https://www.fontanaheraldnews.com/news/new-covid-19-cases-still-plague-san-bernardino-county-doctors-express-concerns-about-delta- variant/article_be1e3bd0-da90-11eb-a8a4-27d565699df2.html

New COVID-19 cases still plague San Bernardino County; doctors express concerns about Delta variant

Jul 1, 2021

While San Bernardino County has experienced dramatic improvements in COVID-related cases, hospitalizations and deaths since the winter spike, doctors here are continuing to treat patients newly sufering from the disease.

While San Bernardino County has experienced dramatic improvements in COVID-related cases, hospitalizations and deaths since the winter spike, doctors here are continuing to treat patients newly suffering from the disease.

“The widespread pandemic has largely receded, but the reality on the ground is that the virus, and the disease, are still very much with us,” said County Health Offcer Dr. Michael Sequeira in a news release on June 30.

He noted that most recent patients are relatively young and healthy, and much less likely to suffer a life-threatening condition than older patients.

Still, he expressed concern about the disease’s continued spread and the emergence of the new Delta variant, which has made its way to the county. First identifed in India, this version of the coronavirus has spread to at least 77 countries and regions and now makes up more than 20 percent of all U.S. cases.

“As of this week, we have isolated 75 cases of the Delta variant in San Bernardino County, which accounts for 3.55 percent of our COVID-19 isolation,” said Sequeira. “This specifc variant seems to have a predilection for the younger population groups, which just emphasizes the need to get as many people vaccinated as possible.”

Studies suggest the Delta variant is between 40 and 60 percent more transmissible than the Alpha variant frst identifed in the United Kingdom -- which was already 50 percent more transmissible than the original viral strain frst detected in Wuhan, China.

“This is the most easily transmissible, contagious version of the virus we’ve seen thus far,” said Sequeira. “But the good news is that studies by both Pfzer and Moderna show that the immunity conferred by their vaccines is very good against the Delta variant.”

While the new variant is unlikely to cause a nationwide surge comparable to last winter, Sequeira and other medical experts are worried about local outbreaks in specifc communities where vaccination rates remain low.

In addition, the county could see signifcant outbreaks in high temperature areas, like most places in San Bernardino County, where people tend to spend a lot of time in air-conditioned buildings.

Sequeira also worries about the misguided confdence that a healthy person will not likely die from the virus.

“Contracting COVID-19 can be a very unpleasant experience, regardless of the ultimate outcome,” he said. “We’re also concerned about potential long-term effects, such as fatigue, lung problems, joint pain, brain fog and loss of smell.”

According to offcials at Arrowhead Regional Medical Center, most new COVID-19 patients share one factor in common: he or she has neglected to get vaccinated (or is not yet fully vaccinated).

“The evidence is unassailable: the difference between staying healthy and getting sick is a simple, cost-free vaccination shot,” said Interim Public Health Director Andrew Goldfrach. “Vaccine complacency is now our single greatest challenge in getting this disease under control.

“As a result, our primary focus now is on overcoming any lingering hesitancy and getting more people vaccinated as quickly as possible. Much of our attention is on convincing younger people to take a few minutes to get inoculated.” Breakthrough Covid-19 cases are rare in California – Press Enterprise

NEWSCALIFORNIA NEWS Breakthrough Covid-19 cases are rare in California

Medical assistant Letrice Smith fills syringes during a community COVID-19 vaccination clinic run by Ravenswood Family Health Network at Facebook headquarters in Menlo Park on April 10, 2021. (Anne Wernikoff — CalMatters)

By BARBARA FEDER OSTROV || BayBay AreaArea NewsNews Group,Group, MercuryMercury NewsNews PUBLISHED: July 1, 2021 at 10:45 a.m. || UPDATED:UPDATED: July 1, 2021 at 11:52 a.m.

About 7,550 out of more than 19.5 million Californians who were fully vaccinated against COVID-19 have contracted the disease, a minuscule percentage that provides strong evidence of the vaccines’’ effectiveness,effectiveness, accordingaccording toto statestate data.data.

The breakthrough infections through June 23 amount to 0.039% of vaccinated Californians — or one case out of every 2,583 vaccinated people.

Most of the infections were minor, but 62 vaccinated Californians died fromfrom COVID-19,COVID-19, accordingaccording toto CaliforniaCalifornia DepartmentDepartment ofof PublicPublic Health data.

“The way we should think about these cases is that they’’re very rare,” said Dr. George Rutherford, a University of California, San Francisco epidemiologist.

The risks of the disease far outweigh the chance of a breakthrough case: More COVID-19 deaths have been reported in the past four days thanthan thethe totaltotal numbernumber ofof vaccinatedvaccinated peoplepeople whowho dieddied fromfrom itit overover thethe pastpast sixsix months.months.

On Wednesday, state health officials reported 2,013 new infections among all Californians, including 24 deaths. They did not respond to a request for comment.

https://www.pe.com/2021/07/01/breakthrough-covid-is-rare-in-california/?utm_source=twitter.com&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=soci… 1/3 7/1/2021 Breakthrough Covid-19 cases are rare in California – Press Enterprise

Nationally, out of 154 million fully vaccinated Americans, 4,115 people have been hospitalized or died afterafter contractingcontracting COVID-19.COVID-19. ThatThat’’s a rate of 0.0027%. More than three-quarters were 65 or older. Federal officials do not track total breakthrough infections because many involveinvolve minorminor oror nono symptoms.symptoms.

In California, health officials matched data from the state’’s immunization registry to a registry of confirmed COVID-19 cases to identify breakthrough cases.

There are some caveats to the data. While California’’s public health agency reported 584 people were hospitalized after a breakthrough COVID-19 infection, hospitalization status wasn’’tt availableavailable forfor 46%46% of the post-vaccination cases. State officials also noted that some of themthem maymay havehave beenbeen hospitalizedhospitalized forfor anan unrelatedunrelated conditioncondition andand testedtested positivepositive forfor COVID-19COVID-19 afterafter beingbeing admittedadmitted toto thethe hospital.hospital.

The three vaccines authorized in the United States – Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, and Johnson & Johnson – are considered highly effective inin preventingpreventing severesevere diseasedisease andand death.death. TheyThey alsoalso protectprotect againstagainst thethe coronaviruscoronavirus variantsvariants nownow circulating,circulating, includingincluding thethe DeltaDelta variant,variant, Rutherford said. Yet a small number of breakthrough infections are to be expected,, thethe CDCCDC says.says. TheThe agencyagency’’s surveillance hasn’’tt turnedturned up any unusual patterns.

Dr. Eugene Choi, a Los Angeles radiologist, contracted COVID-19 in early June, nearly six months after his first dose of the Pfizer vaccine. Choi detailed his experience onon his Instagram account,, wherewhere thethe CrossFitCrossFit enthusiastenthusiast hashas nearlynearly 40,00040,000 followers.followers.

He told CalMatters that his symptoms included fever, night sweats, chills and muscle pains.

At first, “I did not think of COVID,” said Choi, who as a physician was vaccinated earlier than many Californians. “I thought … okay, it must be that other flus and colds are coming out of the woodwork.” But as his fever continued, he decided to get a COVID-19 test.

Then his wife, also vaccinated, and their two-year-old son became infected, he said. Their cases were more mild.

“I’’ve seen firsthand the devastation COVID causes,” he said.

“My experience should give people reason to go get vaccinated,” he said, recalling how cases at the hospital where he works plunged as more Californians were immunized.

Choi wonders if the vaccine protected him from serious, lingering symptoms that many people have experienced. He said he was miserable for days, but never sick enough to need hospital care. He has since resumed his intense workouts.

“It certainly could have been worse,” he said. “I’’m still amazed at what the virus can do.”

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https://www.wsj.com/articles/some-vaccinated-people-are-dying-of-covid-19-heres-why-scientists-arent-surprised-11625227200

WORLD Some Vaccinated People Are Dying of Covid- 19. Here’s Why Scientists Aren’t Surprised. Vaccines aren’t 100% efective, so some people will be vulnerable to the virus even after receiving two shots

By Jason Douglas and Stephen Fidler July 2, 2021 8:00 am ET

LONDON—As the Delta variant of the coronavirus surges through the U.K., almost half of the country’s recent Covid-19 deaths are of people who have been vaccinated. But doctors and scientists aren’t sounding the alarm about the apparently high proportion of deaths among the vaccinated population.

On the contrary, they say the fgures so far ofer reassurance that vaccines ofer substantial protection against the variant, particularly after two doses. Delta, frst identifed in India, has since spread to at least 85 countries, including the U.S., where it is now estimated to be the most common variant.

The U.K. is a testing ground for how vaccines are coping. Delta is racing through the country—with 146,000 identifed cases in the past week, 72% up on the week before. The country is also a world leader in identifying through testing and genetic sequencing which versions of the virus are prevalent: By mid-June, 97% of cases were Delta infections. And Delta is spreading among a population that is among the most highly vaccinated in the world: 85% of adults have had at least one vaccine shot and 63% have had two.

The spread of Delta has led the U.K. government to postpone by a month the ending of Covid restrictions until July 19. But ministers are increasingly confdent that the unlocking will take place as planned because vaccinations have broken the lockstep between new cases, later hospitalizations and deaths.

Data from Public Health England show that there were 117 deaths among 92,000 Delta cases logged through June 21. Fifty of those—46%—had received two shots of vaccine. But rather than suggest Delta is displaying a worrying ability to evade the vaccine and cause severe illness, scientists say those fgures support the shots’ efectiveness. There are three main reasons why.

First, vaccines aren’t 100% efective. Not everyone who is inoculated will respond in the same way. Those who are elderly or whose immune systems are faulty, damaged or stressed by some other illness are less likely to mount a robust response than someone younger and ftter. Covid-19 vaccines are highly efective but some people will still be vulnerable to the virus even after receiving their shots.

The U.K. population is among the most highly vaccinated against Covid-19 in the world. PHOTO: DANNY LAWSON/ZUMA PRESS

Second, the risk of dying from Covid-19 increases steeply with age. If a vaccine reduces an 80-year-old’s risk of death from Covid-19 by 95%, for instance, that 80-year-old’s risk of death might still be greater than the risk faced by an unvaccinated 20-year-old. Some chronic illnesses such as diabetes, hypertension and lung disease are also associated with a higher risk of severe illness and death.

Third, as more of the population gets vaccinated, there are fewer unvaccinated people for the virus to infect. If the pool of vaccinated people is larger than the pool of unvaccinated people, then it is possible and even likely that breakthrough infections resulting in death in the older, vaccinated group would match or exceed deaths in the younger, unvaccinated group. Consider an imaginary country with 100% of people vaccinated, where the virus can still somehow spread. All Covid-19 deaths would be in vaccinated individuals.

Of those 50 deaths in fully vaccinated people in England, all were in people aged 50 years and over, the data show. There have been no deaths recorded in double-vaccinated under 50s.

The data show that, overall, the fatality rate for confrmed cases of Covid-19 has been lower than it was with the Alpha variant, which was frst spotted in the U.K. late last year and has since spread around the world. Public Health England pegged the fatality rate for Alpha at 1.9%. It estimates the fatality rate for Delta is closer to 0.3%, which scientists say refects both mass vaccination and improved treatment for Covid-19. And the vaccine also reduces the chances of catching the virus at all.

Tom Wingfeld, a lecturer and infectious-disease physician in Liverpool, England, said these efects are visible in the Covid-19 wards in his district during the current Delta- fueled wave of infection in the U.K.

Those requiring hospital treatment are far fewer in number than in previous waves, he said. So far, the majority have been unvaccinated. Most are from younger age groups who have only recently been made eligible for shots and tend to need less intensive treatment than older patients.

Dr. Wingfeld said he has seen Covid-19 patients who have had their shots, but that they have tended to be frail and elderly or sufering from chronic illness. Healthier people who have been double dosed are much less common, he said.

“I think it shows the vaccines are working,” Dr. Wingfeld said. Irene Petersen, professor of epidemiology and health informatics at University College London, said by using a simple, back-of-the-envelope calculation, it is possible to estimate the number of people who might have died in the absence of vaccines in this current phase of the pandemic.

