latimes--2020-11-13--L.A.'s rejection of a 577-unit housing project violated state law, judge finds

A Superior Court judge has ordered the city of Los Angeles to give the go-ahead to a 577-unit residential complex planned in South L.A. , saying its previous decision to reject the six-story project violated state housing law .
The South Los Angeles Area Planning Commission , which is made up of appointees of Mayor Eric Garcetti , turned down a developer ’ s request to build the mixed-use project last year , saying it lacked affordable housing and would spur gentrification .
Superior Court Judge James C. Chalfant offered a scathing assessment of that decision , saying the panel @ @ @ @ @ @ @ In his ruling , Chalfant said the commissioners disregarded advice from their own lawyer , who publicly warned them that the reasons for their decision were too vague and would not comply with the Housing Accountability Act , which bars cities from rejecting residential projects that comply with planning and zoning rules , unless there is an unavoidable threat to public health or safety .
That state law was written to ensure that local governments do not drive up housing costs by applying “ subjective ” criteria to residential projects that comply with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 21-page ruling .
“ That is exactly what the [ commission ] did by imposing its own views that gentrification is bad ... and the need for affordable housing trumps all , ” the judge wrote .
“ That is not the law , and there can be no legitimate dispute that the [ commission ] acted knowingly and deliberately to violate the law.
” The commission is scheduled to take up the project , which is known as District Square , again on Tuesday .
Chalfant ’ s ruling delivered a major @ @ @ @ @ @ @ against market-rate housing in South L.A. , arguing that such projects will spur other landlords to sell , redevelop their properties or jack up rents .
Worries about gentrification have also fueled criticism of such projects as the Reef , the Cumulus District and the redevelopment of Baldwin Hills Crenshaw Plaza .
Damien Goodmon , who filed one of the challenges to District Square last year , said he wants city leaders to file an appeal .
Lori Higgins , whose home abuts the District Square site , said she would probably sell @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ We ’ re going to be eclipsed by these buildings , ” said Higgins , who waged her own challenge against District Square last year .
“ They ’ re next to single-family homes .
We ’ re going to have people looking down in our yards.
” Rob Wilcox , a spokesman for City Atty .
Mike Feuer , said his office is reviewing its options .
Garcetti spokesman Alex Comisar said in an email that the city will “ take the actions necessary to comply with the court ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ LLC , the project ’ s developer , declined comment .
In their lawsuit , they said that city planning rules do not require any affordable housing on the District Square site , which is planning on an empty lot next to a Crenshaw Boulevard light rail station .
When the commission took up the project , District Square LLC offered to voluntarily include 63 “ workforce ” units — the most expensive tier of affordable housing for renters , targeting those who earn 150 % of the area ’ s median income @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s ruling , which was finalized last month , represents yet another sharp turn for a project with a tangled history at City Hall .
Councilman Herb Wesson , who represents the area , supported District Square a decade ago when it was envisioned as a two-story shopping center , helping the developer secure more than $ 26 million in city financial assistance .
The shopping center project stalled and the developers racked up a series of defaults on their government loans .
But they eventually worked with Garcetti ’ s office to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ taller and incorporating hundreds of residential units .
A revised application for District Square was submitted in February 2019 .
By then , Arman Gabay , one of the project ’ s original developers , had been charged in an unrelated federal bribery case .
Gabay pleaded not guilty and Wesson , who had launched a bid for county supervisor , came out against the redesigned District Square , saying it would drive up rents and force out longtime renters .
In November 2019 , the commission sided with Wesson and a room @ @ @ @ @ @ @ argued that the project was too tall , lacked affordable housing and would cause housing prices to climb .
Still , Deputy City Atty .
Parissh Knox advised the commissioners that they could not reject the project without showing documented evidence of a threat to public health and safety .
At one point in their meeting , Knox suggested the panel take a break so that city staffers could work on the legal findings needed to buttress the commissioners ’ views .
Garcetti ’ s commissioners did not stop the meeting , voicing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ No matter what the laws that are written , ” said Commissioner Antoinette Anderson , “ you have to be about the people.
” In his decision , Chalfant said the commission should have applied the law to its evaluation of the project .
Instead , the panel acted “ on its own frolic and detour , ” imposing its own public policy views on gentrification and other issues .
The judge also criticized the Department of City Planning , saying staffers failed to complete a determination letter on the commission @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
That letter , he said , did not accurately describe the commission ’ s rationale for rejecting District Square .
The document summarizing the rejection of District Square is “ merely a staffer ’ s opinion of what the [ commission ] did and therefore is irrelevant , ” the judge added .
Asked about the judge ’ s criticism , a planning department spokeswoman said the city ’ s letter “ reflected the necessary findings required by the city ’ s municipal code and the state ’ s public resources code @ @

A rendering for District Square, which would bring 577 new residential units to the Crenshaw Corridor.
A Superior Court judge has ordered the city of Los Angeles to give the go-ahead to a 577-unit residential complex planned in South L.A., saying its previous decision to reject the six-story project violated state housing law.
The South Los Angeles Area Planning Commission, which is made up of appointees of Mayor Eric Garcetti, turned down a developer’s request to build the mixed-use project last year, saying it lacked affordable housing and would spur gentrification. Superior Court Judge James C. Chalfant offered a scathing assessment of that decision, saying the panel “clearly acted in bad faith.”
In his ruling, Chalfant said the commissioners disregarded advice from their own lawyer, who publicly warned them that the reasons for their decision were too vague and would not comply with the Housing Accountability Act, which bars cities from rejecting residential projects that comply with planning and zoning rules, unless there is an unavoidable threat to public health or safety.
Advertisement
That state law was written to ensure that local governments do not drive up housing costs by applying “subjective” criteria to residential projects that comply with zoning rules, Chalfant said in his 21-page ruling.
“That is exactly what the [commission] did by imposing its own views that gentrification is bad ... and the need for affordable housing trumps all,” the judge wrote. “That is not the law, and there can be no legitimate dispute that the [commission] acted knowingly and deliberately to violate the law.”
The commission is scheduled to take up the project, which is known as District Square, again on Tuesday.
Chalfant’s ruling delivered a major setback to activists who have been mobilizing against market-rate housing in South L.A., arguing that such projects will spur other landlords to sell, redevelop their properties or jack up rents. Worries about gentrification have also fueled criticism of such projects as the Reef, the Cumulus District and the redevelopment of Baldwin Hills Crenshaw Plaza.
Damien Goodmon, who filed one of the challenges to District Square last year, said he wants city leaders to file an appeal. Lori Higgins, whose home abuts the District Square site, said she would probably sell her house if the project is approved.
“We’re going to be eclipsed by these buildings,” said Higgins, who waged her own challenge against District Square last year. “They’re next to single-family homes. We’re going to have people looking down in our yards.”
Rob Wilcox, a spokesman for City Atty. Mike Feuer, said his office is reviewing its options. Garcetti spokesman Alex Comisar said in an email that the city will “take the actions necessary to comply with the court’s order.”
The District Square site on Crenshaw Boulevard, pictured in 2018. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
Lawyers for District Square LLC, the project’s developer, declined comment. In their lawsuit, they said that city planning rules do not require any affordable housing on the District Square site, which is planning on an empty lot next to a Crenshaw Boulevard light rail station.
Advertisement
When the commission took up the project, District Square LLC offered to voluntarily include 63 “workforce” units — the most expensive tier of affordable housing for renters, targeting those who earn 150% of the area’s median income — into the project.
Chalfant’s ruling, which was finalized last month, represents yet another sharp turn for a project with a tangled history at City Hall. Councilman Herb Wesson, who represents the area, supported District Square a decade ago when it was envisioned as a two-story shopping center, helping the developer secure more than $26 million in city financial assistance.
The shopping center project stalled and the developers racked up a series of defaults on their government loans. But they eventually worked with Garcetti’s office to redesign the project, making it much taller and incorporating hundreds of residential units. A revised application for District Square was submitted in February 2019.
By then, Arman Gabay, one of the project’s original developers, had been charged in an unrelated federal bribery case. Gabay pleaded not guilty and Wesson, who had launched a bid for county supervisor, came out against the redesigned District Square, saying it would drive up rents and force out longtime renters.
In November 2019, the commission sided with Wesson and a room full of residents and activists, who argued that the project was too tall, lacked affordable housing and would cause housing prices to climb.
Still, Deputy City Atty. Parissh Knox advised the commissioners that they could not reject the project without showing documented evidence of a threat to public health and safety. At one point in their meeting, Knox suggested the panel take a break so that city staffers could work on the legal findings needed to buttress the commissioners’ views.
L.A. City Councilman Herb Wesson opposed the District Square last year, saying it would result in the displacement of low-income families. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)
Garcetti’s commissioners did not stop the meeting, voicing their concerns about gentrification and affordable housing.
“No matter what the laws that are written,” said Commissioner Antoinette Anderson, “you have to be about the people.”
In his decision, Chalfant said the commission should have applied the law to its evaluation of the project. Instead, the panel acted “on its own frolic and detour,” imposing its own public policy views on gentrification and other issues.
The judge also criticized the Department of City Planning, saying staffers failed to complete a determination letter on the commission’s decision within the legal deadline. That letter, he said, did not accurately describe the commission’s rationale for rejecting District Square.
The document summarizing the rejection of District Square is “merely a staffer’s opinion of what the [commission] did and therefore is irrelevant,” the judge added.
Asked about the judge’s criticism, a planning department spokeswoman said the city’s letter “reflected the necessary findings required by the city’s municipal code and the state’s public resources code.”


latimes--2020-11-13--Man arrested after small Malibu brush fire prompts closure of Pacific Coast Highway

A man has been taken into custody in connection with a small brush fire that erupted before dawn and prompted the closure of a portion of Pacific Coast Highway for several hours , authorities said Friday .
The fire broke out shortly after 5 a.m. near Tuna Canyon Road in Malibu , according to the Los Angeles County Fire Department .
By the time crews arrived at the scene , the fire had crept through about half an acre of hillside , Fire Department spokesman Michael Pittman said , and grew to about an acre-and-a-half as it progressed .
Crews @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the ground and were able to gain control of it quickly .
The man was arrested on suspicion of arson , Los Angeles County sheriff ’ s Sgt .
Brad Feder said .
It is not clear what kind of device may have been used to ignite the fire , though Feder said it does not appear the blaze was set intentionally .
“ It ’ s a negligent arson charge , ” Feder said .
“ It ’ s an accident , but it ’ s negligent.
” Officials think the man @ @ @ @ @ @ @ living in an encampment .
The California Highway Patrol closed all lanes of PCH between Topanga Canyon Boulevard and Las Flores Canyon Road while firefighters battled the blaze .
By 6 a.m. , the fire ’ s forward progress had been stopped , and by 9 a.m. , all lanes of the highway had been reopened .
No homes or structures were threatened by the fire .

