latimes--2020-05-29--Whites far less likely to die from the coronavirus than blacks, Latinos in L.A. County

The coronavirus death rate among minorities is substantially higher than that of whites , according to Los Angeles County officials .
Whites were the least likely to die from the virus , with 13 fatalities reported per 100,000 Caucasian residents .
But for every 100,000 Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander residents , there were 53 to 154 deaths — a rate four to 12 times higher than for white people .
For every 100,000 black residents , there were 26 coronavirus deaths .
That ’ s a death rate double that of whites .
And for every 100,000 Latino residents , there @ @ @ @ @ @ @ higher death rate than whites .
Here ’ s what county officials reported last week about L.A. County residents whose race and ethnicity have been identified among those who have died from COVID-19 , the disease caused by the coronavirus .
Coronavirus deaths per 100,000 residents by race and ethnicity Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander : 53 to 154 deaths per 100,000 Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander residents Black : 26 deaths per 100,000 black residents Latino : 22 deaths per 100,000 Latino residents Asian American : 16 deaths per 100,000 Asian American residents White : 13 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in areas with higher rates of poverty suffered a coronavirus death rate nearly quadruple that of those living in areas with very low poverty levels , L.A. County ’ s director of public health , Barbara Ferrer , said last week .
Residents in areas with high rates of poverty : 41 deaths per 100,000 residents Residents in areas with very low rates of poverty : 11 deaths per 100,000 residents “ The data remains deeply disturbing and it will require a lot of collaboration and work with our partners to address the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ those dying from COVID-19 with underlying health issues , a significant share are younger adults The percentage of people who have died from COVID-19 with underlying health conditions has slightly risen : About 93 % of people who have died from the coronavirus in L.A. County have had underlying health conditions .
A significant share of those have been younger adults .
About 40 % of people who have died from the disease and also had underlying health conditions were under the age of 65 .
About 35 % to 40 % of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ health condition , Ferrer said .
“ I know sometimes folks think there ’ s a very tiny group of people who are at an elevated risk of serious illness from COVID-19 .
But here in L.A. County , it ’ s one out of three of us who has an underlying health condition that can put you or your loved one at a much higher risk for serious illness related to COVID-19 , ” she said .
Most new infections are occurring among adults 65 or younger Officials say 76 % of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ occurring among adults 65 or younger .
That population makes up 57 % of L.A. County .
“ This is the age group that makes up the majority of our workforce , ” Ferrer said .
“ So as more people are going back to work , it ’ s an important reminder that people at the workplace may be infected even if they aren ’ t feeling sick .
“ And we need our employers , and our employees to work together to make sure that employees and customers are in an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ possible , ” Ferrer said last week .
Among people who reside in the jurisdiction of the L.A. County Department of Public Health — which does not include the cities of Long Beach and Pasadena , which have their own health departments — here are the demographics of people who have died from COVID-19 by age : Age 18 to 40 : 2.6 % Age 41 to 65 : 20.1 % Older than 65 : 77.3 % Here are the percentages of the population that the above age groups represent in L.A. County @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 100 % because of rounding ) : Age 18 to 40 : 35 % Age 41 to 65 : 22 % Age older than 65 : 14 % Here are the percentages of L.A. County residents who have died , by race and ethnicity , as of Wednesday , from COVID-19 : For comparison , here are the percentages of L.A. County residents by race and ethnicity : Latinos , California ’ s largest ethnic group , are generally younger than other demographics .
A Los Angeles Times analysis published last month found @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to 64 are dying more frequently of COVID-19 than their white and Asian counterparts relative to their share of the population .

Clarice Kavanaugh places a hand on the casket of her friend Charles Jackson at Inglewood Park Cemetery on April 15. Jackson was diagnosed with COVID-19 after returning home from a ski trip in Idaho and died days later in the hospital.
The coronavirus death rate among minorities is substantially higher than that of whites, according to Los Angeles County officials.
Whites were the least likely to die from the virus, with 13 fatalities reported per 100,000 Caucasian residents.
But for every 100,000 Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander residents, there were 53 to 154 deaths — a rate four to 12 times higher than for white people.
For every 100,000 black residents, there were 26 coronavirus deaths. That’s a death rate double that of whites.
Advertisement
And for every 100,000 Latino residents, there were 22 deaths — a 70% higher death rate than whites.
Here’s what county officials reported last week about L.A. County residents whose race and ethnicity have been identified among those who have died from COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus.
Coronavirus deaths per 100,000 residents by race and ethnicity
Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander: 53 to 154 deaths per 100,000 Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander residents
Black: 26 deaths per 100,000 black residents
Latino: 22 deaths per 100,000 Latino residents
Asian American: 16 deaths per 100,000 Asian American residents
White: 13 deaths per 100,000 white residents
Poverty associated with high coronavirus death rate
Those living in areas with higher rates of poverty suffered a coronavirus death rate nearly quadruple that of those living in areas with very low poverty levels, L.A. County’s director of public health, Barbara Ferrer, said last week.
Residents in areas with high rates of poverty: 41 deaths per 100,000 residents
Residents in areas with very low rates of poverty: 11 deaths per 100,000 residents
“The data remains deeply disturbing and it will require a lot of collaboration and work with our partners to address the inequities,” Ferrer said.
California Most California voters say coronavirus is increasing inequality, especially among blacks, poll finds Some 70% of California voters believe that the COVID-19 pandemic is increasing inequality in the United States, according to a UC Berkeley IGS poll. Most also agreed that there were racial disparities in the virus’ effect.
Of those dying from COVID-19 with underlying health issues, a significant share are younger adults
The percentage of people who have died from COVID-19 with underlying health conditions has slightly risen: About 93% of people who have died from the coronavirus in L.A. County have had underlying health conditions.
Advertisement
A significant share of those have been younger adults. About 40% of people who have died from the disease and also had underlying health conditions were under the age of 65.
About 35% to 40% of Los Angeles County residents have an underlying health condition, Ferrer said.
“I know sometimes folks think there’s a very tiny group of people who are at an elevated risk of serious illness from COVID-19. But here in L.A. County, it’s one out of three of us who has an underlying health condition that can put you or your loved one at a much higher risk for serious illness related to COVID-19,” she said.
Most new infections are occurring among adults 65 or younger
Officials say 76% of all coronavirus cases in L.A. County are occurring among adults 65 or younger. That population makes up 57% of L.A. County.
“This is the age group that makes up the majority of our workforce,” Ferrer said. “So as more people are going back to work, it’s an important reminder that people at the workplace may be infected even if they aren’t feeling sick.
“And we need our employers, and our employees to work together to make sure that employees and customers are in an environment that’s as safe as possible,” Ferrer said last week.
Tracking the coronavirus in L.A. County The latest maps and charts on the spread of COVID-19 in Los Angeles County, including cases, deaths, closures and restrictions.
Deaths by population
Among people who reside in the jurisdiction of the L.A. County Department of Public Health — which does not include the cities of Long Beach and Pasadena, which have their own health departments — here are the demographics of people who have died from COVID-19 by age:
Age 18 to 40: 2.6%
Age 41 to 65: 20.1%
Older than 65: 77.3%
Here are the percentages of the population that the above age groups represent in L.A. County (numbers do not add up to 100% because of rounding):
Age 18 to 40: 35%
Age 41 to 65: 22%
Age older than 65: 14%
Deaths by racial and ethnic group
Here are the percentages of L.A. County residents who have died, by race and ethnicity, as of Wednesday, from COVID-19:
Latino: 40%
White: 29%
Asian American: 17%
Black: 12%
Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander: 1%
Other: 1%
For comparison, here are the percentages of L.A. County residents by race and ethnicity:
Latino: 49.3%
White: 27.6%
Asian American: 14.5%
Black: 8.2%
Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander: 0.2%
Latinos, California’s largest ethnic group, are generally younger than other demographics.
A Los Angeles Times analysis published last month found that black and Latino Californians ages 18 to 64 are dying more frequently of COVID-19 than their white and Asian counterparts relative to their share of the population.
Times staff writer Soumya Karlamangla contributed to this report.


latimes--2020-05-29--California surpasses 4,000 coronavirus deaths, with L.A. County hardest hit

