latimes--2020-08-06--Homeless people in L.A. increasingly are taking their lives by hanging

He was a talented skateboarder on the verge of landing a company sponsorship .
Dressed in loud Hawaiian shirts or track suits , his shock of hair untamed , skater style , Jacob Glory Russaw practiced ollies and kick flips for hours at the Venice and North Hollywood skate parks or in the streets of east Hollywood .
Then he made up his own tricks .
“ Skating is my life , ” the 20-year-old wrote on his Instagram page .
“ It ’ s like breathing it makes me feel like I can do something [ in ] life.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ He was young and Black and living at a homeless housing agency , working his way out of a fractured upbringing .
And he had lost his room there , something that even some of his skater friends didn ’ t realize .
They only learned after he died by hanging .
When two other Black men — Robert Fuller , 24 , and Malcolm Harsch , 38 — were found hanging from trees in two Southern California cities this spring , their families disputed suicide findings .
Black people are far less @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people , and the hangings , in the midst of protests against police violence , conjured America ’ s ugly legacy of lynchings of Black men , which authorities sometimes labeled suicides to cover up for white police and mobs .
But further investigation turned up no foul play .
Both men had a history of homelessness : Fuller , who had a previous suicide attempt , had lived on and off at a youth shelter in Las Vegas and was homeless in Reno before coming to Palmdale , where he died .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ encampment near Victorville .
And their deaths , like that of Russaw in 2018 , fit into a surprising pattern .
Increasingly , homeless people in Los Angeles and its environs are dying by hanging .
Over 4½ years ending in mid-June , 196 people experiencing homelessness in Los Angeles County took their lives .
In 2016 , 40 % of the suicides were by hanging ; so far this year , it ’ s 55 % , according to a Times analysis of coroner ’ s reports .
Many homeless people hanged @ @ @ @ @ @ @ off-ramp or sidewalk , in an alley , field or vacant lot — but their deaths went largely unremarked .
“ Homeless suicides have not been an issue , ” said Mike Neely , former Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority commissioner .
“ I ’ m not sure people want to have that discussion ; it goes to the heart of the neglect of people.
” No one knows why someone else takes their life , but for many homeless people , a history of trauma is exacerbated by the miseries of homelessness @ @ @ @ @ @ @ services into the streets , and culturally competent suicide prevention for homeless people is lacking .
A firearm is the leading suicide method for men in the U.S , but homeless people don ’ t typically have guns .
After Harsch died , his family initially suspected that he had been lynched but eventually came around to believing it was a suicide .
But they also expressed disappointment in the lack of services that could have prevented his death .
“ The [ Harsch ] family is gratified to have a sense of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ victim of a lynching , ” said activist Najee Ali , a family spokesman , “ but the big question is why his death wasn ’ t investigated properly to begin with .
In retrospect , we all wish there had been more homeless outreach services , especially mental health.
” Russaw ’ s family , too , said he should have received mental health care .
Only 19 of the homeless people in Los Angeles County who took their lives since 2016 were Black , and just a handful of them died @ @ @ @ @ @ @ among Black youth — from 2.55 per 100,000 in 2007 to 4.82 per 100,000 in 2017 , according to a Congressional Black Caucus task force report on Black youth suicide released in December .
“ The face of suicide has been older white men , because of the sheer numbers of more white men dying of suicide , but that ’ s something of a misnomer , ” said Michael A. Lindsey , executive director of the McSilver Institute for Poverty Policy and Research at New York University and the congressional task force @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s death , Covenant House , a youth homeless agency in Hollywood , kicked him out of its housing program .
Chief Executive Bill Bedrossian said he couldn ’ t discuss the reason ; family and friends said it was for violating program rules , including breaking curfew .
A spokesman for Covenant House said Thursday that Russaw had been temporarily “ restricted ” from housing but could have appealed to be allowed to come back to the organization .
The spokesman , Mike Stommel , also said that not sleeping at the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ assaulting them or staff were violations that could result in a housing restriction .
Bedrossian said mental health services were available to Russaw , before and after he left housing .
Russaw ’ s sister said they should have been mandatory .
“ If you don ’ t have mental health issues already , try being homeless , ” said Candice Russaw , 33 .
Brayan Vargas , an employee at L.A. Skate Co. , said Russaw told him Covenant House had bagged his things , stuffed them in a closet and told @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to someone else .
“ I found it very foul , ” said Conner Nico , another L.A. Skate Co. employee who lived at Covenant House for a time .
“ It ’ s a good program in many ways , but you don ’ t do that to a kid who ’ s already down and wanted to do good.
” “ We don ’ t see restrictions as the worst things in the world ; they ’ re part of a process to learn you have to be accountable in life @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he and the rest of the staff were especially fond of Russaw .
“ Jacob was adored here , frankly , ” he said .
Russaw did not broadcast his distress , said friends , who described him as fun-loving and joyful .
“ Anything to not have a moment of silence , ” a friend said .
“ He masked it well.
” Russaw grew up in Watts and Lancaster with his aunt and cousins , whom he considered his mother and sisters ( and are described that way here ) .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ to ride a unicycle and a ripstick , jump on a pogo stick , launch back flips on the concrete and leap off a roof into a pool .
He learned to walk up a wall like a Ninja warrior and tried to prank his sister Brandy Russaw , 34 , into believing that he was a space alien .
It almost worked , she said .
After a family fight , their mother reported Russaw to juvenile authorities , who placed him in detention , followed by foster care .
At age @ @ @ @ @ @ @ where he earned his high school diploma — the first in his family to do so , Bedrossian said .
At a light on Hollywood Boulevard , he met Hikaru Lee , 33 , a foreign student from Japan who taught yoga .
They snowboarded , hiked and went to the beach , and Russaw posted that he was going vegan .
“ Jacob was a real hippie , ” said his sister , Chanel Mookie Evans , 28 .
He enrolled at Santa Monica College but quit to work a restaurant job @ @ @ @ @ @ @ He wore a skateboard bearing as a ring and sometimes practiced deep into the night .
At L.A. Skate Co. on Santa Monica Boulevard , Russaw traded clothes he had thrifted for grip tape and skateboards to replace the ones he split grinding stair rails or performing tre flips .
“ I never saw anyone do that before , ” said the skate shop owner , Dave White , who videotaped him repeating the trick so he could show potential sponsors .
White shot another video of Russaw skating up to the shop @ @ @ @ @ @ @ strapped to his feet with turquoise shoelaces .
“ He could skate anything with wheels , ” White said .
“ Some of the company people who came in here said , ‘ Who ’ s that kid with the bushy hair ?
He ’ s killing it.
’ He was on his way .
The companies were waiting to see what he could do.
” After his ouster from Covenant House , Russaw slept at the North Hollywood skate park , a small park in Hollywood or under the lights at a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The streets here are not the best , ” Vargas said .
Lee had roommates and didn ’ t always let him stay .
They argued ; she said she didn ’ t understand what he was going through until after he died .
“ I don ’ t know about homeless , but it affected him really bad , ” she said .
“ He told me it ’ s not easy being a Black man .
He felt it was not comfortable looking for a job because of his color.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Lee ’ s apartment .
Covenant House paid for a memorial and his funeral at Holy Cross Cemetery in Culver City .
Friends covered the slate-blue casket with his favorite skate shop stickers .
Russaw ’ s skateboard — painted with the insignia “ Shred in Paradise Brother ” — hangs on L.A. Skate Co. 's wall .
At a get-together in Lancaster this summer , Candice and Brandy wore Jacob ’ s shirts and Evans brought one of his skateboards .
“ In foreign countries , they don ’ t let old @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Candice said .
“ Especially with Black people , the village is broken .
Why isn ’ t our government doing something ?
” “ He was just a kid , ” Brandy said .
If you or someone you know is exhibiting warning signs of suicide , seek help from a professional and call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK ( 8255 ) .

