latimes--2020-05-18--Column: Filipino nurses battled discrimination to work in American hospitals. Now they fight for PPE

If you live in Southern California , there ’ s a good chance that you have at some point received medical care from a Filipino American professional .
Filipino nurses — along with doctors , anesthesiologists and every other kind of medical worker — are an essential source of labor at public hospitals such as L.A. County-USC , Kaiser Permanente and Ronald Reagan UCLA .
Filipinos also staff and own many long-term care and mental health facilities .
And about 18 % of registered nurses in California are of Philippine descent , according to a 2016 survey .
Nursing is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it ’ s something of an inside joke .
My roommate at UCLA used to say that he was going to be the first member of his family to become something other than a nurse .
And when I met HiFi Kitchen chef Justin Foronda earlier this year and asked him what he did for a living , he responded , “ I ’ m a nurse , of course !
” As for my roommate ?
Today , he is , of course , a nurse .
Foronda has always heard that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they are caring , resilient , hardworking and kind .
But he ’ s never been satisfied with that answer .
“ We get put into this box , like , oh , it ’ s funny that all the Filipinos are nurses , ” said Foronda , a nurse at Sherman Oaks Hospital .
But the real story of why Filipino nurses came to the U.S. is the “ legacy of a very long colonial history between the U.S. and the Philippines , ” said Catherine Ceniza Choy , a UC Berkeley @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Filipino nurse migration .
In the 1900s , the U.S. colonial regime began to cultivate a medical labor force in the Philippines .
The lofty pretext of imparting Western medicine and civilization had helped politicians to justify the American annexation of the Philippines in 1898 , which occurred despite the Philippines declaring independence and installing a democratic government .
When nursing shortages hit the U.S. after World War II , Filipino nurses came to work the jobs that Americans wouldn ’ t via an exchange program .
More nurses came after the U.S. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ well creating preferential pathways for skilled workers .
The effect was further magnified when the Philippine government under Ferdinand Marcos began to actively encourage the export of all kinds of labor as a strategy of economic growth .
Nurses , and other exported workers , were labeled national heroes .
And Filipino nurse graduates could not turn down the earning potential of a U.S. job , which was 12 times what they could earn in the Philippines .
Between 1965 and 1988 , more than 70,000 foreign nurses came to work in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ biggest sender by far .
Although American and Philippine nursing schools evolved in parallel and adhered to near-identical professional standards , Filipino nurses were systematically underpaid as exchange visitors and frequently assigned mundane tasks such as emptying bedpans , repairing gowns and janitorial duties .
American opponents of immigrant nurses added additional exam requirements for foreign nurses that failed thousands of Filipino nursing graduates .
The exam fee was set at $ 70 , the equivalent of a month and a half ’ s salary for a nurse in the Philippines .
Although @ @ @ @ @ @ @ issuance of a work visa , the test could be taken in few major American cities .
And in 1975 , Filipina Narciso and Leonora Perez were charged with the murders of patients at a hospital in Ann Arbor , Mich. A massive deployment of the FBI — involving over 200 employees and more than $ 1 million — produced a case so weak that even a prosecuting attorney described it as “ highly circumstantial.
” Cross-examination revealed that a major witness for the prosecution — an alcoholic who admitted to significant memory @ @ @ @ @ @ @ between Filipinos , Chinese , Japanese and other Asian Americans .
During testimony , he also asserted there was a nationwide conspiracy of 1,800 Filipino nurses to assassinate American veterans , and referred to Narciso and Perez as “ a couple of slant-eyed bitches.
” Abetted by a prosecution that focused heavily on demonizing Narciso and Perez as foreigners with brown skin , a jury convicted the women of three counts of poisoning .
The case became a watershed moment for Filipino Americans .
Filipino nurses around the nation began to recognize a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Activists reached out to black , Asian and Muslim civil rights groups and formed legal defense funds and nurse support organizations .
Eventually , a judge set the verdict aside , citing the prosecution ’ s “ prejudiced ” presentation of the case .
I think this history still matters today because hospitals hit with a flood of COVID-19 patients have nurses to care for them in large part because America opened its borders to Filipino nurses .
It matters because Filipino nurses recruited generations of sons , daughters , sisters and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ entire families are at risk .
It matters because , unlike so many of us who retreated indoors when the pandemic came to Southern California , Foronda took on more shifts at the hospital , unable to sit at home knowing he could help .
It matters because Gigi Narisma-Estabillo , 55 , is still going to work even though she has to reuse her N95 mask ; because in the middle of a pandemic , the hospital laid off half of Narisma-Estabillo ’ s team , forcing the remaining nurses to care @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ; because Narisma-Estabillo and her fellow nurses still have to beg for personal protective equipment , or PPE , and coronavirus tests ; because nearly half of the staff at her hospital is Filipino .
The history matters because what it shows is that this country has a responsibility to these workers , and we have not kept up our end of the bargain .
“ We think America is great , yet everything that has happened , the fault is from top to bottom .
Nothing is working .
And we are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ They are pushing us to die .
”

Justin Foronda, second from left, has dinner with his mother, Lina, left, brother Anthony and Anthony’s girlfriend Michelle Diaz. When the coronavirus crisis began, Foronda, a nurse at Sherman Oaks Hospital, took on extra shifts. About 18% of registered nurses in California are of Philippine descent, according to a 2016 survey.
If you live in Southern California, there’s a good chance that you have at some point received medical care from a Filipino American professional.
Filipino nurses — along with doctors, anesthesiologists and every other kind of medical worker — are an essential source of labor at public hospitals such as L.A. County-USC, Kaiser Permanente and Ronald Reagan UCLA. Filipinos also staff and own many long-term care and mental health facilities.
And about 18% of registered nurses in California are of Philippine descent, according to a 2016 survey.
Nursing is such a popular profession among Filipinos that it’s something of an inside joke. My roommate at UCLA used to say that he was going to be the first member of his family to become something other than a nurse.
Advertisement
After working a 12-hour nursing shift at a Sherman Oaks Hospital, Justin Foronda removes his work clothes in the backyard before entering the house as a coronavirus precaution. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)
And when I met HiFi Kitchen chef Justin Foronda earlier this year and asked him what he did for a living, he responded, “I’m a nurse, of course!”
As for my roommate? Today, he is, of course, a nurse.
Foronda has always heard that Filipinos go into the medical field because they are caring, resilient, hardworking and kind. But he’s never been satisfied with that answer.
“We get put into this box, like, oh, it’s funny that all the Filipinos are nurses,” said Foronda, a nurse at Sherman Oaks Hospital.
But the real story of why Filipino nurses came to the U.S. is the “legacy of a very long colonial history between the U.S. and the Philippines,” said Catherine Ceniza Choy, a UC Berkeley professor who wrote about the history of Filipino nurse migration.
Nurse Justin Foronda disinfects his belongings in the backyard of his L.A. home as a precaution against the coronavirus. Foronda is also a chef at HiFi Kitchen, which provides food to hospitals. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)
In the 1900s, the U.S. colonial regime began to cultivate a medical labor force in the Philippines. The lofty pretext of imparting Western medicine and civilization had helped politicians to justify the American annexation of the Philippines in 1898, which occurred despite the Philippines declaring independence and installing a democratic government.
Advertisement
When nursing shortages hit the U.S. after World War II, Filipino nurses came to work the jobs that Americans wouldn’t via an exchange program.
More nurses came after the U.S. ended immigration quotas in 1965, as well creating preferential pathways for skilled workers. The effect was further magnified when the Philippine government under Ferdinand Marcos began to actively encourage the export of all kinds of labor as a strategy of economic growth.
Nurses, and other exported workers, were labeled national heroes. And Filipino nurse graduates could not turn down the earning potential of a U.S. job, which was 12 times what they could earn in the Philippines.
Between 1965 and 1988, more than 70,000 foreign nurses came to work in the U.S., with the Philippines as the biggest sender by far.
Although American and Philippine nursing schools evolved in parallel and adhered to near-identical professional standards, Filipino nurses were systematically underpaid as exchange visitors and frequently assigned mundane tasks such as emptying bedpans, repairing gowns and janitorial duties.
American opponents of immigrant nurses added additional exam requirements for foreign nurses that failed thousands of Filipino nursing graduates. The exam fee was set at $70, the equivalent of a month and a half’s salary for a nurse in the Philippines. Although the test was a prerequisite for the issuance of a work visa, the test could be taken in few major American cities.
And in 1975, Filipina Narciso and Leonora Perez were charged with the murders of patients at a hospital in Ann Arbor, Mich. A massive deployment of the FBI — involving over 200 employees and more than $1 million — produced a case so weak that even a prosecuting attorney described it as “highly circumstantial.”
Cross-examination revealed that a major witness for the prosecution — an alcoholic who admitted to significant memory loss — had no ability to distinguish between Filipinos, Chinese, Japanese and other Asian Americans. During testimony, he also asserted there was a nationwide conspiracy of 1,800 Filipino nurses to assassinate American veterans, and referred to Narciso and Perez as “a couple of slant-eyed bitches.”
Abetted by a prosecution that focused heavily on demonizing Narciso and Perez as foreigners with brown skin, a jury convicted the women of three counts of poisoning.
The case became a watershed moment for Filipino Americans.
Filipino nurses around the nation began to recognize a shared experience of racial discrimination and exploitation. Activists reached out to black, Asian and Muslim civil rights groups and formed legal defense funds and nurse support organizations. Eventually, a judge set the verdict aside, citing the prosecution’s “prejudiced” presentation of the case.
I think this history still matters today because hospitals hit with a flood of COVID-19 patients have nurses to care for them in large part because America opened its borders to Filipino nurses.
It matters because Filipino nurses recruited generations of sons, daughters, sisters and brothers to the field, and now entire families are at risk.
It matters because, unlike so many of us who retreated indoors when the pandemic came to Southern California, Foronda took on more shifts at the hospital, unable to sit at home knowing he could help.
It matters because Gigi Narisma-Estabillo, 55, is still going to work even though she has to reuse her N95 mask; because in the middle of a pandemic, the hospital laid off half of Narisma-Estabillo’s team, forcing the remaining nurses to care for additional patients and risk further exposure; because Narisma-Estabillo and her fellow nurses still have to beg for personal protective equipment, or PPE, and coronavirus tests; because nearly half of the staff at her hospital is Filipino.
The history matters because what it shows is that this country has a responsibility to these workers, and we have not kept up our end of the bargain.
“We think America is great, yet everything that has happened, the fault is from top to bottom. Nothing is working. And we are scared,” Narisma-Estabillo said. “They are pushing us to die.”


