latimes--2020-04-22--Zoos have little revenue but still must feed animals, who seem to miss their human audience

While animals in deserted national and state parks seem to be thriving without the presence of people , many at the Oakland Zoo seemed downright bored without the crowds .
On Monday morning , a pair of mountain lions lolled together lazily in a hammock , while a gibbon couple , Rainer and May , sang and called , before dejectedly lying back in the high branches of the Chinese elm they call home .
Since March 17 , the Oakland Zoo , a 100-acre wildlife park , has been closed to visitors — by order of state and local @ @ @ @ @ @ @ place during the coronavirus pandemic .
According to the zookeepers , only the bald eagles , and maybe the wolves , seem to relish the solitude .
“ The eagles are using parts of the enclosure we ’ ve never seen them use before , ” said Joel Parrott , the zoo ’ s president and chief executive , On Monday , a bald eagle that was resting in this newfound area , close to the pedestrian walkway , retreated back to hide in the cover of the trees when a visitor approached @ @ @ @ @ @ @ zookeepers interviewed for this story said visitors offered a form of stimulus for most animals .
However , Leslie Storer — who was slingshotting food into the grizzly enclosure Monday — also wondered if the animals were resting more because they were more relaxed without the normal crowds .
“ It ’ s hard to know which it is , ” she said .
While the animals have been afforded some downtime , the keepers , vet staff and administrators haven ’ t had the same luxury .
According to Parrott , it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ feed the animals and $ 24 million a year to run the zoo .
Finding that money , while attendance is at zero , is a daunting task .
Other zoos nationwide are confronting similar challenges .
In Southern California , San Diego Zoo Global , which operates the San Diego Zoo and a sister facility , the San Diego Zoo Safari Park , spent about $ 231 million in 2018 on animal care and exhibition operations .
In 2018 , the nonprofit organization reported revenues of $ 342 million , much of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on how long the two zoos remain closed .
In Oakland , the zoo qualified for an eight-week loan as part of the federal Paycheck Protection Program .
That is enabling the zoo to maintain a full-time crew of keepers , veterinarians and vet staff .
But that still leaves them short .
To help cover part of the remaining shortfall , the zoo has launched a subscription-based Facebook feed , which offers viewers a behind-the-scenes look at the animals and staff .
On Monday , a zoo-based marketing crew was filming an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ farm at the base of the hill .
The goats seemed thrilled to have people around , jogging to the fence as visitors approached and braying until they were petted .
Erin Harrison , vice president of marketing and communications for the zoo , said the show was bringing in roughly 100 subscribers per day , at tiered pricing for members and nonmembers .
Although that ’ s helping somewhat , actually finding food has become a challenge .
Keepers rely on local landscaping and tree-trimming services to provide “ browse ” for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ excess tree branches , sticks and grass .
The staff is now relying on individual donations from neighbors , and the stockpile is getting low .
That ’ s especially true for the giraffes , who , unlike the camels , are very picky about the browse they will eat .
“ It can ’ t have anything on it , ” said Alyssa Watt , as she fed the non-discriminating camels .
“ The giraffes won ’ t eat it if it has dust on it , ash , or even the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ And she said washing the browse doesn ’ t help .
They ’ ll still reject it .
Most of the animals at the zoo are rescues — taken from circuses , private owners or , in the case of the animals in the California exhibit , found orphaned in the wild .
The four grizzlies , two sets of cubs , were found in Alaska .
Their mothers were killed for being “ nuisance ” bears .
And at the veterinary hospital on campus , four parrots had been brought in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , a wildlife preserve in Sylmar that ran out of money during the recent economic downturn .
The parrots were sitting quietly in some branches , their feathers puffed out , suggesting a level of stress and maybe underlying health issues , said Ilona Kovary , a keeper at the hospital .
The birds will remain here for the next 30 days , quarantined from the rest of the zoo , and tended to until a new home can be found for them .
All animals brought to the zoo must be quarantined @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the zoo director and a veterinarian by training .
The spread of disease is not a new concern for zoo staff .
Even so , they are taking special precautions during the COVID-19 pandemic — especially after news that a Malayan tiger at the Bronx Zoo was infected by a keeper .
All of the keepers at the zoo Monday were wearing masks .
And in the hospital , where a mountain lion cub was brought in at the beginning of the month , social distancing and quarantine measures were even stricter .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ if visitors approach her cage .
The animal , found in a tree in the Bakersfield area , weighed only 9 pounds when the zoo brought her in .
She is now almost 24 pounds , although feeding her is not easy : She is extremely wary of people , and therefore cautious about eating while anyone is looking .
She growled and hid under a wooden pallet on Monday as visitors attempted to watch her during feeding time .
But as soon as they gave up and walked away , she darted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that had been left for her .
Like the bald eagles and maybe the wolves , this cub seems happier without people around .
Los Angeles Times reporter Susanne Rust and photographer Carolyn Cole are embarking on a road journey throughout California .
They aim to give voice to those in remote parts of California as they grapple with the worst health and economic calamity of our lifetimes .

While animals in deserted national and state parks seem to be thriving without the presence of people, many at the Oakland Zoo seemed downright bored without the crowds.
On Monday morning, a pair of mountain lions lolled together lazily in a hammock, while a gibbon couple, Rainer and May, sang and called, before dejectedly lying back in the high branches of the Chinese elm they call home.
Since March 17, the Oakland Zoo, a 100-acre wildlife park, has been closed to visitors — by order of state and local governments requiring the public to shelter in place during the coronavirus pandemic.
According to the zookeepers, only the bald eagles, and maybe the wolves, seem to relish the solitude.
“The eagles are using parts of the enclosure we’ve never seen them use before,” said Joel Parrott, the zoo’s president and chief executive.
On Monday, a bald eagle that was resting in this newfound area, close to the pedestrian walkway, retreated back to hide in the cover of the trees when a visitor approached.
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1 / 11 Two meerkats get their daily worms and feed. (Carolyn Cole/Carolyn Cole/Los Angeles Times) 2 / 11 Two giraffes wait for snacks at an opening used by animal caretakers at the Oakland Zoo. (Carolyn Cole/Los Angeles Times) 3 / 11 A female gibbon looks bored without visitors to look at at the Oakland Zoo. (Carolyn Cole/Los Angeles Times) 4 / 11 A young male gibbon sits in a tree. (Carolyn Cole/Los Angeles Times) 5 / 11 Zebras eat pellets off the ground at the Oakland Zoo. (Carolyn Cole/Los Angeles Times) 6 / 11 Osh, a large male African elephant eats his his vegetable along with acacia, which has been in short supply due to the shutdown. (Carolyn Cole/Los Angeles Times) 7 / 11 This river otter has no spectators to look at to keep her occupied. (Carolyn Cole/Los Angeles Times) 8 / 11 The Oakland Zoo has started a Facebook live stream showing life at the zoo during the shutdown. The Oakland Zoo is closed due to the coronavirus, leaving the zoo without ticket sales. The costs of operating the zoo is 2 million dollars per month. (Carolyn Cole/Los Angeles Times) 9 / 11 Three grizzly bears rescued from Alaska wait for fruit treats deliver by a slingshot from zoo keeper, Leslie Storer. (Carolyn Cole/Los Angeles Times) 10 / 11 Two grizzly bears rescued from Alaska wait for fruit treats deliver by a slingshot from zoo keeper, Leslie Storer. The Oakland Zoo is closed due to the coronavirus, leaving the zoo without ticket sales. The costs of operating the zoo is 2 million dollars per month. (Carolyn Cole/Los Angeles Times) 11 / 11 Wild turkeys wander through the parking lot of the Oakland Zoo on April 20, 2020. The Oakland Zoo is closed due to the coronavirus, leaving the zoo without ticket sales. The costs of feeding (Carolyn Cole/Los Angeles Times)
All of the more than half-dozen zookeepers interviewed for this story said visitors offered a form of stimulus for most animals.
However, Leslie Storer — who was slingshotting food into the grizzly enclosure Monday — also wondered if the animals were resting more because they were more relaxed without the normal crowds.
“It’s hard to know which it is,” she said.
While the animals have been afforded some downtime, the keepers, vet staff and administrators haven’t had the same luxury.
A female gibbon at the Oakland Zoo, which has been closed since March 17. (Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times)
According to Parrott, it costs roughly $800,000 a year to feed the animals and $24 million a year to run the zoo. Finding that money, while attendance is at zero, is a daunting task.
Other zoos nationwide are confronting similar challenges. In Southern California, San Diego Zoo Global, which operates the San Diego Zoo and a sister facility, the San Diego Zoo Safari Park, spent about $231 million in 2018 on animal care and exhibition operations. In 2018, the nonprofit organization reported revenues of $342 million, much of which will be wiped out, depending on how long the two zoos remain closed.
Coronavirus Journal Two Times journalists are embarking on a journey throughout California to cover the nation’s most populous and diverse state during the coronavirus crisis. More stories
In Oakland, the zoo qualified for an eight-week loan as part of the federal Paycheck Protection Program. That is enabling the zoo to maintain a full-time crew of keepers, veterinarians and vet staff.
But that still leaves them short. To help cover part of the remaining shortfall, the zoo has launched a subscription-based Facebook feed, which offers viewers a behind-the-scenes look at the animals and staff.
On Monday, a zoo-based marketing crew was filming an episode about goat-hoof trimming at the petting farm at the base of the hill.
The goats seemed thrilled to have people around, jogging to the fence as visitors approached and braying until they were petted.
Erin Harrison, vice president of marketing and communications for the zoo, said the show was bringing in roughly 100 subscribers per day, at tiered pricing for members and nonmembers.
Although that’s helping somewhat, actually finding food has become a challenge.
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Keepers rely on local landscaping and tree-trimming services to provide “browse” for the elephants, giraffes and camels — excess tree branches, sticks and grass.
Zebras eat pellets off the ground at the Oakland Zoo. (Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times)
The staff is now relying on individual donations from neighbors, and the stockpile is getting low. That’s especially true for the giraffes, who, unlike the camels, are very picky about the browse they will eat.
“It can’t have anything on it,” said Alyssa Watt, as she fed the non-discriminating camels. “The giraffes won’t eat it if it has dust on it, ash, or even the slightest hint of a chemical odor.”
And she said washing the browse doesn’t help. They’ll still reject it.
Most of the animals at the zoo are rescues — taken from circuses, private owners or, in the case of the animals in the California exhibit, found orphaned in the wild.
Advertisement
The Oakland Zoo has started a Facebook live stream showing life at the zoo during the shutdown. (Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times)
The four grizzlies, two sets of cubs, were found in Alaska. Their mothers were killed for being “nuisance” bears.
And at the veterinary hospital on campus, four parrots had been brought in the day before — rescues from Wildlife Waystation, a wildlife preserve in Sylmar that ran out of money during the recent economic downturn.
The parrots were sitting quietly in some branches, their feathers puffed out, suggesting a level of stress and maybe underlying health issues, said Ilona Kovary, a keeper at the hospital.
Wild turkeys wander through the parking lot of the Oakland Zoo on April 20. (Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times)
The birds will remain here for the next 30 days, quarantined from the rest of the zoo, and tended to until a new home can be found for them.
All animals brought to the zoo must be quarantined for 30 days, said Parrott, the zoo director and a veterinarian by training.
Advertisement
The spread of disease is not a new concern for zoo staff. Even so, they are taking special precautions during the COVID-19 pandemic — especially after news that a Malayan tiger at the Bronx Zoo was infected by a keeper.
All of the keepers at the zoo Monday were wearing masks.
And in the hospital, where a mountain lion cub was brought in at the beginning of the month, social distancing and quarantine measures were even stricter. A clean set of footwear is required if visitors approach her cage.
The animal, found in a tree in the Bakersfield area, weighed only 9 pounds when the zoo brought her in.
She is now almost 24 pounds, although feeding her is not easy: She is extremely wary of people, and therefore cautious about eating while anyone is looking.
She growled and hid under a wooden pallet on Monday as visitors attempted to watch her during feeding time.
But as soon as they gave up and walked away, she darted out and ate the food and milk that had been left for her.
Advertisement
Like the bald eagles and maybe the wolves, this cub seems happier without people around.
Los Angeles Times reporter Susanne Rust and photographer Carolyn Cole are embarking on a road journey throughout California. They aim to give voice to those in remote parts of California as they grapple with the worst health and economic calamity of our lifetimes.


