latimes--2020-06-25--In nod to criticism, L.A. County law enforcement agencies discussing joint investigations of police

In nod to criticism, L.A. County law enforcement agencies discussing joint investigations of police killings

Amid growing skepticism of police agencies that investigate killings by their own officers , top law enforcement officials in the Los Angeles region have reached a tentative agreement to cede the work instead to a centralized task force .
Few details have been worked out , but an initial consensus to have all police killings investigated by the task force was reached this week by Los Angeles County Sheriff Alex Villanueva , Los Angeles Police Chief Michel Moore , Dist .
Atty .
Jackie Lacey and Anthony Miranda , vice president of the Los Angeles County Police Chiefs ’ Assn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ letter all four wrote to California Atty .
Gen. Xavier Becerra , is to have cooperation from every law enforcement agency in the county , with those agencies , the LAPD and the sheriff ’ s office contributing investigators .
“ The purpose of this task force is to further strengthen police departments to be transparent , objective , and accountable in their practices , ” the letter said .
Becerra did not respond to a request for comment .
Lacey , who has faced harsh criticism over her record of declining to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ civilians , said she “ wholeheartedly ” supports the idea — which would still leave the power to criminally charge an officer with her office .
“ By sharing resources , we can assure that law enforcement agencies in Los Angeles County no longer investigate their own when use of force turns deadly , ” Lacey said .
“ The proposed task force also would allow us to formalize protocols across all agencies and give every case the same investigative resources and level of scrutiny.
” The plan drew immediate criticism from some @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of police in the hands of police and smacks of political expediency for local law enforcement officials who suddenly find themselves in the cross hairs of increasingly influential reform groups .
The task force would leave death investigations in the hands of local officers , but from various agencies .
One protocol under discussion would prohibit task force members from investigating officers or deputies from their own agencies .
Criminal justice reform advocates , including Black Lives Matter L.A. , have long called for more independence in such investigations — though they would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ equation entirely .
In recent weeks , calls for independence have mounted : The U.S. Conference of Mayors recently called on cities to have independent investigators review police killings .
A bill pending in Sacramento would require the state ’ s Department of Justice to review fatal police shootings .
Capt .
John Burcher , Villanueva ’ s chief of staff , said Villanueva came up with the task force idea a few weeks ago , and decided to reach out to Lacey and Moore about it in part because of the recent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ transparency.
” Protests over police killings , of George Floyd in Minneapolis but also other Black men and women across the country , have been occurring in Los Angeles and elsewhere for the past month .
Burcher and other officials stressed that the task force idea is in its infancy , and that while an agreement has been reached in principle , the agencies still have to hash out many details .
“ Right now it ’ s just an idea .
A steering committee hasn ’ t even been formed , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ talked to Villanueva directly and to various other chiefs in the region about the task force , but they still “ need to get together and figure out the nuances.
” Many local law enforcement agencies have different rules , and different equipment .
The LAPD is controlled by its civilian Police Commission and reforms have been implemented over the course of decades .
With so much at stake in cases in which police officers have killed someone , “ you don ’ t just willy-nilly go into an agreement saying , ‘ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ else [ investigate ] it , ’ ” Moore said .
In the past , agencies have squabbled with each other during cross-border investigations , including as to when and whether to release certain evidence .
And more disputes will arise if the rules for how the task force will operate aren ’ t carefully worked out in advance , Moore said .
One issue to discuss is body-camera footage , Moore said .
Under protocols controlled by the Police Commission , the LAPD must release footage of shootings and other critical incidents @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s deputies don ’ t even have cameras .
The agencies also have different rules as to whether or not officers can be compelled to give statements , and when in the investigation that can occur , Moore said .
He remains confident the task force will work , but stressed it is in its earliest stages of being developed .
Carl Douglas , who has litigated and investigated dozens of police shootings by the LAPD and the Sheriff ’ s Department , said he “ can not imagine a worse idea @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the new arrangement , law enforcement officers will still be investigating other law enforcement officers , and the public still won ’ t get a truly independent investigation , he said .
“ The foxes are still looking after the hen houses , ” he said .
“ It is a public relations stunt to seem progressive .
It comes at a time when both the district attorney and sheriff are desperately grasping for political survival .
They are trying to exploit fair-minded Angelenos who are yearning for real reform.
” Few law @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spared criticism of late .
Lacey is up for reelection .
The concept of outsourcing investigations into police killings to a independent or somewhat independent body is not new .
In San Francisco , the district attorney set up an independent investigations bureau to review law enforcement shootings .
Bureau investigators go to all police shootings to do interviews , examine the evidence and do forensic testing .
Local officials acknowledge that the new task force would not be completely independent .
Still , they think it would help .
“ It ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I think the biggest takeaway from this is that we ’ re getting away from those closer relationships and everybody is held to a degree of accountability , ” said Burcher , Villanueva ’ s chief of staff .
“ For instance if I investigate somebody who is a friend , who I worked with for a long time , I might consider a brother … there ’ s a chance I might be more influenced in my decision making as opposed to investigating somebody I don ’ t know.
” Asked why @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an independent body for all internal administrative and criminal investigations if such bias is a fear , Burcher said , “ You never know , that could be in the works down the road.
” L.A. County Chiefs Assn .
President John Incontro , who is also San Marino Police chief , said he heard about the task force proposal Monday .
“ It could be a good thing , but we ’ re not sure we are going to do it , ” he said .
Incontro said many details need to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ agree to participate .
“ We need to talk some more and need to hear from all our chiefs , ” he said .

Kevin Rector, Richard Winton, Alene Tchekmedyian

Amid growing skepticism of police agencies that investigate killings by their own officers, top law enforcement officials in the Los Angeles region have reached a tentative agreement to cede the work instead to a centralized task force.
Few details have been worked out, but an initial consensus to have all police killings investigated by the task force was reached this week by Los Angeles County Sheriff Alex Villanueva, Los Angeles Police Chief Michel Moore, Dist. Atty. Jackie Lacey and Anthony Miranda, vice president of the Los Angeles County Police Chiefs’ Assn.
The goal, according to a letter all four wrote to California Atty. Gen. Xavier Becerra, is to have cooperation from every law enforcement agency in the county, with those agencies, the LAPD and the sheriff’s office contributing investigators.
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“The purpose of this task force is to further strengthen police departments to be transparent, objective, and accountable in their practices,” the letter said.
Becerra did not respond to a request for comment.
Lacey, who has faced harsh criticism over her record of declining to prosecute most officers who use force against civilians, said she “wholeheartedly” supports the idea — which would still leave the power to criminally charge an officer with her office.
“By sharing resources, we can assure that law enforcement agencies in Los Angeles County no longer investigate their own when use of force turns deadly,” Lacey said. “The proposed task force also would allow us to formalize protocols across all agencies and give every case the same investigative resources and level of scrutiny.”
The plan drew immediate criticism from some reform advocates who said it leaves investigations of police in the hands of police and smacks of political expediency for local law enforcement officials who suddenly find themselves in the cross hairs of increasingly influential reform groups.
The task force would leave death investigations in the hands of local officers, but from various agencies. One protocol under discussion would prohibit task force members from investigating officers or deputies from their own agencies.
Criminal justice reform advocates, including Black Lives Matter L.A., have long called for more independence in such investigations — though they would like to see police removed from the equation entirely.
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In recent weeks, calls for independence have mounted: The U.S. Conference of Mayors recently called on cities to have independent investigators review police killings. A bill pending in Sacramento would require the state’s Department of Justice to review fatal police shootings.
Capt. John Burcher, Villanueva’s chief of staff, said Villanueva came up with the task force idea a few weeks ago, and decided to reach out to Lacey and Moore about it in part because of the recent “public outcries over more accountability and transparency.”
Protests over police killings, of George Floyd in Minneapolis but also other Black men and women across the country, have been occurring in Los Angeles and elsewhere for the past month.
Burcher and other officials stressed that the task force idea is in its infancy, and that while an agreement has been reached in principle, the agencies still have to hash out many details.
“Right now it’s just an idea. A steering committee hasn’t even been formed,” Burcher said.
Moore said he has talked to Villanueva directly and to various other chiefs in the region about the task force, but they still “need to get together and figure out the nuances.”
Many local law enforcement agencies have different rules, and different equipment. The LAPD is controlled by its civilian Police Commission and reforms have been implemented over the course of decades. With so much at stake in cases in which police officers have killed someone, “you don’t just willy-nilly go into an agreement saying, ‘OK, we’ll have someone else [investigate] it,’” Moore said.
In the past, agencies have squabbled with each other during cross-border investigations, including as to when and whether to release certain evidence. And more disputes will arise if the rules for how the task force will operate aren’t carefully worked out in advance, Moore said.
One issue to discuss is body-camera footage, Moore said. Under protocols controlled by the Police Commission, the LAPD must release footage of shootings and other critical incidents after 45 days. Meanwhile, sheriff’s deputies don’t even have cameras.
The agencies also have different rules as to whether or not officers can be compelled to give statements, and when in the investigation that can occur, Moore said.
He remains confident the task force will work, but stressed it is in its earliest stages of being developed.
Carl Douglas, who has litigated and investigated dozens of police shootings by the LAPD and the Sheriff’s Department, said he “cannot imagine a worse idea if you want true reform.”
Under the new arrangement, law enforcement officers will still be investigating other law enforcement officers, and the public still won’t get a truly independent investigation, he said.
“The foxes are still looking after the hen houses,” he said. “It is a public relations stunt to seem progressive. It comes at a time when both the district attorney and sheriff are desperately grasping for political survival. They are trying to exploit fair-minded Angelenos who are yearning for real reform.”
Few law enforcement leaders in the region have been spared criticism of late. Lacey is up for reelection.
The concept of outsourcing investigations into police killings to a independent or somewhat independent body is not new.
In San Francisco, the district attorney set up an independent investigations bureau to review law enforcement shootings. Bureau investigators go to all police shootings to do interviews, examine the evidence and do forensic testing.
Local officials acknowledge that the new task force would not be completely independent. Still, they think it would help.
“It’s still police investigating police, but I think the biggest takeaway from this is that we’re getting away from those closer relationships and everybody is held to a degree of accountability,” said Burcher, Villanueva’s chief of staff. “For instance if I investigate somebody who is a friend, who I worked with for a long time, I might consider a brother … there’s a chance I might be more influenced in my decision making as opposed to investigating somebody I don’t know.”
Asked why the department doesn’t also have an independent body for all internal administrative and criminal investigations if such bias is a fear, Burcher said, “You never know, that could be in the works down the road.”
L.A. County Chiefs Assn. President John Incontro, who is also San Marino Police chief, said he heard about the task force proposal Monday.
“It could be a good thing, but we’re not sure we are going to do it,” he said.
Incontro said many details need to be worked out before his organization would agree to participate.
“We need to talk some more and need to hear from all our chiefs,” he said.


