latimes--2020-11-08--Todd Gloria will bring lots of firsts as San Diego's new mayor

San Diego ’ s new mayor , Todd Gloria , represents many firsts for the city , reflecting its changing demographics and its increasingly liberal electorate .
Gloria , who is Latino , Filipino and Native American , will be San Diego ’ s first mayor of color .
He also will be the city ’ s first mayor who has come out as gay .
Gloria also will be — arguably — the most powerful mayor San Diego has ever had .
Except for Bob Filner ’ s tumultuous eight-month tenure as mayor that ended in scandal seven years @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Democrat to serve as San Diego mayor since the city switched to the “ strong mayor ” form of government in 2005 .
Because Democrats have controlled the City Council during that entire 15-year period , Gloria will be the first “ strong mayor ” besides Filner to have a City Council controlled by his own party .
And Democrats don ’ t enjoy just a small majority on the council .
They increased the number of seats they control on the nine-member panel from six to eight in elections this week .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ be the first mayor in modern history to simultaneously have strong backing from the business community and organized labor , two groups that are often at odds .
Gloria also is expected to have more clout in Sacramento than previous mayors .
A state Assemblyman since 2016 , Gloria is the first San Diego mayor with statehouse experience since Assemblyman Pete Wilson was elected mayor in 1971 .
But Gloria also will inherit more challenges than most mayors .
The COVID-19 pandemic has cratered tax revenue for the tourism-reliant city , creating a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the period after the Great Recession of 2008 .
San Diego also faces one of the largest homelessness problems in the nation , a housing affordability crisis , crumbling infrastructure , calls for police reform and stark inequities between rich and poor neighborhoods .
“ We are confronted by multiple crises that demand urgent attention from this city , ” Gloria said last week .
While he expressed confidence that he ’ s up to the challenge , Gloria said it ’ s unfortunate the budget crisis will make it harder .
And @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at arguably the worst possible time .
“ There weren ’ t too many people on the campaign trail who asked for fewer library hours or less road repair , ” Gloria joked to reporters last week .
Gloria said he may be uniquely qualified to lead San Diego through a tough budget time .
He was first elected to San Diego ’ s City Council in 2008 , right as the deepest recession since the Great Depression was taking shape .
He also served as chair of the council ’ s Budget @ @ @ @ @ @ @ familiar with the process .
“ It ’ s a matter of priorities , and I ’ m a pretty frugal guy , ” Gloria said .
“ I believe we can figure out ways to protect neighborhood services while getting the city ’ s finances back on track.
” He said he also has experience dealing with a crisis , which could help during the pandemic .
Gloria was City Council president during the Filner scandal , and he served as interim mayor for eight months between Filner ’ s August 2013 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ swearing-in in March 2014 .
Although Gloria said all the city ’ s problems are important , homelessness will be his first priority .
He is a longtime advocate for the “ housing first ” approach , where the goal is getting homeless people immediately into more permanent housing than a shelter and then providing them counseling and other support .
Other priorities will be the housing crisis , which he has tried to address in Sacramento with several pieces of legislation , and the city ’ s climate action plan , which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Gloria praised Faulconer for making progress on the plan , but he said the city has not moved quickly enough to reduce people ’ s reliance on cars in favor of more environmentally friendly methods of getting around .
“ I will be bringing a different point of view when it comes to our need to shift folks to forms of transit that are less consuming of carbon , ” he said .
This is one area where his clout in Sacramento could help .
Gloria also noted that Democrat Joe Biden ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ could help California and San Diego get more funding to help achieve climate goals .
“ We need partners in Sacramento and Washington to help us , ” he said .
“ I ’ m happy to use those relationships and connections.
” Although Gloria has a different perspective and priorities than Faulconer , he said he doesn ’ t expect dramatic changes in city staff , at least not immediately .
He said his decisions won ’ t be based on whether Faulconer ’ s appointees are Republicans or Democrats .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can support the vision that I laid out as a candidate that has now been endorsed by the people through their votes , ” he said .
“ If folks are willing to help me to implement that , I suspect we ’ ll be able to keep a great number of people there.
” Faulconer was criticized by some community leaders for promoting David Nisleit to police chief in 2018 , instead of hiring someone from outside the city and possibly someone of color .
Gloria said last week that he ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ whom he ’ s known since Gloria was a fledgling councilman and Nisleit was a patrol commander in City Heights , which was part of Gloria ’ s council district .
“ I like him a great deal , and I believe he will help me make San Diego a national model for law enforcement reform , ” Gloria said .
Gloria often introduces himself with pride as the son of a maid and a gardener .
He is a lifelong San Diegan who graduated from Madison High School and the University of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s aware that his election as mayor could create concern for some longtime San Diego residents more accustomed to the string of white Republican men who ’ ve led the city for many years .
But he said those concerns would be unfounded .
“ My goal is to make the changes that are needed to protect the quality of life that they and their fellow San Diegans cherish , ” he said .
Gloria said he wants to make changes that will reduce traffic congestion and provide enough affordable housing , so @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their children and grandchildren leave the area because of high housing costs .
While Gloria , 42 , may be on the verge of becoming the most powerful mayor in San Diego ’ s history , he still plans to lead his life like an ordinary guy .
On Thursday afternoon , he was winding down his mayoral campaign by running some errands and preparing for a few days of relaxation , a brief respite before the real work of governing begins .
He stepped out of his small Mission Hills apartment — @ @ @ @ @ @ @ aide , Nick Serrano , joked — to take out trash as his partner , Adam Smith , took their dog , Diego , for a walk around the neighborhood .
His problems were a little simpler that afternoon than the huge challenges facing the city .
He had to do laundry , pick up dry cleaning and drop a letter in the mail .
But before any of that , he needed some coffee .
Standing in line at Heartwork Coffee , he got some inquisitive looks from people who recognized him @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was , and then some congratulations from people familiar with him and his always reliable good cheer .
Back at his home later on Thursday , he was on a call discussing his plans as mayor .
“ I think we can do a lot of great things together , ” he told the person on the other end of the line .
Garrick writes for the San Diego Union-Tribune .
Staff photographer Sam Hodgson contributed to this story .

Todd Gloria, who is on track to be mayor-elect of San Diego, takes a phone call at his home last week.
San Diego’s new mayor, Todd Gloria, represents many firsts for the city, reflecting its changing demographics and its increasingly liberal electorate.
Gloria, who is Latino, Filipino and Native American, will be San Diego’s first mayor of color. He also will be the city’s first mayor who has come out as gay.
Gloria also will be — arguably — the most powerful mayor San Diego has ever had.
Except for Bob Filner’s tumultuous eight-month tenure as mayor that ended in scandal seven years ago, Gloria will be the first Democrat to serve as San Diego mayor since the city switched to the “strong mayor” form of government in 2005.
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Because Democrats have controlled the City Council during that entire 15-year period, Gloria will be the first strong mayor besides Filner to have a City Council controlled by his own party.
And Democrats don’t enjoy just a small majority on the council. They increased the number of seats they control on the nine-member panel from six to eight in elections this week.
Further increasing his power, Gloria will be the first mayor in modern history to simultaneously have strong backing from the business community and organized labor, two groups that are often at odds.
Gloria also is expected to have more clout in Sacramento than previous mayors. A state Assemblyman since 2016, Gloria is the first San Diego mayor with statehouse experience since Assemblyman Pete Wilson was elected mayor in 1971.
But Gloria also will inherit more challenges than most mayors. The COVID-19 pandemic has cratered tax revenue for the tourism-reliant city, creating a budget crisis that could rival or surpass the period after the Great Recession of 2008.
San Diego also faces one of the largest homelessness problems in the nation, a housing affordability crisis, crumbling infrastructure, calls for police reform and stark inequities between rich and poor neighborhoods.
“We are confronted by multiple crises that demand urgent attention from this city,” Gloria said last week.
While he expressed confidence that he’s up to the challenge, Gloria said it’s unfortunate the budget crisis will make it harder. And it may even require cutting some programs at arguably the worst possible time.
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“There weren’t too many people on the campaign trail who asked for fewer library hours or less road repair,” Gloria joked to reporters last week.
Gloria said he may be uniquely qualified to lead San Diego through a tough budget time.
He was first elected to San Diego’s City Council in 2008, right as the deepest recession since the Great Depression was taking shape. He also served as chair of the council’s Budget Committee from 2010-16, making him intimately familiar with the process.
“It’s a matter of priorities, and I’m a pretty frugal guy,” Gloria said. “I believe we can figure out ways to protect neighborhood services while getting the city’s finances back on track.”
He said he also has experience dealing with a crisis, which could help during the pandemic. Gloria was City Council president during the Filner scandal, and he served as interim mayor for eight months between Filner’s August 2013 resignation and Mayor Kevin Faulconer’s swearing-in in March 2014.
Although Gloria said all the city’s problems are important, homelessness will be his first priority.
He is a longtime advocate for the “housing first” approach, where the goal is getting homeless people immediately into more permanent housing than a shelter and then providing them counseling and other support.
Other priorities will be the housing crisis, which he has tried to address in Sacramento with several pieces of legislation, and the city’s climate action plan, which he helped write six years ago.
Gloria praised Faulconer for making progress on the plan, but he said the city has not moved quickly enough to reduce people’s reliance on cars in favor of more environmentally friendly methods of getting around.
“I will be bringing a different point of view when it comes to our need to shift folks to forms of transit that are less consuming of carbon,” he said.
This is one area where his clout in Sacramento could help. Gloria also noted that Democrat Joe Biden’s apparent election as president this week could help California and San Diego get more funding to help achieve climate goals.
“We need partners in Sacramento and Washington to help us,” he said. “I’m happy to use those relationships and connections.”
Although Gloria has a different perspective and priorities than Faulconer, he said he doesn’t expect dramatic changes in city staff, at least not immediately.
He said his decisions won’t be based on whether Faulconer’s appointees are Republicans or Democrats.
“The question is more about whether they can support the vision that I laid out as a candidate that has now been endorsed by the people through their votes,” he said. “If folks are willing to help me to implement that, I suspect we’ll be able to keep a great number of people there.”
Faulconer was criticized by some community leaders for promoting David Nisleit to police chief in 2018, instead of hiring someone from outside the city and possibly someone of color.
Gloria said last week that he’s upbeat about working with Nisleit, whom he’s known since Gloria was a fledgling councilman and Nisleit was a patrol commander in City Heights, which was part of Gloria’s council district.
“I like him a great deal, and I believe he will help me make San Diego a national model for law enforcement reform,” Gloria said.
Gloria often introduces himself with pride as the son of a maid and a gardener. He is a lifelong San Diegan who graduated from Madison High School and the University of San Diego.
He said he’s aware that his election as mayor could create concern for some longtime San Diego residents more accustomed to the string of white Republican men who’ve led the city for many years. But he said those concerns would be unfounded.
“My goal is to make the changes that are needed to protect the quality of life that they and their fellow San Diegans cherish,” he said.
Gloria said he wants to make changes that will reduce traffic congestion and provide enough affordable housing, so fewer longtime San Diegans have to watch their children and grandchildren leave the area because of high housing costs.
While Gloria, 42, may be on the verge of becoming the most powerful mayor in San Diego’s history, he still plans to lead his life like an ordinary guy.
On Thursday afternoon, he was winding down his mayoral campaign by running some errands and preparing for a few days of relaxation, a brief respite before the real work of governing begins.
He stepped out of his small Mission Hills apartment — “the Mayoral Mansion,” his aide, Nick Serrano, joked — to take out trash as his partner, Adam Smith, took their dog, Diego, for a walk around the neighborhood.
His problems were a little simpler that afternoon than the huge challenges facing the city. He had to do laundry, pick up dry cleaning and drop a letter in the mail. But before any of that, he needed some coffee.
Standing in line at Heartwork Coffee, he got some inquisitive looks from people who recognized him but weren’t sure who he was, and then some congratulations from people familiar with him and his always reliable good cheer.
Back at his home later on Thursday, he was on a call discussing his plans as mayor.
“I think we can do a lot of great things together,” he told the person on the other end of the line.
Garrick writes for the San Diego Union-Tribune. Staff photographer Sam Hodgson contributed to this report.


