latimes--2020-12-03--Angry parents won't let officials slide over closed playgrounds, packed malls

Sydney Beckman ran beneath the yellow caution tape surrounding the empty playground equipment and flopped her tiny body over a swing .
The 2-year-old had tried opening a gate blocking the big green slide at Anderson Park in Redondo Beach , but her dad had tugged her away — trying to explain that the playground was closed .
They would , he joked , have to sneak back “ under cover of darkness.
” “ Look at her !
She looks so sad , ” Zachary Beckman said , laughing at her small act of defiance .
But the transformation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ angered the 38-year-old father in a way that belied his laughter .
Los Angeles County closed outdoor public playgrounds this week as part of a set of restrictions meant to slow an unprecedented surge in coronavirus cases .
To many parents confounded by an array of official dictates — playgrounds and in-person schooling closed but malls open for business and packed with shoppers — a line in the sandbox has been crossed .
“ Parents are really taking the brunt of all this , ” Beckman said .
“ I understand the need @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lack of logic is very frustrating.
” A few feet away , three adults played on the tennis court , which remains open .
None wore masks .
Nine weary months in , many Californians have entered the “ why-is-this-closed-while-that-is-open ” stage of the pandemic .
And as new restrictions take effect , those who have followed the rules say they are having an increasingly hard time taking orders from politicians who don ’ t always seem to heed their own advice .
Angry parents pointed to Gov .
Gavin Newsom ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ French Laundry in Napa Valley , even as he was warning against Thanksgiving dinner gatherings ; L.A. County Supervisor Sheila Kuehl dining out in Santa Monica hours after voting last week to uphold a ban on outdoor dining ; and state lawmakers flying to Hawaii last month to schmooze with interest groups while health officials were discouraging travel .
“ The economic disparities of how they ’ re enforcing the rules is just obscene , ” Beckman said “ It ’ s clear that California is being run by the wealthy , not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bars before playgrounds — how is that ?
” Many fume over the county ’ s decisions to close outdoor public playgrounds and ban outdoor dining while allowing a slew of indoor businesses to stay open at reduced capacity — including shopping malls , tattoo and massage parlors and hair salons .
While children ’ s jungle gyms and monkey bars have been deemed too dangerous , tennis courts , golf courses , beaches , skate parks and hiking trails are still open .
So too are outdoor gym classes with sweaty adults @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the anger .
The county has not publicly linked coronavirus outbreaks to playgrounds , which closed in March and did not reopen until the first week of October .
Playgrounds at schools and day-cares remain open .
“ I know the playgrounds have been , really for many , sort of not well understood , and [ their closure ] creates a lot of hardship again for families , ” Los Angeles County Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer acknowledged this week .
Margaret Foss , who walks at the Van Nuys-Sherman Oaks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said the park is always crowded with adult exercise classes and people playing soccer and basketball , with few masks in sight .
“ They ’ re closing restaurants but letting people hang out publicly without safeguards ?
” she said .
“ Soccer is a contact sport .
Basketball is a contact sport .
It ’ s bizarre.
” The new restrictions come as officials scramble to contain a surge in COVID-19 cases during the holiday season that has renewed fears about how the state ’ s healthcare system will handle a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the rules are not as severe as they were early in the pandemic , when nonessential businesses were closed — along with hiking trails and beaches .
Ferrer said that before issuing the latest regulations , health officials “ went back and forth for many days ” about how to handle reports from local parks departments about crowding , children playing without masks and the difficulty of sanitizing playground equipment .
Tara Kirk Sell , a researcher at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security who has focused on risk communication and misinformation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ must “ be prepared for a good answer for why each of these measures should be put in place ” and the science behind it .
“ When there are too many restrictions and the public can ’ t understand and see the reason , it can make them stop listening altogether , ” Sell said .
“ Trust — once it ’ s gone , it ’ s gone for good .
Public health is really going to have to communicate well the next few months as we roll out vaccines.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , officials have to remember that parents and children “ need some sort of outlet.
” In a phone interview , Sell ’ s children , ages 4 and 6 , could be heard playing in the background .
She and her husband both work from home in Baltimore now , and the children attend school virtually .
They don ’ t have a yard , so they go to a playground every day , in masks , to get them away from their screens .
In mid-September , two dozen lawmakers pressed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ playgrounds , decrying their “ indefinite closure ” and the disproportionate harm to low-income communities with few yards .
They reopened two weeks later .
At the Earvin “ Magic ” Johnson Recreation Area in South L.A. this week , Oswaldo Romero entertained his 2-year-old daughter , Valeria , with a skateboard and chased her in the grass .
Romero , 25 , who lives in Watts and drives overnight for Lyft , said he has no yard and was frustrated that both public playgrounds and the ones at McDonald ’ s were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to take my kid , ” he said .
“ She ’ s active .
She needs to play.
” Oswaldo said his wife ’ s aunt got sick with COVID-19 earlier this year but recovered after two weeks .
While he said he understands concerns about the virus , he thinks officials are “ overdoing it with the safety measures ” and that “ there ’ s no reason to keep areas for kids closed.
” A 37-year-old sales associate at Westfield Santa Anita in Arcadia said she has been saddened to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mall .
The woman , who spoke on the condition of anonymity because she feared losing her job , said the mall seemed to far exceed the 25 % capacity it was allowed ( until this week , when that capacity was reduced to 20 % ) , and that she has tried to contact the county health department about it .
She worked Black Friday ; the parking lot was full .
“ It just makes no sense , ” she said .
“ You shut down the parks , where it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to keep malls open indoors ?
If you want to open the malls and allow people to shop , open up the schools .
...
It ’ s all about money.
” Stores limit customers , but corridors are jammed with people in long lines .
Tables and chairs are gone , but people stand around to eat and drink with no masks .
In Highland Park , Laura Mannino , a 41-year-old television writer , has had a hard time explaining to her 5-year-old son why he was seeing “ police tape @ @ @ @ @ @ @ parties and where he went every day.
” Harry , who attends LAUSD kindergarten virtually , thought the coronavirus lived only on playground equipment because that was the only thing he saw roped off .
When his favorite playground finally reopened , he did just fine with his mom ’ s new rules : Wear a mask .
Sanitize your hands before and after playing .
Don ’ t crowd in the tube slide with other kids .
“ If our state and city and county can put together massive testing sites and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ information on playground safety messaging , ” Mannino said .
“ People say playgrounds are high-touch areas .
Then clean the playgrounds .
Produce at the store is high-touch ; we don ’ t see the county putting police tape around the melons.
” In her Facebook group for moms , parents have vented their fury over recent decisions .
“ We ’ re conscientious , ” Mannino said .
“ We follow the rules .
But I ’ m seeing more and more parents frustrated .
They ’ re taking it personally @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Echoing the tone of other parents in interviews this week , she added : “ Let my kid swing on a f— swing .
”