The U.K. government has delayed by a month, until July 19, the ending of coronavirus restrictions. PHOTO: STEPHEN CHUNG/ZUMA PRESS

The data show there were 59 over-50s among the 117 deaths who hadn’t received two vaccine doses. Assuming a take-up rate of the vaccine of 95%, in line with the rates seen among the oldest age groups in Britain, that implies some 1,180 people might have died from Covid-19 in the absence of vaccination. Ninety-fve percent of that number—1,121— would have occurred in those who are now fully protected. Since only 50 deaths occurred in that group, that implies vaccines reduced the risk of death by 95%.

Public Health England, using a variety of statistical analyses, has estimated that vaccination reduces the risk of hospitalization with the Delta variant in people who have received two doses by between 91% and 98%, with a central estimate of 96%.

Though vaccines ofer substantial protection against severe illness and death, there is growing evidence from lab studies and real-world data that Delta does have some ability to bypass vaccines to cause milder infection.

Public Health England says that its analysis of Delta cases in England implies protection against symptomatic Covid-19 caused by Delta of around 79%. That compares with an 89% reduction in the risk of symptomatic Covid-19 with Alpha. In Israel, a senior health ofcial said in late June that in a recent outbreak of 200 or so Delta cases, about half were in children 15 years old and younger and the other half were in those aged 16 and above, of whom more than 80% are fully vaccinated.

British data shows Delta is even more adept at evading our immune response after just one dose of vaccine, highlighting the importance, public health ofcials say, of getting two shots. A single dose reduces the risk of symptomatic Covid-19 with Alpha by 49%, according Public Health England, but only by 35% with Delta.

“What the U.K. is seeing now is increasing coverage of the vaccine does actually suppress the need for hospitalizations, and deaths, from the Delta variant. But there are breakthrough infections,” said Julian Tang, a clinical virologist and professor of respiratory medicine at the University of Leicester. In the U.K., 85% of adults have had at least one vaccine shot and 63% have had two. PHOTO: YUI MOK/PA/ZUMA PRESS

Write to Jason Douglas at [email protected] and Stephen Fidler at [email protected]

Copyright © 2021 Dow Jones & Company, Inc. All Rights Reserved

This copy is for your personal, non-commercial use only. To order presentation-ready copies for distribution to your colleagues, clients or customers visit https://www.djreprints.com. NEWS The last time LA County had this many daily coronavirus cases was mid-April 506 new COVID-19 cases were reported on Friday, more than double the average daily number the county was reporting in mid-June, when the state and county virus restrictions were lifted.

Glendora resident Pablo Soza receives a Covid-19 vaccine from East Valley Community Health Center LVN Veronica Armendariz during the Covid Facts Forum and Candlelight Vigil at Azusa City Hall in Asuza, Calif. on Saturday, June 26, 2021. (Photo(Photo byby RaulRaul RomeroRomero Jr,Jr, ContributingContributing Photographer)

By CITY NEWS SERVICE || [email protected] || PUBLISHED: July 1, 2021 at 3:48 p.m. || UPDATED:UPDATED: July 1, 2021 at 4:14 p.m.

Los Angeles County reported its highest daily number of new COVID-19 infections since mid-April on Thursday, July 1, continuing an upward trend that began following the statewide lifting of health restrictions and could be driven in part by spread of a highly contagious coronavirus variant.

According to numbers released by the county Department of Public Health, 506 new COVID-19 cases were reported on Friday, more than double the average daily number the county was reporting in mid-June, when the state and county virus restrictions were lifted.

The county’s rate of people testing positive for the virus held steady at 1.2% on Thursday, but that’s triple the rate the county was reporting on June 12, and a jump from the 0.8% rate reported just last Friday.

The number of people hospitalized in the county due to COVID-19 also continued a steady upward march, with state figures putting the number at 280 as of Thursday, up from 275 on Wednesday and 255 on Tuesday. There were 74 COVID patients in intensive care units, down slightly from 76 on Wednesday. County Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer said officials are still crunching the numbers, but increases in cases and hospitalizations over the past month appear to be concentrated largely in the Black community, which also has the lowest rate of vaccinations.

Thus far, the upward trend in cases and hospitalizations has not led to a corresponding increase in deaths, which remain low. The county reported six new deaths on Thursday, raising the countywide death toll from the virus to 24,489.

But Ferrer said the disproportionate impact of the virus on the Black community is a “cause for alarm” that requires “strategic actions” to cut transmission.

The increases come amid growing national concern about the “Delta” variant of COVID-19, which is believed to be far more contagious and potentially able to cause more severe illness. Ferrer said the county has now confirmed 245 cases of the “Delta” variants, nearly double the number from last week. The county conducts limited sequencing tests needed to identify the variants, so the number cannot be extrapolated across the population. But given the increasing prevalence of “Delta” among identified virus variants in the county, Ferrer said it’s clear there is “increasing circulation” of the variant in the community.

She again stressed that existing vaccines provide strong protection against the “Delta” variant, but so-called “breakthrough” infections of people who are fully vaccinated do happen. And those people — while at low risk of becoming seriously ill — could potentially spread the infectioninfection toto others,others, FerrerFerrer said.said.

According to figures released Thursday, of the roughly 4.5 million county residents who are fully vaccinated, there have been 2,190 documented “breakthrough” infections, for an infection rate of 0.048%. a total of 192 fully vaccinated people have been hospitalized with COVID, for a rate of 0.0042%, and 20 have died, a rate of 0.0004%.

Ferrer insisted the numbers prove that vaccines are extremely effective in fighting the virus. But she said even at extremely low infection rates, there have still been more than 2,000 people who were vaccinated but contracted the virus.

ItIt wasn’twasn’t knownknown howhow manymany ofof thosethose breakthroughbreakthrough casescases documenteddocumented inin thethe countycounty involvedinvolved thethe “Delta”“Delta” variant.variant. FerrerFerrer notednoted thatthat lastlast week,week, when the county had identified 123 “Delta” variant cases, only 10 of them involved fully vaccinated people.

She said that while small, the chance that fully vaccinated people could potentially be infected with the “Delta” variant or any form of COVID- 19 contributed to the county’s call this week for everyone — regardless of vaccination status — to wear masks in indoor public settings.

The county’s suggestion, which is only a recommendation and not a health order, has led to some criticism for sparking confusion among residents who were told just two weeks ago they could drop their face masks if fully vaccinated.

Ferrer again defended the recommendation Thursday, noting that there are more than 4 million residents who remain unvaccinated in the county and are at risk of infection, particularly with growing spread of the highly contagious “Delta” variant.

More than 10.4 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine have been administered in the county. The latest numbers show that 59% of residents aged 16 or older are fully vaccinated, while 68% have received at least one dose. The numbers are higher among seniors, with 76% of people 65 and older fully vaccinated, and 87% with at least one dose.

InIn hopeshopes ofof encouragingencouraging moremore peoplepeople toto getget vaccinated,vaccinated, thethe countycounty isis continuingcontinuing toto offeroffer incentives.incentives. BeginningBeginning FridayFriday andand continuingcontinuing untiluntil nextnext Thursday, anyone who gets vaccinated at sites operated by the county, city of Los Angeles or St. John’s Well Child and Family Center will be entered for a chance to win one of four ticket packages for the Huntington Library, Descanso Gardens, Los Angeles County Arboretum and South Coast Botanic Garden. The packages include an annual membership to the Huntington and one-day passes to the other facilities. 7/1/2021 What to Know About the Delta Variant in California - The New York Times

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/07/01/us/what-to-know-about-the-delta-variant-in-california.html

CALIFORNIA TODAY What to Know About the Delta Variant in California Thursday: Los Angeles County public health offcials advised wearing masks indoors, but said new restrictions were unlikely.

By Jill Cowan

July 1, 2021, 8:44 a.m. ET

People wore masks as they waited in line to enter a Foot Locker on Hollywood Boulevard in Los Angeles in June. Kendrick Brinson for The New York Times

Good morning.

Here we go again?

If you’re like me, that was your gut reaction to the news this week that public health officials in Los Angeles County were urging residents to wear masks indoors, regardless of vaccination status, amid a troubling rise in Covid-19 cases involving the highly infectious Delta variant.

Californians have been urged to mask up before. And in the past, the advisory has been a precursor to mandates as hospitals filled after dangerous surges of Covid-19. Every time restrictions have been eased before, the virus has reasserted itself.

This time, officials have been emphatic that we’re not on a path to new restrictions and that the guidance is not a directive.

“We don’t want to return to lockdown or more disruptive mandates here,” Barbara Ferrer, the public health director for Los Angeles County, told my colleague Shawn Hubler. “We want to stay on the path we’re on right now, which is keeping community transmission really low.”

So what risk does the Delta variant pose to Californians? Here’s what you need to know:

Should I be worried about the Delta variant if I’m fully vaccinated?

Yes. But not because you’re likely to get sick.

The Delta variant is extremely contagious, scientists say, and may cause more severe illness. Dr. Anthony S. Fauci, the nation’s top infectious disease doctor, has described it as “the greatest threat in the U.S. to our attempt to eliminate Covid-19.” Estimates from the C.D.C. suggest that the variant is now responsible for about one in every four cases in the United States. In Los Angeles County, scientists found that it accounted for nearly half of all of the variants genetically sequenced.

However, vaccines work well against the Delta variant. https://www.nytimes.com/2021/07/01/us/what-to-know-about-the-delta-variant-in-california.html?smtyp=cur&smid=tw-nytnational 1/5 7/1/2021 What to Know About the Delta Variant in California - The New York Times This means that it’s dangerous largely because it’s likely to spread among people who are unvaccinated.

Do experts think advising residents to wear masks indoors is a good idea — even when the C.D.C. and the state’s department of public health haven’t done so?

Dr. John Swartzberg, an infectious disease specialist and clinical professor emeritus at the University of California, Berkeley School of Public Health, this week told me that he saw Los Angeles County’s move to advise indoor masking as a prudent one, given the trajectory of the Delta variant in other countries.

“If this policy prevents some infections and it doesn’t cause any harm, why not do that?” he said.

As for the inconsistency it creates with guidelines issued by federal and state public health agencies? Dr. Swartzberg says that’s OK.

Los Angeles County’s guidance, he says, gives residents who still feel uneasy a kind of permission to continue taking precautions.

“In California, we’d been spending all these months being scared to death, and then hearing, ‘It’s OK, you don’t have to worry about it, and people who aren’t vaccinated — they’ll wear a mask,’” he said. “Everybody knew that wasn’t going to be the case.”

Shoppers at the Original Farmers Market in Los Angeles last month. Allison Zaucha for The New York Times

Why is Los Angeles County the only place in California where officials have advised vaccinated people to wear masks inside?

Dr. Swartzberg said he didn’t think the Delta variant was a particular threat in Los Angeles, where huge swaths of the population have already been infected with the virus, and vaccination rates are relatively high.

And although officials in Los Angeles County have implemented some of the nation’s strictest and most enduring pandemic rules, public health officials in the Bay Area have led the way on restrictions. They ordered residents to stay home even before the state did, for instance, and many Bay Area officials kept capacity limits or other rules in place, even as the state would have allowed them to ease those measures based on cases rates and other precautions.

“The biggest surprise was that it was L.A. County and not the Bay Area,” Dr. Swartzberg said.

As The San Francisco Chronicle recently reported, officials there view themselves as having moved into “the long game” phase of vaccination efforts — meaning they’re targeting pockets of residents who aren’t vaccinated with one-on-one consultation — in part to head off the Delta variant. https://www.nytimes.com/2021/07/01/us/what-to-know-about-the-delta-variant-in-california.html?smtyp=cur&smid=tw-nytnational 2/5 7/1/2021 What to Know About the Delta Variant in California - The New York Times Dr. Swartzberg added that he was generally more worried about surges in states where relatively few people have been vaccinated; California, he said, was very much headed in the right direction.

“I think in the long run, we’re going to win this,” he said. “This pandemic will end.”

Still, Dr. Ferrer said that there were millions of Californians — including children and Black and Latino essential workers — who had not yet been vaccinated. While efforts to inoculate those residents continue, the mask guidance is a worthwhile precaution, she said.

For more:

Read the full story about how the Delta variant’s spread is prompting reconsideration of precautions across the world.

In Butte County, officials said the Delta variant had been identified in at least one case, The Chico Enterprise-Record reported.

Here’s what scientists know about the Delta variant.

Track coronavirus cases and vaccinations across California.

