latimes--2020-04-15--On a warm day in Southern California, county line separates beachgoers from stay-homers

On a beautiful , sunny day in Southern California , an invisible but very official line marked a difference between those who ventured to the beaches along Pacific Coast Highway amid the coronavirus outbreak and those who mostly stayed home .
On the Los Angeles County side of the line , at Malibu ’ s Point Dume State Beach , Westward and Zuma beaches , few people on Wednesday jogged or walked along the paved paths .
Despite the relative desolation , many wore masks .
Just a few miles north , in Ventura County , larger numbers of people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ where they boogie-boarded , swam and surfed .
Few covered their faces .
After weeks of gloomy and rainy weather , the temptation to hit Southern California beaches , despite strict guidelines meant to slow spread of the virus , must have been strong on such such a gloriously pristine day .
Most people did not take a bite of the apple .
But some took a nibble .
“ It ’ s hard to be at home with a 7-year-old child and not leave the house for weeks , ” said West @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who parked on the side of the Pacific Coast Highway outside Point Mugu State Park with her partner and son .
“ We ’ ve been following the rules , but you have to spend some time outside too.
” Although Zukowska did not climb down 40 feet through rock and sand to access the beach from the road , about 45 visitors did , a few with dogs .
Most appeared to be practicing some social distancing .
Atwater Village resident Chris Sadler enjoyed a double bonus on Wednesday .
Not only @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at Point Mugu State Park , but the 45-year-old father of two was also thrilled to get there in only 44 minutes .
“ I think we set the land-speed record , ” he quipped .
Sadler picnicked with his wife and children .
A day in the sun was necessary , he said .
“ The kids haven ’ t been out in almost a month and they needed a break , ” said Sadler .
Beaches just beyond the Ventura County line extending to the Sycamore Canyon Campground and nearly reaching @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of 30 to 50 people .
There was even a photo shoot at one beach , with swimsuit models posing around a bright yellow McLaren race car even as cases of COVID-19 continued to rise in the county .
All this despite changes to fight the spread of COVID-19 , including the closure of the state park .
The county also banned gatherings of two or more people outside their homes .
Just south in L.A. County , a group of sheriff ’ s deputies , lifeguards and volunteers combed the beaches , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
A sheriff ’ s cruiser passed one entrance to Zuma Beach roughly every 20 minutes , while a volunteer sheriff was stationed at a remote access way along Westward Beach .
The surveillance kept visitors off the beach .
Beyond the waves , packs of dolphins cavorted .
Malibu resident Ellen Burson , 62 , was one of the few people walking along the beach .
“ I ’ ve never seen anything like this , ” Burson said .
“ I ’ ve been living here for five years and to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ unbelievable.
” Burson walked from the outskirts of Zuma Beach to Westward Beach with her friend , 56-year-old Westlake Village resident Jennifer Grimes .
The two passed several warnings along the beaches announcing their closing , including on 42-inch red pylons placed about 20 feet apart and on parking signs .
There were also two large white banners near a Westward Beach parking lot .
“ This is surreal , ” Grimes said of the barren beaches .
“ I just didn ’ t expect this.
” Most visitors to the L.A. County @ @ @ @ @ @ @ — a departure from the majority of people who ventured onto the Point Mugu State Park beaches .
Chris Kuan , 48 , said he wasn ’ t afraid of contracting COVID-19 while jogging along a relatively empty stretch near Westward Beach .
Still , the 13-year Malibu resident said it was best to follow precautions .
“ For me , this is great to have an empty beach and to run alone , ” he said , “ But we have to take care of each other and avoid doing things that @ @ @ @ @ @

Families, cyclists and joggers continue to congregate at the Ventura Promenade. (Al Seib/Los Angeles Times)
Ty Renner, 34, left, and husband Randy Renner, 33, work out in front of their home in Hermosa Beach. Normally they work out at a gym called After Burn Fitness in Hermosa Beachm but it is closed because of the coronavirus outbreak. They said that they have a home business called South Bay Social, an entertainment app that informs people what is going on in the area ,but that all their clients are on pause. (Mel Melcon/Los Angeles Times)
Dean Banks, 64, who has spent 61 of those years in Ventura, and his dancing partner Cate Moore. They were cycling through the Ventura Promenade. (Al Seib/Los Angeles Times)
Tommie Dillione, left, works on her computer; Chloe Houlihin, who is an on-call medical field engineer, relaxes in a hammock; and Jay Mitsch watches home videos with his son, Avry, 3, at Trask Triangle Park in Playa del Rey. (Allen J. Schaben/Los Angeles Times)
The Ventura Promenade Beach Playground is closed as Ventura has closed its parks, beach and pier. But morning sunshine and warm temperatures brought people to the beach despite warnings about the coronavirus. (Al Seib/Los Angeles Times)
Security guard Maria Rodas patrols the strand in Hermosa Beach. The strand and the beach were closed because of the coronavirus outbreak. (Mel Melcon/Los Angeles Times)
A man enjoys the morning view of marina and mountains in Long Beach. (Irfan Khan/Los Angeles Times)
A person floats through calm, cool waters of Bayshore Beach marina in the morning in Long Beach. (Irfan Khan/Los Angeles Times)
Kayakers, boaters and a paddle boarder observe coronavirus social distancing rules while exercising and gliding through Huntington Harbour on the first warm day in weeks. The snow-capped San Gabriel Mountains are seen in the distance. (Allen J. Schaben/Los Angeles Times)
Rojae Mill, 24, left, and Sophie Goodmanson, 23, dance and jump around at a beach in Long Beach that is closed for swimming because of COVID-19. Mill and Goodmanson, both furloughed from a coffee shop, were meeting for the first time since the stay-at-home orders. Goodmanson said the coronavirus has shown us how to be ourselves. (Irfan Khan/Los Angeles Times)
A group of friends, who briefly didn’t comply with social distancing restrictions, enjoy a moment of normality amid the coronavirus crisis along Pacific Coast Highway at Point Mugu State Park, (Genaro Molina/Los Angeles Times)
A surfer hangs 10 and a bit more while catching waves as some tried to regain some semblance of normality during days of the coronavirus crisis at Deer Creek beach in Ventura County on April 15, 2020. Point Mugu State Park has been closed since April 7 in an effort to prevent crowds and help stop the spread of the coronavirus. (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)
On a beautiful, sunny day in Southern California, an invisible but very official line marked a difference between those who ventured to the beaches along Pacific Coast Highway amid the coronavirus outbreak and those who mostly stayed home.
On the Los Angeles County side of the line, at Malibu’s Point Dume State Beach, Westward and Zuma beaches, few people on Wednesday jogged or walked along the paved paths. Despite the relative desolation, many wore masks. Just a few miles north, in Ventura County, larger numbers of people gathered at Point Mugu State Park, where they boogie-boarded, swam and surfed. Few covered their faces.
After weeks of gloomy and rainy weather, the temptation to hit Southern California beaches, despite strict guidelines meant to slow spread of the virus, must have been strong on such such a gloriously pristine day.
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Most people did not take a bite of the apple. But some took a nibble.
“It’s hard to be at home with a 7-year-old child and not leave the house for weeks,” said West Hollywood resident Asia Zukowska, 34, who parked on the side of the Pacific Coast Highway outside Point Mugu State Park with her partner and son.
“We’ve been following the rules, but you have to spend some time outside too.”
Although Zukowska did not climb down 40 feet through rock and sand to access the beach from the road, about 45 visitors did, a few with dogs. Most appeared to be practicing some social distancing.
Atwater Village resident Chris Sadler enjoyed a double bonus on Wednesday. Not only did he find a relatively sparse beach at Point Mugu State Park, but the 45-year-old father of two was also thrilled to get there in only 44 minutes.
“I think we set the land-speed record,” he quipped.
Sadler picnicked with his wife and children. A day in the sun was necessary, he said.
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“The kids haven’t been out in almost a month and they needed a break,” said Sadler.
Beaches just beyond the Ventura County line extending to the Sycamore Canyon Campground and nearly reaching Point Mugu Rock included access for groups of 30 to 50 people. There was even a photo shoot at one beach, with swimsuit models posing around a bright yellow McLaren race car even as cases of COVID-19 continued to rise in the county.
Manuela Sichau, of Santa Monica, enjoys a socially distant perch overlooking Deer Creek beach in Ventura on Wednesday. (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)
All this despite changes to fight the spread of COVID-19, including the closure of the state park. The county also banned gatherings of two or more people outside their homes.
Just south in L.A. County, a group of sheriff’s deputies, lifeguards and volunteers combed the beaches, evidently keeping an out eye for scofflaws.
A sheriff’s cruiser passed one entrance to Zuma Beach roughly every 20 minutes, while a volunteer sheriff was stationed at a remote access way along Westward Beach.
The surveillance kept visitors off the beach. Beyond the waves, packs of dolphins cavorted.
Malibu resident Ellen Burson, 62, was one of the few people walking along the beach.
“I’ve never seen anything like this,” Burson said. “I’ve been living here for five years and to see this beach closed and empty is unbelievable.”
Burson walked from the outskirts of Zuma Beach to Westward Beach with her friend, 56-year-old Westlake Village resident Jennifer Grimes.
The two passed several warnings along the beaches announcing their closing, including on 42-inch red pylons placed about 20 feet apart and on parking signs. There were also two large white banners near a Westward Beach parking lot.
“This is surreal,” Grimes said of the barren beaches. “I just didn’t expect this.”
Most visitors to the L.A. County beaches wore some sort of facial covering — a departure from the majority of people who ventured onto the Point Mugu State Park beaches.
Chris Kuan, 48, said he wasn’t afraid of contracting COVID-19 while jogging along a relatively empty stretch near Westward Beach.
Still, the 13-year Malibu resident said it was best to follow precautions.
“For me, this is great to have an empty beach and to run alone,” he said, “But we have to take care of each other and avoid doing things that could hurt other people.”


