latimes--2020-12-17--Yes, Feinstein is the oldest U.S. senator. But she should be able to retire on her own terms

California Sen. Dianne Feinstein says she hasn ’ t thought about retiring soon despite some assertions that the 87-year-old lawmaker should step aside because her cognitive abilities have allegedly declined .
“ No , I haven ’ t , ” she told me in response to a brief question about whether she ’ d considered retiring early .
Her fifth full term doesn ’ t expire until the end of 2024 when she ’ ll be 91 .
She ’ s currently the oldest U.S. senator .
There are also six other octogenarians in the Senate — all men .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ t run for reelection when her term is up .
I didn ’ t bother to ask .
She ’ ll tell us when she ’ s ready .
“ I don ’ t feel my cognitive abilities have diminished , ” she said in answer to my question about whether she felt they had .
“ No , not really .
Do I forget something sometimes ?
Quite possibly.
” That seems to be the main rap on her : short-term memory loss .
During my roughly half-hour phone interview with Feinstein @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a couple of times after she ’ d moved on to talk about other things .
That ’ s normal for many people , especially as they get older .
But I hadn ’ t noticed it before in her .
Feinstein has always been very articulate — one of the most clear-speaking politicians anywhere — and still is .
Her voice is strong as ever .
“ People are willing to work with me across the aisle , ” she said .
“ I ’ m respected .
I have an effective @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are a lot of good technical experts you can use to put programs together .
… “ We do get things done and we do pass bills .
You do get older , that ’ s true .
But I have been productive.
” Feinstein talked about things currently on her plate .
She just secured a $ 1.3-billion federal grant for the Purple Line transit extension on Los Angeles ’ Westside .
And she expects to secure $ 350 million for California water projects .
But “ I ’ ve taken a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The sharpest dart came last week in a lengthy article by veteran reporter Jane Mayer in the New Yorker magazine .
Mayer commended Feinstein for “ taking on a range of powerful interests , from gun-rights groups to the CIA ” during a “ distinguished 28-year tenure in the Senate.
” But she cited several anonymous sources — none of whom understandably wanted to be quoted by name — as saying that Feinstein ’ s “ short-term memory has grown so poor that she often forgets she has been briefed on a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to do so just after they have .
“ They describe Feinstein as forgetting what she has said and getting upset when she can ’ t keep up.
” Times columnist Erika D. Smith followed by writing that readers should urge Feinstein “ to step down early … so that California will have two open seats in the U.S. Senate instead of just one.
” Smith noted that Gov .
Gavin Newsom is being pressured by Black and Latino leaders to appoint one of their own to the Senate seat being vacated by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would be for “ Feinstein to be selfless and retire early , ” Smith wrote .
That would allow Newsom to name two new senators .
“ Now is absolutely the time to be an ally to communities of color and let another younger lawmaker represent the evolving values of this state , ” Smith wrote .
“ For to adequately address the many longstanding , race-based disparities in everything from healthcare to housing , California needs a Black senator and a Latino senator.
” Maybe California does .
But that should be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one man ’ s .
Those Senate seats belong to the public .
Californians elected a Black woman , Harris , to the Senate in 2016 .
But she almost immediately began running for president .
There probably should be a Latino senator from California .
Forty percent of California ’ s population is Latino .
But the state has never elected a Latino senator .
One of the biggest criticisms of centrist Feinstein by liberal activists is that she ’ s too civil and mannerly .
Not harsh enough on Republicans .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ s also why she has been an effective senator .
“ I like to work in a bipartisan way , ” she said .
“ Some people on the left don ’ t like that .
But that ’ s what the Senate should do .
It benefits the people.
” Feinstein was widely criticized by liberals for her handling — as the top Democrat on the Senate Judiciary Committee — of the confirmation hearings for conservative Supreme Court nominee Amy Coney Barrett .
They thought she was too soft .
But there @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to block Barrett from the court .
Feinstein handed her critics priceless fodder when , after the hearings , she congratulated committee Chairman Lindsey Graham ( R-S.C. ) for well-run sessions .
And then they hugged .
Her explanation : She was only complimenting the chairman for that day ’ s session , which involved just public testimony .
Barrett wasn ’ t present .
“ I shook his hand and he gave me a hug and I got holy hell , ” Feinstein recalled .
“ I felt very badly .
It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Because if I can ’ t have good relationships with someone simply because they ’ re a Republican — and Lindsey is the committee chair — that ’ s not good .
I think civility and bipartisanship mean something.
” Feinstein later stepped down as the committee ’ s No .
1 Democrat .
Jerry Roberts , a former San Francisco Chronicle top editor and political writer who wrote a book about Feinstein ’ s stint as San Francisco mayor , says : “ She deserves great respect .
She was a political @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of women in electoral politics and it is sad if not disgusting — as well as sexist as hell — to see and hear political operatives and hacks with no sense or regard for history attack and dismiss her.
” Agreed .
She was the first female mayor of San Francisco and — along with Barbara Boxer — the first female senator from California .
She passed the nation ’ s first assault weapon ban at great political cost .
Feinstein may be over the hill .
But she has earned the right @ @ @ @ @ @ @ descend all the way without being pushed .

Sen. Dianne Feinstein speaks to the environmental caucus at the 2018 California Democratic Party Convention at the San Diego Convention Center.
California Sen. Dianne Feinstein says she hasn’t thought about retiring soon despite some assertions that the 87-year-old lawmaker should step aside because her cognitive abilities have allegedly declined.
“No, I haven’t,” she told me in response to a brief question about whether she’d considered retiring early. Her fifth full term doesn’t expire until the end of 2024 when she’ll be 91. She’s currently the oldest U.S. senator.
There are also six other octogenarians in the Senate — all men.
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The universal assumption is Feinstein won’t run for reelection when her term is up. I didn’t bother to ask. She’ll tell us when she’s ready.
“I don’t feel my cognitive abilities have diminished,” she said in answer to my question about whether she felt they had.
“No, not really. Do I forget something sometimes? Quite possibly.”
That seems to be the main rap on her: short-term memory loss.
During my roughly half-hour phone interview with Feinstein on Tuesday, she did repeat herself a couple of times after she’d moved on to talk about other things. That’s normal for many people, especially as they get older. But I hadn’t noticed it before in her.
Feinstein has always been very articulate — one of the most clear-speaking politicians anywhere — and still is. Her voice is strong as ever.
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“People are willing to work with me across the aisle,” she said. “I’m respected. I have an effective staff … smart people. … There are a lot of good technical experts you can use to put programs together. …
“We do get things done and we do pass bills. You do get older, that’s true. But I have been productive.”
Feinstein talked about things currently on her plate. She just secured a $1.3-billion federal grant for the Purple Line transit extension on Los Angeles’ Westside. And she expects to secure $350 million for California water projects.
But “I’ve taken a few arrows lately,” she noted.
The sharpest dart came last week in a lengthy article by veteran reporter Jane Mayer in the New Yorker magazine. Mayer commended Feinstein for “taking on a range of powerful interests, from gun-rights groups to the CIA” during a “distinguished 28-year tenure in the Senate.”
But she cited several anonymous sources — none of whom understandably wanted to be quoted by name — as saying that Feinstein’s “short-term memory has grown so poor that she often forgets she has been briefed on a topic, accusing her staff of failing to do so just after they have.
“They describe Feinstein as forgetting what she has said and getting upset when she can’t keep up.”
Times columnist Erika D. Smith followed by writing that readers should urge Feinstein “to step down early … so that California will have two open seats in the U.S. Senate instead of just one.”
Smith noted that Gov. Gavin Newsom is being pressured by Black and Latino leaders to appoint one of their own to the Senate seat being vacated by Vice President-elect Kamala Harris. One solution would be for “Feinstein to be selfless and retire early,” Smith wrote. That would allow Newsom to name two new senators.
“Now is absolutely the time to be an ally to communities of color and let another younger lawmaker represent the evolving values of this state,” Smith wrote. “For to adequately address the many longstanding, race-based disparities in everything from healthcare to housing,
California needs a Black senator and a Latino senator.”
Maybe California does. But that should be the voters’ decision — not just one man’s. Those Senate seats belong to the public.
Californians elected a Black woman, Harris, to the Senate in 2016. But she almost immediately began running for president.
There probably should be a Latino senator from California. Forty percent of California’s population is Latino. But the state has never elected a Latino senator.
One of the biggest criticisms of centrist Feinstein by liberal activists is that she’s too civil and mannerly. Not harsh enough on Republicans. Too willing to compromise.
That’s also why she has been an effective senator.
“I like to work in a bipartisan way,” she said. “Some people on the left don’t like that. But that’s what the Senate should do. It benefits the people.”
Feinstein was widely criticized by liberals for her handling — as the top Democrat on the Senate Judiciary Committee — of the confirmation hearings for conservative Supreme Court nominee Amy Coney Barrett. They thought she was too soft. But there was absolutely nothing Democrats could have done to block Barrett from the court.
Feinstein handed her critics priceless fodder when, after the hearings, she congratulated committee Chairman Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) for well-run sessions. And then they hugged.
Her explanation: She was only complimenting the chairman for that day’s session, which involved just public testimony. Barrett wasn’t present.
“I shook his hand and he gave me a hug and I got holy hell,” Feinstein recalled.
“I felt very badly. It was a hard one for me. Because if I can’t have good relationships with someone simply because they’re a Republican — and Lindsey is the committee chair — that’s not good. I think civility and bipartisanship mean something.”
Feinstein later stepped down as the committee’s No. 1 Democrat.
Jerry Roberts, a former San Francisco Chronicle top editor and political writer who wrote a book about Feinstein’s stint as San Francisco mayor, says:
“She deserves great respect. She was a political pioneer in advancing the cause of equality of women in electoral politics and it is sad if not disgusting — as well as sexist as hell — to see and hear political operatives and hacks with no sense or regard for history attack and dismiss her.”
Agreed. She was the first female mayor of San Francisco and — along with Barbara Boxer — the first female senator from California. She passed the nation’s first assault weapon ban at great political cost.
Feinstein may be over the hill. But she has earned the right to decide on her own when to descend all the way without being pushed.