Friday morning, firefighting crews battled a small brush fire that broke out before dawn Friday near Pacific Coast Highway and Tuna Canyon Road in Malibu.
A man has been taken into custody in connection with a small brush fire that erupted before dawn and prompted the closure of a portion of Pacific Coast Highway for several hours, authorities said Friday.
The fire broke out shortly after 5 a.m. near Tuna Canyon Road in Malibu, according to the Los Angeles County Fire Department.
By the time crews arrived at the scene, the fire had crept through about half an acre of hillside, Fire Department spokesman Michael Pittman said, and grew to about an acre-and-a-half as it progressed. Crews attacked the blaze from the air and the ground and were able to gain control of it quickly.
The man was arrested on suspicion of arson, Los Angeles County sheriff’s Sgt. Brad Feder said. It is not clear what kind of device may have been used to ignite the fire, though Feder said it does not appear the blaze was set intentionally.
Advertisement
“It’s a negligent arson charge,” Feder said. “It’s an accident, but it’s negligent.”
Officials think the man may have been homeless or transient and living in an encampment.
The California Highway Patrol closed all lanes of PCH between Topanga Canyon Boulevard and Las Flores Canyon Road while firefighters battled the blaze.
By 6 a.m., the fire’s forward progress had been stopped, and by 9 a.m., all lanes of the highway had been reopened.
No homes or structures were threatened by the fire.


latimes--2020-11-13--It started with one sick woman in San Jose. Now, the coronavirus has spread to 1 million Californian

It started with one sick woman in San Jose. Now, the coronavirus has spread to 1 million Californians

Back in January , when Patricia Dowd became sick with flu-like symptoms and had to cancel plans to go to a funeral , it would be impossible to fathom what her illness foretold for California and the rest of the nation .
Dowd , a 57-year-old manager for a Silicon Valley semiconductor company , seemed to recover .
But within about a week , Dowd ’ s daughter found her mother dead at her San Jose home .
It was Feb. 6 , and Dowd is believed to be the first person to die of COVID-19 on American soil .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s death wasn ’ t publicly known , coronavirus seemed to be a distant , contained outbreak posing little threat .
Something that might be held in check by keeping a cruise ship filled with infected passengers in limbo off the coast of San Francisco , or by aggressively screening flights coming in from China .
Today , COVID-19 is everywhere .
As of Thursday — 10 months after Dowd fell ill — more than 1 million Californians have been confirmed to be infected .
Among those who became sick , more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more who survived are suffering long-term consequences of the illness .
Trying to stave off additional infections has also resulted in millions losing their jobs , with unemployment reaching record highs in the state .
Even for those spared the worst , the pandemic has upended their lives .
California hit this latest milestone as the number of COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations are both on the rise in California , echoing increases nationwide .
Many dispirited Californians are rethinking plans to gather with loved ones on Thanksgiving , making yet another sacrifice in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dark winter , ” in the words of President-elect Joe Biden .
But much like the promise of two-week stay-at-home orders and warm summer weather vanquishing the virus , the days of a clean narrative about California ’ s experience with the pandemic are far behind us .
The inescapability of the virus is clear , but so are California ’ s persistent efforts to trudge through .
The record number of cases speaks to several early lapses in testing and pandemic preparation .
It reveals both the lack of a national , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ state ’ s efforts to compensate with stricter measures and millions of dollars of resources .
But it also highlights recent improvements in medical treatments and precautions to protect the most vulnerable .
It shows how Californians have sacrificed and suffered .
More than eight months into the pandemic , the state remains nowhere near reaching Gov .
Gavin Newsom ’ s projection on March 19 that 25 million Californians could fall ill with COVID-19 , even taking into account that many cases have probably been missed .
California moved quickly to put @ @ @ @ @ @ @ make masking mandatory , preventing its hospital system from being overwhelmed .
The nightmarish scenes from New York of dying patients lined up in hallways and refrigerated trucks waiting outside for bodies never materialized here .
California ’ s COVID-19 cases and deaths rank lower than most states when population is taken into account .
With 1 million cases , approximately 2.5 % of Californians have had COVID ; that rate is higher in 36 states .
The picture appears much less favorable when you look outside the United States .
The rate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ took a lax approach to the pandemic , is lower than in California .
In South Korea , whose population exceeds California ’ s by 10 million , just 28,000 people have tested positive for the virus .
UCLA epidemiologist Dr. Timothy Brewer said California ’ s higher numbers show how challenging it is for states to try to control a pandemic without an overarching federal response .
He added that improvements could be on the horizon with Biden taking office next year .
“ It ’ s very difficult to try to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ; we don ’ t have the levers available to us , ” he said .
“ California has managed to slow things down relative to other places , but we can ’ t do it alone.
” Since the pandemic began , our knowledge of the virus has deepened dramatically .
We have learned that masking works , that many people are asymptomatic , that poorly ventilated indoor environments are particularly dangerous .
In many ways , the pandemic feels far different from how it did in the spring .
Yet , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ resulted in less spread of the virus .
It would turn out that a lack of understanding of COVID-19 would be only one reason it could not be sufficiently controlled .
Over the summer , in an attempt to jump-start the ailing economy , state and county leaders rushed to reopen businesses far faster than health experts had advised .
The public , fatigued by unprecedented restrictions on their lives , interpreted these changes as a sign that life could return to some normalcy .
The bigger-than-ever surge fueled by these factors accounts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s COVID-19 cases .
Those trends also brought a shift in who was falling ill and concentrated illnesses in people under 50 .
That lowered the death rate , since younger people are less likely to die of the virus , but it did not eliminate the risk that one of those people may infect a more vulnerable neighbor or parent .
The state began to experience a reprieve in September , but the virus still circulated .
There is an argument that the metaphor of waves is not accurate for COVID-19 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ state ’ s surges crest , they do not abate .
There has not been a single day in California since March that a death from COVID-19 has not been reported .
Predictably , in the past few weeks , the spread of the virus has intensified again .
There are currently 3,300 Californians in the hospital sickened with the virus , up 50 % in the last month , according to state data .
This comes as the nation as a whole hit an all-time high in hospitalizations this week .
In @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to limit holiday travel .
The current surge in the state is largely driven by social gatherings , even small ones , as people tire of isolation or even develop “ COVID resentment , ” said California Health and Human Services Secretary Dr. Mark Ghaly .
He said people tend to be less careful around their family and friends because they feel close to them .
But like so much of the pandemic , staying safe requires keeping distance from loved ones .
“ Our guard may have come down , but we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” Ghaly said this week .
On Tuesday , state officials forced 11 counties to tighten restrictions on businesses and to switch most to fully outdoor operations .
But after so many months , it is unclear whether tinkering with business regulations will change people ’ s behavior .
Combined with holiday traditions that push people indoors , the direction things are headed as the state hits 1 million COVID cases “ is not good — it is of serious concern , ” said Bradley Pollock , chairman of the Department of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ He said he was particularly concerned about the arrival of chillier weather .
Californians have been able to comfortably gather outdoors during an unusually warm fall while people in other parts of the country may have been forced indoors , but that may soon become untenable .
“ Thanksgiving is going to be a very fearful time in my book , because people feel they just have to get together , ” he said .
“ I worry what ’ s going to happen afterward .
”

