latimes--2020-06-25--Black Lives Matter seeks restraining order to prevent LAPD use of batons, 'rubber' bullets on marche

Black Lives Matter seeks restraining order to prevent LAPD use of batons, 'rubber' bullets on marchers

Black Lives Matter-Los Angeles and other protest groups are asking a federal judge to issue a temporary restraining order and injunction to forbid the Los Angeles Police Department from using baton strikes and “ rubber ” bullets to control crowds during future protests , arguing that such use violates demonstrators ’ constitutional rights and has caused a plethora of injuries .
With protests over the killing of George Floyd by Minneapolis police bringing calls to end police brutality , lawyers for the protesters on Wednesday asked a federal judge to end LAPD practices that they say have fallen short of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has used so-called rubber bullets and batons indiscriminately to disrupt and disperse protesters with many serious injuries resulting , ” attorney Paul Hoffman wrote on behalf of BLM-L.A. and more than a dozen protesters injured by police officers .
“ The images of baton-wielding LAPD officers and protesters ’ injuries unacceptably increase the cost of public participation in these important exercises of First Amendment rights.
” The injunction effort comes as part of a class-action lawsuit filed earlier this month by the Los Angeles chapter of the National Lawyers Guild , Black Lives @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , which accuses the LAPD of repeatedly misapplying the law to clear the streets .
The lawsuit says demonstrators ’ constitutional rights were violated and many were left bloodied and bruised .
The filing by veteran civil rights attorneys on behalf of protesters echoes many of the findings of a Times review of dozens of instances of police force during the recent protests .
That investigation found that demonstrators suffered a range of injuries at the hands of the LAPD , from minor bruising from baton strikes and falls as police skirmish lines @ @ @ @ @ @ @ genitals and heads from foam and sponge bullets and beanbags being fired into crowds , sometimes from close range .
In court documents filed Wednesday , recent UCLA graduate Tina Crnko described how shortly after LAPD Chief Michel Moore , clad in riot gear , used a weak bullhorn to address protesters at 3rd Street and Fairfax Avenue on May 30 , advancing officers fired foam projectiles .
She said she was “ struck in the left bicep and rib cage.
” And without warning , she said , she was struck by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ above my right eye , ” causing temporary deafness , profuse bleeding from her forehead and likely sustained permanent nerve damage on the top of her skull .
Lawyers for BLM-L.A. and protesters also argue that the LAPD manipulated “ ever-changing curfews and improper declarations of unlawful assemblies in order to suppress marchers ’ constitutional rights.
” That resulted in thousands of arrests with arrestees packed into unventilated buses for as long as 12 hours with over-tight handcuffs .
The lawyers are requesting that those cited at protests be released within 15 minutes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ no more than an hour in custody , given the availability of mobile booking technology .
They are also asking that protesters held on buses be in conditions that meet Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines to prevent the spread of coronavirus , with masks and adequate social distancing .
The lawyers argue “ that anyone subject to such a warlike display of police weaponry would think twice about coming to engage in First Amendment activity.
” The LAPD has limited how police use force during the nearly 20 years since the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lawsuit argues that the department is ignoring its own rules and acting in an “ unreasonable manner ” by indiscriminately firing so-called less-lethal projectiles at protesters , causing many serious injuries .
The suit cites as an example a “ peaceful protester ” being shot in the face with an LAPD “ rubber bullet ” as she attempted to return to her car , fracturing her jaw .
The suit notes that even bystanders were hit , including a man in a wheelchair who was struck in the back of the shoulder blade @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals on non-lethal force during protests in Davis , where the court found the use of projectiles “ excessive.
” “ I have never seen so many shots fired to the head , ” said Carol Sobel , one of the attorneys , of the less-lethal projectile rounds .
“ We need action by the court because our clients are under real threat by batons and projectiles as well as hours in handcuffs.
” Lawyers for the city asked for a day to reply to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Friday to do so .
Mayor Eric Garcetti and LAPD Chief Moore said the actions of police officers who clashed with protesters in recent weeks are under review .
Ten officers have now been taken off the street and assigned to desk duties pending internal investigations into their actions during recent protests .
Those investigations are among more than 50 that have been launched by the LAPD .

Black Lives Matter-Los Angeles and other protest groups are asking a federal judge to issue a temporary restraining order and injunction to forbid the Los Angeles Police Department from using baton strikes and “rubber” bullets to control crowds during future protests, arguing that such use violates demonstrators’ constitutional rights and has caused a plethora of injuries.
With protests over the killing of George Floyd by Minneapolis police bringing calls to end police brutality, lawyers for the protesters on Wednesday asked a federal judge to end LAPD practices that they say have fallen short of their constitutional duties.
“The LAPD has used so-called rubber bullets and batons indiscriminately to disrupt and disperse protesters with many serious injuries resulting,” attorney Paul Hoffman wrote on behalf of BLM-L.A. and more than a dozen protesters injured by police officers. “The images of baton-wielding LAPD officers and protesters’ injuries unacceptably increase the cost of public participation in these important exercises of First Amendment rights.”
The injunction effort comes as part of a class-action lawsuit filed earlier this month by the Los Angeles chapter of the National Lawyers Guild, Black Lives Matter and Los Angeles Community Action Network, which accuses the LAPD of repeatedly misapplying the law to clear the streets. The lawsuit says demonstrators’ constitutional rights were violated and many were left bloodied and bruised.
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The filing by veteran civil rights attorneys on behalf of protesters echoes many of the findings of a Times review of dozens of instances of police force during the recent protests. That investigation found that demonstrators suffered a range of injuries at the hands of the LAPD, from minor bruising from baton strikes and falls as police skirmish lines advanced, to serious injuries to their genitals and heads from foam and sponge bullets and beanbags being fired into crowds, sometimes from close range.
In court documents filed Wednesday, recent UCLA graduate Tina Crnko described how shortly after LAPD Chief Michel Moore, clad in riot gear, used a weak bullhorn to address protesters at 3rd Street and Fairfax Avenue on May 30, advancing officers fired foam projectiles.
She said she was “struck in the left bicep and rib cage.” And without warning, she said, she was struck by a “rubber bullet on the forehead above my right eye,” causing temporary deafness, profuse bleeding from her forehead and likely sustained permanent nerve damage on the top of her skull.
Lawyers for BLM-L.A. and protesters also argue that the LAPD manipulated “ever-changing curfews and improper declarations of unlawful assemblies in order to suppress marchers’ constitutional rights.”
That resulted in thousands of arrests with arrestees packed into unventilated buses for as long as 12 hours with over-tight handcuffs. The lawyers are requesting that those cited at protests be released within 15 minutes and those booked for a misdemeanor spend no more than an hour in custody, given the availability of mobile booking technology.
They are also asking that protesters held on buses be in conditions that meet Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines to prevent the spread of coronavirus, with masks and adequate social distancing.
Deon Jones said he suffered two broken bones in his face after being hit by a projectile fired by an LAPD officer during a protest this month. (Handout)
The lawyers argue “that anyone subject to such a warlike display of police weaponry would think twice about coming to engage in First Amendment activity.”
The LAPD has limited how police use force during the nearly 20 years since the infamous Rodney King beating. But the lawsuit argues that the department is ignoring its own rules and acting in an “unreasonable manner” by indiscriminately firing so-called less-lethal projectiles at protesters, causing many serious injuries.
The suit cites as an example a “peaceful protester” being shot in the face with an LAPD “rubber bullet” as she attempted to return to her car, fracturing her jaw. The suit notes that even bystanders were hit, including a man in a wheelchair who was struck in the back of the shoulder blade.
The lawyers cite a prior decision by the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals on non-lethal force during protests in Davis, where the court found the use of projectiles “excessive.”
“I have never seen so many shots fired to the head,” said Carol Sobel, one of the attorneys, of the less-lethal projectile rounds. “We need action by the court because our clients are under real threat by batons and projectiles as well as hours in handcuffs.”
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Lawyers for the city asked for a day to reply to the extensive allegations, and were given until Friday to do so.
Mayor Eric Garcetti and LAPD Chief Moore said the actions of police officers who clashed with protesters in recent weeks are under review. Ten officers have now been taken off the street and assigned to desk duties pending internal investigations into their actions during recent protests. Those investigations are among more than 50 that have been launched by the LAPD.


latimes--2020-06-25--3 people dead after being swept off a cliff into the ocean off Point Mugu

Three people died Thursday afternoon when they were swept off a cliff near Point Mugu State Park into the Pacific Ocean , the Ventura County Sheriff ’ s Office said .
Sheriff ’ s Office and county fire officials made a frantic search of the water after receiving reports of people being swept in .
Searchers found the three people and got them on shore , but they could not be revived .
“ They were pronounced dead at the scene after being pulled from the water , ” Ventura County Sheriff ’ s Capt .
Eric Buschow said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ of a family of eight fishing near the notoriously slippery crags and small beaches between Point Mugu and Leo Carrillo state parks along Pacific Coast Highway , not far from the Ventura County-Los Angeles County border .
Buschow believes a large wave crashed on top of where the family was fishing and dragged three people into the ocean .
Ventura County Fire Capt .
Brian McGrath said the incident took place near Deer Creek Road about 4:40 p.m. “ Unfortunately , it can be a dangerous place because it is very rocky and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” Buschow said .
“ Things can look very calm one moment , but every once in a while you can have a large wave that can crash down upon you.
” No additional information about the victims , including their names and ages , was available .
Buschow did not believe any warning signs are posted in the area to alert visitors of the possible danger of waves or slipping because that section of Pacific Coast Highway is not part of either state park .
“ I can ’ t say @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s anything there , ” he said .
A dozen years earlier , three young men were swept out to sea under similar circumstances off Point Mugu on Thanksgiving Day , Nov. 27 , 2008 .
That was the second incident that year after a 16-year-old boy was washed out to sea while fishing .

