latimes--2020-08-04--California's coronavirus test result data may be flawed, top health official says

A steep decline in California ’ s coronavirus infection rate announced this week by Gov .
Gavin Newson may not be accurate , according to the state ’ s top public health official who said Tuesday that the state ’ s data system used to process COVID-19 test results is marred with technical issues .
The problems have caused delays in analyzing test results and cast doubt on Newsom ’ s announcement Monday of a 21.2 % decline in the seven-day average rate for positive infections compared with the average from the week before .
California Health and Human Services @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the seven-day positivity rate is absolutely affected ” by the issue .
It ’ s unclear to what extent and for how long cases have been undercounted , and how this situation differs from the more routine delays when test reporting lags over weekends .
The news comes as officials have expressed guarded optimism that the surge of COVID-19 cases in California might be peaking .
A Times analysis found that California has now experienced its first weekly reduction in new confirmed coronavirus cases for the first time in 12 weeks .
For @ @ @ @ @ @ @ California reported 59,697 new cases , a drop of 9 % from the previous week of 65,634 cases , which was a pandemic record .
On Tuesday , Los Angeles County public health officials reported an additional 1,901 coronavirus cases and 57 related deaths .
In a statement , the health department said it learned of new technical issues related to the collection of test results during an emergency meeting Monday night with state officials .
“ This issue has undercounted the county ’ s positive cases and affects the number of COVID-19 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tracing efforts , ” the county said .
The health department is working to contact at least 81 laboratories to obtain test results since July 26 in order to determine the accurate count .
The update follows the county ’ s warning last week that it was expecting a backlog in cases “ due to previous reporting delays in the state electronic lab system.
” The following day , the county reported highs of 4,825 new coronavirus cases and 91 deaths .
Other counties , including Sacramento , Placer and Orange — which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ deaths — have recently included a warning on their dashboards that case counts may not be accurate .
“ The state ’ s electronic disease reporting system has been experiencing issues processing incoming reports .
Therefore , recent data published on the Sacramento County Public Health COVID-19 dashboards are likely to be an underestimate of true cases in the County , ” Sacramento Public Health Department said .
The undercount issue does not affect hospitalization and intensive care data , Ghaly said .
Those numbers recently plateaued across California after the state saw @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and surpassed 9,000 coronavirus- related deaths .
Some counties continue to be hit hard as others see a decline in severity .
On Tuesday , San Bernardino County reported 59 additional deaths — its highest single-day count to date .
Hospitalization data are collected differently than the state ’ s test result numbers , which are gathered through CalREDIE — an electronic system that feeds information from laboratories to the state and local health systems .
California Department of Public Health officials are trying to determine “ where data is getting stuck , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ re not sure when we ’ ll have a definitive fix to the problem.
” In the meantime , the health department is implementing manual processes to retrieve the information .
During a news briefing Tuesday afternoon , Ghaly stressed the importance of focusing on long-term trends over snapshot data .

A steep decline in California’s coronavirus infection rate announced this week by Gov. Gavin Newson may not be accurate, according to the state’s top public health official who said Tuesday that the state’s data system used to process COVID-19 test results is marred with technical issues.
The problems have caused delays in analyzing test results and cast doubt on Newsom’s announcement Monday of a 21.2% decline in the seven-day average rate for positive infections compared with the average from the week before.
California Health and Human Services Secretary Dr. Mark Ghaly said that “the seven-day positivity rate is absolutely affected” by the issue. It’s unclear to what extent and for how long cases have been undercounted, and how this situation differs from the more routine delays when test reporting lags over weekends.
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The news comes as officials have expressed guarded optimism that the surge of COVID-19 cases in California might be peaking.
A Times analysis found that California has now experienced its first weekly reduction in new confirmed coronavirus cases for the first time in 12 weeks. For the seven-day period that ended Sunday, California reported 59,697 new cases, a drop of 9% from the previous week of 65,634 cases, which was a pandemic record.
On Tuesday, Los Angeles County public health officials reported an additional 1,901 coronavirus cases and 57 related deaths. In a statement, the health department said it learned of new technical issues related to the collection of test results during an emergency meeting Monday night with state officials.
“This issue has undercounted the county’s positive cases and affects the number of COVID-19 cases reported each day and our contact tracing efforts,” the county said.
The health department is working to contact at least 81 laboratories to obtain test results since July 26 in order to determine the accurate count.
Tracking the coronavirus in California The latest maps and charts on the spread of COVID-19 in California.
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The update follows the county’s warning last week that it was expecting a backlog in cases “due to previous reporting delays in the state electronic lab system.” The following day, the county reported highs of 4,825 new coronavirus cases and 91 deaths. Other counties, including Sacramento, Placer and Orange — which reported 263 additional cases Tuesday and two deaths — have recently included a warning on their dashboards that case counts may not be accurate.
“The state’s electronic disease reporting system has been experiencing issues processing incoming reports. Therefore, recent data published on the Sacramento County Public Health COVID-19 dashboards are likely to be an underestimate of true cases in the County,” Sacramento Public Health Department said.
The undercount issue does not affect hospitalization and intensive care data, Ghaly said. Those numbers recently plateaued across California after the state saw two days of record-setting fatalities last week and surpassed 9,000 coronavirus- related deaths.
Some counties continue to be hit hard as others see a decline in severity. On Tuesday, San Bernardino County reported 59 additional deaths — its highest single-day count to date.
Hospitalization data are collected differently than the state’s test result numbers, which are gathered through CalREDIE — an electronic system that feeds information from laboratories to the state and local health systems.
California Department of Public Health officials are trying to determine “where data is getting stuck,” Ghaly said.
“We’re not sure when we’ll have a definitive fix to the problem.”
In the meantime, the health department is implementing manual processes to retrieve the information. During a news briefing Tuesday afternoon, Ghaly stressed the importance of focusing on long-term trends over snapshot data.


latimes--2020-08-04--A wild party at Mulholland Drive mansion, a deadly shooting and fears of COVID-19 spread

What started as a massive , boisterous party held in defiance of coronavirus-related health orders ended in gunfire early Tuesday , leaving one woman dead , four other people injured and raising new concerns about private gatherings as a way of spreading COVID-19 .
The shooting was reported about 12:45 a.m. , hours after Los Angeles police were first called to the home in the 13200 block of Mulholland Drive following numerous complaints from neighbors about the size of the gathering after buses were seen dropping off partygoers .
LAPD Lt. Chris Ramirez said officers found two women and a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bars and nightclubs closed because of the COVID-19 pandemic , health officials have expressed concern about private parties being held in upscale neighborhoods .
The LAPD has reported receiving an increase in calls about large , illicit parties in the Hollywood Hills in particular .
When asked about the incident during a briefing Tuesday , California Health and Human Services Secretary Dr. Mark Ghaly said the party sounded “ like a high-risk experience for those who were there and , frankly , for the loved ones that they go home to.
” He @ @ @ @ @ @ @ local partners to help ensure compliance with coronavirus-related health orders and that any issues need to be addressed head-on .
“ I hope that we continue to have our local partners not just saying and reminding people of the message , but enforcing public health orders — not just the state public health orders , but the orders at the local level that I know , in L.A. County , are strong as well , ” Ghaly said .
Three of the victims were hit by gunfire , according to the Los Angeles @ @ @ @ @ @ @ taken to hospitals in critical or grave condition .
A 35-year-old woman later died , police said .
The other two were stable , officials said .
Two more people were injured in the incident , authorities said , but it was unclear how .
One woman went to a hospital on her own , and a man was taken to a hospital from nearby , according to Ramirez .
Both have since been discharged .
Ramirez said the shooting is considered a gang-related homicide .
Social media activity , in part , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gang activity , he added .
No arrests have been made .
Videos from the mansion posted on social media appear to capture bursts of gunfire .
About 200 people were at the party in the Beverly Crest mansion when police first entered about 7 p.m .
Although officers cited and impounded some vehicles that were illegally parked , they did not break up the party — even though gatherings of any size are prohibited under Los Angeles County ’ s coronavirus health order .
“ When the officers arrived , they did @ @ @ @ @ @ @ roadway and vehicles kind of blocking , double-parked and stuff , stacked on the roadway , ” Ramirez said during a morning media briefing .
“ At that point , the officers met with the responsible party and security officers at that location .
They were able to get their compliance , to help get the people back into the private party , and at the same time , did some enforcement.
” Video broadcast by KCAL-TV showed dozens of people on the mansion ’ s terrace .
Some danced , while others @ @ @ @ @ @ @ May , officers went to a raging house party with more than 100 people that ended when a partygoer accidentally shot himself in the groin .
Rapper Megan Thee Stallion said she suffered “ gunshot wounds ” outside a Hollywood Hills mansion in July — though an LAPD account of the incident made no mention of her being struck by gunfire and referred only to her suffering a foot injury .
The department is continuing to investigate that incident .
Sheila Irani , a member of the Hollywood United Neighborhood Council , said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ noise violations in the hills since coronavirus restrictions were put in place .
“ Since COVID , they ’ ve moved all the parties to the hills , ” she said .
“ The kids are going stir crazy.
” She said fines , threats by the city and other sanctions don ’ t seem to deter some property owners .
In her neighborhood , residents have taken to bombarding property management companies with complaints and trying to pressure short-term rental firms into delisting properties .
In 2018 , the Los Angeles City @ @ @ @ @ @ @ David Ryu , who represents Hollywood Hills , that imposed fines on both party hosts and homeowners .
After the May shooting , Ryu said he was looking at expanding the ordinance to crack down on those who continue to flout the law and put others at risk .
“ This has always been dangerous , but during a pandemic , it is especially selfish and stupid , ” he said .
“ This is no longer a standard-of-life issue ; it ’ s a standard-of-health issue .
Whether it ’ s by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of physical distancing rules , we must crack down on these parties and hold party hosts and homeowners accountable.
” The Los Angeles city attorney ’ s office has said homeowners with a history of renting to partygoers will face more than a slap on the wrist .
“ The consequences can range from a citation up to criminal prosecution and six months in jail .
Those consequences don ’ t just apply to the person throwing the party ; it can apply to ... the homeowner , ” said Ethan Weaver , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ If your house has been cited for a party violation in the past , you as a property owner can be held responsible , even if you are not present .
”

