latimes--2020-04-25--'I don't deserve a death sentence': Coronavirus outbreaks bring fear inside California prisons

John Blagg says the sound of coughing echoes through Spruce Hall at the California Institution for Men in Chino as he and other inmates lay in their beds .
Six months ago , the coughing wouldn ’ t have meant much in this dormitory , where many inmates like him have a myriad of medical conditions .
Blagg says he ’ s survived three heart attacks , two strokes , seven stents , among other medical setbacks .
But now , he says it is a constant reminder of the coronavirus that has crept into the Chino prison .
At @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one died Sunday and 29 correctional staffers have been infected .
Blagg says he remains in close quarters with his fellow inmates , including one who sleeps on the rack just 2 feet above him .
“ People are coughing , constantly coughing , ” he said in a phone interview from the prison this week .
“ There is no way to social distance .
Blagg said several inmates in his dormitory with COVID-19 symptoms have been placed in isolation and some were taken to San Bernardino County hospitals .
Blagg is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the influence while causing injury to a passenger .
It is a sentence , he said , he deserved for his foolish deeds .
“ I don ’ t deserve a death sentence , ” he said .
“ I am afraid I am not going to make it out ...
I understand I did what I did .
I ’ ll do my time .
I don ’ t want to die and I don ’ t want other people to die.
” Blagg is eligible for parole in 2024 , records @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Rehabilitation officials would not comment on the conditions in Blagg ’ s unit .
“ To allow Department staff to focus on addressing our COVID-19 preparedness and response efforts , we are not able to respond to individual requests regarding ( the ) status of a particular housing unit within a specific institution , ” corrections spokeswoman Dana Simas wrote in an email .
At least three inmates released from the prison in recent weeks tested positive for COVID-19 , according to public health officials .
One of those inmates , Joe Anderson @ @ @ @ @ @ @ positive within six days of being released April 8 from Spruce , igniting a furor in Northern California over why he was allowed to leave the prison .
“ I am symptomatic .
So God knows how many others in there with John already have it , ” Anderson said from a Best Western hotel in Ukiah , where local authorities have housed and fed him since Mendocino County Public Health tested him .
Anderson was one of about 3,500 inmates released before their scheduled release date under a plan announced by Gov @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in prisons during the pandemic .
Anderson said that under the governor ’ s directive , his release date was changed from May to April .
Mendocino County Sheriff Matt Kendall has publicly questioned why the California Department of Corrections released Anderson , who following his release traveled 500 miles north — stopping by stores along the way — given he came from a quarantined part of the prison .
Simas , in her response to questions from The Times , said the department follows “ our local public health notification requirements laid @ @ @ @ @ @ @ requires local public health department notifications for those released from quarantined units or positive COVID-19 cases.
” In this case , the inmate — whom the department did not name — was supposed to go to Stanislaus County , and probation and public health officials were notified , CDCR said in a statement .
Stanislaus County Probation then allowed the inmate to travel to Mendocino County , the statement noted .
Simas on Friday told The Times that the Chino prison was “ working hard to develop a process to test every inmate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ defined by law.
” She said the department is working with lab vendors and hopes to begin such tests within the next week .
Another inmate , Ronald Walker , was released April 3 to a Compton halfway house .
Within eight days , he died of respiratory issues after testing positive for coronavirus .
The L.A. County coroner has deferred a cause of death .
A third man who would test positive was released to Lake County in Northern California , according to officials there .
On Sunday , officials revealed a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ after being hospitalized with COVID-19 .
The inmate had been quarantined in a dorm with other inmates , according to federal court filings , but his symptoms took a turn for the worse on April 16 and he was taken to a hospital , where he died three days later .
Blagg , 57 , said the news of the first death traveled quickly through the dorms , where the fear is pervasive .
Inmate temperatures are taken twice a day .
Anyone registering a body temperature of more than 100 degrees is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is a struggle , Blagg said .
Only a handful of the sinks and showers work , he said , reflecting descriptions by lawyers for the inmates in recent federal case filings seeking a mass release of California ’ s incarcerated and a plan to socially distance those still in custody .
He said each inmate was given three cloth masks .
Sanitation stations set up in an outside courtyard quickly ran out of cleaning fluids , he added .
To prevent the potential spread of the virus , Blagg said the CPAP @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for sleep apnea have been disconnected in the dorm .
His machine helps him cope with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease , he said .
On Wednesday morning , about 130 crowded into the dormitory and Blagg said the prison is setting up tents for inmates outside .
Corrections officials announced Thursday those tents will house about 60 inmates .
Blagg and Anderson say they can ’ t understand why corrections officials have not tested all the inmates at Chino , especially now that Newsom this week has proposed expanding testing to those without @ @ @ @ @ @ @ if the governor thinks people in nursing homes should be tested , then surely inmates and staff in a coronavirus hot spot such as the Chino prison should be too .
According to the corrections department , 138 of the Chino prison ’ s 3,367 inmates have been tested , with more than 50 % of them positive .
Statewide , as of Friday , 166 inmates and 113 staff have tested positive inside California ’ s prisons .
Simas said the department is “ working diligently to implement the guidance for congregate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Public Health by expanding our testing to include mass testing at institutions , point-of-care rapid response testing , and other testing strategies to help us protect all those who live and work in our state prisons.
” She pointed out that last week , more than 100 inmates at California State Prison , Los Angeles County were tested .
Attorneys litigating on behalf of inmates since the pandemic have attempted to force the state to release more prisoners or move them into other forms of detention to reduce overcrowding and allow for social @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the virus .
A three-judge federal panel rejected efforts to release more prisoners .
Last week , a federal judge denied an emergency motion to make the state develop a plan to further reduce the inmate population , saying prison officials were making efforts to spread out prisoners and protect them as best as possible .
A lawyer for the state told the judge it was adhering to a federal receiver ’ s recommendation to create social distancing inside prison dorms statewide by arranging beds in groups of eight .
These “ pods @ @ @ @ @ @ @ recommended 6 feet of space .
Blagg said a row of bunks was briefly removed from his dorm as a way to spread out the sleeping arrangement .
He said officials took photographs of the new layout , but that inmates never got to use the new arrangement because the row of bunks was brought back in .
Attorney Donald Specter of the Prison Law Office in Berkeley , which has litigated cases against the state for overcrowding and medical care , said attorneys since the pandemic have been unable to see conditions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and changes .
Addressing U.S. District Judge Jon Tigar last week , attorney Alison Hardy acknowledged that the virus had not spread throughout the 35 state prisons , but she feared they are a “ tinder box , ” as they are large institutional settings filled with medically vulnerable people .
Some 45,000 of California ’ s 110,000 inmates suffer from an underlying medical condition that makes them vulnerable to coronavirus infection .
Anderson , who was released April 8 , said everyone including the correctional officers is aware they really don ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ There is a false sense of security .
Clearly , you are mingling with people in there like me who show no symptoms of the virus , ” he said