latimes--2020-11-08--Coronavirus is again stalking California, but there is still time to prevent a 'third wave'

While California has started to see a rise in coronavirus cases , the pace of increase is still far milder than the rest of the United States and experts said there is still time to prevent a “ third wave . ''
There are clear warning signs , including a troubling increase in daily cases in Los Angeles County .
But statewide , the uptick — for the moment — is at a pace still considered relatively slow and top health officials say there ’ s no conclusive sign of the kind of spike that roiled California this summer .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ that we have a much more muted uptick that ’ s beginning to occur , ” said Dr. Robert Kim-Farley , medical epidemiologist and infectious diseases expert at the UCLA Fielding School of Public Health .
“ And I think it ’ s because we are still adhering , for the most part , to this tiered approach of gradual opening of the economy and schools.
” California ’ s slow reopening process has prompted criticism from some businesses , such as from some executives of the state ’ s largest theme parks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bars that don ’ t offer meals remain largely shuttered statewide .
And in the hardest-hit counties , including Los Angeles , Riverside and San Bernardino , indoor dining rooms at restaurants are ordered closed , as are indoor gyms and indoor houses of worship .
But while that slow-moving reopening strategy may still be frustrating to some , health experts and officials are crediting this framework for keeping California ’ s hospitals from being overwhelmed in a surge of new cases .
California ’ s first attempt at reopening the economy in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with state officials , facing political pressure , agreeing to speed up its pace without meeting its own previously established criteria .
That led to a summertime surge in cases that brought California ’ s deadliest season of the pandemic .
The milder situation currently in California , Kim-Farley said , could be considered “ somewhat of a modest success story compared to the rest of the nation.
” While California ’ s cumulative COVID-19 death toll of more than 17,900 is far worse than some countries — Japan , for example , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Golden State still has about half the total deaths of New York , the state reporting the most deaths with nearly 34,000 fatalities .
The number of weekly coronavirus cases California has recorded recently is still far below its worst week .
For the seven-day period that ended Thursday , California recorded nearly 34,000 cases .
That ’ s about half as many as California ’ s worst week , July 17–23 , when 66,341 cases were diagnosed .
By contrast , the nation recorded more than 662,000 cases in the last week @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the nation has posted a new weekly record .
“ Part of California ’ s success is because we have gone really slow with our reopening ; that we ’ ve allowed ourselves time to see how our reopening efforts impact our healthcare delivery system , ” said Dr. Mark Ghaly , the California Health and Human Services Agency secretary .
Ghaly said he also believed that California has been helped in places where there ’ s high compliance with the state ’ s mandatory mask health order , which he called “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ play to reduce transmission.
” By contrast , some of the states seeing the worst per capita coronavirus case rates have residents who largely are not wearing masks .
Across the nation , newly diagnosed coronavirus cases for the first time exceeded more than 100,000 daily in recent days — exceeding the highest one-day totals so far .
Since the pandemic began , the U.S. has recorded the highest numbers of coronavirus cases and fatalities of any country worldwide , with more than 237,000 deaths and more than 9.9 million people infected .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ states , with the exception of the West Coast , Hawaii , New York , Louisiana and parts of New England , Dr. George Rutherford , epidemiologist and infectious diseases expert at UC San Francisco , said Friday .
On a per capita basis , coronavirus cases have been highest over the last week in the Midwest , where there has been plenty of controversy over managing the pandemic .
In Wisconsin , the Democratic governor and the Republican-dominated Legislature and conservative Supreme Court have sparred over control measures .
Texas on Halloween @ @ @ @ @ @ @ highest number of coronavirus cases , and by Sunday , more than 985,000 cumulative coronavirus cases were reported in the Lone Star State ; the Golden State stands at more than 973,000 .
Texas — which now has more than 19,000 COVID-19 deaths — is now the state with the second-highest number of cumulative COVID-19 deaths , displacing California ’ s No .
2 ranking in mid-September .
Over the last week , Texas , Illinois and Wisconsin tallied more new coronavirus cases than California , Rutherford said .
It ’ s remarkable @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in places such as Illinois , Iowa , Minnesota and scattered across metro areas in the Mountain West , Rutherford said .
By contrast , the West Coast has been “ relatively spared , ” Rutherford said , and “ here in California , we continue to be somewhat fortunate.
” Rutherford said he was worried that an uptick in cases that began roughly two weeks ago in California was the start of a significant spike in cases , in which California would be recording 8,000 new cases a day , up from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ October .
But the dire scenario hasn ’ t happened , at least yet .
Over the last week , there ’ s been an average of about 5,050 cases a day .
“ Just because we ’ ve seen other parts of the country experienced a surge , it ’ s not a foregone conclusion that we ’ ll just see it down the road , ” Ghaly said .
“ Our choices matter a great deal.
” Like California as a whole , Los Angeles County has started to see an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but it ’ s not at the point where it ’ s a surge that is expected to imminently stress local hospitals .
“ There ’ s definitely surges happening across the country .
We ’ re not seeing that yet here in L.A. County , ” said Dr. Paul Simon , chief science officer for the L.A. County Department of Public Health .
For the seven-day period that ended Thursday , 10,490 cases were reported , slightly down from the previous week ’ s tally of 10,987 , but still higher than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which was 7,921 .
These numbers are still below the worst week of the summer , when more than 22,000 cases were reported July 10–16 .
“ We ’ re pretty convinced at this point that these smaller gatherings — where people feel pretty safe because they ’ re with friends , and extended family — are in fact fueling a lot of the increase , ” said Barbara Ferrer , L.A. County ’ s director of public health .
“ They ’ re just not as safe as we would like to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , where people are inside eating and drinking , can easily spread the virus .
“ Please don ’ t bring people inside your house who aren ’ t a part of your household , because it just keeps accelerating this increase in the number of cases , ” Ferrer said .
“ We , like everybody else , do not want to be at the place where we feel like the only steps open to us are very dramatic sorts of reclosings , ” such as those England took on recently .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Bay Area , where in Solano County , almost all the cases from a recent surge “ came from family and social gatherings , ” Dr. Bela Matyas , the public health officer for Solano County , said at a public meeting .
“ And some of those that were reported were clearly in violation of common sense : We had a funeral with 300 people and nobody wearing masks .
We had a wedding in a person ’ s home with 40 individuals — nobody wearing masks , ” Matyas said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reporting week-over-week increases in cases , but at levels still below the summertime spike .
For the seven-day period that ended Thursday , San Diego County reported 2,738 cases , up from 2,400 the previous week , but below the high of 3,753 in the mid-summer .
The five-county region of L.A. , Orange , Riverside , San Bernardino and Ventura counties reported 18,558 cases in the last week , up from 17,704 the previous week .
The numbers are half of what was seen in the summer , where nearly 39,000 cases @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The increase in cases is still a sign of concern , and Kim-Farley suspected an uptick in cases reported Thursday and Friday may be related to gatherings around Halloween .
If a jump in cases tied to Halloween did happen , that would put the region in a worse place heading into the sequential holidays of Thanksgiving , Christmas and other winter holidays , which risks amplifying the pandemic .
“ We are in a critical time where we have many established cultural familial traditions of getting together and celebrating , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can not be the same as it was last year.
” The state generally bans large gatherings and has set up the following requirements for how small social private gatherings can occur : outside , with no more than three households allowed , with guests from different households staying six feet from each other , wearing masks when not eating or drinking , serving food and drink in single-serve disposable containers , and limiting the duration to no more than two hours .
“ This is not the year to party in large @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Dr. Grant Colfax , the San Francisco director of public health .
“ We want to be here for the next holiday season .
We want all of us to be here.
” A lot of the concern nationwide is that major transmission occurs in small groups of gatherings of friends and families .
Health experts are urging people to not host or attend large gatherings , and say it ’ s safest to celebrate in person with just members of your household and spending time together with others by phone or web @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of some large rallies , it seems to be smaller groups of people who are clustering together where most of the transmission is going on , ” Rutherford said .
“ And so the concern is that Thanksgiving , in and of itself — because it is a time when people cluster together with their masks off so they can eat and drink — will be a major amplifier ” of the pandemic .
L.A. County officials are also monitoring a worsening in the disparity in coronavirus cases among Latino residents compared with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ disparity had been improving in August and early September , but began to worsen again in October .
Lin reported from San Francisco , Lee from Los Angeles and Greene from Thousand Oaks .

