6/18/2021 San Bernardino County Sheriff John McMahon is retiring – San Bernardino Sun ___
NEWSCRIME AND PUBLIC SAFETY • News San Bernardino County Sheriff John McMahon is retiring
San Bernardino County Sheriff John McMahon, shown in a file photo, announced on June 18, 2021, that he would retire on July 16. He has been sherifff sincesince DecemberDecember 2012. (Kurt Miller, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
By BRIAN ROKOS || [email protected] || TheThe Press-EnterprisePress-Enterprise PUBLISHED: June 18, 2021 at 3:42 p.m. || UPDATED:UPDATED: June 18, 2021 at 3:43 p.m.
San Bernardino County Sheriff John McMahon announced Friday, June 18, that he will retire on July 16.
McMahon, who has been sheriff since 2012, made a public announcement in a video posted on Twitter..
https://www.sbsun.com/2021/06/18/san-bernardino-county-sheriff-john-mcmahon-is-retiring/?utm_content=tw-sbsun&utm_campaign=socialfl… 1/4 6/18/2021 San Bernardino County Sheriff John McMahon is retiring – San Bernardino Sun “For the last 36 years, I’’ve been blessed to work with some of the most dedicated and hard-working law enforcement professionals,” said McMahon, who began his career in 1985 as a patrol deputy in the Needles station. “The eight and a half years serving as your sheriff has been an honor and a privilege.”
McMahon, then the undersheriff, was appointed by the Board of Supervisors inin December 2012 to replace Rod Hoops. McMahon won election in 2014 and re- election, unopposed, in 2018.
He did not directly say why he was retiring in the middle of his second term, which was to expire in 2023.
“It is now time for me to focus on things in my personal life that require the attention of my wife Shelly and I,” McMahon said in the video.
This story is developing. Check back for updates.
John McMahon @sheriffmcmahon
It has been an honor to serve as your Sheriff for the past 8 1/2 years. Today I announce my upcoming retirement.
2:46 PM · Jun 18, 2021
102 20 Share this Tweet
https://www.sbsun.com/2021/06/18/san-bernardino-county-sheriff-john-mcmahon-is-retiring/?utm_content=tw-sbsun&utm_campaign=socialfl… 2/4 6/18/2021 McMahon announces he will retire in July after 8 ½ years as San Bernardino County sheriff
NEWS McMahon announces he will retire in July after 8 ½ years as San Bernardino County sheriff Matthew Cabe Victorville Daily Press Published 3:12 p.m. PT Jun. 18, 2021
Sheriff John McMahon said Friday that he will retire next month after nearly four decades with the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department.
McMahon — who has served as sheriff since 2012 — announced his decision in a video posted to his Twitter account. In it, he said he plans to “focus on things in my personal life that require the attention of my wife, Shelly, and I.”
“For the last 36 years I’ve been blessed to work with some of the most dedicated and hard- working law enforcement professionals,” McMahon said in the video. “The 8 ½ years serving as your sheriff has been an honor and a privilege, a responsibility that I have taken very seriously.”
This story is breaking and will be updated as more information becomes available.
Daily Press Managing Editor Matthew Cabe can be reached at [email protected] or 760-490-0052. Follow him on Twitter @DP_MatthewCabe.
https://www.vvdailypress.com/story/news/2021/06/18/mcmahon-announces-he-retire-july-after-8-years-san-bernardino-county-sheriff/7749355002/?ut… 1/1 6/21/2021 Deputy under investigation after video shows him kicking pursuit suspect in head in Victorville – San Bernardino Sun ___
NEWSCRIME AND PUBLIC SAFETY • News Deputy under investigation after video shows him kicking pursuit suspect in head in Victorville
By BRIAN ROKOS || [email protected] || TheThe Press-EnterprisePress-Enterprise PUBLISHED: June 19, 2021 at 10:09 a.m. || UPDATED:UPDATED: June 20, 2021 at 11:18 a.m.
A San Bernardino County sheriff’’s deputy is under criminal investigation after a videotape of an arrest in Victorville showed him twice kicking a pursuit suspect in thethe headhead asas thethe suspectsuspect appearedappeared toto bebe surrendering.surrendering.
“This incident raises concerns. I expect my deputies to remain professional while engaging the public,” Sheriff John McMahon said in a written statement.
The deputy was placed on paid administrative leave. The department declined to identifyidentify him.him.
The incident began at about 12:40 a.m. on Wednesday, when a deputy attempted to pull over a motorcycle rider for committing traffic violations in the area of 7th and Lincoln streets. The driver, later identified as Willie C. Jones, 33, did not stop, prompting a pursuit, a sheriff’’s news release said.
Jones ran several stoplights before driving north in the southbound lanes of the 15 Freeway, almost causing head-on collisions, the release said. Jones left the freeway at La Paz Drive and ditched the bike near a car dealership.
The video, obtained by TMZ,, showsshows aa manman emergingemerging fromfrom aa hidinghiding placeplace underneath a car. He looks around and, bent over, slinks for several feet before standing up and walking several more feet. Soon after, a deputy approaches in a shooting stance, shining a flashlight at the man. It was unclear whether the deputy was also holding a gun.
https://www.sbsun.com/2021/06/19/deputy-under-investigation-after-video-shows-him-kicking-pursuit-suspect-in-head-in-victorville/?utm_so… 1/4 6/21/2021 Deputy under investigation after video shows him kicking pursuit suspect in head in Victorville – San Bernardino Sun The man walks toward the deputy and puts his hands up. The man then gets down on his knees and prepares to lay prone, bracing his upper body with his arms. His leftleft armarm isis outout inin frontfront ofof himhim andand hishis rightright arm,arm, onon thethe farfar sideside ofof hishis bodybody fromfrom thethe deputy, is folded beneath him.
The deputy slowly approaches but then takes two quick steps like a football player kicking off and kicks the man in the head. The man rolls over slightly and both arms are visible. The deputy then kicks the man in the head a second time.
Five seconds later, a second deputy runs into view and assists in handcuffing the man.
A sheriff’’s supervisor later arrived, and the security company that monitors the dealership’’s surveillance video told him that the arrest was recorded, the Sheriff’’s Department said.
“The watch commander reviewed the video and immediately determined the deputy’’s actions were disturbing,” said Undersheriff Shannon Dicus, speaking in a video attached to the news release. “The“The watchwatch commandercommander notifiednotified thethe commander of the station. It is unfortunate when incidents like these occur because it causes turmoil within our communities and equally amongst our deputies who pride themselves on providing professional service.”
It was unclear Saturday whether the second deputy to arrive witnessed the kicking and reported it to supervisors, as department policy requires in cases of suspected use of inappropriate force.
“Due to this being an active investigation, no further details are being released about the incident,” sheriff’’s spokeswoman Jodi Miller said Saturday.
The department’’s report on the criminal investigation will be forwarded to the District Attorney’’s Office for consideration of charges, Dicus said. Then an internal investigationinvestigation willwill taketake placeplace toto determinedetermine whetherwhether thethe deputydeputy violatedviolated anyany department policies.
Jones was treated at the scene for injuries before being booked into jail on suspicion of felony evading. He was released after posting bail, county jail records show.
Jones could not be reached for comment Saturday.
Newsroom Guidelines News Tips Contact Us Report an Error https://www.sbsun.com/2021/06/19/deputy-under-investigation-after-video-shows-him-kicking-pursuit-suspect-in-head-in-victorville/?utm_so… 2/4 6/21/2021 San Bernardino County sheriff's deputy under investigation after video shows him kicking man in Victorville
NEWS San Bernardino County sheriff's deputy under investigation after video shows him kicking man Martin Estacio Victorville Daily Press Published 11:22 p.m. PT Jun. 18, 2021
A San Bernardino County Sheriff’s deputy is under criminal investigation after surveillance footage captured him kicking a man who appeared to have surrendered prior to an arrest.
The deputy — who was not identified — was “immediately taken off duty and placed on administrative leave,” Undersheriff Shannon Dicus said in a video Friday.
“It’s unfortunate when incidents like these occur because it causes turmoil within our communities and equally amongst our deputies who pride themselves on providing professional service,” he said.
Authorities said the “use of force” occurred early Wednesday morning after a deputy attempted to pull over a motorcycle for “various traffic violations” in the area of Seventh and Lincoln streets in Victorville.
The motorcyclist, identified as 32-year-old Willie Jones, fled at a high speed, ran multiple traffic signals, entered the northbound lanes of Interstate 15 in the opposite direction and almost crashed into several vehicles, the sheriff’s department said.
Jones then reportedly exited at La Paz Avenue at about 12:45 a.m., dropping the motorcycle near a car dealership and fleeing on foot.
The surveillance footage was taken from a Toyota dealership, TMZ reported which obtained a copy of the video.
The video shows a man underneath a pickup truck. He then crawls over to another vehicle before standing up and walking.
A deputy can then be seen running into the frame with a flashlight pointed toward the man. https://www.vvdailypress.com/story/news/2021/06/18/san-bernardino-county-sheriffs-deputy-under-investigation-after-video-shows-him-kicking-man-vi… 1/2 6/21/2021 San Bernardino County sheriff's deputy under investigation after video shows him kicking man in Victorville
The man can be seen raising his hands and dropping to the ground face first. As the man is about to lie fully prone, the deputy can be seen winding his foot back and kicking the man in what appears to be the shoulder.
The deputy then kicks the man again in the head before kneeling on him and appearing to place him in handcuffs as other deputies rush in.
TMZ posted the video only minutes before the sheriff’s department posted their own featuring Dicus on social media.
Sheriff’s officials said Jones was provided medical care before being booked on suspicion of felony evading with disregard for public safety.
Booking records show he was released on bail Wednesday.
Dicus said a Victorville station watch commander was contacted by a security company that monitors the dealership’s parking lot.
“The watch commander reviewed the video and immediately determined the deputy’s actions were disturbing,” he said.
Dicus said the criminal investigation will be submitted to the county District Attorney’s Office. The undersheriff said an “administrative investigation” was also started to “allow for the appropriate employment actions to be taken.”
Sheriff John McMahon — who announced his retirement earlier Friday — said in a statement that the “incident raises concerns.”
“I expect my deputies to remain professional while engaging the public,” he said.
Daily Press reporter Martin Estacio may be reached at 760-955-5358 or [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @DP_mestacio.
https://www.vvdailypress.com/story/news/2021/06/18/san-bernardino-county-sheriffs-deputy-under-investigation-after-video-shows-him-kicking-man-vi… 2/2 6/21/2021 Beyer's Byways: Worthwhile exploration at the San Bernardino County Museum in Redlands
TRAVEL Beyer's Byways: Worthwhile exploration at the San Bernardino County Museum in Redlands John R. Beyer For the Victorville Daily Press Published 12:01 a.m. PT Jun. 20, 2021
According to David Myers, chief deputy of the San Bernardino County Museum, nearly 80,000 people wander its hallways — heads twisting this way and that to admire the exhibits and gain as much knowledge as possible during a visit.
“That’s a lot of people visiting a county museum,” I said as Laureen sipped her morning coffee.
“Shall we visit then?”
“Oh, we shall,” I responded.
So, one sunny Saturday morning, we headed south on Interstate 15 for a day of exploring what the museum in Redlands had in store for us.
“We might get hungry walking around since we didn’t eat breakfast,” Laureen said.
“Taken care of.”
DJ Coffee Shop on 40th Street in San Bernardino did the trick. The place was rocking, as per usual. We like the old establishment. Great people work there, the food is always good and it’s been a mainstay in the neighborhood for well over five decades.
One motto of mine is dine before exploring, which is somewhat akin to never shop for groceries on an empty stomach.
“Why did you buy 12 boxes of Twinkies?”
There’s no good answer to that question.
https://www.vvdailypress.com/story/lifestyle/travel/2021/06/20/beyers-byways-worthwhile-exploration-san-bernardino-county-museum-redlands/77260… 1/5 6/21/2021 Beyer's Byways: Worthwhile exploration at the San Bernardino County Museum in Redlands
Before leaving, I did some research on the museum’s core values. Not sure why. I guess I thought it would make me sound more academic.
“Through the lens of the region’s dynamic cultural and natural history, the San Bernardino County Museum develops visitors’ appreciation of our diverse identity to spark their curiosity, to stimulate inquiry, to challenge their assumptions, and to invite them to contribute to our common future.”
That is one heavy mission statement; I’m exhausted just typing it.
Once we reached the museum, we noticed it was set up in a logical sequence — as though the hosts wanted guests to flow easily, and rationally, through the halls.
“Many of our exhibit components are designed to be explored in chronological order, which aids in adding context to the exhibit story,” Myers noted. “However, other exhibits may be organized thematically or even geographically. It all depends on the exhibit and how the visitor chooses to explore it.”
Chronological order? Thematically? Geographically?
“I say we just follow the map the nice lady gave us at the entrance,” I said.
“Of course,” Laureen replied. But I knew that “Of course” was really an eye roll on her part. I like to keep things simple. She’s the brains in the family and likes the “chronological,” “thematically” and “geographically” concepts.
We started in the Hall of Earth Sciences, which features a life-size mastodon and her calf. There were other ancient fossils (a redundancy there), allowing the visitor a glimpse into the past of the marvelous living animals who once roamed San Bernardino County.
“I guess the theme here is big animals,” I observed.
I think I actually heard Laureen’s eyes roll that time.
Wolves stared down at us from a rock faced overlook as we made our way through the exhibit and moved into the Hall of History.
There we learned how the first people in what would become California referred to the land as the Sacred Earth. And how the locals made baskets, pottery and tools from the native plants and soil. And how they lived off the land and prospered.
https://www.vvdailypress.com/story/lifestyle/travel/2021/06/20/beyers-byways-worthwhile-exploration-san-bernardino-county-museum-redlands/77260… 2/5 6/21/2021 Beyer's Byways: Worthwhile exploration at the San Bernardino County Museum in Redlands
I suggested that Laureen try making sandals from a Joshua tree; she is very crafty after all. But when I looked to see her reaction, I found myself standing alone as she was moving away from me and my comment, toward an ascending ramp. No sandals in the Beyer home, I guess.
On the second level, more and more awesome sights awaited us.
The Hall of Biodiversity had an incredible collection of wildlife commonly found in and around the county. There were birds, mammals, reptiles, amphibians and, I believe, a model of a space alien found in the High Desert. Then again, it could have just been the model of the Old Woman meteorite.
Everywhere we looked were in-depth descriptions of how the climate and geography of the region personally affects all living things, be they animal or plant.
The museum is a great place for school field trips, I assume. And I’m correct.
“As the pandemic ends, we expect field trips to return,” Myers said, “and we look forward to welcoming students back.”
Speaking of schools (and who isn’t nowadays?), all the hands-on exhibits were temporarily closed to the nasty and germ-ridden hands of humans:
“We believe hands-on interactive exhibits extend the learning experience and increase engagement, and we look forward to bringing them back when it is safe to do so.”
Laureen later found the new exhibit, “Here Comes the Sun: Solar Science & Spirituality.”
I caught up with her at a large Plasma Ball. Put a hand on the ball, and arcs of light magically transfer from its center to the touching hand. I’d go into greater detail but, I don’t have a clue how it works. It was developed by Nikola Tesla. Enough said.
Laureen was there with two cute and very curious young boys who were explaining to her how to hold her hand on the ball. The boys’ mother was taking photographs with her phone as they continued their lesson. I think Laureen learned a lot.
I loved it. This mom had taken her two young boys to the museum and allowed them to wander, (with her right there alongside them) and investigate all there was to investigate in the museum.
We parted ways and I knew I’d just watched two future scientists in the making. https://www.vvdailypress.com/story/lifestyle/travel/2021/06/20/beyers-byways-worthwhile-exploration-san-bernardino-county-museum-redlands/77260… 3/5 6/21/2021 Beyer's Byways: Worthwhile exploration at the San Bernardino County Museum in Redlands
This exhibit also featured three huge screens that immerse the visitor in dramatic and colorful footage from NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory.
To describe the scene as dramatic would really be an understatement. The sun’s surface changed colors constantly but slowly, allowing us a chance to marvel at the intensity of that natural fusion reactor that wakes us up each morning.
Yes, where stellar nucleosynthesis transforms lighter elements into heavier elements with the release of energy. Binding energy for different atomic nuclei.
I Googled that.
“Here Comes the Sun” is a dramatic exhibit, though. So dramatic that we spent several minutes posing in front of the burning sun’s surface.
According to Myers, “One of our newest and most-visited exhibits is the solar one. It helps to tell the story of how the sun has shaped the culture of Southern California.”
