County: State Interference Unneeded | Hi-Desert Star

County: State interference unneeded | Hi-Desert Star

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County: State interference unneeded

Jan 12, 2021 3:20 PM

By Jené Estrada Hi-Desert Star News Council to hear about problems and perks of Airbnbs

SAN BERNARDINO — San Bernardino County filed a lawsuit last month asking the state Supreme Court to annul the stay-at-home orders and business closures ordered by Gov. Gavin Newsom, arguing that the orders were unlawful. Since then, Newsom’s office has refuted the claims and is asking the court to order San Bernardino County to show cause for its lawsuit. News The county is suing Newsom, the state’s acting public Family mourns boy killed in fire health officer and director of the Public Health

https://hidesertstar.com/news/178624/county-state-interference-unneeded/[1/13/2021 9:11:53 AM] County: State interference unneeded | Hi-Desert Star

Department. The county’s attorneys claim the governor is creating a new penal code and new laws with his orders, which he is not empowered to do under the Emergency Services Act.

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San Bernardino County also argues that its local officials have the right to create health orders, not Newsom and News other state officials. State to give one million doses of vaccine “Returning this power to local authority rather than leaving it in the hands of the respondents that are 400 miles away is critical to combating this pandemic,” the lawsuit reads.

They also claimed that the emergency conditions no longer require intervention from the state.

The county is asking the Supreme Court to immediately or suspend Newsom’s orders, saying they “are in urgent The Desert Trail need” of a declaration on the state’s powers. PIT puts end to pursuit

Newsom’s office argued that the governor is not creating new laws with the stay-at-home-order but is instead creating an order with the force and effect of a law, which

https://hidesertstar.com/news/178624/county-state-interference-unneeded/[1/13/2021 9:11:53 AM] County: State interference unneeded | Hi-Desert Star

is a power that the governor has under the Emergency Services Act if the order is necessary to mitigate the emergency.

They also argue that the court does not have the jurisdiction to decide if emergency conditions warrant the  state’s intervention.   The county’s argument that the emergency conditions no longer demand the state’s intervention should be denied because it involves a factual dispute not appropriate for the court, the state attorneys said.

They asked the court to only address the interpretation of the Emergency Services Act.

Six other lawsuits throughout the state are challenging this interpretation of the Emergency Services Act and Newsom’s office asked the court to issue an order to show cause on the petitioners.

They also asked that the court issue a written decision on the legality of Newsom’s actions so that they could address all active cases at the same time.

On Jan. 5, San Bernardino County responded to Newsom’s opposition, again arguing that his actions are not allowed under the Emergency Services Act. They also argue that while COVID-19 is an ongoing problem, it can no longer be classified as an emergency.

“While COVID-19 presents an ongoing issue, the emergency has ceased, requiring the termination of the respondents’ orders,” the response reads.

To view the lawsuit in its entirety visit

https://hidesertstar.com/news/178624/county-state-interference-unneeded/[1/13/2021 9:11:53 AM] 1/13/2021 San Bernardino County’s wave of post-holiday coronavirus cases continues – San Bernardino Sun

LOCAL NEWS •• News San Bernardino County’s wave of post-holiday coronavirus cases continues

By BRIAN WHITEHEAD || [email protected] || TheThe SunSun PUBLISHED: January 12, 2021 at 3:00 p.m. || UPDATED:UPDATED: January 12, 2021 at 3:09 p.m.

In the week ending Jan. 2, 24.1% of San Bernardino County residents tested for thethe novelnovel coronaviruscoronavirus werewere infected,infected, thethe closestclosest thethe countycounty hashas beenbeen duringduring thethe pandemic to seeing 1 in 4 tests show up positive, state data released Tuesday, Jan. 12, show.

The previous high of 23% was reached inin thethe weekweek thatthat endedended Dec.Dec. 19.19.

The countyʼs test-positivity rate of 24.1% across those seven days ranked second in the state to Riverside County.

Also, state data show, San Bernardino Countyʼs adjusted case rate for the week ending Jan. 2 topped 100 new cases per day per 100,000 residents for the first time.time.

County health officials reported 3,121 new coronavirus cases and five deaths Tuesday. Also announced were 24,823 recovered cases.

For the first time since mid-October, San Bernardino County had fewer people hospitalized with confirmed COVID-19 cases Sunday, Jan. 10, and Monday, Jan. 11, than the week before.

As of Monday, Jan. 11, 1,692 COVID-19 patients were in county hospitals, figuresfigures show,show, withwith 341341 peoplepeople inin intensiveintensive carecare units.units.

https://www.sbsun.com/2021/01/12/san-bernardino-countys-wave-of-post-holiday-coronavirus-cases-continues/ 1/4 1/13/2021 San Bernardino County’s wave of post-holiday coronavirus cases continues – San Bernardino Sun Here are the latest numbers, according to county and state public health officials.

San Bernardino County

Confirmed cases: 234,871234,871 total,total, upup 3,1213,121 fromfrom Monday,Monday, averagingaveraging 3,0733,073 reported per day in the past week

Deaths: 1,5511,551 total,total, upup fivefive fromfrom Monday,Monday, averagingaveraging 14.414.4 reportedreported perper dayday inin thethe pastpast weekweek

Hospital survey: 1,6921,692 confirmedconfirmed andand 8787 suspectedsuspected patientspatients hospitalizedhospitalized Monday, including 341 confirmed and 12 suspected patients in the ICU, with 25 of 25 facilities reporting. The number of confirmed patients is down 4.0% from a week earlier.

People tested: 1,893,6651,893,665 total,total, upup 21,55321,553 fromfrom Monday,Monday, averagingaveraging 20,41320,413 reported per day in the past week

Resolved cases (estimate): 234,871234,871 total,total, upup 24,82324,823 fromfrom Monday,Monday, averagingaveraging 6,392 per day in the past week

Metrics tracked by the state:

ICU availability: 0.0% across Southern California New cases per day per 100,000 residents: 140.2 Case rate adjusted for testing volume: 102.8 Test positivity rate: 24.1% (26.0% in socioeconomically challenged neighborhoods) What that means: Southern California is under a stay-home order because of the low ICU availability. When that is lifted, San Bernardino County will return to a color-coded tier withwith restrictionsrestrictions basedbased onon thethe other metrics.

To see a map and list of cases, deaths and per-capita rates by community, click here..

Here is a look at how the countyʼs numbers have changed each day:

Staff writer Nikie Johnson contributed to this report.

https://www.sbsun.com/2021/01/12/san-bernardino-countys-wave-of-post-holiday-coronavirus-cases-continues/ 2/4 1/13/2021 UPDATE: Fontana has 31,069 coronavirus cases and 166 deaths as of Jan. 11 | News | fontanaheraldnews.com

https://www.fontanaheraldnews.com/news/update-fontana-has-31-069-coronavirus-cases-and-166-deaths- as-of-jan-11/article_776207ba-52c5-11eb-9262-f3634fa857ee.html

FEATURED UPDATE: Fontana has 31,069 coronavirus cases and 166 deaths as of Jan. 11

Jan 9, 2021

Coronavirus

Fontana has had 31,069 coronavirus cases and 166 deaths since the pandemic began early last year.

Most of those cases have been reported during the past two months, when the infection rate skyrocketed throughout Southern California.

San Bernardino County has had 231,750 cases and 1,546 deaths as of Jan. 11, according to the county's COVID-19 website.

Health ofcials, worried about the substantial increase in hospitalizations and ICU admissions, continue to plead with residents to follow the oft-repeated health guidelines and comply with the resulting stay-at-home orders which have been implemented by the state.

https://www.fontanaheraldnews.com/news/update-fontana-has-31-069-coronavirus-cases-and-166-deaths-as-of-jan-11/article_776207ba-52c5-11eb-9… 1/2 1/13/2021 UPDATE: Fontana has 31,069 coronavirus cases and 166 deaths as of Jan. 11 | News | fontanaheraldnews.com

"As COVID-19 continues its spread, we all must remain vigilant," the county said in a statement. "The changes we have had to make to routines and daily life are extremely hard, but we must stop the spread with all the steps we have learned over the last year -- wearing a mask; distancing; washing our hands and getting tested."

There are two testing sites available on weekdays in Fontana: Jack Bulik Center, 16581 Filbert Street, and the Jessie Turner Center, 15556 Summit Avenue.

Testing is free and does not require insurance. Testing is available by appointment only by visiting sbcovid19.com.

https://www.fontanaheraldnews.com/news/update-fontana-has-31-069-coronavirus-cases-and-166-deaths-as-of-jan-11/article_776207ba-52c5-11eb-9… 2/2 1/12/2021 Why is San Manuel Stadium hosting youth baseball games when the state prohibits it? – San Bernardino Sun

SPORTSHIGH SCHOOL SPORTS •• News Why is San Manuel Stadium hosting youth baseball games when the state prohibits it? Several youth club baseball teams participated in a tournament at San Manuel Stadium over the weekend

San Manuel Stadium in Riverside was the host of several youth club baseball games fromfrom Jan.Jan. 8-11.8-11. AccordingAccording toto thethe CaliforniaCalifornia DepartmentDepartment ofof PublicPublic Health,Health, youthyouth sportssports games are prohibited due to the coronavirus pandemic. (Photo by Cindy Yamanaka, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)

By FRED ROBLEDO || [email protected]@scng.com || SanSan GabrielGabriel ValleyValley https://www.sbsun.com/2021/01/12/why-is-san-manuel-stadium-hosting-youth-baseball-games-when-the-state-prohibits-it/?utm_campaign=… 1/9 1/12/2021 Why is San Manuel Stadium hosting youth baseball games when the state prohibits it? – San Bernardino Sun

Tribune PUBLISHED: January 12, 2021 at 2:37 p.m. || UPDATED:UPDATED: January 12, 2021 at 2:38

p.m.

High school-aged club baseball teams, most of them from Southern California, participated in recent days in the West Coast Winter Classic at San Manuel Stadium in San Bernardino — the same stadium that is home to the Los Angeles Angelsʼ minor league affiliate, the Inland Empire 66ers.

The California Department of Public Health has prohibited high school and youth sports teams from playing games inin thethe statestate sincesince MarchMarch duedue toto thethe COVID-19COVID-19 pandemic. Teams are allowed to do conditioning and limited skill workouts, but games are still prohibited.

The CDPHʼs most recent guidelines, published in December, state the following: Inter-team competitions (i.e., between two teams) will not be allowed in California until January 25, 2021, at the earliest, based on the guidelines outlined inin thisthis documentdocument..

Major youth sports organizations like Little League Baseball and the American Youth Soccer Organization (AYSO) have adhered to these polices in California and have not played. But many club teams and leagues for soccer, baseball, softball, volleyball and most recently club football have played in games and tournaments inin defiancedefiance ofof thethe statestate restrictionsrestrictions forfor youthyouth sports.sports.

Future Events Group,, aa corporatecorporate eventevent managementmanagement company,company, securedsecured SanSan Manuel Stadium to host the club baseball showcase that ran for four straight days, ending on Monday, Jan. 11. Future Events Group hosted a similar tournament in December at San Manuel Stadium, and there is another tournament planned for February,, alsoalso atat SanSan ManuelManuel Stadium.Stadium.