latimes--2020-12-17--How we investigated toxic chemicals on airplanes

For decades , the airline industry and its regulators have known about incidents of toxic gases from jet engine oil and other fluids leaking into the air supply on planes .
But the Federal Aviation Administration doesn ’ t track these fume events .
And airlines aren ’ t required to report information needed to answer basic questions : How many fume events are there ?
How often are crew members and passengers sickened by fumes ?
How many pilots have been impaired by fumes , potentially endangering everyone on board ?
To answer those questions , The Times first @ @ @ @ @ @ @ voluntarily made to NASA by pilots and flight attendants .
NASA does not identify which reports involve a fume event , so the newspaper ’ s first step was to identify ones classified in the database as involving either “ smoke/fire/fumes/odor ” or an “ illness ” on a commercial plane .
Those included more than 900 incidents from January 2018 to December 2019 .
The Times modeled its analysis of those reports after methodologies used in academic and government studies of fume events .
The newspaper counted incidents in which reports used @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ; described smells in language the airline industry uses to identify fume events , such as “ dirty socks smell ” or “ acrid ” ; noted mechanical findings , such as a leaky seal , that confirmed air supply contamination or procedures completed by mechanics to decontaminate the air supply ; or described smells and physiological symptoms consistent with exposure to toxic fumes based on an FAA-funded guide for treating fume event-related health problems .
Incidents were not counted if electrical or fan malfunctions were the suspected cause of fumes , or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to make a determination .
As NASA safety reports are made voluntarily , the information is limited to whatever crew members decide to include in their narratives .
The Times used a conservative count of people who received medical attention after fume events .
For example , if a report noted that an unspecified number of passengers were treated by paramedics , The Times counted that as two .
To calculate the number of times pilots were impaired by fumes , the newspaper included cases in which a report mentioned a pilot suffering @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the controls to a copilot after becoming unfit ; or declaring themselves unable to complete scheduled flights following exposure to fumes .
Dizzy or confused pilots were not counted as impaired unless a report explicitly stated they were unable to perform their duties .
The Times ’ analysis of NASA safety reports alone counted 362 fume events reported in 2018 and 2019 , nearly 400 crew members or passengers who received medical attention and four dozen pilots who were described as impaired to the point of being unable to perform their duties .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ records requests to identify fume events and determine whether passengers or crew were sickened .
The newspaper reviewed two types of mechanical reports that airlines make to the FAA : Mechanical Interruption Summary reports and Service Difficulty Reports .
Additional fume events were identified from internal airline mechanical records The Times obtained from sources .
Paramedic reports requested from airports helped determine what symptoms were reported and whether medical attention was administered .
The Times spoke with several airline and academic experts in conducting its analysis .
Guidance on identifying fume events was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mechanic who reviewed aviation records .
While reporting this series of articles , The Times reviewed thousands of pages of court filings from workers ’ compensation cases and litigation against airlines and manufacturers .
Much of the Boeing reporting was based on a cache of depositions and exhibits from recent lawsuits filed by flight attendants against the company .
Additionally , The Times obtained internal airline documents used by pilots and mechanics when dealing with fume events .
The newspaper interviewed dozens of people for this story , including pilots , flight attendants @ @ @ @ @ @ @ experts and medical professionals .

A Hawaiian Airlines flight from Oakland made an emergency landing at Honolulu’s Daniel K. Inouye International Airport in August 2019 after smoke filled the cabin. An infant and a 9-year-old child were among seven passengers taken to the hospital.
For decades, the airline industry and its regulators have known about incidents of toxic gases from jet engine oil and other fluids leaking into the air supply on planes. But the Federal Aviation Administration doesn’t track these fume events. And airlines aren’t required to report information needed to answer basic questions: How many fume events are there? How often are crew members and passengers sickened by fumes? How many pilots have been impaired by fumes, potentially endangering everyone on board?
To answer those questions, The Times first turned to a database of safety reports voluntarily made to NASA by pilots and flight attendants. NASA does not identify which reports involve a fume event, so the newspaper’s first step was to identify ones classified in the database as involving either “smoke/fire/fumes/odor” or an “illness” on a commercial plane. Those included more than 900 incidents from January 2018 to December 2019.
Read the investigation ‘We are slowly being poisoned.’ How toxic fumes seep into the air you breathe on planes A Times investigation found that vapors from heated jet engine oil leak into planes with alarming frequency across all airlines, sickening passengers and crew.
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The Times modeled its analysis of those reports after methodologies used in academic and government studies of fume events. The newspaper counted incidents in which reports used terms such as “fume event”; described smells in language the airline industry uses to identify fume events, such as “dirty socks smell” or “acrid”; noted mechanical findings, such as a leaky seal, that confirmed air supply contamination or procedures completed by mechanics to decontaminate the air supply; or described smells and physiological symptoms consistent with exposure to toxic fumes based on an FAA-funded guide for treating fume event-related health problems. Incidents were not counted if electrical or fan malfunctions were the suspected cause of fumes, or if there wasn’t enough information to make a determination.
As NASA safety reports are made voluntarily, the information is limited to whatever crew members decide to include in their narratives. The Times used a conservative count of people who received medical attention after fume events. For example, if a report noted that an unspecified number of passengers were treated by paramedics, The Times counted that as two. To calculate the number of times pilots were impaired by fumes, the newspaper included cases in which a report mentioned a pilot suffering partial incapacitation during flight; handing off the controls to a copilot after becoming unfit; or declaring themselves unable to complete scheduled flights following exposure to fumes. Dizzy or confused pilots were not counted as impaired unless a report explicitly stated they were unable to perform their duties.
The Times’ analysis of NASA safety reports alone counted 362 fume events reported in 2018 and 2019, nearly 400 crew members or passengers who received medical attention and four dozen pilots who were described as impaired to the point of being unable to perform their duties.
The safety reports are anonymized and do not contain airline names or flight numbers. NASA would not provide identifying information about incidents in its Aviation Safety Reporting System. In a handful of cases, The Times was able to cross-check public records, social media, local news coverage and other sources to identify incidents described in NASA reports.
The Times also filed hundreds of public records requests to identify fume events and determine whether passengers or crew were sickened. The newspaper reviewed two types of mechanical reports that airlines make to the FAA: Mechanical Interruption Summary reports and Service Difficulty Reports. Additional fume events were identified from internal airline mechanical records The Times obtained from sources. Paramedic reports requested from airports helped determine what symptoms were reported and whether medical attention was administered.
The Times spoke with several airline and academic experts in conducting its analysis. Guidance on identifying fume events was provided by an experienced pilot and airline mechanic who reviewed aviation records.
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While reporting this series of articles, The Times reviewed thousands of pages of court filings from workers’ compensation cases and litigation against airlines and manufacturers. Much of the Boeing reporting was based on a cache of depositions and exhibits from recent lawsuits filed by flight attendants against the company. Additionally, The Times obtained internal airline documents used by pilots and mechanics when dealing with fume events. The newspaper interviewed dozens of people for this story, including pilots, flight attendants, mechanics, union officials, academic experts and medical professionals.


latimes--2020-12-17--California's record COVID-19 surge persists: 51,724 cases and 393 deaths in a single day