At least 81 inmates have tested positive for the coronavirus at the California Institution for Men in Chino, and one has died. In addition, 29 correctional staffers have been infected.
John Blagg says the sound of coughing echoes through Spruce Hall at the California Institution for Men in Chino as he and other inmates lay in their beds.
Six months ago, the coughing wouldn’t have meant much in this dormitory, where many inmates like him have a myriad of medical conditions. Blagg says he’s survived three heart attacks, two strokes, seven stents, among other medical setbacks.
But now, he says it is a constant reminder of the coronavirus that has crept into the Chino prison. At least 81 inmates have tested positive, one died Sunday and 29 correctional staffers have been infected.
Blagg says he remains in close quarters with his fellow inmates, including one who sleeps on the rack just 2 feet above him. “People are coughing, constantly coughing,” he said in a phone interview from the prison this week. “There is no way to social distance.
Blagg said several inmates in his dormitory with COVID-19 symptoms have been placed in isolation and some were taken to San Bernardino County hospitals.
Blagg is serving an eight-year sentence for driving under the influence while causing injury to a passenger. It is a sentence, he said, he deserved for his foolish deeds.
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John Blagg is serving an eight-year sentence at the California Institution for Men in Chino for driving under the influence while causing injury to a passenger. (Family photo)
“I don’t deserve a death sentence,” he said. “I am afraid I am not going to make it out...I understand I did what I did. I’ll do my time. I don’t want to die and I don’t want other people to die.”
Blagg is eligible for parole in 2024, records show.
California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation officials would not comment on the conditions in Blagg’s unit.
“To allow Department staff to focus on addressing our COVID-19 preparedness and response efforts, we are not able to respond to individual requests regarding (the) status of a particular housing unit within a specific institution,” corrections spokeswoman Dana Simas wrote in an email.
At least three inmates released from the prison in recent weeks tested positive for COVID-19, according to public health officials.
One of those inmates, Joe Anderson, a 32-year-old convicted forger, tested positive within six days of being released April 8 from Spruce, igniting a furor in Northern California over why he was allowed to leave the prison.
“I am symptomatic. So God knows how many others in there with John already have it,” Anderson said from a Best Western hotel in Ukiah, where local authorities have housed and fed him since Mendocino County Public Health tested him.
Anderson was one of about 3,500 inmates released before their scheduled release date under a plan announced by Gov. Gavin Newsom to help reduce crowding in prisons during the pandemic. Anderson said that under the governor’s directive, his release date was changed from May to April.
Mendocino County Sheriff Matt Kendall has publicly questioned why the California Department of Corrections released Anderson, who following his release traveled 500 miles north — stopping by stores along the way — given he came from a quarantined part of the prison.
Simas, in her response to questions from The Times, said the department follows “our local public health notification requirements laid out in our clinical guidance ... which requires local public health department notifications for those released from quarantined units or positive COVID-19 cases.”
In this case, the inmate — whom the department did not name — was supposed to go to Stanislaus County, and probation and public health officials were notified, CDCR said in a statement. Stanislaus County Probation then allowed the inmate to travel to Mendocino County, the statement noted.
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Simas on Friday told The Times that the Chino prison was “working hard to develop a process to test every inmate being released after serving their full-term as defined by law.” She said the department is working with lab vendors and hopes to begin such tests within the next week.
Another inmate, Ronald Walker, was released April 3 to a Compton halfway house. Within eight days, he died of respiratory issues after testing positive for coronavirus. The L.A. County coroner has deferred a cause of death. A third man who would test positive was released to Lake County in Northern California, according to officials there.
On Sunday, officials revealed a 60-year-old inmate from the Chino facility died after being hospitalized with COVID-19. The inmate had been quarantined in a dorm with other inmates, according to federal court filings, but his symptoms took a turn for the worse on April 16 and he was taken to a hospital, where he died three days later.
Blagg, 57, said the news of the first death traveled quickly through the dorms, where the fear is pervasive. Inmate temperatures are taken twice a day. Anyone registering a body temperature of more than 100 degrees is sent to coronavirus positive isolation.
Sanitation is a struggle, Blagg said. Only a handful of the sinks and showers work, he said, reflecting descriptions by lawyers for the inmates in recent federal case filings seeking a mass release of California’s incarcerated and a plan to socially distance those still in custody.
He said each inmate was given three cloth masks. Sanitation stations set up in an outside courtyard quickly ran out of cleaning fluids, he added.
To prevent the potential spread of the virus, Blagg said the CPAP machines that he and other inmates use for sleep apnea have been disconnected in the dorm. His machine helps him cope with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, he said.
On Wednesday morning, about 130 crowded into the dormitory and Blagg said the prison is setting up tents for inmates outside. Corrections officials announced Thursday those tents will house about 60 inmates.
Blagg and Anderson say they can’t understand why corrections officials have not tested all the inmates at Chino, especially now that Newsom this week has proposed expanding testing to those without symptoms in high-risk settings. Anderson said if the governor thinks people in nursing homes should be tested, then surely inmates and staff in a coronavirus hot spot such as the Chino prison should be too.
According to the corrections department, 138 of the Chino prison’s 3,367 inmates have been tested, with more than 50% of them positive. Statewide, as of Friday, 166 inmates and 113 staff have tested positive inside California’s prisons.
Simas said the department is “working diligently to implement the guidance for congregate living facilities issued by California Department of Public Health by expanding our testing to include mass testing at institutions, point-of-care rapid response testing, and other testing strategies to help us protect all those who live and work in our state prisons.” She pointed out that last week, more than 100 inmates at California State Prison, Los Angeles County were tested.
Attorneys litigating on behalf of inmates since the pandemic started have attempted to force the state to release more prisoners or move them into other forms of detention to reduce overcrowding and allow for social distancing that can slow the spread of the virus.
A three-judge federal panel rejected efforts to release more prisoners. Last week, a federal judge denied an emergency motion to make the state develop a plan to further reduce the inmate population, saying prison officials were making efforts to spread out prisoners and protect them as best as possible.
A lawyer for the state told the judge it was adhering to a federal receiver’s recommendation to create social distancing inside prison dorms statewide by arranging beds in groups of eight. These “pods” are to be separated by the recommended 6 feet of space.
Blagg said a row of bunks was briefly removed from his dorm as a way to spread out the sleeping arrangement. He said officials took photographs of the new layout, but that inmates never got to use the new arrangement because the row of bunks was brought back in.
Attorney Donald Specter of the Prison Law Office in Berkeley, which has litigated cases against the state for overcrowding and medical care, said attorneys have been unable to see conditions in the prisons to independently verify conditions and changes since the pandemic began.
Addressing U.S. District Judge Jon Tigar last week, attorney Alison Hardy acknowledged that the virus had not spread throughout the 35 state prisons, but she feared they are a “tinder box,” as they are large institutional settings filled with medically vulnerable people.
Some 45,000 of California’s 110,000 inmates suffer from an underlying medical condition that makes them vulnerable to coronavirus infection.
Anderson, who was released April 8, said everyone including the correctional officers is aware they really don’t know who has the virus. “There is a false sense of security. Clearly, you are mingling with people in there like me who show no symptoms of the virus,” he said.


latimes--2020-04-25--Column: My students earned the cap and gown, but they'll miss out on the day they dreamed about for

Column: My students earned the cap and gown, but they'll miss out on the day they dreamed about for years

