latimes--2020-02-05--Myers: Iowa's caucuses saw several changes all at once, a cautionary tale for the California primary

After years of national heckling for holding elections that last longer than the time it takes to binge-watch several seasons of a TV show , it ’ s no wonder that California political insiders are breathing of sigh of relief : At least we ’ re not Iowa .
“ I worry about the [ executive director ] of the Iowa Democratic Party , who must be curled up in a fetal position on a ratty couch in headquarters , ” Cynthia Bryant , executive director of the California Republican Party , wrote in a tweet on Tuesday .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for our crazy California system , an election that lasts for 60 days.
” On paper , there are few — if any — similarities between the boisterous , political party-controlled Iowa caucuses and California ’ s statewide primary , which is conducted by local elections officials and will be held on March 3 .
Voting rights advocates will point out that they are political apples and oranges : Iowa ’ s caucusgoers choose sides in public , and California voters use a traditional secret ballot — increasingly cast by mail rather than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s Democrats placed their bets on a new app-based tallying system , Californians are favoring an election experience that ’ s been around since the Civil War : the absentee ballot .
And yet , it ’ s hard to ignore the cautionary tale that Iowa ’ s fiasco provides for California , where a pair of significant changes to the voting process will be implemented in next month ’ s statewide primary .
Added to the state ’ s long list of other unique voting laws , the changes will test the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the state ’ s 20 million voters .
And it will all play out in the middle of one of the most closely watched and contentious presidential campaigns in American history .
California prides itself on having some of the most pro-voter laws in the nation , all largely designed to maximize the opportunities for eligible citizens to cast a ballot and have it counted .
It ’ s been almost two decades since California established “ no-fault ” absentee voting — voters no longer need to provide a reason to vote @ @ @ @ @ @ @ limitation or an out-of-state trip .
In 2012 , election officials created an online voter registration system .
Four years later , state lawmakers put in place an automatic voter registration process at the Department of Motor Vehicles .
Subsequent laws have extended the amount of time for ballots to arrive after election day and have required officials to notify voters who forget to sign a ballot envelope before dropping it in the mail .
These and other state laws have helped create what ’ s effectively become a month-long election .
Ballots @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Iowa caucuses or early primary states have served their time-honored tradition of culling the presidential herd .
And it now routinely takes elections officials most , or all , of the 30-day window provided in state law to fully count all ballots .
But two other new laws will have a significant impact on the California primary that will reach its crescendo on the first Tuesday in March , when voters will cast ballots to award 494 delegates to the Democratic National Convention and 172 delegates to the Republican National Convention — @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The most far-reaching change to the process is that Californians can now register to vote on election day at locations in all of the state ’ s 58 counties .
So-called “ same-day ” registration provides more flexibility to those who make a last-minute decision to participate in the election .
It also gives registered voters the chance to change their party affiliation and cast a ballot in presidential contests that are closed to nonparty voters .
Substantial infrastructure is needed to register voters at all of those sites .
It ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and is likely to mean that tens of thousands of votes won ’ t be counted until each person ’ s registration is confirmed after election day .
Layered on top of that is the expansion of a 2016 state law that swaps the traditional neighborhood polling place for a multi-purpose “ vote center.
” These locations are open for several days — some as many as 10 — before the election .
Voters can visit any site they want , not just one near where they live .
And in most @ @ @ @ @ @ @ new law , a voter ’ s ballot can be reprinted if needed and additional help is offered for those who don ’ t speak English .
Five California counties adopted the new voting process in 2018 and 10 more have done so this year .
None , though , will be as closely watched as Los Angeles County , home to almost 5.5 million voters .
L.A. voters will not be automatically mailed a ballot , even though their traditional polling places will have disappeared .
Those who don ’ t request @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s Feb. 25 deadline will need to visit one of the county ’ s 965 vote centers .
And if county leaders are to avoid angry tales of Angelenos stuck in traffic as they scramble to find a voting center on election day , the public awareness campaign now underway will have to cleanly hit its mark .
For many people the act of voting is a sense memory , something they are certain they know how to do — until , of course , they don ’ t .
Changes to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ remove confusion .
But it ’ s a lot more complicated than selecting candidates , and elections officials are often leery of sweeping changes that happen all at once .
California lawmakers and activists want to make national headlines on Mar .
3 , but for the right reasons .

Carl Voss, Des Moines City Councilman and a precinct chair, shows photographers the app that was used for caucus results reporting on his phone on February 4, 2020 in Des Moines, Iowa.
After years of national heckling for holding elections that last longer than the time it takes to binge-watch several seasons of a TV show, it’s no wonder that California political insiders are breathing of sigh of relief: At least we’re not Iowa.
“I worry about the [executive director] of the Iowa Democratic Party, who must be curled up in a fetal position on a ratty couch in headquarters,” Cynthia Bryant, executive director of the California Republican Party, wrote in a tweet on Tuesday. “Then I just laugh and am glad for our crazy California system, an election that lasts for 60 days.”
On paper, there are few — if any — similarities between the boisterous, political party-controlled Iowa caucuses and California’s statewide primary, which is conducted by local elections officials and will be held on March 3. Voting rights advocates will point out that they are political apples and oranges: Iowa’s caucusgoers choose sides in public, and California voters use a traditional secret ballot — increasingly cast by mail rather than in person. And while Iowa’s Democrats placed their bets on a new app-based tallying system, Californians are favoring an election experience that’s been around since the Civil War: the absentee ballot.
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And yet, it’s hard to ignore the cautionary tale that Iowa’s fiasco provides for California, where a pair of significant changes to the voting process will be implemented in next month’s statewide primary. Added to the state’s long list of other unique voting laws, the changes will test the capacity of elections officials and the knowledge of the state’s 20 million voters. And it will all play out in the middle of one of the most closely watched and contentious presidential campaigns in American history.
California prides itself on having some of the most pro-voter laws in the nation, all largely designed to maximize the opportunities for eligible citizens to cast a ballot and have it counted. It’s been almost two decades since California established “no-fault” absentee voting — voters no longer need to provide a reason to vote by mail, such as a physical limitation or an out-of-state trip.
In 2012, election officials created an online voter registration system. Four years later, state lawmakers put in place an automatic voter registration process at the Department of Motor Vehicles. Subsequent laws have extended the amount of time for ballots to arrive after election day and have required officials to notify voters who forget to sign a ballot envelope before dropping it in the mail.
These and other state laws have helped create what’s effectively become a month-long election. Ballots begin arriving in mailboxes across California before the Iowa caucuses or early primary states have served their time-honored tradition of culling the presidential herd. And it now routinely takes elections officials most, or all, of the 30-day window provided in state law to fully count all ballots.
But two other new laws will have a significant impact on the California primary that will reach its crescendo on the first Tuesday in March, when voters will cast ballots to award 494 delegates to the Democratic National Convention and 172 delegates to the Republican National Convention — many more than those decided in Iowa.
The most far-reaching change to the process is that Californians can now register to vote on election day at locations in all of the state’s 58 counties. So-called “same-day” registration provides more flexibility to those who make a last-minute decision to participate in the election. It also gives registered voters the chance to change their party affiliation and cast a ballot in presidential contests that are closed to nonparty voters.
Substantial infrastructure is needed to register voters at all of those sites. It’s also untested on a statewide level, and is likely to mean that tens of thousands of votes won’t be counted until each person’s registration is confirmed after election day.
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Layered on top of that is the expansion of a 2016 state law that swaps the traditional neighborhood polling place for a multi-purpose “vote center.” These locations are open for several days — some as many as 10 — before the election. Voters can visit any site they want, not just one near where they live. And in most counties that have opted in to the new law, a voter’s ballot can be reprinted if needed and additional help is offered for those who don’t speak English.
Five California counties adopted the new voting process in 2018 and 10 more have done so this year. None, though, will be as closely watched as Los Angeles County, home to almost 5.5 million voters.
L.A. voters will not be automatically mailed a ballot, even though their traditional polling places will have disappeared. Those who don’t request an absentee ballot by the state’s Feb. 25 deadline will need to visit one of the county’s 965 vote centers. And if county leaders are to avoid angry tales of Angelenos stuck in traffic as they scramble to find a voting center on election day, the public awareness campaign now underway will have to cleanly hit its mark.
For many people the act of voting is a sense memory, something they are certain they know how to do — until, of course, they don’t. Changes to the process often can improve participation levels and remove confusion. But it’s a lot more complicated than selecting candidates, and elections officials are often leery of sweeping changes that happen all at once.
California lawmakers and activists want to make national headlines on Mar. 3, but for the right reasons.


