latimes--2020-10-20--Windy week in Northern California could bring another wave of power shutoffs

Back-to-back waves of wind and record-breaking temperatures are sweeping across Northern California , which could prompt Pacific Gas & Electric Co. to implement another round of power shutoffs , the utility announced Monday .
The power cuts , if needed , could begin Wednesday evening and affect roughly 50,000 people in parts of 19 counties : Alameda , Butte , Colusa , Contra Costa , Glenn , Humboldt , Lake , Lassen , Napa , Plumas , Santa Clara , Shasta , Solano , Sonoma , Stanislaus , Tehama , Trinity , Yolo and Yuba .
The tribal communities of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lose power .
People who rely on power for their electric medical equipment will be notified of the potential shutoffs , according to the company .
The region is bracing for three successive periods of high wind lasting into early next week , said National Weather Service meteorologist Drew Peterson .
A red flag warning for high fire danger has already been issued .
The first , and likely weakest , weather event began Monday night with sustained winds of 10-20 mph and gusts reaching 35 mph .
Winds are expected to around @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Northern California — from Eureka to Modesto , and from the coast to South Lake Tahoe — will also be affected .
The red flag warning is in effect until Wednesday morning .
After a brief reprieve during the day , another fire weather watch will begin at 10 p.m. Wednesday and last until 5 p.m. Friday , the weather service said .
Critical conditions are expected to take hold Wednesday night into Thursday , covering the northern Sacramento Valley , the northern Sierra Nevada and North Bay mountains and Mount Diablo @ @ @ @ @ @ @ PG & E .
“ Windy conditions , like those being forecast , increase the potential for damage and hazards to the electric infrastructure , which could cause sparks if lines are energized , “ said the Monday .
“ These conditions also increase the potential for rapid fire spread.
” A third weather event is expected to begin Saturday and last into early next week , Peterson said , but is too far in the future to predict exact conditions .
Meteorologist Hannah Chandler-Cooley said this week ’ s weather comes from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ surface pressure .
“ When you have those two things combined … that ’ s when you start getting these offshore winds , ” she said .
In addition to the gusty winds , relative humidity will hover at a low 12 % to 20 % , the weather service said , with little recovery overnight .
Temperatures could reach into the 80s and 90s Tuesday and Wednesday before cooling off slightly over the weekend .
“ The overarching concern over the next seven days is we do have record dry fuels in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ so it ’ s essentially a tinderbox that ’ s ready to go up in flame , ” Peterson said .
“ Even without the fire weather conditions , the fire fuel — like the trees and grass and everything — are just primed to ignite .
It will take very little to get those to combust and start burning .
We ’ re dealing with a very potentially dangerous condition.
” There are 27 wildfires still burning in California , according to The Times ’ tracker .
The largest is the fire @ @ @ @ @ @ @ far .
It started on Aug. 16 and is 91 % contained .
The weather service ’ s Sacramento office warned residents in the area to avoid using equipment that emits sparks or driving and parking over dry brush .
The anticipated weather event and power shutoffs mirror last week ’ s situation , when a red flag warning prompted PG & E to turn off power for 53,000 customers in 24 counties .
The company is taking the precautions , to prevent a power line or transformer from sparking another blaze .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ ignition of the 2018 Camp fire in Northern California .
PG & E equipment is also being scrutinized as a possible cause of the which started Sept. 27 near Redding and killed four people while burning 56,338 acres .

Back-to-back waves of wind and record-breaking temperatures are sweeping across Northern California, which could prompt Pacific Gas & Electric Co. to implement another round of power shutoffs, the utility announced Monday.
The power cuts, if needed, could begin Wednesday evening and affect roughly 50,000 people in parts of 19 counties: Alameda, Butte, Colusa, Contra Costa, Glenn, Humboldt, Lake, Lassen, Napa, Plumas, Santa Clara, Shasta, Solano, Sonoma, Stanislaus, Tehama, Trinity, Yolo and Yuba. The tribal communities of Cortina Rancheria and Grindstone Rancheria could also lose power.
People who rely on power for their electric medical equipment will be notified of the potential shutoffs, according to the company.
The region is bracing for three successive periods of high wind lasting into early next week, said National Weather Service meteorologist Drew Peterson. A red flag warning for high fire danger has already been issued.
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The first, and likely weakest, weather event began Monday night with sustained winds of 10-20 mph and gusts reaching 35 mph. Winds are expected to intensify around Redding and Chico, but a swath of Northern California — from Eureka to Modesto, and from the coast to South Lake Tahoe — will also be affected. The red flag warning is in effect until Wednesday morning.
Gusty winds are expected late tonight - early Wednesday for areas of #NorCal with gusts up to 20-30 mph. This plus extremely dry conditions will create critical fire weather conditions. Visit https://t.co/4PbDmtOuXj for wildfire preparedness tips! #CAwx #CAfire pic.twitter.com/CoI9YLBy7j — NWS Sacramento (@NWSSacramento) October 19, 2020
After a brief reprieve during the day, another fire weather watch will begin at 10 p.m. Wednesday and last until 5 p.m. Friday, the weather service said. Critical conditions are expected to take hold Wednesday night into Thursday, covering the northern Sacramento Valley, the northern Sierra Nevada and North Bay mountains and Mount Diablo in the East Bay, according to PG&E.
“Windy conditions, like those being forecast, increase the potential for damage and hazards to the electric infrastructure, which could cause sparks if lines are energized,“ said the PG&E statement Monday. “These conditions also increase the potential for rapid fire spread.”
A Red Flag Warning is now in effect for late tonight - early Wednesday due to gusty winds & extremely dry conditions. After a brief break in the winds during the day Wednesday, stronger winds return late Wednesday - Friday. A Fire Weather Watch has been issued. #CAwx #CAfire pic.twitter.com/PpJGmRJsBJ — NWS Sacramento (@NWSSacramento) October 19, 2020
A third weather event is expected to begin Saturday and last into early next week, Peterson said, but is too far in the future to predict exact conditions. Meteorologist Hannah Chandler-Cooley said this week’s weather comes from winds driven from the northeast and intense surface pressure.
“When you have those two things combined … that’s when you start getting these offshore winds,” she said.
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In addition to the gusty winds, relative humidity will hover at a low 12% to 20%, the weather service said, with little recovery overnight. Temperatures could reach into the 80s and 90s Tuesday and Wednesday before cooling off slightly over the weekend.
“The overarching concern over the next seven days is we do have record dry fuels in place over all these fire-prone locations, so it’s essentially a tinderbox that’s ready to go up in flame,” Peterson said. “Even without the fire weather conditions, the fire fuel — like the trees and grass and everything — are just primed to ignite. It will take very little to get those to combust and start burning. We’re dealing with a very potentially dangerous condition.”
There are 27 wildfires still burning in California, according to The Times’ tracker. The largest is the August Complex fire, which has burned 1,032,264 acres so far. It started on Aug. 16 and is 91% contained.
The weather service’s Sacramento office warned residents in the area to avoid using equipment that emits sparks or driving and parking over dry brush.
The anticipated weather event and power shutoffs mirror last week’s situation, when a red flag warning prompted PG&E to turn off power for 53,000 customers in 24 counties.
The company is taking the precautions , to prevent a power line or transformer from sparking another blaze. The company pleaded guilty to 84 counts of involuntary manslaughter over the ignition of the 2018 Camp fire in Northern California.


latimes--2020-10-20--$28 million to go to family of woman killed by falling tree at wedding in Whittier park

