latimes--2020-10-23--Damaging Santa Ana winds are on tap for Monday in the Los Angeles region, forecasters say

Damaging Santa Ana winds could cause power outages , downed power lines and felled tree limbs on Monday , the National Weather Service said .
Widespread critical fire weather conditions are likely from late Sunday night through Tuesday .
The strongest winds are expected late Sunday night through Monday , especially early Monday morning into the evening hours .
Gusts of 60 to 75 mph are possible in the mountains .
Winds could exceed 55 mph in the valleys and 45 mph at the coast , the weather service said .
Relative humidity will range from 4 % to 10 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from 8 % to 18 % in the valleys .
Humidity levels will recover poorly overnight .
A fire weather watch is in effect for much of Los Angeles and Ventura counties from late Sunday night through Tuesday .
Vegetation is already extremely dry , and single-digit humidity will create the potential for extreme fire danger and fire behavior .
Any fire that is ignited will spread rapidly .
Peak fire danger will persist from Monday morning through Monday night .
California is experiencing its worst fire season on record .
Climate scientist @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is poised to be the strongest of the season so far and “ will likely approach the magnitude of the extreme autumn wind events in 2019 and 2017 .
Given that vegetation is now at or near record dryness levels — much as it was prior to the North Bay firestorm in October 2017 — this is a very concerning forecast.
” A deep , cold , upper-level low — which may drop a little light rain on areas south of Point Conception Saturday night and Sunday — will move through , then @ @ @ @ @ @ @ late Monday .
As the cold front departs , high pressure will build into the Great Basin of Nevada and Utah , setting up a strong pressure gradient and northeasterly winds at the surface , in typical Santa Ana fashion .
Strong northerly flow aloft and movement of cold air down to lower levels of the atmosphere will support these winds .
“ That cold , dry and dense air will align with ridgetop wind direction from the northeast — the typical Santa Ana direction — and sync together to tighten the surface @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Oxnard .
“ When we have all three elements — cold air , winds aligned and surface pressure gradient — we can get some of our strongest wind events , ” he said .
The air in the Great Basin is unusually cold , so the winds reaching Los Angeles won ’ t be terribly warm , said Ryan Kittell , a meteorologist with the National Weather Service .
“ Typically , cold Santa Anas tend to be stronger.
” Santa Anas that are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Great Basin will warm up as they plummet downslope because of compression heating .
“ They follow the same laws as fluid dynamics , ” said Jan Null , a meteorologist with Golden Gate Weather Services .
So by dropping about 4,000 feet in elevation from the Great Basin to sea level in Los Angeles , the air gains about 20 degrees of heat , Null said ; in other words , about 5 degrees per 1,000 feet .
“ We ’ re in a transition period between summer and fall , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ over the ocean that dominates in the summer begins to break down and move south .
The polar jet stream , which stays in Canada during the summer , begins to dip south into the continental U.S. , bringing cold air .
It deposits “ blobs of cold air ” in the Great Basin , Null explains .
These areas of high pressure are the source of Southern California ’ s Santa Ana winds in October , November and December .
“ Ready , set — Santa Ana season is beginning with a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
At the end of the dry season , with no rain for six months , “ these are the kinds of events that have historically been dangerous , ” he said .
With a La Niña climate pattern in place and expected to persist , along with an ever expanding drought in the West , the immediate future doesn ’ t promise much relief .

Damaging Santa Ana winds could cause power outages, downed power lines and felled tree limbs on Monday, the National Weather Service said. Widespread critical fire weather conditions are likely from late Sunday night through Tuesday.
The strongest winds are expected late Sunday night through Monday, especially early Monday morning into the evening hours. Gusts of 60 to 75 mph are possible in the mountains. Winds could exceed 55 mph in the valleys and 45 mph at the coast, the weather service said.
Relative humidity will range from 4% to 10% in the mountains and foothills and from 8% to 18% in the valleys. Humidity levels will recover poorly overnight.
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A fire weather watch is in effect for much of Los Angeles and Ventura counties from late Sunday night through Tuesday. Vegetation is already extremely dry, and single-digit humidity will create the potential for extreme fire danger and fire behavior. Any fire that is ignited will spread rapidly. Peak fire danger will persist from Monday morning through Monday night.
California is experiencing its worst fire season on record.
Climate scientist Daniel Swain writes that this wind event is poised to be the strongest of the season so far and “will likely approach the magnitude of the extreme autumn wind events in 2019 and 2017. Given that vegetation is now at or near record dryness levels — much as it was prior to the North Bay firestorm in October 2017 — this is a very concerning forecast.”
Cold Santa Anas can be the strongest such winds. (Paul Duginski / Los Angeles Times)
A deep, cold, upper-level low — which may drop a little light rain on areas south of Point Conception Saturday night and Sunday — will move through, then to the southeast of the region by late Monday. As the cold front departs, high pressure will build into the Great Basin of Nevada and Utah, setting up a strong pressure gradient and northeasterly winds at the surface, in typical Santa Ana fashion. Strong northerly flow aloft and movement of cold air down to lower levels of the atmosphere will support these winds.
“That cold, dry and dense air will align with ridgetop wind direction from the northeast — the typical Santa Ana direction — and sync together to tighten the surface pressure gradient,” said Eric Boldt, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Oxnard. “When we have all three elements — cold air, winds aligned and surface pressure gradient — we can get some of our strongest wind events,” he said.
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The air in the Great Basin is unusually cold, so the winds reaching Los Angeles won’t be terribly warm, said Ryan Kittell, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service. “Typically, cold Santa Anas tend to be stronger.”
Santa Anas that are generated by very cold air in the Great Basin will warm up as they plummet downslope because of compression heating. “They follow the same laws as fluid dynamics,” said Jan Null, a meteorologist with Golden Gate Weather Services.
So by dropping about 4,000 feet in elevation from the Great Basin to sea level in Los Angeles, the air gains about 20 degrees of heat, Null said; in other words, about 5 degrees per 1,000 feet.
This is the typical setup for Santa Ana winds. (Paul Duginski / Los Angeles Times)
“We’re in a transition period between summer and fall,” Null said. The Pacific high-pressure system over the ocean that dominates in the summer begins to break down and move south. The polar jet stream, which stays in Canada during the summer, begins to dip south into the continental U.S., bringing cold air. It deposits “blobs of cold air” in the Great Basin, Null explains. These areas of high pressure are the source of Southern California’s Santa Ana winds in October, November and December.
“Ready, set — Santa Ana season is beginning with a vengeance,” said climatologist Bill Patzert. At the end of the dry season, with no rain for six months, “these are the kinds of events that have historically been dangerous,” he said.
With a La Niña climate pattern in place and expected to persist, along with an ever expanding drought in the West, the immediate future doesn’t promise much relief.


latimes--2020-10-24--More than 1 million Californians could lose power Sunday amid the windiest, driest conditions of the

More than 1 million Californians could lose power Sunday amid the windiest, driest conditions of the year