Playgrounds are closed under the county’s newest order, but malls, golf courses and tennis courts remain open. Above, Maala Sampath, 2, tries to climb into a swing at a closed playground on Dec. 1.
Sydney Beckman ran beneath the yellow caution tape surrounding the empty playground equipment and flopped her tiny body over a swing.
The 2-year-old had tried opening a gate blocking the big green slide at Anderson Park in Redondo Beach, but her dad had tugged her away — trying to explain that the playground was closed. They would, he joked, have to sneak back “under cover of darkness.”
“Look at her! She looks so sad,” Zachary Beckman said, laughing at her small act of defiance.
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But the transformation of the playground into a no-fun zone angered the 38-year-old father in a way that belied his laughter.
Los Angeles County closed outdoor public playgrounds this week as part of a set of restrictions meant to slow an unprecedented surge in coronavirus cases. To many parents confounded by an array of official dictates — playgrounds and in-person schooling closed but malls open for business and packed with shoppers — a line in the sandbox has been crossed.
“Parents are really taking the brunt of all this,” Beckman said. “I understand the need for safety, but the inconsistencies and lack of logic is very frustrating.”
A few feet away, three adults played on the tennis court, which remains open. None wore masks.
Nine weary months in, many Californians have entered the “why-is-this-closed-while-that-is-open” stage of the pandemic.
California California pioneered the COVID-19 stay-at-home lockdown. Now, it faces a backlash State officials are considering the kind of stay-at-home order that helped curb the virus’ spread in the spring. What is unclear is whether Californians will stomach even a modified lockdown as they did in March and April.
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And as new restrictions take effect, those who have followed the rules say they are having an increasingly hard time taking orders from politicians who don’t always seem to heed their own advice.
Angry parents pointed to Gov. Gavin Newsom’s attendance at a birthday dinner at the French Laundry in Napa Valley, even as he was warning against Thanksgiving dinner gatherings; L.A. County Supervisor Sheila Kuehl dining out in Santa Monica hours after voting last week to uphold a ban on outdoor dining; and state lawmakers flying to Hawaii last month to schmooze with interest groups while health officials were discouraging travel.
“The economic disparities of how they’re enforcing the rules is just obscene,” Beckman said “It’s clear that California is being run by the wealthy, not people with families. They opened up bars before playgrounds — how is that?”
Many fume over the county’s decisions to close outdoor public playgrounds and ban outdoor dining while allowing a slew of indoor businesses to stay open at reduced capacity — including shopping malls, tattoo and massage parlors and hair salons.
While children’s jungle gyms and monkey bars have been deemed too dangerous, tennis courts, golf courses, beaches, skate parks and hiking trails are still open. So too are outdoor gym classes with sweaty adults.
Playgrounds have emerged as focal points of the anger. The county has not publicly linked coronavirus outbreaks to playgrounds, which closed in March and did not reopen until the first week of October. Playgrounds at schools and day-cares remain open.
“I know the playgrounds have been, really for many, sort of not well understood, and [their closure] creates a lot of hardship again for families,” Los Angeles County Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer acknowledged this week.
Margaret Foss, who walks at the Van Nuys-Sherman Oaks Recreation Center several times a week, said the park is always crowded with adult exercise classes and people playing soccer and basketball, with few masks in sight.
“They’re closing restaurants but letting people hang out publicly without safeguards?” she said. “Soccer is a contact sport. Basketball is a contact sport. It’s bizarre.”
The new restrictions come as officials scramble to contain a surge in COVID-19 cases during the holiday season that has renewed fears about how the state’s healthcare system will handle a crush of new patients.
Still, the rules are not as severe as they were early in the pandemic, when nonessential businesses were closed — along with hiking trails and beaches.
Ferrer said that before issuing the latest regulations, health officials “went back and forth for many days” about how to handle reports from local parks departments about crowding, children playing without masks and the difficulty of sanitizing playground equipment.
Malls and shopping centers have been crowded despite capacity limits. Above, Black Friday shoppers at the Citadel Outlets in Commerce on Nov. 27. (Dania Maxwell / Los Angeles Times)
Tara Kirk Sell, a researcher at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security who has focused on risk communication and misinformation during the pandemic, said health officials must “be prepared for a good answer for why each of these measures should be put in place” and the science behind it.
“When there are too many restrictions and the public can’t understand and see the reason, it can make them stop listening altogether,” Sell said. “Trust — once it’s gone, it’s gone for good. Public health is really going to have to communicate well the next few months as we roll out vaccines.”
As for closing playgrounds, she said, officials have to remember that parents and children “need some sort of outlet.”
Tracking the coronavirus in L.A. County The latest maps and charts on the spread of COVID-19 in Los Angeles County, including cases, deaths, closures and restrictions.
In a phone interview, Sell’s children, ages 4 and 6, could be heard playing in the background. She and her husband both work from home in Baltimore now, and the children attend school virtually. They don’t have a yard, so they go to a playground every day, in masks, to get them away from their screens.
In mid-September, two dozen lawmakers pressed Newsom in a letter to reopen public playgrounds, decrying their “indefinite closure” and the disproportionate harm to low-income communities with few yards. They reopened two weeks later.
At the Earvin “Magic” Johnson Recreation Area in South L.A. this week, Oswaldo Romero entertained his 2-year-old daughter, Valeria, with a skateboard and chased her in the grass. Romero, 25, who lives in Watts and drives overnight for Lyft, said he has no yard and was frustrated that both public playgrounds and the ones at McDonald’s were closed.
“I need a place to take my kid,” he said. “She’s active. She needs to play.”
Sydney Beckman, 2, plays on a swing at Anderson Park in Redondo Beach on Nov. 30. (Hailey Branson-Potts / Los Angeles Times)
Oswaldo said his wife’s aunt got sick with COVID-19 earlier this year but recovered after two weeks. While he said he understands concerns about the virus, he thinks officials are “overdoing it with the safety measures” and that “there’s no reason to keep areas for kids closed.”
A 37-year-old sales associate at Westfield Santa Anita in Arcadia said she has been saddened to see a lot of children at the mall. The woman, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because she feared losing her job, said the mall seemed to far exceed the 25% capacity it was allowed (until this week, when that capacity was reduced to 20%), and that she has tried to contact the county health department about it. She worked Black Friday; the parking lot was full.
“It just makes no sense,” she said. “You shut down the parks, where it’s outside, but you want to keep malls open indoors? If you want to open the malls and allow people to shop, open up the schools. ... It’s all about money.”
Stores limit customers, but corridors are jammed with people in long lines. Tables and chairs are gone, but people stand around to eat and drink with no masks.
In Highland Park, Laura Mannino, a 41-year-old television writer, has had a hard time explaining to her 5-year-old son why he was seeing “police tape covering a space where he attended birthday parties and where he went every day.”
California When schools reopen will you send your child back? A school district survey asks parents in L.A. to look ahead to the near but indefinite future, when campuses could reopen for in-person classes, even as health officials project dark weeks ahead.
Harry, who attends LAUSD kindergarten virtually, thought the coronavirus lived only on playground equipment because that was the only thing he saw roped off. When his favorite playground finally reopened, he did just fine with his mom’s new rules: Wear a mask. Sanitize your hands before and after playing. Don’t crowd in the tube slide with other kids.
“If our state and city and county can put together massive testing sites and programs, certainly we can do basic information on playground safety messaging,” Mannino said. “People say playgrounds are high-touch areas. Then clean the playgrounds. Produce at the store is high-touch; we don’t see the county putting police tape around the melons.”
In her Facebook group for moms, parents have vented their fury over recent decisions.
“We’re conscientious,” Mannino said. “We follow the rules. But I’m seeing more and more parents frustrated. They’re taking it personally because we’re really exhausted.”
Echoing the tone of other parents in interviews this week, she added: “Let my kid swing on a f— swing.”


latimes--2020-12-03--As Newsom mulls over a U.S. Senate pick, Latino lawmakers and activists say it's their time

Though home to more Latinos than any state in the union , a haven for Central American immigrants and infused with a rich history as a former Mexican territory , California has never sent a Latino to the U.S. Senate in its 170 years of statehood .
Now , Latino lawmakers and activists want Gov .
Gavin Newsom to change that when he appoints a replacement for Sen. Kamala Harris , who will resign before being sworn in as vice president in January .
“ Gov .
Newsom , you have an opportunity to change things , ” Assemblyman Robert @ @ @ @ @ @ @ recent news conference .
“ Your choice matters .
It matters for all those kids imagining what they could be when they grow up .
It matters to Latinos who make up almost 50 % of COVID-19 deaths , 60 % of our state ’ s uninsured .
All of whom need a voice in Washington , D.C .
It matters to our immigrants , documented , undocumented , who need a champion.
” Newsom , who has not said when he ’ ll make an announcement on Harris ’ successor , is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ what is perhaps one of the most pivotal and politically consequential decisions he will make during his first two years in office .
Along with televised news conferences lobbying for different prospective candidates , the governor has been inundated with calls , emails and texts .
And the behind-the-scenes jockeying has spilled over to his network , with some making entreaties to Newsom ’ s advisors and staff , friends and even his wife , documentary filmmaker Jennifer Siebel Newsom .
“ This is not something that I wish even on my worst @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this process , you know , not just friends .
And it ’ s a vexing decision .
It ’ s a challenging one , ” Newsom told reporters on election day .
The political stakes for Newsom are intensified because he ’ s replacing a senator who has made history : Harris is one of only two Black women ever elected to the U.S. Senate .
The California Legislative Black Caucus and Black Lives Matter have called on Newsom to appoint Democratic Reps. Karen Bass of Los Angeles or Barbara Lee of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ female political donors took out full-page ads in the Los Angeles Times and San Francisco Chronicle urging the governor to select a woman of color .
The LGBTQ Victory Fund has recommended Senate President Pro Tem Toni Atkins ( D-San Diego ) and Long Beach Mayor Robert Garcia , both of whom have come out as gay .
And progressives and Indian American advocates are pushing for Silicon Valley Rep. Ro Khanna to get the nod .
One of Newsom ’ s political mentors , former San Francisco Mayor Willie Brown , has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that Newsom himself head to the Senate , or appoint a Black woman , suggesting Bass , Lee or Democratic Rep. Maxine Waters , among others .
Meanwhile , Secretary of State Alex Padilla , a close ally of Newsom who chaired his short-lived 2010 run for governor , is being strongly backed by the Latino Victory Fund , a political organization co-founded by actress Eva Longoria .
All of the advocacy groups have forged strong partnerships with the Democratic Party in California , whose membership comprises at-times conflicting interests that don ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reelection in 2022 and the subject of a budding recall campaign , Newsom can ill afford to further fracture this liberal base .
“ In a way , all these people pushing for their favorite candidate cancel each other out , ” said Democratic political consultant Rose Kapolczynski , who served as former Sen. Barbara Boxer ’ s chief campaign advisor .
“ Plenty of people will be disappointed .
I guess the question is , is there anyone who ’ s going to be really unhappy ?
” California ’ s U.S. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coveted prizes in a state overflowing with political ambition .
Harris ascended to vice president-elect after serving just four years as California ’ s junior senator .
For nearly three decades , fellow Democrat Sen. Dianne Feinstein has held her seat in the Senate , a political body unencumbered by the term limits that bridle the governor and California ’ s other state officeholders .
Harris , who is of Jamaican and Indian descent , is one of two people of color ever elected to represent California in the U.S. Senate , joining @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Japanese immigrant parents , who served in the late 1970s and early 1980s .
California has had only three female senators — Harris , Feinstein and Boxer — since the state joined the Union in 1850 .
Though positions of power in California have been held by Latino politicians over the last two decades , including Los Angeles mayor and leadership roles in both chambers of the California Legislature , the U.S. Senate has remained elusive .
Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez ( D-San Diego ) said it ’ s time that Latino public @ @ @ @ @ @ @ account for 40 % of California ’ s population , more than half of the state ’ s public school students , a quarter of the California electorate , more than a third of the California Legislature , a quarter of California ’ s congressional delegation and half of the current statewide officeholders , including Padilla and Atty .
Gen. Xavier Becerra .
“ The truth is , California is blue , blue , blue , because of us .
It is the work that Latinos did on the ground .
It is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Gonzalez said in November .
“ We built California as a new California , as a California that elects Democrats time and time again.
” Gonzalez and other members of the California Latino Legislative Caucus held news conferences up and down the state last month urging Newsom to appoint a Latino senator , and they were joined by representatives from civil rights groups including the League of United Latin American Citizens and the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights .
Other calls have come from the National Assn .
of Latino Elected and Appointed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for a Latino senator have been focused in recent days on Padilla , who is considered by many people close to Newsom to be a favorite for the seat .
Feinstein , who gave Padilla his first major break in politics when she hired him as a staff member , backed him on Wednesday .
Rep. Tony Cárdenas ( D-Los Angeles ) , who heads the Congressional Hispanic Caucus ’ political action committee , which has called for Padilla ’ s appointment , has been a longtime political ally of the secretary of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ potentially represent California for decades , building the political clout that comes with seniority , Cárdenas said .
Cárdenas noted that Padilla has been elected to two terms as secretary of state , proving that he can win a statewide election in California — essential because the person appointed must defend the seat in the 2022 election .
“ Whoever is appointed is literally going to have to hit the ground running , ” Cárdenas said .
Latino candidates have vied for a U.S. Senate seat in recent years .
Former Orange County @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the 2016 Senate race , losing soundly in the general election .
Former state Senate President Pro Tem Kevin de León , now a member of the L.A. City Council , fared better when he challenged Feinstein ’ s reelection bid in 2018 , but still went down to defeat .
Mindy Romero , director of the USC Center for Inclusive Democracy , said those outcomes primarily resulted from the shortfalls of the individual candidates or the strengths of their formidable opponents .
Sanchez ’ s campaign was hamstrung by her gaffes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s Democratic establishment .
And though Feinstein was dealt a stinging embarrassment when De León was awarded an endorsement by the state Democratic Party , De León ultimately was unable to overcome the senior senator , long a California political institution .
“ It was just a hard hill to climb , ” Romero said .
Whomever Newsom appoints should expect to face a fierce challenge in two years , even from within their own party .
Becerra , who was appointed state attorney general when Harris , his predecessor , was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ found that out firsthand .
In the primary , Becerra beat back a challenge by then-Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones , a California Democratic Party stalwart .
Two potentially formidable Democratic challengers could be Reps. Adam Schiff of Burbank , who took center stage in President Trump ’ s impeachment trial , and Katie Porter of Irvine , known for her dramatic grilling of corporate executives and government officials during congressional hearings .
Both have amassed campaign war chests and enjoy visible public profiles , essential when running in a state as large as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ choice to replace Harris needs to be someone who can weather such a challenge .

