latimes--2020-05-11--California lawmakers question state's vetting of failed coronavirus contracts

A failed deal in which California had to claw back $ 457 million from a newly created and politically connected firm selling protective masks prompted new vetting procedures , advisors to Gov .
Gavin Newsom told lawmakers on Monday .
But in a lengthy public hearing in Sacramento , they defended the administration ’ s overall record in purchasing equipment worth approximately $ 2.2 billion .
Mark Ghilarducci , director of the Governor ’ s Office of Emergency Services , told lawmakers that amid the frenzy to buy life-saving supplies through nearly 200 deals , the state has had to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a handful of cases .
No taxpayer money has been lost , he said .
“ The market was beyond volatile , ” Ghilarducci said .
“ The state had very little leverage to bargain with , just as we were negotiating with a potential source and the source appeared legitimate , it was lost to another buyer .
Given the overwhelming global need , it was a seller ’ s market , with the seller dictating negotiation terms , including advance payment and other terms to which the state would not normally @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was prompted by the state ’ s handling of a March 26 contract with Blue Flame Medical , a company that had been founded just a few days earlier by two GOP operatives .
Hours after California wired $ 457 million to buy 100 million masks that Blue Flame owners said were already at the Port of Los Angeles , banks involved in the transaction flagged it as potentially fraudulent .
State officials then asked that the money be sent back .
Ghilarducci said the deal , which is now under investigation , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ companies misrepresented what supplies they had or were possibly engaged in fraud .
In another failed deal , California signed a nearly $ 800-million contract with a politically connected vendor of medical masks — only to have it collapse after state officials said the company did not deliver most of the supplies .
The scale of the contract with Bear Mountain Development Co. came to light Friday when state officials , pressed by the Los Angeles Times , confirmed details of the deal .
Former Alabama Atty .
Gen .
Troy King is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ record as president of the Montgomery , Ala. , company .
Purchase records identify the company ’ s local contact as Paul Bauer , a Sacramento lobbyist who works for the government relations firm Mercury Public Affairs .
The existence of the state ’ s deals with Blue Flame and Bear Mountain were only revealed following public records requests .
Blue Flame ’ s collapsed deal was first reported by CalMatters .
Newsom has faced criticism over his administration ’ s lack of transparency over COVID-19 purchases , particularly a $ 1 billion @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vehicle manufacturer BYD .
The BYD contract was released last week , a month after it was signed .
A late amendment revealed that BYD for failing to secure federal certification of its masks in time for a May delivery .
Despite the issues , Newsom has stood by the BYD deal .
Transparency has been a challenge , said Helen Kerstein of the nonpartisan Legislative Analyst ’ s Office .
Without the basic information on the types of contracts the administration is entering into , Kerstein told lawmakers Monday it is difficult @ @ @ @ @ @ @ oversight function .
A data found that the state has so far committed to spending more than $ 3.7 billion on no-bid contracts under Newsom ’ s March 4 statewide coronavirus emergency order .
One-third of those funds — about $ 1.2 billion — were earmarked for suppliers of goods and services that do not appear in the state ’ s database of contracts prior to the COVID-19 outbreak .
Ghilarducci said that as of Saturday , the state has ordered 326 million N95 masks , 30 million KN95 masks , 307 million @ @ @ @ @ @ @ face shields .
In the case of the large order from Blue Flame , Ghilarducci said the company had undergone normal state vetting .
He said the company ’ s owner , whom he did not name , told state officials vetting the deal that 100 million N95 masks sitting at the Port of Los Angeles could be bought for $ 4.76 apiece .
“ At the time , that was one of the lowest we had seen to date , ” Ghilarducci said .
He said after a series of vetting protocols @ @ @ @ @ @ @ met state requirements and confirming the owner ’ s claims of California residency with a business in good standing , the state decided to move forward with the deal .
“ We wired money ... it appeared to be legitimate , ” Ghilarducci said .
Hours after the money was sent , the bank involved raised concerns to the State Treasurer ’ s Office and the California Department of General Services that the account involved was newly opened .
Ghilarducci said the money was then sent back and the deal is under investigation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Thomas and Mike Gula in late March .
Previous efforts to reach Thomas and Gula have been unsuccessful .
Ghilarducci said the widespread fraud the state encountered in trying buy protective equipment prompted the Newsom administration to work more closely with federal authorities , including the FBI , when vetting thousands of offers that have come into the state .
Lawmakers on Monday were not heavily critical of the state ’ s vetting process , saying they understood California was desperately trying to secure life-saving supplies .
“ There will always be critics @ @ @ @ @ @ @ quickly or not quickly enough , ” said Assemblyman Adam Gray ( D-Merced ) .
“ Without PPE , people die .
And so , speaking for myself , I land firmly on the side of acting quickly during a crisis and accepting a certain amount of risk as a result .
”

A failed deal in which California had to claw back $457 million from a newly created and politically connected firm selling protective masks prompted new vetting procedures, advisors to Gov. Gavin Newsom told lawmakers on Monday.
But in a lengthy public hearing in Sacramento, they defended the administration’s overall record in purchasing equipment worth approximately $2.2 billion.
Mark Ghilarducci, director of the Governor’s Office of Emergency Services, told lawmakers that amid the frenzy to buy life-saving supplies through nearly 200 deals, the state has had to cancel contracts or seek reimbursement in only a handful of cases. No taxpayer money has been lost, he said.
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“The market was beyond volatile,” Ghilarducci said. “The state had very little leverage to bargain with, just as we were negotiating with a potential source and the source appeared legitimate, it was lost to another buyer. Given the overwhelming global need, it was a seller’s market, with the seller dictating negotiation terms, including advance payment and other terms to which the state would not normally agree.”
Monday’s oversight hearing was prompted by the state’s handling of a March 26 contract with Blue Flame Medical, a company that had been founded just a few days earlier by two GOP operatives. Hours after California wired $457 million to buy 100 million masks that Blue Flame owners said were already at the Port of Los Angeles, banks involved in the transaction flagged it as potentially fraudulent. State officials then asked that the money be sent back.
Ghilarducci said the deal, which is now under investigation, was one of many examples in which companies misrepresented what supplies they had or were possibly engaged in fraud.
In another failed deal, California signed a nearly $800-million contract with a politically connected vendor of medical masks — only to have it collapse after state officials said the company did not deliver most of the supplies. The scale of the contract with Bear Mountain Development Co. came to light Friday when state officials, pressed by the Los Angeles Times, confirmed details of the deal.
Former Alabama Atty. Gen. Troy King is listed on Bear Mountain’s formation record as president of the Montgomery, Ala., company. Purchase records identify the company’s local contact as Paul Bauer, a Sacramento lobbyist who works for the government relations firm Mercury Public Affairs.
The existence of the state’s deals with Blue Flame and Bear Mountain were only revealed following public records requests. Blue Flame’s collapsed deal was first reported by CalMatters.
Newsom has faced criticism over his administration’s lack of transparency over COVID-19 purchases, particularly a $1 billion contract for protective masks from Chinese electric vehicle manufacturer BYD. The BYD contract was released last week, a month after it was signed. A late amendment revealed that BYD would reimburse the state $247 million for failing to secure federal certification of its masks in time for a May delivery.
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Despite the issues, Newsom has stood by the BYD deal.
Transparency has been a challenge, said Helen Kerstein of the nonpartisan Legislative Analyst’s Office. Without the basic information on the types of contracts the administration is entering into, Kerstein told lawmakers Monday it is difficult for the Legislature to perform its basic oversight function.
A Times analysis of California procurement data found that the state has so far committed to spending more than $3.7 billion on no-bid contracts under Newsom’s March 4 statewide coronavirus emergency order. One-third of those funds — about $1.2 billion — were earmarked for suppliers of goods and services that do not appear in the state’s database of contracts prior to the COVID-19 outbreak.
Ghilarducci said that as of Saturday, the state has ordered 326 million N95 masks, 30 million KN95 masks, 307 million other types of masks and 41 million face shields.
In the case of the large order from Blue Flame, Ghilarducci said the company had undergone normal state vetting. He said the company’s owner, whom he did not name, told state officials vetting the deal that 100 million N95 masks sitting at the Port of Los Angeles could be bought for $4.76 apiece.
“At the time, that was one of the lowest we had seen to date,” Ghilarducci said.
He said after a series of vetting protocols, such as confirming that product specifications met state requirements and confirming the owner’s claims of California residency with a business in good standing, the state decided to move forward with the deal.
“We wired money ... it appeared to be legitimate,” Ghilarducci said.
Hours after the money was sent, the bank involved raised concerns to the State Treasurer’s Office and the California Department of General Services that the account involved was newly opened. Ghilarducci said the money was then sent back and the deal is under investigation.
The company was founded by John Thomas and Mike Gula in late March. Previous efforts to reach Thomas and Gula have been unsuccessful.
Ghilarducci said the widespread fraud the state encountered in trying buy protective equipment prompted the Newsom administration to work more closely with federal authorities, including the FBI, when vetting thousands of offers that have come into the state.
Lawmakers on Monday were not heavily critical of the state’s vetting process, saying they understood California was desperately trying to secure life-saving supplies.
“There will always be critics who condemn the state for acting too quickly or not quickly enough,” said Assemblyman Adam Gray (D-Merced). “Without PPE, people die. And so, speaking for myself, I land firmly on the side of acting quickly during a crisis and accepting a certain amount of risk as a result.”


latimes--2020-05-11--O.C. sheriff's deputies kill man swinging a hammer in Laguna Niguel

Orange County sheriff ’ s deputies responding to reports of a disturbance Monday shot and killed a man swinging a @ @ @ @ @ , authorities said .
Deputies responding around midday found a shattered glass door at Coral @ @ @ @ @ Laguna Niguel , according to the Orange County Sheriff ’ s Department .
“ Shortly @ @ @ @ @ encountered a male subject who is believed to have been armed with a hammer .
@ @ @ @ @ officer-involved shooting took place , ” said sheriff ’ s Lt. Matt McDaniel .
Witnesses @ @ @ @ @ they heard deputies yelling at the man to put the hammer down .
Then they @ @ @ @ @ shots .
The man , said to be in his 30s , died at the @ @ @ @ @ .
His name was not released .
The initial disturbance was between a man and @ @ @ @ @ .