Los Angeles County reported 50 additional coronavirus-related deaths Friday , bringing California ’ s total to more than 4,000 — a somber milestone in the months-long pandemic that has ravaged communities and local economies .
More than half of the state ’ s deaths have occurred in L.A. County .
The county also confirmed an additional 1,824 new cases , bringing the total to 51,562 .
The news came after the county received permission from the state to reopen hair salons and barbershops and allow for in-person dining .
The relaxed restrictions do not necessarily mean business as usual , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ expected to announce restrictions on operations , including a 60 % capacity limit for restaurants .
That said , Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer said Friday that businesses are not required to be inspected before reopening and can do so as soon as they ’ re able to adhere to protocols .
Gov .
Gavin Newsom said that if a surge in coronavirus cases or hospitalizations occurs as counties continue to lift stay-at-home restrictions , the state may tell officials to pull back .
“ We will direct local health officials to put @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said Friday .
“ We are not mandating a pace for opening.
” Dr. Christina Ghaly , director of health services for L.A. County , said Friday that although the numbers of local cases are flattening , the county may see a new upward curve as more businesses reopen and chances of transmission increase .
But that wouldn ’ t necessarily mean that the county would have to backtrack .
Ferrer said the state is developing a dashboard for counties to track statewide metrics related to improvements and pitfalls as modifications continue .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ that there ’ s a cause of concern , what they really are doing is offering technical support , ” Ferrer said .
The state wouldn ’ t necessarily inform a county to rescind its eased restrictions , but would instead try to understand what is driving an increase in numbers to properly assist .
The death toll in the state — which now stands at 4,051 — remains much lower than in the coronavirus hot spots of Michigan , New Jersey and New York .
But officials have said that though other @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cases offer signs of significant progress , deaths in California remain a major concern .
Los Angeles County remains the center of the outbreak in California , with a total of 2,294 COVID-19 deaths .
The number of confirmed cases in L.A. County represents about half of all California cases .
Earlier this week , the county allowed shopping malls and churches to reopen with strict social distancing and safety rules .
Elsewhere in the state , San Francisco Mayor London Breed on Thursday unveiled a including allowing outdoor dining and beginning June @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a new phase of this crisis and we feel comfortable that we ’ re at a place that we can begin reopening parts of our economy , ” Breed said .
“ But that is not to say that this virus doesn ’ t continue to threaten our city.
” In addition to allowing outdoor dining and restricted in-store retail service by June 15 , the city plans to permit private household indoor services , religious services and ceremonies , outdoor exercise classes , sports games with no spectators , and nonemergency medical @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on July 13 , when restaurants could reopen for indoor dining , hair salons and barbershops could reopen , and real estate open houses could resume by appointment only .
By mid-August , schools , bars , nail salons , gyms , playgrounds , indoor museums , tattoo parlors and swimming pools might be able to reopen .
In the final phase — the date of which has yet to be determined — the city would reopen concert venues , nightclubs , festivals and hotels for tourism .
City officials cautioned that the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Francisco continued to make progress in slowing the spread of COVID-19 .
“ We want to lock in those gains , and we want to move forward in a way that is going to be safe for everybody , ” said San Francisco County Health Officer Dr. Tomás Aragón during an online forum with the mayor Friday .
During the 1918 flue pandemic , Aragon said , the places that reopened slowly did better economically because they did not have large second waves of infection .
He added that health officers and the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ release new guidelines about how families from different households might safely interact .
The guidelines would focus on social distancing , face coverings , hand washing and the need to be tested first if a person felt ill , he said .
But at the same time , Newsom has routinely cautioned that with even businesses across the state starting to reopen , the threat of the coronavirus is not over .
“ This virus has not gone away , ” the governor said earlier this month .
“ Let ’ s not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ forget why we ’ re in this position in the first place .
Let ’ s not be naive about the virulence of this disease .
”

Colleen Shalby, Luke Money, Maura Dolan, Jaclyn Cosgrove

Los Angeles County reported 50 additional coronavirus-related deaths Friday, bringing California’s total to more than 4,000 — a somber milestone in the months-long pandemic that has ravaged communities and local economies. More than half of the state’s deaths have occurred in L.A. County.
The county also confirmed an additional 1,824 new cases, bringing the total to 51,562.
The news came after the county received permission from the state to reopen hair salons and barbershops and allow in-person dining.
The relaxed restrictions do not necessarily mean business as usual, though. County public health officials are expected to announce restrictions on operations, including a 60% capacity limit for restaurants.
Advertisement
That said, Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer said Friday that businesses are not required to be inspected before reopening and can do so as soon as they’re able to adhere to protocols.
Gov. Gavin Newsom said that if a surge in coronavirus cases or hospitalizations occurs as counties continue to lift stay-at-home restrictions, the state may tell officials to pull back.
“We will direct local health officials to put a dimmer switch on,” he said Friday. “We are not mandating a pace for opening.”
Dr. Christina Ghaly, director of health services for L.A. County, said Friday that although the numbers of local cases are flattening, the county may see a new upward curve as more businesses reopen and chances of transmission increase. But that wouldn’t necessarily mean that the county would have to backtrack.
Ferrer said the state is developing a dashboard for counties to track statewide metrics related to improvements and pitfalls as modifications continue.
Advertisement
“If in fact the state determines that there’s a cause of concern, what they really are doing is offering technical support,” Ferrer said. The state wouldn’t necessarily inform a county to rescind its eased restrictions but would instead try to understand what is driving an increase in numbers to properly assist.
The death toll in the state — which now stands at 4,051 — remains much lower than in the coronavirus hot spots of Michigan, New Jersey and New York. But officials have said that though other metrics such as hospitalizations and new confirmed cases offer signs of significant progress, deaths in California remain a major concern.
Los Angeles County remains the center of the outbreak in California, with a total of 2,294 COVID-19 deaths. The number of confirmed cases in L.A. County represents about half of all California cases.
Earlier this week, the county allowed shopping malls and churches to reopen with strict social distancing and safety rules.
With the city of Los Angeles, Mayor Eric Garcetti on Friday announced that restaurants, barbershops and hair salons were permitted to reopen effective immediately, with stylists limited to one customer at a time with everyone required to wear masks.
Restaurants were also allowed to reopen and can apply with the city to open their sidewalks and private parking lots to outdoor dining as well, the mayor said. Houses of worship can fill up to 25% capacity or 100 people, whichever is lower, as long as social distancing guidelines are met and congregants wear masks, Garcetti said. Office workers too may begin to return to their jobs if teleworking from home isn’t possible.
Elsewhere in the state, San Francisco Mayor London Breed on Thursday unveiled a plan for reopening the city, including allowing outdoor dining and permitting customers inside retail stores beginning June 15.
“We’re entering a new phase of this crisis and we feel comfortable that we’re at a place that we can begin reopening parts of our economy,” Breed said. “But that is not to say that this virus doesn’t continue to threaten our city.”
San Francisco’s plan includes three phases .
In addition to allowing outdoor dining and restricted in-store retail service by June 15, the city plans to permit private household indoor services, religious services and ceremonies, outdoor exercise classes, sports games with no spectators, and nonemergency medical appointments.
The second phase would start on July 13, when restaurants could reopen for indoor dining, hair salons and barbershops could reopen, and real estate open houses could resume by appointment only.
By mid-August, schools, bars, nail salons, gyms, playgrounds, indoor museums, tattoo parlors and swimming pools might be able to reopen.
In the final phase — the date of which has yet to be determined — the city would reopen concert venues, nightclubs, festivals and hotels for tourism.
City officials cautioned that the schedule would be followed only if San Francisco continued to make progress in slowing the spread of COVID-19.
“We want to lock in those gains, and we want to move forward in a way that is going to be safe for everybody,” said San Francisco County Health Officer Dr. Tomás Aragón during an online forum with the mayor Friday.
During the 1918 flu pandemic, Aragón said, the places that reopened slowly did better economically because they did not have large second waves of infection.
He added that health officers and the city’s health department will soon release new guidelines about how families from different households might safely interact. The guidelines would focus on social distancing, face coverings, hand washing and the need to be tested first if a person felt ill, he said.
But at the same time, Newsom has routinely cautioned that even with businesses across the state starting to reopen, the threat of the coronavirus is not over.
“This virus has not gone away,” the governor said earlier this month. “Let’s not develop amnesia. Let’s not forget why we’re in this position in the first place. Let’s not be naive about the virulence of this disease.”


latimes--2020-05-29--Reopening California off to a slow start as customers stay away, fears of coronavirus still loom lar

Reopening California off to a slow start as customers stay away, fears of coronavirus still loom large