Gov. Gavin Newsom, center, visits Dodger Stadium with former Dodger pitcher Fernando Valenzuela, left, and California Secretary of State Alex Padilla shortly before the November election. Padilla is considered one of the favorites to be appointed to the U.S. Senate to fill a vacancy created when Sen. Kamala Harris is sworn in as vice president.
Though home to more Latinos than any state in the union, a haven for Central American immigrants and infused with a rich history as a former Mexican territory, California has never sent a Latino to the U.S. Senate in its 170 years of statehood.
Now, Latino lawmakers and activists want Gov. Gavin Newsom to change that when he appoints a replacement for Sen. Kamala Harris, who will resign before being sworn in as vice president in January.
“Gov. Newsom, you have an opportunity to change things,” Assemblyman Robert Rivas (D-Hollister) said at a recent news conference. “Your choice matters. It matters for all those kids imagining what they could be when they grow up. It matters to Latinos who make up almost 50% of COVID-19 deaths, 60% of our state’s uninsured. All of whom need a voice in Washington, D.C. It matters to our immigrants, documented, undocumented, who need a champion.”
Newsom, who has not said when he’ll make an announcement on Harris’ successor, is facing an onslaught of competing pressures over what is perhaps one of the most pivotal and politically consequential decisions he will make during his first two years in office.
Along with televised news conferences lobbying for different prospective candidates, the governor has been inundated with calls, emails and texts. And the behind-the-scenes jockeying has spilled over to his network, with some making entreaties to Newsom’s advisors and staff, friends and even his wife, documentary filmmaker Jennifer Siebel Newsom.
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“This is not something that I wish even on my worst enemy, because you create enemies in this process, you know, not just friends. And it’s a vexing decision. It’s a challenging one,” Newsom told reporters on election day.
The political stakes for Newsom are intensified because he’s replacing a senator who has made history: Harris is one of only two Black women ever elected to the U.S. Senate.
The California Legislative Black Caucus and Black Lives Matter have called on Newsom to appoint Democratic Reps. Karen Bass of Los Angeles or Barbara Lee of Oakland. And a group of influential female political donors took out full-page ads in the Los Angeles Times and San Francisco Chronicle urging the governor to select a woman of color.
The LGBTQ Victory Fund has recommended Senate President Pro Tem Toni Atkins (D-San Diego) and Long Beach Mayor Robert Garcia, both of whom have come out as gay. And progressives and Indian American advocates are pushing for Silicon Valley Rep. Ro Khanna to get the nod.
One of Newsom’s political mentors, former San Francisco Mayor Willie Brown, has also weighed in. He has recommended that Newsom himself head to the Senate, or appoint a Black woman, suggesting Bass, Lee or Democratic Rep. Maxine Waters, among others.
Meanwhile, Secretary of State Alex Padilla, a close ally of Newsom who chaired his short-lived 2010 run for governor, is being strongly backed by the Latino Victory Fund, a political organization co-founded by actress Eva Longoria.
All of the advocacy groups have forged strong partnerships with the Democratic Party in California, whose membership comprises at-times conflicting interests that don’t always get along. Up for reelection in 2022 and the subject of a budding recall campaign, Newsom can ill afford to further fracture this liberal base.
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“In a way, all these people pushing for their favorite candidate cancel each other out,” said Democratic political consultant Rose Kapolczynski, who served as former Sen. Barbara Boxer’s chief campaign advisor. “Plenty of people will be disappointed. I guess the question is, is there anyone who’s going to be really unhappy?”
California’s U.S. Senate seats are two of the most coveted prizes in a state overflowing with political ambition.
Harris ascended to vice president-elect after serving just four years as California’s junior senator. For nearly three decades, fellow Democrat Sen. Dianne Feinstein has held her seat in the Senate, a political body unencumbered by the term limits that bridle the governor and California’s other state officeholders.
Harris, who is of Jamaican and Indian descent, is one of two people of color ever elected to represent California in the U.S. Senate, joining Republican S.I. Hayakawa, the son of Japanese immigrant parents, who served in the late 1970s and early 1980s. California has had only three female senators — Harris, Feinstein and Boxer — since the state joined the union in 1850.
Though positions of power in California have been held by Latino politicians over the last two decades, including Los Angeles mayor and leadership roles in both chambers of the California Legislature, the U.S. Senate has remained elusive.
Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez (D-San Diego) said it’s time that Latino public officials receive long-awaited recognition. Latino people account for 40% of California’s population, more than half of the state’s public school students, a quarter of the California electorate, more than a third of the California Legislature, a quarter of California’s congressional delegation and half of the current statewide officeholders, including Padilla and Atty. Gen. Xavier Becerra.
“The truth is, California is blue, blue, blue, because of us. It is the work that Latinos did on the ground. It is our housekeepers and our janitors,” Gonzalez said in November. “We built California as a new California, as a California that elects Democrats time and time again.”
Gonzalez and other members of the California Latino Legislative Caucus held news conferences up and down the state last month urging Newsom to appoint a Latino senator, and they were joined by representatives from civil rights groups including the League of United Latin American Citizens and the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights. Other calls have come from the National Assn. of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials.
But many of the calls for a Latino senator have been focused in recent days on Padilla, who is considered by many people close to Newsom to be a favorite for the seat. Feinstein, who gave Padilla his first major break in politics when she hired him as a staff member, backed him on Wednesday.
Rep. Tony Cárdenas (D-Los Angeles), who heads the Congressional Hispanic Caucus’ political action committee, which has called for Padilla’s appointment, has been a longtime political ally of the secretary of state. Padilla, 47, could potentially represent California for decades, building the political clout that comes with seniority, Cárdenas said.
Cárdenas noted that Padilla has been elected to two terms as secretary of state, proving that he can win a statewide election in California — essential because the person appointed must defend the seat in the 2022 election.
“Whoever is appointed is literally going to have to hit the ground running,” Cárdenas said.
Latino candidates have vied for a U.S. Senate seat in recent years. Former Orange County Rep. Loretta Sanchez faced off against Harris in the 2016 Senate race, losing soundly in the general election. Former state Senate President Pro Tem Kevin de León, now a member of the L.A. City Council, fared better when he challenged Feinstein’s reelection bid in 2018, but still went down to defeat.
Mindy Romero, director of the USC Center for Inclusive Democracy, said those outcomes primarily resulted from the shortfalls of the individual candidates or the strengths of their formidable opponents.
Sanchez’s campaign was hamstrung by her gaffes and Harris’ strong backing by California’s Democratic establishment. And though Feinstein was dealt a stinging embarrassment when De León was awarded an endorsement by the state Democratic Party, De León ultimately was unable to overcome the senior senator, long a California political institution.
“It was just a hard hill to climb,” Romero said.
Whomever Newsom appoints should expect to face a fierce challenge in two years, even from within their own party.
Becerra, who was appointed state attorney general when Harris, his predecessor, was elected to the Senate in 2016, found that out firsthand. In the primary, Becerra beat back a challenge by then-Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones, a California Democratic Party stalwart.
Two potentially formidable Democratic challengers could be Reps. Adam B. Schiff of Burbank, who took center stage in President Trump’s impeachment trial, and Katie Porter of Irvine, known for her dramatic grilling of corporate executives and government officials during congressional hearings. Both have amassed campaign war chests and enjoy visible public profiles, essential when running in a state as large as California.
Moreno said Newsom’s choice to replace Harris needs to be someone who can weather such a challenge.


latimes--2020-12-03--California pioneered the COVID-19 stay-at-home lockdown. Now, it faces a backlash

