latimes--2020-01-22--How a pair of bald eagles became Southern California rock stars

The hottest 24/7 reality show in Southern California right now could be called “ The Real Bald Eagles of Big Bear Lake.
” As many as 5,000 people at any moment are watching eagles nicknamed Jackie and Shadow on a live-streaming webcam in the mountain town about 100 miles northeast of downtown L.A. For those who haven ’ t tuned in to the webcam posted on YouTube , the camera offers a startling view into the eagle nest 120 feet above the lake in a Jeffrey pine tree .
It ’ s a crisp close-up no human could see from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the scope .
Currently the nest holds two eggs .
By day , you can watch the eagles ( Jackie , the female , is the larger of the two ) taking turns sitting on the nest , which measures 5 feet across and about 5 feet deep .
In the background you can see the blue water of the lake .
By night , thanks to an infrared light the birds can ’ t detect , viewers can watch the somewhat static form of a large white head firmly tucked into its @ @ @ @ @ @ @ migrate to Big Bear Lake and the surrounding San Bernardino National Forest , and return to their homes farther north .
Only these two have become year-round Big Bear Lake residents .
The nonprofit Friends of Big Bear Valley , whose mission is to safeguard the local habitat and the creatures in it , paid about $ 10,000 to install the camera five years ago , and it ’ s been a hit ever since .
Each year , the organization spends roughly the same amount of money to upgrade the camera and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ executive director Sandy Steers said the webcam serves as a powerful educational tool , one that has attracted the attention of thousands of fans .
“ What better way to educate people than to show them what ’ s going on in the nest ?
” she said .
What ’ s going on in the nest is this : Jackie laid two eggs this month , one on Jan. 8 and a second on Jan. 11 .
Some dedicated viewers got to witness the events as they happened .
The arrival of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stories in the L.A. Times .
While the eggs are incubating , which takes about 35 days , the area far below the nest , including the Grays Peak Trail and the Grout Bay Picnic Area , has been closed to the public since Dec. 1 .
Human activity could threaten the eagles and cause them to abandon the nest and the eggs , according to a news release by the San Bernardino National Forest .
Once the chicks hatch , the parents stay close to help feed them and impart hunting skills @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
It takes five years for eagles to gain the white head and tail , and be ready to mate .
Details that explain the goings-on in the nest day by day are posted on the organization ’ s Facebook page .
The eggs are expected to hatch around Valentine ’ s Day .
If the chicks thrive , you can expect them to fledge about 10 to 12 weeks later .
Last year , two eggs were laid in the nest .
However only one chick survived ; the other died at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be hypothermia after a late-season storm brought freezing rain and snow over Memorial Day weekend .
The webcam stays live year-round , though the eagles move deeper in the forest in May or June , after their chicks have left the nest for good .
The adult eagles typically return to check on the nest in fall .
What has made these birds so popular over the years ?
“ I think everybody was looking for something positive to be around , ” Steers says .
“ People longed for something to cheer @ @ @

The hottest 24/7 reality show in Southern California right now could be called “The Real Bald Eagles of Big Bear Lake.” As many as 5,000 people at any moment are watching eagles nicknamed Jackie and Shadow on a live-streaming webcam in the mountain town about 100 miles northeast of downtown L.A.
It’s highly addictive — and highly adorable.
For those who haven’t tuned in to the webcam feed posted on YouTube, the camera offers a startling view into the eagle nest 120 feet above the lake in a Jeffrey pine tree. It’s a crisp close-up no human could see from the ground, no matter how powerful the scope.
Currently the nest holds two eggs. By day, you can watch the eagles (Jackie, the female, is the larger of the two) taking turns sitting on the nest, which measures 5 feet across and about 5 feet deep. In the background you can see the blue water of the lake. By night, thanks to an infrared light the birds can’t detect, viewers can watch the somewhat static form of a large white head firmly tucked into its brown feathered body.
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Other bald eagles migrate to Big Bear Lake and the surrounding San Bernardino National Forest, and return to their homes farther north. Only these two have become year-round Big Bear Lake residents.
The nonprofit Friends of Big Bear Valley, whose mission is to safeguard the local habitat and the creatures in it, paid about $10,000 to install the camera five years ago, and it’s been a hit ever since. Each year, the organization spends roughly the same amount to upgrade the camera and its solar-powered battery system.
Biologist and executive director Sandy Steers said the webcam serves as a powerful educational tool, one that has attracted the attention of thousands of fans.
“What better way to educate people than to show them what’s going on in the nest?” she asked.
What’s going on in the nest is this: Jackie laid two eggs this month, one on Jan. 8 and a second on Jan. 11. Some dedicated viewers got to witness the events as they happened. The arrival of each egg made local news, including stories in the L.A. Times.
While the eggs are incubating, which takes about 35 days, the area far below the nest, including the Grays Peak Trail and the Grout Bay Picnic Area, has been closed to the public since Dec. 1. Human activity could threaten the eagles and cause them to abandon the nest and the eggs, according to a news release by the San Bernardino National Forest.
Advertisement
Once the chicks hatch, the parents stay close to help feed them and impart hunting skills before the young ones leave the area. It takes five years for eagles to gain the white head and tail, and be ready to mate.
Details that explain the goings-on in the nest day by day are posted on the organization’s Facebook page.
The eggs are expected to hatch around Valentine’s Day. If the chicks thrive, you can expect them to fledge about 10 to 12 weeks later. Last year, two eggs were laid in the nest. However only one chick survived; the other died after six weeks of what was believed to be hypothermia after a late-season storm brought freezing rain and snow over Memorial Day weekend.
The webcam stays live year-round, though the eagles move deeper in the forest in May or June, after their chicks have left the nest for good. The adult eagles typically return to check on the nest in fall.
What has made these birds so popular over the years?
“I think everybody was looking for something positive to be around,” Steers says. “People longed for something to cheer for.”
Info: Friends of Big Bear Valley eagle webcam, friendsofbigbearvalley.org, and Facebook page.


latimes--2020-01-22--Harvey Weinstein trial begins with graphic descriptions of alleged attacks

Harvey Weinstein sat quietly in a packed Manhattan courtroom Wednesday morning listening as prosecutors described the Hollywood titan as a sexual predator who for decades used his influence and imposing stature to overpower women , assault them and force their silence .
Weinstein , 67 , is charged in New York with first-degree rape , two counts of predatory sexual assault , one count of first-degree sexual assault and one count of third-degree rape .
The charges stem from the alleged 2006 rape of Mimi Haleyi , a former employee of Weinstein ’ s production company , and an alleged @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the course of more than an hour Wednesday , Manhattan Assistant Dist .
Atty .
Meghan Hast laid out for jurors nearly 30 years of Weinstein ’ s alleged mistreatment of women in often graphic detail .
“ The man seated right there was not just a titan in Hollywood , he was a rapist , sexually assaulting these women when they refused to comply with his desires and his orders and then using his power and prestige in the entertainment industry to ensure their silence , ” Hast said during her opening @ @ @ @ @ @ @ entertainment firm Miramax that went on to shepherd a number of blockbuster and critically acclaimed films from the 1990s on — has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing , despite allegations of sexual misconduct and outright assault from more than 80 women in several countries .
His legal team , now in its third incarnation since his arrest 18 months ago , has repeatedly claimed the encounters that led to charges in New York were consensual .
Hast countered their assertion of consent in her scathing opening statements , asserting that Weinstein ’ s series @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with the rape of Annabella Sciorra , a young actress from Brooklyn who would later go on to star in “ The Sopranos ” .
Hast said Weinstein groomed the actress after meeting her at an industry event , strong arming her into playing a role she didn ’ t want and sending her a care package with Valium , which she began using .
Months later , he forced himself into her apartment after giving her a ride home from a New York restaurant and raped her , Hast said .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ She told him no , but Harvey Weinstein was undeterred , ” Hast said .
“ He left her emotionally and physically destroyed , passed out on the floor of her bedroom.
” After the assault , the prosecutor said , Weinstein forced Sciorra to “ live in terror ” for decades .
Less than a year after the rape , he sought her out in London , where she was filming a movie .
He “ badgered ” her with messages left at the hotel , sent cars for her and even @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
In 2006 , Haleyi was introduced to Weinstein at the Cannes Film Festival and soon began working as a production assistant on one of his shows .
Over the months that followed , Weinstein pressured her to take trips with him to Paris and Los Angeles .
Eventually , Haleyi accepted an invitation to Weinstein ’ s apartment where he forced oral sex on her , Hast said .
After the assault , Haleyi did not attend the premiere of Weinstein ’ s movie “ Clerks 2 '' in Los Angeles @ @ @ @ @ @ @ enraged .
This , Hast alleges , was part of the producer ’ s tactic aimed to keep women silent .
“ You will come to see that the defendant kept his rape victims close , as close as he could , to make sure that they wouldn ’ t report , ” Hast told jurors .
“ Assault , and then immediately reach out , to make sure that his calculations were right , and that he had gotten away with it.
” Weeks after the first assault , Haleyi met Weinstein @ @ @ @ @ @ @ attacked her again , Hast said .
A third woman , whom the Los Angeles Times is not naming because she has said she is a sexual assault victim , moved to Los Angeles at 25 years old hoping to make it in Hollywood .
A few years later , in 2013 , Hast said the woman was a “ starving actress ” when she met Weinstein at an industry party .
She accompanied him to a hotel bar to talk , and later a hotel room , where the woman agreed to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that he was “ old enough to be her father , significantly overweight and sloppy looking , ” Hast said .
During another meeting , Hast alleges Weinstein grabbed the woman by the arms , pulled her into the bedroom and forced oral sex on her , Hast said .
Hast said the woman tried to have some sort of relationship with Weinstein out of fear that spurning him may harm her career .
But , the prosecutor alleges , the attacks continued .
On March 18 , 2013 , the woman met @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on Lexington Avenue in Manhattan , hoping to introduce a friend from the industry to him .
It was her first trip to New York City .
Weinstein checked into a room at the hotel and once inside , undressed her , ordered her onto the bed and raped her , Hast said .
Before the attack , the prosecutor added , Weinstein injected himself with some type of erection medication .
He allegedly raped her a second time at a hotel in Los Angeles .
After the attack , Weinstein told the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ so attractive , I couldn ’ t resist you , ” Hast told jurors .
With little in the way of forensic evidence or independent witnesses expected to be presented , legal experts believe the case against Weinstein could serve as a litmus test of the # MeToo movement , with the jury ’ s decision largely coming down to whether or not they find the six women who have agreed to testify more credible than the defense offered by their accused rapist .
Prosecutors are hoping the women ’ s testimony will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a pattern — the mogul would lure them in with a promise that he could give them roles or film industry jobs , often insisting that a business meeting take place in a hotel room .
Once alone , Weinstein would allegedly either expose himself to the women , request massages or , according to some accusers , physically force himself on them .
During his opening statements , defense attorney Damon Cheronis tried to portray Weinstein ’ s relationships with his accusers as consensual , and even in some cases , loving @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said would be “ hundreds ” of e-mails , text messages and other exchanges between Weinstein and several of the women who have made claims against him that show them staying in touch with their alleged rapist long after the attacks were said to have taken place .
“ If you drown out the noise and you listen to the cross-examinations , you are going to know what Miss Hast told you does not hold water , ” he said .
The Chicago attorney displayed a number of seemingly friendly exchanges between Haleyi @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , more than two years after she said he sexually assaulted her in his New York apartment .
Cheronis also pointed to a similar exchange involving the unnamed woman who accused Weinstein of assault in New York in 2013 , noting that she wrote a number of “ notes ” on her cell phone , akin to a diary , where she described Weinstein as a “ casual boyfriend ” long after she was allegedly assaulted by him inside a Manhattan hotel .
Cheronis also pointed to a number of movie premieres the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ after the alleged assault .
“ You can lie to the state .
You can lie to the police .
You can lie to anybody .
But you can ’ t lie to yourself , ” he said of her notes .
Prosecutors , and criminal justice experts , have previously scoffed at the line of attack raised by Cheronis , noting that there is not a uniform way rape victims behave after an assault .
In the case of Weinstein , the women may have also stayed close to him out of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their industry , experts have said .
One of the unidentified women expected to testify against Weinstein in New York is at the center of a criminal case against him in Los Angeles .
The Los Angeles County district attorney ’ s office charged Weinstein with forcible rape , forcible oral copulation , sexual penetration by use of force and sexual battery by restraint , though the case will not proceed until the New York trial is complete .
Eighteen months ago , Weinstein stood tall as he was led into a New @ @ @ @ @ @ @ On Wednesday morning —flanked by attorneys — the Hollywood mogul , who recently underwent back surgery , limped into the Manhattan Criminal Courts Building for his first day in court .
Someone carried a walker , which Weinstein has used during previous court appearances , for him .
Reporters and spectators lined up , shivering , outside the building hoping to gain access to the courtroom before sunrise as the mercury dipped toward 20 degrees .
The 100-seat courtroom was packed full by 9 a.m. , with dozens of reporters and members of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in line for a seat to open up .
Weinstein ’ s legal team has repeatedly tried and failed to have the trial moved out of New York City , citing a “ circus-like atmosphere ” outside the Centre Street courthouse where the case will be heard .
Flash mobs , press conferences from other accusers whose allegations did not result in criminal charges and an appearance by model Gigi Hadid marked the two-week jury selection process .

