latimes--2020-10-18--Op-Ed: In one week, the elements that make life possible on Earth went haywire

Last month , in one week , the elements raged .
Five natural phenomena went haywire at once — heat , fire , cold , wind and rain — in a dissonant September week that began with a temperature spike across the quiet streets and manicured yards of my hometown in the suburbs of Los Angeles .
When I grew up in the tract homes of Woodland Hills , carved out of the sagebrush-covered hills in the San Fernando Valley , we were familiar with the hot blaze of summer .
There was a kind of quivering in the air @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
We ’ d run through sprinklers and prance jerkily in our bare feet across the sizzling pavement .
I recall the hot winds blowing thorny tumbleweeds into our backyard .
More than four decades later , on Sept. 6 , Woodland Hills made history when it reported the hottest temperature ever recorded in Los Angeles County , an astounding 121 degrees — 20 degrees warmer than those hot days I remember so well .
At that temperature , the air doesn ’ t just quiver ; it sucks every ounce of moisture @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of breath .
Thousands of people in my old neighborhood were left without power as the Southern California electrical system buckled under the strain of keeping cool .
And that was just the beginning of an apocalyptic week .
Three days after Woodland ’ s Hills ’ unwelcome entry into the record books , I , like everyone in the San Francisco Bay Area , awakened to a sky without sunshine .
Smoke from several Northern California megafires blocked the sun and left us in a filthy orange-brown twilight .
Many people overslept @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the birds , whose chirps were absent that day because there was no sunrise and , thus , no morning .
The air smelled like an upended ashtray .
And that , of course , was nothing compared with the experiences of those who lost their homes and in some cases their lives in the fires .
Those fires , some still burning as I write this , exploded into the Worst Fire Season Ever , in the words of this newspaper .
The week was just half-over .
On the other @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was hit with freakishly cold weather as the temperature dropped by 55 degrees from one day to the next and a foot of snow fell months before it was supposed to .
Meanwhile , in this race without a finish line , at the end of the week a tropical storm was gathering force in the Gulf of Mexico .
It was the first in a spate of storms that exhausted the Roman alphabet for hurricane names earlier in the season than ever recorded .
Within days , Hurricane Sally unleashed violent winds @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and the Florida panhandle , where power lines were downed and thousands left without electricity .
In a few short days , every element that makes life possible on Earth — the sun , the air , the water — went berserk .
In 2008 , a team of scientists convened by the U.S. Geological Survey discovered that rain was no longer falling according to patterns dating back centuries .
In scientific terms , the range of fluctuation in rainfall is called “ stationarity ” — the baseline from which all assumptions about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ falls and how much .
“ Stationarity Is Dead ” was the title of the study they published in the journal Science and subsequently expanded upon in research over another decade .
That simple three-word phrase tells us everything about what is going on now : We can no longer predict the future based on patterns of the past .
Their findings were like an alarm going off in our crowded theater of a planet .
Water is the key to all life .
The same greenhouse gases that are enveloping the Earth @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also severely disrupting the ebb and flow of condensation and evaporation in the waterways on land and in the atmospheric rivers above our heads that maintain the equilibrium of the planet .
The term “ climate change ” barely does justice to the magnitude of changes resulting from these disruptions .
A better word might be climate Volatility , with a capital V. Disequilibrium reigns .
Which brings us back to that week in September .
The back story for the temperature in Woodland Hills is the same as the back story for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fires .
It is also the story behind the plunging temperature in the Rockies , driven partly by cold air in the atmosphere displaced by the unprecedented hot air mass over the West Coast .
And it is the back story for the frequent hurricanes unleashing rain in massive drops rather than over multiple rainy days .
The consequences and costs of that devastating week are still being tallied .
One thing is certain : It will cost millions of dollars to help families and communities rebuild from just one week alone , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ impacts of disasters to come .
And who pays for that ?
To answer that question , a scientist affiliated with the Climate Accountability Institute , Richard Heede , analyzed almost two centuries of atmospheric data and cross-referenced it with audits of global greenhouse gas emissions .
Heede found that just 20 companies are responsible for more than a third of all greenhouse gases emitted between 1965 and 2017 .
Four of those companies are American — Chevron , ExxonMobil , Peabody Energy and ConocoPhillips .
Those four American fossil fuel companies alone @ @ @ @ @ @ @ % of all global emissions over the past 52 years .
They are the back story to the back story .
Fire and rain have always marked humans ’ life on Earth but never before to the extremes we ’ re recording now , according to a just-released report from the United Nations , as well as innumerable other sources over the last decade .
The heat in my hometown , the intensity of the fire in your hometown , the sudden early arrival of cold and snow , the torrential storms in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the hands of man ( as it happens , there are no female CEOs in any of the top 20 global oil companies ) .
The companies that contributed to this devastation are known , they have publicly identifiable executives and board members , and they have vast resources .
It ’ s time for them to pay for their share of the unnatural disasters and mayhem unleashed upon Earth , for the contribution of fossil fuels to the catastrophes of that disastrous September week , not to mention of the record-breaking weeks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the author of “ The End of the Stationarity : Searching for the New Normal in the Age of Carbon Shock ” and , most recently , “ Seeds of Resistance : The Fight to Save Our Food Supply.
” He is a lecturer at the UC Berkeley Graduate School of Journalism .
@ schapiro