I didn’t need an exhibit to tell me that. Smell the sunscreen at any beach during the summer, and we know how the sun has affected us all.
“Different exhibits appeal to different visitors,” Myers said. “Some people love the immersive cave and giant ground sloth in our ‘Sculptured by Time’ exhibit, while others enjoy a more relaxing stroll through our new outdoor ‘Ethnobotany Garden’ space, where they can learn about traditional ecological knowledge of the area’s indigenous peoples.”
OK, this David Myers is one smart guy. All I know, by contrast, is that when you head outside of the museum, there are lots of cool plants to stroll through in a relaxed fashion.
According to Barb Williams on bellevuebotanical.org, ‘Ethnobotany is the study of how people of a particular culture and region make use of indigenous (native) plants.’
It’s fascinating how humans looked at all the different varieties of plants growing nearby and determined what needs could be met as a result of their existence.
We wandered here and there, and thoroughly enjoyed our trip through the halls of the museum. It’s open and the place was packed while we were there. Seemed to us that most guests were families with young children.
That was a great sight. After a year of pandemic lockdown, parents were out and about with their kids. And one of those places they visited was the San Bernardino County Museum. https://www.vvdailypress.com/story/lifestyle/travel/2021/06/20/beyers-byways-worthwhile-exploration-san-bernardino-county-museum-redlands/77260… 4/5 6/21/2021 Beyer's Byways: Worthwhile exploration at the San Bernardino County Museum in Redlands
Myers seemed excited about the return of so many people: “We’ve missed our visitors and are thrilled to welcome them back with two new exhibits. In addition to ‘Here Comes the Sun,’ in June we are opening ‘Super Monster City,’ a traveling exhibit that explores the social and political context of superheroes and villains through toys and posters.”
The San Bernardino County Museum — located at 2024 Orange Tree Lane in Redlands and open from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday — is a wonderful experience for all ages.
There are plenty of activities, displays, photographs, exhibits and all the rest that make the place worthwhile for anyone who wants to learn our county’s history.
And who wouldn’t want to learn all they could?
Contact John R. Beyer at [email protected].
https://www.vvdailypress.com/story/lifestyle/travel/2021/06/20/beyers-byways-worthwhile-exploration-san-bernardino-county-museum-redlands/77260… 5/5 6/18/2021 Rodents, flies, unsafe food temps: Restaurant closures, inspections in San Bernardino County, June 11-17 – Daily Bulletin ___
LOCAL NEWS • News Rodents, flies, unsafe food temps: Restaurant closures, inspections in San Bernardino County, June 11-17
By NIKIE JOHNSON || [email protected] || PUBLISHED: June 18, 2021 at 2:31 p.m. || UPDATED:UPDATED: June 18, 2021 at 2:31 p.m.
Here are the restaurants and other food facilities that San Bernardino County health inspectorsinspectors temporarilytemporarily shutshut downdown becausebecause ofof imminentimminent healthhealth hazardshazards betweenbetween JuneJune 1111 and 17, 2021.
Subway,, 466466 W.W. 5th5th St.,St., SanSan BernardinoBernardino
Closed: JuneJune 1111 Grade: NotNot gradedgraded (received(received aa 92/A on June 2)) Reason: Rodent infestation.. DuringDuring aa JuneJune 22 inspection,inspection, anan inspectorinspector sawsaw somesome old and new rodent droppings on the floor under kitchen equipment and the food-prepfood-prep tabletable andand sink,sink, asas wellwell asas inin aa cabinetcabinet andand storagestorage area.area. TheThe inspectorinspector returned June 11, and although the restaurant had been serviced by pest control, there were more fresh droppings in the same areas and the person in charge said they were constantly cleaning but still finding more the next day. Reopened: June 15;; pestpest controlcontrol hadhad beenbeen visitingvisiting everyevery otherother dayday andand thethe inspectorinspector foundfound nono freshfresh droppings.droppings. AnotherAnother follow-upfollow-up waswas plannedplanned withinwithin aa week.
Non-closure inspections of note
Here are selected inspections at facilities that weren’t closed but had other significant issues.issues. https://www.dailybulletin.com/2021/06/18/rodents-flies-unsafe-food-temps-restaurant-closures-inspections-in-san-bernardino-county-june-11… 1/4 6/18/2021 Rodents, flies, unsafe food temps: Restaurant closures, inspections in San Bernardino County, June 11-17 – Daily Bulletin Mariscos Las Brisas Restaurant,, atat 29512951 S.S. VineyardVineyard Ave.Ave. inin Ontario,Ontario, underwentunderwent aa mandatory rescore inspection June 16 afterafter receivingreceiving aa 73/C on May 25.. ThisThis timetime itit got an 83/B with one critical violation. There were five or six flies in the kitchen (in May, the flies were listed as an “excessive” problem) and some were landing on shrimp on the food-prep table. Among the nine lesser violations, there was brown mold-like growth in the ice machine (another repeat violation from last month) and shrimp and cheese were at unsafe temperatures. This was the restaurant’s fouth B or C grade since 2018.
Sushi Kimo,, atat 501501 W.W. RedlandsRedlands Blvd.Blvd. inin Redlands,Redlands, waswas inspectedinspected JuneJune 1515 inin response to two foodbornefoodborne illnessillness complaints andand receivedreceived aa gradegrade ofof 84/B84/B withwith twotwo critical violations. A refrigerated display case had a hole in the door and some of the seafood near the hole was at unsafe temperatures, while some imitation crab was in a refrigerator not meant for perishable items. The inspector noted that unsafe food temperatures was a repeated problem from past inspections — each of the last three since 2018, records show. Also, water from a leaking sink was splashing onto cooked shrimp nearby. Among the seven lesser violations, the kitchen equipment needed cleaning. The operator said some of their issues, including broken refrigerators and lightslights thatthat neededneeded toto bebe removedremoved oror fixed,fixed, stemmedstemmed fromfrom aa lacklack ofof staffingstaffing duedue toto thethe pandemic. This was the restaurant’s third consecutive B grade.
Sonic Drive In,, atat 1137011370 4th4th St.St. inin RanchoRancho Cucamonga,Cucamonga, waswas inspectedinspected JuneJune 1111 andand received a grade of 81/B. There was one critical violation for several issues related to food not being at safe temperatures. One of the two soft-serve machines — which an employee knew had a gasket in disrepair — wasn’t keeping the mix cold enough, while some cut tomatoes also weren’t cold enough and chili beans weren’t warm enough. Among the 11 lesser violations, there was mold buildup in the ice machine and clean dishes had been placed on heavily soiled racks above the dishwashing sink. When the inspector went back June 15,, thethe otherother soft-servesoft-serve machinemachine wasn’twasn’t working either; both were scheduled to be fixed the next day. This was the restaurant’s sixth B or C grade in the past five years, records show.
Updates from past weeks
Chela’s Restaurant,, atat 507507 S.S. MountMount VernonVernon Ave.Ave. SuiteSuite CC inin SanSan Bernardino,Bernardino, whichwhich was closed June 3 becausebecause allall fourfour ofof itsits refrigeratorsrefrigerators weren’tweren’t working,working, waswas permitted to reopen June 15 afterafter thethe unitsunits werewere serviced.serviced.
About this list
This list is published online on Fridays. Any updates as restaurants are reopened will be includedincluded inin nextnext week’sweek’s list.list. https://www.dailybulletin.com/2021/06/18/rodents-flies-unsafe-food-temps-restaurant-closures-inspections-in-san-bernardino-county-june-11… 2/4 6/18/2021 Rodents, flies, unsafe food temps: Restaurant closures, inspections in San Bernardino County, June 11-17 – Daily Bulletin All food facilities in the county are routinely inspected to ensure they meet health codes. A facilityfacility losesloses fourfour pointspoints forfor eacheach criticalcritical violationviolation andand oneone toto threethree pointspoints forfor minorminor violations. An A grade (90 to 100 points) is considered “generally superior,” a B grade (80 to 89) is “generally acceptable” and a C grade (70 to 79) is “generally unacceptable” and requiresrequires aa follow-upfollow-up inspection.inspection. AA facilityfacility willwill bebe temporarilytemporarily closedclosed ifif itit scoresscores belowbelow 7070 oror has a critical violation that can’t be corrected immediately.
For more information on inspections of these or any restaurants in San Bernardino County, visit www.sbcounty.gov/dph/ehsportal/FacilityList/food.. ToTo filefile aa healthhealth complaint,complaint, gogo toto www.sbcounty.gov/dph/ehsportal/StaticComplaint oror callcall 800-442-2283.800-442-2283.
Sign up forfor TheThe Localist,Localist, ourour dailydaily emailemail newsletternewsletter withwith handpickedhandpicked storiesstories relevant to where you live. Subscribe here..
Newsroom Guidelines News Tips Contact Us Report an Error
Tags: restaurant closures,, Top Stories IVDB,, Top Stories PE,, Top Stories RDF,, Top Stories Sun
Nikie Johnson | Data Reporter Nikie Johnson has been a journalist in Southern California since 2005 when she started at The Press-Enterprise, now part of the Southern California News Group. A Midwestern native, she graduated from the University of Houston with a degree in communications and previously worked at the Florida Times-Union in Jacksonville. She has been a copy editor, metro editor, digital editor and breaking news editor, and now uses data and public records to tell stories on the crime and public safety beat. She has trained with the Poynter Institute, Investigative Reporters & Editors and USC's Center for Health Journalism, and hashas wonwon severalseveral awards for breaking news coverage and reporting on housing permits.
Follow Nikie Johnson @nikiesnews
https://www.dailybulletin.com/2021/06/18/rodents-flies-unsafe-food-temps-restaurant-closures-inspections-in-san-bernardino-county-june-11… 3/4 6/21/2021 Unemployment rate continues to go down | Business | fontanaheraldnews.com
https://www.fontanaheraldnews.com/business/unemployment-rate-continues-to-go-down/article_268128ca-d07f-11eb-bbe9-1bd43ef98db3.html
Unemployment rate continues to go down
Jun 18, 2021
California’s unemployment rate fell from 8.0 percent in April to 7.9 percent in May.
California’s unemployment rate fell from 8.0 percent in April to 7.9 percent in May as the state’s employers gained 104,500 non-farm payroll jobs, according to data released on June 18 by the California Employment Development Department (EDD) from two surveys.
This comes after April’s upwards-revised (+200 jobs) month-over gain of 102,000 jobs and a downwards-revised (-59,400) unemployment month-over change of -62,600, the EDD said.
The jobless rate in San Bernardino County continued to go down, dropping to 7.3 percent in May. Neighboring Riverside County's rate was 7.2 percent.
https://www.fontanaheraldnews.com/business/unemployment-rate-continues-to-go-down/article_268128ca-d07f-11eb-bbe9-1bd43ef98db3.html 1/2 6/21/2021 Unemployment rate continues to go down | Business | fontanaheraldnews.com Many economists are optimistic about the state's prospects now that California has offcially reopened its economy.
“California has reopened, and we're ready to roar back," said Dee Dee Myers, the director of the Governor's Offce of Business and Economic Development. "Nine out of 11 sectors added jobs in May, including Leisure and Hospitality, which created more than 50,000 new jobs for the fourth consecutive month. California continues to drive the nation's recovery, accounting for almost 23 percent of the job growth nationwide over the past four months. All signs continue to point to a strong and equitable recovery as we move beyond the pandemic."
“Californians came together to get us to this point and now we must focus on what a strong, resilient economy that values working people looks like,” said California Labor Secretary Julie Su. “As California reopens and workplaces across California transition to new Emergency Temporary Standards, the work ahead is about not just getting Californians back to work but creating quality jobs, preparing Californians for those jobs, ensuring access for those too often left behind, and supporting employers who are investing in their workforce.”
https://www.fontanaheraldnews.com/business/unemployment-rate-continues-to-go-down/article_268128ca-d07f-11eb-bbe9-1bd43ef98db3.html 2/2 6/21/2021 Rialto pyrotechnics company rebounds from ‘devastating’ pandemic, plans 250 fireworks shows this year – San Bernardino Sun ___
NEWS • News Rialto pyrotechnics company rebounds from ‘devastating’ pandemic, plans 250 fireworks shows this year 'God'God blessbless America!America! We'reWe're back!"back!" sayssays JimJim Souza,Souza, CEO of Pyro Spectaculars by Souza
Pyro Spectaculars CEO Jim Souza holds different types of aerial firework shells inside a firework assembly building in Rialto on Thursday, June 17, 2021. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
By JOE NELSON || [email protected]@scng.com || SanSan BernardinoBernardino SunSun PUBLISHED: June 20, 2021 at 9:10 a.m. || UPDATED:UPDATED: June 20, 2021 at 9:39 p.m.
https://www.sbsun.com/2021/06/20/rialto-pyrotechnics-company-rebounds-from-devastating-pandemic-plans-250-fireworks-shows-this-year/ 1/6 6/21/2021 Rialto pyrotechnics company rebounds from ‘devastating’ pandemic, plans 250 fireworks shows this year – San Bernardino Sun This Fourth of July, Jim Souza will have something extra special to celebrate: the rebounding of his family pyrotechnics business that was crippled by the coronavirus pandemic last year.
When the pandemic prompted restrictions of public events nationwide in March 2020, Pyro Spectaculars by Souza in Rialto, one of the biggest producers of pyrotechnic extravaganzas nationwide, took a major hit. Sales declined by 90%. More than 300 scheduled Fourth of July events dwindled to less than 20, and Souza was forced to furlough 38 of 50 full-time employees.
It was a day Souza would like to forget.
“That was really one of the most devastating things for me,” Souza said. “It was very devastating to watch them all drive out the gates of our facility that day.”
Now, as pandemic restrictions ease, cities, counties and park districts across Southern California and the nation are resuming their annual Independence Day events and welcoming the public, although some are still only livestreaming their shows or having the public view from a distance. As a result, Pyro Spectaculars is rebounding — operating at about 50% of its annual revenue and 75% of revenue forfor itsits FourthFourth ofof JulyJuly eventsevents comparedcompared toto thethe pre-pandemicpre-pandemic yearyear ofof 2019.2019.
“God bless America! We’’re back!” Souza said. “This year, we’’re looking at over 250 (pyrotechnics(pyrotechnics showsshows nationwide),nationwide), soso wewe’’re happy. 2020 is gone. We don’’tt wantwant toto hear about it anymore.”
Long road ahead
Still, it will be a long road ahead for Pyro Spectaculars to return to its pre- pandemic glory. California’’s shutdown nearly sank the 115-year-old company foundedfounded byby SouzaSouza’’s great-grandfather, Manuel de Souza, in the Bay Area in 1906. The company set up headquarters in Rialto in 1976.
Souza said the COVID-19 pandemic put the company millions of dollars in debt.
Pyro Spectaculars, which also has plants in Oakland, Sacramento, San Diego, Fresno and Rocklin, has been working with its banks and landlords to restructure thethe companycompany’’s debt as it recovers. He said two rounds of federal aid under the Payroll Protection Program helped keep the company afloat during the pandemic.
“It may take a few seasons to get back to what normal would be,” Souza said. “We’’ve never seen anything like this and could never have predicted a pandemic. It’’s just amazing what happened, and very devastating.”
https://www.sbsun.com/2021/06/20/rialto-pyrotechnics-company-rebounds-from-devastating-pandemic-plans-250-fireworks-shows-this-year/ 2/6 6/21/2021 Rialto pyrotechnics company rebounds from ‘devastating’ pandemic, plans 250 fireworks shows this year – San Bernardino Sun Cities affected
While business rebounds at Pyro Spectaculars, cities and counties across Southern California are preparing for the Fourth of July with excited anticipation after a rather hardscrabble 2020, albeit belts have been tightened and more fundraisingfundraising hashas beenbeen necessarynecessary thisthis year.year.
While some cities will reopen their gates to the public for Fourth of July festivities, others have elected to livestream the displays or havie the public view them from a distance.
In Redlands, Fourth of July festivities are scheduled to resume atat SylvanSylvan Park,Park, which will include a Red, White and Blue Children’’s Parade for children under age 12. The fireworks show, however, will not be the traditional publicly attended event at the University of Redlands’’ TedTed RunnerRunner Stadium.Stadium. Instead,Instead, itit hashas movedmoved toto Moore Middle School, a more centrally located area that can provide expanded visibility to the public from the comfort of their yards. The show also will be broadcast live at youtube.com/watch?v=JMGScR9S1cQ..
The Redlands Fourth of July Committee, a nonprofit that has planned and hosted thethe annualannual fireworksfireworks showsshows andand SylvanSylvan ParkPark festivitiesfestivities forfor decades,decades, hashas hadhad toto relyrely on donations of more than $50,000 this year from the city and the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians. Traditionally, the money has been raised through ticket sales, said committee Chair Tim Murone.
