latimes--2020-07-13--Actress Naya Rivera, 'Glee' TV star and 'fierce talent,' dies at 33

Actress Naya Rivera , best known for playing a sharp-tongued cheerleader and glee club member on Fox ’ s hit musical comedy-drama “ Glee , ” was found dead Monday morning after an extensive search at Lake Piru in Ventura County .
She was 33 .
At an afternoon press conference , Ventura County Sheriff Bill Ayub said he was “ confident ” that the body found floating on the lake was that of Rivera , who went missing Wednesday .
Her 4-year-old son , Josey , was discovered Wednesday night sleeping alone on a boat his mother had rented @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had been searched extensively by dive crews and with sonar equipment , and cabins around the lake were scouted as well .
Rivera ’ s body was found at 9:10 a.m. in the northeastern portion of the lake , Capt .
Eric Buschow of the Ventura County Sheriff ’ s Department said Monday .
“ Naya Rivera was a fierce talent with so much more to do and this is such a terrible tragedy .
We are forever grateful for the indelible contribution she made to ‘ Glee , ’ from the first @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are broken and our thoughts go out to Naya ’ s family , friends and young son , ” it said .
Rivera earned stardom with her breakthrough role in “ Glee ” when it made its debut on Fox in 2009 .
Created by Ryan Murphy , Brad Falchuk and Ian Brennan , the series transformed its mostly unknown young cast into TV superstars .
Rivera played popular and conniving cheerleader Santana Lopez , who joins the school ’ s glee club as a spy for cheerleading coach Sue Sylvester ( Jane @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an interest in music while dancing and singing around the halls of McKinley High School .
Rivera became a series regular in the show ’ s sophomore season .
“ Glee , ” which finished its six-season run in 2015 , was one of Fox ’ s biggest hits with young viewers during its time on air , though its ratings dropped in its final two seasons .
But the beloved series and its cast have been plagued by tragedy .
Rivera is the third main “ Glee ” cast member to die @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who played heartthrob football star and singing coach Finn Hudson on the series , died on July 13 , 2013 , of a drug overdose after a battle with substance abuse .
And Mark Salling , who played Noah “ Puck ” Puckerman , died in 2018 of an apparent suicide ; he was weeks away from sentencing after pleading guilty to possession of child pornography .
( Like their characters , Rivera and Salling dated on and off during the show ’ s run . )
More recently , Rivera was starring @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ Step Up ” television series based on the popular film dance franchise .
( Originally on YouTube Red , the series will move to Starz for its upcoming third season . )
News that Rivera ’ s body had been found prompted an outpouring from friends and admirers .
Because she played a queer character on “ Glee , ” many remembered her as a trailblazer for LGBTQ representation on television .
“ Rest sweet , Naya .
What a force you were .
Love and peace to your family , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ ll never be able to articulate the importance of seeing Naya , a Black Puerto Rican , portraying a queer Afro-Latina on primetime TV .
I ’ m heartbroken over all the stories that will remain untold , ” Steven Canals , co-creator and executive producer of FX ’ s “ Pose , ” tweeted Monday .
“ How can you convey all your love and respect for someone in one post ?
How can you summarize a decade of friendship and laughter with words alone ?
If you were friends with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t , ” wrote “ Glee ” castmate Chris Colfer on Instagram after the Ventura sheriff held his press conference .
His post continued : '' Her brilliance and humor were unmatched .
Her beauty and talent were otherworldly .
She spoke truth to power with poise and fearlessness .
She could turn a bad day into a great day with a single remark .
She inspired and uplifted people without even trying .
Being close to her was both a badge of honor and a suit of armor .
Naya was truly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ always will be.
” The organization GLAAD noted in a tweet , “ Naya Rivera will be missed so much by so many .
She was a friend of GLAAD and even hosted the GLAAD Media Awards twice .
She was kind , gracious , and personally used her platforms and voice to tell LGBTQ youth that they are loved .
Our hearts are with her loved ones.
” Naya Marie Rivera was born and raised in Santa Clarita and began her Hollywood career at age 4 with a role in the 1991 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Family.
” Rivera went on to appear on the television shows “ The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air , ” “ The Bernie Mac Show ” and “ 8 Simple Rules , ” before landing her role on “ Glee ” by auditioning with Destiny Child ’ s version of “ Emotions.
” Rivera ’ s performance on “ Glee ” garnered attention in the show ’ s third season with her character ’ s coming-out storyline , which involved Santana being publicly outed by a rival glee club member .
“ I get @ @ @ @ @ @ @ storyline truly touched them and hit home for them .
It ’ s created a fan base for me that I never thought I ’ d have , ” Rivera told the Hollywood Reporter in 2012 .
“ It ’ s really cool to know that there are people out there that this does matter to and that your work does matter.
” Rivera attempted to translate “ Glee ’ s ” chart-topping musical success into a real-life music career .
She signed a deal with Columbia Records in 2011 and released her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ featuring then-boyfriend Big Sean , in 2013 .
But the album was ultimately shelved , and her music career stalled .
In 2014 , she married the actor Ryan Dorsey , with whom she had her son .
A few years into their marriage , in 2017 , Rivera was arrested on suspicion of domestic battery against Dorsey .
The charges were ultimately dropped and the couple divorced in 2018 .
The actress and singer chronicled many of the highs and lows of her career and personal life — fights on “ Glee @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a teen , her decision to have an abortion — in her 2016 tell-all book , “ Sorry Not Sorry.
” Rivera is survived by her son , Josey , and her parents , Yolanda and George Rivera , as well as brother Mychal and sister Nickayla .
On July 2 , Rivera posted a now tragically poignant message on Twitter and Instagram that said : “ no matter the year , circumstance , or strifes everyday you ’ re alive is a blessing .
Make the most of today and every day @ @ @ @ @ @ @ promised .
”

Former “Glee” star Naya Rivera has died at 33. Her body was found Monday at Lake Piru.
Actress Naya Rivera, best known for playing a sharp-tongued cheerleader and glee club member on Fox’s hit musical comedy-drama “Glee,” was found dead Monday morning after an extensive search at Lake Piru in Ventura County. She was 33.
At an afternoon press conference, Ventura County Sheriff Bill Ayub said he was “confident” that the body found floating on the lake was that of Rivera, who went missing Wednesday. Her 4-year-old son, Josey, was discovered Wednesday night sleeping alone on a boat his mother had rented for them that afternoon.
The area had been searched extensively by dive crews and with sonar equipment, and cabins around the lake were scouted as well. Rivera’s body was found at 9:10 a.m. in the northeastern portion of the lake, Capt. Eric Buschow of the Ventura County Sheriff’s Department said Monday.
California Body of actress Naya Rivera found in Lake Piru, officials say A body found in Lake Piru is that of actress Naya Rivera, who disappeared five days ago during a boat outing with her young son, authorities said Monday.
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20th Century Fox TV and Fox Entertainment issued a joint statement Monday.
“Naya Rivera was a fierce talent with so much more to do and this is such a terrible tragedy. We are forever grateful for the indelible contribution she made to ‘Glee,’ from the first episode to the last. Our hearts are broken and our thoughts go out to Naya’s family, friends and young son,” it said.
Rivera earned stardom with her breakthrough role in “Glee” when it made its debut on Fox in 2009. Created by Ryan Murphy, Brad Falchuk and Ian Brennan, the series transformed its mostly unknown young cast into TV superstars.
Naya Rivera, left, and Kevin McHale on “Glee.” (Fox Image Collection via Getty Images)
Rivera played popular and conniving cheerleader Santana Lopez, who joins the school’s glee club as a spy for cheerleading coach Sue Sylvester (Jane Lynch) but soon finds herself developing an interest in music while dancing and singing around the halls of McKinley High School. Rivera became a series regular in the show’s sophomore season.
“Glee,” which finished its six-season run in 2015, was one of Fox’s biggest hits with young viewers during its time on air, though its ratings dropped in its final two seasons.
But the beloved series and its cast have been plagued by tragedy. Rivera is the third main “Glee” cast member to die in seven years.
Cory Monteith, who played heartthrob football star and singing coach Finn Hudson on the series, died on July 13, 2013, of a drug overdose after a battle with substance abuse. And Mark Salling, who played Noah “Puck” Puckerman, died in 2018 of an apparent suicide; he was weeks away from sentencing after pleading guilty to possession of child pornography. (Like their characters, Rivera and Salling dated on and off during the show’s run.)
Naya Rivera, left, with guest star Gloria Estefan on an episode of “Glee.” (Fox)
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More recently, Rivera was starring as a former dancer-turned-school administrator in the “Step Up” television series based on the popular film dance franchise. (Originally on YouTube Red, the series will move to Starz for its upcoming third season.)
News that Rivera’s body had been found prompted an outpouring from friends and admirers. Because she played a queer character on “Glee,” many remembered her as a trailblazer for LGBTQ representation on television.
“Rest sweet, Naya. What a force you were. Love and peace to your family,” actress Lynch tweeted Monday.
“I’ll never be able to articulate the importance of seeing Naya, a Black Puerto Rican, portraying a queer Afro-Latina on primetime TV. I’m heartbroken over all the stories that will remain untold,” Steven Canals, co-creator and executive producer of FX’s “Pose,” tweeted Monday.
“How can you convey all your love and respect for someone in one post? How can you summarize a decade of friendship and laughter with words alone? If you were friends with Naya Rivera, you simply can’t,” wrote “Glee” castmate Chris Colfer on Instagram after the Ventura sheriff held his press conference.
His post continued:”Her brilliance and humor were unmatched. Her beauty and talent were otherworldly. She spoke truth to power with poise and fearlessness. She could turn a bad day into a great day with a single remark. She inspired and uplifted people without even trying. Being close to her was both a badge of honor and a suit of armor. Naya was truly one of a kind, and she always will be.”
The organization GLAAD noted in a tweet, “Naya Rivera will be missed so much by so many. She was a friend of GLAAD and even hosted the GLAAD Media Awards twice. She was kind, gracious, and personally used her platforms and voice to tell LGBTQ youth that they are loved. Our hearts are with her loved ones.”
Naya Marie Rivera was born and raised in Santa Clarita and began her Hollywood career at age 4 with a role in the 1991 Eddie Murphy-created CBS sitcom “The Royal Family.” Rivera went on to appear on the television shows “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air,” “The Bernie Mac Show” and “8 Simple Rules,” before landing her role on “Glee” by auditioning with Destiny Child’s version of “Emotions.”
Rivera’s performance on “Glee” garnered attention in the show’s third season with her character’s coming-out storyline, which involved Santana being publicly outed by a rival glee club member.
“I get so many stories of people that the storyline truly touched them and hit home for them. It’s created a fan base for me that I never thought I’d have,” Rivera told the Hollywood Reporter in 2012. “It’s really cool to know that there are people out there that this does matter to and that your work does matter.”
Rivera attempted to translate “Glee’s” chart-topping musical success into a real-life music career. She signed a deal with Columbia Records in 2011 and released her debut single, “Sorry,” featuring then-boyfriend Big Sean, in 2013. But the album was ultimately shelved, and her music career stalled.
In 2014, she married the actor Ryan Dorsey, with whom she had her son. A few years into their marriage, in 2017, Rivera was arrested on suspicion of domestic battery against Dorsey. The charges were ultimately dropped and the couple divorced in 2018.
The actress and singer chronicled many of the highs and lows of her career and personal life — fights on “Glee,” her struggles with anorexia as a teen, her decision to have an abortion — in her 2016 tell-all book, “Sorry Not Sorry.”
Rivera is survived by her son, Josey, and her parents, Yolanda and George Rivera, as well as brother Mychal and sister Nickayla.
On July 2, Rivera posted a now tragically poignant message on Twitter and Instagram that said: “no matter the year, circumstance, or strifes everyday you’re alive is a blessing. Make the most of today and every day you are given. tomorrow is not promised.”
Times staff writer Christie D’Zurilla contributed to this story.