“Weʼve always been one to push the envelope to get these kids back on the field,” said Karin Shue, one of the managing partners for Future Events Group. “A lot of thisthis discussiondiscussion startedstarted inin thethe summersummer whenwhen everyoneeveryone waswas dormantdormant andand huntinghunting forfor fields.fields. WeWe pulledpulled aa rabbitrabbit outout ofof thethe hathat andand werewere grantedgranted permissionpermission toto playplay here (San Manuel Stadium).”

https://www.sbsun.com/2021/01/12/why-is-san-manuel-stadium-hosting-youth-baseball-games-when-the-state-prohibits-it/?utm_campaign=… 2/9 1/12/2021 Why is San Manuel Stadium hosting youth baseball games when the state prohibits it? – San Bernardino Sun In recent months, club teams of all sports have traveled to states where youth teamsteams areare allowedallowed toto participateparticipate inin tournaments,tournaments, butbut clubclub teamsteams alsoalso havehave scheduled games and tournaments in Southern California, with many finding that thethe statestate restrictionsrestrictions areare notnot beingbeing enforced,enforced, allowingallowing gamesgames andand tournamentstournaments toto go on without interference.

The Future Events Group makes each player sign a waiver to participate and asks thatthat teamsteams adhereadhere toto thethe COVID-19COVID-19 guidelinesguidelines inin theirtheir contract,contract, whichwhich inin partpart reads:

“In addition to strict adherence to State and Local orders regarding COVID-19, Future Events Group, Inc. (“FEG”) and/or Best of the West will monitor evolving CDC guidelines. The precautions below are created specifically for the individuals participating in any events hosted by Future Events Group and the Best of the West Baseball League.

Future Eventsʼ COVID guidelines include “recommending” that participants wear faceface coveringscoverings whenwhen participantsparticipants areare notnot inin playplay and/orand/or onon thethe benchbench andand especially when six-foot distancing is difficult to maintain.

Steve Trombly @tromblybaseball

Game #3 of the West Coast Winter Classic for the @tromblytribe.

@FutureEventsGrp @BaseballCensus

2:36 PM · Jan 11, 2021

17 See Steve Trombly’s other Tweets

https://www.sbsun.com/2021/01/12/why-is-san-manuel-stadium-hosting-youth-baseball-games-when-the-state-prohibits-it/?utm_campaign=… 3/9 1/12/2021 Why is San Manuel Stadium hosting youth baseball games when the state prohibits it? – San Bernardino Sun The COVID guidelines listed on the Future Events site include a long list of precautions to help limit the spread of the coronavirus, but there is no getting around that playing youth sports in California is still prohibited by the CDPH, regardless of the precautions being taken.

But who is stopping them?

San Bernardino County spokesperson David Wert told the Los Angeles Times he was aware that games had been played at San Manuel Stadium despite signs posted around the facility warning that games are a violation of state health restrictions.

But Wert said the county is limited in what it can do. The county canʼt, he said, arrest or cite individuals for playing games at the facility.

“Itʼs not a matter of being a criminal offense,” Wert told the Times. “Itʼs a matter of not following a health order.”

In a story published in the San Bernardino Sun in December onon possiblepossible penaltiespenalties forfor businessesbusinesses thatthat diddid notnot complycomply withwith thethe stateʼsstateʼs publicpublic healthhealth ordersorders toto fightfight thethe spread of the coronavirus, Riverside County Department of Environmental Health spokesperson Brooke Federico explained that the county is focused on education over penalties.

At the time, that approach was directed mainly at restaurants and other businesses that violated state health orders. But it also seems to be applying to youth sports teams that are violating the health orders.

“The County has focused its efforts on educating business owners about the Stateʼs Public Health Orders,” Federico told the newspaper. “Educational outreach aimed at achieving voluntary compliance remains the Countyʼs focus to better prepare businesses as we transition within the Regional Stay-at-Home Order and thethe StateʼsStateʼs tiertier system.”system.”

Inland Empire 66ers general manager Joe Hudson explained that any tournament organizer who signs a contract to use the San Manuel Stadium is expected to adhere to state and local county mandates and guidelines.

“We make the field available for organizers to rent, and itʼs their responsibility to navigate the state and county regulations,” Hudson said. “We feel it is up to the organizer to ensure those regulations are being enforced.”

Not only are there videos of games on social media showing club teams playing baseball games in defiance of state restrictions, but some of the clubs participating are posting their scores and highlights on social media as well. https://www.sbsun.com/2021/01/12/why-is-san-manuel-stadium-hosting-youth-baseball-games-when-the-state-prohibits-it/?utm_campaign=… 4/9 1/12/2021 Why is San Manuel Stadium hosting youth baseball games when the state prohibits it? – San Bernardino Sun There is no effort to hide it. On the Future Events Group website, there are team rosters that include the high school and graduating year for each player.

Future Events Group @FutureEventsGrp

West Coast Winter Classic wraps up day 3 with @SoCal_Dukes on the top of the leader board. Stay tuned for tomorrow’s final day of games at San Manuel Stadium.

Record tie breaker is determined by runs allowed and runs scored if needed.

@BaseballCensus

10:25 PM · Jan 10, 2021 from La Habra, CA

14 See Future Events Group’s other Tweets

https://www.sbsun.com/2021/01/12/why-is-san-manuel-stadium-hosting-youth-baseball-games-when-the-state-prohibits-it/?utm_campaign=… 5/9 1/12/2021 Why is San Manuel Stadium hosting youth baseball games when the state prohibits it? – San Bernardino Sun Well known club teams like the Southern California Dukes areare participating.participating. TheThe Dukes have players on their roster from San Dimas, Gabrielino, Temple City, Pasadena Poly, Pasadena and South Pasadena high schools. There are three sophomores, six juniors and the rest of the roster is made up of seniors.

Baseball Census @BaseballCensus

Ryan Kim 2021 from @_SaintsBaseball and @CBUbaseball commit with an opposite field RBI double for @SoCal_Dukes in the West Coast Winter Classic

6:11 PM · Jan 10, 2021 from San Bernardino, CA

26 See Baseball Census’s other Tweets

Sid Stark, the general manager for the Southern California Dukes, who are based inin TujungaTujunga andand rentrent fieldsfields atat thethe GlendaleGlendale SportsSports ComplexComplex forfor theirtheir training,training, saidsaid he understands that state mandates prohibit youth sports games at this time, but therethere isis stillstill aa strongstrong desiredesire toto play.play.

“Weʼve played out of state and we try to follow the protocols that are in place wherever we go,” Stark said. “But not playing or prohibiting people from playing sports is not something you can stop, to be honest. The whole situation is kind of conflicting with me. But Iʼm trying to help kids and their families get to the next level,level, improveimprove andand dodo whatwhat theythey love.love. II understandunderstand therethere isis aa realreal problemproblem withwith COVID and we do everything we can to limit the risks when we get together.”

Stark said he has not had a COVID-19 outbreak on his team.

https://www.sbsun.com/2021/01/12/why-is-san-manuel-stadium-hosting-youth-baseball-games-when-the-state-prohibits-it/?utm_campaign=… 6/9 1/12/2021 Why is San Manuel Stadium hosting youth baseball games when the state prohibits it? – San Bernardino Sun “None of my players have tested positive, but all of us know the risks involved,” Stark said. “Again, yes, Iʼm kind of conflicted with it. Iʼm 65 years old, itʼs more of a risk to me than the players. But Iʼm as careful as I can be and so are our players, thatʼsthatʼs kindkind ofof howhow II seesee it.”it.”

Other teams that participated in the tournament at San Manuel included the California Armada, whichwhich hashas severalseveral playersplayers fromfrom SanSan GabrielGabriel ValleyValley highhigh schools, including South Hills, Bishop Amat, Damien, Charter Oak and Bonita.

The OrangeOrange CountyCounty DucksDucks clubclub teamteam hashas fourfour playersplayers fromfrom VillaVilla Park,Park, fivefive fromfrom Foothill and two from Orange Lutheran high schools along with many others from Orange County schools. The Ducks roster includes players from sophomore to seniors.

Some club teams that participated in the recent tournament had rosters made up entirely of players from one high school. The Legends Baseball team waswas filledfilled with players from Maranatha High in Pasadena. The Inland Empire Pirates waswas made up entirely of players from Claremont High.

LVR @lvrbaseball

Uncommitted 2023 LHP/OF Seth Lyons @Sethlyonsss hits a ball off the wall in the West Coast Winter Classic played at San Manuel Stadium. This time he ran it out

4:59 PM · Jan 8, 2021

9 See LVR’s other Tweets

https://www.sbsun.com/2021/01/12/why-is-san-manuel-stadium-hosting-youth-baseball-games-when-the-state-prohibits-it/?utm_campaign=… 7/9 1/12/2021 Why is San Manuel Stadium hosting youth baseball games when the state prohibits it? – San Bernardino Sun As Shue explained, everyone involved knows that youth sports games are prohibited, but the risks outweigh the rewards, and the Future Events Group was a willing participant.

“Weʼre a corporate event management company and we decided this summer we were going to do this,” Shue explained. “We understand what the state regulations are. We understand what the risks are. But the kids want to play and we found a stadium for them to play in and we make it as safe as we can.”

Does he worry that state health officials could shut it down?

“We worry about that all the time,” Shue said.

The tournaments have also allowed spectators. Tickets could be purchased on the event website for $12 or at the stadium.

“This tournament was not a cheap one to get into,” Stark said of the team entry fees.fees. “It“It waswas probablyprobably twotwo andand aa halfhalf timestimes thethe costcost ofof normalnormal tournaments.tournaments. Whatever theyʼre charging goes to the tournament organizers, and for the most part, the crowds werenʼt too large. It was kind of sparse actually, and most who watched wore masks during the games.”

Hudson said he will follow up to make sure tournament organizers are following state and county guidelines while they use their venue in the future.

“I need to have further conversations with the organizers we rent the facility to,” Hudson said. “There are some collegiate level and adult baseball that is allowed, but we expect our organizers to be within the guidelines. If theyʼre not, thatʼs what our contract is with them, to follow the state and county guidelines.”

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Tags: High School All Sports,, High School Baseball,, high school news,, Top Stories IVDB,, Top Stories LADN,, Top Stories OCR,, Top Stories PE,, Top Stories PSN,, Top Stories RDF,, Top Stories SGVT,, Top Stories Sun,, Top Stories WDN https://www.sbsun.com/2021/01/12/why-is-san-manuel-stadium-hosting-youth-baseball-games-when-the-state-prohibits-it/?utm_campaign=… 8/9 1/13/2021 Private youth sports games grow in violation of COVID orders - Los Angeles Times

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HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS

Private sports competitions grow across Southland in violation of health orders

https://www.latimes.com/sports/highschool/story/2021-01-12/youth-sports-competitions-grow-in-southland 1/13 1/13/2021 Private youth sports games grow in violation of COVID orders - Los Angeles Times

Aerial view of Winner Circle ﬁeld that’s hosting 11 on 11 football competitions in violation of state health guidelines. (Dylan Stewart)

By ERIC SONDHEIMER | COLUMNIST

JAN. 12, 2021 | 5 AM

On a clear, brisk Saturday morning, after exiting the 71 freeway in Chino Hills and traveling about six miles past a dairy farm and through a series of new housing units, there is a restricted two-lane road that ends up at Mike Raahauge’s shooting range.

