latimes--2020-08-11--Mayor Garcetti's top homelessness advisor to resign

Mayor Eric Garcetti ’ s top advisor on homelessness has told her colleagues she will be resigning at the end of the month , The Times has learned .
This comes as the number of people living on the streets continues to grow and more money than ever is being spent to house people and keep them from returning to the street .
To help respond to the pandemic , the city is awash in federal dollars that are being directed towards homelessness .
Deputy Mayor Christina Miller has been Garcetti ’ s point person on the subject since she @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had previously worked on homelessness issues for Garcetti as a senior project manager for homeless strategies and before that at Los Angeles International Airport .
“ It has been an incredible journey and unique privilege to serve under Mayor Garcetti who has been and continues to be deeply committed to solving homelessness in our region , ” she wrote in an email to people working on homelessness policy around Los Angeles , announcing her departure .
“ From growing the homelessness budget for the City exponentially , to banner initiatives such as HHH @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been a meaningful and exciting time to be part of the City ’ s work to address this crisis.
” Measure HHH was a 2016 bond initiative to raise $ 1.2 billion to relieve homelessness .
A Bridge Home is a program that aimed to have homeless shelters built in every council district .
Miller will be joining the National Alliance to End Homelessness on Sept. 1 as a senior policy fellow , helping the Washington-based organization do more policy advocacy at the state level here in California .
This marks a new @ @ @ @ @ @ @ previously focused much of its time and energy advocating for changes to homelessness policy at the federal level .
“ Our board had decided that given the high percentage of homeless people in the country who reside in California , that we should concentrate efforts more in the state , ” said Nan Roman , president and CEO of the organization .
“ We ’ re not going to end homelessness in the country if California doesn ’ t reduce its numbers.
” In an interview , Miller said she saw her new @ @ @ @ @ @ @ she ’ s done for the city over the last few years .
She said she hopes to bring that on-the-ground perspective to the corridors of power .
“ Homelessness is going up across the state , ” Miller said .
“ There ’ s so much that we can do locally .
There ’ s so much stuff the mayor can do and has done , but if we can ’ t figure out a regional plan that originates in some respects from Sacramento , we ’ re just holding our head @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Miller worked as a case manager for the North Hollywood-based LA Family Housing and helped set up and manage the coordinated entry system , which homeless people use to find housing or services from the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority and other publicly funded agencies .
While working for the city , she has helped oversee the expansion of the A Bridge Home program .
Over the last two years , 21 shelters have opened and now house about 1,600 people .
“ We need to invest in all types of housing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said Miller ’ s old boss , Stephanie Klasky-Gamer , the president and chief executive officer of LA Family Housing .
“ Until the past couple of years , the city had really only focused on permanent housing .
During Christina ’ s time we expanded our investment into interim housing as well .
The city ’ s role had never been to address homelessness .
That had traditionally been the county.
” Still during her tenure at City Hall , homelessness grew , and Miller had a hand in advocating for more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s unfolding on city streets .
In the final years of Gov .
Jerry Brown ’ s administration , Garcetti , along with the other mayors of California ’ s largest cities , secured a total of $ 500 million in state grants to address homeless .
A similar program continued under Gov .
Gavin Newsom , and he has committed more money to helping counties and cities purchase buildings to house homeless people .
More recently she ’ s been a regular presence as Garcetti ’ s representative at proceedings related @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by the L.A. Alliance for Human Rights , a group of business owners , downtown residents and others who are demanding solutions to what they call unsafe and inhumane conditions in encampments .
These hearings have been a venue for the city and county to update the public on how they ’ re responding to the COVID-19 pandemic and how they ’ re preventing homeless people from dying in large numbers .
Miller , who wasn ’ t a regular presence on TV or the radio and tends to do most of her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in helping set up recreation sites as temporary homeless shelters and coordinating the renting of hotels to homeless people .
The personnel change has come at a time of transition in the city as it contends with reduced budgets from the pandemic .
Late Tuesday , it was announced that Jose “ Che ” Ramirez , would be replacing Miller .
He comes from San Francisco , where he was the executive director of the St. Anthony Foundation— a homeless services agency in the Tenderloin .
Before that , he ran St. Francis @ @ @ @ @ @ @ homeless individuals in Los Angeles .
Tommy Newman , senior director for the United Way of Greater Los Angeles , said he has been heartened by the city ’ s commitment in recent weeks to use money it received from the federal government to fund more solutions to homelessness , including nearly $ 100 million for more rental vouchers and another $ 150 million to acquire buildings to house homeless people .
“ Christina brought her experience as a case manager and the persistence that it takes to end homelessness for one person @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fights of government , ” Newman said , “ and the result is that we ’ re all in a better place for it .
”

Deputy Mayor for City Homelessness Initiatives Christina Miller has announced she will resign at the end of the month.
Mayor Eric Garcetti’s top advisor on homelessness has told her colleagues she will be resigning at the end of the month, The Times has learned.
This comes as the number of people living on the streets continues to grow and more money than ever is being spent to house people and keep them from returning to the street. To help respond to the pandemic, the city is awash in federal dollars that are being directed towards homelessness.
Deputy Mayor Christina Miller has been Garcetti’s point person on the subject since she was appointed in December 2018.
She had previously worked on homelessness issues for Garcetti as a senior project manager for homeless strategies and before that at Los Angeles International Airport.
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“It has been an incredible journey and unique privilege to serve under Mayor Garcetti who has been and continues to be deeply committed to solving homelessness in our region,” she wrote in an email to people working on homelessness policy around Los Angeles, announcing her departure.
“From growing the homelessness budget for the City exponentially, to banner initiatives such as HHH and A Bridge Home, it has been a meaningful and exciting time to be part of the City’s work to address this crisis.”
Measure HHH was a 2016 bond initiative to raise $1.2 billion to relieve homelessness. A Bridge Home is a program that aimed to have homeless shelters built in every council district.
Miller will be joining the National Alliance to End Homelessness on Sept. 1 as a senior policy fellow, helping the Washington-based organization do more policy advocacy at the state level here in California. This marks a new direction for the nonprofit, which had previously focused much of its time and energy advocating for changes to homelessness policy at the federal level.
“Our board had decided that given the high percentage of homeless people in the country who reside in California, that we should concentrate efforts more in the state,” said Nan Roman, president and CEO of the organization. “We’re not going to end homelessness in the country if California doesn’t reduce its numbers.”
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In an interview, Miller said she saw her new role as a continuation of the work she’s done for the city over the last few years. She said she hopes to bring that on-the-ground perspective to the corridors of power.
“Homelessness is going up across the state,” Miller said. “There’s so much that we can do locally. There’s so much stuff the mayor can do and has done, but if we can’t figure out a regional plan that originates in some respects from Sacramento, we’re just holding our head above water.”
Before moving into government, Miller worked as a case manager for the North Hollywood-based LA Family Housing and helped set up and manage the coordinated entry system, which homeless people use to find housing or services from the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority and other publicly funded agencies.
While working for the city, she has helped oversee the expansion of the A Bridge Home program. Over the last two years, 21 shelters have opened and now house about 1,600 people.
“We need to invest in all types of housing — from interim to permanent,” said Miller’s old boss, Stephanie Klasky-Gamer, the president and chief executive officer of LA Family Housing.
“Until the past couple of years, the city had really only focused on permanent housing. During Christina’s time we expanded our investment into interim housing as well. The city’s role had never been to address homelessness. That had traditionally been the county.”
Still during her tenure at City Hall, homelessness grew, and Miller had a hand in advocating for more state funding to address the crisis that’s unfolding on city streets. In the final years of Gov. Jerry Brown’s administration, Garcetti, along with the other mayors of California’s largest cities, secured a total of $500 million in state grants to address homeless. A similar program continued under Gov. Gavin Newsom, and he has committed more money to helping counties and cities purchase buildings to house homeless people.
More recently she’s been a regular presence as Garcetti’s representative at proceedings related to the lawsuit filed earlier this year by the L.A. Alliance for Human Rights, a group of business owners, downtown residents and others who are demanding solutions to what they call unsafe and inhumane conditions in encampments.
Housing & Homelessness A judge commandeers L.A.’s City Hall in his campaign to curb homelessness Judge David O. Carter, who has ruled that local agencies must clear homeless people from encampments alongside freeways, holds a hearing at City Hall — a reflection of how a legal case has made its presence felt in L.A. politics.
These hearings have been a venue for the city and county to update the public on how they’re responding to the COVID-19 pandemic and how they’re preventing homeless people from dying in large numbers. Miller, who wasn’t a regular presence on TV or the radio and tends to do most of her work behind the scenes, was integral in helping set up recreation sites as temporary homeless shelters and coordinating the renting of hotels to homeless people.
The personnel change has come at a time of transition in the city as it contends with reduced budgets from the pandemic.
Late Tuesday, it was announced that Jose “Che” Ramirez, would be replacing Miller. He comes from San Francisco, where he was the executive director of the St. Anthony Foundation— a homeless services agency in the Tenderloin.
Before that, he ran St. Francis Center, which supports low-income families and homeless individuals in Los Angeles.
Tommy Newman, senior director for the United Way of Greater Los Angeles, said he has been heartened by the city’s commitment in recent weeks to use money it received from the federal government to fund more solutions to homelessness, including nearly $100 million for more rental vouchers and another $150 million to acquire buildings to house homeless people.
“Christina brought her experience as a case manager and the persistence that it takes to end homelessness for one person to the policy fights and the political fights of government,” Newman said, “and the result is that we’re all in a better place for it.”