“Due to the lack of ticket sales, we need to make that up through community sponsorships,” Murone said, adding that the committee is also raising money by selling T-shirts.
The Jurupa Area Recreation and Park District’’s fireworks show on July 3 also will be a distance event at Centennial Park, which is centrally located so more people can see it, said Colby Duiguid, general manager for the agency.
“We had to plan this back in March, so it was too late to change our show and allow people to be there in person,” Duiguid said.
Lost half of deposit
The JARPD took a hit last year when it lost half of its deposit for its Fourth of July fireworksfireworks showshow —— $6,200$6,200 —— toto PyroPyro SpectacularsSpectaculars afterafter thethe pandemicpandemic struck,struck, forcingforcing cancellationcancellation ofof thethe event.event. AA clauseclause inin thethe contractcontract calledcalled forfor thethe deposit,deposit, ifif not used for its intended purpose, to be used for any other event by the end of the year. If unused, the deposit would not be refunded.
https://www.sbsun.com/2021/06/20/rialto-pyrotechnics-company-rebounds-from-devastating-pandemic-plans-250-fireworks-shows-this-year/ 3/6 6/21/2021 Rialto pyrotechnics company rebounds from ‘devastating’ pandemic, plans 250 fireworks shows this year – San Bernardino Sun Pyro Spectaculars did, however, agree to return half of JARPD’’s deposit.
“It’’s frustrating, obviously; because of the pandemic and the stay-at-home orders, we weren’’tt ableable toto havehave ourour show,show, soso itit waswas outout ofof ourour control.”control.” DuiguidDuiguid said.said. “Nothing much we can do about it, unfortunately. Nobody anticipated a global pandemic shutting down the world for 15 months.”
Souza understands Duiguid’’s frustration, but said the vendor deposits cover myriad prepaid expenses, including insurance, fireworks purchases, shipping, and employee wages, among other things.
“Our objective is to keep everybody happy, but at the same time it’’s very expensive toto runrun aa business,”business,” SouzaSouza said.said.
Lake Elsinore was in a similar situation as Jurupa Valley when it was forced to cancel its Fourth of July fireworks show last year — a week before the scheduled event — and faced losing half of its $44,000 deposit. So, the city opted to host a fireworksfireworks showshow onon NewNew YearYear’’s Eve for the public to watch from a distance or while parked in their vehicles.
“We did know that we were at risk of losing that deposit, and that’’s why we held thethe fireworksfireworks showshow onon NewNew YearYear’’s, before the end of the year,” said Nicole Dailey, assistant to Lake Elsinore City Manager Jason Simpson.
Fully open
While some cities and venues still plan to live stream and/or have the public view theirtheir fireworksfireworks showsshows fromfrom aa distance,distance, othersothers acrossacross SouthernSouthern CaliforniaCalifornia areare invitinginviting thethe publicpublic backback forfor theirtheir annualannual FourthFourth ofof JulyJuly celebrations.celebrations.
Disneyland announced last week it would restart its summer fireworks extravaganza, inin timetime forfor thethe FourthFourth ofof July.July.
Fireworks shows in Yucaipa andand Highland alsoalso willwill bebe openopen toto thethe publicpublic atat Yucaipa High School and Immanuel Baptist Church, respectively.
Pyro Spectaculars also is producing Independence Day fireworks shows in Torrance, El Segundo, at the Queen Mary in Long Beach, at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, and the 4th of July Hometown Celebration, featuring Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, at the Calabasas High School football field.
https://www.sbsun.com/2021/06/20/rialto-pyrotechnics-company-rebounds-from-devastating-pandemic-plans-250-fireworks-shows-this-year/ 4/6 6/21/2021 Rialto pyrotechnics company rebounds from ‘devastating’ pandemic, plans 250 fireworks shows this year – San Bernardino Sun In Lake Elsinore, meanwhile, the city’’s annual Fourth of July Fireworks Spectacular isis onon againagain thisthis yearyear andand willwill bebe openopen toto thethe public.public. ItIt willwill featurefeature aa boat parade before the scheduled fireworks show at 9 p.m. From 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., the city will host a “Party in the Park,” featuring a barbecue, bicycle parade and other activities.
“We’’re doing the whole shebang!” Dailey said.
Newsroom Guidelines News Tips Contact Us Report an Error
Stay up to date on the latest Coronavirus coverage in your area. Coronavirus Update
Enter your email to sign up
SIGN UP
Tags: Coronavirus,, fireworks,, Fourth of July,, Top Stories Breeze,, Top Stories IVDB,, Top Stories LADN,, Top Stories LBPT,, Top Stories OCR,, Top Stories PE,, Top Stories PSN,, Top Stories RDF,, Top Stories SGVT,, Top Stories Sun,, Top Stories WDN
Joe Nelson | reporter Joe Nelson is an award-winning investigative reporter who has worked for The Sun since November 1999. He started as a crime reporter and went on to cover a variety of beats including courts and the cities of Colton, Highland and Grand Terrace. He has covered San Bernardino County since 2009. Nelson is a graduate of California State University Fullerton. In 2014, he completed a fellowship at Loyola Law School's Journalist Law School program.
[email protected]@scng.com
Follow Joe Nelson @GumshoeJoe
https://www.sbsun.com/2021/06/20/rialto-pyrotechnics-company-rebounds-from-devastating-pandemic-plans-250-fireworks-shows-this-year/ 5/6 6/21/2021 Former Apple Valley Unified School District trustee under investigation following resignation
NEWS Former Apple Valley Unified School District trustee under investigation following resignation Adeline Blasingame resigned this month after winning Area 1 seat in November
Rene Ray De La Cruz Victorville Daily Press Published 2:10 p.m. PT Jun. 19, 2021
The sudden resignation of Board Trustee Adeline Blasingame earlier this month has led the Apple Valley Unified School District to search for a provisional appointee to fill her seat amid an investigation opened by the local district attorney.
AVUSD Board Trustee Rick Roelle told the Daily Press on Wednesday that Blasingame said “a medical issue” was the motive behind her resignation.
“And to my understanding, there’s also a criminal investigation underway regarding Blasingame,” said Roelle, who declined to provide further details.
The San Bernardino County District Attorney’s Office confirmed Blasingame is under investigation, but provided no additional information.
On June 2, Blasingame submitted her resignation, effective Tuesday, according to AVUSD Superintendent Trenae Nelson, who said the resignation was then filed with the San Bernardino County Superintendent of Schools as required by law.
At that time, the board had 60 days to either order a special election or make a provisional appointment to fill the vacancy.
Nelson discussed Blasingame’s resignation during the June 3 and June 10 board meetings, but she did not share details or the motive behind the trustee's departure.
Blasingame and officials with the Superintendent of Schools did not return requests for comment.
https://www.vvdailypress.com/story/news/2021/06/19/former-apple-valley-unified-school-district-trustee-under-investigation-following-resignation/5293… 1/3 6/21/2021 Former Apple Valley Unified School District trustee under investigation following resignation
Blasingame's background
Blasingame won AVUSD's Area 1 seat in the November 2020 election, beating out Victor Valley Community College District trustee Dennis Henderson and incumbent Donna Davis.
During a previous, failed campaign in 2018 for AVUSD's Area 2 seat, Blasingame described herself as an educator with 40 years of experience. She earned a master’s degree in Curriculum Development and holds various teaching credentials.
At that time, she also worked on Tony Thurmond's campaign for State Superintendent of Education. Previously, she volunteered on several school board campaigns, a mayoral campaign and two campaigns at the state level.
In a campaign statement in 2018, Blasingame said, “I believe that today more than ever we must focus on providing our children with a safe learning environment. Anything less negatively impacts their ability to learn. To do this we must have the participation of parents, students, teachers, staff, and the community. The challenges now facing our schools are tremendous but working together we can overcome them.”
The appointee process
District officials on Monday said they would begin the provisional appointment process to fill Blasingame’s Area 1 seat rather than hold a special election.
“Holding a special election would take money away from our students and schools,” Trustee Dennis Bender told the Daily Press. “Appointing someone is the wisest decision for our district.”
After the interview and selection process, the new appointee will join AVUSD Board President Maria Okpara and trustees, Roelle, Wilson So and Bender, who voted unanimously on June 10 to go forward with the appointee process.
Nelson told the board that a special election would have gone through the county’s Registrar of Voters at “a significant cost.”
Roelle said he didn’t want the school district “wasting money” for a special election when the board could simply make a provisional appointment.
“I think with social media, the newspaper we can get the word out to the area to make sure that we get some interest in it,” Rolle said. https://www.vvdailypress.com/story/news/2021/06/19/former-apple-valley-unified-school-district-trustee-under-investigation-following-resignation/5293… 2/3 6/21/2021 Former Apple Valley Unified School District trustee under investigation following resignation
Bender referenced the city of Victorville’s history of special elections and said he’d rather appoint someone and spend the money on teaching students.
On November 2017, for example, a special election that included a failed half-percent sales tax measure cost Victorville $135,930, according to city staff.
Victorville Mayor Debra Jones previously said a special election to fill former Mayor Pro Tem Rita Ramirez's seat for one year would cost over $800,000, based on a letter from the County Registrar of Voters Office to the City of Rialto.
The Daily Press obtained a copy of the 2020 letter, which said the estimated cost of a special election would be $700,000.
“The Registrar of Voters does not provide rough estimates for a special election,” Registrar of Voters Bob Page said. “When requested by a jurisdiction, the Registrar of Voters will develop a cost estimate based on factors specific to that jurisdiction and the proposed election as no two elections are exactly alike.”
Applicant information
Applications are being accepted for the board position that will serve until December 2022.
Those interested in applying for the appointment must be a citizen, at least 18 years of age, and registered to vote in the AVUSD trustee area they wish to represent.
Application forms are available from 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday at the AVUSD Administrative Services/Business Office, 12555 Navajo Road, Apple Valley.
Forms will not be available for in-person pickup between June 28 to July 5, but online applications are available at www.AVUSD.org.
The filing deadline is noon July 19.
For more information, contact the AVUSD superintendent’s office at 760-247-8001 Ext. 20012.
Daily Press reporter Rene Ray De La Cruz may be reached at 760-951-6227 or [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @DP_ReneDeLaCruz.
https://www.vvdailypress.com/story/news/2021/06/19/former-apple-valley-unified-school-district-trustee-under-investigation-following-resignation/5293… 3/3 6/21/2021 Victorville settles wrongful death suit for $2.5 million after man drowned in 2017
COURTS Victorville settles wrongful death suit for $2.5 million after man drowned in 2017 Michael Williams died after a flood swept his car into Doris Davies Park
Martin Estacio Victorville Daily Press Published 3:51 p.m. PT Jun. 19, 2021 Updated 9:23 p.m. PT Jun. 19, 2021
The city of Victorville has reached a settlement worth $2.5-million with the family of a man who drowned after his car became submerged in floodwaters near Doris Davies Park over four years ago.
The Wallace Firm — which represented Michael Williams’ wife and son — said the San Bernardino Superior Court approved the settlement Thursday.
Lawyers for Williams’ family argued that the city was liable for his death as it allegedly knew of dangerous conditions on Pebble Beach Drive, which became flooded during a storm in February 2017, and failed to act.
“Michael’s death was easily preventable and we’re glad to see the City is being held accountable for their negligence and blatant disregard of numerous warnings of this particular area,” Brad Wallace, the lead counsel and founder of The Wallace Firm, said in a statement.
Per the settlement agreement, however, the city did not admit or concede to any wrongdoing, and officials denied liability in Williams’ death.
“This was a very unfortunate accident and a tragic reminder for motorists to obey all posted warnings such as the 'Subject to Flooding' sign the City had clearly posted where this incident occurred,” said Victorville spokesperson Sue Jones in an email Friday.
An epic storm and tragic death
One of the most powerful storms in years blew into the region on Feb. 17, 2017, causing havoc across Southern California and the Victor Valley, the Daily Press reported. https://www.vvdailypress.com/story/news/courts/2021/06/19/victorville-settles-wrongful-death-suit-2-5-million-after-man-drowned-2017/7752450002/ 1/4 6/21/2021 Victorville settles wrongful death suit for $2.5 million after man drowned in 2017
During the heavy rain and wind, a portion of Interstate 15 collapsed, power lines were downed and multiple traffic accidents were reported.
Victorville wasn’t spared, receiving 1.25 inches of rainfall, the highest recorded precipitation in the region at the time.
Authorities said Williams, 41, was driving on Pebble Beach Drive, east of Arrowhead Drive, that Friday night when he and another motorist were swept away in running water from a storm drainage culvert.
Both vehicles came to rest in Doris Davies Park.
But while the other driver climbed on top of his car, Williams became trapped in his silver Mercedes when water started flowing over the vehicle and into the sunroof, the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department said.
A sheriff’s helicopter team rescued the other stranded driver. Williams, however, died in his car despite firefighters’ attempts to free him.
Friends of Williams said he had moved to Victorville from the Los Angeles area less than a year before and described him as a great father.
“He survived so much, it’s crazy he died this way,” one friend told the Daily Press days after he lost his life.
Area was prone to flooding, lawyers say
Attorneys for Williams’ family members filed lawsuits later that year.
In the wrongful death complaint, they alleged that the city knew the area was prone to flooding and had received weather reports that the roadway would receive “torrential rainfall.”
More than a month before Williams’ death, city officials barricaded and closed the road after receiving less rainfall than was expected in the February storm, Williams’ attorneys said.
No such closure was in place on Feb. 17, according to the complaint.
The attorneys also argued that Victorville's employees failed to clear out storm drains and other areas where mud, leaves and debris could collect at Pebble Beach Drive so that water could flow freely and “mitigate the potential for street flooding.” https://www.vvdailypress.com/story/news/courts/2021/06/19/victorville-settles-wrongful-death-suit-2-5-million-after-man-drowned-2017/7752450002/ 2/4 6/21/2021 Victorville settles wrongful death suit for $2.5 million after man drowned in 2017
Jones said Friday that a press release by The Wallace Firm made “several false assertions” but only addressed the allegation that Victorville had failed “to perform maintenance activities in the area where the incident occurred.”
“This is not true. Pebble Beach Drive was engineered to use a channel crossing for drainage, not a storm drain,” she said. “Therefore, the assertion that we didn’t clean the storm drain is misleading and false.”
Jones added that the channel crossings were prevalent in the High Desert and that they were common in areas where it would be difficult or impractical to build a bridge.
Wallace later wrote in an email to the Daily Press that city employees identified the area around Pebble Beach “at the wash as a location that needed maintenance in case of storms” but failed to perform it prior to the storm hitting.
In a 2018 answer to the complaint, lawyers for the city made 18 affirmative defenses as to why the complaint by the family should be dismissed.
One defense was that a public entity may not be held liable “for an injury caused by the effect on the use of streets and highways of weather conditions as such,” or a weather immunity.
In a motion to dismiss the case, lawyers for the city also addressed an autopsy and toxicology report from the county.
Jones said the “accident” was a “very stark reminder of how deadly impaired driving can be, as Mr. Williams was determined by the coroner to have had significant levels of an illicit drug in his system.”
Wallace said that while Williams “had a low level of PCP in his system at the time of his tragic death, medical evidence showed it was not at a sufficiently high level as to cause ‘even mild effects of intoxication.’”
“While the City continued to discuss Mr. Williams blood results in trying to escape responsibility for his drowning death, the evidence in the case proved that the City was well aware that motorists would attempt to cross streets flooded with water,” he added, noting that another motorist was also swept up when trying to cross.
'Loved ones will forever feel the loss'
https://www.vvdailypress.com/story/news/courts/2021/06/19/victorville-settles-wrongful-death-suit-2-5-million-after-man-drowned-2017/7752450002/ 3/4 6/21/2021 Victorville settles wrongful death suit for $2.5 million after man drowned in 2017
Jones said in her email that the decision to settle was not made by the city. Instead, a “risk liability pool” comprised of public agencies, including Victorville, opted for settlement.
When a claim is above $50,000, Jones said it is no longer within the city’s authority to “settle or not.”
Claims above $1 million are referred to a committee that reviews the claim, past case law and other factors before making a determination.
“In this particular case, the risk pool chose to settle the claim to avoid the uncertainty of a jury trial,” Jones said.
Court records show that lawyers for the city attempted to have the lawsuit dismissed but that motion was denied in 2019.
In her ruling, Superior Court Judge Donna Garza wrote there were “triable issues” as to whether the rain and “physical attributes of the subject property combined to make the property hazardous to reasonably careful users, thus creating a substantial risk of injury.”