“Pop, pop, pop,” are the sounds heard upon opening the car door in a gravel parking lot.

Then comes the strangest of sounds: an official’s whistle, followed by an announcement on a P.A. system across the street.

“And that’s the end of the game.”

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Peering through a mesh fabric-covered chain-link fence, a group of teenage athletes dressed in football uniforms — shoulder pads, helmets and matching jerseys — are doing warmups on a regulation-sized field. Adults are walking toward the entrance outside the fence carrying folding chairs. The parking lot is filling up with cars, and several adults are sitting in the beds of their trucks to watch the action from an elevated position above the fence.

Welcome to the Winner Circle 11-on-11 club football league. Games have been played for two consecutive weekends in January even though state and county public health guidelines say youth sports competitions are prohibited because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Menifee Elite Ath @MenifeeElite

#1 @_NaisirMorrow with 1 of 2 interceptions during game one of the @WCA_Training Champions League. @Tabor_Football @IdahoStateFB @Patriots_FB @Boxer_Football @NAU_Football @ACUFootball @apufootball @CoachJewell @AztecFB #wearemenifeeelite https://www.latimes.com/sports/highschool/story/2021-01-12/youth-sports-competitions-grow-in-southland 3/13 1/13/2021 Private youth sports games grow in violation of COVID orders - Los Angeles Times #wearemenifeeelite

1:31 PM · Jan 11, 2021

13 See Menifee Elite Ath’s other Tweets

When given the location of the upcoming 11-on-11 competition that was to take place on a newly built field across from the gun range, officials for Riverside County and San Bernardino County could not agree on who was responsible for overseeing the area. It’s called “Old Chino,” and it’s an area where Chino, Corona, Eastvale and Norco border each other.

Riverside County spokesman Jose Arballo Jr. said in an email, “Our county counsel has been in contact with representatives with the firm and they have assured county counsel that they are not holding games at locations within Riverside County and that the only activities in Riverside County are those permitted by guidelines, such as practices.”

Then, on Monday, Arballo said in another email, “While the address we received initially is in Eastvale, the area where the games are actually occurring appears to be San Bernardino County.”

https://www.latimes.com/sports/highschool/story/2021-01-12/youth-sports-competitions-grow-in-southland 4/13 1/13/2021 Private youth sports games grow in violation of COVID orders - Los Angeles Times

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Winner Circle founder Jordan Campbell recently told the Daily News, “I’m saving lives. I have letters from parents saying their kids were going to commit suicide, and thanking us for giving their kid a way out of depression.”

San Bernardino County spokesman David Wert is already dealing with baseball games being played on weekends at San Manuel Stadium in San Bernardino in violation of state health guidelines.

He said there have been numerous complaints received about the stadium’s use but all the county can do is post signs telling people that the games are violating state health guidelines. He said the county cannot arrest or fine individuals for violating state health guidelines.

“It’s not a matter of being a criminal offense,” Wert said. “It’s a matter of not following a health order.”

O.C. Ducks @OC_DUCKS

@OC_DUCKS can't wait for this weekends tournament with @FutureEventsGrp out at San Manuel Stadium! Bringing the following OC Ducks out this weekend! https://www.latimes.com/sports/highschool/story/2021-01-12/youth-sports-competitions-grow-in-southland 5/13 1/13/2021 g Private youth sports games grow in violation of COVID orders - Los Angeles Times

8:27 PM · Jan 6, 2021

10 See O.C. Ducks’s other Tweets

Gov. Newsom insists the “vast majority” of businesses are following state guidelines. But in Southern California, there’s a growing number of club and private groups holding or organizing youth sporting events, with parents and others posting videos on social media highlighting the activities.

https://www.latimes.com/sports/highschool/story/2021-01-12/youth-sports-competitions-grow-in-southland 6/13 1/13/2021 Private youth sports games grow in violation of COVID orders - Los Angeles Times

In Garden Grove, there were girls’ basketball pickup games held at a private indoor facility this last weekend. San Manuel Stadium hosted a baseball tournament Friday and Saturday. Winner Circle hosted football games Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Baseball was played on a field in Sylmar.

Matthew Kovach @MattyK31

Ashley Chea 5'6 2023 Flintridge Prep #WeRun

5:15 PM · Jan 10, 2021

1 See Matthew Kovach’s other Tweets

Meanwhile, high schools continue to follow state guidelines, not allowing individuals to use their sports facilities and forcing coaches to follow safety protocols if practices are allowed.

https://www.latimes.com/sports/highschool/story/2021-01-12/youth-sports-competitions-grow-in-southland 7/13 1/13/2021 Private youth sports games grow in violation of COVID orders - Los Angeles Times The state’s youth sports restrictions have led to coaches’ groups and parents to organize protests for Friday afternoon around the state under the hashtag, ‘Lethemplay” despite surging COVID-19 numbers and hospitals facing overcrowded conditions, particularly intensive-care units.

Patrick Walsh, the football coach at San Mateo Serra in Northern California, has tried to bring together coaches and parents with the Facebook page “Golden State HSFB Community.” He believes high schools have proven they can follow protocols to play games safely if state officials allow it.

“The mental health issues are real,” he said. “Our kids are losing hope. We’re not suggesting we should start today or tomorrow but [we] should be afforded an opportunity to start in the spring.”

The CIF Southern Section has scheduled an announcement for Jan. 19, during which they could cancel all fall sports playoffs. Games were scheduled to begin in January after being delayed last July. Once playoffs are canceled, schools would be on their own in trying to catch up with club and private organizations holding games.

“We’re all sitting around waiting for people to guide us,” Walsh said.

https://www.latimes.com/sports/highschool/story/2021-01-12/youth-sports-competitions-grow-in-southland 8/13 1/13/2021 Riverside County elderly, teachers could get coronavirus vaccines next week – Press Enterprise ___

LOCAL NEWS •• News Riverside County elderly, teachers could get coronavirus vaccines next week

Kaiser Permanente nurse Jennifer Stoever, left, and Kathryn Maybee, a housekeeping attendant, are happy after receiving their COVID-19 vaccines at Kaiser’s Riverside hospital Thursday, Dec. 17, 2020. (File photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)

By RYAN HAGEN || [email protected] || TheThe SunSun PUBLISHED: January 12, 2021 at 5:34 p.m. || UPDATED:UPDATED: January 13, 2021 at 8:24 a.m.

https://www.pe.com/2021/01/12/riverside-county-elderly-teachers-could-get-coronavirus-vaccines-next-week/?utm_campaign=socialflow&ut… 1/5 1/13/2021 Riverside County elderly, teachers could get coronavirus vaccines next week – Press Enterprise Riverside County expects to start the next stage of its coronavirus vaccination plan —— whichwhich willwill includeinclude peoplepeople overover 74,74, teachersteachers andand lawlaw enforcementenforcement —— “as“as soon as next week,” Riverside County Department of Public Health Director Kim Saruwatari said Tuesday, Jan. 12.

So far, at least 28,708 people have been vaccinated against COVID-19 inin Riverside County, Saruwatari told the Riverside County Board of Supervisors.

Under the stateʼs distribution plan, which Riverside and San Bernardino counties are using, the next phase — Phase 1b — starts with a tier that includes persons aged 75 and older and frontline essential workers in education, law enforcement, grocery stores, farms and emergency services.

Next in line — Tier 2 of Phase 1b — includes persons 65-74 and frontline essential workers in manufacturing, transportation, facilities and services, as well as incarcerated and homeless people.

San Bernardino County is starting to vaccinate people in Tier 3 of Phase 1A, which includes specialty clinics and dental health clinics, before reaching Phase 1B, spokesman David Wert said Tuesday.

The county has received 75,900 first doses received and administered 38,770 administered, and is on track to vaccinate an additional 26,940 people by the end of this week, Wert said. It has received another 43,625 doses for second doses.

“Moving further will depend on incoming supplies, which are unpredictable,” Wert said.

Riverside Countyʼs number is likely several thousand higher than what can be reported, because health providers have 72 hours to record that theyʼve vaccinated someone, Saruwatari said.

So far, the limiting factor in vaccinating more people has been the availability of the vaccine, she said. The county gets Pfizer and Moderna vaccines from the state based on its population, and has received enough to vaccinate the same portion of its residents as other California counties, she said.

“Once we have enough vaccine in hand to cover those that are in Phase 1a, we will be moving to Phase 1b even if everyone in Phase 1a hasnʼt been vaccinated,” Saruwatari said. “They will still be eligible to be vaccinated.”

The county has had a problem with people showing up to vaccination appointments when they arenʼt yet eligible to receive a vaccine, she said. Those people then have to be sent away without a shot, she said. https://www.pe.com/2021/01/12/riverside-county-elderly-teachers-could-get-coronavirus-vaccines-next-week/?utm_campaign=socialflow&ut… 2/5 1/13/2021 Riverside County elderly, teachers could get coronavirus vaccines next week – Press Enterprise “That leads to frustration by them but also frustration by people who cannot get the appointment that should be able to,” Saruwatari said. “… We just ask for thethe publicpublic toto registerregister whenwhen theythey areare actuallyactually eligibleeligible accordingaccording toto thethe phasephase breakdowns on the website.”

That breakdown can be found at https://www.ruhealth.org/covid-19-vaccine oror https://sbcovid19.com/vaccine/..

However, the time slots arenʼt wasted if someone ineligible comes to an appointment, she said.

“We do have a waiting list, so we vaccinate many more than we have slots for at our vaccination clinics,” Saruwatari said.

During the same update, Bruce Barton, the countyʼs emergency management director, said an “unprecedented hospital surge” continued, with county hospitals at 91% of their licensed capacity and six hospitals in the county at or above 100% of licensed capacity.

Intensive care units are at 133% of capacity, or 161% when looking just at use of adult ICUs, he said.

“Going through the numbers just doesnʼt capture the current environment our healthcare providers are going through,” he said. “It is absolutely remarkable thatthat inin thethe midstmidst ofof thisthis unprecedentedunprecedented surge,surge, theythey areare continuingcontinuing toto bebe resolute in taking care of our residents and visitors and finding new ways to expand capacities and sometimes make decisions that none of us as medical providers or people in the ʻtaking care of peopleʼ business thought weʼd have to do.”

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ORANGE COUNTY CORONAVIRUS More Orange County Seniors Can Now Get Coronavirus Vaccine

JULIE LEOPO, Voice of OC Ruksana Omar, 61, an elderly caretaker in Orange County teared up after getting her rst dose of the coronavirus vaccine. Jan. 8, 2021.

By SPENCER CUSTODIO (HTTPS://VOICEOFOC.ORG/AUTHOR/SCUSTODIO/) 17 hours ago

Orange County seniors 65 years and older can now get coronavirus vaccinations following county public health ocials bumping the vulnerable group up on the priority tiers.

Editor’s Note: As Orange County’s only nonprot & nonpartisan newsroom, Voice of OC brings you the best, most comprehensive local Coronavirus news absolutely free. No ads, no paywalls. We need your help. Please, make a tax-deductible donation today (https://voiceofoc.org/donate-l-g-c/) to support your local news.

County public health ocer and Director of OC Health Care Agency Dr. Clayton Chau said an emergency vaccine task force meeting was held Sunday night.

“Almost all of them signed onto that call Sunday night,” Chau said at the County Supervisors public virus update Tuesday. “We will start to vaccinate seniors of the age of 65 and above in Orange County, adding them to the Tier 1a.”

