latimes--2020-06-18--L.A. County allows bars, nail salons, tattoo parlors to reopen Friday

Los Angeles County has given the green light for several more businesses to reopen Friday .
The list includes bars , wineries , breweries and tasting rooms , personal care services — including esthetician , skin care and cosmetology services , electrology , nail salons , body art professionals , tattoo parlors , microblading , piercing shops and massage therapy businesses — card rooms , satellite wagering facilities and racetracks without spectators .
All will be allowed to reopen if they implement the county ’ s requirements .
The news came as L.A. County officials announced 1,051 new cases of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of infections to more than 78,200 .
Additional , 36 more coronavirus-linked deaths were reported , sending the county ’ s death toll past 3,000 .
As with other businesses that have recently been allowed to reopen under California ’ s Stage 3 , including gyms , museums and zoos as of last week , face coverings will be required by staff and visitors when around other people , and social distancing practices will mandated .
In some instances , employees may be required to wear face shields .
Amid all of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ infections continues to hit new highs in the state .
California reported 4,291 new COVID-19 cases on Wednesday , a new single-day record and the first time the state has broken the 4,000 barrier since the pandemic began , according to The Times ’ coronavirus tracker .
Most of those — 2,129 — were in Los Angeles County , which continues to be the epicenter of the Golden State ’ s outbreak .
Health officials said the total , a single-day high for the county , was fueled by a backlog of test @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the new cases .
In the face of the growing case counts , Gov .
Gavin Newsom took the dramatic step Thursday of ordering all Californians to wear face coverings while in public or high-risk settings .
“ Simply put , we are seeing too many people with faces uncovered — putting at risk the real progress we have made in fighting the disease , ” he said in a statement .
“ California ’ s strategy to restart the economy and get people back to work will only be successful if people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ State and county health officials have consistently said they expect coronavirus case counts to rise as they lift provisions of the stay-at-home order .
Since the disease spreads from person to person , any contact inherently presents some risk of transmission .
Officials have instead pointed to other metrics — such as the number of COVID-19 patients who get so sick that they need to be hospitalized .
While some parts of California are holding up well in that respect , and coronavirus hospitalizations have been relatively flat for the last six weeks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ upticks .
A recent Times analysis found that there was an average of 91 people hospitalized in Ventura County with confirmed or suspected coronavirus infections last week — the highest such number since early April and a 75 % increase from each of the previous two weeks .
Orange County has experienced a 76 % jump in coronavirus intensive care unit hospitalizations in the last six weeks , and the eight-county San Joaquin Valley has seen a 45 % rise over that same period , data show .
State officials are monitoring particular @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Fresno , Imperial , Kern , Kings , Los Angeles , Riverside , San Joaquin , Santa Barbara , Stanislaus and Tulare .
In Riverside County , the state says one of the factors fueling elevated disease transmission is “ potential transmission at public protests with large numbers of people in close proximity without face coverings.
” Such demonstrations sprang up throughout Southern California and the nation in recent weeks to protest the killing of George Floyd , a Black man who died after a white Minneapolis police officer pinned his neck down @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of health officials have come out in support of the protests — saying racism is the root cause of public health disparities that date to the nation ’ s founding — they also urged participants to get tested for coronavirus infection .
The state also cited masks , or the lack thereof , as one of the drivers behind increasing coronavirus hospitalizations in Stanislaus County .
Specifically , state officials pointed to “ decreased attention to personal protection measures such as face coverings and social distancing.
” The use of masks to stem @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as an increasingly charged topic as the state reopens .
Rules regarding face coverings differ from county to county , with some requiring residents to wear them in public and others only recommending the practice .
While the state ’ s new requirement would seem to provide some consistency , the Newsom administration did not address how it will be enforced or whether Californians who violate the order will be subject to citations or other penalties .
The ideological battle has been particularly heated in Orange County , where the health officer resigned @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mask rules .
Her replacement walked that back to a strong recommendation last week .
That hasn ’ t put an end to the dispute , though .
About 25 Orange County union leaders gathered on the steps of the county administration building Tuesday to urge health officials to reinstate the mask order .
Their calls were largely drowned out by protesters , who crowded around them holding signs and shouting , “ Hey hey , ho ho , these masks have got to go.
” Areas that have mask requirements have also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ health warning was issued Monday after unmasked revelers packed into bars and clubs in San Diego County ’ s Gaslamp Quarter over the weekend .
Times staff writers Phil Willon , Hannah Fry , Rong-Gong Lin II , Stephanie Lai , Colleen Shalby and Iris Lee contributed to this report .