Orange County sheriff’s deputies responding to reports of a disturbance Monday shot and killed a man swinging a hammer at an apartment complex, authorities said.
Deputies responding around midday found a shattered glass door at Coral Sea at the Seaside in Laguna Niguel, according to the Orange County Sheriff’s Department.
“Shortly after they arrived, they encountered a male subject who is believed to have been armed with a hammer. That’s when the officer-involved shooting took place,” said sheriff’s Lt. Matt McDaniel.
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Witnesses told KCBS-TV Channel 2 that they heard deputies yelling at the man to put the hammer down. Then they heard between three and five shots.
The man, said to be in his 30s, died at the scene, according to McDaniel. His name was not released.
The initial disturbance was between a man and a woman, KCBS reported.


latimes--2020-05-11--Despite partial reopening of beaches, Huntington Beach presses for injunction on state order

Huntington Beach is pressing ahead for an injunction against Gov .
Gavin Newsom ’ s decision last month to close the city ’ s beaches .
After the governor ordered Orange County beaches closed , citing crowds who appeared to violate social distancing requirements , Huntington Beach , Dana Point and Seal Beach reached an agreement last week with state authorities to reopen their coastline to active recreation .
Under the agreement , people can walk , jog , surf and swim at the beaches but can not sunbathe or linger on the sand .
Michael Gates , the city @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an arrangement is untenable , discriminating against people whose disabilities don ’ t allow them to remain mobile and “ mothers who want to sit with their small children in the sand.
” Moreover , Gates said in an interview Monday , the issue at the heart of the city ’ s lawsuit is one of executive overreach .
Rather than working with local governments , Newsom has simply ordered them around , he said , like when he announced in a televised briefing he was closing Orange County ’ s beaches — @ @ @ @ @ @ @ guard .
In an emergency session held that night , the Huntington Beach City Council voted to seek an injunction against the order .
“ It ’ s governor control , governor control , governor control , ” he said .
“ That ’ s simply not supposed to happen in our constitutional government .
The governor can ’ t step on the toes of our local officials.
” In court papers filed last week , Jennifer Rosenberg , a deputy attorney general who represents the state government in the lawsuit , said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ state through “ an unprecedented , once-in-a-century public health crisis that has brought normal life to a halt.
” Orange County Superior Court Judge Nathan R. Scott heard arguments Monday afternoon and is expected to issue a written ruling by the end of the week , Gates said .
Scott declined to issue an injunction the day after Newsom ’ s order .
A point of pride for Huntington Beach at any time , in those as stressful as these , Gates said , the coastline should be fully open to city residents @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for most of them , the beach is an escape , ” he said .

Some beachgoers actively use the beach while others relax, despite Gov. Newsom’s active-use-only order at Huntington Beach.
Huntington Beach is pressing ahead for an injunction against Gov. Gavin Newsom’s decision last month to close the city’s beaches.
After the governor ordered Orange County beaches closed, citing crowds who appeared to violate social distancing requirements, Huntington Beach, Dana Point and Seal Beach reached an agreement last week with state authorities to reopen their coastline to active recreation. Under the agreement, people can walk, jog, surf and swim at the beaches but cannot sunbathe or linger on the sand.
Michael Gates, the city attorney for Huntington Beach, argues such an arrangement is untenable, discriminating against people whose disabilities don’t allow them to remain mobile and “mothers who want to sit with their small children in the sand.”
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Moreover, Gates said in an interview Monday, the issue at the heart of the city’s lawsuit is one of executive overreach.
Rather than working with local governments, Newsom has simply ordered them around, he said, like when he announced in a televised briefing he was closing Orange County’s beaches — a directive that caught municipal authorities off guard. In an emergency session held that night, the Huntington Beach City Council voted to seek an injunction against the order.
“It’s governor control, governor control, governor control,” he said. “That’s simply not supposed to happen in our constitutional government. The governor can’t step on the toes of our local officials.”
In court papers filed last week, Jennifer Rosenberg, a deputy attorney general who represents the state government in the lawsuit, said Newsom has broad authority to steer the state through “an unprecedented, once-in-a-century public health crisis that has brought normal life to a halt.”
Orange County Superior Court Judge Nathan R. Scott heard arguments Monday afternoon and is expected to issue a written ruling by the end of the week, Gates said. Scott declined to issue an injunction the day after Newsom’s order.
A point of pride for Huntington Beach at any time, in those as stressful as these, Gates said, the coastline should be fully open to city residents. “For many of them, for most of them, the beach is an escape,” he said.
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Times Community News staff writer Hillary Davis contributed to this report.


latimes--2020-05-11--YouTube star Corey La Barrie dies after L.A. car crash on his 25th birthday; suspect arrested

Corey La Barrie died Sunday after a car crash in Los Angeles .
It was the YouTube star ’ s 25th birthday .
His brother , Jarrad La Barrie , shared the news in an Instagram tribute Monday , describing it as “ the hardest thing I ’ ve ever had to do.
” “ This isn ’ t something I thought I would ever have to sit here and type out for a very long time ... but everyone deserves to know , my brother Corey passed away last night in a car accident with his drunk friend driving @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Daniel Joseph Silva , a celebrity tattoo artist , was arrested Monday evening on suspicion of murder .
The Los Angeles Police Department said Silva was driving fast in a 2020 McLaren 600LT about 9:40 p.m. Sunday when he lost control , ran off the road and hit a stop sign and a tree at the corner of Huston Street and Carpenter Avenue in Valley Village .
Silva ’ s passenger , whom police have identified only as a 25-year-old man , died at a hospital .
An LAPD spokesman said Monday that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ victim because his next of kin had yet to be notified .
Silva tried to flee the crash but was stopped by people who came to help , the LAPD said .
Corey La Barrie had most recently turned to posting videos about what he and his roommates , also influencers , were up to as they stayed home because of the coronavirus crisis .
His birthday celebrations Sunday included a livestream on his Twitch channel .
He had shared his plans with YouTube followers in a video posted Saturday titled “ Deleting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Fans have started sharing tributes in the comment section of what has now become La Barrie ’ s final YouTube video .

Corey La Barrie died Sunday after a car crash in Los Angeles. It was the YouTube star’s 25th birthday.
His brother, Jarrad La Barrie, shared the news in an Instagram tribute Monday, describing it as “the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do.”
“This isn’t something I thought I would ever have to sit here and type out for a very long time ... but everyone deserves to know, my brother Corey passed away last night in a car accident with his drunk friend driving,” Jarrad La Barrie wrote.
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Daniel Joseph Silva, a celebrity tattoo artist, was arrested Monday evening on suspicion of murder.
The Los Angeles Police Department said Silva was driving fast in a 2020 McLaren 600LT about 9:40 p.m. Sunday when he lost control, ran off the road and hit a stop sign and a tree at the corner of Huston Street and Carpenter Avenue in Valley Village.
Silva’s passenger, whom police have identified only as a 25-year-old man, died at a hospital. An LAPD spokesman said Monday that the department wasn’t naming the victim because his next of kin had yet to be notified. Silva tried to flee the crash but was stopped by people who came to help, the LAPD said.
Corey La Barrie had most recently turned to posting videos about what he and his roommates, also influencers, were up to as they stayed home because of the coronavirus crisis.
His birthday celebrations Sunday included a livestream on his Twitch channel. He had shared his plans with YouTube followers in a video posted Saturday titled “Deleting This Video In 24 Hours....”
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Fans have started sharing tributes in the comment section of what has now become La Barrie’s final YouTube video.


latimes--2020-05-11--Avoid weekend trips and summer vacations for now, California health officials say

As Americans start planning summer vacations , health officials in California urged the public to not take leisure trips , including weekend trips , in the middle of the coronavirus crisis .
“ We are , in fact , asking people in our health officer order to avoid nonessential travel and we would ask that our neighbors across the state and across the country do the same , ” said Barbara Ferrer , director of public health for Los Angeles County .
“ There ’ s probably very few places in the world right now that would like to see @ @ @ @ @ @ @ no mandatory 14-day mandatory quarantine for visitors coming to California , as is the case in Hawaii , which is punishable by a $ 5,000 fine and a year in imprisonment .
But Ferrer requested that people coming to L.A. County “ do self-quarantine when you come in [ and ] you do keep yourself away from other people … for that 14-day period.
” The San Francisco director of public health , Dr. Grant Colfax , echoed his L.A. County counterpart .
“ It ’ s best for people to limit their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not the time to go on a trip for recreation or vacation , even to visit family and friends , ” Colfax said .
Last week , Treasury Secretary Steven T. Mnuchin offered a different message in an interview on Fox Business Network , where he said President Trump was looking at ways to stimulate travel .
“ We want people to travel safely , to be able to visit places safely , ” Mnuchin said .
“ This is a great time for people to explore America .
A lot of people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ America.
” The suggestions come as officials are slowing trying to ease stay-at-home rules .
Gov .
Gavin Newsom said Monday that while there are signs of progress , such as a modest decrease in patients in intensive care , the number of coronavirus cases and deaths remains an obstacle .
“ We ’ re still seeing lives lost from this pandemic , ” he said .
“ It is absolutely incumbent on all of us to be thoughtful and judicious as we move into this next phase.
” California over the last @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to reopen for curbside service , and local governments have allowed many beaches and trails to reopen with social distancing .
Los Angeles County beaches , which have been closed since late March , will reopen Wednesday with some new rules .
Surfing , swimming , running and walking will be allowed .
Biking , playing volleyball , sitting , sunbathing and picnicking will be banned .
Coolers and canopies are not allowed .
Parking lots , bike paths , piers and boardwalks will remain closed .
Everyone will be required to wear @ @ @ @ @ @ @ away from others , officials said .
Crowds did not storm newly reopened businesses , trailheads and parks , Ferrer said .
Of 410 reopened businesses surveyed , 162 were found to be in violation , and some were instructed to close .