latimes--2020-04-15--Prosecutors are investigating a Bay Area nursing home where 13 have died of coronavirus

Prosecutors in the Bay Area have opened an investigation into a nursing home in Hayward where 13 people have died after contracting the novel coronavirus .
A spokeswoman for Alameda County Dist .
Atty .
Nancy O ’ Malley said Wednesday that her office had begun an investigation into Gateway Care & Rehabilitation Center .
Officials said 41 residents and 26 staff members there have tested positive for COVID-19 .
Teresa Drenick , spokeswoman for the district attorney ’ s office , declined to specify the scope of the investigation but said it began last week .
The inquiry will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and an elder protection unit , and Drenick noted that prosecutors and inspectors have experience in looking at safety and health issues at long-term care and skilled nursing facilities .
The inquiry comes as nursing homes and assisted living facilities in California are fast becoming an epicenter of the coronavirus outbreaks .
The facilities have tens of thousands of elderly and frail residents who are particularly vulnerable to COVID-19 , and the rapid spread of infection in the dense living quarters has posed a threat to staff members and those in their care @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Bay Post Acute has had 22 residents and 23 staff members test positive for the coronavirus , with one resident dying .
Drenick said the inquiry into Gateway Care predated the public calls for an investigation this week by civil rights attorney John Burris , who is representing the family of Costell Akrie , an 87-year-old man who died of the coronavirus while at Gateway .
“ This is so disturbing , ” Burris said this week in a news briefing .
“ These kinds of numbers warrant and justify an investigation into @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Akrie said her husband was sent to Gateway on March 5 with no symptoms .
She said that on March 28 she was told her husband had a low-grade fever and was being tested for COVID-19 .
Days later , she learned he was positive , and slowly learned of other patients were also testing positive for the virus .
On April 4 , he died at Gateway , she said .
She said her husband was in a room by himself for most of his stay , and she surmised that a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ source of the infection .
“ My husband ’ s death was tragic and preventable .
He is not with us today because of mistakes and negligence , ” Akrie said .

Prosecutors in the Bay Area have opened an investigation into a nursing home in Hayward where 13 people have died after contracting the novel coronavirus.
A spokeswoman for Alameda County Dist. Atty. Nancy O’Malley said Wednesday that her office had begun an investigation into Gateway Care & Rehabilitation Center.
Officials said 41 residents and 26 staff members there have tested positive for COVID-19. Teresa Drenick, spokeswoman for the district attorney’s office, declined to specify the scope of the investigation but said it began last week.
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The inquiry will be handled by a consumer protection division and an elder protection unit, and Drenick noted that prosecutors and inspectors have experience in looking at safety and health issues at long-term care and skilled nursing facilities.
The inquiry comes as nursing homes and assisted living facilities in California are fast becoming an epicenter of the coronavirus outbreaks. The facilities have tens of thousands of elderly and frail residents who are particularly vulnerable to COVID-19, and the rapid spread of infection in the dense living quarters has posed a threat to staff members and those in their care.
Also in Alameda County, East Bay Post Acute has had 22 residents and 23 staff members test positive for the coronavirus, with one resident dying.
Drenick said the inquiry into Gateway Care predated the public calls for an investigation this week by civil rights attorney John Burris, who is representing the family of Costell Akrie, an 87-year-old man who died of the coronavirus while at Gateway.
“This is so disturbing,” Burris said this week in a news briefing. “These kinds of numbers warrant and justify an investigation into how the facility is operating.”
Dianne Akrie said her husband was sent to Gateway on March 5 with no symptoms. She said that on March 28 she was told her husband had a low-grade fever and was being tested for COVID-19. Days later, she learned he was positive, and slowly learned of other patients were also testing positive for the virus. On April 4, he died at Gateway, she said.
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She said her husband was in a room by himself for most of his stay, and she surmised that a staff member probably would have been the source of the infection.
“My husband’s death was tragic and preventable. He is not with us today because of mistakes and negligence,” Akrie said.


latimes--2020-04-15--Photos from the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic

From doctors and nurses to technicians and maintenance workers , many healthcare workers are finding themselves learning to do long-familiar jobs in new ways as they battle COVID-19 .
In emergency rooms and intensive care units , frontline workers have a universal observation : Caring for COVID-19 patients safely takes extreme levels of coordination .
A reporter and photographer got a close look at those efforts April 10 when Sharp HealthCare , San Diego ’ s largest health system , granted access to two of its main locations , Sharp Memorial Hospital and Sharp Chula Vista Medical Center .
Whether @ @ @ @ @ @ @ collecting samples from newly arrived emergency patients for testing , or monitoring blood oxygen levels at the bedside , no one works without significant backup .
Workers who enter patient rooms are under the watchful gaze of colleagues on the unit .
Emergency workers used to moving quickly from patient to patient have had to learn to slow down as they put on and take off layer after layer of protective equipment .
It ’ s not , says registered nurse and infection preventionist Cindy Stuart , just about the work of doctors @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of healthcare worker tend to get most of the attention , the cast of characters in this particular drama is much broader .
“ None of this could be achieved without so many , our respiratory department , our lab workers , our support staff , engineering , IT , I mean everybody , ” Stuart said .
“ This could not happen without the entire multidisciplinary team .
When I hear that phrase ‘ healthcare heroes , ’ I know people think doctors and nurses , but it ’ s so much @ @ @ @ @

From doctors and nurses to technicians and maintenance employees, many healthcare workers are finding themselves learning to do long-familiar jobs in new ways as they battle COVID-19.
In emergency rooms and intensive care units, front-line workers have a universal observation: Caring for COVID-19 patients safely takes extreme levels of coordination. A reporter and photographer got a close look at those efforts April 10 when Sharp HealthCare, San Diego’s largest health system, granted access to two of its main locations, Sharp Memorial Hospital and Sharp Chula Vista Medical Center.
Whether turning sedated patients in ICU beds, collecting samples from newly arrived emergency patients for testing, or monitoring blood oxygen levels at the bedside, no one works without significant backup. Workers who enter patient rooms are under the watchful gaze of colleagues on the unit. Emergency workers used to moving quickly from patient to patient have had to learn to slow down as they put on and take off layer after layer of protective equipment.
It’s not, says registered nurse and infection preventionist Cindy Stuart, just about the work of doctors and nurses. Though those two categories of healthcare worker tend to get most of the attention, the cast of characters in this particular drama is much broader.
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“None of this could be achieved without so many, our respiratory department, our lab workers, our support staff, engineering, IT, I mean everybody,” Stuart said. “This could not happen without the entire multidisciplinary team. When I hear that phrase ‘healthcare heroes,’ I know people think doctors and nurses, but it’s so much more than that.”
Wearing personal protective equipment, nurse April Bandi cares for a patient with possible COVID-19 symptoms inside a negative-pressure isolation room Sharp Memorial Hospital in San Diego. (Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times)
Nurse Arnold Garcia checks Michael Weiss’ vital signs after he was admitted with possible COVID-19 symptoms at Sharp Chula Vista Medical Center. (Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times)
Dr. Keith Yablonicky, center, gets help from nurse Jennifer Livengood putting on his personal protective equipment. (Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times)
Nurse Sarah Barrile, left, gets help from nurse Brittney Grayson disinfecting her personal protective equipment after caring for a patient who is using a ventilator. (Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times)
Nurses check the details on emergency department patients at Sharp Memorial Hospital in San Diego. (Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times)
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Nurse Arnold Garcia, center, gets help from a colleague in decontaminating and disinfecting his personal protective equipment after treating a patient with possible COVID-19. (Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times)
Staff unload a patient who has COVID-19 symptoms at Sharp Chula Vista Medical Center. (Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times)
Nurses perform an N95 respirator fit test at the new ICU wing at Sharp Chula Vista Medical Center. (Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times)
Nurse Sarah Barrile cares for a patient with COVID-19 symptoms who has been placed on a ventilator. (Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times)
Nurses Shauna Stanfill, left, and Arnold Garcia care for Michael Weiss at Sharp Chula Vista. (Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times)
Linda Isidienu displays her visor, which has been used and cleaned repeatedly as medical staff try to preserve protective gear at the medical center. (Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times)
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Nurses stand by to aid fellow nurses working inside the negative-pressure isolation room where patients with COVID-19 symptoms are placed. (Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times)
Linda Isidienu cares for an intubated patient at Sharp Chula Vista Medical Center. (Marcus Yam/Los Angeles Times)
A nurse gets help putting on her personal protective equipment at Sharp Chula Vista. (Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times)
Reyna Gomez, left, communicates with Norah Pena and John Stanley, who are caring for a COVID-19 patient. (Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times)
From left, nurses Michael Manriquez and Linda Isidienu, and Tiffany Matthews, a respiratory therapist, carefully reposition an intubated patient. (Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times)
California 20 heartwarming photos show gratitude for healthcare workers Firefighters and law enforcement officers from L.A. to Laguna Beach express their gratitude to healthcare workers for their efforts in fighting COVID-19.


latimes--2020-04-15--California to provide more help for unemployed undocumented immigrants, others amid coronavirus