latimes--2020-07-13--Los Angeles County offers guidelines for schools that decide to reopen

Los Angeles County public health officials have announced new guidelines for school districts that choose to resume in-person learning in the fall amid the coronavirus pandemic , warning that things will look very different on campuses when students and teachers return .
Officials said Monday that children in L.A. County ’ s 80 school districts would be required to wear face coverings , with such exceptions as during nap time , and the use of hand sanitizer will be encouraged , especially among younger students .
Social distancing practices will be maintained , and team sports that don ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ permitted .
“ I want to assure you that we are committed to working closely with the school districts , ” Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer said .
There ’ s currently no clear threshold for when a school may be deemed unsafe , but just like businesses , schools would need to report a cluster of three or more cases to the health department .
As of right now , there ’ s no plan for testing students regularly .
The news comes on the heels of a decision by the Los @ @ @ @ @ @ @ campuses closed in the fall .
Schools will instead continue with online learning until further notice , Supt .
Austin Beutner announced Monday .
The state is seeing a massive spike in coronavirus cases , worrying health officials about further reopenings and forcing the re-closure of some facilities .
On Monday , Gov .
Gavin Newsom ordered the suspension of indoor operations at fitness centers , hair salons , barbershops , nail salons and other personal care facilities , as well as malls and places of worship in more than 30 counties on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The order , which also prohibits indoor protest and the closure of noncritical workplaces , affects all Southern California counties , including Los Angeles , and comes weeks after officials greenlighted various reopenings throughout the state .
Newsom also ordered the statewide closure of all indoor operations at restaurants , bars , wineries , zoos and museums .
The decision previously had affected only L.A. County and other areas that had seen a spike in the rate of positive test results for infections and a surge in hospitalizations .
“ This virus is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Newsom said during a news briefing Monday .
Los Angeles County remains a hot spot of COVID-19 .
More than 133,600 people have been infected , and 3,822 have died .
Officials on Monday announced 13 additional coronavirus-related deaths and more than 2,590 infections .
The county accounts for the bulk of the state ’ s 326,187 infections and 7,053 deaths .
“ While our death rate has remained relatively stable , ” Ferrer said , “ we anticipate that , unfortunately , with the rise of hospitalizations , we will soon see @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people who pass away.
” The county continues to see outbreaks at various businesses .
Los Angeles Apparel , a South L.A. garment manufacturer that shifted operations to produce and distribute face masks , shut down after 300 employees were infected by COVID-19 and four employees died from the virus .
The L.A. County Department of Public Health first shut down operations June 27 after inspectors found “ flagrant violations ” of public health infection control orders and said the company failed to cooperate with an investigation of a reported coronavirus outbreak .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ continued suspension of the operation .
At a fire station serving Los Angeles International Airport , 20 firefighters have tested positive for the virus .
One firefighter is hospitalized , Los Angeles Fire Department spokesman Peter Sanders said Monday .
Fire Station 80 handles aircraft and equipment-related calls at LAX ’ s airfield but doesn ’ t respond to calls for fires or medical aid at the airport ’ s terminals .
A total of 48 firefighters work at the station , Sanders said .
One firefighter tested positive about two weeks ago @ @ @ @ @ @ @ got tested on their own time at a private facility over the July Fourth holiday weekend , Sanders said .
Firefighters from others stations with aircraft-related training are taking on the shifts of those who are out , Sanders said .
Los Angeles World Airports spokeswoman Becca Doten said staffing levels had not fallen below those required by the Federal Aviation Administration .
Doten said the airports division had notified the FAA of the outbreak “ out of courtesy and for situational awareness.
” In L.A. County , 2,056 people are hospitalized for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are in intensive care .
The current number continues to remain significantly higher than the 1,350 to 1,450 daily hospitalizations seen just four weeks ago .
That number continues to rise throughout the state , a reality that is straining hospital capacity .
In San Francisco , the weekly rate of hospitalizations for COVID-19 has nearly doubled .
The city remains in “ a very vulnerable situation ” the city ’ s Public Health Director Dr. Grant Colfax said Monday during an online forum .
The city has nearly 4,600 cases of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ diagnosed in just the last two weeks , and 50 residents have died from the virus .
Nearly half of all those who have tested positive in the city are Latinos , he said .
The positivity rate is now at 7.8 for every 100,000 residents , he said .
“ This indicates the virus is spreading throughout the city , particularly in the Southeast part of city , ” Colfax said .
For every one person who contracts the virus , another 1.25 are now infected , he said .
“ We @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one or below as quickly and as soon as possible.
” This rate of transmission in San Francisco was previously as low as .85 .
If unchanged , Colfax said , the number of deaths in San Francisco could increase from 50 to 890 by the end of the year , according to modeling .
He urged people not to socialize with other households , especially indoors , and it ’ s believed that time spent outdoors is 10 to 20 times safer than inside .
Experts estimate that vaccines won ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ months .
Colfax said vaccine trials in the city may start as early as next month .
That rate of transmission has increased elsewhere , including L.A. County , where officials have previously projected that 1 in 140 residents are unknowingly infected with the virus .
“ The virus currently rages on in our community , '' Ferrer said .
Times staff writers Dakota Smith and Maura Dolan contributed to this report .