latimes--2020-08-12--LAPD videos show violent clashes with protesters in Fairfax district in May

Newly released videos from protests near the Grove in May show intense clashes between activists and Los Angeles police officers and shine new light on two of the most controversial moments of the unrest .
The LAPD body-camera footage makes clear that a brutal moment involving multiple officers swinging their batons into a crowd — which had previously gone viral after being captured on video by a protester — occurred after another officer was yanked into the crowd by the neck .
The new footage also shows multiple exchanges between Bradley Steyn , a famed anti-Apartheid activist and former spy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ now lives outside L.A. , and officers on the skirmish line .
One of the officers appears to get kicked by Steyn before another fires a tactical round into Steyn ’ s groin .
The video was released Wednesday as part of an investigation into Steyn ’ s injuries — which sent him to the hospital with a ripped scrotum and ruptured testicle .
Steyn — a South African-born mass-shooting survivor and co-author of a book about his days spying for the African National Congress — has repeatedly spoken out about his injuries @ @ @ @ @ @ @ He also filed a formal complaint with the LAPD and filed notice with the city of his intention to sue over his injuries .
In addition to the groin injury , he said he was struck across the chest with a baton , leaving him badly bruised .
“ I could see his eyes , ” Steyn , 49 , said in a recent interview , of the officer who shot him .
“ He was not aiming for my center body mass or my belt buckle .
He was trying to put @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the newly released body-camera footage , tell a very different story .
In the video , Steyn can be seen at the front of a crowd of protesters as officers repeatedly tell them to leave the area .
“ Back up , leave the area , ” an officer says at one point .
“ Shut the ... up , ” Steyn responds , before repeatedly accusing officers on the line of using excessive force .
When another man passes in front of the skirmish line and says , “ I ’ m @ @ @ @ @ @ @ officer in front of Steyn shoves the man with his baton , Steyn and others in the crowd react angrily .
Steyn can then be seen lunging forward with his foot in the air .
Footage from the camera of the officer who then shoots Steyn records the officer noting that he had targeted Steyn in response .
“ Fired another round .
Male , white , kicked Officer Rivera , ” the officer says .
Josh Rubenstein , an LAPD spokesman , said detectives reviewed the footage and other evidence in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the officer whom he allegedly kicked .
They referred the incident to prosecutors , who sent it on to City Atty .
Mike Feuer ’ s office , Rubenstein said .
Feuer ’ s office said Wednesday that it was reviewing the case .
A separate internal LAPD review to determine whether the officer who shot Steyn was justified in doing so remains open , Rubenstein said .
Steyn said in an interview prior to the release of the video that he had been defending another person at the protest when the officer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had moved toward the skirmish line after seeing young people fleeing from officers firing tactical rounds .
He said the scene had reminded him of the Strijdom Square massacre by a racist white gunman that he witnessed in Pretoria , South Africa as a 17-year-old boy , and triggered the post-traumatic stress that he has carried with him since and writes about in his book — which was a bestseller in South Africa and is soon to be released in the U.S. “ I thought , ‘ Oh my God , this is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ brutality against black people , and I have to try and help , ’ ” he said .
After he was shot , Steyn said he passed out from the shock and pain , regained consciousness , limped away and then passed out again .
Losing blood fast , he managed to get a ride-share driver to take him to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center , where he underwent surgery , he said .
Steyn did not immediately respond to a request for comment following the release of the footage .
His attorney , Lisa @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , while there is no dispute that an officer ruptured Steyn ’ s testicle , there are serious questions raised by the department ’ s decision to release “ a slickly produced and highly edited video showing only a portion of the incident , at odd angles , with the camera suspiciously blocked during key moments.
” She said police threats to criminally prosecute Steyn were “ obvious retaliation ” for his internal affairs complaint and pending lawsuit .
“ We demand to see the full , unedited videos of the incident , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
Asked specifically about Steyn appearing to kick the officer , Bloom said , “ It ’ s obvious even from the edited video that the police officer struck a peaceful unarmed Black man walking by , simply talking on the phone , just before this incident .
Many protesters , in addition to Mr. Steyn , reacted to that act of police brutality.
” The video marks the second release of body-camera footage from the protests in the Fairfax district on May 30 .
The prior release showed a protester with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shot in the head with a projectile .
That man , CJ Montano , filed his own lawsuit against the city on Wednesday , alleging his civil rights were violated .
The footage in Steyn ’ s case is from one of the most intense moments during L.A. 's summer protests over police brutality against Black people , including George Floyd , who died after a white Minneapolis police officer knelt on his neck for more than eight minutes .
Protester footage from the same scene near the Grove had captured officers swinging @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the crowd pulsed backwards .
Police have long said the incident was under review , and that the viral protester video did not capture all of the relevant circumstances .
The new footage suggests the officers had been reacting to one of their fellow cops being pulled from around the neck into the crowd .
The appropriateness of that response remains under review , Rubenstein said .
The footage makes clear the intensity of the moment in new ways .
Protesters can be seen lobbing objects at officers .
Officers can be seen @ @ @ @ @ @ @ leave .
In multiple videos , all edited and compiled together into one YouTube video by the LAPD , officers can be heard giving the protesters warnings that the gathering had been declared unlawful and they would be subject to arrest if they remained .
The events are the subject of a massive class-action lawsuit against the city and the LAPD for excessive force against protesters .
A review by The Times has found that officers likely breached department policies in their use of projectile weapons and batons .
Many people were injured @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hospitalized .