One of three drowning victims is carried away by Ventura County coroner’s officials along Pacific Coast Highway near Point Mugu State Park on Thursday.
Three people died Thursday afternoon when they were swept off a cliff near Point Mugu State Park into the Pacific Ocean, the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office said.
Sheriff’s Office and county fire officials made a frantic search of the water after receiving reports of people being swept in. Searchers found the three people and got them on shore, but they could not be revived.
“They were pronounced dead at the scene after being pulled from the water,” Ventura County Sheriff’s Capt. Eric Buschow said.
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Buschow said the three victims were part of a family of eight fishing near the notoriously slippery crags and small beaches between Point Mugu and Leo Carrillo state parks along Pacific Coast Highway, not far from the Ventura County-Los Angeles County border.
Buschow believes a large wave crashed on top of where the family was fishing and dragged three people into the ocean.
Ventura County Fire Capt. Brian McGrath said the incident took place near Deer Creek Road about 4:40 p.m.
“Unfortunately, it can be a dangerous place because it is very rocky and the beach and sand slopes straight down,” Buschow said. “Things can look very calm one moment, but every once in a while you can have a large wave that can crash down upon you.”
No additional information about the victims, including their names and ages, was available.
Buschow did not believe any warning signs are posted in the area to alert visitors of the possible danger of waves or slipping because that section of Pacific Coast Highway is not part of either state park.
“I can’t say for sure, but I doubt there’s anything there,” he said.
A dozen years earlier, three young men were swept out to sea under similar circumstances off Point Mugu on Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 27, 2008.
That was the second incident that year after a 16-year-old boy was washed out to sea while fishing.


latimes--2020-06-26--California will use surplus cash, delay school funds in $202.1-billion budget sent to Newsom

California lawmakers sent a $ 202.1-billion state budget to Gov .
Gavin Newsom on Friday , a spending plan crafted to erase a historic deficit triggered by the coronavirus crisis that relies heavily on cash reserves and a multiyear payment plan to meet funding obligations to public schools .
The final votes in the Assembly came after passage by the state Senate on Thursday night , reflecting the agreement reached between Democratic legislative leaders and the governor earlier in the week .
Newsom is expected to sign the budget bills into law as soon as Monday and beat the deadline @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s new fiscal year on Wednesday .
“ We ’ re in the midst of a global crisis and a pandemic , ” Assemblyman Kevin McCarty ( D-Sacramento ) said .
“ And the choices we have to make here are not perfect.
” The budget cuts $ 13 billion in state government spending from the previous year ’ s level , almost exactly as much in cuts as proposed by Newsom in the plan he presented to legislators last month .
But it differs from Newsom ’ s effort in how those @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spending cuts , more delayed payments to schools and optimistic projections of future tax revenues , and health and human services program costs .
“ We have been able to arrive at an agreement that is pragmatic and balanced , thanks in large part not to decisions we ’ re making right now , but [ to ] the responsible budgeting decisions that we ’ ve made over the past decade , ” Senate President Pro Tem Toni Atkins ( D-San Diego ) said on Thursday .
Those decisions made in the past @ @ @ @ @ @ @ — swelled the size of the state ’ s cash reserve fund .
The budget for the coming fiscal year uses almost half of the $ 16-billion fund and anticipates withdrawing close to $ 5 billion more over the next two budget years , leaving the main reserve fund ’ s balance at $ 2.9 billion by the early summer of 2023 .
An additional $ 450 million will be withdrawn from a second reserve , one earmarked for health and welfare costs during an economic downturn .
State expenses to combat the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ $ 716 million in available cash .
Even so , the budget makes hundreds of millions of dollars in cuts to higher education , court operations and housing grants .
State workers will be furloughed for up to two days a month , part of an almost $ 2.9-billion cut to employee compensation .
A number of planned expansions and changes to state healthcare services were scrapped .
The budget leaves out the expansion of Medi-Cal to those 65 and older who lack legal immigration status , a key priority of some Democratic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of 12 months or longer on some of the state ’ s funding for K-12 schools and community colleges resulted in the single largest solution to a deficit Newsom estimated this spring at $ 54.3 billion .
Lawmakers agreed to defer $ 12.5 billion in school funds that would otherwise have been required to be paid in the fiscal year that ends next week , or the 2020-2021 year .
Many school districts will have to find some other way of securing the missing money in the intervening period , usually done by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , with the state agreeing to repay those funds in the future .
But the cuts , lawmakers said , could have been worse .
In all , fewer state programs will see cuts linked to future federal coronavirus assistance than Newsom originally envisioned .
The budget lists $ 11 billion in spending reductions being made now , which can be reversed if sufficient money is sent to California by Congress and President Trump in early fall .
That would mean more funding for education , housing and county government services .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ develop meaningful aid for state and local programs , ” Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon ( D-Lakewood ) said on Friday .
Democrats praised the limited number of spending increases contained in the budget as key to protecting the state ’ s most vulnerable residents during the recession .
Those boosts include extending California ’ s tax credit for low-income earners without a Social Security number and with children younger than 6 , which would provide extra cash to some residents without legal immigration status .
Republicans said too many of the solutions in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they had not seen until a deal was struck privately among Democrats — are short-term fixes that don ’ t provide enough structural balance for state finances .
“ I know the cuts are painful to make , ” Assemblyman Jay Obernolte ( R-Big Bear Lake ) said .
“ But our failure to make those difficult decisions this year is going to have dire consequences for us in future years.
” The state ’ s annual budget is written in a series of legislative bills , most of which will be on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Over the course of the last quarter-century , an increasing number of those bills have enacted policies that might have only a thin nexus to the government services and revenues for the coming year .
Most are rarely seen before being published , as required by law , 72 hours before a final legislative vote .
One such provision in a public safety budget bill led to a lengthy debate on Thursday night in the Senate : an expanded definition of what constitutes an assault-style weapon in California .
The bill ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ specific weapon sold by a Nevada gun manufacturer that is not marketed as a rifle , shotgun or pistol and therefore not subject to the state ’ s existing restrictions .
The company , Franklin Armory , describes the “ Title 1 '' weapon on its website as a “ long gun for the Golden State ” and one available to gun owners who live anyplace “ where the modern sporting rifle is neutered beyond comprehension.
” State Sen. Brian Jones ( R-Santee ) said the gun ban should have been fully vetted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ there is a legitimate conversation ” that “ gives the public the opportunity to voice their opinion on this type of issue.
” That drew a sharp response from state Sen. Nancy Skinner ( D-Berkeley ) , who chairs the Senate Public Safety Committee .
“ What this does is enables us to keep catching up with these manufacturers who are constantly trying to circumvent California ’ s [ assault weapon ] law , ” she said .
“ Every single vote in a budget , whether it is dollars or words @ @ @ @ @ @ @ raised concerns with the public safety budget bill ’ s changes in prison sentencing , which includes redefining “ elderly parole ” as beginning in some cases at age 50 instead of 60 .
On Friday , however , the Assembly refused to take up the bill and sent it back to the Senate .
Some lawmakers expressed concern about a provision giving judges new discretion in handling some misdemeanor offenses .
The Assembly ’ s decision leaves all of the bill ’ s public safety proposals in limbo .
The package of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ place in time to keep state government operations flowing seamlessly , is unlikely to be the final word from lawmakers on addressing California ’ s coronavirus-weakened economy .
One key factor in every year ’ s budget deliberations in Sacramento — personal income tax receipts paid by April 15 — remains a mystery .
Newsom cited the burdens of the public health crisis when he extended the deadline for taxpayers until July 15 , meaning a significant component of the state ’ s revenue outlook could lead to additional budget actions before the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ September .