latimes--2020-02-05--Lopez: Does it have to be so hard to pass a housing bill? Not really, and here's a bold path forward

Senate Bill 50 , which could have produced a massive amount of desperately needed new housing in California , didn ’ t even die a humane death last week in Sacramento .
It was clubbed , kicked to the ground and pecked to death .
So now what ?
I ’ ve got answers , but first a quick review .
The bill by state Sen. Scott Wiener ( D-San Francisco ) was a sharp stick , which is just what we need , but too many people got poked in the eye .
Regardless of local zoning , SB @ @ @ @ @ @ @ within half a mile of transit stations or job centers .
So local officials naturally bellyached about the loss of control even though they would have had two years to get off their duffs and come up with their own remedies .
It would have required projects of 10 units or more to kick into an affordable housing fund or price up to 25 % of the units for low-income residents .
But critics argued that wasn ’ t enough affordable housing and some argued the result of SB 50 would be more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ single-family homes to be converted into fourplexes , which naturally ruffled those determined to maintain low-density suburban aesthetic .
Maybe the bill went a bit too far there , and some critics have argued that the bill ’ s specifics were too vague or didn ’ t mesh with Southern California ’ s specific housing needs or with remedies already in the works .
But I thought my colleagues George Skelton and Kerry Cavanaugh neatly sized up the demise , for the third year in a row , of SB 50 .
Skelton @ @ @ @ @ @ @ housing , with L.A. legislators leading the SB 50 death squad .
Cavanaugh wrote that those same L.A. lawmakers did their deed “ without offering any meaningful proposal that could reverse the state ’ s debilitating housing shortage.
” As all this was happening in the last week , I was scoping out a story on one particular group that ’ s squeezed by the high cost of housing in California .
Hundreds of brand-new instructors are about to graduate from Cal State Northridge , and I ’ m meeting with some of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , where many of them will soon be working , the starting salary is just above $ 50,000 .
In December , The Times reported that the average rent in Los Angeles was $ 2,527 monthly , a 65 % increase in the last decade .
I always hear from readers who argue that if people can ’ t afford to live in high-rent areas , they should go elsewhere .
Tell that to a teacher in West L.A. or a nurse in Beverly Hills .
Do we want them schlepping in from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , even as the planet melts ?
“ We ’ re not going to be able to keep enough of the workers who need to live in these communities to be able to stay here , ” said Senate leader Toni Atkins ( D-San Diego ) .
Five years ago I toured San Diego with Atkins , who was promoting the Building Homes and Jobs Act , a bill that added a fee of $ 75 to $ 225 on the public filing of certain real estate documents .
“ I just don @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people behind , ” she told me at the time .
It should have taken 10 minutes to pass that bill .
It took seven years .
And people were left behind because it took too long and it wasn ’ t enough .
Now we ’ ve just seen legislators strike out on a bill that could have been a big part of the solution .
Atkins told me on Tuesday that she and Gov .
Gavin Newsom still hope to wrangle a housing production bill into existence this year .
Voters @ @ @ @ @ @ @ concerns as homelessness , lack of new housing and lack of affordable housing .
So legislators have to find a way , and residents need to step up as well .
“ The message to communities is — you have to be a part of the solution too , ” Atkins said .
Look , I understand why people wouldn ’ t want a high-rise apartment building jammed into the middle of a tract house development .
But SB 50 was an imperfect yet reasonable attempt to address a raging crisis , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” is such a horrible thing .
When I lived in cities with high density , I didn ’ t need a car , and I didn ’ t miss having one .
If you don ’ t like hearing that , you ’ re surely not going to like hearing how I would finance more affordable housing in California .
But here goes .
Homeowners in the U.S. are sitting on more than $ 15 trillion in equity , and California is one of the leading equity-rich states , thanks to various @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Anybody paying off a loan gets a nice mortgage deduction , and Proposition 13 keeps property tax rates low .
And many benefit from exclusionary zoning that reduces density , which keeps the housing supply down and raises the value of their homes while rents soar .
Those homeowners played by the rules , presumably worked hard for what they ’ ve got and shouldn ’ t be criticized for becoming equity rich .
But when they sell , is it too much to ask that a tiny fraction of their windfall be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ new housing for those left behind ?
Randy Shaw wrote “ Generation Priced Out ” — which looks at how public policy has increased economic and racial inequality and helped drive the housing crisis — and he told me he likes that idea .
And he took it one step further .
“ Do it only in neighborhoods that have not allowed more housing , ” Shaw said .
“ If you allowed more housing , you wouldn ’ t pay ” the equity tax .
There you go .
Carrot or stick @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of our children can ’ t afford to buy homes or rent near the areas they grew up in , when housing costs put so many working people on the brink of homelessness , when teachers and nurses and so many other working folks in the state with the world ’ s fifth-largest economy find themselves priced out , drastic measures are called for .

State Senate leader Toni Atkins, shown in San Diego in August with Gov. Gavin Newsom, say she and Newsom hope to pass a housing production bill this year, despite the failure of Senate Bill 50.
Rents, up.
Homelessness, up.
Housing bill, down.
Senate Bill 50, which could have produced a massive amount of desperately needed new housing in California, didn’t even die a humane death last week in Sacramento.
It was clubbed, kicked to the ground and pecked to death.
So now what?
I’ve got answers, but first a quick review.
The bill by state Sen. Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco) was a sharp stick, which is just what we need, but too many people got poked in the eye.
Regardless of local zoning, SB 50 would have allowed mid-rise apartment buildings within half a mile of transit stations or job centers. So local officials naturally bellyached about the loss of control even though they would have had two years to get off their duffs and come up with their own remedies.
Advertisement
It would have required projects of 10 units or more to kick into an affordable housing fund or price up to 25% of the units for low-income residents. But critics argued that wasn’t enough affordable housing and some argued the result of SB 50 would be more gentrification.
And it would have allowed single-family homes to be converted into fourplexes, which naturally ruffled those determined to maintain low-density suburban aesthetic. Maybe the bill went a bit too far there, and some critics have argued that the bill’s specifics were too vague or didn’t mesh with Southern California’s specific housing needs or with remedies already in the works.
But I thought my colleagues George Skelton and Kerry Cavanaugh neatly sized up the demise, for the third year in a row, of SB 50.
Skelton wrote that sprawl won out over denser housing, with L.A. legislators leading the SB 50 death squad. Cavanaugh wrote that those same L.A. lawmakers did their deed “without offering any meaningful proposal that could reverse the state’s debilitating housing shortage.”
As all this was happening in the last week, I was scoping out a story on one particular group that’s squeezed by the high cost of housing in California.
Teachers.
Hundreds of brand-new instructors are about to graduate from Cal State Northridge, and I’m meeting with some of them this week.
In L.A. Unified, where many of them will soon be working, the starting salary is just above $50,000. In December, The Times reported that the average rent in Los Angeles was $2,527 monthly, a 65% increase in the last decade.
Advertisement
I always hear from readers who argue that if people can’t afford to live in high-rent areas, they should go elsewhere.
Really?
Tell that to a teacher in West L.A. or a nurse in Beverly Hills. Do we want them schlepping in from Riverside and San Bernardino counties every day, even as the planet melts?
“We’re not going to be able to keep enough of the workers who need to live in these communities to be able to stay here,” said Senate leader Toni Atkins (D-San Diego).
Five years ago I toured San Diego with Atkins, who was promoting the Building Homes and Jobs Act, a bill that added a fee of $75 to $225 on the public filing of certain real estate documents.
“I just don’t feel like we can leave people behind,” she told me at the time.
It should have taken 10 minutes to pass that bill.
It took seven years.
And people were left behind because it took too long and it wasn’t enough. Now we’ve just seen legislators strike out on a bill that could have been a big part of the solution.
Atkins told me on Tuesday that she and Gov. Gavin Newsom still hope to wrangle a housing production bill into existence this year. Voters, she said, list their top concerns as homelessness, lack of new housing and lack of affordable housing. So legislators have to find a way, and residents need to step up as well.
“The message to communities is — you have to be a part of the solution too,” Atkins said.
Look, I understand why people wouldn’t want a high-rise apartment building jammed into the middle of a tract house development. But SB 50 was an imperfect yet reasonable attempt to address a raging crisis, and people need to stop thinking “density” is such a horrible thing. When I lived in cities with high density, I didn’t need a car, and I didn’t miss having one.
If you don’t like hearing that, you’re surely not going to like hearing how I would finance more affordable housing in California.
But here goes.
Homeowners in the U.S. are sitting on more than $15 trillion in equity, and California is one of the leading equity-rich states, thanks to various public policies created for their benefit.
Anybody paying off a loan gets a nice mortgage deduction, and Proposition 13 keeps property tax rates low. And many benefit from exclusionary zoning that reduces density, which keeps the housing supply down and raises the value of their homes while rents soar.
Those homeowners played by the rules, presumably worked hard for what they’ve got and shouldn’t be criticized for becoming equity rich. But when they sell, is it too much to ask that a tiny fraction of their windfall be pumped into a housing fund to build new housing for those left behind?
Randy Shaw wrote “Generation Priced Out” — which looks at how public policy has increased economic and racial inequality and helped drive the housing crisis — and he told me he likes that idea. And he took it one step further.
“Do it only in neighborhoods that have not allowed more housing,” Shaw said. “If you allowed more housing, you wouldn’t pay” the equity tax.
There you go. Carrot or stick, take your pick.
When many of our children can’t afford to buy homes or rent near the areas they grew up in, when housing costs put so many working people on the brink of homelessness, when teachers and nurses and so many other working folks in the state with the world’s fifth-largest economy find themselves priced out, drastic measures are called for.


latimes--2020-02-06--Magnitude 3.8 earthquake strikes near Fortuna, Calif.

