latimes--2020-05-20--A big push to reopen restaurants, malls, even gyms ASAP. But it's not that simple

Faced with unemployment rates that in many places top 20 % , California counties are eager to reopen their economies as quickly as they can .
With Gov .
Gavin Newsom loosening requirements for reopening , local officials are racing to submit plans and get approval to allow shuttered businesses to open — all with social distancing restrictions .
The new rules allow in counties that meet the new criteria .
The governor also hinted that even bigger changes are just around the corner , such as the opening of hair salons and even spectator-free sporting events as soon as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ counties have submitted plans to the governor or intend to do so this week .
“ Let ’ s open as much as possible .
Let ’ s open as soon as possible .
Let ’ s open as safely as possible , ” Orange County Supervisor Don Wagner said .
Sacramento Mayor Darrell Steinberg said his county would be able to “ reopen some offices , small shops and restaurants ” by Friday .
“ It ’ s not just about allowing the businesses to open ; it ’ s also about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a news conference .
“ People on the one hand are going to be understandably cautious , as they should be .
But I know that I ’ m going to try to lead the way .
I will go out to eat .
I ’ ll eat al fresco.
” Napa County got approval Tuesday to reopen some restaurants with restrictions .
Here is where Southern California counties stand : County officials made it clear Tuesday that they want to see more retail businesses — including shopping malls and restaurants — reopen @ @ @ @ @ @ @ possible .
While health officials said they are still planning how to move further into what the state calls Phase 2 , members of the Board of Supervisors said that time is of the essence .
“ We can put together a plan , and I ’ m still keeping my fingers crossed , ” Supervisor Andrew Do said .
“ I ’ m hoping that by this weekend , we ’ re going to enter Phase 2 fully.
” Doing so would mean , for instance , as could restaurant dining rooms @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Orange County doesn ’ t meet all the new reopening requirements , which Newsom unveiled Monday , officials emphasized their preference is still to send a plan to the state as quickly as possible .
“ To the extent that perfect is the enemy of the good , we don ’ t want to let that happen , ” Wagner said .
“ If we need to supplement , let ’ s supplement.
” San Diego County supervisors gave the go-ahead for the county to accelerate its progression in Phase 2 of reopening @ @ @ @ @ @ @ restaurants to serve in-person patrons .
The plan still needs state approval , which county officials expect to be granted .
Additionally , the board voted 4-1 Tuesday to ask the governor for permission to launch a pilot program for reopening some Phase 3 activities , including some youth sports and clubs , outdoor religious services , research labs and therapeutic and peer support groups of less than 10 people .
The pilot program would also allow salons and fitness facilities to operate at 25 % capacity , by appointment only , as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at 25 % capacity .
Nathan Fletcher was the lone supervisor to vote against pursuing the pilot program , saying that since the county hadn ’ t yet fully implemented Phase 2 , it wasn ’ t time to move toward Phase 3 .
“ The preparations to protect public health , combined with the confidence we have in our business owners and residents , puts us in a great position to move forward on an accelerated path , ” County Executive Officer Mike Powers said .
“ COVID-19 has had devastating impacts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
We want businesses to be able to reopen , and we believe they can and will do so safely.
” As of Tuesday , the weekly rate of hospitalizations fell 3.4 % in Ventura County , well below the state benchmark , spokesperson Ashley Bautista said .
Positive test results in the last 14 days were at 3.5 % , also less than the state ’ s 8 % benchmark for reopening .
There were 825 confirmed cases in the county on Tuesday , records show .
Both Riverside and San Bernardino @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The San Bernardino Board of Supervisors is scheduled to meet Thursday to discuss a new plan .
Riverside County Supervisor V. Manuel Perez said Newsom ’ s new criteria are “ hopeful and positive news for local businesses.
” Officials ’ newest goal is to more fully reopen the economy by July 4 , officials said Tuesday .
The mission is to safely reopen retail businesses , restaurants and malls .
But getting there will be slow going .
“ We have to do a lot of things right so we can actually @ @ @ @ @ @ @ county public health director , Barbara Ferrer , said .
“ I think the reality is that we are going to really aim together to get there as quickly as possible , but we ’ re going to pay attention to the data and science .
”

Luke Money, Kailyn Brown, Sarah Parvini, Charles T. Carter

Faced with unemployment rates that in many places top 20%, California counties are eager to reopen their economies as quickly as they can.
With Gov. Gavin Newsom loosening requirements for reopening, local officials are racing to submit plans and get approval to allow shuttered businesses to open — all with social distancing restrictions.
The new rules allow restaurant dining rooms and shopping malls to open in counties that meet the new criteria. The governor also hinted that even bigger changes are just around the corner, such as the opening of hair salons and even spectator-free sporting events as soon as the first week in June.
Many counties have submitted plans to the governor or intend to do so this week.
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“Let’s open as much as possible. Let’s open as soon as possible. Let’s open as safely as possible,” Orange County Supervisor Don Wagner said.
Sacramento Mayor Darrell Steinberg said his county would be able to “reopen some offices, small shops and restaurants” by Friday.
“It’s not just about allowing the businesses to open; it’s also about the customers,” he said in a news conference. “People on the one hand are going to be understandably cautious, as they should be. But I know that I’m going to try to lead the way. I will go out to eat. I’ll eat al fresco.”
Napa County got approval Tuesday to reopen some restaurants with restrictions.
Here is where Southern California counties stand:
Orange County
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County officials made it clear Tuesday that they want to see more retail businesses — including shopping malls and restaurants — reopen with social distancing restrictions as soon as possible.
While health officials said they are still planning how to move further into what the state calls Phase 2, members of the Board of Supervisors said that time is of the essence.
“We can put together a plan, and I’m still keeping my fingers crossed,” Supervisor Andrew Do said. “I’m hoping that by this weekend, we’re going to enter Phase 2 fully.”
Doing so would mean shopping malls could reopen , for instance, as could restaurant dining rooms — albeit with modifications.
Even if Orange County doesn’t meet all the new reopening requirements, which Newsom unveiled Monday, officials emphasized their preference is still to send a plan to the state as quickly as possible.
“To the extent that perfect is the enemy of the good, we don’t want to let that happen,” Wagner said. “If we need to supplement, let’s supplement.”
San Diego County
San Diego County supervisors gave the go-ahead for the county to accelerate its progression in Phase 2 of reopening, which would allow retail shopping and restaurants to serve in-person patrons.
The plan still needs state approval, which county officials expect to be granted.
Additionally, the board voted 4-1 Tuesday to ask the governor for permission to launch a pilot program for reopening some Phase 3 activities, including some youth sports and clubs, outdoor religious services, research labs and therapeutic and peer support groups of less than 10 people.
The pilot program would also allow salons and fitness facilities to operate at 25% capacity, by appointment only, as well as open some communal swimming pools at 25% capacity.
Nathan Fletcher was the lone supervisor to vote against pursuing the pilot program, saying that since the county hadn’t yet fully implemented Phase 2, it wasn’t time to move toward Phase 3.
California Ventura County moves toward a phased reopening of some businesses by week’s end Businesses such as bookstores, clothing stores, florists and sporting goods stores will be available to open up shop for curbside pickup. Associated manufacturers and supply chains for these retail stores will also be allowed to open.
Ventura County
Ventura County supervisors voted unanimously to submit plans for a broader reopening.
“The preparations to protect public health, combined with the confidence we have in our business owners and residents, puts us in a great position to move forward on an accelerated path,” County Executive Officer Mike Powers said. “COVID-19 has had devastating impacts on both community health and our economy. We want businesses to be able to reopen, and we believe they can and will do so safely.”
As of Tuesday, the weekly rate of hospitalizations fell 3.4% in Ventura County, well below the state benchmark, spokesperson Ashley Bautista said. Positive test results in the last 14 days were at 3.5%, also less than the state’s 8% benchmark for reopening. There were 825 confirmed cases in the county on Tuesday, records show.
Inland Empire
Both Riverside and San Bernardino counties are also pushing to reopen.
The San Bernardino Board of Supervisors is scheduled to meet Thursday to discuss a new plan.
Riverside County Supervisor V. Manuel Perez said Newsom’s new criteria are “hopeful and positive news for local businesses.”
Los Angeles County
Officials’ newest goal is to more fully reopen the economy by July 4, officials said Tuesday.
The mission is to safely reopen retail businesses, restaurants and malls. But getting there will be slow going.
“We have to do a lot of things right so we can actually get to that date,” the county public health director, Barbara Ferrer, said. “I think the reality is that we are going to really aim together to get there as quickly as possible, but we’re going to pay attention to the data and science.”


latimes--2020-05-20--Inside the Trump fight with California over opening churches amid coronavirus