Luke Money, Richard Winton, Leila Miller

Three people were shot, one fatally, at a party at a home on Mulholland Drive where police had investigated a disturbance hours earlier.
What started as a massive, boisterous party held in defiance of coronavirus-related health orders ended in gunfire early Tuesday, leaving one woman dead, four other people injured and raising new concerns about private gatherings as a way of spreading COVID-19.
The shooting was reported about 12:45 a.m., hours after Los Angeles police were first called to the home in the 13200 block of Mulholland Drive following numerous complaints from neighbors about the size of the gathering after buses were seen dropping off partygoers.
For the record: An earlier version of this article misidentified the location where officers were called to a house party on Mulholland Drive. Police were called to a home in the 13200 block of Mulholland Drive, not the 1300 block.
LAPD Lt. Chris Ramirez said officers found two women and a man suffering from gunshot wounds.
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People who attended the party last night watch from Mulholland Drive as LAPD Police investigate a shooting at a home on 13200 Mulholland Drive in the Beverly Crest area of Los Angeles. (Al Seib/Los Angeles Times)
With bars and nightclubs closed because of the COVID-19 pandemic, health officials have expressed concern about private parties being held in upscale neighborhoods. The LAPD has reported receiving an increase in calls about large, illicit parties in the Hollywood Hills in particular.
When asked about the incident during a briefing Tuesday, California Health and Human Services Secretary Dr. Mark Ghaly said the party sounded “like a high-risk experience for those who were there and, frankly, for the loved ones that they go home to.”
He added that the state depends on its local partners to help ensure compliance with coronavirus-related health orders and that any issues need to be addressed head-on.
“I hope that we continue to have our local partners not just saying and reminding people of the message, but enforcing public health orders — not just the state public health orders, but the orders at the local level that I know, in L.A. County, are strong as well,” Ghaly said.
Aerial view of a large house party on Mulholland Drive in Beverly Crest, where three people were shot. (KTLA)
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Three of the victims were hit by gunfire, according to the Los Angeles Fire Department. All the victims were taken to hospitals in critical or grave condition. A 35-year-old woman later died, police said. The other two were stable, officials said.
Two more people were injured in the incident, authorities said, but it was unclear how. One woman went to a hospital on her own, and a man was taken to a hospital from nearby, according to Ramirez. Both have since been discharged.
Ramirez said the shooting is considered a gang-related homicide. Social media activity, in part, led detectives to tie the shooting to gang activity, he added.
A vehicle departs the shooting scene at 13200 Mulholland Drive in the Beverly Crest area of Los Angeles. (Al Seib/Los Angeles Times)
No arrests have been made.
Videos from the mansion posted on social media appear to capture bursts of gunfire.
About 200 people were at the party in the Beverly Crest mansion when police first entered about 7 p.m. Although officers cited and impounded some vehicles that were illegally parked, they did not break up the party — even though gatherings of any size are prohibited under Los Angeles County’s coronavirus health order.
“When the officers arrived, they did notice large amounts of people on the roadway and vehicles kind of blocking, double-parked and stuff, stacked on the roadway,” Ramirez said during a morning media briefing.
“At that point, the officers met with the responsible party and security officers at that location. They were able to get their compliance, to help get the people back into the private party, and at the same time, did some enforcement.”
Video broadcast by KCAL-TV showed dozens of people on the mansion’s terrace. Some danced, while others socialized in a swimming pool.
In May, officers went to a raging house party with more than 100 people that ended when a partygoer accidentally shot himself in the groin.
Rapper Megan Thee Stallion said she suffered “gunshot wounds” outside a Hollywood Hills mansion in July — though an LAPD account of the incident made no mention of her being struck by gunfire and referred only to her suffering a foot injury. The department is continuing to investigate that incident.
Sheila Irani, a member of the Hollywood United Neighborhood Council, said police are constantly responding to calls for noise violations in the hills since coronavirus restrictions were put in place.
“Since COVID, they’ve moved all the parties to the hills,” she said. “The kids are going stir crazy.”
She said fines, threats by the city and other sanctions don’t seem to deter some property owners. In her neighborhood, residents have taken to bombarding property management companies with complaints and trying to pressure short-term rental firms into delisting properties.
In 2018, the Los Angeles City Council approved an ordinance proposed by Councilman David Ryu, who represents Hollywood Hills, that imposed fines on both party hosts and homeowners.
After the May shooting, Ryu said he was looking at expanding the ordinance to crack down on those who continue to flout the law and put others at risk.
“This has always been dangerous, but during a pandemic, it is especially selfish and stupid,” he said. “This is no longer a standard-of-life issue; it’s a standard-of-health issue. Whether it’s by expanding the party-house law or stronger enforcement of physical distancing rules, we must crack down on these parties and hold party hosts and homeowners accountable.”
The Los Angeles city attorney’s office has said homeowners with a history of renting to partygoers will face more than a slap on the wrist.
“The consequences can range from a citation up to criminal prosecution and six months in jail. Those consequences don’t just apply to the person throwing the party; it can apply to ... the homeowner,” said Ethan Weaver, the office’s Hollywood-area prosecutor.
“If your house has been cited for a party violation in the past, you as a property owner can be held responsible, even if you are not present.”


latimes--2020-08-05--Party houses defying COVID-19 orders may have utilities shut off, mayor says

Following reports of large parties that violate health orders aimed at slowing the spread of the novel coronavirus , Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti announced Wednesday that he will authorize the city to shut off water and power services to residents who hold such gatherings .
Beginning Friday night , if Los Angeles Police Department officers respond to and verify that a large party is occurring at a property , and there ’ s evidence that the venue has repeatedly engaged in such behavior , the department will request that the city shut off water and power services within 48 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nightclubs and bars have already been closed , “ these large house parties have essentially become nightclubs in the hills ” and often happen at homes that are vacant or used for short-term rentals .
“ The consequences of these large parties ripple far beyond just those parties , ” he said .
“ They ripple throughout our entire community because the virus can quickly and easily spread.
” The issue of large , private gatherings received heightened scrutiny this week following a boisterous party Monday at a mansion on Mulholland Drive that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 200 people were at the party when police first entered about 7 p.m. after numerous complaints from neighbors about the size of the gathering .
Although officers cited and impounded some vehicles that were illegally parked , they did not break up the party — even though gatherings of any size are prohibited under Los Angeles County ’ s coronavirus health order .
A shooting was reported about 12:45 a.m. LAPD Lt. Chris Ramirez said officers found two women and a man suffering from gunshot wounds .
All the victims were taken to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and a 35-year-old woman later died .
The other two were stable , officials said .
Ramirez said the shooting is considered a gang-related homicide .
Social media activity , in part , led detectives to tie the shooting to gang activity , he added .
L.A. Councilman David Ryu also introduced a motion Wednesday to increase penalties and provide additional enforcement options against property owners who defy city laws or building and safety rules , including the city ’ s 2018 party-house ordinance .
The party on Mulholland Drive was the latest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ during the pandemic .
The county has also announced an investigation into a party thrown for “ first responders ” at a Hollywood bar on July 31 that violated social distancing requirements .