On Sept. 9, residents of the San Francisco Bay Area awoke to an orange-brown apocalyptic twilight because of smoke from several wildfires.
Last month, in one week, the elements raged. Five natural phenomena went haywire at once — heat, fire, cold, wind and rain — in a dissonant September week that began with a temperature spike across the quiet streets and manicured yards of my hometown in the suburbs of Los Angeles.
When I grew up in the tract homes of Woodland Hills, carved out of the sagebrush-covered hills in the San Fernando Valley, we were familiar with the hot blaze of summer. There was a kind of quivering in the air when the temperature hit 95 or 100. We’d run through sprinklers and prance jerkily in our bare feet across the sizzling pavement. I recall the hot winds blowing thorny tumbleweeds into our backyard.
More than four decades later, on Sept. 6, Woodland Hills made history when it reported the hottest temperature ever recorded in Los Angeles County, an astounding 121 degrees — 20 degrees warmer than those hot days I remember so well. At that temperature, the air doesn’t just quiver; it sucks every ounce of moisture out of everything and leaves you out of breath. Thousands of people in my old neighborhood were left without power as the Southern California electrical system buckled under the strain of keeping cool.
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And that was just the beginning of an apocalyptic week.
Three days after Woodland’s Hills’ unwelcome entry into the record books, I, like everyone in the San Francisco Bay Area, awakened to a sky without sunshine. Smoke from several Northern California megafires blocked the sun and left us in a filthy orange-brown twilight. Many people overslept, experiencing the same disorientation as that of the birds, whose chirps were absent that day because there was no sunrise and, thus, no morning. The air smelled like an upended ashtray. And that, of course, was nothing compared with the experiences of those who lost their homes and in some cases their lives in the fires.
Those fires, some still burning as I write this, exploded into the Worst Fire Season Ever, in the words of this newspaper. The week was just half-over.
On the other side of the Rocky Mountains, Colorado was hit with freakishly cold weather as the temperature dropped by 55 degrees from one day to the next and a foot of snow fell months before it was supposed to.
Meanwhile, in this race without a finish line, at the end of the week a tropical storm was gathering force in the Gulf of Mexico. It was the first in a spate of storms that exhausted the Roman alphabet for hurricane names earlier in the season than ever recorded.
Within days, Hurricane Sally unleashed violent winds and downpours that devastated parts of Alabama and the Florida panhandle, where power lines were downed and thousands left without electricity.
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In a few short days, every element that makes life possible on Earth — the sun, the air, the water — went berserk.
What’s going on?
::
In 2008, a team of scientists convened by the U.S. Geological Survey discovered that rain was no longer falling according to patterns dating back centuries. In scientific terms, the range of fluctuation in rainfall is called “stationarity” — the baseline from which all assumptions about water commence, most notably when it falls and how much. “Stationarity Is Dead” was the title of the study they published in the journal Science and subsequently expanded upon in research over another decade. That simple three-word phrase tells us everything about what is going on now: We can no longer predict the future based on patterns of the past.
Their findings were like an alarm going off in our crowded theater of a planet. Water is the key to all life. The same greenhouse gases that are enveloping the Earth in a blanket of rising temperatures are also severely disrupting the ebb and flow of condensation and evaporation in the waterways on land and in the atmospheric rivers above our heads that maintain the equilibrium of the planet.
The term “climate change” barely does justice to the magnitude of changes resulting from these disruptions. A better word might be climate Volatility, with a capital V. Disequilibrium reigns.
Which brings us back to that week in September.
The back story for the temperature in Woodland Hills is the same as the back story for the parched landscape that helped facilitate the fires. It is also the story behind the plunging temperature in the Rockies, driven partly by cold air in the atmosphere displaced by the unprecedented hot air mass over the West Coast. And it is the back story for the frequent hurricanes unleashing rain in massive drops rather than over multiple rainy days.
The consequences and costs of that devastating week are still being tallied. One thing is certain: It will cost millions of dollars to help families and communities rebuild from just one week alone, and billions more to respond to the impacts of disasters to come.
And who pays for that?
To answer that question, a scientist affiliated with the Climate Accountability Institute, Richard Heede, analyzed almost two centuries of atmospheric data and cross-referenced it with audits of global greenhouse gas emissions. Heede found that just 20 companies are responsible for more than a third of all greenhouse gases emitted between 1965 and 2017. Four of those companies are American — Chevron, ExxonMobil, Peabody Energy and ConocoPhillips.
Those four American fossil fuel companies alone are responsible for emitting at least 8.5%of all global emissions over the past 52 years. They are the back story to the back story.
Fire and rain have always marked humans’ life on Earth but never before to the extremes we’re recording now, according to a just-released report from the United Nations, as well as innumerable other sources over the last decade. The heat in my hometown, the intensity of the fire in your hometown, the sudden early arrival of cold and snow, the torrential storms in so many hometowns, were sculpted by the hands of man (as it happens, there are no female CEOs in any of the top 20 global oil companies). The companies that contributed to this devastation are known, they have publicly identifiable executives and board members, and they have vast resources.
It’s time for them to pay for their share of the unnatural disasters and mayhem unleashed upon Earth, for the contribution of fossil fuels to the catastrophes of that disastrous September week, not to mention of the record-breaking weeks yet to come.
Mark Schapiro is the author of “The End of the Stationarity: Searching for the New Normal in the Age of Carbon Shock” and, most recently, “Seeds of Resistance: The Fight to Save Our Food Supply.” He is a lecturer at the UC Berkeley Graduate School of Journalism. @schapiro


latimes--2020-10-17--Archbishop performs exorcism at spot where protesters toppled Serra statue

The archbishop of San Francisco performed a short exorcism Saturday outside a Catholic church where protesters had earlier toppled a statue of Father Junipero Serra , saying the ceremony was intended to drive out evil and defend the image of Serra .
Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone performed the ritual before some 150 supporters before holding a special Mass inside St. Raphael Catholic Church and an expected march to a Planned Parenthood clinic , the San Francisco Chronicle reported .
Serra was an 18th-century Spanish missionary priest and the father of the California mission system .
The Franciscan priest has long been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Catholicism to what is now the western United States , but critics highlight a darker side to his legacy .
In converting Native Americans to Catholicism , critics say he forced them to abandon their culture or face brutal punishment .
Depictions of Serra have been protested and vandalized over the years , and Pope Francis ’ decision in 2015 to elevate him to sainthood reopened old wounds .
More recently , protests focusing on the rights and historical struggle of Black and Indigenous people led activists to topple statues of Serra in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
San Rafael police say they arrested five people on vandalism charges for knocking over the statue Monday , leaving just the feet attached to the base .
The statue is being repaired and will be returned .
Despite characterizations in popular culture , the Chronicle reports that exorcism is more commonly a solemn ceremony to evict the devil or evil spirits from an area or person .
Cordileone said prayers in Latin , remarking that “ the experts in the field tell me that Latin tends to be more effective against the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the language of the church.
” San Rafael is north of San Francisco , in the county of Marin .

The archbishop of San Francisco performed a short exorcism Saturday outside a Catholic church where protesters had earlier toppled a statue of Father Junipero Serra, saying the ceremony was intended to drive out evil and defend the image of Serra.
Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone performed the ritual before some 150 supporters before saying a special Mass inside St. Raphael Catholic Church and marching to a Planned Parenthood clinic, the San Francisco Chronicle reported.
Serra was an 18th century Spanish missionary and the father of the California mission system. The Franciscan priest has long been praised by the church for bringing Roman Catholicism to what is now the western United States, but critics highlight a darker side to his legacy. In converting to Catholicism, many Native Americans were forced to abandon their culture and faced brutal punishment.
Depictions of Serra have been protested and vandalized over the years, and Pope Francis’ decision in 2015 to elevate him to sainthood reopened old wounds. More recently, protests focusing on the rights and historical struggle of Black and Indigenous people led activists to topple statues of Serra in San Francisco, Sacramento and Los Angeles.
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San Rafael police say they arrested five people on suspicion of vandalism for knocking over the statue Monday, leaving just the feet attached to the base. The statue is being repaired and will be returned.
Despite characterizations in popular culture, the Chronicle reports that exorcism is more commonly a solemn ceremony to evict the devil or evil spirits from an area or person.
Cordileone said prayers in Latin, remarking that “the experts in the field tell me that Latin tends to be more effective against the devil because he doesn’t like the language of the church.”
San Rafael is north of San Francisco, in the county of Marin.


latimes--2020-10-17--LAPD nabs downtown carjacking suspect who drove off with grandmother and baby in car

Los Angeles police rescued an elderly woman and her infant grandson from a carjacking suspect after a chase downtown Saturday afternoon , authorities said .
The victims — an 81-year-old woman and her 9-month-old grandchild — were seated in a vehicle that had its engine running around 2:45 p.m. near 9th Street and Maple Avenue when the suspect jumped into the car and drove off , authorities said .
LAPD Central Division Capt .
T. Scott Harrelson said the suspect took the car quickly after the baby ’ s mother stopped to run an errand .
A helicopter was dispatched @ @ @ @ @ @ @ officers discovered the car was still in the downtown area around 4 p.m. , according to an LAPD news release .
The suspect led officers on a “ slow-speed pursuit ” that ended when police deployed a spike strip .
None of the three was injured , and the suspect was arrested without further incident , the department said in its statement .
Officials described the victims as “ frazzled , but unharmed.
” One officer was taken to a hospital after sustaining a hand laceration while deploying the spike strip , authorities @ @ @ @ @ @ @ suspect and it was not immediately clear how fast the vehicle was going when the spike strip was deployed .