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/07/01/us/what-to-know-about-the-delta-variant-in-california.html?smtyp=cur&smid=tw-nytnational 3/5 7/1/2021 Delta variant impedes Biden's July 4th COVID vaccine goal - Los Angeles Times

CALIFORNIA

Highly contagious Delta variant keeps rising in L.A., now 25% of new U.S. coronavirus cases

https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2021-07-01/highly-contagious-delta-variant-keeps-rising 1/15 7/1/2021 Delta variant impedes Biden's July 4th COVID vaccine goal - Los Angeles Times

People wearing face masks walk through Los Angeles’ Union Station on Tuesday. (Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times)

By LUKE MONEY | STAFF WRITER

JULY 1, 2021 2:20 PM PT

The highly contagious Delta variant of the coronavirus is continuing to circulate in California, further highlighting the importance of getting vaccinated as the state and nation gear up to celebrate the Fourth of July, officials say.

President Biden previously set a goal of a dual-purpose holiday — “Let’s celebrate our independence as a nation, and our independence from this virus,” he said in early May — but the fireworks shows and backyard barbecues will instead be held amid the looming threat of Delta, which is perhaps twice as transmissible as the conventional coronavirus strains.

https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2021-07-01/highly-contagious-delta-variant-keeps-rising 2/15 7/1/2021 Delta variant impedes Biden's July 4th COVID vaccine goal - Los Angeles Times The good news, officials say, is that the available COVID-19 vaccines appear to offer strong protection against all circulating variants, including Delta. The bad news is that less than half of all Americans, and only about 50% of Californians, are fully vaccinated at this point.

“Any suffering or death from COVID-19 is tragic. With vaccines available across the country, the suffering and loss we are now seeing is nearly entirely avoidable,” said Dr. Rochelle Walensky, director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

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During a federal briefing Thursday, Walensky said that an estimated 25% of new coronavirus cases sequenced nationwide are now the Delta variant, and she expects it will eventually become the dominant strain in the country.

https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2021-07-01/highly-contagious-delta-variant-keeps-rising 3/15 7/1/2021 Delta variant impedes Biden's July 4th COVID vaccine goal - Los Angeles Times Also worrying is that approximately 1,000 U.S. counties, primarily in the Southeast and Midwest, have vaccination coverage of less than 30%.

“As the Delta variant continues to spread across the country, we expect to see increased transmission in these communities unless we can vaccinate more people now,” she said.

California, as a whole, measures up well in terms of COVID-19 inoculations — with nearly 41 million total doses administered, according to data compiled by The Times.

However, those shots have not gone into arms at equal rates across the state. In seven of California’s 58 counties, more than 60% of residents are fully vaccinated, while in 10 other counties, fewer than a third of residents can say the same, Times’ data show.

“The risk for COVID-19 exposure and infection will remain in California until we reach community immunity with vaccinations,” said Dr. Tomás Aragón, director of the California Department of Public Health and the state’s public health officer. “COVID-19 vaccines provide excellent protection from serious disease, even for the Delta variant.”

https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2021-07-01/highly-contagious-delta-variant-keeps-rising 4/15 7/1/2021 Delta variant impedes Biden's July 4th COVID vaccine goal - Los Angeles Times

Circulation of the variant — which was first identified in India and is also known as B.1.617.2 — has increased rapidly since it appeared in California.

Delta made up just 1.8% of coronavirus cases analyzed in April, state public health data show.

That proportion jumped to 4.7% in May. As of last week, the variant made up 14.5% of specimens sequenced during June.

On Tuesday, Aragón said the variant now accounts for about 23% of sampled cases, “and we anticipate this percentage will increase.”

Los Angeles County Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer said the Delta variant is also continuing to spread in L.A. County.

“The rising proportion of Delta among sequenced variants of concern is consistent with what other parts of the U.S. are seeing and for certain represents increased circulation of the variant,” she said Thursday.

https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2021-07-01/highly-contagious-delta-variant-keeps-rising 5/15 7/1/2021 Delta variant impedes Biden's July 4th COVID vaccine goal - Los Angeles Times The infectious potency of the Delta variant was one of the factors that prompted Los Angeles County this week to recommend that even vaccinated residents resume wearing face coverings in public indoor settings as a precaution.

The World Health Organization also says people should still “wear a mask, especially in crowded, closed and poorly ventilated settings,” even after they’ve been vaccinated.

However, the CDC continues to advise that those who are fully vaccinated don’t need to wear masks in most situations.

Dr. Anthony Fauci, the U.S. government’s top infectious disease expert, said Thursday that the broad recommendation remains, “If you are vaccinated you have a high degree of protection, so you need not wear a mask either indoors or outdoors.”

But, he added, local leaders have the flexibility to make recommendations based on the conditions in their communities.

https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2021-07-01/highly-contagious-delta-variant-keeps-rising 6/15 7/1/2021 Delta variant impedes Biden's July 4th COVID vaccine goal - Los Angeles Times

The circulation of the Delta variant locally is all the more concerning given that L.A. County is already tracking slight, but notable, upticks in its coronavirus metrics.

“Community transmission is still extraordinarily low in L.A. County,” Ferrer said this week. But, she added, “we have had increases across the board this past week.”

On June 15, California’s reopening day, the nation’s most-populous county recorded 210 new coronavirus cases, and the proportion of conducted tests coming back positive was hovering around 0.5%.

Both those metrics had doubled by Wednesday, with the county reporting 422 new cases and a test positivity rate of 1.2%.

https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2021-07-01/highly-contagious-delta-variant-keeps-rising 7/15 7/1/2021 Delta variant impedes Biden's July 4th COVID vaccine goal - Los Angeles Times The seven-day statewide positivity rate also effectively doubled over that same period, according to the California Department of Public Health.

Ferrer has previously said one factor that could be inflating the positivity rate is that schools have let out for the summer, which significantly shrank the number of people undergoing routine surveillance testing. That means the testing pool is not only shallower, but likely filled more predominantly with residents who are symptomatic or have been exposed to someone with COVID-19.

Over the past week, California has reported an average of 888 new coronavirus cases per day — virtually flat from two weeks ago, Times’ data show.

Coronavirus in California »

14-day change Vaccines » Cases +1% 58.5% of Californians have received a dose Deaths +4% 50.5% are fully vaccinated

How to get your vaccine » What's reopening »

https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2021-07-01/highly-contagious-delta-variant-keeps-rising 8/15 7/1/2021 Delta variant impedes Biden's July 4th COVID vaccine goal - Los Angeles Times

Even with the recent increase, officials were quick to note that L.A. County’s numbers remain well below the harrowing heights seen during the fall-and-winter surge. And, given the level of vaccine coverage, many experts believe a return to those dark days is unlikely.

But the surest way to stave off that possibility is to break the chain of transmission. Fewer new infections also means fewer opportunities for the coronavirus to mutate in potentially dangerous ways.

“I think we can all agree that it would take a lot of unforeseen events to get us back to where we were last year — and the biggest would be some new variant of concern that the vaccines don’t work against,” Ferrer said. “That would be a disastrous scenario for us, and an unlikely one.”

Luke Money

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NEWSHOUSING • Opinion Columnist Why California’s economy didn’t collapse from coronavirus Texas had the nation's second-worst economy at the start of 2021.

By JONATHAN LANSNER || [email protected]@scng.com || OrangeOrange CountyCounty RegisterRegister PUBLISHED: July 2, 2021 at 7:00 a.m. || UPDATED:UPDATED: July 2, 2021 at 7:00 a.m.

Texas had the nation’’s second-worst economy at the start of 2021.

I mention that stat — courtesy of thethe firstfirst quarterquarter’’s gross domestic product report —— soso wewe couldcould collectivelycollectively imagineimagine thatthat waswas CaliforniaCalifornia and how critics would crow about the state’’s looming demise.

To be honest, it’’s also fun to toss a barb at the Lone Star State, a worthy competitor.

For the record, California’’s business output grew at a 6.3% annual rate in the year’’s first three months — a mid-range performance as the state slowly reopened its economy. It ranked No. 29 among the states and was a smidgen below the nation’’s 6.4% GDP growth.

The No. 1 state was tourism-dependent Nevada, with a 10.9% growth rate as it welcomed back visitors. Worst? The District of Columbia saw a 2.9% growth amid a wild presidential transition. Texas, by the way, had 4.3% growth.

Now, no single quarterly economic benchmark paints a perfectly proper portrait. But this data — a broad measure of business output — gives significant hints as to why California’’s economy didn’’tt collapsecollapse underunder pandemic-relatedpandemic-related limitations.limitations.

My trusty spreadsheet dug up California industry niches that bested peers in other states and found some laggards, too. Bottom line: California excelled at certain needs created by the pandemic era. Think technology, real estate and white-collar work.

When I ranked 22 economic niches that comprise GDP, California’’s best industry was information. It produced the third-biggest contribution to a state’’s output growth. Is that any surprise?

California practically invented the tools powering remote work and schooling. The best information performer was another tech hub, Washington state. Worst? Hawaii. Oh, and Texas? A commendable No. 11.

California did well with another white-collar niche, too. Professional services ranked No. 8. The industry that helps businesses operate — accountants, attorneys, architects, etc. — thrived in the pandemic era. Best? District of Columbia. Worst? Mississippi. Texas? No. 19.

And there is perhaps only one other sector as hot as tech: California’’s real estate niche was fourth-best among the states. Low interest rates and pandemic fears ballooned demand for more living spaces. Best? Nevada. Worst? South Dakota. Texas? No. 25.

Hot properties require even more property — not to mention lots of road work. California’’s construction growth ranked No. 12. Best? North Dakota. Worst? Wyoming. Texas? No. 21.

California was fortunate that the nation’’s hottest industries were also big performers in the state’’s economy. Combined, the four outperforming niches cited above equaled 60% of the state’’s first-quarter economic growth.

On the bottom

Conversely, California’’s industry laggards represented a more modest share of the economy. The bottom four niches combined cut overall state growth by just 7%.

Tied for California’’s worst niche was agriculture, 49th among the states. Farmers have been hurting because the pandemic made harvests trickytricky andand upsetupset thethe supplysupply chain.chain. TheThe bestbest statestate forfor agricultureagriculture waswas Montana.Montana. Worst?Worst? Idaho.Idaho. Texas?Texas? No.No. 36.36.

Also getting a No. 49 ranking in California was government spending. Fiscal stress tied to lower sales tax collections trimmed municipal budgets and staffing. Best? New Hampshire. Worst? Hawaii. Texas? No. 23.

The plight of California’’s hotels and restaurants drew lots of headlines and a No. 47 performance among the states. These “fun” businesses continue to suffer due to slow-to-end mandates and a general reluctance to travel. Best? Nevada. Worst? Oregon. Texas? No. 38. And the state’’s finance niche ranked No 39. January’’s low point for many interest rates is cooling the lending business. Best state? Delaware. Worst? West Virginia. Texas? No. 10.

Rest of the pack

Here’’s how other California economic niches performed in the first quarter, ranked by their relative contribution to GDP growth vs. other states …

No. 17 nationallynationally waswas healthcarehealthcare andand socialsocial services.services. TheThe made-for-pandemicmade-for-pandemic industryindustry faredfared well.well. Best?Best? Idaho.Idaho. Worst?Worst? NorthNorth Dakota.Dakota. Texas? Tied with California for 17th best.

Bubble Watch tracks housing risks. ReadRead itit here!here!

19. Administration: A move back to office work helps support crews (janitors to clerks to guards). Best? New Hampshire. Worst? North Dakota. Texas? No. 8.

19. Other services: Reopening is an opportunity those caring for cars, hair, pets, etc. Best? Nevada. Worst? District of Columbia. Texas? No. 12.

20. Retail: In-store shopping isn’’tt deaddead …… itit’’s just changing a lot. Best? Nevada. Worst? District of Columbia. Texas? No. 24.

22. Entertainment/recreation: Return to “going out” is boost for “fun” attractions. Best? Nevada. Worst? Iowa. Texas? No. 35.

25. Transportation/warehousing: State’’s logistics expertise hummed along. Best? Alaska. Worst? Wyoming. Texas? No. 10.

28. Mining/oil: Sometimes, it helps not to have an energy industry. Best? Wyoming. Worst? Texas.

28. Wholesaling: Growth in online shopping boosts the middle of the supply chain. Best? Colorado. Worst? North Dakota. Texas? No. 35.

29. Durable-goods making: Strict mandates made factory work challenging. Best? Indiana. Worst? Washington. Texas? No. 25.