Isabeau Noga of Boyle Heights was looking forward to walking across a stage next month , with friends and family coming from as far away as Arizona to celebrate her college graduation .
And she had good reason to be proud .
For her first writing project in my class this semester at Cal State L.A. , Noga composed a powerful essay about her many trips to Children ’ s Court over the course of 10 years .
She called the paper “ All Rise , ” the words called out by the bailiff when the judge enters the room @ @ @ @ @ @ @ homes , one group home and three placements in a mental institution , ” wrote Noga , now 23 .
It was hard to say goodbye to the judge and bailiff and other court officers on her last visit , Noga said in her essay .
The bailiff had handed her stuffed animals over the years and the judge always tried to find a safe place for her .
But when she was nearly 18 , she was adopted , got one last teddy bear from the bailiff , and her new life @ @ @ @ @ @ @ early , ” Noga wrote , “ got an Associate ’ s Degree in Arts and Humanity , and was accepted to all the universities that I applied to , all because [ my mother ] stood by me and guided me to a happier life.
” Across the land , students graduating from college and high school are missing out on their big day because of social distancing protocols during the pandemic .
Like Noga , they ’ ll all get through this , the diplomas will still be printed and distributed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ may be held at a later date .
But to some of my students , and their families , the caps and gowns would have meant a lot .
Most of the students I ’ ve taught over the last four years have been the first in their immigrant families to go to college , and many of them have been in school for more than the usual four years , because they ‘ ve had to juggle part-time or full-time jobs and look after loved ones .
Dr. David Olsen , chair @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he ’ s seen a lot of graduations over the years at various campuses , but nothing like the spectacles of celebration at Cal State L.A. , where the pomp punctuates dreams that have come true .
“ It ’ s a huge party for families and it ’ s so festive and boisterous and lively , ” Olsen said .
“ The ceremony is such a big thing for them that it ’ s incomprehensible to me that it ’ s not going to happen in a few weeks .
It ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ insists on personalizing the ceremony by shaking the hand of every one of the thousands who graduate each year , said Olsen .
After the ceremonies — which have been held in recent years in the CSULA football stadium or the gym — students are eager to introduce parents and loved ones to their professors .
Some students are working hard to make the day special despite the challenges .
As part of a group project in Rob Allen ’ s Intercultural Communications class , graduating senior Danielle Chavez-Duran is helping compile a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ submitting photographs and comments about their CSULA experience , and a slide-show video will be set to music , with the video available to grads .
Chavez-Duran said that in many of the photos she ’ s getting , students are decked out in the caps and gowns they had already purchased .
One of my students , 26-year-old Max Garcia , started attending college nine years ago .
He ’ ll be the first college graduate in his family , and he said his siblings were even more excited than he about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ going to order my cap and gown in May , ” said Garcia , who has held one or two jobs the entire time he ’ s been in college , and works now as a home health aide .
Garcia , a musician , had planned to become an English teacher .
But he ’ s having second thoughts now that all his classes , including mine , have gone digital .
Digital education doesn ’ t look so appealing to him , so Garcia is thinking about going after a graduate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ how long the coronavirus will disrupt normal routines , he reasons , and maybe virtual interaction will be more common going forward .
My student Oliver Rivera wrote during an in-class assignment that he felt bad for his parents as much as for himself .
They came to the U.S. so their children would have more opportunities than they had , Rivera wrote .
And he had so wanted to see them “ reap the rewards ” of their sacrifices when he walked the stage .
Student Andy Chieng , whose parents journeyed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ similar sentiments .
“ This would have been a great payoff for all that struggling — the clearest evidence that they had succeeded , ” said Chieng , a chemistry major .
He ’ s been accepted to a doctorate program at Arizona State University , so they may still see him in a cap and gown one day .
Denae Ayala , a first-generation college graduate and a TV/Film major who wants to be a journalist , said that her family had planned to attend the ceremony and then host a party @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at least a backyard celebration in Bakersfield , where she grew up , but Ayala has said maybe they should hold off until they ’ re sure a large gathering is safe .
Roni Rodriguez , 31 , an English major who wants to be a lawyer , has been attending college since 2011 .
The graduation ceremony would have been more for her immigrant family than for her , Rodriguez said , so she ’ s sorry they ’ ll miss it .
“ But they ’ re still happy I ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
Every semester in my class , which is about how to find and tell untold stories in Los Angeles , the big highlight is a visit from acclaimed poet laureate and author Luis Rodriguez , whose many books include the classic L.A. memoir “ Always Running : La Vida Loca , Gang Days in L.A. ” Last Monday , Rodriguez — who is always greeted like a rock star by my students — joined our class through a video link .
He offered his usual pep talk , writing advice and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and unbridled perseverance .
Noga , a fine writer who keeps a journal and thinks she may want to continue her education and become a youth counselor , asked the author ’ s advice on how to get published .
Rodriguez explained to her and others that there are no shortcuts , and no greater quality than perseverance .
You have to write every day , he said , and good writing is essentially an endless commitment to rewriting .
I ’ m pretty sure Noga has a book in her , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be a bad title .
Her mother , Karen Noga , was Isabeau ’ s foster mother for several years .
They hit some rough patches along the way , they both told me , but their commitment to each other was strong .
It ’ s such a shame , Karen said , that the family won ’ t get to see Isabeau walk the stage .
But they ’ re going to celebrate that degree , one way or another .
To Isabeau and all the others who will soon be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ good luck — and wherever you may be next month on graduation day , let the caps fly .

Isabeau Noga of Boyle Heights was looking forward to walking across a stage next month, with friends and family coming from as far away as Arizona to celebrate her college graduation.
And she had good reason to be proud.
For her first writing project in my class this semester at Cal State L.A., Noga composed a powerful essay about her many trips to Children’s Court over the course of 10 years. She called the paper “All Rise,” the words called out by the bailiff when the judge enters the room.
“I went through 11 foster homes, one group home and three placements in a mental institution,” wrote Noga, now 23.
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It was hard to say goodbye to the judge and bailiff and other court officers on her last visit, Noga said in her essay. The bailiff had handed her stuffed animals over the years and the judge always tried to find a safe place for her. But when she was nearly 18, she was adopted, got one last teddy bear from the bailiff, and her new life began.
“I graduated high school early,” Noga wrote, “got an Associate’s Degree in Arts and Humanity, and was accepted to all the universities that I applied to, all because [my mother] stood by me and guided me to a happier life.”
Across the land, students graduating from college and high school are missing out on their big day because of social distancing protocols during the pandemic. Like Noga, they’ll all get through this, the diplomas will still be printed and distributed, and in some cases traditional ceremonies may be held at a later date.
But to some of my students, and their families, the caps and gowns would have meant a lot. Most of the students I’ve taught over the last four years have been the first in their immigrant families to go to college, and many of them have been in school for more than the usual four years, because they‘ve had to juggle part-time or full-time jobs and look after loved ones.
Dr. David Olsen, chair of the Communications Department, told me he’s seen a lot of graduations over the years at various campuses, but nothing like the spectacles of celebration at Cal State L.A., where the pomp punctuates dreams that have come true.
“It’s a huge party for families and it’s so festive and boisterous and lively,” Olsen said. “The ceremony is such a big thing for them that it’s incomprehensible to me that it’s not going to happen in a few weeks. It’s tragic.”
School President William Covino insists on personalizing the ceremony by shaking the hand of every one of the thousands who graduate each year, said Olsen. After the ceremonies — which have been held in recent years in the CSULA football stadium or the gym — students are eager to introduce parents and loved ones to their professors.
Advertisement
Some students are working hard to make the day special despite the challenges. As part of a group project in Rob Allen’s Intercultural Communications class, graduating senior Danielle Chavez-Duran is helping compile a virtual graduation video. Communications students are submitting photographs and comments about their CSULA experience, and a slide-show video will be set to music, with the video available to grads.
Chavez-Duran said that in many of the photos she’s getting, students are decked out in the caps and gowns they had already purchased.
One of my students, 26-year-old Max Garcia, started attending college nine years ago. He’ll be the first college graduate in his family, and he said his siblings were even more excited than he about the graduation ceremony.
“I was going to order my cap and gown in May,” said Garcia, who has held one or two jobs the entire time he’s been in college, and works now as a home health aide.
Garcia, a musician, had planned to become an English teacher. But he’s having second thoughts now that all his classes, including mine, have gone digital. Digital education doesn’t look so appealing to him, so Garcia is thinking about going after a graduate degree in computer science. Nobody knows how long the coronavirus will disrupt normal routines, he reasons, and maybe virtual interaction will be more common going forward.
My student Oliver Rivera wrote during an in-class assignment that he felt bad for his parents as much as for himself. They came to the U.S. so their children would have more opportunities than they had, Rivera wrote. And he had so wanted to see them “reap the rewards” of their sacrifices when he walked the stage.
Student Andy Chieng, whose parents journeyed here from Vietnam and Laos, had similar sentiments.
“This would have been a great payoff for all that struggling — the clearest evidence that they had succeeded,” said Chieng, a chemistry major. He’s been accepted to a doctorate program at Arizona State University, so they may still see him in a cap and gown one day.
Denae Ayala, a first-generation college graduate and a TV/Film major who wants to be a journalist, said that her family had planned to attend the ceremony and then host a party. Her mother is still pushing for at least a backyard celebration in Bakersfield, where she grew up, but Ayala has said maybe they should hold off until they’re sure a large gathering is safe.
Roni Rodriguez, 31, an English major who wants to be a lawyer, has been attending college since 2011. The graduation ceremony would have been more for her immigrant family than for her, Rodriguez said, so she’s sorry they’ll miss it.
“But they’re still happy I’m getting my degree,” she said.
Every semester in my class, which is about how to find and tell untold stories in Los Angeles, the big highlight is a visit from acclaimed poet laureate and author Luis Rodriguez, whose many books include the classic L.A. memoir “Always Running: La Vida Loca, Gang Days in L.A.”
Last Monday, Rodriguez — who is always greeted like a rock star by my students — joined our class through a video link. He offered his usual pep talk, writing advice and reminders about the value of voracious reading and unbridled perseverance.
Noga, a fine writer who keeps a journal and thinks she may want to continue her education and become a youth counselor, asked the author’s advice on how to get published. Rodriguez explained to her and others that there are no shortcuts, and no greater quality than perseverance. You have to write every day, he said, and good writing is essentially an endless commitment to rewriting.
I’m pretty sure Noga has a book in her, and “All Rise” wouldn’t be a bad title.
Her mother, Karen Noga, was Isabeau’s foster mother for several years. They hit some rough patches along the way, they both told me, but their commitment to each other was strong. It’s such a shame, Karen said, that the family won’t get to see Isabeau walk the stage. But they’re going to celebrate that degree, one way or another.
To Isabeau and all the others who will soon be at the finish line, congratulations, good luck — and wherever you may be next month on graduation day, let the caps fly.
Steve.lopez@latimes.com