Harvey Weinstein arrives at the Manhattan Criminal Court for opening statements in his rape and sexual assault trial in New York City.
Harvey Weinstein sat quietly in a packed Manhattan courtroom Wednesday morning listening as prosecutors described the Hollywood titan as a sexual predator who for decades used his influence and imposing stature to overpower women, assault them and force their silence.
Weinstein, 67, is charged in New York with first-degree rape, two counts of predatory sexual assault, one count of first-degree sexual assault and one count of third-degree rape. The charges stem from the alleged 2006 rape of Mimi Haleyi, a former employee of Weinstein’s production company, and an alleged 2013 assault against another woman.
For the record: An earlier version of this article noted that the Los Angeles Times was not naming one of Harvey Weinstein’s accusers, a woman who had moved to Los Angeles at 25, because she is a rape victim. The woman has made a sexual assault allegation against Weinstein but her claim has not been proved in court.
Over the course of more than an hour Wednesday, Manhattan Assistant Dist. Atty. Meghan Hast laid out for jurors nearly 30 years of Weinstein’s alleged mistreatment of women in often graphic detail.
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“The man seated right there was not just a titan in Hollywood, he was a rapist, sexually assaulting these women when they refused to comply with his desires and his orders and then using his power and prestige in the entertainment industry to ensure their silence,” Hast said during her opening statements.
Weinstein — who co-founded the entertainment firm Miramax that went on to shepherd a number of blockbuster and critically acclaimed films from the 1990s on — has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing, despite allegations of sexual misconduct and outright assault from more than 80 women in several countries. His legal team, now in its third incarnation since his arrest 18 months ago, has repeatedly claimed the encounters that led to charges in New York were consensual.
Hast countered their assertion of consent in her scathing opening statements, asserting that Weinstein’s series of abuses began in the early 1990s with the rape of Annabella Sciorra, a young actress from Brooklyn who would later go on to star in “The Sopranos”.
Hast said Weinstein groomed the actress after meeting her at an industry event, strong arming her into playing a role she didn’t want and sending her a care package with Valium, which she began using. Months later, he forced himself into her apartment after giving her a ride home from a New York restaurant and raped her, Hast said.
“She told him to get out. She told him no, but Harvey Weinstein was undeterred,” Hast said. “He left her emotionally and physically destroyed, passed out on the floor of her bedroom.”
After the assault, the prosecutor said, Weinstein forced Sciorra to “live in terror” for decades. Less than a year after the rape, he sought her out in London, where she was filming a movie. He “badgered” her with messages left at the hotel, sent cars for her and even showed up at her room, Hast said.
In 2006, Haleyi was introduced to Weinstein at the Cannes Film Festival and soon began working as a production assistant on one of his shows. Over the months that followed, Weinstein pressured her to take trips with him to Paris and Los Angeles. Eventually, Haleyi accepted an invitation to Weinstein’s apartment where he forced oral sex on her, Hast said.
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After the assault, Haleyi did not attend the premiere of Weinstein’s movie “Clerks 2” in Los Angeles and the mogul called her, apparently enraged. This, Hast alleges, was part of the producer’s tactic aimed to keep women silent.
“You will come to see that the defendant kept his rape victims close, as close as he could, to make sure that they wouldn’t report,” Hast told jurors. “Assault, and then immediately reach out, to make sure that his calculations were right, and that he had gotten away with it.”
Weeks after the first assault, Haleyi met Weinstein at a hotel in TriBeCa where he attacked her again, Hast said.
A third woman, whom the Los Angeles Times is not naming because she has said she is a sexual assault victim, moved to Los Angeles at 25 years old hoping to make it in Hollywood. A few years later, in 2013, Hast said the woman was a “starving actress” when she met Weinstein at an industry party.
She accompanied him to a hotel bar to talk, and later a hotel room, where the woman agreed to give him a back massage despite thinking that he was “old enough to be her father, significantly overweight and sloppy looking,” Hast said.
During another meeting, Hast alleges Weinstein grabbed the woman by the arms, pulled her into the bedroom and forced oral sex on her, Hast said.
Hast said the woman tried to have some sort of relationship with Weinstein out of fear that spurning him may harm her career. But, the prosecutor alleges, the attacks continued.
On March 18, 2013, the woman met Weinstein for breakfast at the Doubletree Hotel on Lexington Avenue in Manhattan, hoping to introduce a friend from the industry to him. It was her first trip to New York City.
Weinstein checked into a room at the hotel and once inside, undressed her, ordered her onto the bed and raped her, Hast said. Before the attack, the prosecutor added, Weinstein injected himself with some type of erection medication.
He allegedly raped her a second time at a hotel in Los Angeles. After the attack, Weinstein told the woman: “I just find you so attractive, I couldn’t resist you,” Hast told jurors.
With little in the way of forensic evidence or independent witnesses expected to be presented, legal experts believe the case against Weinstein could serve as a litmus test of the #MeToo movement, with the jury’s decision largely coming down to whether or not they find the six women who have agreed to testify more credible than the defense offered by their accused rapist.
Prosecutors are hoping the women’s testimony will show that Weinstein’s attacks followed a pattern — the mogul would lure them in with a promise that he could give them roles or film industry jobs, often insisting that a business meeting take place in a hotel room.
Once alone, Weinstein would allegedly either expose himself to the women, request massages or, according to some accusers, physically force himself on them.
During his opening statements, defense attorney Damon Cheronis tried to portray Weinstein’s relationships with his accusers as consensual, and even in some cases, loving.
Cheronis highlighted some of what he said would be “hundreds” of e-mails, text messages and other exchanges between Weinstein and several of the women who have made claims against him that show them staying in touch with their alleged rapist long after the attacks were said to have taken place.
“If you drown out the noise and you listen to the cross-examinations, you are going to know what Miss Hast told you does not hold water,” he said.
The Chicago attorney displayed a number of seemingly friendly exchanges between Haleyi and Weinstein, including one in 2008, more than two years after she said he sexually assaulted her in his New York apartment.
Cheronis also pointed to a similar exchange involving the unnamed woman who accused Weinstein of assault in New York in 2013, noting that she wrote a number of “notes” on her cell phone, akin to a diary, where she described Weinstein as a “casual boyfriend” long after she was allegedly assaulted by him inside a Manhattan hotel.
Cheronis also pointed to a number of movie premieres the woman attended as Weinstein’s guest after the alleged assault.
“You can lie to the state. You can lie to the police. You can lie to anybody. But you can’t lie to yourself,” he said of her notes.
Prosecutors, and criminal justice experts, have previously scoffed at the line of attack raised by Cheronis, noting that there is not a uniform way rape victims behave after an assault. In the case of Weinstein, the women may have also stayed close to him out of fear of the influence he wielded in their industry, experts have said.
One of the unidentified women expected to testify against Weinstein in New York is at the center of a criminal case against him in Los Angeles. The Los Angeles County district attorney’s office charged Weinstein with forcible rape, forcible oral copulation, sexual penetration by use of force and sexual battery by restraint, though the case will not proceed until the New York trial is complete.
Eighteen months ago, Weinstein stood tall as he was led into a New York Police Department precinct in handcuffs. On Wednesday morning —flanked by attorneys — the Hollywood mogul, who recently underwent back surgery, limped into the Manhattan Criminal Courts Building for his first day in court. Someone carried a walker, which Weinstein has used during previous court appearances, for him.
Reporters and spectators lined up, shivering, outside the building hoping to gain access to the courtroom before sunrise as the mercury dipped toward 20 degrees. The 100-seat courtroom was packed full by 9 a.m., with dozens of reporters and members of the public stuck in a hallway waiting in line for a seat to open up.
Weinstein’s legal team has repeatedly tried and failed to have the trial moved out of New York City, citing a “circus-like atmosphere” outside the Centre Street courthouse where the case will be heard. Flash mobs, press conferences from other accusers whose allegations did not result in criminal charges and an appearance by model Gigi Hadid marked the two-week jury selection process.