30. Nondurable-goods making: Farming woes hurt food processing. “Stay at home” hit clothing makers. Best? Alabama and Alaska. Worst? Texas.

30. Management: Work from home wasn’’tt idealideal forfor consultants,consultants, etc.etc. Best?Best? NewNew Jersey.Jersey. Worst?Worst? Wyoming.Wyoming. Texas?Texas? No.No. 30.30.

33. Utilities: Good news: The lights stayed on. Best? Arizona. Worst? Texas.

37. Educational services: “Stay at home” chilled private learning, too. Best? Rhode Island. Worst? Oklahoma. Texas? No. 15.

Jonathan Lansner is business columnist for the Southern California News Group. He can be reached at [email protected]@scng.com

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Jonathan Lansner | Business columnist Jonathan Lansner has been the Orange County Register's business columnist since 1997 and has been part of the newspaper's coverage of the local business scene since 1986. He is a past national president of the Society for Advancing Business Editing and Writing and a NEWS • News Ontario airport nears 90% of pre-pandemic passenger levels as summer travel boon arrives As coronavirus pandemic restrictions ease, more people are taking flights to new destinations

An Alaska Airlines jet lands at Ontario International Airport on Wednesday, June 30, 2021 while other passenger jets wait on the taxiway to take off. Air travel is back to near pre-pandemic levels. (Photo by Will Lester,, InlandInland ValleyValley DailyDaily Bulletin/SCNG)Bulletin/SCNG)

By STEVE SCAUZILLO || [email protected] || SanSan GabrielGabriel ValleyValley TribuneTribune PUBLISHED: July 1, 2021 at 4:35 p.m. || UPDATED:UPDATED: July 1, 2021 at 4:38 p.m.

Ontario International Airport is expected to reach pre-pandemic levels for airline passengers and departing flights starting this month and possibly even higher by the end of summer, airport officials reported this week.

The airport is part of an air travel growth curve occurring in all Southern California airports, including LAX. The Inland Empire airport, however, is experiencing the strongest recovery of any airport in California since the coronavirus pandemic andand accompanyingaccompanying safer-at-safer-at- home orders cut ONT’’s air passenger travel inin AprilApril 20202020 toto aboutabout 7%7% ofof itsits AprilApril 20192019 volume.volume.

This month, 11 airlines have sold 64,000 seats, nearly 91% of the 70,600 seats sold in July 2019. In addition, the airlines have scheduled 437 departing flights in July, reaching 87.4% of the flights that departed the IE commercial gateway in July 2019, the airport reported. ONT has surpassed the number of air destinations served this month as compared to summer 2019. Airlines are flying to 25 cities from ONT, six more than in July 2019. Those additional cities are:are: Charlotte, Chicago (O’’Hare International Airport), Honolulu,, HoustonHouston (William(William P. Hobby Airport), Mexico City and San Salvador..

Even China Airlines has restarted service to Taipei, Taiwan, but only a few flights a month, airport officials said. The airline suspended all flightsflights outout ofof ONTONT inin AprilApril 20202020 duedue toto thethe pandemic.pandemic.

“Despite the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on global air travel, ONT is well-positioned to resume its pre-pandemic position as one of thethe fastestfastest growinggrowing airportsairports inin thethe U.S,”U.S,” AlanAlan D.D. Wapner,Wapner, presidentpresident ofof thethe airportairport BoardBoard ofof CommissionersCommissioners andand anan OntarioOntario councilman,councilman, saidsaid inin aa preparedprepared statement.statement.

In an interview Thursday, July 1, Mark Thorpe, airport CEO, talked about the latest numbers and reasons for an accelerated pace of air traveltravel thisthis summersummer thatthat couldcould continuecontinue throughthrough thethe endend ofof thethe year.year.

In the last few days of June, air passenger traffic exceeded that of the same period in 2019, he said.

“It is simple demand and supply. The 90% is supply: Airlines are adding flights coming out of the pandemic,” he said. “Something is going on in our market.”

As more businesses open up and restrictions ease, air carriers and local airports are experiencing a large jump in passengers due to pent- up demand. And during the past 12 months, Thorpe said, secondary airports, including ONT as well as John Wayne Airport in Orange County and Hollywood-Burbank Airport, were recovering faster than larger airports.

“It was the social-distancing element,” he said. “People felt a little bit less crowded, with less people around them. At our airport, we outpaced the other secondary airports.”

Federal regulations require anyone in the terminals and on board an aircraft to wear a face-covering.

Demographics are playing into ONT’’s recovery as well, Thorpe said. The Inland Empire is the fastest growing region in Southern California and, in particular, is attracting millennials because of the region’’s more affordable housing stock, he said.

Also, warehouse jobs areare plentiful.plentiful. WhileWhile manymany criticizecriticize thesethese jobsjobs asas low-paying,low-paying, ThorpeThorpe saidsaid thethe wageswages havehave begunbegun toto creepcreep up,up, boostingboosting workers’’ expendableexpendable incomes.incomes.

“These jobs bring young people. They have enough money to have a career and stay here. Plus, younger people have a higher propensity to travel,”travel,” hehe said.said.

To chum the recovery waters, the airport board recently voted to cut landing fees for passenger airlines from $1.84 per thousand pounds of landedlanded weightweight toto $1.71.$1.71. Also,Also, terminalterminal fees,fees, setset atat $99.38$99.38 perper squaresquare footfoot annuallyannually areare lowerlower thanthan thethe pre-pandemicpre-pandemic raterate ofof $109.86$109.86 perper square foot.

“Certainly it makes ONT an even more attractive option for carriers, knowing that we’’re doing everything we can to reduce their costs,” airport spokesman Steve Lambert said in an email. https://www.fontanaheraldnews.com/news/why-did-fontana-city-manager-make-932-623-last-year-city- provides-explanation/article_21f77084-da84-11eb-8e62-0bbd31cf7401.html

Why did 'Fontana city manager' make $932,623 last year? City provides explanation

By RUSSELL INGOLD Jul 1, 2021

Former Fontana City Manager Ken Hunt is pictured in this photo in 2010. Hunt received a million-dollar settlement package from the city after retiring in 2019, and much of that money was given in early 2020.

When State Controller Betty Yee recently published self-reported payroll data for cities and counties for the year 2020, the listed earnings of one particular employee stood out.

Yee said the "Fontana city manager" made a whopping $932,623 last year, which would have made that unidentifed person by far the highest-paid city employee in the entire state (out of 304,727 employees). The highest earner other than "Fontana city manager" was a chief investment offcer in San Francisco, who made $596,616 last year, Yee said.

However, there is more to the story -- and most of it deals with former City Manager Ken Hunt and the huge million-dollar settlement agreement he received from the City of Fontana after abruptly retiring in July of 2019.

As it turns out, the information provided on Yee's Government Compensation in California website refects the pay for not one specifc individual but three -- Hunt’s retirement payout and separation agreement, as well as the salaries and benefts packages of both Mark Denny (the new city manager) and Michael Milhiser (who briefy served as interim city manager), according to a statement by the City of Fontana on June 30.

----- AFTER HUNT RETIRED after 30 years of service in Fontana (including 20 years as city manager from 1999 to 2019), he received a settlement agreement that totaled $1,127,378.45, the city said.

Some of that money was paid to him in the latter months of 2019, but most of it came in the period of Jan. 18-31 of 2020, when he was given $312,864.95 in settlement pay and $476,771.58 in leave payoff, the city said.

While Hunt was still in Fontana, he had one of the highest salaries of any city manager in the state.

Many local residents were surprised when the city issued a press release announcing Hunt was suddenly leaving, considering that Hunt and the members of the City Council had publicly seemed to be working well together and the city was in a relatively strong fnancial position.

Right after Hunt's retirement, Milhiser was appointed interim city manager while the city recruited for a permanent replacement.

Then in April of 2020, Denny was named city manager, a position in which he works directly with the City Council on all policy issues while also heading up the city's Executive Leadership Team. Denny was approved by a 3-1 vote of the City Council.

Denny's annual salary is $297,675, effective in January of this year. 7/1/2021 Loma Linda balances budget, but more revenues needed, officials say – San Bernardino Sun

LOCAL NEWS • News Loma Linda balances budget, but more revenues needed, officials say

The Loma Linda City Council on June 29, 2021 adopted the city’s budget for the fiscal year that ends in 2022. (Photo by Jennifer Iyer, Redlands Daily Facts/SCNG)

By JENNIFER IYER || [email protected]@scng.com || RedlandsRedlands DailyDaily FactsFacts PUBLISHED: July 1, 2021 at 2:43 p.m. || UPDATED:UPDATED: July 1, 2021 at 2:45 p.m.

Loma Linda balanced its budget with federal funds, and officials say the city will soon have to find more revenue or start cutting services.

The City Council on Tuesday, June 29, adopted the budget for the fiscal year that ends June 30, 2022. The vote was 4-0 with Councilman Rhodes Rigsby absent.

The city’’s general fund was expected to start what is now the current fiscal year with a $7.4 million balance, and end with an $8.2 million balance for a budget surplus of $821,000.

The city plans to use $2.9 million in federal American Rescue Plan Act moneymoney toto covercover publicpublic safetysafety personnelpersonnel costs,costs, andand toto offsetoffset revenuerevenue losses.losses.

Without the federal money, the general fund would have a deficit of $2.1 million.

Sales tax, the biggest revenue for the city’’s general fund at 20%, is expected to go up by 1% from the previous fiscal year to $4.7 million. Property taxes, which account for 10% of revenues, are expected to go up by 4%.

https://www.sbsun.com/2021/07/01/loma-linda-balances-budget-but-more-revenues-needed-officials-say/?utm_campaign=socialflow&utm_… 1/4 7/1/2021 Loma Linda balances budget, but more revenues needed, officials say – San Bernardino Sun

Law enforcement services from the San Bernardino County Sheriff’’s Department, which account for 29% of general fund expenditures, are slated to go up 4% to $6.4 million since the last fiscal year. Fire Department services, which are 38% of the general fund, will go up 0.5% to $8.4 million.

The city’’s total budget was expected to start the current fiscal year with $39.1 million and end on June 30, 2022, with $43.7 million.

Jay Gallant, with the city’’s budget committee, told the council the city would have had to make more cuts if it weren’’tt forfor thethe federalfederal money.money.

“The lesson is that what’’s going to get us out is more revenue, because we’’re lean as we can be right now with the level of services that the citizens are now used to,” he said.

The city was designed around educational institutions and houses,, whichwhich dondon’’tt bringbring inin revenuesrevenues likelike businesses,businesses, hehe said.said.

Sooner or later, “we’’re going to have to decide, do the citizens want to tax themselves to have the same amount of services … or do we start planning now to try and get that additional revenue in,” Gallant told the council.

Mayor Phill Dupper said the council is adverse to asking voters for a sales tax increase, “and so we’’ve continued to try to live within our allowance” for a long time, but, he added, the city needs to get creative to garner more revenue.

https://www.sbsun.com/2021/07/01/loma-linda-balances-budget-but-more-revenues-needed-officials-say/?utm_campaign=socialflow&utm_… 2/4 7/1/2021 Rialto awarded $1 million to launch electric bike share program - Inland Empire Community News Rialto awarded $1 million to launch electric bike share program By Community News - July 1, 2021

Photo City of Rialto: The funding will allow Rialto to set up an electric bike share system across the City, with about 100 bikes and about 15 stations.

The City of Rialto has been awarded $1 million to fund an electric bike share program under an innovative new statewide program aimed at making it cleaner, easier, healthier and cheaper for Californians to get from point A to point B.

The Clean Mobility Options Voucher Pilot Program (CMO) is a statewide initiative that provides funding for zero-emission shared mobility options to under-resourced communities in California. CMO is available throughout California to eligible disadvantaged communities, as well as eligible low-income tribal and affordable-housing communities, to increase access to safe, reliable, convenient and affordable transportation options.

The funding will allow Rialto to set up an electric bike share system across the City, with about 100 bikes and about 15 stations. Electric pedal-assist bikes, in which an on-bike electric motor adds power each time a rider pedals, make it easier for riders to travel farther and faster. The Rialto Bike Share Program follows a study conducted by the City that showed residents preferring the bike share concept over other personal mobility options.

The program will help the City meet its clean air goals, provide an affordable and accessible form of transportation and make it easier for residents to access public transportation.