Back in January, when Patricia Dowd became sick with flu-like symptoms and had to cancel plans to go to a funeral, it would be impossible to fathom what her illness foretold for California and the rest of the nation.
Dowd, a 57-year-old manager for a Silicon Valley semiconductor company, seemed to recover. But within about a week, Dowd’s daughter found her mother dead at her San Jose home. It was Feb. 6, and Dowd is believed to be the first person to die of COVID-19 on American soil.
In those early days, when Dowd’s death wasn’t publicly known, coronavirus seemed to be a distant, contained outbreak posing little threat. Something that might be held in check by keeping a cruise ship filled with infected passengers in limbo off the coast of San Francisco, or by aggressively screening flights coming in from China.
Advertisement
Today, COVID-19 is everywhere. As of Thursday — 10 months after Dowd fell ill — more than 1 million Californians have been confirmed to be infected.
Among those who became sick, more than 18,100 have died, and even more who survived are suffering long-term consequences of the illness. Trying to stave off additional infections has also resulted in millions losing their jobs, with unemployment reaching record highs in the state. Even for those spared the worst, the pandemic has upended their lives.
California hit this latest milestone as the number of COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations are both on the rise in California, echoing increases nationwide. Many dispirited Californians are rethinking plans to gather with loved ones on Thanksgiving, making yet another sacrifice in an already tough year. A “dark winter,” in the words of President-elect Joe Biden.
But much like the promise of two-week stay-at-home orders and warm summer weather vanquishing the virus, the days of a clean narrative about California’s experience with the pandemic are far behind us. The inescapability of the virus is clear, but so are California’s persistent efforts to trudge through.
The record number of cases speaks to several early lapses in testing and pandemic preparation. It reveals both the lack of a national, coordinated response to the pandemic and the state’s efforts to compensate with stricter measures and millions of dollars of resources.
Advertisement
But it also highlights recent improvements in medical treatments and precautions to protect the most vulnerable. It shows how Californians have sacrificed and suffered.
More than eight months into the pandemic, the state remains nowhere near reaching Gov. Gavin Newsom’s projection on March 19 that 25 million Californians could fall ill with COVID-19, even taking into account that many cases have probably been missed. California moved quickly to put in place a stay-at-home order and to make masking mandatory, preventing its hospital system from being overwhelmed.
The nightmarish scenes from New York of dying patients lined up in hallways and refrigerated trucks waiting outside for bodies never materialized here.
California’s COVID-19 cases and deaths rank lower than most states when population is taken into account. With 1 million cases, approximately 2.5% of Californians have had COVID; that rate is higher in 36 states.
The picture appears much less favorable when you look outside the United States. The rate of infection in Sweden, which famously took a lax approach to the pandemic, is lower than in California. In South Korea, whose population exceeds California’s by 10 million, just 28,000 people have tested positive for the virus.
UCLA epidemiologist Dr. Timothy Brewer said California’s higher numbers show how challenging it is for states to try to control a pandemic without an overarching federal response. He added that improvements could be on the horizon with Biden taking office next year.
“It’s very difficult to try to protect a state within a federal system; we don’t have the levers available to us,” he said. “California has managed to slow things down relative to other places, but we can’t do it alone.”
Since the pandemic began, our knowledge of the virus has deepened dramatically. We have learned that masking works, that many people are asymptomatic, that poorly ventilated indoor environments are particularly dangerous. In many ways, the pandemic feels far different from how it did in the spring.
Yet, frustratingly, more information has not always resulted in less spread of the virus. It would turn out that a lack of understanding of COVID-19 would be only one reason it could not be sufficiently controlled.
Over the summer, in an attempt to jump-start the ailing economy, state and county leaders rushed to reopen businesses far faster than health experts had advised. The public, fatigued by unprecedented restrictions on their lives, interpreted these changes as a sign that life could return to some normalcy. The bigger-than-ever surge fueled by these factors accounts for more than half of the state’s COVID-19 cases.
Those trends also brought a shift in who was falling ill and concentrated illnesses in people under 50. That lowered the death rate, since younger people are less likely to die of the virus, but it did not eliminate the risk that one of those people may infect a more vulnerable neighbor or parent.
The state began to experience a reprieve in September, but the virus still circulated. There is an argument that the metaphor of waves is not accurate for COVID-19, particularly in California. Though the state’s surges crest, they do not abate. There has not been a single day in California since March that a death from COVID-19 has not been reported.
Predictably, in the past few weeks, the spread of the virus has intensified again. There are currently 3,300 Californians in the hospital sickened with the virus, up 50% in the last month, according to state data. This comes as the nation as a whole hit an all-time high in hospitalizations this week.
In California, officials are pleading with residents to limit holiday travel. The current surge in the state is largely driven by social gatherings, even small ones, as people tire of isolation or even develop “COVID resentment,” said California Health and Human Services Secretary Dr. Mark Ghaly.
He said people tend to be less careful around their family and friends because they feel close to them. But like so much of the pandemic, staying safe requires keeping distance from loved ones.
“Our guard may have come down, but we have to put it right back up,” Ghaly said this week.
On Tuesday, state officials forced 11 counties to tighten restrictions on businesses and to switch most to fully outdoor operations. But after so many months, it is unclear whether tinkering with business regulations will change people’s behavior.
Combined with holiday traditions that push people indoors, the direction things are headed as the state hits 1 million COVID cases “is not good — it is of serious concern,” said Bradley Pollock, chairman of the Department of Public Health Sciences at UC Davis.
He said he was particularly concerned about the arrival of chillier weather. Californians have been able to comfortably gather outdoors during an unusually warm fall while people in other parts of the country may have been forced indoors, but that may soon become untenable.
“Thanksgiving is going to be a very fearful time in my book, because people feel they just have to get together,” he said. “I worry what’s going to happen afterward.”


latimes--2020-11-13--California issues travel advisory ahead of holidays as COVID-19 surges

With coronavirus infections continuing to surge in California ahead of Thanksgiving , state officials are urging residents not to travel out of state for the holiday and recommending that those who do quarantine when they return .
Gov .
Gavin Newsom issued the travel advisory Friday in conjunction with his counterparts in Oregon and Washington .
“ California just surpassed a sobering threshold — 1 million COVID-19 cases — with no signs of the virus slowing down , ” Newsom said in a statement .
“ Increased cases are adding pressure on our hospital systems and threatening the lives of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Travel increases the risk of spreading COVID-19 , and we must all collectively increase our efforts at this time to keep the virus at bay and save lives.
” However , California Health and Human Services Secretary Dr. Mark Ghaly said Friday that the advisory is just that — “ it isn ’ t a ban ; it isn ’ t a restriction.
” But , he added , “ certainly if there ’ s any indication that the travel advisory needs to be strengthened , we will consider that in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ state ’ s advisory encourages residents to stay local and avoid nonessential out-of-state travel .
It also asks those who arrive from another state or country to self-quarantine for 14 days .
“ We ’ re encouraging Californians to stay close to home , to avoid nonessential travel to other states , other countries and , frankly , across the state if that ’ s avoidable , ” Ghaly said .
Essential travel , as defined by the advisory , is “ for work and study , critical infrastructure support , economic services @ @ @ @ @ @ @ medical care and safety and security , ” according to Newsom ’ s office .
“ COVID-19 does not stop at state lines .
As hospitals across the West are stretched to capacity , we must take steps to ensure travelers are not bringing this disease home with them , ” Oregon Gov .
Kate Brown said in a statement .
“ If you do not need to travel , you shouldn ’ t .
This will be hard , especially with Thanksgiving around the corner .
But the best way to keep @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to home.
” The advisory comes after economic reopenings were rolled back in some parts of the state and it became clear that hard-hit places such as Los Angeles County would not see their restrictions eased for the foreseeable future amid the widespread COVID-19 pandemic .
In L.A. County , officials said this week that more drastic restrictions could be necessary if case rates continue to rise .
On Friday afternoon , Health Officer Dr. Sara Cody said Santa Clara County — Northern California ’ s most populous — would join San Francisco @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Other counties in the Bay Area are expected to follow suit .
“ Every single action that people take is going to help keep people out of the hospital , ” Cody said .
“ It ’ s going to keep us from needing to order up morgue space .
And it ’ s going to enable our businesses to get back more quickly.
” Call it what you will — a spike , a surge , a wave — but there ’ s no doubt that coronavirus infections are climbing at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ declining earlier in the fall , California ’ s weekly cases have doubled in the last month .
The Golden State is now averaging about 6,300 new cases a day over the last week , up from about 3,200 a month ago , according to a Times analysis .
The rise has been startlingly steep of late .
From Nov. 1 to 7 , there was a 47.1 % increase in daily case numbers statewide , according to data presented Friday .
Typically , “ about 12 % of those cases end up @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , “ and when you look at a high number of cases day over day , and that ’ s sustained , that ’ s exactly what we worry about in terms of overwhelming our hospital system.
” COVID-19 hospitalizations have risen 50 % in the last month , and the coronavirus positive test rate has climbed by nearly 70 % , with 4.4 % of test results coming back positive over the last week , up from 2.6 % a month ago .
The meteoric ascent has pushed coronavirus infections to unprecedented @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
San Diego County broke a record this week with its highest single-day number of confirmed cases reported : 661 .
In Santa Clara County , new daily coronavirus cases drifted slowly upward in October and then began to skyrocket around election day .
“ It ’ s the steepness of that curve that concerns all of us .
And that requires that we act swiftly , ” Cody said .
The state as a whole hit 1 million confirmed cases Thursday , another grim milestone in a year full of them .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the drive-through testing site at Dodger Stadium has been flooded with people in recent days .
If the surge continues in L.A. County , “ additional actions ” could become necessary to bring the rate of transmission back under control , Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer said Thursday .
Though she didn ’ t elaborate on what potential new measures could be implemented , Ferrer emphasized that L.A. County remains on a knife ’ s edge and that everyone needs to do their part to keep conditions from worsening .
“ We @ @ @ @ @ @ @ she said during a media briefing .
“ The actions we take today , tomorrow and next week have tremendous impact on the health and well-being of many , many people across the county .
If , collectively , we fail to stop the acceleration of new cases , we will have no choice but to look at additional actions.
” In response to a follow-up inquiry from The Times , the Department of Public Health issued a statement Friday saying potential new measures — if necessary — could include “ further reducing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ limiting hours of operation at nonessential sectors and restricting higher-risk activities.
” “ We would not want to return to stricter safer-at-home orders unless we anticipate a threat to our healthcare system , ” the statement continued .
There has been debate about whether California might need to impose further restrictions if COVID-19 continues to spread .
That would be bad news for retailers , who have been battered by the shutdowns and were hoping to finally see some relief during the typically busy holiday season .
“ And whatever the hell you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ do Black Friday , ” said Dr. George Rutherford , an epidemiologist and infectious-diseases expert at UC San Francisco .
Dr. John Swartzberg , an infectious-disease expert at UC Berkeley , said earlier this week that he believes the novel coronavirus is likely to swamp California in December and parts of the state economy will have to be shut down .
“ Within a month after Thanksgiving , the number of cases is going to be up significantly , ” Swartzberg said .
“ California is going to be very worried , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ down.
” Reopening businesses and activities in California is guided by the state ’ s four-tiered , color-coded system— which it calls the Blueprint for a Safer Economy .
The tiers begin with purple , the most restrictive , then shift to red , then orange , then yellow .
Despite the latest surge , Ghaly said the state plans to stick to the current roadmap , which categorizes counties based on their average daily number of new coronavirus cases for every 100,000 residents and the percentage of conducted tests that detect the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ limitations on what kinds of businesses can reopen , and how widely they can do so .
“ It ’ s a tool not just to loosen but to tighten our restrictions as well , ” Ghaly said .
“ And we believe that it ’ s helped us so far and that we will continue to count on it now.
” He said there is an “ emergency brake ” built into the system so the state can more rapidly respond to changing conditions .
For instance , counties typically regress if @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a more restrictive tier for two straight weeks .
If the numbers merit , Ghaly said it ’ s possible the state could consider reclassifying them based on one week ’ s worth of data — or perhaps move them back multiple tiers at once .
However , he said the state is “ not looking , today , at a statewide stay-at-home order.
” “ All of that said , this is a quickly , rapidly evolving situation , and we will do whatever it takes to make sure that we appropriately @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” he said .
Santa Clara County is in the orange tier but expects to slide back into red next week .
Effective Tuesday , the county will order indoor restaurant dining closed .
Capacity at indoor gyms will be reduced from 25 % to 10 % ; outdoor bars will be ordered closed ; wineries will be allowed to operate only outdoors ; bowling alleys and other indoor family entertainment centers will be shut ; and retail businesses will be subject to a 50 % capacity restriction , instead of having no @ @ @ @ @ @ @ things under control faster , and that ’ s generally true of something where you have an exponential growth curve , like we see with this virus , ” County Counsel James Williams said Friday .
Prior to the state ’ s travel advisory , L.A. County was recommending that residents don ’ t travel out of state for the holiday and that if they do , they quarantine for 14 days upon their return .
“ If you are going to travel — which we are recommending you not do , we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stay-at-home Thanksgiving — but if you are going to travel , we do ask when you come back that you quarantine for 14 days , ” Ferrer said .
“ And the tighter you can restrict your activities over those 14 days , the better off we all are.
” Though the idea of not seeing family and friends after such a difficult year may strike some as untenable or unreasonable , health officials have repeatedly warned that gathering with those outside one ’ s immediate household heightens the risk of transmitting the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sacrifice , saying she won ’ t get to see her grandchildren for the holiday because they live in another state .
“ Like all of you , I wish things were really different .
But they ’ re not , ” she said .
“ And my feeling is I don ’ t want to be one of the people that ’ s contributing to not only increasing cases that restrict our ability to continue with our recovery journey , but increasing cases that could result in other people getting sick and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ large gatherings and says smaller ones of no more than three households may be held outdoors with limitations , including time limits and requirements that attendees physically distance and wear face coverings .
L.A. County , like California as a whole , is seeing a renewed surge in coronavirus infections that shows no signs of dissipating .
As of Nov. 3 , the average number of daily cases in the county was 1,464 — up from 988 a month prior , Ferrer said .
Recent counts have been even higher .
On Thursday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The county is also starting to see hospitalizations climb .
On Thursday , there were 953 COVID-19 patients in hospitals countywide — up from 777 on Nov. 2 , Ferrer said .
Given that it usually takes a few weeks for a crush of cases to result in a corresponding increase in hospitalizations and deaths , Ferrer said that “ we most likely haven ’ t yet seen the full consequence of the surge in cases we recently experienced.
” “ While we ’ ve made impressive strides in caring for people who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ much of an increase in cases may very well result in tremendous suffering and tragic deaths down the road , ” she said .
So far , the county has not seen an uptick in deaths corresponding to the surge .
In fact , as of Nov. 2 , the average number of deaths per day in the county was 10 , which “ is the lowest number that we have seen since the very early days of the pandemic , ” Ferrer said .
Still , she emphasized , “ It ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to avoid increased heartbreak.
” Times staff writer Maura Dolan in San Francisco contributed to this report .