California ’ s stay-at-home order , which is credited with slowing the spread of the coronavirus , has upended the economy and changed the lives of millions .
But it has also caused special pain for people of faith , who no longer can worship in person as churches and other religious institutions have been closed .
The religious aspect of the shutdown has been much debated , though the vast majority of houses of worship have gladly complied with the rules to keep their members safe .
Still , some churches have filed lawsuits , and a few have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the issue has become a point of dispute between the Trump administration and California .
The Justice Department warned in a letter Tuesday that the measures California Gov .
Gavin Newsom enacted to slow the spread of the coronavirus and his plans to unwind them might discriminate against religious groups and violate their constitutional rights .
What is the Justice Department ’ s complaint ?
Eric S. Dreiband , an assistant attorney general and the head of the Justice Department ’ s civil rights division , said Newsom had shown “ unequal treatment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ability to gather and ultimately reopen .
“ Simply put , there is no pandemic exception to the U.S. Constitution and its Bill of Rights , ” Dreiband wrote .
Dreiband raised issues both with California ’ s stay-at-home order and Newsom ’ s plan to roll it back .
Although worshipers can not gather in person , even while following social distancing protocols , California deemed employees in the entertainment and e-commerce industries essential and allowed them to continue working in person , “ regardless of whether the product they are selling @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” Dreiband said .
Moreover , Dreiband wrote , the governor has permitted restaurants , shopping malls and offices to resume operations in the second phase of his plan to reopen California ’ s economy , but houses of worship can not hold in-person services until its third phase .
“ The Constitution calls for California to do more to accommodate religious worship , ” Dreiband said , “ including in Stage 2 of the reopening plan.
” How have the courts ruled ?
Newsom has been victorious so far in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ churches .
Several churches and parishioners have asked federal judges to keep Newsom from enforcing the restrictions on worship .
None have been successful so far .
The South Bay United Pentecostal Church sued Newsom and other state and county officials over the orders and Newsom ’ s plan to put churches in Stage 3 of his reopening plans for the state .
Wendy Gish , a parishioner at the Shield of Faith Family Church in Fontana , asked a judge in Los Angeles to strike down the prohibition .
“ My sincerely @ @ @ @ @ @ @ me , and other believers , to regularly come together to worship him , ” Gish said in a declaration .
U.S. District Judge Jesus G. Bernal ruled against her .
“ An in-person religious gathering is not analogous to picking up groceries , food or medicine , where people enter a building quickly , do not engage directly with others except at points of sale , and leave once the task is complete , ” he wrote .
“ Instead , it is more analogous to attending school or a concert — @ @ @ @ @ @ @ enclosed space to share a communal experience.
” In Sacramento , a federal judge denied a similar request from Cross Culture Christian Center , a church in Lodi .
“ Even in times of health , government officials must often strike the delicate balance between ensuring public safety and preserving the Constitution ’ s fundamental guarantees , ” U.S. District Judge John A. Mendez wrote .
“ But during public health crises , new considerations come to bear , and government officials must ask whether even fundamental rights must give way to a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ infectious disease and protect the lives of society ’ s most vulnerable.
” On Friday , a federal judge in San Diego denied a request for a temporary restraining order against the state that would allow it to hold in-person services .
U.S. District Judge Cynthia Bashant said the orders did not discriminate against religion and were a legal use of state authority in the time of a health emergency .
What has the state said ?
On Monday , the governor loosened rules linking coronavirus infection rates to permitted activities — a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the state from the tightest restrictions of his stay-at-home order .
The rules will allow restaurant to open again in counties that meet the new criteria .
Newsom also hinted that even bigger changes envisioned in later stages of reopening were just around the corner , such as the and even spectator-free sporting events as soon as the first week in June .
Businesses considered high-risk such as hair and nail salons , gyms and movie theaters , along with churches and religious institutions , fall under Phase 3 of the reopening plan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ those reopenings could occur as soon as it is safe .
“ Phase 3 is not a year away .
It ’ s not six months away .
It ’ s not even three months away .
It may not even be more than a month away .
We just want to make sure that we have a protocol in place to secure customer safety , employee safety and allow the businesses to thrive in a way that is sustainable , ” Newsom said .
What have churches been doing ?
Some have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ drive-in church events .
Many have urged parishioners to stay home and stay safe .
But a few have held services .
Public health officials in Butte County issued a strongly worded warning after a person who attended an in-person religious service on Mother ’ s Day tested positive for the coronavirus .
That organization held the service despite county rules , exposing the entire congregation to the virus , officials said .
The person received a positive test result the day after the service , which had more than 180 attendees .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ who had attended and obtain testing for them .
The pastor , Mike Jacobsen of Palermo Bible Family Church , spoke out on social media about his , saying he would “ never with knowledge put anyone in harms way.
” “ For 7 weeks we have been kept out of our church and away from our church family , ” Jacobsen wrote in the post , which has since been deleted .
“ I am fully aware that some people may not understand that for our church it is essential to be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mother ’ s Day church service in Northern California is being blamed for a cluster of coronavirus cases in Mendocino and Lake counties .
Mendocino County health orders permit churches to produce events that are livestreamed or recorded , provided certain precautions are taken .
The service was livestreamed , but three people who became infected physically attended the May 10 church service in inland Mendocino County , which involved singing , and two of them participated , county officials said in a news release .
Officials did not name the house of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ leaders to do so themselves to encourage congregants who were present to seek testing .
In San Diego County , at least two churches , in Chula Vista and Oceanside , held religious services in person Sunday despite orders .

Matthew Ormseth, Alex Wigglesworth, Laura Newberry

Archbishop Jose Gomez, left, celebrates Good Friday liturgy in a nearly empty Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels on April 10.
California’s stay-at-home order, which is credited with slowing the spread of the coronavirus, has upended the economy and changed the lives of millions. But it has also caused special pain for people of faith, who no longer can worship in person as churches and other religious institutions have been closed.
The religious aspect of the shutdown has been much debated, though the vast majority of houses of worship have gladly complied with the rules to keep their members safe. Still, some churches have filed lawsuits, and a few have defied the order.
But now, the issue has become a point of dispute between the Trump administration and California.
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The Justice Department warned in a letter Tuesday that the measures California Gov. Gavin Newsom enacted to slow the spread of the coronavirus and his plans to unwind them might discriminate against religious groups and violate their constitutional rights.
What is the Justice Department’s complaint?
Eric S. Dreiband, an assistant attorney general and the head of the Justice Department’s civil rights division, said Newsom had shown “unequal treatment of faith communities” in restricting their ability to gather and ultimately reopen.
“Simply put, there is no pandemic exception to the U.S. Constitution and its Bill of Rights,” Dreiband wrote.
Dreiband raised issues both with California’s stay-at-home order and Newsom’s plan to roll it back. Although worshipers cannot gather in person, even while following social distancing protocols, California deemed employees in the entertainment and e-commerce industries essential and allowed them to continue working in person, “regardless of whether the product they are selling and shipping are life-preserving products or not,” Dreiband said.
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Moreover, Dreiband wrote, the governor has permitted restaurants, shopping malls and offices to resume operations in the second phase of his plan to reopen California’s economy, but houses of worship cannot hold in-person services until its third phase.
“The Constitution calls for California to do more to accommodate religious worship,” Dreiband said, “including in Stage 2 of the reopening plan.”
How have the courts ruled?
Newsom has been victorious so far in the few legal challenges to stay-at-home rules governing churches.
Several churches and parishioners have asked federal judges to keep Newsom from enforcing the restrictions on worship. None have been successful so far.
The South Bay United Pentecostal Church sued Newsom and other state and county officials over the orders and Newsom’s plan to put churches in Stage 3 of his reopening plans for the state.
Wendy Gish, a parishioner at the Shield of Faith Family Church in Fontana, asked a judge in Los Angeles to strike down the prohibition. “My sincerely held religious belief is that God commands me, and other believers, to regularly come together to worship him,” Gish said in a declaration.
U.S. District Judge Jesus G. Bernal ruled against her.
“An in-person religious gathering is not analogous to picking up groceries, food or medicine, where people enter a building quickly, do not engage directly with others except at points of sale, and leave once the task is complete,” he wrote. “Instead, it is more analogous to attending school or a concert — activities where people sit together in an enclosed space to share a communal experience.”
In Sacramento, a federal judge denied a similar request from Cross Culture Christian Center, a church in Lodi.
“Even in times of health, government officials must often strike the delicate balance between ensuring public safety and preserving the Constitution’s fundamental guarantees,” U.S. District Judge John A. Mendez wrote. “But during public health crises, new considerations come to bear, and government officials must ask whether even fundamental rights must give way to a deeper need to control the spread of infectious disease and protect the lives of society’s most vulnerable.”
On Friday, a federal judge in San Diego denied a request from a Chula Vista church for a temporary restraining order against the state that would allow it to hold in-person services.
U.S. District Judge Cynthia Bashant said the orders did not discriminate against religion and were a legal use of state authority in the time of a health emergency.
Which California counties are reopening? To contain the spread of COVID-19, parks, restaurants and stores are slowly reopening.
What has the state said?
Newsom’s office didn’t immediately respond to the Justice Department letter.
On Monday, the governor loosened rules linking coronavirus infection rates to permitted activities — a change that could release most parts of the state from the tightest restrictions of his stay-at-home order.
The rules will allow restaurant dining rooms and shopping malls to open again in counties that meet the new criteria. Newsom also hinted that even bigger changes envisioned in later stages of reopening were just around the corner, such as the opening of hair salons and even spectator-free sporting events as soon as the first week in June.
Businesses considered high-risk such as hair and nail salons, gyms and movie theaters, along with churches and religious institutions, fall under Phase 3 of the reopening plan.
Earlier this month, Newsom said those reopenings could occur as soon as it is safe.
“Phase 3 is not a year away. It’s not six months away. It’s not even three months away. It may not even be more than a month away. We just want to make sure that we have a protocol in place to secure customer safety, employee safety and allow the businesses to thrive in a way that is sustainable,” Newsom said.
What have churches been doing?
Some have streamed religious services. Others have tried drive-in church events.
Many have urged parishioners to stay home and stay safe.
But a few have held services.
Public health officials in Butte County issued a strongly worded warning after a person who attended an in-person religious service on Mother’s Day tested positive for the coronavirus. That organization held the service despite county rules, exposing the entire congregation to the virus, officials said.
The person received a positive test result the day after the service, which had more than 180 attendees. Officials were working to notify all those who had attended and obtain testing for them.
The pastor, Mike Jacobsen of Palermo Bible Family Church, spoke out on social media about his decision to hold the service , saying he would “never with knowledge put anyone in harms way.”
“For 7 weeks we have been kept out of our church and away from our church family,” Jacobsen wrote in the post, which has since been deleted. “I am fully aware that some people may not understand that for our church it is essential to be together in fellowship.”
Meanwhile, a Mother’s Day church service in Northern California is being blamed for a cluster of coronavirus cases in Mendocino and Lake counties.
Mendocino County health orders permit churches to produce events that are livestreamed or recorded, provided certain precautions are taken.
The service was livestreamed, but three people who became infected physically attended the May 10 church service in inland Mendocino County, which involved singing, and two of them participated, county officials said in a news release. Officials did not name the house of worship but said they were urging church leaders to do so themselves to encourage congregants who were present to seek testing.
In San Diego County, at least two churches, in Chula Vista and Oceanside, held religious services in person Sunday despite orders.


