It’s a ‘boots on the ground’ kind of thing,” Johnston said. “Understand what services he needs to provide.”
O’Farrell recently introduced a proposal to allocate more than $500,000 for “a six month activation of emergency measures to address basic hygiene needs at Echo Park Lake.”
He also released a proposal Friday to temporarily allow 24-hour access to the restrooms in the northwest corner of the park, “in order to address urgent hygiene and public health needs.” And the councilman announced Friday evening that he would provide mobile showers, fund a storage unit, and set up an “interim emergency shelter” in the area.
“This crisis is a call to action for all Angelenos,” O’Farrell said.


latimes--2020-01-24--2 killed in small plane crash near Northern California airport

Two people died and one person was injured when a small plane crashed near the Auburn Municipal Airport on Friday @ @ @ @ @ A single-engine Stinson Vultee V-77 went down about a mile northeast of the airport in @ @ @ @ @ Sacramento , at about 10 a.m. , said Ian Gregor , a spokesman for the @ @ @ @ @ FAA said three people were on board the plane when it crashed .
The plane @ @ @ @ @ near Haines Road , not far from the Black Oak Golf Course , the Placer @ @ @ @ @ said .
Video posted on social media by the Sheriff ’ s Office showed the @ @ @ @ @ trees .
The FAA and the National Transportation and Safety Board are investigating the incident @ @ @ @ @ fatal plane crash in three days in California .
On Wednesday , a small plane @ @ @ @ @ Airport , killing four people .

Two people died and one person was injured when a small plane crashed near the Auburn Municipal Airport on Friday morning, authorities said.
A single-engine Stinson Vultee V-77 went down about a mile northeast of the airport in Placer County, northeast of Sacramento, at about 10 a.m., said Ian Gregor, a spokesman for the Federal Aviation Administration. The FAA said three people were on board the plane when it crashed.
The plane crashed along Dry Creek Road near Haines Road, not far from the Black Oak Golf Course, the Placer County Sheriff’s Office said. Video posted on social media by the Sheriff’s Office showed the plane’s wreckage among trees.
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PCSO deputies are responding to the area of Black Oak Golf Course in Auburn, for a plane crash. More details to come. Media please stage at Dry Creek Rd at Haines. pic.twitter.com/FoUT4rDVmG — Placer Sheriff (@PlacerSheriff) January 24, 2020
The FAA and the National Transportation and Safety Board are investigating the incident.
It is the second fatal plane crash in three days in California. On Wednesday, a small plane crashed at the Corona Municipal Airport, killing four people.


latimes--2020-01-24--Pickup driver shot out car windows on 101 Freeway with slingshot and marbles, authorities say

A 52-year-old man has been arrested in connection with a string of attacks on vehicles on freeways around Monterey County , authorities said .
Charles Kenneth Lafferty , 52 , was arrested Wednesday after a nearly yearlong investigation into projectiles striking dozens of cars as they traveled along Highways 101 and 156 in the Prunedale area .
Investigators said Lafferty committed the attacks from behind the wheel of a pickup truck , using a slingshot to launch glass marbles at the driver ’ s side windows and windshields of oncoming vehicles .
A total of 69 attacks have been reported @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Benito counties , and five people , including a child , suffered minor injuries from shattered glass .
On one Saturday in mid-December , six cars were struck in as many minutes .
Lafferty was arrested on suspicion of being involved in 10 of the attacks , but investigators said they ’ re working to link him to more .
The inquiry , which officials termed the “ projectile alley investigation , ” had bedeviled authorities for nearly a year , prompting the California Highway Patrol to form a task force to find @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the affected communities and those traveling these stretches of roadways were concerned and scared for their and their families ’ safety , ” Chief L.D .
Maples , commander of the CHP ’ s Coastal Division , said at a news conference Thursday .
“ Finding whoever was responsible was a priority to the California Highway Patrol .
In our minds , it wasn ’ t a matter of if but when there would be more serious consequences , including loss of life.
” Investigators were tight-lipped about exactly how they caught up @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the case came shortly after the most recent attack Jan. 5 .
Authorities identified a GMC Sonoma pickup as the vehicle used in some of the attacks and then linked Lafferty to the truck , they said .
On Wednesday , law enforcement authorities from the CHP and the Monterey County Sheriff ’ s Office executed several search warrants on homes in San Luis Obispo and Monterey counties .
Using items they found , they were able to positively identify Lafferty as the suspect and link him to some of the attacks , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on a possible motive but said Lafferty is believed to have worked alone and appears to have targeted vehicles at random .
He was booked into the Monterey County Jail on suspicion of 10 counts each of throwing an object at a vehicle and assault with a deadly weapon , as well as one count of felony possession of a silencer .
He remained there Friday in lieu of $ 250,000 bail .
Investigators said that although he was found to be in possession of a silencer , Lafferty is not believed to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the attacks .
“ Those of us who have been prosecutors … you know when you have senseless random acts of violence where you have no pattern , no motive , no witnesses , occurring over a substantial period of time , over a substantial area — 10 , 15 miles — it ’ s quite difficult to ever develop enough evidence to bring it forward and to make an arrest , ” Monterey County Supervisor John Phillips said at Thursday ’ s news conference .
“ And we feel really fortunate that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and we were able to make the arrest .
”

A 52-year-old man has been arrested in connection with a string of attacks on vehicles on freeways around Monterey County, authorities said.
Charles Kenneth Lafferty, 52, was arrested Wednesday after a nearly yearlong investigation into projectiles striking dozens of cars as they traveled along Highways 101 and 156 in the Prunedale area.
Investigators said Lafferty committed the attacks from behind the wheel of a pickup truck, using a slingshot to launch glass marbles at the driver’s side windows and windshields of oncoming vehicles.
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A total of 69 attacks have been reported since Feb. 19 in Monterey and San Benito counties, and five people, including a child, suffered minor injuries from shattered glass. On one Saturday in mid-December, six cars were struck in as many minutes.
Lafferty was arrested on suspicion of being involved in 10 of the attacks, but investigators said they’re working to link him to more.
The inquiry, which officials termed the “projectile alley investigation,” had bedeviled authorities for nearly a year, prompting the California Highway Patrol to form a task force to find who was responsible.
“Understandably, the affected communities and those traveling these stretches of roadways were concerned and scared for their and their families’ safety,” Chief L.D. Maples, commander of the CHP’s Coastal Division, said at a news conference Thursday. “Finding whoever was responsible was a priority to the California Highway Patrol. In our minds, it wasn’t a matter of if but when there would be more serious consequences, including loss of life.”
Investigators were tight-lipped about exactly how they caught up with Lafferty but said a break in the case came shortly after the most recent attack Jan. 5. Authorities identified a GMC Sonoma pickup as the vehicle used in some of the attacks and then linked Lafferty to the truck, they said.
On Wednesday, law enforcement authorities from the CHP and the Monterey County Sheriff’s Office executed several search warrants on homes in San Luis Obispo and Monterey counties. Using items they found, they were able to positively identify Lafferty as the suspect and link him to some of the attacks, officials said.
Authorities would not speculate on a possible motive but said Lafferty is believed to have worked alone and appears to have targeted vehicles at random.
He was booked into the Monterey County Jail on suspicion of 10 counts each of throwing an object at a vehicle and assault with a deadly weapon, as well as one count of felony possession of a silencer. He remained there Friday in lieu of $250,000 bail. Investigators said that although he was found to be in possession of a silencer, Lafferty is not believed to have used a firearm in any of the attacks.
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“Those of us who have been prosecutors … you know when you have senseless random acts of violence where you have no pattern, no motive, no witnesses, occurring over a substantial period of time, over a substantial area — 10, 15 miles — it’s quite difficult to ever develop enough evidence to bring it forward and to make an arrest,” Monterey County Supervisor John Phillips said at Thursday’s news conference. “And we feel really fortunate that there wasn’t a greater injury and we were able to make the arrest.”


latimes--2020-01-24--They worked after the Camp fire. Now these 30 trailers will go to homeless families in L.A.