latimes--2020-01-22--California could become America's sports betting capital as rival groups eye November ballot

Two years after the U.S. Supreme Court removed legal barriers to sports betting , California voters could be asked in November to join 14 other states in allowing legal wagers on athletic contests , creating a lucrative industry worth billions of dollars and intense competition among rival gambling interests in the state .
On Tuesday , a coalition of 18 Native American tribes was given state approval to begin circulating petitions for a statewide ballot initiative that would allow sports betting at tribal casinos and horse racing tracks , but not at rival card clubs or on the internet .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ helping ensure sports wagering is restricted to adults over 21 at highly regulated and experienced locations , ” said Mark Macarro , tribal chairman of the Pechanga Band of Luiseño Indians , which operates a casino in Temecula .
“ The measure will also result in new revenue for mental health programs and vital services like public safety and education.
” Card clubs vowed to campaign against the tribal casino proposal and instead support another ballot measure being considered by the California Legislature that would apply to a larger group of gambling interests @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to legalized gambling three times — first through the creation of a statewide lottery in 1984 , then by authorizing tribal casino operations with ballot measures approved in 1998 and 2000 .
The stakes are high both for the state and companies that might be licensed to offer sports betting , said Assemblyman Adam Gray ( D-Merced ) , a leading proponent for legalized sports betting and chairman of the powerful Assembly Governmental Organization Committee .
A legal sports betting market could bring in $ 2.5 billion in gross revenue annually in California @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , according to Chris Grove , a managing director for Eilers and Krejcik Gambling LLC , a research and consulting firm that has provided estimates to California lawmakers .
The market could generate $ 250 million to $ 500 million in tax revenue for the state based on whether the tax rate is 10 % or 20 % , Gray said .
“ It is clear that we are quickly heading in the direction of a well-thought-out , legal sports betting framework here in California , ” Gray said at a hearing earlier @ @ @ @ @ @ @ create this framework to ensure regulatory oversight and provide consumer protections to get this long-standing and emerging activity out of the shadows of the illicit or black market.
” A national wave of new gambling laws was triggered by a 2018 U.S. Supreme Court decision that struck down a federal prohibition on sports wagering .
Betting on football , baseball and other sports is allowed in 14 states , including Nevada , New Jersey and Pennsylvania .
In response to the court decision , Gray and state Sen. Bill Dodd ( D-Napa ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a constitutional amendment on the statewide ballot as early as November to allow sports betting .
To make the ballot , lawmakers have until late June to overcome the divisions in the state gambling industry over how to allow sports betting , and groups such as professional sports leagues and law enforcement are already weighing in .
California is home to the most professional sports teams in the nation , including four National Basketball Assn .
teams and three National Football League franchises , as well as powerhouse university teams from UCLA and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Major League Baseball have told lawmakers that they are supportive of the concept of a constitutional amendment , but want to make sure any new system protects consumers and the integrity of the games .
“ Our view is that sports betting properly regulated can have benefits to bring betting out of the shadows and into the sunlight , to give us tools to allow us to monitor betting on our games and to protect the fans who bet on sports , ” said Dan Spillane , senior vice president and assistant general @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s hearing at the state Capitol .
Pro league representatives said any system should include consumer protections , including the vetting of operators , age restrictions , gambling addiction programs and requirements that the sports leagues are the sources of data used to set odds and settle bets .
California ’ s system should also seek to allow betting over the internet and smartphones using state-licensed sites so the legal system can compete and reduce the black market , league officials say .
Because MLB has five teams in California , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s really important that California get it right , particularly because this will be the largest betting market in the country and it will be a state that other states look to , ” Brian Seeley , a senior league vice president and deputy general counsel for Major League Baseball , told lawmakers this month .
Online gambling can also be lucrative for a state .
New Jersey saw some $ 2.9 billion in sports bets at retail and online sportsbooks in the first year after it began allowing the wagering in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the money wagered online , Grove said .
“ It ’ s clear that if we truly want to take illegal sports betting out of the shadows , there needs to be an online component for those who won ’ t patronize brick-and-mortar outlets , ” Dodd said .
“ Without that , it will remain largely unregulated , continue to pose the risk of fraud and fail to generate funds for education or help with problem gambling.
” Tribal leaders dispute that mobile betting should be allowed and their initiative would allow @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , where patrons might be more likely to participate in other gambling activities as well .
Security and privacy issues have also been cited by opponents of mobile betting .
“ Voters have very real and serious concerns about mobile sports betting and would be highly likely to oppose a measure that allows online betting , ” said Jacob Mejia , a spokesman for the coalition of tribal casino operators , who added that the tribes don ’ t rule out allowing online betting in the future .
Legal experts say federal law @ @ @ @ @ @ @ obstacle to offering internet betting .
The proposed initiative would also expand tribal-state compact powers to allow craps and roulette at tribal casinos .
The tribes ’ initiative would create a 10 % tax on sports gaming revenue at the racetracks , with the state ’ s share of revenue at the tribal casinos to at least cover regulatory costs subject to negotiations with the governor to amend existing tribal compacts .
The measure has a good chance of qualifying for the ballot given the deep pockets of tribal casino operators , who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ voters .
The tribes spent $ 33 million in 2004 to defeat a ballot measure that would have allowed racetracks and card clubs to operate slot machines .
Tribes and their lobbyists also have influence in the legislative process , having cultivated close relationships with lawmakers .
Five of the biggest tribal donors pushing the initiative spent a total of $ 2.1 million on political contributions last year as well as $ 1.1 million on lobbying state government .
On Thursday , several tribes co-hosted an annual party welcoming lawmakers back to Sacramento @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , gourmet food and a live show by rapper Lil Jon .
The more than 50 non-tribal card clubs represented by the California Gaming Assn .
are already gearing up to fight the tribal initiative and weigh in with legislators on the ballot measures proposed by Gray and Dodd , said the association ’ s president , Kyle Kirkland .
The initiative “ gives the sports wagering just to the tribes with no real benefit for California , ” Kirkland said , noting that mobile betting would allow residents in cities such as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ casinos the ability to gamble without driving long distances .
Florida-based gambling industry attorney Daniel Wallach also has advised lawmakers that they should allow sports betting at sports venues such as Staples Center , home to the Lakers and Clippers basketball teams , if they want the most robust legal market possible .
“ You take the activity to where the action is , ” Wallach said .
He said he is convinced that the Legislature can legalize sports betting in California without going to the voters to change the state Constitution , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a ballot measure is required .
It will take a two-thirds vote of the Legislature to put a measure on the ballot , and some lawmakers at this month ’ s first public hearing had concerns and questions about the various proposals .
Assemblyman Jim Cooper ( D-Elk Grove ) , a former sheriff ’ s captain , said he had “ a bit of trepidation ” about the promise of riches for the state treasury , noting that revenue projections from the legal cannabis industry and lottery have also fallen short of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the California Coalition Against Gambling Expansion , which is especially concerned about allowing online bets .
“ It basically puts a casino in the pocket of every youth potentially and every gambling addict , ” said Fred Jones , the group ’ s attorney .
“ They don ’ t have to go anywhere .
They have got it right there in their smartphone.
” Dodd , who is chairman of the Senate Governmental Organization Committee , argued the state and its residents are missing out by keeping betting illegal .
“ Though @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the fact remains that Californians have and will continue to wager billions of dollars every single year on their favorite sport , ” Dodd said .
“ I for one believe we must bring sports betting out of the shadows in a manner that provides the best deal for the state of California and provides maximum protections for our constituents .
”