The family of a San Pedro woman who was killed by a falling tree at her daughter ’ s wedding nearly four years ago has reached a tentative $ 28-million settlement with the city of Whittier , according to court documents filed by the plaintiffs ’ attorney .
Margarita Mojarro , 61 , was at Whittier ’ s Penn Park in December 2016 when a 70-foot blue gum eucalyptus fell onto the wedding party as they posed for pictures .
Mojarro was killed , and several others were injured , including a 3-year-old girl who suffered irreparable brain damage .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ that can bring back family members or heal the damage that was done , ” said Brian Leinbach , the plaintiffs ’ attorney , “ but they are pleased to put this tragic event behind them , and they feel good about that.
” The lawsuit , filed in 2017 , alleged that the city should have known about the danger of the tree , which the suit said was “ negligently , carelessly , and recklessly maintained in dangerous character and condition attributable to advanced rot and decay.
” The tree was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ % grade , according to the suit , and the city both failed to remediate the threat or warn parkgoers of any danger .
The case has been fiercely litigated for more than three years .
The city initially maintained no fault in the accident , which it called “ an unforeseeable Act of God , ” and said that park managers had inspected the tree “ three or four times ” in the two years prior and found no cause for concern .
The “ failing ” of the tree , which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ days of heavy rains that could have loosened the soil and unearthed its roots , arborists said at the time .
But an independent tree pathologist hired by the plaintiffs said that more than 90 % of the tree ’ s roots were dead , and that its rot and decay should have been observable for at least five years .
Whittier park manager Mike Montoya had previously flagged the same defect on another tree and had it removed .
It was “ an accident waiting to happen , ” the court papers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of trees in cities , parks and forests , but tree failure isn ’ t highly common .
In the last three decades , only 6,316 fallen trees have been reported to the University of California ’ s Tree Failure Report Program — although program manager Katherine Jones said the number relies on community cooperation and is “ nowhere near the number of failures that have actually occurred since then.
” Oak and pine were the most reported trees to fail , followed by eucalyptus , which composed roughly 12 % of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sum was reached during a mediation session that followed multiple rounds of settlement discussions and tentative trial preparations .
The matter is scheduled to be heard Friday in front of a Los Angeles County Superior Court judge in Norwalk .
The judge is expected to find that the settlement was made in good faith .
The judge will also confirm the allocation of the $ 28 million to the 19 plaintiffs , who were members of the wedding party and families .
Mojarro ’ s husband , Feliciano Mojarro , is set to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ daughter Patricia — the bride — will receive $ 3.3 .
million .
The child who was injured will receive $ 7.5 million , records show .
“ The amount of money paid by the city is an acknowledgement of responsibility , and that is something that in and of itself provides a lot of healing , ” Leinbach said .
“ This has been a long , hard battle — no doubt about it — but the legal system does work , albeit sometimes slowly , and you can achieve justice.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ account for the family ’ s additional action against West Coast Arborists , the company hired to maintain the trees in Penn Park .
That action is listed in court documents as “ non-settling.
” The city also has filed a cross-complaint against the company .

The family of a San Pedro woman who was killed by a falling tree at her daughter’s wedding nearly four years ago has reached a tentative $28-million settlement with the city of Whittier, according to court documents filed by the plaintiffs’ attorney.
Margarita Mojarro, 61, was at Whittier’s Penn Park in December 2016 when a 70-foot blue gum eucalyptus fell onto the wedding party as they posed for pictures. Mojarro was killed, and several others were injured, including a 3-year-old girl who suffered irreparable brain damage.
“There is no amount of money that can bring back family members or heal the damage that was done,” said Brian Leinbach, the plaintiffs’ attorney, “but they are pleased to put this tragic event behind them, and they feel good about that.”
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The lawsuit, filed in 2017, alleged that the city should have known about the danger of the tree, which the suit said was “negligently, carelessly, and recklessly maintained in dangerous character and condition attributable to advanced rot and decay.”
The tree was over-watered and situated at a dangerous 20% grade, according to the suit, and the city both failed to remediate the threat or warn parkgoers of any danger.
The case has been fiercely litigated for more than three years. The city initially maintained no fault in the accident, which it called “an unforeseeable Act of God,” and said that park managers had inspected the tree “three or four times” in the two years prior and found no cause for concern. The “failing” of the tree, which weighed several thousand pounds, followed several days of heavy rains that could have loosened the soil and unearthed its roots, arborists said at the time.
But an independent tree pathologist hired by the plaintiffs said that more than 90% of the tree’s roots were dead, and that its rot and decay should have been observable for at least five years. Whittier park manager Mike Montoya had previously flagged the same defect on another tree and had it removed.
It was “an accident waiting to happen,” the court papers said.
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California is home to millions of trees in cities, parks and forests, but tree failure isn’t highly common. In the last three decades, only 6,316 fallen trees have been reported to the University of California’s Tree Failure Report Program — although program manager Katherine Jones said the number relies on community cooperation and is “nowhere near the number of failures that have actually occurred since then.”
Oak and pine were the most reported trees to fail, followed by eucalyptus, which composed roughly 12% of the reported tree failures.
The $28-million sum was reached during a mediation session that followed multiple rounds of settlement discussions and tentative trial preparations. The matter is scheduled to be heard Friday in front of a Los Angeles County Superior Court judge in Norwalk. The judge is expected to find that the settlement was made in good faith.
The judge will also confirm the allocation of the $28 million to the 19 plaintiffs, who were members of the wedding party and families. Mojarro’s husband, Feliciano Mojarro, is set to receive $2.9 million, while her daughter Patricia — the bride — will receive $3.3. million. The child who was injured will receive $7.5 million, records show.
“The amount of money paid by the city is an acknowledgement of responsibility, and that is something that in and of itself provides a lot of healing,” Leinbach said. “This has been a long, hard battle — no doubt about it — but the legal system does work, albeit sometimes slowly, and you can achieve justice.”
Friday’s scheduled ruling does not account for the family’s additional action against West Coast Arborists, the company hired to maintain the trees in Penn Park. That action is listed in court documents as “non-settling.” The city also has filed a cross-complaint against the company.


latimes--2020-10-20--Young adults still driving COVID-19 cases in L.A. County

Adults under age 50 continue to be a significant driver of Los Angeles County ’ s stubbornly high coronavirus case rate , accounting for almost three-fifths of confirmed infections , officials said this week .
While this is not a new development — those between 18 and 49 have had the highest number of cases throughout the COVID-19 pandemic , according to the L.A. County Department of Public Health — officials said the continued prevalence of infections among this group underscores that the disease can strike people of all ages and that personal decisions on adhering to prevention measures will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ restrictions on businesses and public facilities .
Roughly 58 % of the county ’ s cases have been among people in that age group , according to public health data .
“ It ’ s our younger groups that are keeping our case counts high , but we also see that people of all ages can , unfortunately , become tragically ill , and some people will pass away , ” L.A. County Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer said .
While those who fall seriously ill still tend to be older , patients @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more than 10 % of hospitalizations countywide — double the rate seen in mid-May — Ferrer said .
About 722 COVID-19 patients were hospitalized in L.A. County on Monday .
Officials have previously said that the preponderance of cases among young adults could be because they may be more likely to socialize outside their households , believing their youth will shield them from the disease ’ s impact .
Of particular recent concern are private gatherings , especially those in which attendees aren ’ t adhering to physical distancing guidelines or wearing face @ @ @ @ @ @ @ community transmission , ” Ferrer said .
“ That means it ’ s easy for people to get infected when they are gathering , even in small groups.
” Even if those infected do not suffer severe symptoms , their continued circulation of the virus will block L.A. County from moving toward a wider reopening , health officials warn .
The county remains in the strictest category of the state ’ s four-tier reopening plan — Tier 1 , or purple — because it continues to report more than seven new cases per @ @ @ @ @ @ @ schools , many businesses and public facilities either can not operate indoors or can do so only at a strictly limited capacity .
Unless that case rate drops , the county won ’ t be able to move into a less restrictive tier .
“ We can not afford to have more cases here in L.A. County .
We are still in the purple tier because we have widespread community transmission , ” Ferrer said .
“ I know people are impatient , and I know people want to get us to a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , but ... we would need to get to Tier 2 , and that means a concerted effort over the next upcoming couple of weeks to reduce our rate of community transmission .
That ’ s going to take all of us.
” State officials Tuesday announced plans to partner with L.A. County — as well as Riverside and San Bernardino counties — in an effort to reduce community transmission .
Strategies could include increasing testing capacity and availability , providing additional assistance to make it easier for those who have to isolate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and education efforts .
“ The state is committed to working with all three of the counties to do all that we can to increase efforts to reduce transmission , ” California Health and Human Services Secretary Dr. Mark Ghaly said during a weekly briefing .
Already , there have been roughly 881,676 confirmed coronavirus cases in California — the most of any state — and 17,012 deaths .
More than 289,000 cases and almost 6,900 fatalities have been in L.A. County .
Stemming the local spread is especially important , officials say @ @ @ @ @ @ @ surges of the coronavirus — a danger that California faces as well .
“ This is what we anticipated , moving into the colder season , moving into the season where more of us are moving inside , moving into a season where more of us begin to mix and come back ... for the holidays , ” Gov .
Gavin Newsom said Monday .
“ This is an area of obvious and real concern , and that ’ s why we ’ re being very sober and , forgive me , stubborn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ State officials on Tuesday did release new protocols for theme parks that would allow them to open on a limited basis , provided certain criteria are met .
Ghaly also announced that all personal care services — including massage and tattoo parlors — will be allowed to resume limited , modified indoor operations , regardless of their county ’ s position within the reopening tiers .
However , there are challenges ahead .
Based on the latest forecasts , Ghaly said , the state is anticipating a 46 % increase in COVID-19 hospitalizations @ @ @ @ @ @ @ current 2,241 to a projected 3,271 .
While not as severe an increase as previously projected , it ’ s “ still an area of concern , and why we continue to push the different advice and risk-reducing behaviors that we talk about on a continual basis , ” Ghaly said .
Chief among those : Wear a face covering in public , keep a healthy distance away from people you don ’ t live with , and regularly wash your hands .
Another challenge facing Los Angeles County is the number of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with contact tracers , whose job it is to collect information so health officials can identify possible infection sites and notify those who have shared space with an infected person so they can take precautions to avoid exposing others .
Between 65 % and 70 % of confirmed cases and contacts have completed interviews since September , according to Ferrer .
That means roughly a third have not .
“ This does continue to thwart our efforts to reduce community transmission , since a large number of people are missing information about what @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and others from spreading the virus , ” she said .
Identifying and informing those who have come into contact with a confirmed case is essential , public health officials say , because those people may unwittingly become vectors for the virus — carrying it with them even if they ’ re not experiencing symptoms .
“ This virus is very present in our communities , at our work sites and in all of our beautiful public spaces , ” Ferrer said .
“ Protecting yourself and others reduces transmission of COVID-19 .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ ill , and it saves lives .
”