Sid, 6, shows his first-grade work to mom Tara Vijayan after they picked it up at El Segundo’s Center Street School in June.
Los Angeles County public health officials have announced new guidelines for school districts that choose to resume in-person learning in the fall amid the coronavirus pandemic, warning that things will look very different on campuses when students and teachers return.
Officials said Monday that children in L.A. County’s 80 school districts would be required to wear face coverings, with such exceptions as during nap time, and the use of hand sanitizer will be encouraged, especially among younger students. Social distancing practices will be maintained, and team sports that don’t allow for physical distancing will not be permitted.
“I want to assure you that we are committed to working closely with the school districts,” Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer said.
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There’s currently no clear threshold for when a school may be deemed unsafe, but just like businesses, schools would need to report a cluster of three or more cases to the health department. As of right now, there’s no plan for testing students regularly.
“It’s not a one-size-fits-all” approach, Ferrer said.
The news comes on the heels of a decision by the Los Angeles Unified School District to keep its campuses closed in the fall. Schools will instead continue with online learning until further notice, Supt. Austin Beutner announced Monday.
The state is seeing a massive spike in coronavirus cases, worrying health officials about further reopenings and forcing the re-closure of some facilities. On Monday, Gov. Gavin Newsom ordered the suspension of indoor operations at fitness centers, hair salons, barbershops, nail salons and other personal care facilities, as well as malls and places of worship in more than 30 counties on the state’s watch list. The order, which also prohibits indoor protest and the closure of noncritical workplaces, affects all Southern California counties, including Los Angeles, and comes weeks after officials greenlighted various reopenings throughout the state.
Newsom also ordered the statewide closure of all indoor operations at restaurants, bars, wineries, zoos and museums. The decision previously had affected only L.A. County and other areas that had seen a spike in the rate of positive test results for infections and a surge in hospitalizations.
“This virus is not going away anytime soon,” Newsom said during a news briefing Monday.
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Los Angeles County remains a hot spot of COVID-19. More than 133,600 people have been infected, and 3,822 have died. Officials on Monday announced 13 additional coronavirus-related deaths and more than 2,590 infections. The county accounts for the bulk of the state’s 326,187 infections and 7,053 deaths.
“While our death rate has remained relatively stable,” Ferrer said, “we anticipate that, unfortunately, with the rise of hospitalizations, we will soon see a corresponding increases in the number of people who pass away.”
The county continues to see outbreaks at various businesses. Los Angeles Apparel, a South L.A. garment manufacturer that shifted operations to produce and distribute face masks, shut down after 300 employees were infected by COVID-19 and four employees died from the virus.
The L.A. County Department of Public Health first shut down operations June 27 after inspectors found “flagrant violations” of public health infection control orders and said the company failed to cooperate with an investigation of a reported coronavirus outbreak. On Thursday, the department ordered the continued suspension of the operation.
California The inside story of how California failed mass coronavirus testing California failed to establish an effective coronavirus testing system early on, leaving it far behind — even now — in the fight against COVID-19.
At a fire station serving Los Angeles International Airport, 20 firefighters have tested positive for the virus. One firefighter is hospitalized, Los Angeles Fire Department spokesman Peter Sanders said Monday.
Fire Station 80 handles aircraft and equipment-related calls at LAX’s airfield but doesn’t respond to calls for fires or medical aid at the airport’s terminals. A total of 48 firefighters work at the station, Sanders said.
One firefighter tested positive about two weeks ago. Other firefighters at the station then got tested on their own time at a private facility over the July Fourth holiday weekend, Sanders said.
Firefighters from others stations with aircraft-related training are taking on the shifts of those who are out, Sanders said.
Los Angeles World Airports spokeswoman Becca Doten said staffing levels had not fallen below those required by the Federal Aviation Administration.
Doten said the airports division had notified the FAA of the outbreak “out of courtesy and for situational awareness.”
In L.A. County, 2,056 people are hospitalized for the virus — 28% of whom are in intensive care. The current number continues to remain significantly higher than the 1,350 to 1,450 daily hospitalizations seen just four weeks ago.
That number continues to rise throughout the state, a reality that is straining hospital capacity.
In San Francisco, the weekly rate of hospitalizations for COVID-19 has nearly doubled. The city remains in “a very vulnerable situation” the city’s Public Health Director Dr. Grant Colfax said Monday during an online forum. The city has nearly 4,600 cases of the virus — about 1,000 of which were diagnosed in just the last two weeks, and 50 residents have died from the virus.
Nearly half of all those who have tested positive in the city are Latinos, he said. The positivity rate is now at 7.8 for every 100,000 residents, he said.
“This indicates the virus is spreading throughout the city, particularly in the Southeast part of city,” Colfax said.
For every one person who contracts the virus, another 1.25 are now infected, he said.
“We really need to drive that down to one or below as quickly and as soon as possible.”
This rate of transmission in San Francisco was previously as low as .85. If unchanged, Colfax said, the number of deaths in San Francisco could increase from 50 to 890 by the end of the year, according to modeling. He urged people not to socialize with other households, especially indoors, and it’s believed that time spent outdoors is 10 to 20 times safer than inside.
Experts estimate that vaccines won’t be widely available for 12 to 18 months. Colfax said vaccine trials in the city may start as early as next month.
That rate of transmission has increased elsewhere, including L.A. County, where officials have previously projected that 1 in 140 residents are unknowingly infected with the virus.
“The virus currently rages on in our community,”Ferrer said.
Times staff writers Dakota Smith and Maura Dolan contributed to this report.


latimes--2020-07-13--Newsom orders statewide re-closure of indoor dining, limits on church services, salons

California is largely closing again amid a spike in coronavirus cases across the state , as Gov .
Gavin Newsom announced statewide restrictions Monday to again halt all indoor dining and close bars , family entertainment , zoos and museums .
At the same time , most counties , including Los Angeles , will be forced to shutter gyms , churches , hair salons , malls and other businesses under the new order , which is effective Monday .
The move further pushes Californians back inside during a time typically marked by summer vacations .
The stricter measures to close @ @ @ @ @ @ @ targeted at 30 of the most populous counties in the state , where 80 % of California residents live .
“ This virus is not going away anytime soon , ” Newsom said Monday .
“ I hope all of us recognize that if we were still connected to some notion that somehow when it gets warm it ’ s going to go away or somehow it ’ s going to take summer months or weekends off — this virus has done neither.
” The setback comes after the state said June 12 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bars , religious services and gyms could reopen with modifications in counties that met the state ’ s guidelines .
Newsom said the move Monday to resurrect tough restrictions was a response to a rise in COVID-19 hospitalizations in the state .
“ We ’ re seeing an increase in the spread of the virus , so that ’ s why it ’ s incumbent upon all of us to recognize soberly that COVID-19 is not going away any time soon until there is a vaccine or an effective therapy , ” Newsom @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ahead of the July 4 holiday on indoor activities for counties experiencing a spike in infections .
Counties are placed on a watch list when they experience a rise in hospitalization rates , community transmission or declining hospital capacity , with three consecutive days of troublesome trends requiring the area to add additional restrictions .
There are now 30 counties on that watch list , which , with Monday ’ s announcement , will now have to close gyms , churches , offices with non-essential workers , malls , nail salons and hair @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are likely to come on and off the watchlist , which he said allows the state to operate with a “ dimmer switch ” to modify restrictions as needed .
Statewide , Newsom said Monday that all dine-in restaurants must close unless they seat patrons outdoor or offer takeout .
In addition , wineries and tasting rooms , movie theaters , card rooms , zoos , museums , bowling alleys , miniature golf and other family entertainment centers will be closed across California .
Schools districts will continue to determine whether to return @ @ @ @ @ @ @ decision that has varied widely across California .
On Monday the Los Angeles Unified School District announced it would not reopen classes and will instead continue with online learning until further notice .
Even while overriding public health orders in counties across the state , Newsom said Monday that school districts are best positioned to determine whether to reopen classrooms .
However , he cautioned that the state is monitoring schools and will continue to provide guidance on best practices .
“ The dynamic nature of the spread of this virus means you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the next few days and presumably weeks as we get closer to the opening of the school year , ” Newsom said .
As of Monday , California had more than 326,000 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and more than 7,000 total deaths , according to

California is largely closing again amid a spike in COVID-19 cases across the state, as Gov. Gavin Newsom announced statewide restrictions Monday to again halt all indoor dining and close bars, zoos and museums.
At the same time, most counties, including Los Angeles, San Bernardino, Orange and Riverside, will be forced to shutter gyms, houses of worship, hair salons, malls and other businesses under the new order, which is effective immediately and remains in effect indefinitely. In addition, offices with nonessential workers in those counties must close.
The move further pushes Californians back into their homes during a time when they are typically enjoying summer vacations. The stricter measures to close gyms, churches and other services affect 29 counties that are among the most populous in the state, where 80% of California residents live.
“This virus is not going away anytime soon,” Newsom said Monday. “I hope all of us recognize that if we were still connected to some notion that, somehow, when it gets warm, it’s going to go away or, somehow, it’s going to take summer months or weekends off — this virus has done neither.”
Cases of coronavirus in California and rates of hospitalizations have risen sharply in the last month as stores reopened and residents ventured back outside, albeit with restrictions to wear masks in public places.
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The setback comes after the state said June 12 that dine-in restaurants, retail stores, bars, religious services and gyms could reopen with modifications in counties that met the state’s guidelines. Newsom said the move Monday to resurrect tough restrictions was a response to a rise in COVID-19 hospitalizations in the state.
“We’re seeing an increase in the spread of the virus, so that’s why it’s incumbent upon all of us to recognize soberly that COVID-19 is not going away any time soon until there is a vaccine or an effective therapy,” Newsom said Monday.
As of Monday, California had seen more than 333,000 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and more than 7,000 deaths, according to the Los Angeles Times’ tracker.
California averaged 8,211 new cases a day of COVID-19 during the past week. The previous week, the average was 7,876.
Newsom has routinely highlighted the growing number of infections, even as the state was moving forward with reopening the economy, including giving the green light to nail salons, tattoo parlors and massage therapy facilities, which are some of the highest-risk sectors for transmissions. Last month, Newsom issued orders requiring all Californians to wear masks or other face coverings while in public or in high-risk settings.
Then, ahead of the July 4 holiday, Newsom set limits on indoor activities for counties hit by a spike in infections. Counties are placed on a watch list after three days of rising hospitalization rates, increasing community transmission or declining hospital capacity.
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There are now 29 counties on that watch list, which, with Monday’s announcement, will have to close gyms, houses of worship, offices with nonessential workers, malls, nail salons and hair salons. Kern County fell off the watch list Monday, while Placer, Sonoma, Yuba and Sutter counties were added.
The latest order is creating a patchwork of closings and reopenings statewide, spreading confusion in some quarters. In the Bay Area, Santa Clara started reopening gyms and other services Monday but will have to close them Wednesday. The governor said Monday that the orders are likely to soon apply to Alameda County, given current trends.
Newsom said counties are likely to come on and off the watchlist, which he said allows the state to operate with a “dimmer switch” to modify restrictions as needed. But for businesses affected by the closures again, the new orders are economically devastating and emotionally jarring, said Fiona Hutton, president of an eponymous statewide public affairs firm based in Los Angeles. Hutton said businesses can’t simply open and close with the switch of a button.
“Everyone is frustrated with the on/off switch in their personal and professional lives,” Hutton said.
Under the statewide order, all dine-in restaurants must close unless they seat patrons outdoors or offer takeout. In addition, wineries and tasting rooms, movie theaters, card rooms, zoos, museums, bowling alleys, miniature golf centers and other family entertainment sites will be closed across California. Bars and breweries can continue to serve beverages outdoors, only if accompanied by food.
Indoor protests are barred, but not outdoor ones. Hours after Newsom’s announcement, one group of anti-mask advocates posted plans to protest the restrictions this weekend outside the Capitol.
The state’s public health department said the types of businesses targeted in Monday’s order have a higher risk of spreading the coronavirus “because they promote mixing with others outside of one’s household.” Other sectors are included because they are not able to adhere to the state’s mask order; for example, while eating or drinking inside a restaurant or bar.
The order says the new restrictions will remain in effect until the state’s public health officer, Dr. Sonia Angell, determines that it is appropriate to reverse course. The order, signed by Angell, also says “Californians should not travel significant distances and should stay close to home.” However, new travel restrictions are not in place.
“The decisions we make today will determine how COVID-19 impacts our communities and families tomorrow,” Angell said in a statement.
School districts will continue to determine whether to return to classrooms following summer break, a decision that has varied widely across California. On Monday, the Los Angeles Unified and San Diego Unified school districts announced that they would not reopen classrooms and will continue with online learning until further notice.
Even while overriding county public health orders across the state, Newsom said Monday that school districts are best positioned to determine whether to reopen classrooms. However, he cautioned that the state is monitoring schools and will continue to provide guidance on best practices.
“The dynamic nature of the spread of this virus means you’ll be hearing a lot more in the next few days, and presumably weeks, as we get closer to the opening of the school year,” Newsom said.