Amado Nanalang watches basketball games while making bets at a sports book in Las Vegas. Californians could consider a ballot measure legalizing similar sports betting in November.
Two years after the U.S. Supreme Court removed legal barriers to sports betting, California voters could be asked in November to join 14 other states in allowing legal wagers on athletic contests, creating a lucrative industry worth billions of dollars and intense competition among rival gambling interests in the state.
Last week, a coalition of 18 Native American tribes was given state approval to begin circulating petitions for a statewide ballot initiative that would allow sports betting at tribal casinos and horse racing tracks, but not at rival card clubs or on the internet.
“This is an important step in helping ensure sports wagering is restricted to adults over 21 at highly regulated and experienced locations,” said Mark Macarro, tribal chairman of the Pechanga Band of Luiseño Indians, which operates a casino in Temecula. “The measure will also result in new revenue for mental health programs and vital services like public safety and education.”
Card clubs vowed to campaign against the tribal casino proposal and instead support another ballot measure being considered by the California Legislature that would apply to a larger group of gambling interests.
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California voters have given their blessing to legalized gambling three times — first through the creation of a statewide lottery in 1984, then by authorizing tribal casino operations with ballot measures approved in 1998 and 2000.
The stakes are high both for the state and for companies that might be licensed to offer sports betting, said Assemblyman Adam Gray (D-Merced), a leading proponent for legalized sports betting and chairman of the powerful Assembly Governmental Organization Committee.
A legal sports betting market could bring in $2.5 billion in gross revenue annually in California, the largest market in the country, according to Chris Grove, a managing director for Eilers and Krejcik Gaming LLC, a research and consulting firm that has provided estimates to California lawmakers.
The market could generate $250 million to $500 million in tax revenue for the state based on whether the tax rate is 10% or 20%, Gray said.
“It is clear that we are quickly heading in the direction of a well-thought-out, legal sports betting framework here in California,” Gray said at a hearing this month. “We need to create this framework to ensure regulatory oversight and provide consumer protections to get this long-standing and emerging activity out of the shadows of the illicit or black market.”
A national wave of new gambling laws was triggered by a 2018 U.S. Supreme Court decision that struck down a federal prohibition on sports wagering. Betting on football, baseball and other sports is allowed in 14 states, including Nevada, New Jersey and Pennsylvania.
In response to the court decision, Gray and state Sen. Bill Dodd (D-Napa) have each introduced legislation that would put a constitutional amendment on the statewide ballot as early as November to allow sports betting. To make the ballot, lawmakers have until late June to overcome the divisions in the state gambling industry over how to allow sports betting, and groups such as professional sports leagues and law enforcement are already weighing in.
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California is home to the most professional sports teams in the nation, including four National Basketball Assn. teams and three National Football League franchises, as well as powerhouse university teams from UCLA and USC. Lawyers for the NBA and Major League Baseball have told lawmakers that they are supportive of the concept of a constitutional amendment but want to make sure any new system protects consumers and the integrity of the games.
“Our view is that sports betting properly regulated can have benefits to bring betting out of the shadows and into the sunlight, to give us tools to allow us to monitor betting on our games and to protect the fans who bet on sports,” said Dan Spillane, senior vice president and assistant general counsel for the NBA, at this month’s hearing at the state Capitol.
Pro league representatives said any system should include consumer protections, including the vetting of operators, age restrictions, gambling addiction programs and requirements that the sports leagues are the sources of data used to set odds and settle bets.
California’s system should also seek to allow betting over the internet and smartphones using state-licensed sites so the legal system can compete and reduce the black market, league officials say.
Because MLB has five teams in California, the most of any state, “it’s really important that California get it right, particularly because this will be the largest betting market in the country and it will be a state that other states look to,” Bryan Seeley, a senior league vice president and deputy general counsel for MLB, told lawmakers this month.
Online gambling can also be lucrative for a state. New Jersey saw some $2.9 billion in sports bets at retail and online sportsbooks in the first year after it began allowing the wagering in June 2018, with 81% of the money wagered online, Grove said.
“It’s clear that if we truly want to take illegal sports betting out of the shadows, there needs to be an online component for those who won’t patronize brick-and-mortar outlets,” Dodd said. “Without that, it will remain largely unregulated, continue to pose the risk of fraud and fail to generate funds for education or help with problem gambling.”
Tribal leaders dispute that mobile betting should be allowed; their initiative would allow betting only at racetracks and at casinos, where patrons might be more likely to participate in other gambling activities as well.
Security and privacy issues have also been cited by opponents of mobile betting.
“Voters have very real and serious concerns about mobile sports betting and would be highly likely to oppose a measure that allows online betting,” said Jacob Mejia, a spokesman for the coalition of tribal casino operators, who added that the tribes don’t rule out allowing online betting in the future.
Legal experts say federal law regarding Native American tribes may be an obstacle to offering internet betting. The proposed initiative would also expand tribal-state compact powers to allow craps and roulette at tribal casinos.
The tribes’ initiative would create a 10% tax on sports gaming revenue at the racetracks, with the state’s share of revenue at the tribal casinos to at least cover regulatory costs subject to negotiations with the governor to amend existing tribal compacts. The measure has a good chance of qualifying for the ballot given the deep pockets of tribal casino operators, who must collect valid signatures from 997,139 registered voters.
This week, seven of the tribes reported they have contributed the first $5.5 million to a new Coalition to Authorize Regulated Sports Wagering, which is handling the petition drive.
The tribes spent $33 million in 2004 to defeat a ballot measure that would have allowed racetracks and card clubs to operate slot machines.
Tribes and their lobbyists also have influence in the legislative process, having cultivated close relationships with lawmakers. Five of the biggest tribal donors pushing the initiative spent a total of $2.1 million on political contributions last year as well as $1.1 million on lobbying state government. On Jan. 16, several tribes co-hosted an annual party welcoming lawmakers back to Sacramento for the legislative year, offering cocktails, gourmet food and a live show by rapper Lil Jon.
The more than 50 non-tribal card clubs represented by the California Gaming Assn. are already gearing up to fight the tribal initiative and weigh in with legislators on the ballot measures proposed by Gray and Dodd, said the association’s president, Kyle Kirkland.
The initiative “gives the sports wagering just to the tribes with no real benefit for California,” Kirkland said, noting that mobile betting would allow residents in cities such as Los Angeles that do not have tribal casinos the ability to gamble without driving long distances.
Florida-based gambling industry attorney Daniel Wallach also has advised lawmakers that they should allow sports betting at sports venues such as Staples Center, home to the Lakers and Clippers basketball teams, if they want the most robust legal market possible.
“You take the activity to where the action is,” Wallach said.
He said he is convinced that the Legislature can legalize sports betting in California without going to the voters to change the state Constitution, but legal experts with the Legislature believe a ballot measure is required.
It will take a two-thirds vote of the Legislature to put a measure on the ballot, and some lawmakers at this month’s first public hearing had concerns and questions about the various proposals. Assemblyman Jim Cooper (D-Elk Grove), a former sheriff’s captain, said he had “a bit of trepidation” about the promise of riches for the state treasury, noting that revenue projections from the legal cannabis industry and lottery have also fallen short of predictions.
The proposals are opposed by the California Coalition Against Gambling Expansion, which is especially concerned about allowing online bets.
“It basically puts a casino in the pocket of every youth potentially and every gambling addict,” said Fred Jones, the group’s attorney. “They don’t have to go anywhere. They have got it right there in their smartphone.”
Dodd, who is chairman of the Senate Governmental Organization Committee, argued that the state and its residents are missing out by keeping betting illegal.
“Though sports betting remains illegal in our state, the fact remains that Californians have and will continue to wager billions of dollars every single year on their favorite sport,” Dodd said. “I for one believe we must bring sports betting out of the shadows in a manner that provides the best deal for the state of California and provides maximum protections for our constituents.”


latimes--2020-01-18--City Beat: Are you a fan of old L.A.'s charm? These historic bungalows need a savior with deep pocke

City Beat: Are you a fan of old L.A.'s charm? These historic bungalows need a savior with deep pockets

Wanted : A civic-minded lover of Los Angeles history who has ample financial means , isn ’ t afraid of a fixer-upper and is ready to act now .
A charming but worn 1923 bungalow court arranged in a U of four buildings and a garage is on the market just north of Melrose in Beverly Grove .
The Edinburgh Bungalow Court , whose communal outdoor space is entered through a distinctive arched gateway , is the kind of affordable housing that sprang up to fill a great need as Hollywood movie-making boomed and the area ’ s population exploded @ @ @ @ @ @ @ couldn ’ t yet afford houses all their own , but it offered some of their niceties : front porches , built-in desks , Dutch-themed decorative tiles .
For its embodiment of a once-popular L.A. architectural form and its association with a key time in our city ’ s history , the Spanish Colonial Revival complex on the corner of Edinburgh and Waring avenues was designated Los Angeles historic-cultural monument No .
1105 in 2016 — initiated by the city ’ s own planning department and unanimously approved by the City Council .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ In 58 years , only 1,158 historic-cultural monuments have been named .
But here ’ s what gives the Edinburgh Bungalow Court ’ s story a particular L.A. twist : Despite that designation and the ardent , relentless neighborhood activism that fueled it , the complex is still under threat .
The status doesn ’ t prevent demolition .
It just slows down the process by requiring numerous studies and approvals , allowing time for owners to have a change of heart .
That hasn ’ t happened here , and now if @ @ @ @ @ @ @ escrow by the beginning of March , the old complex is almost certain to be razed .
Years of fighting to preserve it will be for naught .
And what will be the outcome ?
Eight previously rent-stabilized one-bedroom units — whose remaining tenants were paid to leave under the Ellis Act in 2015 — will be replaced by eight three-story private homes on their own small lots , likely sold at prices far beyond the old tenants ’ reach .
A complex that steadily provided affordable housing for close to a century @ @ @ @ @ @ @ midst of an affordable housing crunch that has helped to drive a homelessness crisis .
I ’ m telling you about this in hope that someone out there might have a yen for a bungalow court .
Heather Fox and Brian Harris , the neighborhood activists who have led the campaign to make that happen , asked me to help them get the word out .
I also think it ’ s worth pausing to consider what is happening as a case study — because it is happening often in the city ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we find a way to hit pause and have a civic conversation about what we ’ re sacrificing and to what end ?
If you read my column , you know that I ’ m a fan of history and texture .
I prefer eclectic and old to new and boxy and bland .
But I also understand that , in order to get more housing , some land now used to house few will have to be used to house many .
That really isn ’ t the case with the Edinburgh @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by the way , is on sale for $ 4.7 million .
That ’ s over market price .
It ’ s what the owners , through their limited liability company , BLDG Edinburgh LLC , have agreed to accept to recoup costs in a deal put together late last summer by the office of Councilman Paul Koretz .
The owners agreed to modify plans for what they would build — creating more traditional-looking cream-colored Spanish-style facades with light blue trim instead of the boxy red , white and gray buildings they first @ @ @ @ @ @ @ six months to find a buyer before proceeding .
Fox and Harris agreed in turn not to object to or badmouth their project .
I reached out to one of the owners and we exchanged messages , but I never got him on the phone .
Meanwhile , Fox and Harris didn ’ t do any badmouthing to me .
They simply outlined the history of their preservation campaign and asked for help to try to summon a savior .
They also explained how they got to this point .
For more than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , which bought the property in 2014 for $ 2.6 million , has been fighting to tear down the bungalows .
For those same years , the neighborhood activists fought to save them from the wrecking ball .
They knocked on doors .
They got petition signatures .
They attended meeting after meeting , hired a lawyer , went to hearing after hearing and recruited many others to go with them .
They ’ d even tried previously to find a preservation-minded buyer to buy the place at a price the owners would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Koretz ’ s office stood up for the bungalow courts .
So did numerous preservation organizations , including the L.A .
Conservancy .
And as the owners ’ development plans made their way through committees , they were getting denied .
But denials generated appeals , and there was no end in sight .
Meanwhile the bungalows sat behind a green construction fence , boarded up and unloved and often visited by homeless people .
Some neighbors complained about urban blight , which was sure to erode support for preservation over time @ @ @ @ @ @ @ many ways developers end up winning .
It ’ s called demolition by neglect .
Fox and Harris said they didn ’ t want to do harm to the neighborhood they love .
And they wanted one last shot to preserve the bungalows .
They found a buyer willing to pay $ 1.8 million short of the owners ’ asking price .
They started a GoFundMe campaign to make up the difference but raised only $ 790 .
The other day , they took me around their low-slung neighborhood , where almost every @ @ @ @ @ @ @ other 1920s Spanish-style buildings still stand .
I saw a toddler following a ball down the sidewalk and a cat scurrying across a bungalow ’ s old awning .
Neighbors stopped to talk .
People told me about how they used to walk by the bungalow court and see people eating together or gardening or playing guitar , how they loved its neighborly community feeling .
They showed me an old Spanish-style building around the corner from the bungalow court that , with public and private money , had been moved over piece @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to provide affordable housing for the elderly in a neighborhood that celebrated its style .
There we visited Selma Kaufer , 85 and overjoyed to be living for $ 700 a month in a vintage courtyard apartment .
Fox and Harris dreamed out loud to me about similar futures for the bungalows — such as bridge housing or housing for homeless women who might find comfort in the communal setting .
Anyone out there ?
Anyone listening ?
You ’ d be welcomed as a neighborhood hero .