A magnitude 3.8 earthquake was reported at 12:20 a.m. Thursday 21 miles from Fortuna , Calif. , according to the U.S. Geological Survey .
The earthquake occurred 32 miles from Eureka , 38 miles from Arcata , 44 miles from McKinleyville and 99 miles from Ukiah .
In the past 10 days , there have been two earthquakes of magnitude 3.0 or greater centered nearby .
An average of 234 earthquakes with magnitudes between 3.0 and 4.0 occur per year in California and Nevada , according to a recent three year data sample .
The earthquake occurred at a depth @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this earthquake ?
Consider reporting what you felt to the USGS .
Even if you didn ’ t feel this small earthquake , you never know when the Big One is going to strike .
Ready yourself by following our five-step earthquake preparedness guide and building your own emergency kit .
This story was automatically generated by Quakebot , a computer application that monitors the latest earthquakes detected by the USGS .
A Times editor reviewed the post before it was published .
If you ’ re interested in learning more about the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ asked questions .

A magnitude 3.8 earthquake was reported at 12:20 a.m. Thursday, 21 miles from Fortuna, Calif., according to the U.S. Geological Survey.
The earthquake occurred 32 miles from Eureka, 38 miles from Arcata, 44 miles from McKinleyville and 99 miles from Ukiah.
In the last 10 days, there have been two earthquakes of magnitude 3.0 or greater centered nearby.
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An average of 234 earthquakes with magnitudes between 3.0 and 4.0 occur per year in California and Nevada, according to a recent three-year data sample.
The earthquake occurred at a depth of 4.9 miles. Did you feel this earthquake? Consider reporting what you felt to the USGS.
Even if you didn’t feel this small earthquake, you never know when the Big One is going to strike. Ready yourself by following our five-step earthquake preparedness guide and building your own emergency kit.
This story was automatically generated by Quakebot, a computer application that monitors the latest earthquakes detected by the USGS. A Times editor reviewed the post before it was published. If you’re interested in learning more about the system, visit our list of frequently asked questions.


latimes--2020-02-06--Californians will soon have to decide: Do they care more about ousting Trump or the issues?

President Trump ’ s highly partisan State of the Union address was a political rallying cry — for Democrats .
And it was especially timely for California Democrats because their presidential primary is rapidly approaching .
No doubt the president ’ s speech warmed the hearts of adoring Republicans .
But its provocative content and delivery should have lit a fire under Democrats and inspired them to weigh carefully their choice of Trump ’ s opponent in the November election .
In the March 3 primary , do California Democrats vote for the candidate whose views on issues they strongly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ best chance of booting Trump out of the Oval Office ?
The former would presumably be a firebrand liberal ; the latter a pragmatic moderate .
But after the nominating race ’ s first lap in chaotic Iowa , who can really be sure which Democrat would be Trump ’ s strongest opponent ?
The conventional wisdom had been that former Vice President Joe Biden would be the most electable Democrat .
But he was badly beaten in Iowa by fellow moderate Pete Buttigieg , a former mayor of medium-size South Bend , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fourth , which ordinarily would verge on being a candidacy disqualifier .
He trailed — in order — Buttigieg , Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders and Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren .
“ Biden came out badly wounded , ” says Bob Shrum , director of the Jesse M. Unruh Institute of Politics at USC and a former Democratic strategist .
Given his earlier lead in the polls , Shrum asserts , “ finishing fourth was extraordinary .
People decided to look at someone else.
” That must have been Buttigieg .
“ Biden ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at this point , ” Shrum says .
“ The argument that he ’ s the most electable candidate has been at least frayed.
” In California , likely voters were recently asked in a poll conducted by the UC Berkeley Institute of Governmental Studies which was more important : choosing a candidate with the best chance of beating Trump or one they most agreed with on the issues .
The results were close : 53 % favored the most electable candidate and 47 % wanted the one they agreed with the most @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Biden ’ s supporters opted for the most electable .
So did 73 % of Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar ’ s small cadre of fans , 72 % of former New York Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg ’ s and 59 % of Buttigieg ’ s .
The question is : Where do Biden ’ s supporters turn if they no longer think he ’ s a potential winner ?
To Bloomberg ?
Buttigieg ?
Maybe Klobuchar ?
Warren ’ s backers were split almost evenly between those who cared most about winning and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ % of Sanders ’ followers were backing him because of his stands on issues .
Trump probably riled them in his speech by taking a shot at Sanders without mentioning his name .
“ We will never let socialism destroy American healthcare , ” he declared .
Sanders calls himself a “ democratic socialist ” and wants a single-payer healthcare system that would be government-run and exclude private insurance .
Sanders was the clear California leader in the UC Berkeley IGS poll , supported by 26 % , followed by Warren at 20 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ No other candidate rose above a single digit .
The survey was taken in late January .
The Iowa results could reshuffle that thinking — and possibly so could Trump ’ s contentious speech .
He advocated tighter restrictions on abortions , pledged to protect gun ownership , denounced providing government medical insurance for “ illegal aliens ” and bragged about building the border wall — all counter to the California consensus .
The question California Democrats must ask themselves is how badly do they want to beat Trump in November .
Biden @ @ @ @ @ @ @ primary on Tuesday , though polls have favored Sanders from neighboring Vermont .
Sanders is also leading in the next contest , the Nevada caucuses , because of strong Latino support .
Biden ’ s firewall has been the South Carolina primary because of strong support from African Americans .
But that contest is only three days before California ’ s .
So South Carolina ’ s impact on voters ’ thinking in this state could be minimal .
Many Californians probably will have already voted by mail .
If Biden ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rising , “ that ’ s an ideal scenario for Bloomberg , ” Strum says .
The multibillionaire has already spent at least $ 35 million of his fortune on TV ads in California .
He has forked out an unprecedented $ 300 million-plus nationally on TV spots in the March 3 Super Tuesday states .
Before Californians need to vote , they ’ ll know more about whether Buttigieg ’ s Iowa showing was a fluke or the sign of a rising star .
“ I think he ’ s one of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ve ever seen , ” Shrum says .
“ He ’ s short on experience , but he ’ s long on brains , talent and the capacity to communicate .
He speaks not just in complete sentences but in complete paragraphs .
And he has the capacity to motivate people.
” Buttigieg ’ s weakness is lack of appeal to African Americans and Latinos .
Iowa is roughly 90 % white .
California is the nation ’ s most diverse state .
And here , in the UC Berkeley poll , Sanders @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Buttigieg was drawing in the low single digits .
“ I think it ’ s going to end up being a Buttigieg-Sanders thing , with maybe some opportunity for Bloomberg , ” says veteran Democratic strategist Bill Carrick .
“ Bloomberg ’ s going to be a player .
He ’ s going to be all over TV.
” California Democrats will be voting while the nominating race is in full gallop .
That ’ s a rarity .

