latimes--2020-10-14--More than 1 million California ballots already cast, shattering records

Election day is more than two weeks away , but more than 1 million Californians have already returned their mail-in ballots , according to the state , an amount that marks the most ballots collected by mail at this point in any state election .
Nearly half of the mail-in ballots come from Los Angeles County , where more than 435,00 voters have already responded , according to the L.A. County registrar-recorder ’ s office .
The flood of ballots announced by Secretary of State Alex Padilla still represents only a fraction of the 21 million sent to California voters @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pandemic safety efforts , and it ’ s unclear whether the state ’ s turnout will ultimately eclipse past elections .
The huge numbers of mail-in ballots could make counting the votes more complicated and mean longer waits to determine the outcome of close races .
This was the case in 2018 , when it took weeks to call some key congressional races that ended up tipping the U.S. House back into Democratic control .
But the immediate response suggests voters are especially engaged amid a contentious presidential election and the disruption to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , experts say .
“ Many families are at a breaking point and are likely taking their frustrations out at the ballot box , ” said Shannon Murphy Castellani , principal at M Strategic Communications , a Los Angeles-based public affairs firm .
“ It ’ s clear voters are paying attention this election cycle.
” The surging mail ballot response in California reflects the nationwide trend , as voters have cast roughly 15 million mail ballots so far , according to the nonpartisan U.S .
Elections Project .
Some smaller states have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The swing state of Florida has doubled California ’ s total , with nearly 2 million voters already casting their mail ballots , according to the project , which is managed by University of Florida political science Associate Professor Michael P. McDonald .
Michigan voters have already cast 1.2 million , and Texas is closing in on one million .
Those states are also already offering some in-person voting .
In California , this year ’ s focus on voting by mail came in May when Gov .
Gavin Newsom ordered that ballots @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s registered voters .
The state had been moving in the direction in recent years following passage of the Voter ’ s Choice Act , which created a new model similar to other Western states that have tried to make casting ballots more convenient for voters .
Fourteen counties , including Los Angeles , began using the model , which focused on sending ballots to all registered voters , expanding early voting and using vote centers , allowing residents more flexibility in where they participate .
Orange County has also seen a flood @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than 100,000 ballots received so far , according to Paul Mitchell , vice president of Political Data Inc. , a firm that tracks voter information in detail .
The information collected by Mitchell ’ s firm , which is known in the industry as a trusted data source , is sliced by demographics , geography , political party and age .
It appears that roughly 10 % of voters who are 65 or older , for example , have already returned their mail-in ballots .
Democrats have returned them at a slightly higher @ @ @ @ @ @ @ data .
Political consultants such as Fiona Hutton of Los Angeles say their internal survey data are showing a high degree of intent and motivation to vote early .
But whether all voters will follow through by completing and ultimately submitting their mail-in ballots is unclear .
“ It ’ s going to be significantly more than we ’ ve seen before , ” Hutton said .
“ Will it be historic ?
...
I ’ m not sure.
” That high level of engagement is represented by voters such as Rosie Manina @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cast her mail-in ballot at a drop box .
She received her ballot a week ago and turned it in by Saturday , in what she said was the “ fastest turnaround ever ” for one of her mail-in ballots .
“ I ’ ve never been so excited to vote in my entire life , ” she said .
“ I wanted to make sure that my vote was in early , in part to relieve pressure on my registrar.
” Los Angeles County could feel that pressure .
This year it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mail-in ballots , not just those who requested them as in the past , posing a potential challenge for officials to process , mail and ultimately count them all .
Mike Sanchez , a spokesman for the registrar-recorder ’ s office , said the county is prepared to handle an anticipated increase in mail ballots .
County Registrar-Recorder Dean Logan and other election officials across the state , Sanchez said , have been encouraging voters to cast their ballots early , both by mail and eventually in person .
Doing so could relieve @ @ @ @ @ @ @ day and also help make the results clearer when the first results are announced , according to Sanchez .
“ I ’ m not surprised .
I ’ m encouraged to see voters returning vote by mail ballots , ” Sanchez said , noting that voters can also use hundreds of secure drop boxes across the region to submit their ballots ahead of election day .
“ That ’ s our message .
Don ’ t wait .
You can return it the same day you receive it.
” While many local voters @ @ @ @ @ @ @ waiting .
William Bird , a Marina del Rey resident , said he received notice from Los Angeles County that his ballot had been sent on Oct. 4 .
Yet it still hadn ’ t arrived as of Tuesday , causing him to worry about whether postal officials were properly handling the mail .
“ I ’ m worried about where the ballot is , ” said Bird , who works in real estate .
“ Having a drop box doesn ’ t do me any good if you don ’ t have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ L.A.-area Republican strategist , said he too was seeing greater voter interest and engagement .
He attributes that in part to frustration with President Trump , who is unpopular in deep-blue California , but also to campaigns getting smarter in their tactics for educating voters on how to participate .
He also said voters had more time to investigate ballot measures and candidates because of the pandemic .
“ There ’ s greater enthusiasm , ” he said .
“ The effervescence is totally seeping into the consciousness of the electorate .
”

Election day is more than two weeks away, but more than 1 million Californians have already returned their mail-in ballots, according to the state, an amount that marks the most ballots collected by mail at this point in any state election.
Nearly half of the mail-in ballots come from Los Angeles County, where more than 435,000 voters have already responded, according to the L.A. County registrar-recorder’s office.
The flood of ballots announced by Secretary of State Alex Padilla still represents only a fraction of the 21 million sent to California voters under a new state mandate prompted by pandemic safety efforts, and it’s unclear whether the state’s turnout will ultimately eclipse past elections.
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The huge numbers of mail-in ballots could make counting the votes more complicated and mean longer waits to determine the outcome of close races. This was the case in 2018, when it took weeks to call some key congressional races that ended up tipping the U.S. House back into Democratic control.
But the immediate response suggests voters are especially engaged amid a contentious presidential election and the disruption to work and education caused by the pandemic, experts say.
“Many families are at a breaking point and are likely taking their frustrations out at the ballot box,” said Shannon Murphy Castellani, principal at M Strategic Communications, a Los Angeles-based public affairs firm. “It’s clear voters are paying attention this election cycle.”
The surging mail ballot response in California reflects the nationwide trend, as voters have cast roughly 15 million mail ballots so far, according to the nonpartisan U.S. Elections Project. The increase also comes despite President Trump’s baseless claims that the process is vulnerable to fraud.
Some smaller states have even larger mail ballot return totals. The swing state of Florida has doubled California’s total, with nearly 2 million voters already casting their mail ballots, according to the project, which is managed by University of Florida political science Associate Professor Michael P. McDonald. Michigan voters have already cast 1.2 million, and Texas is closing in on one million. Those states are also already offering some in-person voting.
In California, this year’s focus on voting by mail came in May when Gov. Gavin Newsom ordered that ballots be sent to all the state’s registered voters. The state had been moving in the direction in recent years following passage of the Voter’s Choice Act, which created a new model similar to other Western states that have tried to make casting ballots more convenient for voters.
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Fourteen counties, including Los Angeles, began using the model, which focused on sending ballots to all registered voters, expanding early voting and using vote centers, allowing residents more flexibility in where they participate.
Orange County has also seen a flood of early mail-in returns, with more than 100,000 ballots received so far, according to Paul Mitchell, vice president of Political Data Inc., a firm that tracks voter information in detail.
The information collected by Mitchell’s firm, which is known in the industry as a trusted data source, is sliced by demographics, geography, political party and age.
It appears that roughly 10% of voters who are 65 or older, for example, have already returned their mail-in ballots. Democrats have returned them at a slightly higher rate than Republicans, according to the data.
× Mail-in ballots, registration deadlines, voting centers — we’ve got you covered with the basics of voting in the Nov. 3 election.
Political consultants such as Fiona Hutton of Los Angeles say their internal survey data are showing a high degree of intent and motivation to vote early. But whether all voters will follow through by completing and ultimately submitting their mail-in ballots is unclear.
“It’s going to be significantly more than we’ve seen before,” Hutton said. “Will it be historic? ... I’m not sure.”
That high level of engagement is represented by voters such as Rosie Manina, a Bay Area financial analyst who cast her mail-in ballot at a drop box.
She received her ballot a week ago and turned it in by Saturday, in what she said was the “fastest turnaround ever” for one of her mail-in ballots.
“I’ve never been so excited to vote in my entire life,” she said. “I wanted to make sure that my vote was in early, in part to relieve pressure on my registrar.”
Los Angeles County could feel that pressure. This year it sent more than 5.6 million registered voters mail-in ballots, not just those who requested them as in the past, posing a potential challenge for officials to process, mail and ultimately count them all.
Mike Sanchez, a spokesman for the registrar-recorder’s office, said the county is prepared to handle an anticipated increase in mail ballots. County Registrar-Recorder Dean Logan and other election officials across the state, Sanchez said, have been encouraging voters to cast their ballots early, both by mail and eventually in person.
Doing so could relieve pressure on in-person voting sites on election day and also help make the results clearer when the first results are announced, according to Sanchez.
“I’m not surprised. I’m encouraged to see voters returning vote by mail ballots,” Sanchez said, noting that voters can also use hundreds of secure drop boxes across the region to submit their ballots ahead of election day. “That’s our message. Don’t wait. You can return it the same day you receive it.”
While many local voters are voting early, others are still waiting.
William Bird, a Marina del Rey resident, said he received notice from Los Angeles County that his ballot had been sent on Oct. 4. Yet it still hadn’t arrived as of Tuesday, more than a week later, causing him to worry about whether postal officials were properly handling the mail. The U.S. Postal Service has been plagued in recent months by delivery delays amid operational changes ordered by Postmaster General Louis DeJoy.
“I’m worried about where the ballot is,” said Bird, who works in real estate. “Having a drop box doesn’t do me any good if you don’t have your ballot.”
Luis Alvarado, an L.A.-area Republican strategist, said he too was seeing greater voter interest and engagement.
He attributes that in part to frustration with Trump, who is unpopular in deep-blue California, but also to campaigns getting smarter in their tactics for educating voters on how to participate. He also said voters had more time to investigate ballot measures and candidates because of the pandemic.
“There’s greater enthusiasm,” he said. “The effervescence is totally seeping into the consciousness of the electorate.”