latimes--2020-07-13--L.A. Times reporter Bud Lembke, who witnessed RFK assassination, dies at 98

As a radio operator during World War II , Daryl E. “ Bud ” Lembke kept a diary .
“ I shall live to be the ripe old age of 98 or so , that would be much nicer than being wiped out at 22 , ” read one of his entries — which turned out to be prophetic .
The journalist ’ s vivid diaries would go on to form the basis of an engrossing book about his wartime experience : “ Ups and Downs in a Flying Fortress : Were those trips necessary ?
” Lembke , who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Los Angeles Times reporter , died from complications of Alzheimer ’ s disease on June 17 , one month after his 98th birthday , in Walnut Creek .
A native of Minnesota , Lembke grew up on a farm and was raised by his grandparents .
He attended Macalester College in St. Paul before joining the Army .
After the war , Lembke completed his degree at the University of Minnesota and moved to Southern California to pursue journalism .
He began working at a small weekly newspaper before eventually making his way @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he worked for 21 years .
After several years in Los Angeles , Lembke headed north , first to Sacramento to cover politics and then to San Francisco .
It was at The Times that Lembke met his wife , Mary Theisen , an editorial secretary based in the Los Angeles offices .
“ I would talk with Bud on the phone from the San Francisco bureau and we became friendly , ” Mary said .
Eventually Lembke made a visit to the L.A. office and asked her out .
“ It was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Mary said .
Lembke , who primarily covered the Bay Area , was a reporter during one of the most tumultuous periods of America ’ s history .
“ Bud was at the Ambassador hotel [ in Los Angeles ] the night Bobby Kennedy was killed , ” Mary said .
“ He was on the phone to the office telling them what was going on , and it was the first time he seriously said , ‘ Stop the presses !
’ ” As events unfolded that fateful night , Lembke @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about Kennedy ’ s victory in California ’ s presidential primary to one about devastating loss .
The following day , Lembke ’ s byline appeared beneath the headline , “ KENNEDY SHOT.
” Despite the harrowing events of that night , Lembke was able to remain levelheaded , according to his wife .
“ He was a true newsman , he wanted to tell people what was happening clearly and objectively , ” Mary said .
Lembke retired from The Times in the 1980s , but had no intention of slowing down @ @ @ @ @ @ @ founded his own newspaper , the Dana Point Beacon , in Orange County .
“ I call it an artistic success , ” laughed Mary .
“ The paper wasn ’ t sustainable , ” and they sold it .
But Mary always had faith in her husband ’ s ingenuity .
“ He would build things from nothing , ” she said , “ I always trusted him because he did everything with his whole heart.
” Lembke then moved into politics and served as press secretary to California state Sen. David @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he made his way back to writing and published a newsletter on local government called Political Pulse for many years .
In 2005 , the Lembkes moved to the Rossmoor retirement community in Walnut Creek , where a new phase in the wordsmith ’ s life began — as a playwright .
“ Bud loved playwriting because it was like a jigsaw puzzle , ” said Mary .
“ He liked deciding where the exits and entrances would go , and what all the variables were.
” Playwriting was a welcome change from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ It was an opportunity for Bud to create his own reality , ” said longtime friend Alan Cunningham .
“ He would get lost in scenarios he had dreamed up.
” Lembke ’ s good friend at Rossmoor , Duke Robinson , shared his love of theater and plays .
“ A few years ago I turned to him and said , ‘ Bud , why don ’ t we have a drama association here ?
’ Robinson recalled .
“ Bud said , ‘ I was thinking the exact same thing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ need !
’ ” Six months later , the Drama Assn .
of Rossmoor was born .
Lembke ’ s play , “ Arthritis Be Damned , ” inspired by his time in the retirement community , was a smash hit .
“ Bud had a very wry sense of humor , ” Robinson said .
“ He understood the complexities and ironies of life.
” “ He was a true observer , ” Mary said , “ and saw the humor in things — most of all , Bud really loved people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ into words .
Lembke is survived by his wife , daughter Nancy Brenn and a grandson , Jon Lovett .

As a radio operator during World War II, Daryl E. “Bud” Lembke kept a diary.
“I shall live to be the ripe old age of 98 or so, that would be much nicer than being wiped out at 22,” read one of his entries — which turned out to be prophetic. The journalist’s vivid diaries would go on to form the basis of an engrossing book about his wartime experience: “Ups and Downs in a Flying Fortress: Were those trips necessary?”
Lembke, who went on to a career as a Los Angeles Times reporter, died from complications of Alzheimer’s disease on June 17, one month after his 98th birthday, in Walnut Creek.
A native of Minnesota, Lembke grew up on a farm and was raised by his grandparents. He attended Macalester College in St. Paul before joining the Army. After the war, Lembke completed his degree at the University of Minnesota and moved to Southern California to pursue journalism. He began working at a small weekly newspaper before eventually making his way to the Los Angeles Times, where he worked for 21 years.
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After several years in Los Angeles, Lembke headed north, first to Sacramento to cover politics and then to San Francisco. It was at The Times that Lembke met his wife, Mary Theisen, an editorial secretary based in the Los Angeles offices.
“I would talk with Bud on the phone from the San Francisco bureau and we became friendly,” Mary said. Eventually Lembke made a visit to the L.A. office and asked her out. “It was the beginning of a wonderful romance,” Mary said.
Lembke, who primarily covered the Bay Area, was a reporter during one of the most tumultuous periods of America’s history.
“Bud was at the Ambassador hotel [in Los Angeles] the night Bobby Kennedy was killed,” Mary said. “He was on the phone to the office telling them what was going on, and it was the first time he seriously said, ‘Stop the presses!’” As events unfolded that fateful night, Lembke’s reporting changed from a story about Kennedy’s victory in California’s presidential primary to one about devastating loss.
The following day, Lembke’s byline appeared beneath the headline, “KENNEDY SHOT.”
The front page of the Los Angeles Times, June 5, 1968. (Los Angeles Times)
Despite the harrowing events of that night, Lembke was able to remain levelheaded, according to his wife. “He was a true newsman, he wanted to tell people what was happening clearly and objectively,” Mary said.
Lembke retired from The Times in the 1980s, but had no intention of slowing down. He had an entrepreneurial spirit and founded his own newspaper, the Dana Point Beacon, in Orange County.
“I call it an artistic success,” laughed Mary. “The paper wasn’t sustainable,” and they sold it. But Mary always had faith in her husband’s ingenuity. “He would build things from nothing,” she said, “I always trusted him because he did everything with his whole heart.”
Advertisement
Lembke then moved into politics and served as press secretary to California state Sen. David Roberti (D-Los Angeles). But he made his way back to writing and published a newsletter on local government called Political Pulse for many years.
In 2005, the Lembkes moved to the Rossmoor retirement community in Walnut Creek, where a new phase in the wordsmith’s life began — as a playwright.
“Bud loved playwriting because it was like a jigsaw puzzle,” said Mary. “He liked deciding where the exits and entrances would go, and what all the variables were.”
Playwriting was a welcome change from his years reporting on breaking news. “It was an opportunity for Bud to create his own reality,” said longtime friend Alan Cunningham. “He would get lost in scenarios he had dreamed up.”
Lembke’s good friend at Rossmoor, Duke Robinson, shared his love of theater and plays.
“A few years ago I turned to him and said, ‘Bud, why don’t we have a drama association here?’ Robinson recalled. “Bud said, ‘I was thinking the exact same thing! That’s exactly what we need!’” Six months later, the Drama Assn. of Rossmoor was born.
Lembke’s play, “Arthritis Be Damned,” inspired by his time in the retirement community, was a smash hit. “Bud had a very wry sense of humor,” Robinson said. “He understood the complexities and ironies of life.”
“He was a true observer,” Mary said, “and saw the humor in things — most of all, Bud really loved people,” and he put it all into words.
Lembke is survived by his wife, daughter Nancy Brenn and a grandson, Jon Lovett.


latimes--2020-07-13--How do you feel about L.A. schools not reopening for classes next month?

Common areas at Dorsey High School are cordoned off with caution tape in Los Angeles in March .