latimes--2020-05-18--Fire and police investigators work to determine cause of downtown explosion that injured 12

A criminal investigation is underway after a massive explosion in a downtown Los Angeles warehouse on Saturday injured 12 firefighters and left several buildings damaged , law enforcement sources told The Times .
Downtown was rocked Saturday night by the blast , which broke out in an older business district off East 3rd Street , known for its various smoke shops .
Authorities referred to it as Bong Row .
“ We are in the early stages of an investigation .
We are looking at every aspect at this stage .
We haven ’ t determined a cause , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Frank said .
“ The explosion was massive and those firefighters are very lucky to be alive.
” An initial investigation identified the business that caught fire as Smoke Tokes , a warehouse distributor with supplies for butane hash oil , said Capt .
Erik Scott , a spokesman for the Los Angeles Fire Department .
Authorities said carbon dioxide and butane canisters were found inside the building , and investigators are trying to determine whether oil stores on site might have sparked the blast .
The cause of the fire has not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Tokes could not be reached for comment .
The explosion damaged several storefronts , melted fire helmets and left one firetruck burned and covered in debris .
Officials said firefighters had to pass through a fireball to escape .
“ Firefighters were coming out with obvious damage and burns , ” Scott said .
They ran “ straight through that ball of flame to get to safety across the street.
” Eleven firefighters received treatment for burn injuries at Los Angeles County-USC Medical Center , according to the LAFD .
A 12th firefighter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ room Saturday night for “ a minor extremity injury , ” said Nicholas Prange , an LAFD spokesman .
As of Sunday morning , three firefighters had been discharged from the hospital .
Eight remained hospitalized , including two in critical but stable condition .
All were expected to survive , officials said .
Doctors at USC said one firefighter would probably need skin grafts .
Firefighters first received a call about 6:30 p.m. Saturday about a structure fire in the 300 block of Boyd Street south of Little Tokyo .
The businesses @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ This fire started off like any other bread-and-butter structure fire where we had a one-story commercial building with smoke showing , ” Scott said .
LAFD Station No .
9 responded .
It is one of the , serving one of Los Angeles ’ most troubled spots : skid row .
On top of the frequent calls that existed even before the pandemic , firefighters there in recent weeks also have been on skid row .
When the fire broke out Saturday night , firefighters went to the roof to try to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ saws to force entry , Scott said .
Others went inside , attempting to find the source of the blaze .
“ It was routine until they heard a rumbling , high-pitched sound — they described it like a jet engine spinning up — along with pressurized smoke , ” Scott said .
Firefighters started backing out , he said , but “ conditions drastically changed within moments.
” The explosion , he said , created a 30-foot-wide fireball .
“ This is one of the worst incidents in recent history that we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ Our firefighters were driven off the roof , frantically scurrying down the aerial ladder to safety through a blowtorch .
Firefighters inside had to escape a massive explosion.
” All of the injured firefighters work at Station 9 , LAFD .
Initially , officials could not account for all the firefighters .
In an LAFD radio transmission , an official is heard screaming , “ Mayday !
Explosion !
I have two down firefighters.
” “ This is a difficult time for our fire family , ” Scott said , his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ concern is to take care of the injured as well as the mental health of the other firefighters on scene.
” It took more than 230 firefighters an hour and 42 minutes after the call came in to extinguish the blaze , authorities said .
Video at the scene captured a series of smaller explosions after the initial blast .
On Sunday , the heavily damaged warehouse still stood , Scott said .
Nearby streets were cordoned off with yellow tape .
The scene left by the fire was apocalyptic .
On Sunday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had responded to the blaze still lay on the ground , with holes burned in them .
Melted helmets were scattered about .
There was a charred firetruck , Scott said , and a blackened fire hose .
There were discharged fire extinguishers “ possibly that were utilized to extinguish our own members , ” Scott said .
LAFD Chief Ralph M. Terrazas said the firefighters responding to the call sensed something was wrong inside the building but could not escape before the explosion .
“ When one of your own is injured @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mental stress , ” Terrazas said .
“ A lot of our firefighters were traumatized.
” Along with LAFD arson investigators , the explosion is being investigated by the criminal conspiracy section of the LAPD ’ s major crimes division and the gang and narcotics division , Assistant Chief Frank said .
The Bureau of Alcohol , Tobacco , Firearms and Explosives ’ national response team will arrive Monday to assist in the investigation , federal officials said Sunday .
The team brings together science and fire experts who can reconstruct scenes in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ California on the which killed 34 people in the vessel off Santa Barbara in September .
The team also assisted in the investigation of the Ghost Ship warehouse fire , which killed 36 people in December 2016 .
In 2016 , there was at a downtown L.A. business called Smoke Tokes at an address nearby on 3rd Street .
It was unclear whether that business and the one that burned Saturday were connected .
“ We are aware of a fire in September 2016 , nearby on 3rd Street , with a building @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Scott said Sunday .
“ Our arson investigators are aware of that incident , and that ’ s part of the active investigation.
” It took more than 160 firefighters about two hours to put out the 2016 blaze , with the flames largely confined to the wholesaler and distributor of smoking paraphernalia , The Times reported at the time .
Firefighters encountered pressurized gas cylinders that exploded amid the inferno , but there were no injuries in the 2016 fire .
“ It was a tricky fire for us , ” LAFD @ @ @ @ @ @ @ time .
“ We had multiple explosions going off inside the fire while it was burning due to the butane containers releasing .
”

Hailey Branson-Potts, Richard Winton, Liam Dillon

Firefighters battle a fire at the scene of an explosion and fire Saturday in the 300 block of Boyd Street in downtown Los Angeles. Twelve firefighters were injured in the blast.
A criminal investigation is underway after a massive explosion in a downtown Los Angeles warehouse on Saturday injured 12 firefighters and left several buildings damaged, law enforcement sources told The Times.
Downtown was rocked Saturday night by the blast, which broke out in an older business district off East 3rd Street, known for its various smoke shops. Authorities referred to it as Bong Row.
“We are in the early stages of an investigation. We are looking at every aspect at this stage. We haven’t determined a cause,” Los Angeles Police Department Assistant Chief Horace Frank said. “The explosion was massive and those firefighters are very lucky to be alive.”
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Firefighters and other officials investigate a downtown scene were an explosion and fire injured 11 fire fighters yesterday in Little Tokyo during the coronavirus pandemic on Sunday, May 17, 2020 in Los Angeles, CA. (Jason Armond/Los Angeles Times)
An initial investigation identified the business that caught fire as Smoke Tokes, a warehouse distributor with supplies for butane hash oil, said Capt. Erik Scott, a spokesman for the Los Angeles Fire Department.
Authorities said carbon dioxide and butane canisters were found inside the building, and investigators are trying to determine whether oil stores on site might have sparked the blast. The cause of the fire has not been determined.
The owner of Smoke Tokes could not be reached for comment.
The explosion damaged several storefronts, melted fire helmets and left one firetruck burned and covered in debris. Officials said firefighters had to pass through a fireball to escape.
“Firefighters were coming out with obvious damage and burns,” Scott said. They ran “straight through that ball of flame to get to safety across the street.”
Eleven firefighters received treatment for burn injuries at Los Angeles County-USC Medical Center, according to the LAFD. A 12th firefighter was treated and released at an emergency room Saturday night for “a minor extremity injury,” said Nicholas Prange, an LAFD spokesman.
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As of Sunday morning, three firefighters had been discharged from the hospital. Eight remained hospitalized, including two in critical but stable condition.
All were expected to survive, officials said. Doctors at USC said one firefighter would probably need skin grafts.
Firefighters first received a call about 6:30 p.m. Saturday about a structure fire in the 300 block of Boyd Street south of Little Tokyo. The businesses were not open at the time.
“This fire started off like any other bread-and-butter structure fire where we had a one-story commercial building with smoke showing,” Scott said.
LAFD Station No. 9 responded. It is one of the busiest fire stations in the nation , serving one of Los Angeles’ most troubled spots: skid row. On top of the frequent calls that existed even before the pandemic, firefighters there in recent weeks also have been conducting COVID-19 tests on skid row.
When the fire broke out Saturday night, firefighters went to the roof to try to create ventilation, and firefighters used power saws to force entry, Scott said. Others went inside, attempting to find the source of the blaze.
“It was routine until they heard a rumbling, high-pitched sound — they described it like a jet engine spinning up — along with pressurized smoke,” Scott said. Firefighters started backing out, he said, but “conditions drastically changed within moments.”
The explosion, he said, created a 30-foot-wide fireball.
“This is one of the worst incidents in recent history that we have been to,” Scott said. “Our firefighters were driven off the roof, frantically scurrying down the aerial ladder to safety through a blowtorch. Firefighters inside had to escape a massive explosion.”
All of the injured firefighters work at Station 9, according to LAFD.
Initially, officials could not account for all the firefighters.
In an LAFD radio transmission, an official is heard screaming, “Mayday! Explosion! I have two down firefighters.”
“This is a difficult time for our fire family,” Scott said, his voice tired. “Our number one concern is to take care of the injured as well as the mental health of the other firefighters on scene.”
It took more than 230 firefighters an hour and 42 minutes after the call came in to extinguish the blaze, authorities said. Video at the scene captured a series of smaller explosions after the initial blast.
On Sunday, the heavily damaged warehouse still stood, Scott said. Nearby streets were cordoned off with yellow tape.
The scene left by the fire was apocalyptic. On Sunday, the yellow jackets of firefighters who had responded to the blaze still lay on the ground, with holes burned in them. Melted helmets were scattered about.
There was a charred firetruck, Scott said, and a blackened fire hose. There were discharged fire extinguishers “possibly that were utilized to extinguish our own members,” Scott said.
LAFD Chief Ralph M. Terrazas said the firefighters responding to the call sensed something was wrong inside the building but could not escape before the explosion.
“When one of your own is injured ... you can imagine the amount of mental stress,” Terrazas said. “A lot of our firefighters were traumatized.”
Along with LAFD arson investigators, the explosion is being investigated by the criminal conspiracy section of the LAPD’s major crimes division and the gang and narcotics division, Assistant Chief Frank said.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives’ national response team will arrive Monday to assist in the investigation, federal officials said Sunday.
The team brings together science and fire experts who can reconstruct scenes in detail. It assisted most recently in California on the Conception boat fire, which killed 34 people in the vessel off Santa Barbara in September. The team also assisted in the investigation of the Ghost Ship warehouse fire, which killed 36 people in December 2016.
In 2016, there was another major fire at a downtown L.A. business called Smoke Tokes at an address nearby on 3rd Street. It was unclear whether that business and the one that burned Saturday were connected.
“We are aware of a fire in September 2016, nearby on 3rd Street, with a building doing business as Smoke Tokes,” Scott said Sunday. “Our arson investigators are aware of that incident, and that’s part of the active investigation.”
It took more than 160 firefighters about two hours to put out the 2016 blaze, with the flames largely confined to the wholesaler and distributor of smoking paraphernalia, The Times reported at the time.
Firefighters encountered pressurized gas cylinders that exploded amid the inferno, but there were no injuries in the 2016 fire.
“It was a tricky fire for us,” LAFD Battalion Chief Mark Curry said at the time. “We had multiple explosions going off inside the fire while it was burning due to the butane containers releasing.”