latimes--2020-10-14--Power shut-offs coming tonight in Northern California as winds pick up

Pacific Gas & Electric Co. will turn the power off Wednesday evening in some areas of 24 counties across Northern California , where winds are expected to whip through and increase the risk of wildfires .
Winds from the northeast had already started to pick up Wednesday morning , drying out acres of vegetation .
The region could see sustained winds of 15 to 25 mph , with gusts up to 40 mph , in the next few days , according to the National Weather Service .
According to a statement from PG & E , about 53,000 people will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ two tribal communities and the following counties : Alameda , Amador , Butte , Calaveras , Contra Costa , El Dorado , Humboldt , Lake , Monterey , Napa , Nevada , Placer , Plumas , San Mateo , Santa Clara , Santa Cruz , Shasta , Sierra , Solano , Sonoma , Tehama , Trinity , Yolo and Yuba .
The shut-offs are expected to begin at 6 p.m. in some areas , with power restored by 10 p.m. Friday .
The worst wind is expected to come Wednesday night , when @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of up to 50 mph , and warm temperatures will add to the fire danger , said weather service meteorologist Brayden Murdock .
“ When you don ’ t get a lot of air coming from off the water , ” Murdock said , “ or in this case we ’ re also not going to see much of a marine layer develop , overnight these temperatures will barely drop off.
” The weather service issued a red flag warning until Friday at 11 a.m. that encompasses the Sacramento Valley , northern Sierra @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Temperatures are likely to reach into the 90s in the area Wednesday through Friday .
Humidity is already at a low 7 % to 20 % , with little increase expected overnight , according to the weather service .
Murdock said the wind and temperatures were expected to drop this weekend , but the weather service could extend the red flag warning if conditions persist .
Low humidity , high temperatures and high winds are ingredients for a dangerous wildfire .
Grass and brush dry out , creating prime fuel for a fire @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cigarettes , keeping cars off dry grass and avoiding use of power equipment as well as any activity that involves sparks or open flames .
“ Just be safe during this time , ” Murdock said .
“ Always be fire-weather aware .
It ’ s October in California , so unfortunately , this is the time for fire-weather awareness.
” PG & E is organizing 40 community resource centers for people without power , with charging outlets , Wi-Fi , bottled water and snacks .
Indoor centers will be temperature-controlled and will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ facial coverings , physical distancing and temperature checks , as well as offering grab-and-go options for food , according to PG & E ’ s website .
Centers will open from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. Wednesday and 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Thursday , said PG & E spokeswoman Tamar Sarkissian .
The preemptive shut-offs are the latest in a series of measures PG & E is taking to curb the likelihood of its power equipment igniting fast-spreading wildfires .
The company pleaded guilty to 84 counts of involuntary manslaughter over the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Northern California .
PG & E is again under scrutiny as state investigators look at the company ’ s equipment as a possible cause of the Zogg fire , which started Sept. 27 near Redding , killing four people and burning 56,338 acres .

Pacific Gas & Electric Co. will turn the power off Wednesday evening in some areas of 24 counties across Northern California, where winds are expected to whip through and increase the risk of wildfires.
Winds from the northeast had already started to pick up Wednesday morning, drying out acres of vegetation. The region could see sustained winds of 15 to 25 mph, with gusts up to 40 mph, in the next few days, according to the National Weather Service.
According to a statement from PG&E, about 53,000 people will be affected by the power shut-offs in two tribal communities and the following counties: Alameda, Amador, Butte, Calaveras, Contra Costa, El Dorado, Humboldt, Lake, Monterey, Napa, Nevada, Placer, Plumas, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, Shasta, Sierra, Solano, Sonoma, Tehama, Trinity, Yolo and Yuba. The shut-offs are expected to begin at 6 p.m. in some areas, with power restored by 10 p.m. Friday.
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The worst wind is expected to come Wednesday night, when some ridges and canyons could see gusts of up to 50 mph, and warm temperatures will add to the fire danger, said weather service meteorologist Brayden Murdock.
“When you don’t get a lot of air coming from off the water,” Murdock said, “or in this case we’re also not going to see much of a marine layer develop, overnight these temperatures will barely drop off.”
The weather service issued a red flag warning until Friday at 11 a.m. that encompasses the Sacramento Valley, northern Sierra, southern Cascades and the foothills. Temperatures are likely to reach into the 90s in the area Wednesday through Friday. Humidity is already at a low 7% to 20%, with little increase expected overnight, according to the weather service.
Murdock said the wind and temperatures were expected to drop this weekend, but the weather service could extend the red flag warning if conditions persist.
⚠ Gusty winds will pick up Wednesday morning into Friday morning with gusts up to 40 mph, locally up to 50 mph. Here's a look at the forecast timing of wind gusts.
‼ These winds will bring critical fire weather conditions. Stay wildfire aware! #cawx pic.twitter.com/ICewOnsxl6 — NWS Sacramento (@NWSSacramento) October 14, 2020
Low humidity, high temperatures and high winds are ingredients for a dangerous wildfire. Grass and brush dry out, creating prime fuel for a fire. The weather service recommends properly discarding cigarettes, keeping cars off dry grass and avoiding use of power equipment as well as any activity that involves sparks or open flames.
“Just be safe during this time,” Murdock said. “Always be fire-weather aware. It’s October in California, so unfortunately, this is the time for fire-weather awareness.”
PG&E is organizing 40 community resource centers for people without power, with charging outlets, Wi-Fi, bottled water and snacks. Indoor centers will be temperature-controlled and will follow COVID-19 safety measures such as requiring facial coverings, physical distancing and temperature checks, as well as offering grab-and-go options for food, according to PG&E’s website. Centers will open from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. Wednesday and 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Thursday, said PG&E spokeswoman Tamar Sarkissian.
The preemptive shut-offs are the latest in a series of measures PG&E is taking to curb the likelihood of its power equipment igniting fast-spreading wildfires.
The company pleaded guilty to 84 counts of involuntary manslaughter over the ignition of the 2018 Camp fire in Northern California. PG&E is again under scrutiny as state investigators look at the company’s equipment as a possible cause of the Zogg fire, which started Sept. 27 near Redding, killing four people and burning 56,338 acres.


latimes--2020-10-14--Beverly Hills bans trick-or-treating, citing coronavirus risks

Trick or treat ?
In Beverly Hills , the answer this year is “ no ” after city officials opted to nix the Halloween tradition in the face of ongoing coronavirus concerns .
The City Council ’ s decision Tuesday prohibits both house-to-house trick-or-treating and car-based “ trunk or treating ” on Oct. 31 .
More broadly , residents will be barred from giving out candy or other holiday treats to anyone outside their immediate household .
Scofflaws could be cited if they violate the restrictions , according to the city .
“ While I know this is disappointing news @ @ @ @ @ @ @ believe this is the responsible approach to protect the health of the community , ” Mayor Lester Friedman said in a statement .
The city is working to develop virtual Halloween programming as an alternative , officials said .
Along with trick-or-treating , spraying shaving cream on others in public will also be banned in Beverly Hills on Halloween — unless the person doing the spraying is a licensed barber with a customer .
City officials also announced the following streets would be closed to outside pedestrian and vehicle traffic from 6 to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The alley between North Linden Drive and Walden Drive from Santa Monica Boulevard to Elevado Avenue Beverly Hills ’ decision came the same day that state health officials released new guidelines advising Californians to skip trick-or-treating this year , though they didn ’ t outright prohibit the tradition .
Trick-or-treating doesn ’ t lend itself to social distancing and instead leads to numerous interactions between different households , possibly contributing to the spread of the coronavirus , officials said .
“ We don ’ t want to turn certainly what is a celebration @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that is difficult or contentious , but we also recognize the need to provide a clear understanding of the risks and why we recommend strongly that we do Halloween differently than we have in the past , ” California Health and Human Services Secretary Dr. Mark Ghaly said Tuesday .
Last month , Los Angeles County public health officials briefly banned trick-or-treating .
They quickly walked back the decision , however , saying instead that the practice was not recommended .

