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WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2020 | DESERTSUN.COM PART OF THE USA TODAY NETWORK

CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC Sheriff and critics spar over order

Bianco said forceful rules not best way to enforce protocols

Colin Atagi and Nicole Hayden Palm Springs Desert Sun USA TODAY NETWORK

Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco sparred with critics in a series of tweets over the weekend as he doubled down on his opposition to Gov. Gavin Newsom’s orders for people to stay home to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Bianco’s tweets came in response to people chas- tising him after he posted a video statement Friday decrying Newsom’s plans to impose shutdowns This land near Pierson Boulevard and Miracle Hill Road in Desert Hot Springs is planned across the state and repeating his objection to penal- to be the future site of artist Kenny Irwin’s Robolights display. JAY CALDERON/THE DESERT SUN izing those who don’t follow the new protocols. Bi- anco’s tweets also drew praise from others thanking him for not bowing down to the orders. In an interview with The Desert Sun, Bianco said No Robolights in 2020; forceful rules are not the best way to enforce state- mandated safety protocols. “Honesty and appealing to them to do the right things,” Bianco said, is the best way to get the public site still in development to comply with state aims. Bianco added that he doesn’t believe enforcement $1.5 million needed to start is necessary as he believes most people follow the rules such as masking and social distancing at gro- work, event’s business official cery stores and in other public places. says; fundraising ongoing See SHERIFF, Page 6A Brian Blueskye Palm Springs Desert Sun USA TODAY NETWORK

Robolights, the quirky and contentious holiday light display in the California desert, will not happen in its new Desert Hot Springs location this year. The 2018 Robolights display at artist Kenny The cost to begin development is estimat- Irwin’s Palm Springs home. ed at $1.5 million, including $300,000 for the RICHARD LUI/THE DESERT SUN first phase of planning, according to Robo- lights director of business development and sales Brittany Sorrentino. Amid the corona- Desert Sun to Sorrentino. virus pandemic, fundraising efforts are “ac- The holiday light display, previously celerating” but there is no projected opening staged at Irwin’s home on Granvia Valmonte date at this time, she said. in Palm Springs, had been open to the public “The focus is fundraising for the project for more than 30 years. But it became the “Honesty and appealing to them to do the right in order to pay for the initial phase, which subject of litigation regarding neighbor things,” Sheriff Chad Bianco said, is the best way to will include city permits and working with a complaints about trash, crowds and traffic. get the public to comply. THE DESERT SUN local planning and engineering firm, The Al- Irwin and the City of Palm Springs tum Group,” Sorrentino said. reached an agreement in November 2018, Irwin paid $350,000 for the properties ending a two-year legal fight. Irwin agreed to last year, Sorrentino previously told The move the exhibit to a commercial location, Desert Sun, and hoped to start developing and the city agreed to provide $125,000 to the site in November 2019. At present, the help cover the move. land is home to an abandoned structure and The psychedelic collection of scrap items Riverside County the road leading up to it is blocked to the transformed into massive displays under public. Irwin deferred all questions from The See ROBOLIGHTS, Page 2A virus cases exceed 100,000

Nicole Hayden, Melissa Daniels and Larry Bohannan MORE INSIDE PAGE 3A Palm Springs Desert Sun USA TODAY NETWORK

Coronavirus vaccine California authorities sent a cellphone text alert Tuesday to two major regions of the nation’s most makes debut in the UK populous state to tell millions that the coronavirus is spreading rapidly and asking them to stay home ex- The United Kingdom on Tuesday became the first cept for essential activities. Western country to start vaccinating its population The noon blast to the state-designated 11-county against a virus that has killed more than 1.5 million Southern California region and 12-county San Joa- people worldwide. In a landmark moment in the quin Valley region was sent by the state Office of coronavirus pandemic, around 50 hospitals in the Emergency Services. U.K.’s state-run National Health Service started ad- The text also urged people to wear masks and Story, 7A ministering the COVID-19 inoculation. physically distance. Both regions came under increased restrictions this week after the capacity of hospital intensive care units dropped below 15%. The restrictions will re- Protesting shutdowns main in effect for at least three weeks and require re- Free PPE for businesses duced capacity at essential businesses as a surge of El Paseo business owner Denise Robergé is organiz- new coronavirus cases threatens to overwhelm hos- Local small businesses can get equipped with free ing a protest of the recent temporary closure of in- pitals. personal protective equipment under a new restaurant dining, salons and other businesses by Dropping to so few available