Adults under age 50 continue to be a significant driver of Los Angeles County’s stubbornly high coronavirus case rate, accounting for almost three-fifths of confirmed infections, officials said this week.
While this is not a new development — those between 18 and 49 have had the highest number of cases throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the L.A. County Department of Public Health — officials said the continued prevalence of infections among this group underscores that the disease can strike people of all ages and that personal decisions on adhering to prevention measures will dictate when the county can further lift restrictions on businesses and public facilities.
Roughly 58% of the county’s cases have been among people in that age group, according to public health data.
“It’s our younger groups that are keeping our case counts high, but we also see that people of all ages can, unfortunately, become tragically ill, and some people will pass away,” L.A. County Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer said.
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While those who fall seriously ill still tend to be older, patients between 18 and 29 now account for more than 10% of hospitalizations countywide — double the rate seen in mid-May — Ferrer said.
About 722 COVID-19 patients were hospitalized in L.A. County on Monday.
Officials have previously said that the preponderance of cases among young adults could be because they may be more likely to socialize outside their households, believing their youth will shield them from the disease’s impact.
Of particular recent concern are private gatherings, especially those in which attendees aren’t adhering to physical distancing guidelines or wearing face coverings.
“We still have widespread community transmission,” Ferrer said. “That means it’s easy for people to get infected when they are gathering, even in small groups.”
Even if those infected do not suffer severe symptoms, their continued circulation of the virus will block L.A. County from moving toward a wider reopening, health officials warn.
Advertisement
The county remains in the strictest category of the state’s four-tier reopening plan — Tier 1, or purple — because it continues to report more than seven new cases per 100,000 residents each day. That means schools, many businesses and public facilities either cannot operate indoors or can do so only at a strictly limited capacity.
Tracking the coronavirus in California The latest maps and charts on the spread of COVID-19 in California.
Unless that case rate drops, the county won’t be able to move into a less restrictive tier.
“We cannot afford to have more cases here in L.A. County. We are still in the purple tier because we have widespread community transmission,” Ferrer said. “I know people are impatient, and I know people want to get us to a place where everyone gets back to school, but ... we would need to get to Tier 2, and that means a concerted effort over the next upcoming couple of weeks to reduce our rate of community transmission. That’s going to take all of us.”
State officials Tuesday announced plans to partner with L.A. County — as well as Riverside and San Bernardino counties — in an effort to reduce community transmission. Strategies could include increasing testing capacity and availability, providing additional assistance to make it easier for those who have to isolate to do so and supporting business enforcement and education efforts.
“The state is committed to working with all three of the counties to do all that we can to increase efforts to reduce transmission,” California Health and Human Services Secretary Dr. Mark Ghaly said during a weekly briefing.
Already, there have been roughly 881,676 confirmed coronavirus cases in California — the most of any state — and 17,012 deaths. More than 289,000 cases and almost 6,900 fatalities have been in L.A. County.
California COVID-19 death toll nears 17,000 in California While the number of daily COVID-19 deaths has fallen dramatically in California in the past few months, the state’s death toll has become the third-highest in the nation.
Stemming the local spread is especially important, officials say, as other states contend with new surges of the coronavirus — a danger that California faces as well.
“This is what we anticipated, moving into the colder season, moving into the season where more of us are moving inside, moving into a season where more of us begin to mix and come back ... for the holidays,” Gov. Gavin Newsom said Monday. “This is an area of obvious and real concern, and that’s why we’re being very sober and, forgive me, stubborn about some industries in the state.”
State officials on Tuesday did release new protocols for theme parks that would allow them to open on a limited basis, provided certain criteria are met.
Ghaly also announced that all personal care services — including massage and tattoo parlors — will be allowed to resume limited, modified indoor operations, regardless of their county’s position within the reopening tiers.
However, there are challenges ahead. Based on the latest forecasts, Ghaly said, the state is anticipating a 46% increase in COVID-19 hospitalizations over the next month, from the current 2,241 to a projected 3,271.
While not as severe an increase as previously projected, it’s “still an area of concern, and why we continue to push the different advice and risk-reducing behaviors that we talk about on a continual basis,” Ghaly said.
Chief among those: Wear a face covering in public, keep a healthy distance away from people you don’t live with, and regularly wash your hands.
Another challenge facing Los Angeles County is the number of people who do not cooperate or connect with contact tracers, whose job it is to collect information so health officials can identify possible infection sites and notify those who have shared space with an infected person so they can take precautions to avoid exposing others.
Between 65% and 70% of confirmed cases and contacts have completed interviews since September, according to Ferrer. That means roughly a third have not.
“This does continue to thwart our efforts to reduce community transmission, since a large number of people are missing information about what they need to do to protect themselves and others from spreading the virus,” she said.
Identifying and informing those who have come into contact with a confirmed case is essential, public health officials say, because those people may unwittingly become vectors for the virus — carrying it with them even if they’re not experiencing symptoms.
“This virus is very present in our communities, at our work sites and in all of our beautiful public spaces,” Ferrer said. “Protecting yourself and others reduces transmission of COVID-19. It does prevent people from becoming seriously ill, and it saves lives.”


latimes--2020-10-20--Black Lives Matter sues Jackie Lacey, husband over gun incident at family home