This footage has been edited by the Los Angeles Police Department. It contains explicit language.
Newly released videos from protests near the Grove in May show intense clashes between activists and Los Angeles police officers and shine new light on two of the most controversial moments of the unrest.
The LAPD body-camera footage makes clear that a brutal moment involving multiple officers swinging their batons into a crowd — which had previously gone viral after being captured on video by a protester — occurred after another officer was yanked into the crowd by the neck.
The new footage also shows multiple exchanges between Bradley Steyn, a famed anti-Apartheid activist and former spy for Nelson Mandela’s party who now lives outside L.A., and officers on the skirmish line.
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One of the officers appears to get kicked by Steyn before another fires a tactical round into Steyn’s groin. The video was released Wednesday as part of an investigation into Steyn’s injuries — which sent him to the hospital with a ripped scrotum and ruptured testicle.
Steyn — a South African-born mass-shooting survivor and co-author of a book about his days spying for the African National Congress — has repeatedly spoken out about his injuries in the days and weeks since. He also filed a formal complaint with the LAPD and filed notice with the city of his intention to sue over his injuries.
In addition to the groin injury, he said he was struck across the chest with a baton, leaving him badly bruised.
“I could see his eyes,” Steyn, 49, said in a recent interview, of the officer who shot him. “He was not aiming for my center body mass or my belt buckle. He was trying to put the hurt on.”
Police, citing the newly released body-camera footage, tell a very different story.
In the video, Steyn can be seen at the front of a crowd of protesters as officers repeatedly tell them to leave the area.
“Back up, leave the area,” an officer says at one point.
“Shut the ... up,” Steyn responds, before repeatedly accusing officers on the line of using excessive force.
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When another man passes in front of the skirmish line and says, “I’m going that way,” and the officer in front of Steyn shoves the man with his baton, Steyn and others in the crowd react angrily. Steyn can then be seen lunging forward with his foot in the air.
Footage from the camera of the officer who then shoots Steyn records the officer noting that he had targeted Steyn in response.
“Fired another round. Male, white, kicked Officer Rivera,” the officer says.
Josh Rubenstein, an LAPD spokesman, said detectives reviewed the footage and other evidence in the case and determined that Steyn had assaulted the officer whom he allegedly kicked. They referred the incident to prosecutors, who sent it on to City Atty. Mike Feuer’s office, Rubenstein said.
Feuer’s office said Wednesday that it was reviewing the case.
A separate internal LAPD review to determine whether the officer who shot Steyn was justified in doing so remains open, Rubenstein said.
Steyn said in an interview prior to the release of the video that he had been defending another person at the protest when the officer shot him.
He said that he had moved toward the skirmish line after seeing young people fleeing from officers firing tactical rounds. He said the scene had reminded him of the Strijdom Square massacre by a racist white gunman that he witnessed in Pretoria, South Africa as a 17-year-old boy, and triggered the post-traumatic stress that he has carried with him since and writes about in his book — which was a bestseller in South Africa and is soon to be released in the U.S.
“I thought, ‘Oh my God, this is happening again. I’m seeing brutality against Black people, and I have to try and help,’” he said.
After he was shot, Steyn said he passed out from the shock and pain, regained consciousness, limped away and then passed out again. Losing blood fast, he managed to get a ride-share driver to take him to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, where he underwent surgery, he said.
Steyn did not immediately respond to a request for comment following the release of the footage. His attorney, Lisa Bloom, said in a statement that, while there is no dispute that an officer ruptured Steyn’s testicle, there are serious questions raised by the department’s decision to release “a slickly produced and highly edited video showing only a portion of the incident, at odd angles, with the camera suspiciously blocked during key moments.”
She said police threats to criminally prosecute Steyn were “obvious retaliation” for his internal affairs complaint and pending lawsuit.
“We demand to see the full, unedited videos of the incident, and we demand justice,” Bloom said.
Asked specifically about Steyn appearing to kick the officer, Bloom said, “It’s obvious even from the edited video that the police officer struck a peaceful unarmed Black man walking by, simply talking on the phone, just before this incident. Many protesters, in addition to Mr. Steyn, reacted to that act of police brutality.”
The video marks the second release of body-camera footage from the protests in the Fairfax district on May 30.
The prior release showed a protester with his hands raised in the air get shot in the head with a projectile. That man, CJ Montano, filed his own lawsuit against the city on Wednesday, alleging his civil rights were violated.
The footage in Steyn’s case is from one of the most intense moments during L.A.’s summer protests over police brutality against Black people, including George Floyd, who died after a white Minneapolis police officer knelt on his neck for more than eight minutes.
Protester footage from the same scene near the Grove had captured officers swinging their batons at protesters’ knees as the crowd pulsed backwards. Police have long said the incident was under review, and that the viral protester video did not capture all of the relevant circumstances.
The new footage suggests the officers had been reacting to one of their fellow cops being pulled from around the neck into the crowd.
The appropriateness of that response remains under review, Rubenstein said.
The footage makes clear the intensity of the moment in new ways.
Protesters can be seen lobbing objects at officers. Officers can be seen pushing protesters and yelling at them to leave. In multiple videos, all edited and compiled together into one YouTube video by the LAPD, officers can be heard giving the protesters warnings that the gathering had been declared unlawful and they would be subject to arrest if they remained.
The events are the subject of a massive class-action lawsuit against the city and the LAPD for excessive force against protesters.
A review by The Times has found that officers likely breached department policies in their use of projectile weapons and batons. Many people were injured in the clashes, some of them hospitalized.


latimes--2020-08-12--Hot weather is expected into early next week for the Los Angeles region

The Southern California region can expect an extended period of hot weather through early next week , the National Weather Service said .
High pressure building into the region has prompted the weather service to post excessive heat watches and warnings for virtually the entire region .
A dramatic warmup is expected Friday , when widespread triple-digit temperature readings are fairly certain for inland areas .
Excessive heat warnings take effect throughout Southern California from late morning to noon on Friday and remain in effect through Monday evening .
Moisture from weakening Tropical Storm Elida , which was churning about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Wednesday afternoon , will introduce some clouds and the possibility of precipitation in parts of the area .
There ’ s a slight chance of light showers Thursday morning , and a slight chance of afternoon and evening thunderstorms for interior areas .
Precipitation , if any , would be light , but the risk of dry lightning can ’ t be ruled out .
More isolated thunderstorms are possible over the mountains and deserts , particularly on Sunday and Monday , when instability and available moisture are expected to increase .
Models @ @ @ @ @ @ @ day for the L.A. area , with temperatures of 105 to 109 in the hottest locations .
There won ’ t be much relief after dark either as overnight temperatures in some foothill areas will not dip below 80 degrees .
Coastal areas can expect just enough of a sea breeze to moderate temperatures , partly thanks to ocean water temperatures in the 60s and some patchy shallow marine layer .
Maximum temperatures in the low deserts could sizzle at about 120 degrees , but most areas will be closer to 115 .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ or higher , and the mercury could climb as high as 110 in the Inland Empire .
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration ’ s longer term temperature outlooks favor above-average temperatures for Southern California and the Southwest .
The precipitation outlook is slightly above normal for Southern California south of Point Conception for Aug. 12 to 18 but is normal or slightly below normal for much of the rest of the Southwest through Aug. 20 .

Triple-digit high temperatures and warm nights will cause potentially excessive heat lasting into Tuesday for inland areas.
The Southern California region can expect an extended period of hot weather through early next week, the National Weather Service said.
High pressure building into the region has prompted the weather service to post excessive heat watches and warnings for virtually the entire region. A dramatic warmup is expected Friday, when widespread triple-digit temperature readings are fairly certain for inland areas.
Excessive heat warnings take effect throughout Southern California from late morning to noon on Friday and remain in effect through Monday evening.
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Tropical Storm Elida was about 700 miles south of San Diego in this image from Wednesday afternoon. (CIRA/NOAA & Los Angeles Times)
Moisture from weakening Tropical Storm Elida, which was churning about 700 miles south of San Diego on Wednesday afternoon, will introduce some clouds and the possibility of precipitation in parts of the area. There’s a slight chance of light showers Thursday morning, and a slight chance of afternoon and evening thunderstorms for interior areas.
Precipitation, if any, would be light, but the risk of dry lightning can’t be ruled out.
More isolated thunderstorms are possible over the mountains and deserts, particularly on Sunday and Monday, when instability and available moisture are expected to increase.
Models suggest that Saturday will be the warmest day for the L.A. area, with temperatures of 105 to 109 in the hottest locations. There won’t be much relief after dark either as overnight temperatures in some foothill areas will not dip below 80 degrees. Coastal areas can expect just enough of a sea breeze to moderate temperatures, partly thanks to ocean water temperatures in the 60s and some patchy shallow marine layer.
Maximum temperatures in the low deserts could sizzle at about 120 degrees, but most areas will be closer to 115. Inland Orange County could see 100-degree readings or higher, and the mercury could climb as high as 110 in the Inland Empire.
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The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s longer term temperature outlooks favor above-average temperatures for Southern California and the Southwest. The precipitation outlook is slightly above normal for Southern California south of Point Conception for Aug. 12 to 18 but is normal or slightly below normal for much of the rest of the Southwest through Aug. 20.


latimes--2020-08-12--Airbnb to pursue legal action after unauthorized party in Sacramento County

Airbnb for the first time will be taking legal action against a guest for violating its ban on unauthorized parties @ @ @ @ @ .
In a statement , Airbnb said it will be initiating legal proceedings against a @ @ @ @ @ party last weekend in Sacramento County .
Three people were shot and wounded at the @ @ @ @ @ has removed the guest from its platform and intends to bring legal action , alleging @ @ @ @ @ health orders , among other things .
It said it will donate money it receives @ @ @ @ @ a Sacramento nonprofit fighting gun violence .
In November , Airbnb banned “ party houses @ @ @ @ @ shooting at a Bay Area Halloween party held at one of its rentals that left @ @ @ @ @ has also created a hotline for neighbors to voice concerns and help enforce its policy @ @ @ @ @ Press contributed to this report .