“We’re honored to receive this funding and to be able now to aggressively implement our bike share program,” said Mayor Deborah Robertson. “Using bicycles as a means of iecn.com/rialto-awarded-1-million-to-launch-electric-bike-share-program/?fbclid=IwAR29axODjaraVKgR-BbAUkWdMCBqHjklzwv95Q4GP0T-7Hv-8ZY… 1/2 7/1/2021 Rialto awarded $1 million to launch electric bike share program - Inland Empire Community News transportation has grown in popularity as communities try to create more balanced and sustainable transportation systems. Our bike share program represents a giant step forward in eliminating mobility barriers and creating greater equity throughout the City.”

A key goal of the Rialto Bike Share Program is to provide mobility options to low-income community members. Among the considerations will be a mechanism to sign up for the service without the use of a smartphone, income-based discounts and customer service that accommodates multiple languages.

Through a series of community engagement efforts over the past several years, residents have an important voice in designing the bike share program.

“With stations near transit stops, employment hubs and schools, the bike share system will increase mobility options in areas that our residents identified as most in need of new solutions,” said Mayor Pro Tem Ed Scott. “All of this is on top of the active transportation infrastructure improvements we’ve been implementing to make our streets safer for everyone.”

The award announcement culminates a vigilant effort by City staff and the Council to provide enhanced active transportation options for residents. The Bike Share Study, which was finalized in 2020, recommended an initial system consisting of 30-45 bikes and six or seven stations. The additional funding will nearly triple those numbers.

Community News

iecn.com/rialto-awarded-1-million-to-launch-electric-bike-share-program/?fbclid=IwAR29axODjaraVKgR-BbAUkWdMCBqHjklzwv95Q4GP0T-7Hv-8ZY… 2/2 7/1/2021 Pelosi names Adam Schiff, Pete Aguilar to panel probing Jan. 6 Capitol breach – San Bernardino Sun ___

NEWSPOLITICS • News Pelosi names Adam Schiff, Pete Aguilar to panel probing Jan. 6 Capitol breach

Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., walks through the Capitol in Washington, Wednesday, June 30, 2021, before bringing the vote to the floorfloor onon creationcreation ofof aa selectselect committeecommittee toto investigateinvestigate thethe Jan.Jan. 66 CapitolCapitol insurrection.insurrection. (AP(AP Photo/J.Photo/J. ScottScott Applewhite)Applewhite)

By BLOOMBERG || || PUBLISHED: July 1, 2021 at 9:44 a.m. || UPDATED:UPDATED: July 1, 2021 at 9:47 a.m.

By Erik Wasson and Billy House || Bloomberg

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi named Republican Representative Liz Cheney — one of the 10 GOP House members who voted to impeach formerformer PresidentPresident DonaldDonald TrumpTrump forfor hishis rolerole inin stokingstoking thethe mobmob thatthat attackedattacked thethe CapitolCapitol onon Jan.Jan. 66 —— toto aa 13-member13-member committeecommittee thatthat willwill investigateinvestigate thethe riot.riot.

“The next step has always been to seek and find the truth,” Pelosi told reporters Thursday. “We will do so in the most patriotic and non- partisan way.”

Homeland Security Committee Chairman Bennie Thompson will chair the panel, Pelosi said. Pelosi’’s move comes a day after the House passed a Democratic bill creating the select committee, which most Republicans dismissed as an exercise in partisan politics.

https://www.sbsun.com/2021/07/01/pelosi-names-adam-schiff-pete-aguilar-to-panel-probing-jan-6-capitol-breach/?utm_content=fb-sbsun&ut… 1/4 7/1/2021 Pelosi names Adam Schiff, Pete Aguilar to panel probing Jan. 6 Capitol breach – San Bernardino Sun

Cheney, who along Adam Kinzinger of Illinois, were the only Republicans to vote for the measure, said she was “honored” to serve on the panel at Pelosi’’s behest.“What happened on Jan. 6th can never happen again,” Cheney said in a statement. “Those who are responsible for thethe attackattack needneed toto bebe heldheld accountable,accountable, andand thisthis selectselect committeecommittee willwill fulfillfulfill thatthat responsibilityresponsibility inin aa professional,professional, expeditious,expeditious, andand non-non- partisan manner.”

House GOP leader Kevin McCarthy said Wednesday that he hadn’’tt decideddecided whetherwhether hehe wouldwould appointappoint anyany RepublicansRepublicans toto thethe panel.panel.

For Cheney, who in January voted with Democrats to impeach Trump, serving on the panel as a Pelosi appointee represents the latest break from a majority of her House GOP conference colleagues.

Cheney was ousted from the third-ranking House Republican leadership post after her vote in favor of impeachment and other comments she made criticizing Trump.

The appointment comes as Cheney’’s future in the Republican Party remains uncertain, despite her political lineage as the daughter of formerformer vicevice presidentpresident DickDick Cheney.Cheney. SheShe alreadyalready facesfaces aa numbernumber ofof potentialpotential primaryprimary opponentsopponents nextnext November.November.

But in her statement Thursday, Cheney added, “Our oath to the Constitution, our commitment to the rule of law, and the preservation of thethe peacefulpeaceful transfertransfer ofof powerpower mustmust alwaysalways bebe aboveabove partisanpartisan politics.”politics.”

In May, 35 House Republicans voted in favor of an independent bipartisan commission to investigate the causes of the insurrection by a mob of then-president Trump’’s supporters as Congress was certifying the result of the 2020 presidential election. But Senate GOP leader Mitch McConnell led a successful Republican effort to block the commission legislation, prompting Pelosi to push ahead with a House inquiry.inquiry.

The bill provides no deadline for the committee to complete its work, which could extend into 2022, an election year in which control of thethe HouseHouse andand SenateSenate willwill bebe decided.decided.

Thompson said Thursday that the panel will get started as soon as possible and will move forward without additional Republicans if McCarthy doesn’’tt appointappoint anyone.anyone.

“If the need arises for public hearings we will do it,” he said.

As chairman, Thompson will have the power to issue subpoenas, requiring only consultation with the panel’’s top Republican.

The committee also will scrutinize the security preparations and the response of the U.S. Capitol Police as well as federal, state and local lawlaw enforcement.enforcement.

Another focus will be what the bill calls “influencing factors that fomented such an attack on American representative democracy while engaged in a constitutional process,” a reference to the disruption of certifying Electoral College votes.

Also named to the panel are Adam Schiff, Zoe Lofgren and Pete Aguilar of California, Stephanie Murphy of Florida, Elaine Luria of Virginia and Jamie Raskin of Maryland.

Both Thompson, and Lofgren, chair of the Committee on House Administration, have already been heading reviews by their respective panels of events surrounding the Jan. 6 attack.

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POLITICS

Some 200 California projects may be funded by infrastructure bill. Search your city’s projects here

https://www.latimes.com/politics/story/2021-07-01/some-200-california-projects-may-be-funded-by-bidens-infrastructure-bill-heres-a-look 1/9 7/1/2021 Search here for proposed California infrastructure projects - Los Angeles Times The 405 Freeway trafc in the Sepulveda Pass in Los Angeles in August 2018. A Metro transit line through the pass may be among the California projects that receive infrastructure funding. (Al Seib/Los Angeles Times)

By JENNIFER HABERKORN | STAFF WRITER

JULY 1, 2021 10:27 AM PT

WASHINGTON — The House on Thursday approved an approximately $715-billion transportation infrastructure plan that would build and repair roads, bridges and rail systems around the country.

The bill forms the House’s framework for President Biden’s infrastructure plan. While the proposal is likely to change during negotiations with the Senate as it progresses toward Biden’s desk, the bill includes $920 million specifically targeted to projects throughout California.

The most expensive California project, at $25 million, will be pre-construction work on a transportation hub in San Diego. Major projects in Los Angeles include a Metro transit line through the Sepulveda Pass and improvements to existing transit in the Vermont Corridor.

The bill also marks the first use of “earmarks,” or provisions that fund a specific project requested by a member of Congress, since a ban on the practice went into effect in 2011.

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California projects in infrastructure bill Search by city to view infrastructure projects funded by the House and likely to be included in a final bill. Search by city

san bernardino

Budget (in Requested Project name City ▲ millions) by

I St. Operating Maintenance Facility Aguilar, San Bernardino $2.0 Rehabilitation Pete Replacement of 2nd St. Bridge over Warm Aguilar, San Bernardino $2.0 Creek Pete West Valley Connector Bus Rapid Transit Aguilar, San Bernardino $5.0 and Zero-Emission Initiative Pete

U.S. House of Representatives Jennifer Haberkorn/ LOS ANGELES TIMES

https://www.latimes.com/politics/story/2021-07-01/some-200-california-projects-may-be-funded-by-bidens-infrastructure-bill-heres-a-look 3/9 7/1/2021 California Gov. Newsom recall election set for September - Los Angeles Times

CALIFORNIA

Newsom recall election set for Sept. 14

https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2021-07-01/california-governor-newsom-recall-election-set-for-september 1/15 7/1/2021 California Gov. Newsom recall election set for September - Los Angeles Times California voters will decide on Sept. 14 whether to replace Gov. Gavin Newsom, shown at a news conference in Sacramento on Feb. 27. (Associated Press)

By PHIL WILLON | STAFF WRITER

JULY 1, 2021 2:18 PM PT

SACRAMENTO — Lt. Gov. Eleni Kounalakis on Thursday set Sept. 14 as the date for the recall election targeting California Gov. Gavin Newsom, leaving it up to voters to decide whether to oust a sitting governor for just the second time in the state’s history.

The tight election timetable gives prospective candidates just over two weeks to decide whether to jump into an expected frenzied race to replace Newsom, though a cadre of notable Republicans launched unofficial campaigns months ago with promises of loosening the Democrats’ ironclad grip on California’s state government.

“Although the window of time from which I could select a date was narrow, I believe we have chosen a fair and reasonable date for this election to take place,” Kounalakis said in a statement released Thursday. “It has always been my intention to choose an election date that gives election officials and the public ample time to ensure a smooth election with broad participation.”

Newsom and his supporters have dismissed the recall effort as a longshot ploy by the Republican Party to force its unpopular conservative agenda on Californians who support the governor’s policies, including his response to the COVID-19 pandemic, protecting the environment and advocating for gun control measures. The Democratic governor has characterized recall campaign leaders as anti-immigrant supporters of President Trump who include QAnon conspiracy theorists and fringe members of the right wing.

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https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2021-07-01/california-governor-newsom-recall-election-set-for-september 2/15 7/1/2021 California Gov. Newsom recall election set for September - Los Angeles Times

Still, one the greatest potential threats to Newsom’s political survival would be a challenge from the left. Thus far, no prominent California Democrats have publicly entertained entering the race and, in fact, most have pledged to stay out of it.

But candidates have a limited window to mull over the idea, and the opportunity to lead the largest state in the union may prove too enticing to ignore, even for someone outside the realm of politics. Candidates who want to run as a potential replacement to Newsom must file their formal paperwork 59 days before the election.

In 2003, Californians stung by rolling power outages, budget cuts and a car tax hike voted to recall Democratic Gov. Gray Davis from office and elected Hollywood action star Arnold Schwarzenegger, the last Republican to serve as the state’s chief executive. Davis became the first and only California governor to be recalled from office.

Kounalakis’ announcement came just after Secretary of State Shirley Weber certified the gubernatorial recall, a campaign that collected more than 1.7 million petition signatures from California voters who supported removing Newsom from office. Under the state https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2021-07-01/california-governor-newsom-recall-election-set-for-september 3/15 7/1/2021 California Gov. Newsom recall election set for September - Los Angeles Times Constitution, Kounalakis was required to schedule an election to take place 60 to 80 days after Weber’s certification.

The election will play out quickly in political terms: Start to finish, it will last less than three months.

Weber’s certification was considered a foregone conclusion for months and came just days after the state Legislature voted to revise the election rules dictating how the recall campaign will unfold — a move Republicans argued was to Newsom’s political advantage.

“It is not hyperbole to say this is qualitatively the same thing that happens in corrupt sham democracies the world over,” Assemblyman Kevin Kiley (R-Rocklin), a strong supporter of the recall effort, said during the debate over the bill. “Those in power use their power to make sure they don’t lose their power.”

The change, which Newsom quickly signed into law, effectively eliminated the required 30-day review of the recall’s estimated costs by the Legislature, accelerating the timeline for the election.

