latimes--2020-09-28--Column: Latinos find a piece of Old West dream in 'Bonanza' country, fires be damned

Zenón and Martha Mayorga called their four adult children to the family home in Glassell Park the night of Sept. 18 .
Everyone settled in the living room , turned on the TV and prepared to see their dream house burn down .
Newscasts aired live shots of the wreckage wrought by the massive Bobcat fire .
Authorities had mandated evacuations the day before in Juniper Hills , an Antelope Valley community where the Mayorgas own a four-bedroom abode on 1.5 acres of juniper trees and hiking trails that they call el rancho .
A neighbor had texted Zenón that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more .
So the Mayorgas comforted themselves with chamomile-passionflower tea and memories of their desert paradise .
They remembered how Zenón bought it in 2009 because the stark vistas and high altitude had reminded the Mexican immigrant of his native Zacatecas .
How he had to convince his family — and especially Marta , a city girl from Guadalajara — that a beat-up structure with holes in the roof , missing windows and snakes everywhere was a sound investment .
And how all the parties , sleepovers and bonding that kith and kin @ @ @ @ @ @ @ decade had proved him right .
“ When you ’ re younger , you ’ re like , ‘ Ugh , we ’ re going all the way up there ?
’ ” said April Mayorga-Aguirre , a 30-year-old marriage and family therapist .
“ But now , even in our full-blown careers , we try to go up there as much as possible.
” April and her family stayed up for the 11 o ’ clock news and saw the homes of their Juniper Hills friends in flames .
There were tears @ @ @ @ @ @ @ magnitude 4.5 earthquake brought even more nerves .
The family rushed up to their property the following morning .
Helicopters and planes zoomed overhead ; ashes and embers swirled all around .
The Mayorgas gunned through unpaved roads and steeled themselves for the worst .
Zenón , Marta , and April met me there last Saturday , on what was supposed to be April ’ s wedding date in Palm Springs until 2020 said otherwise .
Their house is desert rat lite : big screened porch in the front , massive water and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the back , random tchotchkes — but not too many — strewn about .
Marta busied herself in the kitchen as Zenón settled in his chair , the one that offers him sight lines all the way to China Lake on a clear day .
“ This year has taught us to live in the moment with gratitude , ” said April .
“ We hope to spend the holidays here , but who knows ?
” “ Because tomorrow , what you may have is gone , ” Zenón added .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ re safe .
The rest , God will decide if we deserve it.
” Pardon my Southern California ignorance , but I never expected to find middle-class Mexicans in the rural high desert .
The Mexicans I know , when they want to buy land to raise horses or host rodeos like in the motherland , buy in Norco or Mira Loma .
Not in the heart of “ Bonanza ” country .
But a growing number of Latinos are moving to the back country of the Antelope Valley , drawn by the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ society long cast as the Old West spirit and reserved mostly for Anglos .
“ It ’ s just like Mexico up here , ” 57-year-old Zenón said , gesturing outside , comfortable in his socks and Birkenstocks .
“ If you want to have chickens and goats , you can .
It ’ s that liberty.
” Then , he paraphrased a line from a Roy Rogers ballad , in equal parts English and Spanish .
“ Here , está abierto [ It ’ s open ] .
Allá , está muy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in L.A. ] .
I don ’ t want to fence myself in.
” Juniper Hills called to Zenón almost as soon as his family migrated to the United States in the 1970s , “ when there was almost nothing.
” His truck-driving brothers took their teenage brother on their routes through nearby Highway 138 or on visits to Boron , where people from his home village of El Salitre had settled to work in the borax mines .
The region stayed with Zenón as he married , raised a family , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Unified School District , from which he plans to retire next spring after 41 years as an operational supervisor .
He had hopes of returning to Zacatecas , but “ you can ’ t make a go of it in Mexico anymore ” because of the drug wars that now plague the once-peaceful state .
Instead , the Mayorgas refinanced their home during the Great Recession and scraped together a little nest egg in the process .
He persuaded his wary wife to embrace his Juniper Hills plans .
They would be among @ @ @ @ @ @ @ A loud knock on the window woke up the couple on one of their first nights alone .
An elderly white couple wanted to know who they were .
“ Once we introduced ourselves , ” said Zenón , “ they told us to come to their house in the morning for breakfast .
And the following night , they threw a potluck to introduce us to everyone.
” Today , someone who likes to wave a Confederate and Trump 2020 flag on a pole occupies that house .
Zenón not only says @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cleared a road together last year after a snowstorm .
“ He can fly his flag , and I can fly my own [ Mexican ] flag , ” Zenón said .
“ Because they ’ re looking out for us , and we ’ re looking out for them.
” More Latinos trickled up to Juniper Hills in the ensuing years , and the Mayorgas always made sure to welcome the newcomers the same way they were initially embraced .
“ At the end of the day , their [ white residents @ @ @ @ @ @ @ [ Latino residents ] want , ” Zenón said .
“ Our customs are a little different .
Our languages are different .
But we ’ re all God-fearing people up here.
” The Mayorgas are a reminder that in Southern California , destination still often remains destiny .
The Mexicans I know who live along the beach inevitably become beach bums .
Those who move to a gentrifying neighborhood turn into hipsters .
Those who buy a house in Irvine or Simi Valley always transform into insufferable suburbanites .
What death of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it like everyone else .
After about an hour at their place , Zenón and his family drove me to meet Alejandro and Rosie Landa , another Mexican family in Juniper Hills .
The 45-year-old union electrician grew up in Pacoima but bought a place up here four years ago “ because I ’ m a wilderness guy.
” He joked that he had to make Rosie “ a ranchera ” — a cowgirl — as he took us to the back of his five-acre estate .
The fire had blackened his neighbor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ between that wasteland and the Landas ’ backyard was a line of fire retardant that had tinted Joshua trees and lavender bushes crimson red .
He had spent the morning restoring power to the homes of two elderly widows .
“ They ’ re from the original generation of people here , ” Landa said .
“ Now , you have a whole pot of different people.
” The only real difference he had encountered with the old guard was , of all things , quails .
“ They ’ re cute — @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said the avid hunter .
“ But some of the guys here will invite me to go get them , and I tell them , ‘ So you want me to kill them and pluck them and gut them , when I could buy four quails at Superior [ Grocers ] for seven bucks , and I don ’ t have to do anything ?
” Hoss Cartwright would ’ ve appreciated that .
( Just Google him , kids . )

Zenón and Martha Mayorga called their four adult children to the family home in Glassell Park the night of Sept. 18. Everyone settled in the living room, turned on the TV and prepared to see their dream house burn down.
Newscasts aired live shots of the wreckage wrought by the massive Bobcat fire. Authorities had mandated evacuations the day before in Juniper Hills, an Antelope Valley community where the Mayorgas own a four-bedroom abode on 1.5 acres of juniper trees and hiking trails that they call el rancho.
A neighbor had texted Zenón that their nook of Juniper Hills was no more. So the Mayorgas comforted themselves with chamomile-passionflower tea and memories of their desert paradise.
They remembered how Zenón bought it in 2009 because the stark vistas and high altitude had reminded the Mexican immigrant of his native Zacatecas. How he had to convince his family — and especially Marta, a city girl from Guadalajara — that a beat-up structure with holes in the roof, missing windows and snakes everywhere was a sound investment.
Martha Mayorga, left, Zenón Mayorga and daughter April Mayorga-Aguirre at their home in Juniper Hills. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)
And how all the parties, sleepovers and bonding that kith and kin experienced almost every weekend over the past decade had proved him right.
“When you’re younger, you’re like, ‘Ugh, we’re going all the way up there?’” said April Mayorga-Aguirre, a 30-year-old marriage and family therapist. “But now, even in our full-blown careers, we try to go up there as much as possible.”
Advertisement
April and her family stayed up for the 11 o’clock news and saw the homes of their Juniper Hills friends in flames. There were tears, prayers. That night’s magnitude 4.5 earthquake brought even more nerves.
Standing next to bushes covered in red retardant and a fire line cut by bulldozers, Juniper Hills resident Alejandro Landa, right, shows neighbors April Mayorga-Aguirre and her father, Zenón Mayorga, how his house was saved from the Bobcat fire. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)
The family rushed up to their property the following morning. Helicopters and planes zoomed overhead; ashes and embers swirled all around. The Mayorgas gunned through unpaved roads and steeled themselves for the worst.
El rancho was unscathed.
Zenón, Marta, and April met me there last Saturday, on what was supposed to be April’s wedding date in Palm Springs until 2020 said otherwise. Their house is desert rat lite: big screened porch in the front, massive water and propane tanks next to the outhouse in the back, random tchotchkes — but not too many — strewn about. Marta busied herself in the kitchen as Zenón settled in his chair, the one that offers him sight lines all the way to China Lake on a clear day.
Which wasn’t today.
“This year has taught us to live in the moment with gratitude,” said April. “We hope to spend the holidays here, but who knows?”
“Because tomorrow, what you may have is gone,” Zenón added. “We have our family. We’re safe. The rest, God will decide if we deserve it.”
Pardon my Southern California ignorance, but I never expected to find middle-class Mexicans in the rural high desert. The Mexicans I know, when they want to buy land to raise horses or host rodeos like in the motherland, buy in Norco or Mira Loma.
Advertisement
Not in the heart of “Bonanza” country.
But a growing number of Latinos are moving to the back country of the Antelope Valley, drawn by the rugged terrain and individualistic ethos that American society long cast as the Old West spirit and reserved mostly for Anglos.
“It’s just like Mexico up here,” 57-year-old Zenón said, gesturing outside, comfortable in his socks and Birkenstocks. “If you want to have chickens and goats, you can. It’s that liberty.”
Then, he paraphrased a line from a Roy Rogers ballad, in equal parts English and Spanish. “Here, está abierto [It’s open]. Allá, está muy amontonado [It’s too crowded in L.A.]. I don’t want to fence myself in.”
**
Zenón Mayorga, right, Martha Mayorga and their daughter, April Mayorga-Aguirre, left, in the living room of their house in Juniper Hills. Zenón bought the house in 2009 because the area reminded him of his native Mexico. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)
Juniper Hills called to Zenón almost as soon as his family migrated to the United States in the 1970s, “when there was almost nothing.”
His truck-driving brothers took their teenage brother on their routes through nearby Highway 138 or on visits to Boron, where people from his home village of El Salitre had settled to work in the borax mines.
The region stayed with Zenón as he married, raised a family, and got a job with the Los Angeles Unified School District, from which he plans to retire next spring after 41 years as an operational supervisor. He had hopes of returning to Zacatecas, but “you can’t make a go of it in Mexico anymore” because of the drug wars that now plague the once-peaceful state.
Instead, the Mayorgas refinanced their home during the Great Recession and scraped together a little nest egg in the process. He persuaded his wary wife to embrace his Juniper Hills plans.
They would be among the first Latinos to settle there.
A loud knock on the window woke up the couple on one of their first nights alone. An elderly white couple wanted to know who they were.
“Once we introduced ourselves,” said Zenón, “they told us to come to their house in the morning for breakfast. And the following night, they threw a potluck to introduce us to everyone.”
Zenón Mayorga checks a fire hydrant at his home in Juniper Hills. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)
Today, someone who likes to wave a Confederate and Trump 2020 flag on a pole occupies that house. Zenón not only says hello to him, the two even cleared a road together last year after a snowstorm.
“He can fly his flag, and I can fly my own [Mexican] flag,” Zenón said. “Because they’re looking out for us, and we’re looking out for them.”
More Latinos trickled up to Juniper Hills in the ensuing years, and the Mayorgas always made sure to welcome the newcomers the same way they were initially embraced.
“At the end of the day, their [white residents’] life is the same we [Latino residents] want,” Zenón said. “Our customs are a little different. Our languages are different. But we’re all God-fearing people up here.”
The Mayorgas are a reminder that in Southern California, destination still often remains destiny. The Mexicans I know who live along the beach inevitably become beach bums. Those who move to a gentrifying neighborhood turn into hipsters. Those who buy a house in Irvine or Simi Valley always transform into insufferable suburbanites.
What death of the California dream? Mexicans fall into it like everyone else.
After about an hour at their place, Zenón and his family drove me to meet Alejandro and Rosie Landa, another Mexican family in Juniper Hills.
The 45-year-old union electrician grew up in Pacoima but bought a place up here four years ago “because I’m a wilderness guy.” He joked that he had to make Rosie “a ranchera” — a cowgirl — as he took us to the back of his five-acre estate.
The fire had blackened his neighbor’s property. The demarcation line between that wasteland and the Landas’ backyard was a line of fire retardant that had tinted Joshua trees and lavender bushes crimson red.
He had spent the morning restoring power to the homes of two elderly widows. “They’re from the original generation of people here,” Landa said. “Now, you have a whole pot of different people.”
The only real difference he had encountered with the old guard was, of all things, quails.
“They’re cute — they’re like pets,” said the avid hunter. “But some of the guys here will invite me to go get them, and I tell them, ‘So you want me to kill them and pluck them and gut them, when I could buy four quails at Superior [Grocers] for seven bucks, and I don’t have to do anything?”
Hoss Cartwright would’ve appreciated that. (Just Google him, kids.)