latimes--2020-04-22--Here are the latest numbers of coronavirus cases in L.A. County communities

Los Angeles County saw another significant increase in coronavirus cases and deaths Tuesday .
Officials confirmed 1,400 more coronavirus cases @ @ @ @ @ included in a backlog from laboratories that had not previously reported results through the county @ @ @ @ @ The total now stands at 15,165 cases .
The county also reported , bringing the @ @ @ @ @ .
Here is a case breakdown by community :

Downtown shines in the setting sun looking east from MacArthur Park.
Los Angeles County saw another significant increase in coronavirus cases and deaths Tuesday.
Officials confirmed 1,400 more coronavirus cases, 880 of which were included in a backlog from laboratories that had not previously reported results through the county’s electronic system. The total now stands at 15,165 cases.
The county also reported 46 new coronavirus-linked deaths , bringing the toll to at least 663.
Here is a case breakdown by community:
Long Beach 477
Glendale 369
Melrose 265
Pasadena 249
Palmdale 248
Santa Clarita 244
Torrance 217
Inglewood 215
East Los Angeles 202
North Hollywood 200
Sylmar 195
Lancaster 184
Carson 181
South Gate 172
Van Nuys 172
Hollywood 157
Burbank 151
Westlake 150
Downey 147
Canoga Park 145
Panorama City 141
Santa Monica 135
Hawthorne 134
Reseda 126
Pico-Union 126
Compton 126
Norwalk 124
West Vernon 123
Gardena 121
West Hollywood 120
Lynwood 119
Pacoima 117
Unincorporated - Florence-Firestone 116
Boyle Heights 116
Pico Rivera 107
Bell 104
Temple-Beaudry 103
Northridge 101
Beverly Hills 99
Pomona 97
Silver Lake 97
Sherman Oaks 97
Paramount 97
Redondo Beach 94
Koreatown 93
Woodland Hills 93
North Hills 93
San Pedro 90
Montebello 88
Vernon Central 87
Glassell Park 87
Huntington Park 87
Winnetka 84
Exposition Park 83
Palms 82
Granada Hills 81
Whittier 80
East Hollywood 80
Bellflower 78
West Adams 75
Florence-Firestone 74
Central 74
Encino 73
Little Armenia 72
West Covina 72
El Monte 72
Wilshire Center 71
South Park 70
Sun Valley 70
Covina 66
Vermont Vista 63
Eagle Rock 63
Bell Gardens 63
Tarzana 61
Hancock Park 61
Lakewood 61
Manhattan Beach 61
Brentwood 61
El Sereno 60
Wilmington 60
Valley Village 60
Athens-Westmont 60
Harvard Park 60
Valley Glen 57
Arleta 56
Watts 56
Crestview 55
Carthay 54
Chatsworth 54
Little Bangladesh 54
Hollywood Hills 53
Lake Balboa 53
Westchester 53
Highland Park 52
Baldwin Park 52
Alhambra 51
Altadena 51
Rancho Palos Verdes 50
Century Palms/Cove 50
San Fernando 48
Harbor Gateway 48
Monterey Park 47
Sunland 46
West Los Angeles 46
Wholesale District 46
Mission Hills 46
South Whittier 46
Mar Vista 45
Maywood 45
Culver City 44
Country Club Park 44
Baldwin Hills 44
Del Rey 43
Cerritos 42
Westwood 42
Porter Ranch 42
University Park 42
Lawndale 42
Crenshaw District 41
Venice 40
Cudahy 40
La Mirada 40
Hacienda Heights 40
Lincoln Heights 40
West Carson 39
Duarte 37
Hyde Park 37
Lakeview Terrace 36
Downtown 36
Walnut Park 36
Palos Verdes Estates 36
Tujunga 35
West Hills 35
Glendora 35
Mid-city 34
Historic Filipinotown 34
South Pasadena 34
Pacific Palisades 33
La Canada Flintridge 33
Willowbrook 33
Arcadia 32
Harvard Heights 32
Green Meadows 32
Miracle Mile 32
Harbor City 32
Rowland Heights 32
Beverly Crest 31
Azusa 31
Lennox 30
La Puente 30
Century City 29
Lomita 29
Beverlywood 29
Calabasas 29
Temple City 29
Los Feliz 29
Agoura Hills 29
Vermont Knolls 28
Bel Air 26
Victoria Park 26
Studio City 26
Malibu 26
Leimert Park 25
Mt. Washington 25
Vermont Square 25
Diamond Bar 25
West Whittier/Los Nietos 24
San Gabriel 23
Monrovia 23
San Dimas 23
Valinda 22
Hermosa Beach 22
South Carthay 22
Cloverdale/Cochran 22
El Segundo 21
Canyon Country 21
View Park/Windsor Hills 21
Bassett 20
Rosemead 19
Claremont 19
Walnut 19
Quartz Hill 18
Gramercy Place 18
Adams-Normandie 17
Atwater Village 17
Playa Vista 16
Unincorporated - Covina 16
Ladera Heights 16
Figueroa Park Square 16
Alsace 16
Stevenson Ranch 15
Santa Fe Springs 15
Cheviot Hills 15
Elysian Valley 14
East Rancho Dominguez 14
La Verne 13
La Crescenta-Montrose 13
Echo Park 13
Rolling Hills Estates 13
San Jose Hills 12
Thai Town 12
Castaic 12
Athens Village 12
Park La Brea 11
Artesia 11
Lake Los Angeles 11
Covina (Charter Oak) 11
Cadillac-Corning 11
Reseda Ranch 11
Shadow Hills 10
Rancho Dominguez 10
Commerce 9
Toluca Lake 9
San Marino 9
Marina Peninsula 9
Rancho Park 9
Marina del Rey 9
Lafayette Square 9
Hawaiian Gardens 8
Longwood 8
Manchester Square 8
Santa Monica Mountains 8
Northeast San Gabriel 8
Acton 8
South San Gabriel 7
Elysian Park 7
West Puente Valley 7
Unincorporated - Azusa 6
Westlake Village 6
Reynier Village 6
Avocado Heights 6
Jefferson Park 6
East La Mirada 6
South El Monte 6
Wellington Square 6
Del Aire 6
La Rambla 6
View Heights 6
Unincorporated - Monrovia 5
Signal Hill 5
St Elmo Village 5
Unincorporated - La Verne 1-4
San Pasqual 1-4
South Edwards 1-4
Hi Vista 1-4
Faircrest Heights 1-4
Exposition 1-4
Hidden Hills 1-4
Sand Canyon 1-4
Santa Catalina Island 1-4
Southeast Antelope Valley 1-4
Harbor Pines 1-4
Regent Square 1-4
Elizabeth Lake 1-4
Industry 1-4
Sun Village 1-4
Irwindale 1-4
Sunrise Village 1-4
Sycamore Square 1-4
Rosewood/West Rancho Dominguez 1-4
East Whittier 1-4
Kagel/Lopez Canyons 1-4
East Pasadena 1-4
Playa Del Rey 1-4
Placerita Canyon 1-4
Toluca Terrace 1-4
Toluca Woods 1-4
East Lancaster 1-4
Rosewood/East Gardena 1-4
Twin Lakes/Oat Mountain 1-4
Unincorporated - Angeles National Forest 1-4
Unincorporated - Arcadia 1-4
Rosewood 1-4
Unincorporated - Bradbury 1-4
Unincorporated - Cerritos 1-4
Unincorporated - Claremont 1-4
La Habra Heights 1-4
Unincorporated - Del Rey 1-4
Unincorporated - Duarte 1-4
Unincorporated - El Monte 1-4
East Covina 1-4
Unincorporated - Glendora 1-4
Unincorporated - Harbor Gateway 1-4
Unincorporated - Hawthorne 1-4
Unincorporated - La Habra Heights 1-4
San Clemente Island 1-4
Unincorporated - Lakewood 1-4
Unincorporated - Lynwood 1-4
Unincorporated - Miracle Mile 1-4
Saugus 1-4
Unincorporated - Palmdale 1-4
Unincorporated - Pomona 1-4
Unincorporated - South El Monte 1-4
Unincorporated - Walnut 1-4
Unincorporated - West LA 1-4
Unincorporated - Whittier 1-4
Universal City 1-4
University Hills 1-4
Desert View Highlands 1-4
Val Verde 1-4
Valencia 1-4
Pellissier Village 1-4
Del Sur 1-4
Saugus/Canyon Country 1-4
Pearblossom/Llano 1-4
Roosevelt 1-4
Palos Verdes Peninsula 1-4
Lake Hughes 1-4
Chinatown 1-4
Vernon 1-4
Palisades Highlands 1-4
Charter Oak 1-4
Franklin Canyon 1-4
Lake Manor 1-4
Leona Valley 1-4
Little Tokyo 1-4
Littlerock 1-4
Sierra Madre 1-4
North Whittier 1-4
West Antelope Valley 1-4
Brookside 1-4
West Chatsworth 1-4
Bradbury 1-4
Bouquet Canyon 1-4
North Lancaster 1-4
Bandini Islands 1-4
San Francisquito Canyon/Bouquet Canyon 1-4
West Rancho Dominguez 1-4
Rolling Hills 1-4
Littlerock/Juniper Hills 1-4
Avalon 1-4
Westfield/Academy Hills 1-4
Westhills 1-4
Littlerock/Pearblossom 1-4
South Antelope Valley 1-4
Newhall 1-4
White Fence Farms 1-4
Llano 1-4
Whittier Narrows 1-4
Angelino Heights 1-4
Angeles National Forest 1-4
Anaverde 1-4
Mandeville Canyon 1-4
Agua Dulce 1-4
Wiseburn 1-4
El Camino Village 1-4