latimes--2020-04-25--Reopening California remains a ways off as officials urge caution, cite dangers

There are growing signs that stay-at-home orders across California will remain in place a while longer .
Gov .
Gavin Newsom said this week that , while California is making progress in bending the coronavirus curve , most of the six conditions he set for the state to consider loosening the stay-at-home order he issued last month have not been met .
The only change the governor has made is to allow hospitals to begin scheduling some elective surgeries , citing sufficient capacity .
The six goals include the ability to closely monitor and track potential cases ; prevent infection @ @ @ @ @ @ @ handle surges ; develop therapies to meet demand ; ensure schools , businesses and child-care facilities can support social distancing ; and develop guidelines for asking Californians to stay home again if necessary .
It ’ s still unclear whether some communities where the outbreak has been less severe will be able to relax restrictions .
On Friday , Newsom said , “ We will consider local conditions ” when deciding when to ease the rules .
“ We will consider those things not only from the perspective of the spread of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the number of deaths and trend lines , but also in terms of our broader capacity.
” San Francisco Mayor London Breed said will probably be extended beyond the current expiration date of May 3 .
“ People are asking about this : Will the public health order get extended ?
The likelihood that that will happen is very likely .
And what that means is another few weeks , or even a month , of asking you all to comply and to remain at home and to continue to follow the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” Breed said .
“ How we reopen is going to be important to ensuring that we do it responsibly so that we don ’ t go backward , ” he said .
On Wednesday , the health officer for Santa Clara County , Dr. Sara Cody , said the discovery that people had been infected with the virus there earlier than previously believed illustrated how important the shelter-in-place order is to slow its spread .
Without directly answering a question at a Wednesday about relaxing the order , Cody said , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ going to be going on for a very , very , very long time .
We know that we do not have immunity in the population .
Nor do we have a vaccine .
So any time that we let up on our mitigation measures , we are going to expect to see a spike in cases , hospitalizations and deaths .
That is certain.
” Napa County has extended its Shelter at Home order to be indefinite , but made the following changes : • Permits construction with proper physical distancing .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ physical distancing .
• Permits in-person residential real estate viewings with proper protocols .
• Permits landscaping and gardening maintenance that is not purely for cosmetic purposes .
• Allows the use of golf courses and driving ranges with documented protocols .
• Strongly recommends the use of cloth face coverings when outside the home .
Solano County , which includes Vallejo and Fairfield , has extended its Shelter at Home order to May 17 .
Los Angeles County officials are developing a plan to , but four key benchmarks must first be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ want to undo all the good we ’ ve done and accomplished so far , ” County Supervisor Kathryn Barger said Friday .
“ We are not yet on the other side of this pandemic and we don ’ t want to prematurely ease restrictions.
” She said the county will first need to make sure that its hospitals are adequately staffed , have enough resources to perform testing , and a sufficient number of ventilators and other medical supplies to handle routine care as well as possible influxes of COVID-19 patients .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ protections are in place for the most vulnerable , including the elderly , homeless people and those who live in institutional settings or don ’ t have access to services .
Third , the county must have the capacity to test , isolate and quarantine all those who are ill , as well as to conduct surveillance to prevent further spread .
And fourth , the county must maintain physical distancing and infection control measures , including by providing businesses with educational materials and guidance to ensure that the rules can be followed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s Safer at Home order is in effect through at least May 15 .

Rong-Gong Lin II, Luke Money, Alex Wigglesworth

There are growing signs that stay-at-home orders across California will remain in place a while longer.
Gov. Gavin Newsom said this week that, while California is making progress in bending the coronavirus curve, most of the six conditions he set for the state to consider loosening the stay-at-home order he issued last month have not been met. The only change the governor has made is to allow hospitals to begin scheduling some elective surgeries, citing sufficient capacity.
The six goals include the ability to closely monitor and track potential cases; prevent infection of high-risk people; prepare hospitals to handle surges; develop therapies to meet demand; ensure schools, businesses and child-care facilities can support social distancing; and develop guidelines for asking Californians to stay home again if necessary.
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It’s still unclear whether some communities where the outbreak has been less severe will be able to relax restrictions.
On Friday, Newsom said, “We will consider local conditions” when deciding when to ease the rules. “We will consider those things not only from the perspective of the spread of the virus, not only from the perspective of the number of deaths and trend lines, but also in terms of our broader capacity.”
San Francisco
San Francisco Mayor London Breed said the Bay Area’s shelter-in-place order will probably be extended beyond the current expiration date of May 3.
“People are asking about this: Will the public health order get extended? The likelihood that that will happen is very likely. And what that means is another few weeks, or even a month, of asking you all to comply and to remain at home and to continue to follow the social distancing orders that we put forth,” Breed said.
“How we reopen is going to be important to ensuring that we do it responsibly so that we don’t go backward,” he said.
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Santa Clara County
On Wednesday, the health officer for Santa Clara County, Dr. Sara Cody, said the discovery that people had been infected with the virus there earlier than previously believed illustrated how important the shelter-in-place order is to slow its spread.
Without directly answering a question at a news conference Wednesday about relaxing the order, Cody said, “We anticipate that this pandemic is going to be going on for a very, very, very long time. We know that we do not have immunity in the population. Nor do we have a vaccine. So any time that we let up on our mitigation measures, we are going to expect to see a spike in cases, hospitalizations and deaths. That is certain.”
Napa County
Napa County has extended its Shelter at Home order to be indefinite, but made the following changes:
• Permits construction with proper physical distancing.
• Permits drive-in religious services with proper physical distancing.
• Permits in-person residential real estate viewings with proper protocols.
• Permits landscaping and gardening maintenance that is not purely for cosmetic purposes.
• Allows the use of golf courses and driving ranges with documented protocols.
• Strongly recommends the use of cloth face coverings when outside the home.
Solano County
Solano County, which includes Vallejo and Fairfield, has extended its Shelter at Home order to May 17.
Los Angeles County
Los Angeles County officials are developing a plan to slowly ease stay-at-home orders , but four key benchmarks must first be met.
“We don’t want to undo all the good we’ve done and accomplished so far,” County Supervisor Kathryn Barger said Friday. “We are not yet on the other side of this pandemic and we don’t want to prematurely ease restrictions.”
She said the county will first need to make sure that its hospitals are adequately staffed, have enough resources to perform testing, and a sufficient number of ventilators and other medical supplies to handle routine care as well as possible influxes of COVID-19 patients.
Second, the county must ensure that protections are in place for the most vulnerable, including the elderly, homeless people and those who live in institutional settings or don’t have access to services.
Third, the county must have the capacity to test, isolate and quarantine all those who are ill, as well as to conduct surveillance to prevent further spread.
And fourth, the county must maintain physical distancing and infection control measures, including by providing businesses with educational materials and guidance to ensure that the rules can be followed when they reopen.
Los Angeles County’s Safer at Home order is in effect through at least May 15.


