latimes--2020-10-29--One person in custody after three are stabbed at pro-Armenian rally in Fresno

Three people were stabbed after a pro-Armenian rally blocked street traffic for a short time in Fresno , police said .
Fresno police arrested Jaime Fonseca , 41 , late Wednesday on suspicion of committing the non-fatal stabbings .
Police said multiple witnesses took photos and videos of Fonseca ’ s vehicle license plate , which led to his quick apprehension .
The incident took place at the busy intersection of East Nees Avenue and North Blackstone Avenue in east Fresno near two large shopping malls about 6:40 p.m. Wednesday .
About 150 protesters , carrying Armenian flags and two @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the intersection and stopped traffic .
As car horns blared , a man exited his vehicle with a knife and what police described as a “ wooden baton ” resembling a broomstick without a handle , and he headed toward the front of the blockade .
Video shows the man attempting to destroy the signs with both weapons as protesters try to stop him .
Police said that as the man slashed at the banner , he stabbed one person in the right hand and another on the outer right forearm .
It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ third person was stabbed , but all three victims were taken to a hospital with injuries and expected to survive .
“ There were no statements made regarding race or indicating this is a hate crime , ” Fresno police said in a statement .
Authorities did not confirm Thursday whether Fonseca had been criminally charged .
It appears the attacker took umbrage with the blocking of traffic and repeatedly told protesters to move “ out of the way , ” according to a video posted to Twitter .
“ The suspect walked @ @ @ @ @ @ @ yelling at the protesters , ” police said .
“ I was shocked to hear what happened , ” said Fresno-based lawyer Marshall D. Moushigian , who describes himself as an active member of the Armenian American community in Central California .
“ We ’ ve faced discrimination here for over 100 years .
This person did seem to be unhinged.
” According to the Armenian Museum of Fresno , the community numbers about 45,000 in Fresno County and about 100,000 in the Central Valley with roots dating to 1878 .
“ The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ because we are fearful of a second genocide , ” said Moushigian , who wrote an op-ed this month for the Fresno Bee warning of the dangers of appeasing Turkey .
“ We ’ re screaming as loudly as we can so we can be heard , and it ’ s hurtful that something like this would happen.
” Over the last month , Armenian Americans have staged a series of protests at media outlets such as CNN , the Los Angeles Times and CBS in Studio City .
Those protests have also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Armenian Americans have been protesting a deadly conflict taking place between Armenia and Azerbaijan in the South Caucasus region known as Nagorno-Karabakh , a small area recognized internationally as part of Azerbaijan but governed and populated mostly by ethnic Armenians , who refer to it as the Republic of Artsakh .
Tens of thousands of Armenian Americans and supporters , if not more , held one of their largest protests Oct. 11 , marching from Pan Pacific Park to the Turkish Consulate in Beverly Hills .
None of those protests resulted in @ @

Fresno police arrested Jaime Fonseca, 41, on Wednesday evening on suspicion of stabbing three demonstrators at a pro-Armenian rally.
Three people were stabbed after a pro-Armenian rally blocked street traffic for a short time in Fresno, police said.
Fresno police arrested Jaime Fonseca, 41, late Wednesday on suspicion of committing the non-fatal stabbings. Police said multiple witnesses took photos and videos of Fonseca’s vehicle license plate, which led to his quick apprehension.
The incident took place at the busy intersection of East Nees Avenue and North Blackstone Avenue in east Fresno near two large shopping malls about 6:40 p.m. Wednesday.
About 150 protesters, carrying Armenian flags and two large anti-Turkish banners, spread across half the intersection and stopped traffic.
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As car horns blared, a man exited his vehicle with a knife and what police described as a “wooden baton” resembling a broomstick without a handle, and he headed toward the front of the blockade.
Video shows the man attempting to destroy the signs with both weapons as protesters try to stop him. Police said that as the man slashed at the banner, he stabbed one person in the right hand and another on the outer right forearm.
It’s unclear when and how the third person was stabbed, but all three victims were taken to a hospital with injuries and expected to survive.
“There were no statements made regarding race or indicating this is a hate crime,” Fresno police said in a statement. Authorities did not confirm Thursday whether Fonseca had been criminally charged.
It appears the attacker took umbrage with the blocking of traffic and repeatedly told protesters to move “out of the way,” according to a video posted to Twitter. “The suspect walked back to his vehicle visibly upset, yelling at the protesters,” police said.
“I was shocked to hear what happened,” said Fresno-based lawyer Marshall D. Moushigian, who describes himself as an active member of the Armenian American community in Central California. “We’ve faced discrimination here for over 100 years. This person did seem to be unhinged.”
According to the Armenian Museum of Fresno, the community numbers about 45,000 in Fresno County and about 100,000 in the Central Valley with roots dating to 1878.
“The reason we are out there protesting is because we are fearful of a second genocide,” said Moushigian, who wrote an op-ed this month for the Fresno Bee warning of the dangers of appeasing Turkey. “We’re screaming as loudly as we can so we can be heard, and it’s hurtful that something like this would happen.”
Over the last month, Armenian Americans have staged a series of protests at media outlets such as CNN, the Los Angeles Times and CBS in Studio City.
Those protests have also blocked roadways, including the 101 Freeway.
Armenian Americans have been protesting a deadly conflict taking place between Armenia and Azerbaijan in the South Caucasus region known as Nagorno-Karabakh, a small area recognized internationally as part of Azerbaijan but governed and populated mostly by ethnic Armenians, who refer to it as the Republic of Artsakh.
Tens of thousands of Armenian Americans and supporters, if not more, held one of their largest protests Oct. 11, marching from Pan Pacific Park to the Turkish Consulate in Beverly Hills.
None of those protests resulted in violence.


latimes--2020-10-29--Coronavirus spike in L.A. County brings new alarms

There were new alarming signs that COVID-19 was spreading again in Los Angeles County , with officials announcing the highest one-day increase in cases not connected to a reporting backlog since August .
The county reported 1,745 new cases Thursday as well as 19 new deaths .
It ’ s the latest evidence that after declining for several months , the novel coronavirus may be on the rise again in L.A. County and other parts of Southern California .
If the region does see another spike like the one it experienced during the summer , it would threaten efforts to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Southern California has fallen behind the Bay Area when it comes to slowing the infection rate , allowing places such as San Francisco and Silicon Valley to reopen more quickly .
“ The high numbers of daily cases are very concerning because , as we have seen in the past , increases in cases lead to increases in hospitalizations and deaths , ” L.A. County Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer said in a statement .
“ These increases impede our ability to move forward with reopening additional sectors and getting more children back @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that COVID-19 is spreading from social gatherings tied to championship victories by the Lakers and Dodgers .
There are also concerns about more potential infections with Halloween and Thanksgiving celebrations .
Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti urged anyone who gathered to celebrate the teams ’ championships to get tested for COVID-19 .
“ For those who went to the streets to celebrate … and were around strangers in an unsafe environment , please get tested and stay isolated for 14 days per the county ’ s Department of Public Health advice , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the won the World Series — despite pleadings from health officials to stay home .
Officials had urged Dodgers fans to avoid crowds and practice social distancing while cheering on the hometown team and when celebrating their win .
have blamed gatherings related to the Lakers ’ and Dodgers ’ championship season for spreading the virus and preventing the county from reopening more quickly .
In four Southern California counties — Imperial , San Bernardino , Riverside and Los Angeles — the average number of new daily infections per 100,000 residents over the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ statewide , according to .
Compared to the previous week , new cases in Los Angeles County jumped from an average of 63.4 for every 100,000 residents to 111.3 .
The average case rate climbed from 77.5 to 140.3 in San Bernardino and from 94.4 to 111.5 in Riverside , while in Imperial new cases soared from an average of 141.5 per 100,000 residents to 225.8 .
“ We are seeing increased disease in the community , ” Riverside County Public Health Director Kim Saruwatari told the county Board of Supervisors this week @ @ @ @ @ @ @ other areas of the country are seeing , and we are fortunate that we ’ re not seeing it to the level that many others are.
” The coronavirus has devastated the local economy , with businesses begging to reopen .
A rapidly reopening of the California economy this summer led to major spikes in cases , hospitalizations and deaths .
The state instituted more restrictive rules and the cases fell this fall .
There is widespread hope that a vaccine could bring major changes .
But experts said that will take time @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coronavirus-weary world begins to feel a greater sense of normality , says the nation ’ s top infectious disease expert , Dr. Anthony Fauci .
If the U.S. can get a substantial proportion of residents vaccinated by about mid-2021 , “ I think it will be easily by the end of 2021 — and perhaps even into the next year — before we start having some semblance of normality , ” Fauci said in candid comments during an hosted by an Australian university this week .
As a result , it may not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of normalcy without risking a super-spreading event , one in which a large number of people are infected , Fauci told the University of Melbourne .
Restaurants may not be able to return to full capacity , and professional sports venues may not be able to allow spectators until late 2021 or early 2022 , he said .
Fauci said he could envision people , in masks , returning to theaters at a reduced capacity in mid-2021 .
But returning to maximum capacity in theaters without requiring masks probably won ’ t occur @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from now .
Our sense of what ’ s normal may also change , Fauci said .
He said he believed wearing masks would continue to be common , as it has been in many parts of Asia for decades preceding this COVID-19 pandemic .
A number of experts , including Fauci , are increasingly talking about the need for some type of mask mandate that ’ s national in scope .
Dr. Scott Gottlieb , who served as the head of the Food and Drug Administration under the Trump administration until 2019 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a “ limited and temporary national mask mandate , ” as he wrote in an op-ed for the .
Fauci has that “ if people are not wearing masks , then maybe we should be mandating it.
” Apart from a vaccine , Fauci said in his talk with the University of Melbourne , what will be really important in dealing with the coronavirus in the long run will be developing antiviral drugs that can be used to treat those who test positive for the virus .
He said development of antiviral drugs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to treat [ patients ] literally for a few days ” could “ take away the fear and dread of this particular disease.
” There are still some unknowns about the effects of COVID-19 .
Scientists still don ’ t know , Fauci said , how durable immunity is among people who have survived an infection , and whether people can be reinfected by this coronavirus repeatedly , as can occur with common cold viruses .
If people lose immunity fairly quickly after recovering from a coronavirus infection , “ we ’ re @ @ @ @ @ @ @ over the next few years .
”