latimes--2020-09-26--Column: Do California hotel workers deserve extra job security? They think so

Bleary-eyed and snack-deprived , I stumbled toward Terminal A at John Wayne Airport at 5:30 in the morning .
It was a ritual I practiced at least once a month before the coronavirus , my runway of choice to seek stories across the country .
This time , the final destination was closer : the Chateau Marmont in Los Angeles .
A group of laid-off airport and hotel employees were going to hold a rally at John Wayne , then visit the legendary Sunset Strip hotel where John Belushi died to meet their unemployed peers .
Afterward , some planned @ @ @ @ @ @ @ meeting with Gov .
Gavin Newsom .
They were upset he has yet to sign AB 3216 , which would pin a right-to-return policy on the hospitality industry .
Basically , anyone who lost their jobs at hotels , airports and private clubs during this pandemic and any future “ state of emergency ” can get their position back based on seniority once normal returns — whenever that is .
I was there to ask workers one question : Out of all lost jobs in the Golden State , why did theirs deserve @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the working class ?
John Wayne Airport was eerily slow when I showed up .
Nearby hotels — usually lit up before dawn like checkerboards — were almost completely dark .
The traffic that usually snarls the small airport was nonexistent .
It was so quiet that activists with Unite Here Local 11 , the union that represents more than 30,000 hospitality workers across Southern California and Arizona , parked in loading zones to decorate their cars with signs — and no one complained .
At least for a while .
Joyce @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , held a sign that read , “ No Insurance in the Middle of a Pandemic , ” which caught the eye of Unite Here researcher Jonah Breslau .
He flipped the sign over so it read “ Recall Airport Workers.
” “ Let ’ s not get the message confused , ” he told Swaving .
“ As it is , people think AB 3216 is some exercise supplement.
” As it was , no one at John Wayne Airport seemed to care .
The 20 or so protesters who showed up @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The few people flying out that morning were too focused on lugging suitcases to notice anything else .
Unite Here 11 co-President Ada Briceño told me that California ’ s multibillion-dollar hospitality industry had a moral obligation to rehire its workers .
“ We know what ’ s going to happen , ” said Briceño , who also heads the Democratic Party of Orange County .
“ We saw it after 9/11 .
We saw it after the Great Recession .
They ’ ll lay off people , then rehire younger and cheaper @ @ @ @ @ @ @ what about people who gave years to them ?
” Tall and taciturn like the airport ’ s namesake , Orange County Sheriff ’ s Deputy Robert Witteman wore the look of an annoyed neighbor after kids trampled his lawn .
Again .
He told the cars to skedaddle , which they were already going to do because their protest was about to start .
Everyone put on their hazard lights and pumped their hands on the horn as they began to cruise around the airport a tad slower than the posted 10-mph @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mini-convoy to see what might happen .
A View-Master slideshow played out every time we passed by Terminal A .
The small Unite Here crowd cheered us on .
Click .
The SUV joined the drive-by rally and pulled an organizer over .
Click .
Briceño called later to say that the deputies threatened to give everyone a ticket for not pulling the permit and for honking too much , but let the group off with a warning .
I say she called me later because I didn ’ t stick around .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Johnny Law pull the organizer to the curb , I tapped on the gas and made my getaway .
I still wasn ’ t convinced about AB 3216 as Waze told me a zigzag through Koreatown was the fastest way to Chateau Marmont .
The cynic in me knew the only reason the bill was getting so much play was because its backers included the media-savvy Unite Here and political powerhouses — and former union organizers — like Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez ( D-San Diego ) and state Sen. Maria Elena Durazo ( D-Los @ @ @ @ @ @ @ California hospitality industry is in a free fall , it has received tens of millions of dollars in federal Paycheck Protection Program loans .
For this and other reasons , they have a fighting chance .
Their former employees ?
Not so much .
When we think of hospitality workers ... we really don ’ t .
Our focus is on rest and relaxation when we travel , not the help .
Or we imagine jovial Hollywood stock characters who have few worries and meet their Prince Charming while emptying trash cans .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ longtimers : overwhelmingly middle-aged and immigrant .
People like Walter Almendarez .
He worked as a bellman for 23 years at the Chateau Marmont before it closed down in March .
The owner plans to reopen it as a private club with far fewer workers .
“ How is it you ’ re going to run me away like that ?
” said the Salvadoran immigrant , as someone chalked “ Gov .
Newsom Hear Our Stories ” on his car .
Nearby , Francisco Santos nodded .
“ It ’ s been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rid of us , ” said the 63-year-old , who worked as a cook at the Terranea Resort in Rancho Palos Verdes for eight years .
“ We don ’ t want handouts , “ said 62-year-old Carlos Barrera of Santa Clarita .
The Guatemalan native lost his job as a Chateau Marmont valet just after celebrating 40 years there .
“ That ’ s why the bill is important .
I understand there ’ s no work right now , but give us some hope.
” Even workers who would find themselves @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sympathized with their older comrades .
“ I have a lot of respect for people who have worked 30 , 40 years , ” said Keisha Banks , who worked in catering and events at Chateau Marmont for only a year .
“ The company doesn ’ t .
These people who gave most of their lives to the company were let go the same way I was let go — with an email.
” “ Our society discriminates against older people , ” said 43-year-old Paramount resident Yesenia Garcia , formerly of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ They ’ ll see their resume and think , ‘ Dishwasher for 20 years ?
That ’ s nothing.
’ And that ’ s not fair .
It ’ s important for me to get my job , but what about them ?
” Despite this despair , the mood was markedly different from John Wayne Airport .
It was hopeful .
A line of cars parked in a red zone in front of the Chateau Marmont , and no cop ever came by .
Commuters honked in support and even slowed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
A pastor , a rabbi and a Jesuit — not the beginning of a joke , I promise — offered blessings in their respective faith traditions , along with a secular “ Sí se puede !
” “ Hospitality is a sacred act , ” said Pastor Bridie Roberts of Hollywood United Methodist Church .
“ Think about the stories from the Gospel — the breaking of bread .
The search for lodging in Bethlehem .
These workers are ‘ the least of these ’ right now , so we need to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Twelve cars , including a limousine with “ 25 Years Experience ” on its side window , took off around 9 a.m. As we went our separate ways , I thanked them for their hospitality .
Someone should , at long last .
A $ 10 tip left under dirty linens just isn ’ t enough anymore .