Although California has started to see a rise in coronavirus cases, the pace of increase is slower than that seen in the rest of the United States, and experts said there is still time to prevent a third wave.
There are clear warning signs, including a troubling increase in daily cases in Los Angeles County. But statewide, the uptick — for the moment — is proceeding at a pace considered relatively slow, and health officials say there’s no conclusive sign of the kind of surge that roiled California this summer.
“We are fortunate in the sense that we have a much more muted uptick that’s beginning to occur,” said Dr. Robert Kim-Farley, epidemiologist and infectious diseases expert at the UCLA Fielding School of Public Health. “And I think it’s because we are still adhering, for the most part, to this tiered approach of gradual opening of the economy and schools.”
California’s slow reopening process has prompted criticism from some businesses, including executives of the state’s largest theme parks, which remain ordered shut. Indoor bars that don’t offer meals remain largely closed statewide. And in the hardest-hit counties, including Los Angeles, Riverside and San Bernardino, indoor dining rooms are ordered closed, as are indoor gyms and houses of worship.
Although the slow-moving reopening strategy may be frustrating to some, health experts and officials are crediting the framework with keeping California’s hospitals from being overwhelmed by a surge of new COVID-19 cases.
California’s first attempt at reopening the economy in late spring ended in disaster, with state officials, under political pressure, agreeing to speed up the pace without meeting their own previously established criteria. That led to a summertime surge in cases that brought California’s deadliest season of the pandemic.
Coronavirus cases in California have risen, but not to the extreme levels seen nationally. (Los Angeles Times)
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The milder situation currently in California, Kim-Farley said, could be considered “somewhat of a modest success story compared to the rest of the nation.”
Although California’s cumulative COVID-19 death toll of more than 17,900 is far worse than that of some countries — Japan, for example, has recorded only 1,800 deaths — the Golden State has about half the total deaths of New York, the hardest-hit state, with nearly 34,000.
The number of weekly coronavirus cases California has recorded recently is far below its peak. For the seven-day period that ended Thursday, California recorded nearly 34,000 cases, about half as many as the state’s worst week, July 17–23, when 66,341 cases were diagnosed.
By contrast, the nation recorded more than 662,000 cases in the last week — the second consecutive weekly record.
“Part of California’s success is because we have gone really slow with our reopening — that we’ve allowed ourselves time to see how our reopening efforts impact our healthcare delivery system,” said Dr. Mark Ghaly, the California Health and Human Services Agency secretary.
Ghaly said he believed California has been helped in places that have high compliance with the state’s mandatory mask order, which he called “one of the most valuable tools at play to reduce transmission.”
By contrast, some of the states seeing the worst per capita case rates have residents who largely are not wearing masks.
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Across the nation, newly diagnosed coronavirus cases for the first time exceeded more than 100,000 daily in recent days. Since the pandemic began, the U.S. has recorded the most coronavirus cases and fatalities of any country worldwide, with more than 9.9 million people infected and more than 237,000 deaths.
The pandemic is rapidly worsening in most states, with the exception of the West Coast, Hawaii, New York, Louisiana and parts of New England, Dr. George Rutherford, an epidemiologist and infectious diseases expert at UC San Francisco, said Friday.
On a per capita basis, coronavirus cases have been highest over the last week in the Midwest, where there has been plenty of controversy over managing the pandemic. In Wisconsin, the Democratic governor and the Republican-dominated Legislature and conservative Supreme Court have sparred over control measures.
Texas on Halloween surpassed California as the state with the most coronavirus cases. By Sunday, more than 985,000 cumulative cases were reported in the Lone Star State; the Golden State stands at more than 973,000.
Texas has seen more than 19,000 COVID-19 deaths and in mid-September surpassed California as the state with the second-highest number, after New York.
Over the last week, Texas, Illinois and Wisconsin tallied more new coronavirus cases than California, Rutherford said.
It’s remarkable how much density of infection there is in Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota and scattered across metro areas in the Mountain West, Rutherford said. By contrast, the West Coast has been “relatively spared,” he said, and “here in California, we continue to be somewhat fortunate.”
Dyana Elam, center, accompanied by her children Jackson Love, 11, left, and Jordan Love, 11, votes at Union Station in Los Angeles. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)
Rutherford said he was worried that an uptick in cases in California that began roughly two weeks ago was the start of a significant surge, in which the state would be recording 8,000 new cases a day, up from about 3,200 earlier in October. But the dire scenario hasn’t happened. Over the last week, there has been an average of 5,050 cases a day.
“Just because we’ve seen other parts of the country experience a surge, it’s not a foregone conclusion that we’ll just see it down the road,” Ghaly said. “Our choices matter a great deal.”
Like California as a whole, Los Angeles County has started to see an uptick in cases in recent weeks, but it’s not at the point where it’s a surge that is expected to imminently stress local hospitals.
“There’s definitely surges happening across the country. We’re not seeing that yet here in L.A. County,” said Dr. Paul Simon, chief science officer for the L.A. County Department of Public Health. For the seven-day period that ended Thursday, 10,490 cases were reported, slightly down from the previous week’s tally of 10,987 but still higher than the count three weeks ago, which was 7,921.
These numbers are still below the county’s worst week, July 10-16, when more than 22,000 cases were reported.
“We’re pretty convinced at this point that these smaller gatherings — where people feel pretty safe because they’re with friends and extended family — are in fact fueling a lot of the increase,” said Barbara Ferrer, L.A. County’s director of public health. “They’re just not as safe as we would like to believe.”
Seemingly wholesome gatherings, where people are inside eating and drinking, can easily spread the virus.
“Please don’t bring people inside your house who aren’t a part of your household, because it just keeps accelerating this increase in the number of cases,” Ferrer said. “We, like everybody else, do not want to be at the place where we feel like the only steps open to us are very dramatic sorts of reclosings.”
Social gatherings are also a problem in the Bay Area. In Solano County, almost all the cases from a recent surge “came from family and social gatherings,” Dr. Bela Matyas, the county’s public health officer, said at a public meeting.
“And some of those that were reported were clearly in violation of common sense: We had a funeral with 300 people, and nobody wearing masks. We had a wedding in a person’s home with 40 individuals — nobody wearing masks,” Matyas said.
In Southern California, other counties are reporting week-over-week increases in cases, but at levels still below the summertime surge. For the seven-day period that ended Thursday, San Diego County reported 2,738 cases, up from 2,400 the previous week but below the mid-summer high of 3,753.
The five-county region of L.A., Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino and Ventura reported 18,558 cases in the last week, up from 17,704 the previous week. The numbers are half of what was seen in the summer, when nearly 39,000 cases were reported in one week in mid-July.
The increase in cases is still a sign of concern, and Kim-Farley suspected an uptick reported Thursday and Friday may be related to gatherings around Halloween. If a jump in cases tied to Halloween did occur, it would put the region in a worse position heading into Thanksgiving, Christmas and other winter holidays.
“We are in a critical time where we have many established cultural familial traditions of getting together and celebrating,” Kim-Farley said. “That just really cannot be the same as it was last year.”
The state generally bans large gatherings and has set up requirements for how small gatherings can occur: outdoors, for no more than two hours, with members of no more than three households who stay six feet apart and wear masks when not eating or drinking, and with food and drink in single-serve disposable containers.
“This is not the year to party in large crowds, particularly inside,” said Dr. Grant Colfax, the San Francisco director of public health. “We want to be here for the next holiday season. We want all of us to be here.”
Much of the concern nationwide is that major transmission occurs in small groups of friends and families. Health experts are urging people to not host or attend large gatherings and say it’s safest to celebrate in person only with members of your household.
“With the exception of some large rallies, it seems to be smaller groups of people who are clustering together where most of the transmission is going on,” Rutherford said. “And so the concern is that Thanksgiving, in and of itself — because it is a time when people cluster together with their masks off so they can eat and drink — will be a major amplifier.”
L.A. County officials are also monitoring a deepening of the disparity in coronavirus cases among Latino residents compared with other racial and ethnic groups. The disparity improved in August and early September but began to worsen again in October.
Lin reported from San Francisco, Lee from Los Angeles and Greene from Thousand Oaks.