latimes--2020-05-18--Earthquake: Magnitude 4.7 quake hits near Eureka, Calif.

A magnitude 4.7 earthquake was reported at 11:55 p.m. Sunday 177 miles from Eureka , Calif. , according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration ’ s Tsunami Warning System .
The earthquake occurred farther than 100 miles from a city .
A few minutes later , a magnitude 5.5 quake hit the same area offshore , according to the U.S. Geological Survey .
At about the same time , a magnitude 5.0 quake was recorded 26 miles from Fortuna , which is just south of Eureka , at a depth of nine miles .
In the last 10 days @ @ @ @ @ @ @ magnitude 3.0 or greater centered nearby .
An average of five earthquakes with magnitudes between 5.0 and 6.0 occur per year in California and Nevada , according to a recent three-year data sample .
The Eureka earthquake occurred at a depth of 6.2 miles .
Did you feel this earthquake ?
Consider reporting what you felt to the USGS .
Find out what to do before , and during , an earthquake near you by reading our five-step earthquake preparedness guide .
This story was automatically generated by Quakebot , a computer application @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the USGS .
A Times editor reviewed the post before it was published .
If you ’ re interested in learning more about the system , visit our list of frequently asked questions .

A magnitude 4.7 earthquake was reported Sunday at 11:55 p.m. 177 miles from Eureka, Calif., according to the NOAA’s Tsunami Warning System.
A magnitude 4.7 earthquake was reported at 11:55 p.m. Sunday 177 miles from Eureka, Calif., according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Tsunami Warning System.
The earthquake occurred farther than 100 miles from a city.
A few minutes later, a magnitude 5.5 quake hit the same area offshore, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.
At about the same time, a magnitude 5.0 quake was recorded 26 miles from Fortuna, which is just south of Eureka, at a depth of nine miles.
In the last 10 days, there have been no earthquakes of magnitude 3.0 or greater centered nearby.
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An average of five earthquakes with magnitudes between 5.0 and 6.0 occur per year in California and Nevada, according to a recent three-year data sample.
The Eureka earthquake occurred at a depth of 6.2 miles. Did you feel this earthquake? Consider reporting what you felt to the USGS.
Find out what to do before, and during, an earthquake near you by reading our five-step earthquake preparedness guide.
This story was automatically generated by Quakebot, a computer application that monitors the latest earthquakes detected by the USGS. A Times editor reviewed the post before it was published. If you’re interested in learning more about the system, visit our list of frequently asked questions.


latimes--2020-05-18--Skelton: To balance California's budget, state will stick it to its most vulnerable citizens

The aged , blind and disabled always get the shaft whenever a governor pulls out his cutting knife .
So it was no surprise last week when 1.2 million Californians who are aged , blind or disabled and living on the edge — clinging to government benefits for subsistence — got whacked again , this time by Gov .
Gavin Newsom .
Many Californians were dinged in Newsom ’ s revised state budget proposal .
And most of it couldn ’ t be helped without a major tax increase .
The governor and Legislature have a projected $ 54-billion budget @ @ @ @ @ @ @ practically shut down in mid-March when Newsom ordered most people to stay at home to slow the spread of coronavirus .
That will reduce state government ’ s tax receipts by an estimated $ 41 billion through June 2021 compared with what Newsom projected when he sent his original budget proposal to the Legislature in January .
His revised spending plan totals $ 203 billion , down $ 19 billion from what he first proposed .
The governor expects to fill the rest of the deficit hole with federal relief money , internal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and some relatively minor tax hikes .
“ Nothing breaks my heart more than making budget cuts , ” Newsom told reporters .
“ There ’ s a human being behind every single number .
A dream that ’ s being deferred .
A dream denied… .
“ I recognize these cuts are devastating to so many people.
” Newsom ’ s heart wasn ’ t breaking enough , however , to propose a major tax increase .
Newsom , legislators and the public don ’ t have the stomach for a broad-based @ @ @ @ @ @ @ business .
Especially not in an election year .
The governor proposed some narrow tax boosts .
They ’ re expected to net $ 4.4 billion for the fiscal year starting July 1 .
One would be a vaping tax on e-cigarettes .
Two others would mainly tap businesses — suspending “ net operating loss ” and “ incentive tax credit ” loopholes .
“ We can work with that , ” says Rob Lapsley , president of the California Business Roundtable , referring to the loop hole closings .
“ It has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also repeatedly happened is the state hitting up SSI-SSP , generally lower-profile compared to CalWorks — welfare — and Medi-Cal , healthcare for the poor .
The way it works is this : The federal and state governments make sure there ’ s a minimum monthly income for anybody who is aged , blind or disabled .
If a person doesn ’ t have enough outside income or Social Security to reach the minimum standard , the feds kick in what ’ s called Supplemental Security Income , or SSI .
States can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ does .
That ’ s called the State Supplementary Program , or SSP .
The combined SSI-SSP , administered by the feds , guarantees most Californians $ 943 a month — $ 783 from Washington and $ 160 from Sacramento .
A couple gets $ 1,583 — $ 1,176 in SSI and $ 407 in SSP .
That isn ’ t much to live on in high-cost California — roughly $ 11,300 for a single person and about $ 19,000 for a couple .
Here ’ s the California sin : The Social @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a cost-of-living adjustment to its monthly benefit .
And when budget balancing is tough in Sacramento , state politicians routinely seize that federal COLA meant for the aged , blind and disabled .
They toss it into the state ’ s general fund .
The governor and Legislature do that by cutting the state SSP payment by an amount equal to the federal COLA .
It ’ s not much money by most people ’ s standards , but every dollar means a lot to people living on the edge .
Budget writers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ federal COLA starting Jan. 1 will be $ 9 for single people and $ 13 for couples .
Their monthly checks will remain the same , but the state will rob them of the feds ’ intended COLA .
Newsom expects the state to net $ 33.6 million from the heist .
“ It always mystifies people , ” says Marty Omoto , executive director of the California Disability Community Action Network .
“ They ask , ‘ How can the state take away the federal cost-of-living increase ?
’ Technically they don @ @ @ @ @ @ @ part of the state portion… .
“ Food prices have gone up because of shortages .
Now the state is taking away their cost-of-living adjustments.… Targeting them is incomprehensible .
[ It ’ s ] stealing money legally.
” Moreover , Newsom is proposing to save about $ 68 million in general fund money by scrubbing the planned expansion of Medi-Cal for some SSI-SSP recipients .
And these people also are getting smacked another way : The governor is cutting back on In-Home Supportive Services , a program to help frail people with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ population is the most vulnerable to coronavirus , ” Omoto says .
“ The state is taking money away from the exact population it is trying to protect .
It does have to take some steps to balance the budget , but why would you do that ?
” Answer : Because it ’ s easy .
These people don ’ t contribute to election campaigns .
They don ’ t have powerful lobbies in Sacramento .
They ’ re not represented by unions or corporate interests .
Newsom says he ’ ll @ @ @ @ @ @ @ if Congress and President Trump deliver lots more virus relief to the states .
But , come on : The federal government provides COLA increases practically every year and is expected to again in January .
The feds have done their job for the aged , blind and disabled .
What Newsom is proposing seems robotic , unnecessary and insensitive toward California ’ s most vulnerable .