Courtney Banks, who has worked in events and catering at the Chateau Marmont, writes a message on a vehicle window in support of workers who lost their jobs at the hotel in Los Angeles.
Bleary-eyed and snack-deprived, I stumbled toward Terminal A at John Wayne Airport at 5:30 in the morning.
It was a ritual I practiced at least once a month before the coronavirus, my runway of choice to seek stories across the country.
This time, the final destination was closer: the Chateau Marmont in Los Angeles.
Advertisement
A group of laid-off airport and hotel employees were going to hold a rally at John Wayne, then visit the legendary Sunset Strip hotel where John Belushi died to meet their unemployed peers. Afterward, some planned to caravan to Sacramento and demand a meeting with Gov. Gavin Newsom.
Carlos Barrera, who has worked in valet parking for 40 years at the Chateau Marmont, writes a message on the window of his car in support of employees who lost their jobs at the hotel. (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)
They were upset he has yet to sign AB 3216, which would pin a right-to-return policy on the hospitality industry. Basically, anyone who lost their jobs at hotels, airports and private clubs during this pandemic and any future “state of emergency” can get their position back based on seniority once normal returns — whenever that is.
I was there to ask workers one question: Out of all lost jobs in the Golden State, why did theirs deserve special protection? What about the rest of the working class?
John Wayne Airport was eerily slow when I showed up. Nearby hotels — usually lit up before dawn like checkerboards — were almost completely dark. The traffic that usually snarls the small airport was nonexistent. It was so quiet that activists with Unite Here Local 11, the union that represents more than 30,000 hospitality workers across Southern California and Arizona, parked in loading zones to decorate their cars with signs — and no one complained.
At least for a while.
Joyce Swaving, a 67-year-old Aliso Viejo resident, held a sign that read, “No Insurance in the Middle of a Pandemic,” which caught the eye of Unite Here researcher Jonah Breslau. He flipped the sign over so it read “Recall Airport Workers.”
Advertisement
Pastor Bridie Roberts from Hollywood Methodist Church, right, urges drivers to honk in support of workers who lost their jobs at the Chateau Marmont. (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)
“Let’s not get the message confused,” he told Swaving. “As it is, people think AB 3216 is some exercise supplement.”
As it was, no one at John Wayne Airport seemed to care.
The 20 or so protesters who showed up outnumbered travelers about 4 to 1. The few people flying out that morning were too focused on lugging suitcases to notice anything else.
Unite Here 11 co-President Ada Briceño told me that California’s multibillion-dollar hospitality industry had a moral obligation to rehire its workers.
Luis Caciano, right, who has worked for 10 years on the cook line at the Chateau Marmont, urges drivers to honk in support of hotel workers. (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)
“We know what’s going to happen,” said Briceño, who also heads the Democratic Party of Orange County. “We saw it after 9/11. We saw it after the Great Recession. They’ll lay off people, then rehire younger and cheaper. The hotels will recover, but what about people who gave years to them?”
Suddenly, a deep voice asked, “Did you guys pull a permit?”
Tall and taciturn like the airport’s namesake, Orange County Sheriff’s Deputy Robert Witteman wore the look of an annoyed neighbor after kids trampled his lawn. Again.
He told the cars to skedaddle, which they were already going to do because their protest was about to start.
Father Ike Udoh, right, from the Church of the Blessed Sacrament in Hollywood blesses Frank Cueva, a supervisor and bartender at the Four Points Sheraton in Anaheim. (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)
Everyone put on their hazard lights and pumped their hands on the horn as they began to cruise around the airport a tad slower than the posted 10-mph speed limit.
I weaved into their mini-convoy to see what might happen. A View-Master slideshow played out every time we passed by Terminal A.
The small Unite Here crowd cheered us on. Click.
Another deputy joined Witteman. Click.
Then five. Click.
Walter Almendarez, who has worked as a bellman for 23 years at the Chateau Marmont, writes messages on the window of his car in support of hotel workers who lost their jobs. (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)
A Sheriff’s Department SUV showed up with flashing lights. Click.
The SUV joined the drive-by rally and pulled an organizer over. Click.
Briceño called later to say that the deputies threatened to give everyone a ticket for not pulling the permit and for honking too much, but let the group off with a warning.
I say she called me later because I didn’t stick around. As soon as I saw Orange County Johnny Law pull the organizer to the curb, I tapped on the gas and made my getaway.
***
I still wasn’t convinced about AB 3216 as Waze told me a zigzag through Koreatown was the fastest way to Chateau Marmont.
The cynic in me knew the only reason the bill was getting so much play was because its backers included the media-savvy Unite Here and political powerhouses — and former union organizers — like Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez (D-San Diego) and state Sen. Maria Elena Durazo (D-Los Angeles).
But even though the California hospitality industry is in a free fall, it has received tens of millions of dollars in federal Paycheck Protection Program loans. For this and other reasons, they have a fighting chance.
Their former employees? Not so much.
When we think of hospitality workers ... we really don’t. Our focus is on rest and relaxation when we travel, not the help. Or we imagine jovial Hollywood stock characters who have few worries and meet their Prince Charming while emptying trash cans.
We don’t think about the longtimers: overwhelmingly middle-aged and immigrant.
People like Walter Almendarez. He worked as a bellman for 23 years at the Chateau Marmont before it closed down in March. The owner plans to reopen it as a private club with far fewer workers.
“How is it you’re going to run me away like that?” said the Salvadoran immigrant, as someone chalked “Gov. Newsom Hear Our Stories” on his car. Nearby, Francisco Santos nodded.
“It’s been a golden opportunity for them to get rid of us,” said the 63-year-old, who worked as a cook at the Terranea Resort in Rancho Palos Verdes for eight years.
“We don’t want handouts,“ said 62-year-old Carlos Barrera of Santa Clarita. The Guatemalan native lost his job as a Chateau Marmont valet just after celebrating 40 years there. “That’s why the bill is important. I understand there’s no work right now, but give us some hope.”
Even workers who would find themselves at disadvantage if AB 3216 became law sympathized with their older comrades.
“I have a lot of respect for people who have worked 30, 40 years,” said Keisha Banks, who worked in catering and events at Chateau Marmont for only a year. “The company doesn’t. These people who gave most of their lives to the company were let go the same way I was let go — with an email.”
“Our society discriminates against older people,” said 43-year-old Paramount resident Yesenia Garcia, formerly of the Langham Huntington hotel in Pasadena. “They’ll see their resume and think, ‘Dishwasher for 20 years? That’s nothing.’ And that’s not fair. It’s important for me to get my job, but what about them?”
Despite this despair, the mood was markedly different from John Wayne Airport. It was hopeful.
A line of cars parked in a red zone in front of the Chateau Marmont, and no cop ever came by. Commuters honked in support and even slowed down to ask how they could help.
A pastor, a rabbi and a Jesuit — not the beginning of a joke, I promise — offered blessings in their respective faith traditions, along with a secular “Sí se puede!”
“Hospitality is a sacred act,” said Pastor Bridie Roberts of Hollywood United Methodist Church. “Think about the stories from the Gospel — the breaking of bread. The search for lodging in Bethlehem. These workers are ‘the least of these’ right now, so we need to champion them.”
A seven-hour drive awaited. Twelve cars, including a limousine with “25 Years Experience” on its side window, took off around 9 a.m.
As we went our separate ways, I thanked them for their hospitality. Someone should, at long last.
A $10 tip left under dirty linens just isn’t enough anymore.


latimes--2020-10-01--Disney's Bob Iger resigns from Newsom task force as tensions mount over theme park closures

Walt Disney Co. Executive Chairman Bob Iger has resigned from Gov .
Gavin Newsom ’ s COVID-19 economic task force , an abrupt public confirmation of the growing tensions stemming from California ’ s reluctance to allow theme parks to reopen .
Iger ’ s departure from the governor ’ s high-profile task force , a group organized in April to inject an element of business acumen and gravitas into the state ’ s pandemic recovery efforts , happened earlier this week , a Disney spokesperson told The Times after the resignation was reported by the Sacramento Bee .
Last @ @ @ @ @ @ @ off 28,000 employees across its parks , experiences and products division , which includes Disneyland Resort and Disney California Adventure Park in Anaheim .
The company ’ s footprint in Southern California is sizable , with a variety of local businesses that depend on theme park visitors now in dire financial straits .
Newsom ’ s advisers have said a new set of state public health guidelines for theme and amusement park openings would be released by the end of the week .
But the leader of the trade group representing those businesses @ @ @ @ @ @ @ proposal shared by the state falls far short of what the industry needs .
“ While we are aligned on many of the protocols and health and safety requirements , there are many others that need to be modified if they are to lead to a responsible and reasonable amusement park reopening plan , ” Erin Guerrero , executive director of the California Attractions and Parks Assn.
, said in a written statement .
“ We ask the governor not to finalize guidance for amusement parks before engaging the industry in a more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ expertise , and collaborating with the industry on a plan that will allow for amusement parks to reopen responsibly while still keeping the health and safety of park employees and guests a top priority.
” During a tour of fire damage in Sonoma County on Thursday , Newsom sharply disputed that he was feeling any pressure to allow Disneyland and other amusement parks in the state to begin the process of resuming operations .
“ The answer is , unequivocally , no , ” Newsom said .
“ We are not putting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the state or recreating in the state at the parks at risk.
” Times staff writers Hugo Martin and Phil Willon contributed to this report .

Walt Disney Co. Executive Chairman Bob Iger has resigned from Gov. Gavin Newsom’s COVID-19 economic task force, an abrupt public confirmation of the growing tensions stemming from California’s reluctance to allow theme parks to reopen.
Iger’s departure from the governor’s high-profile task force, a group organized in April to inject an element of business acumen and gravitas into the state’s pandemic recovery efforts, happened earlier this week, a Disney spokesperson told The Times after the resignation was reported by the Sacramento Bee.
“We very much appreciate Mr. Iger’s service on the task force and respect his decision to resign,” Ann O’Leary, the governor’s chief of staff, said in an emailed statement.
The Disney spokesperson did not provide any information as to when Iger — who announced in the spring that he would forgo his salary while the company’s operations were affected by the COVID-19 pandemic — ended his role as an unpaid adviser to Newsom.
Advertisement
Disney announced on Tuesday that it will lay off 28,000 employees across its parks, experiences and products division, which includes Disneyland Resort and Disney California Adventure Park in Anaheim. The company’s footprint in Southern California is sizable, with a variety of local businesses that depend on theme park visitors now in dire financial straits.
State employment data show the theme park industry includes more than five dozen employers across California, with 10 different companies employing 1,000 or more people. No company dominates the list more than Disney, whose properties in Florida have opened while its iconic home state operations have remained shuttered.
Newsom’s advisers have said a new set of state public health guidelines for theme and amusement park openings would be released by the end of the week. But the leader of the trade group representing those businesses said Thursday that a draft of the proposal shared by the state falls far short of what the industry needs.
“While we are aligned on many of the protocols and health and safety requirements, there are many others that need to be modified if they are to lead to a responsible and reasonable amusement park reopening plan,” Erin Guerrero, executive director of the California Attractions and Parks Assn., said in a written statement. “We ask the governor not to finalize guidance for amusement parks before engaging the industry in a more earnest manner, listening to park operators’ expertise, and collaborating with the industry on a plan that will allow for amusement parks to reopen responsibly while still keeping the health and safety of park employees and guests a top priority.”
While guidelines have been in place for weeks for other sectors of the economy, no such information has been provided for theme and amusement parks. While dozens of other industries have been provided a blueprint crafted by public health officials, the state’s COVID-19 website simply says “Closed” in the listing for the parks.
During a tour of fire damage in Sonoma County on Thursday, Newsom sharply disputed that he was feeling any pressure to allow Disneyland and other amusement parks in the state to begin the process of resuming operations.
Advertisement
“The answer is, unequivocally, no,” Newsom said. “We are not putting the health and safety of people visiting the state or recreating in the state at the parks at risk.”
Times staff writers Hugo Martin and Phil Willon contributed to this report.


