latimes--2020-04-25--Isolation and boredom of staying at home can be harmful in their own way, doctors say

Dr. Steven Siegel wakes every morning at 5 , feeds his dogs , makes a fresh cup of coffee and begins exercising .
By 7:30 a.m. , he ’ s had breakfast , a shower , has dressed and is at work in his office .
Never mind that office is just a spare bedroom in his Glendale home .
Routine , Siegel says , is the best way to combat the monotony and stress of the COVID-19 lockdown , now stretching into its sixth week .
“ We do have more control over this than may otherwise be apparent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with Keck Medicine of USC and chair of the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences .
“ Whatever your routine is , do it .
Then go to work , even if that means that the kitchen counter becomes your desk between the hours of 8 and 5 .
“ You can ’ t control the rest of the world but you can control what you do .
I have no power over when COVID ends as an individual , but I have a lot of power about how I respond to this.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ or our loved ones has fueled anxiety and fear , but the isolation and boredom of sheltering at home can be harmful in their own way .
And the psychological harm of the lockdown is harder to measure and likely to last longer , driving up the rate of domestic violence , depression and other mental conditions .
“ That is a reality , ” said Ellen Bradley-Windell , a licensed clinical social worker and co-founder and director of the Valencia Relationship Institute .
“ We ’ re already seeing the fallout with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and home schooling .
“ So I ’ m concerned about suicide , people with social isolation , that people are living by themselves .
I ’ m also concerned about the delayed response with family conflict , marital conflict and behavioral issues with kids.
” Mental health experts also fear a rise in alcohol and drug abuse as people self-medicate to deal with the stress .
Alcohol sales nationwide are up 55 % from this time last year while sales of recreational marijuana jumped nearly 50 % in one week earlier this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ issues , isolation is the worst thing because you live in your head , you don ’ t have feedback , ” Siegel said .
“ You don ’ t have someone making sure you ’ re OK and not letting you go off the deep end.
” Bradley-Windell is trying another approach with the people she sees , encouraging them to focus on the positives by keeping a daily gratitude journal of things for which they are thankful .
And Dr. Michelle G. Craske , director of the anxiety and depression research @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a weekly online COVID-19 care package with advice on coping with these stresses .
Among her suggestions : stay connected , exercise regularly , limit the amount of coronavirus news you consume and practice random acts of kindness .
“ Different people with different life situations certainly could be experiencing different types of stress and degrees of distress , ” she said .
“ These stressors could also manifest differently from person to person .
Some people may experience little to no severe mental health consequences whereas others may experience symptoms of depression @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is made more difficult by the fact there is no definitive end to the quarantine .
Although California ’ s stay-at-home order is scheduled to expire May 15 , Gov .
Gavin Newsom said lifting it will likely happen gradually and will depend on the state meeting certain criteria , including the availability of testing and hospital capacity — all things outside our individual control .
“ Sometimes I kind of am despairing in the uncertainty around it all , ” said Melissa Whitson , a professor and coordinator of the community psychology @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ If I knew it was a certain amount of time , I ’ d be like ‘ All right , I ’ ve just got to power through.
’ But we don ’ t know how long it ’ s going to be.
” Whitson said some of the things she ’ s seeing in the current crisis remind her of what she ’ s seen in people dealing with post-traumatic stress disorder .
“ What we know about trauma is the symptoms associated with it tend to be worse when @ @ @ @ @ @ @ feel like we don ’ t have control over anything , ” she said .
“ This certainly lends itself to that situation .
“ And then there also this grief , ” she added .
“ Grieving the life that we had , grieving not being able to do things that we normally would be able to do.
” That grief , in part , has led protesters in more than two dozen states , including California , to call for an end to stay-at-home orders , a move health experts say @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and deaths .
“ They ’ re being very reactive because they don ’ t know what else to do .
But from a psychological perspective it ’ s based out of fear because they feel out of control , ” Bradley-Windell said .
Financial insecurities will make all those issues — isolation , boredom , uncertainty and fear — worse .
With more than 20 million Americans filing for unemployment benefits in the last five weeks and the lines outside food banks growing daily , that ’ s something that won ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ out of the house .
“ This current crisis really highlights a major weakness in our society : that this vulnerable , massive class of people will struggle if their income stops for a few months , ” Siegel said .
“ We shouldn ’ t be in a situation where we can ’ t respond to a medical crisis without people losing their ability to buy food and shelter .
“ In L.A. people who don ’ t have food and shelter has become the new norm.
” After years of searching @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the streets , the COVID-19 crisis has offered a solution , with the county leasing more than 2,000 hotel rooms and searching for 13,000 more to give homeless people a place of their own in which to shelter .
“ Where ’ s the silver lining ?
” Siegel asked of the pandemic .
“ If we can come out of this with a mentality that says a bunch of us can be a little bit less rich so that a ton of us can be a little less poor , it would @ @ @ @ @ @ @

Dr. Steven Siegel, 55, a psychiatrist and chair of the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Studies with the Keck School of Medicine at USC, stands with his dog Philly outside his home office in Glendale.
Dr. Steven Siegel wakes every morning at 5, feeds his dogs, makes a fresh cup of coffee and begins exercising. By 7:30 a.m., he’s had breakfast and a shower, has dressed and is at work in his office.
Never mind that office is just a spare bedroom in his Glendale home. Routine, Siegel says, is the best way to combat the monotony and stress of the COVID-19 lockdown, now stretching into its sixth week.
“We do have more control over this than may otherwise be apparent,” argued Siegel, a psychiatrist with Keck Medicine of USC and chair of the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences. “Whatever your routine is, do it. Then go to work, even if that means that the kitchen counter becomes your desk between the hours of 8 and 5.
“You can’t control the rest of the world, but you can control what you do. I have no power over when COVID ends as an individual, but I have a lot of power about how I respond to this.”
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Concerns about the coronavirus infecting us or our loved ones have fueled anxiety and fear, but the isolation and boredom of staying at home can be harmful in their own way. And the psychological harm of the lockdown is harder to measure and likely to last longer, driving up the rate of domestic violence, depression and other mental conditions.
“That is a reality,” said Ellen Bradley-Windell, a licensed clinical social worker and co-founder and director of the Valencia Relationship Institute. “We’re already seeing the fallout with families being home, kids being quarantined and home-schooling.
“So I’m concerned about suicide, people with social isolation, that people are living by themselves. I’m also concerned about the delayed response with family conflict, marital conflict and behavioral issues with kids.”
Dr. Steven Siegel, working from his home office in Glendale, says routine is best way to combat monotony and stress during the coronavirus crisis. (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)
Mental health experts also fear a rise in alcohol and drug abuse as people self-medicate to deal with the stress. Alcohol sales nationwide are up 55% from this time last year while sales of recreational marijuana jumped nearly 50% in one week this month.
“People with significant mental issues, isolation is the worst thing because you live in your head, you don’t have feedback,” Siegel said. “You don’t have someone making sure you’re OK and not letting you go off the deep end.”
Bradley-Windell is trying another approach with the people she sees, encouraging them to focus on the positives by keeping a daily gratitude journal of things for which they are thankful.
And Dr. Michelle G. Craske, director of the Anxiety and Depression Research Center at UCLA, has put together a weekly online COVID-19 care package with advice on coping with these stresses. Among her suggestions: stay connected, exercise regularly, limit the amount of coronavirus news you consume and practice random acts of kindness.
“Different people with different life situations certainly could be experiencing different types of stress and degrees of distress,” she said. “These stressors could also manifest differently from person to person. Some people may experience little to no severe mental health consequences whereas others may experience symptoms of depression, anxiety or stress.”
Combating that is made more difficult by the fact there is no definitive end to the quarantine. Although California’s stay-at-home order is scheduled to expire May 15, Gov. Gavin Newsom said lifting it will probably happen gradually and will depend on the state meeting certain criteria, including the availability of testing and hospital capacity — all things outside our individual control.
“Sometimes I kind of am despairing in the uncertainty around it all,” said Melissa Whitson, a professor and coordinator of the community psychology program at the University of New Haven. “If I knew it was a certain amount of time, I’d be like ‘All right, I’ve just got to power through.’ But we don’t know how long it’s going to be.”
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Whitson said some of the things she’s seeing in the current crisis remind her of what she’s seen in people dealing with post-traumatic stress disorder.
“What we know about trauma is the symptoms associated with it tend to be worse when we feel hopeless. And when we feel like we don’t have control over anything,” she said. “This certainly lends itself to that situation.
“And then there also this grief,” she added. “Grieving the life that we had, grieving not being able to do things that we normally would be able to do.”
That grief, in part, has led protesters in more than two dozen states, including California, to call for an end to stay-at-home orders, a move health experts say could spark another wave of coronavirus infections and deaths.
“They’re being very reactive because they don’t know what else to do. But from a psychological perspective it’s based out of fear because they feel out of control,” Bradley-Windell said.
Financial insecurities will make all those issues — isolation, boredom, uncertainty and fear — worse. With more than 20 million Americans filing for unemployment benefits in the last five weeks and the lines outside food banks growing daily, that’s something that won’t be solved simply by letting people out of the house.
“This current crisis really highlights a major weakness in our society: that this vulnerable, massive class of people will struggle if their income stops for a few months,” Siegel said. “We shouldn’t be in a situation where we can’t respond to a medical crisis without people losing their ability to buy food and shelter.
“In L.A., people who don’t have food and shelter has become the new norm.”
After years of unsuccessful searches for ways to get people off the streets, the COVID-19 crisis has offered a solution, with the county leasing more than 2,000 hotel rooms and searching for 13,000 more to give homeless people a place of their own in which to shelter.
“Where’s the silver lining?” Siegel asked of the pandemic. “If we can come out of this with a mentality that says a bunch of us can be a little bit less rich so that a ton of us can be a little less poor, it would almost make COVID worth it.”