A socially distanced and mask-wearing crowd gathers on the lawn of Catherine and Jonathan Karoly’s home in Pasadena to hear them play music.
Los Angeles County has given the green light for several more businesses to reopen Friday.
The list includes bars, wineries, breweries and tasting rooms, personal care services — including esthetician, skin care and cosmetology, electrology, nail salons, body art, tattoo parlors, microblading, piercing shops and massage therapy businesses — card rooms, satellite wagering facilities and racetracks without spectators.
All will be allowed to reopen if they implement the county’s requirements.
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The news came as L.A. County officials announced 1,051 new cases of the coronavirus, bringing the total number of infections to more than 78,200. Additionally, 36 more coronavirus-linked deaths were reported, sending the county’s death toll past 3,000.
As with other businesses that have recently been allowed to reopen under California’s Stage 3, including gyms, museums and zoos as of last week, face coverings will be required by staff and visitors when around other people, and social distancing practices will be mandated. In some instances, employees may be required to wear face shields.
1 / 46 Newport Beach police enforce closures along the Wedge in Newport Beach, a popular surf spot. (Irfan Khan/Los Angeles Times) 2 / 46 Spectators along the Wedge in Newport Beach, a surf spot, on July 4. (Irfan Khan/Los Angeles Times) 3 / 46 A bicyclist rides along Highland Avenue with the pier closed to beachgoers on July 3 in Manhattan Beach. (Gary Coronado/Los Angeles Times) 4 / 46 Peter Gratzinger of Pacific Palisades heads to the water at Santa Monica State Beach, which opened to the public at 5 a.m. July 6. (Myung J. Chun/Los Angeles Times) 5 / 46 A bicyclist with her child rides along the closed bike path on July 3 in Manhattan Beach. (Gary Coronado/Los Angeles Times) 6 / 46 A police officer and a lifeguard boat comb the shoreline in Venice Beach on July 5. Even though the beach was closed over the weekend a few still made their way to the shoreline. (Genaro Molina/Los Angeles Times) 7 / 46 No-parking signs from the July 4 weekend still block spots on Ocean Avenue in Santa Monica on Monday. (Myung J. Chun/Los Angeles Times) 8 / 46 Dusk sets in over the the Santa Monica Pier on Friday. (Gina Ferazzi/Los Angeles Times) 9 / 46 Southern California residents watch the fireworks during the Drive-Up 4th of July Spectacular at the Los Alamitos Joint Forces Training Base on Saturday in Los Alamitos. (Gina Ferazzi/Los Angeles Times) 10 / 46 Bella Nousiainen, left, with daughter, Helmi Nousiainen, of Los Angeles, at the Santa Monica Pier, which reopens after being closed to guests for months because of the coronavirus. (Gary Coronado/Los Angeles Times) 11 / 46 Dr. Jamie Taylor checks the ventilators at the refashioned St. Vincent Hospital. (Wally Skalij/Los Angeles Times) 12 / 46 Shoppers and mannequins wear protective masks in the Los Angeles downtown garment district on Thursday. (Luis Sinco/Los Angeles Times) 13 / 46 Patrons wear face coverings at Grand Central Market in downtown Los Angeles on Thursday. A recent surge in COVID-19 cases in California has pushed the state’s total past 200,000 with more than 5,800 deaths. (Kent Nishimura/Los Angeles Times) 14 / 46 LAPD officers E. Rosales, left, and D. Castro, patrol the Metro Red Line at the Hollywood/Highland Metro Station Thursday. (Allen J. Schaben/Los Angeles Times) 15 / 46 Visitors wear protective masks while walking through historic Olvera Street in downtown Los Angeles on Thursday. (Luis Sinco/Los Angeles Times) 16 / 46 People wait in line to have a COVID-19 screening administered by the Community Organized Relief Effort at the Los Angeles City Mayor’s test site at Dodger Stadium on Thursday. (Gary Coronado/Los Angeles Times) 17 / 46 A woman adjusts a protective mask while walkiing along Atlantic Avenue in Long Beach. (Luis Sinco/Los Angeles Ti mes) 18 / 46 Cameron Johnson,18, left, headed to UC Berkeley in the fall and Simona Krasnegor,17, headed to UCLA in the fall, watched the sun set while sitting next to the Manhattan Beach Pier, following their drive-through graduation from Mira Costa High School in Manhattan Beach. (Jay L. Clendenin/Los Angeles Times) 19 / 46 Jair Guido, 36, a veterinarian visiting from Durango, Mexico, right, wearing a sombrero with an American flag draped over his shoulders, walks with other pedestrians along Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood. Guido said that he wore this outfit to show people that he is proud to be a Mexican and that he loves America. Gov. Gavin Newsom on Thursday ordered all Californians to wear face coverings while in public. (Mel Melcon / Los Angeles Times) 20 / 46 A mask-wearing skateboarder and her dog make their way along the boardwalk in Venice Beach. Californians must wear face masks in public under a coronavirus order issued by Gov. Gavin Newsom. (Mel Melcon / Los Angeles Times) 21 / 46 Pedestrians, some with face coverings, some without, walk past musicians Brent Kendell, background left, and Sam Jones, background right, as they perform at the intersection of Hollywood Boulevard and Highland Avenue in Hollywood. (Mel Melcon / Los Angeles Times) 22 / 46 People wear masks while walking along the boardwalk in Venice Beach. Californians must wear face masks in public under a coronavirus order issued by Gov. Gavin Newsom. (Mel Melcon / Los Angeles Times) 23 / 46 Pedestrians cross the intersection of Hollywood Boulevard and Highland Avenue in Hollywood. Gov. Gavin Newsom on Thursday ordered all Californians to wear face coverings while in public, following growing concerns that an increase in coronavirus cases has been caused by residents failing to voluntarily take that precaution. (Mel Melcon / Los Angeles Times) 24 / 46 Sophia Strauss, left, and Sarah Hoffmeister celebrate after their drive-through graduation from Mira Costa High School in Manhattan Beach. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 25 / 46 New West Charter School vice principal Mark Herrera shouts at graduate Joe Reid to come and receive his diploma during a drive-up graduation ceremony for the Class of 2020 at the charter school in Los Angeles. (Genaro Molina/Los Angeles Times) 26 / 46 A worker directs drivers at a drive-up testing site for COVID-19 outside of Jackie Robinson Stadium at UCLA.
(Genaro Molina/Los Angeles Times) 27 / 46 Destiny VanSciner is tested for COVID-19 with an oral swab by family nurse practitioner Anniesatu Newland at a walk-in site at St. John’s Well Child and Family Center in South Los Angeles. (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times) 28 / 46 Melissa Gomes fixes the tassel on the mortarboard of Sarah Anggraini as the new graduate gets ready for a photo at Chaffey College, which held a drive-through graduation, in Rancho Cucamonga. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times) 29 / 46 Maricela Moreno, manager at El Tarasco in Marina del Rey, disinfects cash at the restaurant. (Myung J. Chun / Los Angeles Times) 30 / 46 Mildred “Millie” Stratton waves to a caravan of cars led by Alhambra police officers and firefighters. The parade past her home celebrated Stratton’s 102nd birthday. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times) 31 / 46 Eric Larkin hands an order to Brittany Wright as she fastens her face covering outside the Last Bookstore in downtown Los Angeles. (Dania Maxwell / Los Angeles Times) 32 / 46 A jogger passes Evergreen Cemetery in Los Angeles as local stay-at-home orders are increasingly relaxed months into the coronavirus outbreak. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times) 33 / 46 Hikers and bikers traverse the Santa Fe Dam trail as county parks officially reopen to the public. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times) 34 / 46 A woman, masked against COVID-19, walks past a building that features the image of Britney Spears at a shopping center in the Fairfax District of Los Angeles. (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times) 35 / 46 Manon Guijarro, a new graduate of Pierce College, has her photo taken by friend Paige Johnson at Chris Burden’s outdoor work “Urban Light” at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art in Los Angeles. (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times) 36 / 46 Mary Perez, a salesperson at High Class Jewels on Broadway in downtown Los Angeles, helps a customer as he tries on a gold rope chain inside the recently reopened store. (Mel Melcon/Los Angeles Times) 37 / 46 Professional dog walker Lindsay Rojas takes golden retrievers Gomez, left, and Nikki for a stroll along Le Bourget Avenue in Culver City. (Mel Melcon / Los Angeles Times) 38 / 46 The Air Force Thunderbirds precision flying team banks over downtown Los Angeles in formation to salute healthcare workers and first responders on May 15. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times) 39 / 46 Maria Morales, center, a member of the USC class of 2020, participates in virtual graduation via Zoom with her brother Manny Morales, left, mom Pilar Morales and stepdad Victor Ramos from her home in Orange. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times) 40 / 46 On a recent day, there’s not a face mask in sight as a roller skater and others share the reopened walking path on the Strand in Manhattan Beach. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 41 / 46 Crew members of a Hainan Airlines flight walk through the Tom Bradley International Terminal at Los Angeles International Airport. (Al Seib/Los Angeles Times) 42 / 46 A woman wearing a protective mask walks past a shuttered business in Long Beach. (Luis Sinco/Los Angeles Times) 43 / 46 Thousands of rental cars are stored at Dodger Stadium as the coronavirus crisis has caused rentals to nosedive. (Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times) 44 / 46 Some beachgoers actively use the beach while others relax on the sand, despite Gov. Gavin Newsom’s active-use-only order, in Huntington Beach. (Allen J. Schaben/Los Angeles Times) 45 / 46 Traveling nurse Gail Cunningham waves thanks outside the emergency room entrance to Riverside University Health System in Moreno Valley as residents pay tribute to her and other medical personnel with a drive-by rally. (Gina Ferazzi/Los Angeles Times) 46 / 46 A scene from “Knives Out,” with actor Don Johnson, seen at the Mission Tiki Drive-in Theatre in Montclair. Opened with one screen in 1956, the Mission Tiki expanded to four screens in 1975 and began renovation in 2006, updating to FM transmitters and digital projectors. (Jay L. Clendenin/Los Angeles Times)
Amid all of the reopening plans, the number of confirmed infections continues to hit new highs in the state.
California reported 4,291 new COVID-19 cases Wednesday, a new single-day record and the first time the state has broken the 4,000 barrier since the pandemic began, according to The Times’ coronavirus tracker.
Most of those — 2,129 — were in Los Angeles County, which continues to be the epicenter of the Golden State’s outbreak. Health officials said the total, a single-day high for the county, was fueled by a backlog of test results that accounted for roughly 600 of the new cases.
In the face of the growing case counts, Gov. Gavin Newsom took the dramatic step Thursday of ordering all Californians to wear face coverings while in public or high-risk settings.
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“Simply put, we are seeing too many people with faces uncovered — putting at risk the real progress we have made in fighting the disease,” he said in a statement.
“California’s strategy to restart the economy and get people back to work will only be successful if people act safely and follow health recommendations.”
State and county health officials have consistently said they expect coronavirus case counts to rise as they lift provisions of the stay-at-home order. Since the disease spreads from person to person, any contact inherently presents some risk of transmission.
Officials have instead pointed to other metrics — such as the number of COVID-19 patients who get so sick that they need to be hospitalized.
Though some parts of California are holding up well in that respect, and coronavirus hospitalizations have been relatively flat for the last six weeks statewide, other areas have seen concerning upticks.
A recent Times analysis found an average of 91 people hospitalized in Ventura County with confirmed or suspected coronavirus infections last week — the highest such number since early April and a 75% increase from each of the previous two weeks.
Orange County has experienced a 76% jump in coronavirus intensive care unit hospitalizations in the last six weeks, and the eight-county San Joaquin Valley has seen a 45% rise over that same period, data show.
State officials are monitoring particular areas of concern in 10 counties: Fresno, Imperial, Kern, Kings, Los Angeles, Riverside, San Joaquin, Santa Barbara, Stanislaus and Tulare.
In Riverside County, the state says one of the factors fueling elevated disease transmission is “potential transmission at public protests with large numbers of people in close proximity without face coverings.”
Such demonstrations sprang up throughout Southern California and the nation in recent weeks to protest the killing of George Floyd, a Black man who died after a white Minneapolis police officer pinned his neck down with his knee.
Though a number of health officials have come out in support of the protests — saying racism is the root cause of public health disparities that date to the nation’s founding — they also urged participants to get tested for coronavirus infection.
The state also cited masks, or the lack thereof, as one of the drivers behind increasing coronavirus hospitalizations in Stanislaus County.
Specifically, state officials pointed to “decreased attention to personal protection measures such as face coverings and social distancing.”
The use of masks to stem the spread of the coronavirus has emerged as an increasingly charged topic as the state reopens. Rules regarding face coverings differ from county to county, with some requiring residents to wear them in public and others only recommending the practice.
While the state’s new requirement would seem to provide some consistency, the Newsom administration did not address how it will be enforced or whether Californians who violate the order will be subject to citations or other penalties.
The ideological battle has been particularly heated in Orange County, where the health officer resigned after weeks of attacks over her mandatory mask rules. Her replacement walked that back to a strong recommendation last week.
That hasn’t put an end to the dispute, though.
About 25 Orange County union leaders gathered on the steps of the county administration building Tuesday to urge health officials to reinstate the mask order. Their calls were largely drowned out by protesters, who crowded around them holding signs and shouting, “Hey hey, ho ho, these masks have got to go.”
Areas that have mask requirements have also seen issues with compliance. A public health warning was issued Monday after unmasked revelers packed into bars and clubs in San Diego County’s Gaslamp Quarter over the weekend.
Times staff writers Phil Willon, Hannah Fry, Rong-Gong Lin II, Stephanie Lai, Colleen Shalby and Iris Lee contributed to this report.


latimes--2020-06-18--Prosecutors consider charges against woman who went on anti-Asian racist tirades

Prosecutors in Torrance are considering misdemeanor charges against a woman whose racist , anti-Asian tirades were captured on cellphone video at a park , authorities announced Wednesday .
Police say that Lena Hernandez , 56 , of Long Beach berated two people in separate incidents at Charles H. Wilson Park in Torrance last week .
Video clips of the encounters that were posted on Twitter quickly went viral and triggered outrage among the public and elected officials .
The incidents came to light June 10 when a woman later identified as Hernandez accosted a younger woman who was exercising on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , unleashing a string of profanities and telling her to “ go back to whatever ... Asian country you belong in.
” A second video from the same day shows what appears to be the same woman berating an Asian man who had parked near her car at Wilson Park .
In the video , the woman says , “ You know what , you need to go home , ” while glancing at the man ’ s vehicle , where his two children are sitting .
The unidentified man responds , “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ woman tells him to stop playing games .
The woman is then heard using a profanity and threatening to kill the man , who turns his camera to record the woman ’ s license plate before she refers to him as a “ Chinaman , ” speaking to him in gibberish and complaining that his vehicle was parked too close to her Honda .
Investigators also linked Hernandez to a third incident that occurred in October at the Del Amo Fashion Center in which they say she verbally assaulted a custodian and struck @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Torrance Police Chief Eve Berg said at a news conference last week .
“ We believe that that suspect is responsible for all three of these incidents , ” Berg said .
“ That victim too has been contacted by detectives in regard to this matter.
” On Wednesday , detectives and members of the police department ’ s specialized crisis intervention team found Hernandez in a park in San Pedro and spoke to her about the three incidents .
All of the encounters are misdemeanor crimes but because none occurred in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not arrested when police interviewed her , authorities said .
Prosecutors had not made a filing decision against Hernandez as of early Thursday .
Law enforcement in Torrance has faced criticism from residents and outsiders alike for its perceived lack of movement in the case , something Berg has refuted .
“ The reason why we haven ’ t held a press conference or put out any information on this matter is because we didn ’ t want to compromise the integrity of this investigation , ” she said last week .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ positive identification from all the victims with this suspect .
”