Thirty trailers that once were used in the wake of the Camp fire are coming to Los Angeles over the next two weeks to be used as temporary homes for homeless families .
Many details remain unknown .
But the trailers , offered as part of Gov .
Gavin Newsom ’ s latest initiative to address homelessness should arrive by Feb. 7 , a spokeswoman for Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas said .
County officials were vetting three parking lots and a vacant parcel in South Los Angeles , each designated by the Board of Supervisors this week as potential sites for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to be placed at each site .
Medical service tents also will be provided by the state .
Water and sewage service will be brought to the temporary homes , and the county will contract with a service provider to operate them .
HOPICS , a homeless services agency based in South L.A. , will select the families who will live in the trailers .
“ This is one of the many tools in the toolbox we are using to address the crisis head-on , ” Newsom said in a statement Wednesday , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the governor ’ s statewide homelessness task force , said Newsom “ is demonstrating the ingenuity , resourcefulness and urgency needed to tackle this undeniable emergency.
” Although sheltering 30 families will make no noticeable difference in the population living outdoors , as opposed to in shelters — about 44,000 — state and county leaders see the plan as a demonstration of their resolve to take immediate and concrete measures to address homelessness .
It began when Newsom included an offer of 100 emergency trailers to cities and counties as part of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ homeless housing and add shelter beds across California .
Oakland received the first delivery of 15 trailers last week .
In a vote Tuesday , the Los Angeles Board of Supervisors requested 30 trailers and designated the four properties as potential sites .
Newsom put out a statement Wednesday approving the request .
County officials have begun vetting the sites to ensure they will be adequate .
The supervisors also directed county staff to continue looking for other sites as backups .
The sites under consideration are : • The parking lot that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 3606 Exposition Blvd .
in the city of Los Angeles .
• County-owned land at 1326 W. Imperial Highway in the unincorporated community of Athens , adjacent to where the “ Safe Landings ” Interim Housing and Clinical Services Project is expected to be built later this year .
• A parking lot at 8509 S. Broadway in the city of Los Angeles , though it has already been leased to a homeless service provider .
• A parking lot at 1968 W. Adams Blvd .
in the city of Los Angeles .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ organization that is interested in leasing the lot for interim housing .
The trailers are going primarily to South Los Angeles because it has the highest concentration of homeless families .
Also on Tuesday , the supervisors ordered the county ’ s chief executive officer to prepare a Comprehensive Crisis Response Strategy that would rapidly provide housing or shelter options for people living on the streets who are ready and willing to come indoors .
The county ’ s Homeless Initiative and Office of Emergency Management are to report back in 60 days @ @ @ @ @ @ @ services are available for all who are willing to move indoors .

L.A. County Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas, left, with California Gov. Gavin Newsom, who is sending 30 trailers to L.A. to serve as temporary homeless shelters.
Thirty trailers that once were used in the wake of the Camp fire are coming to Los Angeles over the next two weeks to be used as temporary homes for homeless families.
Many details remain unknown. But the trailers, offered as part of Gov. Gavin Newsom’s latest initiative to address homelessness, should arrive by Feb. 7, a spokeswoman for L.A. County Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas said.
County officials were vetting three parking lots and a vacant parcel in South Los Angeles, each designated by the Board of Supervisors this week as potential sites for shelters. They expect about 10 trailers to be placed at each site.
Medical service tents also will be provided by the state. Water and sewage service will be brought to the temporary homes, and the county will contract with a service provider to operate them.
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HOPICS, a homeless services agency based in South L.A., will select the families who will live in the trailers.
“This is one of the many tools in the toolbox we are using to address the crisis head-on,” Newsom said in a statement Wednesday announcing the plan.
Ridley-Thomas, co-chair of the governor’s statewide homelessness task force, said Newsom “is demonstrating the ingenuity, resourcefulness and urgency needed to tackle this undeniable emergency.”
Although sheltering 30 families will make no noticeable difference in the county’s unsheltered homeless population — about 44,000 people — state and county leaders see the plan as a demonstration of their resolve to take immediate and concrete measures to address homelessness.
It began when Newsom included an offer of 100 emergency trailers to cities and counties as part of his Jan. 8 executive order to increase homeless housing and add shelter beds across California.
Oakland received the first delivery of 15 trailers last week.
In a vote Tuesday, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors requested 30 trailers and designated the four potential sites. Newsom released a statement Wednesday approving the request.
County officials have begun vetting the sites to ensure they will be adequate. The supervisors also directed county staff to continue looking for other sites as backups.
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The sites under consideration are:
The parking lot that served the former Probation Department building at 3606 Exposition Blvd. in the city of Los Angeles.
County-owned land at 1326 W. Imperial Highway in the unincorporated community of Athens, adjacent to where the “Safe Landings” Interim Housing and Clinical Services Project is expected to be built this year.
A parking lot at 8509 S. Broadway in the city of Los Angeles, though it has already been leased to a homeless services provider.
A parking lot at 1968 W. Adams Blvd. in the city of Los Angeles. It’s owned by a faith organization that is interested in leasing the lot for interim housing.
The trailers are going primarily to South Los Angeles because it has the highest concentration of homeless families.
Also on Tuesday, the supervisors ordered the county’s chief executive to prepare a Comprehensive Crisis Response Strategy that would rapidly provide housing or shelter options for people living on the streets who are ready and willing to come indoors.
The county’s Homeless Initiative and Office of Emergency Management are to report back in 60 days on strategies to ensure that housing and services are available for all who are willing to move indoors.


latimes--2020-01-24--Car windows shattered around Whittier may have been shot out by BB gun, police say

At least 70 cars in and around Whittier had their windows shattered late Thursday , and authorities are asking for the public ’ s help in catching the vandals .
The Whittier Police Department received dozens of calls about vandalized vehicles during a 90-minute span beginning about 10 p.m. , according to the agency ’ s Facebook page .
Authorities think the car windows may have been shot out with a BB gun or pellet gun , and police are investigating similar destruction in neighboring La Habra and a shooting in Pico Rivera that may be related .
Dozens of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their side and rear windows blown out , police said .
The number of vandalized vehicles is expected to rise as people discover the damage , Whittier police Officer Hugo Figueroa said .
Authorities think the vandals — three men — were in a newer , gray four-door Honda , Figueroa said .
No further details were provided .
During the same time , five vehicles in La Habra had their windows shattered in the 1000 block of Dolores Street , according to La Habra police Sgt .
Scott Irwin .
“ It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had , ” Irwin said .
“ We basically went out and looked at the damage and left notes on windshields to contact us.
” By 10:30 p.m. , reports of gunshots had reached Pico Rivera .
Los Angeles County sheriff ’ s deputies with the Pico Rivera station and paramedics responded to the 6200 block of Rockne Avenue , where a man said he had been shot in the arm by a BB gun , Sgt .
Jonathan Branham said .
The man suffered minor injuries and was treated at the scene @ @ @ @ @ @ @ immediately clear where he was when he was struck .
Police are investigating the incidents , but can ’ t say whether they are related .
Authorities are asking residents to check home security cameras to see whether the crimes were captured on video and to file a police report if their vehicles were damaged .

At least 70 cars in and around Whittier had their windows shattered late Thursday, and authorities are asking for the public’s help in catching the vandals.
The Whittier Police Department received dozens of calls about vandalized vehicles during a 90-minute span beginning about 10 p.m., according to the agency’s Facebook page.
Authorities think the car windows may have been shot out with a BB gun or pellet gun, and police are investigating similar destruction in neighboring La Habra and a shooting in Pico Rivera that may be related.
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Dozens of vehicles along Greenleaf Avenue in Whittier had their side and rear windows blown out, police said.
The number of vandalized vehicles is expected to rise as people discover the damage, Whittier police Officer Hugo Figueroa said.
Authorities think the vandals — three men — were in a newer, gray four-door Honda, Figueroa said. No further details were provided.
During the same time, five vehicles in La Habra had their windows shattered in the 1000 block of Dolores Street, according to La Habra police Sgt. Scott Irwin.
“It’s nowhere near the scale Whittier had,” Irwin said. “We basically went out and looked at the damage and left notes on windshields to contact us.”
By 10:30 p.m., reports of gunshots had reached Pico Rivera. Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputies with the Pico Rivera station and paramedics responded to the 6200 block of Rockne Avenue, where a man said he had been shot in the arm by a BB gun, Sgt. Jonathan Branham said.
The man suffered minor injuries and was treated at the scene, authorities said. It was not immediately clear where he was when he was struck.
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Police are investigating the incidents, but can’t say whether they are related. Authorities are asking residents to check home security cameras to see whether the crimes were captured on video and to file a police report if their vehicles were damaged.