Single-day pandemic records were shattered across California yet again on Wednesday .
For the first time , a Los Angeles Times county-by-county tally found more than 50,000 new coronavirus cases and nearly 400 deaths in California reported in a single day .
The Times survey Wednesday night found 51,724 new coronavirus cases reported in a single day , shattering the state ’ s single-day record broken on Monday , when 42,088 cases were reported .
The Times tally also found 393 COVID-19 deaths Wednesday across California , breaking the record set Tuesday , when 295 deaths were recorded .
Cumulatively @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coronavirus cases and 21,887 COVID-19 deaths .
California is now tallying an average of 203 COVID-19 deaths a day over a weekly period , and 35,200 cases a day — both records , and both quadruple the numbers from mid-November .
The number of people hospitalized in California for COVID-19 has been increasing and breaking records for 18 consecutive days .
On Tuesday , the most recent data available , 14,939 people across the state were in the hospital with coronavirus infections — more than six times larger than the comparable number on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ intensive care units with COVID-19 also broke another record , for the 14th consecutive day .
On Tuesday , 3,188 people infected with the coronavirus were in intensive care units across the state .
Records for single-day coronavirus case tallies were broken Wednesday in : • L.A. County , which reported 22,469 cases , breaking the record set Friday , when 13,507 cases were reported ; • San Bernardino County , which reported 5,550 cases , breaking the record set Saturday , when 5,254 cases were reported ; • Fresno County , which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ set Aug. 17 , when 1,110 cases were recorded ; • Contra Costa County , which reported 1,010 cases , breaking the record set Monday , when 925 cases were reported ; • San Francisco , which reported 335 cases , breaking the record set Saturday , when 323 cases were recorded ; and • San Benito County , which reported 104 cases , breaking the record set Dec. 5 , when 73 cases were recorded .
Records for single-day death tallies were broken Wednesday in : • L.A. County , which reported @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Tuesday , when 93 deaths were reported ; • San Bernardino County , which reported 63 deaths , breaking the record set Aug. 22 , when 62 deaths were reported ; • Contra Costa County , which reported 11 deaths , breaking the record set July 29 , when eight deaths were reported ; and , • Butte County , which reported seven deaths , breaking the record set Sept. 8 and tied on Sept. 21 , when five deaths were reported on each of those days .
On Wednesday , state officials @ @ @ @ @ @ @ care unit beds in the San Joaquin Valley and 0.5 % availability in Southern California .
The Greater Sacramento region was calculated to have 14.1 % of its supply of ICU beds available ; and rural Northern California , 28.1 % .
In the Bay Area , ICU availability slid Wednesday to 12.9 % — below the 15 % threshold the state has set for imposing sweeping new restrictions on businesses and activities aimed at curtailing the coronavirus .
Many of the region ’ s counties took it upon themselves to implement the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t — San Mateo , Solano , Santa Cruz and Napa counties — will see a regional stay-at-home order , which reduces capacity at retail stores ; closes businesses including hair salons , nail salons , card rooms , museums , zoos and aquariums ; and prohibits most gatherings , hotel stays for tourism and outdoor restaurant dining — go into effect at 11:59 p.m. Thursday .
Such orders are already in place across Southern California , the San Joaquin Valley and Greater Sacramento .
Only rural Northern California has escaped the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ orders will mean that by Friday , 98 % of California ’ s residents , or 38 million people , will be under regional stay-at-home instructions , affecting 47 of 58 counties .
Counties reporting 0 % or 1 % available ICU capacity in recent days include Riverside , Ventura and Marin .

Rong-Gong Lin II, Luke Money, Sean Greene

Registered nurse Ashley Cohagen treats a patient inside the intensive care unit at Providence St. John’s Health Center on Tuesday in Santa Monica.
Single-day pandemic records were shattered across California yet again on Wednesday. For the first time, a Los Angeles Times county-by-county tally found more than 50,000 new coronavirus cases and nearly 400 deaths in California reported in a single day.
The Times survey Wednesday night found 51,724 new coronavirus cases reported in a single day, shattering the state’s single-day record broken on Monday, when 42,088 cases were reported.
The Times tally also found 393 COVID-19 deaths Wednesday across California, breaking the record set Tuesday, when 295 deaths were recorded. Cumulatively, California has now reported 1.7 million coronavirus cases and 21,887 COVID-19 deaths.
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California is now tallying an average of 203 COVID-19 deaths a day over a weekly period, and 35,200 cases a day — both records, and both quadruple the numbers from mid-November.
The number of people hospitalized in California for COVID-19 has been increasing and breaking records for 18 consecutive days. On Tuesday, the most recent data available, 14,939 people across the state were in the hospital with coronavirus infections — more than six times larger than the comparable number on Halloween.
The number of people in intensive care units with COVID-19 also broke another record, for the 14th consecutive day. On Tuesday, 3,188 people infected with the coronavirus were in intensive care units across the state.
Records for single-day coronavirus case tallies were broken Wednesday in:
L.A. County, which reported 22,469 cases, breaking the record set Friday, when 13,507 cases were reported;
San Bernardino County, which reported 5,550 cases, breaking the record set Saturday, when 5,254 cases were reported;
Fresno County, which reported 2,590 cases, breaking the record set Aug. 17, when 1,110 cases were recorded;
Contra Costa County, which reported 1,010 cases, breaking the record set Monday, when 925 cases were reported;
San Francisco, which reported 335 cases, breaking the record set Saturday, when 323 cases were recorded; and
San Benito County, which reported 104 cases, breaking the record set Dec. 5, when 73 cases were recorded.
Records for single-day death tallies were broken Wednesday in:
L.A. County, which reported 134 deaths, breaking the record set Tuesday, when 93 deaths were reported;
San Bernardino County, which reported 63 deaths, breaking the record set Aug. 22, when 62 deaths were reported;
Contra Costa County, which reported 11 deaths, breaking the record set July 29, when eight deaths were reported; and,
Butte County, which reported seven deaths, breaking the record set Sept. 8 and tied on Sept. 21, when five deaths were reported on each of those days.
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On Wednesday, state officials reported 0% availability of licensed intensive care unit beds in the San Joaquin Valley and 0.5% availability in Southern California. The Greater Sacramento region was calculated to have 14.1% of its supply of ICU beds available; and rural Northern California, 28.1%.
In the Bay Area, ICU availability slid Wednesday to 12.9% — below the 15% threshold the state has set for imposing sweeping new restrictions on businesses and activities aimed at curtailing the coronavirus.
Many of the region’s counties took it upon themselves to implement the new stay-at-home rules. Those that didn’t — San Mateo, Solano, Santa Cruz and Napa counties — will see a regional stay-at-home order, which reduces capacity at retail stores; closes businesses including hair salons, nail salons, card rooms, museums, zoos and aquariums; and prohibits most gatherings, hotel stays for tourism and outdoor restaurant dining — go into effect at 11:59 p.m. Thursday.
Such orders are already in place across Southern California, the San Joaquin Valley and Greater Sacramento. Only rural Northern California has escaped the additional restrictions so far.
The new orders will mean that by Friday, 98% of California’s residents, or 38 million people, will be under regional stay-at-home instructions, affecting 47 of 58 counties.
Counties reporting 0% or 1% available ICU capacity in recent days include Riverside, Ventura and Marin.


latimes--2020-12-17--COVID-19 vaccine rollout in Southern California

The COVID-19 vaccine continues to roll out throughout Southern California .
At least three more hospitals began vaccine distribution Wednesday @ @ @ @ @ , Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center and Arrowhead Regional Medical Center .
The question on @ @ @ @ @ : When can I get it ?
The state ’ s initial allocation — 327,600 @ @ @ @ @ go mostly to acute-care hospitals to be administered to healthcare workers , although some counties @ @ @ @ @ send a portion to skilled nursing facilities .
California is planning on receiving roughly 2.1 @ @ @ @ @ of the year , Governor Gavin Newsom said .
But the vaccine is not expected @ @ @ @ @ who wants it until at least the spring .
To read more questions and answers @ @ @ @ @ .

The COVID-19 vaccine continues to roll out throughout Southern California.
At least three more hospitals began vaccine distribution Wednesday, including UC Irvine Health, Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center and Arrowhead Regional Medical Center.
The question on everyone’s mind now: When can I get it?
The state’s initial allocation — 327,600 doses in all — will go mostly to acute-care hospitals to be administered to healthcare workers, although some counties have said they also will send a portion to skilled nursing facilities.
California is planning on receiving roughly 2.1 million doses by the end of the year, Governor Gavin Newsom said. But the vaccine is not expected to be available to everyone who wants it until at least the spring.
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To read more questions and answers about the coronavirus vaccine, read our FAQ .
UC Irvine Health
Martha Siqueiros, who works in housekeeping at UCI Health, celebrates after receiving a Pfizer BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine. (Gary Coronado/Los Angeles Times)
Katalina Vakalahi, center, a UCI Health emergency department worker, receives a Pfizer BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine administered by UCI Health Registered Nurse Pam Samuelson. (Gary Coronado/Los Angeles Times)
Jose Mayorga, right, medical doctor UCI Health, gives a thumbs up after receiving a Pfizer BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine. (Gary Coronado/Los Angeles Times)
Arrowhead Regional Medical Center
A red San Bernardino County Fire Department truck carrying Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine is escorted by Colton police cars at Arrowhead Regional Medical Center. (Irfan Khan/Los Angeles Times)
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Director of Pharmacy Services Cliff Hiroshige, right, receives a box carrying the first batch of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine to arrive at Arrowhead Regional Medical Center in Colton. (Irfan Khan/Los Angeles Times)
Dr. Danny Fernandez gets the COVID-19 vaccine administered by Registered Nurse Marcia Williams at Arrowhead Regional Medical Center. (Irfan Khan/Los Angeles Times)
A vial from the first batch of Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine delivered to Arrowhead Regional Medical Center. (Irfan Khan/Los Angeles Times)
Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center
Nurse Nicole Chang celebrates after receiving one of the first injections of the COVID-19 vaccine at Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center on Wednesday in Westwood. (Brian van der Brug/Los Angeles Times)
UCLA emergency-room Dr. Medell Briggs-Malonson gets an injection of the COVID-19 vaccine from nurse Eunice Lee, left, at Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center. (Brian van der Brug/Los Angeles Times)
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Kerry Menmuir, director of inpatient pharmacy at Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center, stores doses of the COVID-19 vaccine in a medical grade refrigerator. (Brian van der Brug/Los Angeles Times)


latimes--2020-12-17--Santa may not need the heavy red coat when he visits Southern California