Airbnb for the first time will be taking legal action against a guest for violating its ban on unauthorized parties, the company said Wednesday.
In a statement, Airbnb said it will be initiating legal proceedings against a booking guest who held a party last weekend in Sacramento County. Three people were shot and wounded at the event.
Airbnb said it has removed the guest from its platform and intends to bring legal action, alleging negligence and violation of local health orders, among other things. It said it will donate money it receives through the legal proceedings to a Sacramento nonprofit fighting gun violence.
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In November, Airbnb banned “party houses” in response to a shooting at a Bay Area Halloween party held at one of its rentals that left multiple victims dead. It has also created a hotline for neighbors to voice concerns and help enforce its policy against parties.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.


latimes--2020-08-12--California sees decrease in coronavirus hospitalizations as test backlog boosts number of confirmed

California sees decrease in coronavirus hospitalizations as test backlog boosts number of confirmed cases

With hospitalizations of coronavirus patients dropping in California , officials expressed some cautious optimism Wednesday that the state is making progress in its fight against the pandemic , even as a significant backlog in test results continues to distort the actual number of infections confirmed throughout the state .
Among the promising trends is the number of COVID-19 patients hospitalized statewide .
That figure has fallen roughly 19 % in the past two weeks , from 6,753 on July 29 to 5,442 as of Tuesday , according to Gov .
Gavin Newsom .
Over that same time period , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 16 % in the number of patients in intensive care , from 2,029 to 1,699 .
Newsom cautioned that the coronavirus crisis is far from being in the rearview mirror , and that residents still should follow the “ fundamental rules of the road ” to stem the spread of the disease — such as physical distancing , regular hand washing and wearing a face mask in public .
“ The worst mistake we can make ... is run the 90-yard dash where we think we ’ ve got this and we walk @ @ @ @ @ @ @ way things used to be , ” he said .
“ And that ’ s why we have to be very cautious and very deliberative.
” While hospitalizations have fallen in recent weeks , another key indicator — deaths — has risen .
California has seen a near doubling of weekly coronavirus deaths since the spring — with almost 1,000 fatalities in the last week alone , a recent Times data analysis found .
The Central Valley , in particular , has been ravaged of late and is now one of the worst @ @ @ @ @ @ @ In eight of the region ’ s southern counties , weekly COVID-19 deaths have surged from about 20 a week in April to nearly 200 a week in the last two weeks , the Times analysis found .
San Joaquin Valley residents make up 20 % of recent deaths statewide , even though they account for about 10 % of California ’ s population .
Statewide , roughly 10,700 Californians have died from COVID-19 since the pandemic began .
Almost half of those have been in L.A. County , where L.A. County Public @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fatalities Wednesday , pushing the region ’ s total death toll above 5,100 .
Experts have said deaths are a lagging indicator of coronavirus spread and likely reflect exposures to the virus that occurred weeks earlier .
Therein lies one of the fundamental challenges when it comes to contending with COVID-19 : It takes time to see the benefits , or repercussions , of any new policy decisions or health orders .
Recent history also provides rationale for caution .
Officials cleared the way for a wide array of business sectors to reopen @ @ @ @ @ @ @ successfully flattened its coronavirus curve , but reimposed many restrictions in July following a spike in infections and hospitalizations .
The decrease in hospitalizations comes as the results of a backlog of 250,000 to 300,000 test results dating from July 25 has pushed California to record-high numbers of newly announced cases this week .
The state announced its two highest single-day totals in terms of new cases on Monday and Tuesday : 13,140 and 12,190 , respectively , according to The Times ’ tracker .
However , officials have said those numbers are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ electronic system , which collects information from laboratories and feeds it to state and local health departments .
Of the 11,645 new cases Newsom said had been confirmed statewide over the 24-hour period ending Wednesday afternoon , more than half — 6,212 — were the result of that logjam .
The delayed data dump has affected Los Angeles County , too , where “ close to 700 '' of the 2,428 additional cases Ferrer announced Wednesday were the result of the state bottleneck .
Newsom said the choice isn ’ t between reopening @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coronavirus-related health measures .
The two , he said , are linked .
“ The most urgent economic recovery tool for the business community , the one that we need the most , is to stabilize this virus , to bend the curve of this pandemic , to do everything in our power to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 , ” he said .
“ That ’ s foundational.
” Times staff writers Rong-Gong Lin II and Iris Lee contributed to this report .

With hospitalizations of coronavirus patients dropping in California, officials expressed some cautious optimism Wednesday that the state is making progress in its fight against the pandemic, even as a significant backlog in test results continues to distort the actual number of infections confirmed throughout the state.
Among the promising trends is the number of COVID-19 patients hospitalized statewide. That figure has fallen roughly 19% in the past two weeks, from 6,753 on July 29 to 5,442 as of Tuesday, according to Gov. Gavin Newsom.
Over that same time period, the state has seen a slide of about 16% in the number of patients in intensive care, from 2,029 to 1,699.
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Newsom cautioned that the coronavirus crisis is far from being in the rearview mirror, and that residents still should follow the “fundamental rules of the road” to stem the spread of the disease — such as physical distancing, regular hand washing and wearing a face mask in public.
“The worst mistake we can make ... is run the 90-yard dash where we think we’ve got this and we walk away and we revert back to the way things used to be,” he said. “And that’s why we have to be very cautious and very deliberative.”
California Los Angeles County tops 5,000 coronavirus deaths The county’s infection rate is substantially lower than Central Valley counties where case rates are surging
While hospitalizations have fallen in recent weeks, another key indicator — deaths — has risen.
California has seen a near doubling of weekly coronavirus deaths since the spring — with almost 1,000 fatalities in the last week alone, a recent Times data analysis found.
The Central Valley, in particular, has been ravaged of late and is now one of the worst coronavirus hot spots in the country.
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In eight of the region’s southern counties, weekly COVID-19 deaths have surged from about 20 a week in April to nearly 200 a week in the last two weeks, the Times analysis found. San Joaquin Valley residents make up 20% of recent deaths statewide, even though they account for about 10% of California’s population.
Statewide, roughly 10,700 Californians have died from COVID-19 since the pandemic began. Almost half of those have been in L.A. County, where
L.A. County Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer announced 58 new fatalities Wednesday, pushing the region’s total death toll above 5,100.
Experts have said deaths are a lagging indicator of coronavirus spread and likely reflect exposures to the virus that occurred weeks earlier.
Therein lies one of the fundamental challenges when it comes to contending with COVID-19: It takes time to see the benefits, or repercussions, of any new policy decisions or health orders.
Recent history also provides rationale for caution. Officials cleared the way for a wide array of business sectors to reopen in May after it appeared California had successfully flattened its coronavirus curve, but reimposed many restrictions in July following a spike in infections and hospitalizations.
The decrease in hospitalizations comes as the results of a backlog of 250,000 to 300,000 test results dating from July 25 has pushed California to record-high numbers of newly announced cases this week.
The state announced its two highest single-day totals in terms of new cases on Monday and Tuesday: 13,140 and 12,190, respectively, according to The Times’ tracker.
However, officials have said those numbers are impacted by data failures with the CalREDIE electronic system, which collects information from laboratories and feeds it to state and local health departments.
Of the 11,645 new cases Newsom said had been confirmed statewide over the 24-hour period ending Wednesday afternoon, more than half — 6,212 — were the result of that logjam.
The delayed data dump has affected Los Angeles County, too, where “close to 700” of the 2,428 additional cases Ferrer announced Wednesday were the result of the state bottleneck.
California Newsom tries to quell furor over data errors after administration shakeup Gov. Gavin Newsom faced reporters for the first time since he touted the inaccurate coronavirus data as a positive sign of fewer COVID-19 infections a day before the glitches became public. The governor said he was kept in the dark about the problem, even as state health officials were warning counties about data issues days earlier.
Newsom said the choice isn’t between reopening the economy or staying the course with coronavirus-related health measures. The two, he said, are linked.
“The most urgent economic recovery tool for the business community, the one that we need the most, is to stabilize this virus, to bend the curve of this pandemic, to do everything in our power to mitigate the spread of COVID-19,” he said. “That’s foundational.”
Times staff writers Rong-Gong Lin II and Iris Lee contributed to this report.


latimes--2020-08-12--7,000-acre brush fire burns near Lake Hughes; mandatory evacuations ordered

A fast-moving , 7,000-acre brush fire was burning near Lake Hughes in northern Los Angeles County on Wednesday .
The Los Angeles County Fire Department was alerted to the fire near North Lake Hughes Road and Pine Canyon Road about 3:30 pm , according to Marvin Lim , a spokesman with the department .
The fire was at 0 % containment as of about 6 p.m. , with structures threatened .
The L.A. County Sheriff ’ s Department has announced mandatory evacuations for residents near Lake Hughes Road , including those living west of Pine Canyon Road and south of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 500 residents are currently affected , according to Deputy Juanita Navarro , a Sheriff ’ s Department spokeswoman .
Navarro said Pine Canyon Road at Highway 138 has been closed , as well as the area west of Pine Canyon Road on Lake Hughes Road .
Lim said more than 300 firefighters , as well as several helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft , had been deployed to the scene .
“ It ’ s a fast-moving fire , ” he said .
“ There ’ s a lot of vegetation in the area , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ northeast direction.
” The smoke plume from the fire could be seen as far away as Venice .
This article will be updated .

