latimes--2020-04-20--L.A. County judges deny early release to some young offenders, often without a hearing

Dorian Martinez was sure her son was coming home .
The 17-year-old had been held in a La Verne juvenile camp for three months for a probation violation , the latest in a string of them stemming from a years-old drug possession charge , she said .
But with county and state officials trying to lower jail populations to reduce the risk of a coronavirus outbreak , her son seemed like the perfect candidate to be let out early .
Martinez ’ s son suffers from asthma severe enough to require nebulizer treatments , and his probation officer submitted a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ teen early , according to Martinez and her son ’ s attorney .
And Martinez had what she thought to be a trump card — a picture of her son posing next to Los Angeles County Dist .
Atty .
Jackie Lacey , who presented the boy with an award in 2018 after his quick thinking helped police capture a sexual assault suspect .
But last week , a Los Angeles County Superior Court judge blocked his release .
The matter didn ’ t even see the inside of a courtroom , according @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who said the judge denied the petition without argument .
Despite concerns about how rapidly the coronavirus could spread in jails , attorneys and parents said juvenile judges have rejected numerous pleas for the early release of youths during the pandemic , even in cases supported by the L.A. County Probation Department .
In some cases , the pleas came from juveniles who had an elevated risk of contracting the virus or little time left on their sentence , yet judges declined to even hold a hearing .
“ They didn ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ my concerns .
They didn ’ t give an opportunity to his probation officer or the camp to say why they want to send my son home now , ” Martinez said .
“ They just ... threw it out .
It ’ s kind of hard to understand right now , and I just don ’ t know what else to do.
” Concern about the spread of the virus in juvenile facilities has increased in recent days .
The number of confirmed coronavirus cases among Probation Department employees jumped to 16 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of those employees were assigned to the Barry J. Nidorf Juvenile Hall in Sylmar , where 37 youths remain under quarantine because of potential exposure to the virus , officials said .
The juveniles “ are doing well and not showing any symptoms , ” the Probation Department said in a statement .
Across California , elected officials have moved swiftly to lower jail and prison populations , hoping to reduce the risk of a rapid surge in coronavirus behind bars .
In late March , Gov .
Gavin Newsom ordered the early @ @ @ @ @ @ @ convicted of non-violent offenses and had less than 60 days left on their sentences .
Hundreds of adults have been released from L.A. County jails under similar circumstances .
Nationally , advocates , attorneys and relatives of youths in custody have expressed frustration that similar efforts have not gained traction in the juvenile justice system , even as reports of outbreaks begin to pop up in youth facilities .
On Friday , health officials confirmed that 25 juveniles had tested positive for the coronavirus at a facility outside Richmond , Va .
Juveniles @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the illness in Maryland and Louisiana , according to published reports .
In recent weeks , L.A. County probation officials say they ’ ve made an effort to shrink the population of juvenile halls and camps , submitting to the courts a list of 59 young detainees to be considered for early release .
The court released 39 of the youths and set an additional 27 free last week without the Probation Department ’ s recommendation , Adam Wolfson , communications director for the agency , said .
Ann Donlan , a spokeswoman @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said more stringent conditions must be met under California law to secure the release of young offenders .
“ Unlike adult inmate release , the court can not just release an underage person on their own recognizance , ” she said .
“ The court and Probation Department are responsible to ensure that minors who have committed serious criminal acts have participated in rehabilitative treatment programs , are no longer a danger to themselves and others and will return to a safe home with a responsible parent or guardian.
” Last week , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ issued a bulletin noting that probation officials can release juveniles from custody during “ an emergency endangering the lives of inmates , ” seemingly offering a way around a judge ’ s refusal .
Donlan referred questions about the bulletin to the Probation Department , which declined to comment .
Donlan also discounted concerns about petitions for release being dismissed without a hearing .
“ Any motion without merit is denied , ” she said , adding that judges who have made rulings from chambers were doing so to expedite the process .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ no rehabilitative value in continuing to detain youths , as most educational and counseling programs have been stalled because of the coronavirus .
Advocates also contend that bench rulings , especially those involving cases of juveniles with health issues , amount to due process violations .
“ The judge isn ’ t being forced to put their justification on the record , and that ’ s a problem , ” said Tim Curry , legal director of the National Juvenile Defender Center in Washington D.C. “ ‘ Because I said so ’ shouldn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ national crisis.
” Defense attorney Rachel Steinback expressed similar frustrations when one of her clients was denied early release on April 10 .
The client , an asthmatic 17-year-old with less than five weeks left in custody for a non-violent property crime , had the support of his probation officer when Steinback petitioned for his release .
Steinback said the teen became concerned earlier this month when another juvenile at Camp Afflerbaugh got sick and was removed from the facility .
Her client has been puffing on his inhaler frequently as a precaution @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lone paper surgical mask he was provided by probation officers , before throwing it out after it became “ disgusting.
” “ Unless there ’ s a danger to society , they should absolutely let him go home , ” she said .
“ But the fact that the camp probation officer is supporting his release , and the fact that the judge is still refusing to release , is an outrage.
” The teen ’ s probation officer has filed a separate motion seeking his release , Steinback said .
Defense attorney @ @ @ @ @ @ @ client would be heading home from Camp Kilpatrick in early April .
The teen had served about five months in a juvenile camp after being sentenced to up to seven months in custody for a non-violent property crime , Geil said .
Probation officials supported his release and even said they had received a court order allowing him to leave the camp on April 3 , according to an email reviewed by The Times .
Instead of walking free , the youth was ordered by a judge in Inglewood Juvenile Court to be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Geil said .
The teen had received some negative reports inside the juvenile camp in recent weeks , but Geil said the camp director still supported his release .
“ What the heck is going on here ?
Why are they treating these kids worse than adults ?
” Geil asked .
“ The director of the camp told me in the emails that we were sending back and forth that she was very surprised that this was going on.
” The population of L.A. County ’ s juvenile halls and camps has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The number of youths in custody fell from 819 on March 1 to 590 on April 17 , a drop of 26 % .
It was not immediately clear how many of those releases were scheduled and unrelated to the coronavirus .
According to the Probation Department , 605 juveniles remain in custody .
About 246 of them are awaiting trial .
Some attorneys said juvenile judges aren ’ t taking the threat of the virus seriously .
“ I have heard a juvenile judge say , on the record , that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ risk from COVID-19 by virtue of being in the juvenile halls and camps is just speculative , and in the same breath say that we ’ re all at some level of risk anyway , ” said Andy Bouvier-Brown , a criminal defense attorney who often represents juveniles .
“ Judges have pointed to the fact that there aren ’ t any confirmed positive tests of kids in the hall as evidence that they are not currently at risk.
” Last week , the Loyola Law School Center For Juvenile Law and Policy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the California Supreme Court to release a wide category of youths being held in L.A. County .
The list includes any juveniles with a health condition that places them “ at higher risk of ” contracting the coronavirus , as defined by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ; any juvenile exhibiting symptoms associated with the virus ; and any youths being held on either a probation violation or failure to appear in court .
The petition also highlighted a courtroom logjam in L.A. County that may be slowing hearings for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the county ’ s 18 juvenile judges are currently hearing cases , the court filing said .
The petition also suggested that youths and their attorneys were being given little chance to plead for early release , even with the support of the Probation Department .
Both the Probation Department and a court spokeswoman declined to comment on the petition .
Jim Gregory , the attorney representing Martinez ’ s son , said probation officers also seem to be growing frustrated with some juvenile judges ’ actions during the pandemic .
After learning @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be going home , Gregory immediately called the teen ’ s probation officer .
“ He was livid , ” Gregory said .
“ He said people are dying ; he ’ s got to get out of here .
”