With coronavirus hospitalizations surging in California and healthcare providers increasingly under strain , officials are eyeing a return to the kind of stay-at-home restrictions that helped curb the virus ’ spread in the spring .
What is unclear , though , is whether residents will stomach even a modified lockdown as willingly as they did in March and April , when California ’ s swift and sweeping action made it an early national model in the battle against the coronavirus .
The surging infection numbers across the state , experts and officials say , indicate that many are already weary @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the holiday season , less inclined to stay home .
The politics of the pandemic also play a role .
A cadre of cities and organizations have risen to challenge stricter rules imposed by Los Angeles County in the last week .
Beverly Hills and a few smaller cities are talking about creating their own public health departments , saying the county ’ s rules are too strict and not backed up by data .
The restaurant industry was in court Wednesday challenging the suspension of outdoor dining , while card clubs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reopen .
Others have cried hypocrisy after several top officials — including Gov .
Gavin Newsom and the mayors of San Francisco and San Jose — engaged in the same kind of dining activities they have urged the public to avoid .
But without further action , California risks one of the worst public health catastrophes in the state ’ s modern history , with the state ’ s death toll of nearly 20,000 plausibly doubling by the end of winter .
Already , intensive care units in a number of hospitals statewide @ @ @ @ @ @ @ capacity .
Some of the anger stems from California instituting painful pandemic control measures without having experienced the kind of full-blown catastrophe seen elsewhere , said Dr. Kirsten Bibbins-Domingo , chair of UC San Francisco ’ s Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics .
“ What we really need is leaders to , I think , lead more out of hope and not out of fear , ” Bibbins-Domingo said .
“ We have two highly effective vaccinations just around the corner… .
We have an end in sight to the pandemic .
But @ @ @ @ @ @ @ month ” to avoid an “ exponential rise in cases , transmissions , hospitalizations and death.
” The Newsom administration has been working on a new statewide order that could be as far-reaching as the shutdown ordered in March .
Such an order could be announced as early as Thursday .
Some local health officials are pushing for statewide rules , saying the piecemeal approach has become problematic .
“ Our local measures just by themselves are not enough .
They ’ re not sufficient without these broader steps being taken at the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” James Williams , the county counsel of Santa Clara County , said Wednesday .
“ We think it is absolutely critical that there be bold and swift state and federal measures to deal with the surge.
” California was the first state to impose a stay-at-home order , and its success prompted others to follow suit in the spring .
When rapid reopenings led to a new coronavirus surge over the summer , California unveiled a new system that , for several months , appeared to work as intended .
Polls taken @ @ @ @ @ @ @ support for the rules .
With even more stringent requirements back on the table , and residents fatigued after months of living with COVID-19 , health officials are becoming increasingly blunt in their language and messaging .
“ We do have a choice to make , each one of us : Do we want to be part of the solution to this horrifying surge , or do we want to be the problem ?
” L.A. County Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer said during a briefing Wednesday .
“ Because where you fall @ @ @ @ @ @ @ consequence , possibly for people you know and love , but certainly for people across the county who are loved by others.
” Meanwhile , the distressing news continues to pile up .
The number of Californians hospitalized with the coronavirus rose to a record high for a fourth straight day — rising past 8,500 in data released Wednesday amid continued concerns that a sustained increase in new cases will swamp the state ’ s healthcare system .
Though the 8,517 hospitalizations are unprecedented , officials caution that the figure will not represent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as it largely excludes anyone who was only recently infected , including over the Thanksgiving weekend .
Despite the grim outlook , skepticism appears to be building at least in some quarters about whether more shutdowns are the answer .
The Beverly Hills City Council the county ’ s outdoor dining ban and asked staff to research the idea of forming an independent public health department that would allow the city to set its own rules .
Lancaster and a few other cities have also talked about this approach , though it remains @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pursue a breakaway effort .
Pasadena , which has its own city health department , has the county ’ s lead and has seen business boom at its outdoor dining spots .
In a resolution that calls for the L.A. County Board of Supervisors to repeal the ban , Beverly Hills council members and said there was a lack of scientific evidence to support the move .
The action brought cheers from some hard-pressed restaurant owners .
“ Our business has been devastated , ” said Steve Scott Springer , general manager of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had to lay off 100 employees .
Now we ’ ve laid off 60 more.
” The South Bay Cities Council of Governments , a joint powers authority of 16 cities and parts of the county , recently sent a letter to Newsom asking that he “ reconsider allowing significantly large areas that are less impacted by COVID cases and hospitalizations to have more local control over the restrictions on businesses in their area.
” “ It is time to replace the ‘ one-size-fits-all policies ’ with an ability to adopt local restrictions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ states .
Restaurants are also trying to overturn L.A. County ’ s ban in court .
Outdoor dining had offered a lifeline for struggling restaurants during the pandemic .
The California Restaurant Assn .
sued to stop the ban , with a downtown L.A. restaurant , Engine Co. No .
28 , filing a similar suit .
A judge on Wednesday ordered public health officials to show scientific evidence justifying the measure .
The county must return to court Tuesday to present evidence supporting the ban , L.A. County Superior Court Judge James @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ You have to do a risk-benefit analysis for public health .
You don ’ t just talk about the risk of spreading disease .
You have to talk about the benefit of keeping restaurants open , ” Chalfant said .
Chalfant expressed some skepticism about the ban .
Based on the studies he has reviewed , the risk of spreading the coronavirus from outdoor dining appears minimal , he said .
But the county should have a chance to “ answer those questions and fill those holes , ” the judge said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ restaurant rules that have come under fire .
On the first day that card clubs in L.A. County were forced to close because of rising coronavirus cases , representatives for the casinos and the cities where they operate urged officials to allow them to reopen , citing the financial strain .
The card clubs were originally closed in March but were allowed to reopen only in outdoor settings in early October .
The casinos were ordered to close again Monday .
“ Shutting down our casinos is like shutting down our cities , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said during a news conference at the Commerce Casino .
The view of shutdowns is different for some who have lost loved ones to COVID-19 .
Remy Tateishi is mourning the death of her husband of 21 years , David Paul Harris , a 54-year-old deputy attorney for the California Department of Transportation .
Tateishi said she and her husband were diligent about protecting themselves — wearing masks and keeping distance from others .
Several times a week , Harris underwent dialysis treatments .
In preparation for an Oct. 7 medical procedure , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the results came back positive .
About a week later , he became ill after returning from a dialysis treatment and was rushed to an intensive care unit .
On the last day they spoke , Tateishi heard her husband , through a video call , faintly say the words “ I love you ” underneath a large mask that muffled his voice .
He repeated it over and over , even forming his hands in the shape of a heart .
He died the next day , Oct. 20 .
“ People @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t go into a restaurant.
’ They talk about little minute things they do , but they don ’ t see the impact , ” Tateishi said .
“ I miss my husband so much .
I never thought this would happen because we were so careful , every day… .
He was so loving and he was so genuine … and now I look across the room and see his urn , it just kills me.
” Times staff writers Jaclyn Cosgrove , Hayley Smith , Hugo Martin and John Myers contributed @ @ @ @