California is expanding hours at its call center that handles unemployment insurance and preparing to expedite benefits to independent contractors in response to a record number of people who are out of work and seeking government help as a result of the coronavirus pandemic .
Gov .
Gavin Newsom discussed the efforts Wednesday and noted that 2.7 million Californians had filed for unemployment benefits in the last month , after businesses across the state shuttered under his stay-at-home order and the economy tanked .
Newsom also announced a $ 125-million relief effort to help roughly 150,000 Californians without legal immigration @ @ @ @ @ @ @ process , right now , of dealing with an unprecedented number of people making phone calls to our Employment Development Department , ” Newsom said .
“ We ’ re trying to process these applications and we ’ re trying to turn around those applications in real time.
” Newsom acknowledged the dire economic consequences of his efforts to curb the death toll from the coronavirus this week and unveiled a set of criteria the state intends to meet before gradually easing the restrictions and allowing businesses to begin to reopen .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ struggling Californians come after criticism that the state is lagging behind .
Assemblyman Jim Patterson ( R-Fresno ) said Wednesday that other states , including Michigan and New York , had already begun sending out benefits to independent contractors and the self-employed .
California , he said , has acted “ way too slowly .
They are behind a lot of other states.
” Patterson said dozens of constituents had called his office seeking help .
“ I have never seen anything like this or heard the stories of fear and desperation , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ comments came a day after state Labor Secretary Julie Su announced that a new online portal would be created in the next two weeks allowing independent contractors , gig workers and the self-employed to file documents to obtain benefits .
The new Pandemic Unemployment Assistance program approved by Congress will provide up to 39 weeks of benefits retroactive to Feb. 2 for those who have lost income between that date and the week ending Dec.31 .
The program also will provide an additional $ 600 per week in benefits until July 31 .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ needed two weeks to get the new portal up and running .
“ We know that what you need is the money in your pocket , ” Su said in a Facebook Live chat on Tuesday .
“ We are working to make sure that you receive your payments within 24 to 48 hours after you apply .
In order to do that , we need two weeks to make that system live , to test it , to ensure that it is working.
” Su urged people to be patient and said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ April 28 .
The state Employment Development Department has received a record 2.7 million new claims for regular jobless benefits since March 12 , Newsom said .
In all of 2008 , during the Great Recession , there were 2.5 million initial unemployment claims , according to H.D .
Palmer , a spokesman for the state Department of Finance .
In January 2010 , near the end of the Great Recession , California received 92,738 new claims , said Michael Bernick , a former director of the state ’ s Employment Development Department @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 925,000 Californians filed unemployment insurance claims during the week that ended April 4 , 2020 .
“ Clearly , the current situation is at an entirely different scale , ” Bernick said .
To take on the unprecedented flood of new claims , agency employees will be working in shifts from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. to answer calls under the changes Newsom announced Wednesday .
Su acknowledged that many people had been frustrated by the claim process , including long delays in getting through to the agency ’ s hotline for help @ @ @ @ @ @ @ how long things take , ” Su said , noting that her office is shifting workers to accommodate the extended call center hours .
Newsom ’ s announcement on assistance for independent contractors could potentially provide relief to tens of thousands of workers who otherwise would be ineligible for help .
Those benefits traditionally are available only to those considered to be employees of a business , funded by a tax on employers .
Who is — and isn ’ t — considered to be an employee has been the subject of a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ last 18 months , culminating in Newsom signing a far-reaching new state employment law last fall .
That law , debated in the Legislature as Assembly Bill 5 , could reclassify as many as 1 million independent contractors in California as employees , an effort that doesn ’ t sit well with some freelancers across the state and app-based companies such as Uber and Lyft .
The current public health crisis began as state employment officials were in the early stages of implementing AB 5 and pursuing cases of alleged worker misclassification .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Employment Development Department has sought to shift resources into processing requests for jobless assistance .
Newsom ’ s decision means that workers who believe they have been wrongly classified as independent contractors won ’ t have to wait for a resolution of their cases , instead having access to financial assistance in the interim .
The governor said the $ 125-million relief effort for immigrants without legal status was partly funded by nonprofit organizations and would provide cash grants to individuals and families in need .
A group of 23 state assembly members @ @ @ @ @ @ @ asking him to create such a fund .
“ We feel a deep sense of gratitude for people that are in fear of deportation but are still addressing the essential needs of tens of millions of Californians ” in food gathering and other tasks , the governor said .
The proposal , he said , will offer $ 500 cash grants for individuals in the U.S. illegally and up to $ 1,000 for families , with applications set to be accepted starting next month .
The money will be dispersed through regional nonprofit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the country illegally , the governor said .
Only citizens and others who are in the U.S. legally are able to receive unemployment benefits or support under the new federal program for independent contractors .
“ This is a recognition of the fact that immigrants families are essential to our state , ” said Angelica Salas , executive director of the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights .
“ Their economic and labor contributions are keeping us going.
” Newsom didn ’ t offer specifics on all of the nonprofit organizations involved but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by Laurene Powell Jobs , the widow of Apple co-founder Steve Jobs , and Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg and his wife , Priscilla Chan Zuckerberg .

Taryn Luna, Patrick McGreevy, John Myers

California is expanding hours at its call center that handles unemployment insurance and preparing to expedite benefits to independent contractors in response to a record number of people who are out of work and seeking government help as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Gov. Gavin Newsom discussed the efforts Wednesday and noted that 2.7 million Californians had filed for unemployment benefits in the last month, after businesses across the state shuttered under his stay-at-home order and the economy tanked. Newsom also announced a $125-million relief effort to help roughly 150,000 Californians without legal immigration status.
“We are in the process, right now, of dealing with an unprecedented number of people making phone calls to our Employment Development Department,” Newsom said. “We’re trying to process these applications and we’re trying to turn around those applications in real time.”
Advertisement
Newsom acknowledged the dire economic consequences of his efforts to curb the death toll from the coronavirus this week and unveiled a set of criteria the state intends to meet before gradually easing the restrictions and allowing businesses to begin to reopen.
The efforts to more quickly distribute benefits to struggling Californians come after criticism that the state is lagging behind.
Assemblyman Jim Patterson (R-Fresno) said Wednesday that other states, including Michigan and New York, had already begun sending out benefits to independent contractors and the self-employed.
California, he said, has acted “way too slowly. They are behind a lot of other states.”
Patterson said dozens of constituents had called his office seeking help.
“I have never seen anything like this or heard the stories of fear and desperation,” Patterson said.
Newsom’s comments came a day after state Labor Secretary Julie Su announced that a new online portal would be created in the next two weeks allowing independent contractors, gig workers and the self-employed to file documents to obtain benefits.
The new Pandemic Unemployment Assistance program approved by Congress will provide up to 39 weeks of benefits retroactive to Feb. 2 for those who have lost income between that date and the week ending Dec.31. The program also will provide an additional $600 per week in benefits until July 31.
Advertisement
Su said the state Employment Development Department needed two weeks to get the new portal up and running.
“We know that what you need is the money in your pocket,” Su said in a Facebook Live chat on Tuesday. “We are working to make sure that you receive your payments within 24 to 48 hours after you apply. In order to do that, we need two weeks to make that system live, to test it, to ensure that it is working.”
Su urged people to be patient and said the new portal should be operating on April 28.
The state Employment Development Department has received a record 2.7 million new claims for regular jobless benefits since March 12, Newsom said.
In all of 2008, during the Great Recession, there were 2.5 million initial unemployment claims, according to H.D. Palmer, a spokesman for the state Department of Finance.
In January 2010, near the end of the Great Recession, California received 92,738 new claims, said Michael Bernick, a former director of the state’s Employment Development Department who tracks employment data.
More than 925,000 Californians filed unemployment insurance claims during the week that ended April 4, 2020.
“Clearly, the current situation is at an entirely different scale,” Bernick said.
To take on the unprecedented flood of new claims, agency employees will be working in shifts from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. to answer calls under the changes Newsom announced Wednesday.
Su acknowledged that many people had been frustrated by the claim process, including long delays in getting through to the agency’s hotline for help.
“There is disappointment about maybe how long things take,” Su said, noting that her office is shifting workers to accommodate the extended call center hours.
Newsom’s announcement on assistance for independent contractors could potentially provide relief to tens of thousands of workers who otherwise would be ineligible for help. Those benefits traditionally are available only to those considered to be employees of a business, funded by a tax on employers.
Who is — and isn’t — considered to be an employee has been the subject of a fierce battle in the state over the last 18 months, culminating in Newsom signing a far-reaching new state employment law last fall. That law, debated in the Legislature as Assembly Bill 5, could reclassify as many as 1 million independent contractors in California as employees, an effort that doesn’t sit well with some freelancers across the state and app-based companies such as Uber and Lyft.
The current public health crisis began as state employment officials were in the early stages of implementing AB 5 and pursuing cases of alleged worker misclassification.
Those efforts have slowed as the state Employment Development Department has sought to shift resources into processing requests for jobless assistance.
Newsom’s decision means that workers who believe they have been wrongly classified as independent contractors won’t have to wait for a resolution of their cases, instead having access to financial assistance in the interim.
The governor said the $125-million relief effort for immigrants without legal status was partly funded by nonprofit organizations and would provide cash grants to individuals and families in need. A group of 23 state assembly members sent a letter to Newsom last week asking him to create such a fund.
“We feel a deep sense of gratitude for people that are in fear of deportation but are still addressing the essential needs of tens of millions of Californians” in food gathering and other tasks, the governor said.
The proposal, he said, will offer $500 cash grants for individuals in the U.S. illegally and up to $1,000 for families, with applications set to be accepted starting next month.
The money will be dispersed through regional nonprofit groups with experience serving people who are in the country illegally, the governor said.
Only citizens and others who are in the U.S. legally are able to receive unemployment benefits or support under the new federal program for independent contractors.
“This is a recognition of the fact that immigrants families are essential to our state,” said Angelica Salas, executive director of the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights. “Their economic and labor contributions are keeping us going.”
Newsom didn’t offer specifics on all of the nonprofit organizations involved but named a few — including those founded by Laurene Powell Jobs, the widow of Apple co-founder Steve Jobs, and Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg and his wife, Priscilla Chan Zuckerberg.


latimes--2020-04-15--Why your high school kid may be taking the SAT test at your kitchen table