Trick-or-treaters fill the roadway during the 2017 Oak Street Halloween block party in Laguna Beach.
Trick or treat? In Beverly Hills, the answer this year is “no” after city officials opted to nix the Halloween tradition in the face of ongoing coronavirus concerns.
The City Council’s decision Tuesday prohibits both house-to-house trick-or-treating and car-based “trunk or treating” on Oct. 31.
More broadly, residents will be barred from giving out candy or other holiday treats to anyone outside their immediate household.
Scofflaws could be cited if they violate the restrictions, according to the city.
“While I know this is disappointing news, especially to our children, we believe this is the responsible approach to protect the health of the community,” Mayor Lester Friedman said in a statement.
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The city is working to develop virtual Halloween programming as an alternative, officials said.
Along with trick-or-treating, spraying shaving cream on others in public will also be banned in Beverly Hills on Halloween — unless the person doing the spraying is a licensed barber with a customer.
City officials also announced the following streets would be closed to outside pedestrian and vehicle traffic from 6 to 10 p.m. on Halloween night:
Carmelita Avenue at Wilshire Boulevard
Walden Drive southbound at Elevado Avenue
Walden Drive at Santa Monica Boulevard
Carmelita Avenue westbound at North Linden Drive
The alley between North Linden Drive and Walden Drive from Santa Monica Boulevard to Elevado Avenue
Beverly Hills’ decision came the same day that state health officials released new guidelines advising Californians to skip trick-or-treating this year, though they didn’t outright prohibit the tradition.
Trick-or-treating doesn’t lend itself to social distancing and instead leads to numerous interactions between different households, possibly contributing to the spread of the coronavirus, officials said.
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“We don’t want to turn certainly what is a celebration and a time of joy into something that is difficult or contentious, but we also recognize the need to provide a clear understanding of the risks and why we recommend strongly that we do Halloween differently than we have in the past,” California Health and Human Services Secretary Dr. Mark Ghaly said Tuesday.
Last month, Los Angeles County public health officials briefly banned trick-or-treating. They quickly walked back the decision, however, saying instead that the practice was not recommended.


latimes--2020-10-14--Firefighters battling Boyle Heights blaze discover marijuana grow

The fire was reported at 2:40 a.m. at a single-story building on East Olympic Boulevard , according to the Los @ @ @ @ @ than an hour later , officials reported the grow .
After a large air conditioning @ @ @ @ @ ’ s roof , crews also discovered bottles and tanks of unknown chemicals inside the @ @ @ @ @ ’ s hazardous materials squad was on the scene .
It took 93 firefighters to @ @ @ @ @ investigators were also called in .
No injuries have been reported .
Fire Department spokeswoman @ @ @ @ @ unclear whether any arrests would be made , as the investigation had not yet determined @ @ @ @ @ illegal .

Firefighters battling a Boyle Heights blaze early Wednesday morning discovered a marijuana growing operation inside an industrial building.
The fire was reported at 2:40 a.m. at a single-story building on East Olympic Boulevard, according to the Los Angeles Fire Department. Less than an hour later, officials reported the grow.
After a large air conditioning unit fell through the building’s roof, crews also discovered bottles and tanks of unknown chemicals inside the structure. The Fire Department’s hazardous materials squad was on the scene.
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It took 93 firefighters to extinguish the blaze. Arson investigators were also called in. No injuries have been reported.
Fire Department spokeswoman Margaret Stewart said it was unclear whether any arrests would be made, as the investigation had not yet determined whether the marijuana grow was illegal.


latimes--2020-10-14--Bobcat fire aftermath threatens endangered species in San Gabriel Mountains

Up until a few weeks ago , the West Fork of the San Gabriel River was one of the most abundant wildlife habitats in Los Angeles County , a secluded and rugged area defined by its steep peaks , lush canyons and mixture of rare and endangered species .
Recently however , a team of federal biologists and forest rangers was aghast when it visited the stream following the Bobcat fire , which has burned more than 115,000 acres in the heart of the San Gabriel Mountains National Monument .
Terrain that once resembled a High Sierra granite gorge now @ @ @ @ @ @ @ explosion , and the usually clean mountain air was sharp with the stench of smoke .
Particularly unsettling were the bare and ashen slopes that were now primed to dissolve under pounding winter storms .
A heavy mudslide , experts said , could reverse decades of conservation efforts by inundating the last outposts for such federally protected species as the Santa Ana sucker fish and Southern California mountain yellow-legged frog .
“ There ’ s nothing left , ” muttered U.S. Geological Survey biologist Adam Backlin as he surveyed the barren , ugly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the flow in an eight-mile stretch of the stream that provides some of the best fly-fishing in Southern California and helps recharge the metropolitan aquifer in the flatlands below .
“ Armageddon , ” said Leslie Welch , district wildlife biologist at the Angeles National Forest .
The Bobcat fire was 92 % contained Tuesday , Forest Service officials said .
The exact toll on wildlife along the West Fork and throughout much of the range will not be known until the Forest Service ‘ s emergency response teams determine the extent of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which , for safety reasons , could remain closed for months to come , federal forest officials said .
Even without that information , the state Department of Fish and Wildlife , the U.S. Geological Survey , the U.S .
Fish and Wildlife Service and the U.S. Forest Service are now scrambling to devise post-fire rescue operations to ensure the survival of protected species in the event canyon bottoms are buried in a slurry of rocks , uprooted trees and sediment this winter .
Their options include dispatching teams of state and federal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to scoop up as many fish and frogs as possible , then release them into suitable streams elsewhere .
Finding clear streams with cool rocky pools devoid of predatory invasive species will not be easy in an area within one of the most dangerous wildland fire environments in the United States .
“ Moving these sensitive creatures around in order to keep them one step ahead of the next environmental disaster is not a strategy — it ’ s a last-ditch effort , ” Welch said .
“ In an era of almost @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t had the time to develop comprehensive survival plans for each one of our protected species.
” The preemptive rescues being proposed across the San Gabriels highlight the difficulty facing biologists and land managers in ensuring the survival of species clinging to existence in Southern California ’ s patchwork of isolated habitats — areas already hemmed in by urban development and scorched by more frequent and intense wildfires .
Looking ahead , they can only surmise that things will get worse .
In a warming world , places such as California will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wet periods — factors that exacerbated the unprecedented fire season this year across the state .
The life and times of mountain yellow-legged frogs embody the challenges facing endangered species — and biologists — in Southern California .
For thousands of years , yellow-legged frogs thrived in hundreds of streams across the San Gabriel , San Bernardino and San Jacinto mountains .
Over the past eight decades , the species has been decimated by wildfires , mudslides , pesticides , fungal infections , loss of habitat , flood control facilities and the appetites @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Today , fewer than 400 are believed to exist in isolated populations , including a group of about 150 in a two-mile stretch of Little Rock Creek , near the resort community of Wrightwood .
Federal wildlife authorities in 2010 launched an ambitious recovery program that included captive breeding at institutions including the Los Angeles Zoo , trout removal in some of their ancestral haunts , and , in certain areas , barring public access .
The recovery program is a collaborative effort funded by donations , grants and California Department of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ emergency work stabilizing a slope near frog habitat on California Highway 330 in the San Bernardino Mountains .
Backlin , who has been monitoring Southern California ’ s yellow-legged frog populations since 1998 , could scarcely believe his eyes two weeks ago as he watched televised footage of flames marching down into the refuge at Little Rock Creek .
“ I was yelling at the screen , ” he recalled .
“ No !
No !
Stop !
” State and federal biologists are also worried about the loss of habitat for 150 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were rescued after the 2016 Sand fire burned through Soledad Canyon in northwestern L.A. County and then released in carefully selected areas of the Angeles National Forest .
Now , with those translocated fish threatened by mudslides in new burn areas , state and federal biologists plan to recapture most of them and return them , yet again , to Soledad Canyon , which over the past four years has become suitable for repopulation .
Then there are the descendants of an estimated 23,000 native fish that were captured in the upper San @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the confluence of the West Fork and Bear Creek to make way for a massive sediment removal project in the San Gabriel Reservoir , about 18 miles north of Azusa .
They included federally threatened San Ana suckers ; Santa Ana speckled dace , a California species of special concern ; arroyo chubs , also a California species of special concern ; and thousands of unidentified minnows .
If the West Fork gets buried in mud , Forest Service officials said , it could hasten the decline of the fish species already on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ meantime , in the mountains surrounding Cogswell Dam where the Bobcat fire started on Sept. 6 , rare and common animals alike — Nelson ’ s bighorn sheep , mule deer , mountain lions , foxes and southern Pacific rattlesnakes — continue searching for food and shelter amid the snags and ashes .
“ It broke my heart to see a bear with an injured paw and shoulder staggering out of a burned area , ” recalled Steven Morgan , operator of the 95-year-old reservoir owned by the Los Angeles County Department of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ no place for smaller critters to hide anymore , either .
Rodents and squirrels have become easy pickings for owls and hawks.
” Aquatic creatures such as fish , frogs and western pond turtles , a state-listed species of special concern , face an even sadder and more diminished future when their domain downstream is slammed by winter flooding .
Overall , wildlife stands to lose in the collision of competing interests across the fire-scarred range , an oblong mass from Santa Clarita to San Bernardino that attracts 3.5 million visitors a year @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a priority of safeguarding critical infrastructure , including catch basins and several man-made dams that provide water and safety for millions of people in downstream communities .
“ The business of saving human lives and rare wildlife is suddenly more complicated than ever , ” said Rossana D ’ Antonio , incident commander for the public works department ’ s Bobcat fire recovery effort .
“ But our No .
1 goal is to protect constituents down mountain , secure our critical infrastructure and steer mud off the roadways , ” she said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of that .
“ Hastily packing up endangered fish and amphibians , then moving them out of harm ’ s way is not an ideal solution , ” she said .
“ But it can buy us time to care for them for decades , or longer , if possible .
”