latimes--2020-04-22--In rural California, children face isolation, hunger amid coronavirus school closures

With schools closed because of the coronavirus , educators in vast stretches of rural California are struggling not only to teach their students but to reach them .
From the mountain hamlets of Northern California to the farming communities of the Central Valley to the desert towns near the U.S.-Mexico border , small schools are grappling with how to serve far-flung , impoverished students with less access to at-home internet , spotty cellphone service and who rely on schools to feed them .
In Trinity County , some bus drivers are traveling up to 1.5 hours along winding mountain roads @ @ @ @ @ @ @ families who can ’ t afford to drive into town .
In Siskiyou County , students are dropping off homework on teachers ’ front porches .
In Tulare County , one tiny district hurriedly installed internet antennae throughout town , including the roofs of some houses .
Students in one district are riding out the coronavirus outbreak with family in Mexico , where they can get better internet service .
“ We don ’ t know where we ’ re going , how we ’ re going to get there or what it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the end , ” Katie Squire , a second-grade teacher in the Kings County town of Avenal , said of teaching during the pandemic .
“ It ’ s like flying the plane and building it at the same time.
” The pandemic has widened the gulf between the digital haves and have-nots , said Niu Gao , a researcher for the Public Policy Institute of California .
In rural California , some 41 % of households with school-age children do not have broadband access at home , much higher than the statewide @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Broadband infrastructure can cost more to build in remote places with fewer customers , and families have fewer service providers and prices to choose from .
In some areas , Wi-Fi hotspots do not work .
State officials , who last week convened a new task forced aimed at closing the digital divide , are far behind in a race to provide computers and internet connectivity that California students need to finish the school year remotely .
Although 70,000 computers and 100,000 hotspots have been pledged to date , officials say it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that more than 400,000 more computers and hotspots are needed and that 200,000 additional households with students are without them .
Other surveys put the need even higher .
“ Rural California has been screaming from the top of our lungs about the digital divide for years , ” said state Sen. Mike McGuire ( D-Healdsburg ) , who represents seven counties stretching from Marin north to Del Norte .
“ Once this pandemic is over , my hope is this : that the needs of rural California have been exposed and we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ schools in rural communities with high-speed internet.
” Gary Mekeel is the superintendent of the Alpaugh Unified School District in Tulare County , which serves some 350 students , many from field-worker families .
After campuses closed , the district cut spending for other student programs and spent just over $ 50,000 to install about 40 internet antennae throughout the town of 1,000 people and to buy hotspots for more isolated families , Mekeel said .
“ With COVID-19 , we just decided to go into the reserves to get it done , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ m not complaining , but that ’ s a huge expenditure for a little district.
” The antennae now stand on the school and atop the fire department and local library .
Some sit on families ’ homes .
“ Every family that we asked — I ’ m not sure any of them own their homes , but they gave us permission , ” Mekeel said .
“ At least for now , the town ’ s covered .
That happened in two weeks.
” Rindy DeVoll , executive director of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that even before the COVID-19 pandemic , educators in rural schools with fewer resources were overwhelmed because they “ wear so many hats ” — like teaching several grade levels or having one special education teacher serve an entire district .
“ The superintendent or principal may know every student in the district , ” she said .
“ Sometimes we have that sort of isolated feel .
...
There ’ s a real sense of independence .
But if you need help ?
We ’ re right there for you .
That @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The schools really are our community centers.
” Rauna Fox , superintendent of the San Pasqual Valley Unified School District in Winterhaven , said it is “ the epitome of a wraparound district , ” providing services that go far beyond classroom teaching .
About half of the Imperial County district ’ s roughly 700 students are Native American and most of the others are Latino , Fox said .
Virtually all of them qualify for free breakfast and lunch .
Until the pandemic struck , the district offered dinner to all children @ @ @ @ @ @ @ enrolled or not .
Although Winterhaven is a few minutes from Yuma , Ariz. , many families rely on Medi-Cal for healthcare , meaning that rather than cross the nearby state border for dentist or eye doctor appointments , they have to travel an hour west to El Centro .
Before the pandemic , school district employees often drove students whose families lacked transportation , along with a parent or guardian , to those appointments .
Fox said she ’ s not sure whether the district can offer that service once schools reopen @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sit close together at a time when social distancing is needed to slow the spread of the coronavirus .
Fox said that no more than 40 % of her students have reliable internet access at home .
Before the coronavirus , students would come to campus before school or stay afterward and use the internet to complete assignments .
A private service provider was set to build a 180-foot tower in Winterhaven by the summer through the Imperial County BorderLink project to provide free online access to students .
But in a cruel @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hold just as schools were switching to distance learning .
Some students , Fox said , are staying with family in Mexico — where they can find better internet service .
Squire , the second-grade teacher in Kings County , said she worries about her young students not having basic learning supplies during the pandemic .
She teaches in the Reef-Sunset Unified School District in Avenal and said the closures happened so abruptly that students were unable to pick up items like paper and crayons .
“ Maybe a family can go to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of paper , but is that going to be a priority ?
” she said .
“ It ’ s part of dealing with a community that has an extremely low income.
” In Siskiyou County , home to some 43,000 people in a place eight times larger than Orange County , there were only five confirmed cases of the coronavirus infection as of Tuesday .
Marie Caldwell , superintendent of the Scott Valley Unified School District , said families “ are getting antsy , asking why we are still closed.
” “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ she said .
“ Families can ’ t just walk around the corner to the grocery store .
Food insecurity was already a pretty big concern in our county.
” As the length of the pandemic stretches and more people lose their jobs , the number of families relying on school-provided meals is growing , she said .
The Scott Valley is surrounded by mountains .
Cell service is bad .
Wi-Fi hotspots don ’ t work .
Many families use satellite for internet , but it is slow and buggy .
Regina @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the Scott Valley district , said some students are relying on printed homework packets and phone calls from their teachers .
Some school vans that are delivering meals also pick up schoolwork from students .
Hanna accepts homework in her home mailbox .
Her school has also worked with the Etna Police Department to do welfare checks on students .
But some students , and their families , have fallen off the school ’ s radar .
In mountainous Trinity County , where there were no confirmed coronavirus cases as of Tuesday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ already devastating year for students in Weaverville .
School bus drivers are continuing their regular routes to deliver meals .
During spring break , the district provided 3,500 meals for local children , whether they are enrolled or not .
“ Thirty-five hundred meals tells you how much COVID-19 has hit this proud town , ” said Trinity Alps Unified School District Supert .
Jaime Green .
“ They can ’ t afford to go to the market because they ’ re not working .
These are little babies .
We have to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ county shut down the campuses of Weaverville Elementary and Trinity High School after the discovery of toxic black mold in the walls , the ceilings and the carpeting .
The district had to rent about 30 portable buildings for classrooms and offices while also trying to rebuild the two gutted campuses .
The district “ almost went bankrupt , ” Green said .
It cut supplies , depleted its reserves , laid off staff and decided not to replace some staffers who resigned or retired .
But he thought they had turned a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a point where we were going to be OK. We had to let staff go , had to downsize , and it was like , ‘ OK , we ’ re going to be all right , ’ ” Green said .
But the coronavirus outbreak , he said , is going to crush the district ’ s already stripped-down budget .
“ When you get this low , ” Green said , “ it is really hard to keep functioning .
”