Healthcare workers and rst responders are also listed in that tier.

e new push for seniors comes after widespread criticism of slow vaccinations, not just in OC, but across the state.

After seeing a slow roll out state public health ocials called local health departments up and down the state, warning them to increase vaccination eorts or risk losing some of their doses.

“e state was in a state of panic,” Chau said.

Chau told Supervisors Orange County received additional doses from other counties “who can not do it quick enough.”

“So we had 170,000 doses allocated to us. We left nothing,” Chau said. “Because we left nothing at the state, the state, this morning, just gave us 6,000 more doses.”

e renewed vaccination eorts also come after concerns from local doctors, dentists, nurses, medical assistance and other health care workers not connected to hospitals.

Hospital workers were the rst to start the two-part vaccination process last month, when OC received the vaccines.

Chau said seniors should contact their primary care physicians to help set up appointments to start the vaccinations.

“We have a pharmacy vendor who is working with us, free of charge,” Chau said.

According to a news release at the end of last year, hundreds of elderly care facilities are slated to get vaccines.

“e program will enable counties to leverage CVS and Walgreens pharmacy sta to administer the vaccine more broadly with pharmacy sta going directly to care facilities. Skilled Nursing Facilities will receive vaccine from sta from CVS and Walgreens. Approximately 72 skilled nursing facilities and 900 residential care facilities for the elderly will be provided vaccine by CVS and Walgreens throughout Orange County,” reads the release.

Chau said county ocials are also looking to set up smaller vaccination sites for the vulnerable population who shouldn’t be around large crowds.

e eorts to vaccinate the seniors come after scores of elderly readers have been raising their concerns about getting their rst doses through emails to Voice of OC.

Meanwhile, medical workers are being vaccinated at three sites across the county, including the Orange County Fire Authority headquarters in Irvine.

Eligible workers — doctors, nurses and medical assistants — have to register (https://covid19.othena.com/patient-registration/agreement) an appointment time beforehand, there’s no walk ups.

e sites are estimated to vaccinate 800 to 1,000 people a day, according to county Health Care Agency ocials in a Tuesday email.

As of Tuesday afternoon, no appointments were available.

“Please check back regularly,” the website stated. https://voiceofoc.org/2021/01/more-orange-county-seniors-can-now-get-coronavirus-vaccine/ 1/2 Disneyland is slated to become the rst of ve vaccination supersites.

Last week, Huntington Beach City Manager Oliver Chi told Voice of OC the other large vaccination sites will be at Knott’s Berry Farm (https://voiceofoc.org/2021/01/orange-county-private-doctors-and-elderly-to-be-vaccinated-against-coronavirus-soon/) , the Orange County Fairgrounds, e Great Park and Soka University.

Chau said “it’s rumored” the federal government is slated to send more vaccines to California.

But at a Tuesday news conference, Secretary of the state Health and Human Services Agency, Dr. Mark Ghaly, didn’t give specics on when more vaccines will hit the state.

Ghaly said they’ll announce the “prospect of getting additional vaccine supplies in the days to come.”

e state has set a goal of 1 million new vaccinations by the end of the week.

Orange County public health ocials have set a goal of herd immunity by the 4th of July — meaning 70%, or over 2.2 million people, will have to be vaccinated by then to meet that goal.

Chau said the ve large vaccination sites need to administer roughly 8,000 doses a day if OC is to meet the July 4 goal.

ere’s still no timeframe on when the large sites will open.

“We will roll it out based on the amount of vaccine we can get into Orange County. So we’re not going to open them all up if the vaccine is not available,” Chau said.

While ocials are vying for more vaccines, the county’s hospitalizations decreased slightly.

As of Tuesday, 2,200 people were hospitalized, including 535 in intensive care units, according to the county Health Care Agency.

“Currently its highest ever number of people in the hospital compared to our summer surge,” Chau said at Tuesday’s Supervisors meeting.

Hospitalization trends look to be stabilizing somewhat this week, after the daily numbers kept shattering records for at least a month straight.

But deaths have been increasing.

e virus has now killed 2,148 people out of 195,685 conrmed cases, including 28 new deaths reported Tuesday.

Newly reported deaths can stretch back for weeks due to reporting delays.

Over the past week, 222 new deaths have been reported.

OC also saw 3,824 new cases reported Tuesday.

e county has been averaging over 3,300 new cases a day for the past week.

State public health ocials estimate roughly 12% of all newly infected people end up hospitalized within three weeks.

at means there could be over 2,700 more people hospitalized in the coming weeks as hospitals are discharging stabilized patients as fast as possible.

e virus has already killed more than three times as many people as the u does on a yearly average.

For context, Orange County has averaged around 20,000 deaths a year since 2016, including 543 annual u deaths, according to state health data

(https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CHSI/CDPH%20Document%20Library/ICS_ORANGE2019.pdf) .

According to the state death statistics, cancer kills over 4,600 people, heart disease kills over 2,800, more than 1,400 die from Alzheimer’s disease and strokes kill over 1,300 people.

Orange County has already surpassed its yearly average 20,000 deaths, with 21,110 people dead as of November, according to the latest available state data

(https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CHSI/CDPH%20Document%20Library/Birth%20and%20Death%20Tables/CA_deaths_total_by_month.pdf) .

It’s a dicult virus for the medical community to tackle because some people don’t show any symptoms, yet can still spread it. Others feel slight symptoms, like fatigue and a mild fever.

Others end up in ICUs for days and weeks before making it out, while other people eventually die from the virus.

Ghaly said early data indicate the long-feared holiday surge isn’t as bad ocials initially thought, but said it’s still too early to tell if cases stemming from the holiday season will create another spike on top of a spike.

“We do still expect there to be a bump up in the middle of the month.”

Here’s the latest on the virus numbers across Orange County from county data: Infections (http://bit.ly/voccovidinfections) | Hospitalizations & Deaths (http://bit.ly/voccovidhospitalizations) | City-by-City Data (http://bit.ly/voccovidcities) | Demographics (http://bit.ly/voccoviddemographics)

Spencer Custodio is a Voice of OC sta reporter. You can reach him at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @SpencerCustodio (http://twitter.com/SpencerCustodio)

https://voiceofoc.org/2021/01/more-orange-county-seniors-can-now-get-coronavirus-vaccine/ 2/2 1/13/2021 Orange County will give COVID-19 vaccine to people 65 and older - Los Angeles Times

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CALIFORNIA

Orange County will give COVID-19 vaccine to people 65 and older

https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2021-01-12/orange-county-will-give-covid-19-vaccine-to-people-65-and-older 1/8 1/13/2021 Orange County will give COVID-19 vaccine to people 65 and older - Los Angeles Times

Syringes containing the Pﬁzer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine at St. Joseph Hospital in Orange, Calif. (ASSOCIATED PRESS)

By COLLEEN SHALBY | STAFF WRITER

JAN. 12, 2021 | 6:13 PM

Orange County officials announced Tuesday that residents 65 and older are now eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine, marking a significant expansion of access to the vaccine in the county.

The decision followed new guidance issued Tuesday from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and came ahead of the official recommendation from the state.

“My aim is to reduce hospitalizations and deaths as rapidly as possible, and we must prioritize our vaccine allocation to protect the most vulnerable in our community, ” said health officer Dr. Clayton Chau in a statement.

https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2021-01-12/orange-county-will-give-covid-19-vaccine-to-people-65-and-older 2/8 1/13/2021 Orange County will give COVID-19 vaccine to people 65 and older - Los Angeles Times In an urgent meeting Tuesday night, the state’s vaccine advisory committee weighed whether to adopt the CDC’s updated guidance, which also prioritizes individuals with underlying health conditions.

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The developments are the latest signs of increased vaccine availability. On Thursday , California instructed counties to open the first phase of vaccine eligibility to a wider pool of workers in the healthcare industry, including public health field staff, primary care clinics, specialty clinics, laboratory workers, dental clinics and pharmacy staff.

The county also on Tuesday advised residents not to visit the newly opened vaccine site at Disneyland Resort without an appointment.

“The county’s three existing POD [point of distribution] sites were overwhelmed by individuals without appointments today, effectively shutting down the vaccination sites. It is critical for people to understand that appointment slots are available based on vaccine availability. Showing up without an appointment stresses the system and depletes scarce resources,” the healthcare agency said in a statement.

CALIFORNIA ORANGE COUNTY COVID-19 VACCINES

https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2021-01-12/orange-county-will-give-covid-19-vaccine-to-people-65-and-older 3/8 We have been your lifeline during the pandemic, economic fallout, wildres, protests and the election. Support us today with a tax-deductible donation.

ORANGE COUNTY CORONAVIRUS Will You Take the Covid Vaccine? Orange County is Hiring a PR Firm to Reassure Public

JULIE LEOPO, Voice of OC A worker prepares to vaccinate someone with the coronavirus vaccine at Orange County Fire Authority headquarters in Irvine on Friday, Jan. 8, 2021.

By NICK GERDA (HTTPS://VOICEOFOC.ORG/AUTHOR/NGERDA/) h (HTTPS://TWITTER.COM/NICHOLASGERDA) January 12, 2021

Will you take the coronavirus vaccine or not?

It’s a decision millions of Orange County residents are expected to face in the coming months after vaccines become more widely available.

In an eort to boost public trust, ocials at the County of Orange have been quietly moving to hire a public relations rm to help run an ad campaign promoting vaccines as safe and eective.

ose plans have been largely out of public view so far. County supervisors and top county executives interviewed PR rms last week and chose one, a supervisor said in an interview, though it’s unclear if the contract will be brought for a public discussion and vote by supervisors.

Most of the top county ocials involved in the decision-making, including Supervisor Andrew Do, CEO Frank Kim, and Health Care Agency Director Dr. Clayton Chau, didn’t respond to questions about it Monday.

But Supervisor Doug Chaee, who helped recommend the proposed vendor, did open up about it. He said a rm has been chosen for the work: Idea Hall, which runs PR for the county’s upcoming mental health campus, Be Well OC.

“We have hired Idea Hall to give us some PR help” with public outreach on the vaccine, after interviewing multiple rms last week, Chaee told Voice of OC on Monday.

e goal is to let the public know the vaccine is “safe and works well,” and to reach communities that are more hesitant to take it, Chaee said. “Everything I know [about the vaccines], it’s safe and highly eective.”

“We have time in all this because getting [the quantity of] vaccine we need is some time o in the future,” he added. “We’re not having problems of people rejecting it at this point, [because] there’s not enough vaccines to go around.”

e proposed contract should “absolutely” be on the supervisors’ public agenda for constituents to see it and weigh in on it, says a representative of one the largest taxpayer advocacy groups in California.

“ere should be transparency. And once again, this is not something they didn’t know was going to happen,” said Susan Shelley, vice president of the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association, which is suing the state over a $35 million public outreach contract issued during the pandemic (https://www.hjta.org/press-releases/pr- hjta-sues-secretary-of-state-over-35-million-contract/) .

“I don’t know that they adequately explained why the people on sta were not able to do this,” added Shelley, pointing to the county’s existing sta for public outreach.

“ey should have been going through requests for proposals and going through as much of the transparency process as possible.”