Prosecutors in Torrance are considering misdemeanor charges against a woman whose racist, anti-Asian tirades were captured on cellphone video at a park, authorities announced Wednesday.
Police say that Lena Hernandez, 56, of Long Beach berated two people in separate incidents at Charles H. Wilson Park in Torrance last week. Video clips of the encounters that were posted on Twitter quickly went viral and triggered outrage among the public and elected officials.
The incidents came to light June 10 when a woman later identified as Hernandez accosted a younger woman who was exercising on a set of stairs at the park, unleashing a string of profanities and telling her to “go back to whatever ... Asian country you belong in.”
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Reader advisory: These videos contain extensive profanity.
My friend was threatened in Wilson Park in Torrance, California today while she was working out in a public park by a Karen. She now does not feel safe to exercise in the park because of this. This is infuriating @TorranceCA @TorrancePD @ABC7 @CNN @LANow pic.twitter.com/JkZbRpODbA — Rachel Tennell (@rmtennell) June 10, 2020
A second video from the same day shows what appears to be the same woman berating an Asian man who had parked near her car at Wilson Park.
Our friend and attorney just sent us this video of a very racist and extremely disturbed old lady going off on him while his kids are in the car.... pic.twitter.com/DvkE7oKL5s — brendon mcnerney (@brendonmcnerney) June 11, 2020
In the video, the woman says, “You know what, you need to go home,” while glancing at the man’s vehicle, where his two children are sitting. The unidentified man responds, “I am home,” before the woman tells him to stop playing games.
The woman is then heard using a profanity and threatening to kill the man, who turns his camera to record the woman’s license plate before she refers to him as a “Chinaman,” speaking to him in gibberish and complaining that his vehicle was parked too close to her Honda.
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Investigators also linked Hernandez to a third incident that occurred in October at the Del Amo Fashion Center in which they say she verbally assaulted a custodian and struck another person who tried to intervene, Torrance Police Chief Eve Berg said at a news conference last week.
“We believe that that suspect is responsible for all three of these incidents,” Berg said. “That victim too has been contacted by detectives in regard to this matter.”
On Wednesday, detectives and members of the police department’s specialized crisis intervention team found Hernandez in a park in San Pedro and spoke to her about the three incidents. All of the encounters are misdemeanor crimes but because none occurred in the presence of an officer, Hernandez was not arrested when police interviewed her, authorities said.
Prosecutors had not made a filing decision against Hernandez as of early Thursday.
Law enforcement in Torrance has faced criticism from residents and outsiders alike for its perceived lack of movement in the case, something Berg has refuted.
“The reason why we haven’t held a press conference or put out any information on this matter is because we didn’t want to compromise the integrity of this investigation,” she said last week. “We wanted to make sure we had positive identification from all the victims with this suspect.”
Times staff writer Andrew Campa contributed to this report


latimes--2020-06-18--Some DACA recipients rejoiced at Supreme Court ruling. Others are cautiously optimistic

For years , Denea Joseph knew that her life as a Black woman without legal status in the U.S. was precarious .
Born in Belize , the 26-year-old left her home on a visa when she was 7 years old to join her grandmother in South Los Angeles .
When her visa expired , she remained in the U.S. without legal status because she had no real pathway to legal residency .
Even after she was granted immigration relief under a 2012 Obama-era policy that allowed her to live and work legally in the United States , Joseph felt the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an executive order could be changed any day , at any moment , ” said Joseph , one of an estimated 700,000 immigrants who are recipients of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program — better known as DACA .
“ I had to plan my life incrementally , not knowing where I would be in four years , or three or even two years.
” So when the Supreme Court ruled Thursday against President Trump ’ s attempt to shut down the Obama-era program , Joseph relished the moment but was “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that Trump will find another way to eliminate the program .
Even so , the court ’ s decision reinvigorated Joseph and many like her across California , which is home to more DACA recipients , also known as Dreamers , than any other state — more than 200,000 — and has led the legal fight to defend the program .
“ There was always a level of uncertainty if our values and our ability of being on the right side of history would align with the U.S. Supreme Court , ” Joseph @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the United States as children , many unaware that they had entered illegally or on visas that later expired .
The program gave them work permits and protection from deportation and was meant to be a temporary .
Recipients had to reapply every two years .
In recent years , California has challenged in court the Trump administration ’ s efforts to wind down the program .
The University of California , under President Janet Napolitano — who crafted the DACA policy as U.S .
Homeland Security secretary — is a lead plaintiff @ @ @ @ @ @ @ entities and individuals .
In response to Thursday ’ s ruling , Napolitano , who helped create DACA when she served as Secretary of Homeland Security under President Barack Obama , said that , “ Justice and the rule of law won the day.
” “ The Supreme Court ’ s decision to uphold the University of California and the California Attorney General ’ s challenge against the Trump Administration ’ s capricious action is a victory for hundreds of thousands of young people who are making vital contributions to their families , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” Napolitano said .
Gov .
Gavin Newsom called today ’ s decision “ an important victory for now , for the hundreds of thousands of Dreamers — including over 200,000 Californians — who contribute deeply to their communities each day.
” “ DACA was an illegal use of executive authority from the start , ” Rosemary Jenks , Director of Government Relations for NumbersUSA said in a prepared statement .
“ Clearly , an illegal policy must be reversed in order to restore the rule of law.
” DACA recipients are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Many have pursued degrees at top-ranked universities , launched their own companies and created jobs for U.S. citizens .
Some are politicians and Hollywood actors , screenwriters and prominent immigrant and civil rights activists .
Many are students .
An estimated 9,800 undocumented students attend the 23-campus California State University system and about 4,000 are enrolled at the 10-campus University of California system .
Cal State Fullerton , which launched the Cal State system ’ s first student resource center for immigrants without legal status in 2014 , had scheduled virtual listening @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the high court sided with Trump in rescinding the DACA program .
Fullerton also had streamlined its process to allow students to take up to one year ’ s leave from studies without losing their academic standing .
J. Jesus Rojas Rivas , who graduated this month from Cal State Fullerton , woke up at 7 a.m. to check his Instagram and saw the news : the high court had saved DACA — and , for now , his future .
Rojas Rivas was brought to Los Angeles from Mexico when he was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ get to college , where he triple-majored in linguistics , Spanish and Chicana and Chicano studies while holding down a full-time job at McDonald ’ s .
He was planning to start his master ’ s program this fall but was steeled for a possible court decision that would have short-circuited his future .
“ I was preparing for the worst , preparing myself mentally for bad news , not to take it so hard , ” Rojas Rivas said Thursday .
“ But now , I ’ m so happy .
I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Among DACA recipients are front-line health workers , fighting COVID-19 .
Oscar Hernandez , a DACA recipient who was brought to the U.S. when he was a toddler , graduated from UCI Medical School last month .
Hernandez , 31 , feared he wouldn ’ t complete his five-year residency in Ohio and be able to practice medicine in this country .
“ I can go to work tomorrow , ” Hernandez said .
“ I can keep pursuing my passion of helping through healthcare.
” Immediately after the ruling came down , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ recipients to renew their status .
Leaders at the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights announced the organization would hold online renewal sessions .
But many immigration rights organizations warned that Trump could end DACA by issuing an executive action or new Department of Homeland Security memorandum doing away with the program .
Immigrant rights leaders vowed to keep pushing for a longterm legislative solution .
“ Today , people with DACA have a second chance ; we have some breathing room now , but we re-commit today to nothing less than comprehensive immigration @ @ @ @ @ @ @ no exceptions , no deals , ” said Angelica Salas , CHIRLA executive director .
“ Immigration reform is our north star.
” For some , DACA means the difference between life and death .
Jose Guevara , who was brought to the U.S. from El Salvador at age 9 , is a cancer survivor who still receives treatments .
He relies on health insurance from his job as a community organizer at a local nonprofit in Boyle Heights .
His husband lost his job after the COVID-19 pandemic hit the U.S .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ would mean losing access to cancer treatment .
“ This decision is lifesaving for me , ” he said .
“ This weight has been lifted for now.
” Steve Li , who is Chinese Peruvian and who came to the U.S. with his parents at age 10 in 2001 , called today ’ s decision “ a testament of grassroots groups organizing for years and creating our own vision of what we want America to be.
” Now 29 , Li works as a healthcare project manager and serves as a board @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Oakland-based center with a dual mission of service and advocacy .
He cited the rare timing of the ruling , adding that it ’ s happening at a “ pivotal time in our history , with the current uprising of Black Lives Matter and showing that immigrant justice goes hand in hand with racial justice.
” Joseph , an immigrant rights activist , said she had long prepared for the worst .
Her tenuous existence under the DACA propelled her to launch her own limited liability company that allowed her to work for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the law .
“ I set up the infrastructure… .
I did so years before this would be brought up to the steps of the court , ” she said .
“ I knew this program could be taken away at any time .
”