Common areas at Dorsey High School are cordoned off with caution tape in Los Angeles in March.
(Al Seib/Los Angeles Times)


latimes--2020-07-13--L.A. Unified will not reopen campuses for start of school year amid coronavirus spike

Los Angeles campuses will not reopen for classes on Aug. 18 , and the nation ’ s second-largest school system will continue with online learning until further notice , because of the worsening coronavirus surge , Supt .
Austin Beutner announced Monday .
The difficult decision became unavoidable in recent weeks , Beutner said , as coronavirus cases have skyrocketed in Los Angeles County , and the district can not come close to protecting the health and safety of some half a million K-12 students and about 75,000 employees .
“ Let me be crystal clear , ” Beutner said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ We all know the best place for students to learn is in a school setting.
” But , he said , “ We ’ re going in the wrong direction .
And as much as we want to be back at schools and have students back at schools — can ’ t do it until it ’ s safe and appropriate.
” He added that it was important to let families and district employees know so that they could prepare for the rapidly approaching start of the school year , only five @ @ @ @ @ @ @ called for county , state and federal officials to provide leadership and funding for regular coronavirus testing and contact tracing .
He said that school districts also needed clearer guidance on when and how to reopen .
Beutner estimated it would cost $ 300 a year per person to test all students and staff members once a week .
“ The dollars pale in comparison to the importance schools will play in reopening what was the fifth-largest economy in the world , ” he said .
The decision pitted two imperatives against each @ @ @ @ @ @ @ risks versus the need to return students to classrooms — where , experts say , they will learn more effectively , while also allowing their parents to resume a more routine work schedule , helping to boost a state economy in deep recession .
Other school systems in disparate regions throughout the country are confronting the issue in different ways — in part because the health situation varies or because of political and philosophical divides over what should take priority .
In New York City , the nation ’ s largest school system @ @ @ @ @ @ @ students returning fewer than five days per week .
In Fairfax County , Virginia , the school system is giving parents the choice of online only or returning to campus two days a week combined with online instruction .
In California , day by day , more school systems are choosing to keep campuses closed and reopen online only as health officials sound the alarm about the rising number of coronavirus cases .
In Northern California those districts include West Contra Costa County , East Side Union in San Jose and the Oakland @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the San Bernardino City school system cited the “ recent and significant rise in COVID cases in our community ” in its July 2 announcement that campuses would not be reopen next month .
“ After the beginning of the school year and if and only when we can do so safely , we will begin to offer , in-person check-in and support services for small groups of students and eventually transition to a hybrid or blended learning model , ” said interim Supt .
Harold Vollkommer in a statement .
In @ @ @ @ @ @ @ new daily highs and the infection rate of those tested rose to 10 % .
It had fallen to 4.6 % in May .
“ You wake up each morning and say , well , maybe that was a one-day thing , ” Beutner said .
“ Maybe that was a one-week thing .
Well , it ’ s been a month now ... We ’ ve been deliberating this for some time , since really the middle of June , since the health factors in the community started going in the wrong @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their planning for the fall , school district officials all over the region understood that some parents are not ready to send children back to campus : A distance-learning-only program is necessary for them .
Still , the recent hope had been that L.A. Unified and other school systems could open for most families using a hybrid schedule , in which students would attend classes part time on campus in small socially distanced groups , using a staggered schedule .
They were going to combine this limited on-campus time with an enhanced study-at-home @ @ @ @ @ @ @ offline .
Some school districts still have been planning to go that route , but San Diego Unified , which was one of them , announced Monday morning that it , too , would be online-only for the start of the semester .
In that school system , the teachers union had pushed back in recent days against reopening plans , dissatisfied with safety measures .
The teachers union in L.A. was more adamant .
Last week , the leadership called for campuses to remain closed .
And 83 % of teachers agreed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 56 % of union members participated in that survey .
But even a staggered , limited on-campus schedule would fall short of demands from President Trump and U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos .
They have threatened to withhold federal funds from school districts that don ’ t open campuses — although it isn ’ t clear that Trump would be able to carry out that threat .
Those siding with Trump include Florida Republican Gov .
Rick DeSantis , who also has threatened the funding of school districts that don ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in that state ’ s infections and infection rates .
About 90 % of school funding comes from state or local sources .
Proponents of school reopening have pointed to apparently successful efforts in Taiwan , Norway and Denmark .
Critics , however , have catalogued notable differences between the management and status of the pandemic in those countries and in the U.S. By the start of school , L.A. Unified will have had about five months to improve what it can accomplish online : Students have computers and much-improved internet access and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for online education .
And certain familiar rituals will be restored : Teachers will take attendance and are expected to track student learning every school day ; students will receive grades .
But uneven — often inadequate — study environments at home will persist .
Some parents are less able or unable to monitor student schoolwork at home .
Experts have warned that the students most likely to fall behind would include those in low-income families , students learning English and students with disabilities .
And childcare could remain a quagmire .
Beutner @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an “ understatement.
” Children , he said , “ are looking at a lifetime of consequences if we can ’ t get them back in a school setting as soon as possible , but it ’ s got ta be safe .
And what we can ’ t do is turn our schools into some giant Petri dish and have irreparable health and life consequences for all of the school community.
” Beutner said he was particularly struck by a study in Italy that appeared to document the spread of coronavirus infection @ @ @ @ @ @ @ symptoms or who never had noticeable symptoms .
The school district , he said , was prepared to take the lead on prepping campuses for social distancing and the distribution of masks , but it could not carry the necessary burden for regular coronavirus testing and contact tracing .
Last week , L.A. County Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer warned school districts that they needed to be ready to move 100 % online for the start of the school year , but did not issue a directive .
“ We are a passenger @ @ @ @ @ @ @ else , ” Beutner said .
“ If the spread is getting worse , if the rate of infection is getting worse , we can watch , we can monitor , but we can ’ t bend that .
All we can do is keep it from getting worse by contributing to it .
”

People walk past the Grand View Boulevard Elementary School marquee that still reads, “No School,” on Monday in Mar Vista. The Los Angeles Unified School District will not reopen campuses on Aug. 18.
Los Angeles campuses will not reopen for classes on Aug. 18, and the nation’s second-largest school system will continue with online learning until further notice, because of the worsening coronavirus surge, Supt. Austin Beutner announced Monday.
The difficult decision became unavoidable in recent weeks, Beutner said, as coronavirus cases have skyrocketed in Los Angeles County, and the district cannot come close to protecting the health and safety of some half a million K-12 students and about 75,000 employees.
“Let me be crystal clear,” Beutner said in an interview with The Times. “We all know the best place for students to learn is in a school setting.” But, he said, “We’re going in the wrong direction. And as much as we want to be back at schools and have students back at schools — can’t do it until it’s safe and appropriate.”
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A padlock keeps the campus of Short Avenue Elementary School shuttered on Monday in Mar Vista. (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)
He added that it was important to let families and district employees know so that they could prepare for the rapidly approaching start of the school year, only five weeks away.
The superintendent also pointedly called for county, state and federal officials to provide leadership and funding for regular coronavirus testing and contact tracing. He said that school districts also needed clearer guidance on when and how to reopen. Beutner estimated it would cost $300 a year per person to test all students and staff members once a week.
“The dollars pale in comparison to the importance schools will play in reopening what was the fifth-largest economy in the world,” he said.
The decision pitted two imperatives against each other: the need to reduce health risks versus the need to return students to classrooms — where, experts say, they will learn more effectively, while also allowing their parents to resume a more routine work schedule, helping to boost a state economy in deep recession.
Other school systems in disparate regions throughout the country are confronting the issue in different ways — in part because the health situation varies or because of political and philosophical divides over what should take priority.
Advertisement
In New York City, the nation’s largest school system, campuses will partially reopen, with students returning fewer than five days per week.
In Fairfax County, Virginia, the school system is giving parents the choice of online only or returning to campus two days a week combined with online instruction.
In California, day by day, more school systems are choosing to keep campuses closed and reopen online only as health officials sound the alarm about the rising number of coronavirus cases.
In Northern California, those districts include West Contra Costa County, East Side Union in San Jose and the Oakland Unified School District.
In Southern California, the San Bernardino City Unified School District cited the “recent and significant rise in COVID cases in our community” in its July 2 announcement that campuses would not reopen next month.
“After the beginning of the school year and if and only when we can do so safely, we will begin to offer, in-person check-in and support services for small groups of students and eventually transition to a hybrid or blended learning model,” interim Supt. Harold Vollkommer said in a statement.
In L.A. County, recorded infections were reaching new daily highs and the infection rate of those tested rose to 10%. It had fallen to 4.6% in May.
“You wake up each morning and say, well, maybe that was a one-day thing,” Beutner said. “Maybe that was a one-week thing. Well, it’s been a month now. ... We’ve been deliberating this for some time, since really the middle of June, since the health factors in the community started going in the wrong direction, in a hurry.”
In their planning for the fall, school district officials all over the region understood that some parents are not ready to send children back to campus: A distance-learning-only program is necessary for them.
Still, the recent hope had been that Los Angeles Unified and other school systems could open for most families using a hybrid plan, in which students would attend classes part time on campus in small socially distanced groups, using a staggered schedule. They were going to combine this limited on-campus time with an enhanced study-at-home framework that included academic work online and offline.
Some school districts still have been planning to go that route, but San Diego Unified, which was one of them, announced Monday morning that it, too, would be online-only for the start of the semester. In that school system, the teachers union had pushed back in recent days against reopening plans, dissatisfied with safety measures.
The teachers union in L.A. was more adamant. Last week, the leadership called for campuses to remain closed. And 83% of teachers agreed in a one-day snap poll; about 56% of union members participated in that survey.
But even a staggered, limited on-campus schedule would fall short of demands from President Trump and Education Secretary Betsy DeVos. They have threatened to withhold federal funds from school districts that don’t open campuses — although it isn’t clear that Trump would be able to carry out that threat.
Those siding with Trump include Florida Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis, who also has threatened the funding of school districts that don’t reopen campuses — despite a huge rise in that state’s infections and infection rates. About 90% of school funding comes from state or local sources.
Proponents of school reopening have pointed to apparently successful efforts in Taiwan, Norway and Denmark. Critics, however, have cataloged notable differences between the management and status of the pandemic in those countries and in the U.S.
By the start of school, Los Angeles Unified will have had about five months to improve what it can accomplish online: Students have computers and much-improved internet access and tech support. Teachers have received training for online education.
And certain familiar rituals will be restored: Teachers will take attendance and are expected to track student learning every school day; students will receive grades.
But uneven — often inadequate — study environments at home will persist. Some parents are less able or unable to monitor student schoolwork at home. Experts have warned that the students most likely to fall behind would include those in low-income families, students learning English and students with disabilities.
And child care could remain a quagmire. Beutner said calling it a crisis would be an “understatement.”
Children, he said, “are looking at a lifetime of consequences if we can’t get them back in a school setting as soon as possible, but it’s gotta be safe. And what we can’t do is turn our schools into some giant petri dish and have irreparable health and life consequences for all of the school community.”
Beutner said he was particularly struck by a study in Italy that appeared to document the spread of coronavirus infection from people who had not yet exhibited symptoms or who never had noticeable symptoms.
The school district, he said, was prepared to take the lead on prepping campuses for social distancing and the distribution of masks, but it could not carry the necessary burden for regular coronavirus testing and contact tracing.
Last week, L.A. County Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer warned school districts that they needed to be ready to move 100% online for the start of the school year, but did not issue a directive.
“We are a passenger on the bus, just like everybody else,” Beutner said. “If the spread is getting worse, if the rate of infection is getting worse, we can watch, we can monitor, but we can’t bend that. All we can do is keep it from getting worse by contributing to it.”


