latimes--2020-06-23--California city named for a Confederate general will not put name change on November ballot

The City Council of Fort Bragg , a small Northern California city named after Braxton Bragg , a Confederate army general and slave owner , decided that it will not place a town name change on the November ballot .
The decision came Monday night in the coastal Mendocino County town of 7,400 after more than three hours of public comment at the first in-person City Council meeting amid the coronavirus outbreak .
Instead of a ballot measure , Fort Bragg Mayor Will Lee will appoint an ad hoc committee with two City Council members and residents to discuss options @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ We can not ignore the hundreds of comments that were given to us in two weeks ’ time , and especially so much [ from ] the young people that have come to us ...
They ’ re teaching us old folks a lot , and it ’ s impressive , ” Lee said .
The Fort Bragg City Council earlier this month agreed to consider several options , including choosing another famous Bragg to honor .
The debate comes amid a national reckoning with racism after the death of George Floyd @ @ @ @ @ @ @ custody in Minneapolis , and a national movement to tear down Confederate statues and namesakes associated with white supremacy , slavery and colonialism .
Fort Bragg was founded in 1857 by Lt. Horatio G. Gibson , who established a military post to control the Native American population in Mendocino County .
Gibson named it after Bragg , his former commanding officer in the Mexican-American War .
As the story goes , Bragg never set foot in the town .
Bragg led the A recent who resigned his post under pressure halfway through the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as an unsuccessful military leader , is subtitled “ The Most Hated Man of the Confederacy.
” The town ’ s name has been challenged before .
In 2015 , after white supremacist Dylann Roof shot and killed nine Black worshipers at the Emanuel AME church in Charleston , S.C. , the California Legislative Black Caucus asked city leaders to consider a name change .
They declined .
On Monday , scores of people weighed in at the City Council , standing behind plexiglass and wearing masks to protect against the coronavirus , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ agenda included more than 350 pages of comments .
Some , whose families have lived in the city for decades , said the name , to them , represented home , not a long-dead Confederate general , and that they did not want to see it changed .
Others suggested changing it to honor the Native American people who lived in the area long before the fort and city were established .
City officials estimated it would cost more than $ 271,000 to change the name .
Fort Bragg ’ s economy relies @ @ @ @ @ @ @ severe hit because of the pandemic .
The city already has cut staff .
On Monday , City Councilmember Tess Albin-Smith said she was pained by the division amid the discussion over the name change and whether it would “ free residents from the albatross and embarrassment of being named after a Confederate general who owned slaves.
” “ This is where we do agree : I ’ m happy to say not one of the comments expressed approval of racism in any way , shape or form , ” she said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ celebrate the town ’ s namesake ... Nobody expressed the desire to celebrate the existence of an army dispatched to this area for the purpose of subduing Native Americans.
” “ No one had any conviction that changing the name of our town would solve racial equality either locally or globally .
It would simply disassociate us with a racist , ” she added .
She said she supported rededicating the city to another famous Bragg , having no celebrations or monuments to Braxton Bragg , and the creation of a multiethnic task @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not supporting a name change will label us racist .
But I hope we can rise above that , and I would not want to be divided and judged for my comments tonight , ” she said .
“ We should engage in careful dialogue to decide the best action .
Let us not be shanghaied into a rash move for being labeled.
” Sierra Wooten , a Fort Bragg resident and spokesperson for MendoCoast BIPOC ( Black , Indigenous and People of Color ) , said she preferred to see a task @ @ @ @ @ @ @ measure on the name change .
The city ’ s name , she said , ideally could be used to teach people about the ugly history behind it .
She envisions an educational center and murals , among other things .
“ The racism and hate is still here .
Changing the name isn ’ t going to change everything , ” Wooten , who is Black and Mexican American , told The Times .
Javier Silva , a member of the Sherwood Valley Band of Pomo Indians , asked the council to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ceded this land.
” “ I don ’ t agree with the name , ” he said .
“ I don ’ t like the name myself , but I just want it to be a reminder that this was a place of oppression , not because of Bragg , not because of that , but because of the Native Americans that were here , the first peoples here .
... .
We have never been given a voice , and when we have gotten a voice , it ’ s never gone @ @ @

The City Council of Fort Bragg, a small Northern California city named after Braxton Bragg, a Confederate army general and slave owner, decided that it will not place a town name change on the November ballot.
The decision came Monday night in the coastal Mendocino County town of 7,400 after more than three hours of public comment at the first in-person City Council meeting amid the coronavirus outbreak. Instead of a ballot measure, Fort Bragg Mayor Will Lee will appoint an ad hoc committee with two City Council members and residents to discuss options for the city’s name.
“We cannot ignore the hundreds of comments that were given to us in two weeks’ time, and especially so much [from] the young people that have come to us ... They’re teaching us old folks a lot, and it’s impressive,” Lee said.
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The Fort Bragg City Council earlier this month agreed to consider several options, including choosing another famous Bragg to honor. The debate comes amid a national reckoning with racism after the death of George Floyd, a Black man, in police custody in Minneapolis, and a national movement to tear down Confederate statues and namesakes associated with white supremacy, slavery and colonialism.
Fort Bragg was founded in 1857 by Lt. Horatio G. Gibson, who established a military post to control the Native American population in Mendocino County. Gibson named it after Bragg, his former commanding officer in the Mexican-American War. As the story goes, Bragg never set foot in the town.
Bragg led the Confederate Army of Tennessee. A recent biography of the general, who resigned his post under pressure halfway through the war after decisive losses and is regarded as an unsuccessful military leader, is subtitled “The Most Hated Man of the Confederacy.”
The town’s name has been challenged before. In 2015, after white supremacist Dylann Roof shot and killed nine Black worshipers at the Emanuel AME church in Charleston, S.C., the California Legislative Black Caucus asked city leaders to consider a name change. They declined.
On Monday, scores of people weighed in at the City Council, standing behind plexiglass and wearing masks to protect against the coronavirus, and calling in via Zoom. The agenda included more than 350 pages of comments.
Some, whose families have lived in the city for decades, said the name, to them, represented home, not a long-dead Confederate general, and that they did not want to see it changed. Others suggested changing it to honor the Native American people who lived in the area long before the fort and city were established.
City officials estimated it would cost more than $271,000 to change the name. Fort Bragg’s economy relies upon tourism, which has taken a severe hit because of the pandemic. The city already has cut staff.
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On Monday, City Councilmember Tess Albin-Smith said she was pained by the division amid the discussion over the name change and whether it would “free residents from the albatross and embarrassment of being named after a Confederate general who owned slaves.”
“This is where we do agree: I’m happy to say not one of the comments expressed approval of racism in any way, shape or form,” she said. “Not one had the desire to celebrate the town’s namesake ... Nobody expressed the desire to celebrate the existence of an army dispatched to this area for the purpose of subduing Native Americans.”
“No one had any conviction that changing the name of our town would solve racial equality either locally or globally. It would simply disassociate us with a racist,” she added.
She said she supported rededicating the city to another famous Bragg, having no celebrations or monuments to Braxton Bragg, and the creation of a multiethnic task force.
“My fear is that not supporting a name change will label us racist. But I hope we can rise above that, and I would not want to be divided and judged for my comments tonight,” she said. “We should engage in careful dialogue to decide the best action. Let us not be shanghaied into a rash move for being labeled.”
Sierra Wooten, a Fort Bragg resident and spokesperson for MendoCoast BIPOC (Black, Indigenous and People of Color), said she preferred to see a task force of diverse voices over a ballot measure on the name change. The city’s name, she said, ideally could be used to teach people about the ugly history behind it. She envisions an educational center and murals, among other things.
“The racism and hate is still here. Changing the name isn’t going to change everything,” Wooten, who is Black and Mexican American, told The Times.
Javier Silva, a member of the Sherwood Valley Band of Pomo Indians, asked the council to listen to tribal members who “never ceded this land.”
“I don’t agree with the name,” he said. “I don’t like the name myself, but I just want it to be a reminder that this was a place of oppression, not because of Bragg, not because of that, but because of the Native Americans that were here, the first peoples here. .... We have never been given a voice, and when we have gotten a voice, it’s never gone anywhere.”


latimes--2020-06-23--Adult film star Ron Jeremy charged with four counts of sexual assault