Santa might be able to lose the heavy red coat when he makes his rounds in the Southland , and he probably won ’ t need an umbrella either .
The extended outlook from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration favors above-average temperatures and below-average precipitation in the Los Angeles region from Dec. 24 through Dec. 30 .
Although the astronomical winter officially arrives in Los Angeles at 2:02 a.m. Monday , the region ’ s stubbornly warm , dry weather pattern doesn ’ t show much sign of stopping .
It seems like it ’ s been stuck in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ endured record heat this summer and continues to suffer the worst fire season in the state ’ s history .
Globally , last month was the warmest November on record , according to the Copernicus Climate Change Service , which is the European Union ’ s climate and environmental observation program .
A La Niña — the dry sibling of El Niño — is present in the eastern equatorial Pacific Ocean , and is likely to persist through the winter , according to NOAA .
A La Niña occurs when the sea surface @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Pacific are below average .
Easterly winds over that region strengthen , and rainfall usually decreases over the central and eastern tropical Pacific while it increases over the western Pacific , Indonesia and the Philippines .
During a La Niña winter , the polar jet stream , a strong belt of wind blowing from west to east in the upper levels of the atmosphere , tends to shift further to the north than usual .
This pattern increases the chances of below-normal precipitation across the southern part of the United States , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ below-normal temperatures in the Pacific Northwest .
The Southern California winter outlook through February calls for a 40 % to 50 % chance of above-normal temperatures and roughly a 40 % to 60 % chance of below-normal precipitation .
Californians and residents of most of the Southwestern U.S. have their stockings hung by the chimney with care , in hopes that Santa will bring may hope for a wet winter .
The most recent U.S. Drought Monitor categorizes 100 % of California as at least abnormally dry , and more than 95 % @ @ @ @ @ @ @ level of drought .
More than 21 % of the state , mostly in Northern California , is categorized as being in extreme drought .
After a disappointing monsoon season last year , the failure of this year ’ s monsoon has pushed vast portions of the Southwestern U.S. into exceptional drought .
Statistically , a La Niña winter doesn ’ t promise much relief for the entire thirsty region .
The lack of precipitation has not only left the local Southern California mountains parched and fire-prone , especially when the Santa Ana @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the L.A. Basin can ’ t look up and see snowcapped mountains in the distance , visual relief that is often possible at this time of year .
If you ’ re looking for a white Christmas or for outdoor winter sports and activities , the map above shows where your best bets are likely to be .
From Southern California , a fairly lengthy road trip will probably be required to reach areas that have much snow .

Santa might be able to lose the heavy red coat when he makes his rounds in the Southland, and he probably won’t need an umbrella either.
The extended outlook from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration favors above-average temperatures and below-average precipitation in the Los Angeles region from Dec. 24 through Dec. 30.
Although the astronomical winter officially arrives in Los Angeles at 2:02 a.m. Monday, the region’s stubbornly warm, dry weather pattern doesn’t show much sign of stopping. It seems like it’s been stuck in a continuous loop all year. California endured record heat this summer and continues to suffer the worst fire season in the state’s history.
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Globally, last month was the warmest November on record, according to the Copernicus Climate Change Service, which is the European Union’s climate and environmental observation program.
After the winter solstice on Monday, the sun begins to climb higher in the sky and the days begin to lengthen. (Paul Duginski / Los Angeles Times)
A La Niña — the dry sibling of El Niño — is present in the eastern equatorial Pacific Ocean, and is likely to persist through the winter, according to NOAA.
A La Niña occurs when the sea surface temperatures in the central and eastern equatorial Pacific are below average. Easterly winds over that region strengthen, and rainfall usually decreases over the central and eastern tropical Pacific while it increases over the western Pacific, Indonesia and the Philippines.
Statistically, La Niña winters are dry in the Southwest. (Paul Duginski / Los Angeles Times)
During a La Niña winter, the polar jet stream, a strong belt of wind blowing from west to east in the upper levels of the atmosphere, tends to shift further to the north than usual. This pattern increases the chances of below-normal precipitation across the southern part of the United States, and increases the likelihood of above-normal precipitation and below-normal temperatures in the Pacific Northwest.
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The Southern California winter outlook through February calls for a 40% to 50% chance of above-normal temperatures and roughly a 40% to 60% chance of below-normal precipitation.
Californians and residents of most of the Southwestern U.S. have their stockings hung by the chimney with care, in hopes that Santa will bring may hope for a wet winter. The most recent U.S. Drought Monitor categorizes 100% of California as at least abnormally dry, and more than 95% of the state as being in some level of drought. More than 21% of the state, mostly in Northern California, is categorized as being in extreme drought.
After a disappointing monsoon season last year, the failure of this year’s monsoon has pushed vast portions of the Southwestern U.S. into exceptional drought. Statistically, a La Niña winter doesn’t promise much relief for the entire thirsty region.
If you’re dreaming of a white Christmas, this map shows where you’re most likely to find it. (Paul Duginski / Los Angeles Times)
The lack of precipitation has not only left the local Southern California mountains parched and fire-prone, especially when the Santa Ana winds desiccate the landscape, but people in the L.A. Basin can’t look up and see snowcapped mountains in the distance, visual relief that is often possible at this time of year.
If you’re looking for a white Christmas or for outdoor winter sports and activities, the map above shows where your best bets are likely to be. From Southern California, a fairly lengthy road trip will probably be required to reach areas that have much snow.


latimes--2020-12-16--California population growth hits record lows, stifled by COVID-19 and continued exodus

After more than three decades , Scott Fuller was fed up with living in California .
The taxes are just too darn high , he said .
The housing prices too .
And so in June , the San Francisco Bay Area real estate broker , his wife and two kids packed their bags and moved to Arizona .
“ I never wanted to leave California , ” said Fuller , 48 , who has lived in the Golden State since 1983 .
“ It ’ s the most beautiful state with the best climate .
I think the tipping @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more proposed tax increases ... .
I have absolutely no regrets.
” Like Fuller , a lot of Californians are running for the exit , a trend exacerbated this year by COVID-19 as more people moved away and pandemic restrictions slowed migration into the state , according to data released Wednesday .
California ’ s population is now growing at its slowest rate in more than a century .
The California Department of Finance , which monitors the state ’ s population data , found that from July 1 , 2019 to July @ @ @ @ @ @ @ net gain of only 21,200 new residents — a 0.05 % growth rate not seen since 1900 .
As of July , the state ’ s population was 39.78 million .
Over that period , Los Angeles County reported a net loss of 40,036 people , more than any other county in the state .
“ This is a real sea change in California , which used to be this state of pretty robust population growth , ” said Hans Johnson , a demographer at the Public Policy Institute of California .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ time now .
But it ’ s now gotten to the point where the state is essentially not growing population-wise at all.
” The data underscore concerns that the COVID-19 pandemic is fueling greater migration out of California , both from people priced out of coastal areas and those who suddenly had the ability to work remotely .
The “ California exodus ” storyline was bolstered in recent weeks when two tech titans , Elon Musk and Larry Ellison , announced they were moving to Texas and Hawaii , respectively .
But for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ high housing costs pose the greatest challenge , particularly when combined with staggering job losses tied to the pandemic .
The state has been seeing slowing growth for several years , driven by a factors that include lower birth rates and people moving away for economic and political reasons .
COVID-19 has affected the trend in several ways .
About 280,000 Californians died during the 12-month period , representing a higher-than-average surge , year over year .
That is due partly to the state ’ s aging population , the report said , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ killed more than 6,000 Californians by July .
The pandemic also affected immigration , said H.D .
Palmer , a spokesman for the Department of Finance .
As the virus raged , work patterns dramatically shifted and many international borders were closed .
“ A lot of people who might otherwise have come to California didn ’ t , because they didn ’ t go anywhere , ” Palmer said .
“ They stayed home .
That ’ s something that ’ s different than any other year.
” Birth rates also continued @ @ @ @ @ @ @ born than in the same period last year , according to the report .
“ That ’ s a significant decline from 2019 , ” said Walter Schwarm , the state finance department ’ s chief demographer .
“ And if we go back five or 10 years , in terms of growth , that ’ s 70,000 Californians that aren ’ t here.
” Many millennials are delaying childbirth , Schwarm said , while Gen Xers have mostly stopped giving birth and Gen Z is “ not quite there yet.
” Of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , seven saw a drop in residents : Los Angeles , San Diego , Orange , San Bernardino , Santa Clara , Alameda and Contra Costa .
Riverside , Sacramento and Fresno counties saw population gains .
By contrast , several inland counties — including El Dorado , Glenn , Yuba and Merced — saw population growth during this period , a trend Palmer attributed to housing availability and affordability , as well as lifestyle changes that could drive people to seek out different areas .
Although rural areas have been losing residents @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lack of jobs , the recent loss of residents in urban areas is especially noteworthy , Johnson said .
“ Its no longer just the small rural counties that are losing population , ” he said , adding that housing costs are one of the primary factors .
If the trends continue statewide and California ’ s population decreases , one of the most immediate effects could be the loss of a seat in Congress , Johnson said .
Wildfires also played a role in population changes , the report said .
Butte @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2018 Camp fire , lost population over the 12-month period , although the magnitude was slower than the previous year , according to the report .
In September , the county suffered again in the North Complex fire .
Any population losses from that will be reflected in next year ’ s report .
There have been large out-migrations from Southern California in the past , Palmer said , including a period in the early 1990s tied to the collapse of the defense and aerospace industries .
The current shift is reflective of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Although growth rates are slowing , Palmer and Schwarm both said that California remains a desirable place to live , as evidenced by the record high home prices reached this year .
And yet , so many Californians are leaving that Fuller caters specifically to them .
Three years ago , the longtime real estate broker created two websites : LeavingTheBayArea.com and LeavingSoCal.com .
He has kept busy .
His clients are retirees and working families who can ’ t afford to remain in the Bay Area .
They are people fleeing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are affluent people moving to states with low or no income tax .
Some of the most popular locations , he said , are Austin , Texas ; Dallas ; Boise , Idaho ; and Phoenix .
In a typical month , he and his team of real estate agents help to relocate 15 to 18 families out of California , and “ we ’ re certainly seeing an increase in people exploring their options.
” Even though his team is still based in the Bay Area , he now works remotely from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to let their employees work from home , and that has been “ one of the biggest dynamics changes ” for people who were already considering leaving California , he said .
If people can keep the same salary and work in a cheaper location , Fuller said , they ’ re jumping at the opportunity .
The trend started before COVID , he said , but the pandemic sped up the process .
People considering moving in three to five years are now moving in one to two .
“ It ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a bit , ” Fuller said .
“ People have options now , and you pair that with people ’ s frustration on several different levels — I don ’ t see it changing .
”