Los Angeles County residents line up in their cars for coronavirus tests at Dodger Stadium on Wednesday.
With coronavirus infections continuing to surge in California ahead of Thanksgiving, state officials are urging residents not to travel out of state for the holiday and recommending that those who do quarantine when they return.
Gov. Gavin Newsom issued the travel advisory Friday in conjunction with his counterparts in Oregon and Washington.
“California just surpassed a sobering threshold — 1 million COVID-19 cases — with no signs of the virus slowing down,” Newsom said in a statement. “Increased cases are adding pressure on our hospital systems and threatening the lives of seniors, essential workers and vulnerable Californians. Travel increases the risk of spreading COVID-19, and we must all collectively increase our efforts at this time to keep the virus at bay and save lives.”
Advertisement
However, California Health and Human Services Secretary Dr. Mark Ghaly said Friday that the advisory is just that — “it isn’t a ban; it isn’t a restriction.”
But, he added, “certainly if there’s any indication that the travel advisory needs to be strengthened, we will consider that in the days and weeks to come.”
The state’s advisory encourages residents to stay local and avoid nonessential out-of-state travel. It also asks those who arrive from another state or country to self-quarantine for 14 days.
“We’re encouraging Californians to stay close to home, to avoid nonessential travel to other states, other countries and, frankly, across the state if that’s avoidable,” Ghaly said.
Essential travel, as defined by the advisory, is “for work and study, critical infrastructure support, economic services and supply chains, health, immediate medical care and safety and security,” according to Newsom’s office.
“COVID-19 does not stop at state lines. As hospitals across the West are stretched to capacity, we must take steps to ensure travelers are not bringing this disease home with them,” Oregon Gov. Kate Brown said in a statement. “If you do not need to travel, you shouldn’t. This will be hard, especially with Thanksgiving around the corner. But the best way to keep your family safe is to stay close to home.”
Advertisement
The advisory comes after economic reopenings were rolled back in some parts of the state and it became clear that hard-hit places such as Los Angeles County would not see their restrictions eased for the foreseeable future amid the widespread COVID-19 pandemic.
In L.A. County, officials said this week that more drastic restrictions could be necessary if case rates continue to rise. On Friday afternoon, Health Officer Dr. Sara Cody said Santa Clara County — Northern California’s most populous — would join San Francisco and order the closure of indoor dining. Other counties in the Bay Area are expected to follow suit.
“Every single action that people take is going to help keep people out of the hospital,” Cody said. “It’s going to keep us from needing to order up morgue space. And it’s going to enable our businesses to get back more quickly.”
Call it what you will — a spike, a surge, a wave — but there’s no doubt that coronavirus infections are climbing at an alarming rate in California.
After declining earlier in the fall, California’s weekly cases have doubled in the last month. The Golden State is now averaging about 6,300 new cases a day over the last week, up from about 3,200 a month ago, according to a Times analysis.
The rise has been startlingly steep of late. From Nov. 1 to 7, there was a 47.1% increase in daily case numbers statewide, according to data presented Friday.
Typically, “about 12% of those cases end up in the hospital,” Ghaly said, “and when you look at a high number of cases day over day, and that’s sustained, that’s exactly what we worry about in terms of overwhelming our hospital system.”
COVID-19 hospitalizations have risen 50% in the last month, and the coronavirus positive test rate has climbed by nearly 70%, with 4.4% of test results coming back positive over the last week, up from 2.6% a month ago.
The meteoric ascent has pushed coronavirus infections to unprecedented levels in some parts of the state. San Diego County broke a record this week with its highest single-day number of confirmed cases reported: 661.
In Santa Clara County, new daily coronavirus cases drifted slowly upward in October and then began to skyrocket around election day.
“It’s the steepness of that curve that concerns all of us. And that requires that we act swiftly,” Cody said.
The state as a whole hit 1 million confirmed cases Thursday, another grim milestone in a year full of them. In a sign of the worsening conditions, the drive-through testing site at Dodger Stadium has been flooded with people in recent days.
If the surge continues in L.A. County, “additional actions” could become necessary to bring the rate of transmission back under control, Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer said Thursday.
Though she didn’t elaborate on what potential new measures could be implemented, Ferrer emphasized that L.A. County remains on a knife’s edge and that everyone needs to do their part to keep conditions from worsening.
“We all need to act now,” she said during a media briefing. “The actions we take today, tomorrow and next week have tremendous impact on the health and well-being of many, many people across the county. If, collectively, we fail to stop the acceleration of new cases, we will have no choice but to look at additional actions.”
In response to a follow-up inquiry from The Times, the Department of Public Health issued a statement Friday saying potential new measures — if necessary — could include “further reducing occupancy at sites that are open, limiting hours of operation at nonessential sectors and restricting higher-risk activities.”
“We would not want to return to stricter safer-at-home orders unless we anticipate a threat to our healthcare system,” the statement continued.
There has been debate about whether California might need to impose further restrictions if COVID-19 continues to spread. That would be bad news for retailers, who have been battered by the shutdowns and were hoping to finally see some relief during the typically busy holiday season.
“And whatever the hell you’re doing, don’t do Black Friday,” said Dr. George Rutherford, an epidemiologist and infectious-diseases expert at UC San Francisco.
Dr. John Swartzberg, an infectious-disease expert at UC Berkeley, said earlier this week that he believes the novel coronavirus is likely to swamp California in December and parts of the state economy will have to be shut down.
“Within a month after Thanksgiving, the number of cases is going to be up significantly,” Swartzberg said. “California is going to be very worried, and we will start to see things close down.”
Reopening businesses and activities in California is guided by the state’s four-tiered, color-coded system— which it calls the Blueprint for a Safer Economy. The tiers begin with purple, the most restrictive, then shift to red, then orange, then yellow.
Despite the latest surge, Ghaly said the state plans to stick to the current roadmap, which categorizes counties based on their average daily number of new coronavirus cases for every 100,000 residents and the percentage of conducted tests that detect the virus.
Each tier carries its own limitations on what kinds of businesses can reopen, and how widely they can do so.
“It’s a tool not just to loosen but to tighten our restrictions as well,” Ghaly said. “And we believe that it’s helped us so far and that we will continue to count on it now.”
He said there is an “emergency brake” built into the system so the state can more rapidly respond to changing conditions.
For instance, counties typically regress if their metrics fall in the range of a more restrictive tier for two straight weeks. If the numbers merit, Ghaly said it’s possible the state could consider reclassifying them based on one week’s worth of data — or perhaps move them back multiple tiers at once.
However, he said the state is “not looking, today, at a statewide stay-at-home order.”
“All of that said, this is a quickly, rapidly evolving situation, and we will do whatever it takes to make sure that we appropriately protect the public health of California,” he said.
Santa Clara County is in the orange tier but expects to slide back into red next week.
Effective Tuesday, the county will order indoor restaurant dining closed. Capacity at indoor gyms will be reduced from 25% to 10%; outdoor bars will be ordered closed; wineries will be allowed to operate only outdoors; bowling alleys and other indoor family entertainment centers will be shut; and retail businesses will be subject to a 50% capacity restriction, instead of having no limit.
“Acting quickly helps bring things under control faster, and that’s generally true of something where you have an exponential growth curve, like we see with this virus,” County Counsel James Williams said Friday.
Travel & Experiences What to know before hitting the road for the holidays AAA says nearly 48 million people are expected to hop into their vehicles for the Turkey Day trek this year. If you’re getting on the road, keep hand sanitizer, gloves and masks fully stocked.
Prior to the state’s travel advisory, L.A. County was recommending that residents don’t travel out of state for the holiday and that if they do, they quarantine for 14 days upon their return.
“If you are going to travel — which we are recommending you not do, we are actually recommending this Thanksgiving be a stay-at-home Thanksgiving — but if you are going to travel, we do ask when you come back that you quarantine for 14 days,” Ferrer said. “And the tighter you can restrict your activities over those 14 days, the better off we all are.”
Though the idea of not seeing family and friends after such a difficult year may strike some as untenable or unreasonable, health officials have repeatedly warned that gathering with those outside one’s immediate household heightens the risk of transmitting the disease.
Ferrer acknowledged it was a sacrifice, saying she won’t get to see her grandchildren for the holiday because they live in another state.
“Like all of you, I wish things were really different. But they’re not,” she said. “And my feeling is I don’t want to be one of the people that’s contributing to not only increasing cases that restrict our ability to continue with our recovery journey, but increasing cases that could result in other people getting sick and even dying.”
California has generally banned large gatherings and says smaller ones of no more than three households may be held outdoors with limitations, including time limits and requirements that attendees physically distance and wear face coverings.
L.A. County, like California as a whole, is seeing a renewed surge in coronavirus infections that shows no signs of dissipating. As of Nov. 3, the average number of daily cases in the county was 1,464 — up from 988 a month prior, Ferrer said.
Recent counts have been even higher. On Thursday, Ferrer reported 2,533 new cases.
The county is also starting to see hospitalizations climb. On Thursday, there were 953 COVID-19 patients in hospitals countywide — up from 777 on Nov. 2, Ferrer said.
Given that it usually takes a few weeks for a crush of cases to result in a corresponding increase in hospitalizations and deaths, Ferrer said that “we most likely haven’t yet seen the full consequence of the surge in cases we recently experienced.”
“While we’ve made impressive strides in caring for people who are ill with the virus, this much of an increase in cases may very well result in tremendous suffering and tragic deaths down the road,” she said.
So far, the county has not seen an uptick in deaths corresponding to the surge. In fact, as of Nov. 2, the average number of deaths per day in the county was 10, which “is the lowest number that we have seen since the very early days of the pandemic,” Ferrer said.
Still, she emphasized, “It’s going to take all of us to avoid increased heartbreak.”
Times staff writer Maura Dolan in San Francisco contributed to this report.