Other issues she noted were whether the city had notice of the dangerous conditions and whether the weather immunity would be inapplicable due to the severe rainstorm and design of the roadway.
A jury trial was scheduled for late April until a settlement notice was filed about two weeks before, according to court records.
Attorney Wallace said the settlement was likely agreed to because the city “(recognized) that there were enough problems with their conduct and the role they played in causing Michael Williams’ death, that they needed to pay two and a half million dollars to avoid the jury possibly awarding much more.”
Joel Williams, wife of Michael Williams, said while the family was appreciative of the settlement, "you can never put a price on the loss of life."
“Michael’s daughter loses the experience of having her father to walk her down the aisle, his son will never be able to have those father son talks. He can’t tell him about his first crush, can you imagine?” she wrote in a statement Saturday. “We know Michael is at peace, but his loved ones will forever feel the loss.”
Daily Press reporter Martin Estacio may be reached at 760-955-5358 or [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @DP_mestacio. https://www.vvdailypress.com/story/news/courts/2021/06/19/victorville-settles-wrongful-death-suit-2-5-million-after-man-drowned-2017/7752450002/ 4/4 6/21/2021 California hit-and-run: Survivor of crash left 3 girls dead to recover
NEWS 'I was convinced she was gone': 14-year- old fights on after Lucerne Valley hit- and-run Charlie McGee Victorville Daily Press Published 6:00 a.m. PT Jun. 21, 2021
More than two weeks after an unidentified driver killed three young girls in Lucerne Valley, the sole survivor of that nighttime hit-and-run faces a long road to recovery.
Sherrie Orndorff, the mother of 14-year-old Natalie Coe, said her daughter is expected to spend“weeks to months more” at Loma Linda University Medical Center and other treatment facilities.
Natalie was airlifted to Loma Linda on June 5. Around 10:19 p.m. that evening, according to the California Highway Patrol, a white 2002 Chevrolet Silverado struck Natalie and three friends from behind on Camp Rock Road, north of Rabbit Springs Road. Three of the girls died – Willow Sanchez, 11; Daytona Bronas, 12; and Sandra Mizer, 13 – and Natalie was left with myriad injuries.
Witnesses said the driver and a passenger got out of the truck, observed the scene momentarily, and ran into the desert. Although the truck was left at the scene, CHP has not announced any suspects or findings of its investigation.
CHP has not responded to multiple requests from the Daily Press for updates on its investigation.
'It was really touch-and-go'
"I was convinced she was gone," Orndorff says of her initial reaction that night, after running to a crowd of bystanders and at least one CHP officer who were surrounding the site of the hit-and-run. "For the first week, it was really touch-and-go. We didn’t go a day without setbacks."
https://www.vvdailypress.com/story/news/2021/06/21/california-hit-and-run-survivor-crash-left-3-girls-dead-recover/7765596002/?utm_campaign=snd-… 1/4 6/21/2021 California hit-and-run: Survivor of crash left 3 girls dead to recover
Natalie has long used a wheelchair due to arthogryposis, a condition that causes joints and muscles to be malformed and has affected Natalie’s arms and legs since birth. After the hit- and-run, her mother says, she faces a daunting list of new challenges. She lost one leg in the crash, with the other leg shattered. She suffered injuries to her brain and kidney; a laceration on her liver; and pulmonary and heart problems.
Early reports suggested that one of Natalie’s legs had been amputated soon after she was airlifted to Loma Linda. But according to Orndorff, the hit-and-run tore Natalie’s leg off upon impact.
Orndorff says her daughter is still struggling to process memories and emotions. She remembers walking outside with friends that night, but doesn’t remember who the friends were or that a crash occurred. She asked if her mother has texted Daytona, one of the girls killed that night, with an update on the situation.
Yet, Orndorff says doctors gave her the most upbeat prognosis yet on Natalie’s condition on Sunday morning.
The 14-year-old will likely need additional surgeries and physical rehabilitation to regain basic functions like the use of her hands. "But before this, they weren’t able to say if they thought she’d even make it."
Wrestling with guilt after letting girls play outside
As Orndorff describes it, the four girls wanted to play outside the night of June 5, which was soon after the school year had ended for summer break. Natalie’s wheelchair wasn’t fully charged, her mother says, so she allowed them outside but told them to stay close to the property.
They didn’t stay close for long. Orndorff says after some time had passed, she went outside to check on them and was met with a silence that any mother would fear. She spent 10 to 15 minutes looking for them until a neighbor insisted that she check on a commotion up the street. There, she wasn't able to see through a crowd of bystanders. She said a CHP officer prevented her from getting too close to the grisly scene "because he had to control the situation."
Orndorff said she is grappling with guilt over what happened to all of the girls.
“Some people have said I should’ve done better," she said. "No one will ever blame me more https://www.vvdailypress.com/story/news/2021/06/21/california-hit-and-run-survivor-crash-left-3-girls-dead-recover/7765596002/?utm_campaign=snd-than I do.” … 2/4 6/21/2021 California hit-and-run: Survivor of crash left 3 girls dead to recover
However, the larger community response “has been overwhelming me with support,” she says. With Natalie's expected medical bills piling up – and a lack of clarity on how much of it will be covered by health insurance – the people of Lucerne Valley have movedto help.
An example came one week after the hit-and-run, when Café 247 held a concert and raffle to raise money for the families of all four victims. Orndorff declined to say how much money her family got from that event, but said the next time she went to the bank, the money was there waiting for her.
“I’m more introverted. I don’t socialize or go to things. I’m not like Natalie – I don’t make friends with everyone,” Orndorff says. “I’ve never seen anything like this response. I grew up in a big city.”
Lack of sidewalks, speeding an issue in area
Jessica Risler, vice president of the Lucerne Valley Unified School District Board of Trustees, has been involved in efforts to support the families since the day after the hit-and-run, when she helped organize an impromptu candlelight vigil that brought out more than 100 people.
Risler said lessons can be learned from the tragedy. With no sidewalks along the asphalt and dirt roads in much of Lucerne Valley, pedestrians and especially people who use wheelchairs are forced to share roadways with vehicles. Speeding is another problem, she said.
“Everybody’s in a rush and thinks because it’s a small part of the desert, that you can just barrel through without endangering anyone. People just need to slow down,” she said.
“It’s getting too crowded to have such little enforcement in the traffic,” she added. “Maybe some of the funding for transportation could be sent this way.”
Risler and other community members are still hard at work to aid the families of the children lost on June 5.
A celebration of life was held on Thursday for Sandra Mizer, 13. A celebration for one of the other victims, Daytona Bronas, 12, will be held on July 3. That will be the third commemoration after the first such event was held on June 11, for 11-year-old Willow Sanchez.
Risler says a fundraiser for all four families will be held at 5 p.m. on Friday with raffles and $10 meatloaf dinner plates for the public at Lucerne Valley Moose Lodge. https://www.vvdailypress.com/story/news/2021/06/21/california-hit-and-run-survivor-crash-left-3-girls-dead-recover/7765596002/?utm_campaign=snd-… 3/4 6/21/2021 California hit-and-run: Survivor of crash left 3 girls dead to recover
Aside from fundraising and grieving, Risler says the community’s main focus is “trying to get this guy to turn himself in.” Risler said there has been much discussion in the community about who was behind the wheel that night.
“I can’t fathom how he’s able to look himself in the mirror,” Risler says. “You’ve had time to say goodbye to your family, and now it’s time stand up for what you did. Just to give these families some closure, and these girls some justice.”
Charlie McGee covers the city of Barstow and its surrounding communities for the Daily Press. He is also a Report for America corps member with the GroundTruth Project, an independent, nonpartisan, nonprofit news organization dedicated to supporting the next generation of journalists in the U.S. and around the world. McGee may be reached at 760-955-5341 or [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @bycharliemcgee.
https://www.vvdailypress.com/story/news/2021/06/21/california-hit-and-run-survivor-crash-left-3-girls-dead-recover/7765596002/?utm_campaign=snd-… 4/4 6/21/2021 Elderly woman dies after firefighters pull her from burning home in Barstow
NEWS Elderly woman dies after firefighters pull her from burning home in Barstow Barstow Fire Protection District says 'cooking accident' sparked deadly blaze
Martin Estacio Victorville Daily Press Published 1:48 a.m. PT Jun. 20, 2021
An elderly woman died after becoming trapped in a house fire in Barstow despite the efforts of firefighters who were able to pull her from the blaze.
The woman was only identified as being about 70 years old, according to a Barstow Fire Protection District report.
Emergency personnel responded to the fire in the 600 block of Colonial Drive shortly after 5 a.m. Friday.
“Upon arrival firefighters were met with heavy fire and smoke conditions and confirmed that they had a person trapped inside the residence,” the BFPD said.
Officials said crews made an “aggressive attack” and found the woman, who had been unable to escape, in a bedroom.
Firefighters pulled her outside where paramedics began life-saving measures, but she “succumbed to her injuries,” authorities said.
Firefighting crews contained the blaze in about 20 minutes.
According to the BFPD report, the cause of the fire was an unintentional cooking accident. The house sustained more than $100,000 worth of damage.
Authorities said both the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department and Barstow Police Department are investigating the fire.
The BFPD responded to another fire in an occupied home only two days before the fatal fire broke out.
https://www.vvdailypress.com/story/news/2021/06/20/elderly-woman-dies-after-firefighters-pull-her-burning-home-barstow/7757905002/?utm_campaig… 1/2 6/21/2021 Elderly woman dies after firefighters pull her from burning home in Barstow
On Wednesday, firefighters received multiple reports of a structure “well engulfed” in the 300 block of North Third Avenue.
First responders were met with “heavy fire coming from the front door,” officials said. Crews gained control of the fire in about 15 minutes, according to the BFPD.
One resident escaped the house prior to the firefighters’ arrival. No injuries were reported.
The 1,000-square-foot house sustained $40,000 worth of major fire damage, authorities said.
Daily Press reporter Martin Estacio may be reached at 760-955-5358 or [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @DP_mestacio.
https://www.vvdailypress.com/story/news/2021/06/20/elderly-woman-dies-after-firefighters-pull-her-burning-home-barstow/7757905002/?utm_campaig… 2/2 6/18/2021 San Bernardino County tops 900,000 COVID-19 vaccinations, but the pace has slowed – Press Enterprise ___
NEWS • News San Bernardino County tops 900,000 COVID-19 vaccinations, but the pace has slowed
By STEVE SCAUZILLO || [email protected] || SanSan GabrielGabriel ValleyValley Tribune PUBLISHED: June 18, 2021 at 2:23 p.m. || UPDATED:UPDATED: June 18, 2021 at 2:23 p.m.
This critical coverage is being provided free to all readers. Support reporting like this with a subscription to The Press-Enterprise. Special Offer: Just 99¢ for 3 months.
Support local journalism
More than 900,000 San Bernardino County residents have received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine thisthis week,week, andand thethe countycounty reportedreported anan increaseincrease inin daily shots over the last three days, according to data released Friday, June 18, by county and state sources.
The county gave out 8,465 shots on Thursday, the latest for which vaccination numbers are available and the most since the beginning of the week. But the pace of vaccines administered is slowing down even as pandemic restrictions have eased.
During the week ending June 10, about 56,834 doses were administered, but the weekly numbers have continued to drop since then. During the current week, the county has reported a pace of 45,112. https://www.pe.com/2021/06/18/san-bernardino-county-tops-900000-covid-19-vaccinations-but-the-pace-has-slowed/?utm_campaign=social… 1/4 6/18/2021 San Bernardino County tops 900,000 COVID-19 vaccinations, but the pace has slowed – Press Enterprise About 40.9% of the county’’s population have received some vaccine protection, farfar belowbelow thethe overalloverall statestate percentagepercentage ofof almostalmost 56%,56%, accordingaccording toto thethe statestate healthhealth department.
On Friday, the county also reported 35 new cases of the coronavirus andand sevenseven additional deaths.
Here are the latest numbers. Vaccination and hospitalization data comes from the state and is as of Thursday. Other numbers were reported by the county Friday.
San Bernardino County
Vaccinations
1,623,597 doses administered so far to county residents 45,112 doses reported in the past week 906,456 residents have received at least one dose 764,395 of them are fully vaccinated
Confirmed cases
299,186 total 288 reported in the past week 293,687 of the total cases are estimated to be resolved (living patients who testedtested positivepositive moremore thanthan 1010 daysdays ago)ago)
Deaths
4,622 total 23 reported in the past week
Hospital survey (25(25 ofof 2525 facilitiesfacilities reporting)reporting)
60 confirmed and 8 suspected patients hospitalized 16 confirmed and 1 suspected patients in the ICU
Tests
3,350,672 total 36,379 reported in the past week
How this week compares to the week before https://www.pe.com/2021/06/18/san-bernardino-county-tops-900000-covid-19-vaccinations-but-the-pace-has-slowed/?utm_campaign=social… 2/4 6/18/2021 San Bernardino County tops 900,000 COVID-19 vaccinations, but the pace has slowed – Press Enterprise
21% fewer vaccine doses reported 13% more cases reported 36% fewer deaths reported 46% more confirmed patients in the hospital 7% more confirmed patients in the ICU 9% fewer tests reported
For information on cases, deaths and vaccinations by community in San Bernardino County, click here..
Here is a look at how the county’’s numbers have changed each day:
SCNG staff writer Nikie Johnson contributed to this article.
Newsroom Guidelines News Tips Contact Us Report an Error
Stay up to date on the latest Coronavirus coverage in your area. Coronavirus Update
Enter your email to sign up
SIGN UP
https://www.pe.com/2021/06/18/san-bernardino-county-tops-900000-covid-19-vaccinations-but-the-pace-has-slowed/?utm_campaign=social… 3/4 6/21/2021 Why are so few people getting vaccinated in the Inland Empire? – San Bernardino Sun ___
LOCAL NEWS • News Why are so few people getting vaccinated in the Inland Empire? Riverside, San Bernardino counties lag behind Los Angeles and Orange counties as experts warn low rates could cause a coronavirus outbreak
By RYAN HAGEN || [email protected] andand STEVE SCAUZILLO || [email protected] || TheThe SunSun PUBLISHED: June 18, 2021 at 5:12 p.m. || UPDATED:UPDATED: June 18, 2021 at 5:16 p.m.
Less than half of Inland residents have been vaccinated against COVID-19 —— significantly lower than the percentage in Los Angeles County and California overall — but health officials and others are working to increase that number.
That requires knowing why people aren’’tt gettinggetting vaccinated.vaccinated.
Factors slowing the pace in Riverside and San Bernardino counties include difficulties with access and taking time off work for people in lower socio- economic communities, distrust of government and seeing the vaccine as a low priority. Also there have been mixed messages from elected officials and clergy who’’ve argued against state shut-down orders, face-covering mandates and even getting the vaccine, government and academic sources said.
Most studying the issue split the unvaccinated into three groups: those opposed, thosethose whowho areare skepticalskeptical butbut couldcould bebe persuadedpersuaded andand thosethose whowho areare interestedinterested butbut haven’’tt donedone itit yet.yet.
https://www.sbsun.com/2021/06/18/why-are-so-few-people-getting-vaccinated-in-the-inland-empire/ 1/8 6/21/2021 Why are so few people getting vaccinated in the Inland Empire? – San Bernardino Sun “As a county, we’’re focusing our efforts on those who want to be vaccinated but are having a harder time getting vaccinated,” said Andrew Goldfrach, San Bernardino County’’s interim health director. “For those who are sure they don’’tt want to be vaccinated, it’’s their personal choice, and I respect their opinions. But vaccines have been proven to be safe and the science is overwhelming in terms of thethe efficacyefficacy ofof thethe vaccine.”vaccine.”
The counties’’ effortsefforts includeinclude goinggoing door-to-doordoor-to-door inin areasareas withwith lowlow vaccinationvaccination rates to inform them of nearby vaccination sites, hosting events with draws such as ice cream and paying for radio and billboard ads in multiple languages.
They’’ve found that health officials often aren’’tt asas trustedtrusted —— peoplepeople havehave nono relationship with them — and have had more success partnering with individuals and groups trusted by the unvaccinated, county officials say.
Why does it matter?
With the state’’s COVID-19 restrictions ebbing and more people gathering at restaurants, malls and stadiums, the Inland Empire could see a coronavirus resurgence because of its low vaccine rates,rates, expertsexperts warn.warn.
Inland counties’’ ratesrates areare inin thethe bottombottom halfhalf ofof thethe 5858 countiescounties andand healthhealth officialsofficials are struggling to vaccinate more people in an increasingly difficult effort to reach herd immunity, which means between 70% and 80% of the population are inoculated.inoculated.