Alexis Small kisses her newborn, Aubrielle Kitchen, during a Zoom family call Nov. 26 in Los Angeles. Birth rates in California are declining, with 14,000 fewer babies born in the year that ended July 31, 2020, than in the previous 12-month period.
After more than three decades, Scott Fuller was fed up with living in California.
The taxes are just too darn high, he said. The housing prices too. And so in June, the San Francisco Bay Area real estate broker, his wife and two kids packed their bags and moved to Arizona.
“I never wanted to leave California,” said Fuller, 48, who has lived in the Golden State since 1983. “It’s the most beautiful state with the best climate. I think the tipping point was continued tax increases and even more proposed tax increases.... I have absolutely no regrets.”
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Like Fuller, a lot of Californians are running for the exit, a trend exacerbated this year by COVID-19 as more people moved away and pandemic restrictions slowed migration into the state, according to data released Wednesday.
California’s population is now growing at its slowest rate in more than a century.
The California Department of Finance, which monitors the state’s population data, found that from July 1, 2019 to July 1, 2020, California saw a net gain of only 21,200 new residents — a 0.05% growth rate not seen since 1900. As of July, the state’s population was 39.78 million.
Over that period, Los Angeles County reported a net loss of 40,036 people, more than any other county in the state.
“This is a real sea change in California, which used to be this state of pretty robust population growth,” said Hans Johnson, a demographer at the Public Policy Institute of California. “It hasn’t been for some time now. But it’s now gotten to the point where the state is essentially not growing population-wise at all.”
The data underscore concerns that the COVID-19 pandemic is fueling greater migration out of California, both from people priced out of coastal areas and those who suddenly had the ability to work remotely.
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The “California exodus” storyline was bolstered in recent weeks when two tech titans, Elon Musk and Larry Ellison, announced they were moving to Texas and Hawaii, respectively.
But for the average person, California’s high housing costs pose the greatest challenge, particularly when combined with staggering job losses tied to the pandemic.
The state has been seeing slowing growth for several years, driven by a factors that include lower birth rates and people moving away for economic and political reasons.
COVID-19 has affected the trend in several ways.
About 280,000 Californians died during the 12-month period, representing a higher-than-average surge, year over year. That is due partly to the state’s aging population, the report said, and partly to COVID-19, which had killed more than 6,000 Californians by July.
The pandemic also affected immigration, said H.D. Palmer, a spokesman for the Department of Finance. As the virus raged, work patterns dramatically shifted and many international borders were closed.
“A lot of people who might otherwise have come to California didn’t, because they didn’t go anywhere,” Palmer said. “They stayed home. That’s something that’s different than any other year.”
Birth rates also continued to decline, with 14,000 fewer babies born than in the same period last year, according to the report.
“That’s a significant decline from 2019,” said Walter Schwarm, the state finance department’s chief demographer. “And if we go back five or 10 years, in terms of growth, that’s 70,000 Californians that aren’t here.”
Many millennials are delaying childbirth, Schwarm said, while Gen Xers have mostly stopped giving birth and Gen Z is “not quite there yet.”
Of the 10 most populous counties in California, seven saw a drop in residents: Los Angeles, San Diego, Orange, San Bernardino, Santa Clara, Alameda and Contra Costa. Riverside, Sacramento and Fresno counties saw population gains.
Most of California’s coastal counties lost population.
By contrast, several inland counties — including El Dorado, Glenn, Yuba and Merced — saw population growth during this period, a trend Palmer attributed to housing availability and affordability, as well as lifestyle changes that could drive people to seek out different areas.
Although rural areas have been losing residents for years, primarily because of a lack of jobs, the recent loss of residents in urban areas is especially noteworthy, Johnson said.
“Its no longer just the small rural counties that are losing population,” he said, adding that housing costs are one of the primary factors.
If the trends continue statewide and California’s population decreases, one of the most immediate effects could be the loss of a seat in Congress, Johnson said.
Wildfires also played a role in population changes, the report said.
Butte County, which was ravaged by the 2018 Camp fire, lost population over the 12-month period, although the magnitude was slower than the previous year, according to the report. In September, the county suffered again in the North Complex fire. Any population losses from that will be reflected in next year’s report.
There have been large out-migrations from Southern California in the past, Palmer said, including a period in the early 1990s tied to the collapse of the defense and aerospace industries. The current shift is reflective of a downward trend that began around 2016.
Although growth rates are slowing, Palmer and Schwarm both said that California remains a desirable place to live, as evidenced by the record high home prices reached this year.
And yet, so many Californians are leaving that Fuller caters specifically to them. Three years ago, the longtime real estate broker created two websites: LeavingTheBayArea.com and LeavingSoCal.com. He has kept busy.
His clients are retirees and working families who can’t afford to remain in the Bay Area. They are people fleeing wildfire risk. And increasingly, they are affluent people moving to states with low or no income tax.
Some of the most popular locations, he said, are Austin, Texas; Dallas; Boise, Idaho; and Phoenix. In a typical month, he and his team of real estate agents help to relocate 15 to 18 families out of California, and “we’re certainly seeing an increase in people exploring their options.”
Even though his team is still based in the Bay Area, he now works remotely from Arizona. The pandemic forced more companies to let their employees work from home, and that has been “one of the biggest dynamics changes” for people who were already considering leaving California, he said.
If people can keep the same salary and work in a cheaper location, Fuller said, they’re jumping at the opportunity. The trend started before COVID, he said, but the pandemic sped up the process. People considering moving in three to five years are now moving in one to two.
“It’s really sped up the out-migration quite a bit,” Fuller said. “People have options now, and you pair that with people’s frustration on several different levels — I don’t see it changing.”


latimes--2020-12-17--Garcetti plans to remain in office, says his 9-year-old daughter has coronavirus

Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti said Thursday that he plans to remain mayor , an announcement aimed at ending speculation that he might join President-elect Joe Biden ’ s administration .
He also announced at a briefing Thursday that his 9-year-old daughter , Maya , had tested positive for the coronavirus .
Both Garcetti and his wife tested negative , he said .
Garcettti said he told the Biden team this week that he wanted to remain in Los Angeles .
“ There were things on the table for me , ” Garcetti said .
He declined to name the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ did not definitively rule out leaving office before his term ends in 2022 .
Garcetti was a co-chair of Biden ’ s presidential campaign , helped vet vice presidential candidates and was widely viewed as a contender for a Cabinet position , perhaps leading the Department of Transportation or Housing and Urban Development .
Instead , former South Bend , Ind.
, Mayor Pete Buttigieg was tapped this week for the Transportation spot , while Ohio Rep. Marcia L. Fudge was announced as the nominee last week to lead HUD .
That left @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Garcetti , who was also eyed as a possible contender to head the Environmental Protection Agency , Bloomberg reported .
But on Thursday , Biden picked Michael Regan , a state regulator in North Carolina , to head the EPA .
A source familiar with those discussions told The Times that Garcetti was informed this week that he didn ’ t get the EPA administrator post .
The source , who wasn ’ t authorized to speak to the media , asked to remain anonymous .
A Garcetti spokesman declined to comment .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ immediately respond to questions from The Times .
Any nomination to a Cabinet position for Garcetti could have brought unwanted scrutiny to allegations made against him by his former bodyguard .
The bodyguard , a Los Angeles police officer , alleges that Garcetti ’ s longtime advisor sexually harassed him and that Garcetti failed to intervene .
Garcetti denies witnessing any harassment and the advisor has said he didn ’ t harass anyone .
A judge on Thursday ordered Garcetti to be deposed in the case .
Meanwhile , Black Lives Matter and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mayor ’ s official residence , the Getty House , to protest any Garcetti appointment .
Garcetti ’ s decision to remain in Los Angeles comes as the city faces several crises , including the ongoing pandemic , a fiscal emergency at City Hall and rising crime .
The availability of open intensive care unit beds throughout Southern California dropped Thursday to 0 % , bring fresh alarm about the region ’ s ability to cope with the surging number of COVID-19 cases .
Garcetti was praised for his handling of the pandemic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for widespread coronavirus testing and his being a calming presence for anxious Angelenos .
More recently , he ’ s faced criticism over the city ’ s messaging on restrictions and for supporting the ban on outdoor restaurant dining .
With Garcetti staying in Los Angeles for now , he ’ ll have two more years to grapple with the immediate challenges facing the city , an economy battered by the pandemic .
In an interview with KNBC-TV Channel 4 last month , Garcetti acknowledged the tough moment facing the city but pointed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lines that are being built across the region .
“ I would never bet against Los Angeles long-term , ” Garcetti said .
“ This is going to be a powerful economy and a powerful place with prosperity , for I believe the work we ’ ve done for the next two decades.
” Garcetti , meanwhile , said Thursday that his daughter is doing “ fine ” and that he and his wife are quarantining following Maya ’ s positive test .
“ I will continue to conduct the business of our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ll do it remotely .
”