Delaney Curran, 3, and Lily Wallgren, 8, give a thank you card to Principal Katie Poburko of Weaverville Elementary School in California.
With schools closed because of the coronavirus, educators in vast stretches of rural California are struggling not only to teach their students but to reach them.
From the mountain hamlets of Northern California to the farming communities of the Central Valley to the desert towns near the U.S.-Mexico border, small schools are grappling with how to serve far-flung, impoverished students with less access to at-home internet, spotty cellphone service and who rely on schools to feed them.
In Trinity County, some bus drivers are traveling up to 1.5 hours along winding mountain roads to deliver two meals per day to families who can’t afford to drive into town. In Siskiyou County, students are dropping off homework on teachers’ front porches. In Tulare County, one tiny district hurriedly installed internet antennae throughout town, including the roofs of some houses.
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Students in one district are riding out the coronavirus outbreak with family in Mexico, where they can get better internet service.
“We don’t know where we’re going, how we’re going to get there or what it’s going to look like at the end,” Katie Squire, a second-grade teacher in the Kings County town of Avenal, said of teaching during the pandemic. “It’s like flying the plane and building it at the same time.”
The pandemic has widened the gulf between the digital haves and have-nots, said Niu Gao, a researcher for the Public Policy Institute of California. In rural California, some 41% of households with school-age children do not have broadband access at home, much higher than the statewide average of 27%, Gao said.
Broadband infrastructure can cost more to build in remote places with fewer customers, and families have fewer service providers and prices to choose from. In some areas, Wi-Fi hotspots do not work.
Bus drivers load up meals to be handed out to students in the Trinity Alps Unified School District. (Morgan Kennedy / Trinity Alps Unified School District)
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State officials, who last week convened a new task forced aimed at closing the digital divide, are far behind in a race to provide computers and internet connectivity that California students need to finish the school year remotely. Although 70,000 computers and 100,000 hotspots have been pledged to date, officials say it is not enough.
The state estimates that more than 400,000 more computers and hotspots are needed and that 200,000 additional households with students are without them. Other surveys put the need even higher.
“Rural California has been screaming from the top of our lungs about the digital divide for years,” said state Sen. Mike McGuire (D-Healdsburg), who represents seven counties stretching from Marin north to Del Norte.
“Once this pandemic is over, my hope is this: that the needs of rural California have been exposed and we open up a sustained effort to connect schools in rural communities with high-speed internet.”
Gary Mekeel is the superintendent of the Alpaugh Unified School District in Tulare County, which serves some 350 students, many from fieldworker families.
After campuses closed, the district cut spending for other student programs and spent just over $50,000 to install about 40 internet antennae throughout the town of 1,000 people and to buy hotspots for more isolated families, Mekeel said.
“With COVID-19, we just decided to go into the reserves to get it done,” he said. “I’m not complaining, but that’s a huge expenditure for a little district.”
The antennae now stand on the school and atop the fire department and local library. Some sit on families’ homes.
“Every family that we asked — I’m not sure any of them own their homes, but they gave us permission,” Mekeel said. “At least for now, the town’s covered. That happened in two weeks.”
Rindy DeVoll, executive director of the nascent California Rural Ed Network, said that even before the COVID-19 pandemic, educators in rural schools with fewer resources were overwhelmed because they “wear so many hats” — like teaching several grade levels or having one special education teacher serve an entire district.
“The superintendent or principal may know every student in the district,” she said. “Sometimes we have that sort of isolated feel. ... There’s a real sense of independence. But if you need help? We’re right there for you. That bleeds over into the school systems. The schools really are our community centers.”
The San Pasqual Valley School District is a “wraparound district” that offers services far beyond classroom teaching, said Superintendent Rauna Fox. (Rauna Fox / San Pasqual Unified School District)
Rauna Fox, superintendent of the San Pasqual Valley Unified School District in Winterhaven, said it is “the epitome of a wraparound district,” providing services that go far beyond classroom teaching.
About half of the Imperial County district’s roughly 700 students are Native American and most of the others are Latino, Fox said. Virtually all of them qualify for free breakfast and lunch. Until the pandemic struck, the district offered dinner to all children in the community, whether they are enrolled or not.
Although Winterhaven is a few minutes from Yuma, Ariz., many families rely on Medi-Cal for healthcare, meaning that rather than cross the nearby state border for dentist or eye doctor appointments, they have to travel an hour west to El Centro.
Before the pandemic, school district employees often drove students whose families lacked transportation, along with a parent or guardian, to those appointments.
Fox said she’s not sure whether the district can offer that service once schools reopen given that the trips require people to sit close together at a time when social distancing is needed to slow the spread of the coronavirus.
Fox said that no more than 40% of her students have reliable internet access at home. Before the coronavirus, students would come to campus before school or stay afterward and use the internet to complete assignments.
A private service provider was set to build a 180-foot tower in Winterhaven by the summer through the Imperial County BorderLink project to provide free online access to students. But in a cruel twist, the pandemic put construction on hold just as schools were switching to distance learning.
Some students, Fox said, are staying with family in Mexico — where they can find better internet service.
Squire, the second-grade teacher in Kings County, said she worries about her young students not having basic learning supplies during the pandemic. She teaches in the Reef-Sunset Unified School District in Avenal and said the closures happened so abruptly that students were unable to pick up items like paper and crayons.
“Maybe a family can go to the dollar store and get a package of paper, but is that going to be a priority?” she said. “It’s part of dealing with a community that has an extremely low income.”
In Siskiyou County, home to some 43,000 people in a place eight times larger than Orange County, there were only five confirmed cases of the coronavirus infection as of Tuesday. Marie Caldwell, superintendent of the Scott Valley Unified School District, said families “are getting antsy, asking why we are still closed.”
“We’re very isolated,” she said. “Families can’t just walk around the corner to the grocery store. Food insecurity was already a pretty big concern in our county.”
As the length of the pandemic stretches and more people lose their jobs, the number of families relying on school-provided meals is growing, she said.
The Scott Valley is surrounded by mountains. Cell service is bad. Wi-Fi hotspots don’t work. Many families use satellite for internet, but it is slow and buggy.
Regina Hanna, principal of Etna High School in the Scott Valley district, said some students are relying on printed homework packets and phone calls from their teachers. Some school vans that are delivering meals also pick up schoolwork from students. Hanna accepts homework in her home mailbox.
Her school has also worked with the Etna Police Department to do welfare checks on students. But some students, and their families, have fallen off the school’s radar.
Mold recently was found in the ceilings, carpets and walls in buildings in the Trinity Alps Unified School District. (Trinity Alps Unified School District)
In mountainous Trinity County, where there were no confirmed coronavirus cases as of Tuesday, the pandemic has added to an already devastating year for students in Weaverville.
School bus drivers are continuing their regular routes to deliver meals. During spring break, the district provided 3,500 meals for local children, whether they are enrolled or not.
“Thirty-five hundred meals tells you how much COVID-19 has hit this proud town,” said Trinity Alps Unified School District Supt. Jaime Green. “They can’t afford to go to the market because they’re not working. These are little babies. We have to feed them.”
Last summer, the county shut down the campuses of Weaverville Elementary and Trinity High School after the discovery of toxic black mold in the walls, the ceilings and the carpeting.
The district had to rent about 30 portable buildings for classrooms and offices while also trying to rebuild the two gutted campuses. The district “almost went bankrupt,” Green said. It cut supplies, depleted its reserves, laid off staff and decided not to replace some staffers who resigned or retired. But he thought they had turned a corner.
“We were finally at a point where we were going to be OK. We had to let staff go, had to downsize, and it was like, ‘OK, we’re going to be all right,’ ” Green said. But the coronavirus outbreak, he said, is going to crush the district’s already stripped-down budget.
“When you get this low,” Green said, “it is really hard to keep functioning.”