latimes--2020-11-08--Blasting from cars and street corners, YG and Nipsey Hussle's 'FDT' played amid celebration of Biden

Blasting from cars and street corners, YG and Nipsey Hussle's 'FDT' played amid celebration of Biden's win

On the second floor of an apartment building overlooking 5th Street and Broadway in downtown Los Angeles , YG and Nipsey Hussle ’ s 2016 single “ FDT ( F— Donald Trump ) ” was on a loop all Saturday afternoon once news broke that Joe Biden won the presidency .
“ I ’ m ‘ bout to turn Black Panther / Don ’ t let Donald Trump win , that n— cancer , ” YG rapped over the speakers , which were turned to face the street as hundreds danced and sang along below .
From inside the building @ @ @ @ @ @ @ apartment raised his fist in solidarity with the jubilant crowd below .
He unfurled a banner and hung it from his window : “ Bye Donald , kiss this hairy ass.
” If you went out in the streets of L.A. to celebrate on Saturday , wherever there were revelers , there was “ FDT.
” The track from YG and the late Hussle , born and raised in Compton and Crenshaw , respectively , blared from a teenage girl ’ s phone as she walked with her grandma to a spontaneous celebration @ @ @ @ @ @ @ seemingly a half-dozen car windows at once along the streetwear district of Fairfax .
It bumped in Echo Park as a boisterous crowd poured onto Sunset Boulevard to dance with newfound hope .
On election night four years earlier , “ FDT ” was a primal scream , a shot back from the young , the Black , from those newly heartbroken and those bitterly re-affirmed about America in the wake of Trump ’ s election .
“ The situation is [ screwed ] up , but I feel good for speaking up @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2016 , just after Trump ’ s election .
“ We spoke up because no one else was speaking up .
That ’ s what rap is made for .
Too many rappers keep saying [ stuff ] with no substance .
I told Nip that if we do this together , we got ta speak on Trump and go right to the streets.
” But now , as the country changes course after four disorienting years , it felt ebullient .
“ I feel like I can breathe again , ” said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Barbara fresh off an election-night shift as a poll observer in Clark County , Nevada , one of the key states that helped lock down the election for Biden .
She ’ d volunteered with a small crew of fellow Black women , and she echoed the imagery of the George Floyd protests in recounting what this moment meant to her .
( And sure enough , as she did so , a passing car played “ FDT ” near her outside Grand Central Market on Broadway . )
“ We ’ ve @ @ @ @ @ @ @ years , ” she said .
“ This is long , long overdue.
” YG , who became one of the faces of this summer ’ s protest movement alongside activists like Patrisse Cullors , wasn ’ t immediately available for an interview Saturday .
For many fans who played “ FDT ” in defiance four years ago , his 2016 song became the go-to expression of joy and progress on election day , once the presidential race was finally called .
CNN accidentally broadcast a full-profanity version while panning over ecstatic revelers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Washington , D.C. , partygoers played it so loud in front of the White House that Trump could probably hear it .
On Saturday , the song shot to the top of the iTunes charts in the U.S. and boosted its streams from Tuesday onward .
The song grew from 60,000 streams on Spotify on Monday to more than 250,000 on election day , and on Friday quadrupled its plays on Amazon Alexa , from 6,000 on Thursday to around 21,000 as of Friday mid-afternoon .
A fan-led campaign to send it to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ YG ’ s approval ( “ F— Donald since 2016 ” he wrote in response to one ) .
There ’ s probably nowhere the rapper would rather be than in thousands of car stereos in the city , as they celebrated the end of the Trump presidency .
“ I just felt like I was doing something that I was supposed to do , ” YG told The Times in September .
“ The streets is talking , it ’ s things going on , it ’ s people you ’ ve @ @ @ @ @ @ @ So I ’ ve got to be a part of it , you know ?
” For many , Saturday did feel like a joyful mirror on all the days of protest and grief that shook America through the summer .
“ FDT ” is now a little mournful too , because Hussle ’ s 2019 murder took away one of YG ’ s closest friends and collaborators .
But he struck a celebratory tone on social media as the tide of the election washed over L.A. “ I know @ nipseyhussle goin @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wrote on Twitter .

On streets across the country, revelers chanted along to the 2016 protest song “FTD” as they celebrated the victory of Joe Biden over President Trump.
On the second floor of an apartment building overlooking 5th Street and Broadway in downtown Los Angeles, YG and Nipsey Hussle’s 2016 single “FDT (F— Donald Trump)” was on a loop all Saturday afternoon once news broke that Joe Biden won the presidency.
“I’m ‘bout to turn Black Panther / Don’t let Donald Trump win, that n— cancer,” YG rapped over the speakers, which were turned to face the street as hundreds danced and sang along below. From inside the building, a young Black man in the apartment raised his fist in solidarity with the jubilant crowd below. He unfurled a banner and hung it from his window: “Bye Donald, kiss this hairy ass.”
If you went out in the streets of L.A. to celebrate on Saturday, wherever there were revelers, there was “FDT.” The track from YG and the late Hussle, born and raised in Compton and Crenshaw, respectively, blared from a teenage girl’s phone as she walked with her grandma to a spontaneous celebration outside City Hall. It spilled from seemingly a half-dozen car windows at once along the streetwear district of Fairfax. It bumped in Echo Park as a boisterous crowd poured onto Sunset Boulevard to dance with newfound hope.
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On election night four years earlier, “FDT” was a primal scream, a shot back from the young, the Black, from those newly heartbroken and those bitterly re-affirmed about America in the wake of Trump’s election.
“The situation is [screwed] up, but I feel good for speaking up,” YG told The Times in 2016, just after Trump’s election. “We spoke up because no one else was speaking up. That’s what rap is made for. Too many rappers keep saying [stuff] with no substance. I told Nip that if we do this together, we gotta speak on Trump and go right to the streets.”
YG. (Jay L. Clendenin/Los Angeles Times)
But now, as the country changes course after four disorienting years, it felt ebullient.
“I feel like I can breathe again,” said Nateeyah Kahsai, a 29-year-old from Santa Barbara fresh off an election-night shift as a poll observer in Clark County, Nevada, one of the key states that helped lock down the election for Biden.
She’d volunteered with a small crew of fellow Black women, and she echoed the imagery of the George Floyd protests in recounting what this moment meant to her. (And sure enough, as she did so, a passing car played “FDT” near her outside Grand Central Market on Broadway.)
“We’ve had this knee on our necks for years,” she said. “This is long, long overdue.”
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YG, who became one of the faces of this summer’s protest movement alongside activists like Patrisse Cullors, wasn’t immediately available for an interview Saturday.
For many fans who played “FDT” in defiance four years ago, his 2016 song became the go-to expression of joy and progress on election day, once the presidential race was finally called.
CNN accidentally broadcast a full-profanity version while panning over ecstatic revelers in the streets of Atlanta; some Washington, D.C., partygoers played it so loud in front of the White House that Trump could probably hear it.
On Saturday, the song shot to the top of the iTunes charts in the U.S. and boosted its streams from Tuesday onward. The song grew from 60,000 streams on Spotify on Monday to more than 250,000 on election day, and on Friday quadrupled its plays on Amazon Alexa, from 6,000 on Thursday to around 21,000 as of Friday mid-afternoon.
A fan-led campaign to send it to the top of the Billboard charts earned YG’s approval (“F— Donald since 2016” he wrote in response to one). There’s probably nowhere the rapper would rather be than in thousands of car stereos in the city, as they celebrated the end of the Trump presidency.
“I just felt like I was doing something that I was supposed to do,” YG told The Times in September. “The streets is talking, it’s things going on, it’s people you’ve killed. I represent the streets. So I’ve got to be a part of it, you know?”
For many, Saturday did feel like a joyful mirror on all the days of protest and grief that shook America through the summer. “FDT” is now a little mournful too, because Hussle’s 2019 murder took away one of YG’s closest friends and collaborators. But he struck a celebratory tone on social media as the tide of the election washed over L.A.
“I know @nipseyhussle goin ... krazy right now!” he wrote on Twitter.


latimes--2020-11-08--Catalina plans to import bison to boost the herd. Biologists aren't happy