Mayor Eric Garcetti, shown in July, said he will remain in office rather than join the Biden administration.
Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti said Thursday that he plans to remain mayor, an announcement aimed at ending speculation that he might join President-elect Joe Biden’s administration.
He also announced at a briefing Thursday that his 9-year-old daughter, Maya, had tested positive for the coronavirus. Both Garcetti and his wife, Amy Wakeland, tested negative, he said.
Garcetti said he told the Biden team this week that he wanted to remain in Los Angeles. “There were things on the table for me,” Garcetti said.
He declined to name the positions available to him. He also did not definitively rule out leaving office before his term ends in 2022.
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Garcetti made his remarks from the Getty House, the mayor’s official residence, and said that he and his wife are quarantining in light of his daughter’s diagnosis.
Talking broadly about the pandemic, he said that “there is nothing more important to me, no task more urgent than being here as your mayor.”
Garcetti was a co-chair of Biden’s presidential campaign, helped vet vice presidential candidates and was widely viewed as a contender for a Cabinet position, perhaps leading the Department of Transportation or Housing and Urban Development.
Instead, former South Bend, Ind., Mayor Pete Buttigieg was tapped this week for the Transportation spot, while Ohio Rep. Marcia L. Fudge was announced as the nominee last week to lead HUD.
That left a dwindling number of available posts for Garcetti, who was also eyed as a possible contender to head the Environmental Protection Agency, Bloomberg reported.
But on Thursday, Biden picked Michael Regan, a state regulator in North Carolina, to head the EPA.
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A source familiar with those discussions told The Times that Garcetti was informed this week that he didn’t get the EPA administrator post. The source, who wasn’t authorized to speak to the media, asked to remain anonymous.
A Garcetti spokesman declined to comment. A Biden transition representative didn’t immediately respond to questions from The Times.
Any nomination to a Cabinet position for Garcetti could have brought unwanted scrutiny to allegations made against him by his former bodyguard.
The bodyguard, a Los Angeles police officer, alleges that Garcetti’s longtime advisor sexually harassed him and that Garcetti failed to intervene. Garcetti denies witnessing any harassment and the advisor has said he didn’t harass anyone.
A judge on Thursday ordered Garcetti to be deposed in the case.
Meanwhile, Black Lives Matter Los Angeles and other activists have gathered regularly outside the mayor’s official residence, the Getty House, to protest any Garcetti appointment.
Following Garcetti’s briefing Thursday, Black Lives Matter-Los Angeles co-founder Melina Abdullah said the daily demonstrations worked.
“Political calculations were made and Garcetti carried too much baggage with him, including lots of very loud protesters who vigorously opposed any such appointment,” Abdullah said.
Devon Manney, spokesman for Koreatown-based homeless outreach group Ktown for All, said Thursday that the group hopes Garcetti “starts listening to the activists demanding he step up and provide real solutions to help Angelenos, rather than pretend his hands are tied.”
Garcetti’s decision to remain in Los Angeles comes as the city faces several crises, including the ongoing pandemic, a fiscal emergency at City Hall and rising crime.
The availability of intensive care unit beds throughout Southern California dropped Thursday to 0%, generating alarm about the region’s ability to cope with the surging number of COVID-19 cases.
Garcetti was praised for his handling of the pandemic in the spring, including his support for widespread coronavirus testing and for his calming demeanor when addressing anxious Angelenos.
More recently, he’s faced criticism over the city’s messaging on restrictions and for supporting the ban on outdoor restaurant dining.
With Garcetti staying in Los Angeles for now, he’ll have two more years to grapple with the immediate challenges facing the city.
In an interview with KNBC-TV Channel 4 last month, Garcetti acknowledged the tough moment facing the city but pointed to the 2028 Olympics and new rail lines that are being built across the region.
“I would never bet against Los Angeles long-term,” Garcetti said. “This is going to be a powerful economy and a powerful place with prosperity.”
Times staff writer Anna Phillips contributed to this report.


latimes--2020-12-17--Vanessa Bryant accuses her mother of extortion in ugly legal battle over family money

Vanessa Bryant on Thursday accused her mother of seeking to “ extort a financial windfall ” from her in the wake of her husband Kobe Bryant ’ s death by filing a lawsuit claiming she is owed years of back pay for working as an unpaid assistant .
The family feud ratcheted up after Sofia Urbieta Laine sued her 38-year-old daughter for financial support alleging she worked for years as unpaid “ longtime personal assistant and nanny ” to the couple and that the Lakers legend had “ promised to take care ” of his mother-in-law for the rest of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ helicopter crash Jan 26 .
“ Unfortunately , Kobe Bryant ’ s promise did not see the light of day as he is now deceased and Vanessa Bryant took each and every step she could to void and cancel all of Kobe ’ s promises , ” the 48-page lawsuit alleges , saying Vanessa Bryant never intended to honor her late husband ’ s wishes .
That was the final straw for Bryant , who also lost her 13-year daughter Gianna in the Calabasas helicopter crash that killed nine people and remains the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ investigation .
In a statement , she wrote that her 68-year-old mother was trying to “ extort a financial windfall from our family.
” Bryant said she and her husband of nearly 20 years had supported her mother financially , allowing her to live in one of their properties near their Newport Coast home free of charge .
“ She was a grandmother who was supported by me and her son-in-law at my request , ” Bryant said .
“ She now wants to back charge me $ 96 per hour for supposedly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ years for watching her grandchildren .
In reality , she only occasionally babysat my older girls when they were toddlers.
” Bryant said that she was a stay-at-mom to her daughters Natalia , 17 ; Bianka , 4 ; Capri , 18 months , and Gianna .
She wrote that the children for the most part in the last decade were at school or in sports and that her mother ’ s claims `` are obviously false.
” Vanessa Bryant said her mother had never been involved in any of their her and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Bryant said their relationship soured after she tried to make peace with her mother .
“ Earlier this year , I was looking for a new home for her and , a week later , she went on television and gave an interview disparaging our family and making false accusations while living rent-free in a gated apartment complex in Newport Coast , ” she said .
In that interview with Univision , Sofia Laine alleged she was forced out of her home by her daughter and was made to return a luxury @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ I need to you to get out of the house.
’ ” Laine said on “ El Gordo y la Flaca.
” Bryant said the interview was “ beyond hurtful.
” “ Even after that betrayal , I was willing to provide my mother with monthly support for the rest of her life , and that wasn ’ t good enough .
She , instead , contacted me through intermediaries — contrary to what she claims , my phone number hasn ’ t changed — and demanded $ 5 million , a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Bryant inherited control of an estate valued at as much as $ 600 million after Kobe Bryant ’ s death , according to financial experts .
She said she won ’ t give into the “ false and absurd claims ” and demands .
“ She has no regard for how this is affecting my children and me , ” Bryant said .
She added that her mother wants to live off her for the rest of her life while still collecting alimony from a 2004 divorce .
“ My husband and I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ providing for herself , ” Bryant said .
“ My husband never promised my mother anything , and he would be so disappointed in her behavior and lack of empathy , ” she said in her statement .

Vanessa Bryant speaks at the celebration of life of husband Kobe Bryant and daughter Gianna at Staples Center in February.
Vanessa Bryant on Thursday accused her mother of seeking to “extort a financial windfall” from her in the wake of her husband Kobe Bryant’s death by filing a lawsuit claiming she is owed years of back pay for working as an unpaid assistant.
The family feud ratcheted up after Sofia Urbieta Laine sued her 38-year-old daughter for financial support, alleging she worked for years as an unpaid “personal assistant and nanny” to the couple and that the Lakers legend had “promised to take care” of his mother-in-law for the rest of her days before his death in a helicopter crash Jan 26.
“Unfortunately, Kobe Bryant’s promise did not see the light of day as he is now deceased and Vanessa Bryant took each and every step she could to void and cancel all of Kobe’s promises,” the 48-page lawsuit alleges, saying Vanessa Bryant never intended to honor her late husband’s wishes.
That was the final straw for Bryant, who also lost her 13-year daughter Gianna in the Calabasas helicopter crash that killed nine people and remains the subject of a National Transportation Safety Board investigation.
In a statement, she wrote that her 68-year-old mother was trying to “extort a financial windfall from our family.” Bryant said she and her husband of nearly 20 years had supported her mother financially, allowing her to live in one of their properties near their Newport Coast home free of charge.
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“She was a grandmother who was supported by me and her son-in-law at my request,” Bryant said. “She now wants to back charge me $96 per hour for supposedly working 12 hours a day for 18 years for watching her grandchildren. In reality, she only occasionally babysat my older girls when they were toddlers.”
Bryant said that she was a stay-at-home mom to her daughters Natalia, 17; Bianka, 4; Capri, 18 months, and Gianna. She wrote that the children for the most part in the last decade were at school or in sports and that her mother’s claims “are obviously false.” Vanessa Bryant said her mother had never been involved in any of their her and Kobe Bryant’s businesses or finances.
Bryant said their relationship soured after she tried to make peace with her mother.
“Earlier this year, I was looking for a new home for her and, a week later, she went on television and gave an interview disparaging our family and making false accusations while living rent-free in a gated apartment complex in Newport Coast,” she said.
In that interview with Univision, Sofia Laine alleged she was forced out of her home by her daughter and was made to return a luxury car. “She told me, ‘I need you to get out of the house,’” Laine said on “El Gordo y la Flaca.”
Bryant said the interview was “beyond hurtful.”
“Even after that betrayal, I was willing to provide my mother with monthly support for the rest of her life, and that wasn’t good enough. She, instead, contacted me through intermediaries — contrary to what she claims, my phone number hasn’t changed — and demanded $5 million, a house and a Mercedes SUV.”
Vanessa Bryant inherited control of an estate valued at as much as $600 million after Kobe Bryant’s death, according to financial experts.
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She said she won’t give into the “false and absurd claims” and demands.
“She has no regard for how this is affecting my children and me,” Bryant said. She added that her mother wants to live off her for the rest of her life while still collecting alimony from a 2004 divorce.
“My husband and I have never discouraged or kept her from providing for herself,” Bryant said.
“My husband never promised my mother anything, and he would be so disappointed in her behavior and lack of empathy,” she said in her statement.