President Trump arrives to deliver his State of the Union address to a joint session of Congress on Tuesday. Voters in California will have to decide on March 3 whether they care more about ousting Trump or a Democratic candidate’s stances on the issues.
President Trump’s highly partisan State of the Union address was a political rallying cry — for Democrats.
And it was especially timely for California Democrats because their presidential primary is rapidly approaching.
No doubt the president’s speech warmed the hearts of adoring Republicans. But its provocative content and delivery should have lit a fire under Democrats and inspired them to weigh carefully their choice of Trump’s opponent in the November election.
Advertisement
In the March 3 primary, do California Democrats vote for the candidate whose views on issues they strongly support — or the candidate with the best chance of booting Trump out of the Oval Office? The former would presumably be a firebrand liberal; the latter a pragmatic moderate.
But after the nominating race’s first lap in chaotic Iowa, who can really be sure which Democrat would be Trump’s strongest opponent?
The conventional wisdom had been that former Vice President Joe Biden would be the most electable Democrat. But he was badly beaten in Iowa by fellow moderate Pete Buttigieg, a former mayor of medium-size South Bend, Ind.
That’s assuming preliminary results from Iowa’s caucus debacle hold up.
Biden apparently finished a dismal fourth, which ordinarily would verge on being a candidacy disqualifier. He trailed — in order — Buttigieg, Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders and Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren.
“Biden came out badly wounded,” says Bob Shrum, director of the Jesse M. Unruh Institute of Politics at USC and a former Democratic strategist. Given his earlier lead in the polls, Shrum asserts, “finishing fourth was extraordinary. People decided to look at someone else.”
That must have been Buttigieg.
“Biden’s going to have trouble raising money at this point,” Shrum says. “The argument that he’s the most electable candidate has been at least frayed.”
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In California, likely voters were recently asked in a poll conducted by the UC Berkeley Institute of Governmental Studies which was more important: choosing a candidate with the best chance of beating Trump or one they most agreed with on the issues.
The results were close: 53% favored the most electable candidate and 47% wanted the one they agreed with the most.
But significantly, 82% of Biden’s supporters opted for the most electable. So did 73% of Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar’s small cadre of fans, 72% of former New York Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg’s and 59% of Buttigieg’s.
The question is: Where do Biden’s supporters turn if they no longer think he’s a potential winner? To Bloomberg? Buttigieg? Maybe Klobuchar?
Warren’s backers were split almost evenly between those who cared most about winning and those passionate about issues. But 65% of Sanders’ followers were backing him because of his stands on issues.
Trump probably riled them in his speech by taking a shot at Sanders without mentioning his name. “We will never let socialism destroy American healthcare,” he declared.
Sanders calls himself a “democratic socialist” and wants a single-payer healthcare system that would be government-run and exclude private insurance.
Sanders was the clear California leader in the UC Berkeley IGS poll, supported by 26%, followed by Warren at 20% and Biden at 15%. No other candidate rose above a single digit. The survey was taken in late January.
The Iowa results could reshuffle that thinking — and possibly so could Trump’s contentious speech. He advocated tighter restrictions on abortions, pledged to protect gun ownership, denounced providing government medical insurance for “illegal aliens” and bragged about building the border wall — all counter to the California consensus.
The question California Democrats must ask themselves is how badly do they want to beat Trump in November.
Biden could bounce back in the New Hampshire primary on Tuesday, though polls have favored Sanders from neighboring Vermont.
Sanders is also leading in the next contest, the Nevada caucuses, because of strong Latino support.
Biden’s firewall has been the South Carolina primary because of strong support from African Americans. But that contest is only three days before California’s. So South Carolina’s impact on voters’ thinking in this state could be minimal. Many Californians probably will have already voted by mail.
If Biden’s political stock is plummeting and Sanders’ rising, “that’s an ideal scenario for Bloomberg,” Strum says.
The multibillionaire has already spent at least $35 million of his fortune on TV ads in California. He has forked out an unprecedented $300 million-plus nationally on TV spots in the March 3 Super Tuesday states.
Before Californians need to vote, they’ll know more about whether Buttigieg’s Iowa showing was a fluke or the sign of a rising star.
“I think he’s one of the more talented presidential candidates I’ve ever seen,” Shrum says. “He’s short on experience, but he’s long on brains, talent and the capacity to communicate. He speaks not just in complete sentences but in complete paragraphs. And he has the capacity to motivate people.”
Buttigieg’s weakness is lack of appeal to African Americans and Latinos. Iowa is roughly 90% white.
California is the nation’s most diverse state. And here, in the UC Berkeley poll, Sanders was winning Latino and black voters handily. Buttigieg was drawing in the low single digits.
“I think it’s going to end up being a Buttigieg-Sanders thing, with maybe some opportunity for Bloomberg,” says veteran Democratic strategist Bill Carrick. “Bloomberg’s going to be a player. He’s going to be all over TV.”
California Democrats will be voting while the nominating race is in full gallop. That’s a rarity.


latimes--2020-02-05--Trump's regional EPA chief in California is suddenly removed from his job

The Environmental Protection Agency ’ s top official in California was abruptly removed from office Wednesday .
No reason has yet been given for Mike Stoker ’ s dismissal .
In an email sent to staff members of the environment agency ’ s Pacific Southwest regional office , EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler wrote , “ I would like to thank Mike Stoker for his service to the EPA.
” He then added , “ I wish him and his family the best in their future endeavors.
” Deborah Jordan , the region ’ s deputy administrator , will take over @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which includes California , Nevada , Arizona , Hawaii , the Pacific Island Territories and 148 Indian tribes .
She has been deputy administrator since 2016 .
Before that , she worked on Clean Air Act regulatory matters for both EPA headquarters and Region 9 .
The dismissal was first reported Wednesday evening by BuzzFeed News on Twitter .
Stoker ’ s tenure was mired in controversy .
In 2018 , a few months after he was appointed regional administrator , a “ hotline ” complaint was filed with the EPA ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the region ’ s main office , in San Francisco .
In March 2019 , the EPA ’ s inspector general issued a “ management alert.
” It showed that Stoker spent only 20-percent of his time in San Francisco , where 90 percent of the staff is based .
Three weeks later , EPA Chief of Staff Ryan Jackson instituted a year-long “ pilot program , ” allowing Stoker to switch his duty base from San Francisco to Los Angeles .
Neither Stoker nor EPA representatives could be reached for comment Wednesday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ job , Stoker served as director of government affairs for UnitedAg , one of California ’ s largest agricultural associations .
According to his EPA biography , he was also a member of Santa Barbara County ’ s Board of Supervisors from 1986-1994 , chairman of the California Agricultural Labor Relations Board from 1995-2000 , and California deputy secretary of state from 2000-2002 .
Stoker was a supporter of former EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt before Pruitt resigned amid numerous controversies in 2018 .
At the time , Stoker called Pruitt ’ s resignation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ I ’ ve been around politics long enough that nothing is a surprise , ” he said of Pruitt ’ s departure .

Mike Stoker is leaving as administrator for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s region 9, which includes California, Arizona, Nevada, Hawaii and the Pacific islands.
The Environmental Protection Agency’s top official in California was abruptly removed from office Wednesday.
No reason has yet been given for Mike Stoker’s dismissal.
In an email sent to staff members of the environment agency’s Pacific Southwest regional office, EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler wrote, “I would like to thank Mike Stoker for his service to the EPA.”
He then added, “I wish him and his family the best in their future endeavors.”
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Deborah Jordan, the region’s deputy administrator, will take over as acting head of Region 9, which includes California, Nevada, Arizona, Hawaii, the Pacific Island Territories and 148 Indian tribes. She has been deputy administrator since 2016. Before that, she worked on Clean Air Act regulatory matters for both EPA headquarters and Region 9.
The dismissal was first reported Wednesday evening by BuzzFeed News on Twitter.
Stoker’s tenure was mired in controversy. In 2018, a few months after he was appointed regional administrator, a “hotline” complaint was filed with the EPA’s inspector general regarding his infrequent visits to the region’s main office, in San Francisco.
In March 2019, the EPA’s inspector general issued a “management alert.” It showed that Stoker spent only 20-percent of his time in San Francisco, where 90 percent of the staff is based.
Three weeks later, according to reports from E&E News, EPA Chief of Staff Ryan Jackson instituted a year-long “pilot program,” allowing Stoker to switch his duty base from San Francisco to Los Angeles.
“The reason for Mike Stoker’s abrupt removal is a mystery to the Region 9 employees we are talking to and, they believe, a mystery to Mr. Stoker himself,” said Jeff Ruch, director of the Pacific region of Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility, an advocacy organization for government employees working on environmental issues.
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“Given the long time it took to fill this Regional Administrator slot and the tendency of the current administration to leave top positions vacant, it is likely that he will not be replaced,” he said.
Serge Dedina, mayor of Imperial Beach, said Stoker was a champion for his city and the clean up of the Tijuana River.
“From day one, he made clear it was a priority,” said Dedina, describing Stoker a “beach guy” who had an appreciation for the coastline and estuaries of Southern California. “I’ll always be grateful to him.”
EPA spokesman, Michael Abboud, confirmed Stoker’s removal but declined to say more. Stoker could not be reached for comment.
Before taking the regional administrator job, Stoker served as director of government affairs for UnitedAg, one of California’s largest agricultural associations. According to his EPA biography, he was also a member of Santa Barbara County’s Board of Supervisors from 1986-1994, chairman of the California Agricultural Labor Relations Board from 1995-2000, and California deputy secretary of state from 2000-2002.
Stoker was a supporter of former EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt before Pruitt resigned amid numerous controversies in 2018. At the time, Stoker called Pruitt’s resignation “definitely a little bit different.”
“I’ve been around politics long enough that nothing is a surprise,” he said of Pruitt’s departure.