latimes--2020-06-24--Tristan Eaton's Highland Park mural of MLK was defaced. He repainted Malcolm X

A vandal defaced a Highland Park mural depicting Martin Luther King Jr. with racial slurs this week .
But within hours , fresh paint covered the offense , and the image of another civil rights leader filled the spot : Malcolm X , smiling .
For artist Tristan Eaton , who painted both murals onto the coffee shop Café de Leche , the racist attack underscored the work ’ s importance .
“ What I ’ m painting about is alive and real .
It ’ s not just a static image .
It ’ s not old history .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ our neighborhood , ” said Eaton , a renowned street artist and designer whose work recently flew into orbit with SpaceX .
Anya Schodorf owns and runs Café de Leche with her husband , Matt .
They were excited when Eaton asked for permission to paint Martin Luther King Jr. on the plywood covering their shop ’ s windows in early June .
“ We are an interracial couple , so having Dr. King in spirit at our shop meant a lot to me .
He represents everything our family stands for .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ that racism gets eliminated from this planet , ” Anya Schodorf said .
When anti-racist demonstrations following the Minneapolis police killing of George Floyd came to Highland Park , protesters — Eaton among them — stopped at the intersection outside the cafe , the artist said .
There , the King mural watched on as the crowd knelt to honor Floyd .
“ It was a big , bold visual cue to the protests that the people in the neighborhood support it and welcome it , ” Eaton said .
As the coffee @ @ @ @ @ @ @ plywood mural to the side of their building to show continued support for the movement .
Before sunrise Monday , a woman smeared white paint onto King ’ s face and scrawled anti-Black slurs onto the mural , security footage shows .
Anya Schodorf , who was born in Nicaragua and has lived in the U.S. for 31 years , said that when she went to buy the plywood when protests first started , two women in a passing car harassed her with racist threats and expletives .
“ It felt like that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It felt like they came after me , that they followed through with their threats .
I was brokenhearted , ” she said .
The Schodorfs immediately went to their shop to cover up the slurs and figure out what happened as soon as an early arriving barista alerted them .
They filed a police report , and an investigation into the vandalism is ongoing .
Eaton said he had been watching James Baldwin ’ s film “ I Am Not Your Negro ” that morning when an image of Malcolm X caught @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to take a picture .
Hours later , he knew what to do when he heard the mural had been defaced .
“ I canceled my plans and drove back down there , ” he said .
Eaton , a Highland Park resident whose art studio is on the same street as the cafe , spray painted freehand the image of Malcom X from the movie .
“ It was pretty much saying , ‘ Here you go .
In your face , with love.
’ He refused to back down to hate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was moved to tears as Eaton painted , she added .
A woman in a car similar to the one captured in security footage harassed Eaton as he worked on the second piece , Anya Schodorf said .
If the mural is defaced again , she ’ ll welcome a new face onto the walls of her coffee shop , which she calls her “ American dream.
” “ We can not back down .
We need to keep pushing forward .
We have a lot of work ahead of us , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on standby , too .
He said he has plenty of paint and an idea of who he ’ d like to capture next .
“ Angela Davis , Jame Baldwin , Muhammad Ali , Tupac , Ice-T , Ice Cube .
There are so many people I want to paint .
The list goes on and on because the list of Black people that have generated and contributed to the culture we love is endless , ” Eaton said .
“ If it ’ s defaced again , I will wake up @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and then paint all day.
” He noted that there aren ’ t many murals in Highland Park and that Chicano wall art there has long been whitewashed .
Eaton hopes that those who don ’ t know much about Malcolm X will learn more about the leader after seeing the new mural and that those who are familiar will feel emboldened and proud that he would be celebrated .
“ Public art can uplift people , give them a sense of identity , give them a sense of pride in their neighborhood @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can elevate a conversation and bring a message to the world on the wings of beauty that can ’ t be done in words or other mediums .
You can take something and give it more power , more weight , just by painting a neighborhood .
”

A vandal defaced a Highland Park mural depicting Martin Luther King Jr. with racial slurs this week. But within hours, fresh paint covered the offense, and the image of another civil rights leader filled the spot: Malcolm X, smiling.
For artist Tristan Eaton, who painted both murals onto the coffee shop Café de Leche, the racist attack underscored the work’s importance.
“What I’m painting about is alive and real. It’s not just a static image. It’s not old history. It’s right now, in our neighborhood,” said Eaton, a renowned street artist and designer whose work recently flew into orbit with SpaceX.
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Anya Schodorf owns and runs Café de Leche with her husband, Matt. They were excited when Eaton asked for permission to paint Martin Luther King Jr. on the plywood covering their shop’s windows in early June.
“We are an interracial couple, so having Dr. King in spirit at our shop meant a lot to me. He represents everything our family stands for. It’s a mission for us that racism gets eliminated from this planet,” Anya Schodorf said.
When anti-racist demonstrations following the Minneapolis police killing of George Floyd came to Highland Park, protesters — Eaton among them — stopped at the intersection outside the cafe, the artist said. There, the King mural watched on as the crowd knelt to honor Floyd.
“It was a big, bold visual cue to the protests that the people in the neighborhood support it and welcome it,” Eaton said.
As the coffee shop reopened, the owners fixed the plywood mural to the side of their building to show continued support for the movement. Before sunrise Monday, a woman smeared white paint onto King’s face and scrawled anti-Black slurs onto the mural, security footage shows.
Anya Schodorf, who was born in Nicaragua and has lived in the U.S. for 31 years, said that when she went to buy the plywood when protests first started, two women in a passing car harassed her with racist threats and expletives.
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“It felt like that when I saw the mural destroyed. It felt like they came after me, that they followed through with their threats. I was brokenhearted,” she said.
The Schodorfs immediately went to their shop to cover up the slurs and figure out what happened as soon as an early arriving barista alerted them. They filed a police report, and an investigation into the vandalism is ongoing.
Eaton said he had been watching James Baldwin’s film “I Am Not Your Negro” that morning when an image of Malcolm X caught his attention. He paused the movie to take a picture. Hours later, he knew what to do when he heard the mural had been defaced.
“I canceled my plans and drove back down there,” he said.
Eaton, a Highland Park resident whose art studio is on the same street as the cafe, spray painted freehand the image of Malcom X from the movie.
“It was pretty much saying, ‘Here you go. In your face, with love.’ He refused to back down to hate,” Anya Schodorf said. She was moved to tears as Eaton painted, she added.
A woman in a car similar to the one captured in security footage harassed Eaton as he worked on the second piece, Anya Schodorf said. If the mural is defaced again, she’ll welcome a new face onto the walls of her coffee shop, which she calls her “American dream.”
“We cannot back down. We need to keep pushing forward. We have a lot of work ahead of us,” Anya Schodorf said.
Eaton’s on standby, too. He said he has plenty of paint and an idea of who he’d like to capture next.
“Angela Davis, Jame Baldwin, Muhammad Ali, Tupac, Ice-T, Ice Cube. There are so many people I want to paint. The list goes on and on because the list of Black people that have generated and contributed to the culture we love is endless,” Eaton said. “If it’s defaced again, I will wake up early, have a cup of coffee and then paint all day.”
He noted that there aren’t many murals in Highland Park and that Chicano wall art there has long been whitewashed. Eaton hopes that those who don’t know much about Malcolm X will learn more about the leader after seeing the new mural and that those who are familiar will feel emboldened and proud that he would be celebrated.
“Public art can uplift people, give them a sense of identity, give them a sense of pride in their neighborhood,” Eaton said. “You can elevate a conversation and bring a message to the world on the wings of beauty that can’t be done in words or other mediums. You can take something and give it more power, more weight, just by painting a neighborhood.”


latimes--2020-06-24--Woman injured in shooting of Terron Boone files civil rights claim