latimes--2020-04-25--Some beaches are open during the heat wave. But coronavirus rules apply

With hot weather blanketing Southern California this weekend , officials are urging residents to keep up with social distancing measures and avoid trips — especially to the beach .
“ A day or two of fun , leading to weeks more of us being in our homes and not being able to go out , simply isn ’ t worth it , ” Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti said Friday .
Record-high temperatures were reported Friday at Burbank ’ s Bob Hope Airport , where a high of 99 degrees broke the old record of 93 degrees set in 1965 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ recording of 87 degrees broke the old record of 86 set in 2001 .
Temperatures tied records in downtown Los Angeles , Long Beach , Camarillo , Woodland Hills and Paso Robles , the National Weather Service said .
Saturday is expected to be a few degrees cooler , with downtown L.A. reaching a high of about 90 degrees , but still above the normal high for this time of year , which is about 74 , said Mike Wofford , a meteorologist with the weather service in Oxnard .
Things are expected @ @ @ @ @ @ @ temperatures will remain above normal , in the 80s , for the next seven days , Wofford said .
Officials are concerned the heat wave could lead to the crowding of outdoor spaces , making it difficult for people to avoid close contact with others .
Social distancing has helped slow the spread of coronavirus , and early stay-at-home orders in California have meant fewer deaths compared with hot spots like New York , experts say .
Gov .
Gavin Newsom said those who do choose to be outdoors should visit only open @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from others , as they ’ ve done since he imposed a statewide stay-at-home order five weeks ago .
If they don ’ t , Newsom said , he fears he ’ ll soon be reporting a surge in the number of cases .
“ I don ’ t think anybody wants to hear that .
I don ’ t want to share that information .
But that ’ s really less up to me , it ’ s more up to all of you , ” he said .
This weekend , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ operated by the state , remain closed .
And even at the ones that are open , strict social distancing rules apply and parking lots may be closed .
Many Ventura and Orange county beaches are open , but officials wary of a crush of visitors have urged outsiders not to visit .
to enforce closures or severely limited access at hundreds of beaches , parks , trails and forests , though policies and enforcement vary .
L.A. Police Chief Michel Moore called on Angelenos to resist the urge to head for forbidden @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to surpass 90 degrees in the coming days .
“ Avoid those nonessential activities , ” Moore said .
“ Save the awkwardness of us having to admonish you.
” As an alternative to outdoor spaces for those who need to escape the heat , county officials opened emergency cooling centers , which will operate from noon to 6 p.m. Saturday .
In a news release Friday , officials emphasized that the cooling centers are for vulnerable populations , including older residents and those without air conditioning .
Visitors are required to wear @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
.
The centers are located at Lincoln Heights Recreation Center , Colonel Leon Washington Park in South Los Angeles , Whittier Community Center , Mid-Valley Senior Center in Panorama City , Robert M. Wilkinson Multipurpose Center in Northridge , Sherman Oaks East Valley Adult Center , Jocelyn Center in Alhambra , Buena Vista Library in Burbank , Robinson Park Community Center in Pasadena and El Cariso Community Regional Park in Sylmar .
Orange County officials debated closing beaches and hiking trails during the heat wave after coastal residents raised concerns about out-of-towners @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Since surrounding counties have completely shuttered their beaches , Orange County has been inundated with people from L.A. and San Diego counties and the Inland Empire , Supervisor Lisa Bartlett said this week .
Officials ultimately decided to keep beaches open but left in place parking restrictions that will reduce access .
Some cities , including Laguna Beach and Seal Beach , have closed the stretches of sand in their jurisdiction .
Officials in San Clemente voted this week to begin allowing “ active recreation , ” i.e.
, no sunbathing , at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Parking access will be limited , however .
County officials on Friday lifted restrictions on ocean access , paving the way for cities to reopen their beaches as soon as Monday .
The change reopens the ocean to swimming , surfing , kayaking and paddleboarding .
It does not apply to state beaches , and parking lots will remain closed .
Group activities and boating will remain banned .
While residents can walk and run along the beach , they can not sit or lie down .
its hard closure on parks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to help residents stay mentally and physically healthy amid the pandemic .
Under an , residents can now access the city ’ s beaches , pier , promenade and parks as long as they keep their distance from one another and remain active .
People can walk back and forth on the pier or the sand but are not allowed to sit down or stand against the railing to fish , for example .

Hannah Fry, Priscella Vega, Alex Wigglesworth, Lindsay Winkley

Officials in San Clemente voted Tuesday to allow “active recreation” at city beaches.
With hot weather blanketing Southern California this weekend, officials are urging residents to keep up with social distancing measures and avoid trips — especially to the beach.
“A day or two of fun, leading to weeks more of us being in our homes and not being able to go out, simply isn’t worth it,” Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti said Friday.
Record-high temperatures were reported Friday at Burbank’s Bob Hope Airport, where a high of 99 degrees broke the old record of 93 degrees set in 1965, and at UCLA, where a recording of 87 degrees broke the old record of 86 set in 2001.
Temperatures tied records in downtown Los Angeles, Long Beach, Camarillo, Woodland Hills and Paso Robles, the National Weather Service said.
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Saturday is expected to be a few degrees cooler, with downtown L.A. reaching a high of about 90 degrees, but still above the normal high for this time of year, which is about 74, said Mike Wofford, a meteorologist with the weather service in Oxnard.
Things are expected to cool off Saturday night, but temperatures will remain above normal, in the 80s, for the next seven days, Wofford said.
Officials are concerned the heat wave could lead to the crowding of outdoor spaces, making it difficult for people to avoid close contact with others.
Social distancing has helped slow the spread of coronavirus, and early stay-at-home orders in California have meant fewer deaths compared with hot spots like New York, experts say.
Gov. Gavin Newsom said those who do choose to be outdoors should visit only open locations and ensure they remain physically separated from others, as they’ve done since he imposed a statewide stay-at-home order five weeks ago. If they don’t, Newsom said, he fears he’ll soon be reporting a surge in the number of cases.
“I don’t think anybody wants to hear that. I don’t want to share that information. But that’s really less up to me, it’s more up to all of you,” he said.
Advertisement
This weekend, most beaches, including many of those operated by the state, remain closed. And even at the ones that are open, strict social distancing rules apply and parking lots may be closed. Many Ventura and Orange county beaches are open, but officials wary of a crush of visitors have urged outsiders not to visit.
Los Angeles County
Local, state and federal agencies continue to enforce closures or severely limited access at hundreds of beaches, parks, trails and forests, though policies and enforcement vary.
L.A. Police Chief Michel Moore called on Angelenos to resist the urge to head for forbidden beaches and trails as temperatures are expected to surpass 90 degrees in the coming days.
“Avoid those nonessential activities,” Moore said. “Save the awkwardness of us having to admonish you.”
As an alternative to outdoor spaces for those who need to escape the heat, county officials opened emergency cooling centers, which will operate from noon to 6 p.m. Saturday.
In a news release Friday, officials emphasized that the cooling centers are for vulnerable populations, including older residents and those without air conditioning.
Visitors are required to wear a face covering and practice social distancing. .
The centers are located at Lincoln Heights Recreation Center, Colonel Leon Washington Park in South Los Angeles, Whittier Community Center, Mid-Valley Senior Center in Panorama City, Robert M. Wilkinson Multipurpose Center in Northridge, Sherman Oaks East Valley Adult Center, Jocelyn Center in Alhambra, Buena Vista Library in Burbank, Robinson Park Community Center in Pasadena and El Cariso Community Regional Park in Sylmar.
Orange County
Orange County officials debated closing beaches and hiking trails during the heat wave after coastal residents raised concerns about out-of-towners descending on their communities in droves.
Since surrounding counties have completely shuttered their beaches, Orange County has been inundated with people from L.A. and San Diego counties and the Inland Empire, Supervisor Lisa Bartlett said this week.
Officials ultimately decided to keep beaches open but left in place parking restrictions that will reduce access. Some cities, including Laguna Beach and Seal Beach, have closed the stretches of sand in their jurisdiction.
Officials in San Clemente voted this week to begin allowing “active recreation,” i.e., no sunbathing, at city beaches and coastal trails this weekend. Parking access will be limited, however.
Laguna Beach beaches remain closed.
San Diego County
County officials on Friday lifted restrictions on ocean access, paving the way for cities to reopen their beaches as soon as Monday.
The change reopens the ocean to swimming, surfing, kayaking and paddleboarding. It does not apply to state beaches, and parking lots will remain closed.
Group activities and boating will remain banned. While residents can walk and run along the beach, they cannot sit or lie down.
Ventura County
The city of Ventura eased its hard closure on parks and beaches this week in an effort to help residents stay mentally and physically healthy amid the pandemic.
Under an amended ordinance , residents can now access the city’s beaches, pier, promenade and parks as long as they keep their distance from one another and remain active. People can walk back and forth on the pier or the sand but are not allowed to sit down or stand against the railing to fish, for example.
County beaches are also open.