Pacific Gas and Electric may cut power to more than 1 million people in Northern and Central California on Sunday amid extreme fire weather that ’ s expected to bring the strongest winds and driest conditions of the year .
The utility undertakes the preemptive blackouts , which it calls public safety power shutoffs , to avoid a situation in which wind gusts could snap off tree branches or damage a piece of equipment , creating a spark that could ignite dry brush and lead to the next wildfire disaster .
Powerful and dry Diablo winds are forecast to sweep @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sustained speeds of 25-35 mph and gusts of up to 70 mph in higher elevation areas , according to the National Weather Service .
“ Initial forecasts indicate this could be our largest PSPS event this year so far , ” Michael Lewis , PG & E ’ s interim president , said in a statement .
“ Our highest priority is to keep customers and communities safe and execute this event according to our plan and to then quickly restore power to all affected customers when it ’ s safe to do @ @ @ @ @ @ @ portions of 38 Northern California counties could lose power as early as Sunday morning , the utility said in a news release .
That amounts to more than 1.1 million people assuming each customer represents two to three people .
Power is expected to be restored within 12 hours after the winds subside from Monday to Tuesday morning , PG & E said .
The areas where the shutoffs are most likely to move forward are the northern and western Sacramento Valley , the Northern and Central Sierra , higher elevation portions of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Cruz Mountains , the Central Coast region and portions of southern Kern County , the utility said .
El Dorado County was projected to see the most customers lose power , 41,009 ; followed by Nevada County with 40,252 ; Alameda County with 39,401 ; Sonoma County with 38,120 and Tuolumne County with 33,271 , according to PG & E .
The National Weather Service has issued red-flag warnings for the entire Bay Area , which means forecasters have high confidence that dangerous fire conditions will be in place .
“ This is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of 2020 , ” said David King , meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Monterey .
Southern California is also expected to see fire weather conditions .
The weather service has issued a red-flag warning for all of Los Angeles and Ventura counties , except the Antelope Valley , starting late Sunday night and lasting through Tuesday evening .
A high wind warning is also in effect late Sunday through Monday afternoon .
The winds could also whip up coastal waters out to Catalina Island , causing choppy seas and wind waves @ @ @ @ @ @ @ winds possible Monday , officials said .
Southern California Edison has not announced plans for any preemptive power shutoffs in its service area .
The winds in Northern California are expected to pick up about 11 a.m. Sunday in the North Bay Mountains and East Bay hills , increasing gradually throughout the day in areas above 1,000 feet , King said .
By Sunday evening , the winds are expected to intensify and become more widespread , affecting a broader swath that encompasses much of the Bay Area , including the East Bay @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Cruz Mountains and the San Francisco Peninsula , he said .
The strongest and most widespread period of wind is expected to be Sunday night into Monday morning , with sustained speeds of up to 35 mph and gusts of up to 70 mph at higher elevations .
The winds are expected to start to subside Monday morning , but conditions will remain dry and breezy in higher terrain areas until Tuesday morning , King said .
He noted that vegetation is already critically dry since the area saw no rain in February @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The lack of rain contributed to an early start to this year ’ s fire season , which has become California ’ s worst on record in terms of acreage burned — more than 4 million — with fires also killing 31 people and destroying more than 8,200 structures over the past three months , according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection .
Previously , California ’ s worst year of fire was 2018 , when more than 1.8 million acres burned and more than 100 people were killed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Center .
Lightning in August ignited many of California ’ s biggest blazes , but scientists say climate change has also contributed to the conflagrations .
It was the hottest August on record in the state , and trees and brush were already abnormally combustible after much of the state saw exceptionally dry conditions last winter .
More than 5,300 firefighters continued to battle 21 fires across the state as of Saturday , according to Cal Fire , which said it had increased staffing and was pre-positioning resources in high-risk areas ahead of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ignited Friday , but firefighters were able to contain all but two of them : the Pope fire east of Angwin in Napa County , which had burned 67 acres and was 70 % contained , and the Redwood fire in a remote area of Humboldt County , which burned 102 acres and was 80 % contained .
The Pope fire was not threatening any communities , and fire officials were confident they ’ d gained the upper hand , Will Powers , public information officer with Cal Fire , said Saturday .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ that will be taking effect tomorrow in the afternoon , of course that is a concern for us in the north region , but we are prepared , ” he said .
He said that firefighters have formed task forces with local government agencies “ that are strategically placed throughout the north region and are ready to respond to any new starts that may occur.
” The wind event forecast to start Sunday is reminiscent of the one that fueled the Kincade fire that burned more than 77,000 acres in Sonoma County wine @ @ @ @ @ @ @ That fire was sparked by PG & E transmission lines , which remained energized despite a public safety power shutoff that saw other PG & E equipment in the area turned off , according to a state fire department investigation .
Unlike onshore winds , which bring in moisture as they blow from the ocean over the land , Diablo winds originate inland , gaining speed , warming up and drying out as they move from higher to lower elevations and squeeze through narrow canyons and passes .
“ When they switch to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have much drier winds that come over the region and further dry out fuels that are already at critically dry levels , ” King said .
“ So with the strong winds and the dry conditions you can get a fire start .
“ And if a fire starts , whether from the winds or unfortunately from people doing incorrect things , that can spread very rapidly when you have winds of the strength and magnitude that we ’ re expecting this Sunday night.
” This would be PG & E ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ according to a news release .
During each of the previous four , the utility ’ s equipment sustained damage that could have ignited fires , had the power not been cut , PG & E said .
PG & E ’ s equipment has already been blamed for causing some of the worst wildfires in state history , including the Camp fire , which devastated the town of Paradise in 2018 , killing 85 people and destroying nearly 14,000 homes .
PG & E pleaded guilty to 84 counts of involuntary manslaughter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ May , the California Public Utilities Commission approved a record $ 1.9-billion penalty against PG & E after investigators found the utility failed to properly maintain and operate its power lines , sparking a series of deadly fires in 2017 and 2018 that led to an estimated $ 30 billion in claims against PG & E .
The utility agreed to pay $ 25.5 billion to settle those damage claims , as well as others relating to the 2015 Butte fire , as part of a bankruptcy reorganization announced in June .
Most @ @ @ @ @ @ @ California investigators were looking at its equipment as a possible cause of the Zogg fire that started last month in Shasta County , killing four people and burning more than 56,000 acres in the Sierra Nevada Mountains .
Despite the history of its equipment sparking fires , PG & E came under heavy criticism for sweeping precautionary outages that left millions of Californians in the dark last October , with many residents and public officials complaining that the utility didn ’ t give enough notice or target the shutoffs narrowly enough .
PG @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to notify 23,000 customers of the outages .
This time , PG & E began notifying affected customers via text , email and robocall Friday afternoon , the utility said .
PG & E also plans to open 109 community resources centers to provide those who lose power with bathrooms , handwashing stations , Wi-Fi , the ability to charge medical equipment , water and snacks , it said .
Forecasters say the weather shift is a result of a cold low pressure system high in the atmosphere that ’ s moving down @ @ @ @ @ @ @ change in air pressure that will impart strong and gusty north-northeast winds through the mountain passes up and down California .
“ It ’ s a wide-ranging weather system over the Western United States that ’ s going to affect a lot of areas in different ways , ” said Joe Sirard , meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Oxnard .
The same weather system is expected to bring freezing temperatures and snow to Colorado and northern Utah , as well as powerful Santa Ana winds to Southern California , he said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Santa Ana event of the year , ” Sirard said .
“ It ’ s going to be widespread and it ’ s going to be strong .
We could have tree limbs down and some scattered power outages will not be out of the question , in addition to the extreme fire danger.
” The Santa Ana winds are expected to start blowing overnight Sunday into Monday , after midnight , and persist through Monday afternoon , with damaging gusts of up to 65 mph in lower elevations and up to 75 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Like the Diablo winds , Santa Anas blow offshore , drying out as they move over the land .
The winds are expected to cause humidities to plummet into the teens and single digits Monday morning into the afternoon , Sirard said .