Andrew J. Campa, Luke Money, Rong-Gong Lin II

LAPD officers on horseback move in to disperse the crowds in downtown Los Angeles after the Dodgers win the World Series.
There were new alarming signs that COVID-19 was spreading again in Los Angeles County, with officials announcing the highest one-day increase in cases not connected to a reporting backlog since August.
The county reported 1,745 new cases Thursday as well as 19 new deaths. It’s the latest evidence that after declining for several months, the novel coronavirus may be on the rise again in L.A. County and other parts of Southern California.
If the region does see another spike like the one it experienced during the summer, it would threaten efforts to reopen schools and businesses. Already, Southern California has fallen behind the Bay Area when it comes to slowing the infection rate, allowing places such as San Francisco and Silicon Valley to reopen more quickly.
Advertisement
“The high numbers of daily cases are very concerning because, as we have seen in the past, increases in cases lead to increases in hospitalizations and deaths,” L.A. County Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer said in a statement. “These increases impede our ability to move forward with reopening additional sectors and getting more children back to school.”
Officials have expressed concerns that COVID-19 is spreading from social gatherings tied to championship victories by the Lakers and Dodgers. There are also concerns about more potential infections with Halloween and Thanksgiving celebrations.
Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti urged anyone who gathered to celebrate the teams’ championships to get tested for COVID-19.
“For those who went to the streets to celebrate … and were around strangers in an unsafe environment, please get tested and stay isolated for 14 days per the county’s Department of Public Health advice,” he said Wednesday.
Advertisement
Thousands took to the streets Tuesday after the Dodgers won the World Series — despite pleadings from health officials to stay home.
Officials had urged Dodgers fans to avoid crowds and practice social distancing while cheering on the hometown team and when celebrating their win. L.A. County health authorities have blamed gatherings related to the Lakers’ and Dodgers’ championship season for spreading the virus and preventing the county from reopening more quickly.
In four Southern California counties — Imperial, San Bernardino, Riverside and Los Angeles — the average number of new daily infections per 100,000 residents over the past week ranked among the top five statewide, according to The Times’ coronavirus tracker .
Compared to the previous week, new cases in Los Angeles County jumped from an average of 63.4 for every 100,000 residents to 111.3. The average case rate climbed from 77.5 to 140.3 in San Bernardino and from 94.4 to 111.5 in Riverside, while in Imperial new cases soared from an average of 141.5 per 100,000 residents to 225.8.
“We are seeing increased disease in the community,” Riverside County Public Health Director Kim Saruwatari told the county Board of Supervisors this week. “This is consistent with what other areas of the country are seeing, and we are fortunate that we’re not seeing it to the level that many others are.”
The coronavirus has devastated the local economy, with businesses begging to reopen. A rapidly reopening of the California economy this summer led to major spikes in cases, hospitalizations and deaths. The state instituted more restrictive rules and the cases fell this fall.
There is widespread hope that a vaccine could bring major changes. But experts said that will take time.
It may be 2022 before a coronavirus-weary world begins to feel a greater sense of normality, says the nation’s top infectious disease expert, Dr. Anthony Fauci.
If the U.S. can get a substantial proportion of residents vaccinated by about mid-2021, “I think it will be easily by the end of 2021 — and perhaps even into the next year — before we start having some semblance of normality,” Fauci said in candid comments during an online discussion hosted by an Australian university this week.
As a result, it may not be possible to achieve some longed-for hallmarks of normalcy without risking a super-spreading event, one in which a large number of people are infected, Fauci told the University of Melbourne.
Restaurants may not be able to return to full capacity, and professional sports venues may not be able to allow spectators until late 2021 or early 2022, he said.
Fauci said he could envision people, in masks, returning to theaters at a reduced capacity in mid-2021. But returning to maximum capacity in theaters without requiring masks probably won’t occur until “well over a year” from now.
Our sense of what’s normal may also change, Fauci said. He said he believed wearing masks would continue to be common, as it has been in many parts of Asia for decades preceding this COVID-19 pandemic.
A number of experts, including Fauci, are increasingly talking about the need for some type of mask mandate that’s national in scope.
Dr. Scott Gottlieb, who served as the head of the Food and Drug Administration under the Trump administration until 2019, says it’s time for a “limited and temporary national mask mandate,” as he wrote in an op-ed for the Wall Street Journal . Fauci has told CNN that “if people are not wearing masks, then maybe we should be mandating it.”
Apart from a vaccine, Fauci said in his talk with the University of Melbourne, what will be really important in dealing with the coronavirus in the long run will be developing antiviral drugs that can be used to treat those who test positive for the virus.
He said development of antiviral drugs that allow doctors to “only have to treat [patients] literally for a few days” could “take away the fear and dread of this particular disease.”
There are still some unknowns about the effects of COVID-19.
Scientists still don’t know, Fauci said, how durable immunity is among people who have survived an infection, and whether people can be reinfected by this coronavirus repeatedly, as can occur with common cold viruses.
If people lose immunity fairly quickly after recovering from a coronavirus infection, “we’re going to have a very difficult time over the next few years.”


latimes--2020-10-26--Santa Monica Farmers Market serves up 'a little piece of normalcy' in bizarre times

Chef Tristan Aitchison has shopped at the Santa Monica Farmers Market for nearly a decade .
He still does so on Wednesday mornings , but he ’ s now buying less because his restaurant serves only takeout and has been forced to lay off workers during the COVID-19 pandemic .
He especially misses lingering to chat with other chefs and buyers .
“ Now it ’ s more about business , ” says Aitchison , chef de cuisine at Providence restaurant in Los Angeles .
“ Get in and get out.
” For almost 40 years , downtown Santa Monica @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for food lovers , creative cooks and A-list restaurant chefs .
Farmers drive from as far away as Gilroy in Northern California to offer giant strawberries , deep green kale , broccolini , yellow and purple onions , jicama , passion fruit , sunflowers , dates and so much more in open-air stalls along Arizona Avenue and 2nd Street .
The Santa Monica Farmers Market is one of the nation ’ s premier grower-only operations , the grandfather of the four weekly markets run by the city and an inspiration for markets across @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , coffee or kettle corn sold here .
You ’ ll find only produce grown in the fields and orchards of the Golden State .
Now , shoppers also find fewer farmers , more lines and a host of new rules .
For market manager Jaclyn Rivera-Krouse , the biggest challenge has been “ quickly shifting from the concept of a farmers market being so wide open to creating a system that has limited entry and exit points and then communicating that to the public.
” The changes mean customers now wait in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more lines inside at stands .
Everyone must wear masks and try to stay six feet from others .
Yellow caution tape stretches across displays .
Farmers supply hand sanitizer .
Some allow shoppers to touch the produce ; others don ’ t .
Vendors wear gloves if they handle both cash and produce .
Handwashing stations have appeared .
Sampling is a thing of the past , as are tours and school groups .
Yet more than ever , Rivera-Krouse and others observe , people savor the chance to shop outdoors and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all , isn ’ t on lockdown .
The market remains a key part of the lives of vendors and customers like Mark Freund , who gets in line an hour before the 8 a.m. opening .
For him , the waiting has become “ a kind of meditative time.
” With less socializing inside , Freund says a camaraderie has developed in the line .
And he likes that the market is less crowded now .
Some sellers , including Coleman Family Farms owner Romeo Coleman , report a drop of 25 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sales to restaurant buyers .
Among those who remain are the Rustic Canyon Group , Akasha , Jon & Vinny ’ s , Gjelina and Suzanne Goin ’ s group .
Coleman drives from Carpinteria each week ; his farm has been part of the market since the 1980s .
One of his regular customers is Aitchison , the Providence chef who says he now preorders in smaller quantities from favorite farmers .
That cuts down the time he spends at each stand .
“ The farmers have taken as much of a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ says .
“ We buy less , so they plant less .
The effect trickles down.
” In recent months , the number of farmers in the market has dropped too , from around 75 to 80 to fewer than 60 some weeks .
Rivera-Krouse says some left in fear of exposure to COVID-19 , while others responded to what she calls the “ natural gamble of farming , ” the seasonal ups and downs .
Meanwhile , retail shoppers have decreased from about 10,000 a day to 2,000 , although Rivera-Krouse notes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and send just one person to shop for several families .
Demand for some products has increased .
Kiana Lowe , a manager at Milliken Family Farm in Santa Barbara , noticed an uptick in business early in the pandemic .
People were stocking up for an uncertain future .
“ We sold out of anything that could be stored , like potatoes , ” she says .
“ And we couldn ’ t grow enough garlic ; we sold out every week .
A lot had been coming from China and got @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Others sought the bulb as they looked for ways to boost immunity .
Rose Rennie , who runs the stand for Energy Bee Farm , a purveyor of raw and gourmet honey , also says the pandemic created more demand — at first .
“ People were cooking more and were interested in the nutritional benefits of raw honey.
” But she estimates that her business dropped 30 % over the summer .
The Santa Monica Farmers Market has been integral to the modern history of California .
It was key to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the 1980s , built around local , seasonal produce and led by chefs such as Alice Waters and Evan Kleiman .
In 2007 , the market spawned “ The Santa Monica Farmers Market Cookbook ” by Amelia Saltsman .
For many vendors , the market is not only a big part of their livelihood but also what Rivera-Krouse calls “ a little piece of normalcy in a very bizarre year.
” Coleman says 97 % of shoppers follow the new regulations without complaint .
He sells about 50 types of greens , including @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nettle and Persian and chocolate mint .
“ We will bag for you , ” his sign announces .
Coleman says the market staff has made it possible for vendors like him to stay open and safe .
That hasn ’ t been easy , according to Rivera-Krouse , who had been manager for just over a year when the pandemic hit in March .
On market days , her workday starts at 5 a.m. She spends much of her time responding to radio calls from staff and volunteers about various issues : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ someone with a pet that is not a service animal ; customers standing too close ; an unannounced visit from the California Department of Food and Agriculture .
Wearing a chartreuse green safety vest , she hurries to handle each situation before it escalates .
She often fields complaints that market regulations are too strict — or not strict enough .
Rivera-Krouse says the pandemic has forced her to “ drill down ” on the basics of the market operation : connecting farmers who rise by 3 a.m. and drive hundreds of miles @ @ @ @ @ @ @ keeping everyone safe in the process .
“ The farmers have been the backbone of our operation , ” she says .
“ They ’ re the heroes in all of this.
” Neither the market staff nor the farmers know what to expect as the holidays approach .
“ People will still have to eat , ” Coleman says , “ and hopefully , they can gather with their families.
” Regarding the potential effect on the market , he says : “ I hope it will be big .
”