latimes--2020-07-13--Cooling forecast for Southern California after weekend of record-breaking heat

A cool down is forecast for Southern California on Monday after a heat wave brought record-high temperatures to parts of the region the day before .
“ People in many areas — at least the coast areas and the valley areas — will see maybe five to 10 degrees of cooling , ” said David Sweet , a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Oxnard .
“ So relief is on the way.
” Palm Springs and Borrego Springs reached 121 degrees Sunday , surpassing the records of 120 and 116 degrees set for that date in 1985 and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ National Weather Service .
Temperatures hit 100 degrees in Ramona and 107 in Campo , topping July 12 records set in 1999 and 1983 .
In Los Angeles County , weather service monitoring stations recorded a high of 108 degrees at Fox Field in Lancaster on Sunday , surpassing the previous July 12 record of 107 set in 2002 .
Sandberg , a ghost town in the Sierra Pelona Mountains , saw a high of 98 , breaking the record of 96 set in 1994 , according to the weather service .
A @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been bringing very warm temperatures to the area , but it ’ s now shifting to the south and east thanks to a weak low-pressure system pushing down from the Northwest , Sweet said .
That ’ s leading to a stronger sea breeze , bringing a gradual cooling trend that ’ s expected to last through Wednesday , he said .
Temperatures Monday are expected to reach the lower to mid-80s in downtown L.A. , the mid-70s at the beaches and the mid-80s to lower 90s in the valleys , Sweet said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ areas are expected to see gusty winds in the afternoon , which could combine with low humidities and residual heat to create conditions that could lead to the rapid spread of fire .
“ The fire weather risk remains elevated , especially today and maybe tomorrow , because we still have some lingering heat over the Antelope Valley , and the increase in the sea breeze will give you a combination of gusty winds and lingering heat and low humidities , ” Sweet said .
“ So today and tomorrow will still be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Clarita Valley to the Antelope Valley , that area.
” Things are forecast to cool off further by Wednesday , with highs reaching the lower to mid-70s at the beaches , lower to mid-80s in the valleys and about 80 degrees downtown , forecasters said .

Wilma Thomas, left, and Viviana Robles cool off under a mister while taking a break from administering coronavirus tests at AltaMed Health Services in Anaheim last week.
After a weekend heat wave brought record-breaking temperatures, much of Southern California will enjoy a slow cooling until Wednesday.
“People in many areas — at least the coast areas and the valley areas — will see maybe five to 10 degrees of cooling,” said David Sweet, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Oxnard. “So relief is on the way.”
The cooldown started Monday, when downtown Los Angeles saw a high of 85 degrees while coastal areas reached temperatures in the high 70s, meteorologists said.
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In the valleys, temperatures remained warm but were much cooler than in the previous few days. Palmdale and Lancaster highs were 100 and 99 degrees, respectively, on Monday.
Palm Springs and Borrego Springs reached 121 degrees Sunday, surpassing the records of 120 and 116 degrees set for that date in 1985 and 1976, respectively, according to the National Weather Service. Temperatures hit 100 degrees in Ramona and 107 in Campo, topping July 12 records set in 1999 and 1983.
In Los Angeles County, weather service monitoring stations recorded a high of 108 degrees at Fox Field in Lancaster on Sunday, surpassing the previous July 12 record of 107 set in 2002. Sandberg, a ghost town in the Sierra Pelona Mountains, saw a high of 98, breaking the record of 96 set in 1994, according to the weather service.
A high-pressure system centered over New Mexico brought the warm temperatures to the area, but it’s now shifting to the south and east thanks to a weak low-pressure system pushing down from the Northwest, Sweet said. That’s leading to a stronger sea breeze, bringing a gradual cooling trend that’s expected to last through Wednesday, he said.
Tuesday’s temperatures are expected to drop to about 80 degrees in downtown L.A., and to the low to mid-70s along the coast, meteorologist Kathy Hoxsie said. In the valleys, temperatures will drop to between the mid 80s and high 90s.
Despite the cooler weather, meteorologists said it’s still mid-fire season. Particularly in the Antelope and Santa Clarita valleys, gusty afternoon winds combined with low humidity, heavy fuels and residual heat create conditions that can lead to rapid fire spread.
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“The fire weather risk remains elevated, especially today and maybe tomorrow, because we still have some lingering heat over the Antelope Valley, and the increase in the sea breeze will give you a combination of gusty winds and lingering heat and low humidities,” Sweet said.
It’ll begin to warm up again by Thursday, but not nearly as much as last weekend.
“Thursday should not be much warmer, nor is Friday,” Hoxsie said. “When it heats back up, it’s not going to be as dramatic as this last time. It’ll be a gentle warming.”


latimes--2020-07-13--First gentrification, now a pandemic. Can Highland Park's fabled music scene survive?