Officers arrested a carjacking suspect who drove off with a 81-year-old woman and a baby in the car.
Los Angeles police rescued an elderly woman and her infant grandson from a carjacking suspect after a chase downtown Saturday afternoon, authorities said.
The victims — an 81-year-old woman and her 9-month-old grandchild — were seated in a vehicle that had its engine running around 2:45 p.m. near 9th Street and Maple Avenue when the suspect jumped into the car and drove off, authorities said.
LAPD Central Division Capt. T. Scott Harrelson said the suspect took the car quickly after the baby’s mother stopped to run an errand.
A helicopter was dispatched to search for the vehicle, and officers discovered the car was still in the downtown area around 4 p.m., according to an LAPD news release. The suspect led officers on a “slow-speed pursuit” that ended when police deployed a spike strip.
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None of the three was injured, and the suspect was arrested without further incident, the department said in its statement. Officials described the victims as “frazzled, but unharmed.” One officer was taken to a hospital after sustaining a hand laceration while deploying the spike strip, authorities said.
Police did not identify the suspect and it was not immediately clear how fast the vehicle was going when the spike strip was deployed.


latimes--2020-10-17--Willowbrook reels as shootings kill three in less than 24 hours

The community of Willowbrook on Saturday was grappling with the aftermath of back-to-back deadly shootings : one involving the deputy shooting of a Black man on Friday afternoon , and the other involving two teenage boys found shot to death after a car crash the night before .
As Los Angeles County sheriff ’ s detectives investigated the shootings , tensions ran high among many area residents who struggled to cope with the anxiety over the burst of violent crime in their neighborhood southeast of downtown .
Throughout the day Saturday , dozens of people gathered at a curbside memorial @ @ @ @ @ @ @ street from usually placid Mona Park and a neighborhood fence where Fred Williams III , 25 , was shot and killed by a sheriff ’ s deputy after a brief chase .
Among them was Sandy Hendrix , 57 , a neighbor who had known Williams since he was a young boy .
Nodding toward the park playground and trying not to cry , she recalled , “ I used to push him on the swing right over there .
He loved that , and so did I. I never dreamed that he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ police less than a block away from that swing set.
” Another was Lisa Smith , 52 , a witness who referred to Williams as “ my baby.
” “ A lot of us were just chilling in the park parking lot when deputies rolled up in a squad car , ” she said .
Assuming their arrival spelled trouble for the group , she said , “ we started running.
” “ A policeman started running on foot after Fred and , seconds later , Fred disappeared around a corner , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ four shots .
Pop , pop , pop , pop.
” Sheriff ’ s officials say deputies were conducting a routine patrol check of Mona Park when they noticed a group of 10 to 15 people , one of whom “ was holding a firearm in his hand.
” “ When the suspect saw the deputies , ” a spokesman for the department said , “ he immediately ran out of the parking lot headed south.
” “ One of the deputies chased the suspect down a driveway and into the backyard of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ The suspect then engaged the deputy by pointing his firearm at him at which point the deputy involved shooting occurred.
” Williams died at the scene , authorities said .
A semi-automatic handgun was later recovered at the scene by homicide investigators .
At a nearby house where Williams had been living , his father , Fred Williams Jr. , 44 , anguished over an unanswered question : Why wouldn ’ t detectives explain to him the circumstances that led to the fatal shooting of his son ?
“ All they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was shot once in the shoulder , ” he said , his eyes filled with tears .
“ Was he shot in the front or the back ?
I do not know .
They won ’ t tell me.
” His son had been released from prison a month ago after serving time for a robbery conviction , relatives said .
He was looking forward to starting a new job as a security guard on Tuesday .
Williams ’ father is not satisfied with the sheriff ’ s explanation .
“ I ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the back seat of police vehicles since I was 12 years old , ” he said .
“ What else do you need to know ?
” “ We ’ re getting killed by police , ” he added .
“ The big question is this : When will it stop ?
” The trouble in Willowbrook started at about 11 p.m. Thursday in the 12200 block of Maple Avenue , when the two male teens were shot and killed while driving down a street in search of an address , according to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ victims were among five teens in the car when an assailant approached them and opened fire , authorities said .
The car slammed into a vehicle parked at the intersection of Maple Avenue and East 124th Street .
Deputies who responded found two teens in the front seats dead at the scene .
Three teens in the back were unharmed , authorities said .
“ The car appears to have been shot several times , ” said Sheriff ’ s Lt. Brandon Dean , and “ both decedents appear to have been shot @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The victims were identified by family members as Millyon Colquitt , 16 , and Jamele Hill , 17 .
Colquitt was an 11th-grader at Centennial High School , and Hill was a senior at Gardena High School .

Bystanders and law enforcement exchange words at the scene where deputies shot and killed a man in Willowbrook on Friday.
The community of Willowbrook on Saturday was grappling with the aftermath of back-to-back deadly shootings: one involving the shooting of a Black man by a sheriff’s deputy on Friday afternoon, and the other involving two teenage boys found shot to death after a car crash the night before.
As Los Angeles County sheriff’s detectives investigated the shootings, tensions ran high among many area residents, who struggled to cope with the anxiety over the burst of violent crime in their neighborhood southeast of downtown L.A.
Throughout the day Saturday, dozens of people gathered at a curbside memorial of candles and rap music across the street from usually placid Mona Park and a neighborhood fence where Fred Williams III, 25, was shot and killed by a deputy after a brief chase.
Among them was Sandy Hendrix, 57, a neighbor who had known Williams since he was a young boy.
Nodding toward the park playground and trying not to cry, she recalled, “I used to push him on the swing right over there. He loved that, and so did I. I never dreamed that he would one day be fatally shot by police less than a block away from that swing set.”
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Another was Lisa Smith, 52, a witness who referred to Williams as “my baby.”
“A lot of us were just chilling in the park parking lot when deputies rolled up in a squad car,” she said. Assuming their arrival spelled trouble for the group, she said, “we started running.”
“A policeman started running on foot after Fred, and seconds later, Fred disappeared around a corner,” she recalled. “Then I heard four shots. Pop, pop, pop, pop.”
Sheriff’s officials say deputies were conducting a routine patrol check of Mona Park when they noticed a group of 10 to 15 people, one of whom “was holding a firearm in his hand.”
“When the suspect saw the deputies,” a spokesman for the department said, “he immediately ran out of the parking lot headed south.”
“One of the deputies chased the suspect down a driveway and into the backyard of an uninvolved residence,” he said. “The suspect then engaged the deputy by pointing his firearm at him, at which point the deputy-involved shooting occurred.”
Williams died at the scene, authorities said. A semi-automatic handgun was later recovered at the scene by homicide investigators.
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At a nearby house where Williams had been living, his father, Fred Williams Jr., 44, anguished over an unanswered question: Why wouldn’t detectives explain to him the circumstances that led to the fatal shooting of his son?
“All they will tell me is that my son was shot once in the shoulder,” he said, his eyes filled with tears. “Was he shot in the front or the back? I do not know. They won’t tell me.”
His son had been released from prison a month ago after serving time for a robbery conviction, relatives said. He was looking forward to starting a new job as a security guard on Tuesday.
Williams’ father is not satisfied with the sheriff’s explanation.
“I’ve been put in and out of the back seat of police vehicles since I was 12 years old,” he said. “What else do you need to know?
“We’re getting killed by police,” he added. “The big question is this: When will it stop?”
The trouble in Willowbrook started at about 11 p.m. Thursday in the 12200 block of Maple Avenue, when two male teens were shot and killed while driving down a street in search of an address, according to the Sheriff’s Department.
The victims were among five teens in the car when an assailant approached them and opened fire, authorities said.
The car slammed into a vehicle parked at the intersection of Maple Avenue and East 124th Street. Deputies who responded found two teens in the car’s front seats dead at the scene. Three teens in the back were unharmed, authorities said.
“The car appears to have been shot several times,” said Sheriff’s Lt. Brandon Dean, and “both decedents appear to have been shot several times in the upper torso.”
The victims were identified by family members as Millyon Colquitt, 16, and Jamele Hill, 17. Colquitt was an 11th-grader at Centennial High School, and Hill was a senior at Gardena High School.