Chef Tristan Aitchison has shopped at the Santa Monica Farmers Market for nearly a decade. He still does so on Wednesday mornings, but he’s now buying less because his restaurant serves only takeout and has been forced to lay off workers during the COVID-19 pandemic.
He especially misses lingering to chat with other chefs and buyers. “Now it’s more about business,” says Aitchison, chef de cuisine at Providence restaurant in Los Angeles. “Get in and get out.”
For almost 40 years, downtown Santa Monica has been transformed midweek into a mecca for food lovers, creative cooks and A-list restaurant chefs. Farmers drive from as far away as Gilroy in Northern California to offer giant strawberries, deep green kale, broccolini, yellow and purple onions, jicama, passion fruit, sunflowers, dates and so much more in open-air stalls along Arizona Avenue and 2nd Street.
The Santa Monica Farmers Market is one of the nation’s premier grower-only operations, the grandfather of the four weekly markets run by the city and an inspiration for markets across the country. There are no tamales, coffee or kettle corn sold here. You’ll find only produce grown in the fields and orchards of the Golden State.
Fairytale eggplants on display at the Santa Monica Farmers Market. (Mariah Tauger / Los Angeles Times)
Blueberries, blackberries and raspberries on display at the Santa Monica Farmers Market. (Mariah Tauger / Los Angeles Times)
Tony Thacher of Friend’s Ranches helps a customer at the Santa Monica Farmers Market. (Mariah Tauger / Los Angeles Times)
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Now, shoppers also find fewer farmers, more lines and a host of new rules.
For market manager Jaclyn Rivera-Krouse, the biggest challenge has been “quickly shifting from the concept of a farmers market being so wide open to creating a system that has limited entry and exit points and then communicating that to the public.”
The changes mean customers now wait in long lines at designated entrances and find more lines inside at stands. Everyone must wear masks and try to stay six feet from others. Yellow caution tape stretches across displays. Farmers supply hand sanitizer. Some allow shoppers to touch the produce; others don’t. Vendors wear gloves if they handle both cash and produce. Handwashing stations have appeared. Sampling is a thing of the past, as are tours and school groups.
Yet more than ever, Rivera-Krouse and others observe, people savor the chance to shop outdoors and to be reminded that nature, after all, isn’t on lockdown.
The market remains a key part of the lives of vendors and customers like Mark Freund, who gets in line an hour before the 8 a.m. opening. For him, the waiting has become “a kind of meditative time.” With less socializing inside, Freund says a camaraderie has developed in the line. And he likes that the market is less crowded now.
Manager Jackie Rivera-Krouse, right, and Kym Otterstedt survey the scene at the Santa Monica Farmers Market on Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2020. (Mariah Tauger / Los Angeles Times)
Some sellers, including Coleman Family Farms owner Romeo Coleman, report a drop of 25% to 30% or more in sales to restaurant buyers. Among those who remain are the Rustic Canyon Group, Akasha, Jon & Vinny’s, Gjelina and Suzanne Goin’s group.
Coleman drives from Carpinteria each week; his farm has been part of the market since the 1980s. One of his regular customers is Aitchison, the Providence chef who says he now preorders in smaller quantities from favorite farmers. That cuts down the time he spends at each stand. “The farmers have taken as much of a hit as we have,” Aitchison says. “We buy less, so they plant less. The effect trickles down.”
In recent months, the number of farmers in the market has dropped too, from around 75 to 80 to fewer than 60 some weeks. Rivera-Krouse says some left in fear of exposure to COVID-19, while others responded to what she calls the “natural gamble of farming,” the seasonal ups and downs.
Meanwhile, retail shoppers have decreased from about 10,000 a day to 2,000, although Rivera-Krouse notes that some buyers have combined their lists and send just one person to shop for several families.
Demand for some products has increased. Kiana Lowe, a manager at Milliken Family Farm in Santa Barbara, noticed an uptick in business early in the pandemic. People were stocking up for an uncertain future. “We sold out of anything that could be stored, like potatoes,” she says. “And we couldn’t grow enough garlic; we sold out every week. A lot had been coming from China and got scarce, so people bought from us.” Others sought the bulb as they looked for ways to boost immunity.
Produce packages are prepared at the Santa Monica Farmers Market. (Mariah Tauger / Los Angeles Times)
Advertisement
Rose Rennie, who runs the stand for Energy Bee Farm, a purveyor of raw and gourmet honey, also says the pandemic created more demand — at first. “People were cooking more and were interested in the nutritional benefits of raw honey.” But she estimates that her business dropped 30% over the summer.
The Santa Monica Farmers Market has been integral to the modern history of California. It was key to the state’s food revolution of the 1980s, built around local, seasonal produce and led by chefs such as Alice Waters and Evan Kleiman. In 2007, the market spawned “The Santa Monica Farmers Market Cookbook” by Amelia Saltsman.
For many vendors, the market is not only a big part of their livelihood but also what Rivera-Krouse calls “a little piece of normalcy in a very bizarre year.”
A shopper tows a cart full of produce at the Santa Monica Farmers Market. (Mariah Tauger / Los Angeles Times)
Coleman says 97% of shoppers follow the new regulations without complaint. He sells about 50 types of greens, including black “dino” kale, stinging nettle and Persian and chocolate mint. “We will bag for you,” his sign announces. Coleman says the market staff has made it possible for vendors like him to stay open and safe.
That hasn’t been easy, according to Rivera-Krouse, who had been manager for just over a year when the pandemic hit in March.
On market days, her workday starts at 5 a.m. She spends much of her time responding to radio calls from staff and volunteers about various issues: a shopper with no face covering; someone with a pet that is not a service animal; customers standing too close; an unannounced visit from the California Department of Food and Agriculture. Wearing a chartreuse green safety vest, she hurries to handle each situation before it escalates. She often fields complaints that market regulations are too strict — or not strict enough.
Rivera-Krouse says the pandemic has forced her to “drill down” on the basics of the market operation: connecting farmers who rise by 3 a.m. and drive hundreds of miles with buyers seeking something special, while keeping everyone safe in the process. “The farmers have been the backbone of our operation,” she says. “They’re the heroes in all of this.”
Neither the market staff nor the farmers know what to expect as the holidays approach. “People will still have to eat,” Coleman says, “and hopefully, they can gather with their families.” Regarding the potential effect on the market, he says: “I hope it will be big.”


latimes--2020-10-30--Sheriff's investigators seek information on shooting death of man in South L.A.

A homicide investigation is underway in South Los Angeles after a man was shot to death on Friday afternoon .
@ @ @ @ @ 1:32 p.m. in the 3700 block of Slauson Avenue , according to a statement from @ @ @ @ @ ’ s Department .
The victim , whose identity has not been released , was @ @ @ @ @ local hospital .
No additional details were given about the man or the circumstances of @ @ @ @ @ .
“ We ’ re still investigating what ’ s going on and we ’ @ @ @ @ @ , ” Deputy Eric Ortiz said .
Homicides have been in an upward trajectory this @ @ @ @ @ the city of L.A. , which is nearing 300 homicides in a single year , @ @ @ @ @ since 2009 .
The Sheriff ’ s Department is encouraging anyone with information to contact @ @ @ @ @ 323 ) 890-5500 .