Some Newsom supporters advocated for holding the election as soon as possible because recent opinion polls showed Newsom had favorable job approval ratings, a rise https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2021-07-01/california-governor-newsom-recall-election-set-for-september 4/15 7/1/2021 California Gov. Newsom recall election set for September - Los Angeles Times driven in large part by California’s emergence from the COVID-19 pandemic and an economy on the upswing.

On Thursday, the state Department of Finance released an updated estimate of the cost of the special election: $276 million, with the vast majority of that falling on county election agencies that must shoulder the cost of printing ballots, setting up voting sites and processing votes. The state already has set aside $250.2 million to fund the recall election.

Regardless of the odds, the recall election is expected to attract a considerable amount of money.

As the target of the recall, Newsom is allowed to raise and spend an unlimited amount to fend off his ouster. The governor’s anti-recall committee already has collected more than $16.7 million — and that was before the recall was officially certified. Newsom also has more than $20 million socked away for his 2022 reelection campaign, though it’s uncertain if he’ll use any of that money, or need to, to fight the recall.

The Democratic and Republican parties have also poured money into the campaign, with more expected in the coming days.

https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2021-07-01/california-governor-newsom-recall-election-set-for-september 5/15 7/1/2021 California Gov. Newsom recall election set for September - Los Angeles Times Candidates hoping to succeed Newsom are likely to spend millions. Republican businessman John Cox of Rancho Santa Fe, whom Newsom beat handily in the 2018 governor’s race, already has tapped into $7 million of his own money for the contest.

Reality television star and retired Olympic gold medalist Caitlyn Jenner has raised more than $330,000, a modest haul. But Jenner has benefited greatly from a crush of national media attention since announcing her candidacy, despite a May poll showing she has anemic support among California voters.

That poll found that leading the Republicans in the race were former San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer and Cox, followed by former Northern California Rep. Doug Ose.

Voters will decide whether Newsom is recalled, and if so, who should replace him. Newsom is barred from being listed among the candidates who can be considered if the recall passes.

https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2021-07-01/california-governor-newsom-recall-election-set-for-september 6/15 7/1/2021 California Gov. Newsom recall election set for September - Los Angeles Times Two and a half years ago, Newsom won the governor’s office by the largest electoral margin in modern history, capping the Democrat’s steady rise to the apex of California politics that began in 1996, when San Francisco Mayor Willie Brown appointed him to the city’s Parking and Traffic Commission. After being elected mayor of San Francisco, Newsom quickly rose to national prominence with his push to legalize same-sex marriage in 2004 and he later served two terms as California’s lieutenant governor.

The recall campaign was fueled in large part by California’s conservative minority, which has fought Newsom’s progressive policies. The recall petition accused Newsom of creating California’s high taxes and homelessness crisis, and criticized him for protecting immigrants who enter the county illegally and for halting executions.

But the governor’s policies to combat COVID-19 were what really brought the recall to life, fueled by voter discontent over government-mandated restrictions to stem the spread of the coronavirus — actions that devastated businesses, put millions out of work and forced schoolchildren into distance learning programs

Newsom’s public image took a major hit in November, when he attended a lobbyist’s birthday party at the upscale French Laundry restaurant in Napa Valley after pleading with Californians to stay home and avoid multifamily gatherings.

https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2021-07-01/california-governor-newsom-recall-election-set-for-september 7/15 7/1/2021 California Gov. Newsom recall election set for September - Los Angeles Times The current recall effort is the sixth launched against Newsom since he took office in January 2019 and, much like the others, was initially sluggish.

However, a Sacramento County Superior Court judge in November granted recall proponents an additional five months to gather and submit 1.49 million petition signatures from California voters, the number required by state law to qualify the recall for the ballot. The judge did so because the state’s COVID-19 shutdowns and restrictions had limited the recall campaign’s ability to circulate petitions.

Neither the governor nor the secretary of state decided to appeal that ruling, a decision that some Democrats believe was a misstep.

On Monday, another potential mistake surfaced: Newsom filed a lawsuit Monday against the secretary of state, asking the court to require Weber to print Newsom’s party preference — Democrat — on the recall ballots.

Under state law, Newsom had an opportunity to request that his party designation appear when he submitted his official response to the recall campaign. But he failed to do so due to an “inadvertent but good faith mistake made on the part of his elections attorney.”

https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2021-07-01/california-governor-newsom-recall-election-set-for-september 8/15 California’s Big City Mayors celebrate State budget inclusion of signifcant direct funding allocated to local governments to address homeless crisis

The Big City Mayors coalition, a coalition of the mayors from California’s 13 largest cities celebrated the agreement reached between Governor Newsom and California legislature for $1 billion in spending annually for homelessness to local governments for the next two years. This agreement will be the frst ever multi-year commitment since the BCM started their annual budget advocacy work. Mayor Sam Liccardo, Chair of the Big City Mayors, issued the following statement on their behalf:

“The Mayors of California’s thirteen largest cities–saddled with the responsibility of housing 59% of California’s unsheltered residents– deeply appreciate the Governor and Legislature’s commitment to invest $2 billion over the next two years for local solutions to combat homelessness in our communities. We have shown in recent years how innovative, cost-efective solutions emerge from the fexible dollars that cities can use to nimbly respond to this crisis. We welcome the accountability that comes with these dollars, to ensure that we maximize our taxpayers’ investment to reducing human misery.”

The BCM coalition is continually advocating for direct funding and resources to address the homeless crisis that large cities experience daily—and this signifcant partnership and historic investment from the state will greatly impact innovative projects like new emergency and interim housing, community cabins, safe parking programs, fexible rental support, and support for state programs like Homekey.

“I am grateful to the collective leadership of my fellow Big City mayors, who have consistently advocated for our most vulnerable residents above every other priority,”concluded Mayor Liccardo.

The BCM went on to thank legislative leadership, including Pro Tem Atkins, Speaker Rendon, Senate Budget Chair Skinner, and Assembly Budget Chair Ting, “We are extremely grateful for the legislature’s dogged leadership and commitment to housing our state’s most vulnerable residents. With their support we can say we are a step closer to ending homelessness in our cities.”

Mayor Eric Garcetti, Los Angeles

“The unprecedented, multiyear investment of $1 billion in annual funding for local governments’ homelessness eforts in the state budget is a game changer. Los Angeles stands ready to quickly and responsibly deploy these resources to support our unhoused neighbors with the housing and services they need. I am grateful for our legislative leadership, the Governor and all of our representatives for this bold commitment.”

Mayor Todd Gloria, San Diego

“I want to thank the Legislature and the Governor for their unprecedented, multiyear commitment to partnering with cities like San Diego to take on California’s homelessness and housing-afordability crises. We can solve this issue by investing in person-centered outreach, permanent and emergency housing solutions, and supportive services — all actions our City is ramping up to help our most vulnerable residents.”

Mayor London Breed, San Francisco

“I am proud to stand with my fellow California Mayors in partnership with the state to work to bring people indoors and address the challenges we all face around homelessness. We cannot wait a moment longer to invest across our whole system – everything from prevention to treatment to housing. In partnership with state leadership, in particular Assemblymember Phil Ting (D-D19-San Francisco), we will bring together federal, state, and local resources so that all communities are working together because we know homelessness does not start and stop at any one city’s borders. Together, we will do the work and hold ourselves accountable so that every dollar creates housing placements for people who need it the most.”

Mayor Jerry Dyer, Fresno

“I want to thank Gov. Newsom and the state Legislature for investing the kind of money that is truly needed to address homelessness. I’ve said it before: this is an ongoing efort that cannot be solved overnight. A multi-year commitment allows cities to put in place the long-term, comprehensive plans that are needed to end homelessness and not continually address it in a piecemeal fashion.

Mayor Darrell Steinberg, Sacramento

“A major thank you to Governor Newsom and the Legislature for empowering our cities and counties to help the thousands sufering on the streets. You led big once again and we are grateful. We will use these resources wisely and aggressively.”

Mayor Robert Garcia, Long Beach

“I want to thank governor Newsom and the State Legislature for their commitment to supporting local communities in our work to address homelessness,” said Mayor Robert Garcia. “The investments in Project HomeKey and fexible funding for cities will be critical in building on existing work. Homelessness is complex and complicated. Addressing its root challenges requires a long-term commitment of resources, and we appreciate the State’s willingness to partner with cities on this.”

Mayor Libby Schaaf, Oakland

“This is historic, and it gives us a fghting chance to end homeless in Oakland,” Mayor Libby Schaaf said. “The moment the check clears, we’re ready to move more people of our streets and into safety and services, as well as to prevent families and elders from becoming homeless to begin with. I’m grateful for my fellow Big City Mayors being unifed in our priority and thank the Legislators and Governor for bringing this multi-billion dollar investment directly to the frontlines of the crisis to help us fght the moral failing that is our homeless epidemic.”

Mayor Karen Goh, Bakersfeld These fexible HHAP dollars will allow cities to maximize our investments and implement long-term solutions to the crisis of homelessness. The funding will provide for shelter and the continuance of critical wrap-around case management, mental health, and substance abuse treatment services essential to moving individuals into permanent housing.

Mayor Harry Sidhu, Anaheim

“This is one of the best investments California can make to address the challenge of our time. Cities are both the frontline of the homeless crisis and places of solutions and innovation. While all working in the same direction, California’s cities are unique and in diferent stages of addressing this challenge. This fexible funding recognizes that and should be applauded as a model not only for our state but for our nation.”

Mayor Lock Dawson, Riverside

“I applaud the Governor and Legislature for their historic investment in our cities to address this crisis. As we recover from the pandemic, we must keep the momentum we have built with programs like Homekey, and this frst ever multi- year commitment will allow us to do just that. Riverside is poised to quickly and efectively use this direct allocation of funding to secure more services and housing for the homeless. Now that we have the means, it’s time to deliver results.”

Mayor Vicente Sarmiento, Santa Ana

“The Governor and Legislature have my thanks and gratitude for passing this historic investment to help the most vulnerable residents of our communities and to end the homelessness crisis. Santa Ana will continue to be a leader in addressing homelessness in Orange County and will put this new funding to good use.”

Mayor Kevin Lincoln, Stockton “I’d like to thank our Legislature and Governor for the investment they’ve made toward our housing and homelessness crisis. A multi-year commitment of fexible, direct allocation funds for cities is unprecedented and will make an incredible impact in our communities. I am encouraged by the work we can do to bring hope and healing to our cities.”

About the Big City Mayors

The Big City Mayors is a coalition of Mayors across California’s 13 largest cities. Members include Mayors from Los Angeles, San Diego, San José, San Francisco, Fresno, Sacramento, Long Beach, Oakland, Bakersfeld, Anaheim, Riverside, Santa Ana, and Stockton.

July 1, 2021 | Cities, Housing, State Government Afairs NEWSCRIME AND PUBLIC SAFETY • News Street gangs smuggling illegal, dangerous fireworks into Southern California

A San Bernardino County Fire Department investigator examines a load of illegal fireworks that were seized. The department and other agencies confiscated almost 13,000 pounds of fireworks during an eight-day period in May and June of 2021. (Courtesy of San Bernardino County Fire Department)

By BRIAN ROKOS || [email protected] || TheThe Press-EnterprisePress-Enterprise PUBLISHED: July 1, 2021 at 4:06 p.m. || UPDATED:UPDATED: July 1, 2021 at 4:08 p.m.

The illegal fireworks that have been entertaining, bedeviling and injuring Southern California residents heading into the Fourth of July weekend are increasingly arriving in the state via smuggling, often by criminal street gangs that use the same techniques they employ to distribute drugs, investigators say.

Fireworks that explode, spin along the ground and launch balls of fire high into the air are often purchased legally in other states before being snuck into California, where they are prohibited. They are concealed in passenger cars, trucked in using rental vehicles and driven inin caravanscaravans sometimessometimes escortedescorted byby armedarmed ganggang members.members.

Other such fireworks enter through the port of Long Beach from Mexico and China and are ostensibly headed out of state to be sold legally, but some somehow never make it to their intended destinations.

The fireworks are then sold online, in parking lots and from warehouses at double or triple their cost.

The proceeds are then spent on firearms, said Bryan Gouge′, a senior arson and bomb investigator in the state Fire Marshal’’s Office.