Chaee said he wasn’t sure if the contract would be on the supervisors’ public agenda, or approved by sta under emergency authorities, but that it’s his preference for it to be on the public agenda.

“We did interview other rms and they did presentations last week. And we selected one. I think the contract hasn’t been nished yet, but it will be soon,” Chaee said.

“So I can’t tell you the details of whether we consider it within sta authority or if it has to come to the board.”

Carolyn Cavecche, who leads one of Orange County’s largest taxpayer advocacy groups, is urging county ocials to be transparent about how they’re paying for the outreach and answer why existing sta can’t handle it.

“If the County of Orange is going to go forward with this, they need to be very clear to the taxpayers of Orange County where the money is coming from,” said Cavecche, president and CEO of the OC Taxpayers Association, in a statement Monday to Voice of OC.

“My understanding is there is no money left from the CARES [Act] from the feds. And yes it could be backlled in the future, but more importantly: What programs and projects are they going to be taking money from to cover this contract?” she asked.

“And why can’t the county itself, and the Board of Supervisors – why can’t their outreach sta handle it?”

e contract’s expected cost was not disclosed. Voice of OC reached out to Idea Hall for comment on Monday but didn’t hear back. https://voiceofoc.org/2021/01/will-you-take-the-covid-vaccine-orange-county-is-hiring-a-pr-firm-to-reassure-public/ 1/2 Meanwhile, the county is planning to ramp up vaccination eorts and add new locations amid a slower than expected start, and pressure from state health ocials.

In the coming days, county ocials plan to announce larger-scale vaccination centers, including at Disneyland.

“We have trained our EMTs and paramedics because nursing sta and hospitals can’t get out to do the job” amid the ongoing surge in hospital patients, Chaee said. e county will be opening a vaccine center – known as a “POD” for “point of dispensing” – at Disneyland later this week, he said.

Nick Gerda covers county government for Voice of OC. You can contact him at [email protected] (mailto:[email protected]) .

https://voiceofoc.org/2021/01/will-you-take-the-covid-vaccine-orange-county-is-hiring-a-pr-firm-to-reassure-public/ 2/2 1/13/2021 As LA County loses another 288 lives, push is on to amp up vaccine rollout – Daily Bulletin

NEWS •• News As LA County loses another 288 lives, push is on to amp up vaccine rollout Los Angeles County residents 65 and older and people with severe health conditions could soon be able to get a coronavirus vaccine, state Health and Human Services Secretary Dr. Mark Ghaly said Tuesday, Jan. 12

InIn thisthis Jan.Jan. 5,5, 20212021 filefile photophoto aa LifeLineLifeLine AmbulanceAmbulance arrivesarrives atat thethe CHACHA HollywoodHollywood Presbyterian Medical Center (CHA HPMC) in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes, File)

By RYAN CARTER || [email protected] || DailyDaily NewsNews PUBLISHED: January 12, 2021 at 5:44 p.m. || UPDATED:UPDATED: January 13, 2021 at 8:00 a.m.

https://www.dailybulletin.com/2021/01/12/as-morgues-fill-a-nearly-year-old-coronavirus-claims-another-288-la-county-lives-outbreaks-contin… 1/5 1/13/2021 As LA County loses another 288 lives, push is on to amp up vaccine rollout – Daily Bulletin Los Angeles County residents 65 and older and people with severe health conditions could soon be able to get a coronavirus vaccine, state Health and Human Services Secretary Dr. Mark Ghaly said Tuesday, Jan. 12, in response to a push from federal officials to pump up the volume and speed of inoculations.

The news arrived as the county reported another 288 lives lost to coronavirus. As overtaxed local medical teams scrambled to keep pace with record COVID-19 caseloads and dwindling intensive-care units, hospitalizations remained relatively stable, hovering over 7,900, with 1,725 people in intensive-care units.

The county posted 11,994 new cases of COVID-19, for a total of 944,319 positive cases and 12,674 deaths since the pandemic began. The hospitalizations represent an 884% increase since early November, county Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer said this week, while deaths have increased by 1,125% and confirmed infectionsinfections havehave growngrown byby 898%. 898%. OverOver thethe lastlast sevenseven days,days, 1,6061,606 peoplepeople died,died, anan average of nearly 230 deaths per day.

InIn responseresponse toto thethe worseningworsening outbreak,outbreak, anan amped-upamped-up vaccinationvaccination strategystrategy couldcould bebe implementedimplemented withinwithin 2424 hours,hours, GhalyGhaly said.said. TheThe state’sstate’s vaccinevaccine advisoryadvisory committeecommittee and a prioritization guidelines workgroup are already reviewing the suggested guidelines.

“Those communications have already begun and will go throughout the day so we can evaluate the new federal guidance, determine how it’s going to impact what we do here in California and — with haste without delay — getting that updated guidance out,” Ghaly said. “(I) expect that will come in the next 24 hours or so, so we can let all Californians benefit.”

InIn responseresponse toto thethe complaintscomplaints aboutabout thethe slower-than-plannedslower-than-planned vaccinevaccine rollout,rollout, somesome Southern California areas are already moving ahead with a wider availability. Long Beach health officials announced Tuesday they will begin offering vaccines to residents 75 and older beginning Saturday, with clinics held weekly for people in that age group. Orange County officials announced that they will immediately begin offering vaccines to people 65 and over.

Gov. Gavin Newsom said Monday the state has only administered about one-third of the nearly 2.5 million vaccine doses it has received so far. And Ferrer said Monday it would likely take until the end of January to finish vaccinating all health care workers listed in Phase 1A of the priority list.

https://www.dailybulletin.com/2021/01/12/as-morgues-fill-a-nearly-year-old-coronavirus-claims-another-288-la-county-lives-outbreaks-contin… 2/5 1/13/2021 As LA County loses another 288 lives, push is on to amp up vaccine rollout – Daily Bulletin Despite reports about some people being hesitant to get vaccinated, others are pushing to get the shots faster. On Monday, leaders of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union locals representing workers at the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach sent a letter to county health officials and the governor, asking that they become eligible for vaccines at the beginning of Phase 1B. Pasadena’s City Council on Monday flirted with filing an appeal to the state to simplify the process.

Southern California’s infrastructure to deliver vaccines will grow in the days ahead. Dodger Stadium will open later this week as a drive-thru vaccination facility, as will a Disneyland parking area. Petco Park in San Diego is also home to a vaccination clinic.

The daily county report did not include the latest numbers for Long Beach and Pasadena, which operate their own health departments. Pasadena reported 195 new cases for a total of 8,708; eight new fatalities increased the city’s death toll to 184. Long Beach reported 24 new deaths, bringing the city’s total to 482; 2,521 new cases raised the city’s total to 41,079.

Continuing to trouble the region’s public health officials, meanwhile, are outbreaks of three or more cases at local businesses.

Familiar names are filling the county’s list of companies with outbreaks:

A 3M facility in Monrovia (18 infected); The 99 Cents Only store warehouse and corporate office in Commerce (113 infected);infected); An Abbot Laboratories facility in Sylmar (30); Alexander’s Prime Meats in San Gabriel (15); and The Alhambra Fire Department’s Station No. 1 (5).

InIn recentrecent businessbusiness compliancecompliance checks,checks, inspectorsinspectors foundfound thethe majoritymajority ofof businessesbusinesses visited were in compliance with public health order protocols, officials said.

But some were not adhering to capacity limits, physical distancing and mask wearing and had not posted required protocol checklists.

Between Jan. 3 through Jan. 11, 83 citations were issued to businesses. They includedincluded restaurants,restaurants, gyms,gyms, personalpersonal carecare salons,salons, hairhair salons/barbershops,salons/barbershops, placesplaces ofof worship, and shopping malls, officials said Tuesday. And since the end of August, 613 citations have been issued.

Ferrer again urged residents to abide by state and county health orders by staying home when possible, avoiding large gatherings and wearing masks in public.

https://www.dailybulletin.com/2021/01/12/as-morgues-fill-a-nearly-year-old-coronavirus-claims-another-288-la-county-lives-outbreaks-contin… 3/5 1/13/2021 As LA County loses another 288 lives, push is on to amp up vaccine rollout – Daily Bulletin “Like many residents, I am cheering for the Rams in the playoffs and grateful to be able to watch basketball games again, but we cannot make the same mistakes we did lastlast year,”year,” FerrerFerrer saidsaid Tuesday.Tuesday. “There“There werewere farfar tootoo manymany gatherings,gatherings, viewingviewing parties,parties, and celebrations with others that contributed to increased cases; the outcome will be disastrous to our healthcare system if we don’t follow the rules.”

City News Service contributed to this report.

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Ryan Carter | Reporter Ryan Carter, a reporter and editor, is part of team covering COVID-19 in L.A. County and lead election and politics coverage in L.A. County.Ryan started his career writing obituaries at the Glendale News-Press, before working as assistant city editor for Times Community News (Division of the L.A. Times) and city editorfor the Glendale News-Press, San Bernardino Sun and L.A. Daily News. Ryan earned a BA degree in Political Science from UCLA and is working toward his Master's of Legal Studies at UCLA.

https://www.dailybulletin.com/2021/01/12/as-morgues-fill-a-nearly-year-old-coronavirus-claims-another-288-la-county-lives-outbreaks-contin… 4/5 1/12/2021 How Sacramento CA will distribute COVID vaccines equitably | The Sacramento Bee

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EQUITY LAB With COVID-19 vaccines here, race begins to protect Sacramento’s most vulnerable

BY ALEXANDRA YOON-HENDRICKS JANUARY 07, 2021 05:00 AM, UPDATED JANUARY 08, 2021 11:23 AM    



Residents are tested for COVID-19 on Thursday, Sept. 17, 2020, at the Robertson Community Center, which offers walk-up service from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Thursdays. North Sacramento has the highest number of coronavirus cases per capita in the county. BY ALIE SKOWRONSKI 

Listen to this article now 08:36 Powered by Trinity Audio

https://www.sacbee.com/news/equity-lab/article248209560.html 1/8 1/12/2021 How Sacramento CA will distribute COVID vaccines equitably | The Sacramento Bee In many ways, devastating disparities have defined the coronavirus pandemic.

Latino, Black and Pacific Islander residents have been disproportionately killed by the virus in California. Black and Latino workers have lost their jobs at higher rates during the pandemic. Those who remained employed were more likely to be working the kind of jobs, considered essential, that are often low-paying and put workers at greater risk of exposure.

In Sacramento, the outbreaks have been stark — ZIP code by ZIP code, low-income neighborhoods and communities of color have seen explosive COVID-19 rates that have remained steady through the last 10 months of the pandemic.

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https://www.sbsun.com/2021/01/12/california-lags-far-behind-other-states-in-covid-19-vaccination-rates/?utm_campaign=socialflow&utm_so… 6/8 1/13/2021 Johnson & Johnson Expects Covid Vaccine Results Soon but Lags in Production - The New York Times

https://nyti.ms/3i8yWfw

Johnson & Johnson Expects Vaccine Results Soon but Lags in Production The U.S. needs J.&J.ʼs one-shot vaccine more than ever. But the company is behind on manufacturing promises made in its Operation Warp Speed contract.

By Carl Zimmer, Sharon LaFraniere and Noah Weiland

Jan. 13, 2021, 5:00 a.m. ET

Johnson & Johnson expects to release critical results from its Covid-19 vaccine trial in as little as two weeks — a potential boon in the effort to protect Americans from the coronavirus — but most likely won’t be able to provide as many doses this spring as it promised the federal government because of unanticipated manufacturing delays.