High school students will be able to take an at-home online SAT if the coronavirus outbreak keeps schools closed into the fall , the College Board announced Wednesday , a radical shift that is raising concerns about equity and the security of the standardized college admissions test .
If administered at home , the College Board intends to keep the format of the exam “ as close to the SAT students have been preparing for , ” with some possible changes to ensure security of the exam , officials said .
The organization said it would share more details about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that version will be required .
The announcement comes as colleges across the country — including the University of California — are making the SAT and ACT tests optional as an admissions requirement for students entering college in fall 2021 .
At the same time , the test is coming under increasing scrutiny as a barometer of college success , especially for underserved minority students .
College Board officials said in a conference call Wednesday that they support colleges “ in whatever flexibilities they adopt ” to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ test-optional admissions might affect students ’ participation .
“ We ’ re utterly committed to making sure that all students , particularly low-income students , have the option to distinguish themselves in admissions ” by submitting test scores as well as grades , Chief Executive David Coleman said .
About 770,000 students scheduled to take the SAT this spring were unable to do so .
March , May and June exam dates were canceled .
If it is safe to do so , testing could resume as normal in August and the College @ @ @ @ @ @ @ every month through the end of the calendar year as well as in-school tests , officials said .
If schools do not reopen in the fall , a digital , at-home exam will be offered .
“ The College Board would ensure that at-home SAT testing is simple ; secure and fair ; accessible to all ; and valid for use in college admissions , ” the organization said in a statement .
With millions of students nationwide attempting to continue their schooling through online learning , however , inequities have become readily @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and disabled students unable to access remote instruction .
Mark Rosenbaum , a legal director at Public Counsel , is the lead attorney in a lawsuit against the UC system that alleges use of the SAT in admissions decisions is inequitable and discriminatory by race , class and disability status .
He said shifting the test to an at-home , online environment would worsen inequities .
“ For those individuals who don ’ t have online capacity or don ’ t have the same sort of opportunities to work at home as more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ going to be exacerbated , ” he said .
“ I don ’ t think it ’ s a solution for anything other than the College Board ’ s economic interests.
” The nonprofit organization took in more than $ 1 billion in revenue in 2017 , according to its tax filings .
The College Board previously announced that it would deliver digital exams for 3 million Advanced Placement students this spring .
Those exams , which will not be proctored , may be taken with open notes and books .
They will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from the usual three to four hours and will only assess content learned up to early March .
The at-home SAT would be proctored remotely , an issue that is raising privacy concerns .
A College Board official said software applications would lock other programs on a test-taker ’ s computer and use its microphone and camera to monitor the surrounding environment .
Ana Mendoza , staff attorney with the American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California , said such measures bring up questions about how information will be stored , for how @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ Some people aren ’ t comfortable being recorded out in public , much less in their own homes , ” Mendoza said .
Students have a legal expectation of privacy when it comes to their homes , biometric information such as facial characteristics and their educational records , Mendoza said .
Students younger than 18 have even greater protections .
The College Board did not specify how it might modify the test or address privacy concerns if it is administered in students ’ homes .
“ We are working to understand students @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is most necessary to ensure test security .
We ’ re also exploring partnerships to ensure students have access to technology , and quiet and safe testing spaces , should they not have these in their homes , ” the College Board said in an email .

The College Board announced plans Wednesday to offer the SAT at home this fall if schools remain closed because of the coronavirus.
High school students will be able to take an at-home online SAT if the coronavirus outbreak keeps schools closed into the fall, the College Board announced Wednesday, a radical shift that is raising concerns about equity and the security of the standardized college admissions test.
If administered at home, the College Board intends to keep the format of the exam “as close to the SAT students have been preparing for,” with some possible changes to ensure security of the exam, officials said. The organization said it would share more details about the at-home test should it look like that version will be required.
The announcement comes as colleges across the country — including the University of California — are making the SAT and ACT tests optional as an admissions requirement for students entering college in fall 2021. At the same time, the test is coming under increasing scrutiny as a barometer of college success, especially for underserved minority students.
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College Board officials said in a conference call Wednesday that they support colleges “in whatever flexibilities they adopt” to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic and that they don’t know how test-optional admissions might affect students’ participation.
“We’re utterly committed to making sure that all students, particularly low-income students, have the option to distinguish themselves in admissions” by submitting test scores as well as grades, Chief Executive David Coleman said.
About 770,000 students scheduled to take the SAT this spring were unable to do so. March, May and June exam dates were canceled.
If it is safe to do so, testing could resume as normal in August and the College Board would offer a weekend test date every month through the end of the calendar year as well as in-school tests, officials said.
If schools do not reopen in the fall, a digital, at-home exam will be offered.
“The College Board would ensure that at-home SAT testing is simple; secure and fair; accessible to all; and valid for use in college admissions,” the organization said in a statement.
With millions of students nationwide attempting to continue their schooling through online learning, however, inequities have become readily apparent, with many low-income, minority and disabled students unable to access remote instruction.
Advertisement
Mark Rosenbaum, a legal director at Public Counsel, is the lead attorney in a lawsuit against the UC system that alleges use of the SAT in admissions decisions is inequitable and discriminatory by race, class and disability status. He said shifting the test to an at-home, online environment would worsen inequities.
“For those individuals who don’t have online capacity or don’t have the same sort of opportunities to work at home as more privileged students do, that inequity is going to be exacerbated,” he said. “I don’t think it’s a solution for anything other than the College Board’s economic interests.”
The nonprofit organization took in more than $1 billion in revenue in 2017, according to its tax filings.
The College Board previously announced that it would deliver digital exams for 3 million Advanced Placement students this spring. Those exams, which will not be proctored, may be taken with open notes and books. They will also be shortened to just 45 minutes from the usual three to four hours and will only assess content learned up to early March.
The at-home SAT would be proctored remotely, an issue that is raising privacy concerns.
A College Board official said software applications would lock other programs on a test-taker’s computer and use its microphone and camera to monitor the surrounding environment.
Ana Mendoza, staff attorney with the American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California, said such measures bring up questions about how information will be stored, for how long and who may access it.
“Some people aren’t comfortable being recorded out in public, much less in their own homes,” Mendoza said.
Students have a legal expectation of privacy when it comes to their homes, biometric information such as facial characteristics and their educational records, Mendoza said. Students younger than 18 have even greater protections.
The College Board did not specify how it might modify the test or address privacy concerns if it is administered in students’ homes.
“We are working to understand students’ environmental challenges and requiring only what is most necessary to ensure test security. We’re also exploring partnerships to ensure students have access to technology, and quiet and safe testing spaces, should they not have these in their homes,” the College Board said in an email.
Times staff writer Teresa Watanabe contributed to this report.


latimes--2020-04-15--From Big Bear to Joshua Tree, officials fight to slow the spread of coronavirus in rural towns

As a San Bernardino County supervisor , Dawn Rowe serves communities from high up in the snow-capped San Bernardino Mountains to the edges of the Mojave Desert and the rural outposts in between .
In her 3rd District , one town is facing an outbreak of the novel coronavirus at a skilled nursing facility where five residents have died ; a stream of visitors coming into Joshua Tree National Park and parking on private property led to a shutdown of the park ; and local officials have been forced to track down those skirting orders to stop housing visitors .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ understand the trade-offs of choosing to live away from a city and its access to more resources , said Rowe , who lives in Yucca Valley .
But a potential spread of the coronavirus could put a strain on their small communities if outsiders continue to come for what locals are calling the “ COVID vacation.
” “ We have just such limited supplies , we don ’ t have hospitals that can care for large numbers , ” she said .
“ So it ’ s not really the place you want @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” San Bernardino County officials face a challenge in limiting the spread of the coronavirus because of the area ’ s size — it is in the continental U.S. , with about 2 million residents spread out over more than 20,000 square miles , including tourist-driven sites such as Big Bear and the Joshua Tree National Park .
A large percentage of the county ’ s population is concentrated in the western region that borders Los Angeles and Orange counties , but officials are working on increasing resources to far-out rural communities across @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ We don ’ t want anyone to feel like because they live in the mountains , they don ’ t get the same opportunities as people who live in [ the city of ] San Bernardino , ” said Lana Culp , spokeswoman for the county Public Health Department .
“ For the most part , we ’ re struggling just the same as anyone else.
” To meet residents ’ demand for testing , county and local officials have set up drive-through sites across the county , ranging from a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to about 177,000 residents , to a parking lot up in the mountain community of Big Bear Lake , where the year-round population is about 5,000 .
“ We understand the high demand for COVID-19 testing in our county and we are making every effort to organize drive-through events throughout the county , ” Curt Hagman , chairman of the county Board of Supervisors , said in a statement .
The thought that rural communities would be immune from the fast-spreading virus was quickly dispelled in the county , which reported 977 confirmed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
As city dwellers left behind their densely populated surroundings for the space and solitude of the desert and mountains , permanent residents became wary .
Fontana , the second-largest city in the county , has 120 confirmed cases .
But in Yucaipa , with about a quarter of Fontana ’ s population , an outbreak at a skilled nursing facility has driven the total to 104 .
Big Bear Lake Mayor Rick Herrick became the first resident in the town to test positive for COVID-19 in mid-March .
He does not know @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , but he found it difficult to breathe , made worse by being at an elevation of nearly 7,000 feet .
“ It almost felt like I had accidentally , somehow , breathed in toothpicks ” that became stuck in his lungs , he said .
Including Herrick , there have been only three confirmed cases in the town , where the daffodils and tulips are starting to appear , but a drive-through testing site on Friday may help identify more , Herrick said .
During a normal year , Big Bear Lake @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 50,000 after receiving a good amount of snow , which it got last weekend , City Manager Frank A .
Rush Jr. said .
But a virus outbreak on the mountain with that many people could be disastrous ; the lone community hospital can accommodate only about 30 patients after boosting capacity , and it has seven ventilators , he said .
So the city has closed hotels and resorts as residents ’ concerns mount that visitors could bring the virus with them .
Public parking lots have been closed .
And while @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reservations , at least seven groups of visitors have been asked to leave as the city cracked down on self-managing services such as Airbnb , Rush said .
“ Normally we ’ d be welcoming everybody with open arms , so it ’ s kind of a hard message for us to send , to tell visitors to stay away , ” he said .
Yucca Valley Mayor Jeff Drozd expressed a similar struggle as potential visitors contacted him in recent days to see whether he ’ d rent out his guesthouse — @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , which has a state welcome center and is one of the last stops for most people traveling to Joshua Tree National Park , collects revenue from visitors who frequent its shops and restaurants .
And although residents will be hit hard by the economic loss , he said , they are conforming to safety measures .
“ People are really concerned now , ” he said , counting himself among those who initially believed the region was insulated from the virus .
“ Whatever you think , if it ’ s real @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that to help other people feel at ease.
” In Yucaipa , a town in the foothills of the San Bernardino Mountains , an outbreak at the Cedar Mountain Post Acute Rehabilitation facility accounts for a majority of the city ’ s mounting cases .
Five residents of the facility have died of coronavirus-related complications , the county said .
Elizabeth Tyler , a spokeswoman for the facility , said healthy patients have been separated from those who are infected .
A large number of the reported cases were people who were asymptomatic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ members don ’ t know how the spread started .
Mayor David Avila has asked for assistance from both the county , to ramp up testing , and the state , which regulates the facility .
Most Yucaipa residents have complied with the stay-at-home directives and social distancing measures , he said .
Residents have even effectively shamed nonessential businesses on social media for refusing to close , he said .
Avila also counts himself among those who initially believed the region was insulated from the virus .
“ We ’ re kind @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he said .
“ We just had a little , ‘ Eh , it won ’ t come to our town.
’ But it did .
”