latimes--2020-02-05--Coyote playfully pounces toward its new badger friend

The coyote playfully pounces toward its new friend , a badger , before the duo trots off together into a culvert underneath a highway near the Santa Cruz Mountains area .
The black-and-white video clip of the animals has garnered viral attention on social media — and from the wildlife nonprofit organizations that believe the clip is the first to capture such behavior in San Francisco .
Scientific studies and Native American records indicate the two predators are known to hunt and roam together , but the coyote ’ s playful body language toward the first glimpse of the badger @ @ @ @ @ @ @ took wildlife groups by surprise , according to the Peninsula Open Space Trust , a Palo Alto-based nonprofit .
“ We were speechless , ” said Neal Sharma , the nonprofit ’ s wildlife linkages program manager .
Sharma said he received a text from Pathways for Wildlife , another nonprofit organization , last month after its researchers went through the first batch of data .
“ We got something , ” the text read , according to Sharma .
More than 50 cameras were installed near the Santa Cruz Mountains area , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , in 2018 as part of a study to identify roadkill hot spots and learn how wildlife navigates the landscape peppered with highways .
The video clip , captured in November , is only a snapshot into the bulk of still images and videos collected thus far .
Deer , a puma ’ s footprints , a gray fox , raccoon , skunks and a variety of snakes and birds have also made appearances on camera .
Sharma said they hope to finish analyzing data by 2021 and leverage ways to help provide @ @ @ @ @ @ @ thrive .

The coyote playfully pounces toward its new friend, a badger, before the duo trots off together into a culvert underneath a highway near the Santa Cruz Mountains area.
The black-and-white video clip of the animals has garnered viral attention on social media — and from the wildlife nonprofit organizations that believe the clip is the first to capture such behavior in San Francisco.
Scientific studies and Native American records indicate the two predators are known to hunt and roam together, but the coyote’s playful body language toward the first glimpse of the badger’s snout in the frame especially took wildlife groups by surprise, according to the Peninsula Open Space Trust, a Palo Alto-based nonprofit.
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“We were speechless,” said Neal Sharma, the nonprofit’s wildlife linkages program manager.
This is the best thing you'll see all day! 🐾
Our wildlife cameras spotted a #coyote and #badger together — the first time this type of behavior has been captured in the San Francisco #BayArea.https://t.co/YDcnhyiWL1 pic.twitter.com/qZQgcbwtTk — Open Space Trust (@POST_fans) February 4, 2020
Sharma said he received a text from Pathways for Wildlife, another nonprofit organization, last month after its researchers went through the first batch of data.
“We got something,” the text read, according to Sharma.
More than 50 cameras were installed near the Santa Cruz Mountains area, between San Francisco Bay and Monterey Bay, in 2018 as part of a study to identify roadkill hot spots and learn how wildlife navigates the landscape peppered with highways.
The video clip, captured in November, is only a snapshot into the bulk of still images and videos collected thus far.
Deer, a puma’s footprints, a gray fox, raccoon, skunks and a variety of snakes and birds have also made appearances on camera.
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Sharma said they hope to finish analyzing data by 2021 and leverage ways to help provide these critters with the necessary resources to thrive.


latimes--2020-02-05--Ex-LAPD officer convicted of off-duty murder in Pomona

An ex-LAPD officer who fled to Mexico for two months after shooting and killing a man in downtown Pomona was found guilty Wednesday of murder .
A jury deliberated for more than two days before finding Henry Solis , 32 , guilty of one count of second-degree murder for the 2015 killing of Salome Rodriguez Jr. , according to the Los Angeles County district attorney ’ s office .
Solis , a former Marine who served in Iraq , had spent nine months with the LAPD before he was involved in a dispute with Rodriguez at a Pomona bar .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ truck driver , and shot him multiple times .
Solis was the target of an international manhunt after authorities issued a warrant for his arrest .
He fled to Mexico and was arrested two months later .
Solis ’ attorney , Bradley Brunon , told reporters Wednesday that he was disappointed by the outcome .
“ Henry Solis is a good person .
He spent years serving the country honorably [ and ] would have made a terrific peace officer , ” Brunon said .
“ Unfortunately , this event occurred and derailed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the evidence didn ’ t warrant a murder conviction — perhaps manslaughter on a theory of provocation or imperfect self-defense .
[ The ] jury didn ’ t agree.
” The victim ’ s mother , Lidia Rodriguez , told told KABC-TV Channel 7 that she was also disappointed , having hoped for a first-degree murder conviction .
“ We prayed , and we believed in God and Junior , ” she said .
“ Today I prayed to him and the Virgin Mary , and it was happy news.
” Solis faces @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
He is scheduled to be sentenced March 11 .
City News Service and former Times staff writer Kate Mather contributed to this report .

An ex-LAPD officer who fled to Mexico for two months after shooting and killing a man in downtown Pomona was found guilty Wednesday of murder.
A jury deliberated for more than two days before finding Henry Solis, 32, guilty of one count of second-degree murder for the 2015 killing of Salome Rodriguez Jr., according to the Los Angeles County district attorney’s office.
Solis, a former Marine who served in Iraq, had spent nine months with the LAPD before he was involved in a dispute with Rodriguez at a Pomona bar. Solis then chased Rodriguez, a 23-year-old truck driver, and shot him multiple times.
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Solis was the target of an international manhunt after authorities issued a warrant for his arrest. He fled to Mexico and was arrested two months later.
Solis’ attorney, Bradley Brunon, told reporters Wednesday that he was disappointed by the outcome.
“Henry Solis is a good person. He spent years serving the country honorably [and] would have made a terrific peace officer,” Brunon said. “Unfortunately, this event occurred and derailed his plans.... We felt that the evidence didn’t warrant a murder conviction — perhaps manslaughter on a theory of provocation or imperfect self-defense. [The] jury didn’t agree.”
The victim’s mother, Lidia Rodriguez, told told KABC-TV Channel 7 that she was also disappointed, having hoped for a first-degree murder conviction.
“We prayed, and we believed in God and Junior,” she said. “Today I prayed to him and the Virgin Mary, and it was happy news.”
Solis faces 40 years to life in state prison. He is scheduled to be sentenced March 11.
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City News Service and former Times staff writer Kate Mather contributed to this report.


latimes--2020-02-05--International visitor with measles infects 4 L.A. County residents

Los Angeles County Department of Public Health officials Wednesday confirmed measles cases in four residents after an unimmunized international traveler @ @ @ @ @ For those who are not protected , measles is a highly contagious and potentially severe @ @ @ @ @ , cough , red , watery eyes and , finally , a rash , ” @ @ @ @ @ Dr. Muntu Davis said in a statement .
Those at risk should check their immunization @ @ @ @ @ provider about potential exposure if not protected .
Officials recommend watching for a rash or @ @ @ @ @ develop , staying home and calling a healthcare provider .
This is the second measles @ @ @ @ @ bad year in 2019 in which there were 20 cases among L.A. County residents as @ @ @ @ @ travelers to the county , according to public health officials .
The following public places @ @ @ @ @ cases while they were infectious :