In San Bernardino County, 34.5% of the population are fully vaccinated and 40.9% have received at least one dose, according to California Department of Health data as of Friday, June 18. While the top-ranked county, Marin, has fully vaccinated 68.5% of its residents, San Bernardino County places 44th.
Riverside County is only slightly better, at 36% of the population fully vaccinated and 44% at least partially vaccinated. Riverside County ranks 36th.
Public health experts say the sharp drop in cases, deaths and hospitalizations fromfrom thethe DecemberDecember andand JanuaryJanuary surgesurge isis duedue partlypartly toto statestate andand countycounty restrictions but mostly the result of an aggressive vaccine rollout that has nearly stopped virus transmission.
But new cases still occurring — albeit at a much lower rate — are almost exclusively from non-vaccinated people, public health officials say. Adding a more open society into the mix of counties with 50% or more of the population unvaccinated may lead to outbreaks down the line.
https://www.sbsun.com/2021/06/18/why-are-so-few-people-getting-vaccinated-in-the-inland-empire/ 2/8 6/21/2021 Why are so few people getting vaccinated in the Inland Empire? – San Bernardino Sun “Counties with lower vaccination rates will be at greater risk for outbreaks than counties with higher vaccination rates,” said Dr. Geoffrey Leung, Riverside County’’s public health officer.
Some just saying ‘no’ to shot
A survey done by Riverside County in April and May of 2021 received more than 3,000 responses. About 20% of the population of the county said they are not planning on getting vaccinated, according to survey results, said Jose Arballo Jr., spokesperson for the Riverside County public health department.
The most common reason was the belief that COVID-19 poses a low personal risk, Riverside County spokesperson Brooke Federico said. Some wanted more informationinformation onon thethe vaccinevaccine’’s safety, she said.
Leung said as more of what he called “fence-sitters” become vaccinated and enjoy thethe benefits,benefits, suchsuch asas visitingvisiting family,family, seeingseeing grandchildrengrandchildren oror goinggoing toto aa restaurantrestaurant without wearing a mask, that leads to others changing their minds and getting inoculated.inoculated.
He figures the numbers of vaccine-hesitant people in the county is closer to 15%.
San Bernardino County chose not to do a similar survey because officials were concerned it wouldn’’tt bebe accurateaccurate —— theythey couldncouldn’’tt telltell whowho waswas votingvoting andand ifif theythey did so multiple times. But they’’ve seen similar state data and have spoken to enough people to have a good idea of why people aren’’tt gettinggetting vaccinated,vaccinated, Goldfrach said.
They’’ve partnered with dozens of community-based organizations that talk directly to people who haven’’tt receivedreceived thethe vaccinevaccine andand thosethose whowho didndidn’’tt getget itit before but now are getting the jab.
One partner for both Inland counties — as well as others statewide — is Dr. Ramiro Zuniga, vice president and medical director for Health Net’’s Medi-Cal line of business.
Hesitations can be broken into three categories, he said, and Health Net has a response for each.
People are concerned about safety, but only about 10% of people have side effects severe enough to miss a day of work and only a few deaths have occurred — mostly women under 50 taking the Johnson & Johnson vaccine — out of millions of vaccines given in the United States, he said.
https://www.sbsun.com/2021/06/18/why-are-so-few-people-getting-vaccinated-in-the-inland-empire/ 3/8 6/21/2021 Why are so few people getting vaccinated in the Inland Empire? – San Bernardino Sun They’’re concerned about effectiveness, but clinical studies and real-world data show vaccines are highly effective at protecting people from sickness and from passing on the virus, he said.
And they struggle with access, which is why he advises people to visit myturn.ca.gov oror callcall 833-422-4255833-422-4255 toto findfind anan appointmentappointment nearnear them.them.
Still, some residents remain opposed.
Linda Vargas, a 25-year-old Rancho Cucamonga resident, is not planning to get the vaccine.
She has never taken antibiotics, over-the-counter pain killers or any flu vaccine. She works on building up her immune system by eating a healthy diet of vegetables, some proteins and grains.
“I know that I am very healthy. I don’’tt feelfeel likelike II amam jeopardizingjeopardizing anybody,”anybody,” sheshe said Thursday, June. 17.
Vargas said she will continue to wear a mask in public, practice social distancing and wash her hands.
She believes the vaccine may do more harm than good. And if she did get infected with the coronavirus, she said: “My body would fight it off.”
Rich Garcia, a 54-year-old Menifee resident, said he compared the survival rate for someone in his age group who got COVID-19 to the risk of serious side effects fromfrom thethe vaccine.vaccine.
“It’’s based on evidence,” Garcia said. “Isn’’tt itit rationalrational andand logicallogical toto looklook atat thethe death rate from the vaccine and then the death rate from the disease and then weigh out the decision?”
COVID-19 is responsible for 600,000 deaths,, whichwhich isis equalequal toto thethe yearlyyearly deathdeath tolltoll of cancer. That includes 4,625 in Riverside County and 4,622 in San Bernardino County. Most are older, but close to 2,000 Inland residents under 60 years old have died of COVID-19.
Reasons behind vaccine hesitancy
https://www.sbsun.com/2021/06/18/why-are-so-few-people-getting-vaccinated-in-the-inland-empire/ 4/8 6/21/2021 Why are so few people getting vaccinated in the Inland Empire? – San Bernardino Sun A California survey released June 9 found a discrepancy in those vaccinated vs. thosethose notnot vaccinatedvaccinated duedue toto income.income. Lower-incomeLower-income residentsresidents havehave aa 59%59% vaccination rate, lower than the 64% of those who make between $40,000 and just under $80,000 and much lower than the 79% rate for those earning $80,000 or more, according to the Public Policy Institute of California statewide survey conducted in May.
Black Americans, at 56% and Latinos, at 60%, are being vaccinated at lower percentages than whites — 72% — and Asian Americans — 80% — according to survey results.
Statistics in Riverside County cities mimic these statewide polls. For example, thesethese communitiescommunities hadhad somesome ofof thethe highesthighest percentagepercentage ofof vaccinatedvaccinated populationspopulations of those 12 years or older: Rancho Mirage (84%); Palm Springs (78%) and Desert Palms (88%). All are considered more affluent communities. Middle or lower- socio-economic communities had lower vaccination rates, including Coachella (44%);(44%); CoronaCorona (48%)(48%) andand JurupaJurupa ValleyValley (42%),(42%), accordingaccording toto countycounty statistics.statistics.
Though the shot is free, people working two jobs and raising children have a hard timetime gettinggetting timetime offoff toto getget thethe shot,shot, LeungLeung said.said.
“It seems to be harder with families that are struggling because they have so many other priorities,” he said.
But UC Irvine professor and epidemiologist Andrew Noymer said that is no longer true.true.
“You can walk into any retail pharmacy and get vaccinated,” he said Monday, June 14. “That affluence argument doesn’’tt wash.”wash.”
Are politicians’ messages to blame?
While economics play a role, one expert said much vaccine hesitancy in Riverside County is due to elected officials, such as county Supervisor Jeff Hewitt andand Sheriff Chad Bianco,, whowho havehave spokenspoken outout forfor thethe pastpast 1616 monthsmonths againstagainst Gov.Gov. Gavin Newsom’’s safer-at-home orders. County supervisors jettisonedjettisoned thethe countycounty’’s mask order inin MayMay 2020.2020.
Bianco said in a December interview that he will not get the vaccine, that instead he would beef up his immune system and stay healthy, then testedtested positivepositive inin January. Both officials have joined with evangelical leaders who have held rallies condemning rules against gatherings, mask-wearing and other restrictions that experts conclude brought down the surge and allowed the state on Tuesday, June 15, to mostly reopen. https://www.sbsun.com/2021/06/18/why-are-so-few-people-getting-vaccinated-in-the-inland-empire/ 5/8 6/21/2021 Why are so few people getting vaccinated in the Inland Empire? – San Bernardino Sun Bianco said in that interview that the virus was not a lethal threat to those who are healthy.
Richard M. Carpiano, a UC Riverside professor researching public health and the pandemic, said those messages politicized scientific facts and has led to vaccine hesitancy.
“This has undermined the credibility of public health and made outreach harder,” Carpiano said. “If they are downplaying the significance of the pandemic itself, thatthat willwill onlyonly feedfeed intointo thethe problemsproblems ofof vaccinationvaccination uptake.uptake. AndAnd willwill leaveleave pocketspockets of vulnerable people.”
Carpiano said many Southern California residents and elected officials have joinedjoined withwith right-wingright-wing extremistextremist groups,groups, deliveringdelivering aa mistrustmistrust inin governmentgovernment thatthat has cost lives.
“If you push scientific mistruths you have blood on your hands,” Carpiano said.
Hewitt said he worked hard to bring in more vaccine supplies earlyearly inin thethe vaccinevaccine effort, saying the state was underserving Riverside County. He also advocated for more mobile vaccination teams to visit senior centers, he said.
Hewitt brushed aside the criticism, saying Carpiano “has spent very little time in thethe realreal world.”world.”
Hewitt, who said he was vaccinated, believes it is up to each individual to decide whether to get the vaccine and would not advocate for it.
“We want to make sure all those who want the vaccines get them,” he said. “The vaccines have done a lot of good.”
Bianco did not respond to requests for interviews.
The vaccine push continues Saturday, June 19, when NFL Hall of Fame lineman Anthony Muñoz returns to his native Ontario to speak at Anthony Muñoz Hall of Fame Park, 1240 W. 4th St, from 2 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. Shots will be given there from noon to 4 p.m.
“When I was in college, I had three knee operations,” which enabled his 13-season NFL career, Muñoz said. “If I listened to the medical professionals then, why wouldn’’tt II listenlisten now?now? II knowknow II’’m not a doctor, but I’’ve educated myself, and this is important.”important.”
https://www.sbsun.com/2021/06/18/why-are-so-few-people-getting-vaccinated-in-the-inland-empire/ 6/8 6/21/2021 California digital vaccine card: Businesses share concerns - Los Angeles Times
ADVERTISEMENT
BUSINESS
Businesses see opportunity and risk in California’s digital vaccine records
https://www.latimes.com/business/story/2021-06-18/california-digital-vaccine-verification-system-new-tool-for-business 1/13 6/21/2021 California digital vaccine card: Businesses share concerns - Los Angeles Times
Kat Orozco and Mark Aviv visit Grand Central Market on Tuesday as California reopened its economy. (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)
By CARLY OLSON, ANDREA CHANG, HUGO MARTÍN
JUNE 18, 2021 7:49 PM PT
Since California’s full reopening on June 15, employees of Rustic Canyon Family restaurants have been asking diners if they’ve received the COVID-19 vaccine. Those who say they’ve been fully vaccinated are told they don’t have to wear a mask inside any of the 10 restaurants owned by the Santa Monica group, which include Cassia and Birdie G’s. Those who say they haven’t been jabbed must keep masks on while not eating or drinking.
But a new statewide system unveiled on Friday could mean the end of this kind of unverified self-reporting. By enabling residents to obtain digital versions of their
https://www.latimes.com/business/story/2021-06-18/california-digital-vaccine-verification-system-new-tool-for-business 2/13 6/21/2021 California digital vaccine card: Businesses share concerns - Los Angeles Times vaccine cards, the new tool could make it easier for businesses to ask customers for proof of vaccination — if they choose to do so.
Up until now, few have, fearful of alienating customers. With state officials taking pains to note that the new digital documents, which include scannable QR codes, are not so- called vaccine passports, it’s unclear whether a technological solution will do much to alter that status quo.
Rustic Canyon Family plans to keep asking customers to “self-attest” their vaccination status rather than seeking digital proof, said Joel Dixon, the group’s president. He noted that the state didn’t make proof of vaccination a requirement for customers and, given the staffing strains that restaurants are already under, having employees check each diner’s QR code or vaccine card “isn’t realistic from an operational perspective.”
ADVERTISING
“I feel like a lot of the time the state releases something that has good intentions around it, but then it becomes burdensome, so a lot of operators choose not to use it because the rules are too hard,” he said. “It just needs to be thoughtfully done so it doesn’t come at a cost for the business.”
Away from the customer-facing side of operations, it’s a different story. In March, Rustic Canyon Family implemented a mandatory COVID vaccine policy for all 400 or so of its employees, who have until July 1 to show proof of vaccination unless they have a https://www.latimes.com/business/story/2021-06-18/california-digital-vaccine-verification-system-new-tool-for-business 3/13 6/21/2021 California digital vaccine card: Businesses share concerns - Los Angeles Times medical or religious exemption. Before Friday, employees could bring their physical cards or show a digital copy; the new QR codes will now be another acceptable form of proof, Dixon said.
CALIFORNIA California encourages venues to require vaccine ‘passports’ — just don’t call them that April 19, 2021
Chris Cole, president of Roncelli Plastics Inc, a contract manufacturer in Monrovia, said that digital vaccine verification may be helpful once his plant begins having more visitors on site again for in-person meetings, which have largely been put on hold for the last 15 months.
Internally, Cole is already keeping records of his employees’ vaccination status. “I don’t see it having a big impact when it comes to our employees,” he said.
One subset of businesses that may be more directly affected are venues that host large gatherings. Los Angeles County health protocols require proof of vaccination or a negative COVID test for entry to indoor events with over 5,000 people and outdoor gatherings, like sports games, with at least 10,000 in attendance.
The Los Angeles Convention Center is hosting several gatherings of 5,000 or fewer people over the next few months and not requiring documentation from attendees. But once the center hosts larger gatherings, probably in the fall, convention officials plan to accept digital vaccination proof, said Ellen Schwartz, general manager of the center. She added that the pandemic protocols for the convention come from the county department of public health, not the state, and she feels “comfortable” with the requirements imposed on the facility so far.
https://www.latimes.com/business/story/2021-06-18/california-digital-vaccine-verification-system-new-tool-for-business 4/13 6/21/2021 California digital vaccine card: Businesses share concerns - Los Angeles Times As of June 15, visitors to Staples Center are required to be vaccinated or have a negative test result within 72 hours of attending an event at the arena but are allowed to self- attest that they meet such guidelines before entering the arena. The arena requires all visitors to wear a mask or a face covering, regardless of their vaccination or negative test status, said Cara Vanderhook, a spokesperson for Staples Center. Asked if the protocol guidelines were sufficient, she said only that it is Staples Center’s policy to “follow all state and county guidelines and protocols as directed along with the NBA guidelines for current games.”
ADVERTISEMENT
Dodger Stadium relies on fans to self-report their vaccination status and act accordingly. Vaccinated and unvaccinated fans can now sit next to one another during games, but unvaccinated fans are recommended under county health protocols to wear a mask or an appropriate face covering, except when eating or drinking, according to Dodgers spokesperson Jon Chapper. But the Dodgers are not requiring or asking guests to verify their vaccination records, he said.
CALIFORNIA What you need to know about California’s new digital vaccine verification June 18, 2021
https://www.latimes.com/business/story/2021-06-18/california-digital-vaccine-verification-system-new-tool-for-business 5/13 6/21/2021 California digital vaccine card: Businesses share concerns - Los Angeles Times At the Disneyland Resort, parkgoers who are fully vaccinated are not required to wear a mask; Disney doesn’t request proof of vaccination. Instead, visitors have to attest they are in compliance when buying a ticket to one of the parks. The state’s new digital record system won’t change Disney’s policy, a spokesperson said.
For small businesses that don’t have to worry about capacity rules, the upside of being able to ask for digital proof of vaccination is less obvious than the potential pitfalls.
ADVERTISEMENT
“We are all happy that things are open and traffic is picking up again,” said Joni Snow, a co-owner of the women’s clothing boutique Joni and Susi in Del Mar.
Snow said she didn’t want to comment on anything vaccine-related, adding that she was concerned that sharing an opinion either way could be divisive and drive away business after a tough year. Right now, her priority is growing the business she shares with her twin sister Susi and making up for months of lost revenue.