Dorian Martinez was sure her son was coming home.
The 17-year-old had been held in a La Verne juvenile camp for three months for a probation violation, the latest in a string of them stemming from a years-old drug possession charge, she said. But with county and state officials trying to lower jail populations to reduce the risk of a coronavirus outbreak, her son seemed like the perfect candidate to be let out early.
Martinez’s son suffers from asthma severe enough to require nebulizer treatments, and his probation officer submitted a petition asking the court to release the teen early, according to Martinez and her son’s attorney. And Martinez had what she thought to be a trump card — a picture of her son posing next to Los Angeles County Dist. Atty. Jackie Lacey, who presented the boy with an award in 2018 after his quick thinking helped police capture a sexual assault suspect.
But last week, a Los Angeles County Superior Court judge blocked his release. The matter didn’t even see the inside of a courtroom, according to the boy’s attorney, who said the judge denied the petition without argument.
Despite concerns about how rapidly the coronavirus could spread in jails, attorneys and parents said juvenile judges have rejected numerous pleas for the early release of youths during the pandemic, even in cases supported by the L.A. County Probation Department. In some cases, the pleas came from juveniles who had an elevated risk of contracting the virus or little time left on their sentence, yet judges declined to even hold a hearing.
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“They didn’t give me the opportunity to talk about my concerns. They didn’t give an opportunity to his probation officer or the camp to say why they want to send my son home now,” Martinez said. “They just ... threw it out. It’s kind of hard to understand right now, and I just don’t know what else to do.”
Concern about the spread of the virus in juvenile facilities has increased in recent days. The number of confirmed coronavirus cases among Probation Department employees jumped to 16 last week, officials said.
Five employees of the Barry J. Nidorf Juvenile Hall have tested positive for the coronavirus. (Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times)
Five of those employees were assigned to the Barry J. Nidorf Juvenile Hall in Sylmar, where 37 youths remain under quarantine because of potential exposure to the virus, officials said. The juveniles “are doing well and not showing any symptoms,” the Probation Department said in a statement.
Across California, elected officials have moved swiftly to lower jail and prison populations, hoping to reduce the risk of a rapid surge in coronavirus behind bars. In late March, Gov. Gavin Newsom ordered the early release of 3,500 inmates who had been convicted of nonviolent offenses and had less than 60 days left on their sentences. Hundreds of adults have been released from L.A. County jails under similar circumstances.
Nationally, advocates, attorneys and relatives of youths in custody have expressed frustration that similar efforts have not gained traction in the juvenile justice system, even as reports of outbreaks begin to pop up in youth facilities. On Friday, health officials confirmed that 25 juveniles had tested positive for the coronavirus at a facility outside Richmond, Va. Juveniles in custody have also tested positive for the illness in Maryland and Louisiana, according to published reports.
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In recent weeks, L.A. County probation officials say they’ve made an effort to shrink the population of juvenile halls and camps, submitting to the courts a list of 59 young detainees to be considered for early release. The court released 39 of the youths and set an additional 27 free last week without the Probation Department’s recommendation, Adam Wolfson, communications director for the agency, said.
Ann Donlan, a spokeswoman for Los Angeles County Superior Court, said more stringent conditions must be met under California law to secure the release of young offenders.
“Unlike adult inmate release, the court cannot just release an underage person on their own recognizance,” she said. “The court and Probation Department are responsible to ensure that minors who have committed serious criminal acts have participated in rehabilitative treatment programs, are no longer a danger to themselves and others and will return to a safe home with a responsible parent or guardian.”
Last week, however, the California Department of Justice issued a bulletin noting that probation officials can release juveniles from custody during “an emergency endangering the lives of inmates,” seemingly offering a way around a judge’s refusal. Donlan referred questions about the bulletin to the Probation Department, which declined to comment.
Donlan also discounted concerns about petitions for release being dismissed without a hearing.
“Any motion without merit is denied,” she said, adding that judges who have made rulings from chambers were doing so to expedite the process.
Advocates and attorneys argue that there is no rehabilitative value in continuing to detain youths, as most educational and counseling programs have been stalled because of the coronavirus. Advocates also contend that bench rulings, especially those involving cases of juveniles with health issues, amount to due process violations.
“The judge isn’t being forced to put their justification on the record, and that’s a problem,” said Tim Curry, legal director of the National Juvenile Defender Center in Washington D.C. “‘Because I said so’ shouldn’t be the standard during a national crisis.”
Defense attorney Rachel Steinback expressed similar frustrations when one of her clients was denied early release on April 10. The client, an asthmatic 17-year-old with less than five weeks left in custody for a nonviolent property crime, had the support of his probation officer when Steinback petitioned for his release.
Steinback said the teen became concerned earlier this month when another juvenile at Camp Afflerbaugh got sick and was removed from the facility. Her client has been puffing on his inhaler frequently as a precaution and clung for a week to the lone paper surgical mask he was provided by probation officers, before throwing it out after it became “disgusting.”
“Unless there’s a danger to society, they should absolutely let him go home,” she said. “But the fact that the camp probation officer is supporting his release, and the fact that the judge is still refusing to release, is an outrage.”
The teen’s probation officer has filed a separate motion seeking his release, Steinback said.
Defense attorney Ed Geil said he expected his 15-year-old client would be heading home from Camp Kilpatrick in early April. The teen had served about five months in a juvenile camp after being sentenced to up to seven months in custody for a nonviolent property crime, Geil said. Probation officials supported his release and even said they had received a court order allowing him to leave the camp on April 3, according to an email reviewed by The Times.
Instead of walking free, the youth was ordered by a judge in Inglewood Juvenile Court to be detained until a May 1 hearing, Geil said. The teen had received some negative reports inside the juvenile camp in recent weeks, but Geil said the camp director still supported his release.
“What the heck is going on here? Why are they treating these kids worse than adults?” Geil asked. “The director of the camp told me in the emails that we were sending back and forth that she was very surprised that this was going on.”
The population of L.A. County’s juvenile halls and camps has dipped sharply in the past six weeks. The number of youths in custody fell from 819 on March 1 to 590 on April 17, a drop of 26%.
It was not immediately clear how many of those releases were scheduled and unrelated to the coronavirus. According to the Probation Department, 605 juveniles remain in custody. About 246 of them are awaiting trial.
Some attorneys said juvenile judges aren’t taking the threat of the virus seriously.
“I have heard a juvenile judge say, on the record, that the evidence a juvenile is at increased risk from COVID-19 by virtue of being in the juvenile halls and camps is just speculative, and in the same breath say that we’re all at some level of risk anyway,” said Andy Bouvier-Brown, a criminal defense attorney who often represents juveniles. “Judges have pointed to the fact that there aren’t any confirmed positive tests of kids in the hall as evidence that they are not currently at risk.”
Last week, the Loyola Law School Center For Juvenile Law and Policy and the Independent Juvenile Defender Program petitioned the California Supreme Court to release a wide category of youths being held in L.A. County. The list includes any juveniles with a health condition that places them “at higher risk of” contracting the coronavirus, as defined by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; any juvenile exhibiting symptoms associated with the virus; and any youths being held on either a probation violation or failure to appear in court.
The petition also highlighted a courtroom logjam in L.A. County that may be slowing hearings for juvenile releases. Fewer than half of the county’s 18 juvenile judges are currently hearing cases, the court filing said. The petition also suggested that youths and their attorneys were being given little chance to plead for early release, even with the support of the Probation Department.
Both the Probation Department and a court spokeswoman declined to comment on the petition.
Jim Gregory, the attorney representing Martinez’s son, said probation officers also seem to be growing frustrated with some juvenile judges’ actions during the pandemic. After learning that Martinez’s son would not be going home, Gregory immediately called the teen’s probation officer.
“He was livid,” Gregory said. “He said people are dying; he’s got to get out of here.”