Sisters Candice Russaw, left, Chanel Evans and Brandy Russaw remember their brother, 20-year-old Jacob Russaw, in the framed photo, who died by suicide in 2018. Candice wears Jacob’s T-shirt, and Brandy holds his skateboard and wears one of his shirts.
He was a talented skateboarder on the verge of landing a company sponsorship. Dressed in loud Hawaiian shirts or tracksuits, his shock of hair untamed, skater style, Jacob Glory Russaw practiced ollies and kick flips for hours at the Venice and North Hollywood skate parks or in the streets of East Hollywood. Then he made up his own tricks.
“Skating is my life,” the 20-year-old wrote on his Instagram page. “It’s like breathing it makes me feel like I can do something [in] life.”
But Russaw was also struggling. He was young and Black and living at a homeless housing agency, working his way out of a fractured upbringing. And he had lost his room there, something that even some of his skater friends didn’t realize.
They learned only after he had died by hanging.
Candles, a statue of an angel and flowers fill a memorial for Robert Fuller, whose body was found hanging from a tree in Poncitlan Square in Palmdale on June 10. (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)
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When two other Black men — Robert Fuller, 24, and Malcolm Harsch, 38 — were found hanging from trees in two Southern California cities this spring, their families disputed suicide findings. Black people are far less likely to end their lives than white people, and the hangings, in the midst of protests against police violence, conjured up America’s ugly legacy of lynchings of Black men, which authorities sometimes labeled suicides to cover up for white police and mobs.
VIDEO | 09:30 As suicide rate rises among Black youths, Robert Fuller’s death prompts much-needed discussion On June 10, Robert Fuller’s body was found hanging from a tree outside Palmdale City Hall. His death came in the middle of the George Floyd protests and a week after Malcolm Harsch, another Black man, was found hanging from a tree in Victorville, less than 50 miles away. Their deaths shed light on the concerning rise in suicides among Black Americans.
But further investigation turned up no foul play. Both men had a history of homelessness: Fuller, who had a previous suicide attempt, had lived on and off at a youth shelter in Las Vegas and was homeless in Reno before moving to Palmdale, where he died. Harsch had been living in a homeless encampment near Victorville.
And their deaths, like that of Russaw in 2018, fit into a surprising pattern. Increasingly, homeless people in Los Angeles and its environs are dying by hanging.
Patricia Hillier, a 35-year-old homeless woman, died by hanging near the Gaffey Street offramp of the 110 Freeway in San Pedro in May of this year. (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)
Over 4½ years ending in mid-June, 196 people experiencing homelessness in Los Angeles County took their lives. In 2016, 40% of the suicides were by hanging; so far this year, it’s 55%, according to a Times analysis of coroner’s reports.
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Many homeless people hanged themselves in public — on a freeway off-ramp or sidewalk, in an alley, field or vacant lot — but their deaths went largely unremarked.
“Homeless suicides have not been an issue,” said Mike Neely, former Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority commissioner. “I’m not sure people want to have that discussion; it goes to the heart of the neglect of people.”
California Suicide prevention resources As part of our Column One story on Kevin Howard’s struggle to build a life beyond the battlefield, here is a list of organizations that provide support, information and resources to veterans and others.
No one knows why someone else takes his life, but for many homeless people, a history of trauma is exacerbated by the miseries of homelessness. Authorities struggle to get mental health services into the streets, and culturally competent suicide prevention for homeless people is lacking. A firearm is the leading suicide method for men in the U.S, but homeless people don’t typically have guns.
After Harsch died, his family initially suspected he had been lynched but eventually came around to believing it was a suicide. But they also expressed disappointment in the lack of services that could have prevented his death. “The [Harsch] family is gratified to have a sense of closure that he wasn’t the victim of a lynching,” said activist Najee Ali, a family spokesman, “but the big question is why his death wasn’t investigated properly to begin with. In retrospect, we all wish there had been more homeless outreach services, especially mental health.”
Russaw’s family, too, said he should have received mental health care.
Only 19 of the homeless people in Los Angeles County who have taken their lives since 2016 were Black, and just a handful of them died by hanging. But suicides are rising among Black youths — from 2.55 per 100,000 in 2007 to 4.82 per 100,000 in 2017, according to a Congressional Black Caucus task force report on Black youth suicide released in December.
“The face of suicide has been older white men, because of the sheer numbers of more white men dying of suicide, but that’s something of a misnomer,” said Michael A. Lindsey, executive director of the McSilver Institute for Poverty Policy and Research at New York University and the congressional task force chairman.
Several weeks before Russaw’s death, Covenant House, a youth homeless agency in Hollywood, kicked him out of its housing program. Chief Executive Bill Bedrossian said he couldn’t discuss the reason; family and friends said it was for violating program rules, including breaking curfew.
Mike Stommel, a spokesman for Covenant House said Thursday that Russaw had been temporarily “restricted” from housing but could have appealed to be allowed to come back to the organization. Stommel also said that not sleeping at the house, bullying or threatening residents or assaulting them or staff were violations that could result in a housing restriction.
Bedrossian said mental health services were available to Russaw, before and after he left housing. One of Russaw’s sisters, Candice, 33, said they should have been mandatory.
Brandy Russaw cries as she remembers her brother, 20-year-old Jacob Russaw, who took his own life in 2018. (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)
“If you don’t have mental health issues already, try being homeless,” she said.
Brayan Vargas, an employee at L.A. Skate Co. on Santa Monica Boulevard, said Russaw told him Covenant House had bagged his things, stuffed them in a closet and told him they’d given his bed to someone else.
“I found it very foul,” said Conner Nico, another L.A. Skate Co. employee who lived at Covenant House for a time. “It’s a good program in many ways, but you don’t do that to a kid who’s already down and wanted to do good.”
“We don’t see restrictions as the worst things in the world; they’re part of a process to learn you have to be accountable in life,” said Bedrossian, adding that he and the rest of the staff were especially fond of Russaw.
“Jacob was adored here, frankly,” he said.
Russaw did not broadcast his distress, said friends, who described him as fun-loving and joyful. “Anything to not have a moment of silence,” a friend said. “He masked it well.”
Russaw grew up in Watts and Lancaster with his aunt and cousins, whom he considered his mother and sisters (and are described that way here). He was a daredevil who taught himself to ride a unicycle and a ripstick, jump on a pogo stick, launch back flips on the concrete and leap off a roof into a pool. He learned to walk up a wall like a ninja warrior and tried to prank his sister Brandy Russaw, 34, into believing that he was a space alien. It almost worked, she said.
After a family fight, their mother reported Russaw to juvenile authorities, who placed him in detention, followed by foster care. At age 18, he entered Covenant House, where he earned his high school diploma — the first in his family to do so, Bedrossian said.
At a traffic light on Hollywood Boulevard, he met Hikaru Lee, 33, a foreign student from Japan who taught yoga. They snowboarded, hiked and went to the beach, and Russaw posted that he was going vegan. “Jacob was a real hippie,” said his sister Chanel Mookie Evans, 28.
Russaw enrolled at Santa Monica College but quit to work a restaurant job. His real calling was skateboarding.
Dave White, owner of L.A. Skate Co. on Santa Monica Boulevard, remembers talented skateboarder Jacob Glory Russaw. “He could skate anything with wheels. ... He was on his way. The companies were waiting to see what he could do.” (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)
He wore a skateboard bearing as a ring and sometimes practiced far into the night. At L.A. Skate Co., Russaw traded clothes he had thrifted for grip tape and skateboards to replace the ones he split grinding stair rails or performing tre flips.
“I never saw anyone do that before,” said the skate shop owner, Dave White, who videotaped him repeating the trick so he could show potential sponsors. White shot another video of Russaw skating up to the shop with the pieces of a busted board strapped to his feet with turquoise shoelaces.
“He could skate anything with wheels,” White said. “Some of the company people who came in here said, ‘Who’s that kid with the bushy hair? He’s killing it.’ He was on his way. The companies were waiting to see what he could do.”
After his ouster from Covenant House, Russaw slept at the North Hollywood skate park, a small park in Hollywood or under the lights at a Metro station, Vargas said. “The streets here are not the best,” Vargas said.
L.A. Skate Co. employee Carter Nico, 25, stands near a memorial for Jacob Russaw featuring his photo, upper left, and his broken skateboard, upper right, that still hang inside L.A. Skate Co. in Los Angeles. (Genaro Molina/Los Angeles Times)
Lee had roommates and didn’t always let him stay. They argued; she said she didn’t understand what he was going through until after he died.
“I don’t know about homeless, but it affected him really bad,” she said. “He told me it’s not easy being a Black man. He felt it was not comfortable looking for a job because of his color.” Russaw hanged himself in Lee’s apartment in March 2018.
Covenant House paid for a memorial and his funeral at Holy Cross Cemetery in Culver City. Friends covered the slate-blue casket with his favorite skate shop stickers.
Russaw’s skateboard — painted with the insignia “Shred in Paradise Brother” — hangs on L.A. Skate Co.’s wall. At a get-together in Lancaster this summer, Candice and Brandy wore Jacob’s shirts and Evans brought one of his skateboards.
“In foreign countries, they don’t let old people and young people be homeless,” Candice said. “Especially with Black people, the village is broken. Why isn’t our government doing something?”
“He was just a kid,” Brandy said.
If you or someone you know is exhibiting warning signs of suicide, seek help from a professional by calling the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at (800) 273-TALK (8255).
Times staff writer Maloy Moore contributed to this report.


latimes--2020-08-06--Poseidon's Huntington Beach desalination plant still in choppy waters