When the email alert landed in her inbox Wednesday night , Christine Parsons knew exactly what she would do the very next morning : head to the mall , the Glendale Galleria to be exact .
The electronic missive announced that the huge shopping center would reopen Thursday after a long coronavirus nap .
Parsons had been sitting for a month on a bag of unwanted merchandise she ’ d bought online , and she wanted to return it in person at PacSun , a beachy clothier that trades on California chic .
But when she got to the shop @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was scattered on the floor inside , and a note was taped to the glass , the kind of announcement seen at stores mallwide : “ Right now , our plan is to re-open our stores on Sunday , March 29th , but the situation is evolving and this may change.
” Now there ’ s an understatement .
When the mall opened at 11 a.m. , 90 % or so of its retail outlets were not ready to reopen ; according to the Glendale Galleria website , only 19 of the 198 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ day after the Los Angeles County Department of Health allowed malls , retail stores , faith-based services and drive-in movies to resume business .
In fact , most major malls across the county — and a fair number of smaller , independent shops as well — were still closed on Wednesday and Thursday .
And those that were open were far from jammed with customers .
The slow start underscores the peril facing the region ’ s economy and the difficult choice facing retailers , employees and consumers alike : If stores are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ If they ’ re empty , there goes the economy .
On Thursday , you could buy a soft pretzel , a diamond ring or a Double-Double at the Glendale Galleria .
But you couldn ’ t browse the makeup counter at Bloomingdale ’ s or get your cranky iPhone fixed at the Apple store .
And you most certainly couldn ’ t return goods you didn ’ t like at PacSun .
“ I don ’ t understand how this store is closed , but the stores across the hall are open @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Los Angeles County resident who works at Chobani .
“ If you travel outside of L.A. , it ’ s a whole different reality .
It ’ s like coronavirus doesn ’ t exist.
” The novel coronavirus certainly exists here .
Los Angeles County has recorded 49,860 confirmed cases of COVID-19 as of Thursday , and 2,241 people have died here from the virus .
That ’ s a much higher toll than any other county in the state , but then Los Angeles is also the most populous state ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ unemployment in the county to 20.3 % in April , the highest rate of any big , urban area in the state ; in that month alone , Los Angeles County lost 691,300 jobs .
The state lost 2.3 million jobs in April , according to the California Employment Development Department , which called the job loss “ unprecedented ” and “ a direct result of the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.
” That pain has rippled out into malls and stores throughout the region .
Major malls such as the Del Amo @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Pavilion in Carson and the Beverly Center in Los Angeles all were closed Thursday , except for essential services such as restaurant takeout and delivery and some curbside pickup .
Some stores at the Beverly Center plan to reopen Friday .
Baldwin Hills Crenshaw mall ’ s website said it would be “ open today 0:00.
” Along with the Shops at Montebello ’ s closure notice , the mall ’ s website exhorted consumers to “ # FLATTENTHECURVE.
” The Westfield Century City mall plans to reopen Saturday , but five of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ — in Culver City , Valencia , Sherman Oaks , Arcadia and Canoga Park — will remain closed until Wednesday .
When they do come back , the malls will offer a package of new digital services , which will allow customers to shop by appointment and check foot traffic at the mall in real time before heading out to browse .
Bill Allen , chief executive of the Los Angeles County Economic Development Corp. , said he thinks retailers and mall operators are “ taking appropriate time to make sure the experience @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Because the retail experience is everything today.
” But he also worries about the impact of a sluggish restart .
“ The majority of our economy is driven by consumers .
If consumers don ’ t have the ability or interest to get out and shop , it will limit the economic recovery , ” Allen said .
“ That will limit reemployment .
It will limit spending .
It will limit taxes paid to local government .
And that limits government ’ s ability to provide services.
” The Citadel Outlets in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ didn ’ t give much cause for hope .
Only 25 stores out of 130 opened their doors in a mellow first step back for the Assyrian-style icon along the 5 Freeway .
The parking structure was almost empty and the scattered crowds left plenty of room for people to maintain more than the recommended six feet of separation .
Almost everyone — adults and children alike — wore masks .
Short lines appeared at several storefronts , but wait times seldom exceeded 10 minutes .
Citadel general manager David Blagg said the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to individual tenants , mostly national chains making plans on a regional scale .
None had notified him that they did not intend to reopen .
Several said they were trying to figure out how to keep customers far enough apart , while others were having trouble getting staff to return .
The dearth of stores and lack of choice were a disappointment for Octavio Acevedo and his daughter Dana , who waited in line outside Papaya , a clothing store that caters to the fashionable young .
Still , Acevedo conceded , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ here than home.
” They got into Papaya after a 10-minute wait .
Dana left with a dress and sweater .
Outside of the county ’ s major malls , at independent businesses that don ’ t wait for orders from a corporate office , the picture wasn ’ t any rosier .
The retail vacancy rate in beleaguered Westwood Village was a dismal 22 % before the pandemic , Andrew Thomas , executive director of the Westwood Village Improvement Assn.
, said Wednesday .
Thomas expects that to nearly double , because @ @ @ @ @ @ @ students will be able to return in the fall .
And upcoming construction of the Metro Purple Line subway extension will only make matters worse in the neighborhood , where many streets have “ for lease ” signs posted .
“ Business is not going to be dictated by a faucet , ” Thomas said .
“ You can ’ t just bring all of the customers back and pour into the Village .
It ’ s going to take time for people to feel safe .
And businesses are going to have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that comfort level .
And that ’ s going to be very difficult.
” On Wednesday , the first day the county had loosened shelter-at-home directives , Highland Park ’ s trendy York Boulevard was hit and miss .
“ Essential businesses , ” such as the upscale coffee shops and traditional mom-and-pop markets , had been open throughout the pandemic .
But many boutiques and specialty shops remained dark .
The doors at vintage clothing shops , gift stores , art retailers and bookstores were barred , chained or boarded up Wednesday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about when — or if — they would reopen .
There are three party supply stores within a block and a half of York and North Avenue 50 .
But on Wednesday , only Junior ’ s Discount Shop was open .
“ Nobody has come in , but we have to open , we have to try , ” said owner Silvia Flores , 51 , whose store previously offered curbside pickup .
“ I was hoping for more people.
” Junior ’ s sells clothing and knickknacks , paper products and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wear masks and maintain social distancing .
Flores said she also would be on the lookout to make sure her store didn ’ t get too crowded .
Wednesday , that was not an issue .
“ I think people are scared , ” said Flores , who wore a protective mask and pushed aside her own fears of the deadly disease for one simple reason : She can ’ t afford to stay closed any longer .
“ The virus is out there , but so is the electric bill , so @ @ @ @ @ @ @ insurance , ” she said .
“ If we stay closed , this store will die .
”

Stephanie Lai, Andrew J. Campa, Maria L. La Ganga, Doug Smith

When the email alert landed in her inbox Wednesday night, Christine Parsons knew exactly what she would do the very next morning: head to the mall, the Glendale Galleria to be exact.
The electronic missive announced that the huge shopping center would reopen Thursday after a long coronavirus nap. Parsons had been sitting for a month on a bag of unwanted merchandise she’d bought online, and she wanted to return it in person at PacSun, a beachy clothier that trades on California chic.
But when she got to the shop, the door was locked, clothing was scattered on the floor inside, and a note was taped to the glass, the kind of announcement seen at stores mallwide: “Right now, our plan is to re-open our stores on Sunday, March 29th, but the situation is evolving and this may change.”
An empty corridor of the Glendale Galleria, where many shops, despite the mall’s reopening, remained closed on Thursday. (Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times)
Advertisement
Now there’s an understatement. When the mall opened at 11 a.m., 90% or so of its retail outlets were not ready to reopen; according to the Glendale Galleria website, only 19 of the 198 shops were back in business, one day after the Los Angeles County Department of Health allowed malls, retail stores, faith-based services and drive-in movies to resume business.
In fact, most major malls across the county — and a fair number of smaller, independent shops as well — were still closed on Wednesday and Thursday. And those that were open were far from jammed with customers.
The slow start underscores the peril facing the region’s economy and the difficult choice facing retailers, employees and consumers alike: If stores are full, the pandemic could worsen. If they’re empty, there goes the economy.
On Thursday, you could buy a soft pretzel, a diamond ring or a Double-Double at the Glendale Galleria. But you couldn’t browse the makeup counter at Bloomingdale’s or get your cranky iPhone fixed at the Apple store. And you most certainly couldn’t return goods you didn’t like at PacSun.
Masked shoppers browse inside Papaya while wandering the Glendale Galleria on Thursday. (Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times)
“I don’t understand how this store is closed, but the stores across the hall are open,” said Parsons, a 29-year-old Los Angeles County resident who works at Chobani. “If you travel outside of L.A., it’s a whole different reality. It’s like coronavirus doesn’t exist.”
Advertisement
The novel coronavirus certainly exists here. Los Angeles County has recorded 49,860 confirmed cases of COVID-19 as of Thursday, and 2,241 people have died here from the virus. That’s a much higher toll than any other county in the state, but then Los Angeles is also the most populous state’s most populous county.
The virus pushed unemployment in the county to 20.3% in April, the highest rate of any big, urban area in the state; in that month alone, Los Angeles County lost 691,300 jobs. The state lost 2.3 million jobs in April, according to the California Employment Development Department, which called the job loss “unprecedented” and “a direct result of the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.”
That pain has rippled out into malls and stores throughout the region.
Shoppers wearing facial coverings and practicing social distancing peruse a shoe section on Thursday at the Glendale Galleria. (Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times)
Major malls such as the Del Amo Fashion Center in Torrance, the SouthBay Pavilion in Carson and the Beverly Center in Los Angeles all were closed Thursday, except for essential services such as restaurant takeout and delivery and some curbside pickup. Some stores at the Beverly Center plan to reopen Friday.
Baldwin Hills Crenshaw mall’s website said it would be “open today 0:00.” Along with the Shops at Montebello’s closure notice, the mall’s website exhorted consumers to “#FLATTENTHECURVE.”
The Westfield Century City mall plans to reopen Saturday, but five of the company’s other shopping centers — in Culver City, Valencia, Sherman Oaks, Arcadia and Canoga Park — will remain closed until Wednesday. When they do come back, the malls will offer a package of new digital services, which will allow customers to shop by appointment and check foot traffic at the mall in real time before heading out to browse.
Bill Allen, chief executive of the Los Angeles County Economic Development Corp., said he thinks retailers and mall operators are “taking appropriate time to make sure the experience is safe and pleasurable for consumers. Because the retail experience is everything today.”
But he also worries about the impact of a sluggish restart.
“The majority of our economy is driven by consumers. If consumers don’t have the ability or interest to get out and shop, it will limit the economic recovery,” Allen said. “That will limit reemployment. It will limit spending. It will limit taxes paid to local government. And that limits government’s ability to provide services.”
The Citadel Outlets in Commerce, which also reopened Thursday, didn’t give much cause for hope. Only 25 stores out of 130 opened their doors in a mellow first step back for the Assyrian-style icon along the 5 Freeway.
Shoppers wearing protective masks walk around the garment district on Thursday in downtown Los Angeles, an area whose shops have mostly been closed since March. (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)
The parking structure was almost empty and the scattered crowds left plenty of room for people to maintain more than the recommended six feet of separation. Almost everyone — adults and children alike — wore masks. Short lines appeared at several storefronts, but wait times seldom exceeded 10 minutes.
Citadel general manager David Blagg said the decision whether to open was left up to individual tenants, mostly national chains making plans on a regional scale. None had notified him that they did not intend to reopen. Several said they were trying to figure out how to keep customers far enough apart, while others were having trouble getting staff to return.
The dearth of stores and lack of choice were a disappointment for Octavio Acevedo and his daughter Dana, who waited in line outside Papaya, a clothing store that caters to the fashionable young.
Still, Acevedo conceded, “It’s better to be here than home.”
They got into Papaya after a 10-minute wait. Dana left with a dress and sweater.
A deliveryman donning a face mask moves packages past mannequins wearing similar protection in the garment district on Thursday in downtown Los Angeles. (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)
Outside of the county’s major malls, at independent businesses that don’t wait for orders from a corporate office, the picture wasn’t any rosier.
The retail vacancy rate in beleaguered Westwood Village was a dismal 22% before the pandemic, Andrew Thomas, executive director of the Westwood Village Improvement Assn., said Wednesday. Thomas expects that to nearly double, because it’s still unclear whether UCLA students will be able to return in the fall.
And upcoming construction of the Metro Purple Line subway extension will only make matters worse in the neighborhood, where many streets have “for lease” signs posted.
“Business is not going to be dictated by a faucet,” Thomas said. “You can’t just bring all of the customers back and pour into the Village. It’s going to take time for people to feel safe. And businesses are going to have to hang in there until people have that comfort level. And that’s going to be very difficult.”
On Wednesday, the first day the county had loosened shelter-at-home directives, Highland Park’s trendy York Boulevard was hit and miss. “Essential businesses,” such as the upscale coffee shops and traditional mom-and-pop markets, had been open throughout the pandemic. But many boutiques and specialty shops remained dark.
The doors at vintage clothing shops, gift stores, art retailers and bookstores were barred, chained or boarded up Wednesday, sporting a variety of outdated signs about when — or if — they would reopen.
There are three party supply stores within a block and a half of York and North Avenue 50. But on Wednesday, only Junior’s Discount Shop was open.
“Nobody has come in, but we have to open, we have to try,” said owner Silvia Flores, 51, whose store previously offered curbside pickup. “I was hoping for more people.”
Junior’s sells clothing and knickknacks, paper products and party decorations. Signs warn customers to wear masks and maintain social distancing. Flores said she also would be on the lookout to make sure her store didn’t get too crowded.
Wednesday, that was not an issue.
“I think people are scared,” said Flores, who wore a protective mask and pushed aside her own fears of the deadly disease for one simple reason: She can’t afford to stay closed any longer.
“The virus is out there, but so is the electric bill, so is the rent, so is my insurance,” she said. “If we stay closed, this store will die.”