A woman injured in the shooting of Terron Boone , a Black man who was killed last week by Los Angeles County sheriff ’ s deputies , has filed a legal claim against the county , alleging the officers should have known that Boone , whose half-brother ’ s body was found a week earlier hanging from a tree , was agitated and fearful when they attempted to arrest him for alleged domestic violence .
A judge had authorized an arrest warrant for Boone , who was charged with beating , threatening and holding a woman against her will for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ detectives had been shadowing the 31-year-old in unmarked cars when they tried to take him into custody near an apartment complex in Rosamond , a Kern County community about 20 miles north of Palmdale .
When detectives tried to pull over an SUV carrying Boone , he was killed in what the Sheriff ’ s Department has described as a shootout : Boone , they said , stepped out of the car ’ s passenger side and fired at least five shots at the detectives , striking their car .
They returned fire @ @ @ @ @ @ @ killing him , the department said .
Detectives recovered a semiautomatic handgun at the scene .
Shellondra Thomas , who was driving the car carrying Boone , suffered a graze wound to the head and was struck by shrapnel in the chest , her attorney , Bradley Gage , said Wednesday .
Her 7-year-old daughter , who was in the car ’ s backseat , was not injured in the shooting , but Gage said she was subsequently held at a sheriff ’ s station for 12 hours and “ grilled ” by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ county seeks unspecified damages for negligence , battery and a violation of her civil rights .
Through her attorney , she alleged that sheriff ’ s detectives used flawed , shortsighted tactics that turned a volatile situation deadly .
Gage said the detectives did not use lights or sirens to initiate the traffic stop , choosing instead to hem in Thomas ’ car with unmarked vehicles .
Citing the litigation , the Sheriff ’ s Department declined to comment .
Gage , who said he has interviewed unidentified witnesses from the apartment complex @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that Boone shot first .
“ But even assuming that ’ s true , ” he said , “ I don ’ t think he would have fired anything if the deputies had identified themselves.
” Sheriff ’ s homicide detectives are investigating Boone ’ s death , along with the death of his brother , Robert Fuller , 24 , whose body was found hanging from a tree near Palmdale City Hall on June 10 .
Although the Sheriff ’ s Department deemed it a suicide , many residents doubted the finding @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the Antelope Valley , and voiced suspicions that Fuller was lynched .
The FBI and California Atty .
Gen. Xavier Becerra ’ s office are monitoring the sheriff ’ s investigation of Fuller ’ s death .
Gage , Thomas ’ attorney , said sheriff ’ s detectives should have understood that the uncertainty and fear surrounding Fuller ’ s death had created a “ highly volatile situation ” when they tried to arrest Boone .
“ They had to have seen the connection between Robert Fuller and Terron Boone , ” @ @ @

Terron Boone, above, was killed last week by Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputies. Shellondra Thomas, who was driving the SUV in which Boone was traveling at the time, was injured by the gunfire and has filed a claim against the county.
A woman injured in the shooting of Terron Boone, a Black man who was killed last week by Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputies, has filed a legal claim against the county, alleging the officers should have known that Boone, whose half-brother’s body was found a week earlier hanging from a tree, was agitated and fearful when they attempted to arrest him for alleged domestic violence.
A judge had authorized an arrest warrant for Boone, who was charged with beating, threatening and holding a woman against her will for six days, and sheriff’s detectives had been shadowing the 31-year-old in unmarked cars when they tried to take him into custody near an apartment complex in Rosamond, a Kern County community about 20 miles north of Palmdale.
When detectives tried to pull over an SUV carrying Boone, he was killed in what the Sheriff’s Department has described as a shootout: Boone, they said, stepped out of the car’s passenger side and fired at least five shots at the detectives, striking their car. They returned fire and hit Boone in the chest, killing him, the department said. Detectives recovered a semiautomatic handgun at the scene.
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Shellondra Thomas, who was driving the car carrying Boone, suffered a graze wound to the head and was struck by shrapnel in the chest, her attorney, Bradley Gage, said Wednesday. Her 7-year-old daughter, who was in the car’s backseat, was not injured in the shooting, but Gage said she was subsequently held at a sheriff’s station for 12 hours and “grilled” by investigators.
Thomas’ claim against the county seeks unspecified damages for negligence, battery and a violation of her civil rights. Through her attorney, she alleged that sheriff’s detectives used flawed, shortsighted tactics that turned a volatile situation deadly. Gage said the detectives did not use lights or sirens to initiate the traffic stop, choosing instead to hem in Thomas’ car with unmarked vehicles.
Citing the litigation, the Sheriff’s Department declined to comment.
Gage, who said he has interviewed unidentified witnesses from the apartment complex, contested the sheriff’s account that Boone shot first. “But even assuming that’s true,” he said, “I don’t think he would have fired anything if the deputies had identified themselves.”
Sheriff’s homicide detectives are investigating Boone’s death, along with the death of his brother, Robert Fuller, 24, whose body was found hanging from a tree near Palmdale City Hall on June 10. Although the Sheriff’s Department deemed it a suicide, many residents doubted the finding, citing a long history of racism in the Antelope Valley, and voiced suspicions that Fuller was lynched.
The FBI and California Atty. Gen. Xavier Becerra’s office are monitoring the sheriff’s investigation of Fuller’s death.
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Gage, Thomas’ attorney, said sheriff’s detectives should have understood that the uncertainty and fear surrounding Fuller’s death had created a “highly volatile situation” when they tried to arrest Boone.
“They had to have seen the connection between Robert Fuller and Terron Boone,” he said.


latimes--2020-06-25--California mandates big increase in zero-emission trucks

The nation ’ s toughest clean-air mandate on trucks was approved Thursday by the California Air Resources Board .
In effect , the board ordered manufacturers of medium-duty and heavy-duty commercial trucks to begin selling zero-emission versions in 2024 , with 100,000 sold in California by 2030 and 300,000 by 2035 .
“ This is a bold step we ’ re taking today , ” said air board member Judy Mitchell , adding it is a daunting challenge , given the public investment that will be necessary for buyer incentives and charging infrastructure .
The mandate is intended to cut @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ambitious greenhouse gas reduction goals — 40 % below 1990 levels by 2030 and 80 % below by 2050 .
Environmentalists , health advocates , climate action supporters and others voiced strong support at an online hearing Thursday before the vote .
So did makers of electric trucks and buses .
“ California is once again leading the nation in the fight to make our air cleaner , becoming the first place in the world to mandate zero emission trucks by 2045 , ” Gov .
Newsom said in a statement .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ forced to breathe our most polluted air , and today ’ s vote moves us closer toward a healthier future for all of our kids.
” Representatives of traditional manufacturers , 95 % of whose products are powered by diesel fuel , opposed the mandate and suggested it will be impossible to meet the air board ’ s timeline .
The mandate is “ flawed , ” said Jed Mandel , president of the Truck and Engine Manufacturers Assn.
, an industry group .
“ There is no charging infrastructure , there is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and zero-emission trucks “ cost more than traditional fuel trucks , ” he said .
As it approved the mandate , the board pushed infrastructure and incentive funding questions into the future .
Mandel suggested the program be delayed for two years , until 2026 , to allow more time for truck-specific charging systems to be installed and for the consideration of policies to encourage the purchase of such vehicles : state incentives for buyers and a mandate on fleet operators to buy a set percentage of zero-emission trucks .
The air board @ @ @ @ @ @ @ operators with more than 50 trucks that do business in California to help determine what additional policies are needed to boost demand .
The mandate takes in trucks ranging from pickups that can haul three-quarters of a ton to semi trucks that fully loaded weigh 80,000 pounds .
The air board said about 75,000 such trucks are sold each year .
Dawn Fenton , government relations head for Volvo Group , said the company is committed to moving quickly into the zero-emission truck market but “ we doubt the market ’ s readiness @ @ @ @ @ @ @ regulation.
” Supporters of the mandate argued that California can ’ t meet its greenhouse gas goals if diesel trucks are not eventually phased out .
“ The sooner we move , the sooner the skies will clear and people ’ s health will improve , ” said Andrea Vidaurre , policy analyst at the Center for Community Action and Environmental Justice , based in Jurupa Valley near Riverside .
She emphasized that freeways , ports , distribution centers and rail yards tend to border low-income areas , increasing the health risk for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nitrogen oxides , particulate matter and other pollutants proven to cause lung damage , asthma , and cancer , among other serious health problems .
Several other states , most in the Northeast , plan to adopt the air board ’ s mandate , known as the Advanced Clean Truck initiative .
“ There ’ s clearly a national interest ” in reducing pollution , said Katy Dykes , commissioner at the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environment , said Thursday .
Transportation is the largest greenhouse gas contributor in the state , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the human-produced total .
Industrial and electrical power sources are second and third .
Battery electric and hydrogen fuel-cell trucks produce no vehicle emissions , although if the original source of energy is nonrenewable power plants , they still have a carbon footprint .
That ’ s why the state also aims for 60 % of electricity be produced by solar , wind and other zero-carbon sources by 2030 and 100 % by 2045 .
Like the credit system that California employs to require manufacturers to sell zero-emission vehicles in California , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ market .
Basically , manufacturers that sell a certain percentage of zero-emission vehicles in California earn credits that can be sold to those manufacturers who don ’ t sell enough .
The state plans to have 4,000 zero-emission trucks in operation by 2024 , 100,000 by 2030 , and 300,000 by 2035 .
The state figures that 50 % of medium-duty trucks and 30 % of big rigs sold each year will be zero-emission by 2030 .
Medium-duty electric trucks — mainly , large vans and box trucks with no semi-trailer — are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ trucks because range requirements for their hauling jobs are lower and they can be charged at a depot overnight .
Many new players compete in this segment , including Rivian and Chanje .
Calstart , a clean transportation industry group , said 169 different zero-emission commercial models will be available by the end of the year , compared with 95 in 2019 .
Amazon has invested in Michigan-based Rivian and said it plans to buy 100,000 electric delivery vans from the company over the next several years .
All major truck manufacturers are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ batteries or by hydrogen electric fuel cells .
That includes Daimler ’ s Freightliner brand , Volvo , International ’ s Navistar as well as Paccar ’ s Peterbilt and Kenworth .
Toyota and Kenworth have begun a pilot program at the Port of Los Angeles , funded in part by California taxpayers , with 10 fuel-cell trucks .
A start-up called Nikola breaks ground this month on a factory in Arizona to build fuel-cell semi trucks .
Tesla announced an electric semi truck in 2017 , but manufacturing plans remain on ice @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the traditional manufacturers “ will have a hard time dealing with this , ” Antti Lindstrom , commercial truck market analyst at IHS Markit , told The Times .
While alternative energy trucks might make financial sense for fleet owners on a long-term cost of ownership basis , he said , the upfront cost of such trucks is far higher : $ 125,000 for a diesel semi-truck trailer is a rough industry rule of thumb versus more than $ 200,000 for a zero-emission equivalent , depending on the range and underlying technology .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ paucity of incentives for buyers are serious problems , Lindstrom said .
And even if they are addressed , with the state in a serious budget crisis , “ who is going to pay for it ?
” Building out a truck-charging infrastructure is essential , air board member Barbara Riordan said .
She voted for the mandate but noted that truck manufacturers such as Volvo , taking in state grants for electric-truck pilot programs , are complaining about a lack of charging stations .
The state needs to “ make sure we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t overcome , ” Reardon said .
Board members barely mentioned California ’ s budget shortfall , which stands at about $ 54 billion , largely due to effects of the COVID-19 pandemic .