Rong-Gong Lin II, Luke Money, Lila Seidman, Wendy Lee

A pedestrian walks past a display at the Paley Center for Media in Beverly Hills on Tuesday.
With coronavirus hospitalizations surging in California and healthcare providers increasingly under strain, officials are eyeing a return to the kind of stay-at-home restrictions that helped curb the virus’ spread in the spring.
What is unclear, though, is whether residents will stomach even a modified lockdown as willingly as they did in March and April, when California’s swift and sweeping action made it an early national model in the battle against the coronavirus.
The surging infection numbers across the state, experts and officials say, indicate that many are already weary of restrictions and, in the midst of the holiday season, less inclined to stay home.
The politics of the pandemic also play a role. A cadre of cities and organizations have risen to challenge stricter rules imposed by Los Angeles County in the last week.
Advertisement
Beverly Hills and a few smaller cities are talking about creating their own public health departments, saying the county’s rules are too strict and not backed up by data. The restaurant industry was in court Wednesday challenging the suspension of outdoor dining, while card clubs have lobbied officials to allow them to reopen.
Others have cried hypocrisy after several top officials — including Gov. Gavin Newsom and the mayors of San Francisco and San Jose — engaged in the same kind of dining activities they have urged the public to avoid.
But without further action, California risks one of the worst public health catastrophes in the state’s modern history, with the state’s death toll of nearly 20,000 plausibly doubling by the end of winter. Already, intensive care units in a number of hospitals statewide are close to reaching their normal staffed capacity.
Some of the anger stems from California instituting painful pandemic control measures without having experienced the kind of full-blown catastrophe seen elsewhere, said Dr. Kirsten Bibbins-Domingo, chair of UC San Francisco’s Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics.
“What we really need is leaders to, I think, lead more out of hope and not out of fear,” Bibbins-Domingo said. “We have two highly effective vaccinations just around the corner…. We have an end in sight to the pandemic. But we have to get through the next month” to avoid an “exponential rise in cases, transmissions, hospitalizations and death.”
Advertisement
The Newsom administration has been working on a new statewide order that could be as far-reaching as the shutdown ordered in March. Such an order could be announced as early as Thursday. Some local health officials are pushing for statewide rules, saying the piecemeal approach has become problematic.
“Our local measures just by themselves are not enough. They’re not sufficient without these broader steps being taken at the state and federal level, both,” James Williams, the county counsel of Santa Clara County, said Wednesday. “We think it is absolutely critical that there be bold and swift state and federal measures to deal with the surge.”
California was the first state to impose a stay-at-home order, and its success prompted others to follow suit in the spring.
When rapid reopenings led to a new coronavirus surge over the summer, California unveiled a new system that, for several months, appeared to work as intended. Polls taken in the summer and spring showed strong support for the rules.
With even more stringent requirements back on the table, and residents fatigued after months of living with COVID-19, health officials are becoming increasingly blunt in their language and messaging.
“We do have a choice to make, each one of us: Do we want to be part of the solution to this horrifying surge, or do we want to be the problem?” L.A. County Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer said during a briefing Wednesday. “Because where you fall in this effort now has a life-or-death consequence, possibly for people you know and love, but certainly for people across the county who are loved by others.”
Meanwhile, the distressing news continues to pile up.
The number of Californians hospitalized with the coronavirus rose to a record high for a fourth straight day — rising past 8,500 in data released Wednesday amid continued concerns that a sustained increase in new cases will swamp the state’s healthcare system.
Though the 8,517 hospitalizations are unprecedented, officials caution that the figure will not represent the ceiling of the latest surge, as it largely excludes anyone who was only recently infected, including over the Thanksgiving weekend.
Despite the grim outlook, skepticism appears to be building at least in some quarters about whether more shutdowns are the answer.
The Beverly Hills City Council voted unanimously Tuesday to oppose the county’s outdoor dining ban and asked staff to research the idea of forming an independent public health department that would allow the city to set its own rules. Lancaster and a few other cities have also talked about this approach, though it remains to be seen how many will earnestly pursue a breakaway effort.
Pasadena, which has its own city health department, has decided not to follow the county’s lead and has seen business boom at its outdoor dining spots.
In a resolution that calls for the L.A. County Board of Supervisors to repeal the ban, Beverly Hills council members cited the detrimental effect on businesses and said there was a lack of scientific evidence to support the move. The action brought cheers from some hard-pressed restaurant owners.
“Our business has been devastated,” said Steve Scott Springer, general manager of Spago Beverly Hills. “We already had to lay off 100 employees. Now we’ve laid off 60 more.”
The South Bay Cities Council of Governments, a joint powers authority of 16 cities and parts of the county, recently sent a letter to Newsom asking that he “reconsider allowing significantly large areas that are less impacted by COVID cases and hospitalizations to have more local control over the restrictions on businesses in their area.”
“It is time to replace the ‘one-size-fits-all policies’ with an ability to adopt local restrictions in designated areas,” the letter states.
Restaurants are also trying to overturn L.A. County’s ban in court.
Outdoor dining had offered a lifeline for struggling restaurants during the pandemic. The California Restaurant Assn. sued to stop the ban, with a downtown L.A. restaurant, Engine Co. No. 28, filing a similar suit.
A judge on Wednesday ordered public health officials to show scientific evidence justifying the measure. The county must return to court Tuesday to present evidence supporting the ban, L.A. County Superior Court Judge James C. Chalfant said at a hearing.
California L.A. County must show evidence for outdoor dining ban, judge orders A judge on Wednesday ordered Los Angeles County public health officials to show scientific evidence justifying the outdoor dining ban imposed last week amid soaring coronavirus cases.
“You have to do a risk-benefit analysis for public health. You don’t just talk about the risk of spreading disease. You have to talk about the benefit of keeping restaurants open,” Chalfant said.
Chalfant expressed some skepticism about the ban. Based on the studies he has reviewed, the risk of spreading the coronavirus from outdoor dining appears minimal, he said.
But the county should have a chance to “answer those questions and fill those holes,” the judge said.
It’s not just the restaurant rules that have come under fire.
California When schools reopen will you send your child back? A school district survey asks parents in L.A. to look ahead to the near but indefinite future, when campuses could reopen for in-person classes, even as health officials project dark weeks ahead.
On the first day that card clubs in L.A. County were forced to close because of rising coronavirus cases, representatives for the casinos and the cities where they operate urged officials to allow them to reopen, citing the financial strain.
The card clubs were originally closed in March but were allowed to reopen only in outdoor settings in early October. The casinos were ordered to close again Monday.
“Shutting down our casinos is like shutting down our cities,” City of Commerce Mayor Ivan Altamirano said during a news conference at the Commerce Casino.
The view of shutdowns is different for some who have lost loved ones to COVID-19.
Remy Tateishi is mourning the death of her husband of 21 years, David Paul Harris, a 54-year-old deputy attorney for the California Department of Transportation.
David Paul Harris, 54, a deputy attorney for the California Department of Transportation, died Oct. 20 after contracting the coronavirus. (Family photo)
Tateishi said she and her husband were diligent about protecting themselves — wearing masks and keeping distance from others. Several times a week, Harris underwent dialysis treatments. In preparation for an Oct. 7 medical procedure, Harris took a coronavirus test, and the results came back positive. About a week later, he became ill after returning from a dialysis treatment and was rushed to an intensive care unit.
On the last day they spoke, Tateishi heard her husband, through a video call, faintly say the words “I love you” underneath a large mask that muffled his voice. He repeated it over and over, even forming his hands in the shape of a heart. He died the next day, Oct. 20.
“People talk about, ‘I can’t go into a restaurant.’ They talk about little minute things they do, but they don’t see the impact,” Tateishi said. “I miss my husband so much. I never thought this would happen because we were so careful, every day…. He was so loving and he was so genuine … and now I look across the room and see his urn, it just kills me.”
Times staff writers Jaclyn Cosgrove, Hayley Smith, Hugo Martin and John Myers contributed to this report.


latimes--2020-12-03--Brush fire threatens homes in Orange County, prompts evacuations

A wind-whipped wildfire was threatening homes in Orange County ’ s mountain communities , prompting evacuations and warnings early Thursday that the fire could rapidly spread .
A mandatory evacuation order was in effect for residents of Silverado Canyon , Modjeska Canyon and Williams Canyon as the Bond fire exploded to 2,000 acres , the Orange County Fire Authority said .
Structures were threatened in Silverado and Williams canyons .
Embers ignited new fires across Santiago Canyon Road .
“ Residents in the area should be prepared to evacuate , ” the Orange County Fire Authority said in a tweet @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the fire .
Voluntary evacuation warnings were in effect in Borrego Canyon , Foothill Ranch , Baker Ranch , Portola Hills , Live Oak Canyon , Trabuco Canyon and Rose Canyon , and on Valley Vista Way and Meadow Ridge Drive .
The fire authority had said just after 11 p.m. Wednesday that a structure fire had extended into nearby vegetation , and that firefighters were on scene with fire helicopters and a helitanker assisting .
Dangerous fire weather conditions are in effect across wide swaths of Southern California as dry , gusty @ @ @ @ @ @ @ northeast , with widespread gusts of 30 mph to 50 mph expected and gusts of 50 mph to 70 mph possible in mountain passes and adjacent foothills .
“ Any fires that develop will likely spread rapidly , ” the National Weather Service said .
On Wednesday night , significant gusts were already reported , including gusts of up to 49 mph at Santiago Peak .
The National Weather Service office for L.A. County issued an unusual warning of a “ particularly dangerous situation ” for the mountains of Los Angeles and Ventura @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with gusts from the northeast forecast for 55 mph to 70 mph , accompanied by extremely dry air , with relative humidity forecast as low as 4 % .
The most severe conditions were expected Thursday from 3 a.m. to 6 p.m .

A fire that erupted in Orange County’s canyon country quickly jumped into the nearby hillsides Thursday, whipped by Santa Ana winds and fueled by bone-dry brush that also drove three smaller fires in Riverside.
The Bond fire nearly quadrupled in size in just a few hours, exploding to about 7,200 acres by Thursday afternoon. About 25,000 residents live in a mandatory evacuation order in effect for Silverado Canyon, Modjeska Canyon, Williams Canyon, Black Star and Baker canyons and portions of Portola Hills and Foothill Ranch, the Orange County Sheriff’s Department said.
Two firefighters were injured battling the blaze, which was 0% contained. Officials with the Orange County Fire Authority said the injured firefighters had been treated by paramedics and taken to a hospital.
Multiple structures may have been damaged by the blaze.
“We are in the process of verifying the number involved and the extent of the damage,” the Orange County Fire Authority wrote on Twitter.
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The blazes come as the National Weather Service issued red flag warnings for a “particularly dangerous” combination of strong winds and low humidity levels. Across Orange, Riverside and San Bernardino counties and other areas in Southern California, warnings for fire weather and strong winds remain in effect through at least Saturday.
In Orange and southwestern San Bernardino counties, gusts were expected to reach up to 50 mph. Riverside and San Diego counties could see gusts up to 70 mph. The red flag warnings prompted Southern California Edison to initiate a public safety power shut-off late Wednesday.
California Photos: Bond fire in Orange County prompts evacuations The Bond fire erupted overnight in Orange County in dry brush and prompted evacuations in mountain communities amid high winds.
In Orange County, voluntary evacuation warnings were issued for areas spanning from Trabuco Canyon to north Tustin. A temporary Red Cross evacuation point was set up in Lot 2 of Santiago Canyon College, 8045 E. Chapman Ave., in Orange. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, authorities said no congregate shelter was available and urged evacuees “to seek safety with family/friends or in a hotel.”
Judy Smith, a 48-year-old from Lake Forest, stood by her car outside the Red Cross area Thursday afternoon. She had anticipated spending the week isolating at home after developing a mild cold and showing pre-COVID symptoms. Instead, she spent hours in her car trying to find hotel accommodations with a separate room for her daughter, who was perched in an adjacent car.
“We’ll be OK. It’s an unfortunate timing,” Smith said. “I’m going to see what I can do to isolate from my daughter.”
Around 70 cars had come for assistance by 1 p.m., said Red Cross officials, who were prepping to find a new location as the evacuation zone was encroaching on their locale.
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California Bond fire: Evacuations, road closures, shelters The Bond fire, which began Wednesday night in Orange County, has exploded to more than 4,000 acres and is threatening several canyon communities.
Sepehr Roshan of Pomona was awoken early Thursday morning with a notice that his aunt’s home was in an evacuation zone. She has abdominal cancer, and evacuation proved difficult five weeks ago, during the Silverado fire. The air quality did not help her health, so the 53-year-old Roshan drove to Orange County to help his family find accommodations and prepare to leave if needed.
Air quality near the fire took a nosedive Thursday. The Environmental Protection Agency monitoring site Air Now showed Orange, Irvine, Tustin and other areas near the Bond fire hovering in the unhealthy air quality range and advised people to reduce time outdoors and avoid strenuous activities.
“She’s bed-resting right now, but it’s tough. She doesn’t really want to leave her house because it’s her comfort zone,” Roshan said of his aunt. “We made sure all the windows and doors are closed and the air purifier is on at all times.”
A large plume rises from behind rugged terrain along Santiago Canyon Road, where the Bond fire continues to burn with 0% containment. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
Up the street, Donna Budman was monitoring the smoke outside her home of 28 years. The faint sound of sirens and loudspeakers from sheriff’s cars echoed as they patrolled the area.
Her neighborhood has been threatened by wildfire three times since she moved in — twice in the last several weeks.
Budman said she and her family aren’t evacuating. She wants to monitor the threat level, but they plan to hunker down in the meantime. Her main worry was making sure the Wi-Fi stayed on so her daughter could finish a final exam for a college course.
“Maybe we have a false sense of security because of last month’s fire burning a lot of the vegetation already, but it’s a good reminder that we need to be ready, and we are,” she said.
Orange County Fire Authority Capt. Thanh Nguyen said crews were battling steep terrain, heavy brush and dangerous fire weather conditions.
“The big challenge we have here is not only the topography, the contour of the hillsides, but the wind,” Nguyen said. “In addition to that, the winds come with low relative humidity. [Humidity] is in the low teens, and that makes the fuels susceptible to burning.”
The Fire Authority reported just after 11 p.m. Wednesday that a structure fire had extended into nearby vegetation, and that firefighters were on the scene, with fire helicopters and a helitanker assisting.
The Bond fire erupted overnight in Orange County. (Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times)
In Riverside County, three smaller fires were burning Thursday. Near Corona Municipal Airport, a brush fire swelled to 750 acres and was 10% contained as of Thursday afternoon. The Cerritos fire sparked Wednesday night, and grew to 200 acres, forcing residents to evacuate from the Nuevo community. The blaze was 25% contained Thursday evening.
Near the San Bernardino County border, a 10-acre mulch fire spread to a pallet yard and threatened multiple structures. Residents near the Santa Ana Riverbottom were told to evacuate.
As of Thursday afternoon, 43,492 customers were without power, including nearly 1,600 customers in Orange County, 7,800 in Los Angeles County and nearly 22,000 in Riverside County.
Nearly 250,000 additional customers are under consideration for a shut-off as well, according to SCE spokesman Ron Gales, including an additional 14,000 in Orange County.
Times staff writers Rong-Gong Lin II, Luke Money and Alejandra Reyes-Velarde contributed to this report.