Rong-Gong Lin II, Colleen Shalby, Maura Dolan

One day after Newport Beach opened up its beaches to recreational activities, dozens of surfers took to the water at the Newport Pier in Newport Beach on May 7.
As Americans start planning summer vacations, health officials in California urged the public to not take leisure trips, including weekend trips, in the middle of the coronavirus crisis.
“We are, in fact, asking people in our health officer order to avoid nonessential travel and we would ask that our neighbors across the state and across the country do the same,” said Barbara Ferrer, director of public health for Los Angeles County. “There’s probably very few places in the world right now that would like to see travel into their communities.”
There is no mandatory 14-day mandatory quarantine for visitors coming to California, as is the case in Hawaii, which is punishable by a $5,000 fine and a year in imprisonment.
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But Ferrer requested that people coming to L.A. County “do self-quarantine when you come in [and] you do keep yourself away from other people … for that 14-day period.”
The San Francisco director of public health, Dr. Grant Colfax, echoed his L.A. County counterpart.
“It’s best for people to limit their travel to essential travel. This is not the time to go on a trip for recreation or vacation, even to visit family and friends,” Colfax said.
Tracking the coronavirus in California The latest maps and charts on the spread of COVID-19 in California.
Last week, Treasury Secretary Steven T. Mnuchin offered a different message in an interview on Fox Business Network, where he said President Trump was looking at ways to stimulate travel.
“We want people to travel safely, to be able to visit places safely,” Mnuchin said. “This is a great time for people to explore America. A lot of people haven’t seen many parts of America.”
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The suggestions come as officials are slowing trying to ease stay-at-home rules.
Gov. Gavin Newsom said Monday that while there are signs of progress, such as a modest decrease in patients in intensive care, the number of coronavirus cases and deaths remains an obstacle.
“We’re still seeing lives lost from this pandemic,” he said. “It is absolutely incumbent on all of us to be thoughtful and judicious as we move into this next phase.”
California over the last few days has allowed some retail businesses to reopen for curbside service, and local governments have allowed many beaches and trails to reopen with social distancing.
Los Angeles County beaches, which have been closed since late March, will reopen Wednesday with some new rules.
Surfing, swimming, running and walking will be allowed. Biking, playing volleyball, sitting, sunbathing and picnicking will be banned. Coolers and canopies are not allowed. Parking lots, bike paths, piers and boardwalks will remain closed.
Everyone will be required to wear masks and stay at least six feet away from others, officials said.
Crowds did not storm newly reopened businesses, trailheads and parks, Ferrer said. Of 410 reopened businesses surveyed, 162 were found to be in violation, and some were instructed to close.


latimes--2020-05-12--Silicon Valley has no plans now to weaken coronavirus stay-at-home order

Silicon Valley ’ s health officer has no immediate plans to weaken its strict stay-at-home order in accordance with Gov .
Gavin Newsom ’ s relaxation of the statewide mandate , saying she couldn ’ t take that step without increasing the risk to public safety .
The San Francisco Bay Area ’ s most populous county , Santa Clara County , was California ’ s original epicenter of the coronavirus pandemic .
And while levels of disease haven ’ t surged to catastrophic levels , they ’ ve remained steady , and even a small increase in disease transmission @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , said Dr. Sara Cody , a key architect of the nation ’ s first regional shelter-in-place order .
“ We ’ re not there yet , ” Cody told the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors Tuesday .
Cody said many people ask why Santa Clara County can ’ t start to weaken the stay-at-home order , taking actions Newsom has allowed , such as allow some retail businesses to open only for curbside pickup , which Los Angeles County implemented on Friday .
But Cody described Santa Clara County as being @ @ @ @ @ @ @ — neither seeming to grow dramatically or reduce considerably .
For every one person infected , that person on average infects one other person .
If that number , known as the basic reproduction number , rose slightly to 1.1 or 1.2 , that would cause a significant rise in deaths , Cody said .
Cody said she wanted to get that reproduction number to fall below 1 before easing stay-at-home orders .
“ The conditions really haven ’ t changed in our county .
... We don ’ t suddenly have a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ conditions we had in March , ” Cody said .
“ If we did ease up , we would see a brisk return of cases , of hospitalizations , and a brisk return of deaths , to be quite blunt.
” Cody said she wants to reopen society for many reasons , “ but we need to do so in a safe manner .
So our goal , again , is to go slow , to make sure that it ’ s safe.
” The health officer pushed back against the idea that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and the economy .
“ Trying to choose between health and the economy is really a false choice .
Because unless we make our community safer , and reassure everyone that it really is safe , and they and their family members and customers are not at risk , I don ’ t think that we ’ re going to see the [ economic ] results that we like , ” Cody said .
She also warned that the pandemic is disproportionately sickening and causing deaths among communities of color , particularly among @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The only tool that we have at this moment , to protect vulnerable communities , is to bring down community transmission across the board , ” she said .
Cody ’ s comments come as California appears to be taking divergent paths in reopening .
Newsom on Tuesday said he would allow restaurants to reopen for dine-in service , as well as other limited types of businesses , like pet groomers and shopping centers for curbside pickup , in counties certified as meeting state benchmarks for addressing the pandemic .
Butte and El @ @ @ @ @ @ @ first two of California ’ s 58 counties to have met the state ’ s conditions for additional businesses to reopen .
Newsom expressed support for stricter measures pursued in large counties with a bigger coronavirus problem .
For instance , Los Angeles County ’ s stay-at-home orders will “ with all certainty ” be extended for the next three months , the county ’ s director of public health , Barbara Ferrer , said Tuesday .
“ The worst mistake we can make is to just throw those face coverings off and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ away or taking the summer off or it ’ s on a deep sabbatical or vacation , ” Newsom said .
“ It ’ s not .
It ’ s still virulent .
It ’ s still deeply , deeply deadly.
” Newsom said efforts at reopening society will become meaningless if the disease rapidly spreads and the public feels going out to eat and shop is life threatening .
“ None of this means anything if customers don ’ t feel safe .
And none of this matters ... if employees don @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t want to come back to work , ” Newsom said .
The San Francisco Bay Area has retained the state ’ s strictest stay-at-home orders , declining to relax the order as much as the governor has allowed .
San Francisco is considering on Monday allowing some retail businesses , selling items like books , flowers , music , art supplies , toys and sewing equipment to open for curbside pickup .
Times staff writers Patrick McGreevy and Colleen Shalby contributed to this report .

Silicon Valley’s health officer has no immediate plans to ease its strict stay-at-home order in accordance with Gov. Gavin Newsom’s relaxation of the statewide mandate, saying she couldn’t take that step without increasing the risk to public safety.
The San Francisco Bay Area’s most populous county, Santa Clara County, was California’s original hotbed of the COVID-19 pandemic. And although levels of disease haven’t surged to catastrophic levels, they’ve remained steady, and even a small increase in disease transmission would heighten the risk to vulnerable communities, said Dr. Sara Cody, a key architect of the nation’s first regional shelter-in-place order.
“We’re not there yet,” Cody told the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors Tuesday.
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Cody said many people were asking why Santa Clara County couldn’t start to ease the stay-at-home order, taking actions Newsom has allowed, such as letting some retail businesses open for curbside pickup, which Los Angeles County implemented on Friday.
But Cody described Santa Clara County as precariously balanced. The outbreak is steady — neither seeming to grow dramatically or reduce considerably. For every one person infected, that person on average infects one other person. If that number, known as the basic reproduction number, rose slightly to 1.1 or 1.2, that would cause a significant rise in deaths, Cody said.
Cody said she wanted to get that reproduction number below 1 before easing stay-at-home orders.
“The conditions really haven’t changed in our county. ... We don’t suddenly have a vaccine. We have exactly the same conditions we had in March,” Cody said. “If we did ease up, we would see a brisk return of cases, of hospitalizations, and a brisk return of deaths, to be quite blunt.”
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Cody said she wanted to reopen society for many reasons, “but we need to do so in a safe manner. So our goal, again, is to go slow, to make sure that it’s safe.”
The health officer pushed back against the idea that government officials must choose between public health and the economy.
“Trying to choose between health and the economy is really a false choice. Because unless we make our community safer, and reassure everyone that it really is safe, and they and their family members and customers are not at risk, I don’t think that we’re going to see the [economic] results that we’d like,” Cody said.
She also warned that the pandemic was disproportionately sickening and causing deaths among communities of color, particularly among Latinos in Santa Clara County. “The only tool that we have at this moment to protect vulnerable communities,” she said, “is to bring down community transmission across the board.”
Cody’s comments come as California appears to be taking divergent paths in reopening.
Newsom on Tuesday said he would allow restaurants to reopen for dine-in service, as well as other limited types of businesses, such as pet groomers, and shopping centers for curbside pickup, in counties certified as meeting state benchmarks for addressing the pandemic. Butte and El Dorado counties in Northern California are the first two of California’s 58 counties to have met the state’s conditions for additional businesses to reopen.
Newsom expressed support for stricter measures pursued in large counties with a bigger coronavirus problem. For instance, Los Angeles County’s stay-at-home orders will “with all certainty” be extended for the next three months, the county’s director of public health, Barbara Ferrer, said Tuesday.
“The worst mistake we can make is to just throw those face coverings off and disabuse ourselves that this virus has gone away or [is] taking the summer off, or it’s on a deep sabbatical or vacation,” Newsom said. “It’s not. It’s still virulent. It’s still deeply, deeply deadly.”
Newsom said efforts at reopening society would become meaningless if the disease rapidly spread and the public felt going out to eat and shop was life threatening. “None of this means anything if customers don’t feel safe,” Newsom said. “And none of this matters ... if employees don’t feel safe and don’t want to come back to work.”
The San Francisco Bay Area has retained the state’s strictest stay-at-home orders, declining to relax the order as much as the governor has allowed. San Francisco is considering on Monday allowing some retail businesses, selling items such as books, flowers, music, art supplies, toys and sewing equipment, to open for curbside pickup.
Times staff writers Patrick McGreevy and Colleen Shalby contributed to this report.