Brian Harris and Heather Fox have tried for more than four years to save the Edinburgh Bungalow Court.
Wanted: A civic-minded lover of Los Angeles history who has ample financial means, isn’t afraid of a fixer-upper and is ready to act now.
A charming but worn 1923 bungalow court arranged in a U of four buildings and a garage is on the market just north of Melrose in Beverly Grove.
The Edinburgh Bungalow Court, whose communal outdoor space is entered through a distinctive arched gateway, is the kind of affordable housing that sprang up to fill a great need as Hollywood movie-making boomed and the area’s population exploded. It was built for those who couldn’t yet afford houses all their own, but it offered some of their niceties: front porches, built-in desks, Dutch-themed decorative tiles.
Advertisement
For its embodiment of a once-popular L.A. architectural form and its association with a key time in our city’s history, the Spanish Colonial Revival complex on the corner of Edinburgh and Waring avenues was designated Los Angeles historic-cultural monument No. 1105 in 2016 — initiated by the city’s own planning department and unanimously approved by the City Council.
That’s no small thing. In 58 years, only 1,158 historic-cultural monuments have been named.
But here’s what gives the Edinburgh Bungalow Court’s story a particular L.A. twist: Despite that designation and the ardent, relentless neighborhood activism that fueled it, the complex is still under threat. The status doesn’t prevent demolition. It just slows down the process by requiring numerous studies and approvals, allowing time for owners to have a change of heart.
That hasn’t happened here, and now if there’s no new buyer in escrow by the beginning of March, the old complex is almost certain to be razed. Years of fighting to preserve it will be for naught.
And what will be the outcome? Eight previously rent-stabilized one-bedroom units — whose remaining tenants were paid to leave under the Ellis Act in 2015 — will be replaced by eight three-story private homes on their own small lots, likely sold at prices far beyond the old tenants’ reach.
A complex that steadily provided affordable housing for close to a century will be gone. This in the midst of an affordable housing crunch that has helped to drive a homelessness crisis.
I’m telling you about this in hope that someone out there might have a yen for a bungalow court. Heather Fox and Brian Harris, the neighborhood activists who have led the campaign to make that happen, asked me to help them get the word out.
I also think it’s worth pausing to consider what is happening as a case study — because it is happening often in the city’s desirable middle.
Shouldn’t we find a way to hit pause and have a civic conversation about what we’re sacrificing and to what end?
Advertisement
If you read my column, you know that I’m a fan of history and texture. I prefer eclectic and old to new and boxy and bland. But I also understand that, in order to get more housing, some land now used to house few will have to be used to house many.
That really isn’t the case with the Edinburgh Bungalow Court.
The bungalow court, by the way, is on sale for $4.7 million. That’s over market price. It’s what the owners, through their limited liability company, BLDG Edinburgh LLC, have agreed to accept to recoup costs in a deal put together late last summer by the office of Councilman Paul Koretz. The owners agreed to modify plans for what they would build — creating more traditional-looking cream-colored Spanish-style facades with light blue trim instead of the boxy red, white and gray buildings they first proposed. They gave Fox and Harris six months to find a buyer before proceeding. Fox and Harris agreed in turn not to object to or badmouth their project.
I reached out to one of the owners and we exchanged messages, but I never got him on the phone.
Meanwhile, Fox and Harris didn’t do any badmouthing to me. They simply outlined the history of their preservation campaign and asked for help to try to summon a savior. They also explained how they got to this point.
For more than four years now, BLDG Edinburgh LLC, which bought the property in 2014 for $2.6 million, has been fighting to tear down the bungalows. For those same years, the neighborhood activists fought to save them from the wrecking ball. They knocked on doors. They got petition signatures. They attended meeting after meeting, hired a lawyer, went to hearing after hearing and recruited many others to go with them. They’d even tried previously to find a preservation-minded buyer to buy the place at a price the owners would accept. But nothing had come together.
Koretz’s office stood up for the bungalow courts. So did numerous preservation organizations, including the L.A. Conservancy. And as the owners’ development plans made their way through committees, they were getting denied. But denials generated appeals, and there was no end in sight.
Meanwhile the bungalows sat behind a green construction fence, boarded up and unloved and often visited by homeless people. Some neighbors complained about urban blight, which was sure to erode support for preservation over time.
It’s one of the many ways developers end up winning. It’s called demolition by neglect.
Fox and Harris said they didn’t want to do harm to the neighborhood they love. And they wanted one last shot to preserve the bungalows. They found a buyer willing to pay $1.8 million short of the owners’ asking price. They started a GoFundMe campaign to make up the difference but raised only $790.
The other day, they took me around their low-slung neighborhood, where almost every building is two stories high and many other 1920s Spanish-style buildings still stand. I saw a toddler following a ball down the sidewalk and a cat scurrying across a bungalow’s old awning. Neighbors stopped to talk. People told me about how they used to walk by the bungalow court and see people eating together or gardening or playing guitar, how they loved its neighborly community feeling.
They showed me an old Spanish-style building around the corner from the bungalow court that, with public and private money, had been moved over piece by piece from Westwood in the 1980s to provide affordable housing for the elderly in a neighborhood that celebrated its style. There we visited Selma Kaufer, 85 and overjoyed to be living for $700 a month in a vintage courtyard apartment.
Fox and Harris dreamed out loud to me about similar futures for the bungalows — such as bridge housing or housing for homeless women who might find comfort in the communal setting.
Anyone out there? Anyone listening? You’d be welcomed as a neighborhood hero.


latimes--2020-01-23--Hate crimes in Los Angeles reach highest level since 2002, data show

Reports of hate crimes rose in Los Angeles for the fifth straight year in 2019 , increasing 10.3 % over the year before and reaching their highest level since 2002 , according to data released Wednesday .
A total of 322 hate crimes were reported last year , compared with 292 in 2018 , according to numbers from the Los Angeles Police Department that were disclosed at an L.A. City Council Public Safety Committee meeting .
The latest statistics represent a rise of nearly 41 % since 2016 , when 229 hate crimes were reported in L.A. Last year was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , when 354 were reported .
And the crimes were more violent , the data show : Hate crimes directed against people rose , while those involving vandalism and destruction of property dipped 3.4 % .
Robberies with hate-crime elements jumped 266.7 % last year , from three to 11 , criminal threats rose 24.5 % , from 49 to 61 , and simple assaults rose 10.3 % , from 78 to 86 .
“ Year after year , we have seen hate rising in our city and across our nation , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ communities safe , ” Councilman David Ryu said in a statement .
“ We need to take these numbers seriously because behind every one of these numbers is a religious minority , a person of color , a transgender or LGBTQ person suffering in fear.
” Hate crimes based on religion went up in 2019 — 81 were reported , compared with 52 in 2018 , an increase of nearly 56 % .
Reports of anti-Muslim crimes increased 150 % , from two to five , and reports of anti-Jewish crimes increased 60.5 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Some of the increase in anti-Semitic incidents reflects a change in how the LAPD classified crimes involving swastikas , which shifted such reports from the general anti-religion category to the anti-Jewish category , according to professor Brian Levin , director of the Center for the Study of Hate and Extremism at Cal State San Bernardino .
Still , the trends were in line with other major cities .
Last year , New York and Chicago each reported the highest incidence of hate crimes since 2001 , and Jews were the most targeted demographic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ The bottom line is , swastikas have been normalized , and when we combine that with the ubiquity of anti-Semitic epithets and memes on the internet , I think it shows we ’ re in a new era , ” Levin said .
“ We ’ re now at the highest level [ of hate crimes ] in almost two decades , overall , and just because swastikas are a driver , I think the question is , why the heck are we seeing so many swastikas during this year ?
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ethnicity , as well as on sexual orientation , did not rise significantly in L.A. last year —153 and 65 were reported , respectively , compared with 152 and 71 in 2018 .
Of those , 68 were against black people , compared with 61 in 2018 , and 42 were against Latinos , compared with 44 in 2018 .
Fifty-three were against gay men , compared with 56 in 2018 .
But hate crimes based on gender identity were up 23.5 % , with 21 reported against transgender people in 2019 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I can tell you , with an election season coming up , we really have to be concerned because over the last decade , the three worst months were all around politically charged events , ” Levin said .
Nationwide over the last 10 years , the worst months for hate crimes , per FBI data , were November 2018 , followed by October 2018 , both of which coincided with the midterm elections , Levin said .
The third-worst month was August 2017 , when violence erupted at a white supremacist rally @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ Hate crimes tend to go up in election years , and most recently , the most diverse and bluest cities are where we ’ ve been seeing some of the biggest increases , ” Levin said .