latimes--2020-05-20--Body of former pro wrestler Shad Gaspard found near Venice Pier

The body of former professional wrestler Shad Gaspard was found early Wednesday morning along the shore near the Venice Pier , authorities said .
Los Angeles police and the Los Angeles County Fire Department were dispatched to the area about 2:19 a.m. after a body matching Gaspard ’ s description was seen near the shoreline .
Gaspard , 39 , had been missing since Sunday afternoon , when he was swept out to sea at Venice Beach .
His 10-year-old son , Aryeh , was rescued , and several other swimmers made it out of the water safely after they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ authorities said .
Gaspard was about 50 yards from shore when he was last spotted , police said in a statement Monday .
On Tuesday , Gaspard ’ s wife , Siliana , had thanked authorities and fans in a statement .
“ We would like to express our gratitude to the first responders who rescued Aryeh and to the lifeguards , Coast Guard , divers , fire and police departments for their continued efforts to help find our beloved Shad , ” the statement said .
Gaspard gained prominence in the WWE @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Time , along with his partner , JTG .
After retiring in 2010 , Gaspard had small roles on TV and in movies , including the 2015 Kevin Hart comedy “ Get Hard.
” The Associated Press and City News Service contributed to this report .

The body of former professional wrestler Shad Gaspard was found early Wednesday morning along the shore near the Venice Pier, authorities said.
Los Angeles police and the Los Angeles County Fire Department were dispatched to the area about 2:19 a.m. after a body matching Gaspard’s description was seen near the shoreline.
Authorities later confirmed his identity.
Rescue crews search the for Shad Gaspard off Venice beach. (Christina House/Los Angeles Times)
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Gaspard, 39, had been missing since Sunday afternoon, when he was swept out to sea at Venice Beach.
His 10-year-old son, Aryeh, was rescued, and several other swimmers made it out of the water safely after they were caught in a rip current, authorities said.
Gaspard was about 50 yards from shore when he was last spotted, police said in a statement Monday.
On Tuesday, Gaspard’s wife, Siliana, had thanked authorities and fans in a statement.
#PierIC at 2:19AM @lacolifeguards @LACOFD @LAPDHQ respond to #VenicePier to a report of a body along the shoreline that matches the description of Sunday’s missing swimmer. Crews on-scene extricate from the water and transfer to @lacountymec pic.twitter.com/b5xYmCOBkj — LACoFD Lifeguards (@LACoLifeguards) May 20, 2020
“We would like to express our gratitude to the first responders who rescued Aryeh and to the lifeguards, Coast Guard, divers, fire and police departments for their continued efforts to help find our beloved Shad,” the statement said.
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Gaspard gained prominence in the WWE as half of the tag-team group Cryme Time, along with his partner, JTG.
After retiring in 2010, Gaspard had small roles on TV and in movies, including the 2015 Kevin Hart comedy “Get Hard.”
The Associated Press and City News Service contributed to this report.


latimes--2020-05-20--L.A. Fire Department to inspect vape and smoke shops after downtown explosion

The Los Angeles Fire Department will launch a citywide review of the way certain businesses store volatile materials after an explosion seriously injured several firefighters in a downtown corridor that some consider a haven for supplies used in the creation of unlicensed cannabis products .
Fire Chief Ralph Terrazas said Tuesday that every fire station in Los Angeles would work to identify businesses similar to Smoke Tokes , an East 3rd Street wholesaler that went up in flames Saturday night .
An explosion there left a dozen firefighters injured , including several who were severely burned .
Carbon dioxide and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , though investigators have yet to determine the cause of the blaze , authorities said .
“ Those types of businesses pose a threat to the people who work there , the public that goes there , and firefighters if they have to respond there , ” Terrazas said .
The review will involve each fire station in the city identifying businesses that store volatile chemicals and ensuring they are stored properly .
Those businesses are required to display a diamond placard , which would alert emergency personnel that there are potentially flammable @ @ @ @ @ @ @ did not have such a placard , which is normally issued by the city after an inspector confirms the business is housing volatile materials properly , the chief said .
In Los Angeles , there is a permit system for the storage of large quantities of flammable gases , and proprietors are required to document what they have on site .
“ We have 106 fire stations .
We will canvass the city .
We will identify the businesses .
We will transmit that information to the fire prevention bureau , and then @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Terrazas said of the review , which will be launched upon completion of the investigation into the downtown blast .
The investigation into the explosion is likely to take several weeks .
Attempts to contact the owner of Smoke Tokes have been unsuccessful .
The explosion Saturday night damaged several storefronts , melted fire helmets and left one firetruck burned and covered in debris .
A Fire Department spokesman said firefighters fled the building having suffered burns and ran through a fireball to escape .
Investigators are trying to determine what drove the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the size of which Terrazas said was abnormal .
“ That very unusual fire behavior presents a new threat to our firefighters and to the public , to the people who work in those businesses and facilities , ” he said after watching footage that captured what were believed to be the fire ’ s most intense moments .
Three firefighters remain hospitalized , according to Terrazas .
Capt .
Victor Aguirre suffered third-degree burns and has a “ long road to recovery , ” the chief said .
A GoFundMe campaign to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more than $ 150,000 .
The explosion happened in the heart of a downtown L.A. business district that some police officers have nicknamed “ bong row ” because of the concentration of retailers selling rolling papers , butane and other supplies associated with vaping , tobacco and the extraction of THC for marijuana vape cartridges .
Smoke Tokes is not a cannabis business , and three law enforcement sources told the L.A. Times that neither an extraction laboratory setup nor cannabis was found inside the building .
A criminal investigation into the blast @ @ @ @ @ @ @ explosive substances were stored improperly , the sources said .
The sources spoke on condition of anonymity because they did not have permission to discuss the ongoing inquiry , which involves more than 50 investigators from the Fire Department , the Los Angeles Police Department and the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol , Tobacco , Firearms and Explosives .
Terrazas said there had been fires at similar businesses downtown and throughout Los Angeles in recent years .
An explosion rocked the area in 2016 , when a property that also bore the name Smoke @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on 3rd Street .
Fire officials could not confirm if the businesses were owned by the same person .
The owner of the structure involved in Saturday ’ s explosion also owns another retailer on nearby Boyd Street , called Green Buddha USA , records show .
Last March , two men were critically injured after an explosion in a building that contained what investigators described as a “ possible honey butane lab operation ” in Canoga Park , according to LAFD documents .
Saturday ’ s blast has caused concern among retailers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ market .
Some say stretches of 3rd , Wall and Boyd streets are havens for the sale of butane and other supplies needed by those engaged in the sale of unlicensed cannabis products .
“ In our experiences , it ’ s a well-known area for one-stop supplying of illicit cannabis extraction products and counterfeit vape manufacturing , ” said Wesley Hein , head of compliance and government affairs for Mammoth Distribution in Woodland Hills .
Erik Hultstrom , founder of Legacy Strains and a member of the Southern California Coalition , a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of such large quantities of butane had been going on in the area for well over 10 years and was fueled by the unlicensed marijuana trade .
While legal cannabis dispensaries buy vape pens and other finished products from licensed distributors , Hultstrom said , unlicensed manufacturers can find many of the supplies needed to craft their own products in the downtown corridor .
“ A licensed manufacturer would not be buying cases of butane cans from head shop row .
Nobody reasonable is buying 128 cans of butane to fill lighters , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ almost liken this back to when people would make bathtub gin and put antifreeze in it .
This exists because there ’ s illicit products.
” A document obtained by The Times showed that at least one Boyd Street store in the area was hit with a cease-and-desist letter last year after allegations surfaced that it was selling counterfeit packaging meant to imitate a popular marijuana brand .
Knockoff marijuana products are the lifeblood of the city ’ s unlicensed cannabis economy , experts have said .
A 2019 Leafly investigation also found @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vitamin E oil to be used as an additive for vape oils .
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention later linked vitamin E acetate to a rash of hospitalizations stemming from the use of e-cigarettes and vape pens .
Los Angeles has struggled to tamp down on its illegal cannabis market .
A Times investigation last year found that the number of unlicensed dispensaries in the city outpaced the number of licensed operators , though city officials have since expanded their measures to combat the marijuana black market to include cutting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Hein says that although many of the businesses in the downtown area where the explosion happened operate legally , their businesses are propped up by selling to people involved in unlicensed cannabis sales .
“ If one wanted to make an illicit cannabis product , one would need the following things : You would need cannabis oil .
You would need terpenes .
For those who wanted to make even more profits , you would need additives such as vitamin E acetate .
You would need cartridges and you would need packaging @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of those are available or have been available , quite readily , in those three to four blocks .
”