latimes--2020-10-17--Sheriff's Dept. defied court orders to name deputies with histories of misconduct. It was a costly d

Sheriff's Dept. defied court orders to name deputies with histories of misconduct. It was a costly decision

On three occasions , a judge ordered the Los Angeles County Sheriff ’ s Department to produce a roster of deputies with histories of misconduct .
Court deadlines came and went .
Tens of thousands of dollars in sanctions against the county piled up .
But the list was never disclosed .
Janet Williams had requested the so-called Brady list in a 2017 civil rights lawsuit after a deputy shot and killed her son , Dennis “ Todd ” Rogers , 41 .
She hoped the list would show the department failed to provide proper training and supervision to deputies @ @ @ @ @ @ @ she never got that far .
After the Sheriff ’ s Department repeatedly failed to provide the list to Williams , U.S. District Court Judge André Birotte Jr. granted a default judgment in her favor of more than $ 2 million .
“ Defendants have committed serious , inexcusable discovery abuses and have violated repeated court orders , thereby engaging in culpable conduct that led to their default , ” Birotte , who formerly served as the U.S. Attorney for the Los Angeles region , wrote in his Sept. 25 ruling .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Department faces mounting criticism for resisting disclosure of information about deputies with histories of misconduct and retreating from other reforms — claims it has strongly refuted .
It has been sued by organizations including the American Civil Liberties Union and the Los Angeles Times over a new transparency law that allows the public to see records of confirmed cases of lying and sexual assault by officers , as well as shootings and major uses of force .
( L.A. County Sheriff Alex Villanueva has attributed delays in compliance to limited staffing and lack @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ more transparent than ever before.
” ) During Villanueva ’ s tenure , the county ’ s Office of Inspector General has reported that officials have inactivated internal personnel investigations at a high rate , with many cancellations not meeting the department ’ s standards for closing an investigation .
A Superior Court judge recently found that Villanueva had unlawfully rehired a deputy who had been fired by his predecessor , Sheriff Jim McDonnell , after domestic violence allegations .
( Villanueva has said the deputy was denied due process . )
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ law enforcement agencies across the nation , including the Sheriff ’ s Department , have faced massive protests against their use of force following controversial killings of people of color .
Williams maintained that the deputies involved in her son ’ s shooting outside a Ladera Heights gym lacked proper training .
The Sheriff ’ s Department and the county claimed in court filings that their outside attorney on the case , Douglas Day , intentionally deceived them and hid Williams ’ request for the Brady list despite weekly calls and frequent meetings @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a January 2018 email he sent to the Sheriff ’ s Department and the county that attached the request indicated that “ they knew , or at the very least should have known , ” Birotte said in court records .
Day did not respond to a request for comment .
The Sheriff ’ s Department and the county ultimately never released the list to Williams , offering only to reveal it privately to a judge .
They argued the deputies involved in Rogers ’ shooting were not on the list and that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ before the California Supreme Court focused on whether the list can be given to prosecutors .
“ They still haven ’ t produced the Brady list , ” said Peter Morris , an attorney who represented Williams .
“ That tells me that they want to keep the Brady list secret at all costs.
” L.A. County spokesperson Lennie LaGuire said that the county has no comment on the litigation .
In a statement Saturday , the department said : “ We are not happy with the outcome , which was a complete @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this case and the decisions made regarding this case occurred during the prior sheriff ’ s administration .
We were unaware of the developments in this case and will be discussing this in depth with County Counsel.
” While the lawsuit was filed under then-Sheriff Jim McDonnell , a magistrate judge hearing the case recommended a default judgment in William ’ s favor in July , 2019 .
Villanueva assumed office in December , 2018 .
Birotte this year also approved a $ 1.3-million settlement against the county in a separate lawsuit brought @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , a member of the sheriff Civilian Oversight Commission , said the judgment illustrates how “ time and time again ” the Sheriff ’ s Department has blocked transparency about deputies alleged to have committed misconduct and those with a history of bad behavior .
“ They would rather pay $ 2 million than turn over a list , which I think the people have a right to have , especially people who are litigating over the practices and policies of the Sheriff ’ s Department as it relates to excessive force , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ another commissioner , said that “ hiding information about deputy misconduct has become more important to them than complying with the law.
” “ When a federal judge grants a $ 2 million default judgment against the LASD for refusing to comply with court orders to produce the Brady list , it ’ s a red flag of serious transparency problems within the Department , ” he said in a statement .
Legal experts said the judgment may lead to more lawsuits that demand the Sheriff ’ s Department produce names of deputies @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Simona Grossi , a professor at Loyola Law School who teaches federal civil procedure , said a different outcome would have allowed the county and Sheriff ’ s Department to continue exploiting the system .
“ The information was there , it was just not being provided , ” she said .
The Brady list , named for a 1963 Supreme Court decision that requires prosecutors to alert defendants to favorable evidence , was compiled in 2014 under interim Sheriff John Scott to track officers whose histories of misconduct might damage their credibility @ @ @ @ @ @ @ developed during a time of scandal at the Sheriff ’ s Department , in which an FBI probe of inmate abuse uncovered years of excessive force and cover-ups .
When McDonnell tried to hand the names of about 300 “ Brady ” deputies to prosecutors , the L.A. County deputies ’ union sued .
In August 2019 , California ’ s Supreme Court ruled that the department and other law enforcement agencies can alert the district attorney ’ s office that a deputy who might testify in a criminal case has a history @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Brady list a “ fake list , ” saying it reflects corrupt investigations aimed to retaliate against deputies .
But after the Supreme Court ’ s decision , he said that instead of maintaining a list , the department would “ work out an effective , efficient , transparent and open process ” to provide information to prosecutors on a case-by-case basis .
Commander Scott Johnson of the department ’ s Professional Standards Division said it provides the district attorney ’ s office with names and information about any deputy with records responsive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that those records are available on its website .
Johnson said the department does not alert prosecutors to deputies who do not fall under the transparency law but have histories of misconduct that might also lead the district attorney ’ s office to question their credibility in court .
The Civilian Oversight Commission has pushed for more disclosure .
In October 2019 , it passed a resolution calling for the department to provide a complete list of all potentially compromised deputies to prosecutors .
In the Brady case decided by the state Supreme @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the department could not disclose a Brady list if those on the list were not people who might testify in a criminal case .
But Brian Williams , the executive director of the commission , said he still stands behind the panel ’ s call for increased transparency .
“ The question is , ultimately , does the department know about Brady information concerning specific deputies and is the department turning that information over ?
” he said .
Kennedy also said the fact that the department doesn ’ t alert prosecutors to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ transparency law is problematic .
“ I think it ’ s the latest example of a failure to take seriously and fully honor the requirements of Brady disclosure , ” he said .
Williams ’ 2017 lawsuit alleged that deputies used unjustified force toward Rogers , who managed bipolar disorder with medication .
A father of three , Rogers graduated from the University of Houston with a degree in accounting and finance and moved to Los Angeles in 2015 to pursue a career in acting , his mother said .
In March 2017 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hour Fitness in Ladera Heights where Rogers was a member because he was reportedly “ acting erratic.
” Later that night , four deputies responded to another call about Rogers at that location .
A mental evaluation team was requested but none was available , according to a report by the district attorney ’ s office .
Officials said that Rogers was tasered twice and that he pulled out an electric razor with an extension cord , swinging it while advancing toward a deputy .
The deputy fatally shot Rogers , who sustained @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s office declined to file charges against the deputy , stating in a 2018 report “ there is insufficient evidence to prove that his split-second decision to use deadly force in this situation was unreasonable.
” “ He got scared , ” Williams said of her son .
“ He just got scared , and the police just took advantage of the situation.
” The Sheriff ’ s Department and the county initially objected to a request Williams made in January 2018 for all documents related to the Brady list .
And @ @ @ @ @ @ @ counsel failed to cooperate in the discovery dispute , magistrate Judge Charles Eick wrote in a court filing .
Eick recommended a default judgment after determining that they had violated “ without legitimate excuse ” three court orders to produce the list .
He had previously ordered them to pay more than $ 34,000 in fines to Williams and $ 500 daily sanctions to the court until they disclosed the list .
In opposing the magistrate judge ’ s recommendation , the Sheriff ’ s Department and the county wrote that they were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the judge ’ s orders to produce the list , which they claimed their attorney had kept from them .
The court ultimately allowed Williams ’ attorneys to investigate whether the Sheriff ’ s Department and the county knew or should have known about the order to produce the list and ordered the defendants to produce relevant communications .
A month after the court-ordered deadline for evidence , attorneys for the Sheriff ’ s Department and the county provided a Jan. 29 , 2018 , email from Day to a Sheriff ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ assigned to the case .
The email , which attached the Brady list request , CC ’ ed a county counsel .
In addition to the email , the court considered a deposition , in which Day said he ’ d spoken to a different department investigator about producing the list .
Robert Bonner , a member of the Civilian Oversight Commission and a former federal judge , said in a statement that while Birotte ’ s ruling in Williams ’ case may be legally correct , the decision to order the disclosure @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
He expressed concern that plaintiffs in future federal civil rights lawsuits will routinely request the list as leverage to force the county to settle cases or have a court issue a default judgment .
“ Unfortunately , requiring this will likely deter the creation of a Brady list by the LASD , a list which I believe should be made available to the district attorney ’ s office so that it can discharge its obligations , ” he said .
Upon hearing of the default judgment , Williams said she felt “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ just hate that my son had to suffer that type of ending for his life , ” she said .
“ I pray that God don ’ t let me become bitter or want to see something bad to happen to them [ the deputies ] … I can try to heal from here .
”