A truck sits along Pine Canyon Road near Lake Hughes early Thursday after the Lake fire burned thousands of acres. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
A helicopter makes a water drop along a ridge near Lake Hughes after the Lake fire burned thousands of acres. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
A home burns along Pine Canyon Road near Lake Hughes early Thursday after the Lake fire burned thousands of acres. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
The smoldering remains of a home on Pine Canyon Road that was destroyed by the Lake fire. (Al Seib/Los Angeles Times)
A scorched statue stands in front of a home on Pine Canyon Road destroyed by fire along Pine Canyon in the Lake Hughes area. (Al Seib/Los Angeles Times)
Los Angeles County Firefighter Brandon Smith runs hose through a burned out home to complete mop-up in the Lake Fire. (Al Seib/Los Angeles Times)
A firefighter battles the smoke and flames from the Ranch Fire in the hills in Azusa. (Apu Gomes / AFP )
People watch smoke and flames rising from the Ranch Fire in the San Gabriel mountains above Azusa. (Apu Gomes / AFP )
A Cal Fire helicopter makes a water crop on the Skyline fire behind homes on Clearing Lane in Corona. (Gina Ferazzi/Los Angeles Times)
The Ranch fire burns in the hills above a cluster of homes along the San Gabriel River near Azusa on Thursday. (Luis Sinco/Los Angeles Times)
A man walks by a row of homes as the Ranch Fire burns in the hills of Azusa Thursday. (Wally Skalij/Los Angeles Times)
The Ranch fire burns in the hills above a cluster of homes along the San Gabriel River. (Luis Sinco/Los Angeles Times)
A house sits alone as the Lake Fire creeps its way up the hill towards Palmdale Friday. (Wally Skalij/Los Angeles Times) (Wally Skalij/Los Angeles Times)
LAKE HUGHES, CALIFORNIA AUGUST 15, 2020-Firefighters from the Santa Barbara County strike team tput out hot spots from the Lake Fire along Pine Canyon Road in Lake Hughes Saturday. (Wally Skalij/Los Angeles Times) (Wally Skalij/Los Angeles Times)
A firefighting helicopter makes an approach to drop water on the Ranch 2 fire in the hills above a cluster of homes along the San Gabriel River near Azusa. (Luis Sinco/Los Angeles Times)
A fast-moving, 10,000-acre brush fire near Lake Hughes triggered evacuations in northern Los Angeles County late Wednesday.
The Los Angeles County Fire Department was alerted to the fire near North Lake Hughes Road and Pine Canyon Road about 3:30 p.m., according to Marvin Lim, a spokesman with the department. Within the next few hours it exploded to thousands of acres.
The fire was at 0% containment as of 9 p.m. Several residential structures, including ranches, were threatened. Officials said there were no reports of homes being destroyed or damaged.
As of about 11:30 pm, evacuation orders had been issued for residents south of Highway 138 and north of Pine Canyon Road and Lake Hughes Road. They also included the areas west of Lake Hughes Road and LA County Fire Station 78, and east of Ridge Route Road.
An evacuation point was opened at Highland High School in west Palmdale where residents could stay in their cars and at the Castaic Sports Complex. Animals may be brought to the Castaic Animal Care Center, the Lancaster Animal Care Center and the Palmdale Animal Care Center. Large animals only will be accepted at the Antelope Valley Fairgrounds.
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Road closures included 3 Points Road from Highway 138 to Pine Canyon Road and Ridge Route Road from Highway 138 to Pine Canyon Road. They also encompassed Lake Hughes Road from Ridge Route Road to Pine Canyon Road and San Francisquito Canyon Road from Slater Lane to Spunky Canyon.
More than 500 firefighters, as well as several helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft, have been deployed to the scene with assistance provided by the L.A. County Fire Department, the Angeles National Forest, and numerous fire departments in the area.
“This is a major fire, we’ll be here through the night,” said David Richardson, the chief deputy of emergency operations for the L.A. County Fire Department. “It’s very resource-tasking and we’ll also be out here for multiple days to come.”
The smoke plume from the fire could be seen as far away as Venice.
The combination of thick vegetation that hasn’t burned in several decades and hot and dry windy conditions are fueling the fire, according to Seneca Smith, a public information officer with the Angeles National Forest. She said she expects continued growth overnight.
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Officials will face challenging weather conditions over the coming days. The National Weather Service has issued excessive heat warnings that will take effect throughout Southern California on Friday and remain in place through Monday evening.
The cause of the fire is unknown.


latimes--2020-08-12--Newsom defends economic recovery efforts and task force amid criticism about transparency

Facing criticism that his economic recovery plans have lacked transparency , Gov .
Gavin Newsom on Wednesday outlined efforts to help businesses weather the COVID-19 pandemic , and embraced legislative efforts to help workers , including protections against evictions .
The governor ’ s defense of his administration ’ s recovery efforts , including the work of a 108-member all-star economic task force , came as the state released updated figures on COVID-19 infections that reflect numbers from a massive backlog of cases that were previously unreported because of a computerized data system failure .
“ The most urgent economic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the one we need the most , is to stabilize this virus , to bend the curve of this pandemic , ” Newsom said during a news conference streamed live over social media .
The governor outlined his economic development plans as questions have surrounded the work of the task force of business leaders that he appointed to help advise his administration ’ s response to the pandemic .
The Governor ’ s Task Force on Business and Jobs Recovery includes former governors and industry leaders including Disney Executive Chairman Bob Iger and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Times reported this week that the task force has operated mostly behind closed doors , making it unclear how and to what degree the group is shaping the governor ’ s policies .
Activist Micah Weinberg of California Forward , a nonprofit focused on improving government performance , told The Times that the task force should be doing more to address geographic and racial disparities in California ’ s economy and to cultivate the growth of Black- and Latino-owned businesses .
Newsom said Wednesday that his administration “ recognize [ s ] that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ economic paradigm should be inclusive , ” and that the task force was focusing on issues of representation in its work .
“ We had a big thrust as it relates to equity , a big thrust as it relates to economic justice , social justice , racial justice , ” he said of the task force .
“ It ’ s a remarkable group of individuals that truly represents the diversity of our state.
” One of the biggest issues facing California workers is the potential for them to lose their housing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the pandemic , Newsom acknowledged .
He said he hopes the state Judicial Council will extend an eviction moratorium to the end of this month to allow him and the Legislature to work out a longer-term solution .
“ We are committed to getting something done over the next few weeks on eviction protections , ” Newsom said .
The governor said he is also working with state lawmakers on the possibility of providing hiring tax credits for small businesses .
In the meantime , he said the state has eliminated the minimum @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sales tax for businesses , extended other tax deadlines and provided more than $ 1 billion to millions of residents through an earned income tax program .
Newsom also said the state plans to streamline business permitting and is expediting more than $ 400 million in bond-funded infrastructure projects to speed the creation of jobs throughout California .
“ We have confidence we can get some of these over the finish line , ” he said .
The governor has struggled during the last week against setbacks in the state ’ s campaign @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Newsom declared that his administration had resolved problems with a public health computer system that distorted test results for COVID-19 .
A day earlier , the state announced the sudden departure of Dr. Sonia Angell , director of the California Department of Public Health , which is responsible for collecting electronic test results .
The resignation followed an admission by the state last week that nearly 300,000 records had not been processed by the computer database used to provide local health officials with COVID-19 test results .
The failure has hampered efforts to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Numbers are being updated gradually , Newsom said , noting that more than half of the 11,645 positive coronavirus cases reported in the last 24 hours came from the backlog .
“ The backlog numbers will come in the next couple of days , ” he said .
“ We will then get through all of that.
” Newsom said that he believes the state ’ s data offers cause for optimism and that hospitalizations are down 19.3 % in the last 14 days and admissions to intensive care units have declined 16 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , he said , are “ another indication that we are turning the corner on this pandemic.
” Meanwhile , the governor on Wednesday praised the decision of presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden to select California Sen. Kamala Harris as his running mate .
“ It is a proud moment , historic , and it ’ s a very meaningful moment for California , ” Newsom said .
The governor confirmed that people have already started reaching out to him with recommendations for who should take Harris ’ place in the U.S. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ branch .
But , he added , “ That is not what I am focused on right now .
I am focused on what I need to be focused on and that is you and your health , that ’ s the economy and its needs .
”