Reports of hate crimes rose in Los Angeles for the fifth straight year in 2019, according to LAPD data released Jan. 22, 2020.
Reports of hate crimes rose in Los Angeles for the fifth straight year in 2019, increasing 10.3% over the year before and reaching their highest level since 2002, according to data released Wednesday.
A total of 322 hate crimes were reported last year, compared with 292 in 2018, according to numbers from the Los Angeles Police Department that were disclosed at an L.A. City Council Public Safety Committee meeting. The latest statistics represent a rise of nearly 41% since 2016, when 229 hate crimes were reported in L.A. Last year was the worst for hate crimes since 2002, when 354 were reported.
For the record: An earlier version of this article said the worst months for hate crimes nationally over the last 10 years were November 2018 followed by October 2018. According to FBI data, the worst month for reported hate crimes was November 2016, when the U.S. presidential election took place, followed by October 2018, which coincided with the midterm elections.
And the crimes were more violent, the data show: Hate crimes directed against people rose, while those involving vandalism and destruction of property dipped 3.4%.
Robberies with hate-crime elements jumped 266.7% last year, from three to 11; criminal threats rose 24.5%, from 49 to 61; and simple assaults rose 10.3%, from 78 to 86.
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“Year after year, we have seen hate rising in our city and across our nation, and we have not done enough to keep communities safe,” Councilman David Ryu said in a statement. “We need to take these numbers seriously because behind every one of these numbers is a religious minority, a person of color, a transgender or LGBTQ person suffering in fear.”
Hate crimes based on religion went up in 2019 — 81 were reported, compared with 52 in 2018, an increase of nearly 56%. Reports of anti-Muslim crimes increased 150%, from two to five, and reports of anti-Jewish crimes increased 60.5%, from 43 to 69.
Some of the increase in anti-Semitic incidents reflects a change in how the LAPD classified crimes involving swastikas, which shifted such reports from the general antireligion category to the anti-Jewish category, according to professor Brian Levin, director of the Center for the Study of Hate and Extremism at Cal State San Bernardino.
Still, the trends were in line with other major cities. Last year, New York and Chicago each reported the highest incidence of hate crimes since 2001, and Jews were the most targeted demographic in those cities as well.
“The bottom line is, swastikas have been normalized, and when we combine that with the ubiquity of anti-Semitic epithets and memes on the internet, I think it shows we’re in a new era,” Levin said. “We’re now at the highest level [of hate crimes] in almost two decades, overall, and just because swastikas are a driver, I think the question is, why the heck are we seeing so many swastikas during this year?”
Reports of crimes based on race or ethnicity, as well as on sexual orientation, did not rise significantly in L.A. last year —153 and 65 were reported, respectively, compared with 152 and 71 in 2018. Of those, 68 were against black people, compared with 61 in 2018, and 42 were against Latinos, compared with 44 in 2018. Fifty-three were against gay men, compared with 56 in 2018.
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But hate crimes based on gender identity were up 23.5%, with 21 reported against transgender people in 2019, compared with 17 in 2018.
“I can tell you, with an election season coming up, we really have to be concerned because over the last decade, the three worst months were all around politically charged events,” Levin said.
Nationwide over the last 10 years, the worst month for hate crimes, per FBI data, was November 2016, when the U.S. presidential election took place, followed by October 2018, which coincided with the midterm elections, Levin said. The third-worst month was August 2017, when violence erupted at a white supremacist rally in Charlottesville, Va., he said.
“Hate crimes tend to go up in election years, and most recently, the most diverse and bluest cities are where we’ve been seeing some of the biggest increases,” Levin said.


latimes--2020-01-23--Three U.S. firefighters killed in Australia air crash were on a California-based tanker

Three U.S. crew members who died in an air tanker crash in Australia amid the country ’ s bush fires were flying a California-based aircraft , according to a statement from the office of California Gov .
Gavin Newsom .
The C-130 Hercules aerial water tanker , owned by a Oregon aviation company , crashed while battling blazes in the Snowy Monaro region of southern Australia ’ s New South Wales state , officials said .
There was no immediate identification of the firefighters who perished , but the U.S. Forest Service shared the news with its public information officers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Thursday via a terse emotional email .
“ The wildland firefighting community is a family and when there is a loss it is felt throughout the entire organization , ” it began .
“ We extend our deepest sympathy to the families of the fallen.
” “ It was heartbreaking information , ” said Susan Garner , a spokeswoman for the Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest , which straddles the border between California and Oregon .
“ Now , we ’ re all concerned because we ’ re a tight community and know each @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wife , the governor said , “ Jennifer and I are heartbroken to learn of the air tanker crash in Australia that claimed the lives of three heroic American firefighters .
We extend our sincere condolences to the families of the crew , their friends and loved ones , and our own CAL FIRE family who worked , fought fires , and trained with the crew of Tanker 134.
” Australia is facing its worst wildfire season ever , with tens of thousands of acres burned and at least 31 people killed , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Scores of aircraft have been contracted to help fight the blazes .
Coulson Aviation of Oregon said in a statement that one of its C-130 Lockheed large air tankers was lost after it left Richmond in New South Wales with three aboard , carrying retardant for a firefighting mission .
It said the accident was “ extensive ” but had few other details .
Coulson grounded other firefighting aircraft as a precaution pending investigation , reducing planes available to firefighters in New South Wales and neighboring Victoria state .
The four-propeller Hercules drops @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in a single pass .
Spokeswoman Robyn Baldwin of Coulson , with headquarters in the Canadian province of British Columbia and extensive U.S. operations , declined to identify the crew members or say what U.S. states they were from .
“ We ask for privacy at this time as we mourn the loss of our crew members , ” Baldwin said .
On Friday morning in Australia , what was supposed to be a gracious farewell for some American and Canadian firefighting crews instead became a more somber occasion punctuated with a moment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ New South Wales , Australians , Canadians and Americans joined together in a one-minute moment of silence as a mark of respect for the three crew members .
New South Wales police said the Americans were 42 , 43 and 45 years old , but did not name them .
It will be up to the victims ’ families to decide whether and when Australian officials may identify the crew members , police said .
The crew members were flying a C-130 Hercules aerial water tanker over the Monaro region of the Snowy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ aircraft and crews on the ground reported a possible crash and fireball .
It crashed in rugged terrain that was difficult to reach .
The Australian Transport Safety Bureau , the national air crash investigator , and state police will investigate the crash site , which firefighters described as an active fire site .
“ There is no indication at this stage of what ’ s caused the accident , ” said Shane Fitzsimmons , New South Wales Rural Fire Service commissioner .
New South Wales Premier Gladys Berejiklian said there were more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ field , and five fires were being described at an “ emergency warning ” level — the most dangerous on a three-tier scale — across the state and on the fringes of the national capital , Canberra .
Also Thursday , Canberra Airport was temporarily closed because of nearby wildfires , and residents south of the city were told to seek shelter .
The airport reopened after several hours , with Qantas operating limited services , but Virgin and Singapore Airlines canceled flights for the rest of the day .
The blaze started @ @ @ @ @ @ @ temperatures caused conditions in Canberra to deteriorate .
A second fire near the airport that started Thursday morning was at the “ watch and act ” level , officials said .
Residents in some Canberra suburbs were advised to seek shelter and others to leave immediately .
“ The defense force is both assisting to a degree and looking to whether that needs to be reinforced , ” Defense Minister Angus Campbell told reporters .
“ I have people who are both involved as persons who need to be moved from areas and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and also those persons who are part of the [ Operation ] Bushfire Assist effort , ” he said .
Serna reported from Latrobe Valley , Australia and Sahagun from Los Angeles .
The Associated Press contributed to this report .

An aviation company has identified the three U.S. crew members who died battling Australia‘s bush fires, after their California-based air tanker crashed in a rugged part of the country’s coastal mountains.
The C-130 Hercules aerial water tanker, owned by Coulson Aviation, crashed while flying in the Snowy Monaro region of southern Australia’s New South Wales state, officials said. It immediately set off a day of mourning among firefighters on both sides of the Pacific.
In a news release late Thursday, Coulson identified the three crew members as Capt. Ian H. McBeth, 44, of Great Falls, Mont.; First Officer Paul Clyde Hudson, 42, of Buckeye, Ariz.; and Flight Engineer Rick A. DeMorgan, Jr., 43, of Navarre, Fla.
Prior to the identification of the firefighters, the U.S. Forest Service shared the news with its public information officers throughout Oregon and Washington at 11 a.m. Thursday via email.
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“The wildland firefighting community is a family and when there is a loss it is felt throughout the entire organization,” it began. “We extend our deepest sympathy to the families of the fallen.”
California Gov. Gavin Newsom also issued a statement Thursday.
“We extend our sincere condolences to the families of the crew, their friends and loved ones, and our own CAL FIRE family who worked, fought fires, and trained with the crew of Tanker 134,” the governor said. The plane that crashed in Australia was known as Tanker 134, which operated out of Ramona, Calif., during the 2019 fire season.
Australia is facing its worst wildfire season ever, with tens of thousands of acres burned and at least 32 people killed, including the U.S. crew on Thursday. Scores of aircraft have been contracted to help fight the blazes.
In Australia, what was supposed to be a gracious farewell for some American and Canadian firefighting crews on Friday morning instead became a more somber occasion punctuated with a moment of silence for those killed.
In New South Wales, Australians, Canadians and Americans joined together in a one-minute moment of silence for the three crew members.
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McBeth was a military pilot who also served with the Wyoming Air National Guard and was a current member of the Montana Air National Guard while working for Coulson. He is survived by his wife and three children.
Hudson was a decorated Marine with 20 years of service who also flew C-130s for the Marine Corps. He retired as a lieutenant colonel before joining Coulson. He is survived by his wife.
DeMorgan was an Air Force pilot who served as a flight engineer on C-130s for 18 years. He had more than 4,000 hours of flight time and nearly 2,000 of those in combat. He is survived by his two sons.
The crew was working on an active fire in a difficult-to-access area of New South Wales, where the mountains stretch into the neighboring state of Victoria. It took hours for crews to locate the crash site.
There was no immediate indication of what caused the crash, New South Wales Rural Fire Service Commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons said Thursday. The Australian Transport Safety Bureau, the national air crash investigator, and state police will investigate the crash site, which firefighters described as an active fire site.
The plane was one of more than 70 in the air battling blazes in the state that afternoon, under conditions that Fitzsimmons described as very hot, dry and windy. “It was another very difficult, aggressive fire weather day which resulted in many of these fires spreading and breaking out,” he said.
Fire officials grounded all aircraft for the rest of the day following the crash. Fitzsimmons described the crew members as seasoned veterans, well known throughout the firefighting community and close with many of their colleagues.
“It is a confronting and sobering reminder of the inherent dangers and risks associated with firefighting as we’ve seen all too often unfortunately,” Fitzsimmons said.
The state’s fire danger rating for many affected areas was lowered Friday as light rain and cooler conditions began to spread over the southern coast, where many of the fires have originated. That, however, has also lowered a smoky haze onto Sydney. Of the more than 70 bush and grass fires burning in New South Wales, fewer than half were contained, officials said.
Coulson has been working fires in New South Wales for the last four or five years, Fitzsimmons said. The Rural Fire Service has purchased one of the company’s retardant-dropping 737 jetliners for its own fleet and contracted with the company to maintain and operate it, he said.
The fire service was also operating another 737 in New South Wales and a C-130 in Victoria, in addition to the aircraft that crashed Thursday.
Serna reported from Latrobe Valley, Australia, and Sahagun from Los Angeles. The Associated Press contributed to this report.