Black Lives Matter organizers have filed a civil lawsuit against Los Angeles County Dist .
Atty .
Jackie Lacey and her husband in connection with a March incident in which David Lacey is accused of pointing a gun at several demonstrators outside the family home .
The 16-page suit , filed Monday by Black Lives Matter organizer Melina Abdullah and demonstrators Dahlia Ferlito and Justin Marks , accuses the Laceys of assault , negligence and infliction of emotional distress in connection with the clash earlier this year .
“ This lawsuit concerns the outrageously brazen and recklessly negligent use of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the husband of the Los Angeles District Attorney , against innocent protesters who were lawfully visiting their home and simply wanted the political candidate to follow through on promises she had made , yet neglected , ” the suit reads .
Abdullah led a group of 30 to 40 demonstrators to the Laceys ’ Granada Hills home before dawn on March 2 , calling on Jackie Lacey to meet with them after she had failed to deliver on a promise to sit down with organizers that she had made in late 2019 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the sidewalk before Abdullah , Ferlito and Marks approached the Laceys ’ door and rang the bell .
Video taken at the scene shows David Lacey , a retired investigative auditor for the district attorney ’ s office , open the door with a handgun drawn , pointed at Abdullah ’ s chest .
“ I will shoot you .
Get off of my porch , ” he says in the video .
David Lacey was charged with three counts of misdemeanor assault in August by the California attorney general ’ s office @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a conflict of interest .
Attorneys for the Laceys attempted to have the case thrown out in October , alleging the attorney general did not have jurisdiction , but their motion failed .
Lacey is due back in court in December .
The Laceys ’ civil attorney , Jeffrey Zinder , questioned the timing of the lawsuit and alleged it was filed largely to harm the district attorney ’ s reelection bid .
Jackie Lacey is seeking a third term in office and is facing a tough challenge from former San Francisco Dist @ @ @ @ @ @ @ This lawsuit was filed two weeks before an election and not at any time in the last 7 months because it is being put forward for transparently political purposes , ” Zinder wrote in an e-mail .
“ If there was merit in this lawsuit or if it was being offered sincerely , it would have been filed at some point prior to today.
” Zinder did not respond to additional questions about specific facts or allegations that he disputed in the lawsuit .
Civil rights attorney Carl Douglas , who is representing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ suit was filed on its merits , he also believed it was important to bring attention to Lacey ’ s decision-making before the election .
“ I am trying to do what I can on behalf of the people of L.A. County , and I represent three political activists .
So there are dual challenges that I ’ m facing , ” he said Tuesday .
“ On the one hand , there is sincere , severe and serious personal injury .
On the other hand , this is a public official and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and I think speaks to her fitness to serve the people of Los Angeles another four years .
So I , as the lawyer , made the decision to file this case now.
” The lawsuit argues that the Laceys were familiar with Abdullah and Black Lives Matter protesters and should have known they were unarmed and posed no danger .
Abdullah leads weekly protests against Jackie Lacey downtown and has never been violent toward her .
The district attorney has apologized for her husband ’ s actions in the past , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ her safety .
She also has said that she received a number of death threats in the run-up to March ’ s primary in the contentious Los Angeles County district attorney ’ s race , which had left her family on edge .
At least one threat was serious enough that it was investigated by the Long Beach Police Department .
Ferlito said the confrontation at the Lacey home in March was not a spur-of-the-moment decision nor an unnecessary escalation by protesters , as some have criticized .
Lacey ’ s repeated refusal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of unarmed suspects has reached a boiling point , according to Ferlito , who said those affected by her lack of action felt compelled to bring their plight to her home .
“ We wanted to have our voices heard to a political figure who has chosen to disregard her constituency , ” Ferlito said .
“ So when we have no other methods because all other methods have failed , we had to bring attention to her doorstep .
”

Black Lives Matter organizers have filed a civil lawsuit against Los Angeles County Dist. Atty. Jackie Lacey and her husband in connection with a March incident in which David Lacey is accused of pointing a gun at several demonstrators outside the family home.
The 16-page suit, filed Monday by Black Lives Matter organizer Melina Abdullah and demonstrators Dahlia Ferlito and Justin Marks, accuses the Laceys of assault, negligence and infliction of emotional distress in connection with the clash earlier this year.
“This lawsuit concerns the outrageously brazen and recklessly negligent use of a registered firearm by Defendant David Lacey, the husband of the Los Angeles District Attorney, against innocent protesters who were lawfully visiting their home and simply wanted the political candidate to follow through on promises she had made, yet neglected,” the suit reads.
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Abdullah led a group of 30 to 40 demonstrators to the Laceys’ Granada Hills home before dawn on March 2, calling on Jackie Lacey to meet with them after she had failed to deliver on a promise to sit down with organizers that she had made in late 2019. The group chanted and prayed on the sidewalk before Abdullah, Ferlito and Marks approached the Laceys’ door and rang the bell.
#BREAKING This morning Los Angeles District Attorney Jackie Lacey’s husband pulled a gun out on Black Lives Matter activists who protested his wife in front of their house. @BLMLA pic.twitter.com/wnCFMMvaWV — Jasmyne Cannick (@Jasmyne) March 2, 2020
Video taken at the scene shows David Lacey, a retired investigative auditor for the district attorney’s office, open the door with a handgun drawn, pointed at Abdullah’s chest.
“I will shoot you. Get off of my porch,” he says in the video.
David Lacey was charged with three counts of misdemeanor assault in August by the California attorney general’s office, which reviewed the case because of a conflict of interest. Attorneys for the Laceys attempted to have the case thrown out in October, alleging the attorney general did not have jurisdiction, but their motion failed. Lacey is due back in court in December.
California Judge allows assault case against L.A. district attorney’s husband to proceed A Los Angeles County Superior Court judge decided the prosecution of David Lacey can continue, rejecting a defense argument that the California attorney general’s office decision to oversee the case was improper.
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The Laceys’ civil attorney, Jeffrey Zinder, questioned the timing of the lawsuit and alleged it was filed largely to harm the district attorney’s reelection bid. Jackie Lacey is seeking a third term in office and is facing a tough challenge from former San Francisco Dist. Atty. George Gascón.
“This lawsuit was filed two weeks before an election and not at any time in the last 7 months because it is being put forward for transparently political purposes,” Zinder wrote in an e-mail. “If there was merit in this lawsuit or if it was being offered sincerely, it would have been filed at some point prior to today.”
Zinder did not respond to additional questions about specific facts or allegations that he disputed in the lawsuit.
Civil rights attorney Carl Douglas, who is representing the plaintiffs, said that while the suit was filed on its merits, he also believed it was important to bring attention to Lacey’s decision-making before the election.
“I am trying to do what I can on behalf of the people of L.A. County, and I represent three political activists. So there are dual challenges that I’m facing,” he said Tuesday.
“On the one hand, there is sincere, severe and serious personal injury. On the other hand, this is a public official and this horrific case speaks to her judgment, and I think speaks to her fitness to serve the people of Los Angeles another four years. So I, as the lawyer, made the decision to file this case now.”
The lawsuit argues that the Laceys were familiar with Abdullah and Black Lives Matter protesters and should have known they were unarmed and posed no danger. Abdullah leads weekly protests against Jackie Lacey downtown and has never been violent toward her.
The district attorney has apologized for her husband’s actions in the past, saying he acted out of fear for her safety. She also has said that she received a number of death threats in the run-up to March’s primary in the contentious Los Angeles County district attorney’s race, which had left her family on edge. At least one threat was serious enough that it was investigated by the Long Beach Police Department.
Ferlito said the confrontation at the Lacey home in March was not a spur-of-the-moment decision nor an unnecessary escalation by protesters, as some have criticized. Lacey’s repeated refusal to prosecute police officers in controversial shootings of unarmed suspects has reached a boiling point, according to Ferlito, who said those affected by her lack of action felt compelled to bring their plight to her home.
“We wanted to have our voices heard to a political figure who has chosen to disregard her constituency,” Ferlito said. “So when we have no other methods because all other methods have failed, we had to bring attention to her doorstep.”


latimes--2020-10-20--Double shooting near Pasadena park leaves man and woman injured

A double shooting near the Rose Bowl in Pasadena on Monday night left a man and woman seriously injured , and police are still searching for the attacker .
Officers responded about 8 p.m. to calls about multiple gunshots near La Pintoresca Park .
When police arrived , they found 30 bullet casings and saw a car speeding away , Pasadena police Lt. Bill Grisafe said Monday .
Police stopped the car about a quarter-mile from the Rose Bowl and found a man in it with at least one gunshot wound to his neck .
Video shows the car riddled @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a woman who had been shot in her back arrived at a fire station , authorities said .
The injuries to the two are serious , but not life-threatening , Grisafe said .
Police are still searching for the shooter , police said .
Both the injured man and woman have been “ somewhat uncooperative , ” Grisafe said .
“ We ’ re not sure what the motive was , ” he said .
“ We ’ re not sure what transpired as of yet.
” The shooting occurred near a memorial @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who was fatally shot by a Pasadena police officer in August during a traffic stop .
“ We ’ re trying to determine if they were related , ” he said .

Pasadena police responded to gunshots Monday night in an area adjacent to La Pintoresca Park in Pasadena. The shooter, who injured two, is still on the loose, authorities say.
A double shooting near the Rose Bowl in Pasadena on Monday night left a man and woman seriously injured, and police are still searching for the attacker.
Officers responded about 8 p.m. to calls about multiple gunshots near La Pintoresca Park. When police arrived, they found 30 bullet casings and saw a car speeding away, Pasadena police Lt. Bill Grisafe said Monday.
Police stopped the car about a quarter-mile from the Rose Bowl and found a man in it with at least one gunshot wound to his neck. Video shows the car riddled with bullet holes.
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Shortly afterward, a woman who had been shot in her back arrived at a fire station, authorities said.
The injuries to the two are serious, but not life-threatening, Grisafe said.
Police are still searching for the shooter, police said. Both the injured man and woman have been “somewhat uncooperative,” Grisafe said.
“We’re not sure what the motive was,” he said. “We’re not sure what transpired as of yet.”
The shooting occurred near a memorial for Anthony McLain, a Black man who was fatally shot by a Pasadena police officer in August during a traffic stop.
“We’re trying to determine if they were related,” he said.


latimes--2020-10-20--3.4 earthquake registered near Alpine, Calif.