latimes--2020-12-17--L.A. County appeals court's order barring renewal of outdoor dining ban

Los Angeles County on Thursday appealed a judge ’ s decision that barred an extension of its temporary ban on outdoor dining , calling the ruling “ plainly erroneous and directly contrary to governing law.
” L.A. County Superior Court Judge James Chalfant ruled last week that the county should not be allowed to continue the ban indefinitely and would need to provide a risk-benefit analysis to justify the restriction if it wanted to extend the ban beyond its initial three weeks , which ended Wednesday .
The Department of Public Health , which issued the order in late November @ @ @ @ @ @ @ its side .
“ The law says that in a public health crisis , the health officer must act urgently and swiftly to stop the transmission of disease and to protect public health and safety , ” department officials said in a statement .
The county , like much of the state , is in the midst of the worst wave of the coronavirus to date .
Just this week , the county public health department has reported 272 deaths and nearly 41,000 cases .
On Thursday , the availability of intensive care @ @ @ @ @ @ @ officials said these numbers are justification enough to take the measure .
Although the county ban is now expired , a state order prohibiting in-person dining remains in place , meaning outdoor dining will remain off-limits until at least Dec. 28 , when the state rules will either expire or be extended .
Outdoor dining had offered a lifeline to some restaurants struggling amid the pandemic .
The California Restaurant Assn .
had sued to stop the county ’ s ban , with a downtown L.A. restaurant , Engine Co. No .
28 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a hearing that grew heated at times , Chalfant castigated county officials for providing only generalized arguments before deciding to implement restrictions affecting more than 30,000 restaurant owners and their employees .
Officials “ in nine months have not seriously looked at outdoor dining , and then ... impose a restriction preventing outdoor dining , ” Chalfant said at the hearing .
“ That ’ s just shocking.
” Mark Geragos , an attorney for the downtown restaurant , which he also owns , called the county ’ s appeal galling .
They @ @ @ @ @ @ @ data , tripling down on paying outside lawyers and law firms , while tens of thousands of businesses in the county go under , ” Geragos said by phone Thursday .
Counsel for the county accused Chalfant of substituting his own opinion of the ban instead of deferring to health experts , as they say is required by law .
“ It is not a court ’ s prerogative to second-guess the county ’ s response to a public health crisis and to prescribe the evidence upon which public health officials may and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ states .
At the hearing last week , Chalfant acknowledged it was hard for him to quash his personal reaction to what he saw as misguided policy .
“ I have trouble trying not to allow my personal beliefs to intrude in the analysis because ...
I would do it differently , ” he said , adding : “ But it isn ’ t my call .
I recognize that .
”

Chairs are stacked on top of tables at an El Torito restaurant in Woodland Hills, where outdoor dining had been set up. A statewide ban on outdoor dining remains in effect.
Los Angeles County on Thursday appealed a judge’s decision that barred an extension of its temporary ban on outdoor dining, calling the ruling “plainly erroneous and directly contrary to governing law.”
L.A. County Superior Court Judge James Chalfant ruled last week that the county should not be allowed to continue the ban indefinitely and would need to provide a risk-benefit analysis to justify the restriction if it wanted to extend the ban beyond its initial three weeks, which ended Wednesday.
The Department of Public Health, which issued the order in late November, said the law is clearly on its side.
“The law says that in a public health crisis, the health officer must act urgently and swiftly to stop the transmission of disease and to protect public health and safety,” department officials said in a statement.
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The county, like much of the state, is in the midst of the worst wave of the coronavirus to date. Just this week, the county public health department has reported 272 deaths and nearly 41,000 cases. On Thursday, the availability of intensive care unit beds reached 0%.
County officials said these numbers are justification enough to take the measure.
Although the county ban is now expired, a state order prohibiting in-person dining remains in place, meaning outdoor dining will remain off-limits until at least Dec. 28, when the state rules will either expire or be extended.
Outdoor dining had offered a lifeline to some restaurants struggling amid the pandemic. The California Restaurant Assn. had sued to stop the county’s ban, with a downtown L.A. restaurant, Engine Co. No. 28, filing a similar suit.
During a hearing that grew heated at times, Chalfant castigated county officials for providing only generalized arguments before deciding to implement restrictions affecting more than 30,000 restaurant owners and their employees.
Officials “in nine months have not seriously looked at outdoor dining, and then ... impose a restriction preventing outdoor dining,” Chalfant said at the hearing. “That’s just shocking.”
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Mark Geragos, an attorney for the downtown restaurant, which he also owns, called the county’s appeal galling.
They’re “doubling down on no data, tripling down on paying outside lawyers and law firms, while tens of thousands of businesses in the county go under,” Geragos said by phone Thursday.
Counsel for the county accused Chalfant of substituting his own opinion of the ban instead of deferring to health experts, as they say is required by law.
“It is not a court’s prerogative to second-guess the county’s response to a public health crisis and to prescribe the evidence upon which public health officials may and may not rely,” the suit states.
At the hearing last week, Chalfant acknowledged it was hard for him to quash his personal reaction to what he saw as misguided policy.
“I have trouble trying not to allow my personal beliefs to intrude in the analysis because ... I would do it differently,” he said, adding: “But it isn’t my call. I recognize that.”


latimes--2020-12-17--Former California EDD worker faked being Dianne Feinstein in scamming jobless benefits, sources say