Ron Jeremy , one of the most iconic figures in the adult entertainment industry , was charged Tuesday with sexually assaulting four women in West Hollywood , where investigators say he prowled the Sunset Strip looking for vulnerable victims .
Jeremy , whose legal name is Ronald Jeremy Hyatt , was charged with forcible rape , forcible oral copulation and sexual battery , according to a criminal complaint .
Prosecutors allege Jeremy , 67 , attacked a 25-year-old woman at a West Hollywood home in 2014 .
Prosecutors also accuse Jeremy of sexually assaulting two women at a West Hollywood @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at the same bar in July 2019 .
Los Angeles County Sheriff ’ s Department Cmdr .
Carlos Marquez said Jeremy became the focus of an investigation after a rape allegation was levied last July .
Jeremy would frequent the Abbey and the Roxy looking for women , according to Marquez .
“ They were crimes of opportunity , ” said Marquez , a veteran sex crimes investigator .
“ He takes advantage of a situation with a victim.
” Marquez said Jeremy leveraged his public persona to gain access to the women @ @ @ @ @ @ @ when they were intoxicated .
Jeremy has been accused of sexual assault by multiple women in recent years — including adult film stars Danica Dane , Jennifer Steele and Jay Taylor — but has denied the allegations .
The sheriff ’ s department is actively looking for additional victims .
The case was presented to the district attorney ’ s office on Monday , investigators said .
In total , Jeremy faces three counts of forcible rape , two counts of sexual penetration by force , two counts of sexual battery and one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the criminal complaint .
He could spend up to 90 years in prison if convicted as charged .
Authorities declined to charge Jeremy in a fifth case after deciding they had “ insufficient evidence ” to prosecute an alleged 2016 rape , according to a one-page memo explaining the decision .
In that case , a woman said she was intoxicated at a club when Jeremy separated her from her friends and raped her .
The other women lived outside the country and refused to be interviewed , documents show .
Jeremy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a black T-shirt and boat shoes , but did not speak to reporters .
His attorney , Stuart Goldfarb , asked for an arraignment and bail review hearing to be continued until Friday .
Until then , Jeremy will be held in lieu of $ 6.6 million bail .
Outside the courthouse , Goldfarb said Jeremy was innocent and questioned the timing of the charges , considering one of the alleged assaults dates back to 2014 .
“ He has never , in his life , had sex with a female through force @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Asked about claims the women were too intoxicated to consent at the time of the assaults , Goldfarb claimed Jeremy had been sober his whole life , but did not elaborate .
He also said the most recent alleged assault took place at the Rainbow Bar & Grill , an establishment Jeremy is known to haunt , and could be disproven with video footage .
Again , he did not elaborate .
Goldfarb said he had previously advised Jeremy to have women “ sign a piece of paper , that you enjoyed yourself @ @ @ @ @ @ @ star , in order to protect against future allegations .
Jeremy has been banned from the Adult Video News awards and the Exxotica expo , two of the largest annual events for the porn industry in the U.S. , as a result of the claims made by numerous women .
Ginger Banks , a 30-year-old advocate for sex workers who also works in the adult entertainment industry , compiled a 10-minute YouTube video in 2017 detailing a number of allegations against Jeremy .
Banks said she has since been contacted by at least @ @ @ @ @ @ @ raped them .
Banks , who has appeared in adult films since 2010 , said Jeremy ’ s behavior is well known among women in the business , but his status has protected him from consequences until recently .
“ It ’ s just like Harvey Weinstein , ” she said .
“ Because he ’ s this legend , he ’ s Ron Jeremy , people will excuse his behavior .
”

Ron Jeremy, one of the most iconic figures in the adult entertainment industry, was charged Tuesday with sexually assaulting four women in West Hollywood, where investigators say he prowled the Sunset Strip looking for vulnerable victims.
Jeremy, whose legal name is Ronald Jeremy Hyatt, was charged with forcible rape, forcible oral copulation and sexual battery, according to a criminal complaint.
Prosecutors allege Jeremy, 67, attacked a 25-year-old woman at a West Hollywood home in 2014. Prosecutors also accuse Jeremy of sexually assaulting two women at a West Hollywood bar in 2017 and raping a woman at the same bar in July 2019.
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Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Cmdr. Carlos Marquez said Jeremy became the focus of an investigation after a rape allegation was levied last July. Jeremy would frequent the Abbey and the Roxy looking for women, according to Marquez.
“They were crimes of opportunity,” said Marquez, a veteran sex crimes investigator. “He takes advantage of a situation with a victim.”
Marquez said Jeremy leveraged his public persona to gain access to the women, and then took advantage of them when they were intoxicated.
Jeremy has been accused of sexual assault by multiple women in recent years — including adult film stars Danica Dane, Jennifer Steele and Jay Taylor — but has denied the allegations.
The sheriff’s department is actively looking for additional victims. The case was presented to the district attorney’s office on Monday, investigators said.
Ron Jeremy in court with attorney Stuart Goldfarb. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
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In total, Jeremy faces three counts of forcible rape, two counts of sexual penetration by force, two counts of sexual battery and one count of forcible oral copulation, according to the criminal complaint. He could spend up to 90 years in prison if convicted as charged.
Authorities declined to charge Jeremy in a fifth case after deciding they had “insufficient evidence” to prosecute an alleged 2016 rape, according to a one-page memo explaining the decision. In that case, a woman said she was intoxicated at a club when Jeremy separated her from her friends and raped her.
The other women lived outside the country and refused to be interviewed, documents show.
Jeremy appeared in a downtown courtroom Tuesday wearing a black T-shirt and boat shoes, but did not speak to reporters. His attorney, Stuart Goldfarb, asked for an arraignment and bail review hearing to be continued until Friday.
Until then, Jeremy will be held in lieu of $6.6 million bail.
Outside the courthouse, Goldfarb said Jeremy was innocent and questioned the timing of the charges, considering one of the alleged assaults dates back to 2014.
“He has never, in his life, had sex with a female through force or duress,” Goldfarb said.
Asked about claims the women were too intoxicated to consent at the time of the assaults, Goldfarb claimed Jeremy had been sober his whole life, but did not elaborate. He also said the most recent alleged assault took place at the Rainbow Bar & Grill, an establishment Jeremy is known to haunt, and could be disproven with video footage. Again, he did not elaborate.
Goldfarb said he had previously advised Jeremy to have women “sign a piece of paper, that you enjoyed yourself” after sexual encounters with the porn star, in order to protect against future allegations.
Jeremy has been banned from the Adult Video News awards and the Exxotica expo, two of the largest annual events for the porn industry in the U.S., as a result of the claims made by numerous women.
Ginger Banks, a 30-year-old advocate for sex workers who also works in the adult entertainment industry, compiled a 10-minute YouTube video in 2017 detailing a number of allegations against Jeremy. Banks said she has since been contacted by at least 100 women who claimed Jeremy groped or raped them.
Banks, who has appeared in adult films since 2010, said Jeremy’s behavior is well known among women in the business, but his status has protected him from consequences until recently.
“It’s just like Harvey Weinstein,” she said. “Because he’s this legend, he’s Ron Jeremy, people will excuse his behavior.”


latimes--2020-06-23--L.A. City Councilman Jose Huizar charged in federal corruption probe