Toyota and Kenworth teamed up in 2019 to deploy 10 hydrogen fuel-cell trucks in a pilot project at the Port of Los Angeles.
The nation’s toughest clean-air mandate on trucks was approved Thursday by the California Air Resources Board.
In effect, the board ordered manufacturers of medium-duty and heavy-duty commercial trucks to begin selling zero-emission versions in 2024, with 100,000 sold in California by 2030 and 300,000 by 2035.
“This is a bold step we’re taking today,” said air board member Judy Mitchell, adding it is a daunting challenge, given the public investment that will be necessary for buyer incentives and charging infrastructure.
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The mandate is intended to cut air pollution and push the state toward ambitious greenhouse gas reduction goals — 40% below 1990 levels by 2030 and 80% below by 2050.
Environmentalists, health advocates, climate action supporters and others voiced strong support at an online hearing Thursday before the vote. So did makers of electric trucks and buses.
“California is once again leading the nation in the fight to make our air cleaner, becoming the first place in the world to mandate zero emission trucks by 2045,” Gov. Gavin Newsom said in a statement. “Communities and children of color are often forced to breathe our most polluted air, and today’s vote moves us closer toward a healthier future for all of our kids.”
Representatives of traditional manufacturers, 95% of whose products are powered by diesel fuel, opposed the mandate and suggested it will be impossible to meet the air board’s timeline.
The mandate is “flawed,” said Jed Mandel, president of the Truck and Engine Manufacturers Assn., an industry group. “There is no charging infrastructure, there is inadequate incentive funding available” for buyers and zero-emission trucks “cost more than traditional fuel trucks,” he said.
As it approved the mandate, the board pushed infrastructure and incentive funding questions into the future.
Mandel suggested the program be delayed for two years, until 2026, to allow more time for truck-specific charging systems to be installed and for the consideration of policies to encourage the purchase of such vehicles: state incentives for buyers and a mandate on fleet operators to buy a set percentage of zero-emission trucks.
The air board will conduct a detailed survey of fleet operators with more than 50 trucks that do business in California to help determine what additional policies are needed to boost demand. The mandate takes in trucks ranging from pickups that can haul three-quarters of a ton to semi trucks that fully loaded weigh 80,000 pounds. The air board said about 75,000 such trucks are sold each year.
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Dawn Fenton, government relations head for Volvo Group, said the company is committed to moving quickly into the zero-emission truck market but “we doubt the market’s readiness to absorb the volumes proposed in this regulation.”
Supporters of the mandate argued that California can’t meet its greenhouse gas goals if diesel trucks are not eventually phased out.
“The sooner we move, the sooner the skies will clear and people’s health will improve,” said Andrea Vidaurre, policy analyst at the Center for Community Action and Environmental Justice, based in Jurupa Valley near Riverside.
She emphasized that freeways, ports, distribution centers and rail yards tend to border low-income areas, increasing the health risk for people living there.
Diesel trucks contribute nitrogen oxides, particulate matter and other pollutants proven to cause lung damage, asthma and cancer, among other serious health problems.
Several other states, most in the Northeast, plan to adopt the air board’s mandate, known as the Advanced Clean Truck initiative. “There’s clearly a national interest” in reducing pollution, Katie Dykes, the commissioner of the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, said Thursday.
Transportation is the largest greenhouse gas contributor in the state, pumping out more than a third of the human-produced total. Industrial and electrical power sources are second and third.
Battery electric and hydrogen fuel-cell trucks produce no vehicle emissions, although if the original source of energy is nonrenewable power plants, they still have a carbon footprint. That’s why the state also aims for 60% of electricity to be produced by solar, wind and other zero-carbon sources by 2030 and 100% by 2045.
Like the credit system that California employs to require manufacturers to sell zero-emission vehicles in California, the truck mandate is based on a credit market. Basically, manufacturers that sell a certain percentage of zero-emission vehicles in California earn credits that can be sold to those manufacturers that don’t sell enough. The state plans to have 4,000 zero-emission trucks in operation by 2024, 100,000 by 2030 and 300,000 by 2035.
The state figures that 50% of medium-duty trucks and 30% of big rigs sold each year will be zero-emission by 2030.
Medium-duty electric trucks — mainly large vans and box trucks with no semi-trailer — are expected to succeed faster than electric semi trucks because range requirements for their hauling jobs are lower and they can be charged at a depot overnight.
Many new players compete in this segment, including Rivian and Chanje. Calstart, a clean transportation industry group, said 169 different zero-emission commercial models will be available by the end of the year, compared with 95 in 2019. Amazon has invested in Michigan-based Rivian and said it plans to buy 100,000 electric delivery vans from the company over the next several years.
All major truck manufacturers are developing electric trucks, powered either by batteries or by hydrogen electric fuel cells. That includes Daimler’s Freightliner brand, Volvo, International’s Navistar and Paccar’s Peterbilt and Kenworth.
Toyota and Kenworth have begun a pilot program at the Port of Los Angeles, funded in part by California taxpayers, with 10 fuel-cell trucks. A start-up called Nikola breaks ground this month on a factory in Arizona to build fuel-cell semi trucks. Tesla announced an electric semi truck in 2017, but manufacturing plans remain on ice.
The start-ups will benefit, but the traditional manufacturers “will have a hard time dealing with this,” Antti Lindstrom, commercial truck market analyst at IHS Markit, told The Times.
While alternative energy trucks might make financial sense for fleet owners on a long-term cost of ownership basis, he said, the upfront cost of such trucks is far higher: $125,000 for a diesel semi tractor is a rough industry rule of thumb versus more than $200,000 for a zero-emission equivalent, depending on the range and underlying technology.
The current lack of charging infrastructure and paucity of incentives for buyers are serious problems, Lindstrom said. And even if they are addressed, with the state in a serious budget crisis, “who is going to pay for it?”
Building out a truck-charging infrastructure is essential, air board member Barbara Riordan said. She voted for the mandate but noted that truck manufacturers such as Volvo, taking in state grants for electric-truck pilot programs, are complaining about a lack of charging stations. The state needs to “make sure we’re not creating problems we can’t overcome,” Riordan said.
Board members barely mentioned California’s budget shortfall, which stands at about $54 billion, largely due to effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.


latimes--2020-06-25--5 Things to know about Walter Thompson-Hernández and 'The Compton Cowboys'

Walter Thompson-Hernández joined the Los Angeles Times Book Club for a virtual meet-up Wednesday night to talk about the current civil unrest , survival and his debut book , “ The Compton Cowboys.
” The book introduces nine Black men and one woman who learned to ride horses as kids in what was then called the Compton Jr. Posse .
The riding and gang-prevention program began at Richland Farms in the mid-1980s .
Members adopted the credo : “ Streets raised us .
Horses saved us.
” Times Metro reporter Angel Jennings joined Thompson-Hernández to discuss identity , how the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s upcoming projects .
Here are five highlights from the book club discussion .
Following the killing of George Floyd and the civil unrest that ensued , many of the book ’ s themes feel especially timely .
Thompson-Hernández spent nearly every day with the cowboys in Compton while researching his book .
When the recent protests erupted , he wasn ’ t entirely surprised .
“ Spending a year and a half with these men and women in Compton , I really was able to see how they experience life , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tragedies in their life and also the joyful moments too , ” he said .
Thompson-Hernández said he hopes people see the book as being more than just about cowboys and cowgirls .
“ This is really a book about race in America .
About what it means to be a Black man living in America and the really creative ways that Black folks have been forced to find ways to survive.
” After writing about subcultures around the world for the New York Times , Thompson-Hernández felt homesick .
“ I was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and I was like , ‘ Man , how do I stay home longer ?
” He thought about a story he could do in his hometown of Los Angeles .
Like many millennials , he searched through Instagram for ideas .
He rediscovered the Compton Cowboys , a group he knew from his childhood growing up in nearby Huntington Park .
On Wednesday night , he recalled the first of many days he ’ d spend on their ranch .
“ They were really shocked because they were expecting some older white @ @ @ @ @ @ @ York Times writer , but I show up to the ranch and there was this immediate connection and friendship.
” Thompson-Hernández , who is Black and Mexican , spoke of the unique experience of being a participant in the stories he told .
“ I literally live 10 minutes away ” from Compton , “ so this was also my story too.
” That helped him establish trust and a rapport with the cowboys .
But he was also an observer .
“ Writers of color , we have access to our communities @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the community ” and understand it .
He added : “ And I think so many of us are tired of having to explain or over-explain our culture .
It ’ s always been my goal , and especially recently , to not explain but just document .
The onus and the work shouldn ’ t be on us to explain our stories and experiences to white folks .
They should do their own work and their own research and understand that our stories also matter.
” For many of the book ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Thompson-Hernández was their first time opening up about traumas , such as sexual assault and police run-ins .
“ For folks of color in the ’ hood , we don ’ t have access to resources like therapy that allow us to make sense of these traumas and these really tough experiences , ” he said .
Documenting these stories was often heavy for him , so he sought ways to process his own emotions .
“ This book forced me to tap into a sort of emotional source that I had never @ @ @ @ @ @ @ therapist .
“ When people share these stories with us , the information stays with us .
It stays in our bodies and it stays in our spirits , so for me it was like , ‘ How do I find ways to not just get that on paper but to also process that in a way that allows me to be healthy and happy ?
’ ” On July 9 , Thompson-Hernández will launch his KPCC podcast “ California Love , ” an audio tour of stories about a changing Los Angeles @ @ @ @ @ @ @ beautiful show and it ’ s my first time working with sound and audio , and it feels so intimate.
” Rather than writing about people ’ s stories , “ Now it ’ s like , ‘ Here ’ s a mic .
Tell me about your life.
’ And to me , it ’ s so special and beautiful to be able to do that.
” He also is working on a memoir and said a film adaption of “ The Compton Cowboys ” is in the works .