latimes--2020-10-01--Vallejo police chief fires officer involved in killings of two Black men a year apart

The police chief of Vallejo , Calif. , on Thursday fired an officer involved in two fatal shootings of Black men that occurred a year apart .
Ryan McMahon was terminated by the department following an internal affairs investigation that concluded he violated department policies by “ engaging in unsafe conduct and neglect for basic firearm safety during the incident.
” McMahon killed Ronell Foster in 2018 .
And last year , he and five other officers fatally shot rapper Willie McCoy , who performed under the name Willie Bo .
The department did not identify the incident related to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the police chief indicated he would take action to remove McMahon from the force after the McCoy shooting , in which six officers fired 55 bullets at the 20-year-old rapper , who had been sleeping in his car at a Taco Bell , on Feb. 9 , 2019 .
Documents released in August revealed the department was seeking to act against McMahon for endangering another officer with his shots during that shooting .
“ Any conduct outside the level of professionalism this city deserves will not be tolerated by the Vallejo Police @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said in announcing the termination .
“ I understand we have a long way to go in rebuilding trust among the residents of Vallejo , and I will continue to take the necessary steps to better serve this community.
” The firing comes as a number of deadly shootings by the Vallejo Police Department has led California Atty .
Gen. Xavier Becerra to begin a review of the department to recommend reforms to use-of-force policies and measures involving bias and community policing .
The deadly encounter with the rapper began after a Taco @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in a Mercedes-Benz in the drive-through lane .
McCoy was asleep when police officers approached and spotted a gun on his lap and the car was in drive .
When McCoy awoke , he reached forward toward the gun , police said .
showed another officer shouting for McCoy to put his hands where he could see them before gunshots erupted in rapid succession .
The video released after public outcry revealed McCoy moved his hand to his shoulder before six officers unloaded 55 rounds in 3.5 seconds .
Before the shooting , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ car was locked and whether they could pull McCoy out of the vehicle .
One officer is heard saying that he will open the door and take the gun : “ I ’ m gon na go in there and grab that gun .
If he reaches for it ... .
” One officer nods , and another responds , “ Yup.
” Solano County ’ s district attorney has appointed a special prosecutor to review the shooting .
Less than a year before the McCoy shooting , McMahon fatally shot Foster after @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a headlamp .
The city and its insurer recently paid a $ 5.7-million settlement in a federal civil rights lawsuit by Foster ’ s family .
The officer said he initiated the stop to educate Foster on the dangers to himself and traffic on Sonoma Boulevard .
McMahon alleged that after a brief pursuit , when he got near Foster , the man tried to grab his flashlight and strike him during an altercation .
McMahon said that with his life threatened , he shot McMahon .
Foster received a shot to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the scene .
The lawsuit alleged that the officer shot him as he ran .
The Solano County district attorney ’ s office declined to charge the officer , calling the use of deadly force justified .
John Burris , an attorney who has represented both victims ’ families , said McMahon “ should have been fired for misuse of deadly fire and should not be terminated for firing at fellow officers .
“ This sends the wrong message to officers , ” Burris said .
“ This is a renegade department out @ @ @ @

Willie McCoy, right, was shot and killed by Vallejo police. A family photo shows him with cousin David Harrison, center, and nephew Danaree Cole.
The police chief of Vallejo, Calif., on Thursday fired an officer involved in two fatal shootings of Black men that occurred a year apart.
Ryan McMahon was terminated by the department following an internal affairs investigation that concluded he violated department policies by “engaging in unsafe conduct and neglect for basic firearm safety during the incident.”
McMahon killed Ronell Foster in 2018. And last year, he and five other officers fatally shot rapper Willie McCoy, who performed under the name Willie Bo.
× [Warning: Video contains graphic content.] Willie McCoy, 20, was shot to death by police at a Taco Bell drive-through in February 2019. Six police officers fired 55 rounds in 3.5 seconds, an independent report says.
Advertisement
The department did not identify the incident related to the firing. But earlier this year, the police chief indicated he would take action to remove McMahon from the force after the McCoy shooting, in which six officers fired 55 bullets at the 20-year-old rapper, who had been sleeping in his car at a Taco Bell, on Feb. 9, 2019. Documents released in August revealed the department was seeking to act against McMahon for endangering another officer with his shots during that shooting.
“Any conduct outside the level of professionalism this city deserves will not be tolerated by the Vallejo Police Department,” Police Chief Shawny Williams said in announcing the termination. “I understand we have a long way to go in rebuilding trust among the residents of Vallejo, and I will continue to take the necessary steps to better serve this community.”
The firing comes as a number of deadly shootings by the Vallejo Police Department has led California Atty. Gen. Xavier Becerra to begin a review of the department to recommend reforms to use-of-force policies and measures involving bias and community policing.
The deadly encounter with the rapper began after a Taco Bell employee reported a man slumped over in a Mercedes-Benz in the drive-through lane. McCoy was asleep when police officers approached and spotted a gun on his lap and the car was in drive. When McCoy awoke, he reached forward toward the gun, police said.
Police body-cam video showed another officer shouting for McCoy to put his hands where he could see them before gunshots erupted in rapid succession. The video released after public outcry revealed McCoy moved his hand to his shoulder before six officers unloaded 55 rounds in 3.5 seconds.
Before the shooting, body-cam video showed officers discussing whether the car was locked and whether they could pull McCoy out of the vehicle. One officer is heard saying that he will open the door and take the gun: “I’m gonna go in there and grab that gun. If he reaches for it....” One officer nods, and another responds, “Yup.”
Solano County’s district attorney has appointed a special prosecutor to review the shooting.
Less than a year before the McCoy shooting, McMahon fatally shot Foster after stopping him for riding a bicycle without a headlamp. The city and its insurer recently paid a $5.7-million settlement in a federal civil rights lawsuit by Foster’s family.
Advertisement
The officer said he initiated the stop to educate Foster on the dangers to himself and traffic on Sonoma Boulevard. McMahon alleged that after a brief pursuit, when he got near Foster, the man tried to grab his flashlight and strike him during an altercation. McMahon said that with his life threatened, he shot McMahon. Foster received a shot to the back of the head and died at the scene.
The lawsuit alleged that the officer shot him as he ran. The Solano County district attorney’s office declined to charge the officer, calling the use of deadly force justified.
John Burris, an attorney who has represented both victims’ families, said McMahon “should have been fired for misuse of deadly fire and should not be terminated for firing at fellow officers.
“This sends the wrong message to officers,” Burris said. “This is a renegade department out of control.”


latimes--2020-10-01--Effort to foster orphaned mountain lion kittens in wild fails; cubs now at a sanctuary

Biologists studying mountain lions in the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area tried to get a cougar mom to adopt two orphaned kittens , but the experiment intended to keep them wild did not work and the youngsters were put in a sanctuary .
The foster attempt was undertaken this summer , the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area said in a statement Thursday .
The 3-week-old female and male kittens , dubbed P-91 and P-92 , were discovered July 7 in the Simi Hills west of Los Angeles .
Biologists examined them while their mother , P-67 , was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ later found dead .
Her kittens were too young to survive on their own , so a researcher with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife suggested fostering the kittens with another mountain lion , P-65 , that had recently given birth to three kittens in the Santa Monica Mountains .
The orphans were temporarily housed at the Los Angeles Zoo , then brought to the mountains while P-65 was away from her den .
Urine from one of her kittens was rubbed on the orphans and they were placed in the den @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was determined that P-65 had moved her den , which is normal , but biologists found the orphans at the former den .
The kittens were then sent to live at the Southwest Wildlife Conservation Center in Scottsdale , Ariz. A necropsy on their deceased mother found she was relatively thin , had no food in her stomach and had evidence of intestinal disease .
She had also been exposed to five anticoagulant rodenticides and another type of potent rodenticide .
Mountain lions in the Santa Monica Mountains region are being studied to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fragmented habitat .