latimes--2020-05-12--Orange County will unveil proposed coronavirus 'reopening' guidelines this week

Orange County is just days away from unveiling a possible road map for lifting some coronavirus-related restrictions , a top health official said Tuesday .
Clayton Chau , director of the Orange County Health Care Agency , told the Board of Supervisors that he would on Thursday “ submit to you a comprehensive plan on reopening and how to do that.
” Those guidelines , which Chau did not detail , would be presented to the board “ so you can make your decision ” as to whether to adopt them , he added .
Chau ’ s pledge comes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ residents who turned out to lobby them Tuesday , are itching to relax restrictions that were imposed in response to the COVID-19 outbreak and to reopen businesses and public spaces .
Given the economic havoc wreaked by such regulations — particularly California ’ s stay-at-home order — critics say it ’ s vital to loosen the rules and get the economy moving again .
That ’ s especially true , some say , given how the coronavirus situation has unfolded in Orange County .
“ I think it ’ s time to open @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Chairwoman Michelle Steel .
“ Maybe it ’ s too late .
It ’ s going to be very tough to catch up.
” As of Tuesday , the county has confirmed 3,602 COVID-19 cases and 77 deaths .
When adjusted per 100,000 residents , the county ’ s documented infection rate is notably lower than that of neighboring urban counties , according to the Times ’ coronavirus tracker .
Orange County ’ s observed mortality rate associated with COVID-19 , roughly 2.1 % , also is well below the statewide rate of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ want to get back to work .
Businesses want to open up again , ” said Supervisor Lisa Bartlett .
“ And we need to have a plan that ’ s driven by public health and safety protocols so that our public feels safe.
” That ’ s not to say the county is “ going to just continue moving forward and have a huge spike of COVID-19 , ” she said .
“ We ’ re going to act responsibly.
” Supervisors also unanimously signed off sending a proposed letter that — @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Riverside and San Diego counties agree — would request a joint meeting with the governor “ to identify strategies for achieving a safe , reasonable and sustainable reopening of our economy in coordination with the state.
” “ I think there is strength in numbers , and I hope the governor will listen to this clarion call … which is , ‘ Do the right thing , move ahead cautiously but open up the economy , ’ ” said Supervisor Andrew Do .
“ Don ’ t wait until the time when people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you ’ ll have full-scale insurrection.
” While Newsom has outlined criteria counties must meet if they want to reopen faster than the state , Orange County officials said some of those thresholds are onerous , if not unreachable , for more urban areas .
A Times data analysis last week found that 95 % of Californians live in counties that don ’ t meet just two criteria : the cessation of COVID-19 deaths in the previous 14 days , and no more than one case per 10,000 residents in that same time @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and rural reaches of the state , Orange County officials said , it makes sense to craft criteria that are regionally specific .
“ We are doing this because , even though the governor has said one size doesn ’ t fit all , he is very much imposing a one-size-fits-all response , ” said Supervisor Don Wagner .

Seal Beach has reopened its shores to active use during daylight hours Monday through Thursday.
Orange County is just days away from unveiling a possible road map for lifting some coronavirus-related restrictions, a top health official said this week.
Clayton Chau, director of the Orange County Health Care Agency, told the Board of Supervisors on Tuesday that he would “submit to you a comprehensive plan on reopening and how to do that” on Thursday.
Those guidelines, which Chau did not detail, would be presented to the board “so you can make your decision” as to whether to adopt them, he added.
Chau’s pledge comes as county supervisors, and dozens of residents who turned out to lobby them, are itching to relax restrictions that were imposed in response to the COVID-19 outbreak and to reopen businesses and public spaces.
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Given the economic havoc wreaked by such regulations — particularly California’s stay-at-home order — critics say it’s vital to loosen the rules and get the economy moving again. That’s especially true, some say, given how the coronavirus situation has unfolded in Orange County.
“I think it’s time to open up,” said Board of Supervisors Chairwoman Michelle Steel. “Maybe it’s too late. It’s going to be very tough to catch up.”
As of Wednesday, the county has confirmed 3,749 COVID-19 cases and 80 deaths. Officials also reported a new high for coronavirus hospitalizations, saying there are 248 COVID-19 patients in hospitals in the county.
Of those who have tested positive for the virus, 400 were in skilled nursing homes and 322 are Orange County jail inmates, according to county data .
When adjusted per 100,000 residents, the county’s documented infection rate is notably lower than that of neighboring urban counties, according to The Times’ coronavirus tracker.
Orange County’s observed mortality rate associated with COVID-19, roughly 2.1%, also is well below the statewide rate of about 4%.
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“People really want to get back to work. Businesses want to open up again,” said Supervisor Lisa Bartlett. “And we need to have a plan that’s driven by public health and safety protocols so that our public feels safe.”
That’s not to say the county is “going to just continue moving forward and have a huge spike of COVID-19,” she said. “We’re going to act responsibly.”
Tracking coronavirus in Orange County The latest maps and charts on the spread of COVID-19 in Orange County, including cases, deaths, closures and restrictions.
Supervisors also unanimously signed off sending a proposed letter that — should their counterparts in San Bernardino, Riverside and San Diego counties agree — would request a joint meeting with the governor “to identify strategies for achieving a safe, reasonable and sustainable reopening of our economy in coordination with the state.”
“I think there is strength in numbers, and I hope the governor will listen to this clarion call … which is, ‘Do the right thing, move ahead cautiously but open up the economy,’” said Supervisor Andrew Do. “Don’t wait until the time when people are so desperate and so angry that you’ll have full-scale insurrection.”
While Newsom has outlined criteria counties must meet if they want to reopen faster than the state, Orange County officials said some of those thresholds are onerous, if not unreachable, for more urban areas.
A Times data analysis last week found that 95% of Californians live in counties that don’t meet just two criteria: the cessation of COVID-19 deaths in the previous 14 days, and no more than one case per 10,000 residents in that same time period.
Given the differences between urban and rural reaches of the state, Orange County officials said, it makes sense to craft criteria that are regionally specific.
“We are doing this because, even though the governor has said one size doesn’t fit all, he is very much imposing a one-size-fits-all response,” said Supervisor Don Wagner.
Times staff writer Priscella Vega contributed to this report.


latimes--2020-05-12--LAPD shootings hit 30-year low in 2019; less-lethal force has increased

Shootings by Los Angeles police officers reached a 30-year low in 2019 , with fatal shootings declining for the fourth year in a row , according to a new report on police use of force .
Los Angeles Police Department officers opened fire on 26 suspects last year , compared with 115 in 1990 .
Of those last year , 21 people were struck and 12 killed , continuing a downward trend in deaths since 21 were fatally shot in 2015 .
The number of incidents in which suspects were injured dropped by 4 % from the year before , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ members of the public and police dogs was at the lowest point in five years .
At the same time , the number of incidents in which officers used less-lethal force , such as strikes and “ takedowns , ” reached a five-year high , with 2,320 such encounters occurring last year .
Incidents in which batons were used increased by 38 % .
Overall , use of force was up 8.5 % compared to 2018 , even as officer shootings were down 21.1 % .
Officials attributed the decline in shootings to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ life and require officers to use de-escalation tactics whenever possible .
Crime also has declined in the city , with arrests down 11.3 % and overall officer contacts with members of the public down 4 % .
Officials said the increase in less-lethal force was in part a result of those same de-escalation tactics , and partly a result of increased monitoring of officers ’ actions .
In comments to the Los Angeles Police Commission on Tuesday , Asst .
Chief Beatrice Girmala touted the decline in shootings while giving a brief overview @ @ @ @ @ @ @ She said a more thorough analysis of the findings would be provided to the commission next week .
Commissioners said they would hold most of their questions until then , after having time to review the report , which is hundreds of pages long .
Girmala told the commission that one concerning finding was an increase in force used against people experiencing homelessness .
More than a third of those who had non-lethal police force used against them in 2019 were homeless , while five of the 21 people police shot last year @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in mental health intervention and de-escalation will be critical if the department is to see continued declines in the use of force .
Moving forward , a working group that includes community members will help shape that training , she said .
In the report itself , LAPD Chief Michel Moore said officers are getting better at finding alternatives to pulling their firearms out in challenging and dangerous settings .
“ The LAPD continues to make significant improvements in the effectiveness of less-lethal options for officers , mental health intervention training , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the distance and cover available during dynamic situations , ” Moore wrote .
Moore told the commission Tuesday that the department will continue seeking ways to reduce the use of force .
“ We ’ re going to keep going after this , ” he said .
After two commissioners and several members of the public raised concerns that the majority of individuals shot or shot at by police were people of color , Moore agreed the department should continue to look for systemic inequities and improve policing methods .
Of 26 suspects @ @ @ @ @ @ @ opened fire last year , 15 , or 58 % , were Latino .
Another eight , or 31 % , were black , and two , or 8 % , were white .
Of all suspects involved in officer shootings , 17 had a firearm and five had an edged weapon , the report found .
In 2018 , LAPD officers fired their weapons 33 times , hitting a total of 24 people and killing 14 , according to a similar analysis last year .
The 33 shootings marked a 25 % @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , according to the previous report , and the second-fewest number of police shootings since 1989 .
Of the 44 shootings in 2017 , 31 people were hit and 17 of them were killed .
That represented a decrease from 19 killed in 2016 and 21 in 2015 , police have said .
But the total of 44 shootings in 2017 was an increase from the 40 overall shootings in 2016 , and the use of less-lethal force by officers was up 10 % from 2016 to 2017 .
The declines in deadly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Commission , the civilian panel that oversees the Police Department , requiring officers to de-escalate situations whenever possible .
Whether the declines will continue this year is unclear .
During last week ’ s commission meeting , Moore said that LAPD shootings were up overall , with nine this year compared to seven during the same period last year .
However , that was still down from the four-year average of 12 for that time frame .
Three of the shootings this year were fatal , compared to four at the same point @ @ @ @ @ @ @ police shootings and other uses of force in Los Angeles in recent years reflects a broader scrutiny of police actions nationwide as the deaths of young men of color , and particularly young black men , during police encounters have galvanized protesters in new ways .
In a city that has seen the most police shootings in the U.S. in years past , there is a heightened sensitivity to criticisms of aggressive policing tactics , and that has not abated as the number of people killed each year by police has declined .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ death , they draw intense criticism , such as with an officer ’ s beating of a homeless man in Boyle Heights in late April that was captured on camera by a bystander and is now under investigation .
In addition to releasing the use-of-force report Tuesday , police released body camera footage from that encounter .
Other reports on use of force also have been made public .
In July , the state attorney general issued a report showing that 146 civilians died during law enforcement confrontations in California in 2018 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in 2017 and 157 in 2016 .
Three officers died in confrontations in 2018 .
In January , the LAPD released a separate report finding that police in recent months had been using more force against people experiencing homelessness .
In the third quarter of 2019 , for example , police used force against homeless people 217 times , a 26 % increase over the same period in 2018 , the report found .
Cmdr .
Donald Graham , LAPD ’ s homeless coordinator , pointed to increases in the city ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and against homeless people .
Police noted that the 26 incidents in which officers fired their weapons at suspects in 2019 accounted for 0.001 % of all police interactions with the public last year .
The 26 shootings by the LAPD in 2019 matched the number of shootings by Los Angeles County Sheriff ’ s Department deputies last year .
By comparison , there were 17 shootings by Chicago police , 25 shootings by New York City police and 20 shootings by Houston police last year , the LAPD report found .
There @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2019 , representing a small decline from 2018 , the report found .