latimes--2020-04-25--Beverly Hills police chief retires after lawsuits alleging racism, anti-Semitism, harassment

Beverly Hills Police Chief Sandra Spagnoli announced her retirement Saturday , marking the end of a rocky tenure that saw the city pay out millions to settle lawsuits alleging that she had made racist remarks to subordinate officers and engaged in acts of harassment .
Spagnoli ’ s last day will be May 15 , though she will be taking vacation time between now and that date , according to an internal department e-mail reviewed by The Times .
“ During the Chief ’ s tenure , crime was reduced while the department increased diversity , public outreach , best @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Beverly Hills City Manager George Chavez said in a statement .
“ We thank Chief Spagnoli for her service to our community and her three decades of public service in law enforcement.
” Spagnoli became the first female police chief in Beverly Hills history in 2016 .
A board member for the International Assn .
of Chiefs of Police who previously led the San Leandro and Benicia police departments in Northern California , she received praise upon her hiring and even drew a glowing write-up in Vogue .
The positive press was much @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the controversial retirement of the city ’ s former chief , David Snowden , who stepped aside amid questions that he was drawing a second salary from a private-sector job .
But starting in 2018 , a torrent of litigation surfaced , accusing Spagnoli of making racist comments , retaliating against officers and showing favoritism toward subordinates she had sexual liaisons with .
All told , there were at least two dozen lawsuits or notices of intent to sue lobbed at Spagnoli since she was hired , records show .
As the lawsuits @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sitrick , the crisis public relations specialist whose previous clients included Harvey Weinstein .
In late 2018 , the city spent $ 2.3 million to settle a claim from Mark Rosen , a former police captain who was the highest ranking Jewish member of the department and had accused the chief of denying him promotional opportunities based on his religion and making anti-Semitic remarks .
Other claims against Spagnoli previously reviewed by The Times included allegations she had referred to the yarmulkes worn by observant Jews as “ funny little hats , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mexican ” when invited to dinner at a Latino employee ’ s home and reacted with revulsion when informed that an employee was gay .
Some court documents contain allegations that Spagnoli had sex with subordinate officers who were later rewarded with promotions .
“ To me , any employer who retains someone as long as they did in the face of so many different lawsuits from so many different long-term employees who had never brought claims of discrimination , retaliation or harassment ever in their long careers is very telling .
Why @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rid of the chief ?
” asked Woodland Hills attorney Brad Gage , who represented many of those making claims against Spagnoli .
Last summer , a jury awarded more than $ 1 million in damages to a group of lieutenants who had accused Spagnoli of workplace harassment and retaliation for giving depositions that were favorable to Rosen ’ s lawsuit .
The amount was later lowered to $ 850,000 by a judge , but Gage said he also recovered more than $ 3 million in attorney ’ s fees and court costs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was any connection between the mounting litigation — records show another civil claim was filed against Spagnoli on March 30 — and Spagnoli ’ s decision to step down , city spokesman Keith Sterling said the “ Chief notified [ the ] City Manager of her intention to retire.
” All told , Gage said , the lawsuits his clients brought against Spagnoli cost the city approximately $ 8 million .
In a 2018 interview with The Times , Spagnoli denied the allegations of improper sexual relationships , but stopped short of denying @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than 24 hours after the interview , the city settled Rosen ’ s lawsuit .
“ I am grateful to have served Beverly Hills and proud of the accomplishments over the past 4 years to keep this world-class community one of the safest in the nation , ” Spagnoli said in a statement released Saturday .

Since she was hired, Beverly Hills Police Chief Sandra Spagnoli faced at least two dozen lawsuits or notices of intent to sue, records show. Her last day will be May 15.
Beverly Hills Police Chief Sandra Spagnoli announced her retirement Saturday, marking the end of a rocky tenure that saw the city pay out millions to settle lawsuits alleging that she had made racist remarks to subordinate officers and engaged in acts of harassment.
Spagnoli’s last day will be May 15, though she will be taking vacation time between now and that date, according to an internal department email reviewed by The Times.
“During the Chief’s tenure, crime was reduced while the department increased diversity, public outreach, best practices and advancements in technology,” Beverly Hills City Manager George Chavez said in a statement. “We thank Chief Spagnoli for her service to our community and her three decades of public service in law enforcement.”
Spagnoli became the first female police chief in Beverly Hills history in 2016. A board member of the International Assn. of Chiefs of Police who previously led the San Leandro and Benicia police departments in Northern California, she received praise upon her hiring and drew a glowing write-up in Vogue. The positive press was much needed and came on the heels of the controversial retirement of the city’s former chief, David Snowden, who stepped aside amid questions that he was drawing a second salary from a private sector job.
But starting in 2018, a torrent of litigation surfaced, accusing Spagnoli of making racist comments, retaliating against officers and showing favoritism toward subordinates with whom she had sexual liaisons. All told, at least two dozen lawsuits or notices of intent to sue were lobbed at Spagnoli since she was hired, records show. As the lawsuits piled up, the city hired Michael Sitrick, a crisis public relations specialist whose previous clients included Harvey Weinstein.
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In late 2018, the city spent $2.3 million to settle a claim from Mark Rosen, a former police captain who was the highest ranking Jewish member of the department and had accused the chief of denying him promotional opportunities based on his religion and making anti-Semitic remarks.
Other claims against Spagnoli previously reviewed by The Times included allegations she had referred to the yarmulkes worn by observant Jews as “funny little hats,” asked if she had to “dress Mexican” when invited to dinner at a Latino employee’s home and reacted with revulsion when informed that an employee was gay. Some court documents contain allegations that Spagnoli had sex with subordinate officers who were later rewarded with promotions.
“To me, any employer who retains someone as long as they did in the face of so many different lawsuits from so many different long-term employees who had never brought claims of discrimination, retaliation or harassment ever in their long careers is very telling. Why did it take so long to get rid of the chief?” asked Woodland Hills attorney Brad Gage, who represented many of those making claims against Spagnoli.
Last summer, a jury awarded more than $1 million in damages to a group of lieutenants who had accused Spagnoli of workplace harassment and retaliation for giving depositions that were favorable to Rosen’s lawsuit. The amount was later lowered to $850,000 by a judge, but Gage said he also recovered more than $3 million in attorney’s fees and court costs in that case.
Asked if there was any connection between the mounting litigation — records show another civil claim was filed against Spagnoli on March 30 — and Spagnoli’s decision to step down, city spokesman Keith Sterling said the “Chief notified [the] City Manager of her intention to retire.”
All told, Gage said, the lawsuits his clients brought against Spagnoli cost the city about $8 million.
In a 2018 interview with The Times, Spagnoli denied the allegations of improper sexual relationships but stopped short of denying the allegations about racist remarks. Less than 24 hours after the interview, the city settled Rosen’s lawsuit.
“I am grateful to have served Beverly Hills and proud of the accomplishments over the past 4 years to keep this world-class community one of the safest in the nation,” Spagnoli said in a statement released Saturday.


latimes--2020-04-25--L.A. County reports 48 new COVID-19 deaths and 600-plus additional cases

Los Angeles County reported 48 new deaths and 607 additional cases of COVID-19 on Saturday .
Long Beach , which has its own health department , reported 26 new cases , bringing the county total to 895 deaths and more than 19,100 cases .
“ This past week in L.A. County , we doubled the number of deaths from COVID-19 and diagnosed more than 7,000 new cases , ” Barbara Ferrer , director of the county Department of Public Health , said in a statement .
Of the people who most recently died , 37 were older than 65 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
Thirty-eight had underlying health conditions .
“ Because we are still seeing a significant increase in new cases and deaths , we ask that you continue to stay home as much as possible , ” Ferrer said .
After appearing to level off for a time , the number of COVID-19 cases reported by the county has risen at a rapid clip over the past week .
Some of that is due to increased testing , as well as the clearing of a backlog of pending test results , officials said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people had been tested and received their results , with about 15 % of them testing positive .
The number of deaths also has surged .
On Thursday , COVID-19 became the leading cause of death in L.A. County , surpassing fatalities from cancer , flu , emphysema and heart disease .
Amid the continued increases , temperatures have risen , with the region experiencing the year ’ s first major heat wave .
Officials urged people to refrain from escaping the heat by heading to the county ’ s beaches , which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ your part and save lives , ” Ferrer said .
“ This is how we get to the other side of the outbreak and begin our recovery .
”