A homicide investigation is underway in South Los Angeles after an unidentified man was shot to death Friday afternoon at the 3700 block of Slauson Avenue.
A homicide investigation is underway in South Los Angeles after a man was shot to death on Friday afternoon.
The incident took place at 1:32 p.m. in the 3700 block of Slauson Avenue, according to a statement from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.
The victim, whose identity has not been released, was later pronounced dead at a local hospital. No additional details were given about the man or the circumstances of the shooting — including motive.
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“We’re still investigating what’s going on and we’ll have more info later,” Deputy Eric Ortiz said.
Homicides have been in an upward trajectory this year in L.A. County and the city of L.A., which is nearing 300 homicides in a single year, which would be a first since 2009.
The Sheriff’s Department is encouraging anyone with information to contact the Homicide Bureau at (323) 890-5500.


latimes--2020-10-30--California unemployment agency director to retire after months of delayed jobless benefits

Under fire for delays in paying unemployment benefits to more than 1 million Californians during the COVID-19 pandemic , Sharon Hilliard said Friday that she is retiring as director of the state Employment Development Department .
Hilliard , 56 , has received strong criticism from jobless Californians and state lawmakers in recent months as technology problems and bureaucratic tangles caused a backlog of 1.6 million claims for unemployment benefits , many months old .
She said she will retire effective Dec. 31 after nearly four decades in state government .
“ It has been my privilege to be part of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ day I walked into the EDD building over 37 years ago , ” Hilliard said in an email to EDD employees .
“ This past year I have been committed to seeing the EDD through the most challenging times in the Department ’ s history , but I believe I can now retire knowing that the EDD is on a great path to success.
” The resignation comes nearly three months after 61 state lawmakers , a majority of the California Legislature , wrote a letter to Gov .
Gavin Newsom calling for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have kept hundreds of thousands of jobless Californians from getting any financial assistance for months after they were thrown out of work .
“ We ’ ve waited months for EDD to provide a roadmap out of this crisis , but none has been forthcoming , ” said the Aug. 5 letter .
In response to widespread criticism , Newsom created a “ strike team ” of technology experts that in September recommended an overhaul of the agency ’ s computer systems and operations .
EDD officials said that recent changes allowing faster @ @ @ @ @ @ @ backlog by hundreds of thousands of people .
Republican Assemblyman Jim Patterson of Fresno had called recently for Hilliard to be replaced as director .
“ This director has misled the public , the governor , the media and Legislators , ” he said in a recent statement .
“ It ’ s time she was replaced with someone who can help us create the EDD of the 21st century .
We need change at the top , and we need it now.
” On Friday , Assemblyman David Chiu ( D-San Francisco @ @ @ @ @ @ @ EDD , welcomed the announcement that Hilliard is leaving .
“ I ’ m not naive that the director ’ s retirement will magically change EDD ’ s resistance to reform , but I strongly hope that a change in top leadership will lead to a more dynamic and responsive agency , ” Chiu said after Hilliard ’ s announcement .
Newsom ’ s office said that a statewide search would be conducted to find a replacement for Hilliard , who the office said was planning on retiring when she took the position @ @ @ @ @ @ @ many years of service to the state , ” said Erin Mellon , a spokeswoman for Gov .
Gavin Newsom ’ s office .
Earlier in the day , the governor said that he is aware of continuing problems with the unemployment benefits system and that his office is working to resolve the problems .
“ We are not ideological about how we do that , ” Newsom said during a news conference .
“ We are very cognizant about the need not only to address the situational challenge but also address the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and for all fix the EDD , which I assure you is underway.
” Newsom appointed Hilliard on Feb. 11 as director of the agency for which she had worked in various positions since 1983 , when she started with an entry-level position at age 19 .
Before she headed the EDD , she served as the agency ’ s chief deputy director and was acting director for 14 months before then-Gov .
Jerry Brown appointed Patrick Henning Jr. , a former top staff member to the governor , in 2014 .
She @ @ @ @ @ @ @ deputy director of the tax branch , chief of the field audit and compliance division , chief of the tax processing and accounting division , chief of central operations and chief of underground economy operations .
The director ’ s position included an annual salary of $ 199,056 .
The vast department , with more than 8,000 employees , runs the state ’ s unemployment and disability insurance programs and labor statistics services , oversees paid family leave laws , and collects a variety of payroll taxes .
The agency has repeatedly faced @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the state auditor recommended that the EDD stop sending Social Security numbers out in letters to claimants because of the risk of identity theft .
During Hilliard ’ s stint as acting director six years ago , glitches in the EDD ’ s computer system delayed payments to some 300,000 unemployed Californians , while problems with the agency ’ s phone line led to claimants failing to connect with caseworkers in 9 out of every 10 attempts .
Similar problems emerged in March after Newsom ordered Californians to stay at home to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ recent months , jobless Californians have complained of calling the EDD hundreds of times a day without reaching a live service representative .
When they did get through , many callers reported , they were sometimes disconnected by caseworkers who could not resolve problems that were stalling their claims .
EDD workers told The Times recently that their efforts to process claims have been hampered by outdated technology , bureaucratic red tape and a shortage of trained , experienced staff members .
The agency proposed two projects in 2003 to modernize access to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cost of $ 96 million , the independent Legislative Analyst ’ s Office said in a report years later .
The project included upgrading the EDD ’ s call centers and call routing system , and automating the claims process for customers , but it faced delays that pushed its original 2008 completion schedule back at least four years as costs swelled .
“ Total costs went from an original $ 96 million to $ 159 million , ” the analysts reported .
Before that work could be completed , glitches in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a month or more for benefit checks to an estimated 117,000 Californians in 2009 , The Times reported then .

Technology problems and bureaucratic tangles have led to a backlog of 1.6 million claims for unemployment benefits in California.
Under fire for delays in paying unemployment benefits to more than 1 million Californians during the COVID-19 pandemic, Sharon Hilliard said Friday that she is retiring as director of the state Employment Development Department.
Hilliard, 56, has received strong criticism from jobless Californians and state lawmakers in recent months as technology problems and bureaucratic tangles caused a backlog of 1.6 million claims for unemployment benefits, many months old. She said she will retire effective Dec. 31 after nearly four decades in state government.
“It has been my privilege to be part of the Employment Development Department team since the day I walked into the EDD building over 37 years ago,” Hilliard said in an email to EDD employees. “This past year I have been committed to seeing the EDD through the most challenging times in the Department’s history, but I believe I can now retire knowing that the EDD is on a great path to success.”
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The resignation comes nearly three months after 61 state lawmakers, a majority of the California Legislature, wrote a letter to Gov. Gavin Newsom calling for immediate action to fix EDD problems that have kept hundreds of thousands of jobless Californians from getting any financial assistance for months after they were thrown out of work.
“We’ve waited months for EDD to provide a roadmap out of this crisis, but none has been forthcoming,” said the Aug. 5 letter.
In response to widespread criticism, Newsom created a “strike team” of technology experts that in September recommended an overhaul of the agency’s computer systems and operations. EDD officials said that recent changes allowing faster verification of identities has helped reduce the backlog by hundreds of thousands of people.
Republican Assemblyman Jim Patterson of Fresno had called recently for Hilliard to be replaced as director.
“This director has misled the public, the governor, the media and Legislators,” he said in a recent statement. “It’s time she was replaced with someone who can help us create the EDD of the 21st century. We need change at the top, and we need it now.”
On Friday, Assemblyman David Chiu (D-San Francisco), a leading critic of the EDD, welcomed the announcement that Hilliard is leaving.
“I’m not naive that the director’s retirement will magically change EDD’s resistance to reform, but I strongly hope that a change in top leadership will lead to a more dynamic and responsive agency,” Chiu said after Hilliard’s announcement.
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Newsom’s office said that a statewide search would be conducted to find a replacement for Hilliard, who the office said was planning on retiring when she took the position.
Employment Development Department Director Sharon Hilliard (Employment Development Department)
“We thank her for her many years of service to the state,” said Erin Mellon, a spokeswoman for Gov. Gavin Newsom’s office.
Earlier in the day, the governor said that he is aware of continuing problems with the unemployment benefits system and that his office is working to resolve the problems.
“We are not ideological about how we do that,” Newsom said during a news conference. “We are very cognizant about the need not only to address the situational challenge but also address the medium- and long-term challenges, to once and for all fix the EDD, which I assure you is underway.”
Newsom appointed Hilliard on Feb. 11 as director of the agency for which she had worked in various positions since 1983, when she started with an entry-level position at age 19. Before she headed the EDD, she served as the agency’s chief deputy director and was acting director for 14 months before then-Gov. Jerry Brown appointed Patrick Henning Jr., a former top staff member to the governor, in 2014.
She also previously worked at the EDD as deputy director of the tax branch, chief of the field audit and compliance division, chief of the tax processing and accounting division, chief of central operations and chief of underground economy operations.
The director’s position included an annual salary of $199,056.
The vast department, with more than 8,000 employees, runs the state’s unemployment and disability insurance programs and labor statistics services, oversees paid family leave laws, and collects a variety of payroll taxes.
The agency has repeatedly faced criticism for its practices. Last year, the state auditor recommended that the EDD stop sending Social Security numbers out in letters to claimants because of the risk of identity theft.
During Hilliard’s stint as acting director six years ago, glitches in the EDD’s computer system delayed payments to some 300,000 unemployed Californians, while problems with the agency’s phone line led to claimants failing to connect with caseworkers in 9 out of every 10 attempts.
Similar problems emerged in March after Newsom ordered Californians to stay at home to stop the spread of COVID-19.
In recent months, jobless Californians have complained of calling the EDD hundreds of times a day without reaching a live service representative. When they did get through, many callers reported, they were sometimes disconnected by caseworkers who could not resolve problems that were stalling their claims.
EDD workers told The Times recently that their efforts to process claims have been hampered by outdated technology, bureaucratic red tape and a shortage of trained, experienced staff members.
The agency proposed two projects in 2003 to modernize access to its unemployment insurance services at a total cost of $96 million, the independent Legislative Analyst’s Office said in a report years later.
The project included upgrading the EDD’s call centers and call routing system, and automating the claims process for customers, but it faced delays that pushed its original 2008 completion schedule back at least four years as costs swelled.
“Total costs went from an original $96 million to $159 million,” the analysts reported.
Before that work could be completed, glitches in the agency’s technology caused delays of a month or more for benefit checks to an estimated 117,000 Californians in 2009, The Times reported then.
Times staff writer Taryn Luna contributed to this report.


latimes--2020-10-30--Nayeri gets life without parole in kidnap-mutilation case. Victim decries 'sick act'