latimes--2020-04-20--Column: Newsom is helping immigrants amid coronavirus pandemic. There's nothing Trump can do about i

Column: Newsom is helping immigrants amid coronavirus pandemic. There's nothing Trump can do about it

Three years ago , President Trump complained to Fox News that California was “ out of control.
” What he meant was that the state was out of his control .
It still is .
And states always will be , no matter who is occupying the Oval Office .
Trump must have been asleep in his high school civics class when the teacher lectured about states ’ rights and the 10th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution .
Trump has been knocked down by federal courts a few times when he tried to force his will on California .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a reference to legislation pending in Sacramento to declare California a “ sanctuary state ” for immigrants living here illegally .
The president threatened to withhold federal funds if the Legislature and Gov .
Jerry Brown enacted the bill .
They did .
But Trump wasn ’ t allowed to block funds already appropriated by Congress .
Last Monday , Trump declared he had “ total ” authority to reopen states that governors had shut down to slow the spread of the coronavirus , even if they objected .
Governors ignored him and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ soon backed off and told the governors he was authorizing them to call their “ own shots ” — so-called authorization they didn ’ t need .
One of my favorite California rebuffs of Trump came last week when Gov .
Gavin Newsom authorized payments of $ 500 each to undocumented workers — up to $ 1,000 per household — as partial reconciliation for their snub by the president and Republican U.S. Senate .
Trump and Republican senators insisted that immigrants without legal status be denied the $ 1,200-per-person virus payouts authorized in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Undocumented workers also aren ’ t eligible for unemployment benefits .
So Newsom established a relief fund for immigrants lacking legal status .
By government standards , it wasn ’ t much .
But the one-time payments will help temporarily .
The governor set aside $ 75 million for 150,000 workers hurt by the virus shutdown .
The money will be distributed by local nonprofit groups that help immigrants .
In addition , he arranged for charities to raise another $ 50 million for roughly 100,000 more undocumented people .
“ We feel @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who are in fear of deportations but are still addressing essential needs of tens of millions of Californians , ” Newsom told reporters .
“ In the healthcare sector , in the agriculture and food sector , in the manufacturing and logistics sector and the construction sector… “ This is a state that steps up always to support those in need , regardless of status.
” One striking thing was that a generation ago , any governor who publicly praised undocumented immigrants and gave them tax money would have generated a huge political @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would have fueled some fire .
Most voters thought that people who broke immigration laws and entered the country illegally didn ’ t deserve taxpayer-funded benefits — even though they paid taxes themselves — and should be deported .
Providing benefits merely invited more illegal immigration .
In 1994 , Californians voted overwhelmingly for Proposition 187 to deny schooling , non-emergency healthcare and other public services to immigrants living here illegally .
A federal judge ruled it unconstitutional .
Today , immigrants without legal status are generally accepted by the citizenry .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of what we are in the state , ” says Kim Johnson , director of the state Department of Social Services .
“ We recognize their contributions to our society and that they , too , are burdened by our emergency health crisis.
” One thing that happened was this : There are now slightly more Latinos than white people living in California .
And family members of many Latino citizens have a direct connection to illegal immigration .
I called Mark Baldassare , president and pollster of the nonpartisan Public Policy Institute @ @ @ @ @ @ @ minds over the years ?
“ Experience , ” Baldassare replied .
“ Voters set aside the rhetoric and realized immigrants ’ importance for the California economy and our life .
Personal experience every day .
Knowing them .
Neighbors .
Parents in school .
Working .
Consumers .
They ’ re a reality , not a concept .
“ The whole notion of ‘ build the wall ’ was never popular in California.
” Baldassare recalls there wasn ’ t much pushback last year when the Legislature and governor made undocumented adult @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the state ’ s healthcare program for the poor .
Children up to age 18 already were eligible .
This year , Newsom has proposed providing Medi-Cal for seniors 65 and older .
A PPIC poll in January found that 82 % of California voters — including 96 % of Democrats and 60 % of Republicans — believe undocumented immigrants should be allowed to stay here legally .
In a PPIC poll last September , likely voters were asked whether they considered immigrants to be a benefit to California or a burden @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the immigrants were undocumented or here legally .
The answers : 66 % a benefit , 28 % a burden .
But 58 % of Republicans considered them a burden .
PPIC reports there are 2.3 million undocumented immigrants in California , about 1.7 million of them in the labor force .
That ’ s about 9 % of the total workforce .
Newsom said they pay $ 2.5 billion in state and local taxes .
But no one had any details , and that seems a bit high considering their low wages @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for helping them with rent money .
“ It ’ s the right moral and ethical — and I would argue economic — thing to do , ” the governor said .
Fortunately , the nation ’ s founders granted substantial power to the states .
And Newsom and other governors are exercising it with or without presidential “ authorization .
”

Gov. Gavin Newsom at the Governor’s Office of Emergency Services in Rancho Cordova.
Three years ago, President Trump complained to Fox News that California was “out of control.” What he meant was that the state was out of his control. It still is.
And states always will be, no matter who is occupying the Oval Office.
Trump must have been asleep in his high school civics class when the teacher lectured about states’ rights and the 10th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.
Trump has been knocked down by federal courts a few times when he tried to force his will on California.
The “out of control” gripe was a reference to legislation pending in Sacramento to declare California a “sanctuary state” for immigrants living here illegally. The president threatened to withhold federal funds if the Legislature and Gov. Jerry Brown enacted the bill. They did. But Trump wasn’t allowed to block funds already appropriated by Congress.
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Last Monday, Trump declared he had “total” authority to reopen states that governors had shut down to slow the spread of the coronavirus, even if they objected. Governors ignored him and proceeded with their own planning. Trump soon backed off and told the governors he was authorizing them to call their “own shots” — so-called authorization they didn’t need.
One of my favorite California rebuffs of Trump came last week when Gov. Gavin Newsom authorized payments of $500 each to undocumented workers — up to $1,000 per household — as partial reconciliation for their snub by the president and Republican U.S. Senate.
Trump and Republican senators insisted that immigrants without legal status be denied the $1,200-per-person virus payouts authorized in the $2.2-trillion federal stimulus package. Undocumented workers also aren’t eligible for unemployment benefits.
So Newsom established a relief fund for immigrants lacking legal status. By government standards, it wasn’t much. But the one-time payments will help temporarily.
The governor set aside $75 million for 150,000 workers hurt by the virus shutdown. The money will be distributed by local nonprofit groups that help immigrants. In addition, he arranged for charities to raise another $50 million for roughly 100,000 more undocumented people.
“We feel a deep sense of gratitude for people who are in fear of deportations but are still addressing essential needs of tens of millions of Californians,” Newsom told reporters.
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“In the healthcare sector, in the agriculture and food sector, in the manufacturing and logistics sector and the construction sector…
“This is a state that steps up always to support those in need, regardless of status.”
One striking thing was that a generation ago, any governor who publicly praised undocumented immigrants and gave them tax money would have generated a huge political backlash. Even a decade ago it would have fueled some fire.
Most voters thought that people who broke immigration laws and entered the country illegally didn’t deserve taxpayer-funded benefits — even though they paid taxes themselves — and should be deported. Providing benefits merely invited more illegal immigration.
In 1994, Californians voted overwhelmingly for Proposition 187 to deny schooling, non-emergency healthcare and other public services to immigrants living here illegally. A federal judge ruled it unconstitutional.
Today, immigrants without legal status are generally accepted by the citizenry.
“They’re part of the fabric of what we are in the state,” says Kim Johnson, director of the state Department of Social Services. “We recognize their contributions to our society and that they, too, are burdened by our emergency health crisis.”
One thing that happened was this: There are now slightly more Latinos than white people living in California. And family members of many Latino citizens have a direct connection to illegal immigration.
I called Mark Baldassare, president and pollster of the nonpartisan Public Policy Institute of California. What changed voters’ minds over the years?
“Experience,” Baldassare replied. “Voters set aside the rhetoric and realized immigrants’ importance for the California economy and our life. Personal experience every day. Knowing them. Neighbors. Parents in school. Working. Consumers. They’re a reality, not a concept.
“The whole notion of ‘build the wall’ was never popular in California.”
Baldassare recalls there wasn’t much pushback last year when the Legislature and governor made undocumented adult immigrants under age 26 eligible for Medi-Cal, the state’s healthcare program for the poor. Children up to age 18 already were eligible.
This year, Newsom has proposed providing Medi-Cal for seniors 65 and older.
A PPIC poll in January found that 82% of California voters — including 96% of Democrats and 60% of Republicans — believe undocumented immigrants should be allowed to stay here legally.
In a PPIC poll last September, likely voters were asked whether they considered immigrants to be a benefit to California or a burden. Interviewers didn’t specify whether the immigrants were undocumented or here legally. The answers: 66% a benefit, 28% a burden. But 58% of Republicans considered them a burden.
PPIC reports there are 2.3 million undocumented immigrants in California, about 1.7 million of them in the labor force. That’s about 9% of the total workforce.
Newsom said they pay $2.5 billion in state and local taxes. But no one had any details, and that seems a bit high considering their low wages.
Regardless, the governor deserves credit for helping them with rent money.
“It’s the right moral and ethical — and I would argue economic — thing to do,” the governor said.
Fortunately, the nation’s founders granted substantial power to the states. And Newsom and other governors are exercising it with or without presidential “authorization.”