Los Angeles County reported 48 new deaths and 607 additional cases of COVID-19 on Saturday. Long Beach, which has its own health department, reported 26 new cases, bringing the county total to 895 deaths and more than 19,100 cases.
“This past week in L.A. County, we doubled the number of deaths from COVID-19 and diagnosed more than 7,000 new cases,” Barbara Ferrer, director of the county Department of Public Health, said in a statement.
Of the people who most recently died, 37 were older than 65, and nine were ages 41-65, officials said. Thirty-eight had underlying health conditions.
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“Because we are still seeing a significant increase in new cases and deaths, we ask that you continue to stay home as much as possible,” Ferrer said.
After appearing to level off for a time, the number of COVID-19 cases reported by the county has risen at a rapid clip over the past week.
Some of that is due to increased testing, as well as the clearing of a backlog of pending test results, officials said.
California Orange County coronavirus cases near 2,000 Orange County health officials announce 124 new cases and two more deaths, for a total of 1,969 confirmed cases and 38 deaths. The county will launch a testing network Tuesday.
As of Saturday, nearly 114,000 people had been tested and received their results, with about 15% of them testing positive.
The number of deaths also has surged.
On Thursday, COVID-19 became the leading cause of death in L.A. County, surpassing fatalities from cancer, flu, emphysema and heart disease.
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Amid the continued increases, temperatures have risen, with the region experiencing the year’s first major heat wave. Officials urged people to refrain from escaping the heat by heading to the county’s beaches, which remain closed.
“Continue to do your part and save lives,” Ferrer said. “This is how we get to the other side of the outbreak and begin our recovery.”


latimes--2020-04-25--Rick Singer explains his much-debated iPhone notes in college admissions scandal

Several months into a legal dispute over his notes , William “ Rick ” Singer , the man at the center of the college admissions scandal , has offered his explanation for a series of iPhone missives he wrote while cooperating with an investigation into the money-for-admissions scam he perpetrated for a decade .
As he tried in October 2018 to elicit incriminating statements from his former clients in recorded phone calls , Singer wrote in a note , intended for his lawyer , that the federal agents overseeing his cooperation wanted him to “ bend the truth ” and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are not accurate.
” Attorneys for 14 parents who have pleaded not guilty to conspiring with Singer to commit fraud , bribery and money laundering have seized on the notes , accusing government authorities of browbeating Singer into following their theory — that payments they made to get their children into elite universities were bribes to corrupt employees , not legitimate donations to university accounts .
At his handlers ’ direction , Singer fabricated evidence he knew to be inaccurate , the attorneys alleged in asking U.S. District Judge Nathaniel M. Gorton to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ defendants — among them , Lori Loughlin , a television actress , and her husband , Mossimo Giannulli , a fashion designer — are scheduled to begin trial Oct. 5 in Boston .
Another seven are slated for trial in January .
On April 17 , Gorton told federal prosecutors in Boston to address in detail the “ serious and disturbing ” allegations raised in Singer ’ s notes .
Prosecutors on Friday filed a report of an interview they conducted with Singer this week .
He has pleaded guilty to four felonies @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Singer said he had resisted characterizing the payments as bribes because he hadn ’ t used the word before .
“ At the time , ” the report said , “ he never considered what he was doing was a bribe and he had several arguments with the agents over the word ‘ bribe.
’ ” The first took place in September 2018 , when three federal agents approached Singer in a room at a Marriott hotel in Boston .
He agreed to cooperate but tried to play down his crimes , one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said in a sworn declaration filed in court Friday .
In the hotel room , Singer and the agents quarreled over precisely what prosecutors and defense attorneys are debating now .
Singer called his clients ’ payments “ donations ; ” Keating told him a donation “ was money provided as a gift , with no expectation of anything in return , ” according to her declaration .
“ I was more animated than usual , ” said Keating , whom another agent described as normally soft-spoken , “ because of Singer ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ crime.
” While he knew it was wrong to put forward an applicant with bogus athletic credentials , coupled with a six-figure payment to a university official or an account under his or her control , Singer didn ’ t believe at the time this amounted to a federal crime , according to the report of his interview .
Prior to being apprehended and speaking with his attorney , Singer “ didn ’ t understand the meaning of ‘ quid pro quo.
’ ” “ He thought he was doing something wrong but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for sure until his attorney explained that it was illegal , ” the report said .
His handlers “ didn ’ t do anything wrong , ” Singer told prosecutors this week .
“ He and the agents had disagreements , but both needed to have a better understanding of where everyone was coming from.
” In declarations , Keating , an FBI agent and the lead prosecutor on the case , denied coercing Singer into lying or misleading the investigation ’ s targets .
The charged parents ’ accusations of government misconduct @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Stephen Frank , who supervises the prosecutors assigned to the case , wrote in asking Gorton to deny the motion for dismissal .

Rick Singer told prosecutors that while he previously didn’t believe he was committing bribery, he now sees his scam was an illegal quid pro quo.
Several months into a legal dispute over his notes, William “Rick” Singer, the man at the center of the college admissions scandal, has offered his explanation for a series of iPhone missives he wrote while cooperating with an investigation into the money-for-admissions scam he perpetrated for a decade.
As he tried in October 2018 to elicit incriminating statements from his former clients in recorded phone calls, Singer wrote in a note, intended for his lawyer, that the federal agents overseeing his cooperation wanted him to “bend the truth” and “ask questions and retrieve responses that are not accurate.”
Attorneys for 14 parents who have pleaded not guilty to conspiring with Singer to commit fraud, bribery and money laundering have seized on the notes, accusing government authorities of browbeating Singer into following their theory — that payments they made to get their children into elite universities were bribes to corrupt employees, not legitimate donations to university accounts.
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At his handlers’ direction, Singer fabricated evidence he knew to be inaccurate, the attorneys alleged in asking U.S. District Judge Nathaniel M. Gorton to dismiss the indictment. Currently, seven defendants — among them, Lori Loughlin, a television actress, and her husband, Mossimo Giannulli, a fashion designer — are scheduled to begin trial Oct. 5 in Boston. Another seven are slated for trial in January.
On April 17, Gorton told federal prosecutors in Boston to address in detail the “serious and disturbing” allegations raised in Singer’s notes. Prosecutors on Friday filed a report of an interview they conducted with Singer this week. He has pleaded guilty to four felonies and has yet to be sentenced.
Singer said he had resisted characterizing the payments as bribes because he hadn’t used the word before. “At the time,” the report said, “he never considered what he was doing was a bribe and he had several arguments with the agents over the word ‘bribe.’”
The first took place in September 2018, when three federal agents approached Singer in a room at a Marriott hotel in Boston. He agreed to cooperate but tried to play down his crimes, one of the agents, Elizabeth Keating, said in a sworn declaration filed in court Friday.
In the hotel room, Singer and the agents quarreled over precisely what prosecutors and defense attorneys are debating now. Singer called his clients’ payments “donations;” Keating told him a donation “was money provided as a gift, with no expectation of anything in return,” according to her declaration.
“I was more animated than usual,” said Keating, whom another agent described as normally soft-spoken, “because of Singer’s reluctance to accept responsibility for his crime.”
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While he knew it was wrong to put forward an applicant with bogus athletic credentials, coupled with a six-figure payment to a university official or an account under his or her control, Singer didn’t believe at the time this amounted to a federal crime, according to the report of his interview. Prior to being apprehended and speaking with his attorney, Singer “didn’t understand the meaning of ‘quid pro quo.’”
“He thought he was doing something wrong but legal, but didn’t know for sure until his attorney explained that it was illegal,” the report said.
His handlers “didn’t do anything wrong,” Singer told prosecutors this week. “He and the agents had disagreements, but both needed to have a better understanding of where everyone was coming from.”
In declarations, Keating, an FBI agent and the lead prosecutor on the case, denied coercing Singer into lying or misleading the investigation’s targets.
The charged parents’ accusations of government misconduct are “repugnant and untrue,” Stephen Frank, who supervises the prosecutors assigned to the case, wrote in asking Gorton to deny the motion for dismissal.


latimes--2020-04-25--ACLU sues California to block ICE transfers, reduce prison population amid coronavirus outbreak