latimes--2020-12-03--Newsom endures two embarrassments with French Laundry dinner and unemployment scam

Mix a governor ’ s hypocrisy with a touch of elitism and perceived incompetence and you can create a killer negative campaign ad .
On the positive side for Gov .
Gavin Newsom , he carries California ’ s vastly preferred political brand — Democrat — has a clean image , is gifted with telegenic looks and seems to always be trying .
Newsom ’ s positives should be enough to win him reelection in 2022 , especially since his ability to raise campaign money is practically unlimited .
But he ’ s starting to look vulnerable after the French @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was damaging enough that Newsom was hypocritical in attending a lobbyist friend ’ s birthday dinner with people from several households .
It was the type of mixing he had urged other Californians to avoid in order to slow the spread of COVID-19 .
Newsom initially told reporters the party was outside where the coronavirus is less likely to spread .
But clandestine photos showed a private dining room that looked mostly inside .
The elitist touch was added by the French Laundry being an opulent , super expensive restaurant in the Napa @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a bad mistake , ” the governor later acknowledged .
“ I need to preach and practice , not just preach and not practice.
” Then things got worse for Newsom .
Just before Thanksgiving , nine district attorneys and a federal prosecutor reported that the state Employment Development Department had been mistakenly paying out unemployment benefits to convicted murderers , and other state prisoners and local jail inmates .
By Monday , state investigators had identified $ 400 million paid on roughly 21,000 unemployment benefit claims improperly filed in the names of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this onion , it ’ s likely to be the biggest fraud in California history , ” says Sacramento County Dist .
Atty .
Anne Marie Schubert , who led the task force that investigated and reported the scam .
Some D.A.s speculate the misspent amount could hit $ 1 billion .
The investigation is still underway .
“ I have no doubt that hardcore gang members inside prisons and jails have money flowing outside to guns and drugs , financing potentially violent behavior , ” Schubert says .
A 2022 challenge of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more than a hopeless exercise .
“ I ’ m very seriously thinking about running because California needs new leadership and one-party rule has not served the state well in the last few years , ” Republican San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer told me .
“ More to come shortly , ” he says .
Translation : The soon-to-be ex-mayor is unquestionably running .
The only unknown is , how far does he get ?
A topic for another day .
“ The scope of this fraud is breathtaking , ” Faulconer says @ @ @ @ @ @ @ punch to Californians who have been waiting months to get unemployment benefits and yet they see it going to death row inmates .
“ It ’ s incredible mismanagement .
All the more glaring for Californians because we are the state of innovation , of technology .
Yet we can ’ t get this system to work.
” Newsom and his advisers are trying to explain the unexplainable — something that never could be sold in a 30-second TV ad .
If you feel compelled to use up a TV spot for that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ already lost .
Dozens of other states have cross-checking systems that allow their unemployment agencies to compare the Social Security numbers of benefit claimants with the inmate population .
But California law forbids sharing of Social Security numbers with non-law enforcement agencies .
So , no cross-checking for the EDD .
Yes , that state law should be changed .
The administration says it ’ s working on it .
The vast majority of fraudulent claims involved a new federal Pandemic Unemployment Assistance program , Newsom told the D.A.s in a letter Tuesday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ contractors — Lyft drivers , for example — who aren ’ t eligible for regular unemployment insurance because they ’ re not employees .
With the PUA program , there ’ s no company to check with to verify that the claimant is legit .
It ’ s “ a self-certification process , ” Newsom wrote , and “ bad actors took advantage of the crisis to abuse the system.
” Since then , EDD has installed a more secure identification system , it says .
OK , but the only real explanation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The sum ” of the French Laundry incident and prisoners ’ scam “ add up to something much worse than the individual parts , ” says Dan Schnur , a former political strategist who now teaches politics at USC and UC Berkeley .
“ Hundreds of millions of dollars going to convicted felons is an easy campaign commercial .
But when that ad can show a split screen with the governor having dinner at an expensive restaurant with well-connected lobbyists during the pandemic , it becomes a much more damaging hit.
” Rob @ @ @ @ @ @ @ advisor in gubernatorial campaigns for Arnold Schwarzenegger and Meg Whitman , says : “ It plays on all the things people imagine are the worst things about politics — and it turns out to be true.
” Democratic Assemblywoman Cottie Petrie-Norris of Laguna Beach heads an Assembly committee that has tried to hold EDD ’ s “ feet to the fire , ” she says .
The lawmaker is critical of her fellow Democrat Newsom , noting his first reaction to the fraud was to create a task force .
“ We do @ @ @ @ @ @ @ simple and obvious steps that are implemented across the country , ” she says .
“ It ’ s absurd .
This is outrageous .
“ EDD is an example of where California government needs to do a much better job in expending tax dollars.
” Petrie-Norris ’ tough rhetoric results partially from her representing a very competitive district .
She just barely won reelection over a GOP opponent .
If Newsom doesn ’ t tighten up his administration and partying , he could also face a competitive race .

Mix a governor’s hypocrisy with a touch of elitism and perceived incompetence and you can create a killer negative campaign ad.
On the positive side for Gov. Gavin Newsom, he carries California’s vastly preferred political brand — Democrat — has a clean image, is gifted with telegenic looks and seems to always be trying.
Newsom’s positives should be enough to win him reelection in 2022, especially since his ability to raise campaign money is practically unlimited.
Advertisement
But he’s starting to look vulnerable after the French Laundry and unemployment scam embarrassments.
It was damaging enough that Newsom was hypocritical in attending a lobbyist friend’s birthday dinner with people from several households. It was the type of mixing he had urged other Californians to avoid in order to slow the spread of COVID-19.
Newsom initially told reporters the party was outside where the coronavirus is less likely to spread. But clandestine photos showed a private dining room that looked mostly inside. The elitist touch was added by the French Laundry being an opulent, super expensive restaurant in the Napa Valley wine country.
The French Laundry restaurant in Yountville, Calif. is seen in 2017. (Eric Risberg / Associated Press)
“I made a bad mistake,” the governor later acknowledged. “I need to preach and practice, not just preach and not practice.”
Then things got worse for Newsom.
Just before Thanksgiving, nine district attorneys and a federal prosecutor reported that the state Employment Development Department had been mistakenly paying out unemployment benefits to convicted murderers, and other state prisoners and local jail inmates.
By Monday, state investigators had identified $400 million paid on roughly 21,000 unemployment benefit claims improperly filed in the names of California prisoners.
“As we unravel this onion, it’s likely to be the biggest fraud in California history,” says Sacramento County Dist. Atty. Anne Marie Schubert, who led the task force that investigated and reported the scam.
Some D.A.s speculate the misspent amount could hit $1 billion. The investigation is still underway.
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“I have no doubt that hardcore gang members inside prisons and jails have money flowing outside to guns and drugs, financing potentially violent behavior,” Schubert says.
A 2022 challenge of the governor is beginning to look like more than a hopeless exercise.
“I’m very seriously thinking about running because California needs new leadership and one-party rule has not served the state well in the last few years,” Republican San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer told me.
Faulconer’s mayoral term ends Dec. 10.
“More to come shortly,” he says.
Translation: The soon-to-be ex-mayor is unquestionably running. The only unknown is, how far does he get? A topic for another day.
“The scope of this fraud is breathtaking,” Faulconer says. “It’s another gut punch to Californians who have been waiting months to get unemployment benefits and yet they see it going to death row inmates.
“It’s incredible mismanagement. All the more glaring for Californians because we are the state of innovation, of technology. Yet we can’t get this system to work.”
Newsom and his advisers are trying to explain the unexplainable — something that never could be sold in a 30-second TV ad. If you feel compelled to use up a TV spot for that quagmire of weeds, you’ve already lost.
Dozens of other states have cross-checking systems that allow their unemployment agencies to compare the Social Security numbers of benefit claimants with the inmate population. But California law forbids sharing of Social Security numbers with non-law enforcement agencies. So, no cross-checking for the EDD.
Yes, that state law should be changed. The administration says it’s working on it.
The vast majority of fraudulent claims involved a new federal Pandemic Unemployment Assistance program, Newsom told the D.A.s in a letter Tuesday. That program was designed for independent contractors — Lyft drivers, for example — who aren’t eligible for regular unemployment insurance because they’re not employees.
With the PUA program, there’s no company to check with to verify that the claimant is legit. It’s “a self-certification process,” Newsom wrote, and “bad actors took advantage of the crisis to abuse the system.”
Since then, EDD has installed a more secure identification system, it says.
OK, but the only real explanation is: We screwed up.
“The sum” of the French Laundry incident and prisoners’ scam “add up to something much worse than the individual parts,” says Dan Schnur, a former political strategist who now teaches politics at USC and UC Berkeley.
“Hundreds of millions of dollars going to convicted felons is an easy campaign commercial. But when that ad can show a split screen with the governor having dinner at an expensive restaurant with well-connected lobbyists during the pandemic, it becomes a much more damaging hit.”
Rob Stutzman, a Republican consultant and top advisor in gubernatorial campaigns for Arnold Schwarzenegger and Meg Whitman, says: “It plays on all the things people imagine are the worst things about politics — and it turns out to be true.”
Democratic Assemblywoman Cottie Petrie-Norris of Laguna Beach heads an Assembly committee that has tried to hold EDD’s “feet to the fire,” she says.
The lawmaker is critical of her fellow Democrat Newsom, noting his first reaction to the fraud was to create a task force.
“We do not need a task force to implement simple and obvious steps that are implemented across the country,” she says. “It’s absurd. This is outrageous.
“EDD is an example of where California government needs to do a much better job in expending tax dollars.”
Petrie-Norris’ tough rhetoric results partially from her representing a very competitive district. She just barely won reelection over a GOP opponent.
If Newsom doesn’t tighten up his administration and partying, he could also face a competitive race.