Facing criticism that his economic recovery plans have lacked transparency, Gov. Gavin Newsom on Wednesday outlined efforts to help businesses weather the COVID-19 pandemic, and embraced legislative efforts to help workers, including protections against evictions.
The governor’s defense of his administration’s recovery efforts, including the work of a 108-member all-star economic task force, came as the state released updated figures on COVID-19 infections that reflect numbers from a massive backlog of cases that were previously unreported because of a computerized data system failure.
“The most urgent economic recovery tool for the business community, the one we need the most, is to stabilize this virus, to bend the curve of this pandemic,” Newsom said during a news conference streamed live over social media.
The governor outlined his economic development plans as questions have surrounded the work of the task force of business leaders that he appointed to help advise his administration’s response to the pandemic. The Governor’s Task Force on Business and Jobs Recovery includes former governors and industry leaders including Disney Executive Chairman Bob Iger and Apple Chief Executive Tim Cook.
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The Times reported this week that the task force has operated mostly behind closed doors, making it unclear how and to what degree the group is shaping the governor’s policies.
Activist Micah Weinberg of California Forward, a nonprofit focused on improving government performance, told The Times that the task force should be doing more to address geographic and racial disparities in California’s economy and to cultivate the growth of Black- and Latino-owned businesses.
Newsom said Wednesday that his administration “recognize[s] that anything we do in terms of an economic paradigm should be inclusive,” and that the task force was focusing on issues of representation in its work.
“We had a big thrust as it relates to equity, a big thrust as it relates to economic justice, social justice, racial justice,” he said of the task force. “It’s a remarkable group of individuals that truly represents the diversity of our state.”
One of the biggest issues facing California workers is the potential for them to lose their housing as they run out of money during the pandemic, Newsom acknowledged. He said he hopes the state Judicial Council will extend an eviction moratorium to the end of this month to allow him and the Legislature to work out a longer-term solution.
“We are committed to getting something done over the next few weeks on eviction protections,” Newsom said.
The governor said he is also working with state lawmakers on the possibility of providing hiring tax credits for small businesses.
In the meantime, he said the state has eliminated the minimum franchise tax for new businesses, deferred sales tax for businesses, extended other tax deadlines and provided more than $1 billion to millions of residents through an earned income tax program.
Newsom also said the state plans to streamline business permitting and is expediting more than $400 million in bond-funded infrastructure projects to speed the creation of jobs throughout California.
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“We have confidence we can get some of these over the finish line,” he said.
The governor has struggled during the last week against setbacks in the state’s campaign against the coronavirus. On Monday, Newsom declared that his administration had resolved problems with a public health computer system that distorted test results for COVID-19.
A day earlier, the state announced the sudden departure of Dr. Sonia Angell, director of the California Department of Public Health, which is responsible for collecting electronic test results.
The resignation followed an admission by the state last week that nearly 300,000 records had not been processed by the computer database used to provide local health officials with COVID-19 test results. The failure has hampered efforts to understand the spread of the coronavirus.
Numbers are being updated gradually, Newsom said, noting that more than half of the 11,645 positive coronavirus cases reported in the last 24 hours came from the backlog.
“The backlog numbers will come in the next couple of days,” he said. “We will then get through all of that.”
Newsom said that he believes the state’s data offers cause for optimism and that hospitalizations are down 19.3% in the last 14 days and admissions to intensive care units have declined 16% in that period.
The numbers, he said, are “another indication that we are turning the corner on this pandemic.”
Meanwhile, the governor on Wednesday praised the decision of presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden to select California Sen. Kamala Harris as his running mate.
“It is a proud moment, historic, and it’s a very meaningful moment for California,” Newsom said.
The governor confirmed that people have already started reaching out to him with recommendations for who should take Harris’ place in the U.S. Senate if she moves to the executive branch.
But, he added, “That is not what I am focused on right now. I am focused on what I need to be focused on and that is you and your health, that’s the economy and its needs.”


latimes--2020-08-12--Officials say no evidence links Andres Guardado to incidents where deputy shot him

Los Angeles County sheriff ’ s officials said Wednesday that the Gardena area where Andres Guardado was fatally shot five times in the back by a deputy was a crime hot spot , generating 23 calls for service in the last five and a half years .
But they said they have no evidence that Guardado , 18 , was linked to any of those incidents and failed to describe what prompted Deputy Miguel Vega to shoot him .
In a statement , the Guardado family ’ s attorney said the news briefing , which was billed as an update @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ did nothing to explain to the family or the public ” why Guardado was shot .
“ The department ’ s attempt to convolute and cherry pick the facts to create a narrative that links Andres ’ death to previous incidents of crime near the shop is nothing more than an attempt to justify the killing of this young man , ” attorney Adam Shea said in a statement .
“ The Sheriff ’ s Department has once again failed the Guardado family who were hoping today would be the day for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the briefing , sheriff ’ s officials played a short clip from a security camera that captured the beginning of Guardado ’ s encounter with the deputies .
The clip , which skips intermittently throughout , shows Guardado talking with the occupants of a white Lexus .
He runs away as two deputies get out of their patrol car and give chase .
Investigators said they are still trying to identify the people in the Lexus .
They also played video footage from an unrelated shooting at the same location 11 days earlier @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shooting also responded to the June 7 shooting , in which a man was found with multiple gunshot wounds , Cmdr .
Chris Marks told reporters .
Investigators served a search warrant and found bottles of nitrous oxide gas , methamphetamine and a shotgun inside the location on West Redondo Beach Boulevard .
“ There ’ s obviously a pattern of criminal activity occurring at this location , which is why the deputies are probably drawn to that location in being proactive and trying to address a problem , ” Marks said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ have been recorded had it not been for the earlier shooting investigation , during which investigators seized the DVR connected to cameras at the location .
The Sheriff ’ s Department has been tight-lipped about the criminal investigation into Guardado ’ s shooting , saying that it is ongoing , which has drawn skepticism from the community and calls for an independent investigation .
Sheriff Alex Villanueva has said the FBI is monitoring the inquiry .
The shooting has generated national attention and weeks of large protests , including at Vega ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we have to get it right , ” Villanueva said at Wednesday ’ s briefing .
“ We only have one chance to do it right.
” The union that represents Guardado ’ s father and dozens of activist groups have called on Villanueva to resign , saying he has mishandled the investigation and has resisted accountability and oversight in his time as sheriff .
Investigators said Guardado was shot and killed about 6 p.m. on June 18 , after two deputies saw him speaking to someone in a car blocking the entrance @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Beach Boulevard .
They said that Guardado “ produced a handgun ” and ran away and that deputies chased him .
When deputies reached him , one fired .
Marks said a .40-caliber , semiautomatic weapon with no serial number was recovered from the scene .
Guardado ’ s DNA was recovered from the pistol ’ s trigger , trigger guard and the magazine inside the weapon , he said .
Guardado ’ s family said he was working as a security guard at a nearby body shop .
Marks said Wednesday that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ investigation has admitted to hiring Guardado as a guard .
He said Guardado did not have a security guard license and wasn ’ t old enough to be an armed security guard .
Almost a month went by before Vega was interviewed by homicide investigators .
His attorney , Adam Marangell , has said that Guardado reached for his gun while face down on the ground and that the shooting was justified .
“ We hope the reckless and erroneous assertion made by some that Mr. Guardado did not possess a firearm that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in a statement Wednesday .
“ In fact , the gun Mr. Guardado illegally possessed was a ‘ ghost gun ’ as it was unregistered and had no serial number .
While the death of Mr. Guardado is of course tragic , we hope as more actual facts are released a fuller picture will develop showing the actions of Deputy Vega were , nonetheless , completely justified.
” Neither deputy in the Guardado shooting was wearing a body camera .
Villanueva said the Sheriff ’ s Department entered an agreement with Axon Enterprise @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will roll them out at five stations in October .