Los Angeles DACA recipient Denea Joseph was born in Belize and came to the U.S. when she was 7.
For years, Denea Joseph knew that her life as a Black woman without legal status in the U.S. was precarious. Born in Belize, the 26-year-old left her home on a visa when she was 7 years old to join her grandmother in South Los Angeles.
When her visa expired, she remained in the U.S. without legal status because she had no real pathway to legal residency. Even after she was granted immigration relief under a 2012 Obama-era policy that allowed her to live and work legally in the United States, Joseph felt the weight of uncertainty.
“I knew an executive order could be changed any day, at any moment,” said Joseph, one of an estimated 700,000 immigrants who are recipients of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program — better known as DACA. “I had to plan my life incrementally, not knowing where I would be in four years, or three or even two years.”
So when the Supreme Court ruled Thursday against President Trump’s attempt to shut down the program, Joseph relished the moment but was “cautiously optimistic.” She is still wary that Trump will find another way to eliminate the program.
Even so, the court’s decision reinvigorated Joseph and many like her across California, which is home to more DACA recipients, also known as “Dreamers,” than any other state — more than 200,000 — and has led the legal fight to defend the program.
“There was always a level of uncertainty if our values and our ability of being on the right side of history would align with the U.S. Supreme Court,” Joseph said.
DACA recipients were brought to the United States as children, many unaware that they had entered illegally or on visas that later expired. The program gave them work permits and protection from deportation and was meant to be temporary. Recipients had to reapply every two years.
In recent years, California has challenged in court the Trump administration’s efforts to wind down the program. The University of California, under President Janet Napolitano, is a lead plaintiff along with the state and other California entities and individuals.
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In response to Thursday’s ruling, Napolitano — who helped create DACA when she served as secretary of Homeland Security under President Obama — said, “Justice and the rule of law won the day.”
“The Supreme Court’s decision to uphold the University of California and the California attorney general’s challenge against the Trump administration’s capricious action is a victory for hundreds of thousands of young people who are making vital contributions to their families, schools, employers and the nation,” Napolitano said.
Gov. Gavin Newsom called the decision “an important victory for now, for the hundreds of thousands of Dreamers — including over 200,000 Californians — who contribute deeply to their communities each day.”
Groups supporting immigration restrictions criticized the ruling.
“DACA was an illegal use of executive authority from the start,” Rosemary Jenks, director of government relations for the anti-immigration group NumbersUSA, said in a prepared statement. “Clearly, an illegal policy must be reversed in order to restore the rule of law.”
DACA recipients are doctors and nurses, students and entrepreneurs. Many have pursued degrees at top-ranked universities, launched their own companies and created jobs for U.S. citizens. Some are politicians and Hollywood actors, screenwriters and prominent immigrant and civil rights activists.
Many are students. An estimated 9,800 students without legal immigration status attend the 23-campus California State University system, and about 4,000 are enrolled at the 10-campus University of California system.
Cal State Fullerton, which launched the Cal State system’s first student resource center for immigrants without legal status in 2014, had scheduled virtual listening and counseling sessions for Thursday in case the high court sided with Trump in rescinding the DACA program. Fullerton also had streamlined its process to allow students to take up to one year’s leave from studies without losing their academic standing.
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J. Jesus Rojas Rivas, who graduated this month from Cal State Fullerton, woke up at 7 a.m. to check his Instagram and saw the news: the high court had saved DACA — and, for now, his future.
Rojas Rivas was brought to Los Angeles from Mexico when he was 3 and worked hard growing up to get to college, where he triple-majored in linguistics, Spanish and Chicana and Chicano studies while holding down a full-time job at McDonald’s. He was planning to start his master’s program this fall but was steeled for a possible court decision that would have short-circuited his future.
“I was preparing for the worst, preparing myself mentally for bad news, not to take it so hard,” Rojas Rivas said Thursday. “But now, I’m so happy. I want to celebrate with my family.”
Among DACA recipients are front-line health workers fighting COVID-19. Oscar Hernandez, a DACA recipient who was brought to the U.S. when he was a toddler, graduated from the UC Irvine School of Medicine last month.
Hernandez, 31, feared he wouldn’t complete his five-year residency in Ohio and be able to practice medicine in this country.
“I can go to work tomorrow,” Hernandez said. “I can keep pursuing my passion of helping through healthcare.”
Immediately after the ruling came down, immigrant rights organizations called on all DACA recipients to renew their status. Leaders at the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights of Los Angeles, or CHIRLA, announced the organization would hold online renewal sessions.
But many immigration rights organizations warned that Trump could end DACA by issuing an executive action or new Department of Homeland Security memorandum doing away with the program. Immigrant rights leaders vowed to keep pushing for a longterm legislative solution.
“Today, people with DACA have a second chance; we have some breathing room now, but we re-commit today to nothing less than comprehensive immigration reform for everyone — no carve-outs, no exceptions, no deals,” said Angelica Salas, CHIRLA’s executive director. “Immigration reform is our North Star.”
For some, DACA means the difference between life and death.
Jose Guevara, who was brought to the U.S. from El Salvador at age 9, is a cancer survivor who still receives treatments. He relies on health insurance from his job as a community organizer at a nonprofit in Boyle Heights. His husband lost his job after the COVID-19 pandemic hit the U.S. So for Guevara, losing his job would mean losing access to cancer treatment.
“This decision is lifesaving for me,” he said. “This weight has been lifted for now.”
Steve Li, who is Chinese Peruvian and who came to the U.S. at age 10 with his parents in 2001, called the decision “a testament of grassroots groups organizing for years and creating our own vision of what we want America to be.”
Now 29, Li works as a healthcare project manager and serves as a board member at Asian Health Services, an Oakland-based center with a dual mission of service and advocacy. He cited the rare timing of the ruling, adding that it’s happening at a “pivotal time in our history, with the current uprising of Black Lives Matter and showing that immigrant justice goes hand in hand with racial justice.”
Joseph, an immigrant rights activist, said she had long prepared for the worst. Her tenuous existence under DACA propelled her to launch her own limited liability company that allowed her to work for herself and make a living without breaking the law.
“I set up the infrastructure…. I did so years before this would be brought up to the steps of the court,” she said. “I knew this program could be taken away at any time.”


latimes--2020-06-18--Federal approval of oil well at Carrizo Plain National Monument sparks outrage

To most Southern Californians , the Carrizo Plain National Monument is best known for its stunning wildflower blooms and bone-white Soda Lake .
But to environmentalists , the plain is a well-preserved window into California ’ s past — a time before the sprawling grasslands of the Central Valley were overtaken by agriculture and development .
Now , those environmentalists are voicing outrage over a May 21 decision by the federal Bureau of Land Management to allow an oil well and pipeline project within the monument .
At a moment when oil prices are still conservationists say the decision to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as it is galling .
“ We ’ re disappointed in the decision , but we ’ re also disappointed in how the decision was issued , ” said Jeff Kuyper , executive director of Los Padres ForestWatch .
“ It was released on a Friday before a three-day weekend , amidst a global pandemic.
” The bureau originally approved the project in 2018 , but withdrew it after Los Padres ForestWatch and the Center for Biological Diversity filed objections citing the potential for oil spills , air pollution and harm to wildlife @ @ @ @ @ @ @ groups said the BLM ’ s decision to move forward came swiftly and without warning .
“ What was the rush for them to get this out ?
” said Lisa Belenky , senior attorney for the Center for Biological Diversity .
“ It ’ s just one more example of these federal agencies bending over backward to permit oil and gas drilling when what we need to do is stop it.
” Sometimes called “ the Serengeti of California , ” Carrizo Plain is in San Luis Obispo County just west of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The grassland is home to diverse wildlife and plant species , including several listed as threatened or endangered — San Joaquin kit foxes , San Joaquin antelope squirrels and Kern mallow plants among them .
The decision by the BLM , a unit of the Interior Department , paves the way for the first well to be drilled on the site since its establishment as a national monument in 2001 .
A representative for the BLM in California said the agency followed proper protocols in its assessment of Carrizo Plain and consulted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Service regarding potential effects on threatened and endangered species .
“ Our analysis shows that this new well poses no undue health or safety concerns , has no significant impacts to the environment and is consistent with management directives for the Carrizo Plain National Monument , ” the representative , Serena Baker , said .
“ America ’ s free markets will help determine if energy development on public lands is feasible.
” Opposition to the Carrizo Plain project echoes criticism the Trump administration has received for its approach to other national monuments @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the ire of environmentalists when he the size of Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante , two national monuments in Utah .
In February , the administration opened land within those two monuments to .
So far , they have generated little interest from energy companies , in part because of lawsuits from conservation groups questioning the constitutionality of the action .
But the outcry over the Carrizo Plain project goes further than party lines .
San Luis Obispo Assemblyman Jordan Cunningham , a Republican , said in a statement that he is “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ decision ” at the site and urged officials to reconsider .
“ San Luis Obispo County and California does not want or need to open up our most precious pieces of open space for additional oil drilling , ” Cunningham , of Templeton , said .
Carrizo Plain ’ s position within Southern California also highlights diverging state and federal approaches to public land .
In October , California Gov .
Gavin Newsom signed a law that and infrastructure on state lands ; the monument ’ s status as federal land exempts it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we putting any new wells in California , or anywhere ?
” Belenky said .
“ We have to stop new production of oil and gas if we ’ re going to have any chance of limiting the damage of climate change.
” Mining and drilling are not explicitly prohibited on public lands .
Under what is known as the “ multiple-use mandate , ” the BLM is tasked with managing public lands for a variety of uses that include conservation and development efforts .
However , monument designation is intended to signal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ aside for conservation .
Mark Squillace , a professor of natural resource law at the University of Colorado Law School , said the timing of the decision may have been strategic .
“ Very little oil and gas development in the United States makes financial sense right now , because the cost of the production tends to exceed the value of the product , ” he said .
“ There seems to be a lot of activity by the Trump administration to try to rush some things through before the election.
” Plans @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at the base of Caliente Mountain , about 20 miles south of the monument ’ s biggest tourist draw , Soda Lake , and would involve reopening an oil pad that has been out of operation since the 1950s .
The oil field where it sits , Russell Ranch , is one of the in the state and could be close to exhaustion .
“ Our main concern is with the precedent this is going to set , ” Kuyper said , adding that fossil fuel development on the site may also violate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Environmental Policy Act .
The groups are reviewing their options for appealing the decision in an effort to protect the 204,000-acre monument , which has also become a popular destination in recent years for its .
“ These are areas that are supposed to be set aside to protect certain natural resources in perpetuity , ” Kuyper said .
“ Oil drilling can really interfere with the goals for which these areas were established in the first place .
”