latimes--2020-12-03--City of L.A. issues stay-at-home rules that mirror L.A. County order

The city of Los Angeles issued a modified stay-at-home order Wednesday night that mirrors L.A. County rules that went into effect Monday .
The city order prohibits gatherings of people outside immediate households , with some exceptions such as religious services and protests .
While the order tells people to stay home , it also allows retail businesses to remain open “ after implementing the County of Los Angeles Department of Public Health Protocols for Retail Establishments Opening for In-person Shopping.
” Parks and trails remain open , along with golf courses , tennis courts and beaches .
Music and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ city and county orders are the same .
In the past there have been some minor differences but currently they are the same , ” said Alex Comisar , a spokesman for Mayor Eric Garcetti .
“ My message couldn ’ t be simpler : It ’ s time to hunker down , ” Garcetti said Wednesday .
“ It ’ s time to cancel everything .
And if it isn ’ t essential , don ’ t do it.
” “ Don ’ t meet up with others outside your household .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ don ’ t attend a gathering and follow our targeted safer-at-home order , if you ’ re able to stay home , stay at home .
Just be smart and stay apart.
” The county rules , though less severe than the stay-at-home order initiated in the spring , are still the Los Angeles County Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer said Saturday that officials hope the more narrowly tailored restrictions will be sufficient to slow the spread of the coronavirus without having to give way to stricter measures .
If people don ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , it ’ s possible the county could find itself back where it was in the early spring .
Gov .
Gavin Newsom has also said a statewide stay-at-home order might be necessary as COVID-19 cases spike to unprecedented levels .
The number of Californians hospitalized with the coronavirus surged to a record high for a fourth straight day — soaring above 8,000 amid continued concerns that a sustained spike in patients may eventually swamp the state ’ s healthcare system .

To-go meal orders are prepped in the kitchen at the Tallyrand Restaurant on Dec. 1 in Burbank.
The city of Los Angeles issued a modified stay-at-home order Wednesday night that mirrors L.A. County rules that went into effect Monday.
The city order prohibits gatherings of people outside immediate households, with some exceptions such as religious services and protests.
While the order tells people to stay home, it also allows retail businesses to remain open “after implementing the County of Los Angeles Department of Public Health Protocols for Retail Establishments Opening for In-person Shopping.”
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California Coronavirus hospitalizations surge to unprecedented level as L.A. announces stay-at-home rules The number of Californians hospitalized with coronavirus surged to a record high for a fourth straight day — soaring above 8,000 amid continued concerns that a sustained spike in patients may eventually swamp the state’s healthcare system.
Parks and trails remain open, along with golf courses, tennis courts and beaches. Music and television production is allowed.
“The city and county orders are the same. In the past there have been some minor differences but currently they are the same,” said Alex Comisar, a spokesman for Mayor Eric Garcetti.
“My message couldn’t be simpler: It’s time to hunker down,” Garcetti said Wednesday. “It’s time to cancel everything. And if it isn’t essential, don’t do it.”
“Don’t meet up with others outside your household. Don’t host a gathering, don’t attend a gathering and follow our targeted safer-at-home order, if you’re able to stay home, stay at home. Just be smart and stay apart.”
The county rules, though less severe than the stay-at-home order initiated in the spring, are still the strongest restrictions in months.
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Los Angeles County Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer said Saturday that officials hope the more narrowly tailored restrictions will be sufficient to slow the spread of the coronavirus without having to give way to stricter measures.
If people don’t follow safety precautions, she said, it’s possible the county could find itself back where it was in the early spring. Gov. Gavin Newsom has also said a statewide stay-at-home order might be necessary as COVID-19 cases spike to unprecedented levels.
The number of Californians hospitalized with the coronavirus surged to a record high for a fourth straight day — soaring above 8,000 amid continued concerns that a sustained spike in patients may eventually swamp the state’s healthcare system.


latimes--2020-12-03--Stunning Images Of the Dodgers' Holiday Festival

The Dodgers began a drive-through holiday festival Wednesday night .
The route includes numerous , LED light shows and interactive @ @ @ @ @ World Series title as well as the holidays .
The event runs 5 to 10 @ @ @ @ @ with admission starting at $ 55 per vehicle .

The Dodgers began a drive-through holiday festival Wednesday night. The route includes numerous, LED light shows and interactive displays celebrating the Dodgers’ World Series title as well as the holidays.
The event runs 5 to 10 p.m. through Christmas Eve, with admission starting at $55 per vehicle.
The festival includes holiday scenes along with images of the Dodgers’ World Series championship. (Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times)
A child looks out of a car window as it makes its way through the holiday festival. (Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times)
A holiday festival would not be complete without a visit from Santa. (Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times)
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The lights at the festival burned a little brighter this year after the Dodgers’ first World Series title since 1988. (Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times)
These children being driven through the festival are color coordinated in holiday hues. (Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times)
Lights reflect on cars snaking their way around Dodger Stadium. (Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times)


latimes--2020-12-02--Hawaii police arrest couple who boarded flight despite testing positive for coronavirus

A Hawaii couple were arrested for after they boarded a flight knowing they had tested positive for the coronavirus , Hawaii police said Wednesday .
Wesley Moribe , 41 , and Courtney Paterson , 46 , of Wailua , Hawaii , face charges of “ reckless endangering ” after they put fellow passengers “ in danger of death , ” according to a statement from the Kauai Police Department .
Moribe and Paterson , who were traveling with a 4-year-old child , were scheduled to fly from San Francisco to Lihue on Sunday .
Once they arrived at San Francisco @ @ @ @ @ @ @ quarantine station instructed them to refrain from boarding their United Airlines flight and quarantine themselves .
Moribe and Paterson defied those instructions and boarded their flight anyway , Kauai police said .
Upon arrival at the Lihue Airport , the couple were identified and detained by Kauai police , who were equipped with personal protective gear .
Moribe and Paterson each posted $ 1,000 bail .
The child was given to the care of a family member .
“ The Kauai Police Department , working alongside our county and state partners , remain @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of our island , ” said Kauai police chief Todd G. Raybuck in a statement .
“ We continue to request visitors and residents alike to follow the Governor ’ s Emergency Rules and take all necessary precautions to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
” The couple have been banned from flying on United Airlines flights and the airline is investigating the incident , a spokesperson for the airline said Wednesday .
“ The health and safety of our employees and customers is our highest priority , which is why we have various @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of a multilayered approach to create a safer travel environment , including mandating that everyone onboard wears a mask , ” United Airlines said in a statement .
“ Prior to traveling , all United customers are required to complete a ‘ Ready to Fly ’ checklist acknowledging they have not been diagnosed with COVID-19 in the last 14 days .
”

Courtney Peterson and Wesley Moribe were arrested after boarding a flight home to Hawaii knowing they had tested positive for COVID-19.
A Hawaii couple were arrested after they boarded a flight knowing they had tested positive for the coronavirus, Hawaii police said Wednesday.
Wesley Moribe, 41, and Courtney Paterson, 46, of Wailua, Hawaii, face charges of “reckless endangering” after they put fellow passengers “in danger of death,” according to a statement from the Kauai Police Department.
Moribe and Paterson, who were traveling with a 4-year-old child, were scheduled to fly from San Francisco to Lihue on Sunday. Once they arrived at San Francisco International Airport, the airport’s quarantine station instructed them to refrain from boarding their United Airlines flight and quarantine themselves.
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Moribe and Paterson defied those instructions and boarded their flight anyway, Kauai police said.
Upon arrival at the Lihue Airport, the couple were identified and detained by Kauai police, who were equipped with personal protective gear. Moribe and Paterson each posted $1,000 bail.
The child was given to the care of a family member.
“The Kauai Police Department, working alongside our county and state partners, remain diligent in protecting the health and safety of our island,” said Kauai police chief Todd G. Raybuck in a statement. “We continue to request visitors and residents alike to follow the Governor’s Emergency Rules and take all necessary precautions to prevent the spread of COVID-19.”
The couple have been banned from flying on United Airlines flights and the airline is investigating the incident, a spokesperson for the airline said Wednesday.
“The health and safety of our employees and customers is our highest priority, which is why we have various policies and procedures in place as part of a multilayered approach to create a safer travel environment, including mandating that everyone onboard wears a mask,” United Airlines said in a statement. “Prior to traveling, all United customers are required to complete a ‘Ready to Fly’ checklist acknowledging they have not been diagnosed with COVID-19 in the last 14 days.”


latimes--2020-12-02--L.A. County sheriff says deputies can conceal their names during protests