latimes--2020-11-12--Former consultant for California high-speed rail project is cleared of ethics violations

A state ethics investigation into the top consultant working on the California bullet train last year has found he did not violate state law , following allegations that he was among those who approved a contract modification for a company in which he held stock .
The lengthy probe by the Fair Political Practices Commission found that Roy Hill , formerly the top official at the state ’ s main consulting firm , WSP , did not violate state laws for conflicts of interest .
The commission closed its case , according to a Nov. 3 letter to Hill ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ previously reported .
In its letter , the commission said the allegations of conflict-of-interest violations “ have been disproven.
” The rail authority declined to comment on the decision .
When the probe was launched , it said it took conflict-of-interest concerns seriously and said it would work closely with the commission ’ s staff .
A statement issued by his attorney Andreas Rockas said Hill is “ pleased that the conflict of interest and self-dealing allegations made against him have been disproven .
Mr. Hill looks forward to moving on with his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is cleared.
” WSP Vice President of Communications Corey Dade said : “ We did not receive a copy of the findings because WSP was not a subject in the investigation .
We are pleased , but not surprised , that Roy Hill has been cleared of any wrongdoing .
Mr. Hill is no longer employed with WSP USA.
” When the probe was started in June 2019 , Hill was deputy chief operating officer for the project .
He was suspended at the time at the request of the California High-Speed Rail @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hill signed a $ 51-million change order for the construction team led by the Spanish firm Dragados .
It happened in the same year he may have owned more than $ 100,000 of stock in Jacobs Engineering , which is part of the Dragados team , records show .
The commission also investigated whether the action may have had a “ material financial effect ” on Jacobs and concluded it resulted in a “ nominal financial effect.
” The agency also said Hill ’ s stock in Jacobs Engineering was a “ non-interest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the contract.
” Assemblyman Jim Patterson ( R-Fresno ) , a longtime critic of the rail project , requested the investigation after discovering that Hill had listed his stock ownership on a financial disclosure form .
“ He got off the hook , because the lawyers found the conflict wasn ’ t big enough , ” Patterson said Thursday .
“ But there is still a conflict in my mind.
” The change order was signed Dec. 20 , 2017 , by Hill , along with chief engineer Scott Jarvis and the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Thomas Fellenz .
It compensated the Dragados team for delays involving delivery of land , permits , utility relocations and other factors through Aug. 31 , 2017 .
Hill came onto the project in June 2017 .
On March 18 , 2019 , he filed a financial disclosure statement , known as a California Form 700 , that showed he held between $ 100,000 and $ 1 million worth of stock in Jacobs Engineering , the Texas firm that is providing engineering and design services to the Dragados joint venture .
Hill @ @ @ @ @ @ @ form that indicated when he acquired or may have disposed of the stock .
Hill may have acquired the Jacobs shares through a merger , in which Jacobs acquired engineering and environmental management firm CH2M , based in Colorado .
Before joining WSP , Hill was a longtime senior executive at CH2M in Europe , where he worked on a broad range of infrastructure projects , according to his resume .
It is unclear from his disclosure form whether he owned the Jacobs stock before the merger .
The acquisition was announced Aug. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 18 , 2017 .
If Hill held CH2M stock , he probably knew he would own the Jacobs shares before he signed the contract modification but did not actually own them until months after he signed the document .
Ethics experts said at the time that such issues are often not black and white .
An ethics issue begins if there is a “ conflict producing interest ” but requires that the conflict was foreseeable and that it is material or significant , Delaney Marsco , ethics counsel at Campaign Legal Center , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ time .