The American Civil Liberties Union filed a pair of lawsuits late Friday calling for a dramatic reduction in California ’ s incarcerated population and a halt to all transfers of inmates to federal immigration detention centers amid increasing signs throughout the U.S. that jails and prisons are hot zones for the spread of the coronavirus .
The suits filed with the California Supreme Court name Gov .
Gavin Newsom and Atty .
Gen. Xavier Becerra and come as the Otay Mesa Detention Center in San Diego and Lompoc penitentiary in Santa Barbara County have become home to some of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
In the lawsuits , the ACLU argued that outbreaks behind bars pose threats not only to the incarcerated , but also the families of jail and prison employees .
“ It is not just those confined to jails , detention centers , and youth facilities who are in danger , ” Peter J. Eliasberg , chief counsel of the ACLU in Southern California , said in a statement .
“ Once the virus gets inside , the regular movement of staff and visitors in and out means that walls and razor wire @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spread to communities at large.
” The suits argue that social distancing is almost impossible in immigration detention centers and California jails and prisons , where many house inmates in close proximity , with showers and meal areas that are communal .
A spokeswoman for the U.S. Department of Immigration and Customs Enforcement said the agency does not comment on pending litigation .
The California Attorney General ’ s office referred question to Newsom .
“ This Administration has been clear on our stance against abuses in immigration detention centers , ” said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Waters .
“ We call on the Department of Homeland Security to use the administrative discretion it has under federal law to work with public health authorities to implement appropriate actions to protect individuals in its custody , staff and local communities.
” Waters did not immediately respond to questions about conditions in state prisons and jails .
ICE has reported 317 coronavirus infections among detainees nationwide , including 57 detainees at the Otay Mesa Detention Center in San Diego , according to its website .
In immigration facilities like Otay Mesa , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ protective equipment from detainees unless they signed waivers releasing the facility from liability .
Detainees at Otay Mesa have also staged hunger strikes to protest conditions .
At the Adelanto facility north of Los Angeles , the ACLU contend staff have been reluctant to provide medical assistance to detainees and alleged one woman fell so ill from symptoms associated with the coronavirus that she lost consciousness before receiving aid .
A federal judge has already ordered the population of the Adelanto facility to be reduced after a separate legal challenge by the ACLU @ @ @ @ @ @ @ now represent the “ primary source of ICE ’ s new bookings ” in the state , according to the suit , which argues that federal and state law do not obligate transfers to ICE .
California ’ s sanctuary state law severely limits the number of detainees who can be turned over to ICE from California jails and prisons .
“ In other words , it is the actions of the State of California , more than actions of ICE at this unique moment , that are keeping a flow of new @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the suit alleged .
Pointing to the significant number of coronavirus cases reported at New York City ’ s Rikers Island and the Cook County jail in Chicago as signs of how fast the illness could spread among California ’ s incarcerated population , the suit also called for a “ drastic ” reduction in the number of people held in state prisons and county jails .
“ While the California Judicial Council has made some progress to reduce jail populations , these steps simply have not been large enough or fast enough @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spread of COVID-19 in the state ’ s jails , juvenile facilities , and surrounding communities , ” the suit read .
“ Leading public health officials have warned that without swift and large judicial intervention , the “ epicenter of the pandemic will be jails and prisons.
” The Judicial Council ordered bail be set at zero for a wide array of misdemeanors and nonviolent crimes earlier this month , aiming to cut back on the number of new additions made to the state jail population .
Newsom also sought the release @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with fewer than 60 days left on their sentence , and thousands of people have been released from Los Angeles County ’ s sprawling jail system .
Data show the state ’ s average daily incarcerated population fell from about 72,400 in late February to nearly 54,500 in early April , while bookings statewide have also plummeted .
The number of juveniles in custody in California has also dropped by about 1,000 youths in that time frame , records show .
But the ACLU argued that reduction is not enough to allow for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ claims from the parents of several juveniles who say their kids are still sleeping in close proximity and not being given access to masks or sanitizer .
A number of juvenile justice advocates have separately called on the California Supreme Court to intervene on behalf of youths in custody in L.A. County , where a number of judges have blocked petitions for early release that even had the support of local probation officers .
“ A sizable enough reduction in the overall number of individuals in detention facilities allows social distancing for all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to prevent COVID [ -19 ] from being introduced into the jails and proper isolation and monitoring of individuals who may be infected , ” the suit read .
A number of law enforcement officials have raised alarm at the releases that have already taken place statewide .
Orange County Dist .
Atty .
Todd Spitzer has argued that dangerous criminals , including a man suspected of sexually assaulting a child , have tried to capitalize on the pandemic to get out of custody .
“ The Judicial Council ’ s decision to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ numerous felonies allows dangerous criminals , including human traffickers , drivers who kill someone in a hit and run , and abusers of children and the elderly , to be released back into our neighborhoods , ” Spitzer said in a statement addressing the zero-bail order earlier this month .
San Bernardino County Dist .
Atty .
Jason Anderson has argued the reduction efforts are confronting a problem that has yet to come to pass , and contended “ many inmates in jail and prison environments have better access to medical care than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the community .
”

The American Civil Liberties Union filed a pair of lawsuits late Friday calling for a dramatic reduction in California’s incarcerated population and a halt to all transfers of inmates to federal immigration detention centers amid increasing signs throughout the U.S. that jails and prisons are hot zones for the spread of the coronavirus.
The suits filed with the California Supreme Court name Gov. Gavin Newsom and Atty. Gen. Xavier Becerra and come as the Otay Mesa Detention Center in San Diego and Lompoc penitentiary in Santa Barbara County have become home to some of the worst outbreaks in the federal prison system. In the lawsuits, the ACLU argued that outbreaks behind bars pose threats not only to the incarcerated, but also the families of jail and prison employees.
“It is not just those confined to jails, detention centers, and youth facilities who are in danger,” Peter J. Eliasberg, chief counsel of the ACLU in Southern California, said in a statement. “Once the virus gets inside, the regular movement of staff and visitors in and out means that walls and razor wire can neither slow nor stop the viral spread to communities at large.”
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The suits argue that social distancing is almost impossible in immigration detention centers and California jails and prisons, where many house inmates in close proximity, with showers and meal areas that are communal.
A spokeswoman for the U.S. Department of Immigration and Customs Enforcement said the agency does not comment on pending litigation. The California Attorney General’s office referred question to Newsom.
“This Administration has been clear on our stance against abuses in immigration detention centers,” said Newsom’s press secretary, Vicky Waters. “We call on the Department of Homeland Security to use the administrative discretion it has under federal law to work with public health authorities to implement appropriate actions to protect individuals in its custody, staff and local communities.”
Waters did not immediately respond to questions about conditions in state prisons and jails.
ICE has reported 317 coronavirus infections among detainees nationwide, including 57 detainees at the Otay Mesa Detention Center in San Diego, according to its website.
In immigration facilities like Otay Mesa, the ACLU alleged guards were withholding personal protective equipment from detainees unless they signed waivers releasing the facility from liability. Detainees at Otay Mesa have also staged hunger strikes to protest conditions.
At the Adelanto facility north of Los Angeles, the ACLU contend staff have been reluctant to provide medical assistance to detainees and alleged one woman fell so ill from symptoms associated with the coronavirus that she lost consciousness before receiving aid. A federal judge has already ordered the population of the Adelanto facility to be reduced after a separate legal challenge by the ACLU.
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Transfers from California prisons and jails now represent the “primary source of ICE’s new bookings” in the state, according to the suit, which argues that federal and state law do not obligate transfers to ICE. California’s sanctuary state law severely limits the number of detainees who can be turned over to ICE from California jails and prisons.
“In other words, it is the actions of the State of California, more than actions of ICE at this unique moment, that are keeping a flow of new people into ICE detention facilities,” the suit alleged.
Pointing to the significant number of coronavirus cases reported at New York City’s Rikers Island and the Cook County jail in Chicago as signs of how fast the illness could spread among California’s incarcerated population, the suit also called for a “drastic” reduction in the number of people held in state prisons and county jails.
“While the California Judicial Council has made some progress to reduce jail populations, these steps simply have not been large enough or fast enough to reduce the looming threat of exponential spread of COVID-19 in the state’s jails, juvenile facilities, and surrounding communities,” the suit read. “Leading public health officials have warned that without swift and large judicial intervention, the “epicenter of the pandemic will be jails and prisons.”
The Judicial Council ordered bail be set at zero for a wide array of misdemeanors and nonviolent crimes earlier this month, aiming to cut back on the number of new additions made to the state jail population. Newsom also sought the release of at least 3,500 state prison inmates with fewer than 60 days left on their sentence, and thousands of people have been released from Los Angeles County’s sprawling jail system.
Data show the state’s average daily incarcerated population fell from about 72,400 in late February to nearly 54,500 in early April, while bookings statewide have also plummeted. The number of juveniles in custody in California has also dropped by about 1,000 youths in that time frame, records show.
But the ACLU argued that reduction is not enough to allow for social distancing in most facilities, highlighting claims from the parents of several juveniles who say their kids are still sleeping in close proximity and not being given access to masks or sanitizer. A number of juvenile justice advocates have separately called on the California Supreme Court to intervene on behalf of youths in custody in L.A. County, where a number of judges have blocked petitions for early release that even had the support of local probation officers.
“A sizable enough reduction in the overall number of individuals in detention facilities allows social distancing for all inside, and facilitates both proper screening to prevent COVID[-19] from being introduced into the jails and proper isolation and monitoring of individuals who may be infected,” the suit read.
A number of law enforcement officials have raised alarm at the releases that have already taken place statewide. Orange County Dist. Atty. Todd Spitzer has argued that dangerous criminals, including a man suspected of sexually assaulting a child, have tried to capitalize on the pandemic to get out of custody.
“The Judicial Council’s decision to enact zero bail for most misdemeanors and numerous felonies allows dangerous criminals, including human traffickers, drivers who kill someone in a hit and run, and abusers of children and the elderly, to be released back into our neighborhoods,” Spitzer said in a statement addressing the zero-bail order earlier this month.
San Bernardino County Dist. Atty. Jason Anderson has argued the reduction efforts are confronting a problem that has yet to come to pass, and contended “many inmates in jail and prison environments have better access to medical care than when they are out of custody and in the community.”


latimes--2020-04-25--Beaches lure some despite coronavirus risks: 'It's hot. Nobody wants to be inside'