Pacific Gas and Electric may cut power to more than 1 million people in Northern and Central California on Sunday amid extreme fire weather that’s expected to bring the strongest winds and driest conditions of the year.
The utility undertakes the preemptive blackouts, which it calls public safety power shutoffs, to avoid a situation in which wind gusts could snap off tree branches or damage a piece of equipment, creating a spark that could ignite dry brush and lead to the next wildfire disaster.
Powerful and dry Diablo winds are forecast to sweep through the area starting Sunday, with sustained speeds of 25-35 mph and gusts of up to 70 mph in higher elevation areas, according to the National Weather Service.
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“Initial forecasts indicate this could be our largest PSPS event this year so far,” Michael Lewis, PG&E’s interim president, said in a statement. “Our highest priority is to keep customers and communities safe and execute this event according to our plan and to then quickly restore power to all affected customers when it’s safe to do so.”
An estimated 466,093 customers in portions of 38 Northern California counties could lose power as early as Sunday morning, the utility said in a news release. That amounts to more than 1.1 million people assuming each customer represents two to three people.
Power is expected to be restored within 12 hours after the winds subside from Monday to Tuesday morning, PG&E said.
The areas where the shutoffs are most likely to move forward are the northern and western Sacramento Valley, the Northern and Central Sierra, higher elevation portions of the Bay Area, including the Santa Cruz Mountains, the Central Coast region and portions of southern Kern County, the utility said.
El Dorado County was projected to see the most customers lose power, 41,009; followed by Nevada County with 40,252; Alameda County with 39,401; Sonoma County with 38,120 and Tuolumne County with 33,271, according to PG&E.
The National Weather Service has issued red-flag warnings for the entire Bay Area, which means forecasters have high confidence that dangerous fire conditions will be in place.
“This is expected to be the strongest wind event of 2020,” said David King, meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Monterey.
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Southern California is also expected to see fire weather conditions. The weather service has issued a red-flag warning for all of Los Angeles and Ventura counties, except the Antelope Valley, starting late Sunday night and lasting through Tuesday evening. A high wind warning is also in effect late Sunday through Monday afternoon.
The winds could also whip up coastal waters out to Catalina Island, causing choppy seas and wind waves into the harbor, with gale force winds possible Monday, officials said.
Southern California Edison has not announced plans for any preemptive power shutoffs in its service area.
The winds in Northern California are expected to pick up about 11 a.m. Sunday in the North Bay Mountains and East Bay hills, increasing gradually throughout the day in areas above 1,000 feet, King said. By Sunday evening, the winds are expected to intensify and become more widespread, affecting a broader swath that encompasses much of the Bay Area, including the East Bay and Santa Clara valleys, the Santa Cruz Mountains and the San Francisco Peninsula, he said.
The strongest and most widespread period of wind is expected to be Sunday night into Monday morning, with sustained speeds of up to 35 mph and gusts of up to 70 mph at higher elevations. The winds are expected to start to subside Monday morning, but conditions will remain dry and breezy in higher terrain areas until Tuesday morning, King said.
He noted that vegetation is already critically dry since the area saw no rain in February and only limited rain in the spring.
The lack of rain contributed to an early start to this year’s fire season, which has become California’s worst on record in terms of acreage burned — more than 4 million — with fires also killing 31 people and destroying more than 8,200 structures over the past three months, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.
Previously, California’s worst year of fire was 2018, when more than 1.8 million acres burned and more than 100 people were killed, according to the National Interagency Coordination Center.
Lightning in August ignited many of California’s biggest blazes, but scientists say climate change has also contributed to the conflagrations. It was the hottest August on record in the state, and trees and brush were already abnormally combustible after much of the state saw exceptionally dry conditions last winter.
More than 5,300 firefighters continued to battle 21 fires across the state as of Saturday, according to Cal Fire, which said it had increased staffing and was pre-positioning resources in high-risk areas ahead of the anticipated winds.
Twenty-four new wildfires ignited Friday, but firefighters were able to contain all but two of them: the Pope fire east of Angwin in Napa County, which had burned 67 acres and was 70% contained, and the Redwood fire in a remote area of Humboldt County, which burned 102 acres and was 80% contained.
The Pope fire was not threatening any communities, and fire officials were confident they’d gained the upper hand, Will Powers, public information officer with Cal Fire, said Saturday.
“As for the predicted red-flag warnings that will be taking effect tomorrow in the afternoon, of course that is a concern for us in the north region, but we are prepared,” he said.
He said that firefighters have formed task forces with local government agencies “that are strategically placed throughout the north region and are ready to respond to any new starts that may occur.”
The wind event forecast to start Sunday is reminiscent of the one that fueled the Kincade fire that burned more than 77,000 acres in Sonoma County wine country last year, King said. That fire was sparked by PG&E transmission lines, which remained energized despite a public safety power shutoff that saw other PG&E equipment in the area turned off, according to a state fire department investigation.
Unlike onshore winds, which bring in moisture as they blow from the ocean over the land, Diablo winds originate inland, gaining speed, warming up and drying out as they move from higher to lower elevations and squeeze through narrow canyons and passes.
“When they switch to offshore, that’s when you have much drier winds that come over the region and further dry out fuels that are already at critically dry levels,” King said. “So with the strong winds and the dry conditions you can get a fire start.
“And if a fire starts, whether from the winds or unfortunately from people doing incorrect things, that can spread very rapidly when you have winds of the strength and magnitude that we’re expecting this Sunday night.”
This would be PG&E’s fifth preemptive blackout of the year, according to a news release. During each of the previous four, the utility’s equipment sustained damage that could have ignited fires, had the power not been cut, PG&E said.
PG&E’s equipment has already been blamed for causing some of the worst wildfires in state history, including the Camp fire, which devastated the town of Paradise in 2018, killing 85 people and destroying nearly 14,000 homes. PG&E pleaded guilty to 84 counts of involuntary manslaughter in connection with the fire.
In May, the California Public Utilities Commission approved a record $1.9-billion penalty against PG&E after investigators found the utility failed to properly maintain and operate its power lines, sparking a series of deadly fires in 2017 and 2018 that led to an estimated $30 billion in claims against PG&E. The utility agreed to pay $25.5 billion to settle those damage claims, as well as others relating to the 2015 Butte fire, as part of a bankruptcy reorganization announced in June.
Most recently, PG&E said that California investigators were looking at its equipment as a possible cause of the Zogg fire that started last month in Shasta County, killing four people and burning more than 56,000 acres in the Sierra Nevada Mountains.
Despite the history of its equipment sparking fires, PG&E came under heavy criticism for sweeping precautionary outages that left millions of Californians in the dark last October, with many residents and public officials complaining that the utility didn’t give enough notice or target the shutoffs narrowly enough. PG&E later admitted it had failed to notify 23,000 customers of the outages.
This time, PG&E began notifying affected customers via text, email and robocall Friday afternoon, the utility said. PG&E also plans to open 109 community resources centers to provide those who lose power with bathrooms, handwashing stations, Wi-Fi, the ability to charge medical equipment, water and snacks, it said.
Forecasters say the weather shift is a result of a cold low pressure system high in the atmosphere that’s moving down into the Great Basin, causing a change in air pressure that will impart strong and gusty north-northeast winds through the mountain passes up and down California.
“It’s a wide-ranging weather system over the Western United States that’s going to affect a lot of areas in different ways,” said Joe Sirard, meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Oxnard.
The same weather system is expected to bring freezing temperatures and snow to Colorado and northern Utah, as well as powerful Santa Ana winds to Southern California, he said.
“This is the first strong Santa Ana event of the year,” Sirard said. “It’s going to be widespread and it’s going to be strong. We could have tree limbs down and some scattered power outages will not be out of the question, in addition to the extreme fire danger.”
The Santa Ana winds are expected to start blowing overnight Sunday into Monday, after midnight, and persist through Monday afternoon, with damaging gusts of up to 65 mph in lower elevations and up to 75 mph in mountain areas, Sirard said.
Like the Diablo winds, Santa Anas blow offshore, drying out as they move over the land. The winds are expected to cause humidities to plummet into the teens and single digits Monday morning into the afternoon, Sirard said.


latimes--2020-10-24--Early voting centers open across L.A. County

Traditionally , election day is the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November , but early voting in Los Angeles County has already begun .
If you want to vote in person , you can now go to one of the 118 vote centers throughout the county .
They ’ ll be open every day , including weekends , through election day , Nov. 3 , from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m .
The line of voters outside the South Pasadena community room stretched the length of two football fields by the time the doors opened at 10 a.m. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the crowding subsided but traffic remain steady throughout the day .
Several voters said they preferred to vote in person , with all the discussion this year about the U.S .
Postal Service potentially being delayed in delivering mail-in ballots .
Others said they wanted to get their vote in the presidential race recorded as quickly as possible and voting in person seemed the best option .
“ There is a tension in the air this year and extra excitement about voting and setting an example , ” said Thea Page , a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are just a lot of issues in the public consciousness right now.
” Alexius Dixon , 32 , an accountant for a law firm , said he wanted to record his vote against the president as soon as possible .
“ This election is very important because the last four years of the experiment with Donald Trump has been a disaster , ” Dixon said .
“ A lot of people picked him because he wasn ’ t a typical politician , but now we have a track record and we know that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the job.
” Ann Crigler and her husband dropped their mail-in ballots at the same South Pasadena vote center , eager to record their disapproval of the president .
“ Trump has got to go .
He ’ s got to go , ” said Crigler , a USC political science professor .
“ He ’ s endangering our democracy , undermining the institutions of government.
” Her husband concurred : “ He ’ s fundamentally trying to undermine the way the government is supposed to work.
” Both said they have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , but they aren ’ t assuming anything about the outcome , or that there will even be a victor declared on election day .
Also early Saturday , the line to vote at the Iman Cultural Center in the unincorporated community of Palms near Culver City snaked through the mosque ’ s large parking lot and down the length of the city block .
Some appeared eager for the chance to cast their ballots ; two people snapped a selfie near the flag marking the voting site .
The rush appeared tied @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as the doors opened for the first time in the general election .
By 1 p.m. , there was no line at all outside the site .
On Oct. 30 , the county will open 650 more voting stations .
A wide range of public venues are serving as polling centers this year , including Banc of California Stadium in Exposition Park , the Forum in Inglewood and Staples Center in downtown Los Angeles , whose open spaces make social distancing easier while accommodating more voters NBA arenas across the country are being @ @ @ @ @ @ @ social justice initiative that the league and its players agreed to in the aftermath of the George Floyd protests this summer .
These vote centers represent a departure from how residents could vote in previous election cycles .
Before this year , Angelenos voted at designated polling places in their neighborhoods , whereas now they can cast their ballot at any voting center , from Long Beach to Lancaster , regardless of where they live in the county .
“ You ’ re not tied into only being able to vote in one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ before , ” Justin Levitt , a political science professor at Cal State Long Beach told The Times before the March presidential primary .
“ Of course , for voters going to these centers , this is going to be a new experience.
” Officials hope this flexibility and encouraging people to either vote by mail or simply drop off their filled-out ballots at a vote center will reduce the lines on election day and the pressure on the new voting technology the county is using .
The March election was marred by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the county rolled out its new $ 300-million voting system .
November will mark the first election since that problem-riddled debut , and officials have spent months trying to fix the glitches .
And it will be the first election in which ballots will have been mailed to all 5.6 million registered voters , not just those who request them .
Voters can drop their filled-out ballots into boxes that have been placed around the county .
Voters can find the location of their nearest drop box online .
“ Am I concerned @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to be concerned until Nov. 4 , ” said Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn , who has been vocal in her criticism after long lines and computer problems frustrated some voters in March .
“ We have a huge challenge in front of us.
” The U.S .
Elections Project calculates that more than 57 million Americans had cast ballots by mail or at early-vote centers by Saturday evening .
That is about the same number as the total early-vote count for the entire 2016 election , with 10 days of voting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ up the closest voting center to you on the county ’ s website .