Sen. Holly Mitchell (D-Los Angeles) gets an elbow bump from Sen. Bob Hertzberg (D-Van Nuys) after the Senate approved the $202.1-billion state budget at the Capitol on Thursday.
California lawmakers sent a $202.1-billion state budget to Gov. Gavin Newsom on Friday, a spending plan crafted to erase a historic deficit triggered by the coronavirus crisis that relies heavily on cash reserves and a multiyear payment plan to meet funding obligations to public schools.
The final votes in the Assembly came after passage by the state Senate on Thursday night, reflecting the agreement reached between Democratic legislative leaders and the governor earlier in the week. Newsom is expected to sign the budget bills into law as soon as Monday and beat the deadline for the start of the state’s new fiscal year on Wednesday.
“We’re in the midst of a global crisis and a pandemic,” Assemblyman Kevin McCarty (D-Sacramento) said. “And the choices we have to make here are not perfect.”
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The budget cuts $13 billion in state government spending from the previous year’s level, almost exactly as much in cuts as proposed by Newsom in the plan he presented to legislators last month. But it differs from Newsom’s effort in how those savings are achieved — relying on fewer spending cuts, more delayed payments to schools and optimistic projections of future tax revenues, and health and human services program costs.
“We have been able to arrive at an agreement that is pragmatic and balanced, thanks in large part not to decisions we’re making right now, but [to] the responsible budgeting decisions that we’ve made over the past decade,” Senate President Pro Tem Toni Atkins (D-San Diego) said on Thursday.
Those decisions made in the past — setting aside billions in tax revenues — swelled the size of the state’s cash reserve fund. The budget for the coming fiscal year uses almost half of the $16-billion fund and anticipates withdrawing close to $5 billion more over the next two budget years, leaving the main reserve fund’s balance at $2.9 billion by the early summer of 2023.
An additional $450 million will be withdrawn from a second reserve, one earmarked for health and welfare costs during an economic downturn. State expenses to combat the COVID-19 pandemic would be covered by another $716 million in available cash.
Even so, the budget makes hundreds of millions of dollars in cuts to higher education, court operations and housing grants. State workers will be furloughed for up to two days a month, part of an almost $2.9-billion cut to employee compensation. A number of planned expansions and changes to state healthcare services were scrapped. The budget leaves out the expansion of Medi-Cal to those 65 and older who lack legal immigration status, a key priority of some Democratic lawmakers.
The decision to impose delays of 12 months or longer on some of the state’s funding for K-12 schools and community colleges resulted in the single largest solution to a deficit Newsom estimated this spring at $54.3 billion. Lawmakers agreed to defer $12.5 billion in school funds that would otherwise have been required to be paid in the fiscal year that ends next week, or the 2020-2021 year. Many school districts will have to find some other way of securing the missing money in the intervening period, usually done by tapping their own cash reserves or borrowing, with the state agreeing to repay those funds in the future.
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But the cuts, lawmakers said, could have been worse. In all, fewer state programs will see cuts linked to future federal coronavirus assistance than Newsom originally envisioned. The budget lists $11 billion in spending reductions being made now, which can be reversed if sufficient money is sent to California by Congress and President Trump in early fall. That would mean more funding for education, housing and county government services.
“We must urge the federal government to develop meaningful aid for state and local programs,” Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon (D-Lakewood) said on Friday.
Democrats praised the limited number of spending increases contained in the budget as key to protecting the state’s most vulnerable residents during the recession. Those boosts include extending California’s tax credit for low-income earners without a Social Security number and with children younger than 6, which would provide extra cash to some residents without legal immigration status.
Republicans said too many of the solutions in the final agreement — one they complained they had not seen until a deal was struck privately among Democrats — are short-term fixes that don’t provide enough structural balance for state finances.
“I know the cuts are painful to make,” Assemblyman Jay Obernolte (R-Big Bear Lake) said. “But our failure to make those difficult decisions this year is going to have dire consequences for us in future years.”
The state’s annual budget is written in a series of legislative bills, most of which will be on Newsom’s desk by the weekend. Over the course of the last quarter-century, an increasing number of those bills have enacted policies that might have only a thin nexus to the government services and revenues for the coming year. Most are rarely seen before being published, as required by law, 72 hours before a final legislative vote.
One such provision in a public safety budget bill led to a lengthy debate on Thursday night in the Senate: an expanded definition of what constitutes an assault-style weapon in California. The bill’s language was tailored to include a specific weapon sold by a Nevada gun manufacturer that is not marketed as a rifle, shotgun or pistol and therefore not subject to the state’s existing restrictions.
The company, Franklin Armory, describes the “Title 1” weapon on its website as a “long gun for the Golden State” and one available to gun owners who live anyplace “where the modern sporting rifle is neutered beyond comprehension.”
State Sen. Brian Jones (R-Santee) said the gun ban should have been fully vetted by a legislative policy committee so that “there is a legitimate conversation” that “gives the public the opportunity to voice their opinion on this type of issue.”
That drew a sharp response from state Sen. Nancy Skinner (D-Berkeley), who chairs the Senate Public Safety Committee.
“What this does is enables us to keep catching up with these manufacturers who are constantly trying to circumvent California’s [assault weapon] law,” she said. “Every single vote in a budget, whether it is dollars or words, is a policy act.”
Others raised concerns with the public safety budget bill’s changes in prison sentencing, which includes redefining “elderly parole” as beginning in some cases at age 50 instead of 60.
On Friday, however, the Assembly refused to take up the bill and sent it back to the Senate. Some lawmakers expressed concern about a provision giving judges new discretion in handling some misdemeanor offenses. The Assembly’s decision leaves all of the bill’s public safety proposals in limbo.
The package of budget bills, expected to be in place in time to keep state government operations flowing seamlessly, is unlikely to be the final word from lawmakers on addressing California’s coronavirus-weakened economy. One key factor in every year’s budget deliberations in Sacramento — personal income tax receipts paid by April 15 — remains a mystery.
Newsom cited the burdens of the public health crisis when he extended the deadline for taxpayers until July 15, meaning a significant component of the state’s revenue outlook could lead to additional budget actions before the Legislature adjourns for the year in early September.


latimes--2020-06-26--L.A. will resume ticketing during street sweeping next month

After more than three months of relaxed enforcement during the COVID-19 pandemic , Los Angeles parking officers will resume ticketing drivers on street-sweeping days starting July 6 , officials said Friday .
Drivers will need to get back into the habit of moving their cars by the scheduled time , or risk a $ 73 ticket .
Officials will also resume ticketing cars with expired tags , and ticketing and towing vehicles that are abandoned or parked in rush-hour zones .
With one-quarter of the city out of work , relaxed parking rules were a welcome respite for L.A. residents @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at a premium .
Parking officers will continue to look the other way on some violations , including bans on oversized vehicles parked overnight , the Transportation Department said .
Cars with recently expired preferential parking permits will not be ticketed either , officials said .
The payment due date for parking tickets has been extended until Aug. 1 .
Late payment fees won ’ t be charged until then , the city said .
People who can prove they are unemployed can have the late fees for their parking tickets waived , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by the end of the year , the city said .
People who are otherwise facing financial hardship may also qualify for a payment plan , the city said .
Anyone seeking a waiver or financial assistance should call the Transportation Department ’ s hotline at ( 866 ) 561-9742 , officials said .
The city has continued to write tickets to drivers for some violations during the pandemic , including those who parked at expired meters , red curbs and temporary no-parking signs .

Parking rules that were relaxed during the coronavirus pandemic will be enforced again starting July 6, officials said.
After more than three months of relaxed enforcement during the COVID-19 pandemic, Los Angeles parking officers will resume ticketing drivers on street-sweeping days starting July 6, officials said Friday.
Drivers will need to get back into the habit of moving their cars by the scheduled time, or risk a $73 ticket.
Officials will also resume ticketing cars with expired tags, and ticketing and towing vehicles that are abandoned or parked in rush-hour zones.
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With one-quarter of the city out of work, relaxed parking rules were a welcome respite for L.A. residents in crowded neighborhoods where street spaces are at a premium.
Parking officers will continue to look the other way on some violations, including bans on oversized vehicles parked overnight, the Transportation Department said. Cars with recently expired preferential parking permits will not be ticketed either, officials said.
The payment due date for parking tickets has been extended until Aug. 1. Late payment fees won’t be charged until then, the city said.
People who can prove they are unemployed can have the late fees for their parking tickets waived, provided they pay the base fine amount by the end of the year, the city said. People who are otherwise facing financial hardship may also qualify for a payment plan, the city said.
Anyone seeking a waiver or financial assistance should call the Transportation Department’s hotline at (866) 561-9742, officials said.
The city has continued to write tickets to drivers for some violations during the pandemic, including those who parked at expired meters, red curbs and temporary no-parking signs.


latimes--2020-06-26--Column: Go ahead, cut the police budget. But more important, remake the LAPD