A magnitude 3.4 earthquake was reported Tuesday morning at 3:30 a.m. Pacific time 25 miles from Alpine , Calif. , according to the U.S. Geological Survey .
The earthquake occurred 25 miles from San Diego Country Estates , 30 miles from Ramona , 35 miles from Lakeside and 36 miles from San Diego .
In the past 10 days , there have been two earthquakes of magnitude 3.0 or greater centered nearby .
An average of 234 earthquakes with magnitudes between 3.0 and 4.0 occur per year in California and Nevada , according to a recent three-year data sample .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ 4.2 miles .
Did you feel this earthquake ?
Consider reporting what you felt to the USGS .
Even if you didn ’ t feel this small earthquake , you never know when the Big One is going to strike .
Ready yourself by following our five-step earthquake preparedness guide and building your own emergency kit .
This story was automatically generated by Quakebot , a computer application that monitors the latest earthquakes detected by the USGS .
A Times editor reviewed the post before it was published .
If you ’ re @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , visit our list of frequently asked questions .

A magnitude 3.4 earthquake was reported Tuesday morning at 3:30 a.m. 25 miles from Alpine, Calif.
A magnitude 3.4 earthquake was reported Tuesday morning at 3:30 a.m. Pacific time 25 miles from Alpine, Calif., according to the U.S. Geological Survey.
The earthquake occurred 25 miles from San Diego Country Estates, 30 miles from Ramona, 35 miles from Lakeside and 36 miles from San Diego.
In the past 10 days, there have been two earthquakes of magnitude 3.0 or greater centered nearby.
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An average of 234 earthquakes with magnitudes between 3.0 and 4.0 occur per year in California and Nevada, according to a recent three-year data sample.
The earthquake occurred at a depth of 4.2 miles. Did you feel this earthquake? Consider reporting what you felt to the USGS.
Even if you didn’t feel this small earthquake, you never know when the Big One is going to strike. Ready yourself by following our five-step earthquake preparedness guide and building your own emergency kit.
This story was automatically generated by Quakebot, a computer application that monitors the latest earthquakes detected by the USGS. A Times editor reviewed the post before it was published. If you’re interested in learning more about the system, visit our list of frequently asked questions.


latimes--2020-10-20--How California will deal with voters who refuse to wear a mask on Election Day

Voters who show up in Los Angeles County without a face mask will be escorted to an outdoor area , where a poll worker will hand them a ballot .
In Orange County , they will be put in a booth away from other voters .
San Bernardino and Riverside counties will offer face shields to the voters around an unmasked person .
Nowhere in California will a voter who refuses to wear a mask be turned away , election officials said .
In the final weeks before one of the most contentious presidential elections in recent history , as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , more than a million Californians have already voted by mail .
A polling station , with its potentially long lines , indoor setting and voting booths occupied by one person after another , poses a health risk , despite workers constantly wiping down surfaces and offering masks to anyone who forgot theirs .
But some people will still show up on Nov. 3 , whether to witness the historic moment or to ensure their votes are cast amid worries about mail delivery and ballot counting delays .
Poll workers have been instructed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ even those who insist on proceeding without a mask .
Like so much else this year , mask-wearing has become politically hazardous terrain , a mandatory public safety measure to some and an offensive government overreach to others .
Anxious to avoid dramas like those involving irate , maskless supermarket customers that have been shared countless times on social media , state election officials have issued detailed guidelines for keeping voters safe while minimizing confrontation .
In the absence of masks , social distancing is the primary way to avoid coronavirus spread , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Alex Padilla ’ s office to county election officials , last revised on Aug. 27 .
The maskless person should be assured that he or she will still be allowed to cast a ballot and taken to a booth with plenty of space around it .
Poll workers should be trained in de-escalation techniques such as using a calm voice and body language that convey respect for the person ’ s right to vote .
“ Intense conversation and shouting ” could further endanger others by spraying droplets , the guidelines note .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ utmost importance , ” the guidelines say .
“ Even voters neglectful of important health and safety precautions must be allowed to vote if they enter a voting location.
” Welcoming unmasked people into polling stations is a notable departure from state rules requiring face coverings in all indoor public spaces , such as stores , buses and hospitals .
Those rules can be superseded by guidelines such as the ones from the secretary of state .
The constitutional right to vote is not absolute .
In some states , felons are prohibited @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has recently upheld legislation in some states requiring a photo ID to vote — arguably a more onerous hurdle than wearing a mask , said Jonathan Adler , a law professor at Case Western Reserve University .
Restricting in-person voting for public health reasons would probably be legal , as long as other options , such as mail-in ballots , are available , Adler said .
Turning away unmasked voters would be analogous to other polling place bans like those on guns or campaign advertising , said Rick Hasen , a UC Irvine @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have decided not to tangle with voting rights , despite the risk that unmasked people could transmit the coronavirus to poll workers and fellow voters .
Sam Mahood , a spokesman for the secretary of state ’ s office , said the guidelines for county election officials are intended to ensure safety while allowing everyone to vote in-person .
“ The Secretary of State ’ s office views voting as a foundational constitutional right for citizens , ” Mahood said in a statement .
Annabelle de St. Maurice , co-chief infection prevention officer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ part of voting will be the time spent in line .
She recommends that people consider alternative methods like mail-in or early voting .
“ The highest risk will be waiting in line because you ’ ll potentially be clustered around people for a long time , ” De St. Maurice said .
“ The average time someone spends at a voting booth is pretty short , so that would be a brief interaction and should be low risk.
” Problems could occur if many unmasked voters show up at once and there @ @ @ @ @ @ @ them , she said .
When voters go to the polls on Nov. 3 , they will probably see tape on the ground for social distancing , booths with ample space between them and hand sanitizer at every turn .
In addition to neighborhood polling stations , they can vote at sports arenas such as Dodger Stadium and Staples Center .
The Honda Center in Anaheim will have a drive-through voting option .
County election officials have come up with various plans for dealing with unmasked voters , whether it is helping them @ @ @ @ @ @ @ protective gear for people nearby .
In San Diego County , voters who refuse to wear a mask will be moved to a socially distanced outdoor booth reserved for nonmask wearers , said Registrar of Voters Michael Vu .
San Bernardino County Registrar Bob Page said poll workers will focus on the safety of voters near an unmasked voter by social distancing and providing face shields .
“ If there ’ s an ability to spread out more , we ’ ll take advantage of that , ” Page said .
In Orange @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of lockdown orders have ballooned during the pandemic , voting centers will be open for an extra day beyond the state-recommended four days , Registrar of Voters Neal Kelley said .
The county has prepared 300,000 each of disposable masks and pens for polling stations , in addition to adding more ballot drop boxes , prioritizing larger polling sites and placing unmasked voters in socially distanced booths .
But Kelley expects in-person turnout to be low .
He said that in the March primary , 80 % of Orange County voters turned in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mail .
“ I don ’ t think there ’ s any reason to believe we won ’ t see 8 or 9 out of 10 voters do the same for the November election , ” Kelley said .
Still , some voters , like Christian Rothery of Anaheim , plan to cast their ballots in person .
Rothery enjoys the “ whole ceremony ” of going to the polls on election day and is worried about recent mail delivery issues .
He views in-person voting as no riskier than running errands during @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wear a mask and expects that most people will wear masks , as they do at the grocery store , and believes election officials will take precautions .
After months of staying at home during the coronavirus lockdown , Rothery said that voting in person will be especially meaningful this year .
“ It ’ s a bit of normalcy , ” said Rothery , 46 , a finance manager who will vote for the Democratic presidential candidate , Joe Biden .
Anna Timm , a 31-year-old from Orange who works at Disneyland @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in a county drop box .
“ It ’ s the best of both worlds , ” said Timm , who will vote for Biden .
“ You can take your time and you can vote in your pajamas.
” Besides , Timm will be busy on election day .
She volunteered to be a poll worker after hearing there was a shortage .
She is not concerned about dealing with unmasked voters .
“ I already have a lot of customer service experience , including stressful situations and even responding to various @ @ @ @ @ @ @ theme parks , so between that and our … training , I feel pretty prepared , ” she said .
Temple City resident Carrie Chan , 44 , said she planned on wearing a mask to vote in person .
The paralegal planned on voting for President Trump at a polling center out of her distrust for mail-in voting .
“ We live in America where we have the freedom of choice .
I don ’ t think we should mandate what people do , ” Chan said .
“ I ’ ll @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , but that ’ s not something we can force others to do .
”