latimes--2020-04-22--Getting free internet is hard for poor students despite provider promises, survey finds

Tamara Solis faced a choice when it came to her children ’ s education : Pay for rent and food or pay for internet access .
Broadband came in second , so she takes her kids to a friend ’ s garage apartment in Watts for internet — where they do their schoolwork in close quarters amid the coronavirus pandemic .
“ It ’ s a small place , ” said Solis , noting that it was difficult to abide by recommended physical distancing guidelines .
“ We try to do the best — one on the table , one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bed ... but it ’ s not big enough to keep far away.
” Her plight is not unique .
Despite promises of help , families in the low-income neighborhoods of Watts , Boyle Heights and South Los Angeles have struggled to get online , with at least 16 % of students lacking basic internet access , according to a survey of public school families in those communities released Wednesday by the nonprofit Partnership for Los Angeles Schools .
Many more students likely lack the high-speed internet connection needed for regular online academic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which manages 18 L.A. Unified campuses that enroll large numbers of black and Latino students who are members of low-income families .
The survey , conducted March 24 through April 4 , also recorded other areas of concern : 15 % of families reported that students had not yet been in contact with teachers , and 25 % said students needed to print out materials at home for their assignments , but they lacked a printer .
Partnership staff interviewed the families of more than 1,000 students about their experience with service providers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ addresses in Watts , which is served by Partnership schools .
Families from among the city ’ s most impoverished neighborhoods report impediments to signing up for free service offered as aid during coronavirus-related school closures .
The difficulties included inadequate coverage areas in their communities , long wait times , limited data plans and unexpected fees and documentation requirements , as well as monthly payments that were too costly to sustain after a free period .
Companies represented in the survey — AT & T , Charter Spectrum , T-Mobile and Verizon @ @ @ @ @ @ @ moved to offer their services during this time of school closures to help the families of low-income students .
They explained that coverage limitations are based on geography or other factors , and noted that customers can cancel in order to avoid monthly fees after their free service expires .
“ We are committed to supporting families who need internet access during this difficult time , ” said Jim Kimberly , an AT & T spokesman .
The free service is typically scheduled to end near the close of the current school year @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are expected to extend well beyond that .
The Los Angeles Unified School District is trying to fill the digital gap by providing students with portable internet hot spots and computers .
But the district has not not yet been able to reach all who need the devices .
Campuses across the state have been closed since mid-March , forcing students to continue academic work through “ distance learning.
” In most cases , that means receiving , completing and submitting assignments online and taking part in online sessions through platforms such as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ right in California , ” said Ryan Smith , chief external officer of the Partnership for L.A. Schools .
“ However long we ’ re doing online learning then internet connection must become a constitutional right , too .
Therefore we must monitor the ‘ free trials ’ that these internet companies are trying to provide.
” Smith generally praised L.A. Unified ’ s efforts to fill the digital gap , noting that more families were becoming aware of the district-provided hot spots as the survey proceeded .
He said he was less @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Survey findings : Most callers were not told that a free trial is available .
The few who were told about the trial had to sign up for a $ 59.99 per month plan to receive the first 60 days free of charge .
Response : The company is committed to providing two months of free service to eligible families and they do not have to sign up for a $ 59.99 plan .
Families eligible for free service include those with children who qualify for the subsidized school lunch program and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ No home service was available in most of Watts ’ 90002 ZIP Code .
The free trial required signing up for a $ 54.99 per month plan after the no-cost 60 days .
Response : Spectrum is available in the areas covered by the survey .
However , some renters in multiunit buildings may not be able to access services if Spectrum does not “ have an agreement with the property owner to wire the building and serve residents.
” Customers can cancel at any time .
Survey findings : No home internet @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were part of the survey .
Existing customers pay an additional $ 15 a month for a hot spot with 2 gigs of high-speed access , which is not enough for students and families , according to the Partnership .
Response : The company has created options for customers to receive extra data — at no extra charge — but these offers do not include free service .
The company also introduced a plan priced at $ 15 per month .
Survey findings : No home internet service was available in the survey @ @ @ @ @ @ @ paying for hot spots that are free for students .
Families who directly contacted Verizon were referred to L.A. Unified .
Families unaware of the district arrangement were advised by Verizon representatives to use a public hot spot .
Response : Verizon provides home internet service in limited parts of L.A. , but not Watts .
The arrangement with L.A. Unified is that the district — not Verizon — distributes the hot spots to families .
For Solis , the online odyssey included burning through the 10 gigabytes of hot-spot data she was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ two weeks — online schoolwork for her two children can consume a lot of data , she said .
She tried unsuccessfully to get free Wi-Fi service from Spectrum and AT & T to her Watts home .
Solis is out of work after an injury last year , and her husband is getting only part-time hours now as a maintenance worker .
“ Money for the internet — it ’ s not in my plans right now , ” Solis said .
“ They said , ‘ It ’ s going to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s not free.
” So far , she also has not been able to get a hot spot from Florence Griffith Joyner Elementary , a Partnership school in Watts .
Portable hot spots recently arrived at the school , and administrators are currently reaching out to families who might need them , said Cathy Kralik , a spokeswoman for the Partnership .
A Spectrum spokesman said Solis should qualify for its special offer .
The survey represents a snapshot in time and , since then , the situation has improved as L.A. Unified @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and students engage more effectively , district officials said Tuesday .
L.A. Unified Deputy Supt .
Megan Reilly said she appreciated receiving the information about lack of access to printers .
“ That was not on our radar , ” she said .
She added that the distribution of devices has been slowed by the necessary logistics of installing bar codes , the district ’ s online learning management system and software that keeps students safe online while also allowing for central updates .
The district prioritized getting computers to high school students @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Elementary students went home with work packets , but the effort is underway to provide them with technology as well .
The district ’ s latest data indicate that , overall , 98 % of high school students and 97 % of middle school students had logged on at least once by April 17 , figures that represent substantial progress .
However , 7 % of high schoolers were not in contact with teachers every week .
“ There are challenges in the field , ” said Pedro Salcido , chief of staff @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ We have been pretty aware of them .
Even in a non-COVID-19 world this would be a big lift logistically.
” Solis said she has come to realize the sudden importance of digital access to her children ’ s education .
“ Everything is by computer — everything , ” she said .
“ So that ’ s one thing I realize right now : that I have to have internet .
”