Up until a few weeks ago, the West Fork of the San Gabriel River was one of the most abundant wildlife habitats in Los Angeles County, a secluded and rugged area defined by its steep peaks, lush canyons and mixture of rare and endangered species.
Recently however, a team of federal biologists and forest rangers was aghast when it visited the stream following the Bobcat fire, which has burned more than 115,000 acres in the heart of the San Gabriel Mountains National Monument.
Terrain that once resembled a High Sierra granite gorge now looked like ground zero after a nuclear explosion, and the usually clean mountain air was sharp with the stench of smoke.
Particularly unsettling were the bare and ashen slopes that were now primed to dissolve under pounding winter storms. A heavy mudslide, experts said, could reverse decades of conservation efforts by inundating the last outposts for such federally protected species as the Santa Ana sucker fish and Southern California mountain yellow-legged frog.
× After the Bobcat fire, rangers and biologists consider rescue operations for protected species in the San Gabriel Mountains.
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“There’s nothing left,” muttered U.S. Geological Survey biologist Adam Backlin as he surveyed the barren, ugly mountains overlooking Cogswell Dam, which controls the flow in an eight-mile stretch of the stream that provides some of the best fly-fishing in Southern California and helps recharge the metropolitan aquifer in the flatlands below.
“Armageddon,” said Leslie Welch, district wildlife biologist at the Angeles National Forest.
U.S. Forest Service biologist Leslie Welch worries about the impact the Bobcat fire will have on wildlife as debris starts to clog creeks and rivers when winter rains come. (Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times)
The Bobcat fire was 92% contained Tuesday, Forest Service officials said.
The exact toll on wildlife along the West Fork and throughout much of the range will not be known until the Forest Service‘s emergency response teams determine the extent of the damage in severely burned areas, which, for safety reasons, could remain closed for months to come, federal forest officials said.
Even without that information, the state Department of Fish and Wildlife, the U.S. Geological Survey, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the U.S. Forest Service are now scrambling to devise post-fire rescue operations to ensure the survival of protected species in the event canyon bottoms are buried in a slurry of rocks, uprooted trees and sediment this winter.
Their options include dispatching teams of state and federal biologists armed with electroshock wands and nets to scoop up as many fish and frogs as possible, then release them into suitable streams elsewhere.
Finding clear streams with cool rocky pools devoid of predatory invasive species will not be easy in an area within one of the most dangerous wildland fire environments in the United States.
“Moving these sensitive creatures around in order to keep them one step ahead of the next environmental disaster is not a strategy — it’s a last-ditch effort,” Welch said. “In an era of almost back-to-back wildfires and mudslides, we haven’t had the time to develop comprehensive survival plans for each one of our protected species.”
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The preemptive rescues being proposed across the San Gabriels highlight the difficulty facing biologists and land managers in ensuring the survival of species clinging to existence in Southern California’s patchwork of isolated habitats — areas already hemmed in by urban development and scorched by more frequent and intense wildfires.
Looking ahead, they can only surmise that things will get worse. In a warming world, places such as California will experience whiplash shifts between extremely dry and wet periods — factors that exacerbated the unprecedented fire season this year across the state.
The life and times of mountain yellow-legged frogs embody the challenges facing endangered species — and biologists — in Southern California.
An endangered mountain yellow-legged frog.
(Jamie Pham / Los Angeles Zoo)
For thousands of years, yellow-legged frogs thrived in hundreds of streams across the San Gabriel, San Bernardino and San Jacinto mountains. Over the past eight decades, the species has been decimated by wildfires, mudslides, pesticides, fungal infections, loss of habitat, flood control facilities and the appetites of nonnative trout, bullfrogs and crayfish.
Today, fewer than 400 are believed to exist in isolated populations, including a group of about 150 in a two-mile stretch of Little Rock Creek, near the resort community of Wrightwood.
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Federal wildlife authorities in 2010 launched an ambitious recovery program that included captive breeding at institutions including the Los Angeles Zoo, trout removal in some of their ancestral haunts, and, in certain areas, barring public access.
The recovery program is a collaborative effort funded by donations, grants and California Department of Transportation funds to mitigate the effects of emergency work stabilizing a slope near frog habitat on California Highway 330 in the San Bernardino Mountains.
U.S. Geological Survey biologist Adam Backlin. (Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times)
Backlin, who has been monitoring Southern California’s yellow-legged frog populations since 1998, could scarcely believe his eyes two weeks ago as he watched televised footage of flames marching down into the refuge at Little Rock Creek.
“I was yelling at the screen,” he recalled. “No! No! Stop!”
State and federal biologists are also worried about the loss of habitat for 150 federally endangered unarmored threespine stickleback fish that were rescued after the 2016 Sand fire burned through Soledad Canyon in northwestern L.A. County and then released in carefully selected areas of the Angeles National Forest.
Now, with those translocated fish threatened by mudslides in new burn areas, state and federal biologists plan to recapture most of them and return them, yet again, to Soledad Canyon, which over the past four years has become suitable for repopulation.
Biologists predict that when winter rains come, the San Gabriel River will be filled with soot and debris left by the Bobcat fire. (Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times)
Then there are the descendants of an estimated 23,000 native fish that were captured in the upper San Gabriel River in 2006 and relocated near the confluence of the West Fork and Bear Creek to make way for a massive sediment removal project in the San Gabriel Reservoir, about 18 miles north of Azusa.
They included federally threatened San Ana suckers; Santa Ana speckled dace, a California species of special concern; arroyo chubs, also a California species of special concern; and thousands of unidentified minnows.
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If the West Fork gets buried in mud, Forest Service officials said, it could hasten the decline of the fish species already on the verge of extinction.
In the meantime, in the mountains surrounding Cogswell Dam where the Bobcat fire started on Sept. 6, rare and common animals alike — Nelson’s bighorn sheep, mule deer, mountain lions, foxes and southern Pacific rattlesnakes — continue searching for food and shelter amid the snags and ashes.
A deer searches for food after the Bobcat fire devastated its habitat in the San Gabriel Mountains.
(Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times)
“It broke my heart to see a bear with an injured paw and shoulder staggering out of a burned area,” recalled Steven Morgan, operator of the 95-year-old reservoir owned by the Los Angeles County Department of Public Works. “There’s no place for smaller critters to hide anymore, either. Rodents and squirrels have become easy pickings for owls and hawks.”
Aquatic creatures such as fish, frogs and western pond turtles, a state-listed species of special concern, face an even sadder and more diminished future when their domain downstream is slammed by winter flooding.
Overall, wildlife stands to lose in the collision of competing interests across the fire-scarred range, an oblong mass from Santa Clarita to San Bernardino that attracts 3.5 million visitors a year.
A Pacific rattlesnake seen on rocks along the West Fork of the San Gabriel River after the Bobcat fire. (Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times)
County flood control authorities have made a priority of safeguarding critical infrastructure, including catch basins and several man-made dams that provide water and safety for millions of people in downstream communities.
“The business of saving human lives and rare wildlife is suddenly more complicated than ever,” said Rossana D’Antonio, incident commander for the public works department’s Bobcat fire recovery effort.
“But our No. 1 goal is to protect constituents down mountain, secure our critical infrastructure and steer mud off the roadways,” she said.
Welch would not argue with any of that.
“Hastily packing up endangered fish and amphibians, then moving them out of harm’s way is not an ideal solution,” she said. “But it can buy us time to care for them for decades, or longer, if possible.”


latimes--2020-10-14--Column: How do you show up en masse to celebrate Grandma's birthday without killing her with COVID-1

Column: How do you show up en masse to celebrate Grandma's birthday without killing her with COVID-19?