A public health care worker collects a nasal swab from Joshua Donnan for coronavirus testing at a drive-through sample collection event held by the San Bernardino County Department of Public Health in Montclair, Calif., on Tuesday.
As a San Bernardino County supervisor, Dawn Rowe serves communities from high up in the snow-capped San Bernardino Mountains to the edges of the Mojave Desert and the rural outposts in between.
In her 3rd District, one town is facing an outbreak of the novel coronavirus at a skilled nursing facility where five residents have died; a stream of visitors coming into Joshua Tree National Park and parking on private property led to a shutdown of the park; and local officials have been forced to track down those skirting orders to stop housing visitors.
People who live in a rural area understand the trade-offs of choosing to live away from a city and its access to more resources, said Rowe, who lives in Yucca Valley. But a potential spread of the coronavirus could put a strain on their small communities if outsiders continue to come for what locals are calling the “COVID vacation.”
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“We have just such limited supplies, we don’t have hospitals that can care for large numbers,” she said. “So it’s not really the place you want to be if you’re sick.”
San Bernardino County officials face a challenge in limiting the spread of the coronavirus because of the area’s size — it is the largest county in the continental U.S., with about 2 million residents spread out over more than 20,000 square miles, including tourist-driven sites such as Big Bear and Joshua Tree National Park.
A large percentage of the county’s population is concentrated in the western region that borders Los Angeles and Orange counties, but officials are working on increasing resources to far-out rural communities across the valley, mountain and desert regions.
“We don’t want anyone to feel like because they live in the mountains, they don’t get the same opportunities as people who live in [the city of] San Bernardino,” said Lana Culp, spokeswoman for the county Public Health Department. “For the most part, we’re struggling just the same as anyone else.”
To meet residents’ demand for testing, county and local officials have set up drive-through sites across the county, ranging from a baseball stadium in Rancho Cucamonga, home to about 177,000 residents, to a parking lot up in the mountain community of Big Bear Lake, where the year-round population is about 5,000.
“We understand the high demand for COVID-19 testing in our county and we are making every effort to organize drive-through events throughout the county,” Curt Hagman, chairman of the county Board of Supervisors, said in a statement.
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The thought that rural communities would be immune from the fast-spreading virus was quickly dispelled in the county, which reported 977 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 31 fatalities Monday. As city dwellers left behind their densely populated surroundings for the space and solitude of the desert and mountains, permanent residents became wary.
Fontana, the second-largest city in the county, has 120 confirmed cases. But in Yucaipa, with about a quarter of Fontana’s population, an outbreak at a skilled nursing facility has driven the total to 104.
Big Bear Lake Mayor Rick Herrick became the first resident in the town to test positive for COVID-19 in mid-March. He does not know how he became ill, he said, but he found it difficult to breathe, made worse by being at an elevation of nearly 7,000 feet.
“It almost felt like I had accidentally, somehow, breathed in toothpicks” that became stuck in his lungs, he said.
Including Herrick, there have been only three confirmed cases in the town, where the daffodils and tulips are starting to appear, but a drive-through testing site on Friday may help identify more, Herrick said.
During a normal year, Big Bear Lake’s population can swell to about 50,000 after receiving a good amount of snow, which it got last weekend, City Manager Frank A. Rush Jr. said. But a virus outbreak on the mountain with that many people could be disastrous; the lone community hospital can accommodate only about 30 patients after boosting capacity, and it has seven ventilators, he said.
So the city has closed hotels and resorts as residents’ concerns mount that visitors could bring the virus with them. Public parking lots have been closed. And while large rental companies have complied by canceling reservations, at least seven groups of visitors have been asked to leave as the city cracked down on self-managing services such as Airbnb, Rush said.
“Normally we’d be welcoming everybody with open arms, so it’s kind of a hard message for us to send, to tell visitors to stay away,” he said.
Yucca Valley Mayor Jeff Drozd expressed a similar struggle as potential visitors contacted him in recent days to see whether he’d rent out his guesthouse — he won’t. The town, which has a state welcome center and is one of the last stops for most people traveling to Joshua Tree National Park, collects revenue from visitors who frequent its shops and restaurants. And although residents will be hit hard by the economic loss, he said, they are conforming to safety measures.
“People are really concerned now,” he said, counting himself among those who initially believed the region was insulated from the virus. “Whatever you think, if it’s real or not, you have to do that to help other people feel at ease.”
In Yucaipa, a town in the foothills of the San Bernardino Mountains, an outbreak at the Cedar Mountain Post Acute Rehabilitation facility accounts for a majority of the city’s mounting cases. Five residents of the facility have died of coronavirus-related complications, the county said.
Elizabeth Tyler, a spokeswoman for the facility, said healthy patients have been separated from those who are infected. A large number of the reported cases were people who were asymptomatic, Tyler said, adding that staff members don’t know how the spread started.
Mayor David Avila has asked for assistance from both the county, to ramp up testing, and the state, which regulates the facility. Most Yucaipa residents have complied with the stay-at-home directives and social distancing measures, he said. Residents have even effectively shamed nonessential businesses on social media for refusing to close, he said.
Avila also counts himself among those who initially believed the region was insulated from the virus.
“We’re kind of out of the way,” he said. “We just had a little, ‘Eh, it won’t come to our town.’ But it did.”


latimes--2020-01-07--It took three years of blown deadlines, but L.A.'s first homeless housing project is done

For months , the wooden frame rising at 88th and Vermont stood as a constant reminder of the unfulfilled promise of Proposition HHH , the $ 1.2-billion bond for homeless housing that Los Angeles voters approved more than three years ago .
Finally on Monday , there was a grand opening .
It ’ s the first to open of about 20 projects under construction .
Work will begin on another 30 in 2020 .
In the meantime , homelessness has continued to grow in the city of Los Angeles , reaching more than 36,000 last year — a 16 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ today the opening of the first HHH housing project ... it is the first of many to come , ” Mayor Eric Garcetti said .
“ We see here in plain sight what a vision is when it manifests itself physically.
” Initially scheduled to open in October , the 62-unit project , known simply as 88th and Vermont , was supposed to be one of three HHH-funded projects to open in 2019 .
It did open quietly in mid-December , but was the only one to do so .
On Monday , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ jubilant celebration , as city and county officials and nonprofit leaders gathered to mark the beginning of the Proposition HHH payoff .
While acknowledging that the rollout of the ballot measure has had its problems , officials characterized 88th and Vermont as a turning point .
“ This year , we will see an opening of one of these about every three weeks , ” Garcetti said .
“ My calculations , next year it might be every two weeks or less.
” The mayor lauded the change the 88th and Vermont project @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , who were among the first dozen tenants .
After losing their home , they had couch-surfed , lived in shelters and motels , and “ spent way too many nights in their car , ” he said .
The mother of five told Garcetti that the hardest part was when her children said they wanted to go home .
“ Finally , last week , that ’ s what they did , ” the mayor said .
“ They ’ re going to know where home is , and that means more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the city to know what that means , to come home .
We ’ re not going to slow down until we get there.
” However , a subtext of the celebration was the certainty that , with homelessness increasing , all of the housing funded by Proposition HHH will not be enough to keep up .
“ This is just the beginning , ” said Elise Buik , president and chief executive of United Way of Greater Los Angeles , which was a major backer of Proposition HHH and the Measure H @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The initial public campaign for the ballot measure had promised 10,000 units in 10 years .
To meet that goal , the city would have to build another 300 housing units a year using other funding .
Historically , the city has been able to build that many units per year , but since the bond measure passed in 2016 , the pace has fallen .
However , even that goal of 10,000 units is now too small , as it was based on past homeless counts when the population was smaller .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ tents and makeshift shelters on the city ’ s streets ballooning to 27,000 out of 36,000 overall , and the number of chronically homeless Angelenos increasing , the current pace of construction is not keeping up .
“ Prop .
HHH and Measure H are a down payment , ” Buik said , tacitly suggesting that additional tax measures may be proposed in the coming years .
According to the website of the city ’ s Housing and Community Investment Department , the 112 projects funded by Proposition HHH will produce 7,484 units @ @ @ @ @ @ @ services for chronically homeless people , veterans and young adults .
Another 1,587 units will be reserved for low-income tenants .
Another 1,000 housing units are being built through Garcetti ’ s innovation program , using $ 120 million from Proposition HHH .
The 88th and Vermont project has 46 units of supportive housing units for adults 18 to 25 years old , veterans , as well as for households with people experiencing chronic homelessness .
The remaining 14 units are set aside for very low-income families and individuals , as well as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ youth and family support center will offer job training , academic resources and services for local youth .
Rents range from $ 473 per month for a studio to $ 703 per month for a three-bedroom unit , with the costs for tenants subsidized by local and federal funds .
The 88th and Vermont project cost $ 34 million and received just under $ 9.7 million from Proposition HHH .
At $ 549,500 per unit , it reflects the upward trend in the cost of housing .
The most expensive HHH projects have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
In 2015 , such projects cost about $ 420,000 per unit , according to a Times analysis of state housing data .
The homeless housing project also is the city ’ s first to receive a building permit using guidelines from the Transit Oriented Communities Affordable Housing Incentive Program , reducing parking requirements and allowing for more residential density .