On March 7 , Ryan Pollie threw the inaugural Highland Park Folk Festival , a free concert and comedy show held under the winsome tree canopy at Tierra de la Culebra Park .
The show from the singer-songwriter ( a resident of next-door Eagle Rock , and signed to powerhouse L.A. indie ANTI- Records ) drew around 300 people to see more than a dozen local acts and comedians .
It was , as the 31-year-old Pollie described , “ one of the best days of my life , that a show like that could be feasible in one of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the world.
” Just four days later though , COVID-19 hit and local music got walloped .
“ There was no sense of what was coming .
We had no idea of the effect it would have on our lives , ” Pollie said .
Highland Park , bordered by the 110 Freeway , the Arroyo Seco , Mount Washington and Eagle Rock , is one of the most influential neighborhoods for music in the United States .
Home to over 60,000 people , it ’ s known for its fetching Craftsman and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ urbanity and nature , and a century of arts and bohemia .
Since the turn-of-the-20th-century Arts & Crafts movements of stained-glass maker William Lees Judson and journalist-activist Charles Lummis , the neighborhood has prized independent arts .
In the ’ 70s , the Mechicano Art Center and Centro de Arte Publico made the neighborhood “ a super-revolutionary Chicano town , ” as artist Richard Duardo told The Times in 2012 .
Rage Against the Machine ’ s Zack De La Rocha had a longtime arts center there , Regeneracion , and Cafe NELA @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , helped made it a Latin punk-rock haven .
Just a few months go , you could shop for techno rarities at Mount Analog and catch indie bands or pro wrestling at the Hi-Hat ; walk to an ambient chill-out in the park and get your guitar fixed by a salty old pro at Future Music ; or catch a neighbor ’ s backyard bachata ensemble and pop into a jazz jam at ETA .
Beck and Skrillex have lived and grown up there .
Jay Z threw his launch party for Tidal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pool at Johnny ’ s Bar .
Even during the lockdown , born-and-raised Highland Park-er Billie Eilish joined hundreds in the streets for Black Lives Matter protests .
But the neighborhood , once Redfin ’ s hottest in the county , has also been ransacked by gentrification and real-estate speculation , much of it sold on the promise of one arts community at the expense of another that ’ s been around for decades .
COVID-19 has closed or upended almost everything , gentrified and old-school alike .
The neighborhood has lost an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of its labor force , during the pandemic .
The now-shuttered Hi-Hat ’ s building is up for sale and may not return .
Even well-heeled newcomers like the Lodge Room have been laid low .
With rent due , businesses closed and pandemic benefits expiring this month ( and PPP loans still complicated for independent contractors ) , COVID-19 could be an arts apocalypse .
Will the pandemic simply exacerbate class divides and gut independent venues ?
Or will it prompt a re-think of how ( and for whom ) a neighborhood @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are benefits to living in a neighborhood with a bunch of recording studios around the corner , ” Pollie said .
“ But if there ’ s only that , you ’ d live in a bubble .
I just went by a socially distanced birthday party with a mariachi band , and everyone was driving by to say happy birthday .
There was still music in the air.
” To get a sense of the neighborhood ’ s future as an independent music hub , The Times talked to a range of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the toll — and maybe the potential — of life during and after COVID-19 .
The first concern , shared by nearly everyone in L.A. , is if residents and independent businesses will be able to afford rent as the pandemic and its unemployment crisis drags on .
“ You see a correlation between gentrifiers maintaining their income , and lower-income people losing it , ” said Paavo Monkkonen , a professor of urban planning and public policy at UCLA .
“ All small businesses operate on thin margins .
But newer businesses @ @ @ @ @ @ @ savings to wait .
That ’ s a big problem for people who have long been living in the neighborhood.
” One of them , Jessica Ceballos y Campbell , is an Afro Mexican activist and writer who has lived in Highland Park and Northeast L.A. for most of the last four decades .
She has served on the Highland Park Neighborhood Council and chaired its arts committee , and hosts a chapter of the Los Angeles Tenants Union at the beloved arts space Avenue 50 Studio .
She ’ s also worked @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Michael Ovitz ’ s Artists Management Group , and was the resident poet at the goth techno club Cloak & Dagger .
For her , the pandemic is a new twist on an old story of making do on the margins .
“ A lot of old-school artists in Northeast L.A. , these folks have been doing stuff outside the venues that never accepted them anyways , ” Ceballos y Campbell , 43 , said .
“ It ’ s in our DNA as Latinx and Black artists to work with what we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as part of our lives , which is one way we ’ ve been able to survive years of trauma and violence and oppression.
” Ceballos y Campbell acknowledges the thorny issues about Highland Park as a globally known music neighborhood .
“ It goes back to us asking the question of how do we equitably commodify art.
” For Sherry Younge , the co-founder of The Artform Studio , a one-of-a-kind record store and beauty parlor on Figueroa Street , the loss of her in-person clientele during the pandemic has changed Artform @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ We ’ ve helped a father cut his kid ’ s hair on video , we ’ ve helped clients do their own bangs at home , ” she said .
“ But this is definitely hurting everybody .
Just about the only thing keeping shops on the block going are grants like LISC .
But Highland Park has been good about keeping people together through music.
” Younge is married to the soul and jazz composer Adrian Younge .
Adrian and his manager , Andrew Lojero , are the main players @ @ @ @ @ @ @ its spinoff Jazz Is Dead , which releases albums and produces concerts around Highland Park that often pair legends like vibraphonist Roy Ayers with contemporary live bands .
As with every other venue in town , all those shows are on hold for now .
“ If we weren ’ t releasing records , it would have driven me crazy .
This is the first time in 17 years I ’ m not programming concerts , ” Lojero said .
“ We ’ re all hanging tough , [ but ] we are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ our studio .
I ’ ve applied for loans and for grants and have yet to get approved.
” While COVID-19 has shut down some parts of his career , it ’ s also been a chance to assess preexisting issues in the music industry that the pandemic accelerated .
“ We have to have a long-overdue conversation about what ’ s essential in music , ” Lojero said .
“ How many independent venues will be left standing and how many are AEG and Live Nation going to buy up ?
Highland @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , it ’ s woven into the fabric of music here .
But so many things — access , venues , funding — are stacked against us.
” Some are already planning for the hard choices to come .
Daniel Cook , the owner of Gim me Gim me Records , moved his shop to Figueroa Street in 2013 after nearly two decades in New York City .
He ’ s fortunate that he can sell LPs online , but “ it ’ s still a business where you touch everything , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ there , ” he said .
The shop closed in March and reopened part time for the last three weeks , but has shuttered again as cases spiked .
His revenue is down 50 % from pre-COVID-19 , which is “ better than a lot of people but we ’ re not gon na have a good year .
It ’ s not cheap to be down here , and if I can ’ t open , it makes sense to pull out .
On my stretch of Figueroa , several businesses are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ polyglot Now-Again label head and Rappcats record shop co-founder Eothen “ Egon ” Alapatt , are definitely sticking around .
“ I ’ m lucky that my landlord lives in my building , he ’ s 85 and has been there since the ’ 70s .
I ’ m not going anywhere , but I ’ m sad for all the people who pay crazy rents , because there ’ s no way to make those margins during a downturn .
It ’ s devastating , ” he said .
Alapatt has been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of two decades , and played roles in everything from shepherding J. Dilla and Madlib ’ s considerable catalogs to running Rappcatts , a stoner-record-nerd ’ s dream boutique and event space on York Boulevard .
He ’ s watched the gold rush of real-estate speculation that ’ s both fed and bled its music scene .
“ Most of the people I consider friends and neighbors here were brown people like myself , not the venture capitalists , not some blond white guy in Birkenstocks talking with his frat friends about buying @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ Highland Park represents a culmination of L.A. : big money and real estate development , but also a community background of all classes and races , and that ’ s what ’ s gon na save it , ” said Erik Nilsson , the owner of the recording-studio complex LemonTree ( where Eilish chatted to The Times just before her sweep of the Grammys this year ) .
“ My building is owned by a private equity firm , and they said about the pandemic , ‘ I don ’ t know @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pay your rent.
’ I had a 180-degree different point of view with our clients , though.
” Nilsson said he ’ s let some clients break leases early or renegotiate terms as needed to stay put .
But the question remains if they can afford to stay here .
“ We ’ ve watched companies flip properties to each other .
It ’ s a game of musical chairs and someone will get left out , ” he said .
Monkkonen has hope that SB-1410 , a pending state bill offering landlords @ @ @ @ @ @ @ help keep tenants of all sorts in place .
So far , residential rents aren ’ t dropping in big cities during the pandemic .
“ There was a bump in rental nonpayments in May that declined once benefits started filtering out .
But there ’ s a big concern that mom-and-pop landlords will decide they don ’ t want to deal with tenants who can ’ t pay , and sell their buildings , ” he said .
“ Times of crisis are good times to buy , and a lot of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ private equity.
” If L.A. wants to preserve the culture scene in places like Highland Park , “ the city has to make sure everyone knows what ’ s out there to help and how to apply , ” he said .
“ The city has dumb approaches to helping the places that make it cool.
” As the pandemic rolls on for , presumably , at least the rest of the year , Highland Park dance instructor Arlene Santos is at a loss .
“ It ’ s completely shut down my @ @ @ @ @ @ @ income right now , ” Santos said .
“ I have hundreds of emails from people begging me to reopen but I can ’ t .
The classes I teach require you to hold each other close .
I would feel incredible guilt.
” Santos runs lessons from her Highland Park home ( shared with three dancer roommates ) and a Pasadena studio .
She ’ s a founder of Queer Latin Dance L.A. , a salsa and bachata workshop for same-sex and gender-non-conforming couples to work on their moves together .
Classes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ studio that would draw 50 students a day have now moved entirely to Zoom , with much less income .
Her staff and collaborators have put dance on the back burner for part-time jobs like delivering for UberEats .
“ I don ’ t know if venues will survive , ” she admits .
“ Our group comes to classes because they feel safe and comfortable , and that safety has been lost .
They are people who are a huge part of my life and each other ’ s lives , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It ’ s a really tough spot.
” Even beyond the pandemic ’ s economic crisis , Santos worries that COVID-19 has stripped some hope from her creative community .
That , along with everything else , might take time to rebuild .
“ Dance always made me really happy .
When I ’ m teaching or performing , there are no worries or problems , ” she said .
“ During COVID-19 , it makes me sad that I can ’ t forget what ’ s going on .
It ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ m scared I ’ ll never get that back .
”

