THURSDAY Letter to the Editor Noteworthy Main Street misinformation. Music is worth it. 06.03.21 Page 4 Page 6 Volume 20 Issue 172 Covid protocols could persist Bring out your rainbows: in some business settings MATTHEW HALL to align with CDC protocols for SMDP Editor shoppers and capacity limits in Samo Pride is back most situations will be lifted. As Californians eagerly await However, even after most sectors the official reopening of the state fully open on June 15 there will on June 15, county officials are continue to be sector specific warning locals that some Covid protocols for schools, day camps, safety measures, including masks daycare, hospitals, health care and distancing, may persist. facilities and high risk congregate Specifically, workplaces will have settings. to follow rules set by Cal/OSHA Los Angeles County Public that still call for the now normal Health Director Barbara Ferrer practice of masks and distance, said these protocols will continue especially when co-workers are not masking, distancing and infection vaccinated. In addition, businesses control safety measures as may implement voluntary appropriate. restrictions on behavior if they “And while businesses may not deem it necessary for their safety. be required to maintain distancing, According to state guidelines, masks and infection control, general distancing requirements at particularly for their customers after retail establishments will be lifted this month. Mask rules are expected SEE COVID PAGE 4 Free beer, other new incentives for Biden’s ‘vaccine sprint’ ZEKE MILLER this summer. Associated Press “The more people we get Courtesy photos vaccinated, the more success we’re LIGHTS: Pride events in Santa Monica include several lighting displays in Downtown. Dangling everything from sports going to have in the fight against this tickets to a free beer, President virus,” Biden said from the White CLARA HARTER This year the City is placing a On June 10, there will be a virtual Joe Biden is looking for that extra House. He predicted that with more SMDP Staff Writer strong emphasis on intersectionality discussion of the joys, struggles, something — anything — that will vaccinations, America will soon and centering events around black, and barriers that are unique to the get people to roll up their sleeves for experience “a summer of freedom, After a muted 2020, Santa indigenous, and people of color as BIPOC Queer community. Then COVID-19 shots when the promise a summer of joy, a summer of get Monica Pride is back with a colorful well as trans individuals. on June 15 there will be a live of a life-saving vaccine by itself togethers and celebrations. An All- bang offering a range of in-person “We really want to raise their streamed and in-person event at the hasn’t been enough. American summer.” and virtual experiences to celebrate voices up this year in recognition Annenberg Beach House featuring Biden on Wednesday announced The Biden administration views and advocate for the LGBTQ+ of the unique experiences those the work of five LGBTQ+ authors. a “month of action” to urge more June as “a critical month in our path community. communities have within the Later in the month on June Americans to get vaccinated before to normal,” Courtney Rowe, the Residents can expect the LGBTQ umbrella and the need 24, the City will host an online the July 4 holiday, including an early director of strategic communications month-long lighting of City hall in to better tell their stories,” said discussion on the political and summer sprint of incentives and a and engagement for the White rainbow colors and ‘Miles of Pride’ Christopher Smith, City Chief of personal attacks facing the trans slew of new steps to ease barriers and House COVID-19 response team, art and light installation along the Staff and LBGTQ+ Liaison. community and ongoing efforts to make getting shots more appealing told the AP. Promenade. Community members The celebrations will kick advance trans rights. to those who haven’t received them. Biden’s plan will continue to are also invited to attend a series off with City Council’s annual “Trans people in particular He is closing in on his goal of getting use public and private-sector of panel discussions focused on proclamation of Pride Month on are now a target of hateful fearful 70% of adults at least partially partnerships, mirroring the “whole building understanding of the range June 8, including a recitation of an legislation in 33 states and are vaccinated by Independence Day — of government” effort he deployed of experiences and gender identities original work by local poet Terry essential to his aim of returning the to make vaccines more widely within the queer community. Wolverton. SEE PRIDE PAGE 11 nation to something approaching a pre-pandemic sense of normalcy SEE VACCINE SPRINT PAGE 11 Thinking of making a move? Let me guide you. 310.880.8892 [email protected] Melanie Tielmann @melle_compass DRE 01984179 News 2 THURSDAY, JUNE 3, 2021 Visit us