BUSINESS COVID-19 VACCINES
https://www.latimes.com/business/story/2021-06-18/california-digital-vaccine-verification-system-new-tool-for-businessYour guide to our new economic reality 6/13 6/21/2021 This bill was meant to protect California workers from COVID. Some counties use it to protect employers instead. – Press Ente… ___
NEWSCALIFORNIA NEWS • News This bill was meant to protect California workers from COVID. Some counties use it to protect employers instead. Only about one-third of the state’s 58 counties released specific information on workplace outbreaks in response to recent public records requests
RICHMOND – JUNE 14: People walk in and out of the HelloFresh warehouse on Factory Street in Richmond, Calif., on Monday, June, 14, 2021. (Randy Vazquez/ Bay Area News Group) https://www.pe.com/2021/06/20/this-bill-was-meant-to-protect-california-workers-from-covid-some-counties-use-it-to-protect-employers-inste… 1/7 6/21/2021 This bill was meant to protect California workers from COVID. Some counties use it to protect employers instead. – Press Ente…
By FIONA KELLIHER || [email protected]@bayareanewsgroup.com || BayBay AreaArea News Group PUBLISHED: June 20, 2021 at 12:11 p.m. || UPDATED:UPDATED: June 20, 2021 at 12:16 p.m.
In the thick of the pandemic, California adopted a law to tell workers of dangers theirtheir employersemployers oftenoften keptkept secret:secret: WhichWhich workplacesworkplaces hadhad sufferedsuffered outbreaksoutbreaks ofof COVID-19, and how severe they were. Yet six months after the law took effect, most employees know scarcely more than before, a Bay Area News Group investigationinvestigation hashas found.found.
Only about one-third of the state’’s 58 counties released specific information on workplace outbreaks in response to recent public records requests, and those specifics varied wildly. The state is now collecting detailed data, as required, but posts only numbers by broad industry categories thatthat offeroffer fewfew usefuluseful insightsinsights onon risk.
Remarkably, some government agencies insist they are prevented from publicizing workplace outbreaks by the very law — AB 685 —— thatthat soughtsought toto forceforce themthem open.open.
Labor advocates and legal experts blame two culprits for the law’’s failure: sloppy legallegal languagelanguage andand recalcitrantrecalcitrant bureaucratsbureaucrats whowho claimclaim toto bebe protectingprotecting employeeemployee privacy. The combination is curtailing public knowledge at a time when improvingimproving casecase ratesrates havehave ledled manymany CaliforniaCalifornia businessesbusinesses toto callcall theirtheir employeesemployees back to non-socially distanced, mostly maskless workplaces.
Vaccinated workers face little risk, scientists say, but even for those workers, the situation is harrowing.
“They’’re scared to death,” said Maggie Robbins, an occupational and health safety specialist with the Oakland-based worker advocacy organization Worksafe. “They’’re scared of bringing it home to their kids, their home, their mother. People need to have information about what’’s going on in a pandemic.”
The material collected by this news organization, incomplete as it is, shows the value of workplace transparency: Contra Costa County said for the first time that 171 cases occurred at a HelloFresh food delivery warehouse last summer, a revelation to workers there. The number of cases in Amazon facilities exceeds 1,700 in just five counties.
https://www.pe.com/2021/06/20/this-bill-was-meant-to-protect-california-workers-from-covid-some-counties-use-it-to-protect-employers-inste… 2/7 6/21/2021 This bill was meant to protect California workers from COVID. Some counties use it to protect employers instead. – Press Ente… In contrast, Trader Joe’’s employees in the South Bay still talk in anxious tones about having to work in a short-staffed store after a July outbreak. Nearly a year later,later, SantaSanta ClaraClara CountyCounty hashas releasedreleased nono recordsrecords aboutabout whatwhat happened.happened.
This news organization requested specific workplace outbreak data — including worksites, dates, locations and numbers of cases — from all 58 California counties and the three cities with their own public health departments. Only 20 released any material, with another four saying they had no workplace outbreaks, defined as three cases in a single location in a two-week period.
Seventeen counties flatly declined to provide records, arguing without evidence thatthat namingnaming employersemployers whowho havehave reportedreported outbreaksoutbreaks risksrisks individualindividual employeesemployees being identified. Thirteen did not respond despite numerous reminders. Seven have asked for additional time to produce records, even though each has had at leastleast sixsix weeksweeks toto respond,respond, farfar longerlonger thanthan statestate lawlaw usuallyusually allows.allows.
California’’s ‘‘data vacuum’’
California’’s tight rein on workplace outbreak information stands in sharp contrast toto itsits neighborneighbor toto thethe north,north, Oregon,Oregon, whichwhich hashas longlong publicizedpublicized workplaceworkplace outbreaks. The Golden State’’s largest county, Los Angeles, has posted outbreak informationinformation onlineonline sincesince thethe beginningbeginning ofof thethe pandemic.pandemic.
Intending to spread the practice, Assembly Majority Leader Eloise Reyes last summer pushed legislation to standardize collection and publication of outbreaks inin thethe statestate’’s places of employment. Reyes, a Democrat from the Inland Empire, was especially concerned about essential workers who had no way to avoid workplaces that might be rife with infection.
As the annual legislative session entered its final month, insiders say Reyes’’ billbill became muddled as it raced against a tight deadline after weeks of back-and-forth between worker advocates and business lobbyists. Language explicitly requiring thatthat thethe statestate publicizepublicize outbreaksoutbreaks byby locationlocation waswas slashedslashed atat thethe lastlast minute.minute.
Reyes has introduced “cleanup” legislation this term. In the meantime, California counties are operating under drastically differing interpretations of the law.
In response to the requests, four counties — Alameda, Monterey, Mendocino and Placer — argued that Reyes’’ billbill actuallyactually barsbars themthem fromfrom publicizingpublicizing workplaceworkplace outbreaks. They point to a phrase in the legislation that cites “the need to protect thethe privacyprivacy ofof employeesemployees fromfrom thethe publicpublic disclosuredisclosure ofof theirtheir personallypersonally identifiableidentifiable information.”information.” ThirteenThirteen otherother countiescounties mademade moremore generalizedgeneralized privacyprivacy arguments.
https://www.pe.com/2021/06/20/this-bill-was-meant-to-protect-california-workers-from-covid-some-counties-use-it-to-protect-employers-inste… 3/7 6/21/2021 This bill was meant to protect California workers from COVID. Some counties use it to protect employers instead. – Press Ente… Alameda County’’s argument is especially curious given that it was forced to disclose infection numbers at Tesla under the sweeping court ruling on a mid- 2020 lawsuit brought by the Bay Area News Group.
In a brief statement, the California Department of Health asserted that counties are interpreting AB 685 “as outlined in statute and legislation.”
“The Legislature was very clear on the question of balancing the needs of public disclosure with privacy concerns of individuals,” the department said.
But Reyes said in a statement that her bill was never intended “as a blanket prohibition on the sharing of outbreak data.”
Legal experts note that such data is clearly open under the state’’s public records act, saying it’’s far-fetched to suggest someone could identify an infected worker simply from knowing their place of employment.
“That’’s a real stretch,” said David Snyder, executive director of the First Amendment Coalition, of the counties’’ objections.objections. “This“This datadata isis atat aa highhigh enoughenough levellevel thatthat itit’’s hard to imagine how it could lead to the identification of an individualindividual asas COVID-19COVID-19 positive.”positive.”
A spokesperson for the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health said that county has never received a complaint regarding identification of an individual based on its posting of workplace outbreak data.
And one prominent epidemiologist argues that by not releasing the data, health departments are protecting negligent employers rather than the vulnerable employees whose interests they claim to have in mind.
“You could know, ‘‘Oh, there’’s a bunch of cases, they have these demographics and livelive inin thesethese neighborhoods,neighborhoods,’’ butbut unlessunless youyou knowknow theythey’’re clustered in the workplace, you don’’tt knowknow whatwhat toto dodo aboutabout thosethose cases,”cases,” saidsaid Dr.Dr. KirstenKirsten Bibbins-Bibbins- Domingo of UC San Francisco. “What we want to have is actionable information, so that workers and the public can take steps, but also, that we can use this informationinformation toto say,say, ‘‘Wow, we have to do more.’’”
What the records show
The 20 counties that did provide detailed records to this news organization revealed many outbreaks that have never before been publicized.
Though the records cover disparate geographies — and counties reached different conclusions about what time periods were covered by the law — they show how COVID hit dozens or hundreds of people at once in quickly erupting outbreaks around the state. https://www.pe.com/2021/06/20/this-bill-was-meant-to-protect-california-workers-from-covid-some-counties-use-it-to-protect-employers-inste… 4/7 6/21/2021 This bill was meant to protect California workers from COVID. Some counties use it to protect employers instead. – Press Ente… The virus has struck both big-box and mom-and-pop grocery stores, commercial farms,farms, distributiondistribution centerscenters andand warehouses,warehouses, casinos,casinos, autoauto retailers,retailers, motelsmotels andand fast-foodfast-food restaurants,restaurants, alongalong withwith governmentgovernment agenciesagencies likelike correctionalcorrectional facilities,facilities, Cal Fire stations, sheriff’’s offices and county courts.
Only a handful of these companies have been fined for COVID workplace safety violations by California’’s Occupational Safety and Health Agency, which does release records publicly but has been sharply criticized for lax enforcement and paltry fines.
The previously undisclosed outbreaks include the 171 cases reported at the Richmond HelloFresh last July, 187 cases at a newly-opened AmazonAmazon facilityfacility inin Riverside County’’s city of Beaumont in January, and 50 cases at an air conditioning company in Vacaville.
The records also reveal the extent of outbreaks already reported in the media but forfor whichwhich nono firmfirm numbersnumbers werewere mademade public.public.
An analysis of county records shows that e-commerce giant Amazon has reported more than 1,700 cases at warehouse, distribution and grocery facilities in Riverside, Solano, Contra Costa, San Joaquin and Kern counties.
Similarly, the records confirm 402 cases at a Foster Farms facility in Merced County last June, which news reports had pegged atat nearlynearly 400400 thoughthough notnot untiluntil months after the fact. Grimmway Farms, south of Bakersfield, reported 221 cases lastlast March;March; thethe companycompany’’s outbreak was previously known but it has refused to share casecase countscounts withwith mediamedia outlets.outlets.
A former Amazon worker at a Southern California facility said that workers were toldtold ofof newnew casescases therethere throughthrough anan app.app. ButBut thethe updatesupdates didndidn’’tt includeinclude informationinformation about which shifts they worked or how many cases were active at once, leaving it toto employeesemployees toto compile ad-hoc lists ofof casescases forfor theirtheir protection.protection.
An Amazon spokesperson did not directly comment on the number of cases but did not dispute the findings.
“Nothing’’s more important than the health and safety of our employees, and we’’re doing everything we can to support them through the pandemic,” the statement said, listing investments in masks, temperature screening and other employee protections.
Two HelloFresh workers said that their company did not share information on the totaltotal numbernumber ofof peoplepeople whowho gotgot sicksick oror when.when. LastLast June,June, oneone saidsaid sheshe contractedcontracted COVID along with all but one of the 20 or so people on her team. “I was always scared,” she said. “I didn’’tt knowknow whatwhat toto do,do, whowho toto call.”call.” https://www.pe.com/2021/06/20/this-bill-was-meant-to-protect-california-workers-from-covid-some-counties-use-it-to-protect-employers-inste… 5/7 6/21/2021 This bill was meant to protect California workers from COVID. Some counties use it to protect employers instead. – Press Ente… In a detailed written response to questions about the outbreak, a HelloFresh spokesperson said that the company completed several rounds of testing among all workers last summer.
“In each instance of a reported positive case of COVID-19, we activated our response protocol to safeguard against transmission” which included notifying close contacts of infected employees, the statement said.
In April 2021, nine months after the reported outbreak, Cal/OSHA fined the facilityfacility $8,435$8,435 forfor coronaviruscoronavirus workplaceworkplace safetysafety violations,violations, includingincluding failingfailing toto enforce mask-wearing on the assembly line and in break rooms, according to state records..
Workers left in the dark
Now that California is reopening, some employees say their fear of getting infectedinfected atat workwork hashas resurfacedresurfaced —— andand theirtheir desiredesire forfor betterbetter informationinformation hashas grown.
A South Bay Trader Joe’’s employee recalled when he and his crew were asked to fillfill inin duringduring aa vaguelyvaguely describeddescribed outbreakoutbreak atat aa nearbynearby locationlocation lastlast summer.summer. IfIf theythey hadhad knownknown thethe outbreakoutbreak’’s size, workers would have made more calculated decisions to avoid sending high-risk or elderly workers, he said. The company said that eight employees ultimatelyultimately gotgot sicksick thatthat month,month, thoughthough countycounty healthhealth officials have not released records confirming those details.
“If you hide stuff, or omit stuff, it’’s not going to help us,” he said. “It’’s like buying a car. Well, the doors work, the windows work, but if you don’’tt knowknow thethe engineengine oror thethe brakesbrakes work?work? II wouldnwouldn’’tt buybuy it.”it.”
An East Bay grocery employee has woken up several times around 3 a.m. over the past few weeks reeling with anxieties as he looks ahead: Without masks, will customers lick their fingers to count bills? Will sneeze particles blow past the Plexiglass window?
What if after all this, he gets sick?
“There’’s that fear of the unknown in the beginning, and now it’’s fear of what’’s known,” he said. “And the company, and the state, and the county — after all we’’ve done, and been through, nobody’’s got our back at this point.”
Staff writers Solomon Moore and Leonardo Castañeda contributed to this report.
https://www.pe.com/2021/06/20/this-bill-was-meant-to-protect-california-workers-from-covid-some-counties-use-it-to-protect-employers-inste… 6/7 6/21/2021 Are L.A. cops, firefighters who skip COVID-19 vaccine a threat? - Los Angeles Times
CALIFORNIA
Many L.A. cops and firefighters aren’t vaccinated against COVID- 19. Is this a public safety threat?
https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2021-06-19/vaccination-rates-lag-among-california-public-safety-workers-drawing-concern 1/19 6/21/2021 Are L.A. cops, firefighters who skip COVID-19 vaccine a threat? - Los Angeles Times
Matthew Kovar, a frefghter paramedic, administers a Moderna COVID-19 vaccination to Gabriel Orona, a fre inspector, in December at LAFD Station 4. (Gary Coronado / Los Angeles Times)
By KEVIN RECTOR, RICHARD WINTON, DAKOTA SMITH, BEN WELSH
JUNE 19, 2021 9 AM PT
When COVID-19 vaccines became available in California, police officers, firefighters and other first responders got priority access, and potentially more.
There were Airbnb gift cards, bicycles and cameras. Cash prizes in raffles ranged from $20 to $1,000. Some prison healthcare workers were made eligible for cash prizes just for sitting through a 30-minute “Vaccination Education” training session.
But despite the priority access and array of incentives, vaccination rates for police, fire and corrections agencies across L.A. and California have lagged well behind the state’s average for adult residents, according to a survey of agencies conducted by The Times. https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2021-06-19/vaccination-rates-lag-among-california-public-safety-workers-drawing-concern 2/19 6/21/2021 Are L.A. cops, firefighters who skip COVID-19 vaccine a threat? - Los Angeles Times While about 72% of adult Californians and 64% of Los Angeles residents 16 and older have received at least one vaccine dose, only about 51% of city firefighters and 52% of LAPD officers are at least partially vaccinated.
ADVERTISING
Less than 30% of L.A. County Sheriff’s Department staff members have received vaccine doses through employee clinics. (Some could have received shots elsewhere, but the department doesn’t keep track.) About 54% of employees of state prisons are at least partially vaccinated, but rates plummet at certain facilities — with one site recording just 24% of its staff fully vaccinated.
The low rates, which are not fully understood due to a lack of universal tracking, mar an otherwise positive outlook as the pandemic wanes and the state reopens. As first responders interact regularly with the public, the fact that many remain unvaccinated is a growing source of tension among city officials, public safety leaders and their rank- and-file workforces.
The debate centers on a troubling question: Are unvaccinated public safety workers a threat to public safety?
https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2021-06-19/vaccination-rates-lag-among-california-public-safety-workers-drawing-concern 3/19 6/21/2021 Are L.A. cops, firefighters who skip COVID-19 vaccine a threat? - Los Angeles Times
LAPD ofcers in April at the Los Angeles Civic Center. (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)
Law enforcement analysts, activists and ethicists acknowledge that, for the most part, public safety workers should be entitled to make independent decisions about their health. But they also say the reluctance to get vaccinated against COVID-19 is a matter of public concern because of the jobs such workers do — which require them to work in close spaces, such as jails and courthouses, and interact with some of the state’s most vulnerable residents. https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2021-06-19/vaccination-rates-lag-among-california-public-safety-workers-drawing-concern 4/19 6/21/2021 Are L.A. cops, firefighters who skip COVID-19 vaccine a threat? - Los Angeles Times Some officials are increasingly eyeing vaccine mandates as agency vaccination rates plateau, incentive programs fall short and the moral implications of an unvaccinated workforce come more sharply into focus.