An Orange County election worker demonstrates casting a ballot at the Honda Center in Anaheim, where voters can opt to walk in or drive through starting Oct. 30.
Voters who show up in Los Angeles County without a face mask will be escorted to an outdoor area, where a poll worker will hand them a ballot.
In Orange County, they will be put in a booth away from other voters.
San Bernardino and Riverside counties will offer face shields to the voters around an unmasked person.
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Nowhere in California will a voter who refuses to wear a mask be turned away, election officials said.
In the final weeks before one of the most contentious presidential elections in recent history, as the country grapples with a once-in-a-lifetime pandemic, more than a million Californians have already voted by mail.
A polling station, with its potentially long lines, indoor setting and voting booths occupied by one person after another, poses a health risk, despite workers constantly wiping down surfaces and offering masks to anyone who forgot theirs.
But some people will still show up on Nov. 3, whether to witness the historic moment or to ensure their votes are cast amid worries about mail delivery and ballot counting delays. Poll workers have been instructed to help everyone cast a ballot — even those who insist on proceeding without a mask.
Like so much else this year, mask-wearing has become politically hazardous terrain, a mandatory public safety measure to some and an offensive government overreach to others.
Advertisement
Anxious to avoid dramas like those involving irate, maskless supermarket customers that have been shared countless times on social media, state election officials have issued detailed guidelines for keeping voters safe while minimizing confrontation.
In Orange County, voting centers will be open for an extra day beyond the state-recommended four days. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
In the absence of masks, social distancing is the primary way to avoid coronavirus spread, note the guidelines from Secretary of State Alex Padilla’s office to county election officials, last revised on Aug. 27. The maskless person should be assured that he or she will still be allowed to cast a ballot and taken to a booth with plenty of space around it.
Poll workers should be trained in de-escalation techniques such as using a calm voice and body language that convey respect for the person’s right to vote. “Intense conversation and shouting” could further endanger others by spraying droplets, the guidelines note.
“The right to vote is of utmost importance,” the guidelines say. “Even voters neglectful of important health and safety precautions must be allowed to vote if they enter a voting location.”
Welcoming unmasked people into polling stations is a notable departure from state rules requiring face coverings in all indoor public spaces, such as stores, buses and hospitals. Those rules can be superseded by guidelines such as the ones from the secretary of state.
The constitutional right to vote is not absolute. In some states, felons are prohibited from voting. The U.S. Supreme Court has recently upheld legislation in some states requiring a photo ID to vote — arguably a more onerous hurdle than wearing a mask, said Jonathan Adler, a law professor at Case Western Reserve University.
Restricting in-person voting for public health reasons would probably be legal, as long as other options, such as mail-in ballots, are available, Adler said.
Turning away unmasked voters would be analogous to other polling place bans like those on guns or campaign advertising, said Rick Hasen, a UC Irvine law professor.
But California election officials have decided not to tangle with voting rights, despite the risk that unmasked people could transmit the coronavirus to poll workers and fellow voters.
Sam Mahood, a spokesman for the secretary of state’s office, said the guidelines for county election officials are intended to ensure safety while allowing everyone to vote in-person.
“The Secretary of State’s office views voting as a foundational constitutional right for citizens,” Mahood said in a statement.
In Orange County, as elsewhere in the state, voters who refuse to wear a mask will still be able to cast a ballot. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
Annabelle de St. Maurice, co-chief infection prevention officer at UCLA Health, said the riskiest part of voting will be the time spent in line. She recommends that people consider alternative methods like mail-in or early voting.
“The highest risk will be waiting in line because you’ll potentially be clustered around people for a long time,” De St. Maurice said. “The average time someone spends at a voting booth is pretty short, so that would be a brief interaction and should be low risk.”
Problems could occur if many unmasked voters show up at once and there are not enough poll workers to assist them, she said.
When voters go to the polls on Nov. 3, they will probably see tape on the ground for social distancing, booths with ample space between them and hand sanitizer at every turn. In addition to neighborhood polling stations, they can vote at sports arenas such as Dodger Stadium and Staples Center. The Honda Center in Anaheim will have a drive-through voting option.
County election officials have come up with various plans for dealing with unmasked voters, whether it is helping them cast their ballots outdoors or providing extra protective gear for people nearby.
In San Diego County, voters who refuse to wear a mask will be moved to a socially distanced outdoor booth reserved for nonmask wearers, said Registrar of Voters Michael Vu.
San Bernardino County Registrar Bob Page said poll workers will focus on the safety of voters near an unmasked voter by social distancing and providing face shields.
“If there’s an ability to spread out more, we’ll take advantage of that,” Page said.
Riverside County will follow a similar plan, registrar Rebecca Spencer said.
In Orange County, where mask debates and defiance of lockdown orders have ballooned during the pandemic, voting centers will be open for an extra day beyond the state-recommended four days, Registrar of Voters Neal Kelley said.
The county has prepared 300,000 each of disposable masks and pens for polling stations, in addition to adding more ballot drop boxes, prioritizing larger polling sites and placing unmasked voters in socially distanced booths.
But Kelley expects in-person turnout to be low. He said that in the March primary, 80% of Orange County voters turned in a ballot they had received in the mail.
“I don’t think there’s any reason to believe we won’t see 8 or 9 out of 10 voters do the same for the November election,” Kelley said.
The polling place at the Honda Center in Anaheim, which opens Oct. 30, includes a drive-through option. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
Still, some voters, like Christian Rothery of Anaheim, plan to cast their ballots in person.
Rothery enjoys the “whole ceremony” of going to the polls on election day and is worried about recent mail delivery issues.
He views in-person voting as no riskier than running errands during the pandemic. He said he will wear a mask and expects that most people will wear masks, as they do at the grocery store, and believes election officials will take precautions.
After months of staying at home during the coronavirus lockdown, Rothery said that voting in person will be especially meaningful this year.
“It’s a bit of normalcy,” said Rothery, 46, a finance manager who will vote for the Democratic presidential candidate, Joe Biden.
Anna Timm, a 31-year-old from Orange who works at Disneyland, said she will deposit her ballot in a county drop box.
“It’s the best of both worlds,” said Timm, who will vote for Biden. “You can take your time and you can vote in your pajamas.”
Besides, Timm will be busy on election day. She volunteered to be a poll worker after hearing there was a shortage.
She is not concerned about dealing with unmasked voters.
“I already have a lot of customer service experience, including stressful situations and even responding to various emergencies, from years of working in theme parks, so between that and our … training, I feel pretty prepared,” she said.
Temple City resident Carrie Chan, 44, said she planned on wearing a mask to vote in person. The paralegal planned on voting for President Trump at a polling center out of her distrust for mail-in voting.
“We live in America where we have the freedom of choice. I don’t think we should mandate what people do,” Chan said. “I’ll wear my mask and keep my distance, but that’s not something we can force others to do.”


latimes--2020-10-19--The online voter registration deadline has passed, but you can still vote in California

The bad news : You missed the voter registration deadline to cast a ballot in this election .
The good news : You haven ’ t missed your chance to vote .
Monday , Oct. 19 , was the last day to use the state ’ s online voter registration system .
But last year , California enacted conditional voter registration .
Sometimes called “ same-day voter registration , ” conditional registration lets you register up until the day of the election at your county elections office or a community vote center .
You can then cast a ballot , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ county election officials verify your registration .
Any day between now and the election , you can register at an early voting location .
Here ’ s the state ’ s official directory for locations and hours .
On election day , you can go to any polling place and register and cast your provisional ballot there .
To register , you ’ ll need to have on hand your California driver ’ s license number or ID card number , the last four digits of your Social Security number and your date @ @ @ @ @ @ @ check their status to confirm their address and other details at .
If you are 16 or 17 years old , you can use the site to pre-register , though you won ’ t be eligible this November .
As of 2019 , as many as 6 million Californians were eligible to vote but had not registered — including Snoop Dogg , who just last week posted a on his YouTube channel .
Once you ’ ve registered , it ’ s time to figure out how you ’ ll vote .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ how voting works in L.A. County .
Our editorial board has published a list of endorsements , and our news team has explainers about each of the propositions on the ballot .
Here ’ s our complete guide to the 2020 election , including how to vote , where to vote , where the candidates stand on the issues and more .