Officials attributed the decline in L.A. police shootings to new policies that emphasize the preservation of life and require officers to use de-escalation tactics whenever possible.
Shootings by Los Angeles police officers reached a 30-year low in 2019, with fatal shootings declining for the fourth year in a row, according to a new report on police use of force.
Los Angeles Police Department officers opened fire on 26 suspects last year, compared with 115 in 1990.
Of those last year, 21 people were struck and 12 killed, continuing a downward trend in deaths since 21 were fatally shot in 2015.
The number of incidents in which suspects were injured dropped by 4% from the year before, the report found, and contact between members of the public and police dogs was at the lowest point in five years.
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At the same time, the number of incidents in which officers used less-lethal force, such as strikes and “takedowns,” reached a five-year high, with 2,320 such encounters occurring last year. Incidents in which batons were used increased by 38%.
Overall, use of force was up 8.5% compared to 2018, even as officer shootings were down 21.1%.
Officials attributed the decline in shootings to new policies that emphasize the preservation of life and require officers to use de-escalation tactics whenever possible. Crime also has declined in the city, with arrests down 11.3% and overall officer contacts with members of the public down 4%.
Officials said the increase in less-lethal force was in part a result of those same de-escalation tactics, and partly a result of increased monitoring of officers’ actions.
In comments to the Los Angeles Police Commission on Tuesday, Asst. Chief Beatrice Girmala touted the decline in shootings while giving a brief overview of the report’s findings. She said a more thorough analysis of the findings would be provided to the commission next week.
Commissioners said they would hold most of their questions until then, after having time to review the report, which is hundreds of pages long.
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Girmala told the commission that one concerning finding was an increase in force used against people experiencing homelessness. More than a third of those who had non-lethal police force used against them in 2019 were homeless, while five of the 21 people police shot last year were homeless.
Girmala said ongoing training in mental health intervention and de-escalation will be critical if the department is to see continued declines in the use of force. Moving forward, a working group that includes community members will help shape that training, she said.
In the report itself, LAPD Chief Michel Moore said officers are getting better at finding alternatives to pulling their firearms out in challenging and dangerous settings.
“The LAPD continues to make significant improvements in the effectiveness of less-lethal options for officers, mental health intervention training, and the development of non-lethal tools that increase the distance and cover available during dynamic situations,” Moore wrote.
Moore told the commission Tuesday that the department will continue seeking ways to reduce the use of force. “We’re going to keep going after this,” he said.
After two commissioners and several members of the public raised concerns that the majority of individuals shot or shot at by police were people of color, Moore agreed the department should continue to look for systemic inequities and improve policing methods.
Of 26 suspects involved in the incidents in which officers opened fire last year, 15, or 58%, were Latino. Another eight, or 31%, were black, and two, or 8%, were white. Of all suspects involved in officer shootings, 17 had a firearm and five had an edged weapon, the report found.
In 2018, LAPD officers fired their weapons 33 times, hitting a total of 24 people and killing 14, according to a similar analysis last year. The 33 shootings marked a 25% decrease from the 44 shootings in 2017, according to the previous report, and the second-fewest number of police shootings since 1989.
Of the 44 shootings in 2017, 31 people were hit and 17 of them were killed. That represented a decrease from 19 killed in 2016 and 21 in 2015, police have said. But the total of 44 shootings in 2017 was an increase from the 40 overall shootings in 2016, and the use of less-lethal force by officers was up 10% from 2016 to 2017.
The declines in deadly encounters follows policy changes by the Police Commission, the civilian panel that oversees the Police Department, requiring officers to de-escalate situations whenever possible.
Whether the declines will continue this year is unclear.
During last week’s commission meeting, Moore said that LAPD shootings were up overall, with nine this year compared to seven during the same period last year. However, that was still down from the four-year average of 12 for that time frame.
Three of the shootings this year were fatal, compared to four at the same point last year.
The careful tracking of police shootings and other uses of force in Los Angeles in recent years reflects a broader scrutiny of police actions nationwide as the deaths of young men of color, and particularly young black men, during police encounters have galvanized protesters in new ways.
In a city that has seen the most police shootings in the U.S. in years past, there is a heightened sensitivity to criticisms of aggressive policing tactics, and that has not abated as the number of people killed each year by police has declined.
Even when encounters do not end in death, they draw intense criticism, such as with an officer’s beating of a homeless man in Boyle Heights in late April that was captured on camera by a bystander and is now under investigation. In addition to releasing the use-of-force report Tuesday, police released body camera footage from that encounter.
Other reports on use of force also have been made public.
In July, the state attorney general issued a report showing that 146 civilians died during law enforcement confrontations in California in 2018, a decline from 172 civilians who died in 2017 and 157 in 2016. Three officers died in confrontations in 2018.
In January, the LAPD released a separate report finding that police in recent months had been using more force against people experiencing homelessness. In the third quarter of 2019, for example, police used force against homeless people 217 times, a 26% increase over the same period in 2018, the report found.
Cmdr. Donald Graham, LAPD’s homeless coordinator, pointed to increases in the city’s homeless population and in crimes committed by and against homeless people.
Police noted that the 26 incidents in which officers fired their weapons at suspects in 2019 accounted for 0.001% of all police interactions with the public last year.
The 26 shootings by the LAPD in 2019 matched the number of shootings by Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department deputies last year. By comparison, there were 17 shootings by Chicago police, 25 shootings by New York City police and 20 shootings by Houston police last year, the LAPD report found.
There were 758 attacks on LAPD officers in 2019, representing a small decline from 2018, the report found.


latimes--2020-05-12--Newsom sets new rules for reopening California restaurants, malls and offices amid coronavirus

California restaurants and shopping malls can soon reopen in counties that meet state standards for testing and success at reducing cases of the coronavirus , but all businesses will have to abide by state guidelines for physical distancing and cleaning regimens , Gov .
Gavin Newsom said Tuesday .
Two months after the governor issued a stay-at-home order that closed most businesses , Newsom said restaurants can reopen for dine-in service in counties certified as meeting state benchmarks for addressing the pandemic , but they should implement changes to guard against spreading the virus .
Shopping centers including strip malls @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reopen with in-store customers in counties certified to have contained COVID-19 , while car washes and pet groomers can also resume operating with safeguards .
The governor also said that Californians who can not work from home will be allowed to work in offices as long as their counties allow it and the offices undergo modifications to prevent the spread of the virus .
“ As we begin these modifications — and we already have reopened 70-plus percent of the economy — as we begin to modify with these dine-in opportunities , let @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cognizant not only of our own health but the health of our most vulnerable and those are our seniors , ” Newsom said .
The governor said allowing additional firms to reopen will not work if businesses are not engaging in safe practices .
“ None of this means anything if customers don ’ t feel safe , ” Newsom said .
Before businesses can reopen , a county must complete a risk assessment and develop protection plans that include training employees in how to limit the spread of the virus , providing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ physical-distancing guidelines .
Newsom said rural Butte and El Dorado counties are the first two of California ’ s 58 counties to have met the state ’ s conditions for additional businesses to reopen .
“ There are some unique characteristics in some counties where they are hitting on all cylinders , ” Newsom said , adding two other counties may be able to reopen more businesses later Tuesday .
Talks are underway with 27 other counties to discuss whether they can expand the reopenings , the governor said , but he noted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Los Angeles and San Francisco counties to modify the guidelines for resuming business .
Jot Condie , president and chief executive of the California Restaurant Assn.
, said , “ Restaurants are getting ready now to open their doors and enthusiastically welcome their guests.
” The new rules affect a restaurant industry with more than 90,000 businesses in California , the vast majority operated by independent proprietors .
The industry employs 1.4 million food service workers , the California Restaurant Assn .
reminded the governor in a recent letter asking for help with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ two months of closure , every restaurant owner in California is reaching a critical phase in their ability to survive , ” Condie added Tuesday .
“ Today ’ s announcement gives us more clarity on what reopening looks like.
” The new guidelines were released against a backdrop of continued concern by health officials about the number of confirmed coronavirus cases in California , which is nearing 70,000 , with more than 2,800 related deaths in the state .
Earlier Tuesday , Dr. Anthony Fauci , the country ’ s top infectious @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reopening too quickly could “ trigger an outbreak that you may not be able to control.
” The phased reopening of California began Friday when clothing stores , sporting goods retailers , bookstores , music stores , toy stores and florists were allowed to provide customers with curbside service , unless blocked by local restrictions .
At the same time , the state permitted manufacturers , suppliers and logistics services that provide goods to the newly opened retailers to resume operations .
The retail businesses are required to draft a plan to protect @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the virus , including a method of screening employees to determine if they are sick .
The state plan would allow in-restaurant dining and other businesses to reopen if county health officials can show that the spread of the coronavirus has stabilized in their part of the state .
Counties must have adequate testing and hospital capacity and the ability to trace those who have been in contact with ill people .
Last week , the Newsom administration warned rural counties that were defying the state ’ s stay-at-home order that they could @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t abide by the state ’ s restrictions .
Yuba , Sutter and Modoc counties all received warning letters after they relaxed restrictions that had closed gyms , restaurants , shopping malls , hair salons and other businesses .
State Sen. Jim Nielsen ( R-Gerber ) said Tuesday the governor was right to allow some rural counties to get back to business .
“ By following county health guidelines , rural regions can safely reopen [ their ] businesses , ” Nielsen said .
“ Local economies need to reopen so workers can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mortgage.
” The tension between local businesses and the governor was raised again Tuesday when the conservative Center for American Liberty announced that it is suing Newsom to force the state to allow beauty salons to reopen immediately .
On Friday , Newsom signaled the coming of more formalized guidelines for restaurants , malls and other business this week .
“ We have a new checklist that goes through issues around hand-washing , sanitation , how to address the needs of customers through pickups , how we can make the pickup and drop-off @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pickups for customers , easier and safer , ” Newsom said Friday .
“ We tried to tailor these guidelines as prescriptive as we can with a frame of flexibility always.
” He said the goal is to encourage businesses to serve customers with innovation .
“ That entrepreneurial spirit we also want to see advanced as we work through this next phase , ” Newsom said then .
“ We want to provide the kind of flexibility that we realize is important.
” To prepare for the next phases of reopening , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ expand in California .
The state has provided more than 1 million diagnostic polymerase chain reaction tests , and is now exceeding the April goal of 25,000 tests a day , providing tests to an average of 40,000 people daily during the last three days .
He said the state is “ making progress ” toward a goal of testing more than 61,000 per day .
“ A million is an important milestone in our efforts , but still not where we need to go , ” Newsom said .
Newsom said the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sites in rural and other underserved areas , as well as planning for roaming tests in those areas , while the state has also given pharmacies authority to begin offering tests .