Sebastian Alcaraz was preparing to surf at 11th Street in Newport Beach on Friday afternoon , as he has continued to do during the COVID-19 pandemic .
The 17-year-old from Long Beach said he was sick for about a week in January and lost his senses of taste and smell .
He now believes that he was infected with the coronavirus .
Alcaraz ’ s friend , Natalie Peart of Huntington Beach , 23 , said she felt safe going to the beach .
“ We ’ re in California ; we ’ re the most chill people , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ social .
Nobody wants to give that up , you know ?
… People are going out because we ’ ve been quarantined for a month , and now it ’ s hot .
Nobody wants to be inside.
” As temperatures warmed up this weekend , some were following official guidance and staying away from the beach while others said they just could not resist .
Most Ventura and Orange county beaches are open , but many parking lots , piers and recreation spaces are closed .
Officials in both counties implored @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to abide by social distancing rules .
Los Angeles County beaches are closed , and Barbara Ferrer , director of the county Department of Public Health , has said repeatedly that they must remain closed to prevent an overflow of visitors who might be carrying the coronavirus .
She has also asked residents not to crowd beaches in neighboring Ventura and Orange counties .
“ We have high rates of illness and a lot of people in our county who are dying .
We know it ’ s best right now for us @ @ @ @ @ @ @ outside [ in ] your own yard or your own neighborhood , ” Ferrer told the media Wednesday .
In Huntington Beach , officials said the heat brought out people to the water Friday , but it was not as many as in normal times .
“ The crowds are not what you would typically see on a day like today , that ’ s not during a pandemic , ” Huntington Beach police spokeswoman Angie Bennett said , though she did allow , “ There are more people down at our beaches @ @ @ @ @ @ @ months.
” Record temperatures were reported Friday at Burbank ’ s Bob Hope Airport , where the high of 99 degrees broke the old record of 93 set in 1965 , and at UCLA , where a recording of 87 degrees broke the old record of 86 set in 2001 .
Popular Newport Beach surfing destination the Wedge remains closed , but people still flocked to the beach on Friday .
Brett Polley of Irvine , 20 , hung out with his friends at 32nd Street and played Spikeball , while making sure @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ It ’ s a hot day , so you want to go down to the beach , ” Polley said .
“ We ’ re kind of tired of being in our houses .
We ’ ve been keeping up with the news lately … and we really believe that this heat wave will drop people out , weaken the virus at least .
”

Newport Beach police made sure visitors knew about the weekend boardwalk closure but declined to issue any tickets.
Sebastian Alcaraz was preparing to surf at 11th Street in Newport Beach on Friday afternoon, as he has continued to do during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The 17-year-old from Long Beach said he was sick for about a week in January and lost his senses of taste and smell. He now believes that he was infected with the coronavirus.
Alcaraz’s friend, Natalie Peart of Huntington Beach, 23, said she felt safe going to the beach.
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“We’re in California; we’re the most chill people,” Peart said. “Everyone’s social. Nobody wants to give that up, you know? … People are going out because we’ve been quarantined for a month, and now it’s hot. Nobody wants to be inside.”
As temperatures warmed up this weekend, some were following official guidance and staying away from the beach while others said they just could not resist.
Most Ventura and Orange county beaches are open, but many parking lots, piers and recreation spaces are closed. Officials in both counties implored visitors to either stay away altogether or to abide by social distancing rules.
Coronavirus social distancing regulations are in effect in Newport Beach, shown March 31. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
Los Angeles County beaches are closed, and Barbara Ferrer, director of the county Department of Public Health, has said repeatedly that they must remain closed to prevent an overflow of visitors who might be carrying the coronavirus. She has also asked residents not to crowd beaches in neighboring Ventura and Orange counties.
“We have high rates of illness and a lot of people in our county who are dying. We know it’s best right now for us Angelenos to stay home, or stay outside [in] your own yard or your own neighborhood,” Ferrer told the media Wednesday.
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In Huntington Beach, officials said the heat brought out people to the water Friday, but it was not as many as in normal times.
“The crowds are not what you would typically see on a day like today, that’s not during a pandemic,” Huntington Beach police spokeswoman Angie Bennett said, though she did allow, “There are more people down at our beaches than have been in the last few months.”
Record temperatures were reported Friday at Burbank’s Bob Hope Airport, where the high of 99 degrees broke the old record of 93 set in 1965, and at UCLA, where a recording of 87 degrees broke the old record of 86 set in 2001.
Popular Newport Beach surfing destination the Wedge remains closed, but people still flocked to the beach on Friday. Brett Polley of Irvine, 20, hung out with his friends at 32nd Street and played Spikeball, while making sure to use disinfectant wipes for the ball.
“It’s a hot day, so you want to go down to the beach,” Polley said. “We’re kind of tired of being in our houses. We’ve been keeping up with the news lately … and we really believe that this heat wave will drop people out, weaken the virus at least.”


latimes--2020-04-25--During Southern California heat wave, coronavirus stay-at-home orders face a big test

With Southern California in the midst of the year ’ s first big heat wave , Los Angeles County ’ s stay-at-home order will face a major test as all 72 miles of the region ’ s coast remain closed .
At Burbank ’ s Bob Hope Airport , a high of 99 degrees Friday broke the old record of 93 degrees set in 1965 , and at UCLA , a recording of 87 degrees broke the old record of 86 set in 2001 .
Temperatures tied records in downtown Los Angeles , Long Beach , Camarillo , Woodland Hills @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Service said .
Saturday was expected to be a few degrees cooler , with downtown L.A. reaching a high of about 90 degrees , still above the normal high for this time of year , which is about 74 , said Mike Wofford , a meteorologist with the weather service in Oxnard .
Things are expected to cool off Saturday night , but temperatures will remain above normal , in the 80s , for the next seven days , Wofford said .
Barbara Ferrer , director of the Los Angeles County Department of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the beaches must remain closed to prevent an overflow of visitors who might be carrying the coronavirus .
She has asked L.A. residents not to crowd beaches in neighboring Ventura and Orange counties .
“ We have high rates of illness and a lot of people in our county who are dying .
We know it ’ s best right now for us Angelenos to stay home , or stay outside [ in ] your own yard or your own neighborhood , ” Ferrer told the media Wednesday .
To do otherwise , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of bringing the infection to L.A. “ And we absolutely don ’ t need that.
” Ferrer on Saturday renewed her call for people to stay home .
“ Continue to do your part and save lives , ” she said in a statement .
“ This is how we get to the other side of the outbreak and begin our recovery.
” That came as L.A. County reported 48 new deaths and 607 additional cases of COVID-19 .
Long Beach , which has its own health department , reported 26 new cases @ @ @ @ @ @ @ deaths and more than 19,100 cases .
Of the people who died , 37 were older than 65 and nine were ages 41-65 .
Thirty-eight had underlying health conditions .
“ This past week in L.A. County , we doubled the number of deaths from COVID-19 and diagnosed more than 7,000 new cases , ” Ferrer said in a statement .
“ Because we are still seeing a significant increase in new cases and deaths , we ask that you continue to stay home as much as possible.
” For the most part @ @ @ @ @ @ @ warnings .
Los Angeles Police Chief Michel Moore tweeted aerial images of empty beaches on Saturday .
“ My compliments to our community for staying away from the beaches in LA , ” he wrote .
“ From Malibu , Santa Monica , Venice , to Dockweiler - All Clear !
!
” Most Ventura and Orange County beaches are open , but officials in both counties warn visitors to either stay away or to abide by social distancing practices .
The city of Ventura eased a hard closure on parks and beaches @ @ @ @ @ @ @ residents stay mentally and physically healthy amid the coronavirus pandemic .
Under an , residents can now access the city ’ s beaches , promenade and parks as long as they keep their distance from one another and remain active .
People can walk back and forth on the sand but are not allowed to sit down or stand against the railing to fish , for example .
The city ’ s ordinance includes provisions that give police authority to indefinitely close off an area if visitors ignore the rules .
For example @ @ @ @ @ @ @ residents ignore physical distancing guidelines , police can shut down the area for 24 hours .
On Saturday , the opening of area ’ s beaches brought out an unseasonably large crowd , in the hundreds , said Ventura Police Cmdr .
Tom Higgins .
Most people , drawn by comfortable temperatures that hovered in the mid-70s under pale-blue skies , stuck to the bike and running paths just above the sand .
“ After being cooped up , we understand people want to enjoy the outside , ” Higgins said .
But @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , restrooms and restaurants all remain closed , as does the Ventura pier , which separates city and state beaches that are operating under slightly different rules .
The rules forbid beachgoers from sitting or laying on the sand , but that wasn ’ t being strictly enforced Saturday .
A Ventura police sergeant in dark-blue shorts walked along the turquoise water politely asking people with children to take their umbrellas down but allowing them to sunbathe on the sand .
“ Technically you ’ re not supposed to sit down .
But @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ m not going to ask some 50-year-old parents to run around with kids all day , ” the sergeant said .
The lack of shade , he added , will encourage them to move on .
About an hour later , a police cruiser pulled up to the same stretch of beach , and the officer inside used his speaker to remind beachgoers of the rules .
The goal , Higgins said , was to apply common sense and to seek cooperation rather than issuing citations .
“ We ’ re in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” he said .
Many Orange County beaches are also open , but officials left in place parking restrictions that will reduce access .
Some cities , including Laguna Beach and Seal Beach , have closed their beaches .
Popular Newport Beach surfing destination the Wedge remains closed , but people still flocked to the beach , which remains open , on Friday .
“ We ’ re kind of tired of being in our houses , ” said Brett Polley , 20 , of Irvine .
“ We ’ ve been keeping @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we really believe that this heat wave will drop people out , weaken the virus at least.
” Heather Rangel , press information officer for the Newport Beach Police Department , said Saturday there had been no arrests or citations related to the stay-at-home orders , despite an uptick in beachgoers .
“ The beaches are crowded and look like a summer day in Newport Beach , ” she said in an email .
Huntington Beach also elected to keep its coastline is open , though the pier , beach parking lot and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Bennett , spokeswoman for the Huntington Beach Police Department , said Saturday that the city ’ s beaches appeared somewhat busy , but there were no significant incidents , and no one was cited for violating social distancing guidelines .
“ What the patrol officers are seeing is that people are staying within their own groups and appropriate distances apart , ” she said .
“ It ’ s been a nice , warm day , and it sounds like people are complying and doing what we are asking of them.
” On @ @ @ @ @ @ @ surf at 11th Street , Natalie Peart said she felt safe visiting the beach .
“ We ’ re in California ; we ’ re the most chill people , ” said Peart , 23 .
“ Everyone ’ s social .
Nobody wants to give that up , you know ?
” One county official opposed keeping the beaches open , noting that the region has been inundated with people from L.A. and San Diego counties and the Inland Empire .
“ When you take a look at the folks that are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ only not adhering to safer-at-home policies in their own communities , they ’ re not even staying in their own counties .
Especially with the warm weather , I think it ’ s going to be problematic , ” Supervisor Lisa Bartlett said this week .
Orange County health officials on Saturday announced 124 new COVID-19 cases , the highest one-day increase recorded by the county since the start of the pandemic .
Health officials also reported two additional deaths , bringing the county totals to 1,969 cases and 38 deaths .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hospitals increased to 159 , with 70 in intensive care units .
Stay-at-home orders issued by the state and local counties have led to some protests in San Diego , Huntington Beach , San Clemente , Sacramento and Newport Beach .
Most recently , a handful of protesters could be seen demonstrating in downtown Riverside on Saturday morning .
Still , poll results released Friday indicate that the majority of Californians support the directive .
Among those polled , 75 % want the stay-at-home order to continue as long as it ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Care Foundation/Ipsos survey .
Only 11 % wanted to stop the order , while 13 % had no opinion .
Statewide , California has recorded more than 42,000 cases of the coronavirus , and more than 1,600 people have died .
Wigglesworth and Vega are Times staff writers .
Szabo writes for Times Community News .