Members of the L.A. Fire Department investigate the scene of a fiery explosion on Boyd Street in downtown Los Angeles.
The Los Angeles Fire Department will launch a citywide review of the way certain businesses store volatile materials after an explosion seriously injured several firefighters in a downtown corridor that some consider a haven for supplies used in the creation of unlicensed cannabis products.
Fire Chief Ralph Terrazas said Tuesday that every fire station in Los Angeles would work to identify businesses similar to Smoke Tokes, an East 3rd Street wholesaler that went up in flames Saturday night.
An explosion there left a dozen firefighters injured, including several who were severely burned. Carbon dioxide and butane canisters were found inside the building, though investigators have yet to determine the cause of the blaze, authorities said.
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“Those types of businesses pose a threat to the people who work there, the public that goes there, and firefighters if they have to respond there,” Terrazas said.
The review will involve each fire station in the city identifying businesses that store volatile chemicals and ensuring they are stored properly. Those businesses are required to display a diamond placard, which would alert emergency personnel that there are potentially flammable and hazardous materials inside.
Smoke Tokes did not have such a placard, which is normally issued by the city after an inspector confirms the business is housing volatile materials properly, the chief said. In Los Angeles, there is a permit system for the storage of large quantities of flammable gases, and proprietors are required to document what they have on site.
“We have 106 fire stations. We will canvass the city. We will identify the businesses. We will transmit that information to the fire prevention bureau, and then we start inspecting them all,” Terrazas said of the review, which will be launched upon completion of the investigation into the downtown blast.
The investigation into the explosion is likely to take several weeks. Attempts to contact the owner of Smoke Tokes have been unsuccessful.
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The explosion Saturday night damaged several storefronts, melted fire helmets and left one firetruck burned and covered in debris. A Fire Department spokesman said firefighters fled the building having suffered burns and ran through a fireball to escape.
Investigators are trying to determine what drove the intensity and ferocity of the flames, the size of which Terrazas said was abnormal.
“That very unusual fire behavior presents a new threat to our firefighters and to the public, to the people who work in those businesses and facilities,” he said after watching footage that captured what were believed to be the fire’s most intense moments.
Three firefighters remain hospitalized, according to Terrazas. Capt. Victor Aguirre suffered third-degree burns and has a “long road to recovery,” the chief said. A GoFundMe campaign to aid in his recovery has already raised more than $150,000.
The explosion happened in the heart of a downtown L.A. business district that some police officers have nicknamed “bong row” because of the concentration of retailers selling rolling papers, butane and other supplies associated with vaping, tobacco and the extraction of THC for marijuana vape cartridges.
Smoke Tokes is not a cannabis business, and three law enforcement sources told the L.A. Times that neither an extraction laboratory setup nor cannabis was found inside the building. A criminal investigation into the blast will be focused on whether volatile or explosive substances were stored improperly, the sources said.
The sources spoke on condition of anonymity because they did not have permission to discuss the ongoing inquiry, which involves more than 50 investigators from the Fire Department, the Los Angeles Police Department and the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
Terrazas said there had been fires at similar businesses downtown and throughout Los Angeles in recent years.
An explosion rocked the area in 2016, when a property that also bore the name Smoke Tokes caught fire at a nearby address on 3rd Street. Fire officials could not confirm if the businesses were owned by the same person. The owner of the structure involved in Saturday’s explosion also owns another retailer on nearby Boyd Street, called Green Buddha USA, records show.
Last March, two men were critically injured after an explosion in a building that contained what investigators described as a “possible honey butane lab operation” in Canoga Park, according to LAFD documents.
Saturday’s blast has caused concern among retailers and business operators in the legal cannabis market. Some say stretches of 3rd, Wall and Boyd streets are havens for the sale of butane and other supplies needed by those engaged in the sale of unlicensed cannabis products.
“In our experiences, it’s a well-known area for one-stop supplying of illicit cannabis extraction products and counterfeit vape manufacturing,” said Wesley Hein, head of compliance and government affairs for Mammoth Distribution in Woodland Hills.
Erik Hultstrom, founder of Legacy Strains and a member of the Southern California Coalition, a cannabis trade organization, said the sale of such large quantities of butane had been going on in the area for well over 10 years and was fueled by the unlicensed marijuana trade.
While legal cannabis dispensaries buy vape pens and other finished products from licensed distributors, Hultstrom said, unlicensed manufacturers can find many of the supplies needed to craft their own products in the downtown corridor.
“A licensed manufacturer would not be buying cases of butane cans from head shop row. Nobody reasonable is buying 128 cans of butane to fill lighters,” he said. “You can almost liken this back to when people would make bathtub gin and put antifreeze in it. This exists because there’s illicit products.”
A document obtained by The Times showed that at least one Boyd Street store in the area was hit with a cease-and-desist letter last year after allegations surfaced that it was selling counterfeit packaging meant to imitate a popular marijuana brand. Knockoff marijuana products are the lifeblood of the city’s unlicensed cannabis economy, experts have said.
A 2019 Leafly investigation also found businesses in the area had been selling vitamin E oil to be used as an additive for vape oils. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention later linked vitamin E acetate to a rash of hospitalizations stemming from the use of e-cigarettes and vape pens.
Los Angeles has struggled to tamp down on its illegal cannabis market. A Times investigation last year found that the number of unlicensed dispensaries in the city outpaced the number of licensed operators, though city officials have since expanded their measures to combat the marijuana black market to include cutting off water and power at such shops.
Hein says that although many of the businesses in the downtown area where the explosion happened operate legally, their businesses are propped up by selling to people involved in unlicensed cannabis sales.
“If one wanted to make an illicit cannabis product, one would need the following things: You would need cannabis oil. You would need terpenes. For those who wanted to make even more profits, you would need additives such as vitamin E acetate. You would need cartridges and you would need packaging,” he said.
“All of those are available or have been available, quite readily, in those three to four blocks.”


latimes--2020-05-20--ICE said a 74-year-old was too dangerous to release. He died of apparent suicide

The way Choung Woong Ahn ’ s family sees it , the 74-year-old South Korean immigrant should not have been in the Mesa Verde ICE Processing Center when he took his last breath .
Lawyers for Ahn had submitted three requests for his release amid the coronavirus pandemic .
All were rejected , the most recent by a U.S. district judge on May 13 .
On Sunday , he died by suicide .
From the perspective of Immigration and Customs Enforcement , Ahn was exactly where he should have been .
He spent eight years at Solano State Prison in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
After his sentence was served , he was transferred to the immigrant detention facility in Bakersfield in February for deportation proceedings .
Ahn ’ s criminal history made him too much of a public threat to qualify for release , according to ICE .
Spokesman Jonathan Moor said that ICE has gone through a deliberative process for COVID-19 “ to make sure that only the people who absolutely need to be in detention ” remain there .
Ahn , who arrived in the U.S. from South Korea as a permanent resident in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cancer , diabetes , hypertension and a history of heart attacks , his family said .
They said keeping a man of his age and with his infirmities in detention was cruel while COVID-19 bears down on so many people in such institutions .
Correctional and detention facilities are particularly vulnerable to outbreaks .
More than 900 inmates in a federal prison in Lompoc contracted the virus , the worst outbreak in the federal prison system .
And in San Diego , 151 detainees at Otay Mesa Detention Center have tested positive and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the immigration detention system .
No cases have yet been confirmed at Mesa Verde .
Just before a scheduled immigration court hearing last week , Ahn was taken to a local hospital for severe chest pain , where he tested negative for COVID-19 .
He returned to Mesa Verde the next night .
Young Ahn , 66 , said his brother pleaded to be returned to the general population but was told he needed to stay in quarantine isolation for 14 days .
In protest , he began refusing meals .
Choung @ @ @ @ @ @ @ attempts , according to a court document and his lawyer .
“ If they knew he had a suicidal mind , then he shouldn ’ t be put in an isolation room all by himself ” Young Ahn said .
Choung Woong Ahn called his brother several hours before his death .
They talked about preparing for his court hearing , which had been rescheduled for Tuesday .
He told Young Ahn , “ I ’ ll talk to you tomorrow.
” According to a court declaration , Choung Woong Ahn fired a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the aid of a woman whom he beat and threatened to kill at a dry cleaning business .
The bullet missed and lodged in a wall .
Sheriff ’ s deputies labeled the incident in October 2011 as domestic violence-related .
“ These are mandatory detentions based on what Congress has outlined for us , including Mr. Ahn ’ s case , ” Moor said .
“ Based on the nature of what his conviction is , I would have to say that was the primary reason why.
” But Choung Woong Ahn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Centro Legal , said his death is a systemic failure by ICE , the private prison company GEO Group , which manages the facility , and California officials who have oversight over detention facilities .
Patel said she thought , given his age and medical issues , the federal judge would agree with her perspective about his case .
She said he had expressed fear about getting coronavirus .
He had been watching the news and knew how dangerous the situation was and that he was vulnerable .
“ There were many , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” she said .
“ On a pretty micro level , he shouldn ’ t have been unmonitored in segregation .
And also , on a macro level , he should ’ ve been released.
” ICE said the death is under investigation .
“ ICE is firmly committed to the health and welfare of all those in its custody and is undertaking a comprehensive agency-wide review of this incident , as it does in all such cases , ” said Moor .
Young Ahn said his brother finished high school in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ estate developer until a new government limited development and his business tanked .
A few years later , his older sister petitioned for him to join her in California , where he dedicated himself to selling luggage at flea markets .
Another sister who lives near San Jose visited Choung Woong Ahn nearly every weekend after he went to prison .
Two weeks ago , ICE had requested her address and phone number to keep on file .
She had arranged for him to live with her and purchased some clothes and shoes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ during the pandemic .
But Young Ahn said the family had also begun longer-term planning for his deportation and to help him resettle in South Korea .
Young Ahn said he ’ s angry about the way his brother died .
“ Some people say , ‘ Well he has a criminal record.
’ But he paid his due , OK ?
” he said .
“ He served the full term .
He has a lot of remorse , a lot of regret .
”