Los Angeles County sheriff’s officials said Wednesday that the Gardena area where Andres Guardado was fatally shot five times in the back by a deputy was a crime hot spot, generating 23 calls for service in the last five and a half years.
But they said they have no evidence that Guardado, 18, was linked to any of those incidents and failed to describe what prompted Deputy Miguel Vega to shoot him.
In a statement, the Guardado family’s attorney said the news briefing, which was billed as an update to the June 18 shooting investigation, “did nothing to explain to the family or the public” why Guardado was shot.
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“The department’s attempt to convolute and cherry pick the facts to create a narrative that links Andres’ death to previous incidents of crime near the shop is nothing more than an attempt to justify the killing of this young man,” attorney Adam Shea said in a statement. “The Sheriff’s Department has once again failed the Guardado family who were hoping today would be the day for truth in Andres’ death.”
VIDEO | 00:58 Sheriff’s Department releases video that shows beginning of Andres Guardado’s fatal encounter with deputies The Sheriff’s Department on Wednesday released a short clip that captured the beginning of Andres Guardado’s encounter with two deputies before he was fatally shot by one.
At the briefing, sheriff’s officials played a short clip from a security camera that captured the beginning of Guardado’s encounter with the deputies. The clip, which skips intermittently throughout, shows Guardado talking with the occupants of a white Lexus. He runs away as two deputies get out of their patrol car and give chase.
Investigators said they are still trying to identify the people in the Lexus.
They also played video footage from an unrelated shooting at the same location 11 days earlier. The deputies involved in the Guardado shooting also responded to the June 7 shooting, in which a man was found with multiple gunshot wounds, Cmdr. Chris Marks told reporters. Investigators served a search warrant and found bottles of nitrous oxide gas, methamphetamine and a shotgun inside the location on West Redondo Beach Boulevard.
“There’s obviously a pattern of criminal activity occurring at this location, which is why the deputies are probably drawn to that location in being proactive and trying to address a problem,” Marks said. He added that the Guardado shooting would have been recorded had it not been for the earlier shooting investigation, during which investigators seized the DVR connected to cameras at the location.
The Sheriff’s Department has been tight-lipped about the criminal investigation into Guardado’s shooting, saying that it is ongoing, which has drawn skepticism from the community and calls for an independent investigation. Sheriff Alex Villanueva has said the FBI is monitoring the inquiry. The shooting has generated national attention and weeks of large protests, including at Vega’s home.
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“This takes time; we have to get it right,” Villanueva said at Wednesday’s briefing. “We only have one chance to do it right.”
The union that represents Guardado’s father and dozens of activist groups have called on Villanueva to resign, saying he has mishandled the investigation and has resisted accountability and oversight in his time as sheriff.
Investigators said Guardado was shot and killed about 6 p.m. on June 18, after two deputies saw him speaking to someone in a car blocking the entrance to a body shop on West Redondo Beach Boulevard. They said that Guardado “produced a handgun” and ran away and that deputies chased him. When deputies reached him, one fired.
Marks said a .40-caliber, semiautomatic weapon with no serial number was recovered from the scene. Guardado’s DNA was recovered from the pistol’s trigger, trigger guard and the magazine inside the weapon, he said.
Guardado’s family said he was working as a security guard at a nearby body shop. Marks said Wednesday that no one interviewed as part of the investigation has admitted to hiring Guardado as a guard. He said Guardado did not have a security guard license and wasn’t old enough to be an armed security guard.
Almost a month went by before Vega was interviewed by homicide investigators. His attorney, Adam Marangell, has said that Guardado reached for his gun while face down on the ground and that the shooting was justified.
“We hope the reckless and erroneous assertion made by some that Mr. Guardado did not possess a firearm that evening is dispelled,” Marangell said in a statement Wednesday. “In fact, the gun Mr. Guardado illegally possessed was a ‘ghost gun’ as it was unregistered and had no serial number. While the death of Mr. Guardado is of course tragic, we hope as more actual facts are released a fuller picture will develop showing the actions of Deputy Vega were, nonetheless, completely justified.”
Neither deputy in the Guardado shooting was wearing a body camera. Villanueva said the Sheriff’s Department entered an agreement with Axon Enterprise Inc. this week for body-worn cameras and will roll them out at five stations in October.


latimes--2020-08-12--L.A. father whose tip exposed Singer's college admissions scandal gets one year in prison

Morrie Tobin , the Los Angeles financier who tipped federal authorities in Boston to William “ Rick ” Singer ’ s college admissions scam , was sentenced Wednesday to a year and a day in prison for selling stock at fraudulently inflated prices to unwitting investors , robbing them of millions .
U.S. District Judge Nathaniel M. Gorton acknowledged Tobin ’ s “ extraordinary ” cooperation in helping unravel both his own securities fraud and “ the infamous college admissions case , ” but he said he could not allow a felon who has admitted trying to fleece investors of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ Your motive was pure and simple greed , ” Gorton told him .
He ordered Tobin , 57 , to report to prison by Sept. 23 .
Before he was sentenced , Tobin told the judge he was “ extremely , sincerely sorry and ashamed ” of his crimes and said he had since tried “ to do everything possible to make amends.
” In March 2018 , after federal agents searched his mansion in Hancock Park , Tobin flew to Boston to meet with the prosecutors and FBI agents who had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ multiday proffer , ” a prosecutor said in court , he told them about another fraud entirely : Tobin was bribing a Yale soccer coach to endorse his daughter ’ s admission to the Ivy League school .
Prosecutors from the U.S. attorney ’ s office in Boston have not publicly identified the person who tipped them to the college admissions fraud , referring to him in court only as “ Individual A , ” but law enforcement officials told The Times when the case was unsealed that Tobin was the cooperator @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Though Gorton discussed Tobin ’ s cooperation on Wednesday off the record with his attorney , Brian T. Kelly , and Eric Rosen , an assistant U.S. attorney , Kelly said in open court that his client had “ honestly told the government about the corrupt Yale soccer coach.
” Tobin returned to Boston to meet the soccer coach , Rudy Meredith , and in a hotel room wired with hidden video cameras , Meredith was recorded agreeing to a $ 450,000 bribe and taking $ 2,000 in cash , Rosen said during @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the rendezvous , Meredith mentioned a name investigators hadn ’ t heard before , Rosen said : Rick Singer .
Investigators obtained Meredith ’ s bank records , which showed that Singer , a Newport Beach college admissions consultant with a roster of wealthy and famous clients , had paid the coach $ 860,000 in the last three years .
Confronted by this evidence and the recording from the hotel room sting , Meredith agreed to cooperate and started calling Singer on a recorded line .
“ We had learned through the recorded @ @ @ @ @ @ @ related to a single bribe paid to a single coach , ” Rosen said in court , “ but rather a scheme , a scheme to defraud the universities of the honest services of their employees.
” The case exploded into public view in March 2019 .
Thirty-three of Singer ’ s clients were charged with felonies , including the Hollywood celebrities Lori Loughlin and Felicity Huffman , whose arrests turbocharged the tabloids for months .
Coaches at some of the country ’ s most prestigious schools — Stanford , Georgetown , USC @ @ @ @ @ @ @ implicated in Singer ’ s scheme .
Asked how the investigation began , Andrew Lelling , the U.S. attorney in Boston , told a room packed with reporters : “ Our first lead in this came during interviews with a target of an entirely separate investigation , who gave us a tip that this activity might be going on.
” Two weeks earlier , Tobin had pleaded guilty in a Boston courtroom to securities fraud .
He listened as Rosen , the prosecutor , explained how a trading platform controlled by one of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fraudulently overpriced stocks to investors .
“ Do you disagree with anything that he says the government would be able to prove ?
” Gorton asked .
Attorneys for the government and Tobin recommended that he be spared prison and punished with probation , a $ 4 million forfeiture and community service .
His lawyers , Kelly and Charles Dell ’ Anno , made their arguments in a memo that was heavily redacted to obscure his “ confidential substantial assistance efforts relating to other criminal investigations , ” among other sensitive topics .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ grew up playing hockey in Montreal , then played for one year at the Northwood School in Lake Placid , N.Y. , where he captained the team as a “ a highly respected student leader.
” Tobin played hockey for Yale before transferring to the University of Vermont .
After graduation , he briefly played semiprofessional hockey in Europe , his lawyers wrote .
Virtually all other biographical details are redacted in the memo .
His lawyers acknowledged the stock fraud he engineered was “ a serious crime.
” Yet it was his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , they wrote , and “ since February 2018 , Mr. Tobin has done what he can to accept responsibility and move forward.
” Last month , Variety reported , Tobin listed his eight-bedroom , 10-bathroom Hancock Park mansion for $ 13.5 million .