Howard Blume, Sonali Kohli, Paloma Esquivel

Second-grader Paulina De Loza holds her computer issued at Ochoa Learning Center in Cudahy, while her mother, Yadire De Loza, holds another for her two brothers, also in L.A. United schools.
Tamara Solis faced a choice when it came to her children’s education: Pay for rent and food or pay for internet access. Broadband came in second, so she takes her kids to a friend’s garage apartment in Watts for internet — where they do their schoolwork in close quarters amid the coronavirus pandemic.
“It’s a small place,” said Solis, noting that it was difficult to abide by recommended physical distancing guidelines. “We try to do the best — one on the table, one on the sofa, one on the bed ... but it’s not big enough to keep far away.”
Her plight is not unique.
Despite promises of help, families in the low-income neighborhoods of Watts, Boyle Heights and South Los Angeles have struggled to get online, with at least 16% of students lacking basic internet access, according to a survey of public school families in those communities released Wednesday by the nonprofit Partnership for Los Angeles Schools.
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Many more students likely lack the high-speed internet connection needed for regular online academic work, according to the organization, which manages 18 L.A. Unified campuses that enroll large numbers of black and Latino students who are members of low-income families.
The survey, conducted March 24 through April 4, also recorded other areas of concern: 15% of families reported that students had not yet been in contact with teachers, and 25% said students needed to print out materials at home for their assignments, but they lacked a printer.
Partnership staff interviewed the families of more than 1,000 students about their experience with service providers and also initiated requests for service from addresses in Watts, which is served by Partnership schools.
Families from among the city’s most impoverished neighborhoods report impediments to signing up for free service offered as aid during coronavirus-related school closures. The difficulties included inadequate coverage areas in their communities, long wait times, limited data plans and unexpected fees and documentation requirements, as well as monthly payments that were too costly to sustain after a free period.
Companies represented in the survey — AT&T, Charter Spectrum, T-Mobile and Verizon — defended their efforts, saying they moved to offer their services during this time of school closures to help the families of low-income students. They explained that coverage limitations are based on geography or other factors, and noted that customers can cancel in order to avoid monthly fees after their free service expires.
Advertisement
“We are committed to supporting families who need internet access during this difficult time,” said Jim Kimberly, an AT&T spokesman.
The free service is typically scheduled to end near the close of the current school year — although the internet needs of families are expected to extend well beyond that.
The Los Angeles Unified School District is trying to fill the digital gap by providing students with portable internet hot spots and computers. But the district has not not yet been able to reach all who need the devices.
Campuses across the state have been closed since mid-March, forcing students to continue academic work through “distance learning.” In most cases, that means receiving, completing and submitting assignments online and taking part in online sessions through platforms such as Zoom.
“Education is a constitutional right in California,” said Ryan Smith, chief external officer of the Partnership for L.A. Schools. “However long we’re doing online learning then internet connection must become a constitutional right, too. Therefore we must monitor the ‘free trials’ that these internet companies are trying to provide.”
Smith generally praised L.A. Unified’s efforts to fill the digital gap, noting that more families were becoming aware of the district-provided hot spots as the survey proceeded. He said he was less impressed with offers by the technology companies.
AT&T
Survey findings: Most callers were not told that a free trial is available. The few who were told about the trial had to sign up for a $59.99 per month plan to receive the first 60 days free of charge.
Response: The company is committed to providing two months of free service to eligible families and they do not have to sign up for a $59.99 plan. Families eligible for free service include those with children who qualify for the subsidized school lunch program and Head Start preschool.
Charter Spectrum
Survey findings: No home service was available in most of Watts’ 90002 ZIP Code. The free trial required signing up for a $54.99 per month plan after the no-cost 60 days.
Response: Spectrum is available in the areas covered by the survey. However, some renters in multiunit buildings may not be able to access services if Spectrum does not “have an agreement with the property owner to wire the building and serve residents.” Customers can cancel at any time.
T-Mobile
Survey findings: No home internet service is provided in the communities that were part of the survey. Existing customers pay an additional $15 a month for a hot spot with 2 gigs of high-speed access, which is not enough for students and families, according to the Partnership.
Response: The company has created options for customers to receive extra data — at no extra charge — but these offers do not include free service. The company also introduced a plan priced at $15 per month.
Verizon
Survey findings: No home internet service was available in the survey area. Separately, L.A. Unified is paying for hot spots that are free for students. Families who directly contacted Verizon were referred to L.A. Unified. Families unaware of the district arrangement were advised by Verizon representatives to use a public hot spot.
Response: Verizon provides home internet service in limited parts of L.A., but not Watts. The arrangement with L.A. Unified is that the district — not Verizon — distributes the hot spots to families.
For Solis, the online odyssey included burning through the 10 gigabytes of hot-spot data she was able to obtain through T-Mobile in about two weeks — online schoolwork for her two children can consume a lot of data, she said. She tried unsuccessfully to get free Wi-Fi service from Spectrum and AT&T to her Watts home.
Solis is out of work after an injury last year, and her husband is getting only part-time hours now as a maintenance worker.
“Money for the internet — it’s not in my plans right now,” Solis said. “They said, ‘It’s going to be free’ ... and it’s not free.”
So far, she also has not been able to get a hot spot from Florence Griffith Joyner Elementary, a Partnership school in Watts. Portable hot spots recently arrived at the school, and administrators are currently reaching out to families who might need them, said Cathy Kralik, a spokeswoman for the Partnership.
A Spectrum spokesman said Solis should qualify for its special offer.
The survey represents a snapshot in time and, since then, the situation has improved as L.A. Unified continues to distribute technology and as teachers and students engage more effectively, district officials said Tuesday.
L.A. Unified Deputy Supt. Megan Reilly said she appreciated receiving the information about lack of access to printers. “That was not on our radar,” she said.
She added that the distribution of devices has been slowed by the necessary logistics of installing bar codes, the district’s online learning management system and software that keeps students safe online while also allowing for central updates.
The district prioritized getting computers to high school students, then turned to middle schools. Elementary students went home with work packets, but the effort is underway to provide them with technology as well.
The district’s latest data indicate that, overall, 98% of high school students and 97% of middle school students had logged on at least once by April 17, figures that represent substantial progress. However, 7% of high schoolers were not in contact with teachers every week.
“There are challenges in the field,” said Pedro Salcido, chief of staff to L.A. Unified Supt. Austin Beutner. “We have been pretty aware of them. Even in a non-COVID-19 world this would be a big lift logistically.”
Solis said she has come to realize the sudden importance of digital access to her children’s education.
“Everything is by computer — everything,” she said. “So that’s one thing I realize right now: that I have to have internet.”


latimes--2020-04-22--L.A.'s most crowded neighborhoods fear outbreaks: 'If one of us gets it, we are all going to get it'

Lorenzo Salinas doesn ’ t know how he ’ ll pay next month ’ s rent , much less how he would keep his whole family from getting sick if one of them fell ill with the coronavirus .
There ’ s little space to spare in the two-bedroom apartment in South Los Angeles where he lives with his wife and three children , ages 11 to 20 .
“ I think we ’ d have to stay outside , ” said Salinas , who lost his job at a restaurant over a month ago .
“ Now we ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ feels smaller and more uncomfortable than usual.
” Salinas and his family live in one of the most crowded ZIP Codes in the United States , according to a Times population-adjusted ranking .
Nearly 24 % of the homes there are considered “ crowded ” — having more than one person per room , excluding bathrooms , the analysis of Census Bureau data shows .
The neighborhood ’ s coronavirus infection rate also ranks it among the top 40 communities out of more than 300 across Los Angeles County , figures from the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cases climb across L.A. County , its overcrowded housing could play a role in accelerating the spread of the disease , according to public health officials and researchers .
Overall , 3.3 % of the nearly 121 million housing units in the U.S. are considered crowded .
L.A. County is home to five of the 10 most crowded ZIP Codes — including the No .
1 most crowded — in the U.S. , the analysis shows .
Some of the most cramped living conditions in the country are found in lower-income neighborhoods such @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Pico-Union .
Although there is some correlation between crowded areas and those with higher rates of confirmed cases in the county , no clear trend has emerged .
For example , wealthy enclaves such as Bel-Air and Palos Verdes Estates have some of the highest infection rates even though a small fraction of homes there are crowded .
In New York City , an analysis by the NYU Furman Center finds the disease is more prevalent in areas where more people reside in crowded units .
The ZIP Codes with the most infections @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of overcrowded renters , researchers found .
In London , a study by the New Policy Institute also found that overcrowded neighborhoods had higher rates of COVID-19 infections than less-crowded areas , with heightened risk in homes that people over 70 share with younger relatives .
Researchers said the finding raised “ policy questions about the practicability of advice on social distancing for people whose housing conditions make self-isolation impossible.
” Health officials in L.A. County say they ’ re concerned that people living in overcrowded housing may be at greater risk for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the county Department of Public Health is trying to gather more detailed information about patients who have been hospitalized with COVID-19 , using data on housing density where they live to determine whether more crowded neighborhoods are being hit harder , director Barbara Ferrer said last week .
“ We ’ re as concerned as you are about trying to better understand the conditions that make spread easier , ” Ferrer said .
“ Obviously , everything we know about this virus means that the closer you are in contact to other people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ There has been such limited and uneven access to testing , health experts say , that rates of death and hospitalization are a better indicator of the virus ’ actual toll .
But it remains impossible to determine whether people in overcrowded communities of L.A. are being hospitalized or dying at higher rates because officials have not released numbers breaking those indicators down beyond the county level .
Dr. Coco Auerswald , associate professor at the UC Berkeley School of Public Health , says she believes that neighborhoods with greater crowding will see @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coronavirus infection , “ not because I have any kind of inside information , but because it ’ s not rocket science from a public health standpoint .
It ’ s obvious.
” Crowded , low-income communities are in a “ far more risky situation than those living in a Norman Rockwell one — the single-family household with a backyard like I have , where people have the privilege of sheltering in place , ” she said .
“ These communities have large numbers of people in big family units where lots of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of them in essential jobs , ” Auerswald said .
“ Every person in that household that ’ s going out , that ’ s another vector of possible infection coming into that densely populated space , by virtue of being out there with a highly infectious pathogen , and doing the jobs that are more likely to be exposed.
” Health officials acknowledge that some of the key measures they are urging to limit the virus ’ spread among members of the same household are impractical for people living in cramped apartment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who are confirmed or presumed to be infected with the virus must self-isolate for seven days after their symptoms appear and another 72 hours after they subside .
Anyone who has been in close contact with them , and potentially exposed , must self-quarantine for 14 days .
That means staying at home at all times , keeping at least six feet away from other people in your home , and using a separate room and bathroom if possible .
No preparing food , caring for children or handling pets .
Ferrer acknowledges @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” to practice when living in close quarters .
In homes without spare rooms , Ferrer suggested using “ a cloth drape or some other physical barrier to create a space that allows you to be separate from other people in your home , ” cleaning the bathroom after each use , and disinfecting objects and surfaces you must touch .
In Echo Park , Jennifer Lopez and her boyfriend live in a one-bedroom apartment that is so cramped they typically take turns napping and taking care of their three children .
More @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ZIP Code are crowded , ranking it in the top 100 nationwide .
The infection rate , however , falls below the county ’ s overall rate .
She worries her job at a shelter for homeless youths puts her at a higher risk of coronavirus infection .
If she gets sick , she admits there will be almost no way to contain the spread in their household .
“ If one of us gets it , we are all going to get it , ” said Lopez , 37 .
“ We @ @ @ @ @ @ @ space.
” Larry Gross , executive director of the Coalition for Economic Survival , said overcrowding in L.A. County is the result of a housing crisis fueled by years of rising rents and stagnating wages .
Renters are caught in an “ economic vice that keeps squeezing them ” as they face difficult choices about how to pay for housing , gas , food , medicine and clothes for their children , he said .
“ For many , the only option to ensure that roof over their head is to move in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s family members or friends , ” Gross said .
“ Then they ’ re able to share the rent , and that ’ s the only way they can make rent.
” The affordable-housing shortage is putting people at a greater risk because many of those renters are struggling to practice social distancing in tight living spaces , he said .
“ Once again , we have people with the lowest incomes having to deal with the greatest risk in this pandemic because of their economic situation , ” Gross said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ estimates of the American Community Survey , which asks respondents to report the number of rooms in their dwellings , as defined by the U.S. Census Bureau .
That measure includes bedrooms , kitchens and living rooms and excludes bathrooms , hallways , outdoor areas and unfinished spaces .
The analysis ranked each ZIP Code tabulation area by statistically weighing its number of households and how much its crowding rate deviated from the national average .
Public health experts have long known that overcrowding is bad for the spread of infectious illness .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ infected people , ” said Dr. Lee Riley , a professor of epidemiology and infectious diseases at UC Berkeley .
It ’ s a consequence of poverty , he said , and “ only one of many important factors that drive up respiratory infections like COVID-19 , ” including a lack of health insurance , a high prevalence of underlying medical conditions or working in the informal economy where lockdowns aren ’ t feasible .
In cities like Los Angeles , crowding has been fueled by the scarcity of affordable units , which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ homes with relatives and living in multi-generational households .
Many low-income people can ’ t afford to rent their own places , so instead they move between different friends ’ and relatives ’ homes , creating an “ intertwined and ever-shifting web of households , ” said Danya Keene , an assistant professor at the Yale School of Public Health .
“ This web of households is not conducive to social distancing , ” Keene said , and that instability “ is only likely to increase as COVID-related economic and job losses exacerbate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they pass the time in their South L.A. apartment , Salinas said his family was faring OK , for now .
They only leave home to buy groceries , wearing face masks and gloves .
But some potential hazards are out of their control , like the people who don ’ t wear masks and ride the same bus to the market .
And he worries about how they ’ ll keep germs out of the home once their money runs out and he has to find another job .
“ I ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” he said .
“ So it ’ s going to be difficult .
”