A recent announcement that the nonprofit that owns nine-tenths of Santa Catalina Island plans to boost eco-tourism by adding bison to existing herds has recharged a debate over the environmental impacts of the shaggy , imported beasts .
Locals cherish the bison as living symbols of the island ’ s heritage .
Homes in the island ’ s close-knit community of 4,000 permanent residents are festooned with painted images of bison .
Gift shops sell furry bison figurines .
Catalina ’ s marathons are advertised under colorful bison logos .
The descendants of 14 bison left here in 1924 by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ attraction for eco-tourists , roaming Catalina ’ s 76 square miles of rugged mountains , sweeping valleys , and grasslands , where the largest predators are island foxes the size of housecats .
“ The number one thing that tourists want to see when they come to Catalina is bison , ” said Tony Budrovich , president and chief executive officer of the nonprofit Catalina Island Conservancy , “ and people want to see them running wild rather in a fenced enclosure.
” Tourists can buy tickets for tours of the island ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ conservancy ’ s new $ 17-million nexus of nature exhibits , gift shop , restaurant and bar overlooking Avalon ’ s cozy harbor and cafe-lined promenade .
The Conservancy runs Naturalist-led Eco Tours from the Trailhead priced at $ 79 for a 2-hour tour and $ 119 for a 3-hour tour .
Separately , the Catalina Island Company offers 2-hour “ Bison Expedition ” tours priced at $ 89.65 for adults and $ 85.49 for seniors and children .
The trouble is that catching a glimpse of bison has been increasingly difficult since @ @ @ @ @ @ @ $ 200,000 , five-year program designed to limit the population through contraception .
The goal : use inoculation to reduce herd size to a manageable 150 or so , which would be healthier and less environmentally damaging .
Reducing the herd had been recommended in 2003 , when there were 350 bison on the island , by a scientific study that concluded that foraging and wallowing bison were trampling native plant communities , altering tree canopies by rubbing against tree trunks , and undermining weed management efforts by dispersing nonnative grasses through their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ although the bison seem to be doing well , they are significantly smaller than mainland bison , experience relatively low reproduction rates and appear to be in poor nutritional condition , based on blood tests and frequent observations of open sores.
” Conservancy officials said the health of the herd improved after the herd was reduced significantly in 2005 by sending some of the bison out for slaughter or to breeding programs elsewhere .
The program was led by former conservancy biologists Julie King and Calvin Duncan and lauded by island residents @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rid the island of nonnative goats and pigs .
It was supposed to have been reversible once the inoculations ceased .
But there hasn ’ t been a calf born on the island in seven years , the conservancy said , and the herd size has dwindled to 100 .
Now , the conservancy board is working with the Laramie Foothills Bison Conservation Herd to bring two pregnant female bison to Catalina Island , situated about 22 miles south of Palos Verdes Peninsula , in December .
“ We didn ’ t want @ @ @ @ @ @ @ where the herd wasn ’ t sustainable , ” Budrovich said .
“ So we ’ re bringing a few animals over and allowing them to start having babies again.
” That was disappointing news for former conservancy consulting biologist Juanita Constible , who in 2007 spent up to 14 hours a day noting the massive , beady-eyed beasts ’ every move and grunt .
She was chased by the island ’ s main animal earth movers several times .
She also understands how deeply important they are to the island ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Still , “ I personally feel Santa Catalina has plenty to offer without bison , ” she said , “ and worry that the herd may face even more severe challenges in the future because of warming and drying trends.
” Duncan agrees .
He also suggested that “ Catalina ’ s bison remain in poor health and that may be contributing to their inability to produce calves .
Blood analysis conducted as recently as 2015 revealed nutritional deficiencies , and there were observations of broken and brittle horns and emaciated individuals.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Simply adding more bison will not result in more bison sightings.
” That is because eco-tourism customers follow the same assigned routes each day , but the bison herds hang out on remote , isolated patches of grass as green and steep as anything in Hawaii , he said .
It ’ s not the first time the actions and tourism-oriented values of the conservancy have kicked up a controversy underlining a defining characteristic of its residents : a deep resistance to change .
Previous issues included a 2012 plan to raise funds @ @ @ @ @ @ @ new tourist attractions including a proposed gondola ride from the Wrigley Memorial and Botanic Garden to a scenic ridgeline overlooking Avalon .
The gondola never left the drawing board .
But critics suggest that the costs of importing and maintaining additional bison could have been better spent on projects designed to thin herds of mule deer — the most destructive species left on the island .
The deer , whose population now stands at about 2,800 , strip terrain of brush and saplings , leaving dry tufts of grass .
Budrovich acknowledged that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ decision to grow the bison herd .
But he said it is consistent with the vision that chewing gum magnate William Wrigley Jr. had when he bought up much of the island in 1919 : a destination for people to enjoy in many ways .
“ Our core missions are conservation , education and recreation , ” Budrovich said .
“ These animals are important to the culture of the island .
”

Christine Wood has her photo take a photo with a North American Bison roaming around a campground as they arrive in Little Harbor after hiking the Trans-Catalina Trail.
A recent announcement that the nonprofit that owns nine-tenths of Santa Catalina Island plans to boost eco-tourism by adding bison to existing herds has recharged a debate over the environmental impacts of the shaggy, imported beasts.
Locals cherish the bison as living symbols of the island’s heritage. Homes in the island’s close-knit community of 4,000 permanent residents are festooned with painted images of bison. Gift shops sell furry bison figurines. Catalina’s marathons are advertised under colorful bison logos.
The descendants of 14 bison left here in 1924 by a movie crew are also a powerful attraction for eco-tourists, roaming Catalina’s 76 square miles of rugged mountains, sweeping valleys, and grasslands, where the largest predators are island foxes the size of housecats.
“The number one thing that tourists want to see when they come to Catalina is bison,” said Tony Budrovich, president and chief executive officer of the nonprofit Catalina Island Conservancy, “and people want to see them running wild rather in a fenced enclosure.”
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Tourists can buy tickets for tours of the island’s interior at The Trailhead, the conservancy’s new $17-million nexus of nature exhibits, gift shop, restaurant and bar overlooking Avalon’s cozy harbor and cafe-lined promenade.
A North American Bison roams free and grazes near Little Harbor campground in Catalina. About 100 descendants of bison brought to Santa Catalina Island in 1924 still roam the 75-square-mile island, roughly 22 miles from the mainland of Southern California. (Allen J. Schaben/Los Angeles Times)
The Conservancy runs Naturalist-led Eco Tours from the Trailhead priced at $79 for a 2-hour tour and $119 for a 3-hour tour. Separately, the Catalina Island Company offers 2-hour “Bison Expedition” tours priced at $89.65 for adults and $85.49 for seniors and children.
The trouble is that catching a glimpse of bison has been increasingly difficult since the conservancy in 2009 launched an experimental $200,000, five-year program designed to limit the population through contraception. The goal: use inoculation to reduce herd size to a manageable 150 or so, which would be healthier and less environmentally damaging.
Reducing the herd had been recommended in 2003, when there were 350 bison on the island, by a scientific study that concluded that foraging and wallowing bison were trampling native plant communities, altering tree canopies by rubbing against tree trunks, and undermining weed management efforts by dispersing nonnative grasses through their droppings.
The survey also said that “although the bison seem to be doing well, they are significantly smaller than mainland bison, experience relatively low reproduction rates and appear to be in poor nutritional condition, based on blood tests and frequent observations of open sores.”
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Conservancy officials said the health of the herd improved after the herd was reduced significantly in 2005 by sending some of the bison out for slaughter or to breeding programs elsewhere.
Tony Budrovich is the Catalina Conservancy president and CEO. A decade ago, the conservancy sterilized female bison in an environmentally destructive herd that numbered about 300 -- all descendants of animals used as backdrops in a Hollywood western shot in 1924. Since then, the number of bison has dropped to about 100. (Allen J. Schaben/Los Angeles Times)
The program was led by former conservancy biologists Julie King and Calvin Duncan and lauded by island residents who had fiercely resisted earlier efforts to rid the island of nonnative goats and pigs.
It was supposed to have been reversible once the inoculations ceased. But there hasn’t been a calf born on the island in seven years, the conservancy said, and the herd size has dwindled to 100.
Now, the conservancy board is working with the Laramie Foothills Bison Conservation Herd to bring two pregnant female bison to Catalina Island, situated about 22 miles south of Palos Verdes Peninsula, in December.
California Giant sea bass are mysterious to scientists. Understanding them could help the species survive As the sun rose over this harbor town, four scuba divers with cameras and notepads finned toward canopies of undulating kelp.
“We didn’t want to keep losing bison to the point where the herd wasn’t sustainable,” Budrovich said. “So we’re bringing a few animals over and allowing them to start having babies again.”
That was disappointing news for former conservancy consulting biologist Juanita Constible, who in 2007 spent up to 14 hours a day noting the massive, beady-eyed beasts’ every move and grunt. She was chased by the island’s main animal earth movers several times. She also understands how deeply important they are to the island’s residents, both culturally and economically.
Still, “I personally feel Santa Catalina has plenty to offer without bison,” she said, “and worry that the herd may face even more severe challenges in the future because of warming and drying trends.”
Duncan agrees. He also suggested that “Catalina’s bison remain in poor health and that may be contributing to their inability to produce calves. Blood analysis conducted as recently as 2015 revealed nutritional deficiencies, and there were observations of broken and brittle horns and emaciated individuals.”
Beyond that, he said, “Simply adding more bison will not result in more bison sightings.” That is because eco-tourism customers follow the same assigned routes each day, but the bison herds hang out on remote, isolated patches of grass as green and steep as anything in Hawaii, he said.
Hikers Christine and Jasper Wood of Los Angeles, view a North American Bison roaming around their campground as they arrive in Little Harbor in Catalina. (Allen J. Schaben/Los Angeles Times)
It’s not the first time the actions and tourism-oriented values of the conservancy have kicked up a controversy underlining a defining characteristic of its residents: a deep resistance to change.
Previous issues included a 2012 plan to raise funds for stewardship of the island by opening new tourist attractions including a proposed gondola ride from the Wrigley Memorial and Botanic Garden to a scenic ridgeline overlooking Avalon. The gondola never left the drawing board.
But critics suggest that the costs of importing and maintaining additional bison could have been better spent on projects designed to thin herds of mule deer — the most destructive species left on the island. The deer, whose population now stands at about 2,800, strip terrain of brush and saplings, leaving dry tufts of grass.
Budrovich acknowledged that some biologists are not pleased with the decision to grow the bison herd. But he said it is consistent with the vision that chewing gum magnate William Wrigley Jr. had when he bought up much of the island in 1919: a destination for people to enjoy in many ways.
“Our core missions are conservation, education and recreation,” Budrovich said. “These animals are important to the culture of the island.”