Hossein Nayeri , the 41-year-old Newport Beach man who was convicted last year of playing a role in the kidnapping and mutilation of a medical marijuana dealer , was sentenced Friday to life in prison without parole for what a prosecutor described as “ diabolical ” behavior .
Prosecutors said the 2012 crime stemmed from Nayeri ’ s mistaken belief that the owner of a prosperous Santa Ana pot dispensary , who has been referred to in court as John Doe , had hidden $ 1 million in the Mojave Desert .
Nayeri and two other attackers abducted the man @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on 25th Street in Newport Beach and forced them into a van .
The attackers tortured the dispensary owner , tasing him , burning him with bleach , severing his penis and leaving him in the desert .
He was rescued after his housemate made it back to the road and hailed a passing sheriff ’ s deputy .
“ From a psychology standpoint I live with the feeling of always looking over my shoulder , never feeling 100 % safe in any one location for any period of time , ” the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Friday ’ s sentencing hearing in Orange County Superior Court .
The man detailed the injuries he had suffered , from chemical and Taser burns to the genital mutilation he called “ the most gratuitous , sadistic injury.
” “ What kind of human being does such a thing ?
” he said .
“ The complications and pain both physically and psychologically which are connected to this sick act are so profound and deep that words can not begin to discuss the depths of my pain.
” Asking the judge to impose @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Heather Brown said the crime was motivated by “ pure and utter greed.
” “ Mr .
Nayeri wanted something that he believed the victim in this case had , and he was willing to do anything to get that , including torture and tase and whip and burn the victim in this case , so that he could try to get some mysterious money that he believed that he had , ” Brown said .
“ In the People ’ s mind there ’ s no punishment that ’ s great enough @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dangerous .
The acts he committed were diabolical.
” Prosecutors said Nayeri had been the ringleader of the abduction plot .
Nayeri had been combative and volatile on the witness stand at his trial last year , and at his sentencing he spoke briefly , his voice stentorian and indignant .
Addressing the victims and their families , he said he was “ truly sorry for what you all have been through ” but otherwise offered no expressions of remorse .
Instead , he used his platform to rage against the justice system @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ We all have flaws and we know it .
I have many flaws .
Wanting to hurt someone is not one of them , ” Nayeri said .
“ I keep evolving .
Moving and improving .
Otherwise , as one of my heroes , Bob Dylan , says , ‘ If you ’ re not busy being born , you ’ re busy dying.
’ ” Nayeri also denounced his trial , saying that “ people were presented with incomplete facts and distorted reality , ” and adding : “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this wild wild West style of justice in Orange County.
” During a monthlong trial in the summer of 2019 , Nayeri admitted to having surveilled the dispensary owner but denied participating in the abduction .
Nayeri ’ s DNA turned up on a glove inside a truck spotted at the abduction site .
Jurors convicted him of two counts of kidnapping and one count of torture , though they concluded that he had not performed the mutilation personally .
At the trial , Nayeri ’ s former wife , Cortney Shegerian , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the pot dispensary owner .
When Nayeri fled to Iran amid the police investigation , Shegerian cooperated with authorities to lure him to the Czech Republic , for ultimate extradition to the United States .
On Friday , Prickett denied Nayeri ’ s request for a new trial .
The sentencing was originally scheduled for last October and was delayed for more than a year , in part because Nayeri fired his defense attorney after his conviction .
Nayeri will remain in the Orange County jail as he awaits trial on charges @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2016 , when he and two other inmates slipped through a plumbing tunnel and climbed down a length of knotted bedsheets to freedom .
They remained fugitives for about a week before their recapture .
One of Nayeri ’ s accomplices in the abduction plot , Kyle Handley , is serving a life sentence after jurors convicted him in 2018 of kidnapping and torture .
Two other accused accomplices have yet to stand trial .

Hossein Nayeri, the 41-year-old Newport Beach man who was convicted last year of playing a role in the kidnapping and mutilation of a medical marijuana dealer, was sentenced Friday to life in prison without parole for what a prosecutor described as “diabolical” behavior.
Prosecutors said the 2012 crime stemmed from Nayeri’s mistaken belief that the owner of a prosperous Santa Ana pot dispensary, who has been referred to in court as John Doe, had hidden $1 million in the Mojave Desert.
Nayeri and two other attackers abducted the man and a female housemate from a home on 25th Street in Newport Beach and forced them into a van. The attackers tortured the dispensary owner, tasing him, burning him with bleach, severing his penis and leaving him in the desert. He was rescued after his housemate made it back to the road and hailed a passing sheriff’s deputy.
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“From a psychology standpoint I live with the feeling of always looking over my shoulder, never feeling 100% safe in any one location for any period of time,” the dispensary owner told Judge Gregg Prickett at Friday’s sentencing hearing in Orange County Superior Court.
The man detailed the injuries he had suffered, from chemical and Taser burns to the genital mutilation he called “the most gratuitous, sadistic injury.”
“What kind of human being does such a thing?” he said. “The complications and pain both physically and psychologically which are connected to this sick act are so profound and deep that words cannot begin to discuss the depths of my pain.”
Asking the judge to impose a life sentence on Nayeri, prosecutor Heather Brown said the crime was motivated by “pure and utter greed.”
“Mr. Nayeri wanted something that he believed the victim in this case had, and he was willing to do anything to get that, including torture and tase and whip and burn the victim in this case, so that he could try to get some mysterious money that he believed that he had,” Brown said. “In the People’s mind there’s no punishment that’s great enough for Mr. Nayeri. He is incredibly dangerous. The acts he committed were diabolical.”
Orange County Her pink Taser, poisoned hamburger patties and an iPhone: the story of a wife who lured an Orange County fugitive out of Iran When three men escaped from the Orange County jail, officials quickly decided only one of the escapees possessed the cunning and resourcefulness to mastermind it: Hossein Nayeri, a 37-year-old ex-Marine who faced charges in a grisly kidnapping and torture plot.
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Prosecutors said Nayeri had been the ringleader of the abduction plot. Nayeri had been combative and volatile on the witness stand at his trial last year, and at his sentencing he spoke briefly, his voice stentorian and indignant.
Addressing the victims and their families, he said he was “truly sorry for what you all have been through” but otherwise offered no expressions of remorse. Instead, he used his platform to rage against the justice system and to brag of his personal growth.
“We all have flaws and we know it. I have many flaws. Wanting to hurt someone is not one of them,” Nayeri said. “I keep evolving. Moving and improving. Otherwise, as one of my heroes, Bob Dylan, says, ‘If you’re not busy being born, you’re busy dying.’”
Nayeri also denounced his trial, saying that “people were presented with incomplete facts and distorted reality,” and adding: “John Wayne would have been dazzled by this wild wild West style of justice in Orange County.”
During a monthlong trial in the summer of 2019, Nayeri admitted to having surveilled the dispensary owner but denied participating in the abduction.
Nayeri’s DNA turned up on a glove inside a truck spotted at the abduction site. Jurors convicted him of two counts of kidnapping and one count of torture, though they concluded that he had not performed the mutilation personally.
At the trial, Nayeri’s former wife, Cortney Shegerian, testified that she helped Nayeri perform surveillance on the pot dispensary owner. When Nayeri fled to Iran amid the police investigation, Shegerian cooperated with authorities to lure him to the Czech Republic, for ultimate extradition to the United States.
On Friday, Prickett denied Nayeri’s request for a new trial. The sentencing was originally scheduled for last October and was delayed for more than a year, in part because Nayeri fired his defense attorney after his conviction.
Nayeri will remain in the Orange County jail as he awaits trial on charges that he escaped from the jail in 2016, when he and two other inmates slipped through a plumbing tunnel and climbed down a length of knotted bedsheets to freedom. They remained fugitives for about a week before their recapture.
One of Nayeri’s accomplices in the abduction plot, Kyle Handley, is serving a life sentence after jurors convicted him in 2018 of kidnapping and torture. Two other accused accomplices have yet to stand trial.


latimes--2020-10-30--City of Ventura moves forward with polystyrene regulation

The city of Ventura is proceeding with plans to regulate the use of polystyrene , popularly known by the brand name Styrofoam , from local restaurants and businesses .
The ordinance was introduced during a Ventura City Council meeting last week , following a 6-0 vote in February to begin drafting its language .
The polystyrene material is commonly used for single-use plates , cups , take-out food containers and packing materials , and is harmful to the environment , officials said .
“ Expanded polystyrene litter is one of the most prevalent and hard-to-remove items found on our beaches @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” City Manager Alex McIntyre and Public Works Director Phillip Nelson wrote in a report for the council .
It does not biodegrade , and it can not be recycled , they said .
If adopted , the proposed ordinance would ban the use of polystyrene containers at restaurants , grocery stores , convenience stores and other businesses .
Speaking at the council meeting , city of Ventura environmental sustainability manager Joe Yahner said what makes polystyrene different from other material is that it quickly breaks into small pieces , which makes it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Banning polystyrene will help reduce local litter issues and reduce debris in the marine environment , he said .
Several Ventura residents spoke during the public comment portion of the meeting , and all were in favor of a ban on the material .
“ Styrofoam is incredibly harmful for the city of Ventura , ” said one resident , Madeline Cook , adding that the EPA and the International Agency for Research on Cancer warn that the material could be carcinogenic .
“ It ’ s affecting not only our landscape @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” she said .
Another resident said she was “ shocked ” to learn the material hadn ’ t already been banned .
If the ordinance is adopted , Ventura will join more than 130 cities in California that have implemented similar regulations , including Ojai , Santa Barbara , Manhattan Beach , Santa Monica and Hermosa Beach .
The ordinance is expected to be approved at the next City Council meeting Nov. 9 , said Ventura spokeswoman Heather Sumagaysay .
But it will not go into effect until summer 2021 , in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ businesses are facing due to COVID-19 — like restaurants that are relying heavily on delivery and takeout options .
“ We didn ’ t want to make any type of movements that would impact or potentially hurt business who are already hurting , ” Sumagaysay said , adding that the city will offer an extension to businesses that need more time to make the change .
Deputy public works director Mary Joyce Ivers said Friday that the city will also implement an outreach program to provide businesses with the tools they need to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have already stopped using the material voluntarily , she said .
Ventura surveyed more than 200 restaurants and worked with the chamber of commerce in preparation for the ordinance .
There are other exemptions , too .
Yahner said polystyrene packaging prepared outside the city , like egg cartons , that is then sold within the city won ’ t be subject to the ban .
The ordinance also does not go so far as to mandate that packaging materials be made of compostable , recyclable and biodegradable material , although Yahner said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ language at a later time .