latimes--2020-04-25--Coronavirus threatens a South L.A. clinic that's long been a lifeline for the working poor

On a typical day , the line starts forming outside South Central Family Health Center before sunrise .
For thousands of patients , this clinic run by a devoted team of doctors in Central-Alameda has become a one-stop shop for all their aches and pains and chronic woes for nearly 40 years .
Now , due to the coronavirus pandemic , much of the crucial work this health center and other community clinics do to help Los Angeles ’ most vulnerable population is at risk as many people have stopped leaving their home to see their doctor .
“ We @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” said David Roman , spokesman for the South Central Family Health Center .
“ Now we have an under-served population with diabetes , asthma , hypertension that is avoiding their routine .
They ’ re having to make a choice .
Do you they come in and stay healthy or do they stay home and get sicker ?
” Since stay-at-home orders went into effect in mid-March , patient visits have fallen by 25 % at South Central , costing the nonprofit clinic an unprecedented loss of about $ 310,000 .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ organizations across Los Angeles County are also struggling .
The outbreak forced many of the county ’ s 350 clinics to take drastic measures such as closures , furloughs , layoffs and job reassignments , said Louise McCarthy , president and CEO of the Community Clinic Assn .
of Los Angeles County .
Collectively , she estimates , centers are losing an average of about $ 6 million per week .
Some clinics have lost 30-70 % of their patient visits .
“ This pandemic has eclipsed all other crises we ’ ve @ @ @ @ @ @ @ still in the relief phase , ” McCarthy said .
“ We don ’ t know yet what our new reality is going to be , but nothing will be the same again.
” At risk is the health of a vast Latino and black population the clinics serve , a community that ’ s already been disproportionately hit by COVID-19 .
County-wide , 60 % of those who rely on local clinics live below the poverty level , about $ 26,000 per year for a household of four .
Another 20 % @ @ @ @ @ @ @ less than $ 52,000 per year .
For these families , community clinics provide a vital safety net .
Without their services , many members are likely to end up in large numbers in hospital emergency rooms , putting further strain on the healthcare network .
At South Central Family Health Center , patients come from immigrant communities .
About 92 % are Latino .
They labor in construction , hotels , factories and restaurants .
Those in dire need often turn to the clinic for food donations , help with evictions and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they ’ ve come to trust the medical team .
Some physicians , like Dr. José Luis Perez , as well as several staff members , grew up in South L.A. Perez attended high school just a mile from the clinic .
“ Working here for me is really personal , ” said Perez , a native of Nicaragua who is also the center ’ s chief medical officer .
“ Most of my patients look like my grandma or my cousins .
I understand their lives because I ’ ve lived a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ days , Perez has found himself worrying about patients who have not been coming in — those with diabetes , high blood pressure , terminal cancer .
Despite concern from medical staff , the clinic has cut services , closing four of its nine sites and stopping construction of a new vision care center .
It also has furloughed dozens of workers and reduced their hours .
Federal stimulus funds this month provided temporary relief for a number of clinics .
South Central received $ 1.1 million .
That ’ s enough to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ May , Roman said .
“ We ’ ve taken some extraordinary measures in order to save cash , ” he said .
“ Legislators really need to understand the impact this pandemic has had in the community , on the fragile balance of this safety net.
” Community clinics have also had to battle to get personal protective gear and testing .
Officials say that while much of the national focus has been on hospital shortages , the needs of community clinics have been largely overlooked .
South Central had only 20 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ April .
When they were unable to get more , a testing lab advised them to use gonorrhoea collection kits they had in storage .
The kits are processed like other coronavirus tests and deliver solid results , Roman said .
Another clinic network , St. John ’ s Well Child & Family Center , has been facing its own challenges .
Jim Mangia had to put a half-dozen employees to work full-time hunting down masks for his 18 centers , which serve a total of about 100,000 patients .
They managed to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ donations , local leaders and one center worker who had connections to a factory in China .
“ It was so touch and go , we were literally about to run out when an order came in , ” said Mangia , chief executive officer of St. John ’ s , which operates centers across South L.A. , Mid-City and Northeast Los Angeles .
Now , Mangia said , his clinics are pushing to meet a tremendous demand for tests .
Last week , medical staff opened 13 testing sites .
They administered @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , using up their supply .
“ We keep fighting , but it ’ s like trying to fight with both your hands tied behind your back , ” Mangia said .
“ We ’ re on the front lines , too , and we ’ re seeing all the health disparities and inequities people here experience every day magnified 10-fold because of this pandemic.
” One positive note is that community clinics in California are now allowed to charge insurance providers for treating patients via Telehealth — by phone and video .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ due to federal regulations .
It was permitted only in rural areas or among more well-to-do patients with private insurance .
In South L.A. , some clinics are now treating up to half of their patients by phone .
They ’ ve seen far fewer appointment cancellations this way .
“ For so many years , people have had to take three or four buses to visit the doctor because we ’ re not removing these socioeconomic barriers , ” said Adel Syed , chief executive officer of the University Muslim Medical Assn.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ patients in South L.A. , most of them working-poor Latinos .
There ’ s no indication so far that clinics will be allowed to continue billing for Telehealth appointments after the pandemic , but the Community Clinic Assn .
of Los Angeles County plans to fight for it , said McCarthy .
Back at South Central Family Health Center on a recent afternoon , patients wearing masks trickled in , forming a line outside the front door .
A medical assistant checked their temperatures , screening for coughs and fevers before allowing them @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been released from the hospital after battling COVID-19 .
Emilia Flores , 67 , a first-time patient , sat in the lobby feeling jittery about having left her house just a few blocks away .
But she had run out of depression medication and her usual clinic in San Pedro had shut down .
“ I was so afraid to come and was really trying to push through on my own , but I can ’ t live without my medicine , ” said Flores , who ’ s struggled ever since her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fiery car crash two years ago .
Her husband , fortunately , has a secure job that provides Medicare .
He works at a factory that makes medical supplies .
Their family has always counted on community clinics for all their health needs .
“ I wouldn ’ t know where else to go , ” Flores said .
A few days after her visit to the clinic , she was stressed about the pandemic and still struggling with her ongoing grief , but she felt at ease knowing there was a health @ @ @ @ @ @ @ close to her home .
“ This place took really good care of me , ” she said .