Alex Wigglesworth, Priscella Vega, Kevin Baxter, Matt Szabo

The words “love” and “be kind” are woven into a fence with yellow police tape at a closed beach in Venice. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times)
Brian Chapman, of Santa Monica, plays Frisbee with friend Kris Sims, of Santa Clarita, at the beach in Ventura. “We came up because all of the beaches in Los Angeles are closed,” Chapman said. (Gary Coronado / Los Angeles Times)
Adam Choi, at center with mask, and Grace Kim walk along a trail at the beach in Ventura. (Gary Coronado / Los Angeles Times)
Tyler MacFarland reads a book under the pier at the beach in Ventura. “I am still working and for the last month and a half it has been just work, home, work, home,” MacFarland said. (Gary Coronado / Los Angeles Times)
The bike path on Ocean Front Walk in Venice was open, but police officers were out in force to keep people off the beach. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times)
A group of young people make a political statement as they pedal a surrey bike down a crowded bike path in Huntington Beach. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
Beachgoers, ignoring social distancing rules and beach closures, walk in groups to the stairs leading to Salt Creek Beach in Dana Point. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)
Parking was restricted severely along Pacific Coast Highway over the weekend, with Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputies trying to keep people off closed beaches. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times)
Elizabeth Robles of Laguna Beach got a $30 ticket after parking in a no-parking zone to visit Salt Creek Beach in Dana Point to surf. “The ticket is worth it to me. I broke my arm recently and haven’t surfed in eight months,” she says. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)
Neighbors practice social distancing while enjoying the weather near the Strand in Hermosa Beach. (Gabriella Angotti-Jones / Los Angeles Times)
Bowie Davis, 3, plays in her kiddie pool with her father, Ed Davis, by her side at their home near the Strand in Hermosa Beach. (Gabriella Angotti-Jones / Los Angeles Times)
Kennedy, 2, and her 6-year-old brother Jackson play in the sand near the Strand in Manhattan Beach. The Bobo family drove in from Perris. (Gabriella Angotti-Jones / Los Angeles Times)
The beach near Veterans Park in Redondo Beach remains closed Saturday because of the coronavirus pandemic. (Gabriella Angotti-Jones / Los Angeles Times)
In Santa Monica police keep watch over the empty beach and closed bike path. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times)
A man plays fetch with his dog on Rocky Beach in Topanga despite law enforcement efforts to keep people away. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times)
A woman walks on deserted Venice Beach, which is among closed beaches in L.A. County. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times)
With Southern California in the midst of the year’s first big heat wave, Los Angeles County’s stay-at-home order faced a major test Saturday as all 72 miles of the region’s coast remained closed.
But for the most part, people appeared to heed the city’s warnings. Los Angeles Police Chief Michel Moore tweeted aerial images of empty beaches on Saturday.
“My compliments to our community for staying away from the beaches in LA,” he wrote. “From Malibu, Santa Monica, Venice, to Dockweiler - All Clear!!”
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But hundreds of people did flock to beaches in neighboring Ventura and Orange counties, where stretches of the coastline were opened this week. No major incidents were reported and most people appeared to practice social distancing.
“After being cooped up, we understand people want to enjoy the outside,” said Ventura Police Cmdr. Tom Higgins.
Temperatures ranged from the mid-70s along the coast to the low-90s in the valleys and inland areas on Saturday, according to the National Weather Service. Downtown L.A. hit 86 degrees, while Van Nuys saw the mercury reach 92 and Woodland Hills 91.
Things are expected to cool off Saturday night, but temperatures will remain above normal, in the 80s, for the next seven days, according to the weather service.
Barbara Ferrer, director of the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, has said repeatedly that the beaches must remain closed to prevent an overflow of visitors who might be carrying the coronavirus. She has asked L.A. residents not to crowd beaches in neighboring Ventura and Orange counties.
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“We have high rates of illness and a lot of people in our county who are dying. We know it’s best right now for us Angelenos to stay home, or stay outside [in] your own yard or your own neighborhood,” Ferrer told the media Wednesday. To do otherwise, she said, would increase the risk of bringing the infection to L.A. “And we absolutely don’t need that.”
Ferrer on Saturday renewed her call for people to stay home.
“Continue to do your part and save lives,” she said in a statement. “This is how we get to the other side of the outbreak and begin our recovery.”
That came as L.A. County reported 48 new deaths and 607 additional cases of COVID-19. Long Beach, which has its own health department, reported 26 new cases, bringing the county total to 895 deaths and more than 19,100 cases.
Of the people who died, 37 were older than 65 and nine were ages 41-65. Thirty-eight had underlying health conditions.
“This past week in L.A. County, we doubled the number of deaths from COVID-19 and diagnosed more than 7,000 new cases,” Ferrer said in a statement. “Because we are still seeing a significant increase in new cases and deaths, we ask that you continue to stay home as much as possible.”
My compliments to our community for staying away from the beaches in LA. From Malibu, Santa Monica, Venice, to Dockweiler - All Clear!! Safer at Home will get us there sooner. pic.twitter.com/wZeJ8G8pDR — Chief Michel Moore (@LAPDChiefMoore) April 25, 2020
Most Ventura and Orange County beaches are open, but officials in both counties warned visitors to either stay away or to abide by social distancing practices.
The city of Ventura eased a hard closure on parks and beaches this week in an effort to help residents stay mentally and physically healthy amid the coronavirus pandemic.
Under an amended ordinance , residents can now access the city’s beaches, promenade and parks as long as they keep their distance from one another and remain active. People can walk back and forth on the sand but are not allowed to sit down or stand against the railing to fish, for example.
The city’s ordinance includes provisions that give police authority to indefinitely close off an area if visitors ignore the rules. For example, if the promenade becomes overcrowded and residents ignore physical distancing guidelines, police can shut down the area for 24 hours.
Earlier this week, Ventura County reported 476 total coronavirus cases and 16 deaths.
On Saturday, the opening of area’s beaches brought out an unseasonably large crowd, in the hundreds, said Higgins said.
Most people, drawn by comfortable temperatures that hovered in the mid-70s under pale-blue skies, stuck to the bike and running paths just above the sand.
But with restrictions. Parking lots, playgrounds, restrooms and restaurants all remain closed, as does the Ventura pier, which separates city and state beaches that are operating under slightly different rules.
“We’re coordinating so they’re consistent,” Higgins said.
The rules forbid beachgoers from sitting or laying on the sand, but that wasn’t being strictly enforced Saturday. A Ventura police sergeant in dark-blue shorts walked along the turquoise water politely asking people with children to take their umbrellas down but allowing them to sunbathe on the sand.
“Technically you’re not supposed to sit down. But they’re with kids. I’m not going to ask some 50-year-old parents to run around with kids all day,” the sergeant said.
The lack of shade, he added, will encourage them to move on.
About an hour later, a police cruiser pulled up to the same stretch of beach, and the officer inside used his speaker to remind beachgoers of the rules.
The goal, Higgins said, was to apply common sense and to seek cooperation rather than issuing citations.
“We’re in a mode of educating right now,” he said.
Many Orange County beaches are also open, but officials left in place parking restrictions that will reduce access. Some cities, including Laguna Beach and Seal Beach, have closed their beaches.
Popular Newport Beach surfing destination the Wedge remains closed, but people still flocked to the beach, which remains open, on Friday.
“We’re kind of tired of being in our houses,” said Brett Polley, 20, of Irvine. “We’ve been keeping up with the news lately … and we really believe that this heat wave will drop people out, weaken the virus at least.”
Heather Rangel, press information officer for the Newport Beach Police Department, said Saturday there had been no arrests or citations related to the stay-at-home orders, despite an uptick in beachgoers.
“The beaches are crowded and look like a summer day in Newport Beach,” she said in an email.
Huntington Beach also elected to keep its coastline is open, though the pier, beach parking lot and some metered parking remain closed.
Angie Bennett, spokeswoman for the Huntington Beach Police Department, said Saturday that the city’s beaches appeared somewhat busy, but there were no significant incidents, and no one was cited for violating social distancing guidelines.
“What the patrol officers are seeing is that people are staying within their own groups and appropriate distances apart,” she said. “It’s been a nice, warm day, and it sounds like people are complying and doing what we are asking of them.”
On Friday, as her friends prepared to surf at 11th Street, Natalie Peart said she felt safe visiting the beach.
“We’re in California; we’re the most chill people,” said Peart, 23. “Everyone’s social. Nobody wants to give that up, you know?”
One county official opposed keeping the beaches open, noting that the region has been inundated with people from L.A. and San Diego counties and the Inland Empire.
“When you take a look at the folks that are coming down, they’re not only not adhering to safer-at-home policies in their own communities, they’re not even staying in their own counties. Especially with the warm weather, I think it’s going to be problematic,” Supervisor Lisa Bartlett said this week.
Orange County health officials on Saturday announced 124 new COVID-19 cases, the highest one-day increase recorded by the county since the start of the pandemic. Health officials also reported two additional deaths, bringing the county totals to 1,969 cases and 38 deaths.
The number of COVID-19 patients in Orange County hospitals increased to 159, with 70 in intensive care units.
Stay-at-home orders issued by the state and local counties have led to some protests in San Diego, Huntington Beach, San Clemente, Sacramento and Newport Beach.
Most recently, a handful of protesters could be seen demonstrating in downtown Riverside on Saturday morning.
Still, poll results released Friday indicate that the majority of Californians support the directive. Among those polled, 75% want the stay-at-home order to continue as long as it’s needed, according to a California Health Care Foundation/Ipsos survey. Only 11% wanted to stop the order, while 13% had no opinion.
Statewide, California has recorded more than 42,000 cases of the coronavirus, and more than 1,600 people have died.
Wigglesworth and Vega are Times staff writers. Szabo writes for Times Community News.


