latimes--2020-10-14--At federal hearing, community outrage over plan to abandon Exide battery plant

Federal authorities faced an outpouring of community opposition at a public hearing Tuesday over an Exide Technologies bankruptcy plan to abandon a shuttered Vernon battery recycling plant blamed for spreading lead contamination across southeast L.A. County .
The near-universal indignation came from dozens of members of the predominantly Latino communities surrounding the closed Exide Technologies facility .
One person after another during the hours-long hearing blasted the proposal and urged authorities to reject it and pursue actions to hold the company accountable for its pollution .
The U.S. Department of Justice and Environmental Protection Agency have agreed not to oppose @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is scheduled to be considered for approval at a bankruptcy court hearing Thursday .
“ Accepting this terrible proposal would be letting Exide off the hook for poisoning our families with lead and other heavy metals , ” said Mayor Elizabeth Alcantar of Cudahy .
“ The federal government should not be acting on the side of corporate polluters , and instead should be defending our residents.
” If it goes through , the proposal would leave taxpayers with the bill for California ’ s largest cleanup of lead-contaminated soil , which spans @ @ @ @ @ @ @ homes across an area of 100,000 people .
“ We will be asked to live in our contaminated homes forever and to suffer for generations , ” said Terry Gonzalez-Cano of Boyle Heights .
“ What gives you the right to let them walk away financially ?
” The panel of Department of Justice and EPA officials , which held the hearing remotely by conference call , heard from residents of the cleanup zone whose family members died of cancer or whose children suffered lead poisoning or learning disabilities , as well as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it an appalling environmental injustice .
“ In my 30 years of cleaning up contaminated sites , I ’ ve never encountered a site that poses such a widespread and profound threat to human health , ” said James Wells , an environmental geologist who has served as a technical advisor to the Exide Community Advisory Group .
“ And it ’ s really disheartening that any government agency would support abandoning the site.
” The lead-acid car battery recycling plant closed permanently in 2015 after Georgia-based Exide struck a deal with the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Central District of California .
The company admitted to years of environmental crimes but avoided prosecution by agreeing to close and demolish the plant and clean up the pollution .
The public hearing came a day after the state Department of Toxic Substances Control issued an order determining that conditions at the Vernon site may pose an “ imminent and substantial endangerment to the public health or welfare or to the environment.
” In a statement , DTSC Director Meredith Williams called the action “ a proactive step to ensure that we can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this facility , should it be abandoned.
” California regulators let the facility operate without a full permit for more than three decades and did not require the company to set aside adequate funds to clean up its pollution , even as it repeatedly violated rules on hazardous waste and air pollution .
Exide filed for bankruptcy protection in May with plans to liquidate its assets across several states .
The Vernon facility is one of 17 Exide properties across 11 states at issue in the bankruptcy that are either not operating or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ require future remediation to protect public health , safety , and the environment , ” according to a fact sheet posted before Tuesday ’ s hearing by the Department of Justice .
The Justice Department document said a key purpose of the plan is to “ reduce the risk of a chaotic and harmful abandonment , ” and that if it is not approved , the risk of abandonment “ is significantly increased and cleanup funding may be reduced or delayed.
” California has refused to sign onto the proposal and filed objections @ @ @ @ @ @ @ already set aside more than $ 270 million in public funds to clean lead contamination from the yards of thousands of homes stretching more than 1.7 miles from the facility .
So far , state regulators have removed lead-laced soil from about 2,000 residential properties , as well as parks , day care facilities and schools .
But thousands more properties with lead levels above state health limits have yet to be cleaned .
The state toxics department said that no funds for residential cleanup would be diverted for the facility closure , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ using $ 26.4 million Exide was previously required to set aside to remediate the facility .
Safely closing and cleaning the site is expected to exceed that amount , reaching between $ 70 to $ 100 million , according to state estimates .

The closed Exide Technologies lead-acid battery recycling plant in Vernon is partially enclosed in plastic to prevent the release of lead and other contaminants.
Federal authorities faced an outpouring of community opposition at a public hearing Tuesday over an Exide Technologies bankruptcy plan to abandon a shuttered Vernon battery recycling plant blamed for spreading lead contamination across southeast L.A. County.
The near-universal indignation came from dozens of members of the predominantly Latino communities surrounding the closed Exide Technologies facility. One person after another during the hours-long hearing blasted the proposal and urged authorities to reject it and pursue actions to hold the company accountable for its pollution.
The U.S. Department of Justice and Environmental Protection Agency have agreed not to oppose the company’s plan, which is scheduled to be considered for approval at a bankruptcy court hearing Thursday.
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“Accepting this terrible proposal would be letting Exide off the hook for poisoning our families with lead and other heavy metals,” said Mayor Elizabeth Alcantar of Cudahy. “The federal government should not be acting on the side of corporate polluters, and instead should be defending our residents.”
If it goes through, the proposal would leave taxpayers with the bill for California’s largest cleanup of lead-contaminated soil, which spans half a dozen communities and thousands of homes across an area of 100,000 people.
“We will be asked to live in our contaminated homes forever and to suffer for generations,” said Terry Gonzalez-Cano of Boyle Heights. “What gives you the right to let them walk away financially?”
The panel of Department of Justice and EPA officials, which held the hearing remotely by conference call, heard from residents of the cleanup zone whose family members died of cancer or whose children suffered lead poisoning or learning disabilities, as well as from environmental and health experts who called it an appalling environmental injustice.
“In my 30 years of cleaning up contaminated sites, I’ve never encountered a site that poses such a widespread and profound threat to human health,” said James Wells, an environmental geologist who has served as a technical advisor to the Exide Community Advisory Group. “And it’s really disheartening that any government agency would support abandoning the site.”
The lead-acid car battery recycling plant closed permanently in 2015 after Georgia-based Exide struck a deal with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California. The company admitted to years of environmental crimes but avoided prosecution by agreeing to close and demolish the plant and clean up the pollution.
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Exide Chief Restructuring Officer Roy Messing declined to comment Tuesday.
The public hearing came a day after the state Department of Toxic Substances Control issued an order determining that conditions at the Vernon site may pose an “imminent and substantial endangerment to the public health or welfare or to the environment.”
In a statement, DTSC Director Meredith Williams called the action “a proactive step to ensure that we can protect these communities against further releases from this facility, should it be abandoned.”
California regulators let the facility operate without a full permit for more than three decades and did not require the company to set aside adequate funds to clean up its pollution, even as it repeatedly violated rules on hazardous waste and air pollution.
Exide filed for bankruptcy protection in May with plans to liquidate its assets across several states.
The Vernon facility is one of 17 Exide properties across 11 states at issue in the bankruptcy that either are not operating or are unprofitable, most of which “require future remediation to protect public health, safety, and the environment,” according to a fact sheet posted before Tuesday’s hearing by the Department of Justice.
The Justice Department document said that a key purpose of the plan is to“ reduce the risk of a chaotic and harmful abandonment,” and that if it is not approved, the risk of abandonment “is significantly increased and cleanup funding may be reduced or delayed.”
California has refused to sign on to the proposal and filed objections against it in court.
California has already set aside more than $270 million in public funds to clean lead contamination from the yards of thousands of homes stretching more than 1.7 miles from the facility. So far, state regulators have removed lead-laced soil from about 2,000 residential properties, as well as parks, day-care facilities and schools. But thousands more properties with lead levels above state health limits have yet to be cleaned.
The state toxics department said that no funds for residential cleanup would be diverted for the facility closure, and that it would continue that process using $26.4 million Exide was previously required to set aside to remediate the facility. Safely closing and cleaning the site is expected to exceed that amount, reaching $70 million to $100 million, according to state estimates.


latimes--2020-10-14--Care providers protest police violence in hospitals after Harbor-UCLA shooting

A group of care providers and activists gathered outside Harbor-UCLA Medical Center on Tuesday evening to protest police violence in hospitals after a patient was shot there last week by a Los Angeles County sheriff ’ s deputy .
“ Hospitals are a place where we should be getting care , ” said Mark-Anthony Clayton-Johnson , founder of the Frontline Wellness Network , a coalition of care providers working to end mass incarceration .
“ In that context , there should never be a reason why a law enforcement officer should use lethal force , such as a gun , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ does not work at the hospital but was scheduled to speak at Tuesday ’ s event , added : “ Sheriffs shouldn ’ t have any place responding to crises in our hospitals when trained providers are better equipped to save lives.
” Dr. Anish Mahajan , chief medical officer for the hospital , said in a statement Tuesday that the patient was experiencing a psychiatric crisis on Oct. 6 when he was shot by a deputy assigned to South L.A. station who was not a member of the sheriff ’ s unit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ man 30 to 40 years-old , has not been identified .
The deputy “ was on-site to provide security services for another hospitalized patient who was in an adjacent room , ” Mahajan said .
“ Multiple investigations are underway within and outside the hospital about how and why this incident occurred.
” Meanwhile , he said , hospital leaders “ will review best practices on how to provide security services that optimally protect the health and safety of patients , visitors , and staff.
” Sheriff ’ s Lt. Derrick Alfred said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a metal device to break the window of the room where two Los Angeles County sheriff ’ s deputies were with another patient .
One of the deputies then shot him .
Alfred said the device was “ about the size of a shoebox but metal — all metal.
” In , the Sheriff ’ s Department said that the patient “ turned his attention on the deputy ” before he was shot .
Some speakers at Tuesday ’ s Board of Supervisors meeting called for the removal of law enforcement from hospitals @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Harbor-UCLA was the second there in five years .
Sheriff Alex Villanueva responded : “ It was a scene out of ‘ The Shining ’ with Jack Nicholson , ” he said of the shooting .
“ We ’ re gon na give all the details tomorrow so you can make a decision for yourself on the wisdom of having law enforcement in hospitals .
”

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


latimes--2020-10-13--Times asks court to order disclosure of sexual misconduct records in Los Angeles D.A.'s office

The Los Angeles Times has asked a judge to order the disclosure of records pertaining to sexual harassment and misconduct in the Los Angeles County district attorney ’ s office , claiming the county is obstructing the release of newsworthy information before the November elections .
The petition , filed Tuesday in Superior Court , stems from a lawsuit The Times filed March 2018 in which the newspaper accused the county of repeatedly breaking transparency laws .
Among other things , The Times had sought records about sexual misconduct claims against employees of the district attorney ’ s office , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ discipline stemming from such claims since January 2006 .
The county has been delaying access to records related to sexual harassment or misconduct despite recently , admitting it must disclose well-founded complaints of a substantial nature , the petition says .
It also holds that the county has failed to release an anonymized index of incidents of sexual harassment and misconduct it already agreed to produce in discovery nearly a year ago .
“ The County appears to be attempting to run the clock out on the upcoming election for district attorney in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ information about the District Attorney ’ s management of complaints by employees in her office , ” The Times wrote in its petition .
Greg Risling , a spokesman for L.A. Dist .
Atty .
Jackie Lacey , declined to comment on the pending litigation .
The California Public Records Act , like similar legislation around the country , aims to ensure quick public access to records generated by government employees .
But there is tension between the public ’ s right to know and government officials ’ concerns over privacy and other @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had previously denied The Times public records request on those grounds .
Tuesday ’ s filing says that recent news stories about sexual misconduct in the district attorney ’ s office confirms that the county maintains disclosable records .
In 2015 , Deputy Dist .
Attys .
Beth Silverman and Tannaz Mokayef filed a lawsuit accusing their former supervisor , Gary Hearnsberger , of grabbing their buttocks and making sexual comments .
The litigation resulted in a $ 700,000 settlement .
Attorneys for Mokayef said at least four other female employees of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ internally that they were victims of sexual harassment and other misconduct by Hearnsberger , The Times has reported .
The petition also references a Los Angeles Daily News story on disciplinary actions taken against Deputy Dist .
Atty .
Edward Miller after sexual harassment allegations , saying that the reporting describes county documents that contain accusations of misconduct .
Reporting by The Times and other news agencies is “ clearly demonstrating there are records nonexempt from disclosure , ” said Kelly Aviles , an attorney representing The Times .
The matter is scheduled @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Wednesday .

Los Angeles County has refused to disclose records about sexual misconduct claims against employees of the district attorney’s office, led by Dist. Atty. Jackie Lacey, above, that are public under California law, according to a lawsuit filed by the Los Angeles Times.
The Los Angeles Times has asked a judge to order the disclosure of records pertaining to sexual harassment and misconduct in the Los Angeles County district attorney’s office, claiming the county is obstructing the release of newsworthy information before the November elections.
The petition, filed Tuesday in Superior Court, stems from a lawsuit The Times filed March 2018 in which the newspaper accused the county of repeatedly breaking transparency laws. Among other things, The Times had sought records about sexual misconduct claims against employees of the district attorney’s office, as well as records of investigations and discipline stemming from such claims since January 2006.
The county has been delaying access to records related to sexual harassment or misconduct despite recently, admitting it must disclose well-founded complaints of a substantial nature, the petition says. It also holds that the county has failed to release an anonymized index of incidents of sexual harassment and misconduct it already agreed to produce in discovery nearly a year ago.
“The County appears to be attempting to run the clock out on the upcoming election for district attorney in an effort to deny the public relevant information about the District Attorney’s management of complaints by employees in her office,” The Times wrote in its petition.
Greg Risling, a spokesman for L.A. Dist. Atty. Jackie Lacey, declined to comment on the pending litigation.
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The California Public Records Act, like similar legislation around the country, aims to ensure quick public access to records generated by government employees. But there is tension between the public’s right to know and government officials’ concerns over privacy and other exemptions to the law.
The county had previously denied The Times public records request on those grounds.
Tuesday’s filing says that recent news stories about sexual misconduct in the district attorney’s office confirms that the county maintains disclosable records.
In 2015, Deputy Dist. Attys. Beth Silverman and Tannaz Mokayef filed a lawsuit accusing their former supervisor, Gary Hearnsberger, of grabbing their buttocks and making sexual comments. The litigation resulted in a $700,000 settlement.
Attorneys for Mokayef said at least four other female employees of the district attorney’s office also complained internally that they were victims of sexual harassment and other misconduct by Hearnsberger, The Times has reported.
The petition also references a Los Angeles Daily News story on disciplinary actions taken against Deputy Dist. Atty. Edward Miller after sexual harassment allegations, saying that the reporting describes county documents that contain accusations of misconduct.
Reporting by The Times and other news agencies is “clearly demonstrating there are records nonexempt from disclosure,” said Kelly Aviles, an attorney representing The Times.
The matter is scheduled to be heard at a court hearing Wednesday.
Times staff writer Matt Hamilton contributed to this report.


latimes--2020-10-13--GOP pushes back against California cease-and-desist order against unofficial ballot boxes

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

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


latimes--2020-10-14--Daylight shooting in Oakland leaves two dead, one injured

Two men were shot to death and another was wounded Wednesday afternoon in East Oakland in the latest incident of the city ’ s escalating rate of violent crimes and homicide .
Officers responded to the triple shooting in the 1900 block of 84th Avenue at 12:47 p.m. , said Deputy Chief Leronne Armstrong of the Oakland Police Department .
One man was pronounced dead at the scene .
Two others were taken to a hospital , where one of them died .
The third victim was alive as of 4 p.m. , but no other status was given on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ names and ages have not been released .
The identity of the shooter or shooters and a possible motive were also not immediately known .
“ It ’ s early in the investigation for us to determine what happened today , ” Armstrong said .
“ What we know happened today was there was a group of individuals out in our community and some confrontation happened , and that led to gunfire.
” Armstrong said this was the second shooting within a three-block radius within the last 18 hours .
The previous night @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rounds were fired into a residential area .
For the week of Oct. 5 to Oct. 11 , Oakland police recorded 51 instances of gunfire .
For the year , assaults with firearms were up 48 % , and officers have recovered more than 750 firearms , which marks a 31 % increase from this point last year .
“ But it ’ s more than just a firearm , ” Armstrong said .
“ It ’ s the individuals that are willing to pick up the firearms and use them in our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ guns down .
I hear the voices of those that are in our community and [ they ] don ’ t feel safe.
” Wednesday ’ s killings are Nos .
77 and 78 in a city of roughly 430,000 people .
In comparison , Los Angeles , which has about 4 million inhabitants , registered 260 homicides as of Wednesday .
“ These aren ’ t just numbers , ” Armstrong said .
“ These are people .
These are people from our community that have lost their lives to senseless violence @ @

Oakland police are investigating a fatal shooting in the 1900 block of 84th Avenue. One man was pronounced dead at the scene. Two others were taken to a hospital, where one of them died.
Two men were shot to death and another was wounded Wednesday afternoon in East Oakland in the latest incident of the city’s escalating rate of violent crimes and homicide.
Officers responded to the triple shooting in the 1900 block of 84th Avenue at 12:47 p.m., said Deputy Chief Leronne Armstrong of the Oakland Police Department.
One man was pronounced dead at the scene. Two others were taken to a hospital, where one of them died.
The third victim was alive as of 4 p.m., but no other status was given on his condition. The men’s names and ages have not been released.
The identity of the shooter or shooters and a possible motive were also not immediately known.
“It’s early in the investigation for us to determine what happened today,” Armstrong said. “What we know happened today was there was a group of individuals out in our community and some confrontation happened, and that led to gunfire.”
The week of Oct.5-Oct.11, 2020, assaults with firearms are up 48% YTD. There were 51 instances of gunfire during that time span. OPD officers have recovered 750+ firearms related to crime this year, up 31% YTD. As a city, we must work together to help reduce violence in Oakland. pic.twitter.com/siV8bAcXQx — Oakland Police Dept. (@oaklandpoliceca) October 12, 2020
Armstrong said this was the second shooting within a three-block radius within the last 18 hours. The previous night, according to Oakland police, 60 rounds were fired into a residential area.
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For the week of Oct. 5 to Oct. 11, Oakland police recorded 51 instances of gunfire. For the year, assaults with firearms were up 48%, and officers have recovered more than 750 firearms, which marks a 31% increase from this point last year.
“But it’s more than just a firearm,” Armstrong said. “It’s the individuals that are willing to pick up the firearms and use them in our community. They have to put the guns down. I hear the voices of those that are in our community and [they] don’t feel safe.”
Wednesday’s killings are Nos. 77 and 78 in a city of roughly 430,000 people. In comparison, Los Angeles, which has about 4 million inhabitants, registered 260 homicides as of Wednesday.
“These aren’t just numbers,” Armstrong said. “These are people. These are people from our community that have lost their lives to senseless violence.”
Times staff writer Richard Winton contributed to this report.


latimes--2020-10-14--Imperiled desert tortoises join California's 'endangered' list...  at least for now

The California Fish and Game Commission on Wednesday granted temporary endangered species status to the Mojave desert tortoise when it agreed to consider the dusty , armored herbivore as a candidate for permanent listing .
The protection came with the panel ’ s 4-0 decision to consider a petition filed by the Defenders of Wildlife , the Desert Tortoise Council , and the Desert Tortoise Preserve Committee .
The groups argued that elevating the reptile ’ s existing status from threatened to endangered could bolster efforts to “ reverse the very real likelihood that the desert tortoise will become extinct @ @ @ @ @ @ @ listing , a species is typically afforded the same protections as a state endangered species pending a final decision .
While there is no difference in the protections offered a species listed as threatened or endangered under the California Endangered Species Act , officials said , endangered species have higher priority and funding for conservation measures such as habitat protection , recovery efforts and mitigation measures to reduce the impacts of projects .
“ Anybody who has visited the Southern California desert over the past three decades knows this action is long overdue @ @ @ @ @ @ @ biologist with Defenders of Wildlife .
“ What the state and federal governments have been doing to arrest their slide down the drain of extinction over the past three decades isn ’ t enough.
” Gopherus agassizii was listed as threatened under state law in 1989 and under federal law the following year based on a severe decline in the tortoise population within their ancient desert kingdom of trails , arroyos and hibernation burrows fringed with scrub brush .
A recovery plan for the tortoise and critical habitat prepared by the U.S .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ 1994 .
That plan was revised in 2011 , however , to correct problems that responsible wildlife and land management agencies were having in implementing the plan ’ s recovery strategies .
A 2018 study found that adult tortoise populations had plummeted by 50 % in some designated recovery areas since 2004 , and by as much as 90 % in some critical habitat management units since the 1980s .
Tortoise populations continue to be irreversibly fragmented and destroyed by many causes : vehicles , shootings , urban encroachment , military maneuvers , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pet tortoises released into the wild , development of massive utility and green-energy facilities and hungry ravens .
Unlike their heavily armored parents , baby desert tortoises are saddled with soft , fingernail-thin shells that biologists say make them easy pickings for predators and reduce the chances that the imperiled species can be saved from extinction .
Rising temperatures and drought conditions are also taking a toll on the desert tortoise .
Despite its name , the reptile is not well adapted to desert conditions .
It evolved tens of thousands of years @ @ @ @ @ @ @ landscape was dominated by lakes edged with Joshua trees and junipers .
Scientists believe that large numbers of female desert tortoise carcasses discovered near Joshua Tree National Park may have been trying to ward off extinction due to prolonged drought with a potentially lethal response : exhausting their water and energy to lay eggs .
Drought conditions also kill off nutritious foliage and trigger a crash in populations of rodents that eat them .
As a result , dogs and coyotes , which normally thrive on kangaroo rats and rabbits , turn to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to surveys by state and federal biologists .
“ This species is already listed as threatened , ” said Commission Vice President Samantha Murray before casting her vote .
“ But I do think it is important that its designation reflects reality .
”

The California Fish and Game Commission has granted temporary endangered species status to the Mojave desert tortoise.
The California Fish and Game Commission on Wednesday granted temporary endangered species status to the Mojave desert tortoise when it agreed to consider the dusty, armored herbivore as a candidate for permanent listing.
The protection came with the panel’s 4-0 decision to consider a petition filed by the Defenders of Wildlife, the Desert Tortoise Council, and the Desert Tortoise Preserve Committee. The groups argued that elevating the reptile’s existing status from threatened to endangered could bolster efforts to “reverse the very real likelihood that the desert tortoise will become extinct in California.”
As a candidate for listing, a species is typically afforded the same protections as a state endangered species pending a final decision.
While there is no difference in the protections offered a species listed as threatened or endangered under the California Endangered Species Act, officials said, endangered species have higher priority and funding for conservation measures such as habitat protection, recovery efforts and mitigation measures to reduce the impacts of projects.
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“Anybody who has visited the Southern California desert over the past three decades knows this action is long overdue,” said Tom Egan, a biologist with Defenders of Wildlife. “What the state and federal governments have been doing to arrest their slide down the drain of extinction over the past three decades isn’t enough.”
California These tortoise-killing ravens are so smart, scientists must use drones to stop them The sun was rising over the Mojave Desert as crews prepared to demonstrate a devastating new weapon in the war among man, bird and reptile.
Gopherus agassizii was listed as threatened under state law in 1989 and under federal law the following year based on a severe decline in the tortoise population within their ancient desert kingdom of trails, arroyos and hibernation burrows fringed with scrub brush.
A recovery plan for the tortoise and critical habitat prepared by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service was adopted in 1994. That plan was revised in 2011, however, to correct problems that responsible wildlife and land management agencies were having in implementing the plan’s recovery strategies.
A 2018 study found that adult tortoise populations had plummeted by 50% in some designated recovery areas since 2004, and by as much as 90% in some critical habitat management units since the 1980s.
Tortoise populations continue to be irreversibly fragmented and destroyed by many causes: vehicles, shootings, urban encroachment, military maneuvers, mining, collecting, diseases introduced by pet tortoises released into the wild, development of massive utility and green-energy facilities and hungry ravens.
Advertisement
Unlike their heavily armored parents, baby desert tortoises are saddled with soft, fingernail-thin shells that biologists say make them easy pickings for predators and reduce the chances that the imperiled species can be saved from extinction.
Rising temperatures and drought conditions are also taking a toll on the desert tortoise. Despite its name, the reptile is not well adapted to desert conditions. It evolved tens of thousands of years ago, scientists say, when the landscape was dominated by lakes edged with Joshua trees and junipers.
Scientists believe that large numbers of female desert tortoise carcasses discovered near Joshua Tree National Park may have been trying to ward off extinction due to prolonged drought with a potentially lethal response: exhausting their water and energy to lay eggs.
Drought conditions also kill off nutritious foliage and trigger a crash in populations of rodents that eat them. As a result, dogs and coyotes, which normally thrive on kangaroo rats and rabbits, turn to the lumbering tortoises for sustenance, according to surveys by state and federal biologists.
“This species is already listed as threatened,” said Commission Vice President Samantha Murray before casting her vote. “But I do think it is important that its designation reflects reality.”


latimes--2020-10-14--California GOP pushes back against state election officials on unofficial ballot boxes

California Republican Party officials on Wednesday doubled down on their efforts to use private ballot boxes to collect votes , arguing that the practice was within the bounds of state election law and vowing that they will continue to use the unofficial containers .
In a telephone conference Wednesday afternoon , GOP officials said that they were participating in ballot collection in order to be competitive , using the “ same rules and laws ” that Democrats use .
“ It ’ s pretty clear that Democrats only care about ballot harvesting when someone else is doing it , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
“ The Democrats are the ones that voted for this legislation.
” Republicans say they are operating under a 2016 state law that allows an unlimited number of completed ballots to be collected by an individual or political parties and campaigns .
As the GOP digs in , state officials continued to argue that the unauthorized boxes were misleading and illegal , and said they are ready to exercise any available legal options to protect the integrity of Californians ’ votes .
A five-page memorandum sent to county election offices from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of state ’ s enforcement division , said the receptacles were not consistent with ballot collection rules .
“ When it comes to handling ballots , obey the law — not politicians .
The last person who should be providing legal advice is the guy who has lost to California in court over and over , ” California Atty .
Gen. Xavier Becerra tweeted Tuesday evening , referring to one of two tweets from President Trump weighing in to support the ballot boxes .
The private bins — labeled as ballot drop boxes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gun shops , shooting ranges , churches and Republican Party offices — have raised questions about the chain of custody of the ballots , as well as concerns over the ability to enforce the integrity of elections .
State election officials say there is a distinction between designating a third party to deliver a ballot for a voter and placing a ballot into an unofficial box .
The state GOP said the boxes are spread across at least three counties , but officials did not specify how many there were throughout the state @ @ @ @ @ @ @ how many ballots so far had been collected from the boxes .
A party spokesman told The Times that they are “ looking at potentially expanding ” their ballot collecting program .
“ We are going to be ballot-harvesting throughout our entire state , ” Millan Patterson told reporters .
“ We did it in the primary , pre-pandemic , and we will continue to ballot harvest.
” Republicans filed their response to the secretary of state ’ s office later Wednesday .
In it , they asserted that none of their boxes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ office or headquarters while voters are permitted to deposit their ballots .
They also said that they did not place any of their containers outdoors or in “ any other nonsecure location where the general public can see or use the box.
” Secretary of State Alex Padilla , however , tweeted Wednesday afternoon : “ OFFICIAL BALLOT DROP BOXES are a good alternative to mailing your ballot .
But don ’ t be fooled by unauthorized , unofficial boxes.
” The dispute comes amid heightened partisan tensions between Democrats and Republicans over @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the run-up to the Nov. 3 election .
This week , for example , a federal appeals court ruled that Texas can limit absentee ballot drop-off spots to only one per county .
California ’ s ballot collection law is widely regarded as the most accommodating in the nation .
But California is not the only state with no limit on how many ballots can be gathered by an individual or group .
The National Conference of State Legislatures reports that 26 states allow voters to designate someone else to return their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have specific limits on the number of ballots that any individual can collect and return on behalf of other voters .
Twenty days out from the election , more than 1 million Californians have returned their mail-in ballots , according to the state , an amount that dwarfs the number submitted at this point four years ago .
It is the most ballots collected by mail at this point in any California election .
Nearly half of the mail-in ballots come from Los Angeles County , where about 435,00 voters have sent in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ County registrar-recorder ’ s office .
State law says that a “ vote by mail ballot drop box ” should be a “ secure receptacle established by a county or city and county elections official whereby a voted vote by mail ballot may be returned to the elections official from whom it was obtained.
” The official ballot envelope requires the name and signature of the person who has been authorized to return it on the voter ’ s behalf .
While a ballot will be counted even if the person returning it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t identified , local election officials could judge that the ballot is irregular and decide to investigate it .
Those concerns would be less likely to arise if the ballot was placed in an official , county-provided drop box .
The California Republican Party said it began to use the boxes — placed in counties and districts with important “ target ” tightly contested races on the ballot — in an effort to enfranchise GOP voters .
Several close races are in Orange , Ventura and Fresno counties .
J .
Miles @ @ @ @ @ @ @ newsletter at the University of Virginia ’ s Center for Politics , said a congressional race in the Central Valley is one of 16 “ toss-up ” districts the university is tracking in the U.S .
The 21st Congressional District is a rare swing district in the San Joaquin Valley , he said .
Rep. TJ Cox , a Democrat , won the election in 2018 , and voter registration there now favors Democrats by almost 17 percentage points , Coleman said .
But Cox ’ s opponent , David Valadao , could @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2018 , he said .
The state GOP also has an eye on races in Orange County , where the the private ballot boxes first were noticed .
That county ’ s election in the 48th District — between Rep. Harley Rouda , a Democrat , and Republican Michelle Steel — will prove a tough race , said Michael Moodian , a professor at Chapman University who conducts annual reports on county politics .
Political analysts also consider a race in the 25th District , which includes the Antelope Valley , Santa Clarita @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
An unofficial ballot box was found outside a Catholic church in that area .
California ’ s law , amended in 2018 , replaced a rule that limited ballot delivery to a family member or someone living in the same household , and explicitly prohibited collection by political parties and campaigns .
Republicans , in particular , in the past have criticized the loosened process by mocking it as “ ballot harvesting.
” “ We do not like this .
We do not want this .
We ’ d like to see @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spokesman Hector Barajas told The Times , referring to the 2016 and 2018 laws .
“ We ’ re getting involved in the ballot process because it is a form of necessity now to run campaigns.
” But political analysts contend that the use of third-party collection boxes will open up legal issues related to ensuring a ballot isn ’ t tampered with .
When voters drop off ballots at an unofficial box , they have entrusted the third party to return their ballots , said Herbert Gooch , a political science emeritus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ third party is then legally obligated to submit the ballots , and the obligation is not fulfilled until an election official is in possession of the ballots , he said .
California ’ s election rules don ’ t specifically offer instructions for private groups , including political parties , when it comes to gathering ballots from voters .
The law does , however , require those who collect a voter ’ s ballot to deliver it to a county election office within three days or , in the final hours of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the polls on election day .
The only references to drop boxes in state law are those used by county election officials .
In 2017 , the secretary of state ’ s office issued detailed guidelines for those containers , including a requirement that the secure boxes have only a slot — not a door that can be opened — to ensure no one can reach inside to remove ballots .
“ The problem becomes that we don ’ t have the resources to trace who holds each ballot , and the further @ @ @ @ @ @ @ own ballot the more concerns of election integrity crop up , ” Gooch said .
“ Even though tracking exists , the voter and elections officials have few checks in place to ensure a ballot was handled properly.
” The controversy came to light this week after gray metal containers were found in several counties .
Becerra and Padilla on Monday sent a to Republican Party officials demanding that they immediately stop using the private ballot collection containers marked as “ official ” drop boxes .
During the telephone conference , the California @ @ @ @ @ @ @ overzealous volunteer ” was to blame for putting the word “ official ” on some of the party ’ s private drop boxes .
Officials said that language was removed from the containers over the weekend .
“ We ’ re not attempting to describe these as official boxes , ” attorney Thomas Hiltachk said .
“ They ’ re simply just a vehicle for us to take ballots and secure them until we can deliver them to election officials.
” In a statement , U.S. Rep. Ken Calvert ( R-Corona ) , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Committee , decried California Democrats ’ criticism of the private ballot boxes , arguing they are “ suppressing churchgoers ’ voting rights.
” “ Ballot harvesting is legal in the state of California , Democrats legalized it , and it is clear with these ballot boxes Republicans are following the laws Democrats put in place , ” Calvert said .
“ In the face of voter suppression attempts by California Democrats , Republicans have and will continue to be steadfast in defending Californians ’ voting rights.
” A sponsored by the Fresno County @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dozen ballot drop-off locations not authorized by election officials .
The list has since been removed .
The party has also removed its unofficial boxes in the county , according to media reports .

California Republican Party officials on Wednesday doubled down on their efforts to use private ballot boxes to collect votes, arguing that the practice was within the bounds of state election law and vowing that they will continue to use the unofficial containers.
In a telephone conference Wednesday afternoon, GOP officials said that they were participating in ballot collection in order to be competitive, using the “same rules and laws” that Democrats use.
“It’s pretty clear that Democrats only care about ballot harvesting when someone else is doing it,” California Republican Party Chairwoman Jessica Millan Patterson said. “The Democrats are the ones that voted for this legislation.”
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Republicans say they are operating under a 2016 state law that allows an unlimited number of completed ballots to be collected by an individual or political parties and campaigns.
As the GOP digs in, state officials continued to argue that the unauthorized boxes were misleading and illegal, and said they are ready to exercise any available legal options to protect the integrity of Californians’ votes.
A five-page memorandum sent to county election offices from Jana Lean, chief of the secretary of state’s enforcement division, said the receptacles were not consistent with ballot collection rules.
California More than 1 million California ballots already cast, shattering records With election day over two weeks away, more than 1 million Californians have returned mail-in ballots, dwarfing the number submitted at this point in 2016.
“When it comes to handling ballots, obey the law — not politicians. The last person who should be providing legal advice is the guy who has lost to California in court over and over,” California Atty. Gen. Xavier Becerra tweeted Tuesday evening, referring to one of two tweets from President Trump weighing in to support the ballot boxes.
The private bins — labeled as ballot drop boxes and placed at various locations, including gun shops, shooting ranges, churches and Republican Party offices — have raised questions about the chain of custody of the ballots, as well as concerns over the ability to enforce the integrity of elections. State election officials say there is a distinction between designating a third party to deliver a ballot for a voter and placing a ballot into an unofficial box.
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The state GOP said the boxes are spread across at least three counties, but officials did not specify how many there were throughout the state. Republican officials also declined to say how many ballots so far had been collected from the boxes. A party spokesman told The Times that they are “looking at potentially expanding” their ballot collecting program.
“We are going to be ballot-harvesting throughout our entire state,” Millan Patterson told reporters. “We did it in the primary, pre-pandemic, and we will continue to ballot harvest.”
Republicans filed their response to the secretary of state’s office later Wednesday. In it, they asserted that none of their boxes are left unattended at any Republican Party office or headquarters while voters are permitted to deposit their ballots.
They also said that they did not place any of their containers outdoors or in “any other nonsecure location where the general public can see or use the box.”
Secretary of State Alex Padilla, however, tweeted Wednesday afternoon: “OFFICIAL BALLOT DROP BOXES are a good alternative to mailing your ballot. But don’t be fooled by unauthorized, unofficial boxes.”
The dispute comes amid heightened partisan tensions between Democrats and Republicans over allegations of voter suppression and voter fraud in the run-up to the Nov. 3 election. This week, for example, a federal appeals court ruled that Texas can limit absentee ballot drop-off spots to only one per county.
California’s ballot collection law is widely regarded as the most accommodating in the nation. But California is not the only state with no limit on how many ballots can be gathered by an individual or group.
The National Conference of State Legislatures reports that 26 states allow voters to designate someone else to return their ballot for them, but only 12 have specific limits on the number of ballots that any individual can collect and return on behalf of other voters.
Twenty days out from the election, more than 1 million Californians have returned their mail-in ballots, according to the state, an amount that dwarfs the number submitted at this point four years ago. It is the most ballots collected by mail at this point in any California election. Nearly half of the mail-in ballots come from Los Angeles County, where about 435,000 voters have sent in their ballots, according to the L.A. County registrar-recorder’s office.
State law says that a “vote by mail ballot drop box” should be a “secure receptacle established by a county or city and county elections official whereby a voted vote by mail ballot may be returned to the elections official from whom it was obtained.”
The official ballot envelope requires the name and signature of the person who has been authorized to return it on the voter’s behalf. While a ballot will be counted even if the person returning it on the voter’s behalf isn’t identified, local election officials could judge that the ballot is irregular and decide to investigate it. Those concerns would be less likely to arise if the ballot was placed in an official, county-provided drop box.
The California Republican Party said it began to use the boxes — placed in counties and districts with important “target” tightly contested races on the ballot — in an effort to enfranchise GOP voters.
Several close races are in Orange, Ventura and Fresno counties. J. Miles Coleman, associate editor of an election newsletter at the University of Virginia’s Center for Politics, said a congressional race in the Central Valley is one of 16 “toss-up” districts the university is tracking in the U.S.
The 21st Congressional District is a rare swing district in the San Joaquin Valley, he said. Rep. TJ Cox, a Democrat, won the election in 2018, and voter registration there now favors Democrats by almost 17 percentage points, Coleman said. But Cox’s opponent, David Valadao, could win back the seat he lost in 2018, he said.
The state GOP also has an eye on races in Orange County, where the the private ballot boxes first were noticed. That county’s election in the 48th District — between Rep. Harley Rouda, a Democrat, and Republican Michelle Steel — will prove a tough race, said Michael Moodian, a professor at Chapman University who conducts annual reports on county politics.
Political analysts also consider a race in the 25th District, which includes the Antelope Valley, Santa Clarita and Simi Valley, to be competitive. An unofficial ballot box was found outside a Catholic church in that area.
California’s law, amended in 2018, replaced a rule that limited ballot delivery to a family member or someone living in the same household, and explicitly prohibited collection by political parties and campaigns.
Republicans, in particular, in the past have criticized the loosened process by mocking it as “ballot harvesting.”
“We do not like this. We do not want this. We’d like to see it done away with,” party spokesman Hector Barajas told The Times, referring to the 2016 and 2018 laws. “We’re getting involved in the ballot process because it is a form of necessity now to run campaigns.”
But political analysts contend that the use of third-party collection boxes will open up legal issues related to ensuring a ballot isn’t tampered with.
When voters drop off ballots at an unofficial box, they have entrusted the third party to return their ballots, said Herbert Gooch, a political science professor emeritus at California Lutheran University. The third party is then legally obligated to submit the ballots, and the obligation is not fulfilled until an election official is in possession of the ballots, he said.
California’s election rules don’t specifically offer instructions for private groups, including political parties, when it comes to gathering ballots from voters. The law does, however, require those who collect a voter’s ballot to deliver it to a county election office within three days or, in the final hours of the campaign season, by the close of the polls on election day.
The only references to drop boxes in state law are those used by county election officials. In 2017, the secretary of state’s office issued detailed guidelines for those containers, including a requirement that the secure boxes have only a slot — not a door that can be opened — to ensure no one can reach inside to remove ballots.
“The problem becomes that we don’t have the resources to trace who holds each ballot, and the further we get from someone personally returning their own ballot the more concerns of election integrity crop up,” Gooch said. “Even though tracking exists, the voter and elections officials have few checks in place to ensure a ballot was handled properly.”
The controversy came to light this week after gray metal containers were found in several counties.
Becerra and Padilla on Monday sent a cease-and-desist letter to Republican Party officials demanding that they immediately stop using the private ballot collection containers marked as “official” drop boxes.
During the telephone conference, the California GOP’s attorney said an “overzealous volunteer” was to blame for putting the word “official” on some of the party’s private drop boxes. Officials said that language was removed from the containers over the weekend.
“We’re not attempting to describe these as official boxes,” attorney Thomas Hiltachk said. “They’re simply just a vehicle for us to take ballots and secure them until we can deliver them to election officials.”
In a statement, U.S. Rep. Ken Calvert (R-Corona), deputy chairman of the National Republican Congressional Committee, decried California Democrats’ criticism of the private ballot boxes, arguing they are “suppressing churchgoers’ voting rights.”
“Ballot harvesting is legal in the state of California, Democrats legalized it, and it is clear with these ballot boxes Republicans are following the laws Democrats put in place,” Calvert said. “In the face of voter suppression attempts by California Democrats, Republicans have and will continue to be steadfast in defending Californians’ voting rights.”
A list of locations sponsored by the Fresno County Republican Party on its website showed a dozen ballot drop-off locations not authorized by election officials. The list has since been removed. The party has also removed its unofficial boxes in the county, according to media reports.
Times staff writer John Myers contributed to this report.


latimes--2020-10-14--Coronavirus transmission rate grows in L.A. County

The novel coronavirus is spreading faster in Los Angeles County , with the rate of new cases expected to increase in the coming weeks , officials said Wednesday .
The county ’ s projected COVID-19 transmission rate has crept past 1 to 1.05 , new modeling from L.A. County Health Services shows .
A rate of 1 means that an individual with COVID-19 infects an average of one other person .
With a rate of more than 1 , new cases would be expected to increase .
Estimated transmission jumped past 1 three weeks ago before again dipping below .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ are currently infected with the virus .
Last week , that estimate was 1 in 950 .
Likewise , the daily tally of new cases has been on the rise , though that could be because of a counting backlog .
The number dropped in recent days to below 1,000 before jumping back up to 1,349 new infections on Wednesday .
“ It is more likely that the number of cases will go up than they will go down , ” Dr. Christina Ghaly , health services director , said at a news @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of new cases was 4,383 on Tuesday — the highest since Sept. 25 , when 4,122 cases were recorded , according to an analysis of data from the Los Angeles Times ’ daily coronavirus tracker .
Those trends could also be affected by delays in counting .
A summer-long surge after Memorial Day was followed by a significant decline .
Recently , there have been slight upticks in some parts of the state .
Shasta County , which recently regressed to a lower tier on the state ’ s reopening matrix , recorded @ @ @ @ @ @ @ County recorded 729 cases , and is in danger of moving back a tier .
California ’ s daily case count is still much lower than during the summer , when tens of thousands of new infections were reported on many days .
Statewide , the seven-day average for positive coronavirus cases is 3.4 % — a significant drop from previous months .
But in this pandemic , progress has sometimes been fleeting .
As more counties move to a less restrictive tier , allowing more businesses to reopen , people may become @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ There ’ s no reason to think there ’ s not ongoing transmission , ” said Dr. George Rutherford , an epidemiologist and infectious disease expert at UC San Francisco .
California has fared well in recent weeks compared with other states that are inching closer to a new coronavirus wave , due in large part to reopenings at college campuses .
The state has recorded its lowest hospitalization count in six months , though a spike is forecast for the next few weeks .
Hospitalizations are considered a lagging indicator , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ become seriously ill after being infected .

Customers are reminded they must wear masks at the Westfield Santa Anita shopping mall in Arcadia.
The novel coronavirus is spreading faster in Los Angeles County, with the rate of new cases expected to increase in the coming weeks, officials said Wednesday.
The uptick comes as Los Angeles and other counties have been reopening the economy over the last few weeks. Officials have been hoping to avoid a repeat of the COVID-19 surge that occurred over the summer, which forced officials to impose new restrictions on businesses and public spaces.
As more businesses have reopened in L.A. County over the last two weeks, Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer said Wednesday that the increase in infections has been connected largely to worksite outbreaks, defined as a cluster of three or more cases.
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There have been 39 reported worksite outbreaks in the county from Sept. 20 through Oct. 4 — a 70% jump from the 23 outbreaks reported in previous weeks.
“This is a cause for concern, and we’ll continue to be monitoring what’s happening at workplaces,” Ferrer said.
Although most businesses have complied with COVID-19 safety protocols, Ferrer said the county has issued more than 130 citations, mostly to fitness centers and places of worship.
Large gatherings have also contributed greatly to infection increases, which is one reason that with Halloween less than three weeks away, Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti asked residents to be creative in their celebrations and to avoid trick-or-treating.
“Door-to-door trick-or-treating is not recommended as it makes social distancing nearly impossible,” Garcetti said at his Wednesday media briefing. “And the same goes for what’s called trunk-or-treating where children go from car to car instead of from house to house, since it’s difficult to avoid that very same crowding.”
The recommendation came a day after the Beverly Hills City Council banned both varieties of candy grabs on Oct. 31.
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Garcetti added that large Halloween parties, festivals, live entertainment and haunted house attractions were prohibited, adding: “Believe me, as a father I know how disappointing this is for our children.” He suggested coming up with new traditions, such as a Halloween version of an Easter egg hunt.
Private gatherings had been prohibited by state rules. Last week, state officials loosened those restrictions, allowing private parties that are outdoors and include no more than three households. Ferrer said the county would adopt the state guidelines while acknowledging that they were a “slippery slope” and that private gatherings should occur sparingly.
“It was meant to address the limited number of times people may need to gather,” she said, adding that regularly mixing with a broad spectrum of people is ill-advised.
Large gatherings remain prohibited under state orders, except for outdoor protests and outdoor worship services.
Overall, the county’s projected COVID-19 transmission rate has crept past 1 to 1.05, according to new modeling from L.A. County Health Services. A rate of 1 means that an individual with COVID-19 infects an average of one other person. Beyond 1, new cases would be expected to increase. Three weeks ago, the transmission rate had been greater than 1 before dipping lower. The downward trend is reversing, with officials estimating that 1 in 650 residents is now infected with the virus, versus 1 in 950 last week.
Likewise, the daily tally of new cases has been on the rise, though that could be because of a counting backlog. The number dropped in recent days to below 1,000 before rising to 1,349 new infections Wednesday.
“It is more likely that the number of cases will go up than they will go down,” Dr. Christina Ghaly, health services director, said at a news briefing Wednesday.
The projected transmission figures are especially crucial for health officials trying to make sure there are enough hospital beds.
There are 720 hospitalized COVID-19 patients in the county, with 27% of them in intensive care — notably lower than July’s peak of more than 2,000.
But hospitalization is a lagging indicator because it takes time for people to become seriously ill after being infected. As transmission increases, the need for hospital beds eventually will too.
The state recorded its lowest hospitalization count in six months Monday. But a statewide surge is forecast for the next few weeks, including in L.A. County, as some newly infected patients get sicker.
Statewide, the number of new cases was 4,383 on Tuesday — the highest since Sept. 25, when 4,122 cases were recorded, according to an analysis of data from the Los Angeles Times’ daily coronavirus tracker. Those trends could also be affected by delays in counting.
A summer-long surge after Memorial Day was followed by a significant decline. Recently, there have been slight upticks in some parts of the state.
Shasta County, which recently regressed to a lower tier on the state’s reopening matrix, recorded 254 cases Tuesday. Similarly, Riverside County recorded 729 cases and is in danger of moving back a tier.
California’s daily case count is still much lower than during the summer, when tens of thousands of new infections were reported on many days.
Statewide, the seven-day average for positive coronavirus cases is 3.4% — a significant drop from previous months. But in this pandemic, progress has sometimes been fleeting.
As more counties move to a less-restrictive tier, allowing more businesses to reopen, people may become more active and cause a resurgence.
“There’s no reason to think there’s not ongoing transmission,” said Dr. George Rutherford, an epidemiologist and infectious disease expert at UC San Francisco.
California has fared well in recent weeks compared with other states that are inching closer to a new coronavirus wave, due in large part to widespread reopenings at college campuses. But officials warn residents to remain vigilant.
“This is not the time to be complacent,” Ferrer said.
Times staff writers Iris Lee and Andrew J. Campa contributed to this report.


latimes--2020-10-14--Second sighting of person wearing a jet pack near LAX prompts new investigation

Los Angeles International Airport officials are investigating reports of someone wearing a jet pack in the flight path , the second such report in a little over a month .
An air traffic controller overseeing airline approaches warned a commercial pilot who was set up to land that an individual wearing a jet pack had been reported flying at about 6,500 feet .
A China Airlines crew member reported seeing what appeared to be someone in a jet pack roughly seven miles northwest of the airport about 1:45 p.m. Wednesday , according to the Federal Aviation Administration .
The FAA @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the report .
The FBI is also investigating the sighting , according to sources familiar with the probe .
In addition , federal officials are investigating an earlier incident in which two commercial pilots said they saw a man in a jet pack flying around the eastern approach to LAX six weeks ago .
In the Aug. 29 incident , the control tower at LAX received reports about the jet pack around 6:45 p.m. “ Tower , American 1997 .
We just passed a guy in a jet pack , ” an American @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the control tower .
“ American 1997 , OK , thank you .
Were they off to your left or right side ?
” the tower operator asked .
“ Off the left side , maybe 300 yards or so , about our altitude , ” the pilot responded .
“ We just saw the guy pass us by in the jet pack , ” a pilot from Jet Blue Airways then told the tower , which warned another pilot about the sighting .
“ Only in L.A. , ” the air traffic @ @ @ @ @ @

Los Angeles International Airport officials are investigating reports of someone wearing a jet pack in the flight path, the second such report in a little over a month.
An air traffic controller overseeing airline approaches warned a commercial pilot who was set up to land that an individual wearing a jet pack had been reported flying at about 6,500 feet.
For the record: This article incorrectly states that an earlier sighting of a jet pack at Los Angeles International Airport occurred Aug. 29. The sighting occurred Aug. 30, according to two pilots who reported the event to the LAX air traffic control tower.
A China Airlines crew member reported seeing what appeared to be someone in a jet pack roughly seven miles northwest of the airport about 1:45 p.m. Wednesday, according to the Federal Aviation Administration. The FAA alerted local law enforcement and is investigating the report.
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The FBI is also investigating the sighting, according to sources familiar with the probe. In addition, federal officials are investigating an earlier incident in which two commercial pilots said they saw a man in a jet pack flying around the eastern approach to LAX six weeks ago.
In the Aug. 29 incident, the control tower at LAX received reports about the jet pack around 6:45 p.m.
“Tower, American 1997. We just passed a guy in a jet pack,” an American Airlines pilot stated in a call to the control tower.
“American 1997, OK, thank you. Were they off to your left or right side?” the tower operator asked.
“Off the left side, maybe 300 yards or so, about our altitude,” the pilot responded.
“We just saw the guy pass us by in the jet pack,” a pilot from Jet Blue Airways then told the tower, which warned another pilot about the sighting.
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“Only in L.A.,” the air traffic controller said at one point.


latimes--2020-10-14--LAPD tells officers to be available in case of election-related unrest

The Los Angeles Police Department has informed all its officers that they may need to reschedule any vacations around election day as the agency prepares for possible protests or other unrest .
Law enforcement sources said the department does not have any specific intelligence suggesting problems but that the bulletin was put out to be prepared for any contingencies .
LAPD officers put in for days off typically months in advance , but top LAPD brass has informed officers in a letter that it has designated Nov. 2 to 9 as a “ special event , ” with modified hours @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Election day is Nov. 3 .
“ We would be foolish not to make sure we had resources available , ” said Josh Rubenstein , the department ’ s communications director .
“ We want to make sure we have people available .
This is not a full mobilization.
” He said he has no specific information but the department acts out of caution often .
LAPD Assistant Chief Horace Frank added , “ Our ‘ hope ’ is that there isn ’ t any unrest or unlawful exhibition of behavior but ‘ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we have to do the responsible thing and properly prepare for any such unlawful activities.
” In the wake of the death of George Floyd while in police custody in Minneapolis , the LAPD and other law enforcement agencies handled weeks of protests this summer , part of a national movement of demonstrations .
There have been growing concerns about potential unrest after the election , which is one of the most divisive in memory .
President Trump has repeatedly suggested he might not accept the results , and huge numbers of mail-in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ COVID-19 pandemic might mean the winner won ’ t be known for days .

The Los Angeles Police Department has informed all its officers that they may need to reschedule any vacations around election day as the agency prepares for possible protests or other unrest.
Law enforcement sources said the department does not have any specific intelligence suggesting problems but that the bulletin was put out to be prepared for any contingencies.
LAPD officers put in for days off typically months in advance, but top LAPD brass has informed officers in a letter that it has designated Nov. 2 to 9 as a “special event,” with modified hours and limited time off for anyone. Election day is Nov. 3.
“We would be foolish not to make sure we had resources available,” said Josh Rubenstein, the department’s communications director. “We want to make sure we have people available. This is not a full mobilization.”
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He said he has no specific information but the department acts out of caution often.
LAPD Assistant Chief Horace Frank added, “Our ‘hope’ is that there isn’t any unrest or unlawful exhibition of behavior but ‘Hope’ is not a strategy so we have to do the responsible thing and properly prepare for any such unlawful activities.”
In the wake of the death of George Floyd while in police custody in Minneapolis, the LAPD and other law enforcement agencies handled weeks of protests this summer, part of a national movement of demonstrations.
There have been growing concerns about potential unrest after the election, which is one of the most divisive in memory. President Trump has repeatedly suggested he might not accept the results, and huge numbers of mail-in ballots being sent in due to the COVID-19 pandemic might mean the winner won’t be known for days.


latimes--2020-10-14--Federal officials announce record meth bust in Riverside County

The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration announced a record-breaking bust Wednesday : roughly 2,224 pounds of methamphetamine recovered in Riverside County .
Authorities said the Oct. 2 take , which involved two locations , in Moreno Valley and Perris , represents the largest domestic seizure of the narcotic in the agency ’ s history .
However , another federal agency , U.S. Customs and Border Protection , netted an even bigger amount of meth the following week .
Acting on information from the DEA , CBP officials recovered more than 3,000 pounds of meth at the Otay Mesa Port of Entry @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was the second-largest meth bust ever for Customs and Border Protection .
The drugs seized at the location , which also included heroin and fentanyl , had a street value of about $ 7.2 million .
The seizures by the two agencies “ are more than enough to provide a dose of meth for every man , woman and child in the United States and Mexico , ” Timothy Shea , acting administrator of the DEA , said Wednesday at a warehouse in Montebello .
Behind him was a 10-foot pyramid comprised of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 893 pounds of cocaine , 13 pounds of heroin and some 650 pounds of methamphetamine in the garage of a residence in Moreno Valley .
The narcotics were all packed away in approximately 25 duffle bags .
Roughly 1,600 pounds of meth were also located at a narcotics stash house in Perris , officials said .
At Otay Mesa , agents said they confiscated 64 pounds of heroin , 29 pounds of fentanyl powder and roughly 35 pounds of counterfeit pills laced with fentanyl .
Shea said the United States saw a 25 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ alone and emphasized the drug ’ s damaging effects on communities , which often see an accompanying uptick in violent crimes including robberies , assaults and murders .
“ Meth is an especially vicious drug , ” he said .
“ It gradually destroys the body and mind of people who use it , and eventually it kills them.
” But officials were also careful to point out that the targets of the seizures were cartels and drug dealers , not addicts .
The recently seized drugs stemmed from the Sinaloa and Jalisco @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
Had they not been seized , the drugs would have infiltrated Los Angeles within a day , according to Bill Bodner , special agent in charge of the DEA ’ s Los Angeles Division .
“ Traditionally , L.A. is the transportation hub , ” he said , noting that the city is north of many immigration checkpoints and is home to four airports , numerous freeways and countless package distribution centers .
“ That ’ s why traffickers prefer to get the drugs here.
” Shea said he believed , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ uptick in meth use and overdoses during the COVID-19 pandemic .
“ This is a tough time for everybody , and some people turn to drugs to deal with that , ” he said , adding that many in-house-treatment options have been curtailed due to the coronavirus .
The massive methamphetamine seizure was part of Operation Crystal Shield , a nationwide effort the DEA launched in February .
More than 70 investigators worked the two California cases , which included extensive fieldwork and surveillance .
Operation Crystal Shield has resulted in 2,800 arrests @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Bodner said .
No charges have yet been filed in the latest seizures , although authorities said cases would likely be prosecuted in both California and Washington , D.C. “ Today ’ s seizure sends a message loud and clear , ” Shea said Wednesday .
“ This is real proof of a job well done .
”

The DEA’s Timothy Shea, left, and Bill Bodner stand next to a pyramid comprised of 2,224 pounds of methamphetamine, 893 pounds of cocaine and 13 pounds of heroin.
The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration announced a record-breaking bust Wednesday: roughly 2,224 pounds of methamphetamine recovered in Riverside County.
Authorities said the Oct. 2 take, which involved two locations, in Moreno Valley and Perris, represents the largest domestic seizure of the narcotic in the agency’s history.
However, another federal agency, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, netted an even bigger amount of meth the following week.
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Acting on information from the DEA, CBP officials recovered more than 3,000 pounds of meth at the Otay Mesa Port of Entry in San Diego.
Authorities said it was the second-largest meth bust ever for Customs and Border Protection. The drugs seized at the location, which also included heroin and fentanyl, had a street value of about $7.2 million.
The seizures by the two agencies “are more than enough to provide a dose of meth for every man, woman and child in the United States and Mexico,” Timothy Shea, acting administrator of the DEA, said Wednesday at a warehouse in Montebello.
Behind him was a 10-foot pyramid comprised of contraband.
Authorities said they found about 893 pounds of cocaine, 13 pounds of heroin and some 650 pounds of methamphetamine in the garage of a residence in Moreno Valley. The narcotics were all packed away in approximately 25 duffle bags.
Roughly 1,600 pounds of meth were also located at a narcotics stash house in Perris, officials said.
At Otay Mesa, agents said they confiscated 64 pounds of heroin, 29 pounds of fentanyl powder and roughly 35 pounds of counterfeit pills laced with fentanyl.
Shea said the United States saw a 25% increase in meth overdoses last year alone and emphasized the drug’s damaging effects on communities, which often see an accompanying uptick in violent crimes including robberies, assaults and murders.
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“Meth is an especially vicious drug,” he said. “It gradually destroys the body and mind of people who use it, and eventually it kills them.”
But officials were also careful to point out that the targets of the seizures were cartels and drug dealers, not addicts. The recently seized drugs stemmed from the Sinaloa and Jalisco New Generation cartels in Mexico, Shea said.
Had they not been seized, the drugs would have infiltrated Los Angeles within a day, according to Bill Bodner, special agent in charge of the DEA’s Los Angeles Division.
“Traditionally, L.A. is the transportation hub,” he said, noting that the city is north of many immigration checkpoints and is home to four airports, numerous freeways and countless package distribution centers. “That’s why traffickers prefer to get the drugs here.”
Shea said he believed, anecdotally, that there had been an uptick in meth use and overdoses during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“This is a tough time for everybody, and some people turn to drugs to deal with that,” he said, adding that many in-house-treatment options have been curtailed due to the coronavirus.
#DEA Acting Administrator Timothy J. Shea, Special Agent in Charge Bill Bodner & local law enforcement discussing the largest domestic methamphetamine seizure in #DEA history. Approx. 893 pounds of cocaine, 13 pounds of heroin & 2,224 pounds of methamphetamine. pic.twitter.com/gdeO80nGNK — DEALosAngeles (@DEALOSANGELES) October 14, 2020
The massive methamphetamine seizure was part of Operation Crystal Shield, a nationwide effort the DEA launched in February. More than 70 investigators worked the two California cases, which included extensive fieldwork and surveillance.
Operation Crystal Shield has resulted in 2,800 arrests over the last six months nationwide, Bodner said. No charges have yet been filed in the latest seizures, although authorities said cases would likely be prosecuted in both California and Washington, D.C.
“Today’s seizure sends a message loud and clear,” Shea said Wednesday. “This is real proof of a job well done.”