California Gov. Gavin Newsom discusses his revised 2020-21 state budget. To help offset a steep drop in the state’s tax receipts, he proposes to tap money earmarked for cash benefits to the aged, blind and disabled who receive government assistance.
The aged, blind and disabled always get the shaft whenever a governor pulls out his cutting knife.
So it was no surprise last week when 1.2 million Californians who are aged, blind or disabled and living on the edge — clinging to government benefits for subsistence — got whacked again, this time by Gov. Gavin Newsom.
Many Californians were dinged in Newsom’s revised state budget proposal. And most of it couldn’t be helped without a major tax increase.
The governor and Legislature have a projected $54-billion budget hole to fill because the economy was practically shut down in mid-March when Newsom ordered most people to stay at home to slow the spread of coronavirus.
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That will reduce state government’s tax receipts by an estimated $41 billion through June 2021 compared with what Newsom projected when he sent his original budget proposal to the Legislature in January. His revised spending plan totals $203 billion, down $19 billion from what he first proposed.
The governor expects to fill the rest of the deficit hole with federal relief money, internal borrowing, accounting gimmicks, cash reserves and some relatively minor tax hikes.
“Nothing breaks my heart more than making budget cuts,” Newsom told reporters. “There’s a human being behind every single number. A dream that’s being deferred. A dream denied….
“I recognize these cuts are devastating to so many people.”
Newsom’s heart wasn’t breaking enough, however, to propose a major tax increase.
Newsom, legislators and the public don’t have the stomach for a broad-based tax hike on income, sales or business. Especially not in an election year.
California Coronavirus forces sharp cuts to schools, healthcare in California, Newsom says California faces a $9.7-billion drop in tax revenues for the fiscal year that ends in June, with a total projected deficit of $54.3 billion through the early summer of 2021.
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The governor proposed some narrow tax boosts. They’re expected to net $4.4 billion for the fiscal year starting July 1. One would be a vaping tax on e-cigarettes. Two others would mainly tap businesses — suspending “net operating loss” and “incentive tax credit” loopholes.
“We can work with that,” says Rob Lapsley, president of the California Business Roundtable, referring to the loop hole closings. “It has happened in previous budgets.”
What has also repeatedly happened is the state hitting up SSI-SSP, generally lower-profile compared to CalWorks — welfare — and Medi-Cal, healthcare for the poor.
The way it works is this: The federal and state governments make sure there’s a minimum monthly income for anybody who is aged, blind or disabled. If a person doesn’t have enough outside income or Social Security to reach the minimum standard, the feds kick in what’s called Supplemental Security Income, or SSI. States can also add extra money, which California does. That’s called the State Supplementary Program, or SSP.
The combined SSI-SSP, administered by the feds, guarantees most Californians $943 a month — $783 from Washington and $160 from Sacramento. A couple gets $1,583 — $1,176 in SSI and $407 in SSP.
That isn’t much to live on in high-cost California — roughly $11,300 for a single person and about $19,000 for a couple.
Here’s the California sin: The Social Security Administration annually calculates inflation and adds a cost-of-living adjustment to its monthly benefit. And when budget balancing is tough in Sacramento, state politicians routinely seize that federal COLA meant for the aged, blind and disabled. They toss it into the state’s general fund.
The governor and Legislature do that by cutting the state SSP payment by an amount equal to the federal COLA.
California California faces ‘jaw dropping’ unemployment, requiring more federal loans, Newsom says At a news conference Thursday to present a revised state budget for the fiscal year starting July 1, Newsom said the state will need $43.8 billion to cover unemployment claims fueled by the coronavirus crisis in the new year, a 650% increase over what was originally proposed.
It’s not much money by most people’s standards, but every dollar means a lot to people living on the edge. Budget writers in the state Finance Department estimate the federal COLA starting Jan. 1 will be $9 for single people and $13 for couples. Their monthly checks will remain the same, but the state will rob them of the feds’ intended COLA.
Newsom expects the state to net $33.6 million from the heist.
“It always mystifies people,” says Marty Omoto, executive director of the California Disability Community Action Network. “They ask, ‘How can the state take away the federal cost-of-living increase?’ Technically they don’t. They just take away part of the state portion….
“Food prices have gone up because of shortages. Now the state is taking away their cost-of-living adjustments.… Targeting them is incomprehensible. [It’s] stealing money legally.”
Moreover, Newsom is proposing to save about $68 million in general fund money by scrubbing the planned expansion of Medi-Cal for some SSI-SSP recipients.
And these people also are getting smacked another way: The governor is cutting back on In-Home Supportive Services, a program to help frail people with their personal tasks.
“This entire population is the most vulnerable to coronavirus,” Omoto says. “The state is taking money away from the exact population it is trying to protect. It does have to take some steps to balance the budget, but why would you do that?”
Answer: Because it’s easy. These people don’t contribute to election campaigns. They don’t have powerful lobbies in Sacramento. They’re not represented by unions or corporate interests.
Newsom says he’ll forget about these and other budget cuts if Congress and President Trump deliver lots more virus relief to the states.
But, come on: The federal government provides COLA increases practically every year and is expected to again in January. The feds have done their job for the aged, blind and disabled.
What Newsom is proposing seems robotic, unnecessary and insensitive toward California’s most vulnerable.


latimes--2020-05-17--Coronavirus may have spread at a church service. Now the pastor is speaking out

A Butte County pastor who defied public health officials and held an in-person Mother ’ s Day service that potentially exposed 180 congregants to the coronavirus has spoken out about his decision on social media .
In a Facebook post on Friday , pastor Mike Jacobsen of Palermo Bible Family Church said that an asymptomatic congregant who attended the May 11 service woke up the next morning “ needing medical attention ” and was tested for the coronavirus that day .
The congregant received positive test results for COVID-19 two days later .
Jacobsen , who with his wife has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said in the post that he would “ never with knowledge put anyone in harms [ sic ] way.
” “ For 7 weeks we have been kept out of our church and away from our church family , ” Jacobsen wrote in the post , which has since been deleted .
“ I am fully aware that some people may not understand that for our church it is essential to be together in fellowship.
” Reached by phone Sunday night , Jacobsen confirmed that his church was the site of possible contagion @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the situation , saying he needed some time to think about it before making a statement .
Without naming the church , Butte County health officials on Friday issued a warning to residents , asking them to not speed through the reopening process .
The officials said it had come to their attention that nearly 200 people could have been exposed to the coronavirus through the Mother ’ s Day service .
“ At this time , organizations that hold in-person services or gatherings are putting the health and safety of their congregations @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ability to open up at great risk , ” Danette York , county public health director , said in a statement that urged residents to follow stay-at-home orders .
Local health officials are attempting to notify every person who attended the service and instruct them to self-quarantine .
They are also are working with healthcare partners to obtain testing for all attendees , the news release said .
Butte County is one of 22 counties that has certified to the state that it meets the conditions for additional businesses to reopen .
But @ @ @ @ @ @ @ even in counties that are reopening more quickly than the rest of California .
“ Moving too quickly through the reopening process can cause a major setback and could require us to revert back to more restrictive measures , ” York said .
On Wednesday , Jacobsen spoke of his decision to open the church on Mother ’ s Day during a Facebook Live Bible study .
Jacobsen said it ’ s important for Palermo Bible ’ s many young , new believers to be supported in their fledgling faith — and part @ @ @ @ @ @ @ church in person .
He compared the act of depriving these congregants of in-person worship to taking “ an infant out of the arms of its mother.
” “ We ’ ve really tried to raise the bar and do a good job with what we ’ ve been given , ” Jacobsen said of virtual services , “ but it ’ s not the same as being together in fellowship with one another .
”

A cell, in greenish brown, heavily infected with the coronavirus, officially called SARS-CoV-2, that causes the COVID-19 disease.
A Butte County pastor who defied public health officials and held an in-person Mother’s Day service that potentially exposed 180 congregants to the coronavirus has spoken out about his decision on social media.
In a Facebook post on Friday, pastor Mike Jacobsen of Palermo Bible Family Church said that an asymptomatic congregant who attended the May 11 service woke up the next morning “needing medical attention” and was tested for the coronavirus that day. The congregant received positive test results for COVID-19 two days later.
Jacobsen, who with his wife has led the pentecostal church since 2008, said in the post that he would “never with knowledge put anyone in harms [sic] way.”
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“For 7 weeks we have been kept out of our church and away from our church family,” Jacobsen wrote in the post, which has since been deleted. “I am fully aware that some people may not understand that for our church it is essential to be together in fellowship.”
Reached by phone Sunday night, Jacobsen confirmed that his church was the site of possible contagion, but declined to immediately comment on the situation, saying he needed some time to think about it before making a statement.
Without naming the church, Butte County health officials on Friday issued a warning to residents, asking them to not speed through the reopening process. The officials said it had come to their attention that nearly 200 people could have been exposed to the coronavirus through the Mother’s Day service.
“At this time, organizations that hold in-person services or gatherings are putting the health and safety of their congregations, the general public and our local ability to open up at great risk,” Danette York, county public health director, said in a statement that urged residents to follow stay-at-home orders.
Local health officials are attempting to notify every person who attended the service and instruct them to self-quarantine. They are also are working with healthcare partners to obtain testing for all attendees, the news release said.
Butte County is one of 22 counties that has certified to the state that it meets the conditions for additional businesses to reopen. But gatherings of any size remain prohibited, even in counties that are reopening more quickly than the rest of California.
“Moving too quickly through the reopening process can cause a major setback and could require us to revert back to more restrictive measures,” York said.
On Wednesday, Jacobsen spoke of his decision to open the church on Mother’s Day during a Facebook Live Bible study.
Jacobsen said it’s important for Palermo Bible’s many young, new believers to be supported in their fledgling faith — and part of that is being able to attend church in person. He compared the act of depriving these congregants of in-person worship to taking “an infant out of the arms of its mother.”
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“We’ve really tried to raise the bar and do a good job with what we’ve been given,” Jacobsen said of virtual services, “but it’s not the same as being together in fellowship with one another.”