latimes--2020-04-20--This Bay Area town is among the first to offer coronavirus testing to every resident

The remote Bay Area town of Bolinas is among the first communities in the world to attempt to test all of its residents for the novel coronavirus .
Bolinas , population 1,600 , will offer free tests Monday through Thursday to residents 4 years and older up , according to a statement from UC San Francisco , whose staffers will administer the tests .
The community-wide testing effort was spearheaded by two locals , venture capitalist Jyri Engestrom and pharmaceutical company executive Cyrus Harmon .
Nearly the entire town was registered for testing as of Friday , according to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ entail a mouth and throat swab to check for active infection and a finger prick to detect antibodies , a crucial step in determining who has already had the virus .
A second round of testing will follow two weeks later if enough money is raised .
The project is expensive , costing upward of $ 400,000 and entirely funded by private donations , the Mercury News reported .
Few communities globally have attempted to implement comprehensive testing .
And those that have tend to be small , tight-knit and progressive-leaning , such @ @ @ @ @ @ @ organizers were inspired by the Italian town of Vo ’ , outside Venice , which was able to gain control of the virus ’ spread through two rounds of community-wide testing .
A team of infectious disease doctors at UC San Francisco will analyze the collected samples to gauge the prevalence of infection in Bolinas .
The study will also help researchers trace the spread of the virus in California , the university said .
Effective testing is considered essential before state and local governments can lift stay-at-home orders , reopen schools and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s faltering economy to recover .
Diane Havlir , head of UC San Francisco ’ s HIV/AIDS division , said in a statement that testing sets the foundation for every other component of the pandemic response .
“ In order for us to respond effectively , ” she said , “ we need more local community epidemiology like this study to get a sense of where we stand , and where active infection may still be occurring , so as public health officials begin to release constraints on movements we can avoid resurgence @ @ @ @ @

The remote Bay Area town of Bolinas is among the first communities in the world to attempt to test all of its residents for the novel coronavirus.
Bolinas, population 1,600, will offer free tests Monday through Thursday to residents 4 years and older, according to a statement from UC San Francisco, whose staffers will administer the tests.
The community-wide testing effort was spearheaded by two locals, venture capitalist Jyri Engestrom and pharmaceutical company executive Cyrus Harmon. Nearly the entire town was registered for testing as of Friday, according to the Mercury News.
The drive-through test will entail a mouth and throat swab to check for active infection and a finger prick to detect antibodies, a crucial step in determining who has already had the virus. A second round of testing will follow two weeks later if enough money is raised.
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The project is expensive, costing upward of $400,000 and entirely funded by private donations, the Mercury News reported.
Few communities globally have attempted to implement comprehensive testing. And those that have tend to be small, tight-knit and progressive-leaning, such as Bolinas and Telluride, Colo.
Bolinas organizers were inspired by the Italian town of Vo’, outside Venice, which was able to gain control of the virus’ spread through two rounds of community-wide testing.
A team of infectious disease doctors at UC San Francisco will analyze the collected samples to gauge the prevalence of infection in Bolinas. The study will also help researchers trace the spread of the virus in California, the university said.
Effective testing is considered essential before state and local governments can lift stay-at-home orders, reopen schools and businesses, and allow the nation’s faltering economy to recover.
Diane Havlir, head of UC San Francisco’s HIV/AIDS division, said in a statement that testing sets the foundation for every other component of the pandemic response.
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“In order for us to respond effectively,” she said, “we need more local community epidemiology like this study to get a sense of where we stand, and where active infection may still be occurring, so as public health officials begin to release constraints on movements we can avoid resurgence of the disease.”


latimes--2020-04-19--California reports first inmate deaths related to the coronavirus

California corrections officials announced the first prison inmate deaths from complications related to the novel coronavirus .
An inmate died Sunday at a hospital after contracting COVID-19 at the California Institution for Men in San Bernardino County , the state Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation said in a statement .
No further details were released to protect the inmate ’ s medical privacy and next of kin was notified , the statement said .
In addition , an inmate from the U.S. Penitentiary at Lompoc died Saturday of coronavirus-related complications .
He was the 22nd federal prisoner to die a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ where an outbreak has infected 54 inmates .
Another inmate who was released April 1 died five days later after testing positive for the virus .
Statewide , 115 inmates and 89 corrections employees have tested positive for the coronavirus as officials work to prevent outbreaks among California ’ s other vulnerable populations , including people living in nursing homes , on the streets or in homeless shelters .
Prisons are following isolation and quarantine guidelines laid out by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and are trying to increase physical distancing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , cots and temporary bathrooms .
Some 3,500 inmates received early release to reduce overcrowding .

California corrections officials announced the first prison inmate deaths from complications related to the novel coronavirus.
An inmate died Sunday at a hospital after contracting COVID-19 at the California Institution for Men in San Bernardino County, the state Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation said in a statement.
No further details were released to protect the inmate’s medical privacy and next of kin was notified, the statement said.
In addition, an inmate from the U.S. Penitentiary at Lompoc died Saturday of coronavirus-related complications. He was the 22nd federal prisoner to die a COVID-19-related death and first at Lompoc, where an outbreak has infected 54 inmates. Another inmate who was released April 1 died five days later after testing positive for the virus.
Statewide, 115 inmates and 89 corrections employees have tested positive for the coronavirus as officials work to prevent outbreaks among California’s other vulnerable populations, including people living in nursing homes, on the streets or in homeless shelters.
Prisons are following isolation and quarantine guidelines laid out by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and are trying to increase physical distancing at housing units by bringing in tents, cots and temporary bathrooms. Some 3,500 inmates received early release to reduce overcrowding.
Times staff writer Richard Winton contributed to this report.


latimes--2020-04-19--Coronavirus stay-at-home order saves state taxpayers $1 billion after car crashes cut by 60%