latimes--2020-01-24--A warm weekend is on tap for Southern California

It may be the middle of winter , but it ’ s looking like beach weather for the weekend as forecasters are calling for mostly warm and dry weather across Southern California .
Temperatures are expected to be about 10 degrees above normal , with highs reaching the mid-70s on Friday and Saturday , according to the National Weather Service .
“ We have high pressure building ... over the next couple days , and it will bring in some warmer-than-normal temperatures , at least through Sunday , ” said Todd Hall , a meteorologist in Oxnard .
If you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ though , take note of the waves .
The weather service issued a high-surf advisory for all beaches in the region between Saturday and Sunday morning .
Things are expected to cool off a bit by Sunday , when a weak cold front will bring clouds and a slight chance of rain to the north , forecasters said .
Light showers are possible as far south as San Luis Obispo and the northern portion of Santa Barbara County in the morning and early afternoon .
The cold front is forecast to fall apart @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but will bring windy conditions to the region that night , Hall said .
That may prompt the weather service to issue an advisory , particularly for mountain areas and southern Santa Barbara County .
“ If you ’ re planning on traveling through the I-5 corridor or along the 101 into Santa Barbara County , you ’ re probably going to see some wind , ” he said .
Temperatures are expected to warm up again starting Monday , and the weather will likely remain dry through at least Thursday , forecasters @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of showers early Tuesday , the last measurable rainfall in Southern California was Jan. 17 .

A beachgoer is silhouetted by a scenic sunset at Corona del Mar State Beach on Jan. 8, 2020. Warm weather is on tap for Southern California this weekend.
It may be the middle of winter, but it’s looking like beach weather for the weekend as forecasters are calling for mostly warm and dry weather across Southern California.
Temperatures are expected to be about 10 degrees above normal, with highs reaching the mid-70s on Friday and Saturday, according to the National Weather Service.
“We have high pressure building ... over the next couple days, and it will bring in some warmer-than-normal temperatures, at least through Sunday,” said Todd Hall, a meteorologist in Oxnard.
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If you’re heading to the shore, though, take note of the waves. The weather service issued a high-surf advisory for all beaches in the region between Saturday and Sunday morning.
Things are expected to cool off a bit by Sunday, when a weak cold front will bring clouds and a slight chance of rain to the north, forecasters said. Light showers are possible as far south as San Luis Obispo and the northern portion of Santa Barbara County in the morning and early afternoon.
The cold front is forecast to fall apart as it pushes south on Sunday afternoon but will bring windy conditions to the region that night, Hall said. That may prompt the weather service to issue an advisory, particularly for mountain areas and southern Santa Barbara County.
“If you’re planning on traveling through the I-5 corridor or along the 101 into Santa Barbara County, you’re probably going to see some wind,” he said.
Temperatures are expected to warm up again starting Monday, and the weather will likely remain dry through at least Thursday, forecasters said.
Although there was a smattering of showers early Tuesday, the last measurable rainfall in Southern California was Jan. 17.


latimes--2020-01-24--Trump administration moves against California on abortion coverage by health plans

The Trump administration warned California on Friday that it must stop requiring health insurance plans in the state to provide abortion coverage or risk losing federal money .
The move — the latest clash between the White House and the nation ’ s largest state — opens a new front in a long-running national debate over whether abortion services must be covered by health insurance .
It threatens to further restrict Californians ’ access to abortion services , which must be offered in health plans that cover individuals and employees of small business in the state .
The state ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in five other states , including New York , Illinois and Washington , do not apply to larger employer plans or to federally funded insurance plans , including Medicare and Medicaid .
“ If California wants to provide abortion services , it can do so , ” said Roger Severino , who directs the Office for Civil Rights in the Department of Health and Human Services .
“ What the state is not free to do is force people to pay for other people ’ s abortions.
” California has 30 days to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The announcement came as President Trump , who is aggressively courting religious conservatives ahead of his reelection campaign , on Friday became the first sitting president to address the annual March for Life in Washington .
The administration has not detailed which federal funds could be jeopardized by a refusal to comply .
Access to abortion has long been a bedrock of California health policy , and the state enshrines a right to privacy in its constitution .
But opponents of abortion rights have long chafed at abortion coverage mandates in California @ @ @ @ @ @ @ force opponents of the procedure to pay for them with their tax or premium dollars , violating their conscience .
California ’ s rule – issued in 2014 by the state ’ s managed care department – was challenged by two religious groups : Skyline Wesleyan Church , a large evangelical congregation in La Mesa , Calif. , and the Missionary Guadalupana of the Holy Spirit , a Los Angeles order of Catholic nuns .
A lawsuit by the Catholic order was dismissed by a California court .
Severino said the administration determined @ @ @ @ @ @ @ protect the conscience rights of the nuns and the church .
“ We are the last hope for people whose rights have been violated , ” he said .
The notice from the Health and Human Services Department to Gov .
Gavin Newsom , Atty .
Gen. Xavier Becerra and other state officials charges that the state ’ s mandate violates the so-called Weldon amendment .
The amendment , which has been added to federal spending bills since 2004 , specifies that federal funds may not be provided to any state or local @ @ @ @ @ @ @ individual healthcare entity to discrimination on the basis that the healthcare entity does not provide , pay for , provide coverage of , or refer for abortions.
” The Trump administration alleges that the state ’ s requirement that health plans cover abortion services effectively discriminates against health insurance plans that don ’ t cover these services .
Becerra , who is representing the state in numerous disputes with the Trump administration , blasted the warning Friday .
“ The President & VP are once again attacking women ’ s health in order @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rally , ” the state attorney general said in a Twitter post .
“ Make no mistake , this action against CA is just one more attempt to chip away at women ’ s rights & access to abortion.… “ While it ’ s unfortunate that the President ’ s moral compass always points to sowing division for cheap political gain , California won ’ t be deterred .
We will fight this by any means necessary.
” The administration ’ s moves also drew condemnation from groups supporting abortion rights .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have seen from the Trump Administration in its attempts to restrict and ban access to abortion , ” said Jodi Hicks , president of Planned Parenthood Affiliates of California .
“ California law guarantees the right to abortion access and coverage , as aligned with the US Supreme Court ’ s ruling in Roe v. Wade .
Furthermore , California courts have declared that health plans must treat abortion and pregnancy care equally , as they are both basic health care services under California law.
” The administration ’ s latest move follows @ @ @ @ @ @ @ California ’ s treatment of faith-based crisis pregnancy centers , which ended up at the U.S. Supreme Court .
California in 2015 enacted legislation forcing such pregnancy centers , which strongly oppose abortion rights , to let women know that the procedure was an option for them .
The high court in 2018 backed a challenge from one of the centers that alleged the rule violated its free-speech rights .
And last year , the Trump administration gave a California family planning grant to Obria Group , a rival to Planned Parenthood that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ such as the use of contraceptives .
Speaking at the March for Life Friday in Washington , Trump promised to keep up the fight to roll back access to abortion .
“ Unborn children have never had a stronger defender in the White House , ” Trump told the cheering crowd , reciting a litany of policies and actions he has taken to restrict abortion rights domestically and abroad .
The administration ’ s initiatives challenging abortion providers such as Planned Parenthood have won wide acclaim among religious conservatives , who have emerged @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The White House has prominently touted the president ’ s moves to curtail abortion access , including limits on international aid for family planning groups that even discuss abortion and the nomination of conservative federal judges endorsed by the antiabortion movement .