Los Angeles County Sheriff Alex Villanueva has authorized his deputies to conceal their names while policing protests and other civil disturbances .
Villanueva said Wednesday that the change to the department ’ s long-standing practice of requiring deputies to wear tags engraved with their last names on their uniform shirts was in response to recent incidents in which deputies were harassed and had personal information revealed by protesters .
The details of the new rule are still being worked out but will leave it to deputies to choose whether to cover their name tag , a department spokesman said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ be identifiable through their badge numbers , the spokesman said .
The change came after a protest last week outside Men ’ s Central Jail at which several deputies were filmed with duct tape covering their name tags .
The move troubled activists and department watchdogs , who said such obfuscation made it much harder to hold deputies accountable and fueled distrust among communities demanding greater transparency and reforms by police agencies .
Some said replacing deputies ’ names with a number will make it harder to identify deputies who they accuse of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ You should be able to know the name of a deputy who you interact with , ” said Sean Kennedy , a law professor who serves on the Sheriff Civilian Oversight Commission .
“ There ’ s no way that we can effectively monitor law enforcement if you can ’ t even get the name of a deputy that you ’ re interacting with in public who has taken some kind of use of force or action against you.
” State law requires police officers to clearly display either their name @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
During a live Facebook broadcast Wednesday , Villanueva explained his reasoning , saying protesters have used deputies ’ name tags to find their home addresses and spread the information on social media .
At times , he said , people have shown up at deputies ’ homes and vandalized their property .
“ That is not exactly the intent of state law , ” Villanueva said .
Villanueva did not provide details of such incidents involving deputies but pledged to prosecute those involved .
He said his own name and address were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ several freeways and on fliers stuck to telephone poles that resembled fugitive wanted posters .
In response to a Times request for details of incidents in which deputies were identified and harassed , a spokesman for the Sheriff ’ s Department did not give specific examples but said there were “ numerous ” incidents during protests in which protesters taunted deputies by pulling up social media pages belonging to them while they squared off .
“ In several of these instances there were vile and repulsive comments made , as well as implied @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Satterfield said .
A law enforcement source , who was not authorized to speak on the issue , told The Times that demonstrators flashed photos of the deputies ’ relatives and threatened to rape their wives and shoot their family members .
Two protesters who have attended many protests said they had not witnessed such conduct .
“ That ’ s absolutely false .
Protesters are not doing that… How can they even come up with something like that ?
” said Traci Carr , 30 , who planned the protest outside the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s just a way of making us look like the bad guys.
” In California , it ’ s a misdemeanor to post identifying information about someone in order to put them in reasonable fear for their safety and cause them unwanted physical contact or harassment .
Demonstrators over the summer showed up at the home of Deputy Miguel Vega , who shot and killed 18-year-old Andres Guardado in an incident that generated weeks of protests and calls for an independent investigation .
Police moved Vega ’ s family from the home as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and posting ‘ killer cop lives here , ’ ” according to a brief entry about the incident in a Sheriff ’ s Department log obtained by The Times .
A flier was circulated with Vega ’ s name and address next to a photo , saying he shot Guardado five times in the back .
Satterfield said the sheriff and his senior aides were unaware that deputies were planning to cover their names during the Thanksgiving event .
A supervisor overseeing the deputies gave them the green light to do so and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were reasonable , Satterfield said .
The demonstrators who filmed deputies obscuring their name tags and badges had gathered in support of Emanuel Padilla , a 34-year-old toy designer who has been charged with attempting to wreck a train during a protest this year .
Critics have decried the charges , claiming they are trumped up and meant as retaliation against a protester .
Padilla is being held at Men ’ s Central Jail without bail , jail records show .
Carr , the organizer , said about 30 demonstrators were outnumbered by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ event .
“ It ’ s pretty terrifying when you ’ re trying to have a potluck and then you look up and there ’ s sheriff ’ s deputies with rubber bullet guns , ” she said .
Several protesters said the deputies , many of whom were carrying launchers that fire foam rounds or riot shields , refused to identify themselves when questioned .
In a video provided to The Times , one deputy would identify himself only as “ emergency response sergeant one ” when asked about the obscured name @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said deputies have been obscuring their names at demonstrations for months , with the problem becoming increasingly noticeable during hostile interactions between protesters and deputies in South L.A. after the fatal deputy shooting of Dijon Kizzee .
“ It ’ s an accountability issue .
They are public servants .
They are supposedly keeping us safe , ” said 32-year-old demonstrator Mary Mattingly , who also attended the Thanksgiving potluck .
“ If they are covering their badge numbers and they are covering their names … we can ’ t hold them accountable @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Other police agencies have also changed how deputies identify themselves in the field .
The Beverly Hills Police Department is allowing officers to cover their name tags while assigned to protests .
And the Portland Police Bureau in Oregon recently assigned each of its officers a three-digit identification number to wear on their helmets during protests in part due to demonstrators repeatedly staging events at the homes of police officials .

Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputies had their name tags obscured by riot gear at a demonstration against the shooting death of Dijon Kizzee.
Los Angeles County Sheriff Alex Villanueva has authorized his deputies to conceal their names while policing protests and other civil disturbances.
Villanueva said Wednesday that the change to the department’s long-standing practice of requiring deputies to wear tags engraved with their last names on their uniform shirts was in response to recent incidents in which deputies were harassed and had personal information revealed by protesters.
The details of the new rule are still being worked out but will leave it to deputies to choose whether to cover their name tag, a department spokesman said. Those who choose to do so will be identifiable through their badge numbers, the spokesman said.
The change came after a protest last week outside Men’s Central Jail at which several deputies were filmed with duct tape covering their name tags. The move troubled activists and department watchdogs, who said such obfuscation made it much harder to hold deputies accountable and fueled distrust among communities demanding greater transparency and reforms by police agencies. Some said replacing deputies’ names with a number will make it harder to identify deputies who they accuse of abusive conduct during chaotic situations at protests.
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“You should be able to know the name of a deputy who you interact with,” said Sean Kennedy, a law professor who serves on the Sheriff Civilian Oversight Commission. “There’s no way that we can effectively monitor law enforcement if you can’t even get the name of a deputy that you’re interacting with in public who has taken some kind of use of force or action against you.”
State law requires police officers to clearly display either their name or an identification number on their uniforms.
During a live Facebook broadcast Wednesday, Villanueva explained his reasoning, saying protesters have used deputies’ name tags to find their home addresses and spread the information on social media. At times, he said, people have shown up at deputies’ homes and vandalized their property.
“That is not exactly the intent of state law,” Villanueva said.
Villanueva did not provide details of such incidents involving deputies but pledged to prosecute those involved.
He said his own name and address were plastered on banners hung from overpasses on several freeways and on fliers stuck to telephone poles that resembled fugitive wanted posters.
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In response to a Times request for details of incidents in which deputies were identified and harassed, a spokesman for the Sheriff’s Department did not give specific examples but said there were “numerous” incidents during protests in which protesters taunted deputies by pulling up social media pages belonging to them while they squared off.
“In several of these instances there were vile and repulsive comments made, as well as implied threats of violence,” Lt. John Satterfield said.
A law enforcement source, who was not authorized to speak on the issue, told The Times that demonstrators flashed photos of the deputies’ relatives and threatened to rape their wives and shoot their family members. Two protesters who have attended many protests said they had not witnessed such conduct.
“That’s absolutely false. Protesters are not doing that… How can they even come up with something like that?” said Traci Carr, 30, who planned the protest outside the jail on Thanksgiving. “It’s just a way of making us look like the bad guys.”
In California, it’s a misdemeanor to post identifying information about someone in order to put them in reasonable fear for their safety and cause them unwanted physical contact or harassment.
Demonstrators over the summer showed up at the home of Deputy Miguel Vega, who shot and killed 18-year-old Andres Guardado in an incident that generated weeks of protests and calls for an independent investigation. Police moved Vega’s family from the home as protesters were “yelling at the residents and posting ‘killer cop lives here,’” according to a brief entry about the incident in a Sheriff’s Department log obtained by The Times. A flier was circulated with Vega’s name and address next to a photo, saying he shot Guardado five times in the back.
Satterfield said the sheriff and his senior aides were unaware that deputies were planning to cover their names during the Thanksgiving event. A supervisor overseeing the deputies gave them the green light to do so and a department inquiry concluded that the actions were reasonable, Satterfield said.
The demonstrators who filmed deputies obscuring their name tags and badges had gathered in support of Emanuel Padilla, a 34-year-old toy designer who has been charged with attempting to wreck a train during a protest this year. Critics have decried the charges, claiming they are trumped up and meant as retaliation against a protester. Padilla is being held at Men’s Central Jail without bail, jail records show.
Carr, the organizer, said about 30 demonstrators were outnumbered by the roughly 50 deputies who policed the event.
“It’s pretty terrifying when you’re trying to have a potluck and then you look up and there’s sheriff’s deputies with rubber bullet guns,” she said.
Several protesters said the deputies, many of whom were carrying launchers that fire foam rounds or riot shields, refused to identify themselves when questioned. In a video provided to The Times, one deputy would identify himself only as “emergency response sergeant one” when asked about the obscured name tags.
Some activists and independent journalists said deputies have been obscuring their names at demonstrations for months, with the problem becoming increasingly noticeable during hostile interactions between protesters and deputies in South L.A. after the fatal deputy shooting of Dijon Kizzee.
“It’s an accountability issue. They are public servants. They are supposedly keeping us safe,” said 32-year-old demonstrator Mary Mattingly, who also attended the Thanksgiving potluck. “If they are covering their badge numbers and they are covering their names … we can’t hold them accountable for anything that they are doing.”
Other police agencies have also changed how deputies identify themselves in the field.
The Beverly Hills Police Department is allowing officers to cover their name tags while assigned to protests. And the Portland Police Bureau in Oregon recently assigned each of its officers a three-digit identification number to wear on their helmets during protests in part due to demonstrators repeatedly staging events at the homes of police officials.