California restaurants and shopping malls can soon reopen in counties that meet state standards for testing and success at reducing cases of the coronavirus, but all businesses will have to abide by state guidelines for physical distancing and cleaning regimens, Gov. Gavin Newsom said Tuesday.
Two months after the governor issued a stay-at-home order that closed most businesses, Newsom said restaurants can reopen for dine-in service in counties certified as meeting state benchmarks for addressing the pandemic, but they should implement changes to guard against spreading the virus.
Shopping centers including strip malls and outlet malls will be allowed to reopen with in-store customers in counties certified to have contained COVID-19, while car washes and pet groomers can also resume operating with safeguards.
The governor also said that Californians who cannot work from home will be allowed to work in offices as long as their counties allow it and the offices undergo modifications to prevent the spread of the virus.
Advertisement
“As we begin these modifications — and we already have reopened 70-plus percent of the economy — as we begin to modify with these dine-in opportunities, let’s make sure we do so cognizant not only of our own health but the health of our most vulnerable and those are our seniors,” Newsom said.
The governor said allowing additional firms to reopen will not work if businesses are not engaging in safe practices.
“None of this means anything if customers don’t feel safe,” Newsom said.
Before businesses can reopen, a county must complete a risk assessment and develop protection plans that include training employees in how to limit the spread of the virus, providing screenings of employees, disinfectant protocols and physical-distancing guidelines.
The state said Tuesday that seven counties — mostly rural — have been certified to have met the state’s conditions for additional businesses to reopen: Amador, Butte, El Dorado, Lassen, Nevada, Placer and Shasta counties.
“There are some unique characteristics in some counties where they are hitting on all cylinders,” Newsom said, adding that additional counties may be able to reopen more businesses later Tuesday.
Talks are underway with 23 other counties on whether they can expand the reopenings, the governor said, but he noted that conditions are still too serious in Los Angeles and San Francisco counties to modify the guidelines for resuming business.
Jot Condie, president and chief executive of the California Restaurant Assn., said, “Restaurants are getting ready now to open their doors and enthusiastically welcome their guests.”
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The new rules affect a restaurant industry with more than 90,000 businesses in California, the vast majority operated by independent proprietors. The industry employs 1.4 million food service workers, the California Restaurant Assn. reminded the governor in a recent letter asking for help with taxes and evictions.
“After nearly two months of closure, every restaurant owner in California is reaching a critical phase in their ability to survive,” Condie added Tuesday. “Today’s announcement gives us more clarity on what reopening looks like.”
The new guidelines were released against a backdrop of continued concern by health officials about the number of confirmed coronavirus cases in California, which is nearing 70,000, with more than 2,800 related deaths in the state.
Earlier Tuesday, Dr. Anthony Fauci, the country’s top infectious disease expert, warned Congress that states reopening too quickly could “trigger an outbreak that you may not be able to control.”
The phased reopening of California began Friday when clothing stores, sporting goods retailers, bookstores, music stores, toy stores and florists were allowed to provide customers with curbside service, unless blocked by local restrictions.
At the same time, the state permitted manufacturers, suppliers and logistics services that provide goods to the newly opened retailers to resume operations.
The retail businesses are required to draft a plan to protect customers and employees from becoming infected with the virus, including a method of screening employees to determine if they are sick.
The state plan would allow in-restaurant dining and other businesses to reopen if county health officials can show that the spread of the coronavirus has stabilized in their part of the state.
Counties must have adequate testing and hospital capacity and the ability to trace those who have been in contact with ill people.
Last week, the Newsom administration warned rural counties that were defying the state’s stay-at-home order that they could lose disaster funding if they don’t abide by the state’s restrictions.
Yuba, Sutter and Modoc counties all received warning letters after they relaxed restrictions that had closed gyms, restaurants, shopping malls, hair salons and other businesses.
State Sen. Jim Nielsen (R-Gerber) said Tuesday the governor was right to allow some rural counties to get back to business.
“By following county health guidelines, rural regions can safely reopen [their] businesses,” Nielsen said. “Local economies need to reopen so workers can earn money to pay their rent and mortgage.”
The tension between local businesses and the governor was raised again Tuesday when the conservative Center for American Liberty announced that it is suing Newsom to force the state to allow beauty salons to reopen immediately.
On Friday, Newsom signaled the coming of more formalized guidelines for restaurants, malls and other business this week.
“We have a new checklist that goes through issues around hand-washing, sanitation, how to address the needs of customers through pickups, how we can make the pickup and drop-off process for deliveries, as well as pickups for customers, easier and safer,” Newsom said Friday. “We tried to tailor these guidelines as prescriptive as we can with a frame of flexibility always.”
He said the goal is to encourage businesses to serve customers with innovation.
“That entrepreneurial spirit we also want to see advanced as we work through this next phase,” Newsom said then. “We want to provide the kind of flexibility that we realize is important.”
To prepare for the next phases of reopening, Newsom said Tuesday that testing continues to expand in California.
The state has provided more than 1 million diagnostic polymerase chain reaction tests, and is now exceeding the April goal of 25,000 tests a day, providing tests to an average of 40,000 people daily during the last three days. He said the state is “making progress” toward a goal of testing more than 61,000 per day.
“A million is an important milestone in our efforts, but still not where we need to go,” Newsom said.
Newsom said the state is also adding dozens of testing sites in rural and other underserved areas, as well as planning for roaming tests in those areas, while the state has also given pharmacies authority to begin offering tests.
Times staff writer Emily Baumgaertner contributed to this report.


latimes--2020-05-12--She organized California's back-to-work protests, but now she's calling it quits