California ’ s stay-at-home order reduced vehicle collisions on roadways by a little more than half , saving taxpayers an estimated $ 1 billion since the order went into effect , according to a UC Davis survey that estimated the impact of the order on traffic .
“ The savings was about $ 40 million a day ... That ’ s about $ 15 billion over a one-year period , which is almost the size of the state portion of California ’ s transportation budget for a year , ” said Fraser Shilling , co-director of the Road Ecology Center @ @ @ @ @ @ @ data from California Highway Patrol incident reports , and the costs saving was calculated by using equivalent data from the Federal Highway Administration .
Costs include property damage , treatment of injuries , lost time at work and emergency responses , among other costs .
A reduction in traffic crashes was expected as people limited their vehicular travel to work , getting food and other essentials .
Traffic volumes were up to 55 % lower for select highways compared with the volumes before the stay-at-home order .
This resulted in significantly lower traffic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the same time , the maximum and average traffic speeds slightly increased in certain highways by a few miles per hour .
Between March 21 and April 11 , the average daily number of all traffic collisions was about 450 .
It was 1,128 during the same period last year .
There was an estimated 40 % decrease in injury incidents reported among hospitals in the Sacramento area , the survey said .
This was especially true for pedestrians and bicyclists who saw a 50 % reduction in traumatic injuries , compared with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said vehicular traffic volume has likely plateaued .
“ There are still a lot of people driving .
The remaining 50 % of traffic is not just essential trips , ” he said .
“ It doesn ’ t mean that people are bad , it just means we are not good at this sudden change of behaviors , were not prepared for this kind of thing.
” The traffic crash reductions temporarily reversed , however , during and following heavy rains on April 6 and 9 in Southern California .
Though traffic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that the rain combined with higher speeds contributed to crashes briefly returning to the state ’ s normal collision levels — 1,000 to 1,500 collisions a day , the survey suggested .
An earlier survey by the same center showed similar results with about 50 % fewer traffic collisions .
Shilling said the reduction in motor vehicle accidents on highways and roads “ is directly attributed to the governor ’ s order.
” But the decline started even before the order , particularly in the Bay Area , where localities issued their own @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the most encouraging discoveries , Shilling said , was that reduction in injuries and fatalities were especially pronounced among pedestrians and cyclists .
” Suddenly you have much fewer cars , ” Shilling said .
“ So it ’ s much safer to be a pedestrian or cyclist these days .
”

California’s stay-at-home order has reduced vehicle collisions on roadways by a little more than half, saving taxpayers an estimated $1 billion since the order went into effect, according to a new study.
California’s stay-at-home order reduced vehicle collisions on roadways by a little more than half, saving taxpayers an estimated $1 billion since the order went into effect, according to a UC Davis survey that estimated the impact of the order on traffic.
“The savings was about $40 million a day ... That’s about $15 billion over a one-year period, which is almost the size of the state portion of California’s transportation budget for a year,” said Fraser Shilling, co-director of the Road Ecology Center at UC Davis.
The survey used data from California Highway Patrol incident reports, and the costs saving was calculated by using equivalent data from the Federal Highway Administration. Costs include property damage, treatment of injuries, lost time at work and emergency responses, among other costs.
A reduction in traffic crashes was expected as people limited their vehicular travel to work, getting food and other essentials.
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Traffic volumes were up to 55% lower for select highways compared with the volumes before the stay-at-home order. This resulted in significantly lower traffic collisions, the survey found. At the same time, the maximum and average traffic speeds slightly increased in certain highways by a few miles per hour.
Between March 21 and April 11, the average daily number of all traffic collisions was about 450. It was 1,128 during the same period last year.
There was an estimated 40% decrease in injury incidents reported among hospitals in the Sacramento area, the survey said. This was especially true for pedestrians and bicyclists who saw a 50% reduction in traumatic injuries, compared with the same period in 2019.
Shilling said vehicular traffic volume has likely plateaued.
“There are still a lot of people driving. The remaining 50% of traffic is not just essential trips,” he said. “It doesn’t mean that people are bad, it just means we are not good at this sudden change of behaviors, were not prepared for this kind of thing.”
The traffic crash reductions temporarily reversed, however, during and following heavy rains on April 6 and 9 in Southern California. Though traffic volumes remained the same, it appears that the rain combined with higher speeds contributed to crashes briefly returning to the state’s normal collision levels — 1,000 to 1,500 collisions a day, the survey suggested.
An earlier survey by the same center showed similar results with about 50% fewer traffic collisions.
Shilling said the reduction in motor vehicle accidents on highways and roads “is directly attributed to the governor’s order.” But the decline started even before the order, particularly in the Bay Area, where localities issued their own stay-at-home orders days before.
One of the most encouraging discoveries, Shilling said, was that reduction in injuries and fatalities were especially pronounced among pedestrians and cyclists.
”Suddenly you have much fewer cars,” Shilling said. “So it’s much safer to be a pedestrian or cyclist these days.”


latimes--2020-04-19--Garcetti: L.A. is 'under attack' and will need to furlough thousands of city workers

Mayor Eric Garcetti warned Sunday that the economic downturn facing Los Angeles will be more painful than the 2008 recession , requiring cuts to government programs and the furlough of thousands of city employees .
In a remarkable State of the City address , one that comes five weeks into the shutdown of many businesses , government buildings and other facilities , Garcetti declared that the city is “ under attack ” from the coronavirus and the economic fallout that has come with it .
“ I ’ ve never before hesitated to assure you that our city is strong @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I won ’ t say those words tonight .
Our city is under attack .
Our daily life is unrecognizable .
“ We are bowed and we are worn down .
We are grieving our dead , ” the mayor continued , choking back tears .
“ But we are not broken.
” The mayor ’ s remarks represented a jarring break from previous State of the City speeches , when he offered overwhelmingly uplifting messages .
In this year ’ s address , Garcetti offered a series of grim signposts about the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , a collapse in hotel reservations and a 95 % drop in passenger air travel — all products of the coronavirus outbreak .
The city has already borrowed $ 70 million from special funds while responding to the health crisis .
To balance the city budget , civilian city workers will need to take off 26 unpaid days — the equivalent of a 10 % reduction in pay , the mayor said .
“ From a fiscal perspective , this is the worst it ’ s ever been , ” he declared .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ political leaders sounded open to the reductions being sought by Garcetti .
Councilman Mike Bonin said that , considering the extent of the economic calamity facing the region , he was relieved that the mayor was not announcing layoffs .
Councilman Gil Cedillo described furloughs as the best in a series of bad choices , but worried that residents and city employees would suffer .
“ City services are in greater need during a crisis , ” said Cedillo , who represents parts of the Eastside .
How acutely the public will feel @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Furlough days will not be demanded of police officers , firefighters or workers at the Department of Water and Power , among others .
Trash pickup will remain intact , a Garcetti aide said .
The mayor has already closed a number of city facilities to the public , including cultural centers , the Los Angeles Zoo and scores of branch libraries .
Some city employees have been reassigned to work in recreation centers operating as makeshift homeless shelters .
One union leader voiced dismay over the cost-cutting plans , saying his members @ @ @ @ @ @ @ workers , helping to relocate the city ’ s homeless population and working at coronavirus testing centers .
Adding more instability for those workers will hurt the city , said Bob Schoonover , president of Service Employees International Union Local 721 .
“ We can not call these men and women heroes and then turn around and attempt to balance the budget on their backs , ” said Schoonover , whose union represents custodians , tree trimmers and others .
Sunday ’ s address comes at an extraordinary time for Garcetti and the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the mayor has issued emergency orders to close businesses , halt evictions , require face masks , waive parking tickets and generally keep Angelenos away from each other on beaches , hiking trails and in other locations .
With much of the city staying indoors , Sunday ’ s speech bore little resemblance to previous State of the City addresses in L.A. Gone was the color guard , the Pledge of Allegiance and the other ceremonial flourishes that typically accompany Garcetti ’ s yearly address to the city .
In normal years @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hundreds of people in packed venues such as the California Science Center and the Valley Performing Arts Center at Cal State Northridge .
On Sunday , he spoke inside a mostly empty City Council chamber , with even council members staying at home .
As a result , the event felt closer to one of the many evening coronavirus briefings given by Garcetti since mid-March .
However , the overall message was more grim , with Garcetti saying the city would need major help from the federal government to weather the crisis .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ but leave cities with cuts and collapse , ” he said .
Garcetti said Congress should pass a national infrastructure bill to put people back to work .
And he called on the federal government to loosen restrictions on emergency funds that prevent the city from using them to replace lost revenue .
The coronavirus outbreak and accompanying economic downturn pose by far the biggest challenge to Garcetti and other city leaders since the 2008 recession .
During that crisis , the city ’ s elected officials responded by imposing furloughs , laying @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of jobs .
“ Until now , it was the biggest economic blow of our lifetime , and it hurt , ” Garcetti said .
“ But there ’ s no way to sugarcoat this .
This is bigger .
It will hurt more.
” Revenue for the coming budget year could be as much as $ 598 million below projections , depending on how long Angelenos continue staying indoors , according to figures released last week by City Controller Ron Galperin .
Much of the reductions have been caused by the steep @ @ @ @ @ @ @ major decline in projected hotel bed taxes , Galperin said .
Since stay-at-home orders were issued across the state , unemployment claims have skyrocketed , with workers in the entertainment , hospitality and travel industries hit particularly hard .
Garcetti is scheduled to release his proposed budget Monday .
The document , which covers spending for the fiscal year that starts July 1 , must be approved by the City Council before it can go into effect .
While Garcetti delivered his address , activists staged a protest outside Getty House , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Square , calling on him to use his emergency powers to order the cancellation of rent payments and fill vacant hotels with homeless Angelenos .
As drivers repeatedly honked their horns , dozens of sidewalk protesters from the Los Angeles Tenants Union and other groups chanted , “ No rent , no rent !
” Hollywood resident Kat DeVoe-Peterson , who was recently laid off from her job at a bar in Silver Lake , said Garcetti needs to secure federal funding for renters in the city .
“ It ’ s not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about everyone , ” said DeVoe-Peterson , driving a car with the sign “ Food Not Rent.
” Josh Rubenstein , a Los Angeles Police Department spokesman , said 11 citations were issued during Sunday ’ s protest .
Some drivers who repeatedly honked their horns were cited for violating an “ amplified sound ” ordinance .
Two protesters on the sidewalk were also detained and cited , police said .
Garcetti said in recent weeks that he has been pressing lawmakers in Washington , D.C. , to approve a stimulus package that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ massive financial collapse .
During his address , he said federal funds should specifically be used to back the suspension of rents and mortgages .
The mayor said the federal government also needs to tackle problems that hurt Americans well before the coronavirus outbreak — depressed wages , crippling college debt , a lack of access to healthcare .
“ We must ask of our city and our nation at this time , is ‘ normal ’ really what we want to come back to ?
” he asked .