Two 3-week-old female and male mountain lion kittens, dubbed P-91 and P-92, were discovered July 7 in the Simi Hills west of Los Angeles.The kittens were sent to live at the Southwest Wildlife Conservation Center in Scottsdale, Ariz.
Biologists studying mountain lions in the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area tried to get a cougar mom to adopt two orphaned kittens, but the experiment intended to keep them wild did not work and the youngsters were put in a sanctuary.
The foster attempt was undertaken this summer, the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area said in a statement Thursday.
The 3-week-old female and male kittens, dubbed P-91 and P-92, were discovered July 7 in the Simi Hills west of Los Angeles. Biologists examined them while their mother, P-67, was away from the den. She was later found dead.
Advertisement
Her kittens were too young to survive on their own, so a researcher with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife suggested fostering the kittens with another mountain lion, P-65, that had recently given birth to three kittens in the Santa Monica Mountains.
The orphans were temporarily housed at the Los Angeles Zoo, then brought to the mountains while P-65 was away from her den. Urine from one of her kittens was rubbed on the orphans and they were placed in the den.
Over the next few days it was determined that P-65 had moved her den, which is normal, but biologists found the orphans at the former den.
The kittens were then sent to live at the Southwest Wildlife Conservation Center in Scottsdale, Ariz.
A necropsy on their deceased mother found she was relatively thin, had no food in her stomach and had evidence of intestinal disease. She had also been exposed to five anticoagulant rodenticides and another type of potent rodenticide.
Mountain lions in the Santa Monica Mountains region are being studied to determine how they survive amid urbanization and fragmented habitat.


latimes--2020-10-01--U.S. appeals court upholds California's coronavirus restrictions on churches

A federal appeals court decided 2 to 1 Thursday to uphold Gov .
Gavin Newsom ’ s coronavirus restrictions on indoor worship during the pandemic .
The majority of the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals panel said California ’ s health orders on churches did not discriminate against religious expression .
Health orders apply “ the same restrictions to worship services as they do to other indoor congregate events , such as lectures and movie theaters , ” the majority wrote .
“ Some congregate activities are completely prohibited in every county , such as attending concerts and spectating @ @ @ @ @ @ @ asked for an emergency motion to block Newsom ’ s health orders on churches , but judges Johnnie B. Rawlinson , a Clinton appointee , and Morgan Christen , an Obama appointee , voted to reject the request .
“ At present , in 18 counties in California — home to more than 15 million residents and including its most populous county , Los Angeles — indoor religious worship services are completely prohibited , ” O ’ Scannlain wrote .
“ California insists that this drastic measure is necessary to fight the ongoing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ indeed compelling goal of any state.
” But O ’ Scannlain said those same counties allow indoor malls , nail salons , meatpacking plants and laundromats to be open , and the Constitution does not allow the state to apply rules more aggressively to religious activities than to secular ones .
He said the Constitution does not protect the state from applying health rules more aggressively to religious activities than secular ones .
In a similar case brought by a California church , the U.S. Supreme Court decided 5 to 4 in May @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to continue .
Although the 9th Circuit panel denied Harvest Rock ’ s emergency motion , the court will continue to review the case .
Mat Staver , founder and chairman of Liberty Counsel , a religious liberties group , said he was grateful for O ’ Scannlain ’ s dissent .
It was more than three times as long as the majority decision .
“ We look forward to the next round at the Court of Appeals on the full merits of our request to block the 1st Amendment violations , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ does not discriminate between nonreligious and religious gatherings , Gov .
Newsom does.
” This summer , Harvest Rock was openly defying state and local orders against indoor church services .
The Pasadena-based church , which also has houses of worship in Corona and Irvine , is led by Pastors Ché and Sue Ahn .
“ It violates our 1st Amendment rights and you know the state should not establish a religion but also not interfere with the preemptive exercise thereof , ” Ahn told CBSN-Los Angeles earlier this year .
Harvest Rock @ @ @ @ @ @ @ known to have defied the state and local public health orders .
As of August , Community Grace Church in Sun Valley was continuing to hold Sunday services , and a judge that month blocked Los Angeles County ’ s attempt to shut them down .
In July , the coronavirus spread through the Christian Life Center in Ontario , with fatal consequences .
The church ’ s leader , Bishop Abel Jimenez , and his two daughters died from COVID-19 , and more than a dozen other family members tested positive as @ @

A federal appeals court decided 2 to 1 Thursday to uphold Gov. Gavin Newsom’s coronavirus restrictions on indoor worship during the pandemic.
The majority of the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals panel said California’s health orders on churches did not discriminate against religious expression.
Health orders apply “the same restrictions to worship services as they do to other indoor congregate events, such as lectures and movie theaters,” the majority wrote. “Some congregate activities are completely prohibited in every county, such as attending concerts and spectating sporting events.”
Pasadena-based Harvest Rock Church asked for an emergency motion to block Newsom’s health orders on churches, but judges Johnnie B. Rawlinson, a Clinton appointee, and Morgan Christen, an Obama appointee, voted to reject the request.
Judge Diarmuid O’Scannlain, a Reagan appointee, dissented.
“At present, in 18 counties in California — home to more than 15 million residents and including its most populous county, Los Angeles — indoor religious worship services are completely prohibited,” O’Scannlain wrote. “California insists that this drastic measure is necessary to fight the ongoing global COVID-19 pandemic — a worthy and indeed compelling goal of any state.”
Advertisement
But O’Scannlain said those same counties allow indoor malls, nail salons, meatpacking plants and laundromats to be open, and the Constitution does not allow the state to apply rules more aggressively to religious activities than to secular ones.
He said the Constitution does not protect the state from applying health rules more aggressively to religious activities than secular ones.
In a similar case brought by a California church, the U.S. Supreme Court decided 5 to 4 in May to allow Newson’s health restrictions to continue.
Although the 9th Circuit panel denied Harvest Rock’s emergency motion, the court will continue to review the case. Mat Staver, founder and chairman of Liberty Counsel, a religious liberties group, said he was grateful for O’Scannlain’s dissent. It was more than three times as long as the majority decision.
“We look forward to the next round at the Court of Appeals on the full merits of our request to block the 1st Amendment violations,” Staver said. “While the virus does not discriminate between nonreligious and religious gatherings, Gov. Newsom does.”
This summer, Harvest Rock was openly defying state and local orders against indoor church services.
The Pasadena-based church, which also has houses of worship in Corona and Irvine, is led by Pastors Ché and Sue Ahn.
Advertisement
Harvest Rock’s lawsuit, filed earlier this year, claimed that Newsom’s order prohibiting indoor services violated church members’ constitutional liberties.
“It violates our 1st Amendment rights and you know the state should not establish a religion but also not interfere with the preemptive exercise thereof,” Ahn told CBSN-Los Angeles earlier this year.
Harvest Rock is hardly the only church in California known to have defied the state and local public health orders. As of August, Community Grace Church in Sun Valley was continuing to hold Sunday services, and a judge that month blocked Los Angeles County’s attempt to shut them down.
In July, the coronavirus spread through the Christian Life Center in Ontario, with fatal consequences. The church’s leader, Bishop Abel Jimenez, and his two daughters died from COVID-19, and more than a dozen other family members tested positive as well.


latimes--2020-10-01--World's largest helitanker can drop 3,000 gallons of water on wildfires

This week , Orange County fire officials unveiled the “ Very Large Helitanker , ” — a 3,000-gallon capacity CH-47 Chinook — that is now on-hand to assist fire crews battling Southern California ’ s many blazes .
Considered the largest helicopter water tanker in the world , its capacity far exceeds that of the county ’ s standard helitankers , which typically drop about 350 gallons , officials said .
“ In our view , this is that next generation of helitanker , ” Orange County Fire Authority chief Brian Fennessy said at a live-streamed press conference Wednesday .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ is no other tanker like it in the world.
” The tanker will be based out of Los Alamitos Joint Forces Training Base in Orange County and will be available to regions served by Southern California Edison , which provided $ 2.1 million toward its lease from owner Coulson Aviation .
Regions served include Los Angeles County — where the Bobcat fire has seared through more 114,000 acres — and San Bernardino County , where the El Dorado fire claimed the life of firefighter Charles Morton .
The record-breaking tanker arrives as soaring @ @ @ @ @ @ @ much of the region .
“ This is an important moment in a really incredible wildfire year , ” Southern California Edison president and CEO Kevin Payne said at the news conference .
“ It provides added firefighting resources to fire agencies across Southern California right when we need them.
” The helitanker will be manned by pilots from Coulson Aviation and an OCFA crew chief .
Agencies requesting the tanker will pay for its flight time and usage , officials said .
Wayne Coulson , president and CEO of Coulson Aviation , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tanker was designed with the functionality of helicopters and transport aircrafts in mind .
“ It kind of plays two roles , ” he said .
“ It can go direct-attack atop the fire , or , if we load it up with retardant , we can drop retardant ahead of the fire like an air tanker.
” The helitanker is also night-vision certified , and can drop water or retardant both day and night .
On Wednesday , crews demonstrated the helitanker ’ s power by dropping 250 gallons of water — @ @ @ @ @ @ @ — from a standard Bell 412 utility copter over Los Alamitos .
Moments later , the helitanker soared overhead and dropped 2,600 gallons of water , showering the base in a rainfall of relief .
“ This helitanker is a force multiplier , ” said Fennessy , the Orange County Fire Authority chief .
“ This literally is the largest tanked helicopter in the world .
”

Unveiled in Orange County this week, the helitanker is a 3,000-gallon capacity CH-47 Chinook that will assist fire crews in Southern California.
A record-setting wildfire season requires a record-setting response.
This week, Orange County fire officials unveiled the “Very Large Helitanker,” — a 3,000-gallon capacity CH-47 Chinook — that is now on-hand to assist fire crews battling Southern California’s many blazes.
Considered the largest helicopter water tanker in the world, its capacity far exceeds that of the county’s standard helitankers, which typically drop about 350 gallons, officials said.
Advertisement
“In our view, this is that next generation of helitanker,” Orange County Fire Authority chief Brian Fennessy said at a live-streamed press conference Wednesday. “It’s state-of-the-art. There is no other tanker like it in the world.”
The tanker will be based out of Los Alamitos Joint Forces Training Base in Orange County and will be available to regions served by Southern California Edison, which provided $2.1 million toward its lease from owner Coulson Aviation. Regions served include Los Angeles County — where the Bobcat fire has seared through more 114,000 acres — and San Bernardino County, where the El Dorado fire claimed the life of firefighter Charles Morton.
The record-breaking tanker arrives as soaring temperatures and extreme fire conditions threaten threaten much of the region.
“This is an important moment in a really incredible wildfire year,” Southern California Edison president and CEO Kevin Payne said at the news conference. “It provides added firefighting resources to fire agencies across Southern California right when we need them.”
The helitanker will be manned by pilots from Coulson Aviation and an OCFA crew chief. Agencies requesting the tanker will pay for its flight time and usage, officials said.
Wayne Coulson, president and CEO of Coulson Aviation, told reporters that the twin-propeller, twin-engine tanker was designed with the functionality of helicopters and transport aircrafts in mind.
“It kind of plays two roles,” he said. “It can go direct-attack atop the fire, or, if we load it up with retardant, we can drop retardant ahead of the fire like an air tanker.”
The helitanker is also night-vision certified, and can drop water or retardant both day and night.
Advertisement
On Wednesday, crews demonstrated the helitanker’s power by dropping 250 gallons of water — about three quarters of a typical load — from a standard Bell 412 utility copter over Los Alamitos.
Moments later, the helitanker soared overhead and dropped 2,600 gallons of water, showering the base in a rainfall of relief.
“This helitanker is a force multiplier,” said Fennessy, the Orange County Fire Authority chief. “This literally is the largest tanked helicopter in the world.”