President Trump speaks at the March for Life in Washington on Friday. He was the first sitting president to speak in person at the annual demonstration.
The Trump administration warned California on Friday that it must stop requiring health insurance plans in the state to provide abortion coverage or risk losing federal money.
The move — the latest clash between the White House and the nation’s largest state — opens a new front in a long-running national debate over whether abortion services must be covered by health insurance.
It threatens to further restrict Californians’ access to abortion services, which must be offered in health plans that cover individuals and employees of small business in the state.
Advertisement
The state’s rules, which broadly parallel regulations in five other states, including New York, Illinois and Washington, do not apply to larger employer plans or to federally funded insurance plans, including Medicare and Medicaid.
“If California wants to provide abortion services, it can do so,” said Roger Severino, who directs the Office for Civil Rights in the Department of Health and Human Services. “What the state is not free to do is force people to pay for other people’s abortions.”
California has 30 days to repeal its abortion mandate, Severino said.
The announcement came as President Trump, who is aggressively courting religious conservatives ahead of his reelection campaign, on Friday became the first sitting president to address the annual March for Life in Washington.
The administration has not detailed which federal funds could be jeopardized by a refusal to comply.
Advertisement
Access to abortion has long been a bedrock of California health policy, and the state enshrines a right to privacy in its constitution.
But opponents of abortion rights have long chafed at abortion coverage mandates in California and other states, arguing that they force opponents of the procedure to pay for them with their tax or premium dollars, violating their conscience.
California’s rule — issued in 2014 by the state’s managed care department — was challenged by two religious groups: Skyline Wesleyan Church, a large evangelical congregation in La Mesa, Calif., and the Missionary Guadalupana of the Holy Spirit, a Los Angeles order of Catholic nuns.
A lawsuit by the Catholic order was dismissed by a California court.
Severino said the administration determined it would have to step in to protect the conscience rights of the nuns and the church.
“We are the last hope for people whose rights have been violated,” he said.
The notice from the Health and Human Services Department to Gov. Gavin Newsom, Atty. Gen. Xavier Becerra and other state officials charges that the state’s mandate violates the so-called Weldon amendment.
The amendment, which has been added to federal spending bills since 2004, specifies that federal funds may not be provided to any state or local governments that subject “any institutional or individual healthcare entity to discrimination on the basis that the healthcare entity does not provide, pay for, provide coverage of, or refer for abortions.”
The Trump administration alleges that the state’s requirement that health plans cover abortion services effectively discriminates against health insurance plans that don’t cover these services.
Becerra, who is representing the state in numerous disputes with the Trump administration, blasted the warning Friday.
“The President & VP are once again attacking women’s health in order to grandstand at today’s anti-choice rally,” the state attorney general said in a Twitter post. “Make no mistake, this action against CA is just one more attempt to chip away at women’s rights & access to abortion.…
“While it’s unfortunate that the President’s moral compass always points to sowing division for cheap political gain, California won’t be deterred. We will fight this by any means necessary.”
The administration’s moves also drew condemnation from groups supporting abortion rights.
“This is the same tired tactic we have seen from the Trump administration in its attempts to restrict and ban access to abortion,” said Jodi Hicks, president of Planned Parenthood Affiliates of California. “California law guarantees the right to abortion access and coverage, as aligned with the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling in Roe vs. Wade. Furthermore, California courts have declared that health plans must treat abortion and pregnancy care equally, as they are both basic healthcare services under California law.”
The administration’s latest move follows a successful effort by conservatives to challenge California’s treatment of faith-based crisis pregnancy centers, which ended up at the U.S. Supreme Court.
California in 2015 enacted legislation forcing such pregnancy centers, which strongly oppose abortion rights, to let women know that the procedure was an option for them.
The high court in 2018 backed a challenge from one of the centers that alleged the rule violated its free-speech rights.
And last year, the Trump administration gave a California family planning grant to Obria Group, a rival to Planned Parenthood that does not support modern family planning methods such as the use of contraceptives.
Speaking at the March for Life on Friday in Washington, Trump promised to keep up the fight to roll back access to abortion.
“Unborn children have never had a stronger defender in the White House,” Trump told the cheering crowd, reciting a litany of policies and actions he has taken to restrict abortion rights domestically and abroad.
The administration’s initiatives challenging abortion providers such as Planned Parenthood have won wide acclaim among religious conservatives, who have emerged as a key electoral base for Trump.
The White House has prominently touted the president’s moves to curtail abortion access, including limits on international aid for family planning groups that even discuss abortion and the nomination of conservative federal judges endorsed by the antiabortion movement.


latimes--2020-01-24--As gray whale migration reaches its peak, scientists fear another unexplained die-off

As California gray whales wind their way south along North America ’ s Pacific coast — from their feeding grounds in the Arctic to their spring destination in the secluded lagoons of Mexico ’ s Baja Peninsula — researchers from Alaska to Mexico are watching , worried about another year of unexplained die-offs .
So far , at least three whales have died on the southbound journey , according to a spokesman at the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration .
And there are unconfirmed reports of strandings in Mexico .
Necropsies suggest two of the confirmed whales were “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a juvenile , seemed to be of average body condition , said NOAA ’ s Michael Milstein .
Last spring and summer , 215 whales inexplicably washed up along North America ’ s West Coast , suggesting thousands more had also perished but had sunk at sea .
Concerned , NOAA called for an investigation in May , bringing together researchers from the Arctic to Mexico to explore the strandings in a uniform , systematic manner .
Protocols for nutritional observations during necropsies were established — providing a numeric scale upon which to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the best angles with which to photograph a beached whale .
Regular phone calls and check-ins among geographically scattered scientists were also instituted .
Yet , according to Milstein and scientists involved with the investigation , it ’ s still unclear what caused the 2019 die-off and whether the whales will fare better this year .
A similar “ unexplained mortality event ” occurred in 2000 .
No cause was ever determined .
“ We really won ’ t know anything until about February or March , ” said John Calambokidis , a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nonprofit in Olympia , Wash. That ’ s when observers in the Baja lagoons will be able to examine the whales ’ physical condition .
California gray whales migrate 5,000 miles every year from their summer feeding grounds in the Arctic to their calving grounds in the lagoons of Mexico ’ s Baja Peninsula , where they typically stay until the end of March and early April , before heading back north .
Their journey is the longest mammalian migration , and full of perils such as ships , orcas and plastic debris @ @ @ @ @ @ @ because gray whales only eat while in the Arctic ; therefore , they are running on empty as they make their return trip from Baja .
“ We ’ ll get a really good idea how they are doing in May or June as they pass by California , Oregon , Washington and B.C.
, ” said Calambokidis .
Data and observations collected this past summer by researchers based at NOAA ’ s Alaska Fisheries Science Center — where researchers each year conduct aerial surveys of whales , seals and other marine animals @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more questions than answers .
For instance , 15 gray whales were spotted in one day in the eastern Beaufort Sea — a rare sighting for a species usually seen getting fat at what the team up here likes to call “ the Chukchi Sea buffet.
” But with the sea ice forming later in winter and breaking up earlier in the summer , scientists wonder whether gray whales will continue to move farther east to new feeding areas .
When in their feeding grounds , a gray whale typically eats about 1.3 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , worms , shrimp and small , schooling fish — per day , according to researchers .
In addition to changes in food availability , as sea ice decreases , whales are running into more and more ship traffic in these remote waters , said Amy Willoughby , a NOAA Fisheries marine mammal biologist at the Alaska center .
Vessel strikes and entanglement in fishing gear are common causes of whale injury and death .
In an October post that Willoughby wrote after the latest aerial survey , she shared photos of a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sea with long , noticeable scars from the propeller of a small recreational vessel .
Aerial photos —which allow scientists to see both left and right sides of the body and sometimes even the body below the surface — provide important health assessments and critical monitoring in this rapidly-changing polar environment , she said .
Maggie Mooney-Seus , spokeswoman for the Alaska Fisheries Science Center , said the team is busy this month figuring out how to best study what ’ s happening to the whales — and all the other changes — @ @ @ @ @ @ @ working with partners , ” she said , “ to determine future whale research initiatives that may help shed light on this and other relevant questions.
” Scientists are also looking at broader ocean conditions along the West Coast , such as an alarming rise in acidity and recent heat waves .
Further down the coast , at Granite Point , just south of Carmel , researchers with NOAA ’ s Southwest Fisheries Science Center are using drones to count the whales as they move south .
So far , according to Trevor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ science center , the method seems effective — and much safer than sending observers out in low-flying planes .
With help from a team of binocular-holding observers and three infrared sensors attached to the roof of a government shed on the Granite Canyon bluff , the counts are becoming more accurate .
Images captured last weekend by the drone shows the whales are at peak migration .
More than 60 swam by the point , just south of Point Lobos , on Saturday — including a mother and her newborn calf .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ south , said Wayne Perryman , a retired NOAA biologist , who noted it ’ s also the time at which females ovulate , if they are not pregnant .
On a recent trip out of Ventura Harbor , a Times reporter spotted a pair of gray whales courting just north of Santa Cruz Island .
A pod of more than a thousand common dolphins churned the waters nearby , and a family of eight orcas cruised for unsuspecting sea lions , seals and baby whales .
“ These whales are the jeeps @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Perryman , noting not only the multitude of hazards they face — from annual 10,000 mile journeys , to ship strikes , changes in sea ice and predators — but also the whales ’ adaptability .
“ So if they start showing problems , ” he said , it ’ s a potential flag for the ocean system as a whole .