Walter Thompson-Hernández joined the Los Angeles Times Book Club for a virtual meet-up Wednesday night to talk about the current civil unrest, survival and his debut book, “The Compton Cowboys.”
The book introduces nine Black men and one woman who learned to ride horses as kids in what was then called the Compton Jr. Posse. The riding and gang-prevention program began at Richland Farms in the mid-1980s. Members adopted the credo: “Streets raised us. Horses saved us.”
Times Metro reporter Angel Jennings joined Thompson-Hernández to discuss identity, how the book came to be and the author’s upcoming projects.
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Walter Thompson-Hernández and Times reporter Angel Jennings discussed ‘The Compton Cowboys’ with the L.A. Times Book Club. (Ken Kwok / Los Angeles Times)
Here are five highlights from the book club discussion.
The story’s relevance today
Following the killing of George Floyd and the civil unrest that ensued, many of the book’s themes feel especially timely. Thompson-Hernández spent nearly every day with the cowboys in Compton while researching his book. When the recent protests erupted, he wasn’t entirely surprised. “Spending a year and a half with these men and women in Compton, I really was able to see how they experience life, how the police treats them, the tragedies in their life and also the joyful moments too,” he said.
Thompson-Hernández said he hopes people see the book as being more than just about cowboys and cowgirls. “This is really a book about race in America. About what it means to be a Black man living in America and the really creative ways that Black folks have been forced to find ways to survive.”
Being homesick played a part
After writing about subcultures around the world for the New York Times, Thompson-Hernández felt homesick. “I was home for a week and a half and I was like, ‘Man, how do I stay home longer?” He thought about a story he could do in his hometown of Los Angeles. Like many millennials, he searched through Instagram for ideas. He rediscovered the Compton Cowboys, a group he knew from his childhood growing up in nearby Huntington Park. On Wednesday night, he recalled the first of many days he’d spend on their ranch. “They were really shocked because they were expecting some older white dude from Connecticut to be a New York Times writer, but I show up to the ranch and there was this immediate connection and friendship.”
On observing and participating
Thompson-Hernández, who is Black and Mexican, spoke of the unique experience of being a participant in the stories he told. “I literally live 10 minutes away” from Compton, “so this was also my story too.” That helped him establish trust and a rapport with the cowboys. But he was also an observer. “Writers of color, we have access to our communities because we’re a part of the community” and understand it. He added: “And I think so many of us are tired of having to explain or over-explain our culture. It’s always been my goal, and especially recently, to not explain but just document. The onus and the work shouldn’t be on us to explain our stories and experiences to white folks. They should do their own work and their own research and understand that our stories also matter.”
The toll of trauma
For many of the book’s subjects, sharing their stories with Thompson-Hernández was their first time opening up about traumas, such as sexual assault and police run-ins. “For folks of color in the ’hood, we don’t have access to resources like therapy that allow us to make sense of these traumas and these really tough experiences,” he said. Documenting these stories was often heavy for him, so he sought ways to process his own emotions. “This book forced me to tap into a sort of emotional source that I had never tapped into.” He sought out a therapist. “When people share these stories with us, the information stays with us. It stays in our bodies and it stays in our spirits, so for me it was like, ‘How do I find ways to not just get that on paper but to also process that in a way that allows me to be healthy and happy?’”
Books Sign up for the Los Angeles Times Book Club
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What’s next
On July 9, Thompson-Hernández will launch his KPCC podcast “California Love,” an audio tour of stories about a changing Los Angeles. “It’s a really beautiful show and it’s my first time working with sound and audio, and it feels so intimate.” Rather than writing about people’s stories, “Now it’s like, ‘Here’s a mic. Tell me about your life.’ And to me, it’s so special and beautiful to be able to do that.” He also is working on a memoir and said a film adaption of “The Compton Cowboys” is in the works.


latimes--2020-06-25--Pomona city councilman charged with possessing child pornography

A Pomona city councilman has been charged with possession of child pornography , authorities said this week .
Rubio Ramiro Gonzalez was charged Wednesday with possessing child pornography and taking inappropriate photographs of girls at two elementary schools where he was a substitute teacher , according to the Los Angeles County district attorney ’ s office .
Gonzalez , 45 , was charged with one felony count of possessing child pornography and four misdemeanor counts of annoying or molesting a child .
According to the district attorney ’ s office , he inappropriately took photos of female students at Cortez @ @ @ @ @ @ @ He also is accused of having pornographic images of children in his email accounts .
Gonzalez was arrested May 21 following an investigation by the district attorney ’ s office .
He was released later that day on bond , according to jail records .
In an email to The Times , Gonzalez denied the molestation charges , but did not directly comment on the child porn allegations .
“ Despite the horrific-sounding charges against me , they revolve around my inappropriate use of technology , but no child was ever molested by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ email to The Times .
Gonzalez added that he is the “ only advocate against violence toward women and children ” on the City Council and that he is one of the founders of a multi-agency human trafficking coalition that supports the police department with rescuing women and teenagers from prostitution and sex trafficking .
He did not provide further comment about the charges .
An educator for more than 15 years , Gonzalez has worked in the Pomona Unified School District , the Los Angeles Unified School District and several other school @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to his biography on the .
No spokesperson from the Pomona Unified School District was available to comment on whether he is still employed with the district .
Gonzalez was elected into office in 2016 .
The still lists him as a councilman for District 1 , but Pomona Mayor Tim Sandoval issued a statement last month saying he intended to call a special meeting to discuss legal options regarding Gonzalez ’ s status as a council member .
Two days after his arrest , the City Council voted unanimously to censure Gonzalez @ @ @ @ @ @ @ calling for his resignation , according to city spokesman Mark Gluba .
“ This letter has been delivered to Mr. Gonzalez and , as of this date , we have not received any indication of his intent to resign from office , ” Gluba said via email .
No council members were available for comment Thursday .
The case remains under investigation , and Gonzalez is scheduled to be arraigned Aug. 28 .
If convicted , he faces up to seven years in prison .
As of Thursday morning , the district attorney @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Greg Risling , said he did not know who Gonzalez ’ s defense lawyer was .

A Pomona city councilman has been charged with possession of child pornography, authorities said this week.
Rubio Ramiro Gonzalez was charged Wednesday with possessing child pornography and taking inappropriate photographs of girls at two elementary schools where he was a substitute teacher, according to the Los Angeles County district attorney’s office.
Gonzalez, 45, was charged with one felony count of possessing child pornography and four misdemeanor counts of annoying or molesting a child.
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According to the district attorney’s office, he inappropriately took photos of female students at Cortez and Arroyo elementary schools in Pomona. He also is accused of having pornographic images of children in his email accounts.
Gonzalez was arrested May 21 following an investigation by the district attorney’s office. He was released later that day on bond, according to jail records.
In an email to The Times, Gonzalez denied the molestation charges, but did not directly comment on the child porn allegations.
“Despite the horrific-sounding charges against me, they revolve around my inappropriate use of technology, but no child was ever molested by me,” Gonzalez said in an email to The Times.
Gonzalez added that he is the “only advocate against violence toward women and children” on the City Council and that he is one of the founders of a multi-agency human trafficking coalition that supports the police department with rescuing women and teenagers from prostitution and sex trafficking. He did not provide further comment about the charges.
An educator for more than 15 years, Gonzalez has worked in the Pomona Unified School District, the Los Angeles Unified School District and several other school districts in California and Texas, according to his biography on the city of Pomona’s website . No spokesperson from the Pomona Unified School District was available to comment on whether he is still employed with the district.
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Gonzalez was elected into office in 2016. The city’s website still lists him as a councilman for District 1, but Pomona Mayor Tim Sandoval issued a statement last month saying he intended to call a special meeting to discuss legal options regarding Gonzalez’s status as a council member.
Two days after his arrest, the City Council voted unanimously to censure Gonzalez and directed staff to draft a letter calling for his resignation, according to city spokesman Mark Gluba.
“This letter has been delivered to Mr. Gonzalez and, as of this date, we have not received any indication of his intent to resign from office,” Gluba said via email.
No council members were available for comment Thursday.
The case remains under investigation, and Gonzalez is scheduled to be arraigned Aug. 28. If convicted, he faces up to seven years in prison.
As of Thursday morning, the district attorney’s office’s spokesman, Greg Risling, said he did not know who Gonzalez’s defense lawyer was.
Times staff writer James Queally contributed to this report.


latimes--2020-06-25--City attorney drops all charges against anti-Trump protest group that LAPD spied on