If the vaccine can strongly protect people against Covid-19, as some outside scientists expect, it would offer big advantages over the two vaccines authorized in the United States. Unlike those products, which require two doses, Johnson & Johnson’s could need just one, greatly simplifying logistics for local health departments and clinics struggling to get shots in arms. What’s more, its vaccine can stay stable in a refrigerator for months, whereas the others have to be frozen.

But the encouraging prospect of a third effective vaccine is tempered by apparent lags in the company’s production. In the company’s $1 billion contract signed with the federal government in August, Johnson & Johnson pledged to have 12 million doses of its vaccine ready by the end of February, ramping up to a total of 100 million doses by the end of June.

Federal ofﬁcials have been told that the company has fallen as much as two months behind the original production schedule and won’t catch up until the end of April, when it was supposed to have delivered more than 60 million doses, according to two people familiar with the situation who were not authorized to discuss it publicly. Carlo de Notaristefani, lead manufacturing adviser for Operation Warp Speed, the federal vaccine development program, acknowledged a delay, but said the company might be able to catch up with initial production goals by March.

“I agree there was a problem,” Dr. de Notaristefani said. But he added, “Manufacturing of pharmaceuticals is not a black box where you turn the key and start counting.”

Any delay could be critical because the federal government has secured only enough vaccine doses to inoculate 200 million of the roughly 260 million eligible adults in the ﬁrst half of this year. With the nation in the grip of its largest surge of the coronavirus to date and the death toll escalating to as high as 4,000 a day, Americans desperate to be vaccinated are lining the sidewalks outside vaccination centers.

Fears about the virus have only escalated with the scientiﬁc discovery last month that the country has been seeded with a new, highly contagious variant. On Tuesday, the Trump administration announced it would no longer hold back vaccine stocks for second doses in order to get more people at least partly vaccinated more quickly.

Dr. Paul Stoffels, Johnson & Johnson’s chief scientiﬁc ofﬁcer, said he expected to see clinical trial data showing whether his company’s vaccine is safe and effective in late January or early February. But he declined to provide details about the company’s production capacity.

“We are not ready to release the numbers month by month at the moment, as we are in the discussion with the F.D.A.,” he said.

If the data is positive and the Food and Drug Administration authorizes the vaccine for emergency use, he added, “hopefully somewhere in March we’ll be able to contribute” to the nation’s vaccination drive.

That Johnson & Johnson’s timetable has slipped is not unusual given the frantic pace of vaccine development amid the worst pandemic in a century. But the delay also highlights the unrealistic promises of Operation Warp Speed.

The premise of the program was that the federal government would front the costs of development and manufacturing so that vaccine makers could mass-produce doses even before the vaccines were proved to work. Moncef Slaoui, chief scientiﬁc adviser for Warp Speed, said in December that Johnson & Johnson’s vaccine would be a “game changer” in the pandemic.

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/01/13/health/covid-vaccine-johnson-johnson.html?action=click&module=Top Stories&pgtype=Homepage 1/4 1/13/2021 Johnson & Johnson Expects Covid Vaccine Results Soon but Lags in Production - The New York Times

Dr. Paul Stoffels, Johnson & Johnson’s chief scientiﬁc ofﬁcer, during a White House meeting of the coronavirus task force in September. Andrew Harnik/Associated Press

But at a Tuesday news conference, Dr. Slaoui said that instead of 12 million doses envisioned in the contract by the end of February, the company was likely to have in the “single-digit” millions. He also said the company was “trying to make that number get as close to a double-digit number as possible, and then a larger number in March and a much larger number in April.” Another person familiar with the company’s progress said it was poised to deliver only perhaps three million or four million doses of its vaccine by the end of next month.

In a statement, a Johnson & Johnson spokesman said, “We are conﬁdent we can meet our contractual obligations to supply our vaccine candidate to the U.S. government.”

Dr. de Notaristefani, Operation Warp Speed’s manufacturing chief, said the government’s contracts with vaccine makers were written at a time of great uncertainty, with the understanding that unforeseen obstacles could throw off the timetables. “Numbers are never cast in stone when you start a new process,” he said, adding that the company had to transfer its manufacturing from the Netherlands to a plant in Baltimore. “I really think that technically they couldn’t do it earlier.”

Dr. Marcus Plescia, the chief medical officer for the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials, said that state health officials were clearly excited about Johnson & Johnson’s one-dose vaccine.

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“You can get it and you’re done,” he said. “Everybody is eager to have it out there. It has a lot of potential.”

But even if Johnson & Johnson’s vaccine pans out, Dr. Plescia said, it won’t be enough. He predicted that state health departments would need a total of four vaccines in the next six months if they hope to reach their goals of offering a vaccine to every American who wants one.

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/01/13/health/covid-vaccine-johnson-johnson.html?action=click&module=Top Stories&pgtype=Homepage 2/4 1/13/2021 Johnson & Johnson Expects Covid Vaccine Results Soon but Lags in Production - The New York Times “Or else the public is going to get very frustrated, because they’re ready for it to be opened up and there isn’t adequate supply to do that,” Dr. Plescia said.

Johnson & Johnson is by no means alone in its manufacturing delays. Dr. Albert Bourla, Pﬁzer’s chief executive, told investors last fall that his company had agreed to deliver 40 million doses of its vaccine to the federal government in 2020, assuming it proved successful in clinical trials. In the end, the company had only half that many ready to ship.

No one — including company executives — knows whether Johnson & Johnson’s vaccine will work. But Lynda Coughlin, a virologist at the University of Maryland School of Medicine who is not involved in the trial, said that the design of the vaccine and the results from early trials made her optimistic.

“Hopefully the results from Johnson & Johnson are just really going to knock it out of the park,” she said.

Johnson & Johnson’s Covid vaccine is fundamentally different from the authorized vaccines from Moderna and Pﬁzer-BioNTech. Those two consist of genetic molecules encased in oily bubbles. Johnson & Johnson built its vaccine from a virus that causes common colds, known as an adenovirus.

Testing the vaccine on monkeys, the researchers found that a single shot was enough to protect the animals from infection. When they tried out different formulations of the vaccine in early clinical trials, they were pleased to see that the vaccine prompted a strong antibody response with a single dose.

As results of the early clinical trials emerged over the summer, the company had to make a high-stakes decision: proceed with a clinical trial of two doses, which had the most likelihood of success, or try one with a single dose, which would be far more useful for getting shots to the masses — if it worked. The company decided to roll the dice with a single-shot trial.

“We know from vaccination campaigns that the simpler the logistics, the more successful the program,” said Dr. Dan Barouch, a virologist at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center who pioneered adenovirus vaccines in the early 2000s and collaborated with Johnson & Johnson researchers on the trial.

If many people began developing immunity from a single-shot dose, it might become harder for the virus to move from person to person, bringing down the high rates of new cases and easing the burden of the pandemic.

“A vaccine that is one dose would have a tremendous, tremendous public health impact, of course for low-income countries, but also in high-income countries,” said Ruth Faden, a professor of biomedical ethics at Johns Hopkins University.

While other vaccine developers moved quickly into late-stage trials, Johnson & Johnson deliberately moved more slowly so it could focus on ramping up manufacturing of its vaccine. At a facility in the Netherlands, researchers grew cells in which their adenoviruses could multiply. Adjusting the chemistry in giant vats, the scientists found a recipe for producing the vaccine at a fast, reliable rate.

Johnson & Johnson also began working early with other companies to prepare to manufacture the vaccine across the world. In April, it announced a partnership with the Maryland-based Emergent BioSolutions to manufacture the vaccine for the United States. Researchers from Johnson & Johnson began visiting Emergent BioSolutions starting that month to help it prepare for producing the adenoviruses.

“It was much more than a paper exercise: ʻHere’s the recipe, follow this,’” said Remo Colarusso, vice president at Janssen Supply Chain. “This is complex manufacturing.”

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/01/13/health/covid-vaccine-johnson-johnson.html?action=click&module=Top Stories&pgtype=Homepage 3/4 1/13/2021 Johnson & Johnson Expects Covid Vaccine Results Soon but Lags in Production - The New York Times

A Phase 3 trial location of Johnson & Johnson’s vaccine candidate in National City, Calif., in October. Mike Blake/Reuters

By the fall, Emergent BioSolutions was growing cells that were spewing out new adenoviruses. When Johnson & Johnson announced the start of its ﬁnal Phase 3 trial, executives began making aggressive projections. “We are now committed to make more than one billion doses during 2021, and more after that,” Dr. Stoffels said at a September news conference.

The company then secured more deals to provide the vaccine to countries around the world. In 2021, Johnson & Johnson has promised to supply 200 million doses to Covax, an international partnership seeking to distribute coronavirus vaccines to nations that would not otherwise be able to afford them. It will supply another 300 million to Covax in 2022.

Soon after Johnson & Johnson started its trial, cases surged around the world. All the Phase 3 clinical trials of Covid vaccines accelerated because trials end only after a specified number of volunteers — from both the placebo and vaccinated groups — get sick. In November, the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccine trials both delivered impressive results, with efficacy rates around 95 percent.

The F.D.A. authorized both vaccines for the United States, and other countries soon followed suit. But these two vaccines had some major shortcomings that soon became impossible to ignore. Both vaccines have to be kept in a deep freeze to prevent them from degrading. Once they reach a hospital or clinic, they have to be used before they spoil. In New York City and elsewhere, unused vaccines have ended up in the trash.

Once data collection is complete at the end of January or early February, an advisory board will review the data and report its analysis on safety and efﬁcacy to Johnson & Johnson. F.D.A. regulators are already evaluating manufacturing data weeks ahead of when Johnson & Johnson is expected to apply for emergency authorization. Hiccups as small as mold in part of a facility could spur further delays.

Katie Thomas contributed reporting.

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/01/13/health/covid-vaccine-johnson-johnson.html?action=click&module=Top Stories&pgtype=Homepage 4/4 1/13/2021 Splash Kingdom permit revoked; building and slide deemed unsafe – Redlands Daily Facts

LOCAL NEWS •• News Splash Kingdom permit revoked; building and slide deemed unsafe

All is quiet at Splash Kingdom in Redlands, with the exception of a couple homeless people, on Monday, October 12, 2020. Two years ago the commission revoked the waterpark’s permit over violations, but the city council restored it in 2019. (Photo by Cindy Yamanaka, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)

By JENNIFER IYER || [email protected]@scng.com || RedlandsRedlands DailyDaily FactsFacts PUBLISHED: January 12, 2021 at 5:21 p.m. || UPDATED:UPDATED: January 13, 2021 at 8:38 a.m.

Redlands has once again revoked the permit to operate Splash Kingdom after multiple fires left “unsafe” conditions that had not been addressed according to the city’s fire marshal.

https://www.redlandsdailyfacts.com/2021/01/12/splash-kingdom-permit-revoked-building-and-slide-deemed-unsafe/ 1/7 1/13/2021 Splash Kingdom permit revoked; building and slide deemed unsafe – Redlands Daily Facts The Planning Commission on Tuesday, Jan. 12, held a public hearing to consider revoking the conditional use permit following little progress and years of noncompliance on landscaping, parking lot and permitting issues,, andand twotwo majormajor firesfires inin 2020.2020.