latimes--2020-05-29--Chinese billionaire helped L.A. councilman settle sexual harassment suit, feds say

As Los Angeles City Councilman Jose Huizar was preparing to run for his third and final term in 2014 , he was facing enormous political pressure .
County Supervisor Gloria Molina , one of the biggest names in Eastside politics , had just launched a campaign to unseat him .
One of his former staffers had accused him of sexual harassment and was seeking a payout from the city .
Then , the lawsuit was abruptly settled .
The city paid her nothing .
And Huizar refused to say how he had persuaded Francine Godoy , his onetime deputy chief @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
After nearly six years , that secret appears to have finally broken into public view , with a former Huizar aide agreeing to plead guilty in a sprawling federal corruption investigation and giving his — and prosecutors ’ — version of events .
George Esparza , who worked as Huizar ’ s special assistant , said in his plea agreement that a Chinese billionaire doing business in Huizar ’ s district played a crucial role in helping the councilman settle the lawsuit .
The billionaire , named in federal filings only as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ build a 77-story skyscraper in Huizar ’ s district .
In 2014 , the billionaire provided $ 600,000 in collateral as the councilman was applying for a loan , according to Esparza ’ s plea agreement .
The arrangement allowed Huizar to secure a $ 570,000 bank loan and pay the sexual harassment settlement , resolving it without any public disclosure of the details , according to Esparza ’ s plea agreement .
Had the city paid a financial settlement in the case , its terms would have become public .
Private settlements @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the parties to promise never to discuss the case publicly .
Esparza , who lives in Boyle Heights , is the fourth person to agree to plead guilty in the sweeping investigation , which is still underway .
His attorney did not respond to messages seeking comment .
Several city officials have called on Huizar to resign in recent weeks .
Council President Nury Martinez did so Thursday , saying the latest filing directly implicates Huizar in “ illegal , offensive and absolute abuse-of-power dealings.
” Mayor Eric Garcetti said he supported her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ saying the councilman had lost the trust of the public .
Molina , who ultimately lost to Huizar in the 2015 election , said this week that she wished the public could have been informed of the deal to finance the settlement before they cast their votes .
Even then , she said , no one who knew Huizar believed that he had the ability to pay Godoy himself .
“ Everybody knew he didn ’ t have that money , ” Molina said in an interview .
“ Nobody would say how @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but somebody had to have given it to him.
” Federal prosecutors have not named Huizar in any of their filings .
But they have provided numerous details in court records that make clear that he is the councilman at the center of what they describe as a criminal enterprise that relied on bribes , extortion and other illicit activities .
Huizar ’ s attorneys have repeatedly declined to comment on the investigation .
Godoy ’ s lawyer did not respond to The Times ’ inquiries .
Prosecutors did not name the company @ @ @ @ @ @ @ But details in the federal filings match a project proposed by Shenzhen New World Group , which has been seeking to develop a 77-story tower on property occupied by the L.A. Grand Hotel Downtown on Figueroa Street .
The Times was unable to reach a company representative for comment .
The Chinese billionaire ultimately provided more than $ 1 million in bribes to the councilman to help advance his company ’ s development plans , prosecutors said .
Esparza admitted the developer provided him and his boss with “ financial benefits ” on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Las Vegas and Australia between 2014 and 2018 , including free flights on private jets , gambling chips and expensive meals , court records show .
At one point , the Huizar aide told a co-worker that , considering what his boss owed , the developer “ should have all the leverage in the world , ” according to the federal filing .
Godoy filed her lawsuit in 2013 , accusing Huizar of waging a “ campaign of retaliation ” against her after she rebuffed requests for sexual favors .
She also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a seat on the Los Angeles Community College District board and scaled back her responsibilities , ordering her to work from home .
“ Plaintiff would sit at home much of her time with no work to perform since she was being retaliated against by Huizar due to her refusal to have sex with him , ” the lawsuit said .
Huizar denied Godoy ’ s allegations , calling the relationship with her “ occasional and consensual.
” The councilman ’ s spokesman called Godoy ’ s claims “ false and malicious ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the extramarital affair .
“ He and his wife are currently working on repairing their marriage , ” the spokesman , Robert Alaniz , said at the time .
With the lawsuit underway , an influential figure at City Hall emerged to help Huizar find a solution , prosecutors said this week .
Ray Chan , then the top executive at the city ’ s Department of Building and Safety , urged the Chinese billionaire to provide the $ 600,000 needed to resolve the councilman ’ s sexual harassment lawsuit , according to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ did not name Chan in their filing , identifying him as Individual 1 , but included key biographical details that match his resume .
The billionaire provided the financial help after the councilman had introduced a motion to help ensure the Building and Safety executive kept his job , according to the filing .
Prosecutors did not provide further details on that motion .
However , at a 2013 committee meeting , Huizar made an amending motion to put off a plan to combine Chan ’ s agency with another city department — @ @ @ @ @ @ @ loss of jobs in his agency .
Chan ’ s attorney had no immediate comment on the latest allegations .
But he previously has said Chan did nothing wrong .
In exchange for putting up the collateral , the billionaire began asking for “ a series of favors , ” prosecutors said .
By 2017 , one of the developer ’ s executives was applying pressure , reminding Esparza of the help the billionaire had provided , prosecutors said .
Prosecutors said that in one phone call with Esparza , a company executive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with the skyscraper project — or else the councilman would have to “ pay back that $ 600,000.
” The federal filings indicate that by December 2018 , weeks after the FBI raided Huizar ’ s home , the councilman had failed to make three interest payments on the bank loan that allowed him to settle the harassment lawsuit .
That month , the bank that issued the $ 600,000 loan tapped the collateral provided by the billionaire , according to the federal filing .
That move , prosecutors said , meant Huizar @ @ @ @ @ @ @ remaining $ 575,000 he owed the bank .