If any members of the Los Angeles City Council were feeling timid about slashing the LAPD budget , they just caught a break from a tough-guy cop who moonlights as a thug in Hollywood dramas .
We ’ ve seen calls to defund numerous law enforcement agencies since the brutal killing of an unarmed George Floyd by a Minneapolis cop .
The clamor has grown after incidents of overzealous policing during recent nationwide protests , in which nonviolent protesters were shot with rubber pellets , trampled by officers and tear-gassed .
In Los Angeles , police supporters argue that the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reforms being called for nationally , and that budget cuts will threaten public safety .
But as my colleague James James Rainey reports , the reforms may not have penetrated all that deeply into the department — or at least it doesn ’ t seem that way judging by the knuckle-dragger chosen to be the face of the rank and file as a board member and frequent spokesman for the Los Angeles Police Protective League .
On the same day the union ran newspaper ads expressing “ disgust and sorrow for the murder @ @ @ @ @ @ @ member Jamie McBride sent a very different message in a Facebook post .
McBride , a 30-year veteran , posted video of former LAPD Chief Daryl F. Gates , who led a brutal force that acted like an occupying army , creating an enduring rift between police and communities of color .
McBride ’ s caption : “ The CHIEF !
Never sell out and back the troops !
” Another McBride social media post included body slams and other force used against Black and Latino suspects , set to music .
McBride @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in his first 11 years on the force , has a daughter who is an LAPD cop .
In April , she shot and killed a man who was allegedly brandishing a knife .
An investigation is pending , and the family of the victim has filed federal lawsuits for wrongful death and excessive force .
Defund the police ?
If Jamie McBride is the guy cops want representing them when people of all colors and ages are calling for a new day , let ’ s swing the ax .
But I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who do heroic work for all the right reasons , so I won ’ t be signing my name to any poster that says all cops are bastards .
I spoke to one cop who was demoralized and fatigued after dealing with the dangers of COVID-19 , the blaming of cops for all social and economic ills and the calls for defunding .
The officer complained about the taint of tough-guy culture and said it still defines the elite Metro Division , where the most recent scandal , earlier this year , involved @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , as gang members .
“ Everybody ’ s got ta be more badass than the guy next to him , ” said the officer , and the victims of that mentality are usually poor people of color .
So yes , it ’ s only fair to take a hard look at the roughly $ 2 billion LAPD budget and what it pays for , even as the L.A. Unified School District police department and the L.A. County Sheriff ’ s Department come under similar scrutiny .
A proposal pushed by Black @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and shovel that money into housing , mental health services and crime prevention among other things .
But a cut anywhere near that deep won ’ t happen , and if it did , there could be disastrous consequences .
The council is more inclined , based on preliminary talks last week , to trim the budget by roughly $ 150 million .
Meanwhile , Mayor Eric Garcetti , who last year was busily handing out raises to LAPD officers despite projected budget deficits down the road and earlier this year intended to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , has done an about-face .
Now he ’ s scrambling to whack the budget .
It ’ s the usual management by crisis and political whim at the City Hall pork mill , which ought to be sponsored by Farmer John .
During the marches in L.A. , as reported by Dakota Smith , Mayor Strength and Love said he appreciated the restraint officers were showing , even as protesters were getting clubbed .
And he insisted he would not call in the National Guard , then did .
My dollar to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ chopped and crime ticks up , a smiling Garcetti will be grand marshal in the parade for restored funding .
But the dollar amount spent on the LAPD isn ’ t the most critical decision local officials have to make in the days and months to come .
The far more important task is to figure out how to reimagine the role of the department .
“ We ask the cops to do suppression , containment , search and destroy and mass incarceration .
That ’ s the mission , and until that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to get anything different ” no matter how much budget cutting is done , said civil rights attorney Connie Rice .
She helped write some of the LAPD reforms of the last two decades , but says an old-school warrior culture is too baked into the DNA of a force that needs to think of itself more as a guardian and community partner .
“ What I ’ m hearing , ” said Councilman Mike Bonin , who represents the Westside , “ is that people aren ’ t just outraged about a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ waking up to systemic and structural racism and the issues of racial bias in policing .
And they ’ re waking up to the question of what is the right way to police .
People are less attached to a particular dollar figure … as they are to figuring out how to do this right.
” Bonin , who sits on the Metropolitan Transit Authority board that recently voted on a package of reforms for how it polices L.A. 's transit system , surveyed his Westside constituents on policing and got back a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ LAPD .
Bonin said a majority of the 2,672 respondents want the LAPD to respond to violent crimes and property crimes in progress but would prefer that officials other than police respond to other kinds of calls .
“ If we were going to design a public safety system from scratch , very few people would say that the appropriate and necessary response to mental health crises , traffic collisions , or reports of loud parties should be armed agents with the authority to use deadly force , ” Bonin wrote for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that ’ s exactly the system we have in Los Angeles , where residents call the same agency for off-leash dogs as they do for homicides.
” Bonin said he ’ s hoping that as the budget gets hammered out , there might be some common ground between disparate groups .
Black Lives Matter and the police union might both agree , for instance , that homelessness is an issue that in most cases can benefit more from social workers , mental health staff and addiction specialists rather than police officers .
I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that there will be a day when the police officer code of silence is broken .
A day when good cops call out the bad .
A day when they decide they don ’ t want a guy who plays a thug to be the face , and loudmouth , of the department .

If any members of the Los Angeles City Council were feeling timid about slashing the LAPD budget, they just caught a break from a tough-guy cop who moonlights as a thug in Hollywood dramas.
We’ve seen calls to defund numerous law enforcement agencies since the brutal killing of an unarmed George Floyd by a Minneapolis cop. The clamor has grown after incidents of overzealous policing during recent nationwide protests, in which nonviolent protesters were shot with rubber pellets, trampled by officers and tear-gassed.
In Los Angeles, police supporters argue that the LAPD has already instituted many of the reforms being called for nationally, and that budget cuts will threaten public safety.
But as my colleague James Rainey reports, the reforms may not have penetrated all that deeply into the department — or at least it doesn’t seem that way judging by the knuckle-dragger chosen to be the face of the rank and file as a board member and frequent spokesman for the Los Angeles Police Protective League.
× Nationwide, protesters and activists have been calling to “defund the police.” But what does it actually mean? And why are so many people calling for it to happen?
On the same day the union ran newspaper ads expressing “disgust and sorrow for the murder of George Floyd,” PPL board member Jamie McBride sent a very different message in a Facebook post. McBride, a 30-year veteran, posted video of former LAPD Chief Daryl F. Gates, who led a brutal force that acted like an occupying army, creating an enduring rift between police and communities of color. McBride’s caption: “The CHIEF! Never sell out and back the troops!”
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Another McBride social media post included body slams and other force used against Black and Latino suspects, set to music. McBride, who was involved in six shootings in his first 11 years on the force, has a daughter who is an LAPD cop. In April, she shot and killed a man who was allegedly brandishing a knife. An investigation is pending, and the family of the victim has filed federal lawsuits for wrongful death and excessive force.
Jamie McBride, the outspoken leader of Los Angeles Police Protective League, LAPPL, the union that represents LAPD officers, comments on Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti at a news conference Friday, June 5, 2020. (Damian Dovarganes/AP)
Defund the police? If Jamie McBride is the guy cops want representing them when people of all colors and ages are calling for a new day, let’s swing the ax. But I know a lot of good police officers who do heroic work for all the right reasons, so I won’t be signing my name to any poster that says all cops are bastards.
I spoke to one cop who was demoralized and fatigued after dealing with the dangers of COVID-19, the blaming of cops for all social and economic ills and the calls for defunding. The officer complained about the taint of tough-guy culture and said it still defines the elite Metro Division, where the most recent scandal, earlier this year, involved the alleged classifying of people, falsely, as gang members.
“Everybody’s gotta be more badass than the guy next to him,” said the officer, and the victims of that mentality are usually poor people of color.
So yes, it’s only fair to take a hard look at the roughly $2 billion LAPD budget and what it pays for, even as the L.A. Unified School District police department and the L.A. County Sheriff’s Department come under similar scrutiny. A proposal pushed by Black Lives Matter would practically eliminate LAPD funding and shovel that money into housing, mental health services and crime prevention among other things.
But a cut anywhere near that deep won’t happen, and if it did, there could be disastrous consequences. The council is more inclined, based on preliminary talks last week, to trim the budget by roughly $150 million.
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Meanwhile, Mayor Eric Garcetti, who last year was busily handing out raises to LAPD officers despite projected budget deficits down the road and earlier this year intended to increase the department budget by 7%, has done an about-face. Now he’s scrambling to whack the budget. It’s the usual management by crisis and political whim at the City Hall pork mill, which ought to be sponsored by Farmer John.
During the marches in L.A., as reported by Dakota Smith, Mayor Strength and Love said he appreciated the restraint officers were showing, even as protesters were getting clubbed. And he insisted he would not call in the National Guard, then did. My dollar to your nickel that if police funding is chopped and crime ticks up, a smiling Garcetti will be grand marshal in the parade for restored funding.
But the dollar amount spent on the LAPD isn’t the most critical decision local officials have to make in the days and months to come. The far more important task is to figure out how to reimagine the role of the department.
“We ask the cops to do suppression, containment, search and destroy and mass incarceration. That’s the mission, and until that changes, you’re not going to get anything different” no matter how much budget cutting is done, said civil rights attorney Connie Rice.
She helped write some of the LAPD reforms of the last two decades, but says an old-school warrior culture is too baked into the DNA of a force that needs to think of itself more as a guardian and community partner.
“What I’m hearing,” said Councilman Mike Bonin, who represents the Westside, “is that people aren’t just outraged about a particular incident, but they’re waking up to systemic and structural racism and the issues of racial bias in policing. And they’re waking up to the question of what is the right way to police. People are less attached to a particular dollar figure … as they are to figuring out how to do this right.”
Bonin, who sits on the Metropolitan Transit Authority board that recently voted on a package of reforms for how it polices L.A.’s transit system, surveyed his Westside constituents on policing and got back a clear message about how to transform the LAPD. Bonin said a majority of the 2,672 respondents want the LAPD to respond to violent crimes and property crimes in progress but would prefer that officials other than police respond to other kinds of calls.
“If we were going to design a public safety system from scratch, very few people would say that the appropriate and necessary response to mental health crises, traffic collisions, or reports of loud parties should be armed agents with the authority to use deadly force,” Bonin wrote for the Argonaut after his survey. “But that’s exactly the system we have in Los Angeles, where residents call the same agency for off-leash dogs as they do for homicides.”
Bonin said he’s hoping that as the budget gets hammered out, there might be some common ground between disparate groups. Black Lives Matter and the police union might both agree, for instance, that homelessness is an issue that in most cases can benefit more from social workers, mental health staff and addiction specialists rather than police officers.
I’m hoping, perhaps naively, that there will be a day when the police officer code of silence is broken. A day when good cops call out the bad. A day when they decide they don’t want a guy who plays a thug to be the face, and loudmouth, of the department.
Steve.lopez@latimes.com