Los Angeles City Councilman Jose Huizar , an ambitious player in city politics for nearly two decades , was arrested Tuesday , becoming the most prominent figure to face charges in the federal investigation into corruption at City Hall .
Huizar faces a racketeering charge arising from allegations he ran a sprawling pay-to-play scheme in which real estate developers were shaken down for cash bribes and campaign donations in exchange for Huizar ’ s help getting high-rise development projects through the city ’ s arduous approval process .
Along the way , the councilman and his associates allegedly enjoyed free @ @ @ @ @ @ @ chips and other perks offered up by developers , prosecutors said .
In all , Huizar improperly received approximately $ 1.5 million in financial benefits , according to federal filings .
Prosecutors portrayed Huizar as the head of the enterprise , with others involved in the scheme referring to him as “ the boss.
” The case against Huizar was detailed in a 116-page affidavit made public on Tuesday .
“ This case pulled back the curtain on rampant corruption at City Hall , ” said U.S. Atty .
Nick Hanna .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a staggering degree.
” Hanna described corruption at City Hall as a “ cancer ” — a “ disease of elected officials and staff members breaking a series of laws in order to line their own pockets , maintain power and keep open a spigot of illicit bribes.
” Charges against Huizar , 51 , had long been anticipated .
FBI agents raided his home and offices in 2018 .
Prosecutors from the U.S. attorney ’ s office had been closing in on Huizar in recent months , methodically charging associates who admitted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the councilman .
In plea deals they struck with the government , a former Huizar aide , one of his political fundraisers and a real estate consultant agreed to cooperate with the investigation into Huizar and others in City Hall .
Huizar was taken into custody Tuesday morning by federal agents at his Boyle Heights home .
He made his initial court appearance by video in the afternoon before U.S. Magistrate Judge Paul L. Abrams , who ordered Huizar released on a $ 100,000 bond .
In a statement , lawyers for Huizar @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the government ’ s allegations in court.
” “ He firmly believes that these matters should be handled in a court of law and not in the media , ” they said .
“ Councilman Huizar requests that the press respect the privacy of his family and children.
” Fallout from the arrest was swift .
While Huizar was still in custody , the City Council voted unanimously to suspend him .
Council President Nury Martinez described his arrest as “ a stain on our city government.
” The suspension means that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the office and leaves his seat temporarily vacant , according to a spokesman in the city attorney ’ s office .
An obvious replacement would be former state Sen. Kevin de León , who was elected in March to replace Huizar at the end of the year .
Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti proposed this on Tuesday , and De León said he is prepared to serve when called .
Prosecutors alleged that Huizar operated what amounted to a criminal enterprise , in which he and others worked to enrich themselves through “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” while also plotting a way to hold on to the power and access to illicit cash that Huizar had built up even after he would leave his council office .
The plan was for Huizar to ascend to an even more powerful political position , such as mayor or city attorney , while his wife succeeded him on the council , allowing the pay-to-play scheme to continue for at least a dozen more years , prosecutors alleged .
Richelle Huizar , his wife , has not been charged in the case , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ whether prosecutors believe she knowingly participated in her husband ’ s alleged crimes .
If convicted , Huizar faces as much as 20 years in prison .
Before his arrest , Huizar posted an image on his Instagram account of El Santo Niño de Atocha , a symbol of his native Zacatecas , Mexico , that is popularly known as a source of protection for those in need , including prisoners .
Until Tuesday , prosecutors had not identified Huizar by name , referring to him in the associates ’ cases as “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ documents made clear it was Huizar : Prosecutors described a councilman who was heavily involved in overseeing real estate development and had a relative running to replace him when he reached his term limit .
Huizar chaired the influential Planning and Land Use Management Committee , and his wife briefly mounted a campaign to replace him before abandoning the idea shortly after the FBI raids .
Huizar ’ s arrest comes nearly three months after one of his colleagues , former City Councilman Mitchell Englander , agreed to plead guilty in a related @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and other bribes provided by a Southern California businessman .
And it comes almost two years after FBI agents searched Huizar ’ s home and offices , giving the public its first indication that the councilman was under investigation .
Prosecutors said Tuesday that they had recovered nearly $ 130,000 in cash hidden in a closet in Huizar ’ s home , including money tucked into red envelopes with Chinese characters .
After those raids , Huizar was removed from the planning committee .
In recent weeks , Huizar stopped attending council meetings @ @ @ @ @ @ @ step down .
The arrest represents a dizzying fall for Huizar .
Five years ago , he won a resounding reelection , securing his third and final term on the council .
At that point , he had widespread support from business leaders , the city ’ s labor unions and advocates for transportation improvements , such as bicycle lanes .
During that campaign , Herb Wesson , the council president at the time , described Huizar as his best friend on the council .
By 2018 , Huizar ’ s wife was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for his seat as he approached term limits .
Huizar began pressing donors to give to political action committees set up to support his wife ’ s candidacy — activities that later became part of the federal case .
Since March , prosecutors have filed a series of cases against other figures in the pay-to-play probe , each containing allegations that Huizar sought or obtained bribes from developers pursuing projects in his district .
Political fundraiser Justin Jangwoo Kim pleaded guilty to helping the developer of a 20-story residential tower with a bribe @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to ferrying cash to a Huizar aide , who in turn delivered $ 200,000 in a box to Huizar , according to details in federal filings .
Prosecutors also struck a plea agreement with real estate consultant George Chiang , who admitted to participating in a separate bribery scheme involving the councilman and developers of a planned hotel tower .
And last month , former Huizar aide George Esparza reached his own plea deal , affirming that a Chinese billionaire planning a 77-story skyscraper provided him and the councilman with trips to Las @ @ @ @ @ @ @ billionaire provided Huizar with $ 600,000 in financial assistance to help the councilman settle a sexual harassment lawsuit filed by a former aide , according to prosecutors .
The settlement allowed Huizar to dispose of a thorny political problem months before the 2015 election .
In federal filings released Tuesday , prosecutors alleged that the billionaire also sought favors from Huizar that had nothing to do with City Hall , such as reaching out to a Southern California university about an admissions application for his son .
Prosecutors said another unnamed businessman , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ against Englander , provided Huizar $ 10,000 in cash per month in exchange for setting up meetings with developers .
That businessman also paid for massage services and hotel stays for Huizar to have “ discreet encounters with a woman with whom he was having an affair , ” the filing said .
In Tuesday ’ s filing , prosecutors mentioned yet another real estate project that had not been previously cited in the case : a 35-story tower planned in the city ’ s Arts District .
The project ’ s developer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ former staffers who had filed harassment suits against the councilman , federal prosecutors alleged .
Federal prosecutors said in their filing Tuesday that the criminal enterprise began as an alliance between Huizar and a building department chief who later became a deputy mayor — biographical details that match former Deputy Mayor Raymond Chan .
The building chief introduced Huizar and his aide , Esparza , to the Chinese billionaire who ended up lavishing them with casino trips and other financial benefits , prosecutors alleged in their filings .
Harland Braun , an attorney @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but has previously stated that Chan did nothing wrong .
Huizar worked to conceal some of his bribe proceeds , funneling money through unnamed relatives between 2013 and 2017 , according to the affidavit .
Those relatives deposited the funds into their personal accounts and later returned it to Huizar or paid his credit card bills and other expenses , prosecutors claimed .
Huizar did not report the bribes and gifts he received on his taxes or financial disclosure forms , as required by law , prosecutors said .
In 2017 , after @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on him , the councilman met with Esparza in his private City Hall bathroom to discuss the need to withhold incriminating information from investigators , according to prosecutors .
“ We are both in this together , ” Huizar told his aide , according to the filing .