All remaining criminal charges against demonstrators who blocked a section of the 101 Freeway in protest of President Trump in 2017 have been dismissed , ending a years-long legal drama that revealed Los Angeles police placed an informant inside of a non-violent political group , officials said Thursday .
Members of the group Refuse Fascism were charged with criminal trespass in late 2017 , after eight of their members blocked a section of the 101 Freeway during a protest , records show .
The LAPD launched an investigation of the group in advance of planned protests to mark the one-year @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Court records reviewed by The Times last year showed police sent an informant to infiltrate the group during four meetings at an Echo Park church the next month .
Public outrage over the LAPD ’ s tactics led Chief Michel Moore to put additional safeguards in place when investigators deploy confidential informants in sensitive locations , including churches or among political groups .
Moore ultimately determined the investigation was not in violation of department policy , however .
Despite the controversy , the city attorney ’ s office continued to pursue prosecutions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ success .
Three defendants entered pleas that allowed them to enter diversionary programs and have their criminal records expunged , but six others continued to fight the charges .
A fourth defendant , Yesenia Cruz , said her case was dropped last year shortly after the court granted a motion that would have exposed the identity of the LAPD ’ s informant .
Cruz did not attend the freeway protest , but was accused of organizing it .
The city attorney ’ s office has disputed her description of events .
This week @ @ @ @ @ @ @ decided to drop charges against the five remaining defendants because it was having difficulties getting witnesses to appear .
“ Due to the age of the case , witnesses have either been reassigned , moved or are otherwise unavailable , ” spokesman Rob Wilcox said in an email to The Times .
Chantelle Hershberger , a 30-year-old Refuse Fascism member who was awaiting her third trial on the trespass charge after the past two ended in hung juries , said the dismissal of charges was especially important to her after the LAPD arrested @ @ @ @ @ @ @ failing to obey dispersal orders during days of protests in response to George Floyd ’ s murder .
“ It ’ s needed now more than ever with Trump coming down and attacking all these Black Lives Matter protesters … we need to stand together , ” she said .
Wilcox did not respond to a question about why the city attorney ’ s office spent three years trying to secure convictions in a trespassing case .
The LAPD ’ s decision to spy on Refuse Fascism in 2017 came months after a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Va. , ended in the death of a young woman and dozens of injuries .
It also followed a series of protests turned street fights between anti-fascists and far-right figures in the Bay Area .
While Refuse Fascism has been associated with demonstrations against Trump across the country , experts who monitor political unrest say the group is largely non-violent .
Last year , a law enforcement source told The Times that the LAPD did not conduct any similar surveillance operations on right-wing political groups ahead of the 2017 Election Day demonstrations .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ L.A. in 2017 ultimately passed without incident .
No one was injured , and only two people were arrested , police said .

All remaining criminal charges against demonstrators who blocked a section of the 101 Freeway in protest of President Trump in 2017 have been dismissed, ending a years-long legal drama that revealed Los Angeles police placed an informant inside of a non-violent political group, officials said Thursday.
Members of the group Refuse Fascism were charged with criminal trespass in late 2017, after eight of their members blocked a section of the 101 Freeway during a protest, records show.
The LAPD launched an investigation of the group in advance of planned protests to mark the one-year anniversary of Trump’s election victory. Court records reviewed by The Times last year showed police sent an informant to infiltrate the group during four meetings at an Echo Park church the next month.
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Public outrage over the LAPD’s tactics led Chief Michel Moore to put additional safeguards in place when investigators deploy confidential informants in sensitive locations, including churches or among political groups. Moore ultimately determined the investigation was not in violation of department policy, however.
Despite the controversy, the city attorney’s office continued to pursue prosecutions of the nine protesters, with little success. Three defendants entered pleas that allowed them to enter diversionary programs and have their criminal records expunged, but six others continued to fight the charges.
A fourth defendant, Yesenia Cruz, said her case was dropped last year shortly after the court granted a motion that would have exposed the identity of the LAPD’s informant. Cruz did not attend the freeway protest, but was accused of organizing it. The city attorney’s office has disputed her description of events.
This week, the city attorney’s office decided to drop charges against the five remaining defendants because it was having difficulties getting witnesses to appear.
“Due to the age of the case, witnesses have either been reassigned, moved or are otherwise unavailable,” spokesman Rob Wilcox said in an email to The Times.
Chantelle Hershberger, a 30-year-old Refuse Fascism member who was awaiting her third trial on the trespass charge after the past two ended in hung juries, said the dismissal of charges was especially important to her after the LAPD arrested thousands of people for violating curfews or failing to obey dispersal orders during days of protests in response to George Floyd’s murder.
“It’s needed now more than ever with Trump coming down and attacking all these Black Lives Matter protesters … we need to stand together,” she said.
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Wilcox did not respond to a question about why the city attorney’s office spent three years trying to secure convictions in a trespassing case.
The LAPD’s decision to spy on Refuse Fascism in 2017 came months after a violent white supremacist rally in Charlottesville, Va., ended in the death of a young woman and dozens of injuries. It also followed a series of protests turned street fights between anti-fascists and far-right figures in the Bay Area.
While Refuse Fascism has been associated with demonstrations against Trump across the country, experts who monitor political unrest say the group is largely non-violent. Last year, a law enforcement source told The Times that the LAPD did not conduct any similar surveillance operations on right-wing political groups ahead of the 2017 Election Day demonstrations.
The protest Refuse Fascism organized in downtown L.A. in 2017 ultimately passed without incident. No one was injured, and only two people were arrested, police said.


latimes--2020-06-25--Proposal slashes L.A. County Sheriff's Department budget by $162 million

In Los Angeles County ’ s first proposed budget reflecting the pandemic-related economic slowdown , officials announced Thursday that public safety will bear the brunt of an overall 8 % cut in spending , with the Sheriff ’ s Department eyed for more than 400 layoffs and $ 162 million trimmed from its $ 3.3-billion budget .
Officials said the proposed cuts to the 2020-21 budget were largely due to shortfalls in sales tax funds , which have been significantly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic .
The “ defund the police ” movement was not a factor in the decision @ @ @ @ @ @ @ officials said .
“ I am very disappointed to report that significant cuts in county programs and personnel will be needed as a result of the serious economic downturn caused by this ongoing public health emergency , ” L.A. County Chief Executive Sachi Hamai said in a statement .
“ This is not the outcome any of us wants to see , especially as our county staff continues to serve with great commitment during this crisis.
” Sheriff Alex Villanueva has yet to comment on the proposed budget .
He has been sharply @ @ @ @ @ @ @ believes need to be at $ 3.9 billion to run the department effectively .
“ The Sheriff ’ s Department is forced to run in the red because the Board of Supervisors does not prioritize public safety , and they are the ones that hold the checkbook , ” Villanueva said in a virtual press conference in May .
The proposed budget cuts represent an across-the-board cut of 8 % for departments financed with what is known as “ net county cost , ” money that comes from sales tax “ and other @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Across all county departments , the budget cuts would result in the elimination of 3,251 positions — 2,596 vacant and 655 potential layoffs .
No layoffs would take place before Oct. 1 .
The county employs more than 100,000 people .
Other hard-hit departments include the district attorney ’ s office , which could see a $ 22.3-million cut and six potential layoffs ; and the public defender ’ s office , which could lose $ 19.8 million and suffer 35 layoffs .
The county ’ s Probation Department is expected to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Each of these agencies will also lose dozens , and in the Sheriff ’ s Department ’ s case , hundreds , of jobs through the elimination of vacant positions .
The county ’ s Department of Children and Family Services could lose $ 21 million but wouldn ’ t see any layoffs .
Other departments would lose a fraction of that amount .
The county ’ s Mental Health Department would lose about $ 4 million under the proposal and lose nine vacant positions .
Health-related departments and services make up @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s budget , and these agencies remain relatively unscathed under the budget proposal .
The county ’ s Department of Public Health would lose about $ 10 million in “ net county costs ” from its proposed $ 1.2-billion budget .
Neither public health nor the county ’ s Department of Health Services , which has an $ 8.6-billion budget and oversees the county ’ s hospitals and clinics , would see layoffs .
The county anticipates losing about $ 307 million in state realignment money used for critical child welfare and social @ @ @ @ @ @ @ provided by the Departments of Health Services , Mental Health and Public Health .
To close that gap , Hamai ’ s office recommended using one-time funding set aside in departmental trust accounts .
The budget , which which will be presented to the Board of Supervisors for budget deliberations on Monday , “ represents some of the most challenging fiscal decisions in recent county history , ” Hamai said .
The cuts are needed to address a projected $ 935.3-million budget gap , mostly due to sharp revenue declines as the county @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the pandemic , Hamai said .
Because the largest share , 40 % , of net county costs go to the county ’ s public safety departments , including the Sheriff ’ s Department , these departments are most heavily affected , Hamai said .
These departments also receive a large share of the county ’ s money from state realignment sales tax revenue , or AB 109 money , which has declined sharply as well .
The proposed budget , scheduled to presented to the board on Monday , is not the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s fiscal year starts July 1 , Hamai will present a “ supplemental budget ” to the Board of Supervisors in September .
The supplemental budget usually addresses whatever changes need to be made in that year ’ s budget , a process that will likely be far more significant this year due to the pandemic .