The Westlake neighborhood of Los Angeles has some the most crowded housing in the country, a Times analysis found.
Lorenzo Salinas doesn’t know how he’ll pay next month’s rent, much less how he would keep his whole family from getting sick if one of them fell ill with the coronavirus.
There’s little space to spare in the two-bedroom apartment in South Los Angeles where he lives with his wife and three children, ages 11 to 20.
“I think we’d have to stay outside,” said Salinas, who lost his job at a restaurant over a month ago. “Now we’re all shut in. The apartment feels smaller and more uncomfortable than usual.”
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Salinas and his family live in one of the most crowded ZIP Codes in the United States, according to a Times population-adjusted ranking. Nearly 24% of the homes there are considered “crowded” — having more than one person per room, excluding bathrooms, the analysis of Census Bureau data shows.
The neighborhood’s coronavirus infection rate also ranks it among the top 40 communities out of more than 300 across Los Angeles County, figures from the county health department show.
As COVID-19 cases climb across L.A. County, its overcrowded housing could play a role in accelerating the spread of the disease, according to public health officials and researchers.
Overall, 3.3% of the nearly 121 million housing units in the U.S. are considered crowded. L.A. County is home to five of the 10 most crowded ZIP Codes — including the No. 1 most crowded — in the U.S., the analysis shows.
Some of the most cramped living conditions in the country are found in lower-income neighborhoods such as Historic South Central, Westlake and Pico-Union.
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Although there is some correlation between crowded areas and those with higher rates of confirmed cases in the county, no clear trend has emerged. For example, wealthy enclaves such as Bel-Air and Palos Verdes Estates have some of the highest infection rates even though a small fraction of homes there are crowded.
In New York City, an analysis by the NYU Furman Center finds the disease is more prevalent in areas where more people reside in crowded units. The ZIP Codes with the most infections per capita also had the highest share of overcrowded renters, researchers found.
In London, a study by the New Policy Institute also found that overcrowded neighborhoods had higher rates of COVID-19 infections than less-crowded areas, with heightened risk in homes that people over 70 share with younger relatives. Researchers said the finding raised “policy questions about the practicability of advice on social distancing for people whose housing conditions make self-isolation impossible.”
Health officials in L.A. County say they’re concerned that people living in overcrowded housing may be at greater risk for contracting the virus.
A team at the county Department of Public Health is trying to gather more detailed information about patients who have been hospitalized with COVID-19, using data on housing density where they live to determine whether more crowded neighborhoods are being hit harder, director Barbara Ferrer said last week.
“We’re as concerned as you are about trying to better understand the conditions that make spread easier,” Ferrer said. “Obviously, everything we know about this virus means that the closer you are in contact to other people the easier it is to spread.”
There has been such limited and uneven access to testing, health experts say, that rates of death and hospitalization are a better indicator of the virus’ actual toll. But it remains impossible to determine whether people in overcrowded communities of L.A. are being hospitalized or dying at higher rates because officials have not released numbers breaking those indicators down beyond the county level.
Dr. Coco Auerswald, associate professor at the UC Berkeley School of Public Health, says she believes that neighborhoods with greater crowding will see higher rates of deaths and hospitalizations from coronavirus infection, “not because I have any kind of inside information, but because it’s not rocket science from a public health standpoint. It’s obvious.”
Crowded, low-income communities are in a “far more risky situation than those living in a Norman Rockwell one — the single-family household with a backyard like I have, where people have the privilege of sheltering in place,” she said.
“These communities have large numbers of people in big family units where lots of people are coming and going, many of them in essential jobs,” Auerswald said. “Every person in that household that’s going out, that’s another vector of possible infection coming into that densely populated space, by virtue of being out there with a highly infectious pathogen, and doing the jobs that are more likely to be exposed.”
Health officials acknowledge that some of the key measures they are urging to limit the virus’ spread among members of the same household are impractical for people living in cramped apartment units.
Under county guidelines, people who are confirmed or presumed to be infected with the virus must self-isolate for seven days after their symptoms appear and another 72 hours after they subside. Anyone who has been in close contact with them, and potentially exposed, must self-quarantine for 14 days.
That means staying at home at all times, keeping at least six feet away from other people in your home, and using a separate room and bathroom if possible. No preparing food, caring for children or handling pets.
Ferrer acknowledges that those steps are “really difficult” to practice when living in close quarters. In homes without spare rooms, Ferrer suggested using “a cloth drape or some other physical barrier to create a space that allows you to be separate from other people in your home,” cleaning the bathroom after each use, and disinfecting objects and surfaces you must touch.
In Echo Park, Jennifer Lopez and her boyfriend live in a one-bedroom apartment that is so cramped they typically take turns napping and taking care of their three children. More than 15% of homes in their ZIP Code are crowded, ranking it in the top 100 nationwide. The infection rate, however, falls below the county’s overall rate.
She worries her job at a shelter for homeless youths puts her at a higher risk of coronavirus infection. If she gets sick, she admits there will be almost no way to contain the spread in their household.
“If one of us gets it, we are all going to get it,” said Lopez, 37. “We just don’t have any free space.”
Larry Gross, executive director of the Coalition for Economic Survival, said overcrowding in L.A. County is the result of a housing crisis fueled by years of rising rents and stagnating wages. Renters are caught in an “economic vice that keeps squeezing them” as they face difficult choices about how to pay for housing, gas, food, medicine and clothes for their children, he said.
“For many, the only option to ensure that roof over their head is to move in with more people, whether it’s family members or friends,” Gross said. “Then they’re able to share the rent, and that’s the only way they can make rent.”
The affordable-housing shortage is putting people at a greater risk because many of those renters are struggling to practice social distancing in tight living spaces, he said.
“Once again, we have people with the lowest incomes having to deal with the greatest risk in this pandemic because of their economic situation,” Gross said.
The Times analysis is based on 2014-2018 estimates of the American Community Survey, which asks respondents to report the number of rooms in their dwellings, as defined by the U.S. Census Bureau. That measure includes bedrooms, kitchens and living rooms and excludes bathrooms, hallways, outdoor areas and unfinished spaces. The analysis ranked each ZIP Code tabulation area by statistically weighing its number of households and how much its crowding rate deviated from the national average.
Public health experts have long known that overcrowding is bad for the spread of infectious illness.
“Crowding just facilitates close contacts of infected people,” said Dr. Lee Riley, a professor of epidemiology and infectious diseases at UC Berkeley. It’s a consequence of poverty, he said, and “only one of many important factors that drive up respiratory infections like COVID-19,” including a lack of health insurance, a high prevalence of underlying medical conditions or working in the informal economy where lockdowns aren’t feasible.
In cities like Los Angeles, crowding has been fueled by the scarcity of affordable units, which has more families doubled up, sharing homes with relatives and living in multi-generational households.
Many low-income people can’t afford to rent their own places, so instead they move between different friends’ and relatives’ homes, creating an “intertwined and ever-shifting web of households,” said Danya Keene, an assistant professor at the Yale School of Public Health.
“This web of households is not conducive to social distancing,” Keene said, and that instability “is only likely to increase as COVID-related economic and job losses exacerbate existing barriers to affordable housing.”
As they pass the time in their South L.A. apartment, Salinas said his family was faring OK, for now. They only leave home to buy groceries, wearing face masks and gloves.
But some potential hazards are out of their control, like the people who don’t wear masks and ride the same bus to the market. And he worries about how they’ll keep germs out of the home once their money runs out and he has to find another job.
“I’m the only one who works,” he said. “So it’s going to be difficult.”