A photo of Dennis “Todd” Rogers is held next to attorney Peter Morris as he speaks during a 2017 press conference in downtown L.A.
On three occasions, a judge ordered the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department to produce a roster of deputies with histories of misconduct.
Court deadlines came and went. Tens of thousands of dollars in sanctions against the county piled up.
But the list was never disclosed.
Janet Williams had requested the so-called Brady list in a 2017 civil rights lawsuit after a deputy shot and killed her son, Dennis “Todd” Rogers, 41. She hoped the list would show the department failed to provide proper training and supervision to deputies, leading to excessive force.
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But she never got that far. After the Sheriff’s Department repeatedly failed to provide the list to Williams, U.S. District Court Judge André Birotte Jr. granted a default judgment in her favor of more than $2 million.
“Defendants have committed serious, inexcusable discovery abuses and have violated repeated court orders, thereby engaging in culpable conduct that led to their default,” Birotte, who formerly served as the U.S. Attorney for the Los Angeles region, wrote in his Sept. 25 ruling.
The decision comes as the Sheriff’s Department faces mounting criticism for resisting disclosure of information about deputies with histories of misconduct and retreating from other reforms — claims it has strongly refuted.
It has been sued by organizations including the American Civil Liberties Union and the Los Angeles Times over a new transparency law that allows the public to see records of confirmed cases of lying and sexual assault by officers, as well as shootings and major uses of force. (L.A. County Sheriff Alex Villanueva has attributed delays in compliance to limited staffing and lack of funding, saying the department is “more transparent than ever before.”)
During Villanueva’s tenure, the county’s Office of Inspector General has reported that officials have inactivated internal personnel investigations at a high rate, with many cancellations not meeting the department’s standards for closing an investigation. A Superior Court judge recently found that Villanueva had unlawfully rehired a deputy who had been fired by his predecessor, Sheriff Jim McDonnell, after domestic violence allegations. (Villanueva has said the deputy was denied due process.)
Birotte’s ruling also comes as law enforcement agencies across the nation, including the Sheriff’s Department, have faced massive protests against their use of force following controversial killings of people of color. Williams maintained that the deputies involved in her son’s shooting outside a Ladera Heights gym lacked proper training.
The Sheriff’s Department and the county claimed in court filings that their outside attorney on the case, Douglas Day, intentionally deceived them and hid Williams’ request for the Brady list despite weekly calls and frequent meetings.
But a deposition by Day and a January 2018 email he sent to the Sheriff’s Department and the county that attached the request indicated that “they knew, or at the very least should have known,” Birotte said in court records. Day did not respond to a request for comment.
The Sheriff’s Department and the county ultimately never released the list to Williams, offering only to reveal it privately to a judge. They argued the deputies involved in Rogers’ shooting were not on the list and that sharing it could jeopardize a then-pending case before the California Supreme Court focused on whether the list can be given to prosecutors.
“They still haven’t produced the Brady list,” said Peter Morris, an attorney who represented Williams. “That tells me that they want to keep the Brady list secret at all costs.”
L.A. County spokesperson Lennie LaGuire said that the county has no comment on the litigation.
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In a statement Saturday, the department said: “We are not happy with the outcome, which was a complete surprise to us. The facts of this case and the decisions made regarding this case occurred during the prior sheriff’s administration. We were unaware of the developments in this case and will be discussing this in depth with County Counsel.”
While the lawsuit was filed under then-Sheriff Jim McDonnell, a magistrate judge hearing the case recommended a default judgment in William’s favor in July, 2019. Villanueva assumed office in December, 2018.
Birotte this year also approved a $1.3-million settlement against the county in a separate lawsuit brought by Rogers’ children.
Priscilla Ocen, a member of the sheriff Civilian Oversight Commission, said the judgment illustrates how “time and time again” the Sheriff’s Department has blocked transparency about deputies alleged to have committed misconduct and those with a history of bad behavior.
“They would rather pay $2 million than turn over a list, which I think the people have a right to have, especially people who are litigating over the practices and policies of the Sheriff’s Department as it relates to excessive force,” she said.
Sean Kennedy, another commissioner, said that “hiding information about deputy misconduct has become more important to them than complying with the law.”
“When a federal judge grants a $2 million default judgment against the LASD for refusing to comply with court orders to produce the Brady list, it’s a red flag of serious transparency problems within the Department,” he said in a statement.
Legal experts said the judgment may lead to more lawsuits that demand the Sheriff’s Department produce names of deputies whose credibility could be in question. Simona Grossi, a professor at Loyola Law School who teaches federal civil procedure, said a different outcome would have allowed the county and Sheriff’s Department to continue exploiting the system.
“The information was there, it was just not being provided,” she said.
The Brady list, named for a 1963 Supreme Court decision that requires prosecutors to alert defendants to favorable evidence, was compiled in 2014 under interim Sheriff John Scott to track officers whose histories of misconduct might damage their credibility as witnesses in court.
It was developed during a time of scandal at the Sheriff’s Department, in which an FBI probe of inmate abuse uncovered years of excessive force and cover-ups.
When McDonnell tried to hand the names of about 300 “Brady” deputies to prosecutors, the L.A. County deputies’ union sued. In August 2019, California’s Supreme Court ruled that the department and other law enforcement agencies can alert the district attorney’s office that a deputy who might testify in a criminal case has a history of misconduct.
Villanueva has called the Brady list a “fake list,” saying it reflects corrupt investigations aimed to retaliate against deputies. But after the Supreme Court’s decision, he said that instead of maintaining a list, the department would “work out an effective, efficient, transparent and open process” to provide information to prosecutors on a case-by-case basis.
Commander Scott Johnson of the department’s Professional Standards Division said it provides the district attorney’s office with names and information about any deputy with records responsive to the new transparency law, and that those records are available on its website.
Johnson said the department does not alert prosecutors to deputies who do not fall under the transparency law but have histories of misconduct that might also lead the district attorney’s office to question their credibility in court.
The Civilian Oversight Commission has pushed for more disclosure. In October 2019, it passed a resolution calling for the department to provide a complete list of all potentially compromised deputies to prosecutors.
In the Brady case decided by the state Supreme Court, a superior court had said the department could not disclose a Brady list if those on the list were not people who might testify in a criminal case. But Brian Williams, the executive director of the commission, said he still stands behind the panel’s call for increased transparency.
“The question is, ultimately, does the department know about Brady information concerning specific deputies and is the department turning that information over?” he said.
Kennedy also said the fact that the department doesn’t alert prosecutors to deputies who do not fall under the transparency law is problematic.
“I think it’s the latest example of a failure to take seriously and fully honor the requirements of Brady disclosure,” he said.
Williams’ 2017 lawsuit alleged that deputies used unjustified force toward Rogers, who managed bipolar disorder with medication.
A father of three, Rogers graduated from the University of Houston with a degree in accounting and finance and moved to Los Angeles in 2015 to pursue a career in acting, his mother said.
In March 2017, deputies were called to a 24 Hour Fitness in Ladera Heights where Rogers was a member because he was reportedly “acting erratic.”
Later that night, four deputies responded to another call about Rogers at that location. A mental evaluation team was requested but none was available, according to a report by the district attorney’s office. Officials said that Rogers was tasered twice and that he pulled out an electric razor with an extension cord, swinging it while advancing toward a deputy. The deputy fatally shot Rogers, who sustained four gunshot wounds.
The district attorney’s office declined to file charges against the deputy, stating in a 2018 report “there is insufficient evidence to prove that his split-second decision to use deadly force in this situation was unreasonable.”
“He got scared,” Williams said of her son. “He just got scared, and the police just took advantage of the situation.”
The Sheriff’s Department and the county initially objected to a request Williams made in January 2018 for all documents related to the Brady list. And in the days that followed, its counsel failed to cooperate in the discovery dispute, magistrate Judge Charles Eick wrote in a court filing.
Eick recommended a default judgment after determining that they had violated “without legitimate excuse” three court orders to produce the list. He had previously ordered them to pay more than $34,000 in fines to Williams and $500 daily sanctions to the court until they disclosed the list.
In opposing the magistrate judge’s recommendation, the Sheriff’s Department and the county wrote that they were “shocked and embarrassed” to learn of the judge’s orders to produce the list, which they claimed their attorney had kept from them.
The court ultimately allowed Williams’ attorneys to investigate whether the Sheriff’s Department and the county knew or should have known about the order to produce the list and ordered the defendants to produce relevant communications.
A month after the court-ordered deadline for evidence, attorneys for the Sheriff’s Department and the county provided a Jan. 29, 2018, email from Day to a Sheriff’s Department investigator who’d been assigned to the case. The email, which attached the Brady list request, CC’ed a county counsel.
In addition to the email, the court considered a deposition, in which Day said he’d spoken to a different department investigator about producing the list.
Robert Bonner, a member of the Civilian Oversight Commission and a former federal judge, said in a statement that while Birotte’s ruling in Williams’ case may be legally correct, the decision to order the disclosure of the list could have negative repercussions. He expressed concern that plaintiffs in future federal civil rights lawsuits will routinely request the list as leverage to force the county to settle cases or have a court issue a default judgment.
“Unfortunately, requiring this will likely deter the creation of a Brady list by the LASD, a list which I believe should be made available to the district attorney’s office so that it can discharge its obligations,” he said.
Upon hearing of the default judgment, Williams said she felt “just faith in God.”
“I just hate that my son had to suffer that type of ending for his life,” she said. “I pray that God don’t let me become bitter or want to see something bad to happen to them [the deputies] … I can try to heal from here.”