David Zahniser, Dakota Smith, Emily Alpert Reyes

In his annual State of the City address, Mayor Eric Garcetti announced plans for furloughs of thousands of city workers.
Mayor Eric Garcetti warned Sunday that the economic downturn facing Los Angeles will be more painful than the 2008 recession, requiring cuts to government programs and the furlough of thousands of city employees.
In a remarkable State of the City address, one that comes five weeks into the shutdown of many businesses, government buildings and other facilities, Garcetti declared that the city is “under attack” from the coronavirus and the economic fallout that has come with it.
“I’ve never before hesitated to assure you that our city is strong,” he said. “But I won’t say those words tonight. Our city is under attack. Our daily life is unrecognizable.
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“We are bowed and we are worn down. We are grieving our dead,” the mayor continued, choking back tears. “But we are not broken.”
The mayor’s remarks represented a jarring break from previous State of the City speeches, when he offered overwhelmingly uplifting messages. In this year’s address, Garcetti offered a series of grim signposts about the city’s immediate future: joblessness, a collapse in hotel reservations and a 95% drop in passenger air travel — all products of the coronavirus outbreak.
The city has already borrowed $70 million from special funds while responding to the health crisis. To balance the city budget, civilian city workers will need to take off 26 unpaid days — the equivalent of a 10% reduction in pay, the mayor said.
“From a fiscal perspective, this is the worst it’s ever been,” he declared.
So far, the city’s political leaders sounded open to the reductions being sought by Garcetti.
Councilman Mike Bonin said that, considering the extent of the economic calamity facing the region, he was relieved that the mayor was not announcing layoffs. Councilman Gil Cedillo described furloughs as the best in a series of bad choices, but worried that residents and city employees would suffer.
“City services are in greater need during a crisis,” said Cedillo, who represents parts of the Eastside.
How acutely the public will feel the cuts is far from clear. Furlough days will not be demanded of police officers, firefighters or workers at the Department of Water and Power, among others. Trash pickup will remain intact, a Garcetti aide said.
The mayor has already closed a number of city facilities to the public, including cultural centers, the Los Angeles Zoo and scores of branch libraries. Some city employees have been reassigned to work in recreation centers operating as makeshift homeless shelters.
California Federal investigation into L.A. City Hall corruption involves downtown project A 20-story residential tower planned in downtown Los Angeles is at the heart of a federal probe involving a developer who allegedly arranged a $500,000 bribe for a City Council member, a Times analysis shows.
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One union leader voiced dismay over the cost-cutting plans, saying his members have been called into duty as emergency workers, helping to relocate the city’s homeless population and working at coronavirus testing centers. Adding more instability for those workers will hurt the city, said Bob Schoonover, president of Service Employees International Union Local 721.
“We cannot call these men and women heroes and then turn around and attempt to balance the budget on their backs,” said Schoonover, whose union represents custodians, tree trimmers and others.
Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti, delivering his State of the City speech in a nearly empty City Council chamber, says: “We are bowed and we are worn down. ... But we are not broken.” (Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times)
Sunday’s address comes at an extraordinary time for Garcetti and the city. Over the last five weeks, the mayor has issued emergency orders to close businesses, halt evictions, require face masks, waive parking tickets and generally keep Angelenos away from each other on beaches, hiking trails and in other locations.
With much of the city staying indoors, Sunday’s speech bore little resemblance to previous State of the City addresses in L.A. Gone was the color guard, the Pledge of Allegiance and the other ceremonial flourishes that typically accompany Garcetti’s yearly address to the city.
In normal years, Garcetti has delivered the address before hundreds of people in packed venues such as the California Science Center and the Valley Performing Arts Center at Cal State Northridge. On Sunday, he spoke inside a mostly empty City Council chamber, with even council members staying at home.
People watch as Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti gives his annual ‘State of the City’ speech at City Hall in Los Angeles. (Marcus Yam/Los Angeles Times)
As a result, the event felt closer to one of the many evening coronavirus briefings given by Garcetti since mid-March. However, the overall message was more grim, with Garcetti saying the city would need major help from the federal government to weather the crisis.
“Don’t bail out banks but leave cities with cuts and collapse,” he said.
Garcetti said Congress should pass a national infrastructure bill to put people back to work. And he called on the federal government to loosen restrictions on emergency funds that prevent the city from using them to replace lost revenue.
The coronavirus outbreak and accompanying economic downturn pose by far the biggest challenge to Garcetti and other city leaders since the 2008 recession. During that crisis, the city’s elected officials responded by imposing furloughs, laying off hundreds of workers and eliminating thousands of jobs.
“Until now, it was the biggest economic blow of our lifetime, and it hurt,” Garcetti said. “But there’s no way to sugarcoat this. This is bigger. It will hurt more.”
Revenue for the coming budget year could be as much as $598 million below projections, depending on how long Angelenos continue staying indoors, according to figures released last week by City Controller Ron Galperin.
Much of the reductions have been caused by the steep drop-off in tourism activity, including a major decline in projected hotel bed taxes, Galperin said. Since stay-at-home orders were issued across the state, unemployment claims have skyrocketed, with workers in the entertainment, hospitality and travel industries hit particularly hard.
Garcetti is scheduled to release his proposed budget Monday. The document, which covers spending for the fiscal year that starts July 1, must be approved by the City Council before it can go into effect.
Hollywood resident Kat DeVoe-Peterson joined other protesters outside Getty House on Sunday night. Activists want Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti to cancel rent payments across the city, and take over hotels and fill vacant rooms with homeless Angelenos. (Dakota Smith/ Los Angeles Times)
While Garcetti delivered his address, activists staged a protest outside Getty House, the mayor’s official residence in Windsor Square, calling on him to use his emergency powers to order the cancellation of rent payments and fill vacant hotels with homeless Angelenos.
As drivers repeatedly honked their horns, dozens of sidewalk protesters from the Los Angeles Tenants Union and other groups chanted, “No rent, no rent!” Hollywood resident Kat DeVoe-Peterson, who was recently laid off from her job at a bar in Silver Lake, said Garcetti needs to secure federal funding for renters in the city.
“It’s not just about me, it’s about everyone,” said DeVoe-Peterson, driving a car with the sign “Food Not Rent.”
Josh Rubenstein, a Los Angeles Police Department spokesman, said 11 citations were issued during Sunday’s protest. Some drivers who repeatedly honked their horns were cited for violating an “amplified sound” ordinance. Two protesters on the sidewalk were also detained and cited, police said.
Garcetti said in recent weeks that he has been pressing lawmakers in Washington, D.C., to approve a stimulus package that safeguards both renters and landlords from a massive financial collapse. During his address, he said federal funds should specifically be used to back the suspension of rents and mortgages.
The mayor said the federal government also needs to tackle problems that hurt Americans well before the coronavirus outbreak — depressed wages, crippling college debt, a lack of access to healthcare.
“We must ask of our city and our nation at this time, is ‘normal’ really what we want to come back to?” he asked.