latimes--2020-06-26--San Francisco pauses reopening plans because of coronavirus surge

San Francisco is experiencing a surge in rates of COVID-19 infection and will have to pause its reopening , the city ’ s health director said Friday .
Businesses that were scheduled to reopen Monday will now stay closed , said Dr. Grant Colfax , director of the San Francisco Department of Public Health .
They include hair salons , barbershops , tattoo parlors , zoos , outdoor bars and outdoor swimming pools .
On June 14 , 2.7 people per 100,000 tested positive for the virus , Colfax said in an online news conference .
By Thursday , that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ We went from a yellow to a high orange , and if that continues over the next couple of days , we could be in our red zone , ” which could trigger more restrictions , Colfax said .
He said hospital capacity remained “ relatively good.
” The city ’ s hospitals have been accepting patients from Imperial County and San Quentin State Prison in Marin County .
As of Thursday night , the city had 45 COVID-19 patients in its hospitals , and 27 of them were in intensive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the city ’ s Mission District , with a large Latino population , had been hit particularly hard by the disease .
Colfax said he was not sure what was driving the rise in the infection rate .
“ We have been in this situation for a number of months , and people are tired , ” he said .
“ It is hard to keep vigilant in this.
” Mayor London Breed , in a written statement , said San Francisco had 103 new cases Thursday .
On June 15 , when @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in-store retail , it had 20 new cases .
” If that continues and we do not intervene , we will be at such a high number that our only option would be to shut down , ” Breed said .
She said health officials will evaluate the data over the coming days before deciding whether the reopening can continue .
“ I know people are anxious to reopen — I am too , ” Breed said .
“ But we can not jeopardize the progress we have made.
” “ Our curve @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Colfax said .
“ In fact , that curve is getting more and more vertical .
”

Since June 14, the rate of positive COVID-19 cases in San Francisco has nearly doubled, the city’s public health director said.
San Francisco is experiencing a surge in rates of COVID-19 infection and will have to pause its reopening, the city’s health director said Friday.
Businesses that were scheduled to reopen Monday will now stay closed, said Dr. Grant Colfax, director of the San Francisco Department of Public Health.
They include hair salons, barbershops, tattoo parlors, zoos, outdoor bars and outdoor swimming pools. On June 14, 2.7 percent of the population tested positive for the virus but by Thursday that jumped to 5.1 percent , Colfax said in an online news conference.
“We went from a yellow to a high orange, and if that continues over the next couple of days, we could be in our red zone,” which could trigger more restrictions, Colfax said. He said hospital capacity remained “relatively good.”
The city’s hospitals have been accepting patients from Imperial County and San Quentin State Prison in Marin County. As of Thursday night, the city had 45 COVID-19 patients in its hospitals, and 27 of them were in intensive care, Colfax said.
He said the city’s Mission District, with a large Latino population, had been hit particularly hard by the disease.
Colfax said he was not sure what was driving the rise in the infection rate.
“We have been in this situation for a number of months, and people are tired,” he said. “It is hard to keep vigilant in this.”
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Mayor London Breed, in a written statement, said San Francisco had 103 new cases Thursday. On June 15, when the city first reopened outdoor dining and in-store retail, it had 20 new cases.
”If that continues and we do not intervene, we will be at such a high number that our only option would be to shut down,” Breed said.
She said health officials will evaluate the data over the coming days before deciding whether the reopening can continue.
“I know people are anxious to reopen — I am too,” Breed said. “But we cannot jeopardize the progress we have made.”
“Our curve is not flat right now,” Colfax said. “In fact, that curve is getting more and more vertical.”


latimes--2020-06-26--Charles Webb, who inspired a Hollywood classic with 'The Graduate,' dies at 81

The first $ 20,000 went quickly .
Charles Webb simply just gave it all away , along with the VIP passes for the premiere of “ The Graduate , ” the soon-to-be Hollywood classic based on his book .
Though Webb kept on writing — sometimes to acclaim , sometimes not — he lived in poverty , a life choice he made by giving away his earnings , his inheritance and the occasional house he bought .
After giving away the $ 20,000 he received for the film rights to “ The Graduate , ” he gave the copyright for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ only because he admired the group ’ s work .
“ When you run out of money , it ’ s a purifying experience , ” he told the Times of London after he abruptly left Los Angeles and moved to Brighton , England , with his wife , Eve .
Rather than conform to the expectations of the publishing world — book signings , speaking engagements , talk shows — he worked stocking shelves at a Kmart , cleaned hotel rooms , cooked late-night meals at a diner and managed a nudist @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shelters and once spent three years at a Motel 6 in Carpinteria .
An enigma to the end , Webb died June 16 in Eastbourne , a seaside town in southeast England .
The Times of London first reported his death .
Jack Malvern , a friend and journalist , told the Washington Post that Webb ’ s death was related to complications from a blood disorder .
Translated to film , “ The Graduate ” was an immediate box office success when it was released in 1967 , with Dustin Hoffman — @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Benjamin Braddock , a newly minted college graduate who returns home filled with disillusionment and uncertainty .
Already hollowed out by his family ’ s expectations , he embarks on an affair with the wife of his father ’ s law partner .
Anne Bancroft was nominated for an Oscar for her portrayal of the seductive wife — Mrs. Robinson .
Buck Henry , who helped write the screenplay , told the Los Angeles Times in 2002 that the dialogue in Webb ’ s novel was so crispy and spot-on that 85 % @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the book .
And the laconic , world-weary protagonist in Webb ’ s story was a perfect fit for Hoffman .
Henry , however , said he did add the now-famous piece of advice from a family friend as Braddock is being pumped about his future : “ I ’ ve got one word for you , Benjamin : plastics.
” Morris Dickstein , an English professor at City University of New York , told The Times in 2002 that Benjamin Braddock became “ part of a long line of naive , confused @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Holden Caulfield , ” the angst-filled teen in “ The Catcher in the Rye.
” While the film earned more than $ 100 million at the box office , Webb walked away penniless .
He wrote six more novels then took an unexplained 26-year hiatus before publishing “ New Cardiff ” in 2002 .
The book , praised by critics , was adapted into the 2012 film “ Hope Springs ” with Meryl Streep and , again , Webb gave away his earnings .
His final novel , “ Home School , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Graduate.
” Critics largely wished he hadn ’ t bothered to revisit his original work .
Charles Richard Webb was born June 9 , 1939 , in San Francisco and raised in Pasadena .
His family was wealthy , and he soon came to abhor the family ’ s blue-blood status and excesses .
He was sent to boarding school in Santa Barbara before going off to Williams College in Massachusetts , where he earned an English degree .
Much like Benjamin , he returned home dispirited .
Living off a writing grant @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the gloom of a Colorado Street bowling alley writing “ The Graduate.
” It was largely a mirror of his own life .
Over the years he moved continually .
He bought a bungalow in West Hollywood but found owning the place “ unexplainably oppressive ” and asked the Realtor to give it to someone else .
He bought a three-story house in Massachusetts but tired of it after a few weeks and gave it to the Audubon Society .
He bought another in upstate New York and promptly gave it away @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Earth .
Webb and his wife lived an unconventional life , sometimes traveling around the country in a VW bus or sheltering in a campground .
At one point they moved to a nudist colony in the south of France .
The two divorced , but only to protest the conventions of marriage , and then remarried to smooth the emigration process to Britain in 1998 .
At some point Eve changed her name to Fred in solidarity with a support group of men named Fred who claimed to suffer low self-esteem .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ several years ago .
In a 2008 article for The Times , journalist William Georgiades found Webb to be a remarkable sunny , upbeat soul .
“ Webb has such an easygoing charm about him , such a friendly and sincere presence , that he renders his circumstances as logical and reasonable , ” he wrote .
Asked about his curious life , Webb just shrugged .
“ People in the arts are not allowed to lead normal lives , ” he said .
“ They either have to be super rich , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ like me .
But they ’ re not allowed to lead lives like everyone else .
”