latimes--2020-05-17--Officials mishandled coronavirus outbreaks at Lompoc and Terminal Island prisons, lawsuits claim

The American Civil Liberties Union on Saturday filed a pair of class-action lawsuits on behalf of federal prisoners at Lompoc and Terminal Island , claiming officials mishandled coronavirus outbreaks at the facilities that have infected a combined total of 1,775 inmates , killing 10 .
“ While the rest of California took extraordinary measures to stop the spread of coronavirus , the Bureau of Prisons failed to take preventive measures as basic as isolating sick prisoners , allowing social distancing , or providing enough soap , ” Peter Bibring , senior staff attorney at the ACLU of Southern California , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ deliberate indifference to the risk of disease violates the Constitution , and puts both those in prison and the surrounding community at risk.
” The lawsuits , which name the prisons ’ wardens , as well as Michael Carvajal , director of the federal Bureau of Prisons , claim that officials at both facilities allowed the virus to spread by failing to provide clean environments , basic sanitary supplies and personal protective equipment to prisoners and staff .
Overcrowding makes it impossible for prisoners to maintain social distancing or take other precautions , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ majority of inmates for release into home confinement despite directives that they do so , according to the lawsuits .
The refusal amounts to cruel and unusual punishment prohibited by the 8th Amendment , the suits claim .
The Bureau of Prisons did not immediately return a message seeking comment Sunday .
The Terminal Island prison in San Pedro is a low-security facility that specializes in housing prisoners who need long-term medical or mental health care .
As of Sunday , 692 inmates had tested positive for COVID-19 and eight had died , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Fifteen staffers also had tested positive .
The prison houses 1,042 inmates despite a rated capacity of 779 , according to the Terminal Island lawsuit .
In an attempt to provide more space , prison officials have moved inmates into field tents and warehouses that were hastily converted into makeshift living spaces , the lawsuit states .
Still , they have failed to ensure social distancing or isolation of infected inmates within the structures , merely creating ” new hot zones for the virus to spread at an even more rapid rate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Terminal Island prisoners named in the lawsuit — Maurice Smith , 50 , and Edgar Vasquez , 32 — say that , amid the outbreak , they were moved to one such space , an old warehouse that had no heating or hot water for showers .
The warehouse is also “ infested by a veritable menagerie , ” including mice , raccoons , feral cats , possums , skunks , and bats that fly through holes in the ceiling , the lawsuit states .
There , inmates sleep on folding cots three @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to 60 prisoners share four toilets , four sinks and four showers , according to the lawsuit .
“ In the face of a COVID-19 outbreak , Terminal Island has the worst of all worlds , ” the lawsuit states .
“ It is overcrowded enough to make effective social distancing and isolation ... impossible , [ and ] open and communal enough for inmates to frequently interact in close quarters to spread the disease , while also hosting a uniquely vulnerable inmate population.
” Both complaints note that the CARES Act , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Bureau of Prisons officials broad discretion to reduce prison populations by releasing inmates into home confinement .
That was followed by an April 3 memo issued by Atty .
Gen. William Barr urging the bureau to take such actions for medically at-risk prisoners , especially at facilities with outbreaks , the lawsuits state .
At least two of the Terminal Island inmates who died from COVID-19 — Scott Cutting , 70 , and James Lino , 65 , both of whom had underlying health conditions — should have been on the shortlist to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ directive , the lawsuit states .
Although the men ’ s estates are not named as plaintiffs , the lawsuit says it seeks to have other medically vulnerable inmates who live at the prison avoid their fates .
They include Lance Wilson , 35 , who suffers from hypertension and asthma .
Wilson tested positive for the coronavirus in early May and has been experiencing symptoms that include migraines and chills but has not been able to see a doctor , according to the lawsuit .
He submitted an application to be considered @ @ @ @ @ @ @ no reply , the complaint states .
At the Federal Correctional Institution Lompoc , a low-security prison in Santa Barbara County , 924 inmates and 17 staff had tested positive as of Sunday .
In addition , 159 inmates and 22 staff members have become infected at the U.S. Penitentiary Lompoc , a neighboring medium-security prison on the same grounds , and two inmates there have died .
Combined , the two federal prisons in Lompoc have had 1,083 infected inmates , according to the Bureau of Prisons , making it the worst @ @ @ @ @ @ @ far .
The number of inmates with a positive test result is likely an undercount , the lawsuit claims , because only the 963 prisoners at FCI Lompoc have been mass tested , with nearly 96 % testing positive .
Officials have not tested all of the 1,700 inmates at the penitentiary , according to the lawsuit .
Yonnedil Torres , 24 , an inmate at the penitentiary who suffers from chronic asthma , was ignored for five days after he developed symptoms that included a fever and body aches , the lawsuit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the coronavirus and found to be positive after he collapsed in his cell due to acute respiratory shock , according to the complaint .
Torres was placed in a medically induced coma and put on a ventilator ; the illness left him with severe lung damage , according to the lawsuit .
Though his family submitted an application for compassionate release , they have not received a reply , the lawsuit states .
In addition to failing to reduce crowding and take precautions to slow the spread of the virus , officials have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with adequate medical care , the lawsuit claims .
Penitentiary inmate Vincent Reed , 53 , who has hypertension , received no treatment when he developed symptoms and tested positive in late March , according to the lawsuit .
Instead , he was placed in solitary confinement for days and then transferred to an old , unsanitary housing unit with other inmates who had tested positive , where he still received no medical care , the lawsuit states .
On April 14 , he was returned to the general population without being re-tested @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the complaint .
After testing negative for the virus , inmate Felix Samuel Garcia , 36 , was abruptly moved from the low-security prison in Lompoc to the penitentiary , according to the lawsuit .
There , he ’ s being housed in a makeshift cell block set up in a warehouse , where he is not allowed to change into clean clothes or shower and must wet his body with sink water to stay clean , according to the lawsuit .
Garcia , who is set to be transferred to a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that staff were not accepting forms required to initiate the process of release into home confinement due to “ the exigency of the COVID-19 pandemic , ” the lawsuit claims .
“ Congress gave prisons broad authority to release low-risk offenders into home confinement so that it could reduce overcrowding and save lives , ” said Naeun Rim , a principal with Bird Marella , which filed the suit along with the ACLU and the Prison Law Office .
“ But officials failed to use that authority .
We will hold them accountable @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lawsuits is to have inmates considered for release into home confinement , by order , through a highly expedited process .
In addition , they request that the prisons be immediately compelled to provide remaining inmates with adequate space for social distancing , individual supplies of hand soap and paper towels , and access to hand sanitizer , daily showers , clean laundry and other supplies .
“ The Constitution requires that prison officials provide a safe environment for people in their custody , ” Donald Specter , executive director of the Prison @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ Not only are these two prisons extremely dangerous , but they confine people who are especially vulnerable to COVID-19 .
”