“As first responders, that’s a significant public health issue. It isn’t only a matter of their health, but others they come into contact with daily,” said Miami Police Chief Art Acevedo, who heads the influential Major Cities Chiefs Assn. “This is becoming a big discussion among the chiefs and health leaders.”
“We often interact with people who are high-risk or maybe can’t get vaccinated because they have cancer or have immune system problems,” said Arthur Caplan, founding director of the division of medical ethics at New York University’s Grossman School of Medicine. “We have to remember: We get vaccinated for others, too.”
ADVERTISEMENT
The reasons for safety workers’ reluctance mirror those of the broader unvaccinated population, experts and police leaders say. Some who have had COVID-19 feel they are sufficiently protected by natural antibodies; others harbor political or conspiratorial beliefs — which experts reject — that the vaccines are unnecessary, ineffective or even dangerous.
Many in policing and other public safety sectors lean to the political right, among whom vaccines — and vaccine mandates — have been ridiculed, despite the fact that https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2021-06-19/vaccination-rates-lag-among-california-public-safety-workers-drawing-concern 5/19 6/21/2021 Are L.A. cops, firefighters who skip COVID-19 vaccine a threat? - Los Angeles Times Republican leaders including former President Trump have been vaccinated.
Tracking the coronavirus in California
Skepticism about vaccines was identified in the Los Angeles Police Department months ago, when an unscientific poll of 9,500 department employees found that just 60% were willing to take the vaccine when offered. About 20% said they needed more information, and 20% said they would decline vaccinations.
ADVERTISEMENT
A major concern is the first responders’ role in interacting with vulnerable residents. Research has shown lower rates of vaccination among homeless and mentally ill people and among young Black and Latino residents of L.A. County. The lower rates also show up among low-income residents who may work multiple jobs or worry that vaccination side effects could cause them to lose pay, as well as among immigrant communities that face language barriers or where fears about immigration enforcement run deep.
Prisoners, a substantial portion of whom remain unvaccinated, have no choice but to interact with corrections workers in tight quarters — where infectious, airborne diseases https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2021-06-19/vaccination-rates-lag-among-california-public-safety-workers-drawing-concern 6/19 6/21/2021 Are L.A. cops, firefighters who skip COVID-19 vaccine a threat? - Los Angeles Times like COVID-19 can spread quickly.
Since the start of the pandemic, more than 2,700 LAPD personnel have been infected with the coronavirus, and nine have died. Nearly 1,000 L.A. city firefighters have tested positive, and two have died. More than 17,000 state corrections staff members have been infected, and 28 have died.
Community leaders believe that police officers and other public safety officials have helped spread the virus by not wearing masks and refusing to get vaccinated, though such cases are difficult to quantify.
ADVERTISEMENT
Nearly 50,000 state prisoners have contracted COVID-19, and 224 have died, according to state data. Activists maintain that staffers are at least partially responsible for bringing the virus into the facilities.
Edwin Ramirez, a community activist in Pacoima, regularly sees police cars cruising around Van Nuys Boulevard and San Fernando Road and supports their presence as the neighborhood struggles with crime and homelessness. However, unvaccinated officers leave the public, the community and taxpayers at risk, he said, from both the virus and from officers calling in sick or having to quarantine.
“It’s a loss to the public when they’re out,” Ramirez said. https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2021-06-19/vaccination-rates-lag-among-california-public-safety-workers-drawing-concern 7/19 6/21/2021 Are L.A. cops, firefighters who skip COVID-19 vaccine a threat? - Los Angeles Times The extent of the problem remains unclear, in part because some agencies aren’t tracking vaccination rates among employees, including the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, the California Highway Patrol, the Orange County Sheriff’s Department, and the San Francisco and Sacramento police.
ADVERTISEMENT
Also unclear is how or whether local agencies and governments will address the lagging vaccination rates as social distancing and mask mandates fall away — or whether they will reach a point at which vaccination among public health workers becomes mandated.
Some agencies claim to be legally barred from asking employees whether they are vaccinated; experts questioned this claim. Such a barrier, if maintained, may preclude robust efforts to identify unvaccinated employees and reduce their numbers through a mandate.
Other agencies say they are working diligently to increase vaccination rates before considering mandates, though the effectiveness of those efforts is in doubt. In one example, the Los Angeles Fire Department — whose personnel have worked at COVID- 19 testing and vaccination sites — offered cash prizes to fire stations where 100% of the staff got jabbed. As of last week, none of the city’s 106 fire stations had qualified.
https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2021-06-19/vaccination-rates-lag-among-california-public-safety-workers-drawing-concern 8/19 6/21/2021 Are L.A. cops, firefighters who skip COVID-19 vaccine a threat? - Los Angeles Times At a recent meeting of the Los Angeles Police Commission, LAPD Chief Michel Moore said he had not given up on increasing vaccination levels among officers.
ADVERTISEMENT
However, the percentage of vaccinated LAPD officers has barely budged since April. Adding to the concern is the fact that some officers who received a first vaccination shot never showed up for the second, likely reducing their protection against COVID-19.
Chuck Wexler, executive director of the Police Executive Research Forum, a think tank that advises police departments nationwide, said he and many department chiefs are frustrated by the low vaccination rates.
“I don’t for a minute dismiss the moral implications of decisions to get vaccinated versus not to get vaccinated,” Wexler said. “Do I think you are going to be safer if you get it? Yeah. Do I think there are implications for others? Absolutely.”
Wexler said many agencies have considered mandates for officers, but very few, if any, have implemented them. Such mandates are highly controversial among public safety workers and their unions, he said, even as universities, hospitals, nursing homes and private employers are beginning to implement such requirements.
https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2021-06-19/vaccination-rates-lag-among-california-public-safety-workers-drawing-concern 9/19 6/21/2021 Are L.A. cops, firefighters who skip COVID-19 vaccine a threat? - Los Angeles Times
ADVERTISEMENT
At an event to celebrate California’s reopening Tuesday, Gov. Gavin Newsom said the state was “not anticipating any mandates” that first responders be vaccinated “at this moment” but is “continuing to encourage” police, fire and corrections workers to get vaccinated through “trusted messengers” and “creative incentive programs.”
One state program, Vax to Win — which is open to the general public, not just to first responders — touts a $1.5-million grand prize, “$50,000 Fridays” and “dream vacations” for lucky, vaccinated winners.
Los Angeles City Councilman Paul Koretz, who chairs a committee focused on personnel issues, said he is concerned by the flat vaccination numbers, noting that the city needs to “get our firefighters and police to take this more seriously.”
If outreach efforts don’t work in coming weeks, Koretz may be open to implementing a vaccination mandate, he said.
ADVERTISEMENT
https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2021-06-19/vaccination-rates-lag-among-california-public-safety-workers-drawing-concern 10/19 6/21/2021 Are L.A. cops, firefighters who skip COVID-19 vaccine a threat? - Los Angeles Times
“It’s possible we can mandate it. It’s possible we could not allow people to do overtime shifts if they’re not vaccinated,” Koretz said.
Officials at the LAPD and the LAFD said they are not ready to discuss mandates.
Fire Chief Ralph M. Terrazas has left open the possibility of mandating vaccination, but not until the vaccines receive full approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, rather than their current emergency use authorization. Full approval may come this year.
Capt. Stacy Spell, an LAPD spokesman, said any discussion about a mandate before full authorization is “premature.”
ADVERTISEMENT
Spell said he could not discuss whether officers are required to be vaccinated against other diseases because of federal medical privacy laws.
The International Assn. of Chiefs of Police has said departments may mandate vaccines without violating federal statutes but may need to make religious or medical exceptions. The organization said such mandates would be no different from existing requirements that officers be immunized for tetanus and hepatitis. https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2021-06-19/vaccination-rates-lag-among-california-public-safety-workers-drawing-concern 11/19 6/21/2021 Are L.A. cops, firefighters who skip COVID-19 vaccine a threat? - Los Angeles Times The board of the Los Angeles Police Protective League, the union that represents rank- and-file officers, said the department has not approached it to discuss a COVID-19 vaccination mandate, but it would generally oppose such a requirement. Instead, the union board said, it will encourage members to be vaccinated and to “consult with their personal physician about any individual concerns or questions they may have about the vaccines.”
Freddy Escobar, president of the United Fire Fighters of Los Angeles City, said the union does not support a mandate but has been working with the department to increase the number of vaccinated firefighters and “will not stop pushing for additional LAFD vaccinations until we get as close to 100% as possible.”
ADVERTISEMENT
Caplan, the NYU ethicist, said mandates may become necessary, but departments are right to first continue working to gain voluntary compliance. As they do, he said, they should stress the importance to employees’ personal health and to the broader community.
Caplan said public safety employees should care about the fact that getting vaccinated is not merely about their own health but also about that of others.
“These folks make a living trying to help other people,” he said. “If we point out that they can maybe help other people by getting vaccinated, that will maybe get more https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2021-06-19/vaccination-rates-lag-among-california-public-safety-workers-drawing-concern 12/19 6/21/2021 Are L.A. cops, firefighters who skip COVID-19 vaccine a threat? - Los Angeles Times pickup.”
Times staff writer Alene Tchekmedyian contributed to this report.
CALIFORNIA
News Alerts Get breaking news, investigations, analysis and more signature journalism from the Los Angeles Times in your inbox.
SIGN ME UP
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
Twitter Instagram Email Facebook
Twitter Instagram Email Facebook
https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2021-06-19/vaccination-rates-lag-among-california-public-safety-workers-drawing-concern 13/19 6/21/2021 Cities and counties should use budget surpluses to pay down benefit liabilities – Daily Bulletin ___
OPINION • Opinion Cities and counties should use budget surpluses to pay down benefit liabilities
Because CalPERS keeps raising pension costs, cities are facing bigger payments.
By MARC JOFFE || PUBLISHED: June 21, 2021 at 7:00 a.m. || UPDATED:UPDATED: June 21, 2021 at 7:00 a.m.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom says the state has a massive $76 billion surplus, includingincluding stimulusstimulus moneymoney fromfrom federalfederal taxpayers.taxpayers.
Meanwhile, the nonpartisan Legislative Analyst’s Office puts the surplus at half that figure—figure— $38$38 billion—billion— duedue toto constitutionalconstitutional spendingspending requirementsrequirements onon wherewhere somesome ofof the money must go. With cities, counties and state agencies all lining up to request some of this surplus, they should heed the Legislative Analyst’s warning that new “spending at this time is shortsighted and inadvisable.” https://www.dailybulletin.com/2021/06/21/cities-and-counties-should-use-budget-surpluses-to-pay-down-benefit-liabilities/?utm_campaign=s… 1/4 6/21/2021 Cities and counties should use budget surpluses to pay down benefit liabilities – Daily Bulletin Most Southern California cities do not need large amounts of money since their own tax revenues held surprisingly firm during the COVID-19 crisis. But many of these locallocal governmentsgovernments alsoalso havehave risingrising publicpublic pensionpension debtdebt andand lessless well-known,well-known, butbut equally troublesome, other post-employment benefit liabilities—typically retiree health care costs— that need to be addressed.
Nationally, unfunded other post-employment benefit (OPEB) liabilities total about $1.2 trillion but vary widely from place to place. One Southern California city laboringlaboring underunder aa largelarge OPEBOPEB debtdebt loadload isis BellBell Gardens.Gardens. InIn 2020,2020, thethe citycity reportedreported aa total OPEB liability of $73 million—almost double its revenue for the fiscal year. Other Southern California cities with high OPEB debt burdens relative to their revenues include El Monte, Hawthorne, and San Fernando.
IfIf thesethese citiescities andand otherother publicpublic agenciesagencies areare experiencingexperiencing aa largelarge surplus,surplus, theythey shouldshould looklook toto paypay offoff debt,debt, includingincluding OPEBOPEB liabilities.liabilities. TheThe simplestsimplest techniquetechnique isis toto contribute to a fund dedicated to paying future retiree benefits. Just as CalPERS requires cities to prefund their pension benefits, cities should also prefund other post-employment benefits. That way, employees are being fully compensated at the time they provide their public service and the bill is not passed on to future taxpayers.
Another alternative would be to pay an insurance company to assume part or all of that city’s OPEB liabilities. Several private employers have pioneered this concept, but it has yet to be attempted by a public agency. Whether the city pays down the OPEB liability itself or transfers the burden to an insurance company, it is reducing the risk that retirees will lose the health care benefits in a future fiscal crisis—just as Stockton’s retirees did when that city went bankrupt.
As they reduce risk for their employees, cities might also consider ways to “right- size” their other post-employment benefit packages, which may have become quite costly after decades of cost inflation across the health care industry. Among the changes that might be considered are capping retiree insurance premium reimbursements at the cost of an Affordable Care Act bronze plan, tightening eligibility requirements—especially for spouses and dependents who are offered costly coverage by some plans, and re-evaluating whether dental, vision and/or life insuranceinsurance shouldshould bebe includedincluded inin thesethese benefitsbenefits goinggoing forward.forward.
A third option is to transition employees away from defined benefit retiree health care benefits toward health savings accounts. Cities with major surpluses could offer to start retiree health care savings accounts. which could then be later augmented by some combination of employer and employee contributions as well as asset growth. Employee contributions are tax deferred and the accounts are portable, so employees who leave prior to vesting in a defined benefit come out ahead.
https://www.dailybulletin.com/2021/06/21/cities-and-counties-should-use-budget-surpluses-to-pay-down-benefit-liabilities/?utm_campaign=s… 2/4 6/21/2021 Cities and counties should use budget surpluses to pay down benefit liabilities – Daily Bulletin Beverly Hills pioneered the use of these types of retiree health savings accounts in 2010 when it began offering defined contribution medical benefits to all new hires and gave existing employees the option of converting their defined benefit to an “Alternative Medical Retiree Program” funded with city contributions.
As they find themselves with unexpectedly large surpluses, many state and local officials may be tempted to add services and new programs, but doing so risks fiscal problems down the road.
“We recommend using more of the current surplus to build discretionary reserves and pay down more debts,” Legislative Analyst Gabriel Petek recently wrote of the state’s financial condition.
Governments at all levels with surpluses should be looking to pay down debt, thereby increasing fiscal resiliency ahead of the next crisis. Reducing other post- employment benefit liabilities is one way of doing this.
Marc Joffe is a senior policy analyst at Reason Foundation.
Newsroom Guidelines News Tips Contact Us Report an Error
Get out of your bubble. Sign up for our Opinionist newsletter to get informed commentary.
Enter your email to subscribe
SUBSCRIBE
Tags: Guest Commentary
Marc Joffe
https://www.dailybulletin.com/2021/06/21/cities-and-counties-should-use-budget-surpluses-to-pay-down-benefit-liabilities/?utm_campaign=s… 3/4 6/21/2021 Riverside County’s short-term rental law is weak, report says – Press Enterprise ___
LOCAL NEWS • News Riverside County’s short-term rental law is weak, report says
By JEFF HORSEMAN || [email protected]@scng.com || TheThe Press-EnterprisePress-Enterprise PUBLISHED: June 19, 2021 at 8:00 a.m. || UPDATED:UPDATED: June 19, 2021 at 8:01 a.m.
An ordinance enacted to crack down on noise, trash, and other problems associated with short-term vacation rentals in unincorporated Riverside County is flawed,flawed, accordingaccording toto aa newnew report.report.
The civil grand jury report suggests ways to bolster enforcement of rules to rein in short-term rentals that become neighborhood nuisances. A revised ordinance is inin thethe works,works, althoughalthough itit’’s not clear when it might come before the Board of Supervisors.
“Without serious enforcement efforts, the ordinance and its rules will become another lost opportunity for real change and leave the neighbors of the (rentals) with little leverage to preserve their community’’s quality of life,” thethe 16-page16-page report reads..
County spokeswoman Brooke Federico said via email that the county is reviewing thethe report,report, whichwhich waswas postedposted onlineonline thisthis month,month, andand willwill provideprovide “a“a thoroughthorough response” by the legal deadline. By law, agencies that are the subjects of grand juryjury reportsreports mustmust respond,respond, usuallyusually withinwithin 9090 days.days.
In an email, Supervisor Kevin Jeffries, who has voiced concerns about short-term rentals, said his office has heard “from residents who are concerned with the bad actors in the rental industry” who ruin things “for those who just want a little extra income while respecting their neighbors.”