There was no question that my dad ’ s side of the family would celebrate the 98th birthday of our matriarch , Angelita Arellano , which happened on Oct. 1 .
OK , there was one : how ?
We ’ re a tamborazo-loving , food-crazy , hug-addicted clan where a family party of some sorts — wedding , baptism , quinceañera , or carne asada just for the hell of it — seems to happen every weekend .
But Los Angeles County , where nearly all of my dad ’ s side of the family lives — my siblings @ @ @ @ @ @ @ up in Orange County — is still under strict coronavirus lockdowns , spontaneous Lakers celebrations notwithstanding .
And none of us wanted to kill Grandma — which we call her as much as we do abuelita , because assimilation — after she ’ s lived almost a century .
So after a bunch of texts and money transfers via Venmo , a bunch of cousins decided on a plan : A socially distant fiesta that would still make the Arellanos proud .
We asked Grandma to sit on the front steps of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ L.A. on Oct. 3 , a Saturday .
A caravan of cousins would drive by and wish her a happy birthday .
The sweltering heat didn ’ t keep Grandma from dressing in a matching cream-colored skirt and women ’ s sports coat , glittering tiara , and a ribbon that read “ Birthday Queen.
” Grandma looked as elegant as Britain ’ s 94-year-old whippersnapper of a monarch .
With a mask over her mouth , and guests off to the side six feet from each other , Grandma awaited a procession @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , 35 grandchildren , 47 great-grandchildren and 11 great-great grandchildren .
It was the first time since Christmas that so many of us had gathered in person .
“ She ’ s had a rough few months isolated from all of us , ” said Maribel Bermejo , daughter of my Tia Mela .
She and her sons staked some balloons on my Tia Nacha ’ s front lawn and put water bottles in a cooler .
“ So why not celebrate her ?
Her health is all of our priority , but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s happy.
” Mariachi San Antonio played off to the side , as air horns and car honks served as a chorus .
Those of us closer to Grandma announced who had just cruised by .
That was Rudy , el de Santos , who works as an engineer .
That was Nini , my sister , with her boyfriend , Conrad .
That was Meño in the jacked-up Ford Excursion , with his kids .
And was that Grace , daughter of my Tia Paulita , or Veronica of my Tío @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a life well-lived , and one that would ’ ve been impossible during normal times .
Pre-pandemic , we would ’ ve probably rented a huge salon — the Industry Hills Expo Center , maybe , or the La Puente Handball Club — to mark Grandma ’ s birthday with a giant fiesta for her .
But what we hosted for Grandma that Saturday wasn ’ t just a commemoration of her rich life , but also of us .
Grandma was born in 1922 in the dusty village of Jomulquillo , Zacatecas @ @ @ @ @ @ @ universally known as Pepe — raised eight children , all whom slowly peeled off to the United States once they became of age .
In 1972 , my grandparents joined them in East Los Angeles , where seemingly half of Jomulquillo already lived .
Grandma worked as a seamstress , a babysitter and a caretaker for older neighbors .
After my Pepe died of a heart attack in 1985 , she threw herself toward taking care of her family .
Grandma became legendary for her great cooking , her devout faith — she @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Alphonsus in East L.A. — and plainspoken smarts .
One time , when we celebrated my Tio Santos ’ 70th birthday , Grandma told everyone we should get pizzas to accompany the sumptuous buffet of moles and carne asada that cost my uncles hundreds of dollars .
Her great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren might not care for Mexican food , Grandma argued .
We scoffed , but went with her advice .
The pizza was gone within minutes , consumed by young and old alike .
But 2020 has been a terrible year for Grandma @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
She was used to daily check-ins from cousins and others from Jomulquillo ; because of coronavirus , my aunts limited visits to only from the outside , and only my aunts and uncles .
Dozens of cousins organized a surprise Zoom call for Mother ’ s Day , which lifted her spirits .
But we began to worry for Grandma , who became depressed .
And then came the hospital visits .
Over the summer , she fell and broke a vertebra .
Doctors decided against surgery due to her age and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to heal .
She fainted twice due to the pain and a bad reaction to antibiotics , which necessitated more trips to the emergency room .
At one point , Grandma even told her children to visit her in person for a final blessing .
Now , she radiated with love .
“ I call her la mujer valiente , ” my dad said .
The brave woman .
“ I haven ’ t seen her so happy in so long , ” said my cousin Ramiro , who lives with her .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” It was a reminder that while coronavirus is deadly , social isolation can be even worse .
The primo parade looped around a couple of times , as the party grew in front of us .
Chabelita , daughter of my cousin Leti , swirled in her baile folkorico dress .
Maribel and her sons handed out to-go kits from Tony ’ s Deli in Montebello — a ham-and-cheese sandwich and some chips — and a bag of delicious bizcochito cookies prepared by my Tia Paulita for the cousins who didn ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you know , coronavirus .
Those who stayed around parked and staked out a sidewalk for their coronavirus pod .
Modelos were passed around .
Dodgers and Raiders facemasks ruled .
Ramon Arellano , son of my Tio Gabriel , drove from Las Vegas with most of his kids .
“ She ’ s always been the kindest woman , ” he said .
“ Look all around us , cousin !
It ’ s like the family tree that people look for .
Well , we live it.
” A couple of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hager hung out with her three children and husband , Richard .
“ In my family , we can ’ t do something like this , ” he deadpanned .
“ There ’ s six of us.
” Across the street , my Tio Santos said that one of my uncles was notorious for wanting to shake hands or hug .
“ Right now isn ’ t the time to hug , ” he said .
“ All that we can do right now is a fist-bump or a nalgazo ” — a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the howls of my cousins .
But not everyone seemed as vigilant around the virus .
“ Es show , this coronavirus ” said someone , whose name I won ’ t mention as to spare them embarrassment in a national publication , and a rebuke from Grandma .
“ They [ health experts ] put too much cream on those tacos.
” “ Ask Angie , ” shot back Macario Gurrola , husband of my cousin , who ’ s the daughter of my Tia Nacha and works in the health @ @ @ @ @ @ @ relatives who had died from coronavirus .
“ It ’ s an invisible enemy.
” “ My compadre got it , too , ” added another cousin .
The skeptic quieted .
My Tio Santos lightened the mood .
“ Look at my mom !
She looks like la Queen Elizabeth !
” I finally went to interview the belle of this ball .
“ I ’ m so happy !
” she said .
“ Even though they were in a car , I was able to wave to all my family.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ faith , family , and good genes — three of her siblings made it to their late 90s .
“ I try to read as much as possible , ” she said , “ because the doctor says that helps me keep sharp.
” She also tries to eat as much homemade food as possible , with an occasional cheat day for In-N-Out .
Araceli danced with her mom , my Tia Chayo .
The cousins that stayed began to approach Grandma to take socially distant photos to put up on Instagram .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ me .
“ Is it true , ” she sad , “ that Donald Trump got the coronavirus ?
” Yep .
And his Rose Garden gathering for Judge Amy Coney Barrett turned out to be a super-spreader event .
Ours didn ’ t .

Angelita Arellano sends kisses and waves to a caravan of cars that pass her house to celebrate her 98th birthday in East Los Angeles.
There was no question that my dad’s side of the family would celebrate the 98th birthday of our matriarch, Angelita Arellano, which happened on Oct. 1.
OK, there was one: how?
We’re a tamborazo-loving, food-crazy, hug-addicted clan where a family party of some sorts — wedding, baptism, quinceañera, or carne asada just for the hell of it — seems to happen every weekend.
But Los Angeles County, where nearly all of my dad’s side of the family lives — my siblings and I are the weirdos who ended up in Orange County — is still under strict coronavirus lockdowns, spontaneous Lakers celebrations notwithstanding. And none of us wanted to kill Grandma — which we call her as much as we do abuelita, because assimilation — after she’s lived almost a century.
So after a bunch of texts and money transfers via Venmo, a bunch of cousins decided on a plan: A socially distant fiesta that would still make the Arellanos proud.
We asked Grandma to sit on the front steps of the house of my Tia Nacha in East L.A. on Oct. 3, a Saturday. A caravan of cousins would drive by and wish her a happy birthday.
Isabella Navarro, 10, performs a Mexican dance to celebrate her great-grandmother Angelita Arellano’s 98th birthday. (Dania Maxwell / Los Angeles Times)
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The sweltering heat didn’t keep Grandma from dressing in a matching cream-colored skirt and women’s sports coat, glittering tiara, and a ribbon that read “Birthday Queen.” Grandma looked as elegant as Britain’s 94-year-old whippersnapper of a monarch.
With a mask over her mouth, and guests off to the side six feet from each other, Grandma awaited a procession of a fraction of her eight children, 35 grandchildren, 47 great-grandchildren and 11 great-great grandchildren.
It was the first time since Christmas that so many of us had gathered in person.
“She’s had a rough few months isolated from all of us,” said Maribel Bermejo, daughter of my Tia Mela. She and her sons staked some balloons on my Tia Nacha’s front lawn and put water bottles in a cooler. “So why not celebrate her? Her health is all of our priority, but that also means to make sure she’s happy.”
The party started at 3.
A mariachi band plays during Angelita Arellano’s 98th birthday in East Los Angeles. (Dania Maxwell / Los Angeles Times)
Mariachi San Antonio played off to the side, as air horns and car honks served as a chorus. Those of us closer to Grandma announced who had just cruised by.
That was Rudy, el de Santos, who works as an engineer. That was Nini, my sister, with her boyfriend, Conrad. That was Meño in the jacked-up Ford Excursion, with his kids. And was that Grace, daughter of my Tia Paulita, or Veronica of my Tío Jesus?
It was a tribute to a life well-lived, and one that would’ve been impossible during normal times.
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Pre-pandemic, we would’ve probably rented a huge salon — the Industry Hills Expo Center, maybe, or the La Puente Handball Club — to mark Grandma’s birthday with a giant fiesta for her. But what we hosted for Grandma that Saturday wasn’t just a commemoration of her rich life, but also of us.
**
A caravan of cars pass in a celebration of Angelita Arellano’s 98th birthday. (Dania Maxwell / Los Angeles Times)
Grandma was born in 1922 in the dusty village of Jomulquillo, Zacatecas. She and my grandpa Jose — universally known as Pepe — raised eight children, all whom slowly peeled off to the United States once they became of age.
In 1972, my grandparents joined them in East Los Angeles, where seemingly half of Jomulquillo already lived.
Grandma worked as a seamstress, a babysitter and a caretaker for older neighbors. After my Pepe died of a heart attack in 1985, she threw herself toward taking care of her family. Grandma became legendary for her great cooking, her devout faith — she’s a longtime parishioner at St. Alphonsus in East L.A. — and plainspoken smarts.
One time, when we celebrated my Tio Santos’ 70th birthday, Grandma told everyone we should get pizzas to accompany the sumptuous buffet of moles and carne asada that cost my uncles hundreds of dollars. Her great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren might not care for Mexican food, Grandma argued.
We scoffed, but went with her advice. The pizza was gone within minutes, consumed by young and old alike.
Some of Angelita Arellano’s eight children, 35 grandchildren, 47 great-grandchildren and 11 great-great grandchildren join the celebration. (Dania Maxwell / Los Angeles Times)
But 2020 has been a terrible year for Grandma, like so many of our elderly. She was used to daily check-ins from cousins and others from Jomulquillo; because of coronavirus, my aunts limited visits to only from the outside, and only my aunts and uncles. Dozens of cousins organized a surprise Zoom call for Mother’s Day, which lifted her spirits.
But we began to worry for Grandma, who became depressed. And then came the hospital visits.
Over the summer, she fell and broke a vertebra. Doctors decided against surgery due to her age and the coronavirus, and sent Grandma home to heal. She fainted twice due to the pain and a bad reaction to antibiotics, which necessitated more trips to the emergency room.
At one point, Grandma even told her children to visit her in person for a final blessing.
Now, she radiated with love.
“I call her la mujer valiente,” my dad said. The brave woman.
“I haven’t seen her so happy in so long,” said my cousin Ramiro, who lives with her. “She’s finally herself again.”
It was a reminder that while coronavirus is deadly, social isolation can be even worse.
**
Restrictions on gatherings because of the pandemic necessitated a socially distanced celebration. (Dania Maxwell / Los Angeles Times)
The primo parade looped around a couple of times, as the party grew in front of us. Chabelita, daughter of my cousin Leti, swirled in her baile folkorico dress. Maribel and her sons handed out to-go kits from Tony’s Deli in Montebello — a ham-and-cheese sandwich and some chips — and a bag of delicious bizcochito cookies prepared by my Tia Paulita for the cousins who didn’t want to stick around because, you know, coronavirus.
Those who stayed around parked and staked out a sidewalk for their coronavirus pod. Modelos were passed around. Dodgers and Raiders facemasks ruled.
Ramon Arellano, son of my Tio Gabriel, drove from Las Vegas with most of his kids.
“She’s always been the kindest woman,” he said. “Look all around us, cousin! It’s like the family tree that people look for. Well, we live it.”
A couple of houses down from Ramon, Araceli Arellano Hager hung out with her three children and husband, Richard. “In my family, we can’t do something like this,” he deadpanned. “There’s six of us.”
Across the street, my Tio Santos said that one of my uncles was notorious for wanting to shake hands or hug. “Right now isn’t the time to hug,” he said. “All that we can do right now is a fist-bump or a nalgazo” — a booty bump, which he acted out to the howls of my cousins.
But not everyone seemed as vigilant around the virus.
“Es show, this coronavirus” said someone, whose name I won’t mention as to spare them embarrassment in a national publication, and a rebuke from Grandma. “They [health experts] put too much cream on those tacos.”
“Ask Angie,” shot back Macario Gurrola, husband of my cousin, who’s the daughter of my Tia Nacha and works in the health industry. He rattled off friends and relatives who had died from coronavirus. “It’s an invisible enemy.”
“My compadre got it, too,” added another cousin.
The skeptic quieted. My Tio Santos lightened the mood. “Look at my mom! She looks like la Queen Elizabeth!”
I finally went to interview the belle of this ball.
Angelita Arellano has had health struggles this year, but the celebration for her 98th birthday lifted her spirits. (Dania Maxwell / Los Angeles Times)
“I’m so happy!” she said. “Even though they were in a car, I was able to wave to all my family.”
Grandma credited her long life to faith, family, and good genes — three of her siblings made it to their late 90s. “I try to read as much as possible,” she said, “because the doctor says that helps me keep sharp.”
She also tries to eat as much homemade food as possible, with an occasional cheat day for In-N-Out.
Araceli danced with her mom, my Tia Chayo. The cousins that stayed began to approach Grandma to take socially distant photos to put up on Instagram. But my Grandma had one question for me.
“Is it true,” she said, “that Donald Trump got the coronavirus?”
Yep. And his Rose Garden gathering for Judge Amy Coney Barrett turned out to be a super-spreader event. Ours didn’t.