Los Angeles City Councilman Jose Huizar and his former aide, Francine Godoy. A plea agreement offers an explanation for how Godoy’s lawsuit against Huizar was settled.
As Los Angeles City Councilman Jose Huizar was preparing to run for his third and final term in 2014, he was facing enormous political pressure.
County Supervisor Gloria Molina, one of the biggest names in Eastside politics, had just launched a campaign to unseat him. One of his former staffers had accused him of sexual harassment and was seeking a payout from the city.
Then, the lawsuit was abruptly settled. The city paid her nothing. And Huizar refused to say how he had persuaded Francine Godoy, his onetime deputy chief of staff, to drop her claims.
Advertisement
After nearly six years, that secret appears to have finally broken into public view, with a former Huizar aide agreeing to plead guilty in a sprawling federal corruption investigation and giving his — and prosecutors’ — version of events.
George Esparza, who worked as Huizar’s special assistant, said in his plea agreement that a Chinese billionaire doing business in Huizar’s district played a crucial role in helping the councilman settle the lawsuit.
The billionaire, named in federal filings only as Chairman E, had been looking to build a 77-story skyscraper in Huizar’s district. In 2014, the billionaire provided $600,000 in collateral as the councilman was applying for a loan, according to Esparza’s plea agreement.
The arrangement allowed Huizar to secure a $570,000 bank loan and pay the sexual harassment settlement, resolving it without any public disclosure of the details, according to Esparza’s plea agreement.
Had the city paid a financial settlement in the case, its terms would have become public. Private settlements need not be disclosed and often require the parties to promise never to discuss the case publicly.
Esparza, who lives in Boyle Heights, is the fourth person to agree to plead guilty in the sweeping investigation, which is still underway. His attorney did not respond to messages seeking comment.
Several city officials have called on Huizar to resign in recent weeks. Council President Nury Martinez did so Thursday, saying the latest filing directly implicates Huizar in “illegal, offensive and absolute abuse-of-power dealings.”
Mayor Eric Garcetti said he supported her call for Huizar’s resignation, saying the councilman had lost the trust of the public.
Advertisement
Molina, who ultimately lost to Huizar in the 2015 election, said this week that she wished the public could have been informed of the deal to finance the settlement before they cast their votes. Even then, she said, no one who knew Huizar believed that he had the ability to pay Godoy himself.
Former County Supervisor Gloria Molina, pictured in 2014, said she wished voters could have known that year about the arrangement that was allegedly set up to settle Councilman Jose Huizar’s sexual harassment lawsuit. (Barbara Davidson / Los Angeles Times)
“Everybody knew he didn’t have that money,” Molina said in an interview. “Nobody would say how much [the settlement] was, but somebody had to have given it to him.”
Federal prosecutors have not named Huizar in any of their filings. But they have provided numerous details in court records that make clear that he is the councilman at the center of what they describe as a criminal enterprise that relied on bribes, extortion and other illicit activities.
Huizar’s attorneys have repeatedly declined to comment on the investigation. Godoy’s lawyer did not respond to The Times’ inquiries.
Prosecutors did not name the company seeking to build the 77-story skyscraper. But details in the federal filings match a project proposed by Shenzhen New World Group, which has been seeking to develop a 77-story tower on property occupied by the L.A. Grand Hotel Downtown on Figueroa Street. The Times was unable to reach a company representative for comment.
The Chinese billionaire ultimately provided more than $1 million in bribes to the councilman to help advance his company’s development plans, prosecutors said. Esparza admitted the developer provided him and his boss with “financial benefits” on more than a dozen trips to casinos in Las Vegas and Australia between 2014 and 2018, including free flights on private jets, gambling chips and expensive meals, court records show.
At one point, the Huizar aide told a co-worker that, considering what his boss owed, the developer “should have all the leverage in the world,” according to the federal filing.
Godoy filed her lawsuit in 2013, accusing Huizar of waging a “campaign of retaliation” against her after she rebuffed requests for sexual favors. She also alleged that he sabotaged her bid for a seat on the Los Angeles Community College District board and scaled back her responsibilities, ordering her to work from home.
“Plaintiff would sit at home much of her time with no work to perform since she was being retaliated against by Huizar due to her refusal to have sex with him,” the lawsuit said.
Huizar denied Godoy’s allegations, calling the relationship with her “occasional and consensual.” The councilman’s spokesman called Godoy’s claims “false and malicious” and said Huizar deeply regretted engaging in the extramarital affair.
“He and his wife are currently working on repairing their marriage,” the spokesman, Robert Alaniz, said at the time.
With the lawsuit underway, an influential figure at City Hall emerged to help Huizar find a solution, prosecutors said this week.
Ray Chan, then the top executive at the city’s Department of Building and Safety, urged the Chinese billionaire to provide the $600,000 needed to resolve the councilman’s sexual harassment lawsuit, according to details in the federal filing.
Prosecutors did not name Chan in their filing, identifying him as Individual 1, but included key biographical details that match his resume.
The billionaire provided the financial help after the councilman had introduced a motion to help ensure the Building and Safety executive kept his job, according to the filing.
Prosecutors did not provide further details on that motion. However, at a 2013 committee meeting, Huizar made an amending motion to put off a plan to combine Chan’s agency with another city department — a move that may have prevented the loss of jobs in his agency.
Chan’s attorney had no immediate comment on the latest allegations. But he previously has said Chan did nothing wrong.
In exchange for putting up the collateral, the billionaire began asking for “a series of favors,” prosecutors said. By 2017, one of the developer’s executives was applying pressure, reminding Esparza of the help the billionaire had provided, prosecutors said.
Prosecutors said that in one phone call with Esparza, a company executive made clear that the developer expected help with the skyscraper project — or else the councilman would have to “pay back that $600,000.”
The federal filings indicate that by December 2018, weeks after the FBI raided Huizar’s home, the councilman had failed to make three interest payments on the bank loan that allowed him to settle the harassment lawsuit.
That month, the bank that issued the $600,000 loan tapped the collateral provided by the billionaire, according to the federal filing. That move, prosecutors said, meant Huizar no longer had to pay back the remaining $575,000 he owed the bank.


latimes--2020-05-30--In reopening restaurants and hair salons, L.A. County tests whether it can prevent second wave of co

In reopening restaurants and hair salons, L.A. County tests whether it can prevent second wave of coronavirus