Randy Dinius has his hands full in downtown Ventura earlier this month. Ventura is proceeding with plans to regulate the use of polystyrene from local restaurants and other businesses.
The city of Ventura is proceeding with plans to regulate the use of polystyrene from local restaurants and businesses.
The ordinance was introduced during a Ventura City Council meeting last week, following a 6-0 vote in February to begin drafting its language.
The polystyrene material is commonly used for single-use plates, cups, takeout food containers and packing materials, and is harmful to the environment, officials said.
“Expanded polystyrene litter is one of the most prevalent and hard-to-remove items found on our beaches due to its weight and fragility,” City Manager Alex McIntyre and Public Works Director Phillip Nelson wrote in a report for the council. It does not biodegrade, and it cannot be recycled, they said.
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If adopted, the proposed ordinance would ban the use of polystyrene containers at restaurants, grocery stores, convenience stores and other businesses.
Speaking at the council meeting, city of Ventura environmental sustainability manager Joe Yahner said what makes polystyrene different from other material is that it quickly breaks into small pieces, which makes it very challenging to remove from the environment. Banning polystyrene will help mitigate local litter issues and reduce debris in the marine environment, he said.
Several Ventura residents spoke during the public comment portion of the meeting, and all were in favor of a ban on the material.
Polystyrene is “incredibly harmful for the city of Ventura,” said one resident, Madeline Cook, adding that the Environmental Protection Agency and the International Agency for Research on Cancer warn that the material could be carcinogenic.
“It’s affecting not only our landscape, but members of our community,” she said.
Another resident said she was “shocked” to learn the material hadn’t already been banned. If the ordinance is adopted, Ventura will join more than 130 cities in California that have implemented similar regulations, including Ojai, Santa Barbara, Manhattan Beach, Santa Monica and Hermosa Beach.
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The ordinance is expected to be approved at the next City Council meeting Nov. 9, said Ventura spokeswoman Heather Sumagaysay.
But it will not go into effect until summer 2021, in part to account for the hardships many businesses are facing because of the COVID-19 pandemic — such as restaurants that are relying heavily on delivery and takeout options.
“We didn’t want to make any type of movements that would impact or potentially hurt business who are already hurting,” Sumagaysay said, adding that the city will offer an extension to businesses that need more time to make the change.
Deputy Public Works Director Mary Joyce Ivers said Friday that the city will also implement an outreach program to provide businesses with the tools they need to make the transition. Several businesses have already stopped using the material voluntarily, she said. The city surveyed more than 200 restaurants and worked with the Ventura Chamber of Commerce in preparation for the ordinance.
There are other exemptions, too. Yahner said polystyrene packaging prepared outside the city then sold within the city, such as egg cartons, won’t be subject to the ban.
The ordinance also does not go so far as to mandate that packaging materials be made of compostable, recyclable and biodegradable material, although Yahner said it could be amended to include that language at a later time.


latimes--2020-10-30--Amid coronavirus uptick, San Francisco pauses further reopenings

Continuing to take a conservative and cautious approach to the coronavirus pandemic , San Francisco city officials on Friday announced they will temporarily halt further reopenings because of an uptick in coronavirus infections and hospitalizations .
At a virtual news conference , officials said the daily number of new infections has grown during the last two weeks from 3.14 per 100,000 to 4.17 .
Hospitalizations of patients with COVID-19 grew from 21 to 37 .
“ We are proceeding with caution , ” Mayor London Breed said .
“ Some of the decisions we made will still move forward , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pause until we see an improvement in the numbers.
” San Francisco ’ s go-slow approach to reopening has made the city the first major urban center in California to enter the state ’ s yellow tier , signaling the risk of infection is minimal .
Even so , the city has chosen to follow its own metrics rather than reopen sectors that the state otherwise permits .
“ San Francisco is in a good place , ” Breed said .
But “ the last thing we want is to go backward and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can reopen and then tell them they have to close , ” she added .
As a result , indoor restaurants , places of worship , movie theaters and museums will remain at 25 % capacity .
Indoor pools , bowling alleys and locker rooms at fitness centers will remain closed .
Dr. Grant Colfax , the city ’ s public health director , said the city expected an uptick in infections after allowing schools , playgrounds and indoor dining to reopen .
Adjustments must be made to take account of that , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t want the virus to get ahead of us , ” he said .
Breed urged residents to celebrate Halloween remotely — she said she planned to dress in costume and attend an online contest — and to avoid large gatherings on election night .
Without directly mentioning the possibility of election protests , Breed said San Francisco “ plans to be ready for any situation ” and warned that huge gatherings could spread the virus .
Breed , who does not have oversight over the San Francisco school system , has expressed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have yet to reopen while private schools are resuming indoor instruction .
She said city officials were working with the school district to give them the tools to reopen safely .

Pedestrians walk Haight Street in San Francisco. Although the city is in the yellow tier, it has decided to halt additional reopenings amid an uptick in coronavirus infections and hospitalizations.
Continuing to take a conservative and cautious approach to the coronavirus pandemic, San Francisco city officials on Friday announced they will temporarily halt further reopenings because of an uptick in coronavirus infections and hospitalizations.
At a virtual news conference, officials said the daily number of new infections has grown during the last two weeks from 3.14 per 100,000 to 4.17. Hospitalizations of patients with COVID-19 grew from 21 to 37.
“We are proceeding with caution,” Mayor London Breed said. “Some of the decisions we made will still move forward, but others will need to take a pause until we see an improvement in the numbers.”
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San Francisco’s go-slow approach to reopening has made the city the first major urban center in California to enter the state’s yellow tier, signaling the risk of infection is minimal. Even so, the city has chosen to follow its own metrics rather than reopen sectors that the state otherwise permits.
“San Francisco is in a good place,” Breed said.
California How San Francisco became a COVID-19 success story as other cities stumbled San Francisco shut down early in the pandemic and later limited reopening. Now the city is the first urban center in California where the risk of infection is rated as minimal.
But “the last thing we want is to go backward and tell a business or a school they can reopen and then tell them they have to close,” she added.
As a result, indoor restaurants, places of worship, movie theaters and museums will remain at 25% capacity. Indoor pools, bowling alleys and locker rooms at fitness centers will remain closed.
Dr. Grant Colfax, the city’s public health director, said the city expected an uptick in infections after allowing schools, playgrounds and indoor dining to reopen. Adjustments must be made to take account of that, he said.
“We don’t want the virus to get ahead of us,” he said.
Breed urged residents to celebrate Halloween remotely — she said she planned to dress in costume and attend an online contest — and to avoid large gatherings on election night.
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Without directly mentioning the possibility of election protests, Breed said San Francisco “plans to be ready for any situation” and warned that huge gatherings could spread the virus.
Breed, who does not have oversight over the San Francisco school system, has expressed frustration in the past that public schools have yet to reopen while private schools are resuming indoor instruction.
She said city officials were working with the school district to give them the tools to reopen safely.


latimes--2020-10-30--CSUSB investigating university officer who allegedly pulled a gun on another officer

Cal State San Bernardino is investigating an incident involving two university police officers — one of whom drew a gun and allegedly aimed it at the other .
The incident , caught on surveillance footage , took place in mid-September and occurred after an officer instructed another to enforce the university ’ s face covering requirement — a mandate issued by the state .
According to attorney Tristan Pelayes , the conversation escalated when his client questioned the legal authority of imposing the rule and asked the other sergeant how to go about enforcing the mandate .
“ That conversation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and ultimately pulling a gun on my client , ” Pelayes said in an interview with ABC-7 .
Footage of the incident shows what appears to be a conversation turned heated .
The officer in question pulls his gun out and points it toward the other officer at close range , who , in turn , points his finger back .
A third officer was also present during the event .
“ We are aware of the incident , and an internal investigation is ongoing .
Thus we have no additional comment at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ strategic communication at CSUSB said Friday .
The officer also filed a report with San Bernardino police , Pelayes said .
The Police Department could not be immediately reached for comment .
The university , which resides in a tier 1 county for widespread risk of infection , has primarily defaulted to virtual instruction and plans to continue as such in January .
Students and faculty are required to submit a health screening before visiting campus .