To most Southern Californians, the Carrizo Plain National Monument is best known for its stunning wildflower blooms and bone-white Soda Lake.
But to environmentalists, the plain is a well-preserved window into California’s past — a time before the sprawling grasslands of the Central Valley were overtaken by agriculture and development.
Now, those environmentalists are voicing outrage over a May 21 decision by the federal Bureau of Land Management to allow an oil well and pipeline project within the monument.
At a moment when oil prices are still reeling from a sharp decline, conservationists say the decision to open a new well is as puzzling as it is galling.
“We’re disappointed in the decision, but we’re also disappointed in how the decision was issued,” said Jeff Kuyper, executive director of Los Padres ForestWatch. “It was released on a Friday before a three-day weekend, amidst a global pandemic.”
The bureau originally approved the project in 2018, but withdrew it after Los Padres ForestWatch and the Center for Biological Diversity filed objections citing the potential for oil spills, air pollution and harm to wildlife, among other environmental concerns. Both groups said the BLM’s decision to move forward came swiftly and without warning.
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“What was the rush for them to get this out?” said Lisa Belenky, senior attorney for the Center for Biological Diversity. “It’s just one more example of these federal agencies bending over backward to permit oil and gas drilling when what we need to do is stop it.”
Sometimes called “the Serengeti of California,” Carrizo Plain is in San Luis Obispo County just west of the state’s largest oil field. The grassland is home to diverse wildlife and plant species, including several listed as threatened or endangered — San Joaquin kit foxes, San Joaquin antelope squirrels and Kern mallow plants among them. The decision by the BLM, a unit of the Interior Department, paves the way for the first well to be drilled on the site since its establishment as a national monument in 2001.
A representative for the BLM in California said the agency followed proper protocols in its assessment of Carrizo Plain and consulted with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service regarding potential effects on threatened and endangered species.
“Our analysis shows that this new well poses no undue health or safety concerns, has no significant impacts to the environment and is consistent with management directives for the Carrizo Plain National Monument,” the representative, Serena Baker, said. “America’s free markets will help determine if energy development on public lands is feasible.”
Opposition to the Carrizo Plain project echoes criticism the Trump administration has received for its approach to other national monuments. In 2017, President Trump drew the ire of environmentalists when he substantially reduced the size of Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante, two national monuments in Utah. In February, the administration opened land within those two monuments to mining and drilling . So far, they have generated little interest from energy companies, in part because of lawsuits from conservation groups questioning the constitutionality of the action.
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But the outcry over the Carrizo Plain project goes further than party lines. San Luis Obispo Assemblyman Jordan Cunningham, a Republican, said in a statement that he is “disappointed in the federal government’s decision” at the site and urged officials to reconsider.
“San Luis Obispo County and California does not want or need to open up our most precious pieces of open space for additional oil drilling,” Cunningham, of Templeton, said.
Carrizo Plain’s position within Southern California also highlights diverging state and federal approaches to public land. In October, California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a law that prohibits new oil and gas development and infrastructure on state lands; the monument’s status as federal land exempts it from that legislation.
“Why are we putting any new wells in California, or anywhere?” Belenky said. “We have to stop new production of oil and gas if we’re going to have any chance of limiting the damage of climate change.”
Mining and drilling are not explicitly prohibited on public lands. Under what is known as the “multiple-use mandate,” the BLM is tasked with managing public lands for a variety of uses that include conservation and development efforts. However, monument designation is intended to signal that a specific area should be set aside for conservation.
Mark Squillace, a professor of natural resource law at the University of Colorado Law School, said the timing of the decision may have been strategic.
“Very little oil and gas development in the United States makes financial sense right now, because the cost of the production tends to exceed the value of the product,” he said. “There seems to be a lot of activity by the Trump administration to try to rush some things through before the election.”
Plans for the new well would place it at the base of Caliente Mountain, about 20 miles south of the monument’s biggest tourist draw, Soda Lake, and would involve reopening an oil pad that has been out of operation since the 1950s. The oil field where it sits, Russell Ranch, is one of the lowest-producing oil fields in the state and could be close to exhaustion.
“Our main concern is with the precedent this is going to set,” Kuyper said, adding that fossil fuel development on the site may also violate the Endangered Species Act and the National Environmental Policy Act.
The groups are reviewing their options for appealing the decision in an effort to protect the 204,000-acre monument, which has also become a popular destination in recent years for its super blooms .
“These are areas that are supposed to be set aside to protect certain natural resources in perpetuity,” Kuyper said. “Oil drilling can really interfere with the goals for which these areas were established in the first place.”


latimes--2020-06-18--Despite protections, landlords seek to evict tenants in Black and Latino areas of South L.A.

Despite new anti-eviction rules passed in response to the novel coronavirus outbreak , some Los Angeles landlords are still trying to oust tenants by locking them out of their homes , turning off their utilities and deploying other illegal methods , a Times analysis of data from the Los Angeles Police Department has found .
In the initial 10 weeks after L.A. Mayor Eric Garcetti ordered a temporary moratorium on evictions in mid-March , police responded to more than 290 instances of potential illegal lockouts and utility shutoffs across the city , according to the data .
The Times analysis @ @ @ @ @ @ @ police calls was in predominantly Black and Latino neighborhoods in South L.A. such as Vermont Square , Florence and Watts — the same communities that have faced the greatest health and economic problems from the coronavirus .
South L.A. neighborhoods have some of the county ’ s highest rates of coronavirus infections .
Residents there also faced disproportionately high rent burdens even before the pandemic and often work in food service and other sectors with significant wage and job losses due to COVID-19 , according to a recent study by UCLA ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the large population of undocumented immigrants , many can not receive unemployment benefits or other government assistance .
“ This is a web of urban inequality , ” said Paul Ong , an urban planning professor emeritus at UCLA and author of the study .
“ We could talk about housing , we could talk about jobs , we could talk about health .
But the truth of the matter is all these things are interlocked.
” Weeks into the pandemic , Claudia Mendez was facing many such problems .
She was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the rent was coming due when she contracted the coronavirus .
Stuck in her South L.A. apartment , Mendez was spared from going hungry by friendly neighbors who left food by the door .
But one morning in late May , Mendez awoke to find a woman who identified herself as the landlord in her apartment ’ s living room .
Mendez said she had been subleasing the place for three years from her roommate , an arrangement that now seemed to catch the landlord by surprise .
Since that roommate was leaving @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to go too .
Soon afterward , the landlord cut off the utilities , packed Mendez ’ s clothes and other belongings into trash bags and plastic tubs and hauled them outside .
The landlord even removed the toilet from the bathroom , said Mendez .
After a day of uncertainty — and after protesters from the Los Angeles Tenants Union descended on her home — the landlord relented .
A contractor who had watched the situation unfold on Facebook came and reinstalled the toilet .
Mendez remains in the apartment , for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sleep .
The situation was very difficult , ” said Mendez , 42 .
“ I ’ m not at peace because I ’ m afraid the police can come evict me from here.
” The property ’ s owner is listed as Coldwater Canyon Trust , which is located in Beverly Hills .
Representatives did not respond to multiple requests for comment .
Even under normal circumstances , landlords can not evict tenants by themselves .
Instead , landlords must file an unlawful-detainer case in court against a tenant who hasn ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their lease terms .
Currently , however , nearly all evictions in California are on hold because the state court system is not processing cases except for those deemed emergencies .
Ultimately , if a landlord wins an eviction case , the Los Angeles County Sheriff ’ s Department — not LAPD — carries it out .
But LAPD does respond to calls from tenants who say they ’ ve been illegally locked out and to other conflicts between landlords and renters .
Such calls have increased during the pandemic .
Through June @ @ @ @ @ @ @ % on average , according to a Times analysis of LAPD call data before and after the mayor ’ s anti-eviction order .
The Times further analyzed a subset of the LAPD calls likely to involve potential efforts to evict tenants , such as those describing utility shutoffs or lockouts , after the city ’ s coronavirus tenant protections went into effect .
More than a fifth of 292 incidents between March 16 and May 25 occurred in just two of LAPD ’ s 21 divisions — 77th Street and Southeast — which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ complaints that landlords had shut off water and electricity services and removed tenants ’ belongings in an effort to force them out .
Officers have sometimes responded to concerns at the same residence on multiple occasions .
Landlords say the economic slowdown from the pandemic has placed many in their own financial bind .
Although they ’ re encouraged to work with tenants on repayment plans for overdue rent and to make other accommodations , landlords may have their own troubles with mortgage payments and other bills .
Dan Yukelson , executive director @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Los Angeles , said he ’ s upset when he hears about any cases of landlords illegally locking out tenants and that he ’ d kick such offenders out of his organization .
Nevertheless , Yukelson said that landlords are struggling under the proliferation of anti-eviction rules .
The association has sued the city of Los Angeles , arguing that its eviction protections — which could require landlords to wait for more than a year after rent was due to collect — are unconstitutional and causing widespread economic and property damage .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the wall today , ” Yukelson said .
“ There ’ s really no maneuverability .
[ Landlords ] have absolutely nothing , no tools at their disposal when someone doesn ’ t pay.
” George Wimberly , a 92-year-old disabled World War II veteran , said he feared falling behind on his own bills when the tenant living in a small back house on his property in the Florence neighborhood of South L.A. stopped paying rent .
Though he sympathized with other renters who have lost their jobs because of the pandemic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ because he was receiving the same Social Security benefits as he did beforehand .
So in early April Wimberly turned off his tenant ’ s electricity .
Police arrived and Wimberly agreed to reconnect the power .
The tenant , Wimberly said , has paid some back rent , but is still behind .
If he could , Wimberly would evict his tenant right now .
“ He ’ s still back there using my electricity and my gas , ” Wimberly said .
Tenants facing illegal evictions increasingly seek help with the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ protests outside apartments to block evictions .
The group has seen a surge of incidents during the pandemic and they ’ ve been disproportionately located in South L.A. , said Katrina Albright , an organizer with the tenants union ’ s South Central local .
“ It ’ s just an absolute zero to 60 in terms of the uptick , ” Albright said .
Albright was critical of police response to those cases as well .
She said that officers favor landlords during the disputes , demanding to see tenants ’ utility @ @ @ @ @ @ @ even though the law has prohibited evictions without a court order even before the pandemic .
“ Knowing the law is not enough , ” she said .
“ It takes a whole community of people to physically turn up to block these things with their bodies.
” Attorneys at two L.A. renter legal assistance organizations — Public Counsel and Eviction Defense Network — say they are reconsidering or have stopped advising their clients to call the police if threatened with an illegal eviction , saying that they ’ re losing faith in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tenants .
Gisselle Espinoza , an LAPD spokeswoman , said she was unaware of tenant groups ’ concerns about how officers are handling landlord-tenant disputes , but that the department is always troubled if people believe police aren ’ t dealing with situations fairly .
“ I strongly encourage the public to continue to call us , ” Espinoza said .
“ We will respond and handle the investigation accordingly.
” Mendez , the house cleaner , remains worried about her future .
She ’ s two months behind on rent .
She @ @ @ @ @ @ @ landlord removed the sliding doors to the balcony , allowing mosquitoes and flies to come inside the apartment .
Still , without work now or in the foreseeable future , Mendez is not sure where else to go .
“ I can ’ t pay much rent because I don ’ t have anything right now , ” she said .
“ In truth , I don ’ t know what ’ s going to happen .
”