Charles Webb gave away the copyright to his novel “The Graduate,” the basis for the hit 1967 film with Dustin Hoffman. It went to the Anti-Defamation League, whose work he admired.
The first $20,000 went quickly. Charles Webb simply just gave it all away, along with the VIP passes for the premiere of “The Graduate,” the soon-to-be Hollywood classic based on his book.
Though Webb kept on writing — sometimes to acclaim, sometimes not — he lived in poverty, a life choice he made by giving away his earnings, his inheritance and the occasional house he bought. After giving away the $20,000 he received for the film rights to “The Graduate,” he gave the copyright for the novel to the Anti-Defamation League, only because he admired the group’s work.
For the record: This story incorrectly states that Webb’s novel “New Cardiff” was adapted into the 2012 movie “Hope Springs” with Meryl Streep. In fact it was adapted into the 2003 film “Hope Springs” with Colin Firth.
“When you run out of money, it’s a purifying experience,” he told the Times of London after he abruptly left Los Angeles and moved to Brighton, England, with his wife, Eve.
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Rather than conform to the expectations of the publishing world — book signings, speaking engagements, talk shows — he worked stocking shelves at a Kmart, cleaned hotel rooms, cooked late-night meals at a diner and managed a nudist colony. He lived in campgrounds and shelters and once spent three years at a Motel 6 in Carpinteria.
An enigma to the end, Webb died June 16 in Eastbourne, a seaside town in southeast England. He was 81. The Times of London first reported his death. Jack Malvern, a friend and journalist, told the Washington Post that Webb’s death was related to complications from a blood disorder.
Translated to film, “The Graduate” was an immediate box office success when it was released in 1967, with Dustin Hoffman — then an emerging star — cast as Benjamin Braddock, a newly minted college graduate who returns home filled with disillusionment and uncertainty. Already hollowed out by his family’s expectations, he embarks on an affair with the wife of his father’s law partner. Anne Bancroft was nominated for an Oscar for her portrayal of the seductive wife — Mrs. Robinson.
Buck Henry, who helped write the screenplay, told the Los Angeles Times in 2002 that the dialogue in Webb’s novel was so crispy and spot-on that 85% of the script was lifted straight from the book. And the laconic, world-weary protagonist in Webb’s story was a perfect fit for Hoffman. Henry, however, said he did add the now-famous piece of advice from a family friend as Braddock is being pumped about his future: “I just want to say one word to you: plastics.”
Morris Dickstein, an English professor at City University of New York, told The Times in 2002 that Benjamin Braddock became “part of a long line of naive, confused, innocent heroes in the coming-of-age tradition of Holden Caulfield,” the angst-filled teen in “The Catcher in the Rye.”
While the film earned more than $100 million at the box office, Webb walked away penniless. He wrote six more novels then took an unexplained 26-year hiatus before publishing “New Cardiff” in 2002. The book, praised by critics, was adapted into the 2012 film “Hope Springs” with Meryl Streep and, again, Webb gave away his earnings. His final novel, “Home School,” was a sequel to “The Graduate.” Critics largely wished he hadn’t bothered to revisit his original work.
Charles Richard Webb was born June 9, 1939, in San Francisco and raised in Pasadena. His family was wealthy, and he soon came to abhor the family’s blue-blood status and excesses. He was sent to boarding school in Santa Barbara before going off to Williams College in Massachusetts, where he earned an English degree. Much like Benjamin, he returned home dispirited.
Living off a writing grant, he spend the next two years in the gloom of a Colorado Street bowling alley writing “The Graduate.” It was largely a mirror of his own life.
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Over the years he moved continually. He bought a bungalow in West Hollywood but found owning the place “unexplainably oppressive” and asked the Realtor to give it to someone else. He bought a three-story house in Massachusetts but tired of it after a few weeks and gave it to the Audubon Society. He bought another in upstate New York and promptly gave it away, he thinks to Friends of the Earth.
Webb and his wife lived an unconventional life, sometimes traveling around the country in a VW bus or sheltering in a campground. At one point they moved to a nudist colony in the south of France. The two divorced, but only to protest the conventions of marriage, and then remarried to smooth the emigration process to Britain in 1998. At some point Eve changed her name to Fred in solidarity with a support group of men named Fred who claimed to suffer low self-esteem. The couple remained together until her death several years ago. He is survived by his two son, David and John, and a brother.
In a 2008 article for The Times, journalist William Georgiades found Webb to be a remarkable sunny, upbeat soul.
“Webb has such an easygoing charm about him, such a friendly and sincere presence, that he renders his circumstances as logical and reasonable,” he wrote.
Asked about his curious life, Webb just shrugged.
“People in the arts are not allowed to lead normal lives,” he said. “They either have to be super rich, thinking about their mansions, or penniless like me. But they’re not allowed to lead lives like everyone else.”


latimes--2020-06-26--Coronavirus caught us off guard. Here's what disaster preppers say we needed to do all along

For three months , Jonathan and Kylene Jones didn ’ t step foot inside a grocery store .
They relied on their Utah home ’ s built-in storage room supply : flour , rice , beans , a freezer full of food .
That was last summer .
The couple , founders of the “ ” website and YouTube channel , wanted to do a 90-day trial of surviving solely on their food storage and garden .
Bartering and trading was allowed — their kids hauled hay for a nearby farmer one day in return for a Subway sandwich — @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the grocery store .
Those were the rules .
So when the coronavirus erupted in March , emptying grocery stores and turning others into hoarders overnight , Kylene and Jonathan Jones relaxed .
“ When this pandemic struck , we ’ d already been through it , ” said Kylene Jones , 55 .
“ There was this great sense of peace that taught us that we ’ re just fine , we can do this.
” The Joneses acknowledge that very few people have the patience or time to do an experiment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people who prioritize preparedness say that most people can and should have supplies and plans to get them through several days .
It ’ s doable without entertaining conspiracy theories or spending a fortune on special tools and supplies .
Think it through Yes , it might feel weird or unnerving to imagine worst-case scenarios .
But thinking through possible disasters — especially now that we can envision one — is key to preparation and peace of mind , said Ontario ’ s fire administrative director Jordan Villwock .
“ While it ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it ’ s always better when an incident happens that you ’ re prepared , ” Villwock said .
“ Hope is not a good contingency plan.
” Florida gets hurricanes .
In the Midwest , tornadoes .
California is blessed with earthquakes , wildfires and mudslides .
Get to know your area ’ s specific vulnerabilities .
Do you live on a fault line ?
Is your beachfront property susceptible to a tsunami ?
Look up your local jurisdiction ’ s hazard mitigation plan , which should detail threats unique to your @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ re at it , look up evacuation routes for your neighborhood — include routes with the blue “ evacuation ” signs as well as little-known streets that might come in handy if the larger thoroughfares get blocked .
Find routes that don ’ t use bridges or roads crossed by bridges .
Know how to get out , in case of an emergency .
Sit down with your family , roommates or neighbors and discuss .
Decide on a meeting place in your neighborhood and one farther away , if it ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ home .
Agree on an out-of-state contact who can serve as an intermediary to help relay information .
Memorize and write down that person ’ s contact information .
“ Some people hesitate to feed their children information that ’ s scary , but I think it can be done in a non-threatening way , ” said Jonathan Jones , 60 .
“ It truly empowers them to look at a situation and say , ‘ OK , here ’ s what we ’ ve already done and we can think this through.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ insurance , doctors ’ contact information and any other health conditions ( including allergies ) .
Many jurisdictions now have the capability to send messages through Amber alerts — remember your cellphone blaring the various curfew alerts ?
Individual cities and counties often have their own emergency alert systems .
Sign up for them on your city ’ s website .
You should also follow your local government , police and fire departments ’ social media , which are often the first to sound the alarm about an emergency near you .
Get @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a couple different stores of supplies .
Call it whatever you want — a go-bag , bugout bag , 72-hour supplies , or basic preparedness kit — it should be ready to go at a moment ’ s notice .
Think of the 2018 Camp Fire , a deadly wildfire that tore through the Northern California town of Paradise in minutes .
Ready.gov , the federal preparedness website , advises that you fill your bag with the basic supplies we ’ re now all accustomed to — hand sanitizer , face masks and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not — an AM/FM crank radio , a flashlight , cellphone charger , extra batteries , a whistle , a utility tool , a blanket , a personal hygiene kit , bottles of water and at least three days of non-perishable food .
Villwock recommends also keeping cash in small bills in your bag , along with paper maps of your city .
“ Think what life would be like if you ’ re finding places and you don ’ t have Google Maps anymore , ” he said .
“ How would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t forget a first aid kit , which should contain supplies to treat an immediate injury and help you last a few hours if you can ’ t get medical help quickly .
Villwock recommends bandages , ointment , antiseptic towelettes , an ice pack , tweezers and tape .
Once you have the basics down , customize .
If you have children , add enough supplies for them too .
If you live in a cold climate , pack a sweater , hat or boots .
Perhaps you need medication for anxiety @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s going to kill you or cause you the largest problems the quickest , ” said Dan Baird , founder and head instructor of the California Survival School .
“ Take care of your first aid needs and basic health and safety needs first.
” Keep your bag in a readily accessible place , like your car , a coat closet or garage .
“ You don ’ t want it buried deep in the closet in the middle of the house , ” Baird said .
If you keep the bag @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sticks so people can see you if you ’ re stranded one night on the side of the road .
Some experienced survivalists include other tools , ranging from eating utensils to things like the “ doomsday axe.
” But Villwock cautioned against getting caught up in all the advanced supplies .
“ Having all those tools and blankets ... is going to make it more comfortable during the disaster , ” Villwock said .
“ When you have reusable plates and can openers and duct tape and Q-tips , yeah that ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , if necessary .
But 72 hours , I could go without a Q-tip most likely , you know.
” By now , we ’ re probably all accustomed to having a couple extras boxes of pasta or cans of beans in our pantry .
But what do we really need in a home supply ?
Preppers recommend plenty of non-perishable food and at least one gallon of water per person , per day .
You ’ ll also need a backup of your medications and basic home tools .
Frozen food is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ quickly during a power outage .
How long should supplies last ?
Three weeks , three months or a year , depending on which prepper you ask .
You ’ ll have to decide what length of time makes sense to you .
Once you do , they advise that you buy a little extra of your regular grocery list every week until you ’ re stocked up .
Don ’ t waste money on items you never use , Baird said .
Rotate through the items , keeping your supply ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spaghetti , have your macaroni and cheese , have your oatmeal , ” Baird said .
“ Have whatever it is you already like to eat.
” The Joneses agreed .
During their 90-day survival trial , they learned they had packed too much tuna for their liking , but not enough cat food .
They fed the tuna to the cats and adjusted their shopping list going forward .
Also , Kylene Jones realized , they needed more chocolate .
Where to keep it all ?
Don ’ t be afraid to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pantry or closet space .
Then get creative .
In addition to a storage room on their 1.5 acres , the Joneses use empty space under their bed .
“ We recognize that a lot of people can ’ t have that , or it ’ s not practicable , but whatever space you have , you can make it usable , ” Jonathan Jones said .
If you ’ re stressed imagining the next disaster and the prospect of preparing for it seems too much , stop and take a breath .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ hoarding — get ready while you ’ re in a calm state of mind so you don ’ t have to panic later .
Preparing is also a form of community care , the Joneses said .
Planning ahead means no last-minute runs to the store to stock up , taking away from other people in need .
“ A lot of the reason people don ’ t prepare is because it seems overwhelming until you break it down , ” Jonathan Jones said .
“ When you break it down into small @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s doable , then you can make some real progress .
And then what comes with that is a lot of peace of mind.
” So think ahead .
Keep it simple .
And don ’ t hoard toilet paper .