latimes--2020-04-18--Coronavirus  Zoom wedding ditches the plan and lets loose needed joy

Why let the coronavirus rob them of all their joy ?
That was what Owen Smigelski and Carolyne Johnson began to think as the date approached of the big spring wedding they ’ d had no choice but to cancel .
On April 11 , they were supposed to be 200 miles north in San Luis Obispo , saying vows in a church before more than 100 guests .
They were supposed to be dancing with friends and family at the famed Madonna Inn , and spending their first married night in the inn ’ s rock-showered , blue-flowered , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ supposed to be giving their guests who ’ d flown in from as far as Japan fancy cookies as favors — some shaped like three-tiered wedding cakes , featuring their names and the date .
And that date , which was supposed to be their anniversary , was everywhere : on a big sign they ’ d had made , on the cake topper , on the bright red socks they ’ d ordered for themselves and their combined brood of boys , with 4.11.20 woven into a multicolored collection of hearts .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ ?
Why let the virus , which for weeks already had shut them all inside together for work and for school and for everything else in between , turn that day into just another in an endless string they ’ d spend shuffling around their El Segundo home in their sweatpants ?
They decided instead to just go ahead and get wed right when they ’ d meant to without fuss — in front of friends and family , on Zoom .
Instead of moping around and mourning , they took charge and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ much right now is bleak , frightening and beyond our control .
What is happening in our nation ’ s ICUs is the stuff of our nightmares .
We carry fear for our loved ones ’ health and stress about our shutdown finances in our tense necks and shoulders , in knots in our bellies that rarely relax .
But we also reach out for relief from the grim , not just for ourselves but for others .
There is beauty in that .
And there is strength in the way we grab @ @ @ @ @ @ @ aside the tidy maps we ’ ve made for our lives .
I ’ d been thinking a lot about how much we are doing this when Owen announced his Zoom wedding on Twitter , using my virtual community ‘ s # mydayinla hashtag .
People planning their weddings often want everything just so , but just so just isn ’ t practical when we can ’ t even easily find toilet paper .
A Zoom wedding in the middle of this crisis requires letting go of minutiae and cutting right to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be lovely and liberating .
No matter that Carolyne ’ s wedding gown was still at the nonessential bridal store , shut down before her final alteration .
Owen chose her red dress with big white polka dots , which shows off her curves .
And in accordance with Zoom fashion , he opted for a crisp dress shirt , bright blue tie and suit jacket to cover the part of him that would be seen on screen , but shorts and those red socks for the part of him that wouldn ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Carolyne and Owen were giving up on the big splash .
They ’ d pushed it forward to Sept. 26 , when there ’ s at least a slim chance that we ’ ll all once again be flying on airplanes , staying in hotels and gathering in groups .
But they needed some happy far sooner , not just to fill that now empty big day .
Like many of us , they ’ ve been struggling as the coronavirus upends their lives .
This is the second time around for both @ @ @ @ @ @ @ boys , Ian and Jonah , 9 and 11 , spend half of each week with him and Carolyne .
Carolyne ’ s son Adam , 7 , is with them all the time .
Now with schools closed , the couple — he ’ s an Internet lawyer , she ’ s an engineer — were trying to take meetings at home with roughhousing in the background while also supervising home schooling ( Adam in particular being too young to process school-assigned videos alone . )
And that wasn ’ t all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ took over his business , repairing and installing coin-operated laundry machines .
It ’ s work deemed essential , but in the crisis , jobs quickly dried up .
Her technicians didn ’ t want to do repairs in heavily used public places .
Money stopped coming in .
She had to lay off her five employees and shut down for good — which led to another woe she couldn ’ t have anticipated .
Carolyne ’ s 81-year-old mother usually came to work with her .
At home alone , she was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ walk and fell and hit her head .
Carolyne and her sister , Julie Mullane , got a call from a hospital ICU — not something you want ever but especially not now .
Their mother had a concussion and a brain bleed and — because of the virus — they couldn ’ t visit or help her communicate with nurses and doctors , which can be difficult for her in fraught circumstances .
Her first language is Japanese .
With so much going on , when they decided to get married on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ thought they ’ d just go through the ceremony alone , with an officiant at a safe distance .
But why keep it to themselves and not share it with others who also were stressed and stir crazy and short on good cheer ?
They ’ d spent so long meticulously making their original plans .
This one , in a joyful jumble of generosity , had come together in a flash .
One friend , Heidi Wang , who said she wasn ’ t a big cake baker , nevertheless volunteered to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ drove from Agoura Hills and delivered , arm outstretched , wearing a Minnie , Mickey and Goofy mask she ’ d gotten from her kids ’ doctor ’ s office .
Another friend , Tania Rios , found a local florist to make a boutonniere and a bouquet , which Adam would later drag through the cake icing .
She and Edward Su , who owns a local print shop , put “ Just Married ” signs on the couple ’ s cars .
Owen is a member of a nonprofit , service-oriented @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s Club .
In a Zoom club meeting , a fellow member ordained online by the Church of the Latter-Day Dude volunteered to be the officiant .
Scott Humphries had been friends with Owen for a matter of months .
He ’ d meet the bride for the first time onscreen at the ceremony — as he sat upper-half dressed up before a pastoral Zoom background that mostly hid his 7-year-old daughter ’ s Disney-princess-themed bedroom , which recently became his home office .
At 3 p.m. that Saturday afternoon , right @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at the altar , Carolyne and Owen sat before a laptop screen at a table in their backyard .
As the boys bounced up and down behind them on the trampoline , they prepared to say their I dos .
Owen opened the Zoom session and so many faces suddenly appeared that they had to toggle among multiple screens just to see them all and say hello .
Some people were dressed up , some casually rumpled .
A couple of bridesmaids wore their gowns .
Some guests sat in their living rooms @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were unseen , watching TV one way .
Babies burbled .
Dogs moved across frames .
Fingers filled them .
People wandered away and returned .
Conversations some thought were private really weren ’ t .
It was definitely free form , even in El Segundo , where Ian danced for the camera , and Adam grabbed the big cake knife and mussed his mother ’ s carefully pinned , self-styled hair .
Still , vows were said .
Champagne glasses were raised .
Owen gave a toast , “ Here ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in a bunch of craziness , ” and it seemed that everyone had .
They laughed .
They smiled .
They beamed their love out .
It spread .
Neighbors that Owen and Carolyne had never met saw the “ Just Married ” signs on the cars and dropped off a card and a bottle of Veuve Clicquot .
On April 11 , as planned , Owen and Carolyne joyfully got married — which is all that mattered — and not even a pandemic could stop the celebrating .