Leila Miller, Richard Winton, Luke Money

LAPD investigators continue their work along Mulholland Drive, where three people were shot, one of them fatally, during a large party at a mansion early Tuesday morning. (Al Seib/Los Angeles Times)
Party attendees look at the house located at 13200 Mulholland Dr in Beverly Crest area of LA, where gunfire early Tuesday left one woman dead and sent two other people to a hospital. (Al Seib/Los Angeles Times)
LAPD blocks of the road along Mulholland Drive in Beverly Crest, where three people were shot, one of them fatally, during a house party. (Al Seib/Los Angeles Times)
LAPD investigators continue their work along Mulholland Drive, where three people were shot, one of them fatally, during a large party at a mansion early Tuesday. (Al Seib/Los Angeles Times)
View of the home in the 13200 block of Mulholland Drive, where gunfire early Tuesday left one woman dead and sent two other people to a hospital, at a massive party held in defiance of coronavirus-related health orders. (Al Seib/Los Angeles Times)
Aerial view of a large house party on Mulholland Drive in Beverly Crest, where three people were shot. (KTLA)
Following reports of large parties that violate health orders aimed at slowing the spread of the novel coronavirus, Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti announced Wednesday that he will authorize the city to shut off water and power services to residents who hold such gatherings.
Beginning Friday night, if Los Angeles Police Department officers respond to and verify that a large party is occurring at a property, and there’s evidence that the venue has repeatedly engaged in such behavior, the department will request that the city shut off water and power services within 48 hours.
Garcetti said that while all nightclubs and bars have already been closed, “these large house parties have essentially become nightclubs in the hills” and often happen at homes that are vacant or used for short-term rentals.
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“The consequences of these large parties ripple far beyond just those parties,” he said. “They ripple throughout our entire community because the virus can quickly and easily spread.”
The issue of large, private gatherings received heightened scrutiny this week following a boisterous party Monday at a mansion on Mulholland Drive that ended in a fatal shooting.
About 200 people were at the party when police first entered about 7 p.m. after numerous complaints from neighbors about the size of the gathering.
Although officers cited and impounded some vehicles that were illegally parked, they did not break up the party — even though gatherings of any size are prohibited under Los Angeles County’s coronavirus health order.
A shooting was reported about 12:45 a.m. LAPD Lt. Chris Ramirez said officers found two women and a man suffering from gunshot wounds. All the victims were taken to hospitals in critical or grave condition, and a 35-year-old woman later died. The other two were stable, officials said.
Ramirez said the shooting is considered a gang-related homicide. Social media activity, in part, led detectives to tie the shooting to gang activity, he added.
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L.A. Councilman David Ryu also introduced a motion Wednesday to increase penalties and provide additional enforcement options against property owners who defy city laws or building and safety rules, including the city’s 2018 party-house ordinance.
The party on Mulholland Drive was the latest in a string of big house parties during the pandemic. The county has also announced an investigation into a party thrown for “first responders” at a Hollywood bar on July 31 that violated social distancing requirements.


latimes--2020-08-05--Twin YouTube stars Alan and Alex Stokes charged with staging fake bank robberies

Twin YouTube stars Alan and Alex Stokes face criminal charges in connection with staging two fake bank robberies in Irvine , one of which involved an Uber driver who was not in on the prank .
Orange County prosecutors Wednesday charged Alan and Alex Stokes , 23-year-old residents of Irvine , with one felony count each of false imprisonment involving violence , menace , fraud or deceit , and one misdemeanor count each of falsely reporting an emergency in relation to the October 2019 incidents .
Prosecutors allege that on Oct. 15 about 2:30 p.m. , the brothers — dressed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and carrying duffel bags filled with cash — pretended that they had robbed a bank while being filmed by their videographer .
They then ordered an Uber and got inside the car .
Their Uber driver , unaware of the prank , refused to drive them , and a bystander who had witnessed the encounter thought that the twin brothers had robbed a bank and were trying to carjack the driver , prosecutors said .
Irvine police were called to the scene and ordered the driver out at gunpoint , later determining that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had been told was a bank robbery .
The brothers were released with a warning but performed a similar prank four hours later on UC Irvine ’ s campus , prosecutors stated .
“ These are crimes that could have resulted in someone getting seriously injured or even killed , ” Orange County Dist .
Atty .
Todd Spitzer said in a news release .
“ Law enforcement officers are sworn to protect the public and when someone calls 911 to report an active bank robbery they are going to respond to protect @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was some kind of twisted attempt to gain more popularity on the internet by unnecessarily putting members of the public and police officers in danger.
” The brothers , who have not been arraigned yet and are not in custody , face a maximum sentence of four years in prison if convicted on all counts .
They could not be immediately reached for comment .

Twin YouTube stars Alan and Alex Stokes face criminal charges in connection with staging two fake bank robberies in Irvine, one of which involved an Uber driver who was not in on the prank.
Orange County prosecutors Wednesday charged Alan and Alex Stokes, 23-year-old residents of Irvine, with one felony count each of false imprisonment involving violence, menace, fraud or deceit, and one misdemeanor count each of falsely reporting an emergency in relation to the October 2019 incidents.
Prosecutors allege that on Oct. 15 about 2:30 p.m., the brothers — dressed in all black, wearing ski masks and carrying duffel bags filled with cash — pretended that they had robbed a bank while being filmed by their videographer.
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They then ordered an Uber and got inside the car. Their Uber driver, unaware of the prank, refused to drive them, and a bystander who had witnessed the encounter thought that the twin brothers had robbed a bank and were trying to carjack the driver, prosecutors said.
Irvine police were called to the scene and ordered the driver out at gunpoint, later determining that he was not involved in what they had been told was a bank robbery.
The brothers were released with a warning but performed a similar prank four hours later on UC Irvine’s campus, prosecutors stated.
“These are crimes that could have resulted in someone getting seriously injured or even killed,” Orange County Dist. Atty. Todd Spitzer said in a news release. “Law enforcement officers are sworn to protect the public and when someone calls 911 to report an active bank robbery they are going to respond to protect lives. Instead, what they found was some kind of twisted attempt to gain more popularity on the internet by unnecessarily putting members of the public and police officers in danger.”
The brothers, who are not in custody, face a maximum sentence of four years in prison if convicted on all counts.
In a statement provided to the Times in September, Matthew Wallin, Paul Wallin, and Mark A. Gallagher, the team of attorneys representing the Stokes brothers, said their clients “are not guilty of any crimes.” The Stokes brothers, they said, have no prior criminal record and were never arrested on the charges. They added that the brothers had contacted the Irvine Police Department to give them advance notice of the “prank” video.
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“We strongly believe when the evidence is presented in this case it will show that our clients are not guilty of any crimes,” the attorneys said.


latimes--2020-08-05--Huizar's relatives not expected to face charges in corruption probe, prosecutor says

A federal prosecutor said Wednesday that his office does not intend to charge family members of Los Angeles City Councilman Jose Huizar , identifying them as witnesses rather than targets of the ongoing pay-to-play probe .
Three members of the Huizar family — his wife Richelle , his mother Isidra and his brother Salvador — are mentioned repeatedly in the 113-page indictment against the councilman , who has pleaded not guilty to bribery , money laundering , racketeering and other charges .
Prosecutors have alleged that Huizar family members laundered his bribe proceeds , receiving cash from the councilman and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ claimed that Huizar ’ s wife , who has not been named by prosecutors but is easily identifiable from details in the criminal complaint and various plea deals , attended a meeting to discuss a real estate consulting agreement that prosecutors later characterized as an “ indirect bribe.
” During Wednesday ’ s trial-setting hearing , Asst .
U.S. Atty .
Mack Jenkins told a judge that , based on the information his office currently has , he does not expect to charge the three Huizar family members .
And he indicated that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ no experience or knowledge in real estate , did not get involved in the consulting arrangement .
`` [ She ] declined to participate because she thought it was suspicious , ” Jenkins said .
The hearing marked the first time that Huizar , the subject of a 34-count criminal indictment , appeared in person at a hearing in the ongoing corruption case .
Prosecutors have accused the councilman , who was first elected to his post in 2005 , of heading a criminal enterprise involving bribes from real estate developers looking to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ businessman seeking introductions to such developers .
Wearing a dark suit and a face covering , Huizar strode out of the courthouse Wednesday without commenting and quickly climbed into a waiting car .
His lawyers also declined to comment .
The hearing , which lasted roughly two hours , offered some additional details about the case , including : — Prosecutors are preparing hundreds of exhibits and intend to call 40 to 50 witnesses , with a jury trial lasting 15 to 20 days .
— Jenkins said Huizar , while on a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Chinese real estate developer , was captured on video with $ 60,000 in casino chips .
He was approached by a casino employee who wanted to make sure Huizar was using his own money , Jenkins said .
— When the employee asked Huizar to fill out an identification form , the councilman declined and immediately left the table , leaving his gambling chips behind , Jenkins alleged .
— Jenkins identified another real estate developer , who allegedly agreed to give Huizar a $ 500,000 bribe , as David Lee .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the downtown development projects in the case is a 20-story residential tower being developed by Dae Yong Lee , also known as David Lee .
Lee ’ s attorney , Ariel Neuman , had no comment on Wednesday .
Previously , he has stated that Lee is cooperating and looks forward to “ a swift resolution clearing his name.
” U.S. District Judge John F. Walter set a trial date of Sept. 29 but characterized it as merely a “ placeholder.
” He voiced doubts about whether Huizar , who was suspended from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ longer getting a city paycheck , financially qualifies for the services of the federal public defender , which represented him at Wednesday ’ s hearing .
Walter also expressed some skepticism about aspects of the U.S. Attorney ’ s case .
Jenkins told the federal judge that one of the benefits provided by Huizar in exchange for bribes were official city resolutions that offered praise for businessmen and their accomplishments .
Walter questioned whether such documents would be worth thousands of dollars in bribes .
“ I ’ m having a hard time @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
Walter also asked Jenkins whether Huizar could argue that he approved a particular real estate project not because he received personal financial benefits but because the project was good for the city .
Jenkins said the question of whether a project is beneficial to the community is “ ultimately irrelevant.
” And he argued in at least one case , Huizar acted in a way that would not be viewed as beneficial — helping a developer reduce the amount of affordable housing in his project , saving the company $ 14 @ @