Miah Ayala, 2, plays in the courtyard of the first housing development built using money from Proposition HHH.
For months, the wooden frame rising at 88th and Vermont stood as a constant reminder of the unfulfilled promise of Proposition HHH, the $1.2-billion bond for homeless housing that Los Angeles voters approved more than three years ago.
Finally on Monday, there was a grand opening. The development is the first to open of about 20 projects under construction. Work will begin on another 30 in 2020.
In the meantime, homelessness has continued to grow in the city of Los Angeles, reaching more than 36,000 last year — a 16% increase.
Mayor Eric Garcetti, right, shares a moment with the Ayala family, who moved into 88th and Vermont after being homeless for nearly three years. (Christina House / Los Angeles Times)
“As we celebrate today the opening of the first HHH housing project ... it is the first of many to come,” Mayor Eric Garcetti said. “We see here in plain sight what a vision is when it manifests itself physically.”
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Initially scheduled to open in October, the 62-unit project, known simply as 88th and Vermont, was supposed to be one of three HHH-funded projects to open in 2019. It did open quietly in mid-December but was the only one to do so.
On Monday, the building became the setting of a jubilant celebration, as city and county officials and nonprofit leaders gathered to mark the beginning of the Proposition HHH payoff.
While acknowledging that the rollout of the ballot measure has had its problems, officials characterized 88th and Vermont as a turning point.
The first Proposition HHH-funded housing project has opened in South Los Angeles. (Christina House / Los Angeles Times)
“This year, we will see an opening of one of these about every three weeks,” Garcetti said. “My calculations, next year it might be every two weeks or less.”
The mayor lauded the change the 88th and Vermont project had made for a family of seven, who were among the first dozen tenants. After losing their home, they had couch-surfed, lived in shelters and motels, and “spent way too many nights in their car,” he said.
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The mother of five told Garcetti that the hardest part was when her children said they wanted to go home.
“Finally, last week, that’s what they did,” the mayor said. “They’re going to know where home is, and that means more than anything. We want everybody in the city to know what that means, to come home. We’re not going to slow down until we get there.”
A one-bedroom unit is shown during a tour of 88th and Vermont in South Los Angeles. (Christina House / Los Angeles Times)
A subtext of the celebration, however, was the certainty that, with homelessness increasing, all of the housing funded by Proposition HHH would not be enough to keep up.
“This is just the beginning,” said Elise Buik, president and chief executive of United Way of Greater Los Angeles, which was a major backer of Proposition HHH and the Measure H countywide sales tax for homeless services.
The initial public campaign for the ballot measure had promised 10,000 units in 10 years. To meet that goal, the city would have to build another 300 housing units a year using other funding.
Historically, the city has been able to build that many units per year, but since the bond measure passed in 2016, the pace has fallen.
Even that goal of 10,000 units is now too small, as it was based on past homeless counts when the population was smaller. With the number of people living in tents and makeshift shelters on the city’s streets ballooning to 27,000 out of 36,000 overall, and the number of chronically homeless Angelenos increasing, the current pace of construction is not keeping up.
“Prop. HHH and Measure H are a down payment,” Buik said, tacitly suggesting that additional tax measures may be proposed in the coming years.
The community room is shown during a tour of 88th and Vermont. (Christina House / Los Angeles Times)
According to the website of the city’s Housing and Community Investment Department, the 112 projects funded by Proposition HHH will produce 7,484 units, of which 5,773 will come with services for chronically homeless people, veterans and young adults. Another 1,587 units will be reserved for low-income tenants.
Another 1,000 housing units are being built through Garcetti’s innovation program, using $120 million from Proposition HHH.
The 88th and Vermont project has 46 units of supportive housing for adults 18 to 25 years old, veterans, and households with people experiencing chronic homelessness. The remaining 14 units are set aside for very low-income families and individuals, as well as two units for on-site managers.
A youth and family support center will offer job training, academic resources and services for local youth.
Rents range from $473 per month for a studio to $703 per month for a three-bedroom unit, with the costs for tenants subsidized by local and federal funds.
The 88th and Vermont project cost $34 million and received just under $9.7 million from Proposition HHH. At $549,500 per unit, it reflects the upward trend in the cost of housing. The most expensive HHH projects have run more than $600,000 per unit.
In 2015, such projects cost about $420,000 per unit, according to a Times analysis of state housing data.
The homeless housing project also is the city’s first to receive a building permit using guidelines from the Transit Oriented Communities Affordable Housing Incentive Program, reducing parking requirements and allowing for more residential density.


latimes--2020-01-07--Struggling L.A. Trade Tech headed for fresh start with new president

Los Angeles Trade Technical College , which has struggled with financial and grading scandals over the last few years , is headed for a fresh start with a new president .
Los Angeles Community College District Chancellor Francisco Rodriguez announced Monday that he had chosen Katrina VanderWoude , former president of Contra Costa College , to head the campus after a months-long search and town hall meetings .
Trustees will vote on the selection Wednesday .
In his announcement to the campus community , Rodriguez said VanderWoude had more than 20 years of administrative experience focusing on academic affairs , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
She headed Contra Costa College for a year before stepping down last August and also served as vice president of academic affairs at Grossmont College in El Cajon and vice provost at Rochester College in Michigan .
A graduate of Michigan State University , with degrees in social work and psychology , VanderWoude earned her doctorate in educational leadership from Eastern Michigan University .
If approved by trustees , VanderWoude will start her job on Feb. 24 .
She could not be reached for comment .
She will lead a campus that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Los Angeles .
Among 13,400 students , three-fourths are the first in their families to attend college and a majority are low-income .
About 70 % of students are Latino and nearly 15 % are African American , according to state data for spring 2019 .
About 39 % of students earned certificates , degrees or transfer status in 2017 , outcomes she will be expected to improve .
VanderWoude also will take on a campus that has been bitterly divided over leadership and several scandals .
Internal district investigations in 2017 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in a pilot program to help underprepared students improve their math skills and failed to justify $ 157,000 they received from 2014 to 2017 through a U.S. Department of Labor grant .
College and district officials have denied any wrongdoing .
Last year , some Trade Tech faculty supported a petition of no confidence against then-President Laurence B. Frank accusing him of “ intentionally and repeatedly ” misleading faculty about campus scandals and ignoring wrongdoing .
Frank , a former Los Angeles deputy mayor , declined an interview request at the time and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ launch economic and workforce development initiatives for the district .
But the no-confidence effort , representing a minority of the faculty , further inflamed campus divisions .
Deirdre Wood McDermott , chairwoman of Trade Tech ’ s language arts and humanities department who presented the petition to board trustees , said Monday she is “ cautiously hopeful ” that VanderWoude will lead efforts to heal the divisions , rebuild trust , deepen support for students and increase transparency about campus practices .
“ Our students are the most vulnerable in the city and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ McDermott said .
Artemio Navarro , head of the campus Academic Senate , could not be reached for comment .
But Wood McDermott and other Trade Tech faculty said they were keeping an open mind about controversy surrounding VanderWoude ’ s resignation from Contra Costa College .
After just nine months on the job , she was placed on administrative leave last May pending an investigation into complaints filed about her by college employees , the East Bay Times reported .
She resigned last August .
Officials with the Contra Costa Community College @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the complaints .
But the African American Staff Assn .
posted an article last August alleging that VanderWoude was targeted because she sought to diversify campus leadership with more administrators of color .
In March 2019 , the association alleged , she was hit with a “ trumped-up employee complaint ” charging her with reverse racism , age discrimination and retaliation .
Contra Costa district spokesman Tim Leong said Monday that the district had completed its investigation into the complaints but “ given her decision to resign , we have closed the investigation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ further actions on this matter .
”