On a typical day, the line starts forming outside South Central Family Health Center before sunrise.
For thousands of patients, this clinic run by a devoted team of doctors in Central-Alameda has become a one-stop shop for all their aches and pains and chronic woes.
Now, because of the COVID-19 pandemic, much of the crucial work this health center and other community clinics do to help Los Angeles’ most vulnerable populations is at risk as many people have stopped leaving their home to see their doctor.
“We were already dealing with a delicate situation,” said David Roman, spokesman for the South Central Family Health Center, which has been operating for nearly 40 years. “Now we have an underserved population with diabetes, asthma, hypertension that is avoiding their routine. They’re having to make a choice. Do they come in and stay healthy or do they stay home and get sicker?”
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During the coroniavirus pandemic Wendy Urquiza, right, medical assistant talks with people and checks their temperature at the entrance to South Central Family Health Center (SCFHC) on Wednesday, April 8, 2020 in Los Angeles. (Francine Orr/Los Angeles Times)
Since stay-at-home orders went into effect in mid-March, patient visits have fallen by 25% at South Central, costing the nonprofit clinic an unprecedented loss of about $310,000.
Other clinics run by community health center organizations across Los Angeles County are also struggling.
The coronavirus outbreak forced many of the county’s 350 clinics to take drastic measures such as closures, furloughs, layoffs and job reassignments, said Louise McCarthy, president and chief executive of the Community Clinic Assn. of Los Angeles County. Collectively, she estimates, centers are losing an average of about $6 million per week. Some clinics have lost 30% to 70% of their patient visits.
“This pandemic has eclipsed all other crises we’ve experienced to date and we’re still in the relief phase,” McCarthy said. “We don’t know yet what our new reality is going to be, but nothing will be the same again.”
At risk is the health of a vast Latino and black population the clinics serve, a community that’s already been disproportionately hit by COVID-19. Countywide, 60% of those who rely on local clinics live below the poverty level, about $26,000 per year for a household of four. An additional 20% of households that rely on clinics make less than $52,000 per year.
For these families, community clinics provide a vital safety net. Without these services, many people are likely to end up in hospital emergency rooms, putting further strain on the healthcare network.
Advertisement
At South Central Family Health Center, patients come from immigrant communities. About 92% are Latino. They labor in construction, hotels, factories and restaurants. Those in dire need often turn to the clinic for food donations, help with evictions and immigration resources.
Over the years, they’ve come to trust the medical team. Some physicians, such as Dr. José Luis Perez, as well as several staff members, grew up in South L.A. Perez attended high school just a mile from the clinic.
“Working here for me is really personal,” said Perez, a native of Nicaragua who is also the center’s chief medical officer. “Most of my patients look like my grandma or my cousins. I understand their lives because I’ve lived a lot of it myself.”
In recent days, Perez has found himself worrying about patients who have not been coming in — those with diabetes, high blood pressure, terminal cancer.
Despite concern from medical staff, the clinic has cut services, closing four of its nine sites and stopping construction of a new vision care center. It also has furloughed dozens of workers and reduced their hours.
Federal stimulus funds this month provided temporary relief for a number of clinics. South Central received $1.1 million. That’s enough to support services until the first week of May, Roman said.
“We’ve taken some extraordinary measures in order to save cash,” he said. “Legislators really need to understand the impact this pandemic has had in the community, on the fragile balance of this safety net.”
Community clinics have also had to battle to get personal protective gear and testing. Officials say that while much of the national focus has been on hospital shortages, the needs of community clinics have been largely overlooked.
South Central had only 20 coronavirus tests available for patients in early April. When it was unable to get more, a testing lab advised the clinic to use gonorrhea collection kits it had in storage. The kits are processed like other coronavirus tests and deliver solid results, Roman said.
Another clinic network, St. John’s Well Child & Family Center, has been facing its own challenges. Jim Mangia had to put a half-dozen employees to work full-time hunting down masks for his 18 centers, which serve a total of about 100,000 patients. They managed to patch together a stockpile with help from donations, local leaders and one center worker who had connections to a factory in China.
“It was so touch and go, we were literally about to run out when an order came in,” said Mangia, chief executive of St. John’s, which operates centers across South L.A., Mid-City and northeast Los Angeles.
Now, Mangia said, his clinics are pushing to meet a tremendous demand for tests. Last week, medical staff opened 13 testing sites. They administered more than 1,300 tests in one week, using up their supply.
“We keep fighting, but it’s like trying to fight with both your hands tied behind your back,” Mangia said. “We’re on the front lines, too, and we’re seeing all the health disparities and inequities people here experience every day magnified tenfold because of this pandemic.”
One positive note is that community clinics in California are now allowed to charge insurance providers for treating patients via Telehealth — by phone and video. Until now, that service was off-limits because of federal regulations. It was permitted only in rural areas or among more well-to-do patients with private insurance.
In South L.A., some clinics are now treating up to half of their patients by phone. They’ve seen far fewer appointment cancellations this way.
“For so many years, people have had to take three or four buses to visit the doctor because we’re not removing these socioeconomic barriers,” said Adel Syed, chief executive of the University Muslim Medical Assn., a center that serves about 8,000 patients in South L.A., most of them working-poor Latinos.
There’s no indication so far that clinics will be allowed to continue billing for Telehealth appointments after the pandemic, but the Community Clinic Assn. of Los Angeles County plans to fight for it, McCarthy said.
Back at South Central Family Health Center on a recent afternoon, patients wearing masks trickled in, forming a line outside the front door. A medical assistant checked their temperatures, screening for coughs and fevers before allowing them inside. A few patients had just been released from the hospital after battling COVID-19.
Emilia Flores, 67, a first-time patient, sat in the lobby feeling jittery about having left her house, just a few blocks away. But she had run out of depression medication and her usual clinic in San Pedro had shut down.
“I was so afraid to come and was really trying to push through on my own, but I can’t live without my medicine,” said Flores, who has struggled ever since her son-in-law and two grandchildren died in a fiery car crash two years ago.
Her husband, fortunately, has a secure job that provides health insurance. He works at a factory that makes medical supplies. Their family has always counted on community clinics for all their health needs.
“I wouldn’t know where else to go,” Flores said.
A few days after her visit to the clinic, she was stressed about the pandemic and still struggling with her ongoing grief, but she felt at ease knowing there was a health center standing by to help, so close to her home.
“This place took really good care of me,” she said.


latimes--2020-04-25--Mosques raise a big part of their budget during Ramadan. Under coronavirus quarantine, key funding i

Mosques raise a big part of their budget during Ramadan. Under coronavirus quarantine, key funding is at risk