As Poseidon Water pursues the final government approvals needed to build one of the country ’ s biggest seawater desalination plants , the company still can not definitively say who will buy the 50 million gallons a day of drinking water it wants to produce on the Orange County coast .
That ’ s one of several questions that continue to dog the $ 1-billion Huntington Beach project as Poseidon tries to seal an iron-clad deal more than two decades after it first proposed the ocean desalter .
During two long days of online hearings last week , members of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vote on a key Poseidon permit challenged proponents on a number of fronts .
They wondered whether Orange County needs the costly supply .
They questioned the use of 17-year-old data in gauging the plant ’ s potential harm to marine life .
And they expressed doubts about whether Poseidon ’ s wetland restoration plans meet state environmental requirements to offset that harm .
While it is doubtful that the Santa Ana Regional Water Quality Control Board will deny the permit when it continues the hearing Friday , the panel ’ s skepticism @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The private company faces still more hurdles at the California Coastal Commission , its next stop after the water board .
During its long quest for approval , Poseidon has cultivated political support with lobbying , campaign contributions and the lure of drought-proof water supplies .
Its promise of several thousand construction jobs and new tax revenue has rallied labor support .
But environmental groups have consistently fought the company , arguing that it is privatizing a public resource and has failed to adapt an old proposal to new state ocean protections .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ inexhaustible , local supply for a region that imports much of its water from increasingly unreliable , distant sources .
Yet the Huntington Beach project has been unable to shake criticisms that Poseidon is trying to fill a need that doesn ’ t exist .
“ How can you tell us you have an identified need for water when what you ’ re going to do with it is entirely speculative ?
” regional water board member Daniel Selmi asked an official of the Orange County Water District , Poseidon ’ s prospective @ @ @ @ @ @ @ previously raised similar concerns .
“ It looks like you guys kind of want to go out and see where you can find a home for this water .
And it doesn ’ t seem like you have a home , ” he said at a May workshop .
Need is one of the aspects that regional water boards are required under state law to consider when reviewing plans to construct desalination facilities on the California coast .
It factors into the size and location of a project — and thus its impact @ @ @ @ @ @ @ week ’ s hearing , von Blasingame expressed frustration that the Orange County agency has signed only a nonbinding term sheet to buy the plant ’ s annual deliveries of 56,000 acre-feet of scrubbed seawater .
( One acre-foot typically serves two to three Southern California households a year ) .
“ This says you can walk away .
… It seems like you ’ re giving yourself an out , ” he said .
District officials say they can ’ t sign a final purchase agreement with Poseidon until they know the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ says it can ’ t provide a definite price until it has obtained all the necessary permits .
The company has also made it clear that it won ’ t build the Huntington Beach plant — its second big coastal desalter in California after one in Carlsbad — unless it has a firm contract with a public agency to buy all the supplies over the expected 50-year life of the project .
Those supplies will be among the most expensive in the state .
At roughly $ 2,250 an acre-foot , including distribution @ @ @ @ @ @ @ roughly twice as costly as treated imported supplies from the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California .
And if cities don ’ t step up to buy the Poseidon supplies from the Orange County district , officials say they would inject it into the regional groundwater basin that is the primary water source for north and central Orange County residents .
That would drive up groundwater costs .
Board members questioned district officials about why they wanted to replace imported deliveries with much more expensive desalinated supplies that would inevitably push up residential @ @ @ @ @ @ @ William Ruh said household water bills were bound to rise more than district estimates of $ 3 to $ 6 a month and worried about the impact on working class families and small businesses .
John Kennedy , executive director of engineering and water resources for the Orange County district , responded that he expects the cost of imported water will catch up with desalination prices in coming years .
More fundamentally , he told the board his agency wants to reduce the county ’ s reliance on Metropolitan imports from the north @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to drought and environmental regulation .
Another stumbling block for Poseidon is state requirements to mitigate the project ’ s harm to the marine environment .
The company plans to build the desalter on the grounds of the AES Huntington Beach Generating Station , which will soon cease operation , and use the power plant ’ s exisiting ocean cooling pipes to tap the Pacific .
Poseidon would draw 106 million gallons a day of seawater through the huge offshore intake pipe , which would be screened , and use reverse osmosis membranes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ impurities .
That process would produce 56 million gallons a day of brine concentrate — roughly twice as salty as the ocean — which would be dumped back into the Pacific via a 1,500-foot discharge pipe equipped with outfall diffusers to promote mixing and dilution .
The intake and discharge operations will take a toll on plankton , which plays a crucial role in the marine food chain , killing an estimated 300,000 microscopic organisms a day .
That estimate is based on a 2003 study of Huntington Beach waters that was supplemented @ @ @ @ @ @ @ board members questioned why a new study wasn ’ t conducted and expressed doubts about the adequacy of Poseidon ’ s environmental mitigation plans .
The company proposes to conduct 112 acres of environmental work at the nearby Bolsa Chica wetlands , Southern California ’ s largest saltwater marsh .
Most of the efforts would consist of dredging to maintain the inlet that allows ocean water to circulate in and out of the marsh .
Only about 6 acres of wetlands would be restored .
“ I don ’ t think this mitigation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to fully offset the loss of marine life , board member Selmi said .
Proponents argue that without the long-term funding for dredging that Poseidon would provide , Bolsa Chica ’ s survival is threatened .
The inlet could close within a few years , choking off the estuary .
But Coastal Commission senior environmental scientist Tom Luster recommended that the water board require additional mitigation elsewhere .
Sea level rise , he warned , will reconfigure Bolsa Chica , making it unlikely that the inlet dredging could continue for the life of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which next reviews the project , has the final say on mitigation .
And Luster indicated his agency won ’ t be satisfied with the Bolsa Chica plan .

Poseidon Water wants to build a seawater desalination plant next to the AES Huntington Beach Generating Station.
As Poseidon Water pursues the final government approvals needed to build one of the country’s biggest seawater desalination plants, the company still cannot definitively say who will buy the 50 million gallons a day of drinking water it wants to produce on the Orange County coast.
That’s one of several questions that continue to dog the $1-billion Huntington Beach project as Poseidon tries to seal an ironclad deal more than two decades after it first proposed the ocean desalter.
During two long days of online hearings last week, a regional board that is about to vote on a key Poseidon permit challenged proponents on a number of fronts.
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Board members asked whether Orange County needs the costly supply. They questioned the use of 17-year-old data in gauging the plant’s potential harm to marine life. And they expressed doubts about whether Poseidon’s wetland restoration plans meet state environmental requirements to offset that harm.
While it is doubtful that the Santa Ana Regional Water Quality Control Board will deny the permit when it continues the hearing Friday, the panel’s skepticism could further slow the much-delayed project. The private company faces still more hurdles at the California Coastal Commission, its next stop after the water board.
During its long quest for approval, Poseidon has cultivated political support with lobbying, campaign contributions and the lure of drought-proof water supplies. Its promise of several thousand construction jobs and new tax revenue has rallied labor support.
But environmental groups have fought the company, arguing that it is privatizing a public resource and has failed to adapt an old proposal to new state ocean protections.
Backers have pitched ocean desalination as an inexhaustible, local supply for a region that imports much of its water from increasingly unreliable, distant sources. Yet the Huntington Beach project has been unable to shake criticisms that Poseidon is trying to fill a need that doesn’t exist.
“How can you tell us you have an identified need for water when what you’re going to do with it is entirely speculative?” regional water board member Daniel Selmi asked an official of the Orange County Water District, Poseidon’s prospective customer.
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Board vice chair William von Blasingame previously raised similar concerns. “It looks like you guys kind of want to go out and see where you can find a home for this water. And it doesn’t seem like you have a home,” he said at a May workshop.
Need is one of the aspects that regional water boards are required under state law to consider when reviewing plans to construct desalination facilities on the California coast. It factors into the size and location of a project — and thus its impact on the marine environment.
During last week’s hearing, Von Blasingame expressed frustration that the Orange County agency has signed only a nonbinding term sheet to buy the plant’s annual deliveries of 56,000 acre-feet of scrubbed seawater. (One acre-foot typically serves two to three Southern California households a year.)
“This says you can walk away. … It seems like you’re giving yourself an out,” he said.
District officials say they can’t sign a final purchase agreement with Poseidon until they know the price of the water, and Poseidon says it can’t provide a definite price until it has obtained all the necessary permits.
The company has also made it clear that it won’t build the Huntington Beach plant — its second big coastal desalter in California after one in Carlsbad — unless it has a firm contract with a public agency to buy all the supplies over the expected 50-year life of the project.
Those supplies will be among the most expensive in the state. At roughly $2,250 an acre-foot, including distribution, the desalted water would be twice as costly as treated imported supplies from the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California.
And if cities don’t step up to buy the Poseidon supplies from the Orange County district, officials say they would inject it into the regional groundwater basin that is the primary source for north and central Orange County residents. That would drive up groundwater costs.
Board members questioned district officials about why they wanted to replace imported deliveries with much more expensive desalinated supplies that would inevitably push up residential and commercial water rates.
Board Chair William Ruh said household water bills were bound to rise more than district estimates of $3 to $6 a month and worried about the impact on working-class families and small businesses.
John Kennedy, executive director of engineering and water resources for the Orange County district, responded that he expects the cost of imported water will catch up with desalination prices in coming years.
More fundamentally, he told the board his agency wants to reduce the county’s reliance on Metropolitan imports from the north, which are subject to cuts related to drought and environmental regulation.
Another stumbling block for Poseidon is state requirements to mitigate the project’s harm to the marine environment.
The company plans to build the desalter on the grounds of the AES Huntington Beach Generating Station, which will soon cease operation, and use the power plant’s exisiting ocean cooling pipes to tap the Pacific.
Poseidon would draw 106 million gallons a day of seawater through the huge offshore intake pipe, which would be screened, and use reverse osmosis membranes to rid the seawater of salt and impurities.
That process would produce 56 million gallons a day of brine concentrate — roughly twice as salty as the ocean — which would be dumped back into the Pacific via a 1,500-foot discharge pipe equipped with outfall diffusers to promote mixing and dilution.
The intake and discharge operations will take a toll on plankton, which plays a crucial role in the marine food chain, killing an estimated 300,000 microscopic organisms a day.
That estimate is based on a 2003 study of Huntington Beach waters that was supplemented with more recent ocean sampling. Water board members questioned why a new study wasn’t conducted and expressed doubts about the adequacy of Poseidon’s environmental mitigation plans.
The company proposes to conduct 112 acres of environmental work at the nearby Bolsa Chica wetlands, Southern California’s largest saltwater marsh. Most of the efforts would consist of dredging to maintain the inlet that allows ocean water to circulate in and out of the marsh. Only about 6 acres of wetlands would be restored.
“I don’t think this mitigation comes close” to meeting state requirements to fully offset the loss of marine life, board member Selmi said.
Proponents argue that without the long-term funding for dredging that Poseidon would provide, Bolsa Chica’s survival is threatened. The inlet could close within a few years, choking off the estuary.
But Coastal Commission senior environmental scientist Tom Luster recommended that the water board require additional mitigation elsewhere. Sea level rise, he warned, will reconfigure Bolsa Chica, making it unlikely that the inlet dredging could continue for the life of the desalter.
The Coastal Commission, which next reviews the project, has the final say on mitigation. And Luster indicated his agency won’t be satisfied with the Bolsa Chica plan.