Despite having the most serious coronavirus outbreak in California , Los Angeles County on Friday was given the go-ahead to reopen restaurants for in-person dining , and resume services at barbershops and hair salons in the biggest test of whether the state can reopen the economy without causing COVID-19 to spread more rapidly .
Gov .
Gavin Newsom approved a request by L.A. County leaders to begin the next phase of reopening and businesses could be up and running this weekend .
Many smaller counties across California already allow restaurants to start serving meals again with social distancing and other @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been hit far less hard than Los Angeles County , and health officials said there is a clear risk that L.A. County ’ s move could fuel more outbreaks if rules are not strictly followed .
Over the past few weeks , California ’ s first-in-the-nation stay-at-home order has been rapidly loosened as Newsom and others said the coronavirus threat had eased .
The order is credited with helping California avoid the huge death tolls of hot spots such as New York and New Jersey but has devastated the economy .
While many @ @ @ @ @ @ @ order , there have been growing concerns that it is coming too early for urban areas still vulnerable .
Backers of the latest reopening plan believe the potential benefits outweigh the risks .
“ This is a fine line that we ’ re walking in the county of Los Angeles , ” County Supervisor Janice Hahn said Friday .
“ We are threading the needle between keeping the public safe and allowing our economy to reopen.
” L.A. County has recorded more than 2,200 coronavirus deaths .
More than half of all COVID-19 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ L.A. County , which has been slower to reopen than areas less hard hit by the outbreak .
The total number of confirmed infections in L.A. County is more than 50,000 — representing almost half of all California cases .
Just hours after the reopenings were announced , the county reported 50 additional coronavirus-related deaths Friday , bringing California ’ s total to more than 4,000 .
The county also confirmed an additional 1,824 new cases , bringing the total to 51,562 .
Dr. Christina Ghaly , director of health services for L.A. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of local cases are flattening , the county may see a new upward curve as more businesses reopen and chances of transmission increase .
But that wouldn ’ t necessarily mean that the county would have to backtrack .
Newsom and others acknowledged that while the death toll in L.A. County remains a major concern , other metrics show it ’ s safe to reopen the economy more .
They point to reduced hospitalizations , infection rates and increased testing capacity .
Hahn said officials have been working with the county ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ experts from a variety of sectors , including the restaurant industry , to develop a detailed safety plan for in-restaurant dining .
The plan includes diagrams showing how to separate tables six feet apart and proposes putting physical barriers between tables where such distancing isn ’ t possible , Hahn said .
As those plans suggest , things won ’ t immediately return to business as usual for the newly reopened establishments .
County public health officials are expected to announce restrictions on operations , including a 60 % capacity limit for restaurants @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to find creative ways to do that by utilizing their parking lots and the streets in front of their restaurants , ” Hahn said .
Some communities , including the cities of Los Angeles and , are preparing to close streets to traffic and expedite permit variances so restaurants can put more tables and chairs outside .
Both restaurants and salons are expected to be required to keep detailed records of customers , including contact numbers , so public health officials can quickly follow up with patrons in the event of an outbreak @ @ @ @ @ @ @ inspecting and providing guidance to newly reopened establishments , but the businesses are not required to undergo an inspection before they resume services , Barbara Ferrer , the county health director , said Friday .
“ As we enter the weekend and we are out of our homes and visiting many of the reopened establishments because we ’ re all really hungering for some return to normalcy , I want to just note that the new normal that you ’ re going to see reflected in the businesses reflects the fact that COVID-19 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and there ’ s a great deal at stake in the reopening , ” she said .
Ferrer added that it continues to be crucial for people to practice physical distancing , wear a cloth face covering and stay home if they ’ re feeling sick .
“ We do again want to note that the actions we take now are essential to making sure that people don ’ t become seriously ill , we don ’ t overwhelm our hospitals and we save people ’ s lives , ” she said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ important for businesses , individuals and institutions to use the tools that we have available to take care of each other and to continue to slow the spread of COVID-19.
” The state is developing a dashboard for counties to track statewide metrics related to improvements and pitfalls as modifications continue .
“ If in fact the state determines that there ’ s a cause of concern , what they really are doing is offering technical support , ” Ferrer said .
The state wouldn ’ t necessarily inform a county to rescind @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to understand what is driving an increase in numbers to properly assist .
Restaurateurs and other business owners expressed relief and some concern about the move .
“ I don ’ t think we ’ re going to scramble to open , ” said Jon Yao , chef-owner of Kato in West L.A. “ I think our timeline is going to be more in line with how we combat the disease instead of what the city says is OK. ” Some establishments expressed concern with the pace of the reopening .
“ Personally @ @ @ @ @ @ @ disaster , ” said Josiah Citrin , chef-owner of Charcoal , Dear John ’ s , Citrin and Melisse .
“ It all went too fast ; nothing ’ s been smartly done.
” Citrin said he plans to reopen Charcoal , his steakhouse in Marina del Rey , on Thursday .
But things will look remarkably different : Instead of as many as 110 diners spread across booths , a communal table and the bar , he ’ s limiting capacity to 40 diners at a time , all at their own @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of steak sauce , chimichurri and barbecue sauce that used to remain on tables all day .
No walk-ins will be allowed .
Instead of 56 employees , he ’ ll have about 35 .
The rush to reopen Charcoal , he said , is because the money he received from the federal PPP loan “ is almost out.
” “ I followed the rules , and I have almost no money , ” he said .
“ I have a couple weeks left.
” He figures going to a restaurant is safer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and believes diners will return after being cooped up for so long .
“ If cases start spiking and it gets really bad , then maybe people won ’ t go out , ” he said .
“ But for now , what else can you do ?
You can ’ t go to a movie , you can ’ t go to a concert , you can ’ t go to a sporting game , so restaurants will be in pretty high demand.
” Still , with only 40 diners max at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for a significant revenue hit .
“ It ’ s going to really hurt my bottom line .
From now until this is over , it ’ s not about making money , it ’ s about surviving .
It ’ s about finding ways to see another day.
” Johnny Ciccone , 42 , owns Headbetter , a hair salon in Sherman Oaks that had eight chairs , four worked by employees and four worked by stylists who rented their space .
It has been closed for the past 2½ months .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ by this , ” he said .
Even with the plans for reopening , Ciccone fears that as many as half of the city ’ s hair salons are still destined to fail .
“ The only reason I ’ m still able to hang out at my salon is because there has been a moratorium on evictions .
I did receive PPP funding but that was six weeks in and I haven ’ t been able to pay anyone or bring them back to work , ” he said .
“ For @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s going to depend on the landlords .
Are they willing to make deals ?
Maybe my landlord will make a deal with me , maybe not.
” Ciccone was told to close March 15 .
Prepandemic , Headbetter would see 25 to 30 customers a day .
Ciccone estimates he will be able to serve about half that number under the new guidelines .
Even as he talked about the reopening , workers were removing four of his eight chairs , in order to comply with the new spacing requirements .
Ciccone @ @ @ @ @ @ @ if he could just reopen and conduct business as usual — he must provide everyone with hand sanitizer , screen people for fevers before they enter and require both employees and clients to wear masks .
“ One of the biggest changes is that there are not going to be any walk-in services , ” he said .
“ Customers are going to have to wait outside until we are ready for them.
” He said he ’ s purchased thousands of masks and gloves and gallons of disinfectant and rubbing alcohol , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Even signage will require another outlay of money , Ciccone said .
“ The city has released sample signs , requiring social distancing , hand washing and other requirements , how we are going to be operating safely , ” he said .
“ We have to have all that posted , so I ’ ll be dealing with that this weekend .
“ For a small business like mine , we have spent a few thousand dollars getting ready for the reopening , changing chair layouts , other things.
” In @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , “ I don ’ t think we are going to pass this on to our clients , especially if they have faced unemployment .
They are going to have wait longer to get appointments .
These are people I have a close relationship with .
They have been going through the same tough times I ’ ve gone through.
” Anre Anduha , 35 , who owns Brotherhood Barbershop in Sherman Oaks , said he ’ s also taken on a lot of debt .
“ I ’ m $ 15,000 in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ my $ 400 to $ 500 DWP bills , cable bills and that ’ s not even counting the lost income , ” he said .
“ When I open back up , I ’ m only going to be using four chairs.
” Before COVID-19 struck , Brotherhood Barbershop was always busy with appointments and walk-ins , averaging between 75 to 100 customers a day .
It ’ s been closed since March 19 .
Anduha also faces additional expenses , such as capes , “ for every single client that comes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ two or three times in a day.
” Also , by contrast , hair salons do not typically rely on walk-ins for a significant slice of their business .
That ’ s not the case with barbershops , which do rely on them .
Anduha said that half of his business were people who just walked in , hoping to quickly find an empty chair and willing to sit around inside the shop to wait , which will not be allowed now .
“ It ’ s supposed to be appointment only now @ @ @ @ @ @ @ already thinking about workarounds , depending on the peace of mind of the particular barber , especially if dealing with strangers .
“ Barbers may want to take a client ’ s temperature , ask whether they have been traveling .
For the majority of those , we ’ d probably just write down their information , ask them to wait outside in case a chair opens up .
You can ’ t just say ‘ come on in , sit in a chair ’ like we used to.
” In spite of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as reluctant as Ciccone to raise prices as substantially as circumstances might warrant , noting that his customers have also suffered from issues such as lost work and income .
“ Do I think I will survive ?
I really don ’ t have another option .
I ’ ll have to .
But we were already at a decent price level at $ 40 a cut , ” Anduha said .
“ We might go to $ 45 , but I ’ m not going to raise prices a lot right away.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Hannah Fry , Rong-Gong Lin II , Jenn Harris and Peter Meehan contributed to this report .