Why let the coronavirus rob them of all their joy? That was what Owen Smigelski and Carolyne Johnson began to think as the date approached of the big spring wedding they’d had no choice but to cancel.
On April 11, they were supposed to be 200 miles north in San Luis Obispo, saying vows in a church before more than 100 guests.
They were supposed to be dancing with friends and family at the famed Madonna Inn, and spending their first married night in the inn’s rock-showered, blue-flowered, wonderfully retro-kitschy Romance room.
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They were supposed to be giving their guests who’d flown in from as far as Japan fancy cookies as favors — some shaped like three-tiered wedding cakes, featuring their names and the date.
And that date, which was supposed to be their anniversary, was everywhere: on a big sign they’d had made, on the cake topper, on the bright red socks they’d ordered for themselves and their combined brood of boys, with 4.11.20 woven into a multicolored collection of hearts.
But why wait on supposed to be? Why let the virus, which for weeks already had shut them all inside together for work and for school and for everything else in between, turn that day into just another in an endless string they’d spend shuffling around their El Segundo home in their sweatpants?
They decided instead to just go ahead and get wed right when they’d meant to without fuss — in front of friends and family, on Zoom.
Instead of moping around and mourning, they took charge and took a stand against sadness.
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So much right now is bleak, frightening and beyond our control. What is happening in our nation’s ICUs is the stuff of our nightmares. We carry fear for our loved ones’ health and stress about our shutdown finances in our tense necks and shoulders, in knots in our bellies that rarely relax.
But we also reach out for relief from the grim, not just for ourselves but for others. There is beauty in that. And there is strength in the way we grab the reins where we can and toss aside the tidy maps we’ve made for our lives.
I’d been thinking a lot about how much we are doing this when Owen announced his Zoom wedding on Twitter, using my virtual community‘s #mydayinla hashtag.
People planning their weddings often want everything just so, but just so just isn’t practical when we can’t even easily find toilet paper. A Zoom wedding in the middle of this crisis requires letting go of minutiae and cutting right to the heart of it all — which can be lovely and liberating.
Owen and Carolyne Smigelski with their three children, (L-R), Ian Smigelski, 9, Jonah Smigelski, 11, and Adam Johnson, 7, at their home in El Segundo. (Gary Coronado/Los Angeles Times)
No matter that Carolyne’s wedding gown was still at the nonessential bridal store, shut down before her final alteration. Owen chose her red dress with big white polka dots, which shows off her curves. And in accordance with Zoom fashion, he opted for a crisp dress shirt, bright blue tie and suit jacket to cover the part of him that would be seen on screen, but shorts and those red socks for the part of him that wouldn’t.
It wasn’t that Carolyne and Owen were giving up on the big splash. They’d pushed it forward to Sept. 26, when there’s at least a slim chance that we’ll all once again be flying on airplanes, staying in hotels and gathering in groups.
But they needed some happy far sooner, not just to fill that now empty big day. Like many of us, they’ve been struggling as the coronavirus upends their lives.
This is the second time around for both of them. Owen’s two boys, Ian and Jonah, 9 and 11, spend half of each week with him and Carolyne. Carolyne’s son Adam, 7, is with them all the time. Now with schools closed, the couple — he’s an Internet lawyer, she’s an engineer — were trying to take meetings at home with roughhousing in the background while also supervising home schooling (Adam in particular being too young to process school-assigned videos alone.) And that wasn’t all.
When her father died, Carolyne took over his business, repairing and installing coin-operated laundry machines. It’s work deemed essential, but in the crisis, jobs quickly dried up. Her technicians didn’t want to do repairs in heavily used public places. Money stopped coming in. She had to lay off her five employees and shut down for good — which led to another woe she couldn’t have anticipated.
Carolyne’s 81-year-old mother usually came to work with her. At home alone, she was bored. One day she took a walk and fell and hit her head. Carolyne and her sister, Julie Mullane, got a call from a hospital ICU — not something you want ever but especially not now. Their mother had a concussion and a brain bleed and — because of the virus — they couldn’t visit or help her communicate with nurses and doctors, which can be difficult for her in fraught circumstances. Her first language is Japanese.
With so much going on, when they decided to get married on April 11 after all, they initially thought they’d just go through the ceremony alone, with an officiant at a safe distance.
But why keep it to themselves and not share it with others who also were stressed and stir crazy and short on good cheer?
They’d spent so long meticulously making their original plans. This one, in a joyful jumble of generosity, had come together in a flash.
One friend, Heidi Wang, who said she wasn’t a big cake baker, nevertheless volunteered to bake them a cake — which she drove from Agoura Hills and delivered, arm outstretched, wearing a Minnie, Mickey and Goofy mask she’d gotten from her kids’ doctor’s office. Another friend, Tania Rios, found a local florist to make a boutonniere and a bouquet, which Adam would later drag through the cake icing. She and Edward Su, who owns a local print shop, put “Just Married” signs on the couple’s cars.
Owen is a member of a nonprofit, service-oriented social organization called the El Segundo Dad’s Club. In a Zoom club meeting, a fellow member ordained online by the Church of the Latter-Day Dude volunteered to be the officiant.
Scott Humphries had been friends with Owen for a matter of months. He’d meet the bride for the first time onscreen at the ceremony — as he sat upper-half dressed up before a pastoral Zoom background that mostly hid his 7-year-old daughter’s Disney-princess-themed bedroom, which recently became his home office.
Owen Smigelski and Carolyne Johnson were married over zoom because of the coronavirus pandemic. (Smigelski/Johnson zoom video)
At 3 p.m. that Saturday afternoon, right when they had planned to be standing at the altar, Carolyne and Owen sat before a laptop screen at a table in their backyard. As the boys bounced up and down behind them on the trampoline, they prepared to say their I dos. Owen opened the Zoom session and so many faces suddenly appeared that they had to toggle among multiple screens just to see them all and say hello.
Some people were dressed up, some casually rumpled. A couple of bridesmaids wore their gowns. Some guests sat in their living rooms munching on snacks, as if they were unseen, watching TV one way. Babies burbled. Dogs moved across frames. Fingers filled them. People wandered away and returned. Conversations some thought were private really weren’t.
It was definitely free form, even in El Segundo, where Ian danced for the camera, and Adam grabbed the big cake knife and mussed his mother’s carefully pinned, self-styled hair.
Still, vows were said. Champagne glasses were raised. Owen gave a toast, “Here’s to finding a little bit of happiness in a bunch of craziness,” and it seemed that everyone had.
They laughed. They smiled. They beamed their love out. It spread. Neighbors that Owen and Carolyne had never met saw the “Just Married” signs on the cars and dropped off a card and a bottle of Veuve Clicquot.
On April 11, as planned, Owen and Carolyne joyfully got married — which is all that mattered — and not even a pandemic could stop the celebrating.