latimes--2020-10-01--Newsom vetoes bill that would have further protected journalists covering protests

Gov .
Gavin Newsom vetoed a bill that would have further protected journalists covering demonstrations from physical or verbal obstruction by a law enforcement officer .
The state Senate bill proposed to protect “ a duly authorized member of any news service ” from intentional assault , interference or obstruction from law enforcement .
The bill also would have protected a journalist from citation over “ the failure to disperse , a violation of a curfew , or a violation of paragraph ” while reporting in an area closed to the public .
Newsom vetoed the bill Wednesday , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on bills passed by the Legislature this year .
The governor ’ s veto message said that media access is “ essential to a functioning democracy , ” but he took issue with the definition of a “ duly authorized representative of the news media , ” calling it too broad a phrase that could allow “ white nationalists , extreme anarchists or other fringe groups with an online presence ” to be protected by the bill .
That language already exists in California Penal Code section 409.5 , which references crimes and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Nothing in this section shall prevent a duly authorized representative of any news service , newspaper , or radio or television station or network from entering the areas closed pursuant to this section , ” the law states .
Under the 1st Amendment , journalists have the right to cover public protests and demonstrations , which typically includes access to areas restricted to unauthorized individuals .
However , that right has not prevented law enforcement from arresting or challenging a journalist from doing their job .
The bill was proposed in February but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ news of several arrests of and assaults on journalists in the wake of protests and city curfews over the killing of George Floyd .
One of the most recent instances occurred last month when KPCC and LAist reporter Josie Huang was taken into police custody while covering a protest outside a hospital where two deputies were being treated for gunshot wounds .
Los Angeles County sheriff ’ s deputies slammed the public radio journalist to the ground and alleged that she had interfered in an arrest .
Video shows her repeatedly stating her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as she was detained by deputies .
The Los Angeles County district attorney ’ s office ultimately dropped charges against her .

A reporter was arrested in September while covering protests outside St. Francis Medical Center in Lynwood.
Gov. Gavin Newsom vetoed a bill that would have further protected journalists covering demonstrations from physical or verbal obstruction by a law enforcement officer.
The state Senate bill proposed to protect “a duly authorized member of any news service” from intentional assault, interference or obstruction from law enforcement. The bill also would have protected a journalist from citation over “the failure to disperse, a violation of a curfew, or a violation of paragraph” while reporting in an area closed to the public.
Newsom vetoed the bill Wednesday, the last day for him to take action on bills passed by the Legislature this year.
Advertisement
California Governor Newsom vetoes high school ethnic studies bill The legislation would have required all public high school students in the state to complete a semester of ethnic studies.
The governor’s veto message said that media access is “essential to a functioning democracy,” but he took issue with the definition of a “duly authorized representative of the news media,” calling it too broad a phrase that could allow “white nationalists, extreme anarchists or other fringe groups with an online presence” to be protected by the bill.
That language already exists in California Penal Code section 409.5, which references crimes and punishments related to public peace.
“Nothing in this section shall prevent a duly authorized representative of any news service, newspaper, or radio or television station or network from entering the areas closed pursuant to this section,” the law states.
Under the 1st Amendment, journalists have the right to cover public protests and demonstrations, which typically includes access to areas restricted to unauthorized individuals.
However, that right has not prevented law enforcement from arresting or challenging a journalist from doing their job.
Advertisement
The bill was proposed in February but has gained attention in recent months following news of several arrests of and assaults on journalists in the wake of protests and city curfews over the killing of George Floyd.
One of the most recent instances occurred last month when KPCC and LAist reporter Josie Huang was taken into police custody while covering a protest outside a hospital where two deputies were being treated for gunshot wounds.
Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputies slammed the public radio journalist to the ground and alleged that she had interfered in an arrest. Video shows her repeatedly stating her name and affiliation while wearing media credentials as she was detained by deputies.
The Los Angeles County district attorney’s office ultimately dropped charges against her.


latimes--2020-10-01--One reason for Northern California's terrible fire season: Less rain than Southern California

Here ’ s one possible reason Northern California is faring so much worse than Southern California in this year ’ s terrible fire season : a lack of rain .
Northern California saw dramatically less rain than Southern California did over the last water year , which ended Wednesday .
While downtown Los Angeles enjoyed 99 % of its annual average rainfall , downtown San Francisco saw just 49 % .
The pattern was seen across the state .
Santa Rosa , the most populous city in Sonoma County , which was ravaged by the Glass fire now burning in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of its annual average rainfall ; San Diego , meanwhile , saw 132 % of its annual rainfall .
Of the six largest fires in California history , five are currently burning , and all of them are in either Northern or Central California .
More than 3.9 million acres have burned in California this year , a record in the state ’ s modern history , with the fires responsible for at least 30 deaths and the destruction of more than 7,500 structures .
The last full month of summer was also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , a reminder that the effects of climate change are a factor in the state ’ s worsening wildfire seasons .
Some scientists say climate change in California is causing while wet periods get wetter , making vegetation even more ripe for kindling .
Other factors contributing to the California fire season , an increasingly destructive cycle , include a powerful series of lightning storms that began in mid-August ; tens of millions of dead trees across the state ; a legacy of severe drought ; bark beetle infestation ; overgrown forests ; @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vegetation , such as through prescribed fire programs ; and a decades-long legacy of massive housing development intruding into wildlands that are naturally prone to fast-moving wildfires whipped by Santa Ana and Diablo winds .
The return of fire weather in Northern California on Thursday stoked concern about the spread of existing fires .
After a midweek reprieve , red flag warnings were issued again by the National Weather Service starting Thursday afternoon for the San Francisco Bay Area ’ s hills , as well as portions of Lake , Mendocino and Monterey @ @ @ @ @ @ @ last through Saturday .
Red flag warnings are issued when meteorologists are highly confident there will be dangerous fire weather .
Fires continue to rage in both Napa and Sonoma counties , where the Glass fire has burned more than 56,000 acres since Sunday and destroyed at least 143 single-family homes and a number of winery buildings ; it is just 5 % contained .
The weather service warned that winds were blowing in from the north and could push the fire toward the community of Angwin in the northern Napa Valley , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Angwin is home to a number of wineries , the liberal arts Pacific Union College , and a small airfield .
Winds on Thursday afternoon could reach gusts of up to 30 mph , and the air is expected to remain considerably dry Thursday night into Friday morning .
The heat was expected to spike again across Northern California , with temperatures as much as 25 degrees higher than the average for this time of year .
Santa Rosa , where homes have been lost to the Glass fire , was expected @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Thursday .
The entire town of Angwin is under a mandatory evacuation order , as is the entire town of Calistoga , with a population of more than 5,000 , and a portion of St. Helena , where more than 6,000 residents live .
The rest of St. Helena is under an evacuation warning .
The 6-week-old Dolan fire burning in the Big Sur area of Monterey County is 87 % contained , but as with the Glass fire in wine country , there ’ s worry that gusts of up to 30 @ @ @ @ @ @

Here’s one possible reason Northern California is faring so much worse than Southern California in this year’s terrible fire season: a lack of rain.
Northern California saw dramatically less rain than Southern California did over the last water year, which ended Wednesday. While downtown Los Angeles enjoyed 99% of its annual average rainfall, downtown San Francisco saw just 49%.
The pattern was seen across the state. Santa Rosa, the most populous city in Sonoma County, which was ravaged by the Glass fire now burning in wine country, saw just 53% of its annual average rainfall; San Diego, meanwhile, saw 132% of its annual rainfall.
Advertisement
Of the six largest fires in California history, five are currently burning, and all of them are in either Northern or Central California. More than 3.9 million acres have burned in California this year, a record in the state’s modern history, with the fires responsible for at least 30 deaths and the destruction of more than 7,500 structures.
The last full month of summer was also the hottest August on record in California, a reminder that the effects of climate change are a factor in the state’s worsening wildfire seasons.
Some scientists say climate change in California is causing dry periods to get drier while wet periods get wetter, making vegetation even more ripe for kindling.
Other factors contributing to the California fire season, an increasingly destructive cycle, include a powerful series of lightning storms that began in mid-August; tens of millions of dead trees across the state; a legacy of severe drought; bark beetle infestation; overgrown forests; a failure to thin forests of excess vegetation, such as through prescribed fire programs; and a decades-long legacy of massive housing development intruding into wildlands that are naturally prone to fast-moving wildfires whipped by Santa Ana and Diablo winds.
The return of fire weather in Northern California on Thursday stoked concern about the spread of existing fires.
Advertisement
After a midweek reprieve, red flag warnings were issued again by the National Weather Service starting Thursday afternoon for the San Francisco Bay Area’s hills, as well as portions of Lake, Mendocino and Monterey counties. They’re expected to last through Saturday.
Red flag warnings are issued when meteorologists are highly confident there will be dangerous fire weather.
Fires continue to rage in both Napa and Sonoma counties, where the Glass fire has burned more than 56,000 acres since Sunday and destroyed at least 143 single-family homes and a number of winery buildings; it is just 5% contained.
The weather service warned that winds were blowing in from the north and could push the fire toward the community of Angwin in the northern Napa Valley, which has a population of about 3,000. Angwin is home to a number of wineries, the liberal arts Pacific Union College, and a small airfield.
Winds on Thursday afternoon could reach gusts of up to 30 mph, and the air is expected to remain considerably dry Thursday night into Friday morning.
The heat was expected to spike again across Northern California, with temperatures as much as 25 degrees higher than the average for this time of year. Santa Rosa, where homes have been lost to the Glass fire, was expected to see a high of 104 degrees Thursday.
The entire town of Angwin is under a mandatory evacuation order, as is the entire town of Calistoga, with a population of more than 5,000, and a portion of St. Helena, where more than 6,000 residents live.
The rest of St. Helena is under an evacuation warning.
The 6-week-old Dolan fire burning in the Big Sur area of Monterey County is 87% contained, but as with the Glass fire in wine country, there’s worry that gusts of up to 30 mph could worsen that fire.