A federal prosecutor said Wednesday that his office does not intend to charge family members of Los Angeles City Councilman Jose Huizar, identifying them as witnesses rather than targets of the ongoing pay-to-play probe.
Three members of the Huizar family — his wife Richelle, his mother Isidra and his brother Salvador — are mentioned repeatedly in the 113-page indictment against the councilman, who has pleaded not guilty to bribery, money laundering, racketeering and other charges.
Prosecutors have alleged that Huizar family members laundered his bribe proceeds, receiving cash from the councilman and then paying his bills. They also claimed that Huizar’s wife, who has not been named by prosecutors but is easily identifiable from details in the criminal complaint and various plea deals, attended a meeting to discuss a real estate consulting agreement that prosecutors later characterized as an “indirect bribe.”
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During Wednesday’s trial-setting hearing, Asst. U.S. Atty. Mack Jenkins told a judge that, based on the information his office currently has, he does not expect to charge the three Huizar family members. And he indicated that Huizar’s wife, who had no experience or knowledge in real estate, did not get involved in the consulting arrangement.
“[She] declined to participate because she thought it was suspicious,” Jenkins said.
The hearing marked the first time that Huizar, the subject of a 34-count criminal indictment, appeared in person at a hearing in the ongoing corruption case.
Prosecutors have accused the councilman, who was first elected to his post in 2005, of heading a criminal enterprise involving bribes from real estate developers looking to build in his district and from a businessman seeking introductions to such developers.
Wearing a dark suit and a face covering, Huizar strode out of the courthouse Wednesday without commenting and quickly climbed into a waiting car. His lawyers also declined to comment.
The hearing, which lasted roughly two hours, offered some additional details about the case, including:
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— Prosecutors are preparing hundreds of exhibits and intend to call 40 to 50 witnesses, with a jury trial lasting 15 to 20 days.
— Jenkins said Huizar, while on a trip to Las Vegas funded by a Chinese real estate developer, was captured on video with $60,000 in casino chips. He was approached by a casino employee who wanted to make sure Huizar was using his own money, Jenkins said.
— When the employee asked Huizar to fill out an identification form, the councilman declined and immediately left the table, leaving his gambling chips behind, Jenkins alleged.
— Jenkins identified another real estate developer, who allegedly agreed to give Huizar a $500,000 bribe, as David Lee. The Times has previously reported that one of the downtown development projects in the case is a 20-story residential tower being developed by Dae Yong Lee, also known as David Lee.
Lee’s attorney, Ariel Neuman, had no comment on Wednesday. Previously, he has stated that Lee is cooperating and looks forward to “a swift resolution clearing his name.”
U.S. District Judge John F. Walter set a trial date of Sept. 29 but characterized it as merely a “placeholder.” He voiced doubts about whether Huizar, who was suspended from the council in June and is no longer getting a city paycheck, financially qualifies for the services of the federal public defender, which represented him at Wednesday’s hearing.
Walter also expressed some skepticism about aspects of the U.S. Attorney’s case.
Jenkins told the federal judge that one of the benefits provided by Huizar in exchange for bribes were official city resolutions that offered praise for businessmen and their accomplishments. Walter questioned whether such documents would be worth thousands of dollars in bribes.
“I’m having a hard time seeing a real benefit,” he said.
Walter also asked Jenkins whether Huizar could argue that he approved a particular real estate project not because he received personal financial benefits but because the project was good for the city.
Jenkins said the question of whether a project is beneficial to the community is “ultimately irrelevant.” And he argued in at least one case, Huizar acted in a way that would not be viewed as beneficial — helping a developer reduce the amount of affordable housing in his project, saving the company $14 million.


latimes--2020-08-05--U.S. Supreme Court blocks mandate requiring better coronavirus protections for Orange County inmates

The U.S. Supreme Court on Wednesday freed Orange County jails from a federal judge ’ s order that required social distancing among inmates , regular testing and distribution of cleaning supplies and hand sanitizers .
Acting by a 5-4 vote , the justices granted an emergency appeal from the county ’ s lawyers and put on hold an order issued in late May by U.S. District Judge Jesus G. Bernal .
As usual , the justices in the majority did not explain their decision .
The four liberal justices dissented .
Justice Sonia Sotomayor said inmates had filed statements with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ jailers that CDC guidelines were being closely followed .
“ This court normally does not reward bad behavior , and certainly not with extraordinary equitable relief , ” she wrote in a dissent joined by Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg .
“ Despite knowing the severe threat posed by COVID–19 and contrary to its own apparent policies , the jail exposed its inmates to significant risks from a highly contagious and potentially deadly disease.
” In its appeal two weeks ago , the county said it had released 2,300 inmates , or 53 % @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the pandemic , and asserted there is “ currently zero transmission ” of the virus inside the jails .
“ There is no doubt that there are significant and dangerous outbreaks in some custodial institutions in this country .
The Orange County Jails are not one of them , and the use of a federal injunction to micromanage their daily operations is unsupported in fact or law , ” the county said in the case of Ahlman vs. Barnes .
Lawyers representing the inmates said Bernal ’ s intervention was crucial .
They @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the day , resulting in more than 300 inmates testing positive for the virus in late May .
They said inmates had been “ provided watered-down disinfectant and make-shift masks made from blood-stained sheets ; and symptomatic detainees were being denied tests.
” Wednesday ’ s order is consistent with the court ’ s hands-off approach to disputes arising from the coronavirus .
Led by Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. , the high court has issued a series of recent rulings that have told federal judges to defer to state and local @ @ @ @ @ @ @ prisons .
Roberts was sharply criticized by his conservative colleagues and by religious rights advocates for decisions that left in place rules set by Democratic governors in Nevada , California and Illinois that limited the number of people at indoor church services .
He was also criticized by the liberal justices and progressives for decisions that blocked judges in Wisconsin , Texas and Alabama from relaxing Republican-led state election rules to make it easier for voters to cast ballots .
In all those cases , including three involving prisons , the chief justice @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , not federal judges , to decide on how to handle the pandemic .
He explained his view in late May when the court , by a 5-4 vote , rejected a San Diego church ’ s challenge to an order by California Gov .
Gavin Newsom that temporarily restricted church worship services to a maximum of 100 people .
This rule did not discriminate based on religion , Roberts wrote , because “ similar or more severe restrictions apply to comparable secular gatherings , including lectures , concerts , movie showings , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ where large groups of people gather in close proximity for extended periods of time.
” “ The precise question of when restrictions on particular social activities should be lifted during the pandemic is a dynamic and fact-intensive matter subject to reasonable disagreement .
Our Constitution principally entrusts the safety and the health of the people to the politically accountable officials of the states to guard and protect , ” he wrote in South Bay United Pentecostal Church vs. Newsom .
In general , their rules “ should not be subject to second-guessing by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the background , competence , and expertise to assess public health and is not accountable to the people.
” In the case of the Orange County jails , Roberts joined Justices Clarence Thomas , Samuel A. Alito Jr. , Neil M. Gorsuch and Brett M. Kavanaugh to grant the appeal .