Rappcats record shop in Highland Park, which has survived amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Other neighborhood stores have not been as fortunate.
On March 7, Ryan Pollie threw the inaugural Highland Park Folk Festival, a free concert and comedy show held under the winsome tree canopy at Tierra de la Culebra Park. The show from the singer-songwriter (a resident of next-door Eagle Rock, and signed to powerhouse L.A. indie ANTI- Records) drew around 300 people to see more than a dozen local acts and comedians.
It was, as the 31-year-old Pollie described, “one of the best days of my life, that a show like that could be feasible in one of the most beautiful places to live in the world.”
Just four days later though, COVID-19 hit and local music got walloped. “There was no sense of what was coming. We had no idea of the effect it would have on our lives,” Pollie said.
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Highland Park, bordered by the 110 Freeway, the Arroyo Seco, Mount Washington and Eagle Rock, is one of the most influential neighborhoods for music in the United States. Home to over 60,000 people, it’s known for its fetching Craftsman and Mission Revival homes, a blend of urbanity and nature, and a century of arts and bohemia. Since the turn-of-the-20th-century Arts & Crafts movements of stained-glass maker William Lees Judson and journalist-activist Charles Lummis, the neighborhood has prized independent arts. In the ’70s, the Mechicano Art Center and Centro de Arte Publico made the neighborhood “a super-revolutionary Chicano town,” as artist Richard Duardo told The Times in 2012. Rage Against the Machine’s Zack De La Rocha had a longtime arts center there, Regeneracion, and Cafe NELA, just next door in Cypress Park, helped made it a Latin punk-rock haven.
Just a few months ago, you could shop for techno rarities at Mount Analog and catch indie bands or pro wrestling at the Hi-Hat; walk to an ambient chill-out in the park and get your guitar fixed by a salty old pro at Future Music; or catch a neighbor’s backyard bachata ensemble and pop into a jazz jam at ETA. Beck and Skrillex have lived and grown up there. Jay Z threw his launch party for Tidal at Fig House. Morrissey reportedly shoots pool at Johnny’s Bar. Even during the lockdown, born-and-raised Highland Park-er Billie Eilish joined hundreds in the streets for Black Lives Matter protests.
Egon Alapatt, co-founder of Rappcats record store: “I’m lucky that my landlord lives in my building. I’m not going anywhere.” (Brian van der Brug/Los Angeles Times)
But the neighborhood, once Redfin’s hottest in the county, has also been ransacked by gentrification and real-estate speculation, much of it sold on the promise of one arts community at the expense of another that’s been around for decades.
COVID-19 has closed or upended almost everything, gentrified and old-school alike. The neighborhood has lost an estimated 3,236 jobs, almost 17% of its labor force, during the pandemic. The now-shuttered Hi-Hat’s building is up for sale and may not return. Even well-heeled newcomers like the Lodge Room have been laid low. With rent due, businesses closed and pandemic benefits expiring this month (and PPP loans still complicated for independent contractors), COVID-19 could be an arts apocalypse.
Will the pandemic simply exacerbate class divides and gut independent venues? Or will it prompt a re-think of how (and for whom) a neighborhood defines its cultural life?
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“There are benefits to living in a neighborhood with a bunch of recording studios around the corner,” Pollie said. “But if there’s only that, you’d live in a bubble. I just went by a socially distanced birthday party with a mariachi band, and everyone was driving by to say happy birthday. There was still music in the air.”
To get a sense of the neighborhood’s future as an independent music hub, The Times talked to a range of artists, shop owners and activists about the toll — and maybe the potential — of life during and after COVID-19.
The first concern, shared by nearly everyone in L.A., is if residents and independent businesses will be able to afford rent as the pandemic and its unemployment crisis drags on.
“You see a correlation between gentrifiers maintaining their income, and lower-income people losing it,” said Paavo Monkkonen, a professor of urban planning and public policy at UCLA. “All small businesses operate on thin margins. But newer businesses catering to hipsters have the time and savings to wait. That’s a big problem for people who have long been living in the neighborhood.”
One of them, Jessica Ceballos y Campbell, is an Afro Mexican activist and writer who has lived in Highland Park and Northeast L.A. for most of the last four decades. She has served on the Highland Park Neighborhood Council and chaired its arts committee, and hosts a chapter of the Los Angeles Tenants Union at the beloved arts space Avenue 50 Studio. She’s also worked for record labels like American Recordings, Michael Ovitz’s Artists Management Group, and was the resident poet at the goth techno club Cloak & Dagger.
For her, the pandemic is a new twist on an old story of making do on the margins.
“A lot of old-school artists in Northeast L.A., these folks have been doing stuff outside the venues that never accepted them anyways,” Ceballos y Campbell, 43, said. “It’s in our DNA as Latinx and Black artists to work with what we have. Music has always been incorporated as part of our lives, which is one way we’ve been able to survive years of trauma and violence and oppression.”
Ceballos y Campbell acknowledges the thorny issues about Highland Park as a globally known music neighborhood. “It goes back to us asking the question of how do we equitably commodify art.”
Jack Waterson, owner of Future Music on York Blvd. in Highland Park. (Mel Melcon/Los Angeles Times)
For Sherry Younge, the co-founder of The Artform Studio, a one-of-a-kind record store and beauty parlor on Figueroa Street, the loss of her in-person clientele during the pandemic has changed Artform’s role in the neighborhood. “We’ve helped a father cut his kid’s hair on video, we’ve helped clients do their own bangs at home,” she said. “But this is definitely hurting everybody. Just about the only thing keeping shops on the block going are grants like LISC. But Highland Park has been good about keeping people together through music.”
Younge is married to the soul and jazz composer Adrian Younge. Adrian and his manager, Andrew Lojero, are the main players behind the promoter ArtDon’tSleep and its spinoff Jazz Is Dead, which releases albums and produces concerts around Highland Park that often pair legends like vibraphonist Roy Ayers with contemporary live bands. As with every other venue in town, all those shows are on hold for now.
“If we weren’t releasing records, it would have driven me crazy. This is the first time in 17 years I’m not programming concerts,” Lojero said. “We’re all hanging tough, [but] we are definitely worried about being able to afford our studio. I’ve applied for loans and for grants and have yet to get approved.”
While COVID-19 has shut down some parts of his career, it’s also been a chance to assess preexisting issues in the music industry that the pandemic accelerated.
“We have to have a long-overdue conversation about what’s essential in music,” Lojero said. “How many independent venues will be left standing and how many are AEG and Live Nation going to buy up? Highland Park is a hub of independent musicians, it’s woven into the fabric of music here. But so many things — access, venues, funding — are stacked against us.”
Singer-songwriter Ryan Pollie describes Highland Park as “one of the most beautiful places to live in the world.” (Myung J. Chun / Los Angeles Times)
Some are already planning for the hard choices to come. Daniel Cook, the owner of Gimme Gimme Records, moved his shop to Figueroa Street in 2013 after nearly two decades in New York City. He’s fortunate that he can sell LPs online, but “it’s still a business where you touch everything, and it’s a bit nerve-racking being there,” he said.
The shop closed in March and reopened part time for the last three weeks, but has shuttered again as cases spiked. His revenue is down 50% from pre-COVID-19, which is “better than a lot of people but we’re not gonna have a good year. It’s not cheap to be down here, and if I can’t open, it makes sense to pull out. On my stretch of Figueroa, several businesses are already gone.”
Others, like the polyglot Now-Again label head and Rappcats record shop co-founder Eothen “Egon” Alapatt, are definitely sticking around. “I’m lucky that my landlord lives in my building, he’s 85 and has been there since the ’70s. I’m not going anywhere, but I’m sad for all the people who pay crazy rents, because there’s no way to make those margins during a downturn. It’s devastating,” he said.
Alapatt has been in the neighborhood for the better part of two decades, and played roles in everything from shepherding J. Dilla and Madlib’s considerable catalogs to running Rappcatts, a stoner-record-nerd’s dream boutique and event space on York Boulevard. He’s watched the gold rush of real-estate speculation that’s both fed and bled its music scene. “Most of the people I consider friends and neighbors here were brown people like myself, not the venture capitalists, not some blond white guy in Birkenstocks talking with his frat friends about buying a building,” he said.
Daniel Cook, owner of Gimme Gimme Records, says his revenue is down 50% because of the pandemic. It’s “better than a lot of people but we’re not gonna have a good year.” (Jenna Schoenefeld / For the Times)
“Highland Park represents a culmination of L.A.: big money and real estate development, but also a community background of all classes and races, and that’s what’s gonna save it,” said Erik Nilsson, the owner of the recording-studio complex LemonTree (where Eilish chatted to The Times just before her sweep of the Grammys this year).
“My building is owned by a private equity firm, and they said about the pandemic, ‘I don’t know what you’re talking about, pay your rent.’ I had a 180-degree different point of view with our clients, though.”
Nilsson said he’s let some clients break leases early or renegotiate terms as needed to stay put. But the question remains if they can afford to stay here. “We’ve watched companies flip properties to each other. It’s a game of musical chairs and someone will get left out,” he said.
California The inside story of how California failed mass coronavirus testing California failed to establish an effective coronavirus testing system early on, leaving it far behind — even now — in the fight against COVID-19.
Monkkonen has hope that SB-1410, a pending state bill offering landlords tax breaks for forgiving rent, might help keep tenants of all sorts in place. So far, residential rents aren’t dropping in big cities during the pandemic. “There was a bump in rental nonpayments in May that declined once benefits started filtering out. But there’s a big concern that mom-and-pop landlords will decide they don’t want to deal with tenants who can’t pay, and sell their buildings,” he said. “Times of crisis are good times to buy, and a lot of these distressed properties are bought up by private equity.”
If L.A. wants to preserve the culture scene in places like Highland Park, “the city has to make sure everyone knows what’s out there to help and how to apply,” he said. “The city has dumb approaches to helping the places that make it cool.”
Instructor Arlene Santos, left, with student Amy Rubinstein during a Queer Latin Dance video class in Santos’ living room in Highland Park. (Gina Ferazzi/Los Angeles Times)
As the pandemic rolls on for, presumably, at least the rest of the year, Highland Park dance instructor Arlene Santos is at a loss.
“It’s completely shut down my business and there’s very little income right now,” Santos said. “I have hundreds of emails from people begging me to reopen but I can’t. The classes I teach require you to hold each other close. I would feel incredible guilt.”
Santos runs lessons from her Highland Park home (shared with three dancer roommates) and a Pasadena studio. She’s a founder of Queer Latin Dance L.A., a salsa and bachata workshop for same-sex and gender-non-conforming couples to work on their moves together.
Classes once held out of her home and studio that would draw 50 students a day have now moved entirely to Zoom, with much less income. Her staff and collaborators have put dance on the back burner for part-time jobs like delivering for UberEats.
“I don’t know if venues will survive,” she admits. “Our group comes to classes because they feel safe and comfortable, and that safety has been lost. They are people who are a huge part of my life and each other’s lives, and we’re not hanging out. It’s a really tough spot.”
Even beyond the pandemic’s economic crisis, Santos worries that COVID-19 has stripped some hope from her creative community. That, along with everything else, might take time to rebuild.
“Dance always made me really happy. When I’m teaching or performing, there are no worries or problems,” she said. “During COVID-19, it makes me sad that I can’t forget what’s going on. It’s changed for me, and I’m scared I’ll never get that back.”