David Zahniser, Emily Alpert Reyes, Joel Rubin

Law enforcement officials document some of the nearly $130,000 in cash they say was found in L.A. City Councilman Jose Huizar’s residence during a 2018 FBI raid.
Los Angeles City Councilman Jose Huizar, an ambitious player in city politics for nearly two decades, was arrested Tuesday, becoming the most prominent figure to face charges in the federal investigation into corruption at City Hall.
Huizar faces a racketeering charge arising from allegations he ran a sprawling pay-to-play scheme in which real estate developers were shaken down for cash bribes and campaign donations in exchange for Huizar’s help getting high-rise development projects through the city’s arduous approval process.
Along the way, the councilman and his associates allegedly enjoyed free plane travel, lavish meals, casino chips and other perks offered up by developers, prosecutors said. In all, Huizar improperly received approximately $1.5 million in financial benefits, according to federal filings.
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Prosecutors portrayed Huizar as the head of the enterprise, with others involved in the scheme referring to him as “the boss.” The case against Huizar was detailed in a 116-page affidavit made public on Tuesday.
“This case pulled back the curtain on rampant corruption at City Hall,” said U.S. Atty. Nick Hanna. “Councilman Huizar violated the public trust to a staggering degree.”
Hanna described corruption at City Hall as a “cancer” — a “disease of elected officials and staff members breaking a series of laws in order to line their own pockets, maintain power and keep open a spigot of illicit bribes.”
Los Angeles City Councilman Jose Huizar was arrested Tuesday on a federal racketeering charge. (Kirk McKoy / Los Angeles Times)
Charges against Huizar, 51, had long been anticipated.
FBI agents raided his home and offices in 2018. Prosecutors from the U.S. attorney’s office had been closing in on Huizar in recent months, methodically charging associates who admitted to taking part in illicit deals involving the councilman.
In plea deals they struck with the government, a former Huizar aide, one of his political fundraisers and a real estate consultant agreed to cooperate with the investigation into Huizar and others in City Hall.
Advertisement
Huizar was taken into custody Tuesday morning by federal agents at his Boyle Heights home. He made his initial court appearance by video in the afternoon before U.S. Magistrate Judge Paul L. Abrams, who ordered Huizar released on a $100,000 bond.
In a statement, lawyers for Huizar said the councilman “intends to respond to the government’s allegations in court.”
“He firmly believes that these matters should be handled in a court of law and not in the media,” they said. “Councilman Huizar requests that the press respect the privacy of his family and children.”
Fallout from the arrest was swift. While Huizar was still in custody, the City Council voted unanimously to suspend him. Council President Nury Martinez described his arrest as “a stain on our city government.”
The suspension means that Huizar cannot exercise any powers of the office and leaves his seat temporarily vacant, according to a spokesman in the city attorney’s office.
An obvious replacement would be former state Sen. Kevin de León, who was elected in March to replace Huizar at the end of the year. Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti proposed this on Tuesday, and De León said he is prepared to serve when called.
Prosecutors alleged that Huizar operated what amounted to a criminal enterprise, in which he and others worked to enrich themselves through “bribery, extortion and honest services fraud” while also plotting a way to hold on to the power and access to illicit cash that Huizar had built up even after he would leave his council office.
Protestors prevent a police car from passing through while outside Councilman Jose Huizar’s home in Boyle Heights on Tuesday. (Dania Maxwell/Los Angeles Times)
The plan was for Huizar to ascend to an even more powerful political position, such as mayor or city attorney, while his wife succeeded him on the council, allowing the pay-to-play scheme to continue for at least a dozen more years, prosecutors alleged.
Richelle Huizar, his wife, has not been charged in the case, and it is unclear from court records whether prosecutors believe she knowingly participated in her husband’s alleged crimes.
If convicted, Huizar faces as much as 20 years in prison. Before his arrest, Huizar posted an image on his Instagram account of El Santo Niño de Atocha, a symbol of his native Zacatecas, Mexico, that is popularly known as a source of protection for those in need, including prisoners.
Until Tuesday, prosecutors had not identified Huizar by name, referring to him in the associates’ cases as “Councilmember A.” But details in court documents made clear it was Huizar: Prosecutors described a councilman who was heavily involved in overseeing real estate development and had a relative running to replace him when he reached his term limit.
Huizar chaired the influential Planning and Land Use Management Committee, and his wife briefly mounted a campaign to replace him before abandoning the idea shortly after the FBI raids.
Huizar’s arrest comes nearly three months after one of his colleagues, former City Councilman Mitchell Englander, agreed to plead guilty in a related corruption case centered on envelopes of cash and other bribes provided by a Southern California businessman.
U.S. Atty. Nick Hanna and FBI Special Agent in Charge Voviette Morgan discuss the arrest of L.A. City Councilman Jose Huizar on Tuesday. (Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times)
And it comes almost two years after FBI agents searched Huizar’s home and offices, giving the public its first indication that the councilman was under investigation. Prosecutors said Tuesday that they had recovered nearly $130,000 in cash hidden in a closet in Huizar’s home, including money tucked into red envelopes with Chinese characters.
After those raids, Huizar was removed from the planning committee. In recent weeks, Huizar stopped attending council meetings entirely amid calls from his colleagues to step down.
The arrest represents a dizzying fall for Huizar. Five years ago, he won a resounding reelection, securing his third and final term on the council. At that point, he had widespread support from business leaders, the city’s labor unions and advocates for transportation improvements, such as bicycle lanes.
During that campaign, Herb Wesson, the council president at the time, described Huizar as his best friend on the council.
By 2018, Huizar’s wife was viewed as a strong candidate to run for his seat as he approached term limits. Huizar began pressing donors to give to political action committees set up to support his wife’s candidacy — activities that later became part of the federal case.
Since March, prosecutors have filed a series of cases against other figures in the pay-to-play probe, each containing allegations that Huizar sought or obtained bribes from developers pursuing projects in his district.
Political fundraiser Justin Jangwoo Kim pleaded guilty to helping the developer of a 20-story residential tower with a bribe intended for the councilman. Kim admitted to ferrying cash to a Huizar aide, who in turn delivered $200,000 in a box to Huizar, according to details in federal filings.
Prosecutors also struck a plea agreement with real estate consultant George Chiang, who admitted to participating in a separate bribery scheme involving the councilman and developers of a planned hotel tower. And last month, former Huizar aide George Esparza reached his own plea deal, affirming that a Chinese billionaire planning a 77-story skyscraper provided him and the councilman with trips to Las Vegas and other bribes.
Huizar attends a council meeting in 2018 with an unidentified person next to him. (Katie Falkenberg / Los Angeles Times)
That same billionaire provided Huizar with $600,000 in financial assistance to help the councilman settle a sexual harassment lawsuit filed by a former aide, according to prosecutors. The settlement allowed Huizar to dispose of a thorny political problem months before the 2015 election.
In federal filings released Tuesday, prosecutors alleged that the billionaire also sought favors from Huizar that had nothing to do with City Hall, such as reaching out to a Southern California university about an admissions application for his son.
Prosecutors said another unnamed businessman, who was previously mentioned in the case against Englander, provided Huizar $10,000 in cash per month in exchange for setting up meetings with developers. That businessman also paid for massage services and hotel stays for Huizar to have “discreet encounters with a woman with whom he was having an affair,” the filing said.
In Tuesday’s filing, prosecutors mentioned yet another real estate project that had not been previously cited in the case: a 35-story tower planned in the city’s Arts District. The project’s developer provided Huizar with opposition research on two former staffers who had filed harassment suits against the councilman, federal prosecutors alleged.
Federal prosecutors said in their filing Tuesday that the criminal enterprise began as an alliance between Huizar and a building department chief who later became a deputy mayor — biographical details that match former Deputy Mayor Raymond Chan.
The building chief introduced Huizar and his aide, Esparza, to the Chinese billionaire who ended up lavishing them with casino trips and other financial benefits, prosecutors alleged in their filings. Harland Braun, an attorney for Chan, declined to comment Tuesday but has previously stated that Chan did nothing wrong.
Huizar worked to conceal some of his bribe proceeds, funneling money through unnamed relatives between 2013 and 2017, according to the affidavit. Those relatives deposited the funds into their personal accounts and later returned it to Huizar or paid his credit card bills and other expenses, prosecutors claimed.
Huizar did not report the bribes and gifts he received on his taxes or financial disclosure forms, as required by law, prosecutors said. In 2017, after he learned the FBI was zeroing in on him, the councilman met with Esparza in his private City Hall bathroom to discuss the need to withhold incriminating information from investigators, according to prosecutors.
“We are both in this together,” Huizar told his aide, according to the filing.


latimes--2020-06-22--Domestic violence is rising during the pandemic. Here's how to get help