Benjamin Oreskes, Melanie Mason, James Rainey

A man in full face mask named Jon, who gave only his first name, goes through his ballot at an in-person early voting center at the Azusa Women’s Club on Saturday.
Traditionally, election day is the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November, but early voting in Los Angeles County has already begun.
If you want to vote in person, you can now go to one of the 118 vote centers throughout the county. They’ll be open every day, including weekends, through election day, Nov. 3, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
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The line of voters outside the South Pasadena community room stretched the length of two football fields by the time the doors opened at 10 a.m. Saturday. After the initial surge, the crowding subsided but traffic remain steady throughout the day.
Several voters said they preferred to vote in person, with all the discussion this year about the U.S. Postal Service potentially being delayed in delivering mail-in ballots.
Polling clerk Diana Lee, right, makes sure every person entering uses hand sanitizer at a In-person early voting place at Azusa Women’s Club on Saturday. (Irfan Khan/Los Angeles Times)
Others said they wanted to get their vote in the presidential race recorded as quickly as possible and voting in person seemed the best option.
“There is a tension in the air this year and extra excitement about voting and setting an example,” said Thea Page, a communications and marketing executive. “There are just a lot of issues in the public consciousness right now.”
Alexius Dixon, 32, an accountant for a law firm, said he wanted to record his vote against the president as soon as possible.
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“This election is very important because the last four years of the experiment with Donald Trump has been a disaster,” Dixon said. “A lot of people picked him because he wasn’t a typical politician, but now we have a track record and we know that he was just not the right person for the job.”
Ann Crigler and her husband dropped their mail-in ballots at the same South Pasadena vote center, eager to record their disapproval of the president.
A women raises her arms in celebration after casting her vote on the first day of in-person early voting at the Beverly Hills City Hall in the City Hall Crescent Parking Garage on Saturday. (Jason Armond/Los Angeles Times)
“Trump has got to go. He’s got to go,” said Crigler, a USC political science professor. “He’s endangering our democracy, undermining the institutions of government.” Her husband concurred: “He’s fundamentally trying to undermine the way the government is supposed to work.”
Both said they have their hopes set on a Trump loss, but they aren’t assuming anything about the outcome, or that there will even be a victor declared on election day.
Also early Saturday, the line to vote at the Iman Cultural Center in the unincorporated community of Palms near Culver City snaked through the mosque’s large parking lot and down the length of the city block.
Some appeared eager for the chance to cast their ballots; two people snapped a selfie near the flag marking the voting site.
The rush appeared tied to the desire to vote as soon as the doors opened for the first time in the general election. By 1 p.m., there was no line at all outside the site.
On Oct. 30, the county will open 650 more voting stations. A wide range of public venues are serving as polling centers this year, including Banc of California Stadium in Exposition Park, the Forum in Inglewood and Staples Center in downtown Los Angeles, whose open spaces make social distancing easier while accommodating more voters
Polling clerk Cristina Madrid sanitizes polling both after every use at in-person early voting place at Azusa Women’s Club Saturday. (Irfan Khan/Los Angeles Times)
NBA arenas across the country are being used as voting centers as part of social justice initiative that the league and its players agreed to in the aftermath of the George Floyd protests this summer.
These vote centers represent a departure from how residents could vote in previous election cycles. Before this year, Angelenos voted at designated polling places in their neighborhoods, whereas now they can cast their ballot at any voting center, from Long Beach to Lancaster, regardless of where they live in the county.
“You’re not tied into only being able to vote in one specific voting place, as you were before,” Justin Levitt, a political science professor at Cal State Long Beach told The Times before the March presidential primary. “Of course, for voters going to these centers, this is going to be a new experience.”
Officials hope this flexibility and encouraging people to either vote by mail or simply drop off their filled-out ballots at a vote center will reduce the lines on election day and the pressure on the new voting technology the county is using. The March election was marred by breakdowns and delays at the polls as the county rolled out its new $300-million voting system. November will mark the first election since that problem-riddled debut, and officials have spent months trying to fix the glitches.
And it will be the first election in which ballots will have been mailed to all 5.6 million registered voters, not just those who request them. Voters can drop their filled-out ballots into boxes that have been placed around the county. Voters can find the location of their nearest drop box online.
“Am I concerned? Yeah, and I am going to be concerned until Nov. 4,” said Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn, who has been vocal in her criticism after long lines and computer problems frustrated some voters in March. “We have a huge challenge in front of us.”
The U.S. Elections Project calculates that more than 57 million Americans had cast ballots by mail or at early-vote centers by Saturday evening. That is about the same number as the total early-vote count for the entire 2016 election, with 10 days of voting left to go.
You can look up the closest voting center to you on the county’s website.
Matt Stiles contributed to this report


latimes--2020-10-24--Questions remain about Woodland Hills woman found alive after going missing in Zion National Park

After going missing for 12 days in Zion National Park in Utah , Woodland Hills mom Holly Suzanne Courtier was discovered on Sunday by rangers after a report from a park visitor , who said they had seen Courtier in the area , led to her rescue .
“ I think God got her through this , ” Courtier ’ s sister Jaime Strong , 41 , told NBC News .
“ I think it ’ s a miracle .
I truly believe there is no reason she should be alive .
It doesn ’ t make sense .
She @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and she didn ’ t have food or water.
” This lack of gear and preparation for her expedition into the park has led one local search and rescue team member to question how the 38-year-old former nanny , who lost her job at the outset of the COVID-19 pandemic , survived the ordeal .
A vigorous search for Courtier began after she failed to show up for a scheduled shuttle departure from the park Oct. 6 .
Courtier , who had been dropped off for a hike earlier that day , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the National Park Service .
Strong and other family members have been saying in interviews since Courtier ’ s rescue that she was able to survive by staying near the Virgin River , which is a heavily trafficked part of the park , and emerged emaciated .
Her daughter also told CNN that she had hit her head and become disoriented .
Officials with Zion National Park said that once she was found she was in good enough condition to be reunited with her family .
“ Was she that bad or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t make sense , ” Utah ’ s Washington County Sheriff ’ s Search and Rescue Sgt .
Darrell Cashin told local media .
“ They [ the Zion team ] apparently talked to her and felt she was OK to be released to the family.
” Cashin , whom The Times was unable to reach , told local media outlets that there was a series of unanswered questions that needed to be answered , because the family ’ s accounting didn ’ t add up .
A spokeswoman for the park didn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ comment .
“ If she ’ s by the Virgin River , she ’ s down in the valley , not in the backcountry up in the plateaus and the peaks , ” Cashin says .
“ She ’ s in that main part of the canyon , which always has thousands of people walking up and down those trails .
I ’ m sure people walked by yelling for her.
” She had also done a pre-hike fast and left her phone behind , Strong said in the NBC interview .
Some @ @ @ @ @ @ @ water , which is known to be full of deadly toxins and would ’ ve likely left her very ill .
But others said she had merely “ wet her lips.
” Cashin noted that if she had been drinking the river water , she likely would ’ ve died .
He also questioned the wisdom of going on a trip like this with what appeared to be such little preparation .
Courtier ’ s sister said in interviews that she had been going through a difficult time in her life but didn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t think that her mental state was good when she went into the park , ” Strong told NBC .
“ I really think she had a mental breakdown and was not in the right state of mind when she decided to take this journey and not tell people where she was going.
” “ She has definitely been through some trauma over the past several years , ” Strong said .
“ I don ’ t think she ’ s properly dealt with it and gotten the proper help for it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Her younger sister Jillian Oliver , told The Times that she had seen Courtier days before she left for Zion and that her sister seemed in good spirits .
Oliver lives a short drive away from Courtier with her two children in Agoura Hills , and she said her sister dropped by and they caught up .
They were having dinner , but Courtier told Oliver that she wasn ’ t eating anything because she was fasting , which was something she did with some regularity .
Oliver said her sister was a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ she didn ’ t tell Oliver she was planning to go to Zion but said she was in a good mood .
“ She gave me a big hug and said , ‘ I love you so much , ’ ” Oliver said .
“ She seemed a little choked up .
Like she wasn ’ t going to see us for maybe a few weeks or something.
” They discovered that she was in Zion only after Courtier ’ s roommate filed a missing persons report and the authorities discovered she used @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the park , Oliver said .
Oliver was ecstatic when she learned her sister had been found .
She had spent six days at Zion receiving updates about the search .
At each meeting , the search and rescue teams would say again that she didn ’ t have any food or water .
Oliver reminded herself that because her sister fasted so often , maybe she ’ d be able to survive .
They reunited Tuesday at their other sister ’ s house .
Oliver said Courtier looked very thin and was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ up as Oliver helped her pack and organize some clothes her daughter had brought for her .
“ She had started kidney failure and she was one to two days from death , ” Oliver told The Times .
She said a medical professional who examined Courtier had told her this and added that she appeared to have a concussion .