Claudia Mendez, 42, was finding little work as a house cleaner because of coronavirus restrictions, and then she got COVID-19 herself. Her landlord locked her out, removed her belongings and even took out the toilet. A tenant rights group helped get her back into the apartment for now.
Despite new anti-eviction rules passed in response to the novel coronavirus outbreak, some Los Angeles landlords are still trying to oust tenants by locking them out of their homes, turning off their utilities and deploying other illegal methods, a Times analysis of data from the Los Angeles Police Department has found.
In the initial 10 weeks after L.A. Mayor Eric Garcetti ordered a temporary moratorium on evictions in mid-March, police responded to more than 290 instances of potential illegal lockouts and utility shutoffs across the city, according to the data.
The Times analysis shows that the largest share of those police calls was in predominantly Black and Latino neighborhoods in South L.A. such as Vermont Square, Florence and Watts — the same communities that have faced the greatest health and economic problems from the coronavirus.
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South L.A. neighborhoods have some of the county’s highest rates of coronavirus infections. Residents there also faced disproportionately high rent burdens even before the pandemic and often work in food service and other sectors with significant wage and job losses due to COVID-19, according to a recent study by UCLA’s Center For Neighborhood Knowledge. And because of the large population of undocumented immigrants, many cannot receive unemployment benefits or other government assistance.
“This is a web of urban inequality,” said Paul Ong, an urban planning professor emeritus at UCLA and author of the study. “We could talk about housing, we could talk about jobs, we could talk about health. But the truth of the matter is all these things are interlocked.”
Claudia Mendez is back in her apartment but worries that she could be evicted despite city rules designed to protect L.A. renters during the coronavirus crisis. (Gary Coronado / Los Angeles Times)
Weeks into the pandemic, Claudia Mendez was facing many such problems. She was running short of jobs cleaning houses and the rent was coming due when she contracted the coronavirus.
Stuck in her South L.A. apartment, Mendez was spared from going hungry by friendly neighbors who left food by the door.
But one morning in late May, Mendez awoke to find a woman who identified herself as the landlord in her apartment’s living room. Mendez said she had been subleasing the place for three years from her roommate, an arrangement that now seemed to catch the landlord by surprise. Since that roommate was leaving, the landlord said, Mendez had to go too.
Soon afterward, the landlord cut off the utilities, packed Mendez’s clothes and other belongings into trash bags and plastic tubs and hauled them outside. The landlord even removed the toilet from the bathroom, said Mendez.
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After a day of uncertainty — and after protesters from the Los Angeles Tenants Union descended on her home — the landlord relented. A contractor who had watched the situation unfold on Facebook came and reinstalled the toilet. Mendez remains in the apartment, for now.
“I didn’t sleep. The situation was very difficult,” said Mendez, 42. “I’m not at peace because I’m afraid the police can come evict me from here.”
The property’s owner is listed as Coldwater Canyon Trust, which is located in Beverly Hills. Representatives did not respond to multiple requests for comment.
Even under normal circumstances, landlords cannot evict tenants by themselves. Instead, landlords must file an unlawful-detainer case in court against a tenant who hasn’t paid rent or has otherwise violated their lease terms. Currently, however, nearly all evictions in California are on hold because the state court system is not processing cases except for those deemed emergencies.
Ultimately, if a landlord wins an eviction case, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department — not LAPD — carries it out. But LAPD does respond to calls from tenants who say they’ve been illegally locked out and to other conflicts between landlords and renters.
Such calls have increased during the pandemic. Through June 6, landlord-tenant disputes were up 17% on average, according to a Times analysis of LAPD call data before and after the mayor’s anti-eviction order.
The Times further analyzed a subset of the LAPD calls likely to involve potential efforts to evict tenants, such as those describing utility shutoffs or lockouts, after the city’s coronavirus tenant protections went into effect. More than a fifth of 292 incidents between March 16 and May 25 occurred in just two of LAPD’s 21 divisions — 77th Street and Southeast — which cover neighborhoods in South L.A.
Calls included complaints that landlords had shut off water and electricity services and removed tenants’ belongings in an effort to force them out. Officers have sometimes responded to concerns at the same residence on multiple occasions.
Landlords say the economic slowdown from the pandemic has placed many in their own financial bind. Although they’re encouraged to work with tenants on repayment plans for overdue rent and to make other accommodations, landlords may have their own troubles with mortgage payments and other bills.
Dan Yukelson, executive director of the Apartment Assn. of Greater Los Angeles, said he’s upset when he hears about any cases of landlords illegally locking out tenants and that he’d kick such offenders out of his organization.
Nevertheless, Yukelson said that landlords are struggling under the proliferation of anti-eviction rules. The association has sued the city of Los Angeles, arguing that its eviction protections — which could require landlords to wait for more than a year after rent was due to collect — are unconstitutional and causing widespread economic and property damage.
“People feel like their backs are against the wall today,” Yukelson said. “There’s really no maneuverability. [Landlords] have absolutely nothing, no tools at their disposal when someone doesn’t pay.”
George Wimberly, a 92-year-old disabled World War II veteran, said he feared falling behind on his own bills when the tenant living in a small back house on his property in the Florence neighborhood of South L.A. stopped paying rent. Though he sympathized with other renters who have lost their jobs because of the pandemic, Wimberly thought his tenant should pay because he was receiving the same Social Security benefits as he did before.
So in early April Wimberly turned off his tenant’s electricity. Police arrived and Wimberly agreed to reconnect the power. The tenant, Wimberly said, has paid some back rent, but is still behind. If he could, Wimberly would evict his tenant right now.
“He’s still back there using my electricity and my gas,” Wimberly said.
Tenants facing illegal evictions increasingly seek help with the L.A. Tenants Union, which organizes protests outside apartments to block evictions. The group has seen a surge of incidents during the pandemic and they’ve been disproportionately located in South L.A., said Katrina Albright, an organizer with the tenants union’s South Central local.
“It’s just an absolute zero to 60 in terms of the uptick,” Albright said.
Albright was critical of police response to those cases as well. She said that officers favor landlords during the disputes, demanding to see tenants’ utility bills or treating incidents as trespassing, even though the law has prohibited evictions without a court order even before the pandemic.
“Knowing the law is not enough,” she said. “It takes a whole community of people to physically turn up to block these things with their bodies.”
Attorneys at two L.A. renter legal assistance organizations — Public Counsel and Eviction Defense Network — say they are reconsidering or have stopped advising their clients to call the police if threatened with an illegal eviction, saying that they’re losing faith in the department’s ability to protect tenants.
Gisselle Espinoza, an LAPD spokeswoman, said she was unaware of tenant groups’ concerns about how officers are handling landlord-tenant disputes, but that the department is always troubled if people believe police aren’t dealing with situations fairly.
“I strongly encourage the public to continue to call us,” Espinoza said. “We will respond and handle the investigation accordingly.”
Mendez, the house cleaner, remains worried about her future. She’s two months behind on rent. She no longer has a refrigerator and the landlord removed the sliding doors to the balcony, allowing mosquitoes and flies to come inside the apartment. Still, without work now or in the foreseeable future, Mendez is not sure where else to go.
“I can’t pay much rent because I don’t have anything right now,” she said. “In truth, I don’t know what’s going to happen.”


latimes--2020-06-18--L.A. school board to consider phasing out school police under intensifying demands