The U.S. Supreme Court on Wednesday freed Orange County jails from a federal judge’s order that required social distancing among inmates, regular testing and distribution of cleaning supplies and hand sanitizers.
Acting by a 5-4 vote, the justices granted an emergency appeal from the county’s lawyers and put on hold an order issued in late May by U.S. District Judge Jesus G. Bernal.
As usual, the justices in the majority did not explain their decision. The four liberal justices dissented. Justice Sonia Sotomayor said inmates had filed statements with the judge contradicting the claims of county jailers that CDC guidelines were being closely followed.
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“This court normally does not reward bad behavior, and certainly not with extraordinary equitable relief,” she wrote in a dissent joined by Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. “Despite knowing the severe threat posed by COVID–19 and contrary to its own apparent policies, the jail exposed its inmates to significant risks from a highly contagious and potentially deadly disease.”
In its appeal two weeks ago, the county said it had released 2,300 inmates, or 53% of the total, in response to the pandemic, and asserted there is “currently zero transmission” of the virus inside the jails.
“There is no doubt that there are significant and dangerous outbreaks in some custodial institutions in this country. The Orange County Jails are not one of them, and the use of a federal injunction to micromanage their daily operations is unsupported in fact or law,” the county said in the case of Ahlman vs. Barnes.
Lawyers representing the inmates said Bernal’s intervention was crucial. They said inmates had been crowded together during the day, resulting in more than 300 inmates testing positive for the virus in late May. They said inmates had been “provided watered-down disinfectant and make-shift masks made from blood-stained sheets; and symptomatic detainees were being denied tests.”
Wednesday’s order is consistent with the court’s hands-off approach to disputes arising from the coronavirus.
Led by Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr., the high court has issued a series of recent rulings that have told federal judges to defer to state and local officials involving elections, church gatherings and prisons.
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Roberts was sharply criticized by his conservative colleagues and by religious rights advocates for decisions that left in place rules set by Democratic governors in Nevada, California and Illinois that limited the number of people at indoor church services.
He was also criticized by the liberal justices and progressives for decisions that blocked judges in Wisconsin, Texas and Alabama from relaxing Republican-led state election rules to make it easier for voters to cast ballots.
In all those cases, including three involving prisons, the chief justice voted for allowing state or local officials, not federal judges, to decide on how to handle the pandemic.
He explained his view in late May when the court, by a 5-4 vote, rejected a San Diego church’s challenge to an order by California Gov. Gavin Newsom that temporarily restricted church worship services to a maximum of 100 people. This rule did not discriminate based on religion, Roberts wrote, because “similar or more severe restrictions apply to comparable secular gatherings, including lectures, concerts, movie showings, spectator sports, and theatrical performances, where large groups of people gather in close proximity for extended periods of time.”
“The precise question of when restrictions on particular social activities should be lifted during the pandemic is a dynamic and fact-intensive matter subject to reasonable disagreement. Our Constitution principally entrusts the safety and the health of the people to the politically accountable officials of the states to guard and protect,” he wrote in South Bay United Pentecostal Church vs. Newsom. In general, their rules “should not be subject to second-guessing by an unelected federal judiciary, which lacks the background, competence, and expertise to assess public health and is not accountable to the people.”
In the case of the Orange County jails, Roberts joined Justices Clarence Thomas, Samuel A. Alito Jr., Neil M. Gorsuch and Brett M. Kavanaugh to grant the appeal.


latimes--2020-08-05--Op-Ed: A California way to help the unemployed even if Washington won't

State Rep. Phil Ting ( D-San Francisco ) floated an idea last week : If Washington doesn ’ t re-up its $ 600 weekly unemployment boost , California should open a loophole that would allow Sacramento to borrow from the feds and continue the payments regardless .
It ’ s a fitting proposition for a state where belief in government proactively working for the public good has often led to experimentation , rather than mere talk .
( See Stockton ’ s first-in-the-nation universal basic income pilot program — $ 500 a month paid to 125 people resulting in “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one investigator tracking the project . )
Ting ’ s proposal deserves a go-ahead if Washington doesn ’ t act .
This kind of DIY progressivism has been a factor in California politics for better than a century .
Its markers include the initiative and proposition system championed in 1911 by Republican reform Gov .
Hiram Johnson , and — more to the point — the End Poverty in California gubernatorial campaign staged in 1934 by Upton Sinclair , the muckraking author of “ The Jungle , ” “ Oil !
” and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ran for governor , and lost big , as a Socialist in 1926 and 1930 .
In 1933 , he re-registered as a Democrat and released his EPIC platform in a pamphlet called “ I Governor , and How I Ended Poverty : A True Story of the Future.
” In the heat of the Depression , Sinclair wanted the state to take control of shuttered businesses and farms and turn them into cooperative work camps to put the unemployed legions back to work .
Another “ plank , ” the one reminiscent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ $ 50 a month to those who couldn ’ t work — the disabled and the elderly — an amount equivalent to nearly $ 1,000 today .
Sinclair won the Democratic primary in a landslide , but he also provoked establishment enemies and a disinformation campaign .
Spearheaded by MGM chief Louis B. Mayer , the attacks played out in newspapers and newsreels .
In one particularly egregious instance , the Los Angeles Times published a front-page photo of disheveled men descending from a box car , purportedly drawn west by the promise @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , it turned out , was a still from the 1933 Warner Bros. film “ The Wild Boys of the Road.
” Sinclair lost the general election by 11 percentage points to Republican , and avowed anti-socialist , Frank Merriam , with the Democrat ’ s vote also affected by a third-party candidate .
Sinclair ’ s fate reminds us that fake news is hardly an invention of the 21st century and that , along with its liberal leanings , California has always also had a strong strain of reactionary nativism .
Just @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 1936 , the Los Angeles Police Department would deploy more than 100 officers — the “ bum brigade ” — to keep Dust Bowl migrants on the other side of the state line .
Sinclair ’ s losing candidacy was nonetheless influential in New Deal policies and it helped rejuvenate the Democratic Party in a state where “ as late as 1931 , ” historian James Gregory has written , “ not a single Democrat held statewide office.
” In 1938 , Culbert Olson — elected to the state senate as an EPIC @ @ @ @ @ @ @ state ’ s first Democratic governor since 1894 .
EPIC didn ’ t usher in a progressive groundswell , but it did help set in motion the push and pull between left and right that gives even centrist politics in California today a progressive bent .
It ’ s not a stretch to argue that Sinclair ’ s campaign , and perhaps especially the promise of full employment or $ 50 a month , helped bring to the mainstream what would later emerge as the state ’ s encompassing ( if still to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ affordable quality higher education , equal opportunity legislation and a version of collective healthcare .
Ting ’ s plan echoes Sinclair ’ s ideals and EPIC ’ s brash call for active governing .
Since Congress passed its first coronavirus stimulus in March , states have already been borrowing from the feds to cover the $ 600 unemployment increase .
Ting ’ s innovation merely extends that , with no need of Congress ’ s specific cooperation .
Sinclair would admire the moxie .
In 1933 , with state unemployment at 28 % @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shuttered factories seemed , for nearly 40 % of California voters , a reasonable risk .
With Congress stalemated and unemployment now at 14.9 % , it ’ s entirely in character for us to try again to write the future on our own terms .
If government has any use , it is to help people in a time of crisis .
That ’ s the essence of the Ting proposal , as well as EPIC ’ s enduring legacy .