latimes--2020-10-14--Diablo winds and low humidity will bring critical fire weather to Northern California through Friday

Widespread red flag fire warnings will be in effect in Northern California for extremely dry , gusty , north-to-northeast winds , resulting in critical fire conditions .
The primary period of concern is from Wednesday morning through Friday morning , the National Weather Service said .
A ridge of high pressure continues to build along the West Coast , driving up temperatures .
That heat will be augmented with additional warming and drying from offshore winds .
The strongest winds are expected from Wednesday evening through Thursday morning .
Relative humidity during the daytime will plummet to the single digits @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the 20 % range overnight during the period .
Winds could reach about 45 mph , especially in the hills , with gusts to 55 mph over the highest ridges .
Pacific Gas & Electric has said that power shutoffs may be necessary in parts of 24 counties .
Red flag warnings cover much of Northern California from about Santa Cruz north to the Oregon border .
The warnings stretch from the northern San Joaquin Valley and the western slope of the Sierra , north through the Sacramento Valley to near Mt .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ City area and the coast .
These offshore winds are often called Diablo winds , which are similar to the Santa Ana winds familiar to Southern Californians , according to Roger Gass , a meteorologist in the National Weather Service ’ s Monterey office .
Like Santa Ana winds , Diablo winds originate hundreds of miles inland , in the desert regions of the Great Basin .
There , circulation around a strong area of surface high pressure flows over the Sierra Nevada , heading toward lower pressure at sea level .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ down the western mountain slopes heats up from compression , dries out and speeds up as it is forced through narrow canyons and passes .
Because of dry fuels , extremely low humidity and breezy north-to-northeast winds , any fires that start will spread quickly , forecasters warned .

Widespread red flag fire warnings will be in effect in Northern California for extremely dry, gusty, north-to-northeast winds, resulting in critical fire conditions. The primary period of concern is from Wednesday morning through Friday morning, the National Weather Service said.
A ridge of high pressure continues to build along the West Coast, driving up temperatures. That heat will be augmented with additional warming and drying from offshore winds.
The strongest winds are expected from Wednesday evening through Thursday morning. Relative humidity during the daytime will plummet to the single digits and teens and will recover only to the 20% range overnight during the period.
Winds could reach about 45 mph, especially in the hills, with gusts to 55 mph over the highest ridges.
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Pacific Gas & Electric has said that power shutoffs may be necessary in parts of 24 counties.
Red flag warnings cover much of Northern California from about Santa Cruz north to the Oregon border. The warnings stretch from the northern San Joaquin Valley and the western slope of the Sierra, north through the Sacramento Valley to near Mt. Shasta, then over to the Crescent City area and the coast.
Winds heat up as they hurdle down mountain slopes. (Paul Duginski / Los Angeles Times)
These offshore winds are often called Diablo winds, which are similar to the Santa Ana winds familiar to Southern Californians, according to Roger Gass, a meteorologist in the National Weather Service’s Monterey office.
Like Santa Ana winds, Diablo winds originate hundreds of miles inland, in the desert regions of the Great Basin. There, circulation around a strong area of surface high pressure flows over the Sierra Nevada, heading toward lower pressure at sea level.
The air rushing over the peaks and hurdling down the western mountain slopes heats up from compression, dries out and speeds up as it is forced through narrow canyons and passes.
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Because of dry fuels, extremely low humidity and breezy north-to-northeast winds, any fires that start will spread quickly, forecasters warned.


latimes--2020-10-14--Providers protest police violence in hospitals as sheriff gives details on Harbor-UCLA shooting

A group of health care providers and activists gathered outside Harbor-UCLA Medical Center on Tuesday evening to protest police violence in hospitals after a patient was shot there last week by a Los Angeles County sheriff ’ s deputy in what marked the second police shooting there in five years .
“ Hospitals are a place where we should be getting care , ” said Mark-Anthony Clayton-Johnson , founder of the Frontline Wellness Network , a coalition of care providers working to end mass incarceration .
“ In that context , there should never be a reason why a law @ @ @ @ @ @ @ such as a gun , on our folks.
” Clayton-Johnson , who does not work at the hospital but spoke at Tuesday ’ s event , added : “ Sheriffs shouldn ’ t have any place responding to crises in our hospitals when trained providers are better equipped to save lives.
” Dr. Anish Mahajan , chief medical officer for the hospital , said in a statement Tuesday that the patient was experiencing a psychiatric crisis on Oct. 6 when he was shot by a deputy assigned to South L.A. station who was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s unit at Harbor-UCLA .
The deputy “ was on-site to provide security services for another hospitalized patient who was in an adjacent room , ” Mahajan said .
“ Multiple investigations are underway within and outside the hospital about how and why this incident occurred.
” Meanwhile , he said , hospital leaders “ will review best practices on how to provide security services that optimally protect the health and safety of patients , visitors , and staff.
” Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas is seeking an investigation into the shooting by the Office @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the board ’ s authority to impose restrictions or training requirements on armed officers assigned to medical campuses .
Some speakers at Tuesday ’ s Board of Supervisors meeting called for the removal of law enforcement from hospitals .
Sheriff Alex Villanueva responded : “ It was a scene out of ‘ The Shining ’ with Jack Nicholson , ” he said of the shooting .
On Wednesday , Villanueva held a news conference with a homicide lieutenant to provide a fuller picture of what they say led to the shooting .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the South L.A. station were providing security to a wounded deputy inside a patient room at the hospital at about 11:15 p.m. when they heard loud banging and screams .
One of the deputies left the room and walked down the hallway to investigate .
A few rooms down , she found a 34-year-old patient , who was not identified , in a hospital gown trying to smash a window inside a large hospital room with a 6.5-pound compression device encased in steel , Alfred said .
The deputy directed the three @ @ @ @ @ @ @ other patients from the room .
An announcement was broadcast over the hospital speaker system summoning a team to respond to the patient having a psychiatric crisis , Alfred said .
Knowing help was on the way , Alfred said , the deputy returned to the room of the wounded deputy and closed the door .
Alfred said the deputies then heard banging coming from the hallway before the window of their door shattered , with the patient holding the device over his head .
He struck the door again and it swung @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the deputies stepped into the threshold to block the man from entering and ordered him to put the object down .
He then lunged toward her with the device over his head and she opened fire , Alfred said .
He was struck seven times in his upper body .
“ That deputy was about a second or two away from getting beaned in the head with that , I ’ m not sure how long you want her to wait for people to gather together on the first floor of the hospital @ @ @ @ @ @ @ up to the fourth floor to intervene , ” Villanueva said when asked why the deputy intervened with lethal force when a medical team was on their way .
“ I wouldn ’ t expect anybody to wait under those circumstances.
” Alfred said the hospital doesn ’ t have security videos in patient rooms so there ’ s no footage .
The deputies were not outfitted with body cameras .
When asked why the deputy ’ s room needed security , Villanueva said : “ I think that the results of this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you need to explain that , well I can ’ t help you there.
” Hannah Janeway , an emergency physician at Olive View-UCLA Medical Center who said she trained at Harbor-UCLA and witnessed the 2015 police shooting there , said medical staff responds daily to psychiatric emergencies — broadcast internally as “ Code Gold.
” “ During all of those we are able to get the patient deescalated , without anyone becoming hurt or losing their essential dignity as a person , ” said Janeway , who attended Tuesday ’ s rally @ @ @ @ @ @ @ agitated patient , she said , “ My first thought is how do I get the police away from this person because I ’ m afraid the police are going to murder them.
” “ They see our patients out of horror films , ” she added , referencing Villanueva ’ s comment .
“ That ’ s why law enforcement shouldn ’ t be in care spaces .
”