online at www.smdp.com Medina Spirit drug test confirmed; California urges EPA to let state Baffert suspended 2 years set car-emissions standard GARY B. GRAVES AND STEPHEN WHYNO Churchill Downs initially suspended MATTHEW DALY climate change a top priority, and his nearly AP Sports Writers Baffert indefinitely pending the investigation Associated Press $2 trillion infrastructure proposal includes and now said it reserves the right to extend 500,000 new charging stations for electric cars Bob Baffert is on track to have his record Baffert’s suspension if he has any other Officials from California, New York and trucks. Fully electric vehicles represent seventh Kentucky Derby victory taken away violations in other states. Baffert has had and other states urged the Environmental just 2% of new vehicle sales in the U.S., but and won’t be able to run any horses in the five in the past 13 months. Protection Agency on Wednesday to allow analysts expect that to rise rapidly in coming prestigious race for the next two years. Maryland racing officials allowed Medina California to set its own automobile tailpipe years. Major automakers, including General Churchill Downs on Wednesday Spirit and Baffert-trained Concert Tour to pollution standards, which would reverse a Motors and Ford, are pledging billions to suspended the Hall of Fame trainer for run in the Preakness on May 15 only after Trump administration policy and could help develop electric cars and trucks, and GM has two years after an additional drug test of undergoing three rounds of prerace testing. usher in stricter emissions standards for new gone so far as to announce a goal of ending Medina Spirit confirmed the presence of New York banned Baffert indefinitely and passenger vehicles nationwide. gasoline-fueled passenger vehicles entirely the steroid betamethasone in the Kentucky prevented him from entering any horses in The Biden administration has said it will by 2035. Derby winner’s system. The next step could the Belmont Stakes. withdrew Trump-era restrictions on state The EPA and the National Highway be the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission The stunning ban by Churchill Downs tailpipe emission rules and has moved to Traffic Safety Administration have proposed disqualifying Medina Spirit, and now could have a domino effect that takes the grant California permission to set more withdrawing Trump-era rules meant to stop Baffert won’t be able to enter any horses in only trainer to win the Triple Crown since stringent pollution standards for cars and states from setting their own requirements for the Derby or other races at the storied track 1978 off the trail completely. It was not SUVs. That would give California greater greenhouse gases, zero emissions vehicles and through the spring of 2023. immediately clear if Preakness and Belmont leverage in discussions with automakers as fuel economy. “Reckless practices and substance officials will follow suit or wait until the states and federal officials seek a climate- The changes, if approved after the agencies violations that jeopardize the safety of our Kentucky Horse Racing Commission’s friendly agreement on emissions standards. take public comments, would allow California equine and human athletes or compromise investigation is complete. At least 13 states and the District of and other states to set their own rules for the integrity of our sport are not acceptable Earlier Wednesday, lawyers for Baffert Columbia have signed on to California’s vehicle emissions. Biden has said he will seek and as a company we must take measures and Medina Spirit owner Amr Zedan vehicle standards, which were established one national standard, as was the case under to demonstrate that they will not be confirmed the split-sample test came back decades ago under a special waiver that the President Barack Obama. tolerated,” Churchill Downs Inc. CEO Bill positive for betamethasone. Trump administration revoked in 2019. Carmakers, autoworkers and Carstanjen said. “Mr. Baffert’s record of Baffert’s attorney, Craig Robertson, said Collectively they represent 36 percent of the environmental groups are eager for the testing failures threatens public confidence the second test showed 25 picograms of U.S. auto market. federal government and California to reach a in thoroughbred racing and the reputation the steroid, after 21 picograms were found Liane Randolph, chair of the California deal that creates a single nationwide standard of the Kentucky Derby. Given these repeated in the first sample. Even a trace amount of Air Resources Board, said at a public hearing for tailpipe emissions. EPA Administrator failures over the last year, including the betamethasone — a picogram is a trillionth Wednesday that the Trump administration’s Michael Regan has said he expects to propose increasingly extraordinary explanations, we of one gram — is prohibited on race day in withdrawal of California’s long-standing a tailpipe emissions rule in July.