A fire in May caused $750,000 in damage toto thethe mainmain building,building, andand aa firefire inin OctoberOctober damaged the towering waterslide.. BothBoth structuresstructures areare “unsafe”“unsafe” FireFire MarshalMarshal ChrisChris Jensen told the commission, but, he said, operators had been in the process of cleaning up.

“I thought we were on the right track,” Jensen said. “However in recent weeks the applicants have not complied with the notices.”

A fire burned a portion of the large water slide at Splash Kingdom Waterpark (formerly known as Pharaoh’s Lo Friday morning, Oct. 16, 2020. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

Weekly progress reports have not been submitted, he explained.

“I reached out to the applicant, they acknowledged that,” he said. On Monday, Jan. 11, he said he was advised to speak to their attorney.

Neither representatives of the operators nor the owners tuned in to the meeting held by conference call due to coronavirus precautions.precautions.

Operators of the facility were not immediately available by phone.

“Were they taking this seriously?” Commissioner Matthew Endsley asked. https://www.redlandsdailyfacts.com/2021/01/12/splash-kingdom-permit-revoked-building-and-slide-deemed-unsafe/ 2/7 1/13/2021 Splash Kingdom permit revoked; building and slide deemed unsafe – Redlands Daily Facts Jensen said after two inspections in December, he thought they were.

“They understood the potential legal ramifications if somebody were to be injured or their life taken during a fire incident in the facility,” he said.

Jensen noted he had not yet fined the property’s owners for the violations, as he was awaiting the outcome of Tuesday’s meeting.

At an Oct. 13, 2020 meeting commissionerscommissioners agreedagreed toto beginbegin proceedingsproceedings toto revokerevoke the waterpark’s permit. Operators told commissioners then that the COVID-19 pandemic hashas beenbeen devastatingdevastating forfor business,business, keepingkeeping thethe facilityfacility closed,closed, whichwhich hashas ledled toto extensiveextensive vandalismvandalism andand thethe fires.fires.

Fire caused a reported $750,000 damage to Splash Kingdom in Redlands early May 2, 2020. (Courtesy of Red Department)

Operator Dan Martinez said at that point there were plans to prioritize cleanup, safety and security. Three days after that a fire melted parts of the waterslide

That fire was “a criminal act,” and is still under investigation, Jensen said Tuesday.

Commissioner Steven Frasher said the slide fire looks like it opened up a lot of potential safety issues. https://www.redlandsdailyfacts.com/2021/01/12/splash-kingdom-permit-revoked-building-and-slide-deemed-unsafe/ 3/7 1/13/2021 Splash Kingdom permit revoked; building and slide deemed unsafe – Redlands Daily Facts “For example, the tops of the slides melted away, leaving a gap from the tower,” Frasher said. “Has that structure been secured for safety purposes?”

Jensen said the risks had been pointed out to the applicants.

Demolition phase of the new construction at Splash Kingdom in Redlands, on Sunday, January 21, 2018. (Fran Perez/Correspondent)

“They were going to take some immediate action to remediate that and secure that structure,” he said. “To date, that has not been completed.”

Commissioner Karah Shaw asked if the structures are a “health and safety risk” how the city would go about removing the hazards.

Jensen said city code enforcement, fire and building inspectors, and legal council would need to take action “to secure it and demolish it.”

While inspecting the main building, Jensen said, he instructed all participants to not enter certain areas “due to the potential for imminent collapse, based on the structural elements that I saw.”

https://www.redlandsdailyfacts.com/2021/01/12/splash-kingdom-permit-revoked-building-and-slide-deemed-unsafe/ 4/7 1/13/2021 Splash Kingdom permit revoked; building and slide deemed unsafe – Redlands Daily Facts

Lightning strikes east of Pharaoh’s Lost Kingdom in Redlands in 2004. (File photo)

He said he asked the applicants to provide him with a structural engineering analysis of the building, but has not yet received such a report.

Leaking pool chemicals also pose an imminent threat to health, Jensen said, although he noted operators had done some work to remedy the situation.

The facility opened in 1996 as Pharaoh’s Lost Kingdom and has had its permit revoked twice before: once in 2009,, whenwhen unauthorizedunauthorized raverave dancedance eventsevents ledled toto traffic, parking and noise problems; and in 2018 for the same issues that are still out of compliance today..

Both times the park had its permit restored..

https://www.redlandsdailyfacts.com/2021/01/12/splash-kingdom-permit-revoked-building-and-slide-deemed-unsafe/ 5/7 1/13/2021 Splash Kingdom permit revoked; building and slide deemed unsafe – Redlands Daily Facts InIn 2018,2018, thethe commissioncommission revokedrevoked thethe waterpark’swaterpark’s permitpermit toto operate,operate, noting brown landscapinglandscaping andand unapprovedunapproved parkingparking lotlot stripingstriping thatthat areare stillstill outout ofof compliance,compliance, andand changes, such as removal of the mini-golf course and bumper boats, and demolition of the sphinx façade,, donedone withoutwithout citycity approval.approval. TheThe CityCity CouncilCouncil restored the permit three months later,, afterafter operatorsoperators outlinedoutlined howhow theythey wouldwould addressaddress thethe issues.issues.

Operators had made some interim improvements in consultation with the city, and the waterpark opened for the 2019 season.. ThenThen aa restaurant opened inin thethe mainmain building and an indoorindoor trampolinetrampoline parkpark waswas closed.closed. TheThe restaurantrestaurant ceasedceased operations in March due to state-mandated COVID-19 closures.

San Bernardino County’s Public Health Department suspended the permit of the facility’sfacility’s mainmain kitchenkitchen afterafter thethe MayMay fire.fire.

Owners have 10 days to appeal the decision to the Redlands City Council. The permit would be revoked at the end of those 10 days if they don’t appeal — or if the council backs the move.

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Jennifer Iyer | Reporter Jennifer Iyer graduated cum laude from UC Riverside in 2000 with a bachelor’s in creative writing and started working at The Press- Enterprise newspaper that year. After stints as night metro editor, assistant features editor, videographer, community reporter and other roles, she transferred to sister paper the Redlands Daily Facts in March 2018. Jennifer has covered wildres, war games, courtrooms and blimp rides, been sprayed with re retardant, and covered in bees (in a protective suit). She has interviewedinterviewed celebritiescelebrities onon thethe redred carpetcarpet atat thethe PalmPalm SpringsSprings FilmFilm FestivalFestival andand homeless people in the rain. A nature enthusiast, Jennifer sold some of her nature photography prints to raise money for local nature centers and collaborated with https://www.redlandsdailyfacts.com/2021/01/12/splash-kingdom-permit-revoked-building-and-slide-deemed-unsafe/ 6/7 Council to hear about problems and perks of Airbnbs | Hi-Desert Star

   

Yucca Valley Town Hall.

Council to hear about problems and perks of Airbnbs

Jan 12, 2021 3:35 PM

Story and photos by Jenna Hunt Hi-Desert Star

YUCCA VALLEY — The Town Council asks the public to voice their views on short-term vacation rentals at a meeting next week.

The council will hear a staff report on vacation rentals and take public comment during a meeting at 6 p.m. Jan. 19 in the community center’s Yucca Room, according to Town Clerk Lesley Copeland.

https://hidesertstar.com/news/178627/council-to-hear-about-problems-and-perks-of-airbnbs/[1/13/2021 9:10:42 AM] Council to hear about problems and perks of Airbnbs | Hi-Desert Star

Since the town approved its rules for vacation rentals in December 2017, 236 property owners have applied for permits to run short-term vacation rentals. The town has gotten 60 complaints about short-term rentals, and 64% of all known rental owners comply with town rules, Deputy Town Manager Shane Stueckle said in October.

“We’ve been slowly getting caught up,” Stueckle said.

At least eight operating vacation rentals have significant enforcement cases for refusing to file applications with the town and court action may be necessary, according to Stueckle.

Public comments at an Oct. 27 planning commission meeting included more than 17 written comments and six people who voiced their views at the meeting.

Jackson Church, a Yucca Valley man who owns an online booking platform for local rentals, advocated for responsible Airbnb hosts.

“I am for vacation rentals,” Church said. “It’s not a black and white issue. It is a gray issue.”

Church said he believes education for guests is the best way.

“I do think there is a middle ground and it starts with education,” he said.

Other residents said they feel like they’re living next to hotels with reckless guests.

Yucca Valley resident Sondra Hamelin said the people using the vacation rental near her home are dangerous, especially with fire pits on windy days.

“I don’t want to lose my house to a fire,” Hamelin said. “It’s a neighborhood, not a hotel!”

Mike Redmond, a Yucca Valley resident, was among the more than 200 people who signed a petition to enforce stronger regulations on local rentals.

Redmond said living next to a rental is like living next to a hotel.

In Dwell Magazine, writer Lauren Jones captures the current craze for all things desert.

https://hidesertstar.com/news/178627/council-to-hear-about-problems-and-perks-of-airbnbs/[1/13/2021 9:10:42 AM] Council to hear about problems and perks of Airbnbs | Hi-Desert Star

In an Oct. 9 article titled “This Yucca Valley Retreat Packed with Tile and DIY Hacks Is Pure Desert Magic,” she details the dwelling’s appeal.

“While Joshua Tree has been a hot spot for years, real estate prices have skyrocketed — and Yucca Valley, which could be called Joshua Tree’s hip little sister, is the new go-to for those seeking a desert escape with shopping, restaurants, and more affordable properties,” Jones wrote.

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News Council to hear about problems and perks of Airbnbs

https://hidesertstar.com/news/178627/council-to-hear-about-problems-and-perks-of-airbnbs/[1/13/2021 9:10:42 AM] 1/13/2021 San Bernardino councilwoman’s objection to defamation claims overruled by judge – San Bernardino Sun

LOCAL NEWS •• News San Bernardino councilwoman’s objection to defamation claims overruled by judge A trial setting conference has been set for April

New San Bernardino city council member Sandra Ibarra listens to a speaker during thethe publicpublic commentscomments portionportion duringduring aa meetingmeeting ofof thethe SanSan BernardinoBernardino CityCity CouncilCouncil Friday evening December 21, 2018. Following a closed session of the city council theythey decideddecided toto taketake nono actionaction againstagainst MillerMiller FridayFriday night.night. (Photo(Photo byby WillWill LesterLester,, InlandInland ValleyValley DailyDaily Bulletin/SCNG)Bulletin/SCNG)

By BRIAN WHITEHEAD || [email protected] || TheThe SunSun PUBLISHED: January 12, 2021 at 11:51 a.m. || UPDATED:UPDATED: January 12, 2021 at 2:55 p.m.

https://www.sbsun.com/2021/01/12/san-bernardino-councilwomans-objection-to-defamation-claims-overruled-by-judge/ 1/4 1/13/2021 San Bernardino councilwoman’s objection to defamation claims overruled by judge – San Bernardino Sun A San Bernardino County Superior Court judge has overruled Councilwoman Sandra Ibarraʼs objection to a claim that she broke the terms of a $750,000 settlement agreement betweenbetween thethe citycity andand formerformer CityCity ManagerManager AndreaAndrea MillerMiller when she made defamatory comments about Millerʼs job performance on Facebook.