latimes--2020-04-25--Pilots put on an air show to thank San Diego-area healthcare workers

Social distancing prevents people from giving healthcare workers even a high-five these days , so some San Diego-area pilots aimed even higher to show their appreciation Friday .
About two dozen pilots in private planes , some that dated back to the 1940s , took to the sky and flew in formation past several hospitals , with many trailing smoke to add to the spectacle .
“ It feels that people are doing things for healthcare workers , and they feel a little more appreciative , ” said Lorena Cisneros , a secretary in the emergency room at Sharp Memorial @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 100 people had gathered outside to watch the flyover .
Knowing the healthcare workers are putting their lives in danger every day , the pilots went “ that extra mile to actually put on a little show for them , ” Cisneros said .
The flyover was organized by Phil Kendro , a Marine veteran and pilot who has worked on full-scale aeronautical events including the Miramar Air Show .
“ There was a fly-by in Kansas City , and somebody said , why can ’ t we do that here in San @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of local professional pilots , ” he said .
Kendro ’ s wife is nurse at Sharp Memorial , so he has a personal perspective on the commitment of healthcare workers during the COVID-19 outbreak .
“ I ’ m glad we were able to honor our medical professionals , and people were able to get outside and enjoy the awesome weather , ” he said , adding that the event was a way of showing hospital workers the love San Diegans have for them .
Pilot George Watson , 82 , flew @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Gillespie Field in El Cajon to participate .
“ From the doctors to the guys who sweep the floors , we ’ re just so grateful for them , ” he said .
“ I ’ ve seen how hard the workers are dealing with the coronavirus .
I can ’ t imagine.
” Watson said he ’ s personally thankful to the staff at Scripps Memorial Hospital in La Jolla , where he had heart surgery in 2018 .
Outside Sharp Memorial , workers in scrubs , caps , masks , lab @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of their colleagues watched from inside through picture windows on five floors at the front of the hospital .
At one point , workers on one floor broke into the Macarena dance while their co-workers below cheered them on .
As the first group of airplanes approached in a diamond formation at about 10:20 a.m. , all eyes and many cellphones turned skyward , and the crowd cheered and waved .
By the time the white trails from the planes had disappeared , more than half the workers returned to their duty , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ another group flying by in a V-formation .
“ It was awesome , ” said Courtney Robison , a manager of one of the hospital ’ s surgical acute care units .
“ To have the staff all come out and be recognized … you know , they ’ re all coming and showing up to work so it ’ s nice to hear a thank you from the community .
“ We ’ re all in this together , whether you ’ re on the front line , helping to take care @ @ @ @ @ @ @ re out in the community trying to do your part and social distancing and staying home to make it easier on us on the front lines , we appreciate it , ” she said .
Pilot John Flippen , who like Watson flew a vintage Beechcraft T-34 military trainer , said before taking off that he also wanted to show appreciation to healthcare workers .
“ The people I talked to who know we ’ re coming and work at these hospitals said the morale was kind of low , ” he said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ going to be doing a fly-by ... it was like the lights came on .
“ It feels good that we ’ re making a little bit of a difference in their daily norm , ” he said .
“ It lets them know people are thinking about them .
”

Some 25 aircraft participated in a flyover of San Diego-area hospitals to salute healthcare workers on Friday morning.
Social distancing prevents people from giving healthcare workers even a high-five these days, so some San Diego-area pilots aimed even higher to show their appreciation Friday.
About two dozen pilots in private planes, some that dated back to the 1940s, took to the sky and flew in formation past several hospitals, with many trailing smoke to add to the spectacle.
“It feels that people are doing things for healthcare workers, and they feel a little more appreciative,” said Lorena Cisneros, a secretary in the emergency room at Sharp Memorial Hospital in Kearny Mesa, where about 100 people had gathered outside to watch the flyover.
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Knowing the healthcare workers are putting their lives in danger every day, the pilots went “that extra mile to actually put on a little show for them,” Cisneros said.
The flyover was organized by Phil Kendro, a Marine veteran and pilot who has worked on full-scale aeronautical events including the Miramar Air Show.
“There was a fly-by in Kansas City, and somebody said, why can’t we do that here in San Diego, because we have a lot of local professional pilots,” he said.
Kendro’s wife is nurse at Sharp Memorial, so he has a personal perspective on the commitment of healthcare workers during the COVID-19 outbreak.
“I’m glad we were able to honor our medical professionals, and people were able to get outside and enjoy the awesome weather,” he said, adding that the event was a way of showing hospital workers the love San Diegans have for them.
Pilot George Watson, 82, flew his 1956 Beechcraft T-34 from Temecula to Gillespie Field in El Cajon to participate.
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“From the doctors to the guys who sweep the floors, we’re just so grateful for them,” he said. “I’ve seen how hard the workers are dealing with the coronavirus. I can’t imagine.”
Watson said he’s personally thankful to the staff at Scripps Memorial Hospital in La Jolla, where he had heart surgery in 2018.
Outside Sharp Memorial, workers in scrubs, caps, masks, lab coats waited for the fly-by while dozens of their colleagues watched from inside through picture windows on five floors at the front of the hospital.
At one point, workers on one floor broke into the Macarena dance while their co-workers below cheered them on.
As the first group of airplanes approached in a diamond formation at about 10:20 a.m., all eyes and many cellphones turned skyward, and the crowd cheered and waved.
By the time the white trails from the planes had disappeared, more than half the workers returned to their duty, but many were still outside to cheer another group flying by in a V-formation.
“It was awesome,” said Courtney Robison, a manager of one of the hospital’s surgical acute care units. “To have the staff all come out and be recognized … you know, they’re all coming and showing up to work so it’s nice to hear a thank you from the community.
“We’re all in this together, whether you’re on the front line, helping to take care of the patients, or you’re out in the community trying to do your part and social distancing and staying home to make it easier on us on the front lines, we appreciate it,” she said.
Pilot John Flippen, who like Watson flew a vintage Beechcraft T-34 military trainer, said before taking off that he also wanted to show appreciation to healthcare workers. “The people I talked to who know we’re coming and work at these hospitals said the morale was kind of low,” he said. “When they heard we were going to be doing a fly-by ... it was like the lights came on.
“It feels good that we’re making a little bit of a difference in their daily norm,” he said. “It lets them know people are thinking about them.”
Warth and Cook write for San Diego Union-Tribune


latimes--2020-04-25--Amid coronavirus closures, a Los Angeles artist gives her neighbors a walk-by gallery