A state ethics investigation into the top consultant working on the California bullet train last year has found he did not violate state law, following allegations that he was among those who approved a contract modification for a company in which he held stock.
The lengthy probe by the Fair Political Practices Commission found that Roy Hill, formerly the top official at the state’s main consulting firm, WSP, did not violate state laws for conflicts of interest. The commission closed its case, according to a Nov. 3 letter to Hill’s attorney, which has not been previously reported.
In its letter, the commission said the allegations of conflict-of-interest violations “have been disproven.”
The rail authority declined to comment on the decision. When the probe was launched, it said it took conflict-of-interest concerns seriously and said it would work closely with the commission’s staff.
A statement issued by his attorney Andreas Rockas said Hill is “pleased that the conflict of interest and self-dealing allegations made against him have been disproven. Mr. Hill looks forward to moving on with his life and career now that his name is cleared.”
Advertisement
WSP Vice President of Communications Corey Dade said: “We did not receive a copy of the findings because WSP was not a subject in the investigation. We are pleased, but not surprised, that Roy Hill has been cleared of any wrongdoing. Mr. Hill is no longer employed with WSP USA.”
When the probe was started in June 2019, Hill was deputy chief operating officer for the project. He was suspended at the time at the request of the California High-Speed Rail Authority.
The matter involved allegations that Hill signed a $51-million change order for the construction team led by the Spanish firm Dragados. It happened in the same year he may have owned more than $100,000 of stock in Jacobs Engineering, which is part of the Dragados team, records show.
The commission also investigated whether the action may have had a “material financial effect” on Jacobs and concluded it resulted in a “nominal financial effect.” The agency also said Hill’s stock in Jacobs Engineering was a “non-interest, so he was not financially interested in the contract.”
Assemblyman Jim Patterson (R-Fresno), a longtime critic of the rail project, requested the investigation after discovering that Hill had listed his stock ownership on a financial disclosure form. “He got off the hook, because the lawyers found the conflict wasn’t big enough,” Patterson said Thursday. “But there is still a conflict in my mind.”
The change order was signed Dec. 20, 2017, by Hill, along with chief engineer Scott Jarvis and the rail authority’s then-acting chief executive, Thomas Fellenz. It compensated the Dragados team for delays involving delivery of land, permits, utility relocations and other factors through Aug. 31, 2017.
Advertisement
Hill came onto the project in June 2017. On March 18, 2019, he filed a financial disclosure statement, known as a California Form 700, that showed he held between $100,000 and $1 million worth of stock in Jacobs Engineering, the Texas firm that is providing engineering and design services to the Dragados joint venture. Hill did not fill in sections of the form that indicated when he acquired or may have disposed of the stock.
California How California’s faltering high-speed rail project was ‘captured’ by costly consultants When California shifted its bullet train plan into high gear in 2008, it had just 10 employees to manage and oversee design of the largest public construction project in state history.
Hill may have acquired the Jacobs shares through a merger, in which Jacobs acquired engineering and environmental management firm CH2M, based in Colorado. Before joining WSP, Hill was a longtime senior executive at CH2M in Europe, where he worked on a broad range of infrastructure projects, according to his resume. It is unclear from his disclosure form whether he owned the Jacobs stock before the merger.
The acquisition was announced Aug. 2, 2017, and completed Dec. 18, 2017. If Hill held CH2M stock, he probably knew he would own the Jacobs shares before he signed the contract modification but did not actually own them until months after he signed the document.
Ethics experts said at the time that such issues are often not black and white. An ethics issue begins if there is a “conflict producing interest” but requires that the conflict was foreseeable and that it is material or significant, Delaney Marsco, ethics counsel at Campaign Legal Center, a nonpartisan watchdog, said at the time.


latimes--2020-11-14--California coronavirus surge worsens, prompting new pleas to avoid travel

With California staring down the barrel of another significant coronavirus surge , health officials are recommending residents avoid unnecessary travel — including for Thanksgiving — and urging those who do head out of state to self-quarantine for 14 days when they return .
The move comes amid ominous new signs that California is in the midst of a major new outbreak .
Weekly coronavirus cases have doubled in just the last month , from nearly 23,000 cases a week a month ago to almost 48,000 in the seven-day period that ended Thursday , according to a Los Angeles Times analysis @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , San Bernardino and Ventura counties have seen their combined weekly cases shoot up from about 13,000 to 26,000 over the last month .
San Diego County saw its weekly cases rise from about 2,000 to 3,700 over the same time period .
The county set a record this week with its highest single-day number of confirmed cases reported : 661 .
Officials fear the situation could get much worse if people let down their guard during the Thanksgiving holiday .
“ And whatever the hell you ’ re doing , don ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Dr. George Rutherford , an epidemiologist and infectious diseases expert at UC San Francisco , saying crowds crawling for deals could easily become super-spreader events .
Though they were quick to point out that the state travel advisory issued Friday is just that — “ it isn ’ t a ban ; it isn ’ t a restriction , ” California Health and Human Services Secretary Dr. Mark Ghaly said — officials nonetheless hope that residents take the guidance to heart .
“ We ’ re encouraging Californians to stay close to home @ @ @ @ @ @ @ states , other countries and , frankly , across the state if that ’ s avoidable , ” Ghaly said .
The advisory , which Gov .
Gavin Newsom announced in conjunction with his counterparts in Oregon and Washington , also asks those who arrive in California from another state or country to self-quarantine for 14 days .
Essential travel , as defined by the advisory , is “ for work and study , critical infrastructure support , economic services and supply chains , health , immediate medical care and safety and security @ @ @ @ @ @ @ office .
“ Increased cases are adding pressure on our hospital systems and threatening the lives of seniors , essential workers and vulnerable Californians , ” Newsom said in a statement .
“ Travel increases the risk of spreading COVID-19 , and we must all collectively increase our efforts at this time to keep the virus at bay and save lives.
” Ghaly emphasized that residents can reinforce the battle against COVID-19 by taking steps to protect themselves and their loves ones : Wearing masks in public , regular hand washing , staying @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and , of particular importance with the holidays just around the corner , avoiding gathering with those outside your household .
California has generally banned large gatherings , but says shorter , smaller ones of no more than three households may be held , provided they take place outdoors in the hardest-hit counties , and that attendees physically distance and wear face coverings .
The worry , though , is that guidance may fall on the deaf ears of coronavirus-weary Californians .
The travel advisory represents but the latest challenge to residents ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with a pandemic that is accelerating at an alarming rate — jeopardizing not only public health , but the counties ’ ability to progress with further economic reopenings , or even cling to the progress they ’ ve made over the last few difficult months .
On Friday afternoon , Health Officer Dr. Sara Cody said Santa Clara County would join San Francisco and order the closure of indoor restaurant dining .
Contra Costa County also ordered closures of indoor gyms and concession stands at movie theaters in addition to indoor dining .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ is going to help keep people out of the hospital , ” Cody said .
“ It ’ s going to keep us from needing to order up morgue space .
And it ’ s going to enable our businesses to get back more quickly.
” Officials in Los Angeles County have also raised the specter of renewed restrictions should case rates continue to rise .
If necessary , those could include “ further reducing occupancy at sites that are open , limiting hours of operation at nonessential sectors and restricting higher-risk activities @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the county Department of Public Health .
“ We would not want to return to stricter safer-at-home orders unless we anticipate a threat to our healthcare system , ” the statement continued .
In the San Francisco Bay Area , weekly cases have grown from about 3,000 to nearly 6,200 ; and are up from 2,400 to 5,100 in the San Joaquin Valley .
The seven-county Sacramento area has experienced a particularly dramatic surge — from nearly 900 cases in the week of Oct. 9 to more than 3,100 in the last week @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of those cases end up in the hospital , ” Ghaly said , “ and when you look at a high number of cases day over day , and that ’ s sustained , that ’ s exactly what we worry about in terms of overwhelming our hospital system.
” Hospitalizations have risen by nearly 50 % in the last month .
The rate at which coronavirus tests are coming back positive over a seven-day period has swung up 67 % , from 2.58 % a month ago to 4.29 % .
As @ @ @ @ @ @ @ potential new closures and restrictions threatens to crash down on businesses statewide in what would be the latest broadside suffered by an already battered economy .
However , Ghaly said the state is “ not looking , today , at a statewide stay-at-home order.
” “ All of that said , this is a quickly , rapidly evolving situation , and we will do whatever it takes to make sure that we appropriately protect the public health of California , ” he said .
Reopening businesses and activities is guided by the state @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The tiers begin with purple , the most restrictive , then shift to red , then orange , then yellow — each carrying its own limitations on what kinds of businesses can reopen , and how widely they can do so .
Ghaly said the state plans to stick by the current road map , which categorizes counties based on their average daily number of new COVID-19 cases for every 100,000 residents and the percentage of conducted tests that detect the virus .
He said there is an “ emergency brake ” built @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more rapidly respond to changing conditions .
Counties typically regress if their metrics fall in the range of a more restrictive tier for two straight weeks .
If the numbers merit , Ghaly said it ’ s possible the state could consider reclassifying them based on one week ’ s worth of data — or perhaps move them back multiple tiers at once .
Just this week , 11 counties regressed to more restrictive tiers , and Ghaly said even more are at risk of doing so next week .
Santa Clara County @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but expects to slide back into red next week .
Effective Tuesday , the county will order indoor restaurant dining closed .
Capacity at indoor gyms will be reduced from 25 % to 10 % ; outdoor bars will be ordered closed ; wineries will be allowed to operate only outdoors ; bowling alleys and other indoor family entertainment centers will be shut ; and retail businesses will be subject to a 50 % capacity restriction , instead of having no limit .
“ Acting quickly helps bring things under control faster , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ something where you have an exponential growth curve , like we see with this virus , ” County Counsel James Williams said Friday .
Still , officials and experts say residents can promote both public and economic health by doing their part to stymie the spread of the coronavirus .
“ We know and feel and hear about the hurt of many businesses , and the difficulty , ” Ghaly said .
“ But we continue to believe that this is not a choice between health and business — that that ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ really need to do is do everything we can at this moment to get these very rapidly rising cases back down.
” Times staff writers Iris Lee in Los Angeles and Maura Dolan in San Francisco contributed to this report .