latimes--2020-10-18--L.A. County reports 358 new coronavirus cases, 13 deaths

Los Angeles County public health officials on Sunday reported 358 new coronavirus cases and 13 related deaths .
The COVID-19 data released on Sundays are often lower due to laboratory reporting delays and problems with the state ’ s data feed .
The number of confirmed infections in Los Angeles County is doubling every 190.6 days .
Hospitalizations have grown in recent days , with 751 COVID-19 patients in county medical centers as of Sunday .
Hospitalizations remain short of the more than 2,200 reported at the peak of the crisis in mid-July .
State and local officials are closely @ @ @ @ @ @ @ when and how to reopen businesses and public facilities .
L.A. County remains in the strictest tier of the state ’ s four-tier reopening system — Tier 1 , or purple — because it continues to report more than 7 cases per 100,000 residents each day .
That means that schools are shut , and many nonessential businesses remain closed for indoor operations .
Over the last seven days , officials have reported 6,975 new cases , which amounts to 69 per 100,000 residents .
The daily average over the past week has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Roughly 74 % of those who died were 65 or older .
So far , more than 2,890,000 individuals have been tested in L.A. County .
About 9 % of those people tested positive .
The rate of all people tested this week who registered positive for the coronavirus remained between 3.3 % and 3.6 % .
This positivity rate helps officials determine whether more new cases are being identified because of increased transmission or because more people are being tested .
That rate has hovered around 3 % for several weeks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about 8 % of tests were coming back positive .
The latest tally brings L.A. County ’ s total number of coronavirus cases over the eight-month pandemic to 288,461 and the number of deaths to 6,876 .
Across Los Angeles County , cases have been reported in 342 cities or communities .
East Los Angeles has tallied the most , with 6,757 .
Latinos and Black people have contracted the virus at a higher rate than white and Asian American people .
After adjusting for population , Latinos are 3.3 times more likely @ @ @ @ @ @

Customers are reminded that they must wear masks at the Westfield Santa Anita shopping mall in Arcadia.
Los Angeles County public health officials on Sunday reported 358 new coronavirus cases and 13 related deaths.
The COVID-19 data released on Sundays are often lower because of laboratory reporting delays and problems with the state’s data feed.
The number of confirmed infections in Los Angeles County is doubling every 190.6 days. Hospitalizations have grown in recent days, with 751 COVID-19 patients in county medical centers as of Sunday. But hospitalizations remain far short of the more than 2,200 reported at the peak of the crisis in mid-July.
State and local officials are closely watching the latest figures as they weigh when and how to reopen businesses and public facilities. L.A. County remains in the strictest tier of the state’s four-tier reopening system — Tier 1, or purple — because it continues to report more than 7 cases per 100,000 residents each day. That means that schools are shut, and many nonessential businesses remain closed for indoor operations.
Over the last seven days, officials have reported 6,975 new cases, which amounts to 69 per 100,000 residents. The daily average over the last week has been 996 new cases and 13.4 deaths. Roughly 74% of those who died were 65 or older.
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So far, more than 2,890,000 individuals have been tested in L.A. County. About 9% of those people tested positive.
The rate of all coronavirus tests that came back positive over the last week remained between 3.3% and 3.6%. This positivity rate helps officials determine whether more new cases are being identified because of increased transmission or because more people are being tested. The rate has hovered around 3% for several weeks, officials said. In July, about 8% of tests were coming back positive.
The latest tally brings L.A. County’s total number of coronavirus cases over the eight-month pandemic to 288,461 and the number of deaths to 6,876. Across Los Angeles County, cases have been reported in 342 cities or communities. East Los Angeles has tallied the most, with 6,760.
Latinos and Black people have contracted the virus at a higher rate than white and Asian American people. After adjusting for population, Latinos are 3.3 times more likely than white people to test positive.