Calls to Los Angeles County ’ s domestic violence hotline have risen during the pandemic .
And the Los Angeles Police Department has seen an increase in domestic violence calls for service .
As the pandemic continues , people should know that there are resources available for anyone experiencing abuse .
Organizations that help survivors are concerned that people who need help won ’ t seek it , either because they ’ re constantly at home with their abuser or they ’ re too scared to reach out .
“ There are places to go , ” City Atty .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ There are resources on which you can draw.
” But what actually happens once you call a hotline or the police ?
To find out , I spoke with lawyers , city officials , service providers and police about the resources available to domestic violence survivors .
The Los Angeles County Domestic Violence hotline is available 24 hours a day , 7 days a week .
You can call if you need help or if you know someone who does .
When you call the hotline , you will be prompted to enter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to a local service provider .
The hotline is available in Arabic , Armenian , Cantonese , English , Farsi , Japanese , Khmer , Korean , Mandarin , Spanish , Tagalog , Thai and Vietnamese .
The providers can help you access counseling and legal services , formulate a safety plan , connect to a shelter or get a referral for medical services .
Eve Sheedy , the director of the L.A. County Domestic Violence Council , said the hotline can help you access services regardless of whether you plan to leave @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t have to be a major decision just to reach out , ” she said during a meeting with providers last month .
The hotline can also be a resource for friends and neighbors of survivors who want to figure out the best way to help their loved one .
The Los Angeles LGBT Center also offers domestic violence services for LGBTQ people .
What happens if I call 911 ?
Whether you make a phone call or send a text message to 911 ( 911 texting is available only in English @ @ @ @ @ @ @ unit or a police patrol car — depending on availability — will come to your home .
“ We get there , we make sure at the moment everyone is safe , separate parties and ask what happened , ” said LAPD Det .
Marie Sadanaga with the department ’ s domestic violence unit .
If a crime has occurred , police will make a report and will take temporary custody of any guns at the scene .
If a crime has not occurred — for example , one person threw objects at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ happened and complete a domestic violence incident report .
The report , mandated by the state , can be used in the future if the abuse continues , Sadanaga said .
If a specialized domestic violence unit comes to your home , an advocate will connect you to domestic violence resources or services such as shelter and safety planning .
If a patrol officer responds , he or she should also be able to connect you with resources .
If you don ’ t want a patrol officer to come to your house @ @ @ @ @ @ @ allow people to make an appointment with an officer .
How do I get a protective order ?
A protective order is a ruling by the court that will prohibit an assailant from having contact with you and your children .
The quickest type of restraining order — an emergency protective order — can be issued on the spot at the request of a police officer .
An officer can call an on-duty judge at any time .
Before the pandemic , these orders lasted five business days or seven calendar days .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ up to 30 days to allow people more time to get to court to file for an order that will last longer .
It ’ s important to tell the officer about any specific limitations ( child care or transportation issues ) that would prohibit you from going to court in that timeframe .
The emergency order is a measure of protection until you can go to court to obtain a temporary restraining order , which is usually issued for 21 days but can be extended to 90 days .
To get a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the L.A. County Superior Court self-help line , legal aid services or a private attorney .
The court allows people to file parts of these orders via email .
Although the court clerk ’ s office reopened on June 15 , you should make an appointment through the self-help line before actually going to court .
At the end of the order , there will be a hearing with a judge .
The judge will either deny the restraining order , grant a permanent restraining order or move the hearing to a later @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are brought against the assailant , a judge may issue what is called a criminal protective order .
The detective investigating your case should be able to tell you about future hearings .
If an order is issued , keep a copy with you at all times .
Because of the pandemic , the Stanley Mosk Courthouse in downtown Los Angeles has been conducting remote hearings , said Michael Waldren , an attorney with Community Legal Aid of Southern California .
That ’ s why Waldren recommends that clients try to file their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ supervising attorney at the Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles , said survivors should try to save any documentation of abuse such as text messages or photographs .
“ Any documentation of the abuse is always helpful for a legal case , ” she said .
What if I need shelter ?
Because of the pandemic , the city and county have worked with local providers to nearly double the shelter capacity for domestic violence survivors and their families across Los Angeles County , an initiative called Project Safe Haven , according to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ donors , the county can now accommodate an additional 900 families , up from 1,000 available beds .
City officials said that no one will ask about your immigration status .
Transportation is also available .

Calls to Los Angeles County’s domestic violence hotline have risen during the pandemic. And the Los Angeles Police Department has seen an increase in domestic violence calls for service.
As the pandemic continues, people should know that there are resources available for anyone experiencing abuse.
Organizations that help survivors are concerned that people who need help won’t seek it, either because they’re constantly at home with their abuser or they’re too scared to reach out.
Advertisement
“There are places to go,” City Atty. Mike Feuer told The Times. “There are resources on which you can draw.”
But what actually happens once you call a hotline or the police? To find out, I spoke with lawyers, city officials, service providers and police about the resources available to domestic violence survivors.
How do hotlines work?
The Los Angeles County Domestic Violence hotline is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. You can call if you need help or if you know someone who does. When you call the hotline, you will be prompted to enter your ZIP code and will be connected to a local service provider.
Resources Phone numbers and websites for domestic violence survivors L.A. County Domestic Violence Hotline: (800) 978-3600
Los Angeles LGBT Center:
(323) 993-7649 or (562) 433-8595 in Long Beach
L.A. County Superior Court self-help line for temporary restraining order: (213) 830-0845
Project Safe Haven:
corona-virus.la/DVResources
In an emergency, call 911.
The hotline is available in Arabic, Armenian, Cantonese, English, Farsi, Japanese, Khmer, Korean, Mandarin, Spanish, Tagalog, Thai and Vietnamese.
The providers can help you access counseling and legal services, formulate a safety plan, connect to a shelter or get a referral for medical services.
Eve Sheedy, the director of the L.A. County Domestic Violence Council, said the hotline can help you access services regardless of whether you plan to leave an abusive relationship.
“It doesn’t have to be a major decision just to reach out,” she said during a meeting with providers last month.
The hotline can also be a resource for friends and neighbors of survivors who want to figure out the best way to help their loved one.
The Los Angeles LGBT Center also offers domestic violence services for LGBTQ people.
What happens if I call 911?
Whether you make a phone call or send a text message to 911 (911 texting is available only in English), a specialized domestic violence police unit or a police patrol car — depending on availability — will come to your home.
Advertisement
“We get there, we make sure at the moment everyone is safe, separate parties and ask what happened,” said LAPD Det. Marie Sadanaga with the department’s domestic violence unit.
If a crime has occurred, police will make a report and will take temporary custody of any guns at the scene. If a crime has not occurred — for example, one person threw objects at a wall — police can document what happened and complete a domestic violence incident report. The report, mandated by the state, can be used in the future if the abuse continues, Sadanaga said.
If a specialized domestic violence unit comes to your home, an advocate will connect you to domestic violence resources or services such as shelter and safety planning. If a patrol officer responds, he or she should also be able to connect you with resources.
If you don’t want a patrol officer to come to your house, Sadanaga said that some LAPD stations allow people to make an appointment with an officer.
How do I get a protective order?
A protective order is a ruling by the court that will prohibit an assailant from having contact with you and your children.
The quickest type of restraining order — an emergency protective order — can be issued on the spot at the request of a police officer. An officer can call an on-duty judge at any time.
Before the pandemic, these orders lasted five business days or seven calendar days. Now an order can be given for up to 30 days to allow people more time to get to court to file for an order that will last longer.
It’s important to tell the officer about any specific limitations (child care or transportation issues) that would prohibit you from going to court in that timeframe.
The emergency order is a measure of protection until you can go to court to obtain a temporary restraining order, which is usually issued for 21 days but can be extended to 90 days.
To get a temporary restraining order, you can contact the L.A. County Superior Court self-help line, legal aid services or a private attorney.
The court allows people to file parts of these orders via email. Although the court clerk’s office reopened on June 15, you should make an appointment through the self-help line before actually going to court.
At the end of the order, there will be a hearing with a judge. The judge will either deny the restraining order, grant a permanent restraining order or move the hearing to a later date.
Separately, if criminal charges are brought against the assailant, a judge may issue what is called a criminal protective order. The detective investigating your case should be able to tell you about future hearings.
If an order is issued, keep a copy with you at all times.
Because of the pandemic, the Stanley Mosk Courthouse in downtown Los Angeles has been conducting remote hearings, said Michael Waldren, an attorney with Community Legal Aid of Southern California. That’s why Waldren recommends that clients try to file their cases there.
Julianna Lee, a supervising attorney at the Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles, said survivors should try to save any documentation of abuse such as text messages or photographs.
“Any documentation of the abuse is always helpful for a legal case,” she said.
What if I need shelter?
Because of the pandemic, the city and county have worked with local providers to nearly double the shelter capacity for domestic violence survivors and their families across Los Angeles County, an initiative called Project Safe Haven, according to the mayor’s office.
Through donors, the county can now accommodate an additional 900 families, up from 1,000 available beds.
City officials said that no one will ask about your immigration status. Transportation is also available.


latimes--2020-06-24--Shutting down California was a challenge for Newsom. Reopening could prove even trickier