Healthcare workers with the Orange County Health Care Agency and city of Costa Mesa conduct COVID-19 tests Thursday at the drive-through testing super site at the OC Fair & Event Center.
With California staring down the barrel of another significant coronavirus surge, health officials are recommending residents avoid unnecessary travel — including for Thanksgiving — and urging those who do head out of state to self-quarantine for 14 days when they return.
The move comes amid ominous new signs that California is in the midst of a major new outbreak. Weekly coronavirus cases have doubled in just the last month, from nearly 23,000 cases a week a month ago to almost 48,000 in the seven-day period that ended Thursday, according to a Los Angeles Times analysis.
Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino and Ventura counties have seen their combined weekly cases shoot up from about 13,000 to 26,000 over the last month. San Diego County saw its weekly cases rise from about 2,000 to 3,700 over the same time period. The county set a record this week with its highest single-day number of confirmed cases reported: 661.
Officials fear the situation could get much worse if people let down their guard during the Thanksgiving holiday.
Advertisement
“And whatever the hell you’re doing, don’t do Black Friday,” said Dr. George Rutherford, an epidemiologist and infectious diseases expert at UC San Francisco, saying crowds crawling for deals could easily become super-spreader events.
Though they were quick to point out that the state travel advisory issued Friday is just that — “it isn’t a ban; it isn’t a restriction,” California Health and Human Services Secretary Dr. Mark Ghaly said — officials nonetheless hope that residents take the guidance to heart.
“We’re encouraging Californians to stay close to home, to avoid nonessential travel to other states, other countries and, frankly, across the state if that’s avoidable,” Ghaly said.
The advisory, which Gov. Gavin Newsom announced in conjunction with his counterparts in Oregon and Washington, also asks those who arrive in California from another state or country to self-quarantine for 14 days.
Essential travel, as defined by the advisory, is “for work and study, critical infrastructure support, economic services and supply chains, health, immediate medical care and safety and security,” according to Newsom’s office.
Advertisement
“Increased cases are adding pressure on our hospital systems and threatening the lives of seniors, essential workers and vulnerable Californians,” Newsom said in a statement. “Travel increases the risk of spreading COVID-19, and we must all collectively increase our efforts at this time to keep the virus at bay and save lives.”
Ghaly emphasized that residents can reinforce the battle against COVID-19 by taking steps to protect themselves and their loves ones: Wearing masks in public, regular hand washing, staying home when ill, maintaining physical distance and, of particular importance with the holidays just around the corner, avoiding gathering with those outside your household.
California has generally banned large gatherings, but says shorter, smaller ones of no more than three households may be held, provided they take place outdoors in the hardest-hit counties, and that attendees physically distance and wear face coverings.
The worry, though, is that guidance may fall on the deaf ears of coronavirus-weary Californians.
The travel advisory represents but the latest challenge to residents’ resolve, and comes as California grapples with a pandemic that is accelerating at an alarming rate — jeopardizing not only public health, but the counties’ ability to progress with further economic reopenings, or even cling to the progress they’ve made over the last few difficult months.
On Friday afternoon, Health Officer Dr. Sara Cody said Santa Clara County would join San Francisco and order the closure of indoor restaurant dining. Contra Costa County also ordered closures of indoor gyms and concession stands at movie theaters in addition to indoor dining.
“Every single action that people take is going to help keep people out of the hospital,” Cody said. “It’s going to keep us from needing to order up morgue space. And it’s going to enable our businesses to get back more quickly.”
Officials in Los Angeles County have also raised the specter of renewed restrictions should case rates continue to rise.
If necessary, those could include “further reducing occupancy at sites that are open, limiting hours of operation at nonessential sectors and restricting higher-risk activities,” according to a statement from the county Department of Public Health.
“We would not want to return to stricter safer-at-home orders unless we anticipate a threat to our healthcare system,” the statement continued.
In the San Francisco Bay Area, weekly cases have grown from about 3,000 to nearly 6,200; and are up from 2,400 to 5,100 in the San Joaquin Valley.
The seven-county Sacramento area has experienced a particularly dramatic surge — from nearly 900 cases in the week of Oct. 9 to more than 3,100 in the last week.
Typically, “about 12% of those cases end up in the hospital,” Ghaly said, “and when you look at a high number of cases day over day, and that’s sustained, that’s exactly what we worry about in terms of overwhelming our hospital system.”
Hospitalizations have risen by nearly 50% in the last month. The rate at which coronavirus tests are coming back positive over a seven-day period has swung up 67%, from 2.58% a month ago to 4.29%.
As the surge continues, a wave of potential new closures and restrictions threatens to crash down on businesses statewide in what would be the latest broadside suffered by an already battered economy.
However, Ghaly said the state is “not looking, today, at a statewide stay-at-home order.”
“All of that said, this is a quickly, rapidly evolving situation, and we will do whatever it takes to make sure that we appropriately protect the public health of California,” he said.
Reopening businesses and activities is guided by the state’s four-tiered, color-coded system. The tiers begin with purple, the most restrictive, then shift to red, then orange, then yellow — each carrying its own limitations on what kinds of businesses can reopen, and how widely they can do so.
Ghaly said the state plans to stick by the current road map, which categorizes counties based on their average daily number of new COVID-19 cases for every 100,000 residents and the percentage of conducted tests that detect the virus.
He said there is an “emergency brake” built into the system so the state can more rapidly respond to changing conditions.
Counties typically regress if their metrics fall in the range of a more restrictive tier for two straight weeks. If the numbers merit, Ghaly said it’s possible the state could consider reclassifying them based on one week’s worth of data — or perhaps move them back multiple tiers at once.
Just this week, 11 counties regressed to more restrictive tiers, and Ghaly said even more are at risk of doing so next week.
Santa Clara County is currently in the orange tier, but expects to slide back into red next week.
Effective Tuesday, the county will order indoor restaurant dining closed. Capacity at indoor gyms will be reduced from 25% to 10%; outdoor bars will be ordered closed; wineries will be allowed to operate only outdoors; bowling alleys and other indoor family entertainment centers will be shut; and retail businesses will be subject to a 50% capacity restriction, instead of having no limit.
“Acting quickly helps bring things under control faster, and that’s generally true of something where you have an exponential growth curve, like we see with this virus,” County Counsel James Williams said Friday.
Travel & Experiences What to know before hitting the road for the holidays AAA says nearly 48 million people are expected to hop into their vehicles for the Turkey Day trek this year. If you’re getting on the road, keep hand sanitizer, gloves and masks fully stocked.
Still, officials and experts say residents can promote both public and economic health by doing their part to stymie the spread of the coronavirus.
“We know and feel and hear about the hurt of many businesses, and the difficulty,” Ghaly said. “But we continue to believe that this is not a choice between health and business — that that’s a false choice, that what we really need to do is do everything we can at this moment to get these very rapidly rising cases back down.”
Times staff writers Iris Lee in Los Angeles and Maura Dolan in San Francisco contributed to this report.


latimes--2020-11-14--Celebrating Diwali, some see Kamala Harris' rise reflected in stories of good over evil

When CNN informed Aarathi Venkatesan that Joe Biden and Kamala Harris would be the next inhabitants of the White House , her first words were a Hindu prayer .
“ Let good things occur to the king of the country , who looks after his people well , in the path of justice , ” she recited , words from a well-worn Vedic blessing that includes the safety and success of those in charge .
With the start Saturday of the Indian holiday of Diwali , the festival of lights celebrated by a billion people worldwide and marking the start @ @ @ @ @ @ @ her family will be “ wishing the [ Biden ] administration well , praying for [ Harris ’ ] success.
” In California ’ s Indian American community , supporters of the Democratic presidential ticket see special meaning this year in a holiday that celebrates the triumph of good over evil , light over darkness and the defeat of ignorance through knowledge — themes used by both sides in the recent election .
But with the win of the Biden-Harris team , some supporters feel a sense of victory made more poignant by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ feel a little bit more meaningful , especially when we have some hope , ” said Mallika Chopra , a Los Angeles author and daughter of Deepak Chopra .
“ It feels like lightness is coming.
” “ There is no doubt that as we start Diwali , I see the parallel of light starting to shine in , ” said state Assemblyman Ash Kalra ( D-San Jose ) .
“ It ’ s hard to ignore.
” Tustin naturopath Angie Mehta , a Marine reservist , will “ definitely be praying for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ] our leaders currently to really maintain righteousness , happiness and freedom.
” Though traditions vary across India , the main stories at the center of the days-long festival feature heroes defeating demons , restoring balance to a troubled world .
Some honor the day as a celebration of Lord Krishna ’ s victory in battle against the demon Narakasura , ending his unjust reign and ushering in peace on Earth .
Others honor it as the return of King Rama and his wife , Sita , after 14 years of exile in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the demon Ravana .
Lakshmi , the goddess of fortune both material and spiritual , is honored with elaborate prayers and offerings , as is her adopted son , the elephant-headed Ganesh , god of good beginnings and destroyer of obstacles .
Sikhs , Jains and some Buddhists also celebrate .
On Friday , at the BAPS Swaminarayan Mandir , a large Hindu temple in Chino Hills , volunteers tended works of sand art called rangolis , signifying “ unity and selfless service , ” while others prayed .
“ What ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ myths have become a way of talking about the last four years in the United States , ” said Archana Venkatesan , chair of the UC Davis Department of Religious Studies and Aarathi ’ s sister .
“ I have heard it from so many people.
” For many , Harris is more meaningful than her running mate .
Her roots in the south Indian city of Chennai and her experience as the daughter of immigrants resonates with many Indian Americans , themselves often here for only a generation or two .
Others @ @ @ @ @ @ @ broke for both women and people of color .
Some are sending good energy , knowing that , like all those who travel first on paths , her achievements and failures will be scrutinized .
“ We are proud of her , and I think in our annual Diwali celebration , as we pray for world peace and just prosperity for the year , having her in this his huge role , especially representing females , that is amazing , ” said Hetal Patel , a Pasadena chiropractor .
“ So we wish @ @ @ @ @ @ @ her best ability.
” Indian girls are some of her biggest fans , and they can ’ t get enough of seeing their reflection in her , or an image of what they hope to be .
They love her Sanskrit name , which means “ lotus ” and has ties to Lakshmi ; her newfound ability to make dosas ; her dancing in the rain .
This year , as they don the colorful saris , midriff-baring cholis and other new clothes that are purchased as holiday tradition , there ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ increased sense of belonging .
“ She is very inspiring , ” said Aarathi Venkatesan ’ s 11-year-old daughter , Vaishnavi .
“ Because she speaks very loudly , she gives me good thoughts , confident thoughts.
” Others see something even more in the vice president-elect .
In October , during a different religious holiday , a meme of Harris circulated on WhatsApp depicting her as the warrior-goddess Durga , riding a lion with Biden ’ s face and slaying a demon with Trump ’ s image .
The picture was tweeted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sparking backlash from some in the Indian community who were offended by the use of religious imagery in politics .
But the backlash received its own backlash .
Academics and others quickly pointed out that India has a long tradition of depicting political leaders in religious terms , especially women .
India ’ s only female prime minister , Indira Gandhi , was the subject of similar iconography , as was her daughter-in-law Sonia Gandhi and other female politicians at lesser levels .
“ All of these very prominent politicians have constantly been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Venkatesan , the professor .
“ It ’ s just sort of ubiquitous.
” Biden has his own goodwill in the Indian community , though he has not received deifying treatment .
Former President Obama was the first to host an official Diwali reception in the White House in 2009 , and in 2016 , as Obama ’ s vice president , Biden threw a Diwali party at his official residence at Number One Observatory Circle , on the grounds of the U.S .
Naval Observatory in Washington .
It was an unexpected @ @ @ @ @ @ @ community .
“ I was like what , really ?
Is this a real call ?
” said M.R .
Rangaswami , founder of Indiaspora , an organization dedicated to the advancement of South Asians , remembering when Biden staffers asked him to co-host the reception .
“ That was fun .
That was really good.
” Trump is not without his own well-wishers in the Indian community .
While one preelection poll found about 65 % of South Asians were planning to vote for Biden , 28 % were firmly in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Diwali parties at the White House during his tenure , and he is well received by some South Asians for appointing Indian Americans to high-level positions , including Nikki Haley as ambassador to the United Nations , and taking a harder line than his predecessor on Pakistan , a country with fraught relations to India .
But he ’ s also drawn fire for mimicking the accent of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and gaffes including a 2018 Diwali tweet that honored the festival as one “ observed by Buddhists , Sikhs , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mention Hindus .
With the pandemic once again threatening to overwhelm medical systems , the large and rambunctious celebrations that usually mark Diwali are largely gone .
Fireworks in the early dawn have been replaced with quieter pujas , the prayers offered to gods .
Large family gatherings with more food than Thanksgiving have turned to intimate meals with Zoomed-in friends .
But the small lights , diyas , that every household puts in windows and doors to welcome Lakshmi will be present , along with a hope that having Harris in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ next year .
“ I think it will take it to the next step , ” Rangaswami said .
“ Once COVID subsides , look for something big in November 2021 in D.C. , absolutely .
”