latimes--2020-04-22--Column: The coronavirus pandemic has made one thing perfectly clear: It's time to split the country

On Monday night , I was watching TV coverage of the pandemic , first on MSNBC then on Fox News , and a thought occurred .
We are so helplessly , irrevocably divided , it ’ s time to quit talking about coming together as one and do the only sensible thing .
Roughly 30 years ago , the USSR came to grips with its irreconcilable regional differences and broke apart , splitting into 15 independent republics .
Why can ’ t we do that here ?
All those who love the man currently running the United States of America @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mar-a-Lago .
If this sounds delusional , maybe it is .
Maybe I ’ ve got a case of cabin fever and it ’ s eating at my brain .
But we ’ re five weeks into this and it seems like an eternity .
Oh , how I long for the days when I could roam free and focus on more positive news than coronavirus , like the arrest of the L.A. City Councilman jammed up in a federal corruption probe or the rat infestation at City Hall .
I ’ ve @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who are complaining about our enforced staycations are nothing but wimps .
After all , Nelson Mandela spent 27 years in prison .
Yeah , but he didn ’ t have cable TV .
One minute you ’ re watching scientists warn that we ’ ll pay with our lives if we return to normal before testing and tracing are in place .
The next minute you ’ re watching President Trump canonize people for demanding the return of their God-given right to eat at a Waffle House and infect everyone around them @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a no-alcohol night for me .
I try to have a couple of those a week .
Booze without TV is okay .
TV without booze is a test of will and I may not have what it takes .
I watched 30 minutes of MSNBC ’ s merciless attacks on Trump and Fox News .
Then I switched to Fox for 30 minutes of Sean Hannity ’ s militant defense of Trump , along with a volley of cannon shots at what he calls MSDNC .
This is who we are .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ than ever .
We hate each other and I have proof .
You wan na read some of the email I get ?
We could do it the USSR way and divide into 15 self-governed countries .
We could have the Republic of America First , the Commonwealth of God and Guns , the Federated Sanctuary of Huddled Masses ( with California as its capital ) .
But splitting in half seems a little easier to pull off , especially since the president himself expresses such deep-seated contempt for blue states .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the states now racing to reopen for business despite the risks that have been clearly laid out by one medical authority after another .
Texas , Tennessee , Georgia , South Carolina and Florida .
Some have said they ’ ll be cautious , but why hold back ?
This weekend , to celebrate the birth of their new republic , they could hold a massive liberation party on all southeast Atlantic beaches .
Social distancing would be abandoned .
Anyone possessing , wearing or selling a mask — or wondering if the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be shot on sight by a citizen militia .
In Texas , suspended executions would not only be resumed , but death row inmates would be given lethal COVID-19 injections .
And all houses of worship in the Kingdom of Mar-a-Lago would be required to reopen if they hadn ’ t already , with no restrictions on hugging and kissing .
All Mar-a-Lago immigrants except for Melania would be sent home on rubber rafts , all the king ’ s conversations with foreign allies and enemies would be “ perfect , ” nobody @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be turned away at the border unless they worked for Fox News .
California , of course , has plenty of red , Trump-loving regions , the largest of which is the Central Valley .
When the country splits , everything from Modesto to Bakersfield might want to become a territory of Mar-a-Lago .
But once the labor force was deported , I ’ m not sure how they ’ d find anyone to work the fields .
I don ’ t mean to suggest , by the way , that California doesn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
It ain ’ t all milk and honey here , by a long shot .
We ’ ve got a housing crisis we ’ ve temporarily forgotten about , epic numbers of homeless people and great wealth alongside even greater poverty .
The L.A. Unified School District budget is full of holes .
L.A. Mayor Eric Garcetti says there will be furloughs and even fewer of the basic services he promised .
And let ’ s not forget Newsom ’ s secretive and suspicious deal to buy $ 1 billion worth of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sketchy track record .
But all things considered , we tend to trust science , and , while we ’ re eager to rediscover our groove , we ’ re cautious about moving too quickly .
Newsom , if you haven ’ t noticed , keeps calling us a nation state .

Protesters from ReOpenNC calls on North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper to ease COVID-19 restrictions due to economic concerns in Raleigh, N.C.
On Monday night, I was watching TV coverage of the pandemic, first on MSNBC then on Fox News, and a thought occurred.
We are so helplessly, irrevocably divided, it’s time to quit talking about coming together as one and do the only sensible thing.
Roughly 30 years ago, the USSR came to grips with its irreconcilable regional differences and broke apart, splitting into 15 independent republics.
Why can’t we do that here?
All those who love the man currently running the United States of America would become residents of the Kingdom of Mar-a-Lago.
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Good luck to ye all.
If this sounds delusional, maybe it is. Maybe I’ve got a case of cabin fever and it’s eating at my brain. But we’re five weeks into this and it seems like an eternity.
Oh, how I long for the days when I could roam free and focus on more positive news than coronavirus, like the arrest of the L.A. City Councilman jammed up in a federal corruption probe or the rat infestation at City Hall.
I’ve seen people suggest that any of us who are complaining about our enforced staycations are nothing but wimps. After all, Nelson Mandela spent 27 years in prison.
Yeah, but he didn’t have cable TV.
I’m both addicted and repulsed.
It’s torture.
One minute you’re watching scientists warn that we’ll pay with our lives if we return to normal before testing and tracing are in place. The next minute you’re watching President Trump canonize people for demanding the return of their God-given right to eat at a Waffle House and infect everyone around them.
Monday night, sadly, was a no-alcohol night for me. I try to have a couple of those a week. Booze without TV is okay. TV without booze is a test of will and I may not have what it takes.
I watched 30 minutes of MSNBC’s merciless attacks on Trump and Fox News. Then I switched to Fox for 30 minutes of Sean Hannity’s militant defense of Trump, along with a volley of cannon shots at what he calls MSDNC.
This is who we are. A nation irrevocably divided, perhaps more than ever. We hate each other and I have proof. You wanna read some of the email I get?
We could do it the USSR way and divide into 15 self-governed countries. We could have the Republic of America First, the Commonwealth of God and Guns, the Federated Sanctuary of Huddled Masses (with California as its capital).
But splitting in half seems a little easier to pull off, especially since the president himself expresses such deep-seated contempt for blue states.
Advertisement
The Kingdom of Mar-a-Lago would for sure include the states now racing to reopen for business despite the risks that have been clearly laid out by one medical authority after another. Texas, Tennessee, Georgia, South Carolina and Florida. Some have said they’ll be cautious, but why hold back?
This weekend, to celebrate the birth of their new republic, they could hold a massive liberation party on all southeast Atlantic beaches. Social distancing would be abandoned. Anyone possessing, wearing or selling a mask — or wondering if the ocean water has gotten warmer — would be shot on sight by a citizen militia.
In Texas, suspended executions would not only be resumed, but death row inmates would be given lethal COVID-19 injections. And all houses of worship in the Kingdom of Mar-a-Lago would be required to reopen if they hadn’t already, with no restrictions on hugging and kissing.
All Mar-a-Lago immigrants except for Melania would be sent home on rubber rafts, all the king’s conversations with foreign allies and enemies would be “perfect,” nobody smart would pay taxes and journalists would be turned away at the border unless they worked for Fox News.
California, of course, has plenty of red, Trump-loving regions, the largest of which is the Central Valley. When the country splits, everything from Modesto to Bakersfield might want to become a territory of Mar-a-Lago. But once the labor force was deported, I’m not sure how they’d find anyone to work the fields.
I don’t mean to suggest, by the way, that California doesn’t have its own leadership challenges. It ain’t all milk and honey here, by a long shot.
We’ve got a housing crisis we’ve temporarily forgotten about, epic numbers of homeless people and great wealth alongside even greater poverty. The L.A. Unified School District budget is full of holes. L.A. Mayor Eric Garcetti says there will be furloughs and even fewer of the basic services he promised. And let’s not forget Newsom’s secretive and suspicious deal to buy $1 billion worth of masks from a Chinese company with a sketchy track record.
But all things considered, we tend to trust science, and, while we’re eager to rediscover our groove, we’re cautious about moving too quickly.
Newsom, if you haven’t noticed, keeps calling us a nation state.
Let’s make it official.