latimes--2020-11-08--A newly constituted City Council could change L.A.'s approach to homelessness

For years , homelessness has loomed over the civic culture of Los Angeles as its most intractable problem , one that defined the city and its government in the eyes of many people .
Now change may be in the air , with the election of three new members to the City Council , relentless pressure from a federal judge and the potential for a new administration in Washington .
The council ’ s three newest members rode a wave of discontent over the government ’ s failure to help the 40,000 Angelenos who have no home amid a pandemic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ down to the city ’ s inability to keep streets clean and rights-of-way clear .
For others , it was about the plight of the most vulnerable citizens — and how the city has essentially criminalized their existence .
Councilman-elect Mark Ridley-Thomas returns to the council after decades of helping to shape homeless policy at the local and state level , including helping pass Measure H , which raised a quarter-cent sales tax to generate about $ 355 million a year for homeless programs .
Another incoming councilman , Kevin de León , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ president pro tempore , helping to oversee state aid for the homeless .
The third new member , Nithya Raman , who defeated Councilman David Ryu , comes from working in city government and helping found the SELAH Neighborhood Homeless Coalition in Silver Lake .
They all agree that responding to homelessness is the council ’ s most important priority and may bring a fresh perspective to a body that ’ s contending with an ominous budget deficit and the incursion of federal judicial oversight .
“ All of them are feeling the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sleeping on the streets , ” said Tommy Newman , a senior director at United Way of Greater Los Angeles .
Newman said he expected for there to be a continued — and perhaps increased — focus on creating a larger supply of interim housing , as opposed to more permanent supportive housing .
These efforts are the quickest way to achieve visible progress , he said , and make it appear that homelessness has abated , even if people in temporary housing , such as shelters , are technically still homeless .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the city ’ s anti-camping law that would allow authorities to remove homeless camps anywhere in the city if they first offer shelter as an alternative .
Newman said that showed how some members of the City Council think now is the time to give law enforcement a cudgel to move people living on the streets .
Other members think the debate is premature so long as there ’ s a woefully inadequate amount of housing and shelter .
That debate during a council hearing last week didn ’ t result in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the council agreed to continue publicly discussing on Nov. 24 how it will amend the anti-camping ordinances .
Hanging over this debate and the potential efforts of the council is the work of U.S. District Judge David O. Carter , who is overseeing a lawsuit filed in March by a group of downtown Los Angeles business owners and residents .
They allege that the city and county of Los Angeles have failed to protect the public and provide adequate shelter for those living on the streets .
Carter has been a forceful presence @ @ @ @ @ @ @ respects and working directly with council members on plans to reduce homelessness .
Newman said this process has empowered council members , and the new members may not agree about how to handle Carter .
He has focused their attention on people camping near freeways but hasn ’ t issued an order saying these people must move .
This incursion into local policy has been marked by confusion over how much power Carter wields over city and county policies .
“ The problem is , the discussion is backward , ” Carter said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Council chambers Thursday .
“ This court ’ s never going to allow anything unless the housing is there.
” As a result of the lawsuit , the county agreed to give the city $ 300 million over the next five years to fund 6,700 interim housing beds for people who are over 65 , along with people living near freeways .
Carter continues to hold hearings in the council chambers , where members offer updates about how they ’ re trying to help the homeless people in their districts .
During a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the city and members of the council in contempt of court if they don ’ t speed up the introduction of solutions including “ tiny home ” communities and the rehabbing of motels that could house homeless people .
“ I ’ m going to name the members who aren ’ t complying .
You ’ re already so far behind it ’ s disgraceful.
” Carter said while noting that there needs to be less bickering between the city and county .
“ The city and county remind me of two millionaires @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will pay for a hamburger while a starving homeless person is hanging out in the parking lot.
” The push to make concrete progress on homelessness will unfold in a year when at least half of the city ’ s 18 elected officials are preparing to run for reelection or other elected offices in 2022 .
Los Angeles has already promised to create 6,700 beds for homeless people as part of an agreement reached during a federal lawsuit .
That initiative will be covered by county , state and federal funding , city @ @ @ @ @ @ @ budget deficit , L.A. officials won ’ t be capable of launching new city-funded homeless programs without raiding the funds of other city agencies , such as the police department .
They have said that more support from a potential Joe Biden administration would be important to make a dent in the crisis .
Seven members of the City Council are expected to seek reelection in 2022 , while an eighth — Councilman Paul Koretz — is running for city controller .
City Atty .
Mike Feuer has launched a campaign for mayor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ members of the City Council have not ruled out a run .
Ridley-Thomas comes to the council after having already served on it in the 1990s — and has maintained that homelessness remains his top priority .
He said that the city , while still working to create more affordable housing , most focus in on helping people who are on the streets as quickly as possible through the construction of more shelters and more novel efforts such as tiny homes .
“ Government has to recognize that it has an obligation to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ them around , not to incarcerate them , but to lift them up and restore them to a place of dignity that they deserve , ” Ridley-Thomas said .
“ We need to increase our focus on interim housing because we can ’ t get enough affordable housing built quickly.
” Raman was unavailable for comment , but her campaign co-chair , Meghan Choi , said that housing affordability and homelessness were the top priorities for voters .
“ I really do think her focus on these issues helped , ” Choi said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Office official , laid out a platform that focuses on slowing the rise of rents , reducing the criminalization of homelessness and providing more services for those who are the streets by creating more “ community access centers ” where homeless residents can go for help .
De León is no different in arguing that the crisis playing out on the streets is the city ’ s most urgent priority .
He ’ s still developing the specific policy initiatives he ’ d like to see enacted but said more federal support is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be broken down .
“ This humanitarian crisis and dystopian nightmare requires all hands on deck , ” he said .
“ Silos must be decimated and all levels of government must coalesce .
”

For years, homelessness has loomed over the civic culture of Los Angeles as its most intractable problem, one that defined the city and its government in the eyes of many people. Now change may be in the air, with the election of three new members to the City Council, relentless pressure from a federal judge and the potential for a new administration in Washington.
The council’s three newest members rode a wave of discontent over the government’s failure to help the 40,000 Angelenos who have no home amid a pandemic. For some voters, it came down to the city’s inability to keep streets clean and rights-of-way clear. For others, it was about the plight of the most vulnerable citizens — and how the city has essentially criminalized their existence.
Councilman-elect Mark Ridley-Thomas returns to the council after decades of helping to shape homeless policy at the local and state level, including helping pass Measure H, which raised a quarter-cent sales tax to generate about $355 million a year for homeless programs. Another incoming councilman, Kevin de León, comes from a stint as state Senate president pro tempore, helping to oversee state aid for the homeless.
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The third new member, Nithya Raman, who defeated Councilman David Ryu, comes from working in city government and helping found the SELAH Neighborhood Homeless Coalition in Silver Lake.
They all agree that responding to homelessness is the council’s most important priority and may bring a fresh perspective to a body that’s contending with an ominous budget deficit and the incursion of federal judicial oversight.
“All of them are feeling the intense pressure of having thousands of people sleeping on the streets,” said Tommy Newman, a senior director at United Way of Greater Los Angeles.
Newman said he expected for there to be a continued — and perhaps increased — focus on creating a larger supply of interim housing, as opposed to more permanent supportive housing. These efforts are the quickest way to achieve visible progress, he said, and make it appear that homelessness has abated, even if people in temporary housing, such as shelters, are technically still homeless.
“The city and county remind me of two millionaires in McDonald’s fighting over who will pay for a hamburger while a starving homeless person is hanging out in the parking lot.” — U.S. District Judge David O. Carter
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He spotlighted the recent debate over changes to the city’s anti-camping law that would allow authorities to remove homeless camps anywhere in the city if they first offer shelter as an alternative. Newman said that showed how some members of the City Council think now is the time to give law enforcement a cudgel to move people living on the streets. Other members think the debate is premature so long as there’s a woefully inadequate amount of housing and shelter.
That debate during a council hearing last week didn’t result in any changes to the laws, but the council agreed to continue publicly discussing on Nov. 24 how it will amend the anti-camping ordinances.
Hanging over this debate and the potential efforts of the council is the work of U.S. District Judge David O. Carter, who is overseeing a lawsuit filed in March by a group of downtown Los Angeles business owners and residents. They allege that the city and county of Los Angeles have failed to protect the public and provide adequate shelter for those living on the streets.
Carter has been a forceful presence, bypassing Mayor Eric Garcetti in some respects and working directly with council members on plans to reduce homelessness. Newman said this process has empowered council members, and the new members may not agree about how to handle Carter.
He has focused their attention on people camping near freeways but hasn’t issued an order saying these people must move. This incursion into local policy has been marked by confusion over how much power Carter wields over city and county policies.
“The problem is, the discussion is backward,” Carter said during a court hearing in the City Council chambers Thursday. “This court’s never going to allow anything unless the housing is there.”
As a result of the lawsuit, the county agreed to give the city $300 million over the next five years to fund 6,700 interim housing beds for people who are over 65, along with people living near freeways. Carter continues to hold hearings in the council chambers, where members offer updates about how they’re trying to help the homeless people in their districts.
During a recent hearing, Carter threatened to hold the city and members of the council in contempt of court if they don’t speed up the introduction of solutions including “tiny home” communities and the rehabbing of motels that could house homeless people.
“I’m going to name the members who aren’t complying. You’re already so far behind it’s disgraceful.” Carter said while noting that there needs to be less bickering between the city and county.
“The city and county remind me of two millionaires in McDonald’s fighting over who will pay for a hamburger while a starving homeless person is hanging out in the parking lot.”
The push to make concrete progress on homelessness will unfold in a year when at least half of the city’s 18 elected officials are preparing to run for reelection or other elected offices in 2022.
Los Angeles has already promised to create 6,700 beds for homeless people as part of an agreement reached during a federal lawsuit. That initiative will be covered by county, state and federal funding, city officials said.
Faced with a major budget deficit, L.A. officials won’t be capable of launching new city-funded homeless programs without raiding the funds of other city agencies, such as the police department. They have said that more support from a potential Joe Biden administration would be important to make a dent in the crisis.
Seven members of the City Council are expected to seek reelection in 2022, while an eighth — Councilman Paul Koretz — is running for city controller. City Atty. Mike Feuer has launched a campaign for mayor and two other elected officials and several members of the City Council have not ruled out a run.
Ridley-Thomas comes to the council after having already served on it in the 1990s — and has maintained that homelessness remains his top priority. He said that the city, while still working to create more affordable housing, most focus in on helping people who are on the streets as quickly as possible through the construction of more shelters and more novel efforts such as tiny homes.
“Government has to recognize that it has an obligation to lift them up, not to chase them around, not to incarcerate them, but to lift them up and restore them to a place of dignity that they deserve,” Ridley-Thomas said. “We need to increase our focus on interim housing because we can’t get enough affordable housing built quickly.”
Raman was unavailable for comment, but her campaign co-chair, Meghan Choi, said that housing affordability and homelessness were the top priorities for voters.
“I really do think her focus on these issues helped,” Choi said.
Raman, a former city Administrative Office official, laid out a platform that focuses on slowing the rise of rents, reducing the criminalization of homelessness and providing more services for those who are the streets by creating more “community access centers” where homeless residents can go for help.
De León is no different in arguing that the crisis playing out on the streets is the city’s most urgent priority. He’s still developing the specific policy initiatives he’d like to see enacted but said more federal support is essential and that barriers of bureaucracy must be broken down.
“This humanitarian crisis and dystopian nightmare requires all hands on deck,” he said. “Silos must be decimated and all levels of government must coalesce.”
Times staff writer David Zahniser contributed to this report.