Cal State San Bernardino is investigating an incident involving two university police officers — one of whom drew a gun and allegedly aimed it at the other.
The incident, caught on surveillance footage, took place in mid-September and occurred after an officer instructed another to enforce the university’s face covering requirement — a mandate issued by the state. According to attorney Tristan Pelayes, the conversation escalated when his client questioned the legal authority of imposing the rule and asked the other sergeant how to go about enforcing the mandate.
“That conversation led to the sergeant losing his temper and ultimately pulling a gun on my client,” Pelayes said in an interview with ABC-7.
Footage of the incident shows what appears to be a conversation turned heated. The officer in question pulls his gun out and points it toward the other officer at close range, who, in turn, points his finger back. A third officer was also present during the event.
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“We are aware of the incident, and an internal investigation is ongoing. Thus we have no additional comment at this time,” assistant director for strategic communication at CSUSB said Friday.
The officer also filed a report with San Bernardino police, Pelayes said. The Police Department could not be immediately reached for comment.
The university, which resides in a tier 1 county for widespread risk of infection, has primarily defaulted to virtual instruction and plans to continue as such in January. Students and faculty are required to submit a health screening before visiting campus.


latimes--2020-10-30--Officers use chemical agents to break up brawl at Folsom State Prison

Authorities used chemical agents to stop a brawl at Folsom State Prison this week that sent five inmates to a local hospital , prison officials said Friday .
About 20 inmates were involved in the fight that broke out about 9:05 a.m. Thursday in one of the prison ’ s five medium-security housing facilities where program activities were being held , according to a news release .
“ Correctional officers immediately responded to the area where the fights were occurring and gave multiple orders to stop fighting , ” the news release said .
“ When inmates did not comply @ @ @ @ @ @ @ quell the violence.
” Five inmates were taken to a hospital with non-life-threatening injuries , the release said .
They returned to Folsom , California ’ s second oldest prison , on Thursday .
No staff were injured , according to authorities .
Two California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation spokespeople declined to respond to questions about the nature of the incident or which chemical agents were involved .
State regulations allow CDCR officials to use chemicals as a use of force , if it is “ the force option staff reasonably believes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ verbal persuasion or orders shall be issued prior to resorting to force and are required to be provided before controlled force is used , ” the policy reads .
A retired teacher at California Men ’ s Colony , Annie Kelley , 70 , likened the chemicals to Mace .
Kelley , whose husband is incarcerated at Folsom , called the use of chemicals on prisoners “ standard.
” She recalled a time at the prison where she once worked , when a man sprayed with the substance fell over and began frothing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ used the stuff “ whenever there was a disturbance that they don ’ t feel like they had control over.
” “ It ’ s like you can find that anywhere because that ’ s just the way they do business , ” Kelley said .
“ They have to stop [ disturbances ] somehow , at least that ’ s in their minds .
”

Authorities used chemical agents to stop a brawl at Folsom State Prison this week that sent five inmates to a local hospital, prison officials said Friday.
About 20 inmates were involved in the fight that broke out about 9:05 a.m. Thursday in one of the prison’s five medium-security housing facilities where program activities were being held, according to a news release.
“Correctional officers immediately responded to the area where the fights were occurring and gave multiple orders to stop fighting,” the news release said. “When inmates did not comply, responding officers deployed chemical agents to quell the violence.”
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Five inmates were taken to a hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, the release said. They returned to Folsom, California’s second oldest prison, on Thursday. No staff were injured, according to authorities.
Two California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation spokespeople declined to respond to questions about the nature of the incident or which chemical agents were involved. State regulations allow CDCR officials to use chemicals as a use of force, if it is “the force option staff reasonably believes is sufficient.”
“Whenever possible, verbal persuasion or orders shall be issued prior to resorting to force and are required to be provided before controlled force is used,” the policy reads.
A retired teacher at California Men’s Colony, who did not want her name used, , likened the chemicals to Mace. She recalled a time when an inmate sprayed with the substance fell over and began frothing at the mouth. The prison guards used the chemical agent, she said, “whenever there was a disturbance that they don’t feel like they had control over.”
“It’s like you can find that anywhere because that’s just the way they do business,” she said. “They have to stop [disturbances] somehow, at least that’s in their minds.”


latimes--2020-10-30--Stuck between allies in tech and labor, Newsom won't weigh in on Uber-backed Prop. 22

Statewide polls suggest California voters are having a difficult time picking sides on Proposition 22 .
And so is their governor .
Stuck between his allies in the Bay Area tech industry and the labor unions that dominate Democratic Party politics , Gov .
Gavin Newsom has declined to endorse either side of the costliest ballot measure campaign in U.S. history and one that could reshape the app-based workforce .
“ There are no two constituencies more important to Gavin Newsom than tech and labor , ” said Nathan Ballard , a former advisor to Newsom when he served as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ really believes down to his bones in the labor movement and he is also very much a peer of the tech industry ’ s leaders.
” Newsom ’ s reluctance to take a position has sidelined him in one of the biggest debates about the future of work in the state , a fight with enormous consequences for business , government and Californians across the political spectrum .
It is not for a lack of interest .
Newsom created a commission last year to make recommendations about how the state should support economic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ age and campaigned on pledges to address the future of work .
He wrote “ Citizenville , ” a 2013 book about using technology to modernize government .
And he tapped a veteran labor advocate as one his closest advisors .
The governor also hasn ’ t shied away from other high-profile battles this election cycle , endorsing Proposition 15 to increase property taxes on businesses and Proposition 16 to reinstate affirmative action .
He opposed Proposition 21 , a measure to expand rent control and a topic that will persist at the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a position on Proposition 22 also speaks to a larger truth about his leadership style , said David McCuan , chair of the political science department at Sonoma State University .
“ He often talks about those ‘ big , hairy , audacious goals , ’ but he takes a pass on the biggest ‘ big , hairy , audacious goal ’ on the ballot , ” McCuan said .
“ Having friends on both sides makes a convenient excuse to say you don ’ t want to get involved when you should @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not a coalition that stands by the side when the parade goes by.
” The question posed to voters in Proposition 22 — whether Uber , Lyft and other app-based companies should be exempt from state law that classifies their workers as employees , requiring them to provide an array of workplace benefits — has been easier for other Democratic leaders to answer .
Presidential candidate Joe Biden and vice presidential contender Sen. Kamala Harris have sided with unions and endorsed the opposition campaign .
The opinion of Newsom , who has publicly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to power as a businessman in the shadow of Silicon Valley , is less clear .
Last year , the governor urged a compromise between the app-based companies and labor unions during legislative deliberations over Assembly Bill 5 , which he would later sign into law .
The bill codified and expanded a state Supreme Court ruling that paved the way for classifying more gig workers as employees instead of independent contractors , a move that posed a threat to app-based companies and the innovation economy Newsom has embraced since the start of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which could have created a unique employment classification for workers of app-based companies — failed vary depending on who is asked .
At least three things are clear : Uber and Lyft presented a proposal similar to Proposition 22 , labor unions couldn ’ t reach consensus among themselves and Newsom , for all his political power , was not able to bring the two sides together .
“ We led that effort , fell short and I want to position ourselves , as it relates to this issue , in a position @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is a need , a desire — to seek some compromise on this issue , ” Newsom said Thursday when describing why he ’ s neutral on Proposition 22 .
“ So that ’ s why we maintained that position publicly.
” Newsom ’ s closeness with the tech industry dates back to the beginnings of his time in politics and is evident in his policies , social circles , early adoption of social media and his buzzword-laden speaking style .
Carl Guardino , former chief executive of the Silicon Valley Leadership Group @ @ @ @ @ @ @ time more than two decades ago at one of the association ’ s annual barbecues , which was attended by roughly 300 elected officials and chief executives .
Guardino describes Newsom at the time as an “ unknown ” in Silicon Valley , a new member of San Francisco ’ s Board of Supervisors who had started a wine shop in his 20s and received a few key appointments .
The introduction was little more than a hello , but marked the beginning of a relationship that has endured since that time .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ where employers , including innovation economy employers , are often outright attacked or held suspect and he did not shy away from those relationships , or the importance to California of the innovation economy , ” Guardino said , adding that Newsom was quickly seen as an ally to the tech industry .
That open-door policy continued into Newsom ’ s time as mayor when he launched a plan to meet with 100 business leaders in 100 days during his first year in office .
The goal was to create relationships that he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and City Hall .
“ He often turned to tech leaders for advice and new ideas , ” Ballard said , adding that tech titans are among the governor ’ s influencers and in his close circle of friends .
Google co-founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin attended Newsom ’ s wedding in Montana , with the company providing complimentary flights to guests .
His close inner circle includes Salesforce founder Marc Benioff and Marissa Mayer , former chief executive of Yahoo .
Then-Mayor Newsom promoted a biotech boom in San Francisco by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ up residence in Mission Bay .
Ballard said Newsom always had close working relationships with Uber and Lyft throughout his career .
Brian Purchia , a former spokesman and technology advisor to the then mayor , said Newsom tapped tech companies to make city government more responsive and accessible , including working with Twitter and Twilio to improve the city ’ s 3-1-1 service .
He also made government data more available to the public and entrepreneurs .
“ We brought in a lot of tech people I would say that never really @ @ @ @ @ @ @ skills to help government , ” Purchia said .
Seeking to make his role as lieutenant governor more than a stately title , Newsom spent months meeting with executives and business leaders in 2011 to develop his own economic plan for California .
He worked with Guardino to set up small group meetings with dozens of chief executives and C-suite officers representing different parts of the Silicon Valley economy .
Although then-Gov .
Jerry Brown short-circuited Newsom ’ s effort with his own economic policy , the meetings weren ’ t easily forgotten @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the coin of the realm in policy and politics , ” said Guardino , who now works as an executive vice president at Bloom Energy .
Newsom ’ s signature on AB 5 last year came under pressure from labor unions that hold substantial influence at the state Capitol and in Democratic politics .
But Newsom ’ s affinity for the app-based company ’ s business model and publicly expressed desire for a compromise deal was well known .
In a 2014 Sacramento Bee op-ed , “ Don ’ t stifle innovation by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about government ’ s attempts to control the industry .
“ Millions of consumers are taking advantage of this new technology , and the benefits accruing to communities around the country are clear , ” Newsom wrote in the op-ed .
“ Transportation options are being expanded ; low-range pricing has opened access ; and many unemployed Californians have been able to make money as drivers for one of these companies .
As these start-ups modernize the way we travel , it is up to lawmakers to create a regulatory framework that protects @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for innovative and creative transportation solutions.
” Newsom condemned what he called an “ onerous ” California Public Utilities Commission permit process .
He also cautioned the Legislature to slow the “ heavy hand of regulation for fear of crushing the innovative spirit that is the hallmark of California ’ s economic engine ” and said the regulatory structure needed to evolve with the new transportation models .
The governor confirmed his support for AB 5 last year in a Labor Day op-ed , in which he said his office was in conversations @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tech companies to find a way to allow workers to form a union and maintain their flexible schedules — a nod to the compromise he tried to broker .
Proposition 22 has been viewed as a proxy for a larger battle over the future of labor in California and across the nation .
Labor unions fear the measure ’ s passage could mark another erosion of basic worker benefits and protections .
If successful , the campaign could be replicated beyond the state ’ s borders by corporations with the money and technology @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Failure could send the companies back into negotiations with labor , which would have a significant upper hand .
While the outcome will mark a major win for one side , several court battles remain pending .
McCuan agrees that declining to take a stance now could help Newsom negotiate the issue in the future if the measure fails , but said he already missed an opportunity to strike a deal last year and now an opportunity to lead at the ballot .
Newsom ’ s talk about a future of work that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ another example of a big picture policy agenda , such as building millions of new housing units and creating universal healthcare , smacked down by political realities , he said .
“ He has the skillset and the mindset and the influencers to bring two sides , Silicon Valley and big labor , together , ” said McCuan .
“ If you have paralysis by analysis , that you can ’ t go against your friends on either side , you have made a choice .
You ’ re elected to make hard @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bring people to the table .
And people look to you .
This is a guy who has sky-high approval .
If not now , when ?
”