latimes--2020-08-06--Column: For Newsom and California, there's a lot more riding on Biden's decision than who becomes vi

Column: For Newsom and California, there's a lot more riding on Biden's decision than who becomes vice president

Gov .
Gavin Newsom would be anointed a kingmaker — or queenmaker — if Joe Biden selected California Sen. Kamala Harris as his running mate .
That ’ s because Newsom , on his own , would select Harris ’ Senate replacement if the Democratic presidential ticket won on Nov. 3 .
The U.S. Constitution gives governors that right .
If Biden instead chose another Californian , U.S. Rep. Karen Bass of Los Angeles , Newsom would not have a formal role in her replacement .
Voters in her 37th Congressional District would select a new representative in a special @ @ @ @ @ @ @ L.A. political landscape .
So for Newsom and California , there ’ s a lot more riding on Biden ’ s decision than who fills out the Democratic presidential ticket .
Harris and Bass are among the women on the presumptive presidential nominee ’ s short list of potential running mates .
Others include former national security advisor Susan Rice , Illinois Sen. Tammy Duckworth and Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren .
There ’ s heavy political pressure for Biden to choose a woman of color .
That presumably leaves out Warren , who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for him anyway , although she excites party progressives .
Some Biden insiders think he should select a Black woman in this political atmosphere with the Black Lives Matter movement fighting hard for racial equality .
That would exclude Duckworth , a Thai American who has a compelling story : She is an Iraq war veteran who lost both legs piloting a helicopter in combat , and the first senator to give birth in office .
That leaves Harris , Bass and Rice , who are Black , as the leading contenders .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Harris and Rice .
Rice , 55 , would be a good choice .
The diplomat served in both the Clinton and Obama administrations in high-level foreign policy positions .
She was Obama ’ s U.S. ambassador to the United Nations before becoming national security advisor .
Biden got to know her well when he was Obama ’ s vice president .
Rice certainly would be hammered by President Trump for initially mislabeling the 2012 attack on the U.S. diplomatic compound in Benghazi .
She called it spontaneous , although it turned out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ But Trump will pounce on whomever Biden picks .
One drawback : Rice has never run for public office .
She could flub up on the campaign trail .
But she has operated successfully on the world stage and is classy .
Bass , 66 , is very likable and evokes a positive attitude , is a liberal who can deal productively with Republicans — she initially proved that as California Assembly speaker — and has been a civil rights fighter all her career .
But she ’ s relatively unknown , including @ @ @ @ @ @ @ run for office outside her district , so there ’ s some question about how she ’ d fare in a bruising national campaign .
I suspect darn well .
Harris , 55 , is charismatic and can deliver a stinging campaign punch — Biden was stung by her in an early presidential debate .
But she flopped running for president .
And she carries baggage from unremarkable — critics say disappointing — stints as state attorney general and San Francisco district attorney .
But Biden is apparently drawn to Harris because she @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had a strong alliance when both were state attorneys general .
Many political pros think Biden would be crazy to put any Californian on the ticket .
“ He ’ d be well advised not to pick a Californian , ” says Darry Sragow , a veteran Democratic strategist who publishes the nonpartisan California Target Book , which handicaps congressional and legislative races .
“ One , it won ’ t add to his electoral votes because he already has California ’ s 55 in the bag .
Two , most of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ They can ’ t relate to us and think we don ’ t relate to them , ” Sragow said .
“ He ’ s probably going to pick someone from a different state — or no state , like Susan Rice.
” Rice was born and raised in Washington , D.C. , the daughter of public policy scholars .
But what if Biden did choose Harris ?
It would be a huge gift to Newsom .
If the Biden-Harris ticket won — as current polls show is likely — he ’ d @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by choosing the senator ’ s successor .
And if Newsom picked an elected statewide official — such as Atty .
Gen. Xavier Becerra or Secretary of State Alex Padilla — he ’ d get a twofer : He could also select their replacements , subject to legislative confirmation .
Newsom likes to be the “ first ” at things — being the first governor to decree a statewide “ stay at home ” order during the virus pandemic — and he could name the first Latino U.S. senator from California .
Becerra @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , having been a U.S. House member from Los Angeles for 24 years before being picked by Gov .
Jerry Brown to replace Harris when she was elected to the Senate in 2016 .
There ’ s also Rep. Adam B. Schiff of Burbank , the House Intelligence Committee chairman who helped lead the impeachment of Trump .
He ’ s on everyone ’ s potential Senate list .
But he isn ’ t close to Newsom .
Neither is another option : L.A. Mayor Eric Garcetti .
If Newsom wanted to replace @ @ @ @ @ @ @ top his list .
Other possibilities include Lt. Gov .
Eleni Kounalakis , state Controller Betty Yee , state Treasurer Fiona Ma , state Senate leader Toni Atkins of San Diego and L.A. County Supervisor Hilda Solis , a former House member and U.S. labor secretary .
If Bass became vice president , there ’ d be a special election to fill her House seat .
Prominent potential candidates include L.A. County Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas , L.A. City Councilman Herb Wesson and state Sen. Holly Mitchell .
Wesson and Mitchell are running against @ @ @ @ @ @ @ seat .
It gets complicated .
We can speculate on and on — at least until Biden ends the VP suspense .

Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.), left, and Rep. Karen Bass (D-Los Angeles) are on Joe Biden’s short list for vice president. Picking either woman would be big news for California.
Gov. Gavin Newsom would be anointed a kingmaker — or queenmaker — if Joe Biden selected California Sen. Kamala Harris as his running mate.
That’s because Newsom, on his own, would select Harris’ Senate replacement if the Democratic presidential ticket won on Nov. 3. The U.S. Constitution gives governors that right.
If Biden instead chose another Californian, U.S. Rep. Karen Bass of Los Angeles, Newsom would not have a formal role in her replacement. Voters in her 37th Congressional District would select a new representative in a special election. And that would alter the L.A. political landscape.
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So for Newsom and California, there’s a lot more riding on Biden’s decision than who fills out the Democratic presidential ticket.
Harris and Bass are among the women on the presumptive presidential nominee’s short list of potential running mates.
Others include former national security advisor Susan Rice, Illinois Sen. Tammy Duckworth and Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren.
There’s heavy political pressure for Biden to choose a woman of color. That presumably leaves out Warren, who is white. Warren is too liberal for him anyway, although she excites party progressives.
Some Biden insiders think he should select a Black woman in this political atmosphere with the Black Lives Matter movement fighting hard for racial equality.
That would exclude Duckworth, a Thai American who has a compelling story: She is an Iraq war veteran who lost both legs piloting a helicopter in combat, and the first senator to give birth in office.
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That leaves Harris, Bass and Rice, who are Black, as the leading contenders. And the top two seem to be Harris and Rice.
Rice, 55, would be a good choice. The diplomat served in both the Clinton and Obama administrations in high-level foreign policy positions. She was Obama’s U.S. ambassador to the United Nations before becoming national security advisor. Biden got to know her well when he was Obama’s vice president.
Rice certainly would be hammered by President Trump for initially mislabeling the 2012 attack on the U.S. diplomatic compound in Benghazi. She called it spontaneous, although it turned out to be a planned terrorist assault. But Trump will pounce on whomever Biden picks.
One drawback: Rice has never run for public office. She could flub up on the campaign trail. But she has operated successfully on the world stage and is classy.
Bass, 66, is very likable and evokes a positive attitude, is a liberal who can deal productively with Republicans — she initially proved that as California Assembly speaker — and has been a civil rights fighter all her career.
But she’s relatively unknown, including to Biden. And she has never run for office outside her district, so there’s some question about how she’d fare in a bruising national campaign. I suspect darn well.
Harris, 55, is charismatic and can deliver a stinging campaign punch — Biden was stung by her in an early presidential debate. But she flopped running for president. And she carries baggage from unremarkable — critics say disappointing — stints as state attorney general and San Francisco district attorney.
But Biden is apparently drawn to Harris because she and his late son, Beau, had a strong alliance when both were state attorneys general.
Many political pros think Biden would be crazy to put any Californian on the ticket.
“He’d be well advised not to pick a Californian,” says Darry Sragow, a veteran Democratic strategist who publishes the nonpartisan California Target Book, which handicaps congressional and legislative races.
“One, it won’t add to his electoral votes because he already has California’s 55 in the bag. Two, most of the country doesn’t like California. They can’t relate to us and think we don’t relate to them,” Sragow said.
“He’s probably going to pick someone from a different state — or no state, like Susan Rice.”
Rice was born and raised in Washington, D.C., the daughter of public policy scholars.
But what if Biden did choose Harris?
It would be a huge gift to Newsom. If the Biden-Harris ticket won — as current polls show is likely — he’d be able to reward a Democratic ally by choosing the senator’s successor.
And if Newsom picked an elected statewide official — such as Atty. Gen. Xavier Becerra or Secretary of State Alex Padilla — he’d get a twofer: He could also select their replacements, subject to legislative confirmation.
Newsom likes to be the “first” at things — being the first governor to decree a statewide “stay at home” order during the virus pandemic — and he could name the first Latino U.S. senator from California.
Becerra would seem the most qualified by experience, having been a U.S. House member from Los Angeles for 24 years before being picked by Gov. Jerry Brown to replace Harris when she was elected to the Senate in 2016.
There’s also Rep. Adam B. Schiff of Burbank, the House Intelligence Committee chairman who helped lead the impeachment of Trump. He’s on everyone’s potential Senate list. But he isn’t close to Newsom. Neither is another option: L.A. Mayor Eric Garcetti.
If Newsom wanted to replace Harris with another woman, Bass should top his list. Other possibilities include Lt. Gov. Eleni Kounalakis, state Controller Betty Yee, state Treasurer Fiona Ma, state Senate leader Toni Atkins of San Diego and L.A. County Supervisor Hilda Solis, a former House member and U.S. labor secretary.
If Bass became vice president, there’d be a special election to fill her House seat.
Prominent potential candidates include L.A. County Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas, L.A. City Councilman Herb Wesson and state Sen. Holly Mitchell. Wesson and Mitchell are running against each other for Ridley-Thomas’ termed-out supervisorial seat. It gets complicated.
We can speculate on and on — at least until Biden ends the VP suspense.


latimes--2020-08-05--Serious breakdown in California systems causes inaccurate coronavirus numbers

A breakdown in the electronic collection of coronavirus test data is hampering California ’ s pandemic response , with some public health officials resorting to counting results by hand and a growing number of counties warning the public that statistics provided by the state on infection rates are unreliable .
The ongoing technical problems with the electronic system for gathering and analyzing COVID-19 infection rates affect the state ’ s ability to track the spread of the virus and could be resulting in significant undercounts of infections across the state .
That was on vivid display Tuesday when the state @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that Gov .
Gavin Newsom had inadvertently provided flawed information on Monday that showed a steep decline — 21.2 % — in the state ’ s seven-day average for infections .
State officials have said they don ’ t know how long and to what extent the problems have existed in the state ’ s CalREDIE electronic system , which collects information from laboratories and feeds it to state and local health departments .
Officials have said it is unknown when the system will be running again , and did not provide additional @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of test result data is crucial for public health officials in guiding their pandemic response and for projecting likely transmission rates and assisting contact tracing efforts .
Inaccurate data could misshape the public ’ s perception of the state of the pandemic , say experts .
“ The information you ’ re giving to the public over the last few days gives people the sense that we are doing better , and that they can relax .
That might not be true , ” said Dr. Bob Kocher , a former member of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ worked as a White House healthcare official during the Obama administration .
“ We reported to the public that they went from 10,000 to 5,000 a day .
If you ’ re looking at the data , you think we ’ re doing better .
You might be less vigilant ; you might take more chances .
You might think it ’ s less active in your area , ” he said .
Data analysis of test results in recent days has deteriorated to the point that the state health department is implementing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Several counties have added a note to their COVID-19 dashboards , warning that the numbers may not be true indicators of the coronavirus ’ full impact .
And in Los Angeles County , where officials on Wednesday reported 68 additional COVID-19-related deaths and 2,347 cases , health officials are working to contact at least 81 laboratories to obtain test results since July 26 in order to determine an accurate case count .
The snafus recall similar problems that plagued the response in the early weeks of the pandemic .
Santa Clara County Public @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a news conference Wednesday that the flawed data has officials “ back to feeling blind.
” “ We don ’ t know how the epidemic is trending , ” she said .
“ This lack of data doesn ’ t let us know.
” The technical problems , say health officials , do not affect the reporting of hospitalization data , which is collected separately from the CalREDIE system .
But California Department of Public Health officials said in late July that such information may still be undercounted due to how the Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ must report those numbers .
On Tuesday at least 201 deaths were reported statewide , which was among one of the highest single-day death counts .
The state ’ s total case count is currently more than 528,180 and the death toll is more than 9,720 .
A total of 6,275 additional cases were disclosed , though that number is expected to be higher because of the data collection glitches .
The reporting problem has gotten so acute in Los Angeles County that the county is urging residents to call the public health @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in part to help the county retrieve an accurate count of infections .
The technical issue has not affected people ’ s ability to receive their test results , officials said .
“ No one is really sure how many cases are being dropped , ” L.A. County Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer said , stressing that the lost data affects contact tracers ’ ability to identify people who have come into contact with an infected person .
“ It will be a futile exercise for the purpose of isolating and quarantining people.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ between the ages of 18 and 49 now account for nearly 60 % of new cases of the virus , with the bulk involving those between the ages of 30 and 49 .
Younger residents are also accounting for more of those hospitalized , according to the Department of Public Health , with people between the ages of 30 and 49 making up 25 % of hospitalized patients in the county .
Officials reported 1,768 hospitalizations — 31 % of which are in intensive care .
When asked during a media briefing for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this week , L.A. Mayor Eric Garcetti said he believed that the issue “ probably has been with us since months ago.
” He said that the way laboratories have input data into the state system “ hasn ’ t changed in last two weeks , so there ’ d be no reason to believe that some sort of change in the last two weeks ... accounts for the reduction ” in cases , he said .
Following reports of large parties that violate health orders aimed at slowing the spread of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that he will authorize the city to shut off water and power services to residents who hold such gatherings .
In Santa Clara County , one of the early epicenters of the pandemic in the state , there are 169 people hospitalized with COVID-19 , Cody said .
That number has declined in recent weeks , but Cody cautioned against judging it as a true indicator of the virus ’ total effect on the county .
“ While we again can ’ t interpret what our last two weeks of data mean as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ week or two of hospitalization data is somewhat reassuring that things are leveling off , ” she said .
“ But it is not enough to really know.
” On Monday , Gov .
Newsom reported that 6,383 people were hospitalized statewide , which would be a decline of 8 % from two weeks ago .
That change in numbers occurred after back-to-back record-setting days of fatalities pushed the state ’ s death toll past 9,000 .
Some counties have continued to see a surge in deaths after reporting a spike in hospitalizations @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , which saw an increase in hospitalizations in mid-July , reported 59 COVID-19-related deaths — its highest single-day fatality count since the pandemic hit the United States .
As of Sunday , when the county last reported on hospitalizations , 575 people were hospitalized with confirmed cases of COVID-19 .
Of those , 193 were in intensive care — a 3.8 % increase from the day prior .
California Health and Human Services Secretary Dr. Mark Ghaly stressed that long-term data is more crucial than snapshot statistics in analyzing trends related to COVID-19 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for that analysis .
“ We ’ re not sure when we ’ ll have a definitive fix to the problem , ” he said .
Times staff writers Emily Baumgaertner and Leila Miller contributed to this report .