“We are reviewing the grand jury findings to see where their ideas can be incorporatedincorporated inin thethe newnew regulations,”regulations,” hehe said.said. https://www.pe.com/2021/06/19/riverside-countys-short-term-rental-law-is-weak-report-says/?utm_content=tw-pressenterprise&utm_campai… 1/3 6/21/2021 Riverside County’s short-term rental law is weak, report says – Press Enterprise The jury is a rotating group of citizens empaneled by a judge to examine public agencies’’ innerinner workings,workings, pointpoint outout problemsproblems andand recommendrecommend improvements.improvements. According to the report, the number of short-term rentals, often leased through online services like Airbnb, grew from 268 in 2016 — thethe yearyear thethe boardboard passedpassed itsits ordinance —— toto 567567 inin 2020,2020, aa 111%111% increase.increase.
Short-term rentals brought in $1.6 million in tax revenue last year, the report found.found. ButBut thatthat oftenoften comescomes atat aa costcost forfor neighborsneighbors dealingdealing withwith late-nightlate-night partying, traffic, illegal parking, trash-strewn lawns and other problems.
Cities in Riverside County have taken their own steps to address short-term rental nuisances. Last October, Murrieta’’s City Council voted to limit short-term rentals toto largerlarger estatesestates andand ruralrural areas.areas.
While the short-term rental ordinance for unincorporated areas like Temecula Valley Wine Country requires permits for rentals and a complaint hotline, unlike other Southern California counties, it doesn’’tt requirerequire on-siteon-site rentalrental inspections,inspections, proof of insurance or agreements to hold the county harmless from rental- associated liabilities, the jury found.
Noise violations can carry a $100 fine, but code enforcement officials said the fine isis tootoo lowlow toto encourageencourage compliance,compliance, accordingaccording toto thethe report.report. MoreMore codecode enforcement staff could lead to better enforcement of short-term rental rules, and feesfees forfor short-termshort-term rentalrental permitspermits andand renewalsrenewals shouldshould bebe increasedincreased toto paypay forfor thatthat addedadded enforcement,enforcement, thethe juryjury recommended.recommended.
The revised ordinance, as currently written, “does not provide enough protection for,for, nornor doesdoes itit allowallow inputinput fromfrom neighboringneighboring residencesresidences ofof ShortShort TermTerm RentalRental properties,” the report reads.
The jury recommended the revised ordinance include requirements for property inspectionsinspections andand anan indemnificationindemnification agreementagreement toto shieldshield thethe county,county, amongamong otherother provisions.
Code enforcement, planning, and the Sheriff’’s Department must “collaboratively pursue a process … (to) adequately address noise complaints” and databases of short-term rental certificates and transient occupancy tax certificates should be reconciled to make sure the county isn’’tt missingmissing outout onon anyany revenue,revenue, thethe juryjury concluded.
Newsroom Guidelines News Tips Contact Us Report an Error https://www.pe.com/2021/06/19/riverside-countys-short-term-rental-law-is-weak-report-says/?utm_content=tw-pressenterprise&utm_campai… 2/3 6/21/2021 Homeless kicked out of Project Roomkey hotels in Sacramento | The Sacramento Bee
THE PUBLIC EYE Dozens of homeless have been kicked out of Sacramento hotels used as shelters during COVID
BY THERESA CLIFT JUNE 17, 2021 05:00 AM, UPDATED JUNE 17, 2021 09:40 AM
Donald Lowery, 73, finds himself homeless after being kicked out of Project Roomkey with worsening health conditions in Sacramento on Monday June, 14, 2021. About 250 people have been kicked out of the three Project Roomkey motels in Sacramento. BY RENÉE C. BYER
https://www.sacbee.com/news/investigations/the-public-eye/article252115548.html 1/12 6/21/2021 Homeless kicked out of Project Roomkey hotels in Sacramento | The Sacramento Bee
Listen to this article now 04:17 Powered by Trinity Audio
Check out more our stories in The Public Eye series. Click here.
• • •
Donald Lowery, 73, held a cane with one hand Monday. With the other, he rolled a heavy tire down a street in Sacramento County’s Foothill Farms neighborhood. He stopped multiple times to take breaks to wipe the sweat from his brow and catch his breath.
TOP ARTICLES
Lowery was replacing the tire on his motor home so he can sleep in it after being kicked out of the state of California and Sacramento County’s Project Roomkey program. After he finished a stay at the hospital following a fall, staff told him he was not allowed to remain staying in a Rancho Cordova hotel, which has been sheltering homeless men and women during the pandemic, he said.
https://www.sacbee.com/news/investigations/the-public-eye/article252115548.html 2/12 6/21/2021 Homeless kicked out of Project Roomkey hotels in Sacramento | The Sacramento Bee “That was pretty stressful,” Lowery said, recalling the moment last week he found out he would have to leave the hotel, where he had been staying for over a year. “I was having a hard time breathing. Where was I gonna go? How was I gonna get my stuff out?”
Lowery was one of about 250 people who have been kicked out of the three Sacramento Project Roomkey hotels since they opened in spring 2020, according to county spokeswoman Janna Haynes. Of those, about 65 people were kicked out because of criminal activity. The rest were told to leave because of non-compliance with a variety of rules.
Shelter staff told Lowery to leave because he had a visitor, which is against hotel rules, Lowery said. But the woman visiting, Jami Arbuckle, was not just a visitor, he said. She would come to the hotel to take Lowery grocery shopping, bring him food and pick him up for his doctor’s appointments, he said.
“I tried to tell them that she’s a helper, a caretaker for me,” Lowery said. “I can’t even put my socks on.”
https://www.sacbee.com/news/investigations/the-public-eye/article252115548.html 3/12 6/21/2021 Homeless kicked out of Project Roomkey hotels in Sacramento | The Sacramento Bee
Jami Arbuckle, 52, left, sobs as she explains that her friend Donald Lowery, 73, right, is homeless and in bad health and was kicked out of a motel after he returned from the hospital recently in Sacramento. He is one of about 250 people that have been kicked out of the three Project Roomkey motels in Sacramento. “I can handle it a lot better than he can. He isn’t as strong as he used to be,” she said. Renée C. Byer [email protected]
Lowery, who was hit by a pickup truck last year, has a broken leg, a fractured back, high blood pressure, narcolepsy and a slew of other medical conditions. He carries a backpack full of medications.
The “no visitors” rule is one of 20 rules that guests of the three Project Roomkey motels must follow. Guests must be back to their rooms prior to 8 p.m. each night unless prior arrangements are made, must get approval for time spent outside their rooms, must allow staff in for “room checks” and must wear a resident badge whenever they leave their rooms. They also cannot smoke in rooms, cannot be “aggressive” toward staff or guests and cannot damage property.
SEND US YOUR NEWS TIPS https://www.sacbee.com/news/investigations/the-public-eye/article252115548.html 4/12 6/21/2021 Homeless kicked out of Project Roomkey hotels in Sacramento | The Sacramento Bee Here's how to send tips and documents to Sacramento Bee reporters, including via secure communication.
The purpose of the rules, including the “no visitors” rule, is to prevent the spread of the coronavirus and maintain a safe environment, Haynes said.
“If we freely allow outsiders onsite it could generate COVID outbreaks and potentially compromise the safety of all participants due to potentially unwelcome guests who are not beholden to any consequences if rules are violated,” Haynes said in an email. “We have a very high tolerance and try to give people numerous chances to succeed and remain sheltered in our program, unfortunately we do have to ask people to leave that are putting others in jeopardy or are affecting the safety and operations of the shelter.”
Donald Lowery, who was released from the hospital recently, balances his medicines as he checks his blood pressure on June 14, in Sacramento. “I was getting out of line and at 242, I was getting scared,” he said about his blood pressure. He is one of about 250 people that have been kicked out of the three Project Roomkey motels in Sacramento. Renée C. Byer [email protected] https://www.sacbee.com/news/investigations/the-public-eye/article252115548.html 5/12 6/21/2021 Homeless kicked out of Project Roomkey hotels in Sacramento | The Sacramento Bee HOMELESS SHELTERED IN CA MOTELS
About 18% of the 1,338 people who have spent time in the Roomkey motels since they opened in spring 2020 have been kicked out. Many, like Lowery, are back living on the streets. Bob Erlenbusch, of the Sacramento Regional Coalition to End Homelessness, said that percentage is too high.
“To have almost 20% of everybody who’s participated in Roomkey become homeless again seems pretty inhumane,” Erlenbusch said. “People should be treated with dignity and not have all these restrictive rules ... the only reason people should be asked to leave is if they’re violent or doing something illegal.”
Now that the pandemic has been ongoing for over a year, many people are lonely and needing socialization, said Joe Smith, advocacy director of Loaves and Fishes.
ONLY LOCAL NEWS: CRIME, WEATHER, TRAFFIC AND MORE
Stay on top of Sacramento-area crime and local news in the Local News & Crime Newsletter – sent straight to your inbox, Monday through Saturday. Sign up now
“You’re basically divorcing life entirely to stay in this room,” Smith said. “To be in that place for so long ... you’ve got that itch, you’re longing for company. How long are you going to expect people to live like that?”
As of May 21, there were 303 people staying in the three Roomkey motels in Sacramento — one downtown, one in the River District, and one in Rancho Cordova. As of May 28, about 271 people have moved into stable housing, while an additional 222 have moved into temporary housing after staying in the Roomkey motels and Cal Expo trailers since they opened in spring 2020, according to a program fact sheet.
The Sacramento Roomkey motels are set to stay open at least through August. Haynes said the rules will stay in place despite the state Tuesday lifting many business closures, social distancing requirements, capacity limits and mask requirements.
https://www.sacbee.com/news/investigations/the-public-eye/article252115548.html 6/12 6/21/2021 Homeless kicked out of Project Roomkey hotels in Sacramento | The Sacramento Bee
After rolling a tire down the sidewalk in hopes of finding someone to help him replace his flat tire, Donald Lowery, 73, rests against his camper he is trying to fix June 14, at the end of Hamilton Street in Sacramento. He was recently released from the hospital and says he was kicked out of the Comfort Inn and Suites in Rancho Cordova, where he had been a guest under Project Roomkey since last May. Renée C. Byer [email protected]
https://www.sacbee.com/news/investigations/the-public-eye/article252115548.html 7/12 6/21/2021 Homeless kicked out of Project Roomkey hotels in Sacramento | The Sacramento Bee
Donald Lowery, 73, rests on an ice chest he uses to store his medications on Hamilton Street on Monday June 14, 2021, in Sacramento. He has been homeless since Friday when he returned from the hospital and was shut out of his room at the Comfort Inn and Suites in Rancho Cordova. He is one of about 250 people that have been kicked out of the three Project Roomkey motels in Sacramento. It’s a state program that Sacramento County administers. Renée C. Byer [email protected]
RELATED STORIES FROM SACRAMENTO BEE
LOCAL
https://www.sacbee.com/news/investigations/the-public-eye/article252115548.html 8/12 6/21/2021 Inmate transfer led to prison outbreak in rural California county - Los Angeles Times
ADVERTISEMENT ___
CALIFORNIA
A rural Northern California county had few COVID-19 cases, until an inmate transfer led to a large prison outbreak
https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2020-07-01/rural-lassen-county-prison-coronavirus-outbreak 1/12 6/21/2021 Inmate transfer led to prison outbreak in rural California county - Los Angeles Times
The California Correctional Center and adjoining High Desert State Prison in Susanville, the Lassen County seat. (California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation)
By HAILEY BRANSON-POTTS | STAFF WRITER
JULY 1, 2020 2:33 PM PT
For months, rural Lassen County held a pandemic distinction as one of the only counties in California with zero confirmed cases of COVID-19.
The sparsely populated Northern California county, which did not report its first coronavirus case until May 22, was one of the first in the state to ease social restrictions and reopen public life.
https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2020-07-01/rural-lassen-county-prison-coronavirus-outbreak 2/12 6/21/2021 Inmate transfer led to prison outbreak in rural California county - Los Angeles Times But now, a major outbreak among inmates at a state prison in Susanville, linked to the transfer of inmates from San Quentin State Prison, has frustrated local officials who say the state’s movement of infected prisoners now poses a grave danger to their community.
“The sentiment is really of disappointment with the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, to disregard the impact on our community with regard to their policy of moving inmates around,” said Richard Egan, the county spokesman.
ADVERTISING
As of Wednesday, there were 214 cases at the California Correctional Center in Susanville. There also were five confirmed cases at the adjoining High Desert State Prison.
Outside of the prisons, Lassen County has reported just 14 cases since the pandemic began. There have been no deaths and no hospitalizations, Egan said.
Local officials have struggled to get information from the state about the prison outbreak, and the county has no jurisdiction over the prison and was not consulted about the transfer, Egan said.
“It’s improving now after the horse is out of the barn, but communication has not been great,” he said. https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2020-07-01/rural-lassen-county-prison-coronavirus-outbreak 3/12 6/21/2021 Inmate transfer led to prison outbreak in rural California county - Los Angeles Times
PAID CONTENT
State Sen. Brian Dahle (R-Bieber) told The Times that the California Dept. of Corrections and Rehabilitation “hasn’t been very transparent” with local leaders and that he worried about COVID-19 cases overwhelming Lassen County’s single hospital, Banner Lassen Medical Center, a 25-bed facility in Susanville.
“At this time, we should not be moving inmates around,” Dahle said. “It’s unfortunate, because our community had a very low rate of people being infected with COVID, and here we’re dealing with an outbreak. I’m frustrated. ... We were doing everything right.”
Dahle noted that the prisons are the biggest employers in Lassen County, and people drive long distances from neighboring Modoc County (the only county in California with zero reported cases) and Plumas County to go to work there. He worried that the outbreak would spread beyond prison walls and across county lines.
An estimated 60% of staff at the California Correctional Center and High Desert Prison live in Lassen County, Egan said. The rest commute from neighboring counties and across the Nevada border.
At least four prison staffers have tested positive, he said. If they reside in another county, their cases are counted among the caseloads there.
On June 8, the state transferred several inmates from San Quentin to the California Correctional Center, Egan said. Three inmates who tested negative for COVID-19 before leaving the Marin County prison were not quarantined upon their arrival in the Susanville facility and were placed among the general inmate population, Egan said.
https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2020-07-01/rural-lassen-county-prison-coronavirus-outbreak 4/12 6/21/2021 Inmate transfer led to prison outbreak in rural California county - Los Angeles Times Those inmates were tested again, and the results came back positive. The cases quickly surpassed 200. Egan said that, as far as he knows, the moving of an inmate from the California Correctional Center to the adjacent High Desert State Prison facility led to the five known cases in that prison.
In a statement to the Times, Dana Simas, a spokeswoman for the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, said that on June 22, the state “restricted any movement of the incarcerated population between and throughout all institutions to essential transfers only to mitigate spread of the virus.”
ADVERTISEMENT
About a third of San Quentin’s inmates have been infected with the coronavirus after a transfer of prisoners from a Southern California correctional facility overrun by the illness.
Unlike other prisons in California, San Quentin had escaped any coronavirus outbreak until early June. But 121 inmates were moved there on May 30 from the California Institution for Men in Chino, an early hotbed of coronavirus cases where 16 inmates have died.
The transfers ignited an outbreak at San Quentin, where 1,135 inmates have tested positive for the virus. On Monday, Marin County officials revealed that a death row inmate found dead last week in his cell had tested positive for COVID-19. https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2020-07-01/rural-lassen-county-prison-coronavirus-outbreak 5/12 6/21/2021 Inmate transfer led to prison outbreak in rural California county - Los Angeles Times In a June 25 letter to Ralph Diaz, secretary of the state corrections department, Dahle and his wife, Republican state Assemblywoman Megan Dahle, said they had “grave concerns about the inadequate communication, planning and protocols” that led to the “explosive outbreak” at the Susanville prison.
ADVERTISEMENT
Lassen County, they wrote, previously requested assistance from the state corrections department during the pandemic but was told that state prison staff “would not be available due to bargaining unit contract restrictions.”
The Dahles asked if the state was going to do anything to bolster the county’s “bare- bones emergency medical services capacity” and questioned why the corrections department was not participating in meetings with local health officials.
In Lassen County, health officials knew early on that the prisons were “a major risk factor” and prepared as best they could, Egan told the Times.
He said he hopes the sudden spike in cases does not cause Lassen County to be placed on the state’s coronavirus watchlist and that it does not force the county to scale back its reopening.
https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2020-07-01/rural-lassen-county-prison-coronavirus-outbreak 6/12 6/21/2021 Inmate transfer led to prison outbreak in rural California county - Los Angeles Times
ADVERTISEMENT
“Our community has done a great job at addressing the COVID issue, and we’re continuing to do that,” he said. “We’ll get through this. It’s just frustrating.”
CALIFORNIA
SIGN ME UP
Twitter Instagram Email Facebook
https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2020-07-01/rural-lassen-county-prison-coronavirus-outbreak 7/12