The Terminal Island facility in San Pedro is one of two prisons targeted in a pair of lawsuits.
The American Civil Liberties Union on Saturday filed a pair of class-action lawsuits on behalf of federal prisoners at Lompoc and Terminal Island, claiming officials mishandled coronavirus outbreaks at the facilities that have infected a combined total of 1,775 inmates, killing 10.
“While the rest of California took extraordinary measures to stop the spread of coronavirus, the Bureau of Prisons failed to take preventive measures as basic as isolating sick prisoners, allowing social distancing, or providing enough soap,” Peter Bibring, senior staff attorney at the ACLU of Southern California, said in a statement. “Their deliberate indifference to the risk of disease violates the Constitution, and puts both those in prison and the surrounding community at risk.”
The lawsuits, which name the prisons’ wardens, as well as Michael Carvajal, director of the federal Bureau of Prisons, claim that officials at both facilities allowed the virus to spread by failing to provide clean environments, basic sanitary supplies and personal protective equipment to prisoners and staff.
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Overcrowding makes it impossible for prisoners to maintain social distancing or take other precautions, but officials have refused to consider the majority of inmates for release into home confinement despite directives that they do so, according to the lawsuits. The refusal amounts to cruel and unusual punishment prohibited by the 8th Amendment, the suits claim.
The Bureau of Prisons did not immediately return a message seeking comment Sunday.
The Terminal Island prison in San Pedro is a low-security facility that specializes in housing prisoners who need long-term medical or mental health care. As of Sunday, 692 inmates had tested positive for COVID-19 and eight had died, according to federal Bureau of Prisons figures. Fifteen staffers also had tested positive.
The prison houses 1,042 inmates despite a rated capacity of 779, according to the Terminal Island lawsuit.
In an attempt to provide more space, prison officials have moved inmates into field tents and warehouses that were hastily converted into makeshift living spaces, the lawsuit states. Still, they have failed to ensure social distancing or isolation of infected inmates within the structures, merely creating ”new hot zones for the virus to spread at an even more rapid rate,” the complaint states.
Two Terminal Island prisoners named in the lawsuit — Maurice Smith, 50, and Edgar Vasquez, 32 — say that, amid the outbreak, they were moved to one such space, an old warehouse that had no heating or hot water for showers. The warehouse is also “infested by a veritable menagerie,” including mice, raccoons, feral cats, possums, skunks, and bats that fly through holes in the ceiling, the lawsuit states.
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There, inmates sleep on folding cots three feet from the floor, and up to 60 prisoners share four toilets, four sinks and four showers, according to the lawsuit.
“In the face of a COVID-19 outbreak, Terminal Island has the worst of all worlds,” the lawsuit states. “It is overcrowded enough to make effective social distancing and isolation ... impossible, [and] open and communal enough for inmates to frequently interact in close quarters to spread the disease, while also hosting a uniquely vulnerable inmate population.”
Both complaints note that the CARES Act, which became law March 27, gave Bureau of Prisons officials broad discretion to reduce prison populations by releasing inmates into home confinement. That was followed by an April 3 memo issued by Atty. Gen. William Barr urging the bureau to take such actions for medically at-risk prisoners, especially at facilities with outbreaks, the lawsuits state.
At least two of the Terminal Island inmates who died from COVID-19 — Scott Cutting, 70, and James Lino, 65, both of whom had underlying health conditions — should have been on the shortlist to be released into home confinement per the directive, the lawsuit states.
Although the men’s estates are not named as plaintiffs, the lawsuit says it seeks to have other medically vulnerable inmates who live at the prison avoid their fates.
They include Lance Wilson, 35, who suffers from hypertension and asthma. Wilson tested positive for the coronavirus in early May and has been experiencing symptoms that include migraines and chills but has not been able to see a doctor, according to the lawsuit. He submitted an application to be considered for home confinement last month but received no reply, the complaint states.
At the Federal Correctional Institution Lompoc, a low-security prison in Santa Barbara County, 924 inmates and 17 staff had tested positive as of Sunday. In addition, 159 inmates and 22 staff members have become infected at the U.S. Penitentiary Lompoc, a neighboring medium-security prison on the same grounds, and two inmates there have died.
Combined, the two federal prisons in Lompoc have had 1,083 infected inmates, according to the Bureau of Prisons, making it the worst outbreak at any federal correctional facility by far.
The number of inmates with a positive test result is likely an undercount, the lawsuit claims, because only the 963 prisoners at FCI Lompoc have been mass tested, with nearly 96% testing positive. Officials have not tested all of the 1,700 inmates at the penitentiary, according to the lawsuit.
Yonnedil Torres, 24, an inmate at the penitentiary who suffers from chronic asthma, was ignored for five days after he developed symptoms that included a fever and body aches, the lawsuit states. He was only tested for the coronavirus and found to be positive after he collapsed in his cell due to acute respiratory shock, according to the complaint.
Torres was placed in a medically induced coma and put on a ventilator; the illness left him with severe lung damage, according to the lawsuit. Though his family submitted an application for compassionate release, they have not received a reply, the lawsuit states.
In addition to failing to reduce crowding and take precautions to slow the spread of the virus, officials have not provided inmates who have become infected with adequate medical care, the lawsuit claims.
Penitentiary inmate Vincent Reed, 53, who has hypertension, received no treatment when he developed symptoms and tested positive in late March, according to the lawsuit. Instead, he was placed in solitary confinement for days and then transferred to an old, unsanitary housing unit with other inmates who had tested positive, where he still received no medical care, the lawsuit states. On April 14, he was returned to the general population without being re-tested to ensure he was negative, according to the complaint.
After testing negative for the virus, inmate Felix Samuel Garcia, 36, was abruptly moved from the low-security prison in Lompoc to the penitentiary, according to the lawsuit. There, he’s being housed in a makeshift cell block set up in a warehouse, where he is not allowed to change into clean clothes or shower and must wet his body with sink water to stay clean, according to the lawsuit.
Garcia, who is set to be transferred to a halfway house in July, was told that staff were not accepting forms required to initiate the process of release into home confinement due to “the exigency of the COVID-19 pandemic,” the lawsuit claims.
“Congress gave prisons broad authority to release low-risk offenders into home confinement so that it could reduce overcrowding and save lives,” said Naeun Rim, a principal with Bird Marella, which filed the suit along with the ACLU and the Prison Law Office. “But officials failed to use that authority. We will hold them accountable in court.”
A goal of the lawsuits is to have inmates considered for release into home confinement, by order, through a highly expedited process.
In addition, they request that the prisons be immediately compelled to provide remaining inmates with adequate space for social distancing, individual supplies of hand soap and paper towels, and access to hand sanitizer, daily showers, clean laundry and other supplies.
“The Constitution requires that prison officials provide a safe environment for people in their custody,” Donald Specter, executive director of the Prison Law Office, said in a statement. “Not only are these two prisons extremely dangerous, but they confine people who are especially vulnerable to COVID-19.”


latimes--2020-05-17--L.A. County records 694 new coronavirus cases and 29 deaths

Los Angeles County public health officials on Sunday reported 694 new coronavirus cases and 29 more related deaths .
“ To the many people experiencing the profound sadness of losing someone they love to COVID-19 , we are deeply sorry , ” Barbara Ferrer , the public health director , said in a statement .
Long Beach , which has its own public health department , reported an additional 27 cases of the virus , bringing the county ’ s total to 38,001 cases and 1,821 deaths .
The number of lab-confirmed coronavirus patients in L.A. County hospitals held steady @ @ @ @ @ @ @ intensive care and 19 % on ventilators .
The metric is one of several that officials are watching closely in order to determine when to relax additional stay-at-home restrictions .
As of Sunday , a total of 309,000 people had been tested for the coronavirus and received their results , with about 11 % testing positive .
That was up 11,000 from the day before but still suggests the county is falling short of its goal of performing 15,000 tests per day .
Though the overall number of cases continues to rise in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ new cases are reported appears to have plateaued , even as testing has increased .
The average number of deaths reported each day has declined slightly .
And L.A. has so far avoided a sharp surge in hospitalizations that could risk overwhelming the healthcare system , as seen in other places such as New York .
Officials hope those trends continue to hold as more people venture out to visit recently reopened beaches , parks and hiking trails , as well as retailers that have resumed curbside pickup services .
“ More people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that we are in the early stages of our recovery journey , and this means there will be more chances of coming in contact with asymptomatic people who are infected with COVID-19 , ” Ferrer said .
She reminded anyone with an underlying health condition to continue to stay home as much as possible and to contact a healthcare provider immediately if feeling sick .
“ It ’ s also a good idea to talk to employers and friends and let them know you are at greater risk of becoming seriously ill from @ @ @ @ @ @

People take advantage of the newly opened walking path on the Strand in Manhattan Beach on Friday.
Los Angeles County public health officials on Sunday reported 694 new coronavirus cases and 29 more related deaths.
“To the many people experiencing the profound sadness of losing someone they love to COVID-19, we are deeply sorry,” Barbara Ferrer, the public health director, said in a statement.
Long Beach, which has its own public health department, reported an additional 27 cases of the virus, bringing the county’s total to 38,001 cases and 1,821 deaths.
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The number of lab-confirmed coronavirus patients in L.A. County hospitals held steady at 1,648, with 26% in intensive care and 19% on ventilators.
The metric is one of several that officials are watching closely in order to determine when to relax additional stay-at-home restrictions.
As of Sunday, a total of 309,000 people had been tested for the coronavirus and received their results, with about 11% testing positive. That was up 11,000 from the day before but still suggests the county is falling short of its goal of performing 15,000 tests per day.
Though the overall number of cases continues to rise in L.A. County, the rate at which new cases are reported appears to have plateaued, even as testing has increased. The average number of deaths reported each day has declined slightly. And L.A. has so far avoided a sharp surge in hospitalizations that could risk overwhelming the healthcare system, as seen in other places such as New York.
Officials hope those trends continue to hold as more people venture out to visit recently reopened beaches, parks and hiking trails, as well as retailers that have resumed curbside pickup services.
“More people will be out of their homes now that we are in the early stages of our recovery journey, and this means there will be more chances of coming in contact with asymptomatic people who are infected with COVID-19,” Ferrer said.
She reminded anyone with an underlying health condition to continue to stay home as much as possible and to contact a healthcare provider immediately if feeling sick.
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“It’s also a good idea to talk to employers and friends and let them know you are at greater risk of becoming seriously ill from COVID-19,” she said.


latimes--2020-05-17--Criminal probe launched into L.A. building explosion amid questions about stored oils