latimes--2020-01-23--After prank gone wrong, Corona man charged with murder in deaths of 3 teens

A 42-year-old man was charged with murder Thursday in a weekend crash that left three 16-year-old boys dead and three other teens injured near Corona , authorities said .
Anurag Chandra of Corona was charged with three counts of murder and three counts of attempted murder after authorities said he intentionally rammed into a 2002 Toyota Prius and forced it off the road .
In addition , the Riverside County district attorney ’ s office filed a special circumstance allegation of multiple murders .
Chandra is being held without bail at Robert Presley Detention Center in Riverside .
If convicted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ death penalty , said John Hall , a spokesman for the district attorney ’ s office .
Dist .
Atty .
Mike Hestrin will make that decision at a later date , Hall said .
According to an investigation conducted by the California Highway Patrol , the deadly encounter began when six teenagers were having a sleepover and one of them dared their friends to conduct a “ ding-dong-ditch ” prank — ringing a doorbell and quickly driving away — at a nearby home .
One of the boys rang the doorbell of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Road and ran back to the waiting Prius while Chandra chased after them .
As the Toyota and Chandra ’ s 2019 Infinity Q50 approached Squaw Mountain Road , authorities say , Chandra struck the back of the Prius , causing it to veer off the road and crash into a tree .
Jacob Ivascu of Riverside died at the scene .
Drake Ruiz and Daniel Hawkins , both of Corona , died after being transported to a hospital , according to the Riverside County coroner .
Firefighters freed the three other teens @ @ @ @ @ @ @ driver , a 13-year-old and a 14-year-old , according to a CHP news release .
They were taken to a hospital with injuries that did not appear to be life-threatening .
An arraignment is scheduled later Thursday in Riverside .

A 42-year-old man was charged with murder Thursday in a weekend crash that left three 16-year-old boys dead and three other teens injured near Corona, authorities said.
Anurag Chandra of Corona was charged with three counts of murder and three counts of attempted murder after authorities said he intentionally rammed into a 2002 Toyota Prius and forced it off the road. In addition, the Riverside County district attorney’s office filed a special circumstance allegation of multiple murders.
Chandra is being held without bail at Robert Presley Detention Center in Riverside. If convicted, he faces the possibility of the death penalty, said John Hall, a spokesman for the district attorney’s office. Dist. Atty. Mike Hestrin will make that decision at a later date, Hall said.
According to an investigation conducted by the California Highway Patrol, the deadly encounter began when six teenagers were having a sleepover and one of them dared their friends to conduct a “ding-dong-ditch” prank — ringing a doorbell and quickly driving away — at a nearby home.
One of the boys rang the doorbell of Chandra’s home on Mojeska Summit Road and ran back to the waiting Prius while Chandra chased after them.
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As the Toyota and Chandra’s 2019 Infinity Q50 approached Squaw Mountain Road, authorities say, Chandra struck the back of the Prius, causing it to veer off the road and crash into a tree.
Jacob Ivascu of Riverside died at the scene. Drake Ruiz and Daniel Hawkins, both of Corona, died after being transported to a hospital, according to the Riverside County coroner. Firefighters freed the three other teens trapped in the car: the 18-year-old driver, a 13-year-old and a 14-year-old, according to a CHP news release. They were taken to a hospital with injuries that did not appear to be life-threatening.
An arraignment is scheduled later Thursday in Riverside.


latimes--2020-01-23--All lanes of 405 Freeway in Redondo Beach being reopened after hazardous chemical spill

Authorities are in the process of reopening all lanes of the 405 Freeway near Redondo Beach and Lawndale after they @ @ @ @ @ a hazardous materials spill , the California Highway Patrol said Thursday .
Authorities received a @ @ @ @ @ the problem , which forced both the north- and southbound lanes to be closed , @ @ @ @ @ onramp to Hawthorne Boulevard also was closed , authorities said .
The CHP said a @ @ @ @ @ involved in a crash , spilling a small amount on the freeway .
The Los @ @ @ @ @ thought it was hydrogen cyanide , an extremely dangerous and poisonous substance .
The lanes @ @ @ @ @ standard practice for most spills , CHP said .
By 2:10 p.m. , all northbound @ @ @ @ @ reopened , and the southbound lanes were expected to reopen shortly , CHP said .

Authorities are in the process of reopening all lanes of the 405 Freeway near Redondo Beach and Lawndale after they were shut down because of a hazardous materials spill, the California Highway Patrol said Thursday.
Authorities received a call at 11:02 a.m. about the problem, which forced both the north- and southbound lanes to be closed, the CHP said. The onramp to Hawthorne Boulevard also was closed, authorities said.
The CHP said a vehicle carrying thioglycolic acid was involved in a crash, spilling a small amount on the freeway. The Los Angeles County Fire Department originally thought it was hydrogen cyanide, an extremely dangerous and poisonous substance. The lanes were closed, as is standard practice for most spills, CHP said.
By 2:10 p.m., all northbound lanes of the 405 were reopened, and the southbound lanes were expected to reopen shortly, CHP said.
NB I-405 ALL LANES CLOSED at Hawthorne Bl. SB ALL LANES CLOSED at Rosecrans Av. Hazmat. Unknown duration. https://t.co/xbyTKr1JsE #hazmat pic.twitter.com/k7V8SNPwMg — Caltrans District 7 (@CaltransDist7) January 23, 2020


latimes--2020-01-23--Families reunite after nearly two years apart: 'Beginning of a whole other journey'

The boy rocked back and forth as he searched every face at the airport , trying to find his father .
Byron Xol blended with dozens of others waiting at Los Angeles International Airport to greet their loved ones .
But then a man behind Byron asked how long it ’ d been since the 9-year-old had seen his dad .
“ Over 600 days , ” said Holly Sewell , whose family has cared for Byron for the last nine months .
Her eyes filled with tears .
Byron had been waiting nearly two years for this moment .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ among nine parents who arrived from Guatemala City late Wednesday night .
All of them had been deported without their children during President Trump ’ s separation of immigrant families .
In September , U.S. District Judge Dana M. Sabraw declared the removals unlawful and ordered the government to allow them to return to the U.S .
The nighttime reunion served as a reminder of the lasting effects of the Trump administration ’ s family separation policy on thousands of children and their parents .
Advocates for migrants say the administration has continued @ @ @ @ @ @ @ different tactics .
“ As happy as this reunion is , it ’ s really the beginning of a whole other journey for these parents and children who have been highly traumatized by what they ’ ve been put through , ” said Dr. Amy Cohen , a child psychiatrist who has worked closely with Byron and his family .
The total number of children separated from a parent or guardian under Trump remains unknown .
At least 471 parents were deported without their children and some have yet to be reunited .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ people understand this is a crisis that ’ s still going on , it ’ s not resolved , ” said Rep. Jimmy Gomez ( D-Los Angeles ) , who was at the airport to greet returning parents .
“ I know that there ’ s impeachment going on , I know that there is a presidential election going on , but these families ’ lives haven ’ t been able to move on because they ’ ve been ripped apart.
” At the Tom Bradley International Terminal , a crowd of family @ @ @ @ @ @ @ organizations gathered to wait for the plane ’ s arrival shortly before 11 p.m. A handful of people carried a sign that read , “ Welcome immigrants and refugees.
” One man held nine heart-shaped balloons he planned to give each parent .
As Sewell and Byron waited , a man recognized the boy and stopped .
He had sat beside Xol on the plane and the proud dad had shown him photos .
“ He told me all about you , ” the man told Sewell .
“ Thank you so much @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Byron spent nearly a year in various shelters before going to live with Matthew and Holly Sewell and their two children , Desmond and Windy , in their Texas home in April .
Over the last nine months , the boy has frequently spoken with his parents and younger brothers back in Guatemala .
Sewell flew with Byron from Texas to Los Angeles on Wednesday morning so the two could be present for Xol ’ s arrival .
In his luggage , the boy packed a picture he ’ d drawn of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ I love you , Dad , ” he wrote in Spanish .
“ I miss you , Dad.
” He also brought his father ’ s belt and wallet that he ’ d been given after the separation .
The boy had filled the black and tan wallet with $ 100 , some of which he ’ d made by selling lemonade .
Sewell kept a protective arm around Byron as she reassured him over and over that his father would be out soon .
The boy ’ s stomach hurt @ @ @ @ @ @ @ re doing the ICE [ Immigration and Customs Enforcement ] check , ” Sewell said .
“ Ice skating ?
” the boy asked , not understanding .
He had just gone ice skating last weekend .
Soon , a cheer rang up through the crowd as they spotted the parents making their way through at last .
“ Oh , my God , ” Sewell said , as she spotted Byron ’ s dad .
When Xol finally reached his son , he sank to one knee and gripped him tight , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s neck .
Along with his longer hair , Byron was taller than he remembered .
He held him tight for several minutes before pulling back to look at him .
“ When I saw him , he was small like this , ” Xol said , holding a hand up to show how many inches his boy had grown since their separation .
Nearly two years ago , Xol arrived at the border with his son , then 7 years old , to ask for asylum .
According to Xol , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ continued with his asylum claim , he would be held for two years and separated from Byron .
The father said he decided to sign a form that he believed would allow him to leave the country with his son .
Sabraw found Xol ’ s removal to be unlawful because he had not withdrawn his asylum claim voluntarily .
The little boy told reporters he felt good after the reunion .
“ I really miss my family , ” Byron said .
“ I finally get to see my dad.
” As @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ricardo de Anda , the family ’ s attorney , pulled Sewell into a hug .
Across the airport , Esvin Fernando Arredondo reunited with his wife , Cleivi Jerez , and their three daughters , ages 17 , 13 and 7 .
Their youngest daughter , Alison , held a blue poster that read “ Welcome Daddy.
” Arredondo was separated from his daughter , Andrea , in May 2018 .
The government deported Arredondo even after Sabraw ordered that families be reunited and issued a temporary restraining order that forbade officials @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , according to the judge ’ s ruling .
“ It ’ s something so hard , ” Arredondo said about the separation .
“ Like someone pulled something from your body.
” Everywhere Arredondo went , Alison clung to him , her face red from crying .
She didn ’ t want to be apart from him again .
Tears dropped down his cheeks as he kissed the top of her head .
“ Estas feliz ?
” he asked the young girl , who was dressed in a pink Disney sweater @ @ @ @ @ @ @ happy ?
” “ Yes , ” she said in Spanish .
Now , he said , it was about making up for the time he ’ d lost .
Seven other parents who arrived on the flight will reunite with their children either this weekend or in the next few weeks .
Many of their kids are scattered across the country , from Virginia to Texas .
One mother wasn ’ t sure when she would see her 16-year-old son again .
He is still in government custody , but she has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ During their separation , she grew so stressed that her face became paralyzed for a few days , according to court documents .
She felt “ overwhelmed by depression.
” After nearly six months of separation from her son , she abandoned her asylum claim after being told she would remain separated from her son for another five months .
Sabraw found her removal to be unlawful .
It felt , the 34-year-old said , like she ’ d left a weight back in Guatemala that she ’ d been carrying around since @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” she said .
“ Getting closer every minute.
” Byron will return to Texas on Thursday night and then reunite with his father for good in early February .
In a video chat with Sewell ’ s daughter , Windy , before heading to the airport , Byron tried to console the 5-year-old , whom he has grown close to .
“ I miss you , I don ’ t want to leave you , Windy , ” the boy said .
“ But I want to see my dad .
”