latimes--2020-11-07--A Biden win is great, but some women are even prouder to see Kamala Harris make history

Linda Parrick , sleep-deprived since election day , got up early .
Meditated .
Checked the news .
( No news . )
And had just sat down in her Long Beach home to watch the University of Michigan Wolverines take on the Indiana University Hoosiers .
Shauna Davis was surrounded by hundreds who had gathered Saturday morning in downtown Los Angeles to demand the election process be protected from partisan interference .
And Anita Ross was curled up in bed in Sacramento when her daughter Kameela raced in .
The 10-year-old had spent the week obsessively watching the electoral @ @ @ @ @ @ @ On Saturday morning , she had news .
The wait was over .
Sen. Kamala Harris had been elected vice president , the first woman to reach that near pinnacle of U.S. politics .
Oh , yeah — and Joe Biden had prevailed over President Trump in the race for the Oval Office .
Soon , mother and daughter were “ hollering and screaming , ” said Ross , who is Black and Latina .
For her daughters , Kameela and 12-year-old Angelina , “ there is a sense of relief that they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ possible for them .
And so it is very , very , very inspiring.
” And “ emotional , ” she said , before pausing and choking up .
“ Just to be able to see a Black woman , an Indian American , a woman , hold the VP position — it ’ s been a long time coming.
” A century , if your starting date is when the 19th amendment was ratified , giving women the right to vote in the United States .
Women have been on major-party tickets @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : Hillary Clinton , who lost to Trump in 2016 ; Sarah Palin , John McCain ’ s running mate in 2008 ; Geraldine Ferraro , Walter Mondale ’ s VP pick in 1984 .
But never on a winning ticket .
Until now .
Democrats — and some Republicans and independents — celebrated Saturday that the counting was over , that civility was soon to return to public discourse .
That victory resonated even more for many women and their daughters and mothers and sisters — especially for those who are Black @ @ @ @ @ @ @ race .
When they look at Harris , they see the laughing , dancing , Chuck Taylor-wearing stepmom .
They see the former prosecutor and senator from California who grilled then-Supreme Court nominee Brett M. Kavanaugh about whether he knew “ of any laws that give government the power to make decisions about the male body.
” They see the ebullient political warrior who took the stage Saturday night as vice president-elect , resplendent in suffragist white , and declared : “ While I may be the first woman in this office , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Because every little girl watching tonight sees that this is a country of possibilities.
” They see power and poise .
They see themselves .
Davis , who lives in Echo Park , danced and hopped along Hill Street in downtown Los Angeles , holding a “ Trump Pence out now ” sign .
The demonstration to protect the vote had morphed into a celebration .
“ I ’ m feeling very excited , ” the 27-year-old said .
She was elated that her grandparents in Florida , who are in their 90s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the first Black president and , now , the first Black vice president .
She was single-minded in her revelry .
“ It was completely about Kamala Harris for me , ” she said .
“ I feel supreme joy and excitement.
” Melina Abdullah , co-founder of Black Lives Matter-Los Angeles , was on a family Zoom call Saturday morning when the news arrived .
Immediately , she and all her relatives started typing in the chat , saying “ Hallelujah.
” Abdullah felt overwhelming relief .
“ We weren ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ trauma we were experiencing at the hands of Donald Trump , ” said Abdullah , who is Black .
At a rally in Pershing Square , she told people that they had voted out the most oppressive and violent president this country has experienced .
And she told them they should demand something in return .
Abdullah , like Harris , attended Howard University and was a member of the Black sorority Alpha Kappa Alpha .
Abdullah was inspired by Maxine Waters as a freshman in college but had few other Black women @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said her two daughters don ’ t have the same experience .
Her eldest , Thandiwe , asked Harris how she planned to hold law enforcement accountable at a town hall during the presidential primary .
“ On an emotional and symbolic level , it ’ s difficult to not celebrate Kamala Harris , ” Abdullah said .
“ When I was their age , I never would have seen anything like that.
” Katie Kalvoda , a Vietnamese American from Laguna Hills , booked a hotel room in Washington , D.C. , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s and Harris ’ victory .
She had promised her daughters a trip to the White House if their candidates prevailed .
Kalvoda was proud to have backed Biden , but she was prouder to see Harris make history .
“ She broke the ultimate glass and bamboo ceiling , ” Kalvoda said .
“ I have no words for what this means for my daughters , who get to grow up with Harris as a role model.
” Ange-Marie Hancock Alfaro heard the news about the Democrats ’ victory while she @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on a book about the history of African American political thought .
She had just taken a break when her sister and mother sent a joint text .
Hancock Alfaro is chairwoman of the department of political science and international relations at USC .
She is also in “ a family of all women.
” “ We take this very , very seriously , and we ’ re very excited about Kamala Harris being the vice president-elect , ” she said .
Hancock Alfaro , who is Black , said her youngest sister @ @ @ @ @ @ @ America , other voters in other states , would still not be progressive enough ” to vote for Harris , a woman of color .
“ I think she had quite the opposite impact , ” Hancock Alfaro added .
Although the jubilation was probably loudest in California , Harris ’ home state , women across the country , from blue states and red , celebrated the historic announcement Saturday .
In Houston , Margie Beegle , 79 , was sitting down Saturday morning to play duplicate bridge online when her partner in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was getting too close , and her bridge partner just didn ’ t want to play .
Then the news came .
“ Kamala was my pick for president , ” said Beegle , who is white .
“ When I heard her interview Kavanaugh — she ’ s smart , and she ’ s tough.
” Two of Beegle ’ s three daughters are avid supporters of Biden and Harris ; the other voted for Trump .
Beegle is delighted about Harris ’ ascent , and she knows her mother would have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ really think my mother should not have gotten married and had children .
She was not happy as a housewife , ” Beegle said .
But on this day , “ she would have been pleased.
” For Meghna Mahadevan , the Democrats ’ win felt especially personal .
Her family is from the Indian state of Tamil Nadu , as is Harris ’ .
And like Harris , Mahadevan has deep roots in Oakland .
Everyone in Mahadevan ’ s WhatsApp group chats has been sharing news about ceremonies taking place in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Tamil billboards that went up before the election in Harris ’ ancestral hometown of Thulasendrapuram .
One spoke of the pride Indians have that Harris , “ a daughter of the land , ” was poised to become the U.S. vice president .
“ It ’ s a really big moment , ” said Mahadevan , 27 , in a telephone interview from Atlanta , her voice drowned out by cheers from the celebration at Freedom Park .
“ So many of us within our Tamil community … we ’ re all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ It ’ s just this wild feeling of this amazing representation.
” Faraja Isingo brought his 9-year-old daughter , Fortney , to the White House Saturday evening to celebrate the historic moment .
Isingo was born in Nebraska , grew up in Tanzania and returned to the United States when he was 12 .
“ First of all , I ’ ve come here and brought my daughter to witness this special event in her lifetime , Kamala and Biden , ” Faraja said .
“ We are just so excited to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vice president , with her father from Jamaica and her mother India.
” Fortney wore sparkly white boots with fuzzy trim and held two sunflowers .
She looked down at the White House from atop her father ’ s shoulders .
She said she wants to be a doctor when she grows up , “ because I think it makes me smart , and I like to study.
” But she also said she thinks more little girls will consider the big house in front of her , “ now that there is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vice president.
” Vives and Castillo reported from Los Angeles , Chabria from Sacramento and La Ganga from Boise , Idaho .
Seema Mehta , Arit John , Priya Krishnakumar and Matthew Ormseth in Los Angeles ; Brittny Mejia in Las Vegas ; Molly O ’ Toole in Washington ; Susanne Rust in Berkeley and Stephanie Lai in Orange County contributed to this report .