American author Upton Sinclair, writing by the light of his desk at home in California in 1948. His campaigns for California governor nurtured a strain of progressivism that has persisted in the state for more than a century.
State Rep. Phil Ting (D-San Francisco) floated an idea last week: If Washington doesn’t re-up its $600 weekly unemployment boost, California should open a loophole that would allow Sacramento to borrow from the feds and continue the payments regardless.
It’s a fitting proposition for a state where belief in government proactively working for the public good has often led to experimentation, rather than mere talk. (See Stockton’s first-in-the-nation universal basic income pilot program — $500 a month paid to 125 people resulting in “really rational” purchases, according to one investigator tracking the project.) Ting’s proposal deserves a go-ahead if Washington doesn’t act.
This kind of DIY progressivism has been a factor in California politics for better than a century. Its markers include the initiative and proposition system championed in 1911 by Republican reform Gov. Hiram Johnson, and — more to the point — the End Poverty in California gubernatorial campaign staged in 1934 by Upton Sinclair, the muckraking author of “The Jungle,” “Oil!” and more than 100 other works.
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Business Column: A century later, meatpacking plants still resemble Upton Sinclair’s depiction in ‘The Jungle’ Workers crammed virtually shoulder-to-shoulder to tend production lines moving at inexorable speeds, high rates of disease and injury, low pay and unforgiving rules on time off or meal and bathroom breaks. Descriptions of today’s meatpacking industry sound lifted from Upton Sinclair.
Sinclair ran for governor, and lost big, as a Socialist in 1926 and 1930. In 1933, he re-registered as a Democrat and released his EPIC platform in a pamphlet called “I Governor, and How I Ended Poverty: A True Story of the Future.”
In the heat of the Depression, Sinclair wanted the state to take control of shuttered businesses and farms and turn them into cooperative work camps to put the unemployed legions back to work. Another “plank,” the one reminiscent of Ting’s proposal, promised $50 a month to those who couldn’t work — the disabled and the elderly — an amount equivalent to nearly $1,000 today.
Sinclair won the Democratic primary in a landslide, but he also provoked establishment enemies and a disinformation campaign. Spearheaded by MGM chief Louis B. Mayer, the attacks played out in newspapers and newsreels. In one particularly egregious instance, the Los Angeles Times published a front-page photo of disheveled men descending from a box car, purportedly drawn west by the promise of that 50 bucks. The image, it turned out, was a still from the 1933 Warner Bros. film “The Wild Boys of the Road.”
Sinclair lost the general election by 11 percentage points to Republican, and avowed anti-socialist, Frank Merriam, with the Democrat’s vote also affected by a third-party candidate. Sinclair’s fate reminds us that fake news is hardly an invention of the 21st century and that, along with its liberal leanings, California has always also had a strong strain of reactionary nativism. Just two years after the election, in 1936, the Los Angeles Police Department would deploy more than 100 officers — the “bum brigade” — to keep Dust Bowl migrants on the other side of the state line.
Sinclair’s losing candidacy was nonetheless influential in New Deal policies and it helped rejuvenate the Democratic Party in a state where “as late as 1931,” historian James Gregory has written, “not a single Democrat held statewide office.”
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In 1938, Culbert Olson — elected to the state senate as an EPIC candidate — defeated Merriam to become the state’s first Democratic governor since 1894. EPIC didn’t usher in a progressive groundswell, but it did help set in motion the push and pull between left and right that gives even centrist politics in California today a progressive bent.
It’s not a stretch to argue that Sinclair’s campaign, and perhaps especially the promise of full employment or $50 a month, helped bring to the mainstream what would later emerge as the state’s encompassing (if still to be perfected) social safety net — affordable quality higher education, equal opportunity legislation and a version of collective healthcare.
Ting’s plan echoes Sinclair’s ideals and EPIC’s brash call for active governing. Since Congress passed its first coronavirus stimulus in March, states have already been borrowing from the feds to cover the $600 unemployment increase. Ting’s innovation merely extends that, with no need of Congress’s specific cooperation. Sinclair would admire the moxie.
In 1933, with state unemployment at 28%, the commandeering of fallow farms and shuttered factories seemed, for nearly 40% of California voters, a reasonable risk. With Congress stalemated and unemployment now at 14.9%, it’s entirely in character for us to try again to write the future on our own terms.
If government has any use, it is to help people in a time of crisis. That’s the essence of the Ting proposal, as well as EPIC’s enduring legacy.
David L. Ulin is a contrbuting writer to Opinion.


latimes--2020-08-05--Massive brawl breaks out at a hotel in Anaheim, prompting police response

A massive brawl involving 60 to 100 people at an Anaheim hotel left two people injured and two others in @ @ @ @ @ Wednesday afternoon .
Anaheim Police Sgt .
Shane Carringer said two people were taken to @ @ @ @ @ in the melee that broke out about 1 p.m. at the Cambria Hotel .
He @ @ @ @ @ .
Two people were arrested , Carringer said , but he could not provide additional @ @ @ @ @ still unfolding .
“ We ’ re still clearing the hotel floor by floor , @ @ @ @ @ p.m.
It ’ s unclear what triggered the melee at the hotel in the 100 @ @ @ @ @ near Disneyland .
But , Carringer noted , “ it ’ s not a riot @ @ @ @ @ protest activity .
”

Several law enforcement agencies, including the Anaheim police and fire departments, responded to a brawl at a hotel.
A massive brawl involving 60 to 100 people at an Anaheim hotel left two people injured and two others in police custody, authorities said Wednesday afternoon.
Anaheim Police Sgt. Shane Carringer said two people were taken to a hospital after suffering lacerations in the melee that broke out about 1 p.m. at the Cambria Hotel. He characterized the injuries as minor.
Two people were arrested, Carringer said, but he could not provide additional details because the situation was still unfolding.
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“We’re still clearing the hotel floor by floor,” he said about 2:30 p.m.
It’s unclear what triggered the melee at the hotel in the 100 block of Katella Avenue, near Disneyland.
But, Carringer noted, “it’s not a riot; it’s not protest activity.”


latimes--2020-08-05--Hee-sook Lee, who built an empire with BCD Tofu House chain, dies at 61

Hee-sook Lee had tenacity .
She also had a secret recipe .
Together that was enough for her to build a tofu empire .
Lee , who founded the popular BCD Tofu House restaurant chain and helped raise the global profile of Korean cuisine , died July 18 at age 61 , according to the Korea Times .
She had been fighting ovarian cancer the past five years , and her illness had recently worsened , the newspaper reported .
She is survived by her husband , Tae-ro Lee , and three sons , the Hankyoreh reported .
Lee opened @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Avenue in Koreatown in 1996 with limited restaurant experience but plenty of confidence and a singular focus on a singular dish : soondubu jjigae , silken hunks of tofu in bubbling spicy broth .
The restaurant ’ s name was short for Buk Chang Dong , a neighborhood in Seoul where her in-laws once ran a restaurant .
Lee treated a common dish with uncommon dedication .
In the kitchen , she cooked up a plan and a secret recipe for a soup base that she refused to share with anyone , including @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in 2008 .
“ To succeed in anything , you just have to be fanatically devoted to it , ” Lee said at a South Korean government-sponsored convention for overseas business owners in 2006 .
“ No matter what other people tell you , you shouldn ’ t look back.
” There were other soondubu restaurants before BCD but few made the dish as accessible and available .
None have been as successful .
Within two years of her first restaurant , Lee opened two more in Southern California .
Today , there @ @ @ @ @ @ @ House chain in the United States , largely concentrated in Los Angeles and Orange counties with locations in New York , New Jersey and Dallas .
The transpacific empire grew to include outposts in Seattle , South Korea and Tokyo , and its reach remains global with a line of take-home soondubu starter packs through House Foods .
“ [ She ] was an amazing entrepreneur and community leader who impacted the lives of many , ” wrote friend and Orange County supervisor Michelle Steel on Facebook .
“ Her brand and legacy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ she will always be an inspiration to myself and many others.
” Lee , who considered herself a “ diplomat of sorts ” for Korean food , also was dedicated to feeding hungry mouths around the world .
She served as president of the Global Children Foundation , a nonprofit organization started by Korean American mothers that provides relief to children and families .
During the COVID-19 outbreak , Lee partnered with the Koreatown Youth and Community Center to feed low-income seniors who were isolated by the pandemic .
The center helped spread @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ Lee — as a first-generation immigrant—brought her delicious recipes and healthful approach to countless satiated diners , ” the center wrote in a tribute .
“ Please support this Koreatown empire and honor Ms. Lee when you ’ re scraping your jigae bowl clean.
” At the original Wilshire Boulevard BCD Tofu House location on Tuesday afternoon , the patio was mostly full of diners at socially distanced tables , picking at banchan and slurping on bubbling , glowing tureens of stew .
Two check-in areas are set up outside the restaurant @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dine-in .
A manager took diners ’ temperatures and offered squirts of hand sanitizer .
A large white tent has been set up in the ample parking lot to accommodate further outdoor dining .
BCD is known as a go-to after-hours location following a night on the town .
While those days may be temporarily over , it still has outdoor dining until 2 a.m. , and takeout is available 24 hours a day .
Kyung-chun Park , 60 , was eating soondubu alone at a small table under the tent .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ drive 30 , 40 minutes here , ” he said .
Park said that BCD was particularly popular with non-Koreans and was a great place to introduce people to Korean dishes and flavors .
“ She made Koreatown and this soondubu very well and very famous , ” he said .
“ I even heard that they opened a BCD Tofu House in Korea too , ” Park said , noting that , perhaps counterintuitively , Lee ’ s success flowed from the U.S. back to her native Korea .
“ Even though @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Geral Lopez , a mortgage consultant who works nearby , said he frequently brings his clients to BCD .
“ The food is delicious , and I am really sorry to hear that the owner passed away , ” Lopez wrote in an email .
“ BCD has been a huge part of this business community.
” Jennifer Tai , a recent transplant from San Francisco , appreciated the restaurant ’ s late hours .
“ It ’ s a 24-hour restaurant , which I thought was amazing because you don ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” she said .
The focus of BCD , in her opinion , was on “ serving the community : people that work late , people that need to eat when they ’ re hungry.
” Kyoosop Cho , a 30-year L.A. resident , was eating lunch with his wife , Jung .
Cho was digging into the familiar BCD setup — a boiling-hot bowl of soondubu , a stoneware bowl of rice , a small croaker fish and several assorted banchan .
“ People say the owner was a person who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .

Hee-sook Lee had tenacity. She also had a secret recipe. Together that was enough for her to build a tofu empire.
Lee, who founded the popular BCD Tofu House restaurant chain and helped raise the global profile of Korean cuisine, died July 18 at age 61, according to the Korea Times.
She had been fighting ovarian cancer the past five years, and her illness had recently worsened, the newspaper reported. She is survived by her husband, Tae-ro Lee, and three sons, the Hankyoreh reported.
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Lee opened the first BCD Tofu House on Vermont Avenue in Koreatown in 1996 with limited restaurant experience but plenty of confidence and a singular focus on a singular dish: soondubu jjigae, silken hunks of tofu in bubbling spicy broth. The restaurant’s name was short for Buk Chang Dong, a neighborhood in Seoul where her in-laws once ran a restaurant.
Lee treated a common dish with uncommon dedication. In the kitchen, she cooked up a plan and a secret recipe for a soup base that she refused to share with anyone, including her husband, Lee told The Times in 2008.
“To succeed in anything, you just have to be fanatically devoted to it,” Lee said at a South Korean government-sponsored convention for overseas business owners in 2006. “No matter what other people tell you, you shouldn’t look back.”
There were other soondubu restaurants before BCD but few made the dish as accessible and available. None have been as successful.
BCD Tofu House on Wilshire Boulevard.
(Lucas Kwan Peterson / Los Angeles Times)
Within two years of her first restaurant, Lee opened two more in Southern California. Today, there are 13 restaurants in the BCD Tofu House chain in the United States, largely concentrated in Los Angeles and Orange counties with locations in New York, New Jersey and Dallas. The transpacific empire grew to include outposts in Seattle, South Korea and Tokyo, and its reach remains global with a line of take-home soondubu starter packs through House Foods.
“[She] was an amazing entrepreneur and community leader who impacted the lives of many,” wrote friend and Orange County supervisor Michelle Steel on Facebook. “Her brand and legacy will continue to live on, and she will always be an inspiration to myself and many others.”
Lee, who considered herself a “diplomat of sorts” for Korean food, also was dedicated to feeding hungry mouths around the world.
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She served as president of the Global Children Foundation, a nonprofit organization started by Korean American mothers that provides relief to children and families.
During the COVID-19 outbreak, Lee partnered with the Koreatown Youth and Community Center to feed low-income seniors who were isolated by the pandemic. The center helped spread the news of her death online.
“Lee — as a first-generation immigrant—brought her delicious recipes and healthful approach to countless satiated diners,” the center wrote in a tribute. “Please support this Koreatown empire and honor Ms. Lee when you’re scraping your jigae bowl clean.”
At the original Wilshire Boulevard BCD Tofu House location on Tuesday afternoon, the patio was mostly full of diners at socially distanced tables, picking at banchan and slurping on bubbling, glowing tureens of stew. Two check-in areas are set up outside the restaurant — one for takeout and another for dine-in. A manager took diners’ temperatures and offered squirts of hand sanitizer.
A large white tent has been set up in the ample parking lot to accommodate further outdoor dining. BCD is known as a go-to after-hours location following a night on the town. While those days may be temporarily over, it still has outdoor dining until 2 a.m., and takeout is available 24 hours a day.
Food is prepared in the kitchen of the Wilshire Boulevard BCD Tofu House. (Spencer Weiner / Los Angeles Times)
Kyung-chun Park, 60, was eating soondubu alone at a small table under the tent.
“I live in Torrance, but I drive 30, 40 minutes here,” he said. Park said that BCD was particularly popular with non-Koreans and was a great place to introduce people to Korean dishes and flavors. “She made Koreatown and this soondubu very well and very famous,” he said.
“I even heard that they opened a BCD Tofu House in Korea too,” Park said, noting that, perhaps counterintuitively, Lee’s success flowed from the U.S. back to her native Korea. “Even though soondubu originally came from Korea!”
Geral Lopez, a mortgage consultant who works nearby, said he frequently brings his clients to BCD. “The food is delicious, and I am really sorry to hear that the owner passed away,” Lopez wrote in an email. “BCD has been a huge part of this business community.”
Jennifer Tai, a recent transplant from San Francisco, appreciated the restaurant’s late hours. “It’s a 24-hour restaurant, which I thought was amazing because you don’t really have a lot of those anymore,” she said. The focus of BCD, in her opinion, was on “serving the community: people that work late, people that need to eat when they’re hungry.”
Kyoosop Cho, a 30-year L.A. resident, was eating lunch with his wife, Jung. Cho was digging into the familiar BCD setup — a boiling-hot bowl of soondubu, a stoneware bowl of rice, a small croaker fish and several assorted banchan.
“People say the owner was a person who achieved the American dream,” he said.


latimes--2020-08-05--California lawmakers ask Newsom to act immediately on unemployment claims

More than half the members of the California Legislature called on Gov .
Gavin Newsom on Wednesday to immediately begin paying unemployment benefits to many of the more than 1 million jobless workers whose claims have been stalled in the system as the state works to clear a months-long backlog .
In a letter to governor , a bipartisan group of 61 lawmakers issued a series of requests for immediate action at the state Employment Development Department , including calls for the agency to ensure service representatives do not hang up on callers who they can ’ t help , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ quickly respond to those who can not reach a live operator .
The lawmakers also called for the agency to expedite its approval of unemployment benefits by retroactively certifying claims and resolving issues later in the process .
“ In our fifth month of the pandemic , with so many constituents yet to receive a single unemployment payment , it ’ s clear that EDD is failing California , ” said the letter to Newsom .
“ Millions of our constituents have had no income for months .
As Californians wait for answers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ life savings , have gone into extreme debt , and are in deep panic as they figure out how to put food on the table and a roof over their heads.
” EDD spokeswoman Loree Levy said the agency is reviewing the letter and will provide a response as soon as possible .
The governor ’ s office did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the letter ’ s recommendations .
The letter , which was organized by Assemblyman David Chiu ( D-San Francisco ) , was signed by 49 members @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the state Senate , including Senate Republican Leader Shannon Grove of Bakersfield , and sent a week after Newsom announced the creation of a “ strike team ” to reform EDD and complete all unanswered claims by the end of September .
The governor said the claims are from those who may be eligible for payment but require more information .
Many claims are “ pending resolution ” because they have issues to resolve , including verification of the identity of the filer , he said .
The legislators said in their letter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than the end of September and that , in the interim , Californians with stalled claims should receive some portion of their benefits to help them make ends meet .
“ As claimants suffer without income while EDD slowly makes its way through the queue of backlogged claims , EDD should provide many of them with at least initial or partial benefits , ” the letter said , adding that “ the assumption should be that the vast majority of claimants have legitimate claims to what they are owed , with retroactive certification.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ manually review claims in which certification questions were answered incorrectly and issue overpayment notices , if necessary , the lawmakers said .
The lawmakers noted that there is a precedent for approving payments before issues are worked out with claims , citing a technology breakdown that hit the EDD in 2013 and delayed benefits to 80,000 people .
At the time , the state labor secretary issued an order that the agency must “ immediately begin the process of paying backlogged claims for continued UI benefits prior to a final determination of eligibility @ @ @ @ @ @ @ phone lines at the agency that disconnect callers have also been a significant problem for Californians trying to file unemployment claims since the COVID-19 pandemic began in March .
Many jobless people say they have called EDD hundreds of times a day without reaching a live operator to help them resolve problems with claims , and when they do reach a service representative , some say they have been disconnected or hung up on with no return call .
EDD Director Sharon Hilliard told legislators at a hearing Thursday that there was a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ workers to call back customers with problems .
On Wednesday , the legislators said the call center operations must change .
“ Like any basic call center operation throughout the private sector and in many public sectors , EDD should implement an automatic call back feature , ” the letter said .
“ Even if the call back doesn ’ t happen immediately , that would be far superior and serve our constituents far better than the status quo.
” Other recommendations to the governor would have the EDD : • Allow applicants @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are made .
• Rephrase certification questions so that they are clear and less likely to lead to mistakes .
• Waive deadlines for paper responses so that applicants do not have to restart the process .
• Assign an EDD staff member to each legislative office to help lawmakers resolve constituent problems .
• Adopt a cloud-based strategy to augment the agency ’ s outdated technology , which would allow it to process a greater volume of transactions more quickly .
• Provide the public with a clear explanation of all pending @ @ @ @ @ @ @ steps to hold contractors accountable .
“ My colleagues and I are pushing EDD to rapidly upgrade their customer service and technology to better serve the people of California amidst this crisis , ” said Assemblywoman Cottie Petrie-Norris ( D-Laguna Beach ) , who signed the letter and is chairwoman of the Assembly Accountability and Administrative Review Committee .
The lawmakers asked Newsom for a timely response to their recommendations .
“ During this pandemic and recession , it is unacceptable that millions of Californians have gone for months without income due to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” the letter concluded .