Gov. Gavin Newsom, who has alliances in the tech industry and labor, has refrained from stating a position on Proposition 22, which would exempt app-based drivers from being classified as employees under state law.
Statewide polls suggest California voters are having a difficult time picking sides on Proposition 22.
And so is their governor.
Stuck between his allies in the Bay Area tech industry and the labor unions that dominate Democratic Party politics, Gov. Gavin Newsom has declined to endorse either side of the costliest ballot measure campaign in U.S. history and one that could reshape the app-based workforce.
“There are no two constituencies more important to Gavin Newsom than tech and labor,” said Nathan Ballard, a former advisor to Newsom when he served as mayor of San Francisco. “He really believes down to his bones in the labor movement and he is also very much a peer of the tech industry’s leaders.”
Newsom’s reluctance to take a position has sidelined him in one of the biggest debates about the future of work in the state, a fight with enormous consequences for business, government and Californians across the political spectrum.
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It is not for a lack of interest. Newsom created a commission last year to make recommendations about how the state should support economic growth and workers in a disruptive digital age and campaigned on pledges to address the future of work. He wrote “Citizenville,” a 2013 book about using technology to modernize government. And he tapped a veteran labor advocate as one his closest advisors.
The governor also hasn’t shied away from other high-profile battles this election cycle, endorsing Proposition 15 to increase property taxes on businesses and Proposition 16 to reinstate affirmative action. He opposed Proposition 21, a measure to expand rent control and a topic that will persist at the Capitol.
But his unwillingness to state a position on Proposition 22 also speaks to a larger truth about his leadership style, said David McCuan, chair of the political science department at Sonoma State University.
“He often talks about those ‘big, hairy, audacious goals,’ but he takes a pass on the biggest ‘big, hairy, audacious goal’ on the ballot,” McCuan said. “Having friends on both sides makes a convenient excuse to say you don’t want to get involved when you should be developing a coalition that leads, not a coalition that stands by the side when the parade goes by.”
The question posed to voters in Proposition 22 — whether Uber, Lyft and other app-based companies should be exempt from state law that classifies their workers as employees, requiring them to provide an array of workplace benefits — has been easier for other Democratic leaders to answer. Presidential candidate Joe Biden and vice presidential contender Sen. Kamala Harris have sided with unions and endorsed the opposition campaign.
The opinion of Newsom, who has publicly empathized with the struggling worker and rose to power as a businessman in the shadow of Silicon Valley, is less clear.
Last year, the governor urged a compromise between the app-based companies and labor unions during legislative deliberations over Assembly Bill 5, which he would later sign into law. The bill codified and expanded a state Supreme Court ruling that paved the way for classifying more gig workers as employees instead of independent contractors, a move that posed a threat to app-based companies and the innovation economy Newsom has embraced since the start of his career.
Reasons why those negotiations— which could have created a unique employment classification for workers of app-based companies — failed vary depending on who is asked. At least three things are clear: Uber and Lyft presented a proposal similar to Proposition 22, labor unions couldn’t reach consensus among themselves and Newsom, for all his political power, was not able to bring the two sides together.
“We led that effort, fell short and I want to position ourselves, as it relates to this issue, in a position where we can accommodate — if there is a need, a desire — to seek some compromise on this issue,” Newsom said Thursday when describing why he’s neutral on Proposition 22. “So that’s why we maintained that position publicly.”
Newsom’s closeness with the tech industry dates back to the beginnings of his time in politics and is evident in his policies, social circles, early adoption of social media and his buzzword-laden speaking style.
Carl Guardino, former chief executive of the Silicon Valley Leadership Group, remembers meeting Newsom for the first time more than two decades ago at one of the association’s annual barbecues, which was attended by roughly 300 elected officials and chief executives.
Guardino describes Newsom at the time as an “unknown” in Silicon Valley, a new member of San Francisco’s Board of Supervisors who had started a wine shop in his 20s and received a few key appointments. The introduction was little more than a hello, but marked the beginning of a relationship that has endured since that time.
“He’s in a party where employers, including innovation economy employers, are often outright attacked or held suspect and he did not shy away from those relationships, or the importance to California of the innovation economy,” Guardino said, adding that Newsom was quickly seen as an ally to the tech industry.
That open-door policy continued into Newsom’s time as mayor when he launched a plan to meet with 100 business leaders in 100 days during his first year in office. The goal was to create relationships that he felt were lacking between the business community and City Hall.
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“He often turned to tech leaders for advice and new ideas,” Ballard said, adding that tech titans are among the governor’s influencers and in his close circle of friends.
Google co-founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin attended Newsom’s wedding in Montana, with the company providing complimentary flights to guests. His close inner circle includes Salesforce founder Marc Benioff and Marissa Mayer, former chief executive of Yahoo.
Then-Mayor Newsom promoted a biotech boom in San Francisco by offering tax incentives for companies to take up residence in Mission Bay. Ballard said Newsom always had close working relationships with Uber and Lyft throughout his career.
Brian Purchia, a former spokesman and technology advisor to the then mayor, said Newsom tapped tech companies to make city government more responsive and accessible, including working with Twitter and Twilio to improve the city’s 3-1-1 service. He also made government data more available to the public and entrepreneurs.
“We brought in a lot of tech people I would say that never really had an opportunity to use their tech skills to help government,” Purchia said.
Seeking to make his role as lieutenant governor more than a stately title, Newsom spent months meeting with executives and business leaders in 2011 to develop his own economic plan for California. He worked with Guardino to set up small group meetings with dozens of chief executives and C-suite officers representing different parts of the Silicon Valley economy.
Although then-Gov. Jerry Brown short-circuited Newsom’s effort with his own economic policy, the meetings weren’t easily forgotten.
“Building relationships of trust is the coin of the realm in policy and politics,” said Guardino, who now works as an executive vice president at Bloom Energy.
Newsom’s signature on AB 5 last year came under pressure from labor unions that hold substantial influence at the state Capitol and in Democratic politics. But Newsom’s affinity for the app-based company’s business model and publicly expressed desire for a compromise deal was well known.
In a 2014 Sacramento Bee op-ed, “Don’t stifle innovation by over-regulating Uber,” he expressed concerns about government’s attempts to control the industry.
“Millions of consumers are taking advantage of this new technology, and the benefits accruing to communities around the country are clear,” Newsom wrote in the op-ed. “Transportation options are being expanded; low-range pricing has opened access; and many unemployed Californians have been able to make money as drivers for one of these companies. As these start-ups modernize the way we travel, it is up to lawmakers to create a regulatory framework that protects consumers while ensuring there is adequate flexibility for innovative and creative transportation solutions.”
Newsom condemned what he called an “onerous” California Public Utilities Commission permit process. He also cautioned the Legislature to slow the “heavy hand of regulation for fear of crushing the innovative spirit that is the hallmark of California’s economic engine” and said the regulatory structure needed to evolve with the new transportation models.
The governor confirmed his support for AB 5 last year in a Labor Day op-ed, in which he said his office was in conversations with ride-share drivers, labor unions and tech companies to find a way to allow workers to form a union and maintain their flexible schedules — a nod to the compromise he tried to broker.
Proposition 22 has been viewed as a proxy for a larger battle over the future of labor in California and across the nation. Labor unions fear the measure’s passage could mark another erosion of basic worker benefits and protections. If successful, the campaign could be replicated beyond the state’s borders by corporations with the money and technology to sway voters in their favor. Failure could send the companies back into negotiations with labor, which would have a significant upper hand.
While the outcome will mark a major win for one side, several court battles remain pending. McCuan agrees that declining to take a stance now could help Newsom negotiate the issue in the future if the measure fails, but said he already missed an opportunity to strike a deal last year and now an opportunity to lead at the ballot.
Newsom’s talk about a future of work that allows companies and workers to thrive is another example of a big picture policy agenda, such as building millions of new housing units and creating universal healthcare, smacked down by political realities, he said.
“He has the skillset and the mindset and the influencers to bring two sides, Silicon Valley and big labor, together,” said McCuan. “If you have paralysis by analysis, that you can’t go against your friends on either side, you have made a choice. You’re elected to make hard decisions. You’re elected to bring people to the table. And people look to you. This is a guy who has sky-high approval. If not now, when?”


latimes--2020-10-30--Photos: Early voting underway for 2020 election

Traditionally , election day is the Tuesday after the first Monday in November , but early voting in Los Angeles @ @ @ @ @ If you want to vote in person , you can now go to one of @ @ @ @ @ They ’ ll be open every day , including weekends , through election day , @ @ @ @ @ a.m. to 7 p.m .

Jon, who gave only his first name, works on his ballot Saturday at an early voting center at the Azusa Women’s Club.
(Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)