Alex Wigglesworth, Colleen Shalby, Andrea Chang

Sloane Sires of Long Beach chats with Keith Gaxiola of Santa Monica and Brenda Barron of Bellflower as people dine at San Pedro Brewing Co. on Friday in San Pedro.
Despite having the most serious coronavirus outbreak in California, Los Angeles County on Friday was given the go-ahead to reopen restaurants for in-person dining, and resume services at barbershops and hair salons in the biggest test of whether the state can reopen the economy without causing COVID-19 to spread more rapidly.
Gov. Gavin Newsom approved a request by L.A. County leaders to begin the next phase of reopening and businesses could be up and running this weekend.
Many smaller counties across California already allow restaurants to start serving meals again with social distancing and other safety regulations. But those regions have been hit far less hard than Los Angeles County, and health officials said there is a clear risk that L.A. County’s move could fuel more outbreaks if rules are not strictly followed.
Advertisement
Over the past few weeks, California’s first-in-the-nation stay-at-home order has been rapidly loosened as Newsom and others said the coronavirus threat had eased. The order is credited with helping California avoid the huge death tolls of hot spots such as New York and New Jersey but has devastated the economy.
While many have praised the relaxations of the stay-at-home order, there have been growing concerns that it is coming too early for urban areas still vulnerable. Backers of the latest reopening plan believe the potential benefits outweigh the risks.
“This is a fine line that we’re walking in the county of Los Angeles,” County Supervisor Janice Hahn said Friday. “We are threading the needle between keeping the public safe and allowing our economy to reopen.”
L.A. County has recorded more than 2,200 coronavirus deaths. More than half of all COVID-19 fatalities in the state have been in L.A. County, which has been slower to reopen than areas less hard hit by the outbreak. The total number of confirmed infections in L.A. County is more than 50,000 — representing almost half of all California cases.
Just hours after the reopenings were announced, the county reported 50 additional coronavirus-related deaths Friday, bringing California’s total to more than 4,000. The county also confirmed an additional 1,824 new cases, bringing the total to 51,562.
Dr. Christina Ghaly, director of health services for L.A. County, said that although the numbers of local cases are flattening, the county may see a new upward curve as more businesses reopen and chances of transmission increase. But that wouldn’t necessarily mean that the county would have to backtrack.
Advertisement
Newsom and others acknowledged that while the death toll in L.A. County remains a major concern, other metrics show it’s safe to reopen the economy more. They point to reduced hospitalizations, infection rates and increased testing capacity.
Hahn said officials have been working with the county’s Economic Resiliency Task Force, which includes experts from a variety of sectors, including the restaurant industry, to develop a detailed safety plan for in-restaurant dining. The plan includes diagrams showing how to separate tables six feet apart and proposes putting physical barriers between tables where such distancing isn’t possible, Hahn said.
As those plans suggest, things won’t immediately return to business as usual for the newly reopened establishments.
County public health officials are expected to announce restrictions on operations, including a 60% capacity limit for restaurants.
“Many of them will have to find creative ways to do that by utilizing their parking lots and the streets in front of their restaurants,” Hahn said.
Some communities, including the cities of Los Angeles and Long Beach , are preparing to close streets to traffic and expedite permit variances so restaurants can put more tables and chairs outside.
Both restaurants and salons are expected to be required to keep detailed records of customers, including contact numbers, so public health officials can quickly follow up with patrons in the event of an outbreak.
Environmental health inspectors will be out inspecting and providing guidance to newly reopened establishments, but the businesses are not required to undergo an inspection before they resume services, Barbara Ferrer, the county health director, said Friday.
“As we enter the weekend and we are out of our homes and visiting many of the reopened establishments because we’re all really hungering for some return to normalcy, I want to just note that the new normal that you’re going to see reflected in the businesses reflects the fact that COVID-19 is still very active in our communities and there’s a great deal at stake in the reopening,” she said.
Ferrer added that it continues to be crucial for people to practice physical distancing, wear a cloth face covering and stay home if they’re feeling sick.
“We do again want to note that the actions we take now are essential to making sure that people don’t become seriously ill, we don’t overwhelm our hospitals and we save people’s lives,” she said.
“It’s never been more important for businesses, individuals and institutions to use the tools that we have available to take care of each other and to continue to slow the spread of COVID-19.”
The state is developing a dashboard for counties to track statewide metrics related to improvements and pitfalls as modifications continue.
“If in fact the state determines that there’s a cause of concern, what they really are doing is offering technical support,” Ferrer said. The state wouldn’t necessarily inform a county to rescind its eased restrictions but would instead try to understand what is driving an increase in numbers to properly assist.
Restaurateurs and other business owners expressed relief and some concern about the move.
“I don’t think we’re going to scramble to open,” said Jon Yao, chef-owner of Kato in West L.A. “I think our timeline is going to be more in line with how we combat the disease instead of what the city says is OK.”
Some establishments expressed concern with the pace of the reopening.
“Personally I think it’s all a disaster,” said Josiah Citrin, chef-owner of Charcoal, Dear John’s, Citrin and Melisse. “It all went too fast; nothing’s been smartly done.”
Citrin said he plans to reopen Charcoal, his steakhouse in Marina del Rey, on Thursday. But things will look remarkably different: Instead of as many as 110 diners spread across booths, a communal table and the bar, he’s limiting capacity to 40 diners at a time, all at their own tables.
He has removed the bottles of steak sauce, chimichurri and barbecue sauce that used to remain on tables all day. No walk-ins will be allowed. Instead of 56 employees, he’ll have about 35.
The rush to reopen Charcoal, he said, is because the money he received from the federal PPP loan “is almost out.”
“I followed the rules, and I have almost no money,” he said. “I have a couple weeks left.”
He figures going to a restaurant is safer than shopping at a crowded grocery store and believes diners will return after being cooped up for so long.
“If cases start spiking and it gets really bad, then maybe people won’t go out,” he said. “But for now, what else can you do? You can’t go to a movie, you can’t go to a concert, you can’t go to a sporting game, so restaurants will be in pretty high demand.”
Still, with only 40 diners max at a time, he’s bracing for a significant revenue hit.
“It’s going to really hurt my bottom line. From now until this is over, it’s not about making money, it’s about surviving. It’s about finding ways to see another day.”
Johnny Ciccone, 42, owns Headbetter, a hair salon in Sherman Oaks that had eight chairs, four worked by employees and four worked by stylists who rented their space. It has been closed for the past 2½ months.
“We’ve just been decimated by this,” he said.
Even with the plans for reopening, Ciccone fears that as many as half of the city’s hair salons are still destined to fail.
“The only reason I’m still able to hang out at my salon is because there has been a moratorium on evictions. I did receive PPP funding but that was six weeks in and I haven’t been able to pay anyone or bring them back to work,” he said.
“For a lot of salons, it’s going to depend on the landlords. Are they willing to make deals? Maybe my landlord will make a deal with me, maybe not.”
Ciccone was told to close March 15. Prepandemic, Headbetter would see 25 to 30 customers a day. Ciccone estimates he will be able to serve about half that number under the new guidelines. Even as he talked about the reopening, workers were removing four of his eight chairs, in order to comply with the new spacing requirements. Ciccone added that it wasn’t as if he could just reopen and conduct business as usual — he must provide everyone with hand sanitizer, screen people for fevers before they enter and require both employees and clients to wear masks.
“One of the biggest changes is that there are not going to be any walk-in services,” he said. “Customers are going to have to wait outside until we are ready for them.”
He said he’s purchased thousands of masks and gloves and gallons of disinfectant and rubbing alcohol, as well as new point-of-sale card readers.
Even signage will require another outlay of money, Ciccone said. “The city has released sample signs, requiring social distancing, hand washing and other requirements, how we are going to be operating safely,” he said. “We have to have all that posted, so I’ll be dealing with that this weekend.
“For a small business like mine, we have spent a few thousand dollars getting ready for the reopening, changing chair layouts, other things.”
In spite of all this, Ciccone said, “I don’t think we are going to pass this on to our clients, especially if they have faced unemployment. They are going to have wait longer to get appointments. These are people I have a close relationship with. They have been going through the same tough times I’ve gone through.”
Anre Anduha, 35, who owns Brotherhood Barbershop in Sherman Oaks, said he’s also taken on a lot of debt.
“I’m $15,000 in debt now when I consider rent, my $400 to $500 DWP bills, cable bills and that’s not even counting the lost income,” he said. “When I open back up, I’m only going to be using four chairs.”
Before COVID-19 struck, Brotherhood Barbershop was always busy with appointments and walk-ins, averaging between 75 to 100 customers a day. It’s been closed since March 19.
Anduha also faces additional expenses, such as capes, “for every single client that comes in, instead of many switching capes two or three times in a day.”
Also, by contrast, hair salons do not typically rely on walk-ins for a significant slice of their business. That’s not the case with barbershops, which do rely on them. Anduha said that half of his business were people who just walked in, hoping to quickly find an empty chair and willing to sit around inside the shop to wait, which will not be allowed now.
“It’s supposed to be appointment only now,” said Anduha, who was already thinking about workarounds, depending on the peace of mind of the particular barber, especially if dealing with strangers. “Barbers may want to take a client’s temperature, ask whether they have been traveling. For the majority of those, we’d probably just write down their information, ask them to wait outside in case a chair opens up. You can’t just say ‘come on in, sit in a chair’ like we used to.”
In spite of being in debt, he was just as reluctant as Ciccone to raise prices as substantially as circumstances might warrant, noting that his customers have also suffered from issues such as lost work and income.
“Do I think I will survive? I really don’t have another option. I’ll have to. But we were already at a decent price level at $40 a cut,” Anduha said. “We might go to $45, but I’m not going to raise prices a lot right away.”
Times staff writers Ronald D. White, Hannah Fry, Rong-Gong Lin II, Jenn Harris and Peter Meehan contributed to this report.


latimes--2020-05-30--Is California reopening too quickly? Newsom explains the state's strategy for slowing coronavirus wh

Is California reopening too quickly? Newsom explains the state's strategy for slowing coronavirus while boosting economy