Joe Marquez, a former sheet metal worker from La Habra, looks for jobs at the One-Stop center in East Los Angeles.
More than half the members of the California Legislature called on Gov. Gavin Newsom on Wednesday to immediately begin paying unemployment benefits to many of the more than 1 million jobless workers whose claims have been stalled in the system as the state works to clear a months-long backlog.
In a letter to the governor, a bipartisan group of 61 lawmakers issued a series of requests for immediate action at the state Employment Development Department, including calls for the agency to ensure service representatives do not hang up on callers whom they can’t help, and implement an automatic call-back system to quickly respond to those who cannot reach a live operator. The lawmakers also called for the agency to expedite its approval of unemployment benefits by retroactively certifying claims and resolving issues later in the process.
“In our fifth month of the pandemic, with so many constituents yet to receive a single unemployment payment, it’s clear that EDD is failing California,” said the letter to Newsom. “Millions of our constituents have had no income for months. As Californians wait for answers from EDD, they have depleted their life savings, have gone into extreme debt, and are in deep panic as they figure out how to put food on the table and a roof over their heads.”
A representative for Newsom responded to the letter by saying the governor’s office will continue to work with the Legislature on improving EDD operations, but did not address the lawmakers’ call for payments to go out before claims are certified.
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Thousands of state workers have been redirected to help process claims, and Newsom has told the agency to send weekly reminders to applicants that they need to recertify their claims, said Vicky Waters, a spokeswoman for Newsom.
“The Administration is fully committed to ensuring impacted California workers get the benefits they have earned,” Waters said in an emailed statement. “Last week, the governor directed EDD to take immediate action to eliminate the unacceptable backlog of unpaid unemployment insurance claims by no later than the end of September.”
EDD spokeswoman Loree Levy said the agency is reviewing the letter and will provide a response as soon as possible.
The letter, which was organized by Assemblyman David Chiu (D-San Francisco), was signed by 49 members of the Assembly and 12 members of the state Senate, including Senate Republican leader Shannon Grove of Bakersfield, and sent a week after Newsom announced the creation of a “strike team” to reform EDD and complete all unanswered claims by the end of September.
The governor said the claims are from those who may be eligible for payment but require more information. Many claims are “pending resolution” because they have issues to resolve, including verification of the identity of the filer, he said.
The legislators said in their letter that the backlog should be cleared sooner than the end of September and that, in the interim, Californians with stalled claims should receive some portion of their benefits to help them make ends meet.
“As claimants suffer without income while EDD slowly makes its way through the queue of backlogged claims, EDD should provide many of them with at least initial or partial benefits,” the letter said, adding that “the assumption should be that the vast majority of claimants have legitimate claims to what they are owed, with retroactive certification.”
The EDD could still continue to manually review claims in which certification questions were answered incorrectly and issue overpayment notices, if necessary, the lawmakers said.
The lawmakers noted that there is a precedent for approving payments before issues are worked out with claims, citing a technology breakdown that hit the EDD in 2013 and delayed benefits to 80,000 people. At the time, the state labor secretary issued an order that the agency must “immediately begin the process of paying backlogged claims for continued UI benefits prior to a final determination of eligibility,” the letter said.
Clogged phone lines at the agency that disconnect callers have also been a significant problem for Californians trying to file unemployment claims since the COVID-19 crisis began in March.
Many jobless people say they have called EDD hundreds of times a day without reaching a live operator to help them resolve problems with claims, and when they do reach a service representative, some say they have been disconnected or hung up on with no return call.
EDD Director Sharon Hilliard told legislators at a hearing Thursday that there was a four- to six-week wait time for EDD workers to call back customers with problems.
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On Wednesday, the legislators said the call center operations must change.
“Like any basic call center operation throughout the private sector and in many public sectors, EDD should implement an automatic call back feature,” the letter said. “Even if the call back doesn’t happen immediately, that would be far superior and serve our constituents far better than the status quo.”
Other recommendations to the governor would have the EDD:
Allow applicants to edit their claims online if mistakes are made.
Rephrase certification questions so that they are clear and less likely to lead to mistakes.
Waive deadlines for paper responses so that applicants do not have to restart the process.
Assign an EDD staff member to each legislative office to help lawmakers resolve constituent problems.
Adopt a cloud-based strategy to augment the agency’s outdated technology, which would allow it to process a greater volume of transactions more quickly.
Provide the public with a clear explanation of all pending technology updates, with reasonable timelines and steps to hold contractors accountable.
“My colleagues and I are pushing EDD to rapidly upgrade their customer service and technology to better serve the people of California amidst this crisis,” said Assemblywoman Cottie Petrie-Norris (D-Laguna Beach), who signed the letter and is chairwoman of the Assembly Accountability and Administrative Review Committee.
The lawmakers asked Newsom for a timely response to their recommendations.
“During this pandemic and recession, it is unacceptable that millions of Californians have gone for months without income due to the failure of our state government,” the letter concluded.


latimes--2020-08-05--Most Apple fire evacuation orders lifted as firefighters gain ground

Riverside County residents who were forced to flee when the Apple fire exploded in size can now return home as crews continue to gain ground in their battle against the blaze .
Evacuation orders for areas east of Oak Glen Road , as well as west of Potrero Road and north of Wilson Street , have been lifted .
Orders are still in place , however , for parts of San Bernardino County — specifically areas east of Oak Glen Road , including Pine Bench and Potato Canyon , officials said .
Evacuation warnings also remain in effect east of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ west of Whitewater Canyon in Riverside County , as well as for Forest Falls , Rimrock and Pioneertown in San Bernardino County .
The San Gorgonio Wilderness area also remains closed for the time being , according to San Bernardino National Forest officials .
The Apple fire has charred 27,319 acres since it was first reported at 4:55 p.m. Friday in the 9000 block of Oak Glen Road , north of Cherry Valley , according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection .
The blaze — which was 30 % contained @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 12 structures , including four homes .
One injury has been reported .
Officials said Monday that the fire was sparked by a malfunctioning vehicle .
With most evacuation orders now lifted , the American Red Cross has closed its temporary evacuation center at Beaumont High School .
San Bernardino County residents in need of assistance can still contact the organization at ( 571 ) 595-7774 .
Although such shelters are common during natural disasters and other emergencies , their operations have been complicated by the COVID-19 pandemic , as health officials warn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ outbreaks of the disease .
“ This is an unusual situation for us , ” Red Cross spokesman Ken Reich said .
“ For the first time , we ’ re setting people up in hotels instead of a shelter , where coronavirus could be a real problem.
” Because of social distancing and other safety requirements , the evacuation center at Beaumont High School could house only 50 residents if the county were to run out of hotel rooms , according to Shane Reichardt , a spokesman for the Riverside County Emergency @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sahagun and Joseph Serna contributed to this report .

Scorched terrain surrounds a home off Bluff Street in Banning, Calif., as the Apple fire smolders in the background on Tuesday.
Riverside County residents who were forced to flee when the Apple fire exploded in size can now return home as crews continue to gain ground in their battle against the blaze.
Evacuation orders for areas east of Oak Glen Road, as well as west of Potrero Road and north of Wilson Street, have been lifted.
Orders are still in place, however, for parts of San Bernardino County — specifically areas east of Oak Glen Road, including Pine Bench and Potato Canyon, officials said.
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Evacuation warnings also remain in effect east of Potrero, north of Morongo Road and west of Whitewater Canyon in Riverside County, as well as for Forest Falls, Rimrock and Pioneertown in San Bernardino County.
The San Gorgonio Wilderness area also remains closed for the time being, according to San Bernardino National Forest officials.
Changes in Apple Fire Evacuation Orders
Evacuation Orders for the following areas in Riverside County are lifted:
Areas east of Oak Glen Rd in Riverside Co.
Areas west of Potrero Rd. and north of Wilson St in Riverside Co
See orders still in effect: https://t.co/aEadaZbfqY — San Bernardino National Forest (@SanBernardinoNF) August 4, 2020
The Apple fire has charred 27,319 acres since it was first reported at 4:55 p.m. Friday in the 9000 block of Oak Glen Road, north of Cherry Valley, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.
The blaze — which was 30% contained as of Wednesday morning — has destroyed 12 structures, including four homes. One injury has been reported.
Officials said Monday that the fire was sparked by a malfunctioning vehicle.
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With most evacuation orders now lifted, the American Red Cross has closed its temporary evacuation center at Beaumont High School.
San Bernardino County residents in need of assistance can still contact the organization at (571) 595-7774.
Although such shelters are common during natural disasters and other emergencies, their operations have been complicated by the COVID-19 pandemic, as health officials warn that crowded conditions can lead to further outbreaks of the disease.
“This is an unusual situation for us,” Red Cross spokesman Ken Reich said. “For the first time, we’re setting people up in hotels instead of a shelter, where coronavirus could be a real problem.”
Because of social distancing and other safety requirements, the evacuation center at Beaumont High School could house only 50 residents if the county were to run out of hotel rooms, according to Shane Reichardt, a spokesman for the Riverside County Emergency Management Department.
Times staff writers Louis Sahagun and Joseph Serna contributed to this report.