A criminal investigation is underway into an explosion in downtown Los Angeles on Saturday that injured 12 firefighters and left several buildings damaged , several law enforcement sources told The Times , and officials are looking at whether oils stored there might have sparked the blast .
The Los Angeles Police Department along with local fire investigators and the Federal Bureau of Alcohol , Tobacco , Firearms and Explosives are working together on the probe .
An initial investigation of the scene identified the business where a fire broke out as Smoke Tokes , a warehouse distributor with supplies for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sources , who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to comment publicly , stressed that the probe is in its early stages and that it ’ s unclear if there was any criminal conduct .
The cause of the fire has not been determined .
The owners of Smoke Tokes could not be reached for comment .
Nicholas Prange , an LAFD spokesman , said carbon dioxide and butane canisters were found inside the building but that it was still not clear what caused the blast .
“ We @ @ @ @ @ @ @ investigation .
We are looking at every aspect at this stage .
We haven ’ t determined a cause , ” LAPD Assistant Chief Horace Frank said .
“ The explosion was massive and those firefighters are very lucky to be alive .
Skill and awareness is the reason they were able to get out from an incredibly dangerous situation.
” The Criminal Conspiracy Section of the Major Crimes Division and the Lab Squad of the Gang Narcotics Division are leading the LAPD ’ s part of the investigation , Frank said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ downtown dubbed by police as “ Bong Row ” because of the high number of cannabis , CBD and pipe businesses .
In 2016 , there was at a business called Smoke Tokes at an address nearby on 3rd Street .
It took more than 160 firefighters about two hours to put out that blaze , with the flames largely confined to the wholesaler and distributor of smoking paraphernalia , the Los Angeles Times reported at the time .
Firefighters encountered pressurized gas cylinders that exploded amid the inferno , fire officials said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for us , ” LAFD Battalion Chief Mark Curry said back then .
“ We had multiple explosions going off inside the fire while it was burning due to the butane containers releasing.
” There were no injuries in the 2016 fire .
The LAFD later said in that firefighters who entered the building found “ intense fire in dense and highly flammable storage that included pressurized flammable gas cylinders , several of which were heard to explode.
” It was unclear whether that business and the one that burned Saturday were connected @ @ @ @ @ @ @ another business nearby left three people injured .
Witnesses said there was a loud “ boom ” and fireball at 743 Kohler St .
The blast sent a plume of black smoke hundreds of feet into the air that could be seen for miles .
Officials at the time did not reveal the kind of business involved , and the cause was unclear .
In the lastest explosion , firefighters first received a call about 6:30 p.m. Saturday about a structure fire in the 300 block of Boyd Street south of Little Tokyo @ @ @ @ @ @ @ storefronts , melted fire helmets and left one fire truck burned and covered in debris .
Officials said firefighters had to pass through a fireball to escape .
“ Firefighters were coming out with obvious damage and burns , ” , a spokesman for the Los Angeles Fire Department .
They ran “ straight through that ball of flame to get to safety across the street , ” Scott said .
Eleven firefighters received treatment for burn injuries at Los Angeles County-USC Medical Center , according to the LAFD .
A 12th firefighter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ room Saturday night for “ a minor extremity injury , ” said LAFD spokesman Prange .
As of Sunday morning , three firefighters had been discharged from the hospital .
Eight remained hospitalized , including two in critical but stable condition .
All were expected to survive , officials said .
Doctors at the medical center said one of the firefighters would likely need skin grafts .
The fire was put out an hour and 42 minutes after the call came in , authorities said .
LAFD Chief Ralph M. Terrazas said the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was wrong inside the building but could not escape before the explosion .
Initially , officials could not account for all the firefighters .
In an LAFD radio transmission , an official is heard screaming , “ Mayday !
Explosion !
I have two down firefighters.
” “ When one of your own is injured ... you can imagine the amount of mental stress , ” Terrazas said .
“ A lot of our firefighters were traumatized .
”

Richard Winton, Hailey Branson-Potts, Alex Wigglesworth

Firefighters received a call about 6:30 p.m. Saturday about a structure fire in the 300 block of Boyd Street south of Little Tokyo, said Erik Scott, a Los Angeles Fire Department spokesman.
A criminal investigation is underway into an explosion in downtown Los Angeles on Saturday that injured 12 firefighters and left several buildings damaged, several law enforcement sources told The Times, and officials are looking at whether oils stored there might have sparked the blast.
The Los Angeles Police Department along with local fire investigators and the Federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives are working together on the probe.
An initial investigation of the scene identified the business where a fire broke out as Smoke Tokes, a warehouse distributor with supplies for butane hash oil. The law enforcement sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to comment publicly, stressed that the probe is in its early stages and that it’s unclear if there was any criminal conduct.
The cause of the fire has not been determined. The owners of Smoke Tokes could not be reached for comment.
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Nicholas Prange, an LAFD spokesman, said carbon dioxide and butane canisters were found inside the building but that it was still not clear what caused the blast.
“We are in the early stages of an investigation. We are looking at every aspect at this stage. We haven’t determined a cause,” LAPD Assistant Chief Horace Frank said. “The explosion was massive and those firefighters are very lucky to be alive. Skill and awareness is the reason they were able to get out from an incredibly dangerous situation.”
The Criminal Conspiracy Section of the Major Crimes Division and the Lab Squad of the Gang Narcotics Division are leading the LAPD’s part of the investigation, Frank said.
The explosion occurred in a stretch of downtown dubbed by police as “Bong Row” because of the high number of cannabis, CBD and pipe businesses.
In 2016, there was another major fire at a business called Smoke Tokes at an address nearby on 3rd Street.
It took more than 160 firefighters about two hours to put out that blaze, with the flames largely confined to the wholesaler and distributor of smoking paraphernalia, the Los Angeles Times reported at the time.
Firefighters encountered pressurized gas cylinders that exploded amid the inferno, fire officials said. “It was a tricky fire for us,” LAFD Battalion Chief Mark Curry said back then. “We had multiple explosions going off inside the fire while it was burning due to the butane containers releasing.”
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There were no injuries in the 2016 fire. The LAFD later said in a statement that firefighters who entered the building found “intense fire in dense and highly flammable storage that included pressurized flammable gas cylinders, several of which were heard to explode.”
It was unclear whether that business and the one that burned Saturday were connected.
In March, an explosion at another business nearby left three people injured. Witnesses said there was a loud “boom” and fireball at 743 Kohler St. The blast sent a plume of black smoke hundreds of feet into the air that could be seen for miles. Officials at the time did not reveal the kind of business involved, and the cause was unclear.
In the lastest explosion, firefighters first received a call about 6:30 p.m. Saturday about a structure fire in the 300 block of Boyd Street south of Little Tokyo.
The explosion that followed damaged several storefronts, melted fire helmets and left one fire truck burned and covered in debris. Officials said firefighters had to pass through a fireball to escape.
“Firefighters were coming out with obvious damage and burns,” said Erik Scott , a spokesman for the Los Angeles Fire Department.
They ran “straight through that ball of flame to get to safety across the street,” Scott said.
Eleven firefighters received treatment for burn injuries at Los Angeles County-USC Medical Center, according to the LAFD. A 12th firefighter was treated and released at the emergency room Saturday night for “a minor extremity injury,” said LAFD spokesman Prange.
As of Sunday morning, three firefighters had been discharged from the hospital. Eight remained hospitalized, including two in critical but stable condition.
All were expected to survive, officials said. Doctors at the medical center said one of the firefighters would likely need skin grafts.
The fire was put out an hour and 42 minutes after the call came in, authorities said.
LAFD Chief Ralph M. Terrazas said the firefighters responding to the call sensed something was wrong inside the building but could not escape before the explosion.
Initially, officials could not account for all the firefighters.
In an LAFD radio transmission, an official is heard screaming, “Mayday! Explosion! I have two down firefighters.”
“When one of your own is injured ... you can imagine the amount of mental stress,” Terrazas said. “A lot of our firefighters were traumatized.”
Times staff writer Liam Dillon contributed to this report.


latimes--2020-05-17--Earthquake: 3.3 quake strikes near Coalinga, Calif.

A magnitude-3.3 earthquake was reported at 10:36 a.m. Sunday 13 miles from Coalinga , Calif. , according to the U.S. Geological Survey .
The earthquake occurred 21 miles from Paso Robles , Calif. , 22 miles from Avenal , Calif. , 32 miles from Atascadero , Calif. and 33 miles from King City , Calif .
In the last 10 days , there has been one earthquake of magnitude 3.0 or greater centered nearby .
An average of 234 earthquakes with magnitudes of 3.0 to 4.0 occur each year in California and Nevada , according to a recent three-year data @ @ @ @ @ @ @ depth of 2.3 miles .
Did you feel this earthquake ?
Consider reporting what you felt to the USGS .
Even if you didn ’ t feel this small earthquake , you never know when the Big One is going to strike .
Ready yourself by following our five-step earthquake preparedness guide and building your own emergency kit .
This story was automatically generated by Quakebot , a computer application that monitors the latest earthquakes detected by the USGS .
A Times editor reviewed the post before it was published .
If you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the system , visit our list of frequently asked questions .

A magnitude-3.3 earthquake was reported at 10:36 a.m. 13 miles from Coalinga, according to the USGS.
A magnitude-3.3 earthquake was reported at 10:36 a.m. Sunday 13 miles from Coalinga, Calif., according to the U.S. Geological Survey.
The earthquake occurred 21 miles from Paso Robles, Calif., 22 miles from Avenal, Calif., 32 miles from Atascadero, Calif. and 33 miles from King City, Calif.
In the last 10 days, there has been one earthquake of magnitude 3.0 or greater centered nearby.
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An average of 234 earthquakes with magnitudes of 3.0 to 4.0 occur each year in California and Nevada, according to a recent three-year data sample.
The earthquake occurred at a depth of 2.3 miles. Did you feel this earthquake? Consider reporting what you felt to the USGS.
Even if you didn’t feel this small earthquake, you never know when the Big One is going to strike. Ready yourself by following our five-step earthquake preparedness guide and building your own emergency kit.
This story was automatically generated by Quakebot, a computer application that monitors the latest earthquakes detected by the USGS. A Times editor reviewed the post before it was published. If you’re interested in learning more about the system, visit our list of frequently asked questions.


latimes--2020-05-17--Raging house party amid coronavirus ends when man shoots himself in the groin, police say

Larger gatherings are still prohibited under strict coronavirus stay-at-home orders .
But that didn ’ t stop a raging house party Saturday night in the Hollywood Hills that ended when , police say , a man accidentally shot himself in the groin .
Officers received a complaint of a loud party at 1410 Miller Drive at about 11 p.m. , said Los Angeles Police Lt. Mark Chong .
When they responded , they found that more than 100 people were gathered at a short-term-rental property that appeared to have been reserved for the occasion , he said .
The officers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ backup units , Chong said .
An investigation revealed that a man had been shot in his groin area .
The wound is believed to have been accidentally self-inflicted .
The man was taken to a hospital .
His injuries were not life-threatening , Chong said .
Police were continuing to investigate the incident .
Gatherings of any size are prohibited under stay-at-home orders issued by both Los Angeles County and the state , rules intended to slow the spread of the coronavirus .
But despite those restrictions , Los Angeles police have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to violate the order .