Empty shelves were common early in the coronavirus lockdowns. People who thoroughly prepare for disasters know a thing or two about preparing for the next disruption.
For three months, Jonathan and Kylene Jones didn’t step foot inside a grocery store. They relied on their Utah home’s built-in storage room supply: flour, rice, beans, a freezer full of food.
That was last summer.
The couple, founders of the “ The Provident Prepper ” website and YouTube channel, wanted to do a 90-day trial of surviving solely on their food storage and garden. Bartering and trading was allowed — their kids hauled hay for a nearby farmer one day in return for a Subway sandwich — but they couldn’t go to the grocery store. Those were the rules.
So when the coronavirus erupted in March, emptying grocery stores and turning others into hoarders overnight, Kylene and Jonathan Jones relaxed.
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“When this pandemic struck, we’d already been through it,” said Kylene Jones, 55. “There was this great sense of peace that taught us that we’re just fine, we can do this.”
The Joneses acknowledge that very few people have the patience or time to do an experiment like theirs.
But a variety of people who prioritize preparedness say that most people can and should have supplies and plans to get them through several days. It’s doable without entertaining conspiracy theories or spending a fortune on special tools and supplies.
Here’s how to start.
Jonathan Jones and his wife Kylene grow food on their 1.5-acre Utah property in addition to keeping non-perishable items in their home storage unit. (The Jones family)
Think it through
Yes, it might feel weird or unnerving to imagine worst-case scenarios. But thinking through possible disasters — especially now that we can envision one — is key to preparation and peace of mind, said Ontario’s fire administrative director Jordan Villwock.
“While it’s not fun to think about, it’s always better when an incident happens that you’re prepared,” Villwock said. “Hope is not a good contingency plan.”
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Florida gets hurricanes. In the Midwest, tornadoes. California is blessed with earthquakes, wildfires and mudslides. Get to know your area’s specific vulnerabilities. Do you live on a fault line? Is your beachfront property susceptible to a tsunami? Look up your local jurisdiction’s hazard mitigation plan, which should detail threats unique to your area, Villwock recommends.
While you’re at it, look up evacuation routes for your neighborhood — include routes with the blue “evacuation” signs as well as little-known streets that might come in handy if the larger thoroughfares get blocked. Find routes that don’t use bridges or roads crossed by bridges. Know how to get out, in case of an emergency.
Certain groceries were sold in limited quantities at the height of stay-at-home orders. (Dania Maxwell / Los Angeles Times)
Plan for communication
Sit down with your family, roommates or neighbors and discuss. Decide on a meeting place in your neighborhood and one farther away, if it’s not safe to stay close to home. Agree on an out-of-state contact who can serve as an intermediary to help relay information. Memorize and write down that person’s contact information.
“Some people hesitate to feed their children information that’s scary, but I think it can be done in a non-threatening way,” said Jonathan Jones, 60. “It truly empowers them to look at a situation and say, ‘OK, here’s what we’ve already done and we can think this through.’”
Also write down your medical insurance, doctors’ contact information and any other health conditions (including allergies).
Many jurisdictions now have the capability to send messages through Amber alerts — remember your cellphone blaring the various curfew alerts? Individual cities and counties often have their own emergency alert systems. Sign up for them on your city’s website. You should also follow your local government, police and fire departments’ social media, which are often the first to sound the alarm about an emergency near you.
Get ready to go
Practiced preppers often have a couple different stores of supplies. Call it whatever you want — a go-bag, bugout bag, 72-hour supplies, or basic preparedness kit — it should be ready to go at a moment’s notice. Think of the 2018 Camp Fire, a deadly wildfire that tore through the Northern California town of Paradise in minutes.
Ready.gov, the federal preparedness website, advises that you fill your bag with the basic supplies we’re now all accustomed to — hand sanitizer, face masks and gloves — and some we’re not — an AM/FM crank radio, a flashlight, cellphone charger, extra batteries, a whistle, a utility tool, a blanket, a personal hygiene kit, bottles of water and at least three days of non-perishable food.
Villwock recommends also keeping cash in small bills in your bag, along with paper maps of your city.
“Think what life would be like if you’re finding places and you don’t have Google Maps anymore,” he said. “How would you get around?”
Don’t forget a first aid kit, which should contain supplies to treat an immediate injury and help you last a few hours if you can’t get medical help quickly. Villwock recommends bandages, ointment, antiseptic towelettes, an ice pack, tweezers and tape.
Once you have the basics down, customize. If you have children, add enough supplies for them too. If you live in a cold climate, pack a sweater, hat or boots. Perhaps you need medication for anxiety.
“Address stuff based on what’s going to kill you or cause you the largest problems the quickest,” said Dan Baird, founder and head instructor of the California Survival School. “Take care of your first aid needs and basic health and safety needs first.”
Keep your bag in a readily accessible place, like your car, a coat closet or garage. “You don’t want it buried deep in the closet in the middle of the house,” Baird said. If you keep the bag in your car, maybe add glow sticks so people can see you if you’re stranded one night on the side of the road.
Some experienced survivalists include other tools, ranging from eating utensils to things like the “doomsday axe.” But Villwock cautioned against getting caught up in all the advanced supplies.
“Having all those tools and blankets ... is going to make it more comfortable during the disaster,” Villwock said. “When you have reusable plates and can openers and duct tape and Q-tips, yeah that’s going to all come in handy, if necessary. But 72 hours, I could go without a Q-tip most likely, you know.”
Prepare the home
By now, we’re probably all accustomed to having a couple extras boxes of pasta or cans of beans in our pantry. But what do we really need in a home supply?
Jonathan and Kylene Jones store food on their Utah property to last at least three months. Jonathan Jones built this shelf set in the family’s basement. (The Jones family)
Preppers recommend plenty of non-perishable food and at least one gallon of water per person, per day. You’ll also need a backup of your medications and basic home tools. Frozen food is good too, but it may spoil quickly during a power outage.
How long should supplies last? Three weeks, three months or a year, depending on which prepper you ask. You’ll have to decide what length of time makes sense to you.
Once you do, they advise that you buy a little extra of your regular grocery list every week until you’re stocked up. Don’t waste money on items you never use, Baird said. Rotate through the items, keeping your supply’s shelf life fresh.
“Have your spaghetti, have your macaroni and cheese, have your oatmeal,” Baird said. “Have whatever it is you already like to eat.”
The Joneses agreed. During their 90-day survival trial, they learned they had packed too much tuna for their liking, but not enough cat food. They fed the tuna to the cats and adjusted their shopping list going forward. Also, Kylene Jones realized, they needed more chocolate.
Where to keep it all? Don’t be afraid to do a spring cleaning to maximize your pantry or closet space. Then get creative. In addition to a storage room on their 1.5 acres, the Joneses use empty space under their bed.
“We recognize that a lot of people can’t have that, or it’s not practicable, but whatever space you have, you can make it usable,” Jonathan Jones said.
Don’t get overwhelmed
If you’re stressed imagining the next disaster and the prospect of preparing for it seems too much, stop and take a breath. Think of prepping as the opposite of hoarding — get ready while you’re in a calm state of mind so you don’t have to panic later.
Preparing is also a form of community care, the Joneses said. Planning ahead means no last-minute runs to the store to stock up, taking away from other people in need.
“A lot of the reason people don’t prepare is because it seems overwhelming until you break it down,” Jonathan Jones said. “When you break it down into small, manageable pieces, then it’s doable, then you can make some real progress. And then what comes with that is a lot of peace of mind.”
So think ahead. Keep it simple. And don’t hoard toilet paper.