A dead gray whale on Limantour Beach on May 23, 2019, in Point Reyes Station, Calif. Scientists fear a repeat of whale die-offs this year after the deaths of three of the creatures.
As California gray whales wind their way south along North America’s Pacific coast — from their feeding grounds in the Arctic to their spring destination in the secluded lagoons of Mexico’s Baja Peninsula — researchers from Alaska to Mexico are watching, worried about another year of unexplained die-offs.
So far, at least three whales have died on the southbound journey, according to a spokesman at the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. And there are unconfirmed reports of strandings in Mexico.
Necropsies suggest two of the confirmed whales were “thin,” while a third, a juvenile, seemed to be of average body condition, said NOAA’s Michael Milstein.
Advertisement
Last spring and summer, 215 whales inexplicably washed up along North America’s West Coast, suggesting thousands more had also perished but had sunk at sea. Concerned, NOAA called for an investigation in May, bringing together researchers from the Arctic to Mexico to explore the strandings in a uniform, systematic manner.
Protocols for nutritional observations during necropsies were established — providing a numeric scale upon which to assess blubber dryness, body condition and the best angles with which to photograph a beached whale. Regular phone calls and check-ins among geographically scattered scientists were also instituted.
Yet, according to Milstein and scientists involved with the investigation, it’s still unclear what caused the 2019 die-off and whether the whales will fare better this year.
A similar “unexplained mortality event” occurred in 2000. No cause was ever determined.
“We really won’t know anything until about February or March,” said John Calambokidis, a whale researcher at Cascadia Research, a nonprofit in Olympia, Wash. That’s when observers in the Baja lagoons will be able to examine the whales’ physical condition.
California gray whales migrate 5,000 miles every year from their summer feeding grounds in the Arctic to their calving grounds in the lagoons of Mexico’s Baja Peninsula, where they typically stay until the end of March and early April, before heading back north.
Their journey is the longest mammalian migration, and full of perils such as ships, orcas and plastic debris. The journey north is particularly perilous because gray whales only eat while in the Arctic; therefore, they are running on empty as they make their return trip from Baja.
Advertisement
“We’ll get a really good idea how they are doing in May or June as they pass by California, Oregon, Washington and B.C.,” said Calambokidis.
Data and observations collected this past summer by researchers based at NOAA’s Alaska Fisheries Science Center — where researchers each year conduct aerial surveys of whales, seals and other marine animals in the U.S. Arctic — have raised more questions than answers.
For instance, 15 gray whales were spotted in one day in the eastern Beaufort Sea — a rare sighting for a species usually seen getting fat at what the team up here likes to call “the Chukchi Sea buffet.” But with the sea ice forming later in winter and breaking up earlier in the summer, scientists wonder whether gray whales will continue to move farther east to new feeding areas.
When in their feeding grounds, a gray whale typically eats about 1.3 tons of food — mouth-fulls of crustaceans, worms, shrimp and small, schooling fish — per day, according to researchers.
In addition to changes in food availability, as sea ice decreases, whales are running into more and more ship traffic in these remote waters, said Amy Willoughby, a NOAA Fisheries marine mammal biologist at the Alaska center. Vessel strikes and entanglement in fishing gear are common causes of whale injury and death.
In an October post that Willoughby wrote after the latest aerial survey, she shared photos of a gray whale spotted in the northeastern Chukchi Sea with long, noticeable scars from the propeller of a small recreational vessel. Aerial photos —which allow scientists to see both left and right sides of the body and sometimes even the body below the surface — provide important health assessments and critical monitoring in this rapidly-changing polar environment, she said.
Maggie Mooney-Seus, spokeswoman for the Alaska Fisheries Science Center, said the team is busy this month figuring out how to best study what’s happening to the whales — and all the other changes — in the Arctic. “We are working with partners,” she said, “to determine future whale research initiatives that may help shed light on this and other relevant questions.”
Scientists are also looking at broader ocean conditions along the West Coast, such as an alarming rise in acidity and recent heat waves.
Climate & Environment Scientists were stumped when seabirds started dying. Now they have answers A new study suggests that a ‘blob’ of warm ocean water in 2015 disrupted the food web of the Pacific, triggering the starvation and deaths of thousands and thousands of sea birds, including the common murre.
Further down the coast, at Granite Point, just south of Carmel, researchers with NOAA’s Southwest Fisheries Science Center are using drones to count the whales as they move south.
So far, according to Trevor Joyce, a researcher with the southwest science center, the method seems effective — and much safer than sending observers out in low-flying planes. With help from a team of binocular-holding observers and three infrared sensors attached to the roof of a government shed on the Granite Canyon bluff, the counts are becoming more accurate.
Images captured last weekend by the drone shows the whales are at peak migration. More than 60 swam by the point, just south of Point Lobos, on Saturday — including a mother and her newborn calf.
The whales generally give birth as they move south, said Wayne Perryman, a retired NOAA biologist, who noted it’s also the time at which females ovulate, if they are not pregnant.
On a recent trip out of Ventura Harbor, a Times reporter spotted a pair of gray whales courting just north of Santa Cruz Island. A pod of more than a thousand common dolphins churned the waters nearby, and a family of eight orcas cruised for unsuspecting sea lions, seals and baby whales.
“These whales are the jeeps of the cetacean group,” said Perryman, noting not only the multitude of hazards they face — from annual 10,000 mile journeys, to ship strikes, changes in sea ice and predators — but also the whales’ adaptability.
“So if they start showing problems,” he said, it’s a potential flag for the ocean system as a whole.


latimes--2020-01-24--Are you an independent voter? You can't vote in the California GOP primary

As election day approaches , social media posts warn of a nefarious plot to limit who can vote in California ‘ s Republican presidential primary .
But the message is false : The only limit on participation is one imposed by the GOP ‘ s state and national leaders .
Their decision bans California ’ s 5.4 million so-called “ independent ” voters from casting primary ballots for President Trump or any of his six challengers in the March 3 statewide election .
“ This is a self-inflicted wound , ” said George Andrews , a GOP campaign organizer .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ kind of Republicans anymore [ who ] exclude people.
” The move by Republicans stands in contrast to a decision made by Democrats to allow Californians registered as having “ no party preference ” to vote for any of the party ’ s 20 presidential hopefuls whose names will appear on the ballot .
Confusion over the different rules has increased as local elections officials begin sending out mailers to unaffiliated voters explaining how to vote in the primary for president — mailers that don ’ t include the Republican Party as one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ legislative staffer who also works on GOP campaigns , recently complained on Twitter about what he believes is a failure by GOP leaders to embrace the changing habits of voters who may focus more on particular candidates and policies than party membership .
“ We ’ re throwing away Republican votes , ” he said in an interview .
“ We ’ ll just continue to shrink and shrink.
” A statewide survey conducted in November by the nonpartisan Public Policy Institute of California found a limited but noticeable number of unaffiliated voters @ @ @ @ @ @ @ percent of independent voters polled said they have a favorable view of the Republican Party ; among those likely to vote , the number rose to 34 % .
Jessica Millan Patterson , the chairwoman of the California Republican Party , rejected the idea that a closed presidential primary has a negative effect on a voter ’ s perception of the GOP .
“ Our party believes our nominee should be chosen by Republicans , ” she said .
“ We are trying really hard to build a California Republican Party that everyone @ @ @ @ @ @ @ key challenge is that each county ’ s GOP leadership is chosen during a presidential primary .
Allowing non-Republicans to help choose those leaders , she said , would be a problem .
So too would be changing election rules to split local leadership races from the GOP presidential primary .
“ It would be an incredibly expensive endeavor , ” she said .
Republicans are not alone in segregating their presidential primary from California ’ s open-to-everyone races for Congress and the Legislature .
The question of whether to allow unaffiliated voters @ @ @ @ @ @ @ state ’ s six political parties into two equal-sized camps .
Democrats , Libertarians and American Independents have an open primary for president ; Republican , Green and Peace and Freedom party leaders have kept their primaries closed to all but registered members .
Democrats have used the California GOP ’ s decision to keep its presidential primary closed as a talking point in their effort to brand themselves as members of a party of inclusion — one whose elected officials have crafted a series of changes to the law designed to boost @ @ @ @ @ @ @ time to vote and count ballots .
“ Republicans might be saying , ‘ Commit to our party.
’ But Democrats would say , ‘ Commit to our democracy , ’ ” said Rusty Hicks , chairman of the California Democratic Party .
“ Something as simple as allowing no-party preference voters to participate in our primary is in line with that direction.
” Rules vary by state when it comes to presidential primary access for voters who are not registered with a political party .
Republicans in several states that will hold @ @ @ @ @ @ @ allowing unaffiliated voters to participate .
Should California GOP leaders change their minds for the 2024 presidential election , they would need the approval of state party members and the Republican National Committee .
Perhaps no trend has dominated California politics more over the past decade than the growing ranks of unaffiliated , independent voters .
There are more than twice the number of nonparty voters now as there were in January 2008 .
Taken as a group , they outnumber Republicans and are second only to Democrats .
In 2016 , no @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the state ’ s Democratic presidential primary — though there were some reports that independent voters found the procedures to cast a ballot confusing .
This time , the process could be easier under a new state law that allows voters to change their registration status or register for the first time on election day .
And to limit confusion , election officials are reminding unaffiliated voters by mail that they must proactively request a “ crossover ” ballot from one of the three parties that have open presidential primaries .
It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which doesn ’ t list the Republican Party , that is falsely being portrayed on social media as evidence of an anti-GOP campaign .
Andrews , who said the mailed out cards are a painful reminder that his party might be missing out on an opportunity to connect with like-minded independent voters , said he realizes some GOP officials won ’ t be happy with him speaking up .
“ I ’ ve been getting text messages saying , ‘ You sure you want to pick a fight with them ?
’ , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ But if I don ’ t pick a fight with these guys , I won ’ t even have a Republican Party in California to fight for in 10 years .
”