The way Choung Woong Ahn’s family sees it, the 74-year-old South Korean immigrant should not have been in the Mesa Verde ICE Processing Center when he took his last breath.
Lawyers for Ahn had submitted three requests for his release amid the coronavirus pandemic. All were rejected, the most recent by a U.S. district judge on May 13. On Sunday, he died by suicide.
From the perspective of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Ahn was exactly where he should have been.
He spent eight years at Solano State Prison in Vacaville for attempted murder with a firearm. After his sentence was served, he was transferred to the immigrant detention facility in Bakersfield in February for deportation proceedings.
Ahn’s criminal history made him too much of a public threat to qualify for release, according to ICE. Spokesman Jonathan Moor said that ICE has gone through a deliberative process for COVID-19 “to make sure that only the people who absolutely need to be in detention” remain there.
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Ahn, who arrived in the U.S. from South Korea as a permanent resident in 1988, had health issues including lung cancer, diabetes, hypertension and a history of heart attacks, his family said. They said keeping a man of his age and with his infirmities in detention was cruel while COVID-19 bears down on so many people in such institutions.
Hunger strikers at Mesa Verde ICE Processing Center in Bakersfield captured by drone during a sit-in protest on April 10. (California Committee for Immigrant Liberation)
Correctional and detention facilities are particularly vulnerable to outbreaks. More than 900 inmates in a federal prison in Lompoc contracted the virus, the worst outbreak in the federal prison system. And in San Diego, 151 detainees at Otay Mesa Detention Center have tested positive and one has died, the largest outbreak in the immigration detention system. No cases have yet been confirmed at Mesa Verde.
Just before a scheduled immigration court hearing last week, Ahn was taken to a local hospital for severe chest pain, where he tested negative for COVID-19. He returned to Mesa Verde the next night.
Young Ahn, 66, said his brother pleaded to be returned to the general population but was told he needed to stay in quarantine isolation for 14 days. In protest, he began refusing meals.
Choung Woong Ahn had a history of suicide attempts, according to a court document and his lawyer.
“If they knew he had a suicidal mind, then he shouldn’t be put in an isolation room all by himself” Young Ahn said.
Choung Woong Ahn called his brother several hours before his death. They talked about preparing for his court hearing, which had been rescheduled for Tuesday. He told Young Ahn, “I’ll talk to you tomorrow.”
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According to a court declaration, Choung Woong Ahn fired a shot at two men who came to the aid of a woman whom he beat and threatened to kill at a dry cleaning business. The bullet missed and lodged in a wall. Sheriff’s deputies labeled the incident in October 2011 as domestic violence-related.
“These are mandatory detentions based on what Congress has outlined for us, including Mr. Ahn’s case,” Moor said. “Based on the nature of what his conviction is, I would have to say that was the primary reason why.”
But Choung Woong Ahn’s lawyer, Priya Patel with Centro Legal, said his death is a systemic failure by ICE, the private prison company GEO Group, which manages the facility, and California officials who have oversight over detention facilities.
Patel said she thought, given his age and medical issues, the federal judge would agree with her perspective about his case.
She said he had expressed fear about getting coronavirus. He had been watching the news and knew how dangerous the situation was and that he was vulnerable.
“There were many, many ways it could have been prevented,” she said. “On a pretty micro level, he shouldn’t have been unmonitored in segregation. And also, on a macro level, he should’ve been released.”
ICE said the death is under investigation.
“ICE is firmly committed to the health and welfare of all those in its custody and is undertaking a comprehensive agency-wide review of this incident, as it does in all such cases,” said Moor.
Young Ahn said his brother finished high school in South Korea and worked as a real estate developer until a new government limited development and his business tanked. A few years later, his older sister petitioned for him to join her in California, where he dedicated himself to selling luggage at flea markets.
Another sister who lives near San Jose visited Choung Woong Ahn nearly every weekend after he went to prison. Two weeks ago, ICE had requested her address and phone number to keep on file.
She had arranged for him to live with her and purchased some clothes and shoes for him in case he was released during the pandemic. But Young Ahn said the family had also begun longer-term planning for his deportation and to help him resettle in South Korea.
Young Ahn said he’s angry about the way his brother died.
“Some people say, ‘Well he has a criminal record.’ But he paid his due, OK?” he said. “He served the full term. He has a lot of remorse, a lot of regret.”


latimes--2020-05-20--Here's a closer look at the ex-deputy mayor enmeshed in City Hall corruption probe

Raymond Chan earned praise at City Hall for his eagerness to smooth out city bureaucracy for developers , both as the head of Los Angeles ’ building department and later as a deputy mayor focused on economic development .
When Chan stepped down from city service , Mayor Eric Garcetti credited him with helping to usher in L.A. 's development boom and lauded him as a “ true public servant.
” Now court records in an ongoing federal probe into corruption at City Hall tell a different story .
Prosecutors have alleged that a deputy mayor was paid by a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ major project through City Hall — and leveraged his power as a city official to aid the development .
Although federal investigators did not name the former deputy mayor in court papers , details about his employment history make clear it is Chan , including the dates that he headed the Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety and when he was appointed deputy mayor for economic development .
He has not been charged with a crime .
Chan has long been known to be under scrutiny by investigators : He was previously @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of possible crimes involving more than a dozen people , which surfaced more than a year ago .
The warrant , served on Google , sought records from his email account .
But the latest filing spells out much more about what investigators are probing about the former deputy mayor and building chief , whose enthusiasm for fostering new development had long polarized his fans and critics .
The allegations surrounding such an important figure — a City Hall veteran who led a department crucial to real estate development — could deepen the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fueled by the federal investigation .
Chan did not respond to phone messages seeking comment .
His attorney , Harland Braun , said Chan had done nothing wrong .
Chan was recognized in the development industry as a “ helpful , go-to person whenever help or advice was needed ” and “ never asked for or received anything in return for his own interest or benefit , ” Braun said .
The new allegations emerged when one of Chan ’ s business associates became the third person charged in the sweeping investigation into @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Real estate consultant George Chiang has agreed to plead guilty to participating in a criminal enterprise that included helping a Chinese firm bribe an L.A. City Council member and paying a deputy mayor to usher along a development project .
Garcetti , asked about the federal allegations involving a former deputy mayor , said last week that he had “ zero tolerance ” for the alleged wrongdoing detailed by prosecutors .
Chan had long been seen as a friend to development .
Six years ago , when Chan was chosen to permanently @ @ @ @ @ @ @ members praised him for cutting red tape .
Councilman Mitch O ’ Farrell said he had “ made great strides in reducing the number of steps that it takes to get projects off the ground , ” bolstering the economy .
Robert “ Bud ” Ovrom , who headed the building department before Chan , described Chan as a “ Mr .
Fix It ” who was bullish about development and extremely accommodating to council members .
“ If a councilman asked Ray , ‘ What does two and two equal ?
’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ What do you want it to equal ?
’ ” said Ovrom , who added that he was stunned by the allegations in the federal case .
Chan emphasized his efforts to streamline L.A. ’ s permitting process .
In a slideshow for employees after Chan got the job , the department urged employees to be flexible and focus on the intent of city codes .
It offered up a scenario of a man who orders a set dinner in a restaurant and is told he can not substitute fruit for Kahlua cream @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at the restaurant again ?
” the slideshow asked .
“ Could the restaurant be more reasonably flexible ?
” Robert P. Silverstein , an attorney who has represented neighborhood groups suing the city over development decisions , said he was disturbed that the building department seemed to see developers , not the public , as its customers .
He argued that the department “ reached a truly deplorable low under Chan , ” who led the department as either its interim or permanent chief from 2013 to 2016 .
Opponents of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ thwarted by legal challenges brought by Silverstein , argued that Chan had a conflict of interest because his son was a paid intern at a law firm that represented the Millennium developer .
Silverstein complained that “ instead of cleaning house , Garcetti promoted Chan to deputy mayor ” in 2016 .
Chan said shortly after the complaint was submitted that he had been cleared of wrongdoing .
A Garcetti spokesman said the matter “ was referred to the Ethics Commission , which declined to take any enforcement action.
” In federal filings @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bribery plot involving Chiang , his business partners and an unnamed Los Angeles City Council member .
Details in court filings have made clear that the politician is Councilman Jose Huizar , whose attorneys have repeatedly declined to comment .
Prosecutors also detailed the role of “ Individual 1 , ” describing him as a former deputy mayor who first met Chiang at an event hosted by the Chinese firm that pursued the hotel-and-residential project involved in the alleged bribes.The man told Chiang he was well-respected as the general manager of the building @ @ @ @ @ @ @ unnamed man later asked over lunch whether Chiang was interested in consulting on downtown development projects and offered to introduce Chiang to city officials , according to the plea deal .
Individual 1 “ indicated that his goal was to ensure the success of Chinese projects in Los Angeles , ” prosecutors said .
He instructed Chiang to set up a consulting company to carry out his goals , and Chiang formed Synergy Alliance Advisors , according to the federal filings .
The two later formed CCC Investment Group , which worked with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on a planned project that would redevelop the Luxe City Center Hotel across from the L.A. Live entertainment complex , proposed by the Chinese firm Shenzhen Hazens .
Prosecutors did not name the development involved in the alleged bribery scheme , but details in their filings — including the number of hotel rooms and residential units and the dates of City Hall votes — match the downtown project .
The plea deal states that the deputy mayor reached an agreement with Chiang to help with the planned project in exchange for “ future @ @ @ @ @ @ @ still working for the city , he prepared weekly lists of tasks for the project , led project meetings and assigned tasks to Chiang to advance the project , according to the plea deal .
He also leveraged his official position to pressure subordinates to take favorable steps for the project , set up a meeting between the planning department and company officials pursuing the development , and met with a member of the City Planning Commission to urge them to approve it , prosecutors alleged .
Months after he left his city @ @ @ @ @ @ @ $ 112,000 for his assistance with the project as deputy mayor , according to prosecutors .
Shortly after leaving his city job , during the period when he was barred from lobbying city officials , the former deputy mayor asked a top staffer to an unnamed council member — identified only as “ City Staffer D ” — to ask a Garcetti staffer to pressure the commission to approve the project , according to prosecutors .
Soon afterward , Chiang set up a consulting agreement to benefit a relative of City Staffer D @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also reported last year that while serving as deputy mayor , Chan had raised tens of thousands of dollars for Asian Pacific American Heritage Month celebrations from real estate developers who were seeking city approvals or awaiting building inspections .
Chan told a council aide that he had secured a $ 10,000 donation from Shenzhen Hazens .
Experts said such fundraising activities are legal but could raise ethical concerns , depending on how much influence Chan had over those companies .