The Los Angeles Board of Education next week will consider phasing out the school police , essentially eliminating the department over the next four years , a proposal that comes after more than a week of intensifying demands to do so by student advocacy groups and the leadership of the teachers union .
Two other competing school board resolutions also call for a review of police operations , but not an outright termination of the department .
The proposal to eliminate the department over time is being brought forward by Monica Garcia , the board ’ s longest serving member @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the normal requirement that a board resolution be presented at one meeting and then acted on at a later meeting .
The debate over school police in Los Angeles has flared since the May 25 death of George Floyd in Minneapolis .
Floyd , who was Black , died after a white officer pressed his knee against his neck .
Protests targeting police brutality against Black people erupted across the nation , including in Los Angeles .
Last week the leadership of United Teachers Los Angeles voted to support to the elimination of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ provides uniformed and armed protection for the nation ’ s second-largest school district .
Activists , including students , have asserted that the police presence criminalizes students — especially Black students — and that students would be better served if the $ 70-million budget for policing was shifted to other services , including more mental health counselors , nurses and programs providing behavioral counseling .
Defenders of the school police have countered that school police have special training to work positively with students , de-escalate tensions and protect campuses from outside threats .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ district to reduce the police funding by 50 % starting with the budget year that begins July 1 , 2021 .
The following year the budget would drop to 50 % of the current level and then to 10 % the following year .
The phase-out would allow time for district officials to develop alternative security plans .
Money saved would be redirected toward the schools designated as having the highest needs because of factors such as neighborhood poverty , crime and health issues .
The superintendent also would be required to provide @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Black students .
Garcia ’ s motion is likely to have the support of advocates , students and community members who have called for redirecting police department funds .
At a Thursday school board committee meeting , representatives of InnerCity Struggle , an Eastside group , and Community Coalition , which works in South L.A. , called on officials to defund the police .
The leadership of the teachers union also has supported this goal .
A spokeswoman on Thursday said the union leadership had not yet met to weigh the pluses @ @ @ @ @ @ @ resolution or two others that also focus on school police .
Board member Jackie Goldberg has a resolution that calls for suspending the use of pepper spray and ditching the traditional police uniform in favor of “ nonmilitary-style apparel such as polo shirts and chinos.
” Goldberg ’ s motion also calls for a hiring freeze for new officers and suspending the use of police dogs .
In addition , officers would be directed to station themselves , for now , “ at the perimeter of schools rather than on school campuses.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a report by July 30 regarding the future direction of policing and other security efforts .
The third board resolution is from George McKenna , the board ’ s only Black member and a consistent supporter of the school police .
McKenna wants the district ’ s existing School Safety Task Force to convene a panel that would review data related to officers ’ involvement in campus incidents and determine where there is “ a need for guideline changes , additional training and prevention measures.
” This committee would include the student Board @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Austin Beutner , the school police department and other board members .
Under both the McKenna and Goldberg proposals , the appointed panel would comprise safety experts , students , parents , teachers and principals .
McKenna ’ s resolution gives the group until Aug. 31 to complete its analysis .
The proposals by Goldberg and McKenna also are being brought forward as emergency resolutions .
In contrast to the teachers unions , the leadership of the administrators union warned in its newsletter this week against hastily removing the “ life-saving support @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can the district in good conscience create such a horrendous liability for school-based administrators and worsen working conditions that are already ridiculously atrocious ?
” L.A. schools Supt .
Austin Beutner has not taken a position on the future of school police but has said he supports ending the use of pepper spray and chokeholds .
While officers have used pepper spray periodically , the district said it knows of no incidents in recent years in which officers have used a chokehold .
Amid the debate over police , former L.A. schools Supt @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in an open letter of “ potentially destructive consequences ” to eliminating school police .
“ The LASPD is not only an organization that has proven to be a model agency across this country but an organization that unites a balance of safety with compassion and empathy towards our students , teachers and staff , ” Cortines wrote .

The Los Angeles Board of Education next week will consider phasing out the school police, essentially eliminating the department over the next four years, a proposal that comes after more than a week of intensifying demands to do so by student advocacy groups and the leadership of the teachers union.
Two other competing school board resolutions also call for a review of police operations, but not an outright termination of the department.
The proposal to eliminate the department over time is being brought forward by Monica Garcia, the board’s longest serving member, as an emergency motion to bypass the normal requirement that a board resolution be presented at one meeting and then acted on at a later meeting.
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The debate over school police in Los Angeles has flared since the May 25 death of George Floyd in Minneapolis. Floyd, who was Black, died after a white officer pressed his knee against his neck. Protests targeting police brutality against Black people erupted across the nation, including in Los Angeles.
Last week the leadership of United Teachers Los Angeles voted to support to the elimination of the 720-member school police department, which provides uniformed and armed protection for the nation’s second-largest school district.
Activists, including students, have asserted that the police presence criminalizes students — especially Black students — and that students would be better served if the $70-million budget for policing was shifted to other services, including more mental health counselors, nurses and programs providing behavioral counseling.
Defenders of the school police have countered that school police have special training to work positively with students, de-escalate tensions and protect campuses from outside threats.
Garcia’s resolution calls for the district to reduce the police funding by 50% starting with the budget year that begins July 1, 2021. The following year the budget would drop to 50% of the current level and then to 10% the following year. The phase-out would allow time for district officials to develop alternative security plans.
Money saved would be redirected toward the schools designated as having the highest needs because of factors such as neighborhood poverty, crime and health issues. The superintendent also would be required to provide an annual report on efforts in support of Black students.
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Garcia’s motion is likely to have the support of advocates, students and community members who have called for redirecting police department funds. At a Thursday school board committee meeting, representatives of InnerCity Struggle, an Eastside group, and Community Coalition, which works in South L.A., called on officials to defund the police.
The leadership of the teachers union also has supported this goal. A spokeswoman on Thursday said the union leadership had not yet met to weigh the pluses and minuses of either Garcia’s resolution or two others that also focus on school police.
Board member Jackie Goldberg has a resolution that calls for suspending the use of pepper spray and ditching the traditional police uniform in favor of “nonmilitary-style apparel such as polo shirts and chinos.”
Goldberg’s motion also calls for a hiring freeze for new officers and suspending the use of police dogs. In addition, officers would be directed to station themselves, for now, “at the perimeter of schools rather than on school campuses.”
Concurrently, an appointed panel would present a report by July 30 regarding the future direction of policing and other security efforts.
The third board resolution is from George McKenna, the board’s only Black member and a consistent supporter of the school police.
McKenna wants the district’s existing School Safety Task Force to convene a panel that would review data related to officers’ involvement in campus incidents and determine where there is “a need for guideline changes, additional training and prevention measures.”
This committee would include the student Board of Education member and representatives of Supt. Austin Beutner, the school police department and other board members. Under both the McKenna and Goldberg proposals, the appointed panel would comprise safety experts, students, parents, teachers and principals.
McKenna’s resolution gives the group until Aug. 31 to complete its analysis.
The proposals by Goldberg and McKenna also are being brought forward as emergency resolutions.
In contrast to the teachers unions, the leadership of the administrators union warned in its newsletter this week against hastily removing the “life-saving support” of school police: “How can the district in good conscience create such a horrendous liability for school-based administrators and worsen working conditions that are already ridiculously atrocious?”
L.A. schools Supt. Austin Beutner has not taken a position on the future of school police but has said he supports ending the use of pepper spray and chokeholds. While officers have used pepper spray periodically, the district said it knows of no incidents in recent years in which officers have used a chokehold.
Amid the debate over police, former L.A. schools Supt. Ramon C. Cortines warned the district in an open letter of “potentially destructive consequences” to eliminating school police.
“The LASPD is not only an organization that has proven to be a model agency across this country but an organization that unites a balance of safety with compassion and empathy towards our students, teachers and staff,” Cortines wrote.
Times staff writer Sonali Kohli contributed to this report.


latimes--2020-06-18--Anti-vaccine activists, mask opponents target public health officials - at their homes