Los Angeles County Department of Public Health officials Wednesday confirmed measles cases in four residents after an unimmunized international traveler visited the area.
“For those who are not protected, measles is a highly contagious and potentially severe disease that initially causes fever, cough, red, watery eyes and, finally, a rash,” Los Angeles County Health Officer Dr. Muntu Davis said in a statement.
Those at risk should check their immunization records and contact a healthcare provider about potential exposure if not protected. Officials recommend watching for a rash or fever, and if symptoms develop, staying home and calling a healthcare provider.
This is the second measles exposure in 2020 after a bad year in 2019 in which there were 20 cases among L.A. County residents as well as 14 cases involving travelers to the county, according to public health officials.
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The following public places were visited by the confirmed cases while they were infectious:
1/26/2020: CVS Pharmacy, 11941 San Vicente Blvd., L.A. 90049, 8:30 a.m.-7 p.m.
1/27/2020: Starbucks, 11707 San Vicente Blvd, L.A. 90049, 9 a.m.-11:15 a.m.
1/27/2020: Whole Foods, 11737 San Vicente Blvd., L.A. 90049, 9:15 a.m.-11:30 a.m.
1/27/2020: CVS Pharmacy, 11941 San Vicente Blvd., L.A. 90049, 6:30 a.m.-5 p.m.
1/27/2020: Souplantation, 11911 San Vicente Blvd., Suite 116, L.A. 90049, noon-2:30 p.m.
1/27/2020: Pinkberry Yogurt, 1612 Montana Ave., Santa Monica 90403, 6:45 p.m.-9 p.m.


latimes--2020-02-06--Gene Reynolds, director who brought war into America's living rooms with 'MASH', dies at 96

Gene Reynolds , an adventuresome Hollywood director and writer who brought the absurdities of warfare into America ’ s living rooms with “ MASH ” and used the tough inner-city schools of Los Angeles as a blueprint for “ Room 222 , ” has died at age 96 .
A child star who became more intrigued with the other side of the camera as he grew older , Reynolds died Monday of heart failure at Providence Saint Joseph Medical Center in Burbank , the Directors Guild of America confirmed .
During a long career , the director also turned to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the city desk , when he was fleshing out early episodes of “ Lou Grant , ” the popular prime-time drama in which Ed Asner — as the gruff yet ultimately kind-hearted city editor — prowls the newsroom at the fictional Los Angeles Tribune .
Reynolds told The Times that television had long depicted newspapers in a simplistic fashion — editors and executives cowering from their readers while reporters sleuthed their way through the city , more private eyes than actual journalists .
Reynolds said he sought to show that the heart and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the final waiting room for a thousand different stories .
“ Lou Grant , ” like “ MASH ” and “ Room 222 , ” had to overcome critics , poor ratings and nervous network executives to survive .
Each , though , became a runaway hit , with the final episode of “ MASH ” drawing the single largest audience for an episode in a prime-time series .
And Reynolds won Emmy awards for all three .
Eugene Reynolds Blumenthal was born April 4 , 1923 , in Cleveland .
His @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mother a model .
The family moved to Detroit and finally Los Angeles as his father sought work .
Reynolds broke into acting as an extra on “ Our Gang ” comedy short films and studied drama at the Pasadena Playhouse .
Reynolds was contracted when he was only 14 by Metro-Goldwin Mayer to play the younger version of lead actors in a long list of films , often in flashback scenes — Don Ameche as a boy in “ Sins of Man , ” a young Jimmy Stewart in “ Of Human @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in “ The Crowd Roars.
” Convinced his career would never fully blossom , he joined the U.S. Navy during the height of World War II .
When he was discharged , he turned to directing , working on “ Alfred Hitchcock Presents , ” “ My Three Sons ” and ‘ Hogan ’ s Heroes , ” which he told The Times underscored his mounting concern that there was nothing — even life in wartime — that network television couldn ’ t trivialize .
Reynolds had already met success with “ Room @ @ @ @ @ @ @ such as civil rights movement , feminism and the Vietnam War from the perspective of adolescents in urban Los Angeles , when he was asked to take on “ MASH.
” CBS was hoping to capitalize on the enormous success of the Oscar-winning 1970 Robert Altman movie of the same name , but hoped to deliver its audience something more family-friendly and benign .
Reynolds , though , opted to stick closer to the comedic darkness Altman had found in the story of a group of medics stationed at a mobile Army surgical @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Korean War .
Though the television series was set during the Korean conflict , the show was very much about the Vietnam War and its characters very much the tortured , hollowed-out pawns in a war that to them seemed pointless .
Reynolds said he sought to be sensitive to the horrors of combat and the valor of the medics and soldiers on the battlefield , but felt it necessary to focus on the absurdity of it all .
“ They ’ re in the middle of a war where everything is designed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the business of putting these bodies back together again , only to have them sent back .. which becomes like shoving a rock up a hill only to have to roll down again , ” Reynolds told author David S. Reiss for his book “ M*A*S*H : The Exclusive , Inside Story of TV ’ s Most Popular Show.
” Reynolds found the perfect vehicle for his antiwar narrative in Alan Alda , an emerging actor who brought a world-weary cynicism to the character he portrayed , Benjamin “ Hawkeye ” Pierce @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s “ Wonderful World of Disney ” — 60 minutes of family friendly wholesomeness — “ MASH ” nearly skidded off the runway .
Ratings were poor , reviews tepid and network executives skittish .
Reluctantly , CBS gave the show a second season , and it took off on a 11-year run , ending with a final two-hour episode that drew 105.9 million viewers .
Alda , Loretta Swit , Harry Morgan , Mike Farrell and others in the show ’ s entourage said Reynolds was remarkable for inviting actors into @ @ @ @ @ @ @ participate in developing and expanding their characters .
“ Gene would take us through the script , page by page , to see if anyone had any questions or suggestions , ” Farrell said in an interview with the Hollywood Reporter .
“ I thought , these people want to hear from the actors about the script ?
Oh , my God , I ’ m in heaven.
” During his career , Reynolds was nominated for 22 Emmy awards , winning six times .
He served twice as the president of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ survived by his wife , Ann , and a son , Andrew .

Gene Reynolds, center, poses in 2008 with “MASH” stars Loretta Swit and William Christopher in front of some restored military vehicles used in the show.
Gene Reynolds, an adventuresome Hollywood director and writer who brought the absurdities of warfare into America’s living rooms with “MASH” and used the tough inner-city schools of Los Angeles as a blueprint for “Room 222,” has died at age 96.
A child star who became more intrigued with the other side of the camera as he grew older, Reynolds died Monday of heart failure at Providence St. Joseph Medical Center in Burbank, the Directors Guild of America confirmed.
During a long career, the director also turned to the Los Angeles Times, and particularly the city desk, when he was fleshing out early episodes of “Lou Grant,” the popular prime-time drama in which Ed Asner — as the gruff yet kindhearted city editor — prowls the newsroom at the fictional Los Angeles Tribune.
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Reynolds told The Times that television had long depicted newspapers in a simplistic fashion — editors and executives cowering from their readers while reporters sleuthed their way through the city, more private eyes than actual journalists. Reynolds said he sought to show that the heart and soul of the newspaper was its newsroom, the final waiting room for a thousand different stories.
“Lou Grant,” like “MASH” and “Room 222,” had to overcome critics, poor ratings and nervous network executives to survive. Each, though, became a runaway hit, with the final episode of “MASH” drawing the single largest audience for an episode in a prime-time series. And Reynolds won Emmy awards for all three.
Eugene Reynolds Blumenthal was born April 4, 1923, in Cleveland. His father was a struggling businessman, his mother a model. The family moved to Detroit and finally Los Angeles as his father sought work. Reynolds broke into acting as an extra on “Our Gang” comedy short films and studied drama at the Pasadena Playhouse.
Reynolds was contracted when he was only 14 by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer to play the younger version of lead actors in a long list of films, often in flashback scenes — Don Ameche as a boy in “Sins of Man,” a young Jimmy Stewart in “Of Human Hearts” and a pint-sized Robert Taylor in “The Crowd Roars.” Convinced his career would never fully blossom, he joined the U.S. Navy during the height of World War II.
When he was discharged, he turned to directing, working on “Alfred Hitchcock Presents,” “My Three Sons” and “Hogan’s Heroes,” which he told The Times underscored his mounting concern that there was nothing — even life in wartime — that network television couldn’t trivialize.
Reynolds had already met success with “Room 222,” which tackled pressing issues such as the civil rights movement, feminism and the Vietnam War from the perspective of adolescents in urban Los Angeles, when he was asked to take on “MASH.”
CBS was hoping to capitalize on the enormous success of the Oscar-winning 1970 Robert Altman movie of the same name but hoped to deliver its audience something more family-friendly and benign.
My friend and mentor Gene Reynolds has died but his brain and heart lives on in MASH, the classic he helped create, and produced and directed. He changed my life and touched the lives of tens of millions of us. Goodbye, farewell and amen, Gene. Love you. — Alan Alda (@alanalda) February 5, 2020
Reynolds, though, opted to stick closer to the comedic darkness Altman had found in the story of a group of medics stationed at a mobile Army surgical hospital near the front lines during the Korean War. Though the television series was set during the Korean conflict, the show was very much about the Vietnam War and its characters very much the tortured, hollowed-out pawns in a war that to them seemed pointless.
Reynolds said he sought to be sensitive to the horrors of combat and the valor of the medics and soldiers on the battlefield, but he felt it necessary to focus on the absurdity of it all.
“They’re in the middle of a war where everything is designed to kill, but they’re in the business of putting these bodies back together again, only to have them sent back … which becomes like shoving a rock up a hill only to have it roll down again,” Reynolds told author David S. Reiss for his book “MASH: The Exclusive, Inside Story of TV’s Most Popular Show.”
Reynolds found the perfect vehicle for his antiwar narrative in Alan Alda, an emerging actor who brought a world-weary cynicism to the character he portrayed, Benjamin “Hawkeye” Pierce.
Still, put up against ABC’s “Wonderful World of Disney” — 60 minutes of family-friendly wholesomeness — “MASH” nearly skidded off the runway. Ratings were poor, reviews tepid and network executives skittish.
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Reluctantly, CBS gave the show a second season, and it took off on an 11-year run, ending with a final two-hour episode that drew 105.9 million viewers.
Alda, Loretta Swit, Harry Morgan, Mike Farrell and others in the show’s entourage said Reynolds was remarkable for inviting actors into the script-writing process, urging them to participate in developing and expanding their characters.
“Gene would take us through the script, page by page, to see if anyone had any questions or suggestions,” Farrell said in an interview with the Hollywood Reporter. “I thought, ‘These people want to hear from the actors about the script? Oh, my God, I’m in heaven.’”
During his career, Reynolds was nominated for 22 Emmy awards, winning six times. He served twice as the president of the Directors Guild of America.
He is survived by his wife, Ann, and a son, Andrew.