latimes--2020-10-18--Burglars steal thousands of dollars in equipment from American Legion Post in Riverside

Burglars broke into an American Legion Post building in Riverside early Saturday morning and stole an estimated $ 30,000 worth of equipment from veterans , police said .
Police were searching for any information that could lead to the capture of the burglars , who fled in a dark-colored SUV with two shining-knight statues and several large trashcans containing tools and equipment , authorities said .
“ We don ’ t want to see anybody get targeted , including a Legion Post that ’ s supposed to be a resource for veterans , ” said Ryan Railsback , spokesman for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people will come forward and help identify those who committed this crime.
” The manager of the American Legion Post 289 notified police of the burglary about 2:30 p.m. Saturday , police said .
Security video shows the burglars entering the building , which is under renovation , between 4:15 and 5:30 a.m. to steal the items .
Organizers have set up a fundraising page on GoFundMe to help the veterans recover the loss .
“ Our post is under remodeling and all volunteers .
Last night our post was burglarized and we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” their post indicates .
As of Sunday afternoon , the group had raised about $ 2,800 .

Burglars broke into an American Legion Post building in Riverside early Saturday morning and stole an estimated $30,000 worth of equipment from veterans, police said.
Police were searching for any information that could lead to the capture of the burglars, who fled in a dark-colored SUV with two shining-knight statues and several large trashcans containing tools and equipment, authorities said.
“We don’t want to see anybody get targeted, including a Legion Post that’s supposed to be a resource for veterans,” said Ryan Railsback, spokesman for the Riverside Police Department. “Hopefully people will come forward and help identify those who committed this crime.”
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The manager of the American Legion Post 289 notified police of the burglary about 2:30 p.m. Saturday, police said. Security video shows the burglars entering the building, which is under renovation, between 4:15 and 5:30 a.m. to steal the items.
Organizers have set up a fundraising page on GoFundMe to help the veterans recover the loss.
“Our post is under remodeling and all volunteers. Last night our post was burglarized and we lost materials and most of our tools,” their post indicates.
As of Sunday afternoon, the group had raised about $2,800.


latimes--2020-10-18--Thousands of Trump supporters descend on Newport Beach as president arrives for fundraiser

Thousands of American-flag-waving Trump supporters descended on Newport Beach on Sunday as the president arrived for a fundraiser to bolster his reelection bid on Nov. 3 .
Red MAGA hats were ubiquitous in the crowd , and masks were scant .
The sound of country music mingled with shouts of , “ Four more years !
” The rally along Pacific Coast Highway and Newport Boulevard was raucous and confrontational at times .
A man from Tustin in a Trump-themed cowboy hat taunted a female Los Angeles Times reporter for wearing a mask .
When the reporter thanked him for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ man followed her for several minutes , yelling , “ Fake news !
” while tailing her closely and inviting others in the crowd to harass her .
Shortly afterward , two counter-demonstrators holding a pride flag and a Biden sign were surrounded and heckled by dozens of Trump supporters who shouted , “ Biden ’ s a pedophile !
” Meanwhile , hundreds of Armenian Americans joined the demonstration , in a show of solidarity with Armenia in its battle with neighboring Azerbaijan over a small separatist region on the border of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that Trump take action against Turkey , which has expressed support for Azerbaijan .
“ Armenia needs Trump !
” a protester , his shoulders draped in the orange , red and blue Armenian flag , yelled into a megaphone .
“ Save Christian Armenia !
” Many of the Armenian American demonstrators were also Trump supporters .
Melimeh Soukiasian , 36 , of Los Angeles said she wasn ’ t sure yet who she would cast a vote for in November but said she would support Trump if he spoke out against @ @ @ @ @ @ @ U.S. tax dollars , ” she said , “ are funding the weapons that are being used to target civilians and hospitals , sacred churches in Armenia.
” Teresa Wallace , 67 , drove all the way from Palm Springs on Sunday morning to welcome the president to Newport Beach .
She was dressed head-to-toe in Trump- and America-themed regalia .
“ He ’ s transparent and he ’ s handled the coronavirus as well as anybody else could ’ ve handled it , ” Wallace said .
“ I trust him .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Lizanne Witte , a 63-year old from Laguna Beach , joined a small group of Biden supporters .
She carried a sign that said “ Science Makes America Great.
” A few Trump supporters chanted “ Four more years ” at the group , while others honked from their cars with American flags hanging out of the windows .
Some shouted obscenities at Witte , a 32-year resident of Orange County .
“ I ’ ve never seen this side of Orange County , ” the community organizer said .
“ Even in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ detained children , the reception had been respective differences in opinion .
This is just nasty.
” Matt Stoutenburg , a 50-year-old electrical contractor from Tustin , said it was a “ chance of a lifetime ” to see the president .
“ I would love to meet Trump and see Trump , ” he said .
“ Who in their right mind wouldn ’ t , actually ?
” He said he knew he ’ d be around like-minded people .
“ When the motorcade came it was that same kind of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ re in a big stadium and they ’ re doing the wave , ” he said .
Claudine Abraham , a 53-year-old attorney , said the energy in the crowd was electric .
“ He loves this country and he wants everyone to do well , ” she said of the president .
Abraham came with her friend , Laura Alterman , a 54-year-old social worker , and their daughters .
While Abraham supports Trump , Alterman and her daughter are liberal .
Laura Alterman wore a white HRC hat .
“ We @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s really right , and I ’ m really left , ” Alterman said .
She said she was there “ just to witness it all .
It ’ s a big deal , he ’ s in our town.
” “ This has been interesting .
I ’ ve never been this close to the president , ” said Laura ’ s 12 year old daughter Shira Alterman .
She said she and her friends call him “ a walking Cheeto puff.
” Sabrina Jane Ramos , 37 , of Brea @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who shouted “ Latinas for Trump ” as they waited for the president ’ s motorcade along Newport Boulevard .
“ He rarely comes to California and I wanted the president to know that some of us support him , ” the graphic designer said .
Stephanie Lo , 47 , of Pomona , said she did not vote for Trump in 2016 , but that she is backing him this time around .
She wore a navy blue Trump hat as a show of her support .
“ I don ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s efficient , ” she said .
Trump was in Orange County for a fundraiser at the home of Palmer Luckey , a 28-year-old tech mogul .
The Long Beach native , among , is working on a defense startup whose projects include using crossing illegally over the border .
Luckey ’ s Lido Isle mansion overlooks Newport Bay and sits at the tip of a manmade island that is home to about 800 residences and connected to Newport Beach by a two-lane bridge .