A stack of vote-by-mail ballots sits in a box after being sorted at the San Francisco Department of Elections. Three political parties are allowing independent voters to participate in California’s presidential primary, three others are not. Democrats are a yes, Republicans a no.
As election day approaches, social media posts warn of a nefarious plot to limit who can vote in California‘s Republican presidential primary.
But the message is false: The only limit on participation is one imposed by the GOP‘s state and national leaders.
Their decision bans California’s 5.4 million so-called “independent” voters from casting primary ballots for President Trump or any of his six challengers in the March 3 statewide election.
“This is a self-inflicted wound,” said George Andrews, a GOP campaign organizer. “We can’t be the kind of Republicans anymore [who] exclude people.”
The move by Republicans stands in contrast to a decision made by Democrats to allow Californians registered as having “no party preference” to vote for any of the party’s 20 presidential hopefuls whose names will appear on the ballot. Confusion over the different rules has increased as local elections officials begin sending out mailers to unaffiliated voters explaining how to vote in the primary for president — mailers that don’t include the Republican Party as one of the choices.
Andrews, a legislative staffer who also works on GOP campaigns, recently complained on Twitter about what he believes is a failure by GOP leaders to embrace the changing habits of voters who may focus more on particular candidates and policies than party membership.
Advertisement
“We’re throwing away Republican votes,” he said in an interview. “We’ll just continue to shrink and shrink.”
A statewide survey conducted in November by the nonpartisan Public Policy Institute of California found a limited but noticeable number of unaffiliated voters receptive to the GOP message. Twenty-five percent of independent voters polled said they have a favorable view of the Republican Party; among those likely to vote, the number rose to 34%.
Jessica Millan Patterson, the chairwoman of the California Republican Party, rejected the idea that a closed presidential primary has a negative effect on a voter’s perception of the GOP.
“Our party believes our nominee should be chosen by Republicans,” she said. “We are trying really hard to build a California Republican Party that everyone feels welcome in.”
Patterson said a key challenge is that each county’s GOP leadership is chosen during a presidential primary. Allowing non-Republicans to help choose those leaders, she said, would be a problem. So too would be changing election rules to split local leadership races from the GOP presidential primary.
“It would be an incredibly expensive endeavor,” she said.
Republicans are not alone in segregating their presidential primary from California’s open-to-everyone races for Congress and the Legislature. The question of whether to allow unaffiliated voters to cast presidential votes has divided the state’s six political parties into two equal-sized camps. Democrats, Libertarians and American Independents have an open primary for president; Republican, Green and Peace and Freedom party leaders have kept their primaries closed to all but registered members.
Democrats have used the California GOP’s decision to keep its presidential primary closed as a talking point in their effort to brand themselves as members of a party of inclusion — one whose elected officials have crafted a series of changes to the law designed to boost voter registration and increase the amount of time to vote and count ballots.
“Republicans might be saying, ‘Commit to our party.’ But Democrats would say, ‘Commit to our democracy,’” said Rusty Hicks, chairman of the California Democratic Party. “Something as simple as allowing no-party preference voters to participate in our primary is in line with that direction.”
Advertisement
Rules vary by state when it comes to presidential primary access for voters who are not registered with a political party. Republicans in several states that will hold their presidential primaries on March 3 are allowing unaffiliated voters to participate. Should California GOP leaders change their minds for the 2024 presidential election, they would need the approval of state party members and the Republican National Committee.
Perhaps no trend has dominated California politics more over the past decade than the growing ranks of unaffiliated, independent voters. There are more than twice the number of nonparty voters now as there were in January 2008. Taken as a group, they outnumber Republicans and are second only to Democrats. In 2016, no party preference voters played a sizable role in the state’s Democratic presidential primary — though there were some reports that independent voters found the procedures to cast a ballot confusing.
This time, the process could be easier under a new state law that allows voters to change their registration status or register for the first time on election day. And to limit confusion, election officials are reminding unaffiliated voters by mail that they must proactively request a “crossover” ballot from one of the three parties that have open presidential primaries.
It’s that piece of mail, which doesn’t list the Republican Party, that is falsely being portrayed on social media as evidence of an anti-GOP campaign.
Andrews, who said the mailed out cards are a painful reminder that his party might be missing out on an opportunity to connect with like-minded independent voters, said he realizes some GOP officials won’t be happy with him speaking up.
“I’ve been getting text messages saying, ‘You sure you want to pick a fight with them?’,” he said of party leaders. “But if I don’t pick a fight with these guys, I won’t even have a Republican Party in California to fight for in 10 years.”


latimes--2020-01-24--One veteran was homeless. Another ran a shelter. Now they live to help homeless people