latimes--2020-02-06--Ousted EPA official in California says he was pushed out for being too bipartisan

Abruptly dismissed from office Wednesday , the Environmental Protection Agency ’ s top official for California and the Pacific Southwest speculated he was terminated because of his congenial relationship with Democratic politicians .
In a statement released Thursday , and provided to The Times , former Trump administration appointee Mike Stoker said , “ last time I checked , the EPA ’ s mission to protect the public health and environment is not a partisan issue … at least it never has been for me.
” Stoker was appointed head of Region 9 , which includes California , Nevada , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Territories and 148 Indian tribes , in May 2018 .
On Wednesday at 8 a.m. , he received a phone call at home from EPA Chief of Staff Ryan Jackson and Associate Deputy Administrator Doug Benevento informing him of his immediate termination .
When he asked for a justification , “ there was a long pause ” and he was told it wasn ’ t personal , Stoker said .
Within minutes , his phone and laptop were disabled .
A spokesman for the EPA would not comment on the reasons for Stoker @ @ @ @ @ @ @ weeks ago he was warned by a senior EPA official that “ it wasn ’ t going unnoticed how many Democrat members in Congress were commending me for the job I was doing.
” Stoker noted that several Democratic politicians had praised his work , including House Speaker Nancy Pelosi ( D-San Francisco ) , Rep. Tom O ’ Halleran ( D-Ariz. ) , Rep. Scott Peters ( D-San Diego ) and Rep. Tulsi Gabbard ( D-Hawaii ) .
He pointed to his work on the cleanup of Hunters Point in San Francisco @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Diego-Tijuana corridor , and his focus on transuranium waste in Arizona and coral reefs in Hawaii .
In addition to his friendliness with Democrats , Stoker suggested there could have been other reasons for his dismissal .
He said there were “ a lot of specific situations that someday I will reveal but that day will not occur while the president is still in office .
I was appointed by the president and I remain loyal to the president.
” In an email sent to Region 9 staff members Wednesday afternoon , EPA @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would like to thank Mike Stoker for his service to the EPA.
” He then added , “ I wish him and his family the best in their future endeavors.
” Deborah Jordan , the region ’ s deputy administrator , will take over as acting head .
She has been deputy administrator since 2016 .
Before that , she worked on Clean Air Act regulatory matters for EPA headquarters and Region 9 .
Stoker ’ s tenure was mired in controversy .
In 2018 , a few months after he was appointed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ complaint was filed with the EPA ’ s inspector general regarding his infrequent visits to the region ’ s main office in San Francisco .
In March 2019 , the EPA ’ s inspector general issued a “ management alert.
” It showed that Stoker spent only 20 percent of his time in San Francisco , where 90 percent of the staff is based .
Three weeks later , according to reports from E & E News , Jackson instituted a yearlong “ pilot program , ” allowing Stoker to switch his duty @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Stoker was an avid Trump supporter , and is rumored to be the mastermind of the “ Lock her up !
” chant that was shouted at countless rallies in opposition of Hillary Clinton ’ s campaign .
Stoker confirmed he was the likely provenance of the rallying cry , noting in 2016 he spurred California delegates to yell it on the floor during Gov .
Chris Christie ’ s speech at the Republican National Convention .
“ I never heard it said before that , ” he said .
Jeff Ruch @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility , an advocacy organization for government employees working on environmental issues said that it was unlikely Stoker would be replaced by a permanent regional head , “ given the long time it took to fill this regional administrator slot and the tendency of the current administration to leave top positions vacant.
” He added that while the lack of permanent leadership was problematic in some area of government , “ that will not be the case here as Stoker ’ s short tenure was undistinguished by any concrete @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Imperial Beach , however , said Stoker was an environmental champion for his city and the cleanup of the Tijuana River .
“ From Day One , he made clear it [ the river ] was a priority , ” Dedina said , describing Stoker as a “ beach guy ” who had an appreciation for the coastline and estuaries of Southern California .
“ I ’ ll always be grateful to him.
” Before taking the regional administrator job , Stoker served as director of government affairs for UnitedAg , one of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ According to his EPA biography , he was also a member of Santa Barbara County ’ s Board of Supervisors from 1986-1994 , chairman of the California Agricultural Labor Relations Board from 1995-2000 , and California deputy secretary of state from 2000-2002 .
Stoker was a supporter of former EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt before Pruitt resigned amid numerous controversies in 2018 .
At the time , Stoker called Pruitt ’ s resignation “ definitely a little bit different.
” “ I ’ ve been around politics long enough that nothing is a surprise @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s departure .

Mike Stoker, regional administrator of the US EPA , was pushed out of his job Wednesday. He speculates it was because he worked across the aisle with Democrats.
Abruptly dismissed from office Wednesday, the Environmental Protection Agency’s top official for California and the Pacific Southwest speculated he was terminated because of his congenial relationship with Democratic politicians.
In a statement released Thursday, and provided to The Times, former Trump administration appointee Mike Stoker said, “last time I checked, the EPA’s mission to protect the public health and environment is not a partisan issue … at least it never has been for me.”
Stoker was appointed head of Region 9, which includes California, Nevada, Arizona, Hawaii, the Pacific Island Territories and 148 American Indian tribes, in May 2018.
On Wednesday at 8 a.m., he received a phone call at home from EPA Chief of Staff Ryan Jackson and Associate Deputy Administrator Doug Benevento informing him of his immediate termination.
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When he asked for a justification, “there was a long pause” and he was told it wasn’t personal, Stoker said. Within minutes, his phone and laptop were disabled.
A spokesman for the EPA would not comment on the reasons for Stoker’s dismissal.
Stoker said three weeks ago he was warned by a senior EPA official that “it wasn’t going unnoticed how many Democrat members in Congress were commending me for the job I was doing.”
Stoker noted that several Democratic politicians had praised his work, including House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-San Francisco), Rep. Tom O’Halleran (D-Ariz.), Rep. Scott Peters (D-San Diego) and Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (D-Hawaii). He pointed to his work on the cleanup of Hunters Point in San Francisco, addressing transboundary sewage in the San Diego-Tijuana corridor, and his focus on transuranium waste in Arizona and coral reefs in Hawaii.
In addition to his friendliness with Democrats, Stoker suggested there could have been other reasons for his dismissal. He said there were “a lot of specific situations that someday I will reveal but that day will not occur while the president is still in office. I was appointed by the president and I remain loyal to the president.”
In an email sent to Region 9 staff members Wednesday afternoon, EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler wrote, “I would like to thank Mike Stoker for his service to the EPA.”
He then added, “I wish him and his family the best in their future endeavors.”
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Deborah Jordan, the region’s deputy administrator, will take over as acting head. She has been deputy administrator since 2016. Before that, she worked on Clean Air Act regulatory matters for EPA headquarters and Region 9.
Stoker’s tenure was mired in controversy. In 2018, a few months after he was appointed regional administrator, a “hotline” complaint was filed with the EPA’s inspector general regarding his infrequent visits to the region’s main office in San Francisco.
In March 2019, the EPA’s inspector general issued a “management alert.” It showed that Stoker spent only 20% of his time in San Francisco, where 90% of the staff is based.
Three weeks later, according to reports from E&E News, Jackson instituted a yearlong “pilot program,” allowing Stoker to switch his duty base from San Francisco to Los Angeles.
Stoker was an avid Trump supporter, and is rumored to be the mastermind of the “Lock her up!” chant that was shouted at countless rallies in opposition of Hillary Clinton’s campaign.
Stoker confirmed he was the likely provenance of the rallying cry, noting in 2016 he spurred California delegates to yell it on the floor during Gov. Chris Christie’s speech at the Republican National Convention.
“I never heard it said before that,” he said.
Jeff Ruch, director of the Pacific region of Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility, an advocacy organization for government employees working on environmental issues said that it was unlikely Stoker would be replaced by a permanent regional head, “given the long time it took to fill this regional administrator slot and the tendency of the current administration to leave top positions vacant.”
He added that while the lack of permanent leadership was problematic in some area of government, “that will not be the case here as Stoker’s short tenure was undistinguished by any concrete accomplishment.”
Serge Dedina, mayor of Imperial Beach, however, said Stoker was an environmental champion for his city and the cleanup of the Tijuana River.
“From Day One, he made clear it [the river] was a priority,” Dedina said, describing Stoker as a “beach guy” who had an appreciation for the coastline and estuaries of Southern California. “I’ll always be grateful to him.”
Before taking the regional administrator job, Stoker served as director of government affairs for UnitedAg, one of California’s largest agricultural associations. According to his EPA biography, he was also a member of Santa Barbara County’s Board of Supervisors from 1986-1994, chairman of the California Agricultural Labor Relations Board from 1995-2000, and California deputy secretary of state from 2000-2002.
In a statement, San Diego congressman Peters said he was surprised by Stoker’s sudden removal, and urged the administration to quickly appoint someone “who has a substantial understanding of the problems our region faces.”