On Thursday, July 1, investigators were still sorting out the origin of a large cache of illegal fireworks and explosive devices at a house in South Los Angeles, where 17 people were injured in a huge blast WednesdayWednesday nightnight asas policepolice attemptedattempted toto safelysafely detonatedetonate thethe improvisedimprovised devices. But generally, said Gouge′, “What we are seeing, a large majority of the stuff seems to be linked to organized crime. You can’’tt getget thesethese itemsitems inin California.California. ItIt createscreates aa blackblack market.market. WhatWhat wewe thinkthink wewe areare seeingseeing asas aa trendtrend isis gangsgangs runningrunning themthem asas fundraisers.”fundraisers.”

Those types of fireworks, notable for a lack of control once they are ignited, are illegal everywhere in California, whereas the so-called safe-and-sane variety approved by the state fire marshal are legal to be lit, but only in limited areas. Gouge estimates that every year, agencies turn over 250,000 pounds of illegal fireworks to his office to be destroyed.

The sale of illegal fireworks by gangs appears to be yet another evolution of criminal activity, similar to the decline in bank robberies in the latelate 2000s2000s atat aa timetime whenwhen tech-savvytech-savvy criminalscriminals beganbegan puttingputting fakefake debitdebit cardcard readersreaders onon ATMsATMs toto stealsteal personalpersonal informationinformation —— aa crimecrime thatthat yields higher takes than bank holdups at less risk of lengthy jail or prison sentences.

“We’’ve been told by the people that are bringing in the product that it’’s easier than selling drugs, it’’s more lucrative and the consequences are less,” said Mike Horton, the San Bernardino County fire marshal and deputy fire warden.

The penalty for possession and sale of illegal fireworks in California, depending on the agency, is usually about $1,250 for a first offense thatthat multipliesmultiplies withwith eacheach successivesuccessive citation.citation. CriminalCriminal organizationsorganizations writewrite offoff thosethose finesfines asas “overhead,”“overhead,” HortonHorton said,said, addingadding thatthat relatedrelated jailjail sentencessentences inin SanSan BernardinoBernardino CountyCounty areare rare.rare.

Officials say they confiscate the fireworks to protect the public from themselves.

Michael Downes, an emergency medicine physician at Loma Linda University Medical Center, has already been treating fireworks injuries thisthis year,year, seeingseeing mostlymostly burnsburns andand cuts.cuts. SometimesSometimes thethe patientspatients acknowledgeacknowledge beingbeing underunder thethe influenceinfluence ofof alcohol.alcohol.

Then there are the hands that come in missing digits after a rocket or cherry bomb blows up while being held.

“Usually, patients are in a state of shock, not in the physiological sense, but they are mentally in shock, saying, ‘‘I can’’tt believebelieve mymy fingerfinger isis gone’’ andand processingprocessing thatthat newnew reality,”reality,” DownesDownes said.said. “It“It’’s very distressing.”

In the worst cases, people die.

The bodies of Alex Paez, 38, and Cesar Paez, 20, werewere foundfound inin thethe rubblerubble ofof anan OntarioOntario homehome afterafter explosionsexplosions ofof fireworksfireworks onon MarchMarch 1616 blasted shockwaves that were felt for miles. Officials have not announced what the cousins were doing with the fireworks or how they obtained them.

Mike Horton, the San Bernardino County fire marshal and deputy fire warden. moves illegal fireworks that were recently seized. Criminals say selling them is ‘easier than selling drugs, it’s more lucrative and the consequences are less,’ Horton said. (Courtesy of San Bernardino County Fire Department)

Attempts to find the fireworks take on several forms.

With it being difficult to identify those shooting off fireworks, officials are focusing on the distributors. Los Angeles City Attorney Mike Feuer said hundreds of online advertisements for fireworks were removed after he sent cease-and-desist lettersletters toto virtualvirtual swapswap meetsmeets suchsuch asas FacebookFacebook Marketplace,Marketplace, OfferUp,OfferUp, CraigslistCraigslist andand 5Miles.5Miles.

Even the safe-and-sane variety are illegal in Los Angeles which, like other California cities, is in extreme fire danger from drought.

“If we can diminish the availability of illegal fireworks … we can take some meaningful steps in reducing the dangers of fireworks, Feuer said.

Feuer pleaded with the public to report illegal fireworks, and on Wednesday, investigators were tipped to a large stash behind the home in South LA. Police found 5,000 pounds of aerial fireworks assortments with benign names such as Cinco De Mayo and House Party.

Investigators also discovered more than 200 IEDs that were moved to a trailer that was supposed to safely contain their detonation. But the blast destroyed the trailer, injuredinjured 1717 peoplepeople andand damageddamaged homeshomes andand cars.cars.

Arturo Cejas III, 27, was arrested on suspicion of reckless or malicious possession of a destructive device. Investigators have not announced the exact source of the fireworks, but Police Chief Michel Moore said they were brought from out of state “for resale to members of the community.”

In Riverside, where safe-and-sane fireworks are banned, a task force is looking for and confiscating fireworks by following up on tips and monitoring social media, Fire Chief Michael Moore said.

He and other officials said they hope residents will attend the public fireworks shows that are returning this year after being canceled in 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Sgt. Tim Pusztai has worked with illegal fireworks at the Orange County Sheriff’’s Department’’s Hazardous Devices Section for 20 years.

He said he’’s noticed an exponential increase in illegal fireworks activity in the past five years in a county where safe-and-sane are allowed inin 1010 citiescities.. InIn oneone instance,instance, inin SantaSanta Ana,Ana, thatthat departmentdepartment seizedseized 5,0005,000 poundspounds ofof illegalillegal fireworksfireworks fromfrom oneone manman whowho paidpaid aboutabout $20,000$20,000 forfor them.them. HisHis profitprofit wouldwould havehave likelylikely moremore thanthan doubleddoubled ifif hehe hadhad soldsold them,them, PusztaiPusztai said.said.

Several other agencies have recently announced seizures.

In Corona, where all fireworks are illegal, officials confiscated 200 aerial rockets from a 19-year-old. In Fontana, where safe-and-sane fireworksfireworks areare allowedallowed onlyonly southsouth ofof SummitSummit Avenue,Avenue, aa repeatrepeat offenderoffender facesfaces aa $10,000$10,000 finefine forfor sellingselling fireworksfireworks thatthat explodeexplode oror thatthat cancan bebe launched.launched. InIn ChinoChino Hills,Hills, SanSan BernardinoBernardino CountyCounty sheriffsheriff’’s deputies cited a man and a woman who had about 150 pounds of fireworks labeledlabeled amongamong otherother thingsthings asas “Death“Death Disco.”Disco.”

Two of the largest seizures focused on vehicles returning to San Bernardino County from Nevada, where fireworks from sparklers to skyrockets are sold legally.

Cal Fire peace officers staked out some of the smaller roads in May and June and stopped almost 1,000 vehicles that violated traffic laws or thatthat hadhad fireworksfireworks visible,visible, resultingresulting inin thethe seizureseizure ofof moremore thanthan 79,00079,000 poundspounds ofof fireworks.fireworks.

At least 75% of the vehicles contained fireworks, said Daniel Berlant, Cal Fire’’s assistant deputy director. Many contained at least 100 pounds of fireworks, an indication that they were intended to be resold, he said.

And in a separate operation in May and June along the 15 Freeway near the Nevada border, investigators from agencies including San Bernardino County fire seized 18,725 pounds of fireworks that included aerial mortars, M80s and strings of a thousand firecrackers, many of which appeared headed for other counties, Horton said.

Investigators wrote 99 citations that seek $111,250 in fines.

Horton said he expects that seizure total to double in the coming days if the anticipated help comes. San Bernardino County is among the firefire departmentsdepartments with websites that accept tips fromfrom thethe publicpublic onon illegalillegal fireworksfireworks displaysdisplays andand caches.caches.

“It’’s extremely effective,” Horton said. “We can’’tt dodo thisthis withoutwithout thethe communitycommunity’’s help.”

Staff Writers David Downey, Emily Rasmussen, Nathaniel Percy and Hunter Lee contributed to this report. Uprooting Joshua trees: Locals ask why permits cost more than penalties | Hi-Desert Star

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Photos from the San Bernardino County district attorney's office show left, some of the recovered Joshua trees that were buried and then unburied during the investigation; d i ht t J h t i i th t

Uprooting Joshua trees: Locals ask why permits cost more than penalties

Jun 30, 2021 11:33 AM

By Stacy Moore Hi-Desert Star

JOSHUA TREE — Two home builders who destroyed 36 Joshua trees were fined $18,000 in court last week. This action revealed that the cost of illegally digging up the trees is lower than state fees for legally removing them.

The property owners, meanwhile, say they were

https://hidesertstar.com/news/179267/uprooting-joshua-trees-locals-ask-why-permits-cost-more-than-penalties/[7/2/2021 8:33:28 AM] Uprooting Joshua trees: Locals ask why permits cost more than penalties | Hi-Desert Star

blindsided by the investigation and had no idea they couldn’t bulldoze Joshua trees to build their house.

“We did not know there was a moratorium on (removing) Joshua trees. Nobody told us,” said Jeffrey Walter, whose wife, Jonetta Nordberg- Walter, inherited the Prescott Avenue property.

Walter said his wife’s family has owned the property for 60 years. They recently moved from Portland, Oregon, to the Morongo Basin and are renting a home while building on the Joshua Tree lot.

On Feb. 11, they rented a backhoe and hired a man to pull up Joshua trees that were growing where they wanted to build. The operator uprooted 36 western Joshua trees and buried them in a hole on the property.

A neighbor called a state tip line and an investigator with California Fish & Wildlife immediately drove to Joshua Tree. https://hidesertstar.com/news/179267/uprooting-joshua-trees-locals-ask-why-permits-cost-more-than-penalties/[7/2/2021 8:33:28 AM] Uprooting Joshua trees: Locals ask why permits cost more than penalties | Hi-Desert Star

“It wasn’t even his normal patrol area but because the potential crime was in progress, he ran over there and they had just wrapped up for the day. It was pretty obvious what had happened,” said Patrick Foy, a captain with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.

Douglas Poston, supervising prosecutor at the district attorney’s Morongo Basin office, filed 36 misdemeanor charges each against Walter and Nordberg-Walter, one for each tree.

Poston said the couple cooperated with his office.

They appeared in Judge Shanon Faherty’s courtroom in Joshua Tree on June 22 and agreed to pay $9,000 each — $250 for each misdemeanor removal of a protected tree.

The $18,000 will go into the Western Joshua Tree Mitigation Fund, an account opened by the state. Fish & Wildlife documents say money in the fund pays for land where western Joshua trees will be permanently protected.

At a time when Yucca Valley property owners must pay a $2,100 state fee if their sewer lines get within 10 feet of a western Joshua tree, some locals were surprised that the fine for the Walter family was just $250 per uprooted tree.

To remove western Joshua trees in unincorporated San Bernardino County, including Joshua Tree, property owners can apply to the state for an

https://hidesertstar.com/news/179267/uprooting-joshua-trees-locals-ask-why-permits-cost-more-than-penalties/[7/2/2021 8:33:28 AM] Uprooting Joshua trees: Locals ask why permits cost more than penalties | Hi-Desert Star

incidental take permit. Fish & Wildlife documents show the costs for those permits start at $6,733.25.

Morongo Basin residents commenting on an online version of this story noted that with fees at that level, it’s easier and less expensive to break the law.

San Bernardino County Supervisor Dawn Rowe said she is working with county staff and Fish & Wildlife on long-term conservation plans that she hopes would be easier for locals to navigate while also protecting Joshua trees.

The difference in the fees is partly because so many entities are involved. After giving western Joshua trees candidate status for endangered or threatened species, the state Fish & Wildlife Commission allowed the town of Yucca Valley and San Bernardino County to issue permits for removal or transplanting the trees in certain situations — basically for construction of single- family homes or connected buildings and sewer tie-ins).

In response, the town of Yucca Valley passed an ordinance allowing the local government to issue permits. The money they charge includes thousands in state-set fees that they pass on to the state's Western Joshua Tree Mitigation Fund, plus a few hundred in town permit fees to pay for staff time.

https://hidesertstar.com/news/179267/uprooting-joshua-trees-locals-ask-why-permits-cost-more-than-penalties/[7/2/2021 8:33:28 AM] Uprooting Joshua trees: Locals ask why permits cost more than penalties | Hi-Desert Star

San Bernardino County decided not to pass an ordinance allowing its Land Use Services Department to issue permits. So if you live in county-run areas like Joshua Tree and want to pull up Joshua trees, you must go directly to the state and apply for a take permit.