The Virgin River winds through the red rock canyon walls near the Temple of Sinawava inside Zion National Park in Utah.
Her sister called it a “miracle.”
After going missing for 12 days in Zion National Park in Utah, Woodland Hills mom Holly Suzanne Courtier was discovered on Sunday by rangers after a report from a park visitor, who said they had seen Courtier in the area, led to her rescue.
“I think God got her through this,” Courtier’s sister Jaime Strong, 41, told NBC News. “I think it’s a miracle. I truly believe there is no reason she should be alive. It doesn’t make sense. She didn’t have the proper gear, and she didn’t have food or water.”
This lack of gear and preparation for her expedition into the park has led one local search and rescue team member to question how the 38-year-old former nanny, who lost her job at the outset of the COVID-19 pandemic, survived the ordeal.
A vigorous search for Courtier began after she failed to show up for a scheduled shuttle departure from the park Oct. 6. Courtier, who had been dropped off for a hike earlier that day, was reported missing Oct. 8, according to the National Park Service.
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Strong and other family members have been saying in interviews since Courtier’s rescue that she was able to survive by staying near the Virgin River, which is a heavily trafficked part of the park, and emerged emaciated.
Her daughter also told CNN that she had hit her head and become disoriented. Officials with Zion National Park said that once she was found she was in good enough condition to be reunited with her family.
“Was she that bad or was she not? This doesn’t make sense,” Utah’s Washington County Sheriff’s Search and Rescue Sgt. Darrell Cashin told local media.
Holly Suzanne Courtier, an experienced hiker, who had been reported missing after she was dropped off at Zion National Park, was recently found and reunited with her family. (Handout photo)
“They [the Zion team] apparently talked to her and felt she was OK to be released to the family.”
Cashin, whom The Times was unable to reach, told local media outlets that there was a series of unanswered questions that needed to be answered, because the family’s accounting didn’t add up. A spokeswoman for the park didn’t respond to a request for comment.
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“If she’s by the Virgin River, she’s down in the valley, not in the backcountry up in the plateaus and the peaks,” Cashin says. “She’s in that main part of the canyon, which always has thousands of people walking up and down those trails. I’m sure people walked by yelling for her.”
She had also done a pre-hike fast and left her phone behind, Strong said in the NBC interview. Some family members said she drank the river water, which is known to be full of deadly toxins and would’ve likely left her very ill. But others said she had merely “wet her lips.”
Cashin noted that if she had been drinking the river water, she likely would’ve died. He also questioned the wisdom of going on a trip like this with what appeared to be such little preparation. Courtier’s sister said in interviews that she had been going through a difficult time in her life but didn’t elaborate.
“I don’t think that her mental state was good when she went into the park,” Strong told NBC. “I really think she had a mental breakdown and was not in the right state of mind when she decided to take this journey and not tell people where she was going.”
“She has definitely been through some trauma over the past several years,” Strong said. “I don’t think she’s properly dealt with it and gotten the proper help for it, and now is the time.”
Her younger sister Jillian Oliver, told The Times that she had seen Courtier days before she left for Zion and that her sister seemed in good spirits. Oliver lives a short drive away from Courtier with her two children in Agoura Hills, and she said her sister dropped by and they caught up.
They were having dinner, but Courtier told Oliver that she wasn’t eating anything because she was fasting, which was something she did with some regularity. Oliver said her sister was a free spirit prone to spontaneity and that she didn’t tell Oliver she was planning to go to Zion but said she was in a good mood.
“She gave me a big hug and said, ‘I love you so much,’” Oliver said. “She seemed a little choked up. Like she wasn’t going to see us for maybe a few weeks or something.”
They discovered that she was in Zion only after Courtier’s roommate filed a missing persons report and the authorities discovered she used her credit card to pay to enter the park, Oliver said.
Oliver was ecstatic when she learned her sister had been found. She had spent six days at Zion receiving updates about the search. At each meeting, the search and rescue teams would say again that she didn’t have any food or water. Oliver reminded herself that because her sister fasted so often, maybe she’d be able to survive.
They reunited Tuesday at their other sister’s house. Oliver said Courtier looked very thin and was exhausted. She didn’t stand up as Oliver helped her pack and organize some clothes her daughter had brought for her.
“She had started kidney failure and she was one to two days from death,” Oliver told The Times. She said a medical professional who examined Courtier had told her this and added that she appeared to have a concussion.
Times staff writer Maya Lau contributed to this story.


latimes--2020-10-24--Column: Homicides are up in Fresno. This activist is right to call for defunding the police anyway

It was the moment that Black people everywhere were supposedly waiting for .
Kristen Welker of NBC News , the moderator of the final debate between Donald Trump and Joe Biden , asked the presidential candidates what they would say to Black parents who must have “ the talk ” with their children about the police .
Did they understand , she pressed , why these parents feel they have no choice but to prepare their sons and daughters for the possibility of being targeted “ for no reason other than the color of their skin ” ?
What followed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in which Trump insisted he wasn ’ t racist while sounding racist and Biden offered up yet another mea culpa for his involvement in the 1994 crime bill that led to the overpolicing of Black people .
“ It was a mistake , ” Biden said .
“ I ’ ve been trying to change it since then.
” Dare I say we have more immediate concerns ?
Because , at the moment , the biggest hurdles to criminal justice reform aren ’ t coming from the federal level , but the local @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the local level is where I suspect many will be tempted to return to some of the failed tough-on-crime policies of the past .
Just look at what ’ s happening in Fresno .
This Central Valley city has seen a surge in homicides in recent months , much like in Los Angeles , Oakland , San Diego and dozens of other cities nationwide .
As of last week , at least 50 people had been killed in 2020 , mostly in the poorest and , yes , Blackest neighborhoods of west @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 560 — more than double the total at this point last year , Fresno Police Chief Andrew Hall has said .
But unlike L.A. , where the City Council decided over the summer to slash the LAPD ’ s budget by $ 150 million and reduce the number of sworn officers to fewer than 10,000 for the first time in years , Fresno has yet to settle on its final spending plan .
That has left an opening for Hall to request a $ 10-million increase for his department ’ s budget , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as Advance Peace .
“ A lot of our victims are involved in the gang lifestyle , but sadly many are not , ” Hall said at a recent news conference , according to the Fresno Bee .
“ And that ’ s where it really started to impact me personally .
When an 18-year-old girl , a woman , was killed simply because she attended a party — she got in between two gang members — that was kind of the final straw.
” Members of the Fresno City Council , no @ @ @ @ @ @ @ poised to grant Hall ’ s request .
But if that happens , a nascent effort to defund the police would be left in limbo , again prioritizing the department over the predominantly Black neighborhoods in the city that have long been plagued by disinvestment and overpolicing .
Hall , for his part , has blamed the rise in violence on public antipathy toward police and on policies implemented to slow the spread of COVID-19 by preventing crowded conditions in jails and prisons .
In short , he thinks too many people with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and are committing murder .
“ We need to get our prisoners in prison and our suspects in a jail until they can be tried or released or put in prison , ” he said in comments to the City Council earlier this month .
Officials from other California cities with rising homicide rates have focused their blame more on the economic fallout from the pandemic , including widespread job loss and soaring rates of housing insecurity .
Either way , since COVID-19 will likely be around for a while , apparently so @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ It ’ s something that ’ s weighing heavy on me , ” she said .
“ I can be very transparent and say that.
” At 22 , Jackson is one of the youngest members of the Fresno Police Reform Commission , formed in the weeks of rage after the police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis .
And as chair of the commission ’ s community input committee , she ’ s leading the fight to defund the Fresno Police Department — something , according to multiple surveys , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an outsider , a military brat who moved all over as a kid but calls San Diego home and never wanted to move to Fresno .
But her parents didn ’ t give her much choice .
“ I just thought to myself , like , man , I ’ m just going to stay low , do my four years and get out , ” she said of her decision to attend Fresno State .
But a lot can change in a few years .
After growing up in predominantly white neighborhoods @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said that attending college is what prompted a journey of “ understanding and loving my blackness.
” Jackson said she didn ’ t know about the Black fraternities and sororities known as the “ Divine 9 until I got to Fresno State ’ s campus .
I didn ’ t know about the NAACP .
I didn ’ t know about Black student unions.
” Today , Jackson is president of Fresno State ’ s chapter of the NAACP .
And it ’ s Jackson who helped organize a peaceful protest in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ attracted almost 3,500 people .
She is the latest in a long line of people who , for decades , have been fighting for a more equitable existence for west Fresno — a pollution-choked , formerly redlined swath of the city that has been largely abandoned by elected officials as developers have transformed orchards into malls and subdivisions .
Life expectancy there is more than 20 years lower than in northeast Fresno , according to a 2012 study from the Central Valley Health Policy Institute .
“ I don ’ t want to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s going to cause more harm than good , ” Jackson said .
“ And right now , I ’ m wondering for myself , like , is that what ’ s happening ?
And is it a direct result on what we ’ re advocating for ?
And if so , how do I live with myself for that ?
My only answer is showing up and making sure that we ’ re staying focused on our goal , which is to decrease violence , decrease the amount of poverty and increase @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ It ’ s not the answer that I want to give , ” she added .
“ But data doesn ’ t lie , right ?
These statistics of these murders don ’ t lie .
Accountability and responsibility are important , which I wish the Police Department would take some of that instead of deflecting everything.
” Jackson ’ s description of her internal struggle over how best to prevent more Black women from being shot to death on Fresno ’ s streets reminds me of many of the conversations I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ crime bill .
You see , the thing that doesn ’ t get talked about enough with that bill and the many locally driven tough-on-crime policies that preceded it , is how many well-intentioned Black people wrestled over supporting it , desperate to stop the violence .
No one wanted to see their fathers , brothers , uncles and cousins arrested and thrown in prison at disproportionate rates — and , like every Black person in America , that happened to some of my family members — but no one wanted to see @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cousins shot dead in the streets either .
We all know how that turned out , of course , which is why Biden keeps apologizing .
We can ’ t let history repeat itself , letting our fears and desperation inform public policy decisions over logic and common sense .
So Jackson is absolutely right to double down on her efforts to shift money from the Fresno Police Department ’ s budget and toward residents who have long been denied even the most basic public amenities , such as decent parks .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” she said , “ if people can wake up and love the neighborhood they ’ re living in .
”