L.A. County sheriff’s deputies meet outside Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, where multiple investigations are underway into a patient who was shot by a deputy last week.
Sheriff’s officials said Wednesday that two deputies were guarding a third who was hospitalized at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center when a patient suffering a psychiatric crisis lunged toward one of them while carrying a metal medical device, prompting a deputy to open fire.
The patient, a 34-year-old man who was not identified, was struck seven times in the shooting last week and remains hospitalized in critical condition. Many questions remain, though, about how the incident escalated into violence.
The hospital’s chief medical officer and elected county officials are seeking an independent investigation while some healthcare providers called for the removal of law enforcement officers from hospitals. A group of medical workers and activists gathered outside the hospital Tuesday night to protest police violence in healthcare facilities.
“Hospitals are a place where we should be getting care,” said Mark-Anthony Clayton-Johnson, founder of the Frontline Wellness Network, a coalition of care providers working to end mass incarceration. “In that context, there should never be a reason why a law enforcement officer should use lethal force, such as a gun, on our folks.”
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Clayton-Johnson, who does not work at the hospital but spoke at Tuesday’s event, added: “Sheriffs shouldn’t have any place responding to crises in our hospitals when trained providers are better equipped to save lives.”
Dr. Anish Mahajan, chief medical officer for the hospital, said in a statement Tuesday that the patient was experiencing a psychiatric crisis Oct. 6 when he was shot by a deputy assigned to the South L.A. station who was not a member of the sheriff’s unit at Harbor-UCLA.
The deputy “was on-site to provide security services for another hospitalized patient who was in an adjacent room,” Mahajan said. “Multiple investigations are underway within and outside the hospital about how and why this incident occurred.”
Meanwhile, he said, hospital leaders “will review best practices on how to provide security services that optimally protect the health and safety of patients, visitors and staff.”
County Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas is seeking an investigation by the county’s Office of Inspector General as well as information on the board’s authority to impose restrictions or training requirements on armed officers assigned to medical campuses. Some speakers at Tuesday’s Board of Supervisors meeting called for the removal of law enforcement from hospitals. Last week’s shooting was the second at Harbor-UCLA in five years.
Sheriff Alex Villanueva likened the incident to a scene from a movie: “It was a scene out of ‘The Shining’ with Jack Nicholson,” he said of the shooting.
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On Wednesday, Villanueva held a news conference with a homicide lieutenant to provide a fuller picture of what they say led to the shooting.
Lt. Derrick Alfred said two deputies assigned to the South L.A. station were providing security to a wounded deputy inside a patient room at the hospital about 11:15 p.m. when they heard loud banging and screams.
One of the deputies left the room and walked down the hallway to investigate. A few rooms down, she found a patient, who was not identified, in a hospital gown trying to smash a window with a 6.5-pound compression device encased in steel, Alfred said.
The deputy directed medical staff members to remove other patients from the room, and an announcement was broadcast over the hospital speaker system summoning a crisis team, Alfred said. The deputy returned to the room of the wounded deputy and closed the door, he said.
Alfred said the deputies then heard banging in the hallway before the window of their door shattered, with the patient holding the device over his head. He struck the door again and it swung inward, Alfred said. One of the deputies stepped onto the threshold to block the man from entering and ordered him to put the object down. He then lunged forward with the device over his head, and a deputy opened fire, Alfred said. He was struck seven times in his upper body.
“That deputy was about a second or two away from getting beaned in the head with that. I’m not sure how long you want her to wait for people to gather together on the first floor of the hospital, get a plan together and go up to the fourth floor to intervene,” Villanueva said when asked why the deputy intervened with lethal force when a medical team was on the way. “I wouldn’t expect anybody to wait under those circumstances.”
Alfred said there were no security cameras in patient rooms. The deputies were not outfitted with body cameras.
When asked why the deputy’s room needed security, Villanueva said: “I think that the results of this speak for themselves, really.”
Hannah Janeway, an emergency physician at Olive View-UCLA Medical Center, said she trained at Harbor-UCLA and witnessed the 2015 police shooting there. Medical staff responds daily to psychiatric emergencies — broadcast internally as “Code Gold,” she said.
“During all of those we are able to get the patient deescalated, without anyone becoming hurt or losing their essential dignity as a person,” said Janeway, who attended Tuesday’s rally. When she is caring for an agitated patient, she said, “My first thought is how do I get the police away from this person because I’m afraid the police are going to murder them.”
“They see our patients out of horror films,” she added, referencing Villanueva’s comment. “That’s why law enforcement shouldn’t be in care spaces.”


latimes--2020-10-13--California officials say GOP's ballot boxes are illegal. Republicans may expand the practice

For years , Republicans across the country have decried the use of so-called “ ballot harvesting , ” arguing that laws that allow a third party to collect voters ’ completed ballots serve as a breeding ground for election fraud .
In California , the state ’ s Republican Party has taken Gov .
Gavin Newsom and other officials to court over the practice .
Now , California ’ s GOP is defending its use of the very ballot collection law it once sued over .
In recent weeks , gray metal containers labeled as ballot drop boxes have been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shops , shooting ranges , churches and Republican Party offices — in several California counties .
California Republican Party officials have acknowledged responsibility for the boxes and have rejected allegations of wrongdoing , in defiance of what the state ’ s top election official and attorney general say is an illegal practice .
Atty .
Gen. Xavier Becerra and Secretary of State Alex Padilla on Monday sent a to Republican Party officials demanding that they immediately stop using the private ballot collection containers marked as “ official ” drop boxes .
Republicans counter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ law that allows a voter to designate any person to collect a completed ballot and return it to election officials , a polling place or vote center , or a secure vote-by-mail drop box .
At the center of the battle are questions of whether it is legal to collect ballots through third party boxes and also what constitutes an “ official ” ballot drop box .
California law says a mail voter may designate another person to return their ballot .
The dispute marks the latest escalation of a national debate between @ @ @ @ @ @ @ voter suppression and voter fraud in the run-up to the Nov. 3 election , a battle that many political analysts fear is undermining public confidence in the election ’ s integrity .
Becerra and Padilla , who has called the ballot boxes “ fake ” and misleading , have demanded that GOP officials provide by Thursday a list of all voters whose ballots have been collected using the boxes , to ensure that the documents were collected with permission .
Both are “ prepared to take action to enforce state law , should @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the cease-and-desist letter .
“ State law is absolutely clear : These unofficial , unauthorized ballot drop boxes violate state law , ” Padilla said in an interview with NBC News on Tuesday .
“ We ’ ve put the parties on notice to cease and desist this activity .
And if they don ’ t do so in short order , we ’ ll entertain all legal options to address it.
” A spokesman for Becerra ’ s office said that they have not yet received a formal response to their letter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ respond to a request for comment from The Times .
A party spokesman told the Associated Press that they would stop labeling their ballot boxes “ official ” to avoid confusion and said that they may expand their use .
Republican Party officials also have declined to provide state officials with a complete listing of the number of drop boxes and their locations .
President Trump jumped into the fray Tuesday evening by retweeting a Times story .
“ You mean only Democrats are allowed to do this ?
But haven ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ?
” the president wrote .
“ See you in court .
Fight hard Republicans !
” The existence of the boxes was disclosed when a Newport Beach Republican official posted a photo of himself on Twitter on Thursday posing next to a metal delivery box , the size of an office filing cabinet , marked “ official ballot drop off box.
” The container was not , however , provided or overseen by Orange County elections officials , said Orange County Registrar of Voters Neal Kelley .
Similar containers have appeared in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gun shops in Fresno to churches in Castaic and Simi Valley .
A list of locations sponsored by the Fresno County Republican Party on its website showed a dozen ballot drop-off locations not authorized by elections officials .
The list has since been removed .
The state law in question , amended in 2016 and again in 2018 , replaced a previous rule that limited ballot delivery to a family member or someone living in the same household , and explicitly prohibited collection by political parties and campaigns .
Republicans , in particular @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mocking it as “ ballot harvesting.
” The law , experts say , explicitly states that any individual can return a ballot to an official designated drop box .
But they draw a distinction between a voter who has willingly given their ballot to another person for delivery and a voter who turned their ballot into a drop box they did not know was unofficial .
According to experts , the use of third-party ballot collection boxes is not illegal , but the false designation of an “ official ” drop-off box is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ election officials .
Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez , who wrote the law and its amendment in 2018 , said that the intent of the two bills was to open up access for voters to participate in elections .
The wording in the amendments doesn ’ t give the state GOP the legal standing to use unofficial boxes , said Gonzalez , a Democrat whose district encompasses southern San Diego County .
“ The mental hoops you need to jump through to assume that a person opening the box is the designated person is beyond @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It is clear that you can designate a person , but not a lock box.
” “ I just think it ’ s unfortunate after crying foul for years about voter fraud , the Republican Party has taken it in their own hands and committed voter fraud , ” Gonzalez added .
Raúl Macías , counsel at the Democracy Program at the Brennan Center for Justice , said that the GOP ’ s claim that “ this is just like ballot collection assistance is ridiculous on its face.
” “ California ballot collection @ @ @ @ @ @ @ person to return ballots on their behalf , ” he said .
“ This entails political operatives defrauding voters into thinking they ’ re submitting ballots to election officials rather than to the GOP.
” Some of the GOP ballot boxes , Macías added , are labeled as official .
“ The voters don ’ t know who they are entrusting their ballot to , ” he said .
“ It sounds to me like the GOP officials are likely committing a felony by likely impersonating election officials.
” Jessica Levinson , a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that state Republicans were misleading voters .
A voter can not “ designate ” someone to be a third party turning in their ballot if the voter is unaware that they dropped off their ballot at an unofficial box .
Scholars argue that the back-and-forth could weaken already waning efficacy in the electoral system in a year marked by a pandemic , fears about mail delays and cutbacks at the U.S .
Postal Service and lawsuits filed by Republicans — including the Trump campaign — in an or prevent expansions of the franchise @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fight the potential for fraud ; Democrats argue the GOP is trying to disenfranchise voters .
“ One of the potential , real problems here is that voters right now are already hearing these conspiracy theories around the postmaster general and boxes in Oregon being moved off the street .
It ’ s undercutting confidence in USPS , and so people are turning to drop boxes , ” said Paul Mitchell , vice president of the data firm Political Data Inc. “ But this could end up undermining confidence in drop boxes.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Justice , said that it would be one thing for a voter to designate a gun store owner as a person to return a ballot on their behalf , rather than a box in front of the store .
“ California has comprehensive regulations providing for security of official drop boxes , ” he said .
“ Those include providing for their sturdy construction , the ability to withstand attempts at removing those drop boxes .
Their slots are required to be narrow enough to prevent tampering , and ballots have to be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ two election official employees.
” Macías said he believes that the GOP wants to bring attention to their opposition of the state law “ by trolling election officials.
” “ These tactics fit a familiar pattern of attempting to suppress voting , ” he said .
“ Undermining confidence , creating confusion , spreading disinformation — these are forms of voter suppression .
It lays a groundwork to later claim you can ’ t trust the voter results .
”