latimes--2020-06-26--Prosecutors have received at least 25 new allegations against adult film star Ron Jeremy

Los Angeles County authorities have received 25 new complaints of sexual misconduct against Ron Jeremy this week , including 13 that may have taken place in Southern California , a prosecutor said in court Friday .
While arguing over a motion to reduce bail for the adult film star — who was charged Tuesday with sexually assaulting four women in West Hollywood — Deputy Dist .
Atty .
Paul Thompson disclosed the new complaints in a downtown courtroom .
Thompson said it is “ certainly possible ” the new claims could lead to additional charges , and noted the claims @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sexual violence .
The allegations were all received by law enforcement officials after news broke that Jeremy was being prosecuted , Thompson said .
Jeremy surrendered to authorities Tuesday after the Los Angeles County district attorney ’ s office charged him with eight counts of forcible rape , forcible oral copulation and sexual battery stemming from allegations made by four women between 2014 and 2019 .
He pleaded not guilty to those charges on Friday and his attorney , Stuart Goldfarb , has said that Jeremy “ never , in his life , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or duress.
” Investigators with the Los Angeles County Sheriff ’ s Department said they launched an investigation into Jeremy after an allegation of rape was made last summer .
Cmdr .
Carlos Marquez said Jeremy used his public persona to gain access to the victims and then took advantage while they were intoxicated .
The sheriff ’ s department presented its case to prosecutors on Monday .
Jeremy has been accused of sexual assault by multiple women in recent years — including adult film stars Danica Dane , Jennifer Steele and Jay @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
A 2017 Rolling Stone article detailed allegations levied by at least a dozen women .
Goldfarb said “ all sorts of claims come pouring in ” when an allegation of wrongdoing against a celebrity gains media attention , and tried to downplay the nature of the allegations contained in the criminal complaint as non-violent .
He also claimed the head of security at the Rainbow Room on the Sunset Strip , which is known to be one of Jeremy ’ s favorite haunts , will refute a rape allegation made by a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at that , saying two of the four women named in the criminal complaint allege Jeremy followed them into the bathroom of a bar and trapped them there before assaulting them .
L.A. Superior Court Judge Miguel Espinoza denied Goldfarb ’ s motion , and Jeremy will remain jailed in lieu of $ 6.6 million bail .
He is due back in court in late August .

Adult film star Ron Jeremy leaves a Los Angeles County courtroom in handcuffs after he was charged with four counts of sexual assault.
Los Angeles County authorities have received 25 new complaints of sexual misconduct against Ron Jeremy this week, including 13 that may have taken place in Southern California, a prosecutor said in court Friday.
While arguing over a motion to reduce bail for the adult film star — who was charged Tuesday with sexually assaulting four women in West Hollywood — Deputy Dist. Atty. Paul Thompson disclosed the new complaints in a downtown courtroom.
Thompson said it is “certainly possible” the new claims could lead to additional charges, and noted the claims ranged from groping to overt acts of sexual violence. The allegations were all received by law enforcement officials after news broke that Jeremy was being prosecuted, Thompson said.
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Jeremy surrendered to authorities Tuesday after the Los Angeles County district attorney’s office charged him with eight counts of forcible rape, forcible oral copulation and sexual battery stemming from allegations made by four women between 2014 and 2019. He pleaded not guilty to those charges on Friday and his attorney, Stuart Goldfarb, has said that Jeremy “never, in his life, had sex with a female through force or duress.”
Investigators with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department said they launched an investigation into Jeremy after an allegation of rape was made last summer. Cmdr. Carlos Marquez said Jeremy used his public persona to gain access to the victims and then took advantage while they were intoxicated. The sheriff’s department presented its case to prosecutors on Monday.
Jeremy has been accused of sexual assault by multiple women in recent years — including adult film stars Danica Dane, Jennifer Steele and Jay Taylor — but has denied the allegations. A 2017 Rolling Stone article detailed allegations levied by at least a dozen women.
Goldfarb said “all sorts of claims come pouring in” when an allegation of wrongdoing against a celebrity gains media attention, and tried to downplay the nature of the allegations contained in the criminal complaint as non-violent. He also claimed the head of security at the Rainbow Room on the Sunset Strip, which is known to be one of Jeremy’s favorite haunts, will refute a rape allegation made by a woman there in 2019.
Thompson scoffed at that, saying two of the four women named in the criminal complaint allege Jeremy followed them into the bathroom of a bar and trapped them there before assaulting them.
L.A. Superior Court Judge Miguel Espinoza denied Goldfarb’s motion, and Jeremy will remain jailed in lieu of $6.6 million bail. He is due back in court in late August.


latimes--2020-06-26--Video shows fireworks exploding in car during Riverside protest

Riverside police have arrested a man they say lit a firecracker and tossed it at protesters in Riverside this month , only to have the incendiary device thrown back into his nearby car and explode .
The June 1 protest against police violence and racism came days after the killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis police custody , sparking a movement of demonstrations across the country .
On that day , an independent autopsy requested by Floyd ’ s family contradicted that of local officials to determine that asphyxiation due to neck and back compression led to Floyd ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ acted peacefully until violence began later in the day .
Officers fired tear gas and “ rubber ” bullets to disperse the crowd .
A Thursday news release from the Riverside Police Department claimed that fireworks also exploded among officers and protesters .
A video of the incident shared by police begins with a sedan parked in an intersection .
People appear to be arguing on both sides of the vehicle .
The driver steps out of the car and places a lit firework mortar at the feet of two protesters , who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the car , and one picks up the lit firecracker , tossing it into the sedan .
A woman in the passenger seat jumps out , while another person in the back seat appears to be locked inside .
The car fills with white smoke and then a burst of light .
Red and green sparks shoot in and out of the vehicle , and it begins to roll backward with the windshield wipers slowing swaying .
As the video ends , a crowd descends on the car .
Police arrested Gabriel Castillo @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they accuse of lighting the firework .
Authorities say that Castillo and onlookers assaulted the person who threw the firecracker into the car , but the released video , which cuts out after 24 seconds , does not show any attack .
Castillo , who was arrested Tuesday during a probation search , is being held in lieu of $ 50,000 bail .

Riverside police have arrested a man they say lit a firecracker and tossed it at protesters in Riverside this month, only to have the incendiary device thrown back into his nearby car and explode.
The June 1 protest against police violence and racism came days after the killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis police custody, sparking a movement of demonstrations across the country. On that day, an independent autopsy requested by Floyd’s family contradicted that of local officials to determine that asphyxiation due to neck and back compression led to Floyd’s death.
Police say the Riverside protesters acted peacefully until violence began later in the day. Officers fired tear gas and “rubber” bullets to disperse the crowd. A Thursday news release from the Riverside Police Department claimed that fireworks also exploded among officers and protesters.
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A video of the incident shared by police begins with a sedan parked in an intersection. People appear to be arguing on both sides of the vehicle. The driver steps out of the car and places a lit firework mortar at the feet of two protesters, who run away.
Other demonstrators rush toward the car, and one picks up the lit firecracker, tossing it into the sedan. A woman in the passenger seat jumps out, while another person in the back seat appears to be locked inside.
The car fills with white smoke and then a burst of light. Red and green sparks shoot in and out of the vehicle, and it begins to roll backward with the windshield wipers slowing swaying. As the video ends, a crowd descends on the car.
Police arrested Gabriel Castillo, 20, of Perris, whom they accuse of lighting the firework.
Authorities say that Castillo and onlookers assaulted the person who threw the firecracker into the car, but the released video, which cuts out after 24 seconds, does not show any attack.
Castillo, who was arrested Tuesday during a probation search, is being held in lieu of $50,000 bail.