Federal authorities have filed charges in three newly uncovered conspiracies to cheat California ’ s pandemic unemployment benefits system , including one by a former Employment Development Department employee who was able to scam more than $ 200,000 , including one claim that used the name of U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein .
Authorities Thursday said that former EDD employee Andrea M. Gervais allegedly participated in a mail fraud conspiracy in which she filed more than 100 false pandemic unemployment assistance claims using stolen personal information , including a successful effort paid in the name of Feinstein for $ 21,000 .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ aware that an individual used the senator ’ s name — along with multiple others — to file fraudulent unemployment claims , ” said Tom Mentzer , a spokesman for the senator .
“ The matter will be handled by law enforcement and the courts.
” Court filings say that Gervais formerly worked for EDD from 2010 to 2018 as an office assistant under the name Andrea Dangerfield .
Gervais was fired by the agency in October 2018 after an internal investigation implicated her in the theft of a money order , according @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for her house and car presented to a federal judge on Dec. 11 .
In that request , investigators allege that , in all , 12 claims totaling about $ 216,000 were paid by the agency , with proceeds sent to Gervais ’ home in Roseville , a suburb of Sacramento .
The benefits were from Pandemic Unemployment Assistance , a federally funded program authorized by the CARES Act to help gig workers , independent contractors and others .
“ Unfortunately , these unemployment insurance benefits that were intended for Californians hit hardest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ become the target of what may prove to be the largest fraud scheme ever perpetrated against the taxpayers in California history , ” said McGregor Scott , U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of California , whose office is prosecuting the case .
“ This theft of taxpayer dollars intended to assist our citizens in a very difficult economic time simply will not be tolerated.
” The investigation began when fraud investigators with Bank of America , which handles benefits , discovered the Feinstein claim and became suspicious , according to source familiar @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the inspector general of the U.S. Department of Labor , revealing it had found 17 California unemployment profiles and one claim from Maryland , and had issued 21 prepaid benefits debit cards to those claimants , all going to the same Roseville mailing address as the claim for the senator .
Subsequently , the California EDD received a claim from Gervais in her own name , alleging that her hours as a shelf stocker at Goodwill Industries had been cut .
When authorities matched that address in Gervais ’ personal claim with those @ @ @ @ @ @ @ watching her at the wood-sided duplex where the money had been sent .
Roseville police had arrested Gervais in January on identity theft charges for allegedly obtaining a credit card under false pretenses , but subsequently dropped the charges for lack of evidence , the court filings said .
Investigators subsequently reviewed 44 ATM photos of Gervais using the Bank of America debit cards , including the card issued in the name of the senator .
Gervais was arrested on Tuesday , federal authorities said , and was released on $ 50,000 bond @ @ @ @ @ @ @ If convicted , she could face a maximum of 20 years and a fine of $ 250,000 for each count .
Later in the day , in a separate case , a former contract worker with EDD from San Diego was charged in federal court with using her inside knowledge in processing claims to allegedly conspire with her boyfriend , who was in prison for murder , in a fraud scheme to steal hundreds of thousands of dollars in unemployment benefits .
Nyika Gomez , 40 , of San Diego , was employed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a call center agent who helped individuals process their unemployment insurance .
She was arrested after investigators alleged she conspired with her boyfriend , a prisoner serving a term of 94 years to life at California State Prison , Sacramento , for murder .
Gomez allegedly obtained personal identifying information from California prisoners with help from her boyfriend , as well as stolen personal information on out-of-state residents , that she allegedly used to file fraudulent unemployment claims .
The arrests come a week after Bank of America , which provides EDD debit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ may be as much as $ 2 billion in California after it identified 640,000 suspicious claims .
State officials estimated recently that about $ 400 million in fraudulent claims have been filed in the names of prison inmates .
Fraud involving EDD employees has been an ongoing problem at the agency .
The EDD has seen 16 former employees convicted of fraud over the last 10 years , said Loree Levy , a spokeswoman for the agency .
Most recently , authorities announced in March that a former EDD tax compliance representative had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for conspiring with five other people to obtain $ 887,199 in California unemployment benefits based on fraudulent claims .
“ The EDD is committed to combating the aggressive fraud attacks against the unemployment benefit system and is grateful for the collaborative efforts of federal , state and local partners in this shared goal , ” said Nancy Farias , an EDD chief deputy director , on Thursday .
A state task force investigating fraud in the prison system is trying to determine whether any of the bogus EDD claims were inside jobs involving @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spokesman for the California Governor ’ s Office of Emergency Services , which is overseeing a task force investigating the prison fraud .
“ The scope of the task force ’ s investigative work does include determining who was involved , including , but not limited to , state employees , ” Ferguson said .
Separately on Thursday , a federal grand jury in Fresno returned an indictment against two women , Sholanda Thomas , 36 , and Christina Smith , 37 , for mail fraud and identity theft related to filing false @ @ @ @ @ @ @ California Women ’ s Facility in Chowchilla .
Authorities allege that after Smith was paroled recently , she worked with Thomas , who is still incarcerated , to file illegal claims on behalf of other women at the prison .
The false claims netted more than $ 200,000 , according to a source familiar with the investigation .
The scheme came to light through review of recorded phone calls between the women .
Prosecutors allege Smith used part of her proceeds to pay for plastic surgery and kept Thomas ’ share in a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the applications , the claimants said they were hair stylists or barbers who were unable to find work .
Those familiar with the fraudulent claims coming out of California prisons said those two jobs have been prevalent in applications because they can be difficult for the state agency to verify .
Scott , the U.S. attorney , said that other cases are being investigated , and that federal , state and local agencies are working together on a single task force to streamline those efforts .

Workers wait in line in a basement garage to apply for unemployment benefits in Los Angeles. A former Employment Development Department employee is accused of defrauding the state of unemployment benefits, including some paid in the name of Sen. Dianne Feinstein.
Federal authorities have filed charges in three newly uncovered conspiracies to cheat California’s pandemic unemployment benefits system, including one by a former Employment Development Department employee who was able to scam more than $200,000, including one claim that used the name of U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein.
Authorities Thursday said that former EDD employee Andrea M. Gervais allegedly participated in a mail fraud conspiracy in which she filed more than 100 false pandemic unemployment assistance claims using stolen personal information, including a successful effort paid in the name of Feinstein for $21,000.
“The senator’s office is aware that an individual used the senator’s name — along with multiple others — to file fraudulent unemployment claims,” said Tom Mentzer, a spokesman for the senator. “The matter will be handled by law enforcement and the courts.”
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Court filings say that Gervais formerly worked for EDD from 2010 to 2018 as an office assistant under the name Andrea Dangerfield. Gervais was fired by the agency in October 2018 after an internal investigation implicated her in the theft of a money order, according to a request for a search warrant for her house and car presented to a federal judge on Dec. 11.
In that request, investigators allege that, in all, 12 claims totaling about $216,000 were paid by the agency, with proceeds sent to Gervais’ home in Roseville, a suburb of Sacramento. The benefits were from Pandemic Unemployment Assistance, a federally funded program authorized by the CARES Act to help gig workers, independent contractors and others.
“Unfortunately, these unemployment insurance benefits that were intended for Californians hit hardest by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic shutdown have become the target of what may prove to be the largest fraud scheme ever perpetrated against the taxpayers in California history,” said McGregor Scott, U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of California, whose office is prosecuting the case. “This theft of taxpayer dollars intended to assist our citizens in a very difficult economic time simply will not be tolerated.”
The investigation began when fraud investigators with Bank of America, which handles benefits, discovered the Feinstein claim and became suspicious, according to source familiar with the investigation.
Bank investigators contacted the inspector general of the U.S. Department of Labor, revealing it had found 17 California unemployment profiles and one claim from Maryland, and had issued 21 prepaid benefits debit cards to those claimants, all going to the same Roseville mailing address as the claim for the senator.
Subsequently, the California EDD received a claim from Gervais in her own name, alleging that her hours as a shelf stocker at Goodwill Industries had been cut.
When authorities matched that address in Gervais’ personal claim with those of the suspect claims, investigators began watching her at the wood-sided duplex where the money had been sent. Roseville police had arrested Gervais in January on identity theft charges for allegedly obtaining a credit card under false pretenses, but subsequently dropped the charges for lack of evidence, the court filings said.
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Investigators subsequently reviewed 44 ATM photos of Gervais using the Bank of America debit cards, including the card issued in the name of the senator. Gervais was arrested on Tuesday, federal authorities said, and was released on $50,000 bond Wednesday after appearing in federal court. If convicted, she could face a maximum of 20 years and a fine of $250,000 for each count.
Andrea Gervais, pictured here in an ATM photo included in court filings, has been accused of filing false unemployment claims, as part of ongoing investigations into fraudulent pandemic unemployment assistance scams. (U.S. District Court filings)
Later in the day, in a separate case, a former contract worker with EDD from San Diego was charged in federal court with using her inside knowledge in processing claims to allegedly conspire with her boyfriend, who was in prison for murder, in a fraud scheme to steal hundreds of thousands of dollars in unemployment benefits.
Nyika Gomez, 40, of San Diego, was employed in July by an EDD contractor as a call center agent who helped individuals process their unemployment insurance. She was arrested after investigators alleged she conspired with her boyfriend, a prisoner serving a term of 94 years to life at California State Prison, Sacramento, for murder.
Gomez allegedly obtained personal identifying information from California prisoners with help from her boyfriend, as well as stolen personal information on out-of-state residents, that she allegedly used to file fraudulent unemployment claims.
The arrests come a week after Bank of America, which provides EDD debit cards with unemployment benefits, estimated fraud may be as much as $2 billion in California after it identified 640,000 suspicious claims.
State officials estimated recently that about $400 million in fraudulent claims have been filed in the names of prison inmates.
Fraud involving EDD employees has been an ongoing problem at the agency.
The EDD has seen 16 former employees convicted of fraud over the last 10 years, said Loree Levy, a spokeswoman for the agency.
Most recently, authorities announced in March that a former EDD tax compliance representative had been sentenced to six years in prison for conspiring with five other people to obtain $887,199 in California unemployment benefits based on fraudulent claims.
“The EDD is committed to combating the aggressive fraud attacks against the unemployment benefit system and is grateful for the collaborative efforts of federal, state and local partners in this shared goal,” said Nancy Farias, an EDD chief deputy director, on Thursday.
California Some California prosecutors say ‘tsunami’ of prison unemployment fraud fuels street crime Some district attorneys and investigators say that top California leaders are not doing enough to stop unemployment fraud, even after abuses of EDD jobless benefits were exposed.
A state task force investigating fraud in the prison system is trying to determine whether any of the bogus EDD claims were inside jobs involving employees, said Brian Ferguson, a spokesman for the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services, which is overseeing a task force investigating the prison fraud.
“The scope of the task force’s investigative work does include determining who was involved, including, but not limited to, state employees,” Ferguson said.
Separately on Thursday, a federal grand jury in Fresno returned an indictment against two women, Sholanda Thomas, 36, and Christina Smith, 37, for mail fraud and identity theft related to filing false unemployment claims involving prisoners at the Central California Women’s Facility in Chowchilla.
Authorities allege that after Smith was paroled recently, she worked with Thomas, who is still incarcerated, to file illegal claims on behalf of other women at the prison. The false claims netted more than $200,000, according to a source familiar with the investigation. The scheme came to light through review of recorded phone calls between the women.
Prosecutors allege Smith used part of her proceeds to pay for plastic surgery and kept Thomas’ share in a shoebox pending her release.
In many of the applications, the claimants said they were hair stylists or barbers who were unable to find work. Those familiar with the fraudulent claims coming out of California prisons said those two jobs have been prevalent in applications because they can be difficult for the state agency to verify.
Scott, the U.S. attorney, said that other cases are being investigated, and that federal, state and local agencies are working together on a single task force to streamline those efforts.