Last year , on the 27th night of Ramadan , the faithful at the Islamic Center of Hawthorne pulled up to the mosque in droves to celebrate one of the holiest nights on the Islamic calendar .
After they ’ d recited sunset prayers and begun their feast of meats , rice and rose milk , families dropped cash in donation boxes and wrote checks to the mosque as part of charity traditionally given during this season of spiritual introspection and elevated devotion .
Mosques around the country typically raise between 25 % to 30 % of their annual revenue @ @ @ @ @ @ @ month , religious leaders say .
For some communities , that can mean as much as $ 100,000 , much of that concentrated in the final 10 days .
But this year , amid the coronavirus outbreak , those key funds are at risk .
Some mosques and Islamic centers , already hit with a decline in donations throughout March and April , have let staff go or cut their hours ; others have negotiated lower utility bills or canceled janitorial services as funds dry up .
The Islamic Center of Hawthorne said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as a 70 % drop in Ramadan donations this year .
“ It ’ s obviously a devastating time for everybody — all faiths , all cultures , ” said Bilal Zaheen , outreach director at the mosque .
“ There had to be cuts from the mosque ’ s utility expenses .
Personnel left of their own accord because they didn ’ t want to put the mosque under pressure.
” Some leaders worry that cuts at mosques could continue as communities lose a large chunk of their income this Ramadan — @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to inspire donations and also because worshipers have been hit hard by the economic downturn and may not have as much disposable income to share .
The outlook has become so dire that Muslim communities throughout the United States have banded together to launch a national crowdfunding campaign aimed at donating funds to mosques .
The “ Caring for Our Own ” campaign , spearheaded by four prominent imams , was designed to provide small , one-time grants ranging from $ 5,000 to $ 10,000 to mosques in need .
The fund has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ A lot of people have been furloughed or let go , or have seen a reduced salary , ” said Muhi Khwaja , co-founder of the American Muslim Community Foundation , a nonprofit organization that partnered with LaunchGood to collect the funds .
“ This is , hopefully , a stopgap measure.
” As soon as officials mandated stay-at-home orders in various states , Khwaja said , he and other organizers knew that mosques would have to close their doors .
Many mosques rely on Friday prayer collection bins , he added , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ March .
“ On top of that , the mosques receive an influx in participants during Ramadan every day , ” he said .
“ We anticipated that a lot of mosques would be in this scenario.
” Congregants often turn to mosques and other houses of worship in times of crisis .
But during economic downturns , those institutions can be hit just as hard — if not harder — than the faithful .
“ Congregations are microcosms of the world around them .
They are not insulated from them , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Center for Religion and Civic Culture at USC .
“ Faith institutions sometimes get a double or triple impact because their leadership is impacted , the congregation is impacted ... that compounds to create a greater crisis.
” Loskota said that every mosque she knows is trying to figure out its next steps .
Zaheen , of the Islamic center in Hawthorne , said he doesn ’ t know where any future cuts would come from .
“ We have full-time religious scholars .
We wouldn ’ t touch their salaries , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ re vital to the community ’ s function even from an online perspective .
I think this is really rock bottom for us.
” At the Islamic Society of West Valley in Canoga Park , leadership has been forced to cut the staff ’ s pay in half .
Shaykh Suhail Hasan Mulla , the mosque ’ s resident scholar , hopes to restore full salaries soon .
“ Since we don ’ t have the programs to the same extent , the donations are not as forthcoming , ” he said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ we aren ’ t able to do.
” Ramadan , he said , is the time congregants gather most .
“ We probably get about half of our annual donations during that one month , ” he said .
“ You can imagine how that fans out for the rest of the year in terms of impact.
” Mulla plans to ask the board of directors to apply for LaunchGood donation funds .
For now , he said , the Islamic Society is holding Ramadan services on Zoom that include the recitation of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ We don ’ t know how long this is going to last and what the financial impact is on the short-term and the long-term , ” he said .
“ What are people ’ s savings habits and expendable wealth going to look like after all of this ?
What is this going to mean to attendance at the mosque ?
” The inability to meet in person has also affected some mosques ’ sense of community , said Omar Ricci , spokesman for the Islamic Center of Southern California .
The Islamic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ creative means of connecting as a result , he said .
“ It has a depressing impact , and we see that in some of the community members and what they are saying , ” Ricci said .
“ We created a good , old-fashioned phone tree to reach out to elderly members of community.
” The center , he said , applied for the federal Paycheck Protection Program , but those funds were exhausted before they could obtain any .
Last year , a pre-Ramadan dinner raised nearly one-tenth of the mosque @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ricci said .
As much as one-third of the budget is raised during Ramadan overall .
This month , the mosque plans to continue its online programming and wait to see how this Ramadan compares to previous seasons .
“ Financially , it ’ s been a hit , ” he said .
“ But one of the ideas we have in our community is that better days are ahead .
Don ’ t let this get you too much into the doldrums .
Have faith that this is going to pass and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
”

Pedestrians stroll by the Islamic Center of Southern California. Mosques may have to cut back further if they receive fewer donations while coronavirus orders keep the faithful at home during Ramadan, typically a big fundraising time.
Last year, on the 27th night of Ramadan, the faithful at the Islamic Center of Hawthorne pulled up to the mosque in droves to celebrate one of the holiest nights on the Islamic calendar.
After they’d recited sunset prayers and begun their feast of meats, rice and rose milk, families dropped cash in donation boxes and wrote checks to the mosque as part of charity traditionally given during this season of spiritual introspection and elevated devotion.
Mosques around the country typically raise between 25% to 30% of their annual revenue through donations from congregants during the holy month, religious leaders say. For some communities, that can mean as much as $100,000, much of that concentrated in the final 10 days.
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But this year, amid the coronavirus outbreak, those key funds are at risk. Some mosques and Islamic centers, already hit with a decline in donations throughout March and April, have let staff go or cut their hours; others have negotiated lower utility bills or canceled janitorial services as funds dry up. The Islamic Center of Hawthorne said that it expects to see as much as a 70% drop in Ramadan donations this year.
“It’s obviously a devastating time for everybody — all faiths, all cultures,” said Bilal Zaheen, outreach director at the mosque. “There had to be cuts from the mosque’s utility expenses. Personnel left of their own accord because they didn’t want to put the mosque under pressure.”
Some leaders worry that cuts at mosques could continue as communities lose a large chunk of their income this Ramadan — because there will be no physical gatherings to inspire donations and also because worshipers have been hit hard by the economic downturn and may not have as much disposable income to share.
The outlook has become so dire that Muslim communities throughout the United States have banded together to launch a national crowdfunding campaign aimed at donating funds to mosques. The “Caring for Our Own” campaign, spearheaded by four prominent imams, was designed to provide small, one-time grants ranging from $5,000 to $10,000 to mosques in need. The fund has raised more than $180,000.
“A lot of people have been furloughed or let go, or have seen a reduced salary,” said Muhi Khwaja, co-founder of the American Muslim Community Foundation, a nonprofit organization that partnered with LaunchGood to collect the funds. “This is, hopefully, a stopgap measure.”
As soon as officials mandated stay-at-home orders in various states, Khwaja said, he and other organizers knew that mosques would have to close their doors. Many mosques rely on Friday prayer collection bins, he added, and stopped receiving that funding in early March.
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“On top of that, the mosques receive an influx in participants during Ramadan every day,” he said. “We anticipated that a lot of mosques would be in this scenario.”
At Masjid Al Fatiha of Azusa in 2018, men gathered to offer nightly Ramadan prayers. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)
Congregants often turn to mosques and other houses of worship in times of crisis. But during economic downturns, those institutions can be hit just as hard — if not harder — than the faithful.
“Congregations are microcosms of the world around them. They are not insulated from them,” said Brie Loskota, executive director of the Center for Religion and Civic Culture at USC. “Faith institutions sometimes get a double or triple impact because their leadership is impacted, the congregation is impacted ... that compounds to create a greater crisis.”
Loskota said that every mosque she knows is trying to figure out its next steps.
Zaheen, of the Islamic center in Hawthorne, said he doesn’t know where any future cuts would come from.
“We have full-time religious scholars. We wouldn’t touch their salaries,” he said. “They’re vital to the community’s function even from an online perspective. I think this is really rock bottom for us.”
In this file photo, congregants departed the Islamic Center of San Gabriel Valley after attending Friday prayers. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)
At the Islamic Society of West Valley in Canoga Park, leadership has been forced to cut the staff’s pay in half. Shaykh Suhail Hasan Mulla, the mosque’s resident scholar, hopes to restore full salaries soon.
“Since we don’t have the programs to the same extent, the donations are not as forthcoming,” he said. “There also are fee-based services that we aren’t able to do.”
Ramadan, he said, is the time congregants gather most.
“We probably get about half of our annual donations during that one month,” he said. “You can imagine how that fans out for the rest of the year in terms of impact.”
Mulla plans to ask the board of directors to apply for LaunchGood donation funds.
For now, he said, the Islamic Society is holding Ramadan services on Zoom that include the recitation of the Quran and spiritual reflections.
“We don’t know how long this is going to last and what the financial impact is on the short-term and the long-term,” he said. “What are people’s savings habits and expendable wealth going to look like after all of this? What is this going to mean to attendance at the mosque?”
The inability to meet in person has also affected some mosques’ sense of community, said Omar Ricci, spokesman for the Islamic Center of Southern California. The Islamic center has been pushed to devise more creative means of connecting as a result, he said.
“It has a depressing impact, and we see that in some of the community members and what they are saying,” Ricci said. “We created a good, old-fashioned phone tree to reach out to elderly members of community.”
The center, he said, applied for the federal Paycheck Protection Program, but those funds were exhausted before they could obtain any.
Last year, a pre-Ramadan dinner raised nearly one-tenth of the mosque’s budget in one night, Ricci said. As much as one-third of the budget is raised during Ramadan overall.
This month, the mosque plans to continue its online programming and wait to see how this Ramadan compares to previous seasons.
“Financially, it’s been a hit,” he said. “But one of the ideas we have in our community is that better days are ahead. Don’t let this get you too much into the doldrums. Have faith that this is going to pass and that we will come out of it.”