A breakdown in the electronic collection of coronavirus test data is hampering California’s pandemic response, with some public health officials resorting to counting results by hand and a growing number of counties warning the public that statistics provided by the state on infection rates are unreliable.
The ongoing technical problems with the electronic system for gathering and analyzing COVID-19 infection rates affect the state’s ability to track the spread of the virus and could be resulting in significant undercounts of infections across the state.
That was on vivid display Tuesday when the state’s top public health official acknowledged that Gov. Gavin Newsom had inadvertently provided flawed information on Monday that showed a steep decline — 21.2% — in the state’s seven-day average for infections.
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State officials have said they don’t know how long and to what extent the problems have existed in the state’s CalREDIE electronic system, which collects information from laboratories and feeds it to state and local health departments. Officials have said it is unknown when the system will be running again, and did not provide additional details on Wednesday.
The accurate collection of test result data is crucial for public health officials in guiding their pandemic response and for projecting likely transmission rates and assisting contact tracing efforts. Inaccurate data could misshape the public’s perception of the state of the pandemic, say experts.
“The information you’re giving to the public over the last few days gives people the sense that we are doing better, and that they can relax. That might not be true,” said Dr. Bob Kocher, a former member of Newsom’s testing task force who worked as a White House healthcare official during the Obama administration.
“We reported to the public that they went from 10,000 to 5,000 a day. If you’re looking at the data, you think we’re doing better. You might be less vigilant; you might take more chances. You might think it’s less active in your area,” he said.
Data analysis of test results in recent days has deteriorated to the point that the state health department is implementing manual processes to retrieve the information. Several counties have added a note to their COVID-19 dashboards, warning that the numbers may not be true indicators of the coronavirus’ full impact. And in Los Angeles County, where officials on Wednesday reported 68 additional COVID-19-related deaths and 2,347 cases, health officials are working to contact at least 81 laboratories to obtain test results since July 26 in order to determine an accurate case count.
The snafus recall similar problems that plagued the response in the early weeks of the pandemic. Santa Clara County Public Health Officer Dr. Sara Cody said in a news conference Wednesday that the flawed data has officials “back to feeling blind.”
“We don’t know how the epidemic is trending,” she said. “This lack of data doesn’t let us know.”
The technical problems, say health officials, do not affect the reporting of hospitalization data, which is collected separately from the CalREDIE system. But California Department of Public Health officials said in late July that such information may still be undercounted due to how the Trump administration changed the way in which hospitals must report those numbers.
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On Tuesday at least 201 deaths were reported statewide, which was among one of the highest single-day death counts. The state’s total case count is currently more than 528,180 and the death toll is more than 9,720. A total of 6,275 additional cases were disclosed, though that number is expected to be higher because of the data collection glitches.
The reporting problem has gotten so acute in Los Angeles County that the county is urging residents to call the public health department if they have tested positive, in part to help the county retrieve an accurate count of infections. The technical issue has not affected people’s ability to receive their test results, officials said.
“No one is really sure how many cases are being dropped,” L.A. County Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer said, stressing that the lost data affects contact tracers’ ability to identify people who have come into contact with an infected person. “It will be a futile exercise for the purpose of isolating and quarantining people.”
County officials reported Wednesday that people between the ages of 18 and 49 now account for nearly 60% of new cases of the virus, with the bulk involving those between the ages of 30 and 49.
Younger residents are also accounting for more of those hospitalized, according to the Department of Public Health, with people between the ages of 30 and 49 making up 25% of hospitalized patients in the county. Officials reported 1,768 hospitalizations — 31% of which are in intensive care.
When asked during a media briefing for his take on the reporting issues announced this week, L.A. Mayor Eric Garcetti said he believed that the issue “probably has been with us since months ago.”
He said that the way laboratories have input data into the state system “hasn’t changed in last two weeks, so there’d be no reason to believe that some sort of change in the last two weeks ... accounts for the reduction” in cases, he said.
Following reports of large parties that violate health orders aimed at slowing the spread of the novel coronavirus, Garcetti also said Wednesday that he will authorize the city to shut off water and power services to residents who hold such gatherings.
In Santa Clara County, one of the early epicenters of the pandemic in the state, there are 169 people hospitalized with COVID-19, Cody said. That number has declined in recent weeks, but Cody cautioned against judging it as a true indicator of the virus’ total effect on the county.
“While we again can’t interpret what our last two weeks of data mean as far as the cases, the last week or two of hospitalization data is somewhat reassuring that things are leveling off,” she said. “But it is not enough to really know.”
On Monday, Gov. Newsom reported that 6,383 people were hospitalized statewide, which would be a decline of 8% from two weeks ago. That change in numbers occurred after back-to-back record-setting days of fatalities pushed the state’s death toll past 9,000.
Some counties have continued to see a surge in deaths after reporting a spike in hospitalizations. On Tuesday, San Bernardino County, which saw an increase in hospitalizations in mid-July, reported 59 COVID-19-related deaths — its highest single-day fatality count since the pandemic hit the United States. As of Sunday, when the county last reported on hospitalizations, 575 people were hospitalized with confirmed cases of COVID-19. Of those, 193 were in intensive care — a 3.8% increase from the day prior.
California Health and Human Services Secretary Dr. Mark Ghaly stressed that long-term data is more crucial than snapshot statistics in analyzing trends related to COVID-19. Accuracy, however, is necessary for that analysis.
“We’re not sure when we’ll have a definitive fix to the problem,” he said.
Times staff writers Emily Baumgaertner and Leila Miller contributed to this report.


latimes--2020-08-05--'Everything is over the top': How O.C. hair salons work through the coronavirus

After nearly 25 years in the cosmetology industry , Travis Vu became a first-time business owner — opening TravisVu the Salon in Fountain Valley two years ago .
The coronavirus outbreak put a strain on his business the last few months , as it did for many , with shutdowns enforced across the state to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 .
“ The first month , I thought , ‘ It ’ s OK. Maybe just one month and they can open again , ’ but when they start to [ get to ] the second and third month , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , my God , ’ ” Vu , 47 , said .
“ It got so depressing .
“ I got so stressed out , and I ’ m worried , because all the bills , we still have to pay .
None of them give us any break , even the rent .
Everything .
We were really stressed out when it got to May and we ’ re not open yet.
” When barbershops and hair salons were allowed to reopen in late May , the Anaheim resident had deferred rent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a surge in coronavirus cases made him close his doors again this summer .
After securing a permit from the city , TravisVu the Salon on Warner Avenue opened again for business last week .
Three chairs were set outside under the shade of a roof for clients to arrive after having booked appointments .
Ice water with lemon and wrapped refreshments were put out on another table .
“ We ’ re lucky that we have this kind of roof , and the direction of the sun ” allows for shade , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s very cool , and [ Mile Square Park ] right across the street is very nice , so breeze is coming all day long.
” Marlys James-Jolly , 70 , of Long Beach joked that her hairstylist was able to take 10 years off her appearance after receiving a haircut at TravisVu on Saturday .
“ [ It was ] a huge relief , and I could relax about what my hair is going to look like , ” James-Jolly said of being able to get a professional haircut again .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ weeks , and if that ’ s outside , that ’ s fine too .
I like it being outside , if you want to know the truth .
I wish they would continue with that.
” Orange County public health officials said there have been more than 36,000 confirmed coronavirus cases in the county and more than 640 related deaths since the pandemic began .
The state has issued comprehensive guidance for barbershops and hair salons to reopen .
Outdoor operations can take place under a tent , canopy or other form @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than one side closed .
That is to allow outdoor air movement .
Customers are to be screened and asked not to bring others to appointments .
There are also extensive requirements for cleaning and disinfecting frequently touched surfaces and equipment .
Denise Konopelski , 64 , of Seal Beach decided to work with a friend to rent a suite in Huntington Beach through Sola Salon Studios .
Their salon remains closed because it is not on the ground floor .
In the meantime , Konopelski said she has taken to giving haircuts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the top , but I feel that if you do everything over the top , then you ’ re following the rules , ” Konopelski said of the guidelines for operating .
“ With sanitation as such a big thing , everything has to be washed .
I ’ m forever washing everything , but I just am going overboard so that I can ’ t get in any trouble , and of course , I have to keep my clients safe , and I want them to feel safe , so it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Huntington Beach Mayor Lyn Semeta said that the city has ramped up its messaging to urge the public to utilize masks .
As for the stringent guidelines for hair salons and barbershops to conduct business , Semeta believes that an eagerness to get back to work will lead to compliance .
“ I think that people are very motivated to try to be open if they can , so at least there is a path forward for if they ’ re willing to go through … putting all those guidelines in place , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the city of Huntington Beach , we try to be very facilitative to allow businesses to open under the guidelines while keeping them safe , and these guidelines certainly are going to make sure that happens.
” Newport Beach Mayor Will O ’ Neill said that as of last Tuesday ’ s City Council meeting , permits for outdoor services in the city had been issued to 69 restaurants .
He added that permits were in progress for three hair , nail or massage businesses .