California Secretary of State Alex Padilla, left, and Orange County Registrar of Voters Neal Kelley hold a news conference on Orange County’s comprehensive plans to safeguard the election and provide transparency in Santa Ana.
For years, Republicans across the country have decried the use of so-called “ballot harvesting,” arguing that laws that allow a third party to collect voters’ completed ballots serve as a breeding ground for election fraud. In California, the state’s Republican Party has taken Gov. Gavin Newsom and other officials to court over the practice.
Now, California’s GOP is defending its use of the very ballot collection law it once sued over.
In recent weeks, gray metal containers labeled as ballot drop boxes have been placed at various locations — including gun shops, shooting ranges, churches and Republican Party offices — in several California counties.
California Republican Party officials have acknowledged responsibility for the boxes and have rejected allegations of wrongdoing, in defiance of what the state’s top election official and attorney general say is an illegal practice.
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Atty. Gen. Xavier Becerra and Secretary of State Alex Padilla on Monday sent a cease-and-desist letter to Republican Party officials demanding that they immediately stop using the private ballot collection containers marked as “official” drop boxes.
Republicans counter that they are applying a 2016 state law that allows a voter to designate any person to collect a completed ballot and return it to election officials, a polling place or vote center, or a secure vote-by-mail drop box.
At the center of the battle are questions of whether it is legal to collect ballots through third party boxes and also what constitutes an “official” ballot drop box. California law says a mail voter may designate another person to return their ballot.
A view of an official Orange County Registrar of Voters ballot Drop Box for the 2020 Presidential General Election at Carl Thornton Park in Santa Ana. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
The dispute marks the latest escalation of a national debate between Democrats and the GOP over allegations of voter suppression and voter fraud in the run-up to the Nov. 3 election, a battle that many political analysts fear is undermining public confidence in the election’s integrity.
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Becerra and Padilla, who has called the ballot boxes “fake” and misleading, have demanded that GOP officials provide by Thursday a list of all voters whose ballots have been collected using the boxes, to ensure that the documents were collected with permission. Both are “prepared to take action to enforce state law, should it be necessary,” according to the cease-and-desist letter.
“State law is absolutely clear: These unofficial, unauthorized ballot drop boxes violate state law,” Padilla said in an interview with NBC News on Tuesday. “We’ve put the parties on notice to cease and desist this activity. And if they don’t do so in short order, we’ll entertain all legal options to address it.”
A spokesman for Becerra’s office said that they have not yet received a formal response to their letter. The California Republican Party did not respond to a request for comment from The Times. A party spokesman told the Associated Press that they would stop labeling their ballot boxes “official” to avoid confusion and said that they may expand their use.
Republican Party officials also have declined to provide state officials with a complete listing of the number of drop boxes and their locations.
President Trump jumped into the fray Tuesday evening by retweeting a Times story. “You mean only Democrats are allowed to do this? But haven’t the Dems been doing this for years?” the president wrote. “See you in court. Fight hard Republicans!”
The existence of the boxes was disclosed when a Newport Beach Republican official posted a photo of himself on Twitter on Thursday posing next to a metal delivery box, the size of an office filing cabinet, marked “official ballot drop off box.” The container was not, however, provided or overseen by Orange County elections officials, said Orange County Registrar of Voters Neal Kelley.
Similar containers have appeared in several communities across the state, from gun shops in Fresno to churches in Castaic and Simi Valley.
A list of locations sponsored by the Fresno County Republican Party on its website showed a dozen ballot drop-off locations not authorized by elections officials. The list has since been removed.
The state law in question, amended in 2016 and again in 2018, replaced a previous rule that limited ballot delivery to a family member or someone living in the same household, and explicitly prohibited collection by political parties and campaigns. Republicans, in particular, have criticized the loosened process by mocking it as “ballot harvesting.”
The law, experts say, explicitly states that any individual can return a ballot to an official designated drop box. But they draw a distinction between a voter who has willingly given their ballot to another person for delivery and a voter who turned their ballot into a drop box they did not know was unofficial.
According to experts, the use of third-party ballot collection boxes is not illegal, but the false designation of an “official” drop-off box is because the boxes are not sanctioned by election officials.
Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez, who wrote the law and its amendment in 2018, said that the intent of the two bills was to open up access for voters to participate in elections.
The wording in the amendments doesn’t give the state GOP the legal standing to use unofficial boxes, said Gonzalez, a Democrat whose district encompasses southern San Diego County.
“The mental hoops you need to jump through to assume that a person opening the box is the designated person is beyond me,” Gonzalez said. “It is clear that you can designate a person, but not a lock box.”
“I just think it’s unfortunate after crying foul for years about voter fraud, the Republican Party has taken it in their own hands and committed voter fraud,” Gonzalez added.
Raúl Macías, counsel at the Democracy Program at the Brennan Center for Justice, said that the GOP’s claim that “this is just like ballot collection assistance is ridiculous on its face.”
“California ballot collection law allows voters to entrust a specific person to return ballots on their behalf,” he said. “This entails political operatives defrauding voters into thinking they’re submitting ballots to election officials rather than to the GOP.”
Some of the GOP ballot boxes, Macías added, are labeled as official.
“The voters don’t know who they are entrusting their ballot to,” he said. “It sounds to me like the GOP officials are likely committing a felony by likely impersonating election officials.”
Jessica Levinson, a professor at Loyola Law School, agreed that state Republicans were misleading voters. A voter cannot “designate” someone to be a third party turning in their ballot if the voter is unaware that they dropped off their ballot at an unofficial box.
Scholars argue that the back-and-forth could weaken already waning efficacy in the electoral system in a year marked by a pandemic, fears about mail delays and cutbacks at the U.S. Postal Service and lawsuits filed by Republicans — including the Trump campaign — in an effort to restrict ballot access or prevent expansions of the franchise.
Politics Judge throws out Trump campaign’s Pennsylvania lawsuit A federal judge in Pennsylvania threw out a lawsuit filed by President Trump’s campaign over the state’s poll-watching law and mail-in ballots.
Republicans say they are aiming to fight the potential for fraud; Democrats argue the GOP is trying to disenfranchise voters.
“One of the potential, real problems here is that voters right now are already hearing these conspiracy theories around the postmaster general and boxes in Oregon being moved off the street. It’s undercutting confidence in USPS, and so people are turning to drop boxes,” said Paul Mitchell, vice president of the data firm Political Data Inc. “But this could end up undermining confidence in drop boxes.”
Macías, of the Brennan Center for Justice, said that it would be one thing for a voter to designate a gun store owner as a person to return a ballot on their behalf, rather than a box in front of the store.
“California has comprehensive regulations providing for security of official drop boxes,” he said. “Those include providing for their sturdy construction, the ability to withstand attempts at removing those drop boxes. Their slots are required to be narrow enough to prevent tampering, and ballots have to be collected regularly from those drop boxes by two election official employees.”
Macías said he believes that the GOP wants to bring attention to their opposition of the state law “by trolling election officials.”
“These tactics fit a familiar pattern of attempting to suppress voting,” he said. “Undermining confidence, creating confusion, spreading disinformation — these are forms of voter suppression. It lays a groundwork to later claim you can’t trust the voter results.”