A group calling itself We Have Rights has recently started organizing large back-to-work protests throughout California , calling on state and local leaders to end social distancing orders aimed at slowing the spread of the novel coronavirus .
The group , which popped up in just the last two weeks , has a professional-looking and a growing presence , which provide details for upcoming events , instructions for dealing with the media and highly produced Instagram videos , as well as T-shirts and other branded merchandise for sale .
It also has had a charismatic leader in 38-year-old Vivienne Nicole @ @ @ @ @ @ @ owns and operates several neuropathy clinics with a chiropractor .
Her involvement appears to be ending , however .
Last week , under scrutiny from the San Diego Union-Tribune , Reign said she was donating the organization to an unidentified nonprofit group .
“ I will let them decide when they would like to announce who they are , ” she said in an email to the newspaper .
Reign , who has been living with her husband in a $ 3-million home in Newport Beach , according to legal documents , is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ clinics , including a civil lawsuit alleging fraud and financial elder abuse .
She and other defendants named in court papers have maintained their innocence , denying claims brought by former clients of medical negligence , financial elder abuse and fraud .
She recently told the Union-Tribune in a phone interview that she created the We Have Rights website after having to lay off members of her staff as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown .
“ I ’ ve had to let go of people that have worked with me for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” she said .
“ I ’ ll find a way to make it through this , but there are people who depend on me , and I feel a great sense of responsibility to provide them a paycheck.
” Reign did not cite political reasons as the driving force behind the campaign , although the rallies have promoted President Trump and conservative talking points .
Reign said the campaign has a wealthy backer but would not identify the person .
“ Yes , we do have people who have contributed and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ contributed , and my husband and I have put money out of our own pocket , ” she said .
The New York Times has that many of the anti-lockdown protests happening throughout the country are being bankrolled by wealthy conservative leaders and groups , including FreedomWorks and Tea Party Patriots .
However , stands out compared with similar efforts in other parts of the country , said Jared Holt , an investigator with the Washington , D.C.-based nonprofit Right Wing Watch .
“ If something like this is happening in other states @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s certainly not as slick and well-produced as it seems to be in California , where this shadowy source of money is coming in with a very branded effort.
” Reign ’ s group urges visitors to its homepage : “ Be part of the biggest movement in California.
” It demands the right to worship at church , earn a living and assemble freely at sporting events , conferences and other gatherings .
“ The elderly , sick , and high risk are encouraged to quarantine while the healthy and the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lives , ” the website states .
A back-to-work rally held in downtown San Diego on May 1 drew hundreds of people , many waving American flags and few wearing face masks .
Some flew “ Trump 2020 '' flags and many wore the iconic red “ MAGA ” hats .
Many protesters cited financial hardship as a reason for attending and criticized Gov .
Gavin Newsom , who has spearheaded the economic shutdown in California .
Other We Have Rights rallies that day across the state reportedly drew even larger crowds , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Capitol steps in Sacramento .
“ Over 40,000 Patriots took a stand against the lockdown to demand Newsom fully open California and restore our rights !
” the group ’ s website said afterward .
That number could not be independently verified .
Among those addressing the crowd in San Diego was Dan Summers , a 70-year-old resident of Ramona who has long been plugged in to conservative politics and activism in the San Diego area .
Summers said he was encouraged to participate in a phone call from a man who identified @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the 18th century revolutionary who helped provide the theoretical underpinnings of the American revolution in his pamphlet “ Common Sense.
” While Summers was pleased with the rally , he said he didn ’ t know much about the man who called him .
“ Paine ” had called from a phone number belonging to Thomas Knight Reign , the name of Vivienne Reign ’ s husband , according to multiple legal and business records .
Thomas Reign , 46 , has an identifying him as a TV producer and director .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ several film-production businesses under the names Red Horizon Films , Xposure Entertainment and the still-operating Agency X .
When the Union-Tribune reached out to Reign , he declined to comment and directed questions to an email address that uses the display name Thomas Paine .
According to court records , Thomas Reign and Vivienne Reign were married in 2011 .
At the time their legal names were Thomas John Wozny and Nicole Melanie Anderson .
Vivienne Reign said her husband changed his last name as part of his writing business , and at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to change both her first and last names .
She described her husband as a surfer and creative artist .
Reign said that before joining We Have Rights , she had never been an activist or even attended a protest .
In 2016 , she donated $ 250 to help Rand Paul ’ s presidential run .
She had said that she intended to focus her efforts for now on reopening the state ’ s economy , but said in her email Friday that she would let others take charge of the organization @ @ @ @ @ @ @ my time working on this , and I feel we made great strides in a short time , ” she wrote .
“ However , as I mentioned , I have many demands on my time with various business investments and wanted to pass this to people who have this as a full time passion and can do the movement justice.
” “ We are happy to have contributed to helping all of the grassroots groups organize and get their message of preserving and protecting our rights out across California , ” she @ @ @ @ @ @ @ group we are handing it over to will do wonderfully at continuing the efforts even better than we did !
” Smith writes for the San Diego Union-Tribune .
Union-Tribune staff researcher Merrie Monteagudo contributed to this report .

Hundreds of protesters gathered in downtown San Diego on May 1 to demand that California reopen.
A group calling itself We Have Rights has recently started organizing large back-to-work protests throughout California, calling on state and local leaders to end social distancing orders aimed at slowing the spread of the novel coronavirus.
The group, which popped up in just the last two weeks, has a professional-looking website and a growing social media presence, which provide details for upcoming events, instructions for dealing with the media and highly produced Instagram videos, as well as T-shirts and other branded merchandise for sale.
It also has had a charismatic leader in 38-year-old Vivienne Nicole Reign, a Newport Beach entrepreneur who owns and operates several neuropathy clinics with a chiropractor. Her involvement appears to be ending, however. Last week, under scrutiny from the San Diego Union-Tribune, Reign said she was donating the organization to an unidentified nonprofit group.
“I will let them decide when they would like to announce who they are,” she said in an email to the newspaper.
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Reign, who has been living with her husband in a $3-million home in Newport Beach, according to legal documents, is currently embroiled in legal challenges concerning her clinics, including a civil lawsuit alleging fraud and financial elder abuse. She and other defendants named in court papers have maintained their innocence, denying claims brought by former clients of medical negligence, financial elder abuse and fraud.
She recently told the Union-Tribune in a phone interview that she created the We Have Rights website after having to lay off members of her staff as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown.
“I’ve had to let go of people that have worked with me for 10 years, and it happened overnight,” she said. “I’ll find a way to make it through this, but there are people who depend on me, and I feel a great sense of responsibility to provide them a paycheck.”
Reign did not cite political reasons as the driving force behind the campaign, although the rallies have promoted President Trump and conservative talking points.
Reign said the campaign has a wealthy backer but would not identify the person.
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“Yes, we do have people who have contributed and we do have a benefactor who has contributed, and my husband and I have put money out of our own pocket,” she said.
The New York Times has reported that many of the anti-lockdown protests happening throughout the country are being bankrolled by wealthy conservative leaders and groups, including FreedomWorks and Tea Party Patriots.
However, Reign’s campaign stands out compared with similar efforts in other parts of the country, said Jared Holt, an investigator with the Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit Right Wing Watch.
“If something like this is happening in other states,” he said, “it’s certainly not as slick and well-produced as it seems to be in California, where this shadowy source of money is coming in with a very branded effort.”
Reign’s group urges visitors to its homepage: “Be part of the biggest movement in California.” It demands the right to worship at church, earn a living and assemble freely at sporting events, conferences and other gatherings.
“The elderly, sick, and high risk are encouraged to quarantine while the healthy and the able have a right to live their lives,” the website states.
A back-to-work rally held in downtown San Diego on May 1 drew hundreds of people, many waving American flags and few wearing face masks. Some flew “Trump 2020” flags and many wore the iconic red “MAGA” hats.
Many protesters cited financial hardship as a reason for attending and criticized Gov. Gavin Newsom, who has spearheaded the economic shutdown in California.
Other We Have Rights rallies that day across the state reportedly drew even larger crowds, including more than 1,000 people on the Capitol steps in Sacramento.
“Over 40,000 Patriots took a stand against the lockdown to demand Newsom fully open California and restore our rights!” the group’s website said afterward. That number could not be independently verified.
Among those addressing the crowd in San Diego was Dan Summers, a 70-year-old resident of Ramona who has long been plugged in to conservative politics and activism in the San Diego area.
Summers said he was encouraged to participate in a phone call from a man who identified himself as Thomas Paine, the name of the 18th century revolutionary who helped provide the theoretical underpinnings of the American revolution in his pamphlet “Common Sense.”
While Summers was pleased with the rally, he said he didn’t know much about the man who called him. “Paine” had called from a phone number belonging to Thomas Knight Reign, the name of Vivienne Reign’s husband, according to multiple legal and business records.
Thomas Reign, 46, has an IMDb profile identifying him as a TV producer and director. Over the years, he has started several film-production businesses under the names Red Horizon Films, Xposure Entertainment and the still-operating Agency X.
When the Union-Tribune reached out to Reign, he declined to comment and directed questions to an email address that uses the display name Thomas Paine.
According to court records, Thomas Reign and Vivienne Reign were married in 2011. At the time their legal names were Thomas John Wozny and Nicole Melanie Anderson.
Vivienne Reign said her husband changed his last name as part of his writing business, and at that point she, too, decided to change both her first and last names. She described her husband as a surfer and creative artist.
Reign said that before joining We Have Rights, she had never been an activist or even attended a protest. In 2016, she donated $250 to help Rand Paul’s presidential run.
She had said that she intended to focus her efforts for now on reopening the state’s economy, but said in her email Friday that she would let others take charge of the organization she nurtured.
“I have enjoyed my time working on this, and I feel we made great strides in a short time,” she wrote. “However, as I mentioned, I have many demands on my time with various business investments and wanted to pass this to people who have this as a full time passion and can do the movement justice.”
“We are happy to have contributed to helping all of the grassroots groups organize and get their message of preserving and protecting our rights out across California,” she added. “We have confidence the group we are handing it over to will do wonderfully at continuing the efforts even better than we did!”
Smith writes for the San Diego Union-Tribune. Union-Tribune staff researcher Merrie Monteagudo contributed to this report.


latimes--2020-05-12--CSU plans to cancel most in-person classes and go online this fall, chancellor announces

The 23-campus California State University system plans to all but cancel in-person classes in the fall and instead will offer instruction primarily online , Chancellor Timothy White announced Tuesday .
The vast majority of classes across the Cal State system will be taught online , White said , with some limited exceptions that allow for in-person activity .
The decision comes as schools throughout the country grapple with how long to keep campuses closed amid the coronavirus crisis .
“ Our university when open without restrictions and fully in person… is a place where over 500,000 people come together in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said at a meeting of Cal State ’ s Board of Trustees .
“ That approach sadly just isn ’ t in the cards now.
” White ’ s announcement came the same day that infectious disease expert Dr. Anthony Fauci , a key member of the White House coronavirus task force , told a Senate panel it would be “ a bridge too far ” to think treatments or vaccines could be available in time to facilitate students ’ reentry into schools this fall .
It also follows an earlier move by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ April became one of the first universities in the nation to announce it was planning for remote instruction this fall .
White said that for the small number of classes where in-person instruction is “ indispensable and can be justified ” — such as clinical nursing courses , biology labs or merchant marine training — sufficient resources and protocols will have to be in place to ensure the health and safety of students and teachers .
“ The enrollment per section will be less ; for instruction and research laboratories the distance between @ @ @ @ @ @ @ protective equipment appropriate to the circumstance prevalent ; and the need to sanitize and disinfect spaces and equipment between users essential , ” White said .
On some campuses and within some departments , course offerings will be exclusively virtual .
White said planning for an online fall term was necessary because of the forecast of additional waves of COVID-19 outbreaks later this year , possibly coupled with a difficult flu season .
He said it would be “ irresponsible ” to wait until August to make a decision only to “ scramble @ @ @ @ @ @ @ robust learning and support environment.
” He also acknowledged that the university system currently lacks the resources to provide coronavirus testing for everybody and trace the contacts of infected people should there be an outbreak on a campus .
The decision about the fall term was made in consultation with all 23 campus presidents and faculty and student representatives , a spokesman for the chancellor ’ s office said .
CSU students and families , along with faculty and staff , can expect to receive more information this month from their respective campuses @ @ @ @ @ @