A new president, Katrina VanderWoude, has been selected for Los Angeles Trade Technical College, shown here in 2018.
Los Angeles Trade Technical College, which has struggled with financial and grading scandals over the last few years, is headed for a fresh start with a new president.
Los Angeles Community College District Chancellor Francisco Rodriguez announced Monday that he had chosen Katrina VanderWoude, former president of Contra Costa College, to head the campus after a months-long search and town hall meetings. Trustees will vote on the selection Wednesday.
In his announcement to the campus community, Rodriguez said VanderWoude had more than 20 years of administrative experience focusing on academic affairs, career and technical education and workforce development.
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She headed Contra Costa College for a year before stepping down last August and also served as vice president of academic affairs at Grossmont College in El Cajon and vice provost at Rochester College in Michigan. A graduate of Michigan State University, with degrees in social work and psychology, VanderWoude earned her doctorate in educational leadership from Eastern Michigan University.
If approved by trustees, VanderWoude will start her job on Feb. 24. She could not be reached for comment.
She will lead a campus that educates some of the most disadvantaged students in Los Angeles. Among 13,400 students, three-fourths are the first in their families to attend college and a majority are low-income. About 70% of students are Latino and nearly 15% are African American, according to state data for spring 2019. About 39% of students earned certificates, degrees or transfer status in 2017, outcomes she will be expected to improve.
VanderWoude also will take on a campus that has been bitterly divided over leadership and several scandals. Internal district investigations in 2017 found that college officials had falsified grades in a pilot program to help underprepared students improve their math skills and failed to justify $157,000 they received from 2014 to 2017 through a U.S. Department of Labor grant. College and district officials have denied any wrongdoing.
Last year, some Trade Tech faculty supported a petition of no confidence against then-President Laurence B. Frank accusing him of “intentionally and repeatedly” misleading faculty about campus scandals and ignoring wrongdoing.
Frank, a former Los Angeles deputy mayor, declined an interview request at the time and resigned from Trade Tech last July to launch economic and workforce development initiatives for the district. But the no-confidence effort, representing a minority of the faculty, further inflamed campus divisions.
Deirdre Wood McDermott, chairwoman of Trade Tech’s language arts and humanities department who presented the petition to board trustees, said Monday she is “cautiously hopeful” that VanderWoude will lead efforts to heal the divisions, rebuild trust, deepen support for students and increase transparency about campus practices.
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“Our students are the most vulnerable in the city and they deserve the best,” Wood McDermott said.
Artemio Navarro, head of the campus Academic Senate, could not be reached for comment. But Wood McDermott and other Trade Tech faculty said they were keeping an open mind about controversy surrounding VanderWoude’s resignation from Contra Costa College. After just nine months on the job, she was placed on administrative leave last May pending an investigation into complaints filed about her by college employees, the East Bay Times reported. She resigned last August.
Officials with the Contra Costa Community College District declined to specify the nature of the complaints. But the African American Staff Assn. posted an article last August alleging that VanderWoude was targeted because she sought to diversify campus leadership with more administrators of color. In March 2019, the association alleged, she was hit with a “trumped-up employee complaint” charging her with reverse racism, age discrimination and retaliation.
Contra Costa district spokesman Tim Leong said Monday that the district had completed its investigation into the complaints but “given her decision to resign, we have closed the investigation and have no other plans to take further actions on this matter.”


latimes--2020-01-07--California lawmaker again taking aim at single-family zoning

California lawmakers will once again debate a contentious measure that could radically increase housing growth in the state after a legislator revamped his proposal to allow construction of mid-rise apartment complexes near transit and fourplexes in single-family neighborhoods .
New changes to Senate Bill 50 introduced Monday would give cities and counties two years to develop plans to boost development in their communities before state mandates for greater housing density take effect .
Sen. Scott Wiener ( D-San Francisco ) , the bill ’ s author , said many local government officials told him they supported more housing in their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it would be built .
“ They want to be able to have some flexibility to increase the density in their community in their own way , ” Wiener said .
Wiener ’ s changes to SB 50 come just weeks before a Jan. 31 deadline for the measure to pass the state Senate , required after the bill was held in a legislative committee last spring .
The bill and its narrow time frame to advance are likely to reignite a clash between state and local officials and neighborhood activists over the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ deadline also increases pressure on Gov .
Gavin Newsom and Senate President Pro Tem Toni Atkins ( D-San Diego ) , both of whom largely stayed out of last year ’ s fight over the bill , to weigh in more strongly on the measure .
Under SB 50 , communities across California would see increased housing growth with the greatest effects expected in Los Angeles , the Bay Area , Silicon Valley and other densely populated areas .
Lower-density neighborhoods would be forced to allow four- to five-story apartment buildings near rail @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in wealthy areas near job centers .
Increases to building heights and densities would be less dramatic in smaller counties , including Marin , Sonoma and Santa Barbara , and neighborhoods across the state at risk of gentrification will have five years — rather than two — to develop their own development blueprints .
This is the third year in a row that Wiener has tried to pass a bill to substantially boost growth in already developed communities , a move he argues is essential to addressing the state ’ s housing affordability @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cars in order to help reduce greenhouse gas emissions .
The state ’ s median home value is $ 555,000 , according to real estate website Zillow , more than twice the national average .
And between half and three-quarters of the developable land in much of the state is zoned for single-family housing , according to a 2018 survey by UC Berkeley ’ s Terner Center for Housing Innovation , making denser growth off-limits there — aside from garage conversions or backyard units .
Wiener ’ s previous attempts failed when groups @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his bills would exacerbate displacement of residents and activists from suburbs across the state contended the measure was a threat to the character of their neighborhoods .
The changes Wiener introduced Monday aim to undercut a key argument made by opponents : that local governments — not the state — should have control over development in their communities .
The new version of the bill would allow cities and counties to come up with their own plans to increase growth around transit and jobs as long as they boost density to the level @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , a city could zone for six-story apartment complexes on a street next to a rail station and four-story complexes one street over rather than allowing five-story buildings on both .
The provision allowing for fourplexes on single-family parcels would apply without exception .
Cities and counties already face existing state mandates to zone for significantly more housing within their boundaries .
In Southern California , communities in Los Angeles , Orange , Imperial , Riverside , San Bernardino and Ventura counties will soon have to set aside enough land to accommodate 1.3 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ concentrated in coastal job centers .
Wiener said his bill would complement those requirements , allowing cities to write their plans to meet existing state guidelines and the provisions in SB 50 .
“ SB 50 will be extremely helpful to cities that are seeing a big increase in their housing goals , ” he said .
Still , like the existing state rules , SB 50 gives California housing officials the final say in determining whether local proposals meet the goals outlined in the bill .
If city and county efforts are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ effect .
It ’ s unclear if Wiener ’ s legislation will receive sufficient support in the Senate , particularly among fellow Democrats who were among the most hostile to the plan .
In 2019 , Sen. Anthony Portantino ( D-La Cañada Flintridge ) was the principal architect of the bill ’ s defeat , shelving it without a public vote in the Appropriations Committee , which he chairs .
On Monday afternoon , Portantino said he hadn ’ t seen Wiener ’ s changes to the bill , but said he remained @ @ @ @ @ @ @ housing instead of low-income development and do so without ensuring that new streets , sidewalks and other new infrastructure would come alongside the homebuilding .
“ This bill doesn ’ t build affordable housing , ” Portantino said .
“ I prefer to actually fund affordable housing.
” Atkins , who deferred to Portantino ’ s decision to shelve the bill last year , has since said since that she would work on SB 50 in 2020 .
In an interview Monday , Atkins said she expected SB 50 to advance out of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vote this month .
“ That ’ s the goal , ” she said .
Though Newsom has not taken a position on SB 50 , the governor said he was “ disappointed ” after the bill was held last year , and has signaled he ’ d back efforts to take power from city and county officials to increase density .
“ The governor remains focused as a top priority on getting more housing built all across the state , for people at all income levels , ” Newsom spokesman Jesse Melgar @ @ @ @ @ @ @ In a sign of how strong passions are surrounding SB 50 , local government officials have again lined up in recent weeks to announce their stances on the bill even before Wiener unveiled his changes .
Last month , the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors voted to support the bill , contending that the state should help stimulate housing construction in Silicon Valley .
Officials in Wiener ’ s home city of San Francisco , however , voted in December to oppose the lawmaker ’ s housing density bills for the third @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spearheaded a recent resolution against SB 50 , said the city needed to send a clear message that the bill would cause harm if it did not increase requirements for developers to build low-income housing alongside greater density .
“ I think the kind of upzoning that SB 50 would mandate especially in a hot market city like San Francisco would immediately increase value of properties without requiring additional commitments to provide affordable housing or community benefits , ” Mar said .
“ It ’ s essentially a giveaway to developers.
” As @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would require projects larger than 10 units to contribute funding or space for low-income housing .
Developers who hope to take advantage of SB 50 also would be prohibited from demolishing homes on properties where tenants have lived for at least seven years .
Another change introduced Monday would give low-income residents living in neighborhoods near projects built under SB 50 a preference in moving into the new units .
The senator said he remains in negotiations with a coalition of groups representing low-income communities about further changes to the bill .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ prior versions of Wiener ’ s bill , expressing concerns about its effects on single-family neighborhoods , historic districts and gentrifying communities .
Mayor Eric Garcetti was against Wiener ’ s first effort but did not take a position on SB 50 last year .