People protesting mask orders aimed at stemming the COVID-19 pandemic recently arrived outside the home of Contra Costa County ’ s public health officer .
On the sidewalk , they drew an arrow pointed at his residence .
“ Your neighbor thinks he has the power , ” a protester wrote in chalk , referring to health officer Chris Farnitano .
“ Tyranny is not the answer , ” wrote another .
“ My body , my choice , ” was scribbled in yellow chalk — a battle cry of the abortion rights movement that more recently was adopted by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ — a law strengthening school vaccination requirements .
For months , anti-vaccine activists have joined protests against coronavirus restrictions aimed at preventing the spread of infection .
Now this unusual alliance is taking direct aim at the county officials issuing these orders .
On Sunday and then Tuesday , they livestreamed protests against Farnitano , which came days after Orange County ’ s chief health officer resigned amid intense pushback against her countywide mask order and threats against her that prompted a security detail .
Online , mask protesters say their calls for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ health officers are gaining traction .
For many , it ’ s raising alarms .
Calling the protests an act of intimidation , Kat DeBurgh of the Health Officers Assn .
of California said she ’ s worried .
Seven local health officials have announced they are leaving their posts , some of which were previously planned retirements , DeBurgh said .
“ I would not be surprised if there were more , ” she said .
“ They are working 80 hours a week during the pandemic and then you have threatening @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about the long-term health consequences in California by losing our most experienced public health professionals.
” On Wednesday , Santa Clara County revealed that Public Health Officer Sara Cody had been threatened , although it provided few details .
“ We are aware of the threats made , and it is currently under investigation , ” Santa Clara County Sheriff ’ s Sgt .
Michael Low said in an email .
Each of California ’ s counties is required to have an appointed public health officer who is a physician .
The county @ @ @ @ @ @ @ health officer , a 75-year-old structure that is intended to insulate the position from political pressure while providing public accountability , DeBurgh said .
“ This isn ’ t a position that typically gets much attention , ” DeBurgh said .
“ They can issue orders to prevent the spread of a communicable disease , but they usually do this in the background , such as with tuberculosis.
” However , with the worldwide spread of COVID-19 , local health officers were thrust into the spotlight as they released measures they said would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ personal attacks against health officers include disclosing personal details — whom they date , where they live — along with doctored photos depicting them with Hitler-esque mustaches .
For proponents of last year ’ s law to increase state oversight of vaccine medical exemptions , it all feels too familiar .
“ These are the same tactics that were used against vaccines , ” said state Sen. Richard Pan ( D-Sacramento ) , a doctor who authored the vaccine law .
“ It ’ s absolutely meant as intimidation.
” It ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ prevent measles and other diseases and were instrumental in eliminating plagues such as smallpox .
They could be the only way to end the current pandemic , once a vaccine is successfully developed , tested and distributed .
But vaccine opponents reject vaccine science , sometimes pointing to discredited studies and conspiracy theories .
Pan has been a regular target of anti-vaccine protesters ’ anger , with opponents likening him to Hitler and calling him a tyrant .
The escalating rhetoric and tactics against public health officers has him concerned , he said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , cursed at and received death threats .
Then , a vocal opponent was arrested after pushing Pan from behind .
Weeks later , another protester was charged with two felonies after she allegedly threw a menstrual cup filled with blood onto California state senators .
Pan said it ’ s hard to watch the ire of those who targeted him shift to public health officials .
“ These are public servants who are working hard to keep us safe , ” Pan said .
“ It ’ s important that we keep @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not be subjected to threats and intimidation .
We need to ensure their judgement is free of fear.
” Efforts to reach Farnitano and half a dozen other public health officers on Tuesday were unsuccessful , with some declining to comment and others not responding .
Pan said it ’ s likely that the health officers are concerned they could face additional threats by talking about the effect of personal attacks on them or their families .
“ This is becoming more and more of an issue , ” said Dr. William Tseng @ @ @ @ @ @ @ past president of the San Diego County Medical Society .
“ I know this is a difficult time for everyone , but we should separate the science from the panic and the fear , and trust in science.
” Asked about their tactics , some activists disputed Tuesday that they are intimidating public health officials .
“ Mommies with children and sidewalk chalk are intimidating ?
” said Heidi Muñoz Gleisner and other protesters in an email .
In a video on Facebook , Gleisner added they have been forced to protest outside @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been turned away from public meetings due to coronavirus precautions and that their calls and emails are not being returned .
Protests over mask orders and reopening strategies have popped up across the country , including on Tuesday in Orange County , where county health officer Dr. Nichole Quick resigned last week .
At the protest Tuesday , people opposed to wearing masks screamed at those who wanted the county to reinstate its face-covering order .
The anti-mask protesters pushed pro-mask people and mocked them for sanitizing their hands , said Luis Aleman @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which organized the pro-mask rally .
Orange County has become a hot spot for the pushback against mask orders .
Quick issued an order last month requiring everyone in the county to wear masks in public and at work when they are unable to stay six feet apart .
Elected officials on the Board of Supervisors criticized the order , while some activists erroneously claimed that wearing masks is more dangerous than not wearing them .
During public meetings , opponents of the order targeted their anger at Quick .
Leigh Dundas , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s vaccine bill , rattled off personal information about Quick , including the name of her boyfriend and urged people to go to her home to protest .
Speakers at one meeting showed off posters of Quick with a Hitler mustache and swastikas .
After Quick resigned , the county ’ s new health officer relaxed the mask order amid pressure from the Board of Supervisors .
The Orange County Medical Assn .
said Quick ’ s departure “ creates a dangerous precedent.
” In addition to Quick , health officers in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Yolo counties have resigned or retired , while county health directors in Orange and San Bernardino have also retired , according to the California Medical Assn .
The state medical association , which lobbies on behalf of doctors , called the trend concerning .
A spokesman for the group said health officials in Alameda , San Diego , Santa Clara and others have also been targeted by protesters aligned with anti-vaccine groups .
“ CMA is deeply disturbed by the news that some local health officers , many of whom have been working @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to unfair and uninformed attacks and have become political targets , ” the group said in a statement .
Times staff writers Hannah Fry and Susanne Rust contributed to this report .

Demonstrators protest the lockdown in March. These days some protesters are targeting public health officials outside their homes.
People protesting mask orders aimed at stemming the COVID-19 pandemic recently arrived outside the home of Contra Costa County’s public health officer. On the sidewalk, they drew an arrow pointed at his residence.
“Your neighbor thinks he has the power,” a protester wrote in chalk, referring to health officer Chris Farnitano.
“Tyranny is not the answer,” wrote another.
“My body, my choice,” was scribbled in yellow chalk — a battle cry of the abortion rights movement that more recently was adopted by those against another California public health measure — a law strengthening school vaccination requirements.
For months, anti-vaccine activists have joined protests against coronavirus restrictions aimed at preventing the spread of infection. Now this unusual alliance is taking direct aim at the county officials issuing these orders.
Advertisement
On Sunday and then Tuesday, they livestreamed protests against Farnitano, which came days after Orange County’s chief health officer resigned amid intense pushback against her countywide mask order and threats against her that prompted a security detail.
Online, mask protesters say their calls for similar rallies outside the homes of public health officers are gaining traction. For many, it’s raising alarms. Calling the protests an act of intimidation, Kat DeBurgh of the Health Officers Assn. of California said she’s worried. Seven local health officials have announced they are leaving their posts, some of which were previously planned retirements, DeBurgh said.
“I would not be surprised if there were more,” she said. “They are working 80 hours a week during the pandemic and then you have threatening public comments. I’m worried about the long-term health consequences in California by losing our most experienced public health professionals.”
Santa Clara County Public Health Director Dr. Sara Cody speaks during a news conference in San Jose on Feb. 28. On Wednesday it was revealed she has faced threats. (Anda Chu / Associated Press)
On Wednesday, Santa Clara County revealed that Public Health Officer Sara Cody had been threatened, although it provided few details.
“We are aware of the threats made, and it is currently under investigation,” Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Sgt. Michael Low said in an email.
Each of California’s counties is required to have an appointed public health officer who is a physician. The county’s elected governing board appoints the health officer, a 75-year-old structure that is intended to insulate the position from political pressure while providing public accountability, DeBurgh said.
Advertisement
“This isn’t a position that typically gets much attention,” DeBurgh said. “They can issue orders to prevent the spread of a communicable disease, but they usually do this in the background, such as with tuberculosis.”
However, with the worldwide spread of COVID-19, local health officers were thrust into the spotlight as they released measures they said would best keep their counties safe.
Recent personal attacks against health officers include disclosing personal details — whom they date, where they live — along with doctored photos depicting them with Hitler-esque mustaches. For proponents of last year’s law to increase state oversight of vaccine medical exemptions, it all feels too familiar.
“These are the same tactics that were used against vaccines,” said state Sen. Richard Pan (D-Sacramento), a doctor who authored the vaccine law. “It’s absolutely meant as intimidation.”
It’s long been established science that vaccines help prevent measles and other diseases and were instrumental in eliminating plagues such as smallpox. They could be the only way to end the current pandemic, once a vaccine is successfully developed, tested and distributed. But vaccine opponents reject vaccine science, sometimes pointing to discredited studies and conspiracy theories.
Pan has been a regular target of anti-vaccine protesters’ anger, with opponents likening him to Hitler and calling him a tyrant. The escalating rhetoric and tactics against public health officers has him concerned, he said.
Last year, Pan was heckled, cursed at and received death threats. Then, a vocal opponent was arrested after pushing Pan from behind. Weeks later, another protester was charged with two felonies after she allegedly threw a menstrual cup filled with blood onto California state senators.
Pan said it’s hard to watch the ire of those who targeted him shift to public health officials.
“These are public servants who are working hard to keep us safe,” Pan said. “It’s important that we keep them safe as well. They should not be subjected to threats and intimidation. We need to ensure their judgement is free of fear.”
Efforts to reach Farnitano and half a dozen other public health officers on Tuesday were unsuccessful, with some declining to comment and others not responding. Pan said it’s likely that the health officers are concerned they could face additional threats by talking about the effect of personal attacks on them or their families.
“This is becoming more and more of an issue,” said Dr. William Tseng, a physician in San Diego and past president of the San Diego County Medical Society. “I know this is a difficult time for everyone, but we should separate the science from the panic and the fear, and trust in science.”
Asked about their tactics, some activists disputed Tuesday that they are intimidating public health officials.
“Mommies with children and sidewalk chalk are intimidating?” said Heidi Muñoz Gleisner and other protesters in an email. In a video on Facebook, Gleisner added they have been forced to protest outside officials’ homes because they’ve been turned away from public meetings due to coronavirus precautions and that their calls and emails are not being returned.
Heidi Munoz Gleisner, left, and Tara Thornton, right, are detained by CHP officers during a rally against stay-at-orders at the state Capitol on May 1. (Rich Pedroncelli / Associated Press)
Protests over mask orders and reopening strategies have popped up across the country, including on Tuesday in Orange County, where county health officer Dr. Nichole Quick resigned last week. At the protest Tuesday, people opposed to wearing masks screamed at those who wanted the county to reinstate its face-covering order. The anti-mask protesters pushed pro-mask people and mocked them for sanitizing their hands, said Luis Aleman of the Orange County Labor Federation, which organized the pro-mask rally.
Orange County has become a hot spot for the pushback against mask orders. Quick issued an order last month requiring everyone in the county to wear masks in public and at work when they are unable to stay six feet apart. Elected officials on the Board of Supervisors criticized the order, while some activists erroneously claimed that wearing masks is more dangerous than not wearing them. During public meetings, opponents of the order targeted their anger at Quick.
Leigh Dundas, a lawyer who fought against last year’s vaccine bill, rattled off personal information about Quick, including the name of her boyfriend and urged people to go to her home to protest. Speakers at one meeting showed off posters of Quick with a Hitler mustache and swastikas.
After Quick resigned, the county’s new health officer relaxed the mask order amid pressure from the Board of Supervisors.
The Orange County Medical Assn. said Quick’s departure “creates a dangerous precedent.” In addition to Quick, health officers in Butte, Nevada, San Benito and Yolo counties have resigned or retired, while county health directors in Orange and San Bernardino have also retired, according to the California Medical Assn.
The state medical association, which lobbies on behalf of doctors, called the trend concerning. A spokesman for the group said health officials in Alameda, San Diego, Santa Clara and others have also been targeted by protesters aligned with anti-vaccine groups.
“CMA is deeply disturbed by the news that some local health officers, many of whom have been working tirelessly for months, have been subject to unfair and uninformed attacks and have become political targets,” the group said in a statement.
Times staff writers Hannah Fry and Susanne Rust contributed to this report.