Cal State Fullerton is among the 23 CSU campuses that will go mainly online for fall classes.
California State University, the nation’s largest four-year college system, plans to cancel most in-person classes in the fall and instead offer instruction primarily online, Chancellor Timothy White announced Tuesday.
The vast majority of classes across the 23-campus Cal State system will be taught online, White said, with some limited exceptions that allow for in-person activity.
“Our university, when open without restrictions and fully in person … is a place where over 500,000 people come together in close and vibrant proximity,” White said at a meeting of Cal State’s Board of Trustees. “That approach sadly just isn’t in the cards now.”
The decision to continue remotely reflects how schools throughout the country are grappling with reopening challenges inflicted by the coronavirus crisis — and what campuses will look like when they do decide to reopen.
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University of California officials are examining the parameters of what it would take to open their campuses and are expected to announce plans in June or July. UC spokeswoman Claire Doan reiterated Tuesday that campuses were exploring a “mixed approach with some instruction delivered in classroom and lab settings, while other classes will be primarily online.”
President Janet Napolitano said campuses will first be required to satisfy systemwide guidelines to ensure public health and safety, and any reopening “will probably be greatly reduced.”
California A patient’s return to hospital COVID-19 unit underscores uncertainty to come Janice Brown was the first patient at Desert Valley Hospital’s COVID-19 unit. And the first to be released. Neither she nor her doctors or nurses expected her to return. Within weeks, she tested positive again.
White said his decision resulted from a confluence of issues around COVID-19, including the health and safety of students, faculty and staff, as well as significant financial constraints.
The Cal State system is projecting losses of $337 million for the spring term alone as a result of the pandemic, including loss of revenue from student housing, parking and campus bookstores, as well as unanticipated costs related to cleaning, overtime and the shift to distance education. The figure does not reflect offsets from federal aid or operational savings.
White’s announcement came the same day that infectious disease expert Dr. Anthony Fauci, a key member of the White House coronavirus task force, told a Senate panel it would be “a bridge too far” to think treatments or vaccines could be available in time to facilitate students’ reentry into schools this fall.
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It also follows an earlier move by Cal State Fullerton, which in late April became one of the first universities in the nation to announce it was planning for remote instruction this fall.
White said that for the small number of classes where in-person instruction is “indispensable and can be justified” — such as clinical nursing courses, biology labs or merchant marine training — sufficient resources and protocols will have to be in place to ensure the health and safety of students and teachers.
“The enrollment per section will be less; for instruction and research laboratories, the distance between participants greater; the need for personal protective equipment appropriate to the circumstance prevalent; and the need to sanitize and disinfect spaces and equipment between users essential,” White said.
On some campuses and within some departments, course offerings will be exclusively virtual. At others that rely heavily on hands-on experience, there may be more exceptions.
White said planning for an online fall term was necessary because of the forecast of additional waves of COVID-19 outbreaks later this year, possibly coupled with a difficult flu season. He said it would be “irresponsible” to wait until August to make a decision, only to “scramble and not be prepared to provide a robust learning and support environment.”
He also acknowledged that the university system lacks the resources to provide coronavirus testing for everybody and to trace the contacts of infected people should there be an outbreak on a campus.
CSU students and families, along with faculty and staff, can expect to receive more information this month from their respective campuses about instruction in the fall.
Availability of on-campus housing will be reduced, and student athletes shouldn’t expect to resume regular sports before faculty and students return to campuses, White said.
White reached the decision about the fall term with all 23 campus presidents and also had discussions with representatives of faculty and student groups, a spokesman for the chancellor’s office said.
The statewide academic senate has not adopted any resolution about instruction in the fall and was not formally asked for feedback on the decision to go primarily online, Chair Catherine Nelson said. But, she said, “I am not surprised by the decision, given the incredible complexity of mounting any level of in-person courses in the fall.”
Nelson said the senate has asked campuses to conduct surveys of their faculties’ needs and will request resources to meet them, such as professional development, hardware and software.
While many campuses have extended the deadline for students to submit their “intent to register,” CSU officials told trustees Tuesday that early numbers show generally normal enrollment levels.
White urged incoming and current students to stay the course and persist in their pursuit of higher education.
“This is not the time to pause or decline an opportunity to attend a CSU campus,” he said. “Robust financial aid remains available.”
Trustees did not make any decisions about tuition or fees for the fall term. But several of them, led by ex officio trustee Lt. Gov. Eleni Kounalakis, urged the board to avoid considering a tuition hike to plug budget holes.
“There’s going to be a lot of students questioning the value of going into debt for higher education if you’re not physically in the classroom,” Kounalakis said.
Times staff writer Teresa Watanabe contributed to this report.


latimes--2020-05-12--Orange County coronavirus cases: Here are the latest numbers by community

Orange County reported 62 more coronavirus infections Tuesday , as its overall cumulative case count climbed to 3,602 .
Included @ @ @ @ @ deaths , an increase of one since Monday .
At 230 , the number of @ @ @ @ @ a new high in the latest update , as did the number of people who @ @ @ @ @ 100 , according to the Orange County Health Care Agency .
To date , 54,769 @ @ @ @ @ — 399 of which were reported Tuesday .
Note : The “ other ” category @ @ @ @ @ well as cases in the county ’ s jails .
Daily updates are preliminary and @ @ @ @ @ county receives new information .

Orange County reported 62 more coronavirus infections Tuesday, as its overall cumulative case count climbed to 3,602.
Included in that total are 77 deaths, an increase of one since Monday.
At 230, the number of COVID-19 patients hospitalized also hit a new high in the latest update, as did the number of people who are in intensive care at 100, according to the Orange County Health Care Agency.
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To date, 54,769 tests have been conducted countywide — 399 of which were reported Tuesday.
Age breakdown of cases:
0-17 — 93
18-24 — 349
25-34 — 647
35-44 — 540
45-54 — 639
55-64 — 593
65-74 — 357
75-84 — 231
85+ — 152
Unknown — 1
Tracking coronavirus in Orange County The latest maps and charts on the spread of COVID-19 in Orange County, including cases, deaths, closures and restrictions.
Age breakdown of deaths:
25-34 — 2
35-44 — 4
45-54 — 8
55-64 — 10
65-74 — 13
75-84 — 22
85+ — 18
California Do you know someone who has lost the battle with COVID-19? In our effort to cover this pandemic as thoroughly as possible, we’d like to hear from the loved ones of people who have died from the coronavirus.
Cases by community:
Aliso Viejo — 21
Anaheim — 545
Brea — 27
Buena Park — 109
Costa Mesa — 51
Coto de Caza — 5
Cypress — 49
Dana Point — 22
Fountain Valley — 41
Fullerton — 130
Garden Grove — 186
Huntington Beach — 270
Irvine — 143
La Habra — 64
La Palma — 15
Ladera Ranch — 12
Laguna Beach — 41
Laguna Hills — 26
Laguna Niguel — 33
Laguna Woods — 8
Lake Forest — 35
Los Alamitos — 41
Midway City — 9
Mission Viejo — 55
Newport Beach — 132
Orange — 173
Placentia — 71
Rancho Mission Viejo — 6
Rancho Santa Margarita — 17
San Clemente — 53
San Juan Capistrano — 34
Santa Ana — 570
Seal Beach — 13
Stanton — 38
Trabuco Canyon — 11
Tustin — 55
Villa Park — 5
Westminster — 61
Yorba Linda — 58
Other — 263
Unknown — 104
Note: The “other” category includes unincorporated areas, as well as cases in the county’s jails. Daily updates are preliminary and subject to change as the county receives new information.


latimes--2020-05-12--Magnitude 3.5 earthquake felt near Reedley, Calif.

A magnitude 3.5 earthquake was reported Tuesday morning at 11:15 a.m. Pacific time 94 miles from Reedley , Calif. , according to the U.S. Geological Survey .
The earthquake occurred 96 miles from Dinuba , Calif. , 96 miles from Clovis , Calif. , 97 miles from Sanger , Calif. , and 99 miles from Exeter , Calif .
In the past 10 days , there have been two earthquakes of magnitude 3.0 or greater centered nearby .
An average of 234 earthquakes with magnitudes between 3.0 and 4.0 occur per year in California and Nevada , according to a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ earthquake occurred at a depth of 8.7 miles .
Did you feel this earthquake ?
Consider reporting what you felt to the USGS .
Even if you didn ’ t feel this small earthquake , you never know when the Big One is going to strike .
Ready yourself by following our five-step earthquake preparedness guide and building your own emergency kit .
This story was automatically generated by Quakebot , a computer application that monitors the latest earthquakes detected by the USGS .
A Times editor reviewed the post before it was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in learning more about the system , visit our list of frequently asked questions .

The epicenter is shown in red of a magnitude 3.5 earthquake reported Tuesday at 11:15 a.m. Pacific time 94 miles from Reedley, Calif.
A magnitude 3.5 earthquake was reported Tuesday morning at 11:15 a.m. Pacific time 94 miles from Reedley, Calif., according to the U.S. Geological Survey.
The earthquake occurred 96 miles from Dinuba, Calif., 96 miles from Clovis, Calif., 97 miles from Sanger, Calif., and 99 miles from Exeter, Calif.
In the past 10 days, there have been two earthquakes of magnitude 3.0 or greater centered nearby.
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An average of 234 earthquakes with magnitudes between 3.0 and 4.0 occur per year in California and Nevada, according to a recent three year data sample.
The earthquake occurred at a depth of 8.7 miles. Did you feel this earthquake? Consider reporting what you felt to the USGS.
Even if you didn’t feel this small earthquake, you never know when the Big One is going to strike. Ready yourself by following our five-step earthquake preparedness guide and building your own emergency kit.
This story was automatically generated by Quakebot, a computer application that monitors the latest earthquakes detected by the USGS. A Times editor reviewed the post before it was published. If you’re interested in learning more about the system, visit our list of frequently asked questions.