Esvin Fernando Arredondo embraces his daughter, Alison Arredondo, at Los Angeles International Airport. A federal judge found the U.S. had unlawfully deported Arredondo apart from his family.
The boy rocked back and forth as he searched every face at the airport, trying to find his father.
Byron Xol blended with dozens of others waiting at Los Angeles International Airport to greet their loved ones. But then a man behind Byron asked how long it’d been since the 9-year-old had seen his dad.
“Over 600 days,” said Holly Sewell, whose family has cared for Byron for the last nine months. Her eyes filled with tears.
Byron had been waiting nearly two years for this moment.
David Xol of Guatemala hugs his son Byron at Los Angeles International Airport as they reunite after being separated more than a year and a half ago. (Ringo H.W. Chiu / Associated Press)
His father, David Xol, was among nine parents who arrived from Guatemala City late Wednesday night. All of them had been deported without their children during President Trump’s separation of immigrant families.
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In September, U.S. District Judge Dana M. Sabraw declared the removals unlawful and ordered the government to allow them to return to the U.S.
The nighttime reunion served as a reminder of the lasting effects of the Trump administration’s family separation policy on thousands of children and their parents. Advocates for migrants say the administration has continued to quietly separate hundreds of families using different tactics.
“As happy as this reunion is, it’s really the beginning of a whole other journey for these parents and children who have been highly traumatized by what they’ve been put through,” said Dr. Amy Cohen, a child psychiatrist who has worked closely with Byron and his family.
The total number of children separated from a parent or guardian under Trump remains unknown. At least 471 parents were deported without their children, and some have yet to be reunited.
“I want to make sure that people understand this is a crisis that’s still going on; it’s not resolved,” said Rep. Jimmy Gomez (D-Los Angeles), who was at the airport to greet returning parents. “I know that there’s impeachment going on, I know that there is a presidential election going on, but these families’ lives haven’t been able to move on because they’ve been ripped apart.”
Family members and friends wait at LAX as nine parents who were deported without their children returned to the U.S. on Wednesday night. (Jason Armond / Los Angeles Times)
At the Tom Bradley International Terminal, a crowd of family members, friends, media and advocacy organizations gathered to wait for the plane’s arrival shortly before 11 p.m.
A handful of people carried a sign that read, “Welcome immigrants and refugees.” One man held nine heart-shaped balloons he planned to give each parent.
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As Sewell and Byron waited, a man recognized the boy and stopped. He had sat beside Xol on the plane and the proud dad had shown him photos.
“He told me all about you,” the man told Sewell. “Thank you so much for you what you did for him.”
Byron spent nearly a year in various shelters before going to live with Matthew and Holly Sewell and their two children, Desmond and Windy, in their Texas home in April. Over the last nine months, the boy has frequently spoken with his parents and younger brothers back in Guatemala.
Sewell flew with Byron from Texas to Los Angeles on Wednesday morning so the two could be present for Xol’s arrival. In his luggage, the boy packed a picture he’d drawn of himself and his father underneath a heart.
Esvin Fernando Arredondo, center, who was ordered to be allowed to return to the U.S. after he was deported without his children, walks into the arrival area at the Tom Bradley terminal at LAX. (Jason Armond / Los Angeles Times)
“I love you, Dad,” he wrote in Spanish. “I miss you, Dad.”
He also brought his father’s belt and wallet that he’d been given after the separation. The boy had filled the black and tan wallet with $100, some of which he’d made by selling lemonade.
Sewell kept a protective arm around Byron as she reassured him over and over that his father would be out soon. The boy’s stomach hurt from the nerves.
“They’re doing the ICE [Immigration and Customs Enforcement] check,” Sewell said.
“Ice skating?” the boy asked, not understanding. He had just gone ice skating last weekend.
“No, it’s the immigration officials,” she explained.
Soon, a cheer rang up through the crowd as they spotted the parents making their way through at last.
“Oh, my God,” Sewell said, as she spotted Byron’s dad.
When Xol finally reached his son, he sank to one knee and gripped him tight, burying his tear-stained face into the boy’s neck. Along with his longer hair, Byron was taller than he remembered. Xol held him tight for several minutes before pulling back to look at him.
“When I saw him, he was small like this,” Xol said, holding a hand up to show how many inches his boy had grown since their separation.
Nearly two years ago, Xol arrived at the border with his son, then 7 years old, to ask for asylum. According to Xol, immigration officials told him that if he continued with his asylum claim, he would be held for two years and separated from Byron.
The father said he decided to sign a form that he believed would allow him to leave the country with his son. Sabraw found Xol’s removal to be unlawful because he had not withdrawn his asylum claim voluntarily.
The little boy told reporters he felt good after the reunion.
“I really miss my family,” Byron said. “I finally get to see my dad.”
As the boy and his father reunited, Ricardo de Anda, the family’s attorney, pulled Sewell into a hug.
“We did it,” De Anda said.
Esvin Fernando Arredondo runs to embrace his daughter, Alison Arredondo, as the rest of his family watches at LAX. (Jason Armond / Los Angeles Times)
From left, Alison Arredondo, her mother, Cleivi Jerez, and sisters Andrea and Keyli wait to be reunited with Esvin Fernando Arredondo at LAX. (Jason Armond / Los Angeles Times)
Across the airport, Esvin Fernando Arredondo reunited with his wife, Cleivi Jerez, and their three daughters, ages 17, 13 and 7. Their youngest daughter, Alison, held a blue poster that read “Welcome Daddy.”
Arredondo was separated from his daughter Andrea in May 2018. The government deported Arredondo even after Sabraw ordered that families be reunited and issued a temporary restraining order that forbade officials from removing parents separated from their children, according to the judge’s ruling.
“It’s something so hard,” Arredondo said about the separation. “Like someone pulled something from your body.”
Everywhere Arredondo went, Alison clung to him, her face red from crying. She didn’t want to be apart from him again. Tears dropped down his cheeks as he kissed the top of her head.
“Estás feliz?” he asked the young girl, who was dressed in a pink Disney sweater and sparkly shoes. “Are you happy?”
“Yes,” she said in Spanish.
Now, he said, it was about making up for the time he’d lost.
Byron Xol, 9, watches as his father, David Xol, right, is interviewed by reporters upon his return to the U.S. (Jason Armond / Los Angeles Times)
Seven other parents who arrived on the flight will reunite with their children either this weekend or in the next few weeks. Many of their kids are scattered across the country, from Virginia to Texas.
One mother wasn’t sure when she would see her teenage son again. He is still in government custody, but she has faith their reunion will be soon.
During their separation, she grew so stressed that her face became paralyzed for a few days, according to court documents. She felt “overwhelmed by depression.”
Following nearly six months of separation from her son, she abandoned her asylum claim after being told they would remain separated for five more months. Sabraw found her removal to be unlawful.
It felt, the 34-year-old said, like she’d left a weight back in Guatemala that she’d been carrying around since their separation.
“So close,” she said. “Getting closer every minute.”
Byron will return to Texas on Thursday night and then reunite with his father for good in early February.
In a video chat with Sewell’s daughter, Windy, before heading to the airport, Byron tried to console the 5-year-old, to whom he has grown close.
“I miss you; I don’t want to leave you, Windy,” the boy said. “But I want to see my dad.”