California ’ s efforts to restart the economy hit a new milestone with the decisions to allow Los Angeles County , the epicenter of the coronavirus in California , to reopen restaurants , barbershops and hair salons .
There have been questions about whether the state is moving too fast .
But Gov .
Gavin Newsom , whose first-in-the-nation stay-at-home order was crediting with slowing the spread of COVID-19 , on Friday made the case for how the state is proceeding .
Californians have successfully slowed the spread of the coronavirus this spring allowing the rapid easing of his stay-at-home @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the safety of their homes to venture to salons , shops and restaurants , and in some cases return to work .
Los Angeles became the latest county to receive approval from the Newsom administration to accelerate the reopening of its economy , despite being California ’ s biggest COVID-19 hotspot with nearly 2,300 confirmed deaths thus far out of the roughly 4,000 statewide .
In all , 48 of California ’ s 58 counties have been granted waivers .
In April , Newsom unveiled his multistage plan for reopening in late April @ @ @ @ @ @ @ grant variances to counties since then .
It took just 17 days for state officials to sign off allowing the state ’ s first two counties to begin reopening — Butte and El Dorado , both in Northern California — and the green light for loosening the restrictions in Los Angeles .
“ It ’ s because of your extraordinary work , 40 million of you , we bought time , ” Newsom said at a COVID-19 briefing in Sacramento on Friday .
“ We never allowed that curve to take off like @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ ve had stability for weeks and weeks and weeks.
” Newsom noted that roughly 50,000 Californians statewide are being tested daily for the coronavirus .
Over the past seven days , just over 4 % of those tested statewide have been positive , which he called an “ encouraging number.
” Newsom said that hospitalizations for COVID-19 also have remain stable statewide , and most California medical centers have ample capacity .
But the state has also faced setbacks with reopening .
The decision comes as two of the first counties in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Lassen , scaled back reopening plans after experiencing a spike in COVID-19 cases when some restrictions were lifted .
Santa Clara County public health officer Dr. Sara Cody , a key architect of the nation ’ s first stay-at-home order , earlier this week also criticized California ’ s fast pace in lifting stay-at-home restrictions , saying it could trigger a surge in cases .
Dr. Robert Kim-Farley , an epidemiologist and infectious-disease expert at the UCLA Fielding School of Public Health , said that despite Los Angeles County being hard hit by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have not increased .
He said that ’ s a good indication that the county has “ flattened the curve ” and , thus far , effectively prevented COVID-19 patients from overwhelming hospitals and the healthcare system , which has been the primary public health concern since the outbreak .
“ It ’ s very difficult for people to make a living at this stage .
But a responsible phased reopening , done in a prudent manner — it makes sense at this stage , ” Kim-Farley said .
Still , Kim-Farley and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ weeks before public health officials are able to determine if the eased restrictions will trigger an increase in COVID-19 cases , and warned that the “ free-for-all ” of crowded bars and gatherings seen in other states would likely lead to a new wave of the virus .
“ If we fully reopen too soon without the necessary restrictions and prevention methods like masking , testing and physical distancing , we could have another spike in infections and deaths that will lead us back to fully sheltering in place , and no one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ epidemiologist Brandon Brown of the UC Riverside Department of Social Medicine , Population and Public Health .
“ If we develop reopening standards , we need to make sure we meet those standards before moving forward , otherwise why make the standards at all ?
” In seeking a variance from the state , L.A. County officials argued that the county has met the criteria created by the California Department of Public Health to reopen .
Even if COVID-19 cases increase , the county will have the capacity to respond , officials said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in its total number of hospitalized patients , a seven-day average of daily percent change of -1 % , according to the variance application .
The county also stated that the prevalence of the coronavirus spreading in the community was low enough to reopen , with less than 8 % of those who tested coming back positive over the previous seven-day period .
Newsom established the variance process in May , requiring counties to prove to the state that COVID-19 hospitalizations have stabilized , medical centers , nursing homes and other essential services @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are prepared to accommodate and care for a surge in patients affected by the virus .
On Friday , Newsom made it clear that adherence to those reopening standards is the responsibility of the counties — not the state — repeating his oft-used catchphrase “ localism is determinative.
” The Newsom administration has not yet provided specifics as to whether or when state health officials would intervene if restrictions are not followed at the county level and cases begin to increase .
“ Local health officials are the tip of the spear , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the right and the responsibility to make determinations based on local conditions in partnership with their local elected officials .
We respect that right , we honor it .
Some will go slowly , some will go a little bit more quickly.
” Counties granted waivers by the state have been allowed to reopen restaurants for in-person dining , along with barbershops and hair salons — with proper safeguards in place , such as the use of face coverings , a restricted number of customers and sanitation protocols .
The state already allowed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ along with office buildings , manufacturers and other business , with the same safeguards in place .
Faith-based organizations also can resume services , with the number of congregants limited .
Large gathers , such as concerts and major sports events with fans , remain prohibited and are not expected to resume until there is a vaccine or effective treatment for COVID-19 .

California’s efforts to restart the economy hit a new milestone with the decisions to allow Los Angeles County, the epicenter of the coronavirus in California, to reopen restaurants, barbershops and hair salons.
There have been questions about whether the state is moving too fast.
But Gov. Gavin Newsom, whose first-in-the-nation stay-at-home order was crediting with slowing the spread of COVID-19, on Friday made the case for how the state is proceeding.
Advertisement
Californians have successfully slowed the spread of the coronavirus this spring allowing the rapid easing of his stay-at-home order and freeing most residents to leave the safety of their homes to venture to salons, shops and restaurants, and in some cases return to work.
Los Angeles became the latest county to receive approval from the Newsom administration to accelerate the reopening of its economy, despite being California’s biggest COVID-19 hotspot with nearly 2,300 confirmed deaths thus far out of the roughly 4,000 statewide. In all, 48 of California’s 58 counties have been granted waivers.
In April, Newsom unveiled his multistage plan for reopening in late April and the state has moved expeditiously to grant variances to counties since then. It took just 17 days for state officials to sign off allowing the state’s first two counties to begin reopening — Butte and El Dorado, both in Northern California — and the green light for loosening the restrictions in Los Angeles.
“It’s because of your extraordinary work, 40 million of you, we bought time,” Newsom said at a COVID-19 briefing in Sacramento on Friday. “We never allowed that curve to take off like other parts of this country. We’ve had stability for weeks and weeks and weeks.”
Newsom noted that roughly 50,000 Californians statewide are being tested daily for the coronavirus. Over the past seven days, just over 4% of those tested statewide have been positive, which he called an “encouraging number.” Newsom said that hospitalizations for COVID-19 also have remain stable statewide, and most California medical centers have ample capacity.
But the state has also faced setbacks with reopening.
The decision comes as two of the first counties in California to ease restrictions, Sonoma and Lassen, scaled back reopening plans after experiencing a spike in COVID-19 cases when some restrictions were lifted. Santa Clara County public health officer Dr. Sara Cody, a key architect of the nation’s first stay-at-home order, earlier this week also criticized California’s fast pace in lifting stay-at-home restrictions, saying it could trigger a surge in cases.
Dr. Robert Kim-Farley, an epidemiologist and infectious-disease expert at the UCLA Fielding School of Public Health, said that despite Los Angeles County being hard hit by the pandemic, hospitalizations for the virus have not increased. He said that’s a good indication that the county has “flattened the curve” and, thus far, effectively prevented COVID-19 patients from overwhelming hospitals and the healthcare system, which has been the primary public health concern since the outbreak.
Advertisement
“It’s very difficult for people to make a living at this stage. But a responsible phased reopening, done in a prudent manner — it makes sense at this stage,” Kim-Farley said.
Still, Kim-Farley and others cautioned that it could be several weeks before public health officials are able to determine if the eased restrictions will trigger an increase in COVID-19 cases, and warned that the “free-for-all” of crowded bars and gatherings seen in other states would likely lead to a new wave of the virus.
“If we fully reopen too soon without the necessary restrictions and prevention methods like masking, testing and physical distancing, we could have another spike in infections and deaths that will lead us back to fully sheltering in place, and no one wants that to happen,” said epidemiologist Brandon Brown of the UC Riverside Department of Social Medicine, Population and Public Health. “If we develop reopening standards, we need to make sure we meet those standards before moving forward, otherwise why make the standards at all?”
In seeking a variance from the state, L.A. County officials argued that the county has met the criteria created by the California Department of Public Health to reopen. Even if COVID-19 cases increase, the county will have the capacity to respond, officials said.
Los Angeles County reported a decline in its total number of hospitalized patients, a seven-day average of daily percent change of -1%, according to the variance application. The county also stated that the prevalence of the coronavirus spreading in the community was low enough to reopen, with less than 8% of those who tested coming back positive over the previous seven-day period.
Newsom established the variance process in May, requiring counties to prove to the state that COVID-19 hospitalizations have stabilized, medical centers, nursing homes and other essential services have adequate protective equipment and that they are prepared to accommodate and care for a surge in patients affected by the virus.
On Friday, Newsom made it clear that adherence to those reopening standards is the responsibility of the counties — not the state — repeating his oft-used catchphrase “localism is determinative.” The Newsom administration has not yet provided specifics as to whether or when state health officials would intervene if restrictions are not followed at the county level and cases begin to increase.
“Local health officials are the tip of the spear,” Newsom said. “They have the right and the responsibility to make determinations based on local conditions in partnership with their local elected officials. We respect that right, we honor it. Some will go slowly, some will go a little bit more quickly.”
Counties granted waivers by the state have been allowed to reopen restaurants for in-person dining, along with barbershops and hair salons — with proper safeguards in place, such as the use of face coverings, a restricted number of customers and sanitation protocols.
The state already allowed retailers and shopping centers to open, along with office buildings, manufacturers and other business, with the same safeguards in place. Faith-based organizations also can resume services, with the number of congregants limited.
Large gathers, such as concerts and major sports events with fans, remain prohibited and are not expected to resume until there is a vaccine or effective treatment for COVID-19.