Election day is finally here. And even if you’ve never registered to vote in California before, you haven’t missed your chance to cast your ballot.
Oct. 19, was the last day to use the state’s online voter registration system. But last year, California enacted conditional voter registration. Sometimes called “same-day voter registration,” conditional registration lets you register up until or on the day of the election at your county elections office or a community vote center. You can then cast a ballot, which will be processed and counted after county election officials verify your registration.
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Today, you can go to any polling place and register and cast your provisional ballot there. To register, you’ll need to have on hand your California driver’s license number or ID card number, the last four digits of your Social Security number and your date of birth.
Currently registered voters can check their status to confirm their address and other details at RegisterToVote.ca.gov . If you are 16 or 17 years old, you can use the site to pre-register, though you won’t be eligible in November.
As of 2019, as many as 6 million Californians were eligible to vote but had not registered — including Snoop Dogg, who just last week posted a video of himself registering on his YouTube channel.
Once you’ve registered, it’s time to figure out how you’ll vote. The Times has videos in 14 languages about how voting works in L.A. County. Our editorial board has published a list of endorsements, and our news team has explainers about each of the propositions on the ballot.
Here’s our complete guide to the 2020 election, including how to vote, where to vote, where the candidates stand on the issues and more.


latimes--2020-10-21--In L.A. campaign, Ryu assails Raman over supporters' calls to 'abolish' police

The day U.S. Sen. Kamala Harris was tapped to be the Democratic Party ’ s vice presidential nominee , L.A. 's chapter of Democratic Socialists for America had a blunt message for its followers .
“ Kamala is a cop , ” the group wrote on Twitter .
“ And our stance will always be : abolish the police.
” DSA-LA has shown far more enthusiasm for a candidate in a more local contest , raising money , phone-banking and sending postcards for Nithya Raman , the urban planner looking to unseat one-term Councilman David Ryu .
With the campaign @ @ @ @ @ @ @ now attempting to make Raman supporters like DSA-LA a potent election issue .
In campaign mailers , he has told voters that her campaign is powered by “ divisive radicals ” whose publicly stated agenda is to eliminate the LAPD entirely , leaving Angelenos vulnerable to violent crime .
“ It ’ s dangerous , ” said Ryu , who represents a Silver Lake-to-Sherman Oaks district .
“ And it will have negative consequences for Council District 4 and the city of L.A. ” Raman , in an interview , said DSA-LA is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ only one of several groups supporting her .
She accused Ryu of “ fear mongering ” on the issue of police reform , saying she has no intention of getting rid of the LAPD .
“ In the aftermath of a national reckoning around race and police violence , Councilmember Ryu is choosing to lie and stoke fear around police reform in order to get votes , and use my support of Black Lives Matter against me , ” she said .
“ It ’ s disgraceful conduct in this moment , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ race comes at a turning point for public safety in L.A. , with activists , advocacy groups and the two candidates themselves arguing that police officers are being assigned to do too much , responding not just to violent crime but also complaint calls about barking dogs , noisy parties and homeless encampments .
Ryu , who previously worked for a community mental health center in South L.A. , voted with his colleagues last week to begin creating a pilot program assigning specialists to respond to certain nonviolent calls , such as those @ @ @ @ @ @ @ He and the council also cut the LAPD budget by $ 150 million in July , using part of the proceeds to delay furloughs for civilian city workers .
Raman , for her part , has posted a 14,000-word public safety platform saying the city should transform the LAPD into a “ much smaller , specialized armed force , ” moving police out of such duties as traffic enforcement , vehicle collisions and non-violent mental health crises .
That change , she said , would reduce the potential for deadly encounters between police @ @ @ @ @ @ @ better rested and more attentive ” to violent crime .
In an interview , Raman declined to say how much smaller the department should be , or how long it would take for the city to scale back its operations , saying she first needs to determine how the LAPD spends its money .
“ I ’ m hoping to have more of that information once I ’ m in office , ” she told The Times .
“ I just don ’ t have a lot of data right now.
” Raman @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hero to voters on the left end of the political spectrum , not just in L.A. but across the country .
She has scored the backing of U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders and luminaries like Jane Fonda .
Ryu , in turn , racked up endorsements from House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton , as well as the county ’ s Democratic Party .
Those endorsements offered the latest signs that the race has evolved into a proxy fight between establishment Democrats , many of whom favor Ryu , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Ground Game L.A. and Sunrise Movement Los Angeles — all of whom have mobilized for Raman and called for abolition or total defunding of the LAPD .
At times , DSA-LA has gone further , calling officers “ pigs ” and using the acronym ACAB — “ All Cops are Bastards.
” Ryu has seized on those types of messages , noting in one recent campaign mailer that the group posted the message “ cops and klan go hand in hand.
” “ This is what Nithya Raman ’ s supporters believe @ @ @ @ @ @ @ says .
Meghan Choi , Raman ’ s co-campaign manager , did not directly address those tweets , saying instead that Ryu ’ s focus on them are “ cheap ” and “ distasteful , ” and an attempt to distract voters from Raman ’ s “ unprecedented ” grassroots engagement .
Raman ’ s campaign previously hit Ryu over his support from the Police Protective League , the LAPD union that spent nearly $ 45,000 supporting his reelection earlier this year .
Erin O ’ Neal-Robinson , who co-chairs DSA-LA ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spend less time checking her group ’ s Twitter feed and more time protecting his constituents , especially those who are homeless .
She said she believes DSA-LA is arguing not for the literal end of the LAPD , but rather an end to the department ’ s current model of armed response .
“ There ’ s no accountability .
Their budgets are too high .
And those funds should be put into public health and safety programs , ” she said .
“ That doesn ’ t sound radical to me.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ over her decision to sign a petition saying she supports the People ’ s Budget , a policy document billed as an alternative to Mayor Eric Garcetti ’ s spending plan for the current fiscal year , which allocated more than half the city ’ s unrestricted revenue to the LAPD .
The petition , signed by current and former city employees , called on the council to reallocate law enforcement funding as spelled out in the People ’ s Budget , which surveyed the spending priorities of nearly 25,000 Angelenos .
On @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the People ’ s Budget proposes to allocate 1.64 % of the city ’ s general fund toward law enforcement , with the savings redirected to rent assistance , food relief , public health programs and other social needs .
People ’ s Budget L.A. , a coalition convened by Black Lives Matter-L.A. , also says its ultimate goal is the abolition of police and prisons .
Ryu criticized Raman for signing the petition , saying she had effectively endorsed an “ irresponsible ” 98 % reduction at the LAPD .
That @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in L.A. 's disadvantaged communities , who want quality community policing and officers who respond in an emergency , Ryu said .
“ What they don ’ t want is to be racially profiled .
They want to be treated with respect and dignity , ” Ryu added .
Raman accused Ryu of misrepresenting her position , saying she signed the petition because she supported the extensive effort to gauge the public ’ s views on city spending .
“ I ’ ve never provided a set figure for how much of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ she said .
Melina Abdullah , co-founder of Black Lives Matter-LA , said Raman signed on to the priorities of the People ’ s Budget — and the idea that police would be the lowest priority — but not any specific percentage .
The People ’ s Budget is simply a survey , she said , not a budget with dollar figures attached .
“ All she ’ s doing is saying she ’ s in alignment with the will of the people who ’ ve completed this survey , ” Abdullah said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ found overwhelming public support for deep cuts at the LAPD , other surveys have been less clear .
The Police Protective League , the union representing most LAPD officers , commissioned a poll in August that found that only 13 % of L.A. residents favor a reduction of 90 % or more in police spending .
Political consultant Eric Hacopian said he has seen polling that shows much greater support for significant police cuts .
But a majority of Angelenos still oppose the idea — which might explain Ryu ’ s strategy , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ trying to consolidate everyone but hardcore progressives , ” said Hacopian , who did consulting work earlier this year for a committee that backed Ryu .
Cindy Chvatal , a longtime Ryu supporter who lives in Hancock Park , is one of those worried about the stances taken by groups supporting Raman .
The department needs more oversight , she said , and must embrace reforms that address systemic racism .
“ But I don ’ t believe in blowing it all up , ” she said .
“ I believe in fixing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ final weeks , Councilman Mike Bonin has waded in , saying that Ryu is engaging in “ red-baiting ” by targeting the Democratic Socialists .
Bonin , a Ryu supporter , also defended Ground Game L.A. , saying that organization had distributed food and done other good work in his Westside district .
Bill Przylucki , Ground Game L.A. 's executive director , confirmed that his group supports the People ’ s Budget and the push to take police spending below 2 % .
But he cautioned that such an effort would take @ @ @ @ @ @ @ election of many more like-minded people to the council .
“ Whether or not Nithya wins , ” he said , “ we want to take this citywide .
”