Los Angeles County Chief Executive Sachi Hamai at a Board of Supervisors meeting in 2015. County officials have proposed a $28-billion budget for the next fiscal year, an increase of about 1%.
In Los Angeles County’s first proposed budget reflecting the pandemic-related economic slowdown, officials announced Thursday that public safety will bear the brunt of an overall 8% cut in spending, with the Sheriff’s Department eyed for more than 400 layoffs and $162 million trimmed from its $3.3-billion budget.
Officials said the proposed cuts to the 2020-21 budget were largely due to shortfalls in sales tax funds, which have been significantly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. The “defund the police” movement was not a factor in the decision to reduce spending at the department, officials said.
“I am very disappointed to report that significant cuts in county programs and personnel will be needed as a result of the serious economic downturn caused by this ongoing public health emergency,” L.A. County Chief Executive Sachi Hamai said in a statement. “This is not the outcome any of us wants to see, especially as our county staff continues to serve with great commitment during this crisis.”
Sheriff Alex Villanueva has yet to comment on the proposed budget. He has been sharply critical of budget levels, which he believes need to be at $3.9 billion to run the department effectively.
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“The Sheriff’s Department is forced to run in the red because the Board of Supervisors does not prioritize public safety, and they are the ones that hold the checkbook,” Villanueva said in a virtual press conference in May.
The proposed budget cuts represent an across-the-board cut of 8% for departments financed with what is known as “net county cost,” money that comes from sales tax “and other locally generated revenues,” Hamai said.
Across all county departments, the budget cuts would result in the elimination of 3,251 positions — 2,596 vacant and 655 potential layoffs. No layoffs would take place before Oct. 1. The county employs more than 100,000 people.
Other hard-hit departments include the district attorney’s office, which could see a $22.3-million cut and six potential layoffs; and the public defender’s office, which could lose $19.8 million and suffer 35 layoffs. The county’s Probation Department is expected to see a $60.7-million cut as well.
Each of these agencies will also lose dozens, and in the Sheriff’s Department’s case, hundreds, of jobs through the elimination of vacant positions.
The county’s Department of Children and Family Services could lose $21 million but wouldn’t see any layoffs. Other departments would lose a fraction of that amount. The county’s Mental Health Department would lose about $4 million under the proposal and lose nine vacant positions.
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Health-related departments and services make up the largest portion of the county’s budget, and these agencies remain relatively unscathed under the budget proposal. The county’s Department of Public Health would lose about $10 million in “net county costs” from its proposed $1.2-billion budget. Neither public health nor the county’s Department of Health Services, which has an $8.6-billion budget and oversees the county’s hospitals and clinics, would see layoffs.
The county anticipates losing about $307 million in state realignment money used for critical child welfare and social services departments, along with essential services provided by the Departments of Health Services, Mental Health and Public Health. To close that gap, Hamai’s office recommended using one-time funding set aside in departmental trust accounts.
The budget, which will be presented to the Board of Supervisors for budget deliberations on Monday, “represents some of the most challenging fiscal decisions in recent county history,” Hamai said.
The cuts are needed to address a projected $935.3-million budget gap, mostly due to sharp revenue declines as the county spends millions responding to and reopening during the pandemic, Hamai said.
Because the largest share, 40%, of net county costs go to the county’s public safety departments, including the Sheriff’s Department, these departments are most heavily affected, Hamai said. These departments also receive a large share of the county’s money from state realignment sales tax revenue, or AB 109 money, which has declined sharply as well.
The proposed budget, scheduled to presented to the board on Monday, is not the final county budget.
Although the county’s fiscal year starts July 1, Hamai will present a “supplemental budget” to the Board of Supervisors in September. The supplemental budget usually addresses whatever changes need to be made in that year’s budget, a process that will likely be far more significant this year due to the pandemic.


latimes--2020-06-25--New alarms raised as California coronavirus hospitalizations jump 32% in two weeks

Gov .
Gavin Newsom issued another warning to Californians about the growing spread of the coronavirus as the state again reported increases in hospitalizations .
The governor ’ s Thursday news conference marked the third time this week that he has urged people to take more precautions as he disclosed troubling new highs .
“ I can not impress upon people more the importance at this critical juncture , when we are experiencing an increase in cases that we have not experienced in the past , to take seriously this moment , ” Newsom said .
“ If we do @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bend [ the curve ] and we ultimately can rebound and become more resilient still in the future.
” As of Thursday , Newsom said patients hospitalized because of COVID-19 jumped 32 % in the last two weeks to 4,240 , double the two-week increase of 16 % that he had reported on Monday .
After growing earlier this week , the rate of positive cases remained steady at 5.1 % over two weeks compared to Wednesday , he said .
The governor has pleaded with Californians to wear face masks and maintain @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one another .
He advised those over the age of 65 or with chronic medical conditions to remain at home .
But beyond telling Californians to heed the state ’ s mask requirement , the governor has not reinstated any of the restrictions he began easing in early May or demanded that counties experiencing surges shutter businesses again .
Fifteen counties in California , including Los Angeles , have reported an elevated transmission of the disease , increased hospitalizations or a limited hospital capacity that doesn ’ t meet the state ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would consider toggling back and issuing restrictions again if healthcare needs begin to exceed capacity .
“ When our system can not absorb , when there ’ s a capacity consideration or limitation , that ’ s when we obviously have alarm bells that are raised , ” he said .

Gov. Gavin Newsom issued another warning to Californians about the growing spread of the coronavirus as the state again reported increases in hospitalizations.
The governor’s Thursday news conference marked the third time this week that he has urged people to take more precautions as he disclosed troubling new highs.
“I cannot impress upon people more the importance at this critical juncture, when we are experiencing an increase in cases that we have not experienced in the past, to take seriously this moment,” Newsom said. “If we do, we can mitigate and we can bend [the curve] and we ultimately can rebound and become more resilient still in the future.”
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As of Thursday, Newsom said patients hospitalized because of COVID-19 jumped 32% in the last two weeks to 4,240, double the two-week increase of 16% that he had reported on Monday. After growing earlier this week, the rate of positive cases remained steady at 5.1% over two weeks compared to Wednesday, he said.
The governor has pleaded with Californians to wear face masks and maintain a physical distance of six feet from one another. He advised those over the age of 65 or with chronic medical conditions to remain at home.
But beyond telling Californians to heed the state’s mask requirement, the governor has not reinstated any of the restrictions he began easing in early May or demanded that counties experiencing surges shutter businesses again. Fifteen counties in California, including Los Angeles, have reported an elevated transmission of the disease, increased hospitalizations or a limited hospital capacity that doesn’t meet the state’s guidelines.
Newsom said Thursday that he would consider toggling back and issuing restrictions again if healthcare needs begin to exceed capacity.
“When our system cannot absorb, when there’s a capacity consideration or limitation, that’s when we obviously have alarm bells that are raised,” he said.


latimes--2020-06-25--Santa Cruz County lifts beach closures: 'People are not willing to be governed'

As California reported back-to-back record numbers of coronavirus cases this week amid the continued reopening of the state , Santa Cruz County has decided to fully reopen its beaches , noting that the restrictions were becoming increasingly difficult to enforce .
The county , which has upheld some of the state ’ s strictest shelter-in-place guidelines longer than many other locales in California , will lift all beach closures at midnight , officials said .
The current order closed beaches from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. for all activities except walking across the sand to enter the water , though @ @ @ @ @ @ @ recreational purposes during that time .
Beachgoers also were prohibited from picnicking , sunbathing , sitting or congregating in a stationary setting when the beach was open in the mornings and evenings , typically for walking or running along the shoreline .
But residents have continued to ignore the rules , officials said .
“ It ’ s become impossible for law enforcement to continue to enforce the closures , ” Santa Cruz ’ s health officer , Dr. Gail Newel , said Thursday .
“ People are not willing to be governed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had intended to keep the beach restrictions in place until after the July 4th weekend , but efforts to enforce the closure have become increasingly more difficult , Newel said .
The county ’ s current order is set to expire July 6 and will not be renewed , officials said .
That means the county ’ s directives will align fully with state orders .
California remains in the latter portion of Stage 3 of its reopening plan , which has allowed for the reopening of gyms , bars , restaurants , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The state is monitoring 15 counties for surges in coronavirus cases and hospitalizations , numbers that could force a tightening of reopening plans .
Santa Cruz County ’ s face covering mandate is still intact , in keeping with the new statewide requirement , and some other public health orders connected to facilities like skilled nursing home will also remain , Newel said .
Children over the age of 2 will no longer have the option to wear a face covering , however ; that will now be a requirement .
“ This @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it has proven to be manageable in countries around the world , ” she said .
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has advised that those with breathing problems and children under the age of 2 refrain from wearing face masks .
The county of roughly 273 , 000 has recorded three deaths related to COVID-19 and more than 330 infections .
According to state data , Tuesday marked its highest daily spike of 23 cases .

As California reported back-to-back record numbers of coronavirus cases this week amid the continued reopening of the state, Santa Cruz County has decided to fully reopen its beaches, noting that the restrictions were becoming increasingly difficult to enforce.
The county, which has upheld some of the state’s strictest shelter-in-place guidelines longer than many other locales in California, will lift all beach closures at midnight,officials said.
The current order closed beaches from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. for all activities except walking across the sand to enter the water, though people could still use the ocean for recreational purposes during that time. Beachgoers also were prohibited from picnicking, sunbathing, sitting or congregating in a stationary setting when the beach was open in the mornings and evenings, typically for walking or running along the shoreline.
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But residents have continued to ignore the rules, officials said.
“It’s become impossible for law enforcement to continue to enforce the closures,” Santa Cruz’s health officer, Dr. Gail Newel, said Thursday. “People are not willing to be governed anymore in that regard.”
The county had intended to keep the beach restrictions in place until after the July 4th weekend, but efforts to enforce the closure have become increasingly more difficult, Newel said.
The county’s current order is set to expire July 6 and will not be renewed, officials said. That means the county’s directives will align fully with state orders. California remains in the latter portion of Stage 3 of its reopening plan, which has allowed for the reopening of gyms, bars, restaurants, nail salons and most other businesses.
The state is monitoring 15 counties for surges in coronavirus cases and hospitalizations, numbers that could force a tightening of reopening plans.
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Santa Cruz County’s face covering mandate is still intact, in keeping with the new statewide requirement, and some other public health orders connected to facilities like skilled nursing home will also remain, Newel said. Children over the age of 2 will no longer have the option to wear a face covering, however; that will now be a requirement.
“This may seem stringent and difficult, but it has proven to be manageable in countries around the world,” she said. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has advised that those with breathing problems and children under the age of 2 refrain from wearing face masks.
The county of roughly 273, 000 has recorded three deaths related to COVID-19 and more than 330 infections. According to state data, Tuesday marked its highest daily spike of 23 cases.


latimes--2020-06-25--Mother of Vanessa Marquez files wrongful death lawsuit against South Pasadena, police