When CNN informed Aarathi Venkatesan that Joe Biden and Kamala Harris would be the next inhabitants of the White House, her first words were a Hindu prayer.
“Let good things occur to the king of the country, who looks after his people well, in the path of justice,” she recited, words from a well-worn Vedic blessing that includes the safety and success of those in charge.
With the start Saturday of the Indian holiday of Diwali, the festival of lights celebrated by a billion people worldwide and marking the start of a new year, Venkatesan said her family will be “wishing the [Biden] administration well, praying for [Harris’] success.”
In California’s Indian American community, supporters of the Democratic presidential ticket see special meaning this year in a holiday that celebrates the triumph of good over evil, light over darkness and the defeat of ignorance through knowledge — themes used by both sides in the recent election. But with the win of the Biden-Harris team, some supporters feel a sense of victory made more poignant by the festival.
Small groups of worshipers are allowed to pray inside the Chino Hills temple. The pandemic will mute the large celebrations that typically mark Diwali. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
Advertisement
“This Diwali does feel a little bit more meaningful, especially when we have some hope,” said Mallika Chopra, a Los Angeles author and daughter of Deepak Chopra. “It feels like lightness is coming.”
“There is no doubt that as we start Diwali, I see the parallel of light starting to shine in,” said state Assemblyman Ash Kalra (D-San Jose). “It’s hard to ignore.”
Tustin naturopath Angie Mehta, a Marine reservist, will “definitely be praying for all our newly elected leaders [and] our leaders currently to really maintain righteousness, happiness and freedom.”
Though traditions vary across India, the main stories at the center of the days-long festival feature heroes defeating demons, restoring balance to a troubled world.
Some honor the day as a celebration of Lord Krishna’s victory in battle against the demon Narakasura, ending his unjust reign and ushering in peace on Earth. Others honor it as the return of King Rama and his wife, Sita, after 14 years of exile in a forest, culminating when Rama killed the demon Ravana.
Lakshmi, the goddess of fortune both material and spiritual, is honored with elaborate prayers and offerings, as is her adopted son, the elephant-headed Ganesh, god of good beginnings and destroyer of obstacles. Sikhs, Jains and some Buddhists also celebrate.
On Friday, at the BAPS Swaminarayan Mandir, a large Hindu temple in Chino Hills, volunteers tended works of sand art called rangolis, signifying “unity and selfless service,” while others prayed.
“What’s interesting is the way in which these myths have become a way of talking about the last four years in the United States,” said Archana Venkatesan, chair of the UC Davis Department of Religious Studies and Aarathi’s sister. “I have heard it from so many people.”
Advertisement
For many, Harris is more meaningful than her running mate. Her roots in the south Indian city of Chennai and her experience as the daughter of immigrants resonates with many Indian Americans, themselves often here for only a generation or two. Others are drawn to the glass ceiling she broke for both women and people of color. Some are sending good energy, knowing that, like all those who travel first on paths, her achievements and failures will be scrutinized.
BAPS Swaminarian Mandir is illuminated Friday night to mark Diwali, the Indian festival of light celebrated by a billion people worldwide. (Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times)
People gather outside the temple on the night before the multiday celebration of Diwali begins. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
“We are proud of her, and I think in our annual Diwali celebration, as we pray for world peace and just prosperity for the year, having her in this his huge role, especially representing females, that is amazing,” said Hetal Patel, a Pasadena chiropractor. “So we wish her well so she can serve to her best ability.”
Indian girls are some of her biggest fans, and they can’t get enough of seeing their reflection in her, or an image of what they hope to be. They love her Sanskrit name, which means “lotus” and has ties to Lakshmi; her newfound ability to make dosas; her dancing in the rain. This year, as they don the colorful saris, midriff-baring cholis and other new clothes that are purchased as holiday tradition, there’s a fresh pride and gratefulness for an increased sense of belonging.
“She is very inspiring,” said Aarathi Venkatesan’s 11-year-old daughter, Vaishnavi. “Because she speaks very loudly, she gives me good thoughts, confident thoughts.”
Others see something even more in the vice president-elect. In October, during a different religious holiday, a meme of Harris circulated on WhatsApp depicting her as the warrior-goddess Durga, riding a lion with Biden’s face and slaying a demon with Trump’s image. The picture was tweeted by Harris’ niece Meena Harris, sparking backlash from some in the Indian community who were offended by the use of religious imagery in politics.
But the backlash received its own backlash.
Academics and others quickly pointed out that India has a long tradition of depicting political leaders in religious terms, especially women. India’s only female prime minister, Indira Gandhi, was the subject of similar iconography, as was her daughter-in-law Sonia Gandhi and other female politicians at lesser levels.
“All of these very prominent politicians have constantly been imaged this way,” said Archana Venkatesan, the professor. “It’s just sort of ubiquitous.”
Biden has his own goodwill in the Indian community, though he has not received deifying treatment. Former President Obama was the first to host an official Diwali reception in the White House in 2009, and in 2016, as Obama’s vice president, Biden threw a Diwali party at his official residence at Number One Observatory Circle, on the grounds of the U.S. Naval Observatory in Washington. It was an unexpected gesture that was welcomed by the Indian community.
“I was like what, really? Is this a real call?” said M.R. Rangaswami, founder of Indiaspora, an organization dedicated to the advancement of South Asians, remembering when Biden staffers asked him to co-host the reception. “That was fun. That was really good.”
Gunjan Patel joins other volunteers tending a rangoli inside the BAPS Swaminarayan Mandir. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
The sand art was meant to signify “unity and selfless service.” (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
Trump is not without his own well-wishers in the Indian community. While one preelection poll found about 65% of South Asians were planning to vote for Biden, 28% were firmly in the Trump camp.
Trump has hosted multiple Diwali parties at the White House during his tenure, and he is well received by some South Asians for appointing Indian Americans to high-level positions, including Nikki Haley as ambassador to the United Nations, and taking a harder line than his predecessor on Pakistan, a country with fraught relations to India.
But he’s also drawn fire for mimicking the accent of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and gaffes including a 2018 Diwali tweet that honored the festival as one “observed by Buddhists, Sikhs, and Jains,” while forgetting to mention Hindus.
With the pandemic once again threatening to overwhelm medical systems, the large and rambunctious celebrations that usually mark Diwali are largely gone. Fireworks in the early dawn have been replaced with quieter pujas, the prayers offered to gods. Large family gatherings with more food than Thanksgiving have turned to intimate meals with Zoomed-in friends.
But the small lights, diyas, that every household puts in windows and doors to welcome Lakshmi will be present, along with a hope that having Harris in the White House could mean a blowout Diwali next year.
“I think it will take it to the next step,” Rangaswami said. “Once COVID subsides, look for something big in November 2021 in D.C., absolutely.”