Travis Vu finishes cutting the hair of client Thuy Ngo outside TravisVu the Salon in Fountain Valley on Saturday. Vu is now able to operate in the open air, following guidelines set by the city because of the coronavirus.
After nearly 25 years in the cosmetology industry, Travis Vu became a first-time business owner — opening TravisVu the Salon in Fountain Valley two years ago.
The coronavirus outbreak put a strain on his business the last few months, as it did for many, with shutdowns enforced across the state to mitigate the spread of COVID-19.
“The first month, I thought, ‘It’s OK. Maybe just one month and they can open again,’ but when they start to [get to] the second and third month, I’m like, ‘Oh, my God,’” Vu, 47, said. “It got so depressing.
“I got so stressed out, and I’m worried, because all the bills, we still have to pay. None of them give us any break, even the rent. Everything. We were really stressed out when it got to May and we’re not open yet.”
When barbershops and hair salons were allowed to reopen in late May, the Anaheim resident had deferred rent that he needed to pay. Then a surge in coronavirus cases made him close his doors again this summer.
After securing a permit from the city, TravisVu the Salon on Warner Avenue opened again for business last week. Three chairs were set outside under the shade of a roof for clients to arrive after having booked appointments.
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Ice water with lemon and wrapped refreshments were put out on another table.
“We’re lucky that we have this kind of roof, and the direction of the sun” allows for shade, Vu said. “So it’s very cool, and [Mile Square Park] right across the street is very nice, so breeze is coming all day long.”
Marlys James-Jolly, 70, of Long Beach joked that her hairstylist was able to take 10 years off her appearance after receiving a haircut at TravisVu on Saturday.
“[It was] a huge relief, and I could relax about what my hair is going to look like,” James-Jolly said of being able to get a professional haircut again. “I’ll come back in five weeks, and if that’s outside, that’s fine too. I like it being outside, if you want to know the truth. I wish they would continue with that.”
Orange County public health officials said there have been more than 36,000 confirmed coronavirus cases in the county and more than 640 related deaths since the pandemic began.
The state has issued comprehensive guidance for barbershops and hair salons to reopen. Outdoor operations can take place under a tent, canopy or other form of sun shelter that has no more than one side closed. That is to allow outdoor air movement.
Customers are to be screened and asked not to bring others to appointments. There are also extensive requirements for cleaning and disinfecting frequently touched surfaces and equipment.
Advertisement
Denise Konopelski, 64, of Seal Beach decided to work with a friend to rent a suite in Huntington Beach through Sola Salon Studios. Their salon remains closed because it is not on the ground floor.
In the meantime, Konopelski said she has taken to giving haircuts at home.
“Everything is over the top, but I feel that if you do everything over the top, then you’re following the rules,” Konopelski said of the guidelines for operating. “With sanitation as such a big thing, everything has to be washed. I’m forever washing everything, but I just am going overboard so that I can’t get in any trouble, and of course, I have to keep my clients safe, and I want them to feel safe, so it’s a real clean environment.”
Huntington Beach Mayor Lyn Semeta said that the city has ramped up its messaging to urge the public to utilize masks. As for the stringent guidelines for hair salons and barbershops to conduct business, Semeta believes that an eagerness to get back to work will lead to compliance.
“I think that people are very motivated to try to be open if they can, so at least there is a path forward for if they’re willing to go through … putting all those guidelines in place,” Semeta said. “I know in the city of Huntington Beach, we try to be very facilitative to allow businesses to open under the guidelines while keeping them safe, and these guidelines certainly are going to make sure that happens.”
Newport Beach Mayor Will O’Neill said that as of last Tuesday’s City Council meeting, permits for outdoor services in the city had been issued to 69 restaurants. He added that permits were in progress for three hair, nail or massage businesses.


latimes--2020-08-07--Column: Facing a wave of evictions, California is about to make thousands of kids homeless

Things weren ’ t great before COVID-19 , but at least only about 570 families , hungry , broke and on the brink of homelessness , needed help from the volunteers at St. Joseph Center in Los Angeles .
Today , that number is about 860 .
A month from now , it could be in the thousands — or even more .
California is rapidly approaching what has been dubbed the “ eviction cliff , ” or the point where true protection from being evicted during the pandemic will fall away , at least for a short time .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ 1 million families across the state — some 365,000 in Los Angeles County alone — could find themselves at risk of being forced out of their homes , perhaps as soon as September .
By some estimates , tens of thousands — if not hundreds of thousands — of people with no jobs and no safety net to fall back on could become homeless .
“ It would be on the order of a big earthquake on the San Andreas , ” said retired law professor Gary Blasi , who published a study @ @ @ @ @ @ @ UCLA Luskin Institute on Inequality and Democracy .
“ It ’ ll be a man-made version of San Andreas , except the buildings will still be standing .
It ’ s just the people that will be on the street.
” Nationally , the catastrophe would be much the same .
Early estimates by the Aspen Institute found that as many as 23 million Americans could be at risk of eviction by September .
A new estimate puts the number closer to 40 million over the next several months .
“ It will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Americans , certainly since the Great Depression , ” Blasi added .
It ’ s admittedly hard to imagine this playing out in L.A. County , where most of the time I already wander around looking at desperate people spilling out of tents and RVs , wondering how anything could get worse .
But it can , because if we go off this eviction cliff , the face of homelessness will forever go from what many Angelenos see as single adults , living in squalor with obvious signs of mental illness or substance @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in tow and nowhere to go .
According to UC Berkley ’ s Terner Center for Housing Innovation , close to 1 million renter households include someone who has lost a job because of the pandemic , putting them at risk for eviction .
That represents nearly 1 in 7 households of renters in the state , and almost half — 422,000 — are families with children .
In Blasi ’ s study , he predicts that of the 365,000 households that could be displaced in Los Angeles County , about 120,000 of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are likely to become homeless at some time over the next several months .
After all , 30 % of the rental households in California are here .
“ You ’ ll have the prospect of our sheriff ’ s deputies going to houses with landlords ’ agents to physically remove families and all their property from buildings , ” he predicted .
Think about that .
Imagine seeing children along with adults in those encampments — after the shelters and hotel and motel rooms fill up .
All around the state , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ In Los Angeles , St. Joseph Center , in addition to ramping up services and backfilling its food pantry , is pushing for rental assistance programs at the local level to act as a financial bridge to prevent families from being evicted .
“ There ’ s really no way that we can afford to see more families fall into homelessness , ” said Va Lecia Adams Kellum , the nonprofit ’ s president and chief executive .
“ And we know that without eviction prevention and protections , it could happen and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , as in Los Angeles , shelters and homeless services agencies have seen a dramatic spike in the number of people seeking help .
“ We have people who are calling us or showing up and saying , ‘ I can ’ t pay my rent.
’ ‘ I haven ’ t been paying my rent .
I know I ’ m gon na get evicted.
’ So there ’ s the people who are anticipating their evictions , ” said Shannon Stevens , program director for the women ’ s shelter Maryhouse @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people who actually have been unlawfully evicted.
” Even in relatively rural Kern County , a study conducted for the advocacy group Faith in the Valley found that at least 20,000 households with some 24,000 children will be at risk of eviction if California goes off the cliff — thanks to layoffs in industries gutted by the COVID-19 pandemic .
Of course , many things can — and most certainly will — happen between now and the end of September .
For months , most eviction and foreclosure court proceedings in the state @ @ @ @ @ @ @ order from the Judicial Council .
But now , faced with a lawsuit filed on behalf of two landlords who say the rule-making body violated the Constitution by usurping the power of the Legislature , that order could be lifted as soon as Aug. 14 .
Late Wednesday , as my colleague Melody Gutierrez reported , Senate President Pro Tem Toni Atkins ( D-San Diego ) and Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon ( D-Lakewood ) sent the Judicial Council a letter , asking for more time to act on two bills that would protect @ @ @ @ @ @ @ expense of mom-and-pop landlords , some of whom face banks pressuring them to pay mortgages .
They rightly warned of two and a half weeks of “ chaos ” if evictions are allowed to resume .
“ Speeding up the legislative process is nearly impossible , given the current precautions needed to reduce the risk of viral transmission during legislative business , ” Atkins and Rendon wrote .
Not mention that landlords would fast-track evictions , filing them online , putting the burden on tenants to respond within days and find a lawyer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ over their heads .
A tall order during a pandemic .
So , for now , the only hope is that Chief Justice Tani Cantil-Sakauye will do renters and the Legislature a solid , and heed the request to extend the freeze on evictions and foreclosures until Labor Day .
Or that Gov .
Gavin Newsom will decide to take matters into his own hands and issue an executive order pausing all evictions until the Legislature can act .
Or — and this is a long shot — that landlords will choose to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ them more time to pay .
Or — and this is an even longer shot — Congress will come through with extension of expanded unemployment benefits , giving tenants money to pay their rent , or at least enough of it to satisfy their landlords .
Or — and this is even a longer , longer shot — the state Employment Development Department will get its act together and actually start distributing unemployment benefits to desperate renters .
Even if California manages to avoid the cliff , no one should forget just how @ @ @ @ @ @ @ thousands of children to be tossed out of their houses and onto the streets .
That lawmakers are here at all , plotting last-minute rescue missions and contingency plans to ward off the unthinkable , is , yes , due to an unforeseen pandemic , which has killed thousands and upended the economy .
But it ’ s also the inevitable result of kicking the can down the road on all manner of things , from the lack of affordable housing that has led to rampant homelessness and poverty , to the systemic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ every unfair way that COVID-19 has played out in California .
“ We ’ ve been looking at this for a while , looking at affordability and looking at rents going up and up and up , and salaries not keeping pace with the increases , ” Adams Kellum said .
“ And , we in the homeless services community , seeing people falling into homelessness faster than we can pull them out due to systemic racism , due to this gap in affordability .
And so it is quite the perfect storm.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ It does kind of build the case for , what should we have expected ?
”