For Dale Wilson , conducting Los Angeles County ’ s annual homeless count this week was a homecoming of sorts .
Building 257 at the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs campus in West Los Angeles is where he ended three years of living on the streets , much of it mired in addiction .
The Army veteran finally decided that he had spent too many years in jail and too much time apologizing to his son , also an Army veteran .
So Wilson came to this building , which serves as the Veterans Welcome Center , got a shelter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ almost eight years ago .
Now the 60-year-old , with fading tattoos and a round , friendly smile with a few missing teeth , lives with his wife in an apartment in Bellflower .
He is also an outreach worker for the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority .
He credits the VA with saving his life .
“ I ’ ve been locked up .
I ’ ve got two strikes .
I shouldn ’ t have this job , ” Wilson said .
“ This isn ’ t even work to me @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It ’ s just giving back .
I needed a lot of help to get out of the situation that I was in .
I really did.
” The precipitous decline in homelessness among veterans in recent years has served as a rare bright spot for California officials desperately searching for strategies to get people off the streets .
There were 3,878 homeless veterans in Los Angeles in 2019 , which was the most in the country .
That number is relatively flat compared to 2018 but is down dramatically from 2017 .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ where more than 7,000 volunteers spread out over three days this week to collect information for the federally mandated homeless count , the one on the VA campus was conducted by social workers and medical professionals from the department , along with LAHSA employees like Wilson .
The count has become a civic exercise in making people more aware of the crisis unfolding on Los Angeles ’ streets .
On Wednesday , Wilson and Daniel Ornelas , another LAHSA outreach worker , joined about a dozen people in a small sterile room in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Enrique Martinez , both of LAHSA , walked the group through how the night would go .
Reddy split them into five groups of three or four , and told them to canvass the campus ’ 388 acres — a labyrinth of buildings , parking lots and even a golf course .
Homeless veterans are known to sleep in their cars , and sometimes find small nooks and crannies amid the buildings to bed down .
There ’ s a safe parking lot that ’ s mushroomed in size in recent years .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ doing a visible count and weren ’ t expected to engage with the people they saw .
He explained that the count is conducted during the winter because shelters tend to be at capacity , so it ’ s easier and more accurate to tally the people inside .
The count is also done at night because people tend to be on the move during the day .
So going out after dark makes more sense .
“ Thank you to everyone who has served and thank you for everything you guys do @ @ @ @ @ @ @ then Joined Ornelas and Wilson , and the group set off , sweeping their surroundings with flashlights .
They looked for signs of life — trash or holes in a nearby fence .
Ornelas , who spent nearly 30 years in the Army , once managed a homeless shelter on skid row .
“ Let ’ s make a big loop , ” he said .
“ Start down by the field and work our way back this way.
” They trudged through the expanse of overgrown hillsides and gardens near Jackie Robinson @ @ @ @ @ @ @ team plays .
The crack of a metal bat echoed from a nearby batting cage .
Ornelas walked with the determined gait of a man who had spent years marching , and Wilson and Martinez sometimes struggled to keep up .
After 90 minutes , they returned to where they started .
They didn ’ t spot any tents or homeless people .
But in the parking lot , they counted five RVs that appeared to have people inside .
Sometimes it was hard to tell if a homeless person owned the van @ @ @ @ @ @ @ just a vehicle that the VA used to transport patients .
Other groups counted dozens of homeless people and plenty of vehicles that appeared to be inhabited .
The calculations are always somewhat subjective , but will become part of the county ’ s estimate of how many people live on the streets and in cars and RVs .
Back at building 257 , Ornelas and Wilson slapped the backs of other participants and chatted up the social workers and doctors who had joined in the count but now will go back to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ planned to meet up at 7:30 a.m. the next day so they could head to Zuma Beach to help get some homeless people into housing .

Homeless Services Authority employee Daniel Ornelas canvasses the grounds of the VA campus in West L.A. during the yearly homeless count Wednesday.
For Dale Wilson, conducting Los Angeles County’s annual homeless count this week was a homecoming of sorts.
Building 257 at the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs campus in West Los Angeles is where he ended three years of living on the streets, much of it mired in addiction. The Army veteran finally decided that he had spent too many years in jail and too much time apologizing to his son, also an Army veteran.
So Wilson came to this building, which serves as the Veterans Welcome Center, got a shelter bed and got clean. That was almost eight years ago.
Now the 60-year-old, with fading tattoos and a round, friendly smile with a few missing teeth, lives with his wife in an apartment in Bellflower. He is also an outreach worker for the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority.
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He credits the VA with saving his life.
Homeless Services Authority employee Daniel Ornelas canvasses the VA campus. (Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times)
“I’ve been locked up. I’ve got two strikes. I shouldn’t have this job,” Wilson said. “This isn’t even work to me. It’s really not. It’s just giving back. I needed a lot of help to get out of the situation that I was in. I really did.”
The precipitous decline in homelessness among veterans in recent years has served as a rare bright spot for California officials desperately searching for strategies to get people off the streets.
PHOTOS: 2020 Greater Los Angeles Homeless Count
There were 3,878 homeless veterans in Los Angeles in 2019, which was the most in the country. That number is relatively flat compared to 2018 but is down dramatically from 2017.
Unlike most swaths of L.A. County, where more than 7,000 volunteers spread out over three days this week to collect information for the federally mandated homeless count, the one on the VA campus was conducted by social workers and medical professionals from the department, along with LAHSA employees like Wilson.
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From left, Homeless Services Authority employees Daniel Ornelas, Enrique Martinez and Dale Wilson coordinate with VA clinical director Anjani Reddy, center. (Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times)
Dale Wilson joins others at the VA campus to do the count. (Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times)
The count has become a civic exercise in making people more aware of the crisis unfolding on Los Angeles’ streets.
On Wednesday, Wilson and Daniel Ornelas, another LAHSA outreach worker, joined about a dozen people in a small sterile room in Building 257. Dr. Anjani Reddy and Enrique Martinez, both of LAHSA, walked the group through how the night would go.
Reddy split them into five groups of three or four, and told them to canvass the campus’ 388 acres — a labyrinth of buildings, parking lots and even a golf course.
Homeless veterans are known to sleep in their cars, and sometimes find small nooks and crannies amid the buildings to bed down. There’s a safe parking lot that’s mushroomed in size in recent years.
Martinez explained that the groups were just doing a visible count and weren’t expected to engage with the people they saw.
He explained that the count is conducted during the winter because shelters tend to be at capacity, so it’s easier and more accurate to tally the people inside. The count is also done at night because people tend to be on the move during the day. So going out after dark makes more sense.
“Thank you to everyone who has served and thank you for everything you guys do,” Martinez told them.
He then Joined Ornelas and Wilson, and the group set off, sweeping their surroundings with flashlights. They looked for signs of life — trash or holes in a nearby fence.
Daniel Ornelas inspects a broken fence. (Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times)
Daniel Ornelas canvasses the VA campus. (Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times)
Ornelas, who spent nearly 30 years in the Army, once managed a homeless shelter on skid row.
“Let’s make a big loop,” he said. “Start down by the field and work our way back this way.”
They trudged through the expanse of overgrown hillsides and gardens near Jackie Robinson Stadium, where UCLA’s baseball team plays. The crack of a metal bat echoed from a nearby batting cage.
Ornelas walked with the determined gait of a man who had spent years marching, and Wilson and Martinez sometimes struggled to keep up. After 90 minutes, they returned to where they started.
They didn’t spot any tents or homeless people. But in the parking lot, they counted five RVs that appeared to have people inside. Sometimes it was hard to tell if a homeless person owned the van or camper, or if it was just a vehicle that the VA used to transport patients.
Other groups counted dozens of homeless people and plenty of vehicles that appeared to be inhabited.
Daniel Ornelas stops to count RVs. (Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times)
Workers look for homeless people. (Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times)
The calculations are always somewhat subjective, but will become part of the county’s estimate of how many people live on the streets and in cars and RVs.
Back at building 257, Ornelas and Wilson slapped the backs of other participants and chatted up the social workers and doctors who had joined in the count but now will go back to their day jobs.
Wilson and Ornelas planned to meet up at 7:30 a.m. the next day so they could head to Zuma Beach to help get some homeless people into housing.


latimes--2020-01-24--PG&E bankruptcy exit plan doesn't need Newsom's approval — but actually it does