Gov .
Gavin Newsom stood in the state ’ s emergency operations center March 19 and announced an executive order that would change the course of California history , requiring residents to remain in their homes as the coronavirus spread around the world .
California became the first state to tell all residents to stay at home amid the pandemic .
Newsom ’ s decision sparked some controversy and a few lawsuits but has been credited with slowing the spread of the coronavirus and allowing California to avoid larger death tolls seen in states with early outbreaks , such as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , three months later , the governor is in the middle of a test that could prove even more challenging than closing California : reopening it .
Newsom has given counties the green light to open their business districts again , with high-risk places such as hair and nail salons , gyms and bars opening their doors with myriad safety rules .
The pace of reopening has drawn criticism from some .
But even as COVID-19 case numbers and hospitalizations soar , the Democratic governor and his health team insist that the data @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the state is equipped to handle new cases .
“ We ’ ve always walked into this with our eyes wide open .
We ’ ve always prepared for a surge , ” Newsom said Monday .
“ We ’ re in that band where I feel like we anticipated the likelihood as we ’ ve reopened of the numbers increasing , and they have.
” In a sign that Newsom and his health advisors are worried that residents aren ’ t carefully stepping back into the world , the administration ordered all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ public or high-risk settings .
The move underscores the fluid nature of reopening and is a sign that the governor will need to constantly monitor — and may need to refine — California ’ s coronavirus strategy as metrics change and if new outbreaks occur .
With many of the restrictions loosened , the state is at another inflection point in the crisis , with more difficult decisions ahead .
“ It absolutely worked , there ’ s no question , ” Dr. Karen Smith , an infectious disease specialist and former director @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , said of the governor ’ s stay-at-home order .
“ Unfortunately and predictably , as we release people to go back to more of a normal life , you ’ re starting to see increases in cases.
” Newsom held fast to his executive order for seven weeks as the economy faltered and political pressure mounted for him to end what critics described as a draconian rule .
But after weeks of stable hospitalizations and growing pushback against restrictions , the governor altered his approach in May — issuing more than a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ guidance allowing businesses to reopen with safety modifications and county approval .
Newsom ’ s original two-page executive order from March required state residents to heed the directives of the California Department of Public Health and stay home unless they worked in one of 16 critical sectors outlined by the federal government .
Californians were allowed to go out for food , prescriptions and healthcare but were told to maintain a distance of at least six feet from one another .
“ The California Department of Public Health looks to establish consistency across @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we mitigate the impact of COVID-19 , ” the order said .
“ Our goal is simple , we want to bend the curve and disrupt the spread of the virus.
” At the time , Newsom expressed confidence that Californians would “ meet the moment ” and stay home to protect public health .
Health experts say the order succeeded in allowing the state to avoid an immediate surge of COVID-19 patients , buying enough time to purchase more personal protective equipment and prepare the healthcare system .
But that success came @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 5.5 million Californians have filed for unemployment benefits , and the most recent state data show a jobless rate of 16.3 % in May .
As political pressure grew , the Newsom administration on April 14 introduced six indicators that the state would need to meet before beginning to loosen the order .
Two weeks later , on April 28 , the governor unveiled a four-stage reopening plan , that would allow certain businesses deemed a lower risk for transmission to open first .
Then , on May 8 , without a detailed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ criteria had been met , the governor began implementing his plan and easing the restrictions .
Bookstores , music stores , toy stores , florists , sporting-goods stores and other retailers opened for pickup , and retail manufacturing and logistics were allowed to resume operations statewide .
Amid protests in Orange County and the state Capitol and open revolt in several rural communities , the governor also gave more power back to counties , allowing areas that had met certain guidelines for testing capacity and slower growth in positive cases to reopen more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to move at their own pace once they met benchmarks set by the state rapidly sped up the reopening process in May .
Ten days after implementing the original criteria for counties to reopen , the governor loosened the rules to let most counties in the state qualify to open restaurant dining rooms , shopping malls and other businesses .
By the end of May , at least 47 of 58 California counties had met the state ’ s standards and began transitioning to the third stage of the governor ’ s reopening @ @ @ @ @ @ @ salons , barbershops and church services , Newsom said .
In the second week of June , gyms , day camps , bars and some professional sports were reopening across California .
When Newsom adopted the stay-at-home order in March , the state health department reported 675 positive cases and 16 deaths from the coronavirus in California .
On Monday , state officials reported more than 178,000 confirmed cases and 5,500 deaths .
Newsom last week offered a full-throated defense of his decision-making .
“ Localism is determinative , ” Newsom reiterated , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ conferences on the coronavirus to emphasize his position that counties — and not the state — should determine when it ’ s safe to reopen .
“ We have to recognize you can ’ t be in a permanent state where people are locked away — for months and months and months and months on end — to see lives and livelihoods completely destroyed , without considering the health impact of those decisions as well , ” Newsom said .
Newsom has frequently compared reopening businesses to gradually lighting a room with a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about how the state may need to “ toggle back ” but has not provided details on what would happen if problems persisted in particular counties .
Dr. Mark Ghaly , secretary of California ’ s Health and Human Services Agency , said Monday that the Newsom administration is working with Los Angeles and 10 other counties that are experiencing increases in cases , running low on intensive care unit beds or otherwise failing to meet some of the regional criteria set by the state to reopen businesses and address the pandemic .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ support , such as additional healthcare workers or ventilators .
During an appearance last week on “ The Late Late Show with James Corden , ” Newsom was asked what it would take for him to consider reinstating his stay-at-home order .
He pointed to spikes in the state ’ s data .
“ I think to start seeing a sharp increase in the positivity rates , the percentage of people that are testing positive , to see a big spike in hospitalizations and in ICUs , ” Newsom said .
“ California @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
But again , if we start to see spikes over a consistent period of time , that ’ s when we ’ ll start putting that dimmer switch [ on ] and start pulling back.
” As Newsom has shifted responsibility for reopening to local leaders , state Sen. Steve Glazer ( D-Orinda ) said he believes it ’ s the state ’ s responsibility to improve its data to quickly and accurately pinpoint outbreaks and stop the spread of the virus .
“ I don ’ t believe you can count @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tests , ” Glazer said .
“ The state should know the rate of infection and changes , and the state should know where the spread is coming from .
Today , 90 days in , a positivity rate on a test that one chooses to take is not community surveillance by any means.
” The Bay Area lawmaker also said hospitalization data do not help officials take action to immediately contain outbreaks because patients are sometimes hospitalized weeks after being infected .
Glazer commended the governor ’ s work but said the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ makes him worried that California could be reopening too quickly .
Smith , the former California Department of Public Health director , questioned whether residents will abide by stay-at-home orders again if cases spike , or if local leaders will have the political willpower to force people indoors again without Newsom leading the way .
Protesters have targeted local health officials , sometimes rallying outside their homes , in an effort to push back against coronavirus restrictions .
“ In the next couple of weeks , things are either going to start to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to reach a tipping point , ” Smith said .
“ If we do need to reinstitute , even at county levels , we need that strong leadership , that consistent message coming from the governor .
He can ’ t just not be present .
”