Ian Jameson, left, organized a gathering of tenant rights activists at El Monte City Hall to demand that the City Council pass a moratorium barring all evictions during the pandemic.
Things weren’t great before COVID-19, but at least only about 570 families, hungry, broke and on the brink of homelessness, needed help from the volunteers at St. Joseph Center in Los Angeles.
Today, that number is about 860.
A month from now, it could be in the thousands — or even more.
California is rapidly approaching what has been dubbed the “eviction cliff,” or the point where true protection from being evicted during the pandemic will fall away, at least for a short time. If that happens, as many as 1 million families across the state — some 365,000 in Los Angeles County alone — could find themselves at risk of being forced out of their homes, perhaps as soon as September.
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By some estimates, tens of thousands — if not hundreds of thousands — of people with no jobs and no safety net to fall back on could become homeless.
“It would be on the order of a big earthquake on the San Andreas,” said retired law professor Gary Blasi, who published a study on the topic in May for the UCLA Luskin Institute on Inequality and Democracy. “It’ll be a man-made version of San Andreas, except the buildings will still be standing. It’s just the people that will be on the street.”
Nationally, the catastrophe would be much the same. Early estimates by the Aspen Institute found that as many as 23 million Americans could be at risk of eviction by September. A new estimate puts the number closer to 40 million over the next several months.
“It will be the single biggest potential displacement of Americans, certainly since the Great Depression,” Blasi added.
It’s admittedly hard to imagine this playing out in L.A. County, where most of the time I already wander around looking at desperate people spilling out of tents and RVs, wondering how anything could get worse. But it can, because if we go off this eviction cliff, the face of homelessness will forever go from what many Angelenos see as single adults, living in squalor with obvious signs of mental illness or substance abuse, to parents with their children in tow and nowhere to go.
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According to UC Berkeley’s Terner Center for Housing Innovation, close to 1 million renter households include someone who has lost a job because of the pandemic, putting them at risk for eviction. That represents nearly 1 in 7 households of renters in the state, and almost half — 422,000 — are families with children.
In Blasi’s study, he predicts that of the 365,000 households that could be displaced in Los Angeles County, about 120,000 of them, including some 184,000 kids, are likely to become homeless at some time over the next several months. After all, 30% of the rental households in California are here.
“You’ll have the prospect of our sheriff’s deputies going to houses with landlords’ agents to physically remove families and all their property from buildings,” he predicted.
Think about that. Imagine seeing children along with adults in those encampments — after the shelters and hotel and motel rooms fill up.
All around the state, people are preparing for the worst.
In Los Angeles, St. Joseph Center, in addition to ramping up services and backfilling its food pantry, is pushing for rental assistance programs at the local level to act as a financial bridge to prevent families from being evicted.
“There’s really no way that we can afford to see more families fall into homelessness,” said Va Lecia Adams Kellum, the nonprofit’s president and chief executive. “And we know that without eviction prevention and protections, it could happen and it could be catastrophic.”
In Sacramento, as in Los Angeles, shelters and homeless services agencies have seen a dramatic spike in the number of people seeking help.
“We have people who are calling us or showing up and saying, ‘I can’t pay my rent.’ ‘I haven’t been paying my rent. I know I’m gonna get evicted.’ So there’s the people who are anticipating their evictions,” said Shannon Stevens, program director for the women’s shelter Maryhouse. “And then there are the people who actually have been unlawfully evicted.”
Even in relatively rural Kern County, a study conducted for the advocacy group Faith in the Valley found that at least 20,000 households with some 24,000 children will be at risk of eviction if California goes off the cliff — thanks to layoffs in industries gutted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Of course, many things can — and most certainly will — happen between now and the end of September.
For months, most eviction and foreclosure court proceedings in the state have been suspended, thanks to an order from the Judicial Council. But now, faced with a lawsuit filed on behalf of two landlords who say the rule-making body violated the Constitution by usurping the power of the Legislature, that order could be lifted as soon as Aug. 14.
Late Wednesday, as my colleague Melody Gutierrez reported, Senate President Pro Tem Toni Atkins (D-San Diego) and Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon (D-Lakewood) sent the Judicial Council a letter, asking for more time to act on two bills that would protect tenants from ruin, though at the expense of mom-and-pop landlords, some of whom face banks pressuring them to pay mortgages.
They rightly warned of two and a half weeks of “chaos” if evictions are allowed to resume. “Speeding up the legislative process is nearly impossible, given the current precautions needed to reduce the risk of viral transmission during legislative business,” Atkins and Rendon wrote.
Not to mention that landlords would fast-track evictions, filing them online, putting the burden on tenants to respond within days and find a lawyer if they hope to keep a roof over their heads. A tall order during a pandemic.
So, for now, the only hope is that Chief Justice Tani Cantil-Sakauye will do renters and the Legislature a solid, and heed the request to extend the freeze on evictions and foreclosures until Labor Day. Or that Gov. Gavin Newsom will decide to take matters into his own hands and issue an executive order pausing all evictions until the Legislature can act.
Or — and this is a long shot — that landlords will choose to take pity on their tenants and give them more time to pay. Or — and this is an even longer shot — Congress will come through with extension of expanded unemployment benefits, giving tenants money to pay their rent, or at least enough of it to satisfy their landlords. Or — and this is even a longer, longer shot — the state Employment Development Department will get its act together and actually start distributing unemployment benefits to desperate renters.
Even if California manages to avoid the cliff, no one should forget just how close we came to allowing tens of thousands of children to be tossed out of their houses and onto the streets.
That lawmakers are here at all, plotting last-minute rescue missions and contingency plans to ward off the unthinkable, is, yes, due to an unforeseen pandemic, which has killed thousands and upended the economy. But it’s also the inevitable result of kicking the can down the road on all manner of things, from the lack of affordable housing that has led to rampant homelessness and poverty, to the systemic racism that has had a hand in every unfair way that COVID-19 has played out in California.
“We’ve been looking at this for a while, looking at affordability and looking at rents going up and up and up, and salaries not keeping pace with the increases,” Adams Kellum said. “And, we in the homeless services community, seeing people falling into homelessness faster than we can pull them out due to systemic racism, due to this gap in affordability. And so it is quite the perfect storm.”
She paused and then added:
“It does kind of build the case for, what should we have expected?”