latimes--2020-02-06--Fast-moving brush fire forces evacuations in Riverside

A fast-moving brush fire in Riverside quickly grew to 70 acres and briefly prompted evacuations Thursday , authorities said .
The fire erupted in the Santa Ana River bottom off Grand and Rubidoux avenues shortly before 10 a.m. , spurring the closure of the Santa Ana River trail between Ryan Bonaminio and Anza Narrows park , Riverside Fire Department Capt .
Brian Guzzetta said .
By 12:30 p.m. , the size of the small blaze was estimated at seven to 10 acres .
About an hour later , though , authorities reported a significant increase in fire activity .
Flames @ @ @ @ @ @ @ several homes that overlook the river bottom , and firefighting efforts were hampered by a heavy cover of dry brush in the area , Guzzetta said .
Authorities ordered the evacuation of about 25 homes along Old Ranch Road and Park Cliff Court and opened Dales Senior Center at 3936 Chestnut St. as an evacuation center .
All evacuation orders were lifted about an hour later .
Officials credited a shift in the winds and the arrival of mutual-aid firefighting resources , including aircraft .
The fire was at 70 acres and 20 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and fire investigators were working to determine a cause .

An unattended encampment may have sparked a fast-moving brush fire in Riverside that quickly grew to 70 acres and briefly prompted evacuations Thursday, authorities said.
The fire — which officials said was “human-caused, most probable due to an unattended encampment” — erupted in the Santa Ana River bottom off Grand and Rubidoux avenues shortly before 10 a.m., spurring the closure of the Santa Ana River trail between Ryan Bonaminio and Anza Narrows parks, Riverside Fire Capt. Brian Guzzetta said.
By 12:30 p.m., the size of the blaze was estimated at 7 to 10 acres. About an hour later, though, authorities reported a significant increase in activity. Flames had burned up to the backyards of several homes that overlook the river bottom, and firefighting efforts were hampered by a heavy cover of dry brush, Guzzetta said.
Authorities ordered the evacuation of about 25 homes along Old Ranch Road and Park Cliff Court and opened an evacuation center at a seniors center.
All evacuation orders were lifted about an hour later. Officials credited a shift in the winds and the arrival of mutual-aid firefighting resources, including aircraft.
The fire was holding at 70 acres and was 50% contained as of 8 p.m. Full containment is expected late Friday evening, fire officials said.
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No structures were damaged, and no injuries were reported.


latimes--2020-02-06--Chapman student arrested after racist, homophobic rant is caught on video

A man who was caught on video spouting an expletive-laden racist and homophobic rant and destroying property at Chapman University “ is no longer a student ” at the school , officials said Thursday .
“ Racist and homophobic conduct will not be tolerated on this campus , and we took decisive and swift action , ” Chapman President Daniele Struppa said in a statement posted to Twitter .
“ A situation such as this is difficult , it affected many and we want to provide the needed support as we all move through this difficult time.
” Dayton Kingery @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Tuesday at Orange County Jail in Santa Ana and booked on suspicion of making criminal threats and felony vandalism for allegedly breaking a computer inside a backpack that he stomped during a tirade , Orange police Sgt .
Phil McMullin said .
Kingery , who police say was intoxicated at the time , also resisted arrest , scuffling with a university public safety officer who is over 65 , resulting in an additional charge of elder abuse , McMullin said .
Jail records show Kingery posted bond and was released from custody Wednesday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Twitter on Tuesday shows a man seated inside what appears to be a classroom .
After announcing that he ’ s been drinking , the man uses the N-word as well as a homophobic slurs and begins railing against black and gay people .
A separate video also posted to Twitter shows the same man , now standing , arguing with someone in the room , saying , “ You don ’ t know who I am , guy .
I ’ m not kidding ... bury you .
I ’ m worth @ @ @ @ @ @ @ He then seems to poke another man in the classroom , using a homophobic epithet to address him .
At that point in the video , other students shepherd the man out of the room and toss him a backpack .
“ That ’ s not my backpack , ” the man says , before hurling it down the hallway , chasing after it and jumping on it .
Struppa initially addressed the incident Tuesday night on Twitter , saying , “ This type of behavior is absolutely not tolerated ” and said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ apologies to the black and LGBTQIA communities who were specifically targeted during today ’ s incident.
” “ Together , we must create a safe environment for all students , faculty and staff , ” Struppa said .
“ Each one of us is equally responsible and accountable for a campus climate that respects our differences and celebrates our diversity .
”

A man who was caught on video spouting an expletive-laden racist and homophobic rant and destroying property at Chapman University “is no longer a student” at the school, officials said Thursday.
“Racist and homophobic conduct will not be tolerated on this campus, and we took decisive and swift action,” Chapman President Daniele Struppa said in a statement posted to Twitter. “A situation such as this is difficult, it affected many and we want to provide the needed support as we all move through this difficult time.”
Dayton Kingery, 21, was taken into custody Tuesday at Orange County Jail in Santa Ana and booked on suspicion of making criminal threats and felony vandalism for allegedly breaking a computer inside a backpack that he stomped during a tirade, Orange police Sgt. Phil McMullin said.
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Kingery, who police say was intoxicated at the time, also resisted arrest, scuffling with a university public safety officer who is over 65, resulting in an additional charge of elder abuse, McMullin said.
Jail records show Kingery posted bond and was released from custody Wednesday.
A video that was posted to Twitter on Tuesday shows a man seated inside what appears to be a classroom. After announcing that he’s been drinking, the man uses the N-word as well as a homophobic slurs and begins railing against black and gay people.
A separate video also posted to Twitter shows the same man, now standing, arguing with someone in the room, saying, “You don’t know who I am, guy. I’m not kidding ... bury you. I’m worth, like, $50 million.”
He then seems to poke another man in the classroom, using a homophobic epithet to address him. At that point in the video, other students shepherd the man out of the room and toss him a backpack.
“That’s not my backpack,” the man says, before hurling it down the hallway, chasing after it and jumping on it.
Struppa initially addressed the incident Tuesday night on Twitter, saying, “This type of behavior is absolutely not tolerated” and said he wanted “to extend my deepest apologies to the black and LGBTQIA communities who were specifically targeted during today’s incident.”
“Together, we must create a safe environment for all students, faculty and staff,” Struppa said. “Each one of us is equally responsible and accountable for a campus climate that respects our differences and celebrates our diversity.”
Times staff writer Priscella Vega contributed to this report.