The mother of actress Vanessa Marquez has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the city of South Pasadena , six members of law enforcement and 15 other officers , sergeants and lieutenants in connection with her daughter ’ s August 2018 death .
The suit was filed Wednesday on behalf of Delia McElfresh in Los Angeles County Superior Court , following a claim filed last year .
The suit disputes law enforcement ’ s claim that Marquez was shot during a wellness check when she brandished what officers believed to be a gun .
Marquez , known for her roles @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and the movie “ Stand and Deliver , ” had a history of seizures .
After a friend placed a call requesting the wellness check , police entered Marquez ’ s residence in the 1100 block of Fremont Avenue as she was having a seizure in her bedroom .
According to a police body camera video , a medical specialist and a paramedic spoke to the 49-year-old following the seizure .
Officers determined that she was a danger to herself and informed Marquez that she was being placed under a so-called 5150 hold @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Marquez protested and refused to be detained .
The body cam video shows Marquez reaching into a bag and pulling out what appeared to be a pair of scissors before reaching for another object .
A police officer is then heard in the video screaming that Marquez had a gun as he draws his own gun and retreats from the bedroom .
At one point , Marquez is heard shouting what sounds like , “ Kill me.
” Police retreat down the apartment stairs , shouting for Marquez to talk to them @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Marquez emerges at the top of the staircase with an object in her hand .
Police shout again for her to drop what she is holding before firing repeatedly .
According to police , a replica gun was found next to Marquez after she was shot .
The suit states that a police officer “ falsely claimed ” that Marquez pointed a gun at him and herself “ as a pretext for shooting.
” “ The situation called for de-escalation and there were multiple options available to the officers if they were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s well-being , ” according to the lawsuit .
“ There was no urgency to forcibly remove Ms. Marquez from her home .
Instead of de-escalating the situation , more police officers stormed into her building , ” including one with an AR-22 rifle .
According to the suit , Marquez was shot “ when she was not facing the officers , when the officers were a safe distance away from her , and when there was no imminent threat of serious injury or death to the officers or others.
” In March @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s office decided not to file criminal charges against two police officers involved in the shooting , determining that they acted legally in firing 12 rounds at Marquez .
In the months before her death , Marquez had posted on social media about her wish to die and her purchase of an air gun that resembled a Glock automatic pistol .
The suit asks for compensation for survival damages and wrongful death damages under federal and state law , in addition to costs to be determined at trial .

Vanessa Marquez in a publicity photo from 1995, when she was appearing as Nurse Wendy Goldman on the NBC show “ER.”
The mother of actress Vanessa Marquez has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the city of South Pasadena, six members of law enforcement and 15 other officers, sergeants and lieutenants in connection with her daughter’s August 2018 death.
The suit was filed Wednesday on behalf of Delia McElfresh in Los Angeles County Superior Court, following a claim filed last year. The suit disputes law enforcement’s claim that Marquez was shot during a wellness check when she brandished what officers believed to be a gun.
Marquez, known for her roles in the TV show “ER” and the movie “Stand and Deliver,” had a history of seizures. After a friend placed a call requesting the wellness check, police entered Marquez’s residence in the 1100 block of Fremont Avenue as she was having a seizure in her bedroom.
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California ‘ER’ actress Vanessa Marquez shot and killed by South Pasadena police during wellness check at home South Pasadena police were called to the apartment of “ER” actress Vanessa Marquez on Thursday afternoon at the request of her landlord, who was concerned about her welfare.
According to a police body camera video, a medical specialist and a paramedic spoke to the 49-year-old following the seizure. Officers determined that she was a danger to herself and informed Marquez that she was being placed under a so-called 5150 hold to involuntarily take her to the hospital. Marquez protested and refused to be detained.
The body cam video shows Marquez reaching into a bag and pulling out what appeared to be a pair of scissors before reaching for another object.
A police officer is then heard in the video screaming that Marquez had a gun as he draws his own gun and retreats from the bedroom. At one point, Marquez is heard shouting what sounds like, “Kill me.”
Police retreat down the apartment stairs, shouting for Marquez to talk to them and drop the gun. Minutes later, Marquez emerges at the top of the staircase with an object in her hand. Police shout again for her to drop what she is holding before firing repeatedly.
According to police, a replica gun was found next to Marquez after she was shot.
The suit states that a police officer “falsely claimed” that Marquez pointed a gun at him and herself “as a pretext for shooting.”
“The situation called for de-escalation and there were multiple options available to the officers if they were in fact concerned for Ms. Marquez’s well-being,” according to the lawsuit. “There was no urgency to forcibly remove Ms. Marquez from her home. Instead of de-escalating the situation, more police officers stormed into her building,” including one with an AR-22 rifle.
According to the suit, Marquez was shot “when she was not facing the officers, when the officers were a safe distance away from her, and when there was no imminent threat of serious injury or death to the officers or others.”
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In March, the Los Angeles County district attorney’s office decided not to file criminal charges against two police officers involved in the shooting, determining that they acted legally in firing 12 rounds at Marquez.
In the months before her death, Marquez had posted on social media about her wish to die and her purchase of an air gun that resembled a Glock automatic pistol.
The suit asks for compensation for survival damages and wrongful death damages under federal and state law, in addition to costs to be determined at trial.
Times staff writer Hannah Fry contributed to this report.


latimes--2020-06-25--Mountain lion is captured after spending the night under Monrovia home

Crawl spaces are often filled with strange critters .
Still , the sight of a mountain lion climbing beneath Silvia Escobar ’ s Monrovia home shocked her .
The cougar had been prowling around the neighborhood for the past week , but once cornered Thursday , officials with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife tranquilized and removed the big cat from below Escobar ’ s residence .
“ We did dart a mountain lion this morning , ” Tim Daly , a Fish and Wildlife information officer , said Thursday morning .
“ The goal is to check its @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as it ’ s healthy enough to be back in the wild.
” The male cougar has “ pretty substantial ” neck injuries and is heading to a veterinarian to be examined , Daly said .
“ They said it probably had head trauma , and that ’ s probably why it came down , ” Escobar said , referring to the animal ’ s stroll into town .
Daly suggested the mountain lion — which was not tagged — may have hailed from the nearby Angeles National Forest .
According to Fish @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the state is mountain lion habitat .
Escobar said she first learned there was a big cat roaming the area on Tuesday night after returning from a trip to Idaho .
Her brother showed her a picture of the mountain lion in his yard , which is attached to hers , and warned her to be careful .
She said she called police after her husband spotted the mountain lion scooting beneath their home Wednesday night .
Monrovia officers weren ’ t equipped to tranquilize the animal , so she locked her doors @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , noting that she couldn ’ t sleep after hearing a growl from beneath her home in the wee hours .
Fish and Wildlife officers arrived early Thursday , ready for the big cat .
From her bathroom window , Escobar saw the tranquilized animal lying on the ground .
It was later moved to a cage for transport , she said .
“ I almost wanted to touch it , but I was afraid it might wake up , ” she said with a laugh .
Authorities think the animal got into @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the home ’ s exterior , she said .
“ I hope they don ’ t come back .
I ’ m sure tonight we ’ re going to cover up those holes .
We don ’ t want any more surprises , ” Escobar said .
“ Mountain lion attacks on humans are very rare , but it has happened .
That ’ s why we respond the way we do when a mountain lion starts appearing as comfortable as the one in Monrovia started to appear , ” Daly said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the state is mountain lion habitat .
Because of that , residents are cautioned to keep an eye on small children and pets and “ to limit the attractions ” that might encourage the big cats to hang around .

Crawl spaces are often filled with strange critters. Still, the sight of a mountain lion climbing beneath Silvia Escobar’s Monrovia home shocked her.
The cougar had been prowling around the neighborhood for the past week. Once it was cornered Thursday, officials with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife tranquilized and removed the big cat from below Escobar’s residence.
“We did dart a mountain lion this morning,” Tim Daly, a Fish and Wildlife information officer, said Thursday morning. “The goal is to check its health and then release it as long as it’s healthy enough to be back in the wild.”
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The male cougar has “pretty substantial” neck injuries and is heading to a veterinarian to be examined, Daly said.
“They said it probably had head trauma, and that’s probably why it came down,” Escobar said, referring to the animal’s stroll into town. Daly suggested the mountain lion — which was not tagged — may have hailed from the nearby Angeles National Forest.
California Mountain lion spotted roaming Monrovia neighborhood Police are searching for the big cat and cautioning residents to keep an eye on kids and pets after several sightings.
Escobar said she first learned there was a big cat roaming the area on Tuesday night after returning from a trip to Idaho. Her brother showed her a picture of the mountain lion in his yard, which is attached to hers, and warned her to be careful.
She said she called police after her husband spotted the mountain lion scooting beneath their home Wednesday night. Monrovia officers weren’t equipped to tranquilize the animal, so she locked her doors and checked them twice, Escobar said, noting that she couldn’t sleep after hearing a growl from beneath her home in the wee hours.
Fish and Wildlife officers arrived early Thursday, ready for the big cat. From her bathroom window, Escobar saw the tranquilized animal lying on the ground. It was later moved to a cage for transport, she said.
“I almost wanted to touch it, but I was afraid it might wake up,” she said with a laugh.
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Authorities think the animal got into the crawl space through an opening along the home’s exterior, she said.
“I hope they don’t come back. I’m sure tonight we’re going to cover up those holes. We don’t want any more surprises,” Escobar said.
“Mountain lion attacks on humans are very rare, but it has happened. That’s why we respond the way we do when a mountain lion starts appearing as comfortable as the one in Monrovia started to appear,” Daly said.
Wildlife officials noted that more than half of the state is mountain lion habitat. Because of that, residents are cautioned to keep an eye on small children and pets and “to limit the attractions” that might encourage the big cats to hang around.