California lawmakers will once again debate a contentious measure that could radically increase housing growth in the state after a legislator revamped his proposal to allow construction of mid-rise apartment complexes near transit and fourplexes in single-family neighborhoods.
New changes to Senate Bill 50 introduced Monday would give cities and counties two years to develop plans to boost development in their communities before state mandates for greater housing density take effect. Sen. Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco), the bill’s author, said many local government officials told him they supported more housing in their cities but wanted more control over where it would be built.
“They want to be able to have some flexibility to increase the density in their community in their own way,” Wiener said.
Wiener’s changes to SB 50 come just weeks before a Jan. 31 deadline for the measure to pass the state Senate, required after the bill was held in a legislative committee last spring. The bill and its narrow time frame to advance are likely to reignite a clash between state and local officials and neighborhood activists over the future of development in California. The deadline also increases pressure on Gov. Gavin Newsom and Senate President Pro Tem Toni Atkins (D-San Diego), both of whom largely stayed out of last year’s fight over the bill, to weigh in more strongly on the measure.
Under SB 50, communities across California would see increased housing growth with the greatest effects expected in Los Angeles, the Bay Area, Silicon Valley and other densely populated areas. Lower-density neighborhoods would be forced to allow four- to five-story apartment buildings near rail lines, and smaller apartments and townhomes in wealthy areas near job centers. Increases to building heights and densities would be less dramatic in smaller counties, including Marin, Sonoma and Santa Barbara, and neighborhoods across the state at risk of gentrification will have five years — rather than two — to develop their own development blueprints.
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This is the third year in a row that Wiener has tried to pass a bill to substantially boost growth in already developed communities, a move he argues is essential to addressing the state’s housing affordability challenges and reducing Californians’ reliance on cars in order to help reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The state’s median home value is $555,000, according to real estate website Zillow, more than twice the national average. And half to three-quarters of the developable land in much of the state is zoned for single-family housing, according to a 2018 survey by UC Berkeley’s Terner Center for Housing Innovation, making denser growth off-limits there — aside from garage conversions or backyard units.
Wiener’s previous attempts failed when groups representing lower-income communities of color argued that his bills would exacerbate displacement of residents, and activists from suburbs across the state contended the measure was a threat to the character of their neighborhoods.
The changes Wiener introduced Monday aim to undercut a key argument made by opponents: that local governments — not the state — should have control over development in their communities.
The new version of the bill would allow cities and counties to come up with their own plans to increase growth around transit and jobs as long as they boost density to the level required under SB 50. For example, a city could zone for six-story apartment complexes on a street next to a rail station and four-story complexes one street over rather than allowing five-story buildings on both. The provision allowing for fourplexes on single-family parcels would apply without exception.
Cities and counties already face existing state mandates to zone for significantly more housing within their boundaries.
In Southern California, communities in Los Angeles, Orange, Imperial, Riverside, San Bernardino and Ventura counties will soon have to set aside enough land to accommodate 1.3 million new homes, with the growth concentrated in coastal job centers. Wiener said his bill would complement those requirements, allowing cities to write their plans to meet existing state guidelines and the provisions in SB 50.
“SB 50 will be extremely helpful to cities that are seeing a big increase in their housing goals,” he said.
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Still, like the existing state rules, SB 50 gives California housing officials the final say in determining whether local proposals meet the goals outlined in the bill. If city and county efforts are rejected, state density requirements would take effect.
It’s unclear if Wiener’s legislation will receive sufficient support in the Senate, particularly among fellow Democrats who were among the most hostile to the plan. In 2019, Sen. Anthony Portantino (D-La Cañada Flintridge) was the principal architect of the bill’s defeat, shelving it without a public vote in the Appropriations Committee, which he chairs. On Monday afternoon, Portantino said he hadn’t seen Wiener’s changes to the bill but said he remained concerned that the bill would prioritize market-rate housing instead of low-income development and do so without ensuring that new streets, sidewalks and other new infrastructure would come alongside the homebuilding.
“This bill doesn’t build affordable housing,” Portantino said. “I prefer to actually fund affordable housing.”
Atkins, who deferred to Portantino’s decision to shelve the bill last year, has since said she would work on SB 50 in 2020. In an interview Monday, Atkins said she expected SB 50 to advance out of the Appropriations Committee for a Senate floor vote this month.
“That’s the goal,” she said.
Though Newsom has not taken a position on SB 50, the governor said he was “disappointed” after the bill was held last year and signaled he’d back efforts to take power from city and county officials to increase density.
“The governor remains focused as a top priority on getting more housing built all across the state, for people at all income levels,” Newsom spokesman Jesse Melgar said in a statement on Monday.
In a sign of how strong passions are surrounding SB 50, local government officials again lined up in recent weeks to announce their stances on the bill even before Wiener unveiled his changes. Last month, the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors voted to support the bill, contending that the state should help stimulate housing construction in Silicon Valley.
Officials in Wiener’s home city of San Francisco, however, voted in December to oppose the lawmaker’s housing density bills for the third time. Supervisor Gordon Mar, who spearheaded a recent resolution against SB 50, said the city needed to send a clear message that the bill would cause harm if it did not increase requirements for developers to build low-income housing alongside greater density.
“I think the kind of upzoning that SB 50 would mandate especially in a hot market city like San Francisco would immediately increase value of properties without requiring additional commitments to provide affordable housing or community benefits,” Mar said. “It’s essentially a giveaway to developers.”
As it stands, Wiener’s bill would require projects larger than 10 units to contribute funding or space for low-income housing. Developers who hope to take advantage of SB 50 also would be prohibited from demolishing homes on properties where tenants have lived for at least seven years. Another change introduced Monday would give low-income residents living in neighborhoods near projects built under SB 50 a preference in moving into the new units. The senator says he remains in negotiations with a coalition of groups representing low-income communities about further changes to the bill.
The Los Angeles City Council opposed both prior versions of Wiener’s bill, expressing concerns about its effects on single-family neighborhoods, historic districts and gentrifying communities. Mayor Eric Garcetti was against Wiener’s first effort but did not take a position on SB 50 last year.


latimes--2020-01-06--Appeals court throws out case against four social workers in Gabriel Fernandez case

Justices with the California 2nd District Court of Appeal threw out the case Monday against four former social workers who faced criminal charges in the death of 8-year-old Gabriel Fernandez .
Gabriel died in May 2013 after months of torture and abuse , according to prosecutors .
His mother , Pearl Sinthia Fernandez , and her boyfriend , Isauro Aguirre , are expected to spend the rest of their lives in prison for his murder .
A surprising twist in the case came in 2016 when the Los Angeles County district attorney ’ s office charged former county Department of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Stefanie Rodriguez , Gregory Merritt and Patricia Clement with one felony count of child abuse and one felony count of falsifying public records .
It marked the first time in recent memory in which child protective workers were criminally charged over the alleged mishandling of a case .
In their 2-1 decision filed Monday , the justices ruled that , because the allegations against the four social workers were based on their “ alleged nonfeasance , ” prosecutors had to prove that the workers either had the duty and ability to control @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or control of him .
The court concluded that the workers “ never had the requisite duty to control the abusers and did not have care or custody of Gabriel , ” according to the opinion .
In 2016 when the workers were charged , prosecutors argued that the employees minimized “ the significance of the physical , mental and emotional injuries that Gabriel suffered … [ and ] allowed a vulnerable boy to remain at home and continue to be abused.
” “ Social workers play a vital role in society .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ from harm , ” Dist .
Atty .
Jackie Lacey said in a 2016 statement .
“ When their negligence is so great as to become criminal , young lives are put at risk .
We believe these social workers were criminally negligent and performed their legal duties with willful disregard for Gabriel ’ s well-being.
” Rodriguez ’ s attorney , Lance Michael Filer , said that his client has been dealing with the case for years and that “ this has been the news she ’ s been waiting to hear @ @ @ @ @ @ @ position has always been the same , ” Filer said , “ that neither she nor anyone else in her shoes should have been held criminally accountable for the unpredictable nature of criminals and that the people that actually harmed Gabriel have already had their trial and day in court.
” Prosecutors could hold another preliminary hearing in the case or take it to the California Supreme Court .
The district attorney ’ s office could not be reached for comment Monday .
Clement ’ s attorney , Shelly Barbara Albert , said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ what was next and instead were appreciating the appeal court ’ s decision .
“ This has been a very difficult time for [ Clement ] and very stressful , ” Albert said .
“ She ’ s looking forward to putting this behind her , and that ’ s where things are right now .
”

Justices with the California 2nd District Court of Appeal threw out the case Monday against four former social workers who faced criminal charges in the death of 8-year-old Gabriel Fernandez.
Gabriel died in May 2013 after months of torture and abuse, according to prosecutors. His mother, Pearl Sinthia Fernandez, and her boyfriend, Isauro Aguirre, are expected to spend the rest of their lives in prison for his murder.
A surprising twist in the case came in 2016 when the Los Angeles County district attorney’s office charged former county Department of Children and Family Services employees Kevin Bom, Stefanie Rodriguez, Gregory Merritt and Patricia Clement with one felony count of child abuse and one felony count of falsifying public records. It marked the first time in recent memory in which child protective workers were criminally charged over the alleged mishandling of a case.
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In their 2-1 decision filed Monday, the justices ruled that, because the allegations against the four social workers were based on their “alleged nonfeasance,” prosecutors had to prove that the workers either had the duty and ability to control Gabriel’s abusers or had custody or control of him. The court concluded that the workers “never had the requisite duty to control the abusers and did not have care or custody of Gabriel,” according to the opinion.
Four social workers — Kevin Bom, left, Stefanie Rodriguez, Gregory Merritt and Patricia Clement — faced criminal charges in the case of Gabriel Fernandez. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)
In 2016 when the workers were charged, prosecutors argued that the employees minimized “the significance of the physical, mental and emotional injuries that Gabriel suffered … [and] allowed a vulnerable boy to remain at home and continue to be abused.”
“Social workers play a vital role in society. We entrust them to protect our children from harm,” Dist. Atty. Jackie Lacey said in a 2016 statement. “When their negligence is so great as to become criminal, young lives are put at risk. We believe these social workers were criminally negligent and performed their legal duties with willful disregard for Gabriel’s well-being.”
Rodriguez’s attorney, Lance Michael Filer, said that his client has been dealing with the case for years and that “this has been the news she’s been waiting to hear for a long time.”
“Our position has always been the same,” Filer said, “that neither she nor anyone else in her shoes should have been held criminally accountable for the unpredictable nature of criminals and that the people that actually harmed Gabriel have already had their trial and day in court.”
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Prosecutors could hold another preliminary hearing in the case or take it to the California Supreme Court. The district attorney’s office could not be reached for comment Monday.
Clement’s attorney, Shelly Barbara Albert, said neither she nor Clement were focusing on what was next and instead were appreciating the appeal court’s decision.
“This has been a very difficult time for [Clement] and very stressful,” Albert said. “She’s looking forward to putting this behind her, and that’s where things are right now.”