Andrea Castillo, Ruben Vives, Anita Chabria, Maria L. La Ganga

Abeer Mahmoud, 35, holds up her daughter Asset Taha, 3 months, as they participate in the celebration Saturday outside Los Angeles City Hall.
Linda Parrick, sleep-deprived since election day, got up early. Meditated. Checked the news. (No news.) And had just sat down in her Long Beach home to watch the University of Michigan Wolverines take on the Indiana University Hoosiers.
Shauna Davis was surrounded by hundreds who had gathered Saturday morning in downtown Los Angeles to demand the election process be protected from partisan interference.
And Anita Ross was curled up in bed in Sacramento when her daughter Kameela raced in. The 10-year-old had spent the week obsessively watching the electoral vote count’s glacial progress. On Saturday morning, she had news.
The wait was over. Sen. Kamala Harris had been elected vice president, the first woman to reach that near pinnacle of U.S. politics. Oh, yeah — and Joe Biden had prevailed over President Trump in the race for the Oval Office.
Soon, mother and daughter were “hollering and screaming,” said Ross, who is Black and Latina. For her daughters, Kameela and 12-year-old Angelina, “there is a sense of relief that they now have a model for what is possible for them. And so it is very, very, very inspiring.”
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And “emotional,” she said, before pausing and choking up. “Just to be able to see a Black woman, an Indian American, a woman, hold the VP position — it’s been a long time coming.”
Sonia Eberhard, 36, with her daughter Katrina, 2, celebrated outside Los Angeles City Hall. (Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times)
A century, if your starting date is when the 19th amendment was ratified, giving women the right to vote in the United States. Women have been on major-party tickets on occasion over the past 36 years: Hillary Clinton, who lost to Trump in 2016; Sarah Palin, John McCain’s running mate in 2008; Geraldine Ferraro, Walter Mondale’s VP pick in 1984.
But never on a winning ticket. Until now.
Democrats — and some Republicans and independents — celebrated Saturday that the counting was over, that civility was soon to return to public discourse. That victory resonated even more for many women and their daughters and mothers and sisters — especially for those who are Black or Asian or Latina or of mixed race.
When they look at Harris, they see the laughing, dancing, Chuck Taylor-wearing stepmom. They see the former prosecutor and senator from California who grilled then-Supreme Court nominee Brett M. Kavanaugh about whether he knew “of any laws that give government the power to make decisions about the male body.”
They see the ebullient political warrior who took the stage Saturday night as vice president-elect, resplendent in suffragist white, and declared: “While I may be the first woman in this office, I will not be the last. Because every little girl watching tonight sees that this is a country of possibilities.”
They see power and poise. They see themselves.
Marlo Jaye, left, and Sade Elhawary outside Los Angeles City Hall. (Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times)
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Davis, who lives in Echo Park, danced and hopped along Hill Street in downtown Los Angeles, holding a “Trump Pence out now” sign. The demonstration to protect the vote had morphed into a celebration. “I’m feeling very excited,” the 27-year-old said.
She was elated that her grandparents in Florida, who are in their 90s, were able to see the elections of the first Black president and, now, the first Black vice president. She was single-minded in her revelry.
“It was completely about Kamala Harris for me,” she said. “I feel supreme joy and excitement.”
Melina Abdullah, co-founder of Black Lives Matter-Los Angeles, was on a family Zoom call Saturday morning when the news arrived. Immediately, she and all her relatives started typing in the chat, saying “Hallelujah.” Abdullah felt overwhelming relief.
“We weren’t even realizing the level of daily trauma we were experiencing at the hands of Donald Trump,” said Abdullah, who is Black. At a rally in Pershing Square, she told people that they had voted out the most oppressive and violent president this country has experienced. And she told them they should demand something in return.
Abdullah, like Harris, attended Howard University and was a member of the Black sorority Alpha Kappa Alpha. Abdullah was inspired by Maxine Waters as a freshman in college but had few other Black women politicians to look up to.
She said her two daughters don’t have the same experience. Her eldest, Thandiwe, asked Harris how she planned to hold law enforcement accountable at a town hall during the presidential primary.
“On an emotional and symbolic level, it’s difficult to not celebrate Kamala Harris,” Abdullah said. “When I was their age, I never would have seen anything like that.”
Katie Kalvoda, a Vietnamese American from Laguna Hills, booked a hotel room in Washington, D.C., for her family after learning of Biden’s and Harris’ victory. She had promised her daughters a trip to the White House if their candidates prevailed.
Kalvoda was proud to have backed Biden, but she was prouder to see Harris make history.
“She broke the ultimate glass and bamboo ceiling,” Kalvoda said. “I have no words for what this means for my daughters, who get to grow up with Harris as a role model.”
Ange-Marie Hancock Alfaro heard the news about the Democrats’ victory while she was working in her Los Angeles office on a book about the history of African American political thought. She had just taken a break when her sister and mother sent a joint text.
Politics Kamala Harris makes history many times over as vice president-elect Kamala Harris will be the first female vice president, as well as the first Black and Asian American person to occupy that post.
Hancock Alfaro is chairwoman of the department of political science and international relations at USC. She is also in “a family of all women.”
“We take this very, very seriously, and we’re very excited about Kamala Harris being the vice president-elect,” she said.
Hancock Alfaro, who is Black, said her youngest sister and mother “were very concerned that America, other voters in other states, would still not be progressive enough” to vote for Harris, a woman of color. “I think she had quite the opposite impact,” Hancock Alfaro added.
Although the jubilation was probably loudest in California, Harris’ home state, women across the country, from blue states and red, celebrated the historic announcement Saturday.
In Houston, Margie Beegle, 79, was sitting down Saturday morning to play duplicate bridge online when her partner in the game bailed. The vote count was getting too close, and her bridge partner just didn’t want to play. Then the news came.
“Kamala was my pick for president,” said Beegle, who is white. “When I heard her interview Kavanaugh — she’s smart, and she’s tough.”
California Smith: Why Kamala Harris could become an unapologetically Black vice president When Harris takes the oath of office in January, expect it to be unapologetically Black. I’m talking about Black Lives Matter flags and T-shirts up and down the National Mall.
Two of Beegle’s three daughters are avid supporters of Biden and Harris; the other voted for Trump. Beegle is delighted about Harris’ ascent, and she knows her mother would have felt the same way.
“I really think my mother should not have gotten married and had children. She was not happy as a housewife,” Beegle said. But on this day, “she would have been pleased.”
For Meghna Mahadevan, the Democrats’ win felt especially personal. Her family is from the Indian state of Tamil Nadu, as is Harris’. And like Harris, Mahadevan has deep roots in Oakland.
Everyone in Mahadevan’s WhatsApp group chats has been sharing news about ceremonies taking place in Indian temples. Families are sending photos of Tamil billboards that went up before the election in Harris’ ancestral hometown of Thulasendrapuram. One spoke of the pride Indians have that Harris, “a daughter of the land,” was poised to become the U.S. vice president.
“It’s a really big moment,” said Mahadevan, 27, in a telephone interview from Atlanta, her voice drowned out by cheers from the celebration at Freedom Park.
“So many of us within our Tamil community … we’re all so excited,” she said. “It’s just this wild feeling of this amazing representation.”
Although Mahadevan said she doesn’t necessarily align with Harris’ politics, she was excited about “holding this person accountable to speaking up for our communities.”
Faraja Isingo brought his 9-year-old daughter, Fortney, to the White House Saturday evening to celebrate the historic moment. Isingo was born in Nebraska, grew up in Tanzania and returned to the United States when he was 12.
“First of all, I’ve come here and brought my daughter to witness this special event in her lifetime, Kamala and Biden,” Faraja said. “We are just so excited to witness the first Black woman elected as vice president, with her father from Jamaica and her mother India.”
Fortney wore sparkly white boots with fuzzy trim and held two sunflowers. She looked down at the White House from atop her father’s shoulders.
She said she wants to be a doctor when she grows up, “because I think it makes me smart, and I like to study.”
But she also said she thinks more little girls will consider the big house in front of her, “now that there is a girl who is gonna be vice president.”
Vives and Castillo reported from Los Angeles, Chabria from Sacramento and La Ganga from Boise, Idaho. Seema Mehta, Arit John, Priya Krishnakumar and Matthew Ormseth in Los Angeles; Brittny Mejia in Las Vegas; Molly O’Toole in Washington; Susanne Rust in Berkeley and Stephanie Lai in Orange County contributed to this report.