latimes--2020-10-01--Shia LaBeouf faces misdemeanor charges in L.A. over alleged hat theft

Actor Shia LaBeouf has been charged with battery and theft after a June altercation in Los Angeles .
The “ Honey Boy ” star was charged last week with one count of misdemeanor battery and one count of misdemeanor theft , the Los Angeles city attorney ’ s office confirmed Thursday .
Prosecutors pressed charges against the 34-year-old actor for allegedly using force and violence against a man named Tyler Murphy , according to a copy of the misdemeanor complaint obtained by The Times on Thursday .
The altercation , which took place on June 12 , allegedly resulted in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Murphy .
The complaint asks that a warrant be issued for LaBeouf ’ s arrest .
Representatives for the “ Transformers ” actor did not immediately respond to The Times ’ requests for comment Thursday .
According to TMZ , LaBeouf and Murphy were involved in a verbal altercation that turned physical .
After that , the actor allegedly took off Murphy ’ s cap and left with it .
It ’ s not the first time the former Disney Channel star has had brushes with the law .
In 2014 , LaBeouf @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s Studio 54 after he drunkenly disrupted a performance of “ Cabaret.
” He pleaded guilty to disorderly conduct and was sentenced to months of alcohol-abuse treatment .
In 2017 , LaBeouf was arrested again after scuffling with a man at his “ He Will Not Divide Us ” protest in New York .
( Those charges were later dropped . )
That same year , he was booked for public drunkenness , disorderly conduct and obstruction in Savannah , Ga. , that ultimately led to his infamous racist rant at the police @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Esquire that what happened in Georgia “ was mortifying ” : “ White privilege and desperation and disaster ...
It came from a place of self-centered delusion ...
It was me trying to absolve myself of guilt for getting arrested.
” This past summer , the method actor was embroiled in a different kind of offense : whether he used brownface in the film “ The Tax Collector .
”

Actor Shia LaBeouf has been charged with battery and theft after a June altercation in Los Angeles.
The “Honey Boy” star was charged last week with one count of misdemeanor battery and one count of misdemeanor theft, the Los Angeles city attorney’s office confirmed Thursday.
Prosecutors pressed charges against the 34-year-old actor for allegedly using force and violence against a man named Tyler Murphy, according to a copy of the misdemeanor complaint obtained by The Times on Thursday. The altercation, which took place on June 12, allegedly resulted in LaBeouf taking a hat that belonged to Murphy.
The complaint asks that a warrant be issued for LaBeouf’s arrest.
Representatives for the “Transformers” actor did not immediately respond to The Times’ requests for comment Thursday.
Advertisement
According to TMZ, LaBeouf and Murphy were involved in a verbal altercation that turned physical. After that, the actor allegedly took off Murphy’s cap and left with it.
It’s not the first time the former Disney Channel star has had brushes with the law. In 2014, LaBeouf was arrested outside New York City’s Studio 54 after he drunkenly disrupted a performance of “Cabaret.” He pleaded guilty to disorderly conduct and was sentenced to months of alcohol-abuse treatment.
In 2017, LaBeouf was arrested again after scuffling with a man at his “He Will Not Divide Us” protest in New York. (Those charges were later dropped.) That same year, he was booked for public drunkenness, disorderly conduct and obstruction in Savannah, Ga., that ultimately led to his infamous racist rant at the police station.
In 2018, he told Esquire that what happened in Georgia “was mortifying”: “White privilege and desperation and disaster...It came from a place of self-centered delusion...It was me trying to absolve myself of guilt for getting arrested.”
This past summer, the method actor was embroiled in a different kind of offense: whether he used brownface in the film “The Tax Collector.”


latimes--2020-10-01--Actor Ron Ely sues Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Office over deaths of wife and son

Former “ Tarzan ” actor Ron Ely has accused the Santa Barbara County Sheriff ’ s Office of wrongfully killing his wife and son , according to a federal lawsuit .
The Sheriff ’ s Office responded to a disturbance call at the family ’ s Hope Ranch home on Oct. 15 , 2019 .
Deputies contacted Ely at the home and found his wife , 62-year-old Valerie Lundeen Ely , dead inside with multiple stab wounds , authorities said at the time .
Deputies identified the Elys ’ 30-year-old son , Cameron Ely , as the suspect and found @ @ @ @ @ @ @ determining that he posed a threat , the deputies fatally shot him .
Ron Ely , star of the 1960s TV version of the Tarzan story , alleges in the lawsuit that sheriff ’ s deputies used “ excessive and unreasonable ” force when shooting Cameron Ely and knowingly denied both Valerie and Cameron Ely of timely medical treatment , resulting in their deaths .
Raquel Zick , spokeswoman for the Sheriff ’ s Office , said she could not comment on cases that involve pending litigation .
An internal investigation is ongoing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ investigation into the case , she said .
“ It ’ s not that we don ’ t have something to say , ” Zick said .
“ We ’ re unable to comment.
” The lawsuit , which was filed in U.S. Central District Court in July and amended Sunday , states that Cameron Ely called 911 to report that his mother was attacking his father .
The call ended abruptly .
When dispatchers called back , Ron Ely answered the phone but could not communicate clearly “ due to medical difficulties @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cries and a woman ’ s voice in the background were discernible , it says .
However , dispatchers incorrectly told responding deputies that the caller said his father was attacking his mother , according to the lawsuit .
The suit states that arriving deputies — identified in court records as Desiree Thome , Jeremy Rogers , Phillip Farley and John Gruttaduario — found Valerie Ely on the dining room floor with multiple stab wounds .
“ Deputies did not know , and failed to check , if Decedent Valerie was alive when @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Medics were not immediately dispatched , the suit says , and when first responders from the fire department arrived , deputies prevented them from entering and giving her medical attention for over 30 minutes .
The lawsuit says dashboard camera video indicates that Cameron Ely held his hands up when he approached deputies in the driveway over an hour and a half later .
Deputies suddenly opened fire at him while he was bleeding and , it was later determined , also suffering from multiple stab wounds .
“ The shooting occurred @ @ @ @ @ @ @ saw Decedent Cameron walk around the corner with his hands up , the universal act of surrender , ” the lawsuit states .
“ Defendant Cameron was unarmed , nonviolent , and acting calmly during the entirety of the short encounter .
Decedent Cameron did not make any aggressive movements or furtive gestures nor did he utter any threats that would suggest he was a danger to the Deputies or any other individuals in the area.
” Deputies also prevented medics from attending to Cameron Ely , who was bleeding to death in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , according to the lawsuit .
“ By the time anyone was allowed to assess Decedent Cameron or Valerie , both had already succumbed to their injuries and died.
” Rogers , one of the deputies involved in the case , came under scrutiny earlier this year when the Santa Barbara Independent newspaper published detailing how he was involved in three fatal shootings on the job , including that of Cameron Ely .
Zick , the sheriff ’ s office spokeswoman , confirmed that Rogers is still active with the agency .
Though @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Zick said Rogers ’ previous actions were “ deemed within policy and … noncriminal.
” “ All of those actions were justified , ” she said .
The lawsuit alleges that the Sheriff ’ s Office failed to properly discipline Rogers , contributing to “ an entrenched culture ” of allowing “ improper detentions and arrests , the use of excessive and/or deadly force , and the failure to treat the serious medical needs of Santa Barbara County citizens.
” Cameron Ely attended Phillips Exeter Academy in New Hampshire and went on to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ played quarterback for the football team .
Records show that he was licensed as a security guard in the two years before his death .
Valerie Lundeen Ely was a former beauty queen who won the Miss Florida pageant in 1981 .
She and Ron Ely had three children together .

Former “Tarzan” actor Ron Ely has accused the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office of wrongfully killing his wife and son, according to a federal lawsuit.
The Sheriff’s Office responded to a disturbance call at the family’s Hope Ranch home on Oct. 15, 2019. Deputies contacted Ely at the home and found his wife, 62-year-old Valerie Lundeen Ely, dead inside with multiple stab wounds, authorities said at the time.
Deputies identified the Elys’ 30-year-old son, Cameron Ely, as the suspect and found him on the property outside. After determining that he posed a threat, the deputies fatally shot him.
Ron Ely, star of the 1960s TV version of the Tarzan story, alleges in the lawsuit that sheriff’s deputies used “excessive and unreasonable” force when shooting Cameron Ely and knowingly denied both Valerie and Cameron Ely of timely medical treatment, resulting in their deaths.
Advertisement
Raquel Zick, spokeswoman for the Sheriff’s Office, said she could not comment on cases that involve pending litigation. An internal investigation is ongoing while the district attorney conducts a criminal investigation into the case, she said.
“It’s not that we don’t have something to say,” Zick said. “We’re unable to comment.”
The lawsuit, which was filed in U.S. Central District Court in July and amended Sunday, states that Cameron Ely called 911 to report that his mother was attacking his father. The call ended abruptly.
When dispatchers called back, Ron Ely answered the phone but could not communicate clearly “due to medical difficulties,” the suit says. His cries and a woman’s voice in the background were discernible, it says.
However, dispatchers incorrectly told responding deputies that the caller said his father was attacking his mother, according to the lawsuit.
Advertisement
The suit states that arriving deputies — identified in court records as Desiree Thome, Jeremy Rogers, Phillip Farley and John Gruttaduario — found Valerie Ely on the dining room floor with multiple stab wounds.
“Deputies did not know, and failed to check, if Decedent Valerie was alive when they arrived,” the suit says.
Medics were not immediately dispatched, the suit says, and when first responders from the fire department arrived, deputies prevented them from entering and giving her medical attention for over 30 minutes.
The lawsuit says dashboard camera video indicates that Cameron Ely held his hands up when he approached deputies in the driveway over an hour and a half later. Deputies suddenly opened fire at him while he was bleeding and, it was later determined, also suffering from multiple stab wounds.
“The shooting occurred less than 20 seconds after Defendant Deputies saw Decedent Cameron walk around the corner with his hands up, the universal act of surrender,” the lawsuit states. “Defendant Cameron was unarmed, nonviolent, and acting calmly during the entirety of the short encounter. Decedent Cameron did not make any aggressive movements or furtive gestures nor did he utter any threats that would suggest he was a danger to the Deputies or any other individuals in the area.”
Deputies also prevented medics from attending to Cameron Ely, who was bleeding to death in the driveway, for over 13 minutes, according to the lawsuit.
“By the time anyone was allowed to assess Decedent Cameron or Valerie, both had already succumbed to their injuries and died.”
Rogers, one of the deputies involved in the case, came under scrutiny earlier this year when the Santa Barbara Independent newspaper published a report detailing how he was involved in three fatal shootings on the job, including that of Cameron Ely.
Zick, the sheriff’s office spokeswoman, confirmed that Rogers is still active with the agency. Though the Ely case is still pending, Zick said Rogers’ previous actions were “deemed within policy and … noncriminal.”
“All of those actions were justified,” she said.
The lawsuit alleges that the Sheriff’s Office failed to properly discipline Rogers, contributing to “an entrenched culture” of allowing “improper detentions and arrests, the use of excessive and/or deadly force, and the failure to treat the serious medical needs of Santa Barbara County citizens.”
Cameron Ely attended Phillips Exeter Academy in New Hampshire and went on to Harvard University in 2007, where he played quarterback for the football team. Records show that he was licensed as a security guard in the two years before his death.
Valerie Lundeen Ely was a former beauty queen who won the Miss Florida pageant in 1981. She and Ron Ely had three children together.