Los Angeles City Councilman David Ryu, shown last month in Larchmont Village, has taken aim at groups supporting his opponent, urban planner Nithya Raman.
The day U.S. Sen. Kamala Harris was tapped to be the Democratic Party’s vice presidential nominee, L.A.’s chapter of Democratic Socialists for America had a blunt message for its followers.
“Kamala is a cop,” the group wrote on Twitter. “And our stance will always be: abolish the police.”
DSA-LA has shown far more enthusiasm for a candidate in a more local contest, raising money, phone-banking and sending postcards for Nithya Raman, the urban planner looking to unseat one-term Councilman David Ryu.
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With the campaign in its final weeks, Ryu is now attempting to make Raman supporters like DSA-LA a potent election issue. In campaign mailers, he has told voters that her campaign is powered by “divisive radicals” whose publicly stated agenda is to eliminate the LAPD entirely, leaving Angelenos vulnerable to violent crime.
“It’s dangerous,” said Ryu, who represents a Silver Lake-to-Sherman Oaks district. “And it will have negative consequences for Council District 4 and the city of L.A.”
Raman, in an interview, said DSA-LA is neither radical nor divisive, and is only one of several groups supporting her. She accused Ryu of “fear mongering” on the issue of police reform, saying she has no intention of getting rid of the LAPD.
“In the aftermath of a national reckoning around race and police violence, Councilmember Ryu is choosing to lie and stoke fear around police reform in order to get votes, and use my support of Black Lives Matter against me,” she said. “It’s disgraceful conduct in this moment, and we deserve better leadership.”
The Ryu-Raman race comes at a turning point for public safety in L.A., with activists, advocacy groups and the two candidates themselves arguing that police officers are being assigned to do too much, responding not just to violent crime but also complaint calls about barking dogs, noisy parties and homeless encampments.
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Ryu, who previously worked for a community mental health center in South L.A., voted with his colleagues last week to begin creating a pilot program assigning specialists to respond to certain nonviolent calls, such as those involving suicide threats or substance abuse. He and the council also cut the LAPD budget by $150 million in July, using part of the proceeds to delay furloughs for civilian city workers.
Raman, for her part, has posted a 14,000-word public safety platform saying the city should transform the LAPD into a “much smaller, specialized armed force,” moving police out of such duties as traffic enforcement, vehicle collisions and non-violent mental health crises. That change, she said, would reduce the potential for deadly encounters between police and civilians, while leaving officers “better rested and more attentive” to violent crime.
In an interview, Raman declined to say how much smaller the department should be, or how long it would take for the city to scale back its operations, saying she first needs to determine how the LAPD spends its money.
“I’m hoping to have more of that information once I’m in office,” she told The Times. “I just don’t have a lot of data right now.”
Los Angeles City Council candidate Nithya Raman, who is seeking to unseat incumbent David Ryu, says L.A. needs to rethink how it provides public safety. (Los Angeles Times)
Raman, 39, has emerged as a hero to voters on the left end of the political spectrum, not just in L.A. but across the country. She has scored the backing of U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders and luminaries like Jane Fonda. Ryu, in turn, racked up endorsements from House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, as well as the county’s Democratic Party.
Those endorsements offered the latest signs that the race has evolved into a proxy fight between establishment Democrats, many of whom favor Ryu, and more leftist groups such as DSA-LA, Ground Game L.A. and Sunrise Movement Los Angeles — all of whom have mobilized for Raman and called for abolition or total defunding of the LAPD.
At times, DSA-LA has gone further, calling officers “pigs” and using the acronym ACAB — “All Cops are Bastards.” Ryu has seized on those types of messages, noting in one recent campaign mailer that the group posted the message “cops and klan go hand in hand.”
“This is what Nithya Raman’s supporters believe. Does she?” the mailer says.
Nope. Defund and abolish the police. — DSA-LA 🌹 (@DSA_LosAngeles) June 7, 2020
Meghan Choi, Raman’s co-campaign manager, did not directly address those tweets, saying instead that Ryu’s focus on them are “cheap” and “distasteful,” and an attempt to distract voters from Raman’s “unprecedented” grassroots engagement. Raman’s campaign previously hit Ryu over his support from the Police Protective League, the LAPD union that spent nearly $45,000 supporting his reelection earlier this year.
Erin O’Neal-Robinson, who co-chairs DSA-LA’s electoral politics committee, said Ryu should spend less time checking her group’s Twitter feed and more time protecting his constituents, especially those who are homeless. She said she believes DSA-LA is arguing not for the literal end of the LAPD, but rather an end to the department’s current model of armed response.
“There’s no accountability. Their budgets are too high. And those funds should be put into public health and safety programs,” she said. “That doesn’t sound radical to me.”
Ryu has also taken on Raman over her decision to sign a petition saying she supports the People’s Budget, a policy document billed as an alternative to Mayor Eric Garcetti’s spending plan for the current fiscal year, which allocated more than half the city’s unrestricted revenue to the LAPD.
I once worked at LA City Hall. I know the culture there can make it very difficult to speak up for what you believe.
Thank you to the hundreds of current and former city employees who have taken this courageous stand advocating for a People's Budget. I signed too! https://t.co/nIuiMSyxdG — Nithya Raman (@nithyavraman) July 3, 2020
The petition, signed by current and former city employees, called on the council to reallocate law enforcement funding as spelled out in the People’s Budget, which surveyed the spending priorities of nearly 25,000 Angelenos.
On the People’s Budget L.A. website, the People’s Budget proposes to allocate 1.64% of the city’s general fund toward law enforcement, with the savings redirected to rent assistance, food relief, public health programs and other social needs. People’s Budget L.A., a coalition convened by Black Lives Matter-L.A., also says its ultimate goal is the abolition of police and prisons.
Ryu criticized Raman for signing the petition, saying she had effectively endorsed an “irresponsible” 98% reduction at the LAPD. That runs counter to the wishes of residents in L.A.’s disadvantaged communities, who want quality community policing and officers who respond in an emergency, Ryu said.
“What they don’t want is to be racially profiled. They want to be treated with respect and dignity,” Ryu added.
Raman accused Ryu of misrepresenting her position, saying she signed the petition because she supported the extensive effort to gauge the public’s views on city spending. “I’ve never provided a set figure for how much of the budget should go to police,” she said.
Melina Abdullah, co-founder of Black Lives Matter-LA, said Raman signed on to the priorities of the People’s Budget — and the idea that police would be the lowest priority — but not any specific percentage. The People’s Budget is simply a survey, she said, not a budget with dollar figures attached.
“All she’s doing is saying she’s in alignment with the will of the people who’ve completed this survey,” Abdullah said.
While the People’s Budget found overwhelming public support for deep cuts at the LAPD, other surveys have been less clear. The Police Protective League, the union representing most LAPD officers, commissioned a poll in August that found that only 13% of L.A. residents favor a reduction of 90% or more in police spending.
Political consultant Eric Hacopian said he has seen polling that shows much greater support for significant police cuts. But a majority of Angelenos still oppose the idea — which might explain Ryu’s strategy, he said.
“He’s trying to consolidate everyone but hardcore progressives,” said Hacopian, who did consulting work earlier this year for a committee that backed Ryu.
Cindy Chvatal, a longtime Ryu supporter who lives in Hancock Park, is one of those worried about the stances taken by groups supporting Raman. The department needs more oversight, she said, and must embrace reforms that address systemic racism.
“But I don’t believe in blowing it all up,” she said. “I believe in fixing it.”
In the campaign’s final weeks, Councilman Mike Bonin has waded in, saying that Ryu is engaging in “red-baiting” by targeting the Democratic Socialists. Bonin, a Ryu supporter, also defended Ground Game L.A., saying that organization had distributed food and done other good work in his Westside district.
Bill Przylucki, Ground Game L.A.’s executive director, confirmed that his group supports the People’s Budget and the push to take police spending below 2%. But he cautioned that such an effort would take several years in L.A. and require the election of many more like-minded people to the council.
“Whether or not Nithya wins,” he said, “we want to take this citywide.”