Then there are the fines Walter and Nordberg- Walter paid. These were under the purview of the San Bernardino County district attorney with a judge's approval, like any fines charged for a crime committed in the Morongo Basin. Those fines weren't set by the county. They were set by state criminal codes.

‘We didn’t know we did anything illegal’

Foy, the Fish & Wildlife captain, and Poston, the prosecutor, issued a press release about the case to spread the word on Joshua tree protections.

“We wanted to let the public know this is a real thing,” Poston said. “You can be prosecuted criminally now.”

Walter and his son, Gunnar, said they were dismayed by the public outcry after the story became public.

“We didn’t know we did anything illegal,” Walter said.

He said his family never received notification from the county or state that trees on their property were now protected and living in Portland, they

https://hidesertstar.com/news/179267/uprooting-joshua-trees-locals-ask-why-permits-cost-more-than-penalties/[7/2/2021 8:33:28 AM] Uprooting Joshua trees: Locals ask why permits cost more than penalties | Hi-Desert Star

didn’t follow local news outlets.

They didn’t seek county approval or file grading plans before starting the backhoe, Walter said.

He also remarked that many of the trees were small. “When it says 36 trees, a lot of them are that size,” he said, holding his hands about a foot and a half apart.

The uproar on social media over their actions has hurt Jonetta Nordberg-Walter, Gunnar said. “My mom feels terrible about this.”

“We wanted to let people know we’re not developers,” Walter said. “We moved here in December. We were caught off guard. There’s nothing nefarious about what we’re doing.”

New state protections make killing tree a crime

Taking a western Joshua tree became a criminal act in September 2020, when the state Fish & Wildlife Commission made the tree a candidate for endangered or threatened species protections, Foy said.

The trees are protected as if they were endangered while state staff study the species’ prospects.

“The population status of the western Joshua tree has justified its proposed listing and it’s something that we are certainly taking very seriously,” Foy said.

https://hidesertstar.com/news/179267/uprooting-joshua-trees-locals-ask-why-permits-cost-more-than-penalties/[7/2/2021 8:33:28 AM] Uprooting Joshua trees: Locals ask why permits cost more than penalties | Hi-Desert Star

“It has been a higher priority for our investigators since the commission decision.”

It is illegal to disturb, move, replant remove or kill western Joshua trees. Taking a western Joshua tree is a misdemeanor crime punishable by up to $4,100 in fines and six months in jail, according to Poston's news release.

The CalTip hotline is run 24 hours a day, seven days a week at (888) 334-2258 and tip411.

Anyone with a cellphone may send an anonymous tip to Fish & Wildlife by texting “CALTIP”, followed by a space and the message, to 847411 (tip411).

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https://hidesertstar.com/news/179267/uprooting-joshua-trees-locals-ask-why-permits-cost-more-than-penalties/[7/2/2021 8:33:28 AM] What happened to Lauren Cho? | Hi-Desert Star

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Lauren Cho, 30, moved from New Jersey to Bombay Beach on the Salton Sea in December 2020.

What happened to Lauren Cho?

Jul 01, 2021 7:22 PM

By Stacy Moore Hi-Desert Star

MORONGO VALLEY — Lauren Cho moved from New Jersey to the California desert eight months ago, looking for a life of freedom and new possibilities. In a matter of minutes Monday afternoon, she disappeared.

Cho, 30, was last seen at 3 p.m. Monday, June 28, in the area of Hoopa Road and Ben Mar Trail in

https://hidesertstar.com/news/179276/what-happened-to-lauren-cho/[7/2/2021 8:32:15 AM] What happened to Lauren Cho? | Hi-Desert Star

Morongo Valley. She was on foot, at least at first, wearing a yellow T-shirt and jean shorts.

Her friend Cody Orell is the last known person to have seen her. The two, who met in New Jersey and used to date, were staying on a friend’s property. On the afternoon of June 28, he went into the tour bus that they’d crossed the country in and she apparently walked away.

“There was a 10-minute window there and she evaporated,” Orell said in a phone interview Thursday.

According to the sheriff’s report of Orell’s call for help, placed at 5:13 p.m., Cho got upset and walked into the hills between Yucca Valley and Morongo Valley. Orell tried to find her, then called their circle of friends for help. When they couldn't find her, they called in law enforcement. They told the sheriff’s station she didn’t take her phone, water or food with her.

“I searched all in the hills and no tracks, https://hidesertstar.com/news/179276/what-happened-to-lauren-cho/[7/2/2021 8:32:15 AM] What happened to Lauren Cho? | Hi-Desert Star

anywhere,” Orell said.

When law enforcement searchers joined the effort, he said, “They found all of my tracks and my friends’ tracks, but none of hers.”

Sgt. Scott Stafford with the Morongo Basin sheriff’s station said the sheriff’s helicopter and members of the search and rescue unit had been actively searching since Cho was reported missing. Sheriff's spokeswoman Jodi Miller told New Jersey media that there is no sign of foul play and Cho is considered voluntarily missing.

Orell thinks she got into a vehicle with someone. He’s going over and over what happened and what might have happened to the friend he crossed the country with.

“On Sunday she was going out to meet someone and wasn’t saying who. I didn’t pry into it then, but of course now I wish….” he trailed off.

He believes she would have stayed on a trail if she did walk into the hills and they would have found a sign of her by now.

“On one hand we know it’s better if she isn’t in the wilderness but also, it’s been 74 hours and if she was in a car, our circle (to search) is much bigger,” he said.

He drove back to Bombay Beach Thursday to put up flyers with Cho’s photo on them and he and his friends are active on social media, sharing the

https://hidesertstar.com/news/179276/what-happened-to-lauren-cho/[7/2/2021 8:32:15 AM] What happened to Lauren Cho? | Hi-Desert Star

“missing person” flyers and information.

Following her dream in a converted school bus

For RJ Okay, Lauren Cho is a woman with plans and a dream for the future — not someone who would walk away from everything.

“I had seen her the night before, we had dinner the night before,” he said. “I thought for sure she’d be back for dinner again that night.”

Cho was a talented soprano singer who toured with choirs in Europe as a teenager, her friends said. She held a degree in music education from Westminster Choir College in New Jersey and taught music to high schoolers in Irvington Township. She was also a section leader in a New Jersey church choir.

Dissatisfied with her job, Cho moved out west with Orell over the winter, driving across the U.S. in his tour bus. The two had met through mutual friends on Memorial Day and hit it off right away. He had always planned to come out west and she decided to join him.

“Lauren wanted a different life. She wanted to move from the East Coast and taste freedom,” Orell said. “She quit her job and moved into the bus with me.”

In December, they ended their journey in Bombay Beach, a tiny community of about 415 people at the Salton Sea. It’s become known in recent years

https://hidesertstar.com/news/179276/what-happened-to-lauren-cho/[7/2/2021 8:32:15 AM] What happened to Lauren Cho? | Hi-Desert Star

for attracting artists, musicians and people seeking a freer, more creative life.

“We’re both part of the community of artists down there and we live part of the year in Bombay,” Okay said. “There’s probably a dozen or so of us who live there full-time throughout the winter.”

Cho bought an old school bus and was converting it into a food truck. “The idea was she was going to come here and open the food truck and follow her dreams,” Orell said.

She and Orell decided to try out recipes by hosting dinners. “Bombay Beach is an isolated community and we had a group of friends we started doing dinners with every night with El cooking,” Orell said. It became the hub of the community.”

Both men say Cho was beloved by her friends and well known in their circle for her cooking. “She makes this basil ice cream that’s vegan and everyone who tries it tells her she ought to be famous for it,” Okay said.

They were invited to stay at a friend’s house in Yucca Valley and Cho started working as a private chef for a friend’s Airbnb here.

“The dream was materializing,” Orell said.

But she was also troubled.

“El’s a super-talented person. She’s a black belt in tae kwon do and was teaching tae kwon do at age 12. She’s one of those super-talented people who

https://hidesertstar.com/news/179276/what-happened-to-lauren-cho/[7/2/2021 8:32:15 AM] What happened to Lauren Cho? | Hi-Desert Star

don’t think they are,” Orell said. “It’s tragic. That sense of self-confidence isn’t there.”

Okay is convinced she had plans and wouldn’t have abandoned them. “She was in the middle of working on her bus,” he said. “The day she went missing she texted me earlier asking for some help on it.”

She also had a parakeet named Pork Chop that she didn’t like to leave. “She would be worried if she was going to be away from him for a day. So that’s another thing that’s worrying me,” he said.

Okay was one of three friends whom Orell called when Cho went missing. “We immediately dropped everything and we were out there all night. I’ve spent pretty much 24 hours straight driving the hills there. There’s no sign of her anywhere,” he said Wednesday afternoon.

“She was apparently trying to take her car at the time but she didn’t have the keys. She had an intention to go somewhere and I know she was dating again. Maybe she doesn’t realize we’re searching.”

On Wednesday, Okay was driving into the low desert, following a vague lead. “Someone said they saw someone matching her description in Thousand Palms so I’m driving down there right now,” he said. “It’s not a very good lead but it’s something.”

Sheriff’s calls show others claimed to see her with

https://hidesertstar.com/news/179276/what-happened-to-lauren-cho/[7/2/2021 8:32:15 AM] What happened to Lauren Cho? | Hi-Desert Star

a man at a restaurant in Yucca Valley.

In the meantime, the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department is investigating a body found in the area of Johnson Road and 15th Street north of Desert Hot Springs around 9:30 a.m. Thursday. A Riverside sheriff’s spokesman said Thursday afternoon that no details about the body, including sex, have been released.

Cho’s friends just want to know she’s safe.

“She’s a wonderful person,” Orell said. “El’s great — great sense of humor. Just really sweet. She has a wonderful heart.”

Anyone who sees Lauren Cho is asked to immediately contact the sheriff's dispatch at (760) 956-5001 or Detective S. Ables at (760) 366-4175 and reference DR 092101115.

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https://hidesertstar.com/news/179276/what-happened-to-lauren-cho/[7/2/2021 8:32:15 AM] 7/1/2021 Man dies at scene following head-on crash on Central Road in Apple Valley

ACCIDENT Man dies at scene following head-on crash on Central Road in Apple Valley Rene Ray De La Cruz Victorville Daily Press Published 1:54 p.m. PT Jul. 1, 2021

A 57-year-old driver of a Mazda 6 was killed in Apple Valley after he crossed into an opposite lane of traffic and crashed into a Jeep Wrangler on Wednesday evening, authorities said.

The two-vehicle crash occurred shortly before 7 p.m. near the intersection of Powhatan and Central roads, the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department said. Deputies, as well as personnel from the Apple Valley Fire Protection District and American Medical Response responded to the scene.

Authorities believe the deceased man, who was headed south on Central Road, crossed into the northbound lane for reasons that are under investigation and collided with the Jeep head-on.

The man driving the Mazda died at the scene. It's unclear whether the San Bernardino County Sheriff Coroner’s Office had identified him as of Thursday afternoon. Recently, sheriff's officials temporarily halted issuing press releases on the coroner's website.

"Due to a review of policies and procedures regarding Coroner Press Releases, no press site updates will be posted until those procedures are reviewed and approved," a message on the site reads.

The Daily Press is awaiting a response to an inquiry into the man's identity.

On Thursday, Apple Valley Sheriff's Station spokesperson Jackie Alban said she was looking into the condition of the 17-year-old boy behind the wheel of the Jeep. He, too, was unidentified as of Thursday afternoon.

The collision is being investigated by the Apple Valley station's Major Accident Investigation Team.

https://www.vvdailypress.com/story/news/accident/2021/07/01/man-dies-scene-following-head-crash-central-road-apple-valley/7829849002/?utm_cam… 1/2 7/1/2021 Man dies at scene following head-on crash on Central Road in Apple Valley

Anyone who witnessed the crash, or anyone with information, is asked by the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department to call the Apple Valley Station at 760-240-7400.

Those wishing to remain anonymous can call WeTip at 1-800-78-CRIME or leave information at www.wetip.com.

This story will be updated as more information becomes available.

Daily Press reporter Rene Ray De La Cruz may be reached at 760-951-6227 or [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @DP_ReneDeLaCruz.

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