Gov. Gavin Newsom on Thursday ordered all Californians to wear face coverings while in public.
Gov. Gavin Newsom stood in the state’s emergency operations center March 19 and announced an executive order that would change the course of California history, requiring residents to remain in their homes as the coronavirus spread around the world.
California became the first state to tell all residents to stay at home amid the pandemic. Newsom’s decision sparked some controversy and a few lawsuits but has been credited with slowing the spread of the coronavirus and allowing California to avoid larger death tolls seen in states with early outbreaks, such as New York and New Jersey.
Now, three months later, the governor is in the middle of a test that could prove even more challenging than closing California: reopening it.
Newsom has given counties the green light to open their business districts again, with high-risk places such as hair and nail salons, gyms and bars opening their doors with myriad safety rules.
Advertisement
1 / 46 Newport Beach police enforce closures along the Wedge in Newport Beach, a popular surf spot. (Irfan Khan/Los Angeles Times) 2 / 46 Spectators along the Wedge in Newport Beach, a surf spot, on July 4. (Irfan Khan/Los Angeles Times) 3 / 46 A bicyclist rides along Highland Avenue with the pier closed to beachgoers on July 3 in Manhattan Beach. (Gary Coronado/Los Angeles Times) 4 / 46 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) 5 / 46 A bicyclist with her child rides along the closed bike path on July 3 in Manhattan Beach. (Gary Coronado/Los Angeles Times) 6 / 46 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) 7 / 46 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) 8 / 46 Dusk sets in over the the Santa Monica Pier on Friday. (Gina Ferazzi/Los Angeles Times) 9 / 46 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) 10 / 46 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) 11 / 46 Dr. Jamie Taylor checks the ventilators at the refashioned St. Vincent Hospital. (Wally Skalij/Los Angeles Times) 12 / 46 Shoppers and mannequins wear protective masks in the Los Angeles downtown garment district on Thursday. (Luis Sinco/Los Angeles Times) 13 / 46 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) 14 / 46 LAPD officers E. Rosales, left, and D. Castro, patrol the Metro Red Line at the Hollywood/Highland Metro Station Thursday. (Allen J. Schaben/Los Angeles Times) 15 / 46 Visitors wear protective masks while walking through historic Olvera Street in downtown Los Angeles on Thursday. (Luis Sinco/Los Angeles Times) 16 / 46 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) 17 / 46 A woman adjusts a protective mask while walkiing along Atlantic Avenue in Long Beach. (Luis Sinco/Los Angeles Ti mes) 18 / 46 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) 19 / 46 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) 20 / 46 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) 21 / 46 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) 22 / 46 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) 23 / 46 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) 24 / 46 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) 25 / 46 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) 26 / 46 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) 27 / 46 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) 28 / 46 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) 29 / 46 Maricela Moreno, manager at El Tarasco in Marina del Rey, disinfects cash at the restaurant. (Myung J. Chun / Los Angeles Times) 30 / 46 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) 31 / 46 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) 32 / 46 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) 33 / 46 Hikers and bikers traverse the Santa Fe Dam trail as county parks officially reopen to the public. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times) 34 / 46 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) 35 / 46 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) 36 / 46 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) 37 / 46 Professional dog walker Lindsay Rojas takes golden retrievers Gomez, left, and Nikki for a stroll along Le Bourget Avenue in Culver City. (Mel Melcon / Los Angeles Times) 38 / 46 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) 39 / 46 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) 40 / 46 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) 41 / 46 Crew members of a Hainan Airlines flight walk through the Tom Bradley International Terminal at Los Angeles International Airport. (Al Seib/Los Angeles Times) 42 / 46 A woman wearing a protective mask walks past a shuttered business in Long Beach. (Luis Sinco/Los Angeles Times) 43 / 46 Thousands of rental cars are stored at Dodger Stadium as the coronavirus crisis has caused rentals to nosedive. (Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times) 44 / 46 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) 45 / 46 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) 46 / 46 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)
The pace of reopening has drawn criticism from some. But even as COVID-19 case numbers and hospitalizations soar, the Democratic governor and his health team insist that the data are in line with their expectations and the state is equipped to handle new cases.
“We are confident in our capacity, in the short run, to meet the needs of those most in need in the state of California,” Newsom said Wednesday.
In a sign that Newsom and his health advisors are worried that residents aren’t carefully stepping back into the world, the administration ordered all Californians to wear face coverings while in public or high-risk settings.
The move underscores the fluid nature of reopening and is a sign that the governor will need to constantly monitor — and may need to refine — California’s coronavirus strategy as metrics change and if new outbreaks occur.
With many of the restrictions loosened, the state is at another inflection point in the crisis, with more difficult decisions ahead.
Advertisement
“It absolutely worked, there’s no question,” Dr. Karen Smith, an infectious disease specialist and former director of the California Department of Public Health, said of the governor’s stay-at-home order. “Unfortunately and predictably, as we release people to go back to more of a normal life, you’re starting to see increases in cases.”
Newsom held fast to his executive order for seven weeks as the economy faltered and political pressure mounted for him to end what critics described as a draconian rule. But after weeks of stable hospitalizations and growing pushback against restrictions, the governor altered his approach in May — issuing more than a dozen changes to his stay-at-home order and guidance allowing businesses to reopen with safety modifications and county approval.
Newsom’s original two-page executive order from March required state residents to heed the directives of the California Department of Public Health and stay home unless they worked in one of 16 critical sectors outlined by the federal government. Californians were allowed to go out for food, prescriptions and healthcare but were told to maintain a distance of at least six feet from one another.
“The California Department of Public Health looks to establish consistency across the state in order to ensure that we mitigate the impact of COVID-19,” the order said. “Our goal is simple, we want to bend the curve and disrupt the spread of the virus.”
At the time, Newsom expressed confidence that Californians would “meet the moment” and stay home to protect public health.
Health experts say the order succeeded in allowing the state to avoid an immediate surge of COVID-19 patients, buying enough time to purchase more personal protective equipment and prepare the healthcare system.
But that success came with an economic cost: More than 5.5 million Californians have filed for unemployment benefits, and the most recent state data show a jobless rate of 16.3% in May.
As political pressure grew, the Newsom administration on April 14 introduced six indicators that the state would need to meet before beginning to loosen the order. Two weeks later, on April 28, the governor unveiled a four-stage reopening plan, that would allow certain businesses deemed a lower risk for transmission to open first.
Then, on May 8, without a detailed accounting of how the administration’s criteria had been met, the governor began implementing his plan and easing the restrictions. Bookstores, music stores, toy stores, florists, sporting-goods stores and other retailers opened for pickup, and retail manufacturing and logistics were allowed to resume operations statewide.
Amid protests in Orange County and the state Capitol and open revolt in several rural communities, the governor also gave more power back to counties, allowing areas that had met certain guidelines for testing capacity and slower growth in positive cases to reopen more quickly.
The decision to allow counties to move at their own pace once they met benchmarks set by the state rapidly sped up the reopening process in May. Ten days after implementing the original criteria for counties to reopen, the governor loosened the rules to let most counties in the state qualify to open restaurant dining rooms, shopping malls and other businesses.
By the end of May, at least 47 of 58 California counties had met the state’s standards and began transitioning to the third stage of the governor’s reopening plans, with the return of hair salons, barbershops and church services, Newsom said. In the second week of June, gyms, day camps, bars and some professional sports were reopening across California.
When Newsom adopted the stay-at-home order in March, the state health department reported 675 positive cases and 16 deaths from the coronavirus in California. On Wednesday, state officials reported more than 190,000 confirmed cases and 5,632 deaths.
Newsom last week offered a full-throated defense of his decision-making.
“Localism is determinative,” Newsom reiterated, a line frequently used at his news conferences on the coronavirus to emphasize his position that counties — and not the state — should determine when it’s safe to reopen.
“We have to recognize you can’t be in a permanent state where people are locked away — for months and months and months and months on end — to see lives and livelihoods completely destroyed, without considering the health impact of those decisions as well,” Newsom said.
Newsom has frequently compared reopening businesses to gradually lighting a room with a dimmer switch. He has also talked about how the state may need to “toggle back” but has not provided details on what would happen if problems persisted in particular counties.
Dr. Mark Ghaly, secretary of California’s Health and Human Services Agency, said Monday that the Newsom administration is working with Los Angeles and 10 other counties that are experiencing increases in cases, running low on intensive care unit beds or otherwise failing to meet some of the regional criteria set by the state to reopen businesses and address the pandemic . Ghaly said the administration is offering state support, such as additional healthcare workers or ventilators.
During an appearance last week on “The Late Late Show with James Corden,” Newsom was asked what it would take for him to consider reinstating his stay-at-home order. He pointed to spikes in the state’s data.
“I think to start seeing a sharp increase in the positivity rates, the percentage of people that are testing positive, to see a big spike in hospitalizations and in ICUs,” Newsom said. “California is very well prepared at the moment. But again, if we start to see spikes over a consistent period of time, that’s when we’ll start putting that dimmer switch [on] and start pulling back.”
As Newsom has shifted responsibility for reopening to local leaders, state Sen. Steve Glazer (D-Orinda) said he believes it’s the state’s responsibility to improve its data to quickly and accurately pinpoint outbreaks and stop the spread of the virus.
“I don’t believe you can count on positivity rates based on just counting tests,” Glazer said. “The state should know the rate of infection and changes, and the state should know where the spread is coming from. Today, 90 days in, a positivity rate on a test that one chooses to take is not community surveillance by any means.”
The Bay Area lawmaker also said hospitalization data do not help officials take action to immediately contain outbreaks because patients are sometimes hospitalized weeks after being infected. Glazer commended the governor’s work but said the lack of data at the state level makes him worried that California could be reopening too quickly.
Smith, the former California Department of Public Health director, questioned whether residents will abide by stay-at-home orders again if cases spike, or if local leaders will have the political willpower to force people indoors again without Newsom leading the way. Protesters have targeted local health officials, sometimes rallying outside their homes, in an effort to push back against coronavirus restrictions.
“In the next couple of weeks, things are either going to start to get better or we’re going to reach a tipping point,” Smith said. “If we do need to reinstitute, even at county levels, we need that strong leadership, that consistent message coming from the governor. He can’t just not be present.”


latimes--2020-06-24--California high-speed rail board delays key finance plan after lawmakers push back