Morrie Tobin, the Los Angeles financier who tipped federal authorities in Boston to William “Rick” Singer’s college admissions scam, was sentenced Wednesday to a year and a day in prison for selling stock at fraudulently inflated prices to unwitting investors, robbing them of millions.
U.S. District Judge Nathaniel M. Gorton acknowledged Tobin’s “extraordinary” cooperation in helping unravel both his own securities fraud and “the infamous college admissions case,” but he said he could not allow a felon who has admitted trying to fleece investors of $15 million to avoid prison.
“Your motive was pure and simple greed,” Gorton told him.
He ordered Tobin, 57, to report to prison by Sept. 23. Before he was sentenced, Tobin told the judge he was “extremely, sincerely sorry and ashamed” of his crimes and said he had since tried “to do everything possible to make amends.”
In March 2018, after federal agents searched his mansion in Hancock Park, Tobin flew to Boston to meet with the prosecutors and FBI agents who had unraveled his stock scam. During a “multiday proffer,” a prosecutor said in court, he told them about another fraud entirely: Tobin was bribing a Yale soccer coach to endorse his daughter’s admission to the Ivy League school.
Prosecutors from the U.S. attorney’s office in Boston have not publicly identified the person who tipped them to the college admissions fraud, referring to him in court only as “Individual A,” but law enforcement officials told The Times when the case was unsealed that Tobin was the cooperator who set the investigation in motion.
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Though Gorton discussed Tobin’s cooperation on Wednesday off the record with his attorney, Brian T. Kelly, and Eric Rosen, an assistant U.S. attorney, Kelly said in open court that his client had “honestly told the government about the corrupt Yale soccer coach.”
Tobin returned to Boston to meet the soccer coach, Rudy Meredith, and in a hotel room wired with hidden video cameras, Meredith was recorded agreeing to a $450,000 bribe and taking $2,000 in cash, Rosen said during Meredith’s plea hearing.
During the rendezvous, Meredith mentioned a name investigators hadn’t heard before, Rosen said: Rick Singer.
Investigators obtained Meredith’s bank records, which showed that Singer, a Newport Beach college admissions consultant with a roster of wealthy and famous clients, had paid the coach $860,000 in the last three years. Confronted by this evidence and the recording from the hotel room sting, Meredith agreed to cooperate and started calling Singer on a recorded line.
“We had learned through the recorded telephone calls that this obviously was not related to a single bribe paid to a single coach,” Rosen said in court, “but rather a scheme, a scheme to defraud the universities of the honest services of their employees.”
The case exploded into public view in March 2019. Thirty-three of Singer’s clients were charged with felonies, including the Hollywood celebrities Lori Loughlin and Felicity Huffman, whose arrests turbocharged the tabloids for months. Coaches at some of the country’s most prestigious schools — Stanford, Georgetown, USC and UCLA, among others — were implicated in Singer’s scheme.
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Asked how the investigation began, Andrew Lelling, the U.S. attorney in Boston, told a room packed with reporters: “Our first lead in this came during interviews with a target of an entirely separate investigation, who gave us a tip that this activity might be going on.”
Two weeks earlier, Tobin had pleaded guilty in a Boston courtroom to securities fraud. He listened as Rosen, the prosecutor, explained how a trading platform controlled by one of Tobin’s conspirators sold millions in fraudulently overpriced stocks to investors.
“Do you disagree with anything that he says the government would be able to prove?” Gorton asked.
“No, your honor,” Tobin replied.
Attorneys for the government and Tobin recommended that he be spared prison and punished with probation, a $4 million forfeiture and community service. His lawyers, Kelly and Charles Dell’Anno, made their arguments in a memo that was heavily redacted to obscure his “confidential substantial assistance efforts relating to other criminal investigations,” among other sensitive topics.
In the memo, they said Tobin grew up playing hockey in Montreal, then played for one year at the Northwood School in Lake Placid, N.Y., where he captained the team as a “a highly respected student leader.”
Tobin played hockey for Yale before transferring to the University of Vermont. After graduation, he briefly played semiprofessional hockey in Europe, his lawyers wrote. Virtually all other biographical details are redacted in the memo.
His lawyers acknowledged the stock fraud he engineered was “a serious crime.” Yet it was his first and only encounter with law enforcement, they wrote, and “since February 2018, Mr. Tobin has done what he can to accept responsibility and move forward.”
Last month, Variety reported, Tobin listed his eight-bedroom, 10-bathroom Hancock Park mansion for $13.5 million.


latimes--2020-08-12--Mexican Consulate in L.A. opens new coronavirus testing center

A coronavirus testing center has opened at the Los Angeles Mexican Consulate in an effort to better serve Latinos , who have been disproportionately affected by the pandemic .
L.A. County Supervisor Hilda Solis established the new testing site with state and federal funding from the CARES Act after identifying vulnerable communities in the county , she said .
Launched in partnership with the Honduran , Guatemalan , Salvadoran and Mexican consulates , the new site will be open for appointments and walk-ins Wednesday through Sunday 7 a.m. to 7 p.m and administer 1,500 tests a week .
“ I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ here , ” Solis said during a Wednesday morning news conference .
“ The numbers don ’ t lie.
” At Clinica Romero , which serves the predominantly Latino Boyle Heights , Pico-Union and Westlake areas , between 30 % and 40 % of those who come in to get tested for COVID-19 test positive , said the clinic ’ s executive director , Carlos Vaquerano .
In Westlake , 2,081 people have tested positive for COVID-19 .
In Pico-Union , more than 1,500 have tested positive .
Mexican Consul General Marcela Celorio @ @ @ @ @ @ @ space for the Latino community and that anyone — regardless of immigration status or whether they have health insurance or not — would be able to receive free testing at the location .
Celorio and Solis appealed to Latino essential workers and those who are in the country illegally , urging them to practice social distancing , wear masks and refrain from visiting family members during the pandemic .
“ Having COVID-19 isn ’ t something to be ashamed of , ” Celorio said .
“ It could happen to anyone and you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ doesn ’ t matter if you ’ re documented or undocumented.
” “ No one will discriminate against you if you don ’ t have citizenship .
People in this area trust the people that are going to be operating this , and that they are not going to be intimidated [ or ] told they can ’ t get tested , ” Solis said .
Solis said she hopes the site will continue operating through December , or as long as the funding remains available .
Translation services for those who speak @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be available .
Solis also recently announced openings of new testing sites in other vulnerable areas , including Huntington Park and Azusa , as well as a medical clinic in Bell for southeast L.A. County residents .
To make an appointment , the public can call ( 888 ) 634-1123 .

Medical assistant Marianne Orantes prepares to see people being tested for COVID-19 at the Mexican Consulate in Los Angeles. The free testing site opened Wednesday.
A coronavirus testing center has opened at the Los Angeles Mexican Consulate in an effort to better serve Latinos, who have been disproportionately affected by the pandemic.
L.A. County Supervisor Hilda Solis established the new testing site with state and federal funding from the CARES Act after identifying vulnerable communities in the county, she said. Launched in partnership with the Honduran, Guatemalan, Salvadoran and Mexican consulates, the new site will be open for appointments and walk-ins Wednesday through Sunday 7 a.m. to 7 p.m and administer 1,500 tests a week.
“I know there are a lot of needs here,” Solis said during a Wednesday morning news conference. “The numbers don’t lie.”
At Clinica Romero, which serves the predominantly Latino Boyle Heights, Pico-Union and Westlake areas, between 30% and 40% of those who come in to get tested for COVID-19 test positive, said the clinic’s executive director, Carlos Vaquerano.
In Westlake, 2,081 people have tested positive for COVID-19. In Pico-Union, more than 1,500 have tested positive.
“The numbers are alarming,” Vaquerano said.
Mexican Consul General Marcela Celorio stressed that the consulate was a safe space for the Latino community and that anyone — regardless of immigration status or whether they have health insurance or not — would be able to receive free testing at the location.
Celorio and Solis appealed to Latino essential workers and those who are in the country illegally, urging them to practice social distancing, wear masks and refrain from visiting family members during the pandemic.
At a news conference Wednesday., L.A. County Supervisor Hilda L. Solis, left, and Mexican Consul General Marcela Celorio announce the new COVID-19 testing site at the Mexican Consulate office in Los Angeles. (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)
“Having COVID-19 isn’t something to be ashamed of,” Celorio said. “It could happen to anyone and you have to ask for help. It doesn’t matter if you’re documented or undocumented.”
“No one will discriminate against you if you don’t have citizenship. People in this area trust the people that are going to be operating this, and that they are not going to be intimidated [or] told they can’t get tested,” Solis said.
Solis said she hopes the site will continue operating through December, or as long as the funding remains available. Translation services for those who speak Zapoteco, Quiche and other languages will be available.
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Solis also recently announced openings of new testing sites in other vulnerable areas, including Huntington Park and Azusa, as well as a medical clinic in Bell for southeast L.A. County residents.
To make an appointment, the public can call (888) 634-1123.