The mask-clad dog walkers stop and look .
So do the kids on bikes .
And the joggers .
And the couples out for a stroll with a glass of wine .
In a leafy Sherman Oaks neighborhood , a little red easel by the curb , with a new watercolor painting every day , has provided something much needed as the formless days of the coronavirus stay-at-home orders stretch into weeks : something to look forward to .
Every morning , artist Kathryn Pitt sets out a new piece by her driveway , then goes back inside .
It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of social distance .
She calls it the Passers By Gallery .
“ So many more people are walking by these days , ” said , Pitt , 47 .
“ They ’ re cycling , they ’ re jogging .
Family units are out and people are strolling .
...
I just thought this was something I could do to make people a little bit happy in these times.
” With the traffic quieted and the parks and beaches closed , neighborhood streets have become a refuge for the bored and the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of ways people have tried to cheer each other up .
Sidewalk chalk art from children and parents encourages people to “ Stay Safe !
” and “ Remember the good.
” Painted rocks with encouraging messages started popping up all over one Santa Clarita neighborhood , as did painted tiles along Calle Yucca in Thousand Oaks .
Pitt set out her first watercolor March 22 : A cluster of four ducks on the water , swimming away .
“ stay well stay positive , ” Pitt wrote in a gallery-style description affixed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would try and do this every day .
One of the first paintings , titled “ Social Distancing , ” featured three penguins on the snow , a good amount of space between them .
“ TGIF !
( although it could be any day really right ? )
” she wrote .
Others were portraits of longing .
Four people lounging on the sand on a sunny day .
“ One day we will be back there ... ... .
” she wrote .
Two little boys playing basketball , inspired by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Others were dedicated to life amid stay-home restrictions .
A jogger in a racerback tank top , her ponytail flying .
A boy in a striped shirt lying on the floor , playing with a tablet .
A gray-haired couple — a bespectacled woman with red shoes linking arms with a man leaning on a cane — out for a walk .
On a gray-sky Monday , she painted a little boy in red shorts and a blue shirt sitting on the curb , his blond head in his hands .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ Here we go into another week , ” the description read .
“ More anxiety and frustrations I ’ m sure .
What we feel the whole world feels too .
Hang in there.
” Inspiration came easily at first .
But she never imagined she ’ d be doing this for more than a month .
Before COVID-19 , Pitt — who is originally from London and moved to the States with her family a decade ago — mostly did pet portraits .
It was something she started after trying @ @ @ @ @ @ @ children .
“ Americans just love their pets very much , ” she said .
She ’ s still in awe that people trust her to make art that they will hang in their homes and see every day .
She likes painting dogs the most .
They have so much personality .
When the stay-at-home orders began , Pitt knew her work would dry up .
The anxiety and the fear that everyone felt was palpable .
But the people walking by inspired her .
She wanted to give back to them @ @ @ @ @ @ @ month , she brought her painting inside and left the red easel out by the curb .
Someone took it .
A UPS delivery driver told her someone had carted it off on a bicycle .
Word got out .
Five days later , some neighbors Pitt hadn ’ t known too well brought it back .
They had found it shattered in a shopping cart .
They repaired and repainted it and brought it back .
“ It made me want to cry , ” Pitt said .
Just before 8:30 a.m. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ she set out the day ’ s work : two curvy women in black bikinis , walking away , clutching their flip-flops .
“ Week 6 !
” she wrote .
“ It feels to me like time has stopped.
” A few minutes later , neighbor Ellen Kornblum , walking at a steady clip , stopped briefly and chuckled at the painted ladies .
“ Haven ’ t seen that view recently , ” she said .
Morwenna and Stewart Moore came strolling by with Dudley , their old beagle-basset hound mix @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 5-year-old son , obsessed with airplanes , had asked Pitt to paint one .
She obliged , with a big red and white jet soaring through the clouds .
He was delighted .
“ It ’ s now the small things of the moment that people look forward to , ” Stewart Moore said .
Chris Johnsten , a major gifts officer for the Los Angeles Opera , stopped his bright red bicycle and hopped off to take a cellphone photo of the painting .
He does a 10-mile bike ride from his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mixing up his routes to keep it interesting .
He spotted a painting a few weeks ago and now rides by daily .
He sends pictures to his mom and sisters in Montana .
“ It ’ s such a positive message every time , ” he said .
“ This is a tough time .
But we ’ re in it together .
”

The mask-clad dog walkers stop and look. So do the kids on bikes. And the joggers. And the couples out for a stroll with a glass of wine.
In a leafy Sherman Oaks neighborhood, a little red easel by the curb, with a new watercolor painting every day, has provided something much needed as the formless days of the coronavirus stay-at-home orders stretch into weeks: something to look forward to.
Every morning, artist Kathryn Pitt sets out a new piece by her driveway, then goes back inside. It’s contactless art in the age of social distance. She calls it the Passers By Gallery.
Advertisement
“So many more people are walking by these days,” said, Pitt, 47. “They’re cycling, they’re jogging. Family units are out and people are strolling. ... I just thought this was something I could do to make people a little bit happy in these times.”
With the traffic quieted and the parks and beaches closed, neighborhood streets have become a refuge for the bored and the anxious. There has been no shortage of ways people have tried to cheer each other up.
Sidewalk chalk art from children and parents encourages people to “Stay Safe!” and “Remember the good.” Painted rocks with encouraging messages started popping up all over one Santa Clarita neighborhood, as did painted tiles along Calle Yucca in Thousand Oaks.
Pitt set out her first watercolor March 22: A cluster of four ducks on the water, swimming away.
“stay well stay positive,” Pitt wrote in a gallery-style description affixed to the easel, explaining that she would try and do this every day.
One of the first paintings, titled “Social Distancing,” featured three penguins on the snow, a good amount of space between them. “TGIF! (although it could be any day really right?)” she wrote.
Advertisement
Others were portraits of longing.
Four people lounging on the sand on a sunny day. “One day we will be back there .......” she wrote.
The Walt Disney Concert Hall. “Remember Downtown??”
Two little boys playing basketball, inspired by a next-door neighbor who really misses sports.
Artist Kathryn Pitt stands with a new painting by her driveway. She calls her daily pieces the Passers By Gallery. (Mark Potts / Los Angeles Times)
Others were dedicated to life amid stay-home restrictions.
A jogger in a racerback tank top, her ponytail flying. A boy in a striped shirt lying on the floor, playing with a tablet. A gray-haired couple — a bespectacled woman with red shoes linking arms with a man leaning on a cane — out for a walk.
On a gray-sky Monday, she painted a little boy in red shorts and a blue shirt sitting on the curb, his blond head in his hands. “Monday Blues,” she titled it.
“Here we go into another week,” the description read. “More anxiety and frustrations I’m sure. What we feel the whole world feels too. Hang in there.”
Inspiration came easily at first. But she never imagined she’d be doing this for more than a month.
Before COVID-19, Pitt — who is originally from London and moved to the States with her family a decade ago — mostly did pet portraits. It was something she started after trying, unsuccessfully, to do paintings for children.
“Americans just love their pets very much,” she said.
She’s still in awe that people trust her to make art that they will hang in their homes and see every day. She likes painting dogs the most. They have so much personality.
When the stay-at-home orders began, Pitt knew her work would dry up. The anxiety and the fear that everyone felt was palpable. But the people walking by inspired her. She wanted to give back to them.
On a rainy day earlier this month, she brought her painting inside and left the red easel out by the curb. Someone took it.
A UPS delivery driver told her someone had carted it off on a bicycle. Word got out. Five days later, some neighbors Pitt hadn’t known too well brought it back.
They had found it shattered in a shopping cart. They repaired and repainted it and brought it back.
“It made me want to cry,” Pitt said.
Just before 8:30 a.m. Monday, beneath another gray sky, she set out the day’s work: two curvy women in black bikinis, walking away, clutching their flip-flops.
“Week 6!” she wrote. “It feels to me like time has stopped.”
She went back inside.
Chris Johnsten stops on his bicycle to take a photo of artist Kathryn Pitt’s daily painting. (Mark Potts / Los Angeles Times)
A few minutes later, neighbor Ellen Kornblum, walking at a steady clip, stopped briefly and chuckled at the painted ladies.
“Haven’t seen that view recently,” she said.
Morwenna and Stewart Moore came strolling by with Dudley, their old beagle-basset hound mix. A few days ago, their 5-year-old son, obsessed with airplanes, had asked Pitt to paint one. She obliged, with a big red and white jet soaring through the clouds. He was delighted.
“It’s now the small things of the moment that people look forward to,” Stewart Moore said.
Chris Johnsten, a major gifts officer for the Los Angeles Opera, stopped his bright red bicycle and hopped off to take a cellphone photo of the painting. He does a 10-mile bike ride from his home in Studio City every day, mixing up his routes to keep it interesting.
He spotted a painting a few weeks ago and now rides by daily. He sends pictures to his mom and sisters in Montana.
“It’s such a positive message every time,” he said. “This is a tough time. But we’re in it together.”