Following a stunning rebuke by the State Assembly , the board of California ’ s high-speed rail authority this week put off approving a crucial 2020 business plan , a sign it has agreed to reassess the project ’ s current blueprint .
The authority ’ s board had planned to routinely approve the business plan at a meeting scheduled for Thursday and submit it to the Legislature as it has done every two years over the last decade .
The plan formally laid out a $ 20.4 billion blueprint to build a partial operating system in the San Joaquin @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would be issued this year .
But earlier this month , the Assembly approved a resolution that called on the rail authority to delay that contract and reassess the entire strategy of putting all of the remaining bullet train funds into the single stretch of high speed rail between Bakersfield and Merced .
The resolution attracted 67 of the 79 sitting members of the Assembly as cosponsors , including a majority of the Democrats who have never previously opposed any aspect of the rail authority ’ s development of the $ 80 billion @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ) set the process in motion last year , when he proposed shifting about $ 5 billion of the bullet train funds from the Central Valley to segments in the Bay Area and Southern California , including the Burbank to Anaheim corridor that the bullet train would eventually use .
Metrolink outlined a plan that would double ridership and sharply reduce emissions if it could fund an electrified system , drawing riders out of cars on the heavily congested I-5 corridor .
The idea has gained support among members who worry an isolated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the state ’ s agricultural heartland would fail to attract enough riders to break even or improve the region ’ s notoriously bad air quality .
In the adoption of the resolution on June 11 , Democrats and Republicans lambasted the rail authority ’ s performance .
“ I have personally lost all confidence in this group to develop and deliver what they promise , ” said Transportation Committee Chairman Jim Frazier ( D-Discovery Bay ) before the vote .
“ From inconsistent cost estimates to impossible program schedules , they provide fictional @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Assembly vote , the delay was decided in discussions between Rendon , Gov .
Gavin Newsom and the rail authority board , according to sources knowledgeable about the matter who were not authorized to speak to the press .
Under state law , the rail authority is supposed to send the business plan to the Legislature in the summer , but a legislative rider was put in a budget bill that extended the deadline until the end of the year .
Rail authority spokeswoman Annie Parker attributed the delay to both more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on its operations .
“ This additional time will allow for the more robust analysis we have been discussing with both the Legislature and our stakeholders given the current COVID-19 pandemic , ” she said .
“ We will use this time to review the project ’ s status and identify a path forward in partnership with policymakers and the public , while at the same time , working to ensure that we continue to meet our federal obligations and the requirements of Proposition 1A.
” In a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ authority vice chairman Tom Richards , a Fresno developer , said the authority “ shares your concerns as well as those of chair Frazier ’ s and his colleagues.
” Richards pledged to conduct further analysis of the project ’ s plans .
The contrite language reflects a growing reality that fighting 85 % of Assembly lawmakers who cosponsored the resolution would be “ fruitless.
” The rail authority was originally planning to issue the massive contract to install an electrified signal and track system in the Central Valley by this summer but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
It remains unclear whether the delay in the business plan takes the contract off the table for the rest of this year .
It also remains unclear what the Senate will do , but some officials close to the matter say it is unlikely that Senate leader Toni Atkins ( D-San Diego ) will intervene .
It was Rendon and Newsom who struck the current deal and may be the key players in any future deal .
The rail authority will need Rendon and other Assembly members ’ support to appropriate about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by early next year for continuing work in the Central Valley , regardless of what position the Senate takes .
During the coming months , the rail authority will come under renewed pressure to conduct an independent assessment of its estimates of ridership on a future Merced to Bakersfield system .
Even under the best scenarios , such an operation would require a prohibited state subsidy .
Apart from the political controversy over a subsidy for the rail authority ’ s plan , the matter is awaiting a ruling by a state appeals @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Flashman , an attorney who represents plaintiffs who brought the suit , said he believes “ the authority is probably working behind the scenes with legislators to put together a substitute business plan.
” Flashman said he suspects that plan would only fund completion of 119 miles of track legally required under a federal grant agreement and then hand that system over for use by Amtrak .
“ I suspect the deal would funnel the rest of the bond funds to Northern and Southern California local transit improvement projects , ” he said @

Following a stunning rebuke by the State Assembly, the board of California’s high-speed rail authority this week put off approving a crucial 2020 business plan, a sign it has agreed to reassess the project’s current blueprint.
The authority’s board had planned to routinely approve the business plan at a meeting scheduled for Thursday and submit it to the Legislature as it has done every two years over the last decade.
The plan formally laid out a $20.4 billion blueprint to build a partial operating system in the San Joaquin Valley under a massive 30-year contract that would be issued this year.
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But earlier this month, the Assembly approved a resolution that called on the rail authority to delay that contract and reassess the entire strategy of putting all of the remaining bullet train funds into the single stretch of high speed rail between Bakersfield and Merced.
The resolution attracted 67 of the 79 sitting members of the Assembly as cosponsors, including a majority of the Democrats who have never previously opposed any aspect of the rail authority’s development of the $80 billion system.
Speaker Anthony Rendon (D-Lakewood) set the process in motion last year, when he proposed shifting about $5 billion of the bullet train funds from the Central Valley to segments in the Bay Area and Southern California, including the Burbank to Anaheim corridor that the bullet train would eventually use.
Metrolink outlined a plan that would double ridership and sharply reduce emissions if it could fund an electrified system, drawing riders out of cars on the heavily congested I-5 corridor.
The idea has gained support among members who worry an isolated bullet train system between medium-sized cities in the state’s agricultural heartland would fail to attract enough riders to break even or improve the region’s notoriously bad air quality.
In the adoption of the resolution on June 11, Democrats and Republicans lambasted the rail authority’s performance.
“I have personally lost all confidence in this group to develop and deliver what they promise,” said Transportation Committee Chairman Jim Frazier (D-Discovery Bay) before the vote. “From inconsistent cost estimates to impossible program schedules, they provide fictional ridership expectations and exaggerated benefits.”
Following the Assembly vote, the delay was decided in discussions between Rendon, Gov. Gavin Newsom and the rail authority board, according to sources knowledgeable about the matter who were not authorized to speak to the press. Under state law, the rail authority is supposed to send the business plan to the Legislature in the summer, but a legislative rider was put in a budget bill that extended the deadline until the end of the year.
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Rail authority spokeswoman Annie Parker attributed the delay to both more time for analysis but also to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on its operations.
“This additional time will allow for the more robust analysis we have been discussing with both the Legislature and our stakeholders given the current COVID-19 pandemic,” she said. “We will use this time to review the project’s status and identify a path forward in partnership with policymakers and the public, while at the same time, working to ensure that we continue to meet our federal obligations and the requirements of Proposition 1A.”
In a letter on Monday to Rendon, rail authority vice chairman Tom Richards, a Fresno developer, said the authority “shares your concerns as well as those of chair Frazier’s and his colleagues.” Richards pledged to conduct further analysis of the project’s plans.
The contrite language reflects a growing reality that fighting 85% of Assembly lawmakers who cosponsored the resolution would be “fruitless.”
The rail authority was originally planning to issue the massive contract to install an electrified signal and track system in the Central Valley by this summer but had indicated the pandemic delayed that decision. It remains unclear whether the delay in the business plan takes the contract off the table for the rest of this year.
It also remains unclear what the Senate will do, but some officials close to the matter say it is unlikely that Senate leader Toni Atkins (D-San Diego) will intervene. It was Rendon and Newsom who struck the current deal and may be the key players in any future deal.
The rail authority will need Rendon and other Assembly members’ support to appropriate about $4.5 billion out of bond funds by early next year for continuing work in the Central Valley, regardless of what position the Senate takes.
During the coming months, the rail authority will come under renewed pressure to conduct an independent assessment of its estimates of ridership on a future Merced to Bakersfield system. Even under the best scenarios, such an operation would require a prohibited state subsidy.
Apart from the political controversy over a subsidy for the rail authority’s plan, the matter is awaiting a ruling by a state appeals panel in a civil suit.
Stuart Flashman, an attorney who represents plaintiffs who brought the suit, said he believes “the authority is probably working behind the scenes with legislators to put together a substitute business plan.”
Flashman said he suspects that plan would only fund completion of 119 miles of track legally required under a federal grant agreement and then hand that system over for use by Amtrak.
“I suspect the deal would funnel the rest of the bond funds to Northern and Southern California local transit improvement projects,” he said.