Laura Newberry, Stephanie Lai, Arit John

Thousands of American-flag-waving Trump supporters rallied in Newport Beach on Sunday as the president arrived for a fundraiser to bolster his reelection bid on Nov. 3.
Red MAGA hats were ubiquitous in the crowd, and masks were scant. The sound of country music mingled with shouts of, “Four more years!”
Trump supporters wave flags and signs while hoping to get a glimpse of the president’s motorcade when he heads to and from Lido Island for a fundraiser on October 18, 2020 in Newport Beach, California. (Gina Ferazzi/Los Angeles Times)
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The rally along Pacific Coast Highway and Newport Boulevard was raucous and confrontational at times.
A man from Tustin in a Trump-themed cowboy hat taunted a female Los Angeles Times reporter for wearing a mask.
When the reporter thanked him for the interview and walked away, the man followed her for several minutes, yelling, “Fake news!” while tailing her closely and inviting others in the crowd to harass her.
Joe Biden supporter Richard Williams, 70, of Irvine is grabbed and shoved by Trump supporters as tried to hold his Biden-Harris sign amid a sea of Trump supporters who gathered on Via Lido to get a glimpse of the president’s motorcade while going to and from a Newport Beach fundraiser. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)
Shortly afterward, two counter-demonstrators holding a pride flag and a Biden sign were surrounded and heckled by dozens of Trump supporters who shouted, “Biden’s a pedophile!”
Meanwhile, hundreds of Armenian Americans joined the demonstration, in a show of solidarity with Armenia in its battle with neighboring Azerbaijan over a small separatist region on the border of the former Soviet republics. They demanded that Trump take action against Turkey, which has expressed support for Azerbaijan.
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“Armenia needs Trump!” a protester, his shoulders draped in the orange, red and blue Armenian flag, yelled into a megaphone. “Save Christian Armenia!” Many of the Armenian American demonstrators were also Trump supporters.
Melimeh Soukiasian, 36, of Los Angeles said she wasn’t sure yet who she would cast a vote for in November but said she would support Trump if he spoke out against Turkey’s actions.
“Our U.S. tax dollars,” she said, “are funding the weapons that are being used to target civilians and hospitals, sacred churches in Armenia.”
Teresa Wallace, 67, drove all the way from Palm Springs on Sunday morning to welcome the president to Newport Beach. She was dressed head-to-toe in Trump- and America-themed regalia.
“He’s transparent and he’s handled the coronavirus as well as anybody else could’ve handled it,” Wallace said. “I trust him. He’s a Christian man.”
Lizanne Witte, a 63-year old from Laguna Beach, joined a small group of Biden supporters. She carried a sign that said “Science Makes America Great.”
A few Trump supporters chanted “Four more years” at the group, while others honked from their cars with American flags hanging out of the windows. Some shouted obscenities at Witte, a 32-year resident of Orange County.
“I’ve never seen this side of Orange County,” the community organizer said. “Even in protests about women’s rights and detained children, the reception had been respective differences in opinion. This is just nasty.”
Matt Stoutenburg, a 50-year-old electrical contractor from Tustin, said it was a “chance of a lifetime” to see the president.
“I would love to meet Trump and see Trump,” he said. “Who in their right mind wouldn’t, actually?”
He said he knew he’d be around like-minded people. “When the motorcade came it was that same kind of energy that you feel when you’re in a big stadium and they’re doing the wave,” he said.
Claudine Abraham, a 53-year-old attorney, said the energy in the crowd was electric. “He loves this country and he wants everyone to do well,” she said of the president.
Abraham came with her friend, Laura Alterman, a 54-year-old social worker, and their daughters. While Abraham supports Trump, Alterman and her daughter are liberal. Laura Alterman wore a white HRC hat.
“We’re friends, even though she’s really right, and I’m really left,” Alterman said.
She said she was there “just to witness it all. It’s a big deal, he’s in our town.”
“This has been interesting. I’ve never been this close to the president,” said Laura’s 12 year old daughter Shira Alterman. She said she and her friends call him “a walking Cheeto puff.”
Sabrina Jane Ramos, 37, of Brea, posed with a group of women who shouted “Latinas for Trump” as they waited for the president’s motorcade along Newport Boulevard.
President Donald Trump greets supporters as he arrives on Air Force One at John Wayne Airport on Sunday. (Allen J. Schaben/Los Angeles Times)
“He rarely comes to California and I wanted the president to know that some of us support him,” the graphic designer said.
Stephanie Lo, 47, of Pomona, said she did not vote for Trump in 2016, but that she is backing him this time around. She wore a navy blue Trump hat as a show of her support.
“I don’t like his personality, but he’s efficient,” she said.
Trump was in Orange County for a fundraiser at the home of Palmer Luckey, a 28-year-old tech mogul. The Long Beach native, among California’s top GOP donors , is working on a defense startup whose projects include using technology to detect immigrants crossing illegally over the border.
Luckey’s Lido Isle mansion overlooks Newport Bay and sits at the tip of a manmade island that is home to about 800 residences and connected to Newport Beach by a two-lane bridge.
Times staff writer Seema Mehta contributed to this report.


latimes--2020-10-18--L.A. Metro employee stabbed to death at downtown rail station

A Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority worker was fatally stabbed Friday night at a downtown rail station , officials said .
The stabbing occurred Friday at 10:46 p.m. at the 7th Street/Metro Center subway station , one of the busiest in the system , police said .
After a “ verbal dispute ” on a Red Line train , a woman believed to be between the ages of 25 and 30 “ armed herself ” and stabbed the Metro worker , the Los Angeles Police Department said .
Paramedics arrived at a platform that serves the Blue and Expo @ @ @ @ @ @ @ L.A. County-USC Medical Center , a Los Angeles Fire Department spokesman said .
The man , who had critical injuries to his chest , was pronounced dead at 11:23 p.m. , Metro spokesman Rick Jager said .
His name has not been released because his family has not yet been notified , he said .
The Los Angeles Police Department is investigating the stabbing as a homicide .
On Sunday , police released a wanted flier for the suspect in the stabbing .
The flier uses two freeze-frame images from Metro ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with long dark hair and a bright green bicycle .
Metro has a “ zero-tolerance policy for criminal activity that impacts the safety and security of our transit patrons and employees , ” Jager said .
He said transit officials would “ work closely with our law enforcement partners to identify and aggressively pursue perpetrators and bring them to justice.
” Metro Chief Executive Phil Washington said in an email to employees on Saturday night that the victim had worked at Metro for more than 18 years , most recently in the rail @ @ @ @ @ @ @ whether the employee was on duty at the time of the attack , Jager said .
“ Our thoughts and prayers are with the victim ’ s family and fellow Metro employees , ” Jager said .
He said the agency was “ deeply saddened ” by the incident .
Anyone with information about the attack is asked to contact LAPD ’ s Central Homicide Bureau at ( 213 ) 486-8700 , police said .

Passengers wait at a 7th Street station platform in July. A Metro worker was fatally stabbed Friday at the station in downtown Los Angeles, officials said.
A Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority worker was fatally stabbed Friday night at a downtown rail station, officials said.
The stabbing occurred Friday at 10:46 p.m. at the 7th Street/Metro Center subway station, one of the busiest in the system, police said.
After a “verbal dispute” on a Red Line train, a woman believed to be 25 to 30 years old “armed herself” and stabbed the Metro worker, the Los Angeles Police Department said.
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Paramedics arrived at a platform that serves the Blue and Expo lines and took the victim to L.A. County-USC Medical Center, a Los Angeles Fire Department spokesman said.
The man, who had critical injuries to his chest, was pronounced dead at 11:23 p.m., Metro spokesman Rick Jager said. His name has not been released because his family has not yet been notified, Jager said.
The Los Angeles Police Department is investigating the stabbing as a homicide.
On Sunday, police released a wanted flier for the suspect in the stabbing. The flier uses two freeze-frame images from Metro’s security camera system, showing a woman with long dark hair and a bright green bicycle.
Metro has a “zero-tolerance policy for criminal activity that impacts the safety and security of our transit patrons and employees,” Jager said. He said transit officials would “work closely with our law enforcement partners to identify and aggressively pursue perpetrators and bring them to justice.”
Metro Chief Executive Phil Washington said in an email to employees Saturday night that the victim had worked at Metro for more than 18 years, most recently in the rail operations division.
It was not clear whether the employee was on duty at the time of the attack, Jager said.
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“Our thoughts and prayers are with the victim’s family and fellow Metro employees,” Jager said. He said the agency was “deeply saddened” by the incident.
Anyone with information about the attack is asked to contact the LAPD’s Central Bureau homicide detectives at (213) 486-8700, police said.