D’Aungillique Jackson, second from left, and other members of the NAACP chapter at Fresno State during a May 31 protest prompted by the death of George Floyd.
It was the moment that Black people everywhere were supposedly waiting for.
Kristen Welker of NBC News, the moderator of the final debate between Donald Trump and Joe Biden, asked the presidential candidates what they would say to Black parents who must have “the talk” with their children about the police. Did they understand, she pressed, why these parents feel they have no choice but to prepare their sons and daughters for the possibility of being targeted “for no reason other than the color of their skin”?
What followed was a tortured back and forth, in which Trump insisted he wasn’t racist while sounding racist and Biden offered up yet another mea culpa for his involvement in the 1994 crime bill that led to the overpolicing of Black people.
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“It was a mistake,” Biden said. “I’ve been trying to change it since then.”
Dare I say we have more immediate concerns?
Because, at the moment, the biggest hurdles to criminal justice reform aren’t coming from the federal level, but the local level. And for the foreseeable future, the local level is where I suspect many will be tempted to return to some of the failed tough-on-crime policies of the past.
Just look at what’s happening in Fresno.
This Central Valley city has seen a surge in homicides in recent months, much like in Los Angeles, Oakland, San Diego and dozens of other cities nationwide. As of last week, at least 50 people had been killed in 2020, mostly in the poorest and, yes, Blackest neighborhoods of west and south Fresno. Shootings have topped 560 — more than double the total at this point last year, Fresno Police Chief Andrew Hall has said.
But unlike L.A., where the City Council decided over the summer to slash the LAPD’s budget by $150 million and reduce the number of sworn officers to fewer than 10,000 for the first time in years, Fresno has yet to settle on its final spending plan. That has left an opening for Hall to request a $10-million increase for his department’s budget, alongside other crime reduction programs, such as Advance Peace.
“A lot of our victims are involved in the gang lifestyle, but sadly many are not,” Hall said at a recent news conference, according to the Fresno Bee. “And that’s where it really started to impact me personally. When an 18-year-old girl, a woman, was killed simply because she attended a party — she got in between two gang members — that was kind of the final straw.”
Members of the Fresno City Council, no doubt hearing from worried constituents, seem poised to grant Hall’s request. But if that happens, a nascent effort to defund the police would be left in limbo, again prioritizing the department over the predominantly Black neighborhoods in the city that have long been plagued by disinvestment and overpolicing.
Hall, for his part, has blamed the rise in violence on public antipathy toward police and on policies implemented to slow the spread of COVID-19 by preventing crowded conditions in jails and prisons. In short, he thinks too many people with gang affiliations are being released too early and are committing murder.
“We need to get our prisoners in prison and our suspects in a jail until they can be tried or released or put in prison,” he said in comments to the City Council earlier this month.
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Officials from other California cities with rising homicide rates have focused their blame more on the economic fallout from the pandemic, including widespread job loss and soaring rates of housing insecurity.
Either way, since COVID-19 will likely be around for a while, apparently so will the violence in American cities.
::
That’s a prediction that gives D’Aungillique Jackson pause.
“It’s something that’s weighing heavy on me,” she said. “I can be very transparent and say that.”
At 22, Jackson is one of the youngest members of the Fresno Police Reform Commission, formed in the weeks of rage after the police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis. And as chair of the commission’s community input committee, she’s leading the fight to defund the Fresno Police Department — something, according to multiple surveys, the public very much supports.
Jackson is an outsider, a military brat who moved all over as a kid but calls San Diego home and never wanted to move to Fresno. But her parents didn’t give her much choice.
“I just thought to myself, like, man, I’m just going to stay low, do my four years and get out,” she said of her decision to attend Fresno State.
But a lot can change in a few years. After growing up in predominantly white neighborhoods and attending predominantly white schools, Jackson said that attending college is what prompted a journey of “understanding and loving my Blackness.”
Jackson said she didn’t know about the Black fraternities and sororities known as the “Divine 9 until I got to Fresno State’s campus. I didn’t know about the NAACP. I didn’t know about Black student unions.”
Today, Jackson is president of Fresno State’s chapter of the NAACP. And it’s Jackson who helped organize a peaceful protest in the days after Floyd’s killing that attracted almost 3,500 people.
She is the latest in a long line of people who, for decades, have been fighting for a more equitable existence for west Fresno — a pollution-choked, formerly redlined swath of the city that has been largely abandoned by elected officials as developers have transformed orchards into malls and subdivisions. Life expectancy there is more than 20 years lower than in northeast Fresno, according to a 2012 study from the Central Valley Health Policy Institute.
People in Los Angeles protest after a Kentucky grand jury declined to indict any police officers in the death of Breonna Taylor. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
“I don’t want to lead people into a situation that’s going to cause more harm than good,” Jackson said. “And right now, I’m wondering for myself, like, is that what’s happening? And is it a direct result on what we’re advocating for? And if so, how do I live with myself for that? My only answer is showing up and making sure that we’re staying focused on our goal, which is to decrease violence, decrease the amount of poverty and increase community safety and trust and morale.
“It’s not the answer that I want to give,” she added. “But data doesn’t lie, right? These statistics of these murders don’t lie. Accountability and responsibility are important, which I wish the Police Department would take some of that instead of deflecting everything.”
::
Jackson’s description of her internal struggle over how best to prevent more Black women from being shot to death on Fresno’s streets reminds me of many of the conversations I overheard as a teenager over the 1994 crime bill. You see, the thing that doesn’t get talked about enough with that bill and the many locally driven tough-on-crime policies that preceded it, is how many well-intentioned Black people wrestled over supporting it, desperate to stop the violence.
No one wanted to see their fathers, brothers, uncles and cousins arrested and thrown in prison at disproportionate rates — and, like every Black person in America, that happened to some of my family members — but no one wanted to see their fathers, brothers, uncles and cousins shot dead in the streets either.
We all know how that turned out, of course, which is why Biden keeps apologizing.
We can’t let history repeat itself, letting our fears and desperation inform public policy decisions over logic and common sense. So Jackson is absolutely right to double down on her efforts to shift money from the Fresno Police Department’s budget and toward residents who have long been denied even the most basic public amenities, such as decent parks.
“I believe crime rates will go down,” she said, “if people can wake up and love the neighborhood they’re living in.”


latimes--2020-10-24--Racial disparities in LAPD stops fueled by failed crime-fighting strategy, audit finds

An independent review of hundreds of thousands of stops conducted by Los Angeles police officers last year has found that racial disparities previously identified in a Times investigation were in part the result of failed strategies to use traffic and other minor violations “ as a pretext to identify or suppress more serious crimes.
” Those strategies subjected Black and Latino drivers to far more stops than white drivers , even though Black and Latino people were less likely to be caught with contraband , and were “ of limited effectiveness in identifying evidence of illegal firearms or other serious @ @ @ @ @ @ @ LAPD Inspector General Mark Smith ’ s office found .
In addition , a review of video from nearly 200 stops found that LAPD officers had severely underreported the number of people they had stopped and searched , with officers failing to document searches for 23 % of the people seen on video being searched .
That likely means the LAPD underreported the number of stops and searches by its officers to the state , the inspector general found .
The review also found that units specifically assigned to suppress crime made more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ color , and were more likely to subject the people they stopped to extensive questioning — about their backgrounds , their parole or probation status and their criminal records — and to other tactics , such as handcuffing , forcing them to face a wall or checking tattoos .
The result was that Black and Latino men were subjected to such prolonged interrogations with far greater frequency , the review found .
In some instances , officers admitted the stops were “ a pretext ” to investigate for more serious crime , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were more likely than white drivers to be stopped for equipment violations or expired registration rather than moving violations like speeding .
Only 2 % of traffic stops resulted in an arrest , the report found .
After The Times reported on the racial disparities in 2019 , the LAPD drastically cut back on vehicle stops , eventually admitting the strategy had been ineffective and reassigning elite Metropolitan Division crime suppression officers to other duties .
“ Some of these actions appeared to be based on a person ’ s behavior or criminal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ person was on parole or probation for a serious crime or admitted to being a member of a criminal gang .
In other instances , however , these actions were more discretionary and appeared to be part of a strategy to identify weapons , involvement in a violent crime , or gang-related intelligence , ” the inspector general ’ s report said .
“ In some cases , the officers making the stop also acknowledged to the stopped person that the basis for the stop was a pretext , and the officers may @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at all during the stop.
” The report — which was requested by the Police Commission — was posted Friday as part of the agenda for the commission ’ s upcoming meeting Tuesday , where Smith and his staff will outline their findings .
Smith ’ s office declined to comment prior to Tuesday .
Josh Rubenstein , an LAPD spokesman , said LAPD Chief Michel Moore would address the findings during the Tuesday meeting as well .
The inspector general ’ s findings confirm and expand on those of The Times in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ showed that the LAPD ’ s Metropolitan Division — tasked with suppressing violent crime — stopped Black drivers at a rate more than five times their share of the city ’ s population .
In response , Mayor Eric Garcetti ordered the department to scale back on vehicle stops .
Later that year , The Times published a second investigation showing that Black and Latino people were searched far more often than white people during vehicle stops , even though white people were more likely to be found with illegal items .
Compared @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people were much more likely to be removed from the vehicle , handcuffed or detained at the curb .
Black and Latino drivers also were more likely than white drivers to be stopped for an equipment violation , such as a broken taillight or tinted windows , the Times investigation found .
Days after the second Times investigation was published , Moore said the Metro Division would drastically cut back on pulling over random vehicles , which had been a cornerstone of the city ’ s crime-fighting strategy .
Moore acknowledged the vehicle @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at a tremendous cost to innocent drivers who felt they were being racially profiled .
Metro crime suppression officers , who had spent much of their time stopping motorists and pedestrians in an effort to combat violent crime , were assigned to other tasks such as tracking down specific suspects — a role that has continued this year , as homicides and shootings have surged .
Based on its latest findings , the inspector general ’ s office made several recommendations .
It recommended the LAPD work to eliminate or reduce racial disparities @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ refocus its crime fighting strategies away from the use of pretextual stops — particularly those pretextual stops based on minor equipment or regulatory violations , which more heavily impact low-income communities.
” It recommended that the LAPD “ develop a policy that consolidates and sets forth clear guidelines and parameters about post-stop activities such as removing a person from their vehicle , conducting pat-downs and other searches , completing [ field interview ] cards , and handcuffing individuals , including consideration of any officer safety issues that must be taken into account.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ effectiveness of its crime-fighting strategies , including their impact on community members as well as community trust and legitimacy , ” the inspector general recommended , and balance the benefits of any strategy “ against the cost to the individuals impacted as well as to community trust.
” The LAPD also should improve its collection of data around stops , and ensure that officers “ fully document and justify all pat-downs and other searches , as well as other post-stop activities , ” the inspector general recommended .