A trial setting conference has been set for April.

“The fact the court examined (Ibarraʼs) argument and attempt to throw (the case) out of court, which they were unsuccessful in, is quite telling,” attorney Bradley Gage, who is representing Miller in the lawsuit, said last week. “I suspect in the long run we shall be successful and have victory in this case and have vindication for my client.”

Ibarra, whose demurrer was presented to Judge Lynn Poncin by Cerritos-based attorneys Sarah R. Lustig and Irma Rodriguez Moisa, did not respond to multiple requests for comment.

A joint statement in the March settlement agreement between the city and Miller said she was firedfired withoutwithout causecause lastlast summersummer “because“because thethe citycity wantedwanted toto gogo inin aa newnew direction.”direction.”

The comment was to be the only one made publicly by either party.

Shortly thereafter, however, Ibarra “publicly disclosed information or material thatthat showedshowed (Miller)(Miller) inin aa falsefalse light,”light,” MillerʼsMillerʼs defamationdefamation suitsuit says.says. InIn oneone Facebook post, Ibarra wrote: “The truth always prevails and for what itʼs worth, thosethose commentscomments mademade byby thethe CityCity areare false.false. II standstand behindbehind mymy votevote ofof lettingletting Andrea go, just as I do with others who arenʼt performing and arenʼt letting the city move forward.”

Screenshots of Ibarraʼs posts are included in the suit, which was filed about two months after Millerʼs dismissal on May 29, 2019.

The former city manager claims IbarraʼsIbarraʼs statementsstatements havehave harmedharmed herher careercareer and reputation.

“When you think about defamatory comments,” Gage said, “the problem is theythey impactimpact oneʼsoneʼs reputation,reputation, whichwhich carriescarries withwith youyou inin thethe digitaldigital ageage forfor thethe rest of your life, the rest of your career, and can result in millions of dollars of lostlost earningsearnings andand earningearning opportunitiesopportunities overover thethe coursecourse ofof aa lifetime,lifetime, soso itʼsitʼs very serious.”

Gage said the case has “the potential value of millions of dollars.”

https://www.sbsun.com/2021/01/12/san-bernardino-councilwomans-objection-to-defamation-claims-overruled-by-judge/ 2/4 1/12/2021 What is Upland going to do about a $120 million pension debt? – Daily Bulletin

LOCAL NEWS •• News What is Upland going to do about a $120 million pension debt? Finance Committee reviews a leverage plan involving pension obligation bonds

By STEVE SCAUZILLO || [email protected] || SanSan GabrielGabriel ValleyValley TribuneTribune PUBLISHED: January 12, 2021 at 9:13 a.m. || UPDATED:UPDATED: January 12, 2021 at 10:01 a.m.

After being scolded by a grand jury for hiding its unfunded pension costs from the public — something that could spell financial ruin — the city of Upland is considering floating bonds that could lower its backlogged pension payments.

The issuance of pension obligation bonds, or POBs, is something the city heard a lotlot aboutabout asas aa possiblepossible solutionsolution duringduring aa Jan.Jan. 66 meetingmeeting ofof thethe city’scity’s FinanceFinance Committee, the third time the committee has delved into the complex issue in the past several months.

Mike Busch, chief executive and strategy officer for Urban Futures Inc., a consulting firm hired by Upland to walk the city through potential solutions, said POBs are very popular among cities in similar circumstances because because interestinterest rates are low.

https://www.dailybulletin.com/2021/01/12/what-is-upland-going-to-do-about-a-120-million-pension-debt/ 1/5 1/12/2021 What is Upland going to do about a $120 million pension debt? – Daily Bulletin For example, Ontario issued POBs in 2020 and arranged internal borrowing — moves the city said are projected to save $170 million over the next 30 years. As a result, Ontario’s annual payments for unfunded liabilities are slated to drop from $15.3 million in 2019 to $1.7 million in 2022.

Busch and UFI have helped the cities of Monrovia and Glendora issue POBs that have lowered their CalPERS payments, he said. Many cities and special districts faceface ballooningballooning unfundedunfunded pensionpension costs.costs.

Stanford University’s Pension Tracker says if investments at the California Public Employees’ Retirement System (CalPERS) earn returns of 7%, unfunded liabilities are at $352.5 billion statewide, or the equivalent of $27,187 per household. If investmentinvestment ratesrates dropdrop toto 3.25%,3.25%, unfundedunfunded liabilitiesliabilities couldcould jumpjump toto nearlynearly $1.1$1.1 trillion, or $81,634 per household.

Upland owes back pension costs for police and other employees of about $120 million to CalPERS.

Upland City Hall at 460 N. Euclid Ave. as seen on July 1, 2019. (Photo by Will Lester, InlandInland ValleyValley DailyDaily Bulletin/SCNG)Bulletin/SCNG)

Basically, the city must pay about $9.6 million per year to CalPERS just for the unfunded pension costs, which includes borrowing at an interest rate of 7%. This isis onon toptop ofof pensionpension costscosts forfor currentcurrent employeesemployees thatthat amountamount toto $3.2$3.2 millionmillion perper year, according UFI.

POBs are based on leveraging — borrowing at lower rates and investing at higher percentages. The city could go from a 7% loan with CalPERS to a 3.5% loan or lowerlower fromfrom bondbond holders,holders, UFIUFI explained.explained. https://www.dailybulletin.com/2021/01/12/what-is-upland-going-to-do-about-a-120-million-pension-debt/ 2/5 1/12/2021 What is Upland going to do about a $120 million pension debt? – Daily Bulletin IfIf thethe marketmarket waswas steadysteady —— aa best-casebest-case scenarioscenario —— thethe citycity wouldwould seesee savingssavings ofof about $57 million over 20 years. However, volatility in the market could drop the city’s savings to $41 million, or even $10 million, UFI explained.

A computer model taking into account numerous variables predicts a 79% success rate, said Julio Morales, UFI managing director. Success is defined as dropping payments or breaking even.

The committee wanted more information on cities that have made the move to POBs and been successful; it stopped short of recommending POBs to the full City Council. UFI will provide additional case studies at the next Finance Committee meeting tentatively set for Jan. 27.

“A lot of people are flat against POBs. I wonder if we can’t go into the reasons why this makes more sense for us (Upland),” asked City Treasurer Greg Bradley during the meeting. “Maybe providing us with information from cities that have had positive experiences.”

After the meeting, Councilmember Janice Elliott, a long-standing member of the Finance Committee, said she likes the idea of the city saving millions of dollars on pension costs. But she remained undecided.

“We still need to study the effects of other cities’ use of pension obligation bonds, includingincluding thosethose citiescities whowho weren’tweren’t entirelyentirely pleasedpleased withwith theirtheir issuance,”issuance,” ElliottElliott said in an email on Jan. 7. “And we also need to know all significant costs associated with a POB issuance.”

She said she has no position on whether the city should move ahead with POBs “other than I see the merit in thoroughly analyzing this option.”

Busch recommended the city acquire validation for a future bond issuance, which would take four to six months. Then, if the City Council votes to issue POBs, completion would take about 60 days.

Staff writer Teri Sforza contributed to this story.

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https://www.dailybulletin.com/2021/01/12/what-is-upland-going-to-do-about-a-120-million-pension-debt/ 3/5 1/12/2021 Riverside County Supervisor Karen Spiegel becomes first female board chair since 1996 – Press Enterprise ___

LOCAL NEWS •• News Riverside County Supervisor Karen Spiegel becomes first female board chair since 1996

Riverside County Supervisor Karen Spiegel, left, takes over as board chair during thethe Tuesday,Tuesday, Jan.Jan. 12,12, 2021,2021, BoardBoard ofof SupervisorsSupervisors meetingmeeting inin Riverside.Riverside. She’sShe’s thethe firstfirst womanwoman toto chairchair thethe boardboard sincesince thethe 1990s.1990s. (Photo(Photo byby WatcharaWatchara Phomicinda,Phomicinda, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)

By JEFF HORSEMAN || [email protected]@scng.com || TheThe Press-Press- Enterprise PUBLISHED: January 12, 2021 at 3:39 p.m. || UPDATED:UPDATED: January 12, 2021 at 3:41 p.m.

https://www.pe.com/2021/01/12/riverside-county-supervisor-karen-spiegel-becomes-first-female-board-chair-since-1996/?utm_source=twitte… 1/4 1/12/2021 Riverside County Supervisor Karen Spiegel becomes first female board chair since 1996 – Press Enterprise The first Riverside County Board of Supervisors meeting of 2021 on Tuesday, Jan. 12, saw the appointment of the first female board chairperson in more thanthan 2020 years.years.

Supervisor Karen Spiegel will be chairwoman for one year, replacing Supervisor V. Manuel Perez. Itʼs her first turn as chair since being elected in 2018 toto representrepresent aa districtdistrict thatthat includesincludes partpart ofof Riverside,Riverside, Corona,Corona, Norco,Norco, Eastvale and Jurupa Valley.

Spiegel is the first woman supervisor since Kay Ceniceros inin 1996.1996.

Also Tuesday, supervisors Kevin Jeffries and Chuck Washington were sworn intointo newnew four-yearfour-year terms.terms. TheThe swearing-inswearing-in ceremoniesceremonies tooktook placeplace remotelyremotely because of thethe coronaviruscoronavirus pandemicpandemic..

Jeffries, who was first elected in 2012, and Washington, a supervisor since 2015, were re-elected in June.

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Tags: government,, Top Stories PE

Jeff Horseman | Reporter Je Horseman grew up in Vermont and honed his interviewing skills as a supermarket cashier by asking Bernie Sanders “Paper or plastic?” Aer graduating from Syracuse University in 1999, Je began his journalistic odyssey at The Watertown Daily Times in upstate New York, where he impressedimpressed then-U.S.then-U.S. SenateSenate candidatecandidate HillaryHillary ClintonClinton soso muchmuch sheshe calledcalled himhim “John” at the end of an interview. From there, he went to Annapolis, Maryland, where he covered city, county and state government at The Capital newspaper before love and the quest for snowless winters took him in 2007 to Southern California, where he started out covering Temecula for The Press- Enterprise. Today, Je writes about Riverside County government and regional politics. Along the way, Je has covered wildres, a tropical storm, 9/11 and the Dec. 2 terror attack in San Bernardino. If you have a question or story idea about politics or the inner workings of government, please let Je know. https://www.pe.com/2021/01/12/riverside-county-supervisor-karen-spiegel-becomes-first-female-board-chair-since-1996/?utm_source=twitte… 2/4 1/13/2021 Deputies fatally shoot 91-year-old homeowner while responding to report of attempted break-in

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Deputies fatally shoot 91-year-old homeowner while responding to report of attempted break-in

By Mary Stringini | Published 21 hours ago | Victorville | FOX 11

Family, neighbors seek answers after deputies shoot, kill 91-year-old Victorville woman who is legally blind Family members and neighbors are demanding answers after an elderly woman who reported a possible intruder in her home was shot and killed by deputies over the weekend.

VICTORVILLE, Calif. - An investigation was underway Tuesday after deputies fatally shot a 91-year-old homeowner when responding to a report of an attempted break-in at her home after she pointed a shotgun at them, authorities said.

Betty Francois, of Victorville, died early Monday at a hospital where she was own after the weekend shooting, the San Bernardino County Sheri’s Department said in a statement.

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