latimes--2020-10-01--'I will do everything I can to find you.' As mother frets over missing son, LAPD investigates

Every time he left the house , Juan Carlos Hernández stayed in touch with his loved ones .
After leaving work , as he made his way home , he would text his mother and younger brother : “ Have you eaten ?
Want something ?
I ’ m going to stop and buy tacos.
” A week ago , after finishing work for the day , he once again sent a message , saying that he was coming home .
But he never got there — and no one knows what happened to him .
“ Juan never gave @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his mother , Yajaira Hernández , said .
“ My heart as a mother tells me that he ’ s out there somewhere , that he ’ s waiting for us to find him .
But my mind is making me think the worst because he hasn ’ t communicated with any of us.
” The 21-year-old is a student at El Camino College with a semester left to go before transferring to USC , where he plans to study engineering .
He has played sports since before college , and teammates and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ social media in the hopes of getting information about his whereabouts .
His mother said he was last seen Sept. 22 .
Det .
O. Cansino of the LAPD ’ s Missing Persons Unit said Thursday that the case has been moved to the department ’ s Robbery-Homicide Unit .
“ They took over the investigation pretty much the next day because of the suspicious circumstances surrounding the disappearance , ” he said .
Cansino would not elaborate but said those circumstances were known from “ day one , day two of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we don ’ t handle anything criminal , ” he said .
“ Once there ’ s any criminal aspect to the investigation , it ’ s going to go to a detective division that handles the criminal aspect of it.
” In a news release Thursday , LAPD officials said Hernández was last seen wearing a black Vans T-shirt with a white “ 66 '' on the back , black shorts , black-and-white checkered socks and black shoes .
He had a light gray backpack and hoodie in his possession .
They @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to contact the Robbery-Homicide Division at ( 213 ) 486-6840 or safelatips @ lapd.online .
Hernández said her son was called Cookie by friends and family .
He didn ’ t have a car .
When he was last seen , he was driving a 2020 Honda Civic he had borrowed from his mother .
Two of his best friends saw him just before 3 p.m. , when his work shift at a marijuana dispensary started .
A few minutes before his shift ended around 10 p.m. , he sent a text message @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at home .
But early the next morning , about 5:30 a.m. , she noticed he wasn ’ t around .
When she went outside , the car was not there .
“ All of my calls went to his voicemail , ” she said .
When Hernández called his workplace , a security guard told her that her son had left just after 10 p.m. , like the other employees .
Worried , she called the Los Angeles Police Department ’ s Southwest station .
On Thursday , the Honda Civic was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from where her son worked .
“ The car was intact , ” a surprised Hernández said .
She said money that had been left inside the car was still there , but none of her son ’ s belongings were .
“ Everything was in the car .
But there was no sign that my son had even been driving it.
” Hernández said she has been heartened by support from the community .
She described her son as a homebody who likes to sit , covered in a blanket , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with his friends .
She said that he also likes to jog and that when he was in the 10th grade , he ran in his first marathon .
He joined several groups that jogged around the streets of L.A .
He spent six years studying robotics in the Neighborhood Academic Initiative program , which was run by USC .
It ’ s what inspired him to pursue engineering as a career , his mother said .
Hernández said she finds herself reflecting on how attentive and affectionate her son is .
Sometimes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ work to take his mother to the doctor ; he worried about her , especially when she struggled with bouts of depression .
“ He was always very attentive , careful — always supporting me in whatever I needed , ” she said .
After graduating from high school , Juan Carlos Hernández toggled between school and work , including at Target and J.C. Penney , dreaming of raising enough money to buy his own car .
At the beginning of 2020 , he took a break from school to focus on his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Western and 81st Street .
“ He ’ s a young man with ambitions and dreams , ” his mother said .
She added that he is also involved in activities at the family ’ s Catholic church .
She said that since he disappeared , friends and family members have come together — including from other states — to help search for her son .
“ Keep searching .
Keep sharing his photos on social media , ” his mother said .
“ I ’ m asking police to do whatever @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that I don ’ t have as a mother .
See what they can find in video cameras ; maybe they can get people to talk who won ’ t talk with us.
” She also delivered a message to her missing son : “ To Juan , I want to say that I will not give up .
I will be strong , and I will do everything I can to find you .
I will move the heavens and the Earth until you come back to us .
We love you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ re all worried about you.
” Jiménez writes for Times en Español .
Times staff writer Hayley Smith contributed to this report .

Family and friends trying to find Juan Carlos Hernández, 21, have posted fliers on social media and in public spaces.
Every time he left the house, Juan Carlos Hernández stayed in touch with his loved ones. After leaving work, as he made his way home, he would text his mother and younger brother: “Have you eaten? Want something? I’m going to stop and buy tacos.”
A week ago, after finishing work for the day, he once again sent a message, saying that he was coming home. But he never got there — and no one knows what happened to him.
“Juan never gave me a reason to worry,” his mother, Yajaira Hernández, said. “My heart as a mother tells me that he’s out there somewhere, that he’s waiting for us to find him. But my mind is making me think the worst because he hasn’t communicated with any of us.”
The 21-year-old is a student at El Camino College with a semester left to go before transferring to USC, where he plans to study engineering. He has played sports since before college, and teammates and other friends have taken to posting on social media in the hopes of getting information about his whereabouts.
Advertisement
His mother said he was last seen Sept. 22.
Juan Carlos Hernández sits with his mother, Yajaira, and his brothers Joseph, standing left, and Gabriel in December. (Family photo)
Det. O. Cansino of the LAPD’s Missing Persons Unit said Thursday that the case has been moved to the department’s Robbery-Homicide Unit .
“They took over the investigation pretty much the next day because of the suspicious circumstances surrounding the disappearance,” he said.
Cansino would not elaborate but said those circumstances were known from “day one, day two of the investigation.”
“At Missing Persons, we don’t handle anything criminal,” he said. “Once there’s any criminal aspect to the investigation, it’s going to go to a detective division that handles the criminal aspect of it.”
In a news release Thursday, LAPD officials said Hernández was last seen wearing a black Vans T-shirt with a white “66” on the back, black shorts, black-and-white checkered socks and black shoes. He had a light gray backpack and hoodie in his possession.
They asked anyone with information about the case to contact the Robbery-Homicide Division at (213) 486-6840 or safelatips@lapd.online.
Hernández said her son was called Cookie by friends and family. He didn’t have a car. When he was last seen, he was driving a 2020 Honda Civic he had borrowed from his mother. Two of his best friends saw him just before 3 p.m., when his work shift at a marijuana dispensary started.
A few minutes before his shift ended around 10 p.m., he sent a text message telling his mother he would see her at home. But early the next morning, about 5:30 a.m., she noticed he wasn’t around. When she went outside, the car was not there.
“All of my calls went to his voicemail,” she said.
When Hernández called his workplace, a security guard told her that her son had left just after 10 p.m., like the other employees. Worried, she called the Los Angeles Police Department’s Southwest station.
Advertisement
On Thursday, the Honda Civic was found about 2:30 a.m. a few miles from where her son worked.
“The car was intact,” a surprised Hernández said. She said money that had been left inside the car was still there, but none of her son’s belongings were. “Everything was in the car. But there was no sign that my son had even been driving it.”
Hernández said she has been heartened by support from the community. She described her son as a homebody who likes to sit, covered in a blanket, and play “League of Legends” online with his friends.
She said that he also likes to jog and that when he was in the 10th grade, he ran in his first marathon. He joined several groups that jogged around the streets of L.A.
He spent six years studying robotics in the Neighborhood Academic Initiative program, which was run by USC. It’s what inspired him to pursue engineering as a career, his mother said.
Hernández said she finds herself reflecting on how attentive and affectionate her son is. Sometimes, she said, he would miss work to take his mother to the doctor; he worried about her, especially when she struggled with bouts of depression.
“He was always very attentive, careful — always supporting me in whatever I needed,” she said.
After graduating from high school, Juan Carlos Hernández toggled between school and work, including at Target and J.C. Penney, dreaming of raising enough money to buy his own car. At the beginning of 2020, he took a break from school to focus on his job at the dispensary at the corner of Western and 81st Street.
“He’s a young man with ambitions and dreams,” his mother said. She added that he is also involved in activities at the family’s Catholic church.
She said that since he disappeared, friends and family members have come together — including from other states — to help search for her son.
“Keep searching. Keep sharing his photos on social media,” his mother said. “I’m asking police to do whatever they can, to use the resources that I don’t have as a mother. See what they can find in video cameras; maybe they can get people to talk who won’t talk with us.”
She also delivered a message to her missing son: “To Juan, I want to say that I will not give up. I will be strong, and I will do everything I can to find you. I will move the heavens and the Earth until you come back to us. We love you. We miss you. And we’re all worried about you.”
Jiménez writes for Times en Español. Times staff writer Hayley Smith contributed to this report.