Raging Hollywood Hills house party ends when man shoots himself in groin, police say
Larger gatherings are still prohibited under strict coronavirus stay-at-home orders.
But that didn’t stop a raging house party Saturday night in the Hollywood Hills that ended when, police say, a man accidentally shot himself in the groin.
Officers received a complaint of a loud party at 1410 Miller Drive at about 11 p.m., said Los Angeles Police Lt. Mark Chong.
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When they responded, they found that more than 100 people were gathered at a short-term-rental property that appeared to have been reserved for the occasion, he said.
The officers heard a single gunshot and called for backup units, Chong said. An investigation revealed that a man had been shot in his groin area. The wound is believed to have been accidentally self-inflicted.
The man was taken to a hospital. His injuries were not life-threatening, Chong said.
Police were continuing to investigate the incident.
Gatherings of any size are prohibited under stay-at-home orders issued by both Los Angeles County and the state, rules intended to slow the spread of the coronavirus.
But despite those restrictions, Los Angeles police have been receiving complaints about gatherings that appear to violate the order.


latimes--2020-05-17--'It's still kind of weird': L.A.-area businesses say reopening with limits has challenges

At the Original Farmers Market in Los Angeles , Kip ’ s Toyland reopened with only one worker per shift as coronavirus stay-at-home orders finally eased a bit .
The store was not allowing anyone inside Saturday , but that didn ’ t stop customers from trying .
“ We have had a surprising amount of people that have actually come up to the door even though we ’ ve been trying to do mainly phone orders , ” employee Eli Margolis said , “ so I ’ ve been doing this kind of crazy thing of having to run @ @ @ @ @ @ @ something they might like.
” Businesses around the Los Angeles area this weekend began to figure out what the new normal looked like .
Curbside pickup was allowed , but social-distancing rules required that the public not enter many stores that did not provide essential services such as food and medicine .
Here is a snapshot of what it looked like this weekend .
At Kip ’ s Toyland , it was a beginning .
“ It was kind of difficult .
But that ’ s on me to kind of figure out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had been four customers at the retro toy shop by early Saturday afternoon .
He sold some puzzles , a hobbyhorse and the Sorry !
board game .
“ For the most part , I think it ’ s still kind of this weird stagnant period right now , especially with everyone still trying to refigure out — especially stores like us trying to redo our whole game plan and figure out how to kind of function in this new world , ” he said .
“ It ’ s strange for sure.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ was permitting customers to come inside Saturday but requiring them to wear masks .
A manager there also described the attempt at moving toward normalcy as surreal .
“ It ’ s still kind of weird , ” said the manager , Liz , who declined to give her last name .
“ I feel like it ’ s slowly getting better because we do have people coming in and calling.
” The store has been physically open since last week , but had been taking online and phone orders before that .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ florist was facing a different hurdle .
“ The problem is , we ’ re limited in our flower supply because of what ’ s going on , ” Liz said .
“ Flowers , it ’ s pretty scarce out there right now .
The few people that have flowers out there now are asking for a lot.
” At Golden Apple Comics on Melrose Avenue , the doors are still closed to customers , but people are picking up orders in the back parking lot .
Owner Ryan Liebowitz said his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of new comics since March due to shutdowns in printing , distribution and shipping , but he expects new comics to start arriving next week .
“ Comic book stores live and die every week by their shipment , ” Liebowitz said .
Until curbside pickup was recently allowed , Liebowitz said , Golden Apple was relying on customers who subscribed to titles through the store and on online sales , with expanded online events intended to connect with customers .
“ Our online sales are through the roof , ” he said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Phase 3 , where we can let people inside the shop .
That hasn ’ t happened yet.
” Now Serving is a small independent bookstore in Chinatown that specializes in cookbooks and culinary books .
Ken Concepcion , who owns it with his wife , Michelle Mungcal , said customers hadn ’ t been inside the shop since March , and he has pivoted to online sales and is working to showcase his inventory on his website .
“ I still think we don ’ t know enough about the virus to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Concepcion said .
He said they had a toddler , and an employee lives with an elderly relative .
“ It seems irresponsible if we were just to let anybody come in , ” he said .
Customers place orders online , then swing by to pick them up , with the store now serving as a kind of warehouse .
“ We ’ ll place their goods on a table outside our door , ” Concepcion said .
“ There ’ s a lot of waving , but there ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ It doesn ’ t feel normal , ” said Donna Tabut , assistant manager of Book Alley in Pasadena .
“ We ’ re primarily a used-books store .
A lot of customers , they like to look at the book.
” Browsing is a key part of the store ’ s business model , she said .
“ Someone will come in , they can ’ t find the book that they were looking for , and they ’ ll come up to the register with 10 books that they weren @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the store was taking orders through its website , as well as by phone and email .
Customers were also able to walk up and look at the display window .
“ As long as you ’ re six feet away from the store wearing a facial covering , we ’ ll try to assist you in whatever way we can , ” Tabut said .
“ But we can ’ t allow anyone into the store at this moment .
”

Christopher Goffard, Alex Wigglesworth, Kevin Baxter

A Nordstrom employee delivers merchandise to a customer waiting in their vehicle for curbside pickup at South Coast Plaza on Friday.
At the Original Farmers Market in Los Angeles, Kip’s Toyland reopened with only one worker per shift as coronavirus stay-at-home orders finally eased a bit.
The store was not allowing anyone inside Saturday, but that didn’t stop customers from trying.
“We have had a surprising amount of people that have actually come up to the door even though we’ve been trying to do mainly phone orders,” employee Eli Margolis said, “so I’ve been doing this kind of crazy thing of having to run around the whole store and show them something they might like.”
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Businesses around the Los Angeles area this weekend began to figure out what the new normal looked like. Curbside pickup was allowed, but social-distancing rules required that the public not enter many stores that did not provide essential services such as food and medicine.
Here is a snapshot of what it looked like this weekend.
Fairfax District
At Kip’s Toyland, it was a beginning.
“It was kind of difficult. But that’s on me to kind of figure out and make suggestions.”
Margolis said there had been four customers at the retro toy shop by early Saturday afternoon. He sold some puzzles, a hobbyhorse and the Sorry! board game.
“For the most part, I think it’s still kind of this weird stagnant period right now, especially with everyone still trying to refigure out — especially stores like us trying to redo our whole game plan and figure out how to kind of function in this new world,” he said. “It’s strange for sure.”
La Puente
Flowers by Eugene in La Puente was permitting customers to come inside Saturday but requiring them to wear masks. A manager there also described the attempt at moving toward normalcy as surreal.
“It’s still kind of weird,” said the manager, Liz, who declined to give her last name. “I feel like it’s slowly getting better because we do have people coming in and calling.”
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The store has been physically open since last week, but had been taking online and phone orders before that.
While customers were slowly returning, the florist was facing a different hurdle.
“The problem is, we’re limited in our flower supply because of what’s going on,” Liz said. “Flowers, it’s pretty scarce out there right now. The few people that have flowers out there now are asking for a lot.”
Melrose Avenue
At Golden Apple Comics on Melrose Avenue, the doors are still closed to customers, but people are picking up orders in the back parking lot. Owner Ryan Liebowitz said his shop hadn’t received a shipment of new comics since March due to shutdowns in printing, distribution and shipping, but he expects new comics to start arriving next week.
“Comic book stores live and die every week by their shipment,” Liebowitz said.
Until curbside pickup was recently allowed, Liebowitz said, Golden Apple was relying on customers who subscribed to titles through the store and on online sales, with expanded online events intended to connect with customers.
“Our online sales are through the roof,” he said. “We’re waiting on Phase 3, where we can let people inside the shop. That hasn’t happened yet.”
Chinatown
Now Serving is a small independent bookstore in Chinatown that specializes in cookbooks and culinary books. Ken Concepcion, who owns it with his wife, Michelle Mungcal, said customers hadn’t been inside the shop since March, and he has pivoted to online sales and is working to showcase his inventory on his website.
“I still think we don’t know enough about the virus to where we can make definitive choices,” Concepcion said. He said they had a toddler, and an employee lives with an elderly relative.
“It seems irresponsible if we were just to let anybody come in,” he said.
Customers place orders online, then swing by to pick them up, with the store now serving as a kind of warehouse.
“We’ll place their goods on a table outside our door,” Concepcion said. “There’s a lot of waving, but there’s not a lot of other interaction.”
Pasadena
“It doesn’t feel normal,” said Donna Tabut, assistant manager of Book Alley in Pasadena. “We’re primarily a used-books store. A lot of customers, they like to look at the book.”
Browsing is a key part of the store’s business model, she said.
“Someone will come in, they can’t find the book that they were looking for, and they’ll come up to the register with 10 books that they weren’t expecting to find.”
Still, the store was taking orders through its website, as well as by phone and email. Customers were also able to walk up and look at the display window.
“As long as you’re six feet away from the store wearing a facial covering, we’ll try to assist you in whatever way we can,” Tabut said. “But we can’t allow anyone into the store at this moment.”