An independent review of hundreds of thousands of stops conducted by Los Angeles police officers last year has found that racial disparities previously identified in a Times investigation were in part the result of failed strategies to use traffic and other minor violations “as a pretext to identify or suppress more serious crimes.”
Those strategies subjected Black and Latino drivers to far more stops than white drivers, even though Black and Latino people were less likely to be caught with contraband, and were “of limited effectiveness in identifying evidence of illegal firearms or other serious crimes,” the report by the LAPD Inspector General Mark Smith’s office found.
In addition, a review of video from nearly 200 stops found that LAPD officers had severely underreported the number of people they had stopped and searched, with officers failing to document searches for 23% of the people seen on video being searched.
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That likely means the LAPD underreported the number of stops and searches by its officers to the state, the inspector general found.
The review also found that units specifically assigned to suppress crime made more stops in high-crime areas in communities of color, and were more likely to subject the people they stopped to extensive questioning — about their backgrounds, their parole or probation status and their criminal records — and to other tactics, such as handcuffing, forcing them to face a wall or checking tattoos.
The result was that Black and Latino men were subjected to such prolonged interrogations with far greater frequency, the review found. In some instances, officers admitted the stops were “a pretext” to investigate for more serious crime, the review found. Black and Latino drivers were more likely than white drivers to be stopped for equipment violations or expired registration rather than moving violations like speeding.
Only 2% of traffic stops resulted in an arrest, the report found.
After The Times reported on the racial disparities in 2019, the LAPD drastically cut back on vehicle stops, eventually admitting the strategy had been ineffective and reassigning elite Metropolitan Division crime suppression officers to other duties.
“Some of these actions appeared to be based on a person’s behavior or criminal background, including the fact that a person was on parole or probation for a serious crime or admitted to being a member of a criminal gang. In other instances, however, these actions were more discretionary and appeared to be part of a strategy to identify weapons, involvement in a violent crime, or gang-related intelligence,” the inspector general’s report said. “In some cases, the officers making the stop also acknowledged to the stopped person that the basis for the stop was a pretext, and the officers may not have even mentioned the initial violation at all during the stop.”
The report — which was requested by the Police Commission — was posted Friday as part of the agenda for the commission’s upcoming meeting Tuesday, where Smith and his staff will outline their findings.
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Smith’s office declined to comment prior to Tuesday. Josh Rubenstein, an LAPD spokesman, said LAPD Chief Michel Moore would address the findings during the Tuesday meeting as well.
The inspector general’s findings confirm and expand on those of The Times in an investigation published in January 2019 that showed that the LAPD’s Metropolitan Division — tasked with suppressing violent crime — stopped Black drivers at a rate more than five times their share of the city’s population.
In response, Mayor Eric Garcetti ordered the department to scale back on vehicle stops.
Later that year, The Times published a second investigation showing that Black and Latino people were searched far more often than white people during vehicle stops, even though white people were more likely to be found with illegal items.
Compared to white people, Black and Latino people were much more likely to be removed from the vehicle, handcuffed or detained at the curb. Black and Latino drivers also were more likely than white drivers to be stopped for an equipment violation, such as a broken taillight or tinted windows, the Times investigation found.
Days after the second Times investigation was published, Moore said the Metro Division would drastically cut back on pulling over random vehicles, which had been a cornerstone of the city’s crime-fighting strategy.
Moore acknowledged the vehicle stops had not proven effective while coming at a tremendous cost to innocent drivers who felt they were being racially profiled.
Metro crime suppression officers, who had spent much of their time stopping motorists and pedestrians in an effort to combat violent crime, were assigned to other tasks such as tracking down specific suspects — a role that has continued this year, as homicides and shootings have surged.
Based on its latest findings, the inspector general’s office made several recommendations.
It recommended the LAPD work to eliminate or reduce racial disparities in stops, including by continuing to “refocus its crime fighting strategies away from the use of pretextual stops — particularly those pretextual stops based on minor equipment or regulatory violations, which more heavily impact low-income communities.”
It recommended that the LAPD “develop a policy that consolidates and sets forth clear guidelines and parameters about post-stop activities such as removing a person from their vehicle, conducting pat-downs and other searches, completing [field interview] cards, and handcuffing individuals, including consideration of any officer safety issues that must be taken into account.”
The LAPD should continually evaluate the “effectiveness of its crime-fighting strategies, including their impact on community members as well as community trust and legitimacy,” the inspector general recommended, and balance the benefits of any strategy “against the cost to the individuals impacted as well as to community trust.”
The LAPD also should improve its collection of data around stops, and ensure that officers “fully document and justify all pat-downs and other searches, as well as other post-stop activities,” the inspector general recommended.


latimes--2020-10-24--Arcadia, a WWII incarceration site, names its first police chief of Japanese descent

Since 1903 , there have been 29 leaders of the Arcadia Police Department .
The new chief , announced this week , will mark a unique place in the city ’ s history when he takes over the job from retiring Chief Robert T. Guthrie on Jan. 9 .
Capt .
Roy Nakamura , a 28-year veteran of the department , will become the first police chief of Japanese descent of the city where about 19,000 Japanese and Japanese Americans were temporarily incarcerated at the Santa Anita Park racetrack during World War II .
Most lived in converted horse stalls @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in California , Arizona and elsewhere .
“ It ’ s progress , ” said Nakamura , 56 .
“ Obviously , I wasn ’ t here during those times , and not everything in history has been positive , but we ’ re also here to learn from our mistakes , and I wouldn ’ t be here if I didn ’ t believe in the city of Arcadia.
” Nakamura will also become the first Asian American police chief in a city where 61 % of residents identify as Asian Americans @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the honor and privilege of leading the men and women of this department , ” Nakamura said .
“ This is an outstanding community to work in and I ’ m very grateful for this opportunity.
” The Guam native , who holds a bachelor ’ s degree in social science from Cal Poly Pomona , began his career in 1992 as a police officer and moved up the ranks , later serving as a field training officer and then a detective specializing in forgery and fraud .
Nakamura was promoted to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2009 and to captain in 2019 .
In between he held positions such as watch commander , detective bureau commander and force training unit commander .
“ Roy is exceptionally qualified to lead the Arcadia Police Department , ” City Manager Dominic Lazzaretto said in a statement .
“ Over the years I have known him , I have seen that Roy is conscientious , progressive , and dedicated to keeping Arcadia safe.
” Nakamura takes over for another career officer in Guthrie , who joined the department as a cadet in 1989 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ We appreciate all those who have risen to the call of service as Arcadia police chief , ” Mayor Roger Chandler said in a statement .
“ Captain Nakamura continues in the long line of excellence in law enforcement leadership that this community has come to expect and enjoy from its police department .
”