PG & E Corp. ’ s plan to emerge from bankruptcy technically doesn ’ t need California Gov .
Gavin Newsom ’ s approval .
But pragmatically , it probably does .
Newsom has pilloried the utility over the management and infrastructure problems leading to the destructive and deadly wildfires that plunged it into bankruptcy .
He excoriated it when it blacked out power in swaths of Northern and Central California .
And he sees this as a moment to make sure — for the good of the state and his own political career — that the company changes its @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reorganization needs approval not only from the U.S. Bankruptcy Court but also from the California Public Utilities Commission , where Newsom has substantial influence .
Newsom appointed the CPUC ’ s president , Marybel Batjer , last summer as questions about the utility ’ s fate loomed large , knowing he needed an official whose approach to the matter would dovetail with his own .
And the governor ’ s “ voice is an important one for the CPUC as it considers whether or not to approve a plan , ” said Steven @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s Goldman School of Public Policy and a former CPUC administrative law judge .
“ The CPUC shares the governor ’ s interest in ensuring energy policy is consistent and well coordinated across numerous state agencies.
” Newsom also keeps threatening to have the state take over of PG & E if , in his opinion , the San Francisco company ’ s plan doesn ’ t comply with a new state law that outlines the steps it must take to exit bankruptcy protection by June 30 .
The utility reached a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reached an agreement with two major creditors .
But the governor deemed that plan unacceptable , saying it wouldn ’ t put PG & E in a strong enough position post-bankruptcy .
“ If they don ’ t get their act together , we will do it for them — period , full stop , ” Newsom told reporters Wednesday .
A state takeover is “ not an idle threat , ” he said .
“ It ’ s not the preferred strategy , but it is a strategy we ’ re pursuing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ legislative leaders to codify that.
” The utility said that it remains in talks with Newsom ’ s office in hopes of overcoming the governor ’ s objections and that its reorganization plan would be changed in the weeks ahead .
PG & E filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection nearly a year ago in anticipation of facing multibillion-dollar legal claims for its role in deadly wildfires that ravaged Northern California over the last several years .
Under Chapter 11 , a company keeps operating while it works out a restructuring plan with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and in PG & E ’ s case , those other parties included tens of thousands of fire victims .
PG & E has reached settlements to pay the victims , insurance companies , cities , counties and others totaling $ 25.5 billion as part of its reorganization , and the overall plan requires the approval of U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Dennis Montali .
The court ’ s next hearing on PG & E ’ s status is Wednesday .
The utility cleared a hurdle this week when it reached a settlement with two @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bondholders — Pacific Investment Management Co. , known as Pimco , and Elliott Management Corp. — that agreed to drop a rival reorganization plan they had proposed .
As part of that settlement Wednesday , PG & E said it would save about $ 1 billion by refinancing higher-interest debt .
That savings would reduce costs to ratepayers and is “ an important consideration for regulators , ” Kit Konolige , senior utilities analyst with Bloomberg Intelligence , said in a note .
But there ’ s an additional , complex layer to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ PG & E ’ s plan also must comply with that new state law , Assembly Bill 1054 , that covers the bankruptcy and how utilities are covered for fires .
PG & E also needs to comply with AB 1054 if it wants to tap into a new $ 21-billion state wildfire fund for future fires .
Utilities can access the fund if their equipment ignites a fire that leads to significant damage , provided the CPUC determines that the utilities acted responsibly .
In the fall , when public anger exploded @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to cut off power to millions of customers that left them in the dark for days , Newsom hinted at a possible government takeover of PG & E if the bankruptcy reorganization failed to meet the conditions of AB 1054 in time .
PG & E had cut the power to make sure it wouldn ’ t spark additional blazes in the dry , windy weather .
Newsom first rejected PG & E ’ s restructuring plan in a Dec. 13 letter to PG & E Chief Executive William Johnson , saying the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ positioned to provide safe , reliable and affordable service ” to its 16 million customers in Northern and Central California “ as required by AB 1054.
” “ The resolution of this bankruptcy must yield a radically restructured and transformed utility that is responsible and accountable , ” Newsom wrote .
“ For too long , PG & E has been mismanaged , failed to make adequate investments in fire safety and fire prevention and neglected critical infrastructure.
” Newsom contended , among other things , that the cost of the financing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pay the victims ’ claims were too onerous and would leave the reorganized utility “ with limited tools to finance itself when it needs to access capital to make billions of dollars in safety investments.
” Then , on Wednesday , Newsom reiterated his objections in a filing with the Bankruptcy Court , claiming PG & E had “ yet to make a single modification ” to its plan to ensure it satisfies AB 1054 .
He also argued that PG & E was trying “ to leverage the Chapter 11 process to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a sub-optimal plan.
” Newsom also reiterated that he was “ pursuing strategies to protect California ’ s interests through further intervention , including a state takeover of the utility.
” He did not elaborate on the possible terms of a takeover .
PG & E said in a statement that it would “ continue to engage with the Governor ’ s office to address his concerns.
” Bloomberg was used in compiling this report .

PG&E Corp.’s plan to emerge from bankruptcy technically doesn’t need California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s approval. But pragmatically, it probably does.
Newsom has pilloried the utility over the management and infrastructure problems leading to the destructive and deadly wildfires that plunged it into bankruptcy. He excoriated it when it blacked out power in swaths of Northern and Central California. And he sees this as a moment to make sure — for the good of the state and his own political career — that the company changes its ways.
PG&E’s reorganization needs approval not only from the U.S. Bankruptcy Court but also from the California Public Utilities Commission, where Newsom has substantial influence.
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Newsom appointed the CPUC’s president, Marybel Batjer, last summer as questions about the utility’s fate loomed large, knowing he needed an official whose approach to the matter would dovetail with his own.
And the governor’s “voice is an important one for the CPUC as it considers whether or not to approve a plan,” said Steven Weissman, a lecturer at UC Berkeley’s Goldman School of Public Policy and a former CPUC administrative law judge. “The CPUC shares the governor’s interest in ensuring energy policy is consistent and well coordinated across numerous state agencies.”
Newsom also keeps threatening to have the state take over of PG&E if, in his opinion, the San Francisco company’s plan doesn’t comply with a new state law that outlines the steps it must take to exit bankruptcy protection by June 30. The utility reached a milestone Wednesday, announcing that it had reached an agreement with two major creditors. But the governor deemed that plan unacceptable, saying it wouldn’t put PG&E in a strong enough position post-bankruptcy.
“If they don’t get their act together, we will do it for them — period, full stop,” Newsom told reporters Wednesday. A state takeover is “not an idle threat,” he said. “It’s not the preferred strategy, but it is a strategy we’re pursuing, and we’re working with legislative leaders to codify that.”
The utility said that it remains in talks with Newsom’s office in hopes of overcoming the governor’s objections and that its reorganization plan would be changed in the weeks ahead.
PG&E filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection nearly a year ago in anticipation of facing multibillion-dollar legal claims for its role in deadly wildfires that ravaged Northern California over the last several years.
Under Chapter 11, a company keeps operating while it works out a restructuring plan with its creditors, shareholders and others, and in PG&E’s case, those other parties included tens of thousands of fire victims.
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PG&E has reached settlements to pay the victims, insurance companies, cities, counties and others totaling $25.5 billion as part of its reorganization, and the overall plan requires the approval of U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Dennis Montali. The court’s next hearing on PG&E’s status is Wednesday.
The utility cleared a hurdle this week when it reached a settlement with two of PG&E’s major bondholders — Pacific Investment Management Co., known as Pimco, and Elliott Management Corp. — that agreed to drop a rival reorganization plan they had proposed.
As part of that settlement Wednesday, PG&E said it would save about $1 billion by refinancing higher-interest debt. That savings would reduce costs to ratepayers and is “an important consideration for regulators,” Kit Konolige, senior utilities analyst with Bloomberg Intelligence, said in a note.
But there’s an additional, complex layer to PG&E’s bankruptcy. PG&E’s plan also must comply with that new state law, Assembly Bill 1054, that covers the bankruptcy and how utilities are covered for fires.
PG&E also needs to comply with AB 1054 if it wants to tap into a new $21-billion state wildfire fund for future fires. Utilities can access the fund if their equipment ignites a fire that leads to significant damage, provided the CPUC determines that the utilities acted responsibly.
In the fall, when public anger exploded over PG&E’s decision to cut off power to millions of customers that left them in the dark for days, Newsom hinted at a possible government takeover of PG&E if the bankruptcy reorganization failed to meet the conditions of AB 1054 in time. PG&E had cut the power to make sure it wouldn’t spark additional blazes in the dry, windy weather.
Newsom first rejected PG&E’s restructuring plan in a Dec. 13 letter to PG&E Chief Executive William Johnson, saying the plan would not leave PG&E “positioned to provide safe, reliable and affordable service” to its 16 million customers in Northern and Central California “as required by AB 1054.”
“The resolution of this bankruptcy must yield a radically restructured and transformed utility that is responsible and accountable,” Newsom wrote. “For too long, PG&E has been mismanaged, failed to make adequate investments in fire safety and fire prevention and neglected critical infrastructure.”
Newsom contended, among other things, that the cost of the financing methods planned by PG&E to pay the victims’ claims were too onerous and would leave the reorganized utility “with limited tools to finance itself when it needs to access capital to make billions of dollars in safety investments.”
Then, on Wednesday, Newsom reiterated his objections in a filing with the Bankruptcy Court, claiming PG&E had “yet to make a single modification” to its plan to ensure it satisfies AB 1054. He also argued that PG&E was trying “to leverage the Chapter 11 process to force” the CPUC to approve “a sub-optimal plan.”
Newsom also reiterated that he was “pursuing strategies to protect California’s interests through further intervention, including a state takeover of the utility.” He did not elaborate on the possible terms of a takeover.
PG&E said in a statement that it would “continue to engage with the Governor’s office to address his concerns.”
Bloomberg was used in compiling this report.