Raymond Chan earned praise at City Hall for his eagerness to smooth out city bureaucracy for developers, both as the head of Los Angeles’ building department and later as a deputy mayor focused on economic development.
When Chan stepped down from city service, Mayor Eric Garcetti credited him with helping to usher in L.A.’s development boom and lauded him as a “true public servant.”
Now court records in an ongoing federal probe into corruption at City Hall tell a different story. Prosecutors have alleged that a deputy mayor was paid by a real estate consultant to help shepherd a major project through City Hall — and leveraged his power as a city official to aid the development.
Advertisement
Although federal investigators did not name the former deputy mayor in court papers, details about his employment history make clear it is Chan, including the dates that he headed the Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety and when he was appointed deputy mayor for economic development. He has not been charged with a crime.
Chan has long been known to be under scrutiny by investigators: He was previously named in a federal warrant seeking evidence of possible crimes involving more than a dozen people, which surfaced more than a year ago. The warrant, served on Google, sought records from his email account.
But the latest filing spells out much more about what investigators are probing about the former deputy mayor and building chief, whose enthusiasm for fostering new development had long polarized his fans and critics.
The allegations surrounding such an important figure — a City Hall veteran who led a department crucial to real estate development — could deepen the distrust in local government that has been fueled by the federal investigation.
Chan did not respond to phone messages seeking comment. His attorney, Harland Braun, said Chan had done nothing wrong. Chan was recognized in the development industry as a “helpful, go-to person whenever help or advice was needed” and “never asked for or received anything in return for his own interest or benefit,” Braun said.
The new allegations emerged when one of Chan’s business associates became the third person charged in the sweeping investigation into alleged pay-to-play schemes at L.A. City Hall. Real estate consultant George Chiang has agreed to plead guilty to participating in a criminal enterprise that included helping a Chinese firm bribe an L.A. City Council member and paying a deputy mayor to usher along a development project.
Advertisement
Garcetti, asked about the federal allegations involving a former deputy mayor, said last week that he had “zero tolerance” for the alleged wrongdoing detailed by prosecutors.
Chan had long been seen as a friend to development. Six years ago, when Chan was chosen to permanently take over the building department, council members praised him for cutting red tape. Councilman Mitch O’Farrell said he had “made great strides in reducing the number of steps that it takes to get projects off the ground,” bolstering the economy.
Robert “Bud” Ovrom, who headed the building department before Chan, described Chan as a “Mr. Fix It” who was bullish about development and extremely accommodating to council members.
“If a councilman asked Ray, ‘What does two and two equal?’ he would answer by saying, ‘What do you want it to equal?’ ” said Ovrom, who added that he was stunned by the allegations in the federal case.
Chan emphasized his efforts to streamline L.A.’s permitting process. In a slideshow for employees after Chan got the job, the department urged employees to be flexible and focus on the intent of city codes. It offered up a scenario of a man who orders a set dinner in a restaurant and is told he cannot substitute fruit for Kahlua cream pie.
“Would the man eat at the restaurant again?” the slideshow asked. “Could the restaurant be more reasonably flexible?”
Robert P. Silverstein, an attorney who has represented neighborhood groups suing the city over development decisions, said he was disturbed that the building department seemed to see developers, not the public, as its customers. He argued that the department “reached a truly deplorable low under Chan,” who led the department as either its interim or permanent chief from 2013 to 2016.
Opponents of the Millennium Hollywood skyscraper project, which was thwarted by legal challenges brought by Silverstein, argued that Chan had a conflict of interest because his son was a paid intern at a law firm that represented the Millennium developer. Silverstein complained that “instead of cleaning house, Garcetti promoted Chan to deputy mayor” in 2016.
Chan said shortly after the complaint was submitted that he had been cleared of wrongdoing. A Garcetti spokesman said the matter “was referred to the Ethics Commission, which declined to take any enforcement action.”
In federal filings last week, prosecutors laid out a bribery plot involving Chiang, his business partners and an unnamed Los Angeles City Council member. Details in court filings have made clear that the politician is Councilman Jose Huizar, whose attorneys have repeatedly declined to comment.
Prosecutors also detailed the role of “Individual 1,” describing him as a former deputy mayor who first met Chiang at an event hosted by the Chinese firm that pursued the hotel-and-residential project involved in the alleged bribes.The man told Chiang he was well-respected as the general manager of the building department, their filing said.
The unnamed man later asked over lunch whether Chiang was interested in consulting on downtown development projects and offered to introduce Chiang to city officials, according to the plea deal.
Individual 1 “indicated that his goal was to ensure the success of Chinese projects in Los Angeles,” prosecutors said. He instructed Chiang to set up a consulting company to carry out his goals, and Chiang formed Synergy Alliance Advisors,according to the federal filings. The two later formed CCC Investment Group, which worked with development companies.
Chiang became a consultant on a planned project that would redevelop the Luxe City Center Hotel across from the L.A. Live entertainment complex, proposed by the Chinese firm Shenzhen Hazens. Prosecutors did not name the development involved in the alleged bribery scheme, but details in their filings — including the number of hotel rooms and residential units and the dates of City Hall votes — match the downtown project.
The plea deal states that the deputy mayor reached an agreement with Chiang to help with the planned project in exchange for “future payments.” While the deputy mayor was still working for the city, he prepared weekly lists of tasks for the project, led project meetings and assigned tasks to Chiang to advance the project, according to the plea deal.
He also leveraged his official position to pressure subordinates to take favorable steps for the project, set up a meeting between the planning department and company officials pursuing the development, and met with a member of the City Planning Commission to urge them to approve it, prosecutors alleged. Months after he left his city job in 2017, he was paid $112,000 for his assistance with the project as deputy mayor, according to prosecutors.
Shortly after leaving his city job, during the period when he was barred from lobbying city officials, the former deputy mayor asked a top staffer to an unnamed council member — identified only as “City Staffer D” — to ask a Garcetti staffer to pressure the commission to approve the project, according to prosecutors. Soon afterward, Chiang set up a consulting agreement to benefit a relative of City Staffer D, the filing states.
The Times also reported last year that while serving as deputy mayor, Chan had raised tens of thousands of dollars for Asian Pacific American Heritage Month celebrations from real estate developers who were seeking city approvals or awaiting building inspections.
Chan told a council aide that he had secured a $10,000 donation from Shenzhen Hazens. Experts said such fundraising activities are legal but could raise ethical concerns, depending on how much influence Chan had over those companies.


latimes--2020-05-20--California is finally making progress in the coronavirus battle, even as deaths keep rising

Three months into California ’ s battle with the coronavirus , there are growing signs that the outbreak is ebbing even as the state death toll continues to climb past 3,400 .
While deaths remain a stubborn challenge , other metrics analyzed by the Los Angeles Times show significant progress — enough that even some of the most cautious local health officials have agreed to begin reopening the economy .
The number of newly identified coronavirus cases across California has declined last week from the previous week , dropping to 12,229 cases from 13,041 the previous week .
That ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ amount of increased testing .
And across California , hospitalizations have dropped more than 15 % from its peak six weeks ago , The Times analysis found .
Gov .
Gavin Newsom had initially tied reopening counties at a faster pace than the statewide standard to zero coronavirus deaths over a two-week period , a benchmark that some hard-hit counties like Los Angeles have little hope of achieving any time soon .
But with many other hopeful signs , Newsom dropped the requirement this week in a move that will allow many urban @ @ @ @ @ @ @ A Times data analysis found that some counties , including Contra Costa , Monterey , Napa , San Joaquin , San Luis Obispo , Santa Clara and Yolo counties meet two key requirements needed to move into the next phase of reopening , which includes dine-in restaurants and shopping malls .
On Tuesday , Napa County said it had received state approval to reopen restaurant dining rooms and retail stores for in-person shopping ; wineries , hair and nail salons still remain shut , and tourism is not allowed .
Sacramento County said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reopen dine-in restaurants .
“ What ’ s really fantastic about this is that , for right now , our curve is not only flat , but it ’ s actually decreasing in terms of number of hospitalizations , ” said Dr. Grant Colfax , San Francisco ’ s director of health .
“ So this is very hopeful.
” Deaths remain a persistent problem , with an average of 500 Californians dying from coronavirus infections every week , as is the growing disproportionate toll the disease is taking on blacks and Latinos @ @ @ @ @ @ @ resurgence of disease in the fall , and officials warn the disease may be with us for the next two years without a widely available vaccine .
But even officials who have taken the earliest , boldest steps to impose stay-at-home orders are now saying the situation has stabilized enough to permit a slow reopening of society .
There are two key indicators some officials are increasingly focusing on : hospitalizations and the percentage of people testing positive .
In Santa Clara County — the home of Silicon Valley and once a national @ @ @ @ @ @ @ early April , 9 % of people tested had positive results for the coronavirus , a time at which there were fewer than 600 tests a day in Silicon Valley , health officer Dr. Sara Cody said this week .
In recent days , just 1 % to 1.5 % of people are testing positive , and the county is now able to receive results from around 1,600 tests a day .
“ Hospitals have capacity ... and finally , our testing capacity has also increased , ” she said .
Just last @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stay-at-home order , saying relaxing it “ would see a brisk return of cases , of hospitalizations , and a brisk return of deaths.
” Since then , the number of deaths in Santa Clara County has continued to fall , dropping to six last week , the lowest weekly tally in 10 weeks .
The nine-county Bay Area recorded 43 deaths last week , a slight increase from the previous week tally of 38 , but still below the all-time weekly high of 61 deaths last month .
On a statewide basis @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the state ’ s hospitalizations was a factor in loosening requirements counties need to meet to reopen more broadly .
“ Remember : the whole purpose of the stay-at home order was to prepare and to respond in the worst-case scenario , ” Newsom said .
In recent weeks , testing and the supply of personal protective equipment is up , and “ our capacity to meet surge has been , I think , advanced.
” Two dozen mostly rural counties in Northern California have already entered a phase of broader opening @ @ @ @ @ @ @ allowing restaurants and retail stores to legally reopen their doors for inside service in counties like San Benito , just east of Monterey County .
They met strict criteria issued by the governor on May 7 , whose requirements included no deaths from coronavirus-infected individuals in the past 14 days , and no more than 10 cases per 100,000 residents in that same time period .
Those were just two of many standards Newsom asked counties to meet , and they were strict : A Times data analysis at the time showed that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ counties that failed those benchmarks .
Newsom ’ s new standards released Monday abandons the requirement that there be no COVID-19 deaths in a county within the last 14 days .
Instead , hospitalization data is a key indicator .
A county must have stable or falling hospitalizations .
Hospitalization is considered stable if the average daily increase in patients is under 5 % over the past week .
( Smaller counties can meet the standard if they show no more than 20 hospitalizations on any single day in the past two weeks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rate of disease in a county .
A county must either have less than 8 % of people testing positive in the last week , or fewer than 25 new cases per 100,000 residents in the last 14 days .
Newsom estimated 53 of California ’ s 58 counties could meet these standards .
There are other standards counties must meet to open more broadly .
They include a minimum level of testing capacity , robust disease investigation teams , ample hospital bed capacity , and plans to prevent or deal with nursing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ventura counties are among the counties that are applying to meet the new standard .
While Ventura County has reported six deaths in the last two weeks , failing the previous rule , the county said Tuesday just 3.5 % have tested positive for the virus in the last week , and hospitalizations have been declining .
Newsom said counties that likely would not be eligible to enter this accelerated phase of reopening include two in the San Joaquin Valley : Kings County , home to an outbreak at a meatpacking plant in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ outbreaks in nursing homes have persisted .
Redwood Springs Healthcare Center in Tulare County has seen 28 residents die and 116 patients and 61 staff members infected .
In recent days in Los Angeles County , 9 % of people tested for the virus have had positive results , which fails the state maximum of 8 % , said Barbara Ferrer , the director of public health for Los Angeles County .
The weekly average number of people in L.A. County hospitalized with confirmed or suspected coronavirus infections has declined in recent weeks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Kathryn Barger expressed a goal for a reopening of L.A. County by July 4 , something Ferrer said the county would aim for , but also remains contingent on what the data says in terms of the progress of the outbreak .
Dr. Robert Kim-Farley , medical epidemiologist and infectious-disease expert at the UCLA Fielding School of Public Health , said he thought California was taking appropriate steps to reopen society safely .
It makes sense to allow places with few cases and sparse population to reopen sooner than dense , urban places @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Kim-Farley , a former senior official for the L.A. County Department of Public Health , the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the World Health Organization .
“ Obviously , we have some tensions that will always exist , some wanting to move faster than others , ” Kim-Farley said .
“ The idea here of ... trying to all agree on what are the guideposts along the way and then , let ’ s open up accordingly ... these phased processes are a good approach.
” Kim-Farley said officials should @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the coronavirus problem is greatest , like nursing homes .
Workers in skilled nursing facilities account for 44 % of healthcare workers and first responders in L.A. County with confirmed coronavirus infections .
Kim-Farley said it would be important , for instance , find ways to pay nursing home workers enough so they don ’ t have to work at multiple locations , or paying them enough so they can live at the facility for a period of time .
For all the focus on the improved numbers , experts still caution that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ institutions like prisons , nursing homes and homeless shelters could spread to the broader community .
The 1918 flu pandemic saw a second wave of deaths many times worse than the first .
“ It ’ s very easy to have a scenario where there ’ s more infections , and having more infections results in overwhelming the health care system , ” Ferrer said .
Lin reported from San Francisco ; Lee and Greene from Southern California .
Times staff writers Maura Dolan , Taryn Luna , John Myers , Colleen Shalby @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .

A scene from “Knives Out,” with actor Don Johnson, seen at the Mission Tiki Drive-in Theatre in Montclair. Opened with one screen in 1956, the Mission Tiki expanded to four screens in 1975 and began renovation in 2006, updating to FM transmitters and digital projectors. (Jay L. Clendenin/Los Angeles Times)
Traveling nurse Gail Cunningham waves thanks outside the emergency room entrance to Riverside University Health System in Moreno Valley as residents pay tribute to her and other medical personnel with a drive-by rally. (Gina Ferazzi/Los Angeles Times)
Some beachgoers actively use the beach while others relax on the sand, despite Gov. Gavin Newsom’s active-use-only order, in Huntington Beach. (Allen J. Schaben/Los Angeles Times)
Thousands of rental cars are stored at Dodger Stadium as the coronavirus crisis has caused rentals to nosedive. (Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times)
On a recent day, there’s not a face mask in sight as a roller skater and others share the reopened walking path on the Strand in Manhattan Beach. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
Maria Morales, center, a member of the USC class of 2020, participates in virtual graduation via Zoom with her brother Manny Morales, left, mom Pilar Morales and stepdad Victor Ramos from her home in Orange. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times)
The Air Force Thunderbirds precision flying team banks over downtown Los Angeles in formation to salute healthcare workers and first responders on May 15. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times)
Mary Perez, a salesperson at High Class Jewels on Broadway in downtown Los Angeles, helps a customer as he tries on a gold rope chain inside the recently reopened store. (Mel Melcon/Los Angeles Times)
Manon Guijarro, a new graduate of Pierce College, has her photo taken by friend Paige Johnson at Chris Burden’s outdoor work “Urban Light” at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art in Los Angeles. (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)
A woman, masked against COVID-19, walks past a building that features the image of Britney Spears at a shopping center in the Fairfax District of Los Angeles. (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)
Hikers and bikers traverse the Santa Fe Dam trail as county parks officially reopen to the public. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
A jogger passes Evergreen Cemetery in Los Angeles as local stay-at-home orders are increasingly relaxed months into the coronavirus outbreak. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
Eric Larkin hands an order to Brittany Wright as she fastens her face covering outside the Last Bookstore in downtown Los Angeles. (Dania Maxwell / Los Angeles Times)
Mildred “Millie” Stratton waves to a caravan of cars led by Alhambra police officers and firefighters. The parade past her home celebrated Stratton’s 102nd birthday. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
Melissa Gomes fixes the tassel on the mortarboard of Sarah Anggraini as the new graduate gets ready for a photo at Chaffey College, which held a drive-through graduation, in Rancho Cucamonga. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)
Destiny VanSciner is tested for COVID-19 with an oral swab by family nurse practitioner Anniesatu Newland at a walk-in site at St. John’s Well Child and Family Center in South Los Angeles. (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)
A worker directs drivers at a drive-up testing site for COVID-19 outside of Jackie Robinson Stadium at UCLA. (Genaro Molina/Los Angeles Times)
New West Charter School vice principal Mark Herrera shouts at graduate Joe Reid to come and receive his diploma during a drive-up graduation ceremony for the Class of 2020 at the charter school in Los Angeles. (Genaro Molina/Los Angeles Times)
Sophia Strauss, left, and Sarah Hoffmeister celebrate after their drive-through graduation from Mira Costa High School in Manhattan Beach. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
Pedestrians cross the intersection of Hollywood Boulevard and Highland Avenue in Hollywood. Gov. Gavin Newsom on Thursday ordered all Californians to wear face coverings while in public, following growing concerns that an increase in coronavirus cases has been caused by residents failing to voluntarily take that precaution. (Mel Melcon / Los Angeles Times)
People wear masks while walking along the boardwalk in Venice Beach. Californians must wear face masks in public under a coronavirus order issued by Gov. Gavin Newsom. (Mel Melcon / Los Angeles Times)
Pedestrians, some with face coverings, some without, walk past musicians Brent Kendell, background left, and Sam Jones, background right, as they perform at the intersection of Hollywood Boulevard and Highland Avenue in Hollywood. (Mel Melcon / Los Angeles Times)
A mask-wearing skateboarder and her dog make their way along the boardwalk in Venice Beach. Californians must wear face masks in public under a coronavirus order issued by Gov. Gavin Newsom. (Mel Melcon / Los Angeles Times)
Jair Guido, 36, a veterinarian visiting from Durango, Mexico, right, wearing a sombrero with an American flag draped over his shoulders, walks with other pedestrians along Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood. Guido said that he wore this outfit to show people that he is proud to be a Mexican and that he loves America. Gov. Gavin Newsom on Thursday ordered all Californians to wear face coverings while in public. (Mel Melcon / Los Angeles Times)
Cameron Johnson,18, left, headed to UC Berkeley in the fall and Simona Krasnegor,17, headed to UCLA in the fall, watched the sun set while sitting next to the Manhattan Beach Pier, following their drive-through graduation from Mira Costa High School in Manhattan Beach. (Jay L. Clendenin/Los Angeles Times)
People wait in line to have a COVID-19 screening administered by the Community Organized Relief Effort at the Los Angeles City Mayor’s test site at Dodger Stadium on Thursday. (Gary Coronado/Los Angeles Times)
Patrons wear face coverings at Grand Central Market in downtown Los Angeles on Thursday. A recent surge in COVID-19 cases in California has pushed the state’s total past 200,000 with more than 5,800 deaths. (Kent Nishimura/Los Angeles Times)
Bella Nousiainen, left, with daughter, Helmi Nousiainen, of Los Angeles, at the Santa Monica Pier, which reopens after being closed to guests for months because of the coronavirus. (Gary Coronado/Los Angeles Times)
Southern California residents watch the fireworks during the Drive-Up 4th of July Spectacular at the Los Alamitos Joint Forces Training Base on Saturday in Los Alamitos. (Gina Ferazzi/Los Angeles Times)
Dusk sets in over the the Santa Monica Pier on Friday. (Gina Ferazzi/Los Angeles Times)
No-parking signs from the July 4 weekend still block spots on Ocean Avenue in Santa Monica on Monday. (Myung J. Chun/Los Angeles Times)
A police officer and a lifeguard boat comb the shoreline in Venice Beach on July 5. Even though the beach was closed over the weekend a few still made their way to the shoreline. (Genaro Molina/Los Angeles Times)
A bicyclist with her child rides along the closed bike path on July 3 in Manhattan Beach. (Gary Coronado/Los Angeles Times)
Peter Gratzinger of Pacific Palisades heads to the water at Santa Monica State Beach, which opened to the public at 5 a.m. July 6. (Myung J. Chun/Los Angeles Times)
A bicyclist rides along Highland Avenue with the pier closed to beachgoers on July 3 in Manhattan Beach. (Gary Coronado/Los Angeles Times)
Three months into California’s battle with the coronavirus, there are growing signs that the outbreak is ebbing even as the state death toll continues to climb past 3,400.
While deaths remain a stubborn challenge, other metrics analyzed by the Los Angeles Times show significant progress — enough that even some of the most cautious local health officials have agreed to begin reopening the economy.
The number of newly identified coronavirus cases across California has declined last week from the previous week, dropping to 12,229 cases from 13,041 the previous week. That’s a notable achievement, given the amount of increased testing.
And across California, hospitalizations have dropped more than 15% from its peak six weeks ago, The Times analysis found.
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Gov. Gavin Newsom had initially tied reopening counties at a faster pace than the statewide standard to zero coronavirus deaths over a two-week period, a benchmark that some hard-hit counties like Los Angeles have little hope of achieving any time soon.
But with many other hopeful signs, Newsom dropped the requirement this week in a move that will allow many urban counties to reopen much more quickly. A Times data analysis found that some counties, including Contra Costa, Monterey, Napa, San Joaquin, San Luis Obispo, Santa Clara and Yolo counties meet two key requirements needed to move into the next phase of reopening, which includes dine-in restaurants and shopping malls.
On Tuesday, Napa County said it had received state approval to reopen restaurant dining rooms and retail stores for in-person shopping; wineries, hair and nail salons still remain shut, and tourism is not allowed. Sacramento County said it also got a green light to reopen dine-in restaurants.
“What’s really fantastic about this is that, for right now, our curve is not only flat, but it’s actually decreasing in terms of number of hospitalizations,” said Dr. Grant Colfax, San Francisco’s director of health. “So this is very hopeful.”
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Deaths remain a persistent problem, with an average of 500 Californians dying from coronavirus infections every week, as is the growing disproportionate toll the disease is taking on blacks and Latinos. There remains deep worry about a resurgence of disease in the fall, and officials warn the disease may be with us for the next two years without a widely available vaccine.
But even officials who have taken the earliest, boldest steps to impose stay-at-home orders are now saying the situation has stabilized enough to permit a slow reopening of society.
There are two key indicators some officials are increasingly focusing on: hospitalizations and the percentage of people testing positive.
In Santa Clara County — the home of Silicon Valley and once a national epicenter of the coronavirus pandemic — in early April, 9% of people tested had positive results for the coronavirus, a time at which there were fewer than 600 tests a day in Silicon Valley, health officer Dr. Sara Cody said this week. In recent days, just 1% to 1.5% of people are testing positive, and the county is now able to receive results from around 1,600 tests a day.
“Hospitals have capacity... and finally, our testing capacity has also increased,” she said.
Just last week, Cody warned against easing the stay-at-home order, saying relaxing it “would see a brisk return of cases, of hospitalizations, and a brisk return of deaths.”
Since then, the number of deaths in Santa Clara County has continued to fall, dropping to six last week, the lowest weekly tally in 10 weeks.
The nine-county Bay Area recorded 43 deaths last week, a slight increase from the previous week tally of 38, but still below the all-time weekly high of 61 deaths last month.
On a statewide basis, Newsom this week said the decrease in the state’s hospitalizations was a factor in loosening requirements counties need to meet to reopen more broadly.
“Remember: the whole purpose of the stay-at home order was to prepare and to respond in the worst-case scenario,” Newsom said. In recent weeks, testing and the supply of personal protective equipment is up, and “our capacity to meet surge has been, I think, advanced.”
Two dozen mostly rural counties in Northern California have already entered a phase of broader opening some call the Expanded Phase 2, allowing restaurants and retail stores to legally reopen their doors for inside service in counties like San Benito, just east of Monterey County.
They met strict criteria issued by the governor on May 7, whose requirements included no deaths from coronavirus-infected individuals in the past 14 days, and no more than 10 cases per 100,000 residents in that same time period.
Those were just two of many standards Newsom asked counties to meet, and they were strict: A Times data analysis at the time showed that 95% of California residents lived in counties that failed those benchmarks.
Newsom’s new standards released Monday abandons the requirement that there be no COVID-19 deaths in a county within the last 14 days.
Instead, hospitalization data is a key indicator. A county must have stable or falling hospitalizations.
Hospitalization is considered stable if the average daily increase in patients is under 5% over the past week. (Smaller counties can meet the standard if they show no more than 20 hospitalizations on any single day in the past two weeks.)
Another key rule measures the rate of disease in a county. A county must either have less than 8% of people testing positive in the last week, or fewer than 25 new cases per 100,000 residents in the last 14 days.
Newsom estimated 53 of California’s 58 counties could meet these standards.
There are other standards counties must meet to open more broadly. They include a minimum level of testing capacity, robust disease investigation teams, ample hospital bed capacity, and plans to prevent or deal with nursing home outbreaks.
San Luis Obispo and Ventura counties are among the counties that are applying to meet the new standard.
While Ventura County has reported six deaths in the last two weeks, failing the previous rule, the county said Tuesday just 3.5% have tested positive for the virus in the last week, and hospitalizations have been declining.
Newsom said counties that likely would not be eligible to enter this accelerated phase of reopening include two in the San Joaquin Valley: Kings County, home to an outbreak at a meatpacking plant in Hanford, and Tulare County, where outbreaks in nursing homes have persisted. Redwood Springs Healthcare Center in Tulare County has seen 28 residents die and 116 patients and 61 staff members infected.
In recent days in Los Angeles County, 9% of people tested for the virus have had positive results, which fails the state maximum of 8%, said Barbara Ferrer, the director of public health for Los Angeles County.
The weekly average number of people in L.A. County hospitalized with confirmed or suspected coronavirus infections has declined in recent weeks.
On Tuesday, L.A. County Supervisor Kathryn Barger expressed a goal for a reopening of L.A. County by July 4, something Ferrer said the county would aim for, but also remains contingent on what the data says in terms of the progress of the outbreak.
Dr. Robert Kim-Farley, medical epidemiologist and infectious-disease expert at the UCLA Fielding School of Public Health, said he thought California was taking appropriate steps to reopen society safely.
It makes sense to allow places with few cases and sparse population to reopen sooner than dense, urban places hit hard by the pandemic, said Kim-Farley, a former senior official for the L.A. County Department of Public Health, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the World Health Organization.
“Obviously, we have some tensions that will always exist, some wanting to move faster than others,” Kim-Farley said. “The idea here of ... trying to all agree on what are the guideposts along the way and then, let’s open up accordingly ... these phased processes are a good approach.”
Which California counties are reopening? To contain the spread of COVID-19, parks, restaurants and stores are slowly reopening.
Kim-Farley said officials should increasingly focus public health resources on where the coronavirus problem is greatest, like nursing homes.
Workers in skilled nursing facilities account for 44% of healthcare workers and first responders in L.A. County with confirmed coronavirus infections. Kim-Farley said it would be important, for instance, find ways to pay nursing home workers enough so they don’t have to work at multiple locations, or paying them enough so they can live at the facility for a period of time.
For all the focus on the improved numbers, experts still caution that things can get worse. Outbreaks at institutions like prisons, nursing homes and homeless shelters could spread to the broader community.
The 1918 flu pandemic saw a second wave of deaths many times worse than the first.
“It’s very easy to have a scenario where there’s more infections, and having more infections results in overwhelming the health care system,” Ferrer said.
Lin reported from San Francisco; Lee and Greene from Southern California. Times staff writers Maura Dolan, Taryn Luna, John Myers, Colleen Shalby and Phil Willon contributed to this report.