Since 1903, there have been 29 leaders of the Arcadia Police Department.
The new chief, announced this week, will mark a unique place in the city’s history when he takes over the job from retiring Chief Robert T. Guthrie on Jan. 9.
Capt. Roy Nakamura, a 28-year veteran of the department, will become the first police chief of Japanese descent of the city where about 19,000 Japanese and Japanese Americans were temporarily incarcerated at the Santa Anita Park racetrack during World War II. Most lived in converted horse stalls before being transferred to officially designated camps in California, Arizona and elsewhere.
“It’s progress,” said Nakamura, 56. “Obviously, I wasn’t here during those times, and not everything in history has been positive, but we’re also here to learn from our mistakes, and I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t believe in the city of Arcadia.”
Nakamura will also become the first Asian American police chief in a city where 61% of residents identify as Asian Americans.
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“I’m looking forward to the honor and privilege of leading the men and women of this department,” Nakamura said. “This is an outstanding community to work in and I’m very grateful for this opportunity.”
The Guam native, who holds a bachelor’s degree in social science from Cal Poly Pomona, began his career in 1992 as a police officer and moved up the ranks, later serving as a field training officer and then a detective specializing in forgery and fraud.
Nakamura was promoted to sergeant in 2002, to lieutenant in 2009 and to captain in 2019. In between he held positions such as watch commander, detective bureau commander and force training unit commander.
“Roy is exceptionally qualified to lead the Arcadia Police Department,” City Manager Dominic Lazzaretto said in a statement. “Over the years I have known him, I have seen that Roy is conscientious, progressive, and dedicated to keeping Arcadia safe.”
Nakamura takes over for another career officer in Guthrie, who joined the department as a cadet in 1989 and was appointed chief in 2011.
“We appreciate all those who have risen to the call of service as Arcadia police chief,” Mayor Roger Chandler said in a statement. “Captain Nakamura continues in the long line of excellence in law enforcement leadership that this community has come to expect and enjoy from its police department.”


latimes--2020-10-24--Crime novelists dish on writing about cops in a moment of reckoning

For Rachel Howzell Hall , the titular female character in her Detective Elouise Norton novels is the epitome of a good cop .
In Hall ’ s crime fiction series , the down-to-earth Norton is a Los Angeles Police Department homicide detective who uncovers mysteries in Los Angeles while battling her own struggles .
As a Black woman living and working in a city , “ she knows what it is to be on the other side of the badge , and she didn ’ t like it , but yet here she is , ” said Hall .
Her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I think for the most part , people of color , writers of color who write mystery and crime , have written the proper cop , ” Hall said Friday evening during a Los Angeles Times Festival of Books event .
“ There are those cops that don ’ t do the right thing and we reflect that in our novels because we ’ ve lived it.
” Hall ’ s latest novel , “ And Now She ’ s Gone , ” published last month , is a story about secrets , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a dangerous pursuit of cat-and-mouse .
Hall ’ s response came from a question by Times crime reporter James Queally , author of the novel “ Line of Sight , ” who asked the panelists how they ’ re writing about law enforcement during a national reckoning with police brutality .
Hall and Queally were joined by other L.A.-based crime fiction writers Attica Locke and Ivy Pochoda for a wide-ranging conversation about character voice , avoiding tropes , what they ’ re reading , the writing process — before and during a pandemic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the answer to Queally ’ s question was simple : “ This isn ’ t on us to fix .
Yes , it matters what we ’ re putting in these books , but I want all of that attention to be focused on the police and the people who can actually enact real change .
I feel like it ’ s a little navel gazing to suggest that what we ’ re putting in these books can really shift what ’ s happening to real people at the hands of police.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Heaven , My Home ” was released last year , said that she never wanted to write about police ; it ’ s an establishment she didn ’ t understand and a perspective she didn ’ t share .
But when the idea spawned to write a series about murders in small Texas towns , she thought of Texas Rangers .
“ [ They ] were the most interesting law enforcement agency ” to bring readers into the story , she said .
“ Heaven , My Home , ” the second part @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , tells the story of a Black Texas Ranger grappling with loyalties when he investigates the disappearance of a white supremacist ’ s son .
Pochoda also said she swore she ’ d never write a cop .
“ When I decided that I was going to include a detective in my novel I realized that I couldn ’ t come up with a better manifestation of what it ’ s like to be a woman in a job where you ’ re not believed .
“ … So when I realized that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is trying to do good but is always being second-guessed as the person who ties my story together , I thought , ‘ I damn well better put a cop in the story because it ’ s a perfect way to articulate this anger that I have about our place in society , ” she said .
Pochoda ’ s latest novel , “ These Women , ” which was a Los Angeles Times Book Prize finalist this year , is a story of loss , power and hope told through the lens @ @ @ @ @ @ @ united by one man and his lethal obsession .
Before the end of the hour-long talk , Queally asked the authors about their writing process : “ Music or no music ?
Caffeine ?
Booze ?
Tea ?
What ’ s your ideal writing situation and circumstance ?
” For Hall , it ’ s having coffee and a routine : She wakes up at 5 a.m. every day and writes until 7 a.m .
But working from home because of the pandemic has stripped her of an important step in her writing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , from work , to my daughter ’ s soccer practice , I spent that liminal space , that time , thinking about what I ’ m supposed to be writing when I get to that end point , and I don ’ t have it anymore , ” Hall said .
An empty house is the ideal writing environment for Locke and Pochoda .
“ I like to write in the house alone because it ’ s energetically different when people are in it , ” said Locke , “ and people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Windows and music are also important .
“ I create a playlist for every book , every project.
” Pochoda , who lives with her daughter and husband , said she ’ s struggled with the notion of applying to a writing residency .
“ The truth of the matter is , it seems ridiculous to have to do that when I can do that at home if everyone just got the hell out of the house , ” she said , laughing .
“ I can have my own writing residency @ @ @

For Rachel Howzell Hall, the titular female character in her Detective Elouise Norton novels is the epitome of a good cop.
In Hall’s crime fiction series, the down-to-earth Norton is a Los Angeles Police Department homicide detective who uncovers mysteries in Los Angeles while battling her own struggles. As a Black woman living and working in a city, “she knows what it is to be on the other side of the badge, and she didn’t like it, but yet here she is,” said Hall. Her approach instead is community policing.
“I think for the most part, people of color, writers of color who write mystery and crime, have written the proper cop,” Hall said Friday evening during a Los Angeles Times Festival of Books event. “There are those cops that don’t do the right thing and we reflect that in our novels because we’ve lived it.”
Hall’s latest novel, “And Now She’s Gone,” published last month, is a story about secrets, violence and fear featuring two women on a dangerous pursuit of cat-and-mouse.
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Hall’s response came from a question by Times crime reporter James Queally, author of the novel “Line of Sight,” who asked the panelists how they’re writing about law enforcement during a national reckoning with police brutality.
Hall and Queally were joined by other L.A.-based crime fiction writers Attica Locke and Ivy Pochoda for a wide-ranging conversation about character voice, avoiding tropes, what they’re reading, the writing process — before and during a pandemic — and more.
For Locke, the answer to Queally’s question was simple: “This isn’t on us to fix. Yes, it matters what we’re putting in these books, but I want all of that attention to be focused on the police and the people who can actually enact real change. I feel like it’s a little navel gazing to suggest that what we’re putting in these books can really shift what’s happening to real people at the hands of police.”
Locke, whose latest novel, “Heaven, My Home” was released last year, said that she never wanted to write about police; it’s an establishment she didn’t understand and a perspective she didn’t share. But when the idea spawned to write a series about murders in small Texas towns, she thought of Texas Rangers.
“[They] were the most interesting law enforcement agency” to bring readers into the story, she said.
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“Heaven, My Home,” the second part in Locke’s Highway 59 series, tells the story of a Black Texas Ranger grappling with loyalties when he investigates the disappearance of a white supremacist’s son.
Pochoda also said she swore she’d never write a cop. “When I decided that I was going to include a detective in my novel I realized that I couldn’t come up with a better manifestation of what it’s like to be a woman in a job where you’re not believed.
“… So when I realized that I can have a female cop who is trying to do good but is always being second-guessed as the person who ties my story together, I thought, ‘I damn well better put a cop in the story because it’s a perfect way to articulate this anger that I have about our place in society,” she said.
Pochoda’s latest novel, “These Women,” which was a Los Angeles Times Book Prize finalist this year, is a story of loss, power and hope told through the lens of five very different women who are united by one man and his lethal obsession.
Before the end of the hour-long talk, Queally asked the authors about their writing process: “Music or no music? Caffeine? Booze? Tea? What’s your ideal writing situation and circumstance?”
For Hall, it’s having coffee and a routine: She wakes up at 5 a.m. every day and writes until 7 a.m. But working from home because of the pandemic has stripped her of an important step in her writing process: commuting.
“To work, from work, to my daughter’s soccer practice, I spent that liminal space, that time, thinking about what I’m supposed to be writing when I get to that end point, and I don’t have it anymore,” Hall said.
An empty house is the ideal writing environment for Locke and Pochoda.
“I like to write in the house alone because it’s energetically different when people are in it,” said Locke, “and people that you care about are in it.” Windows and music are also important. “I create a playlist for every book, every project.”
Pochoda, who lives with her daughter and husband, said she’s struggled with the notion of applying to a writing residency.
“The truth of the matter is, it seems ridiculous to have to do that when I can do that at home if everyone just got the hell out of the house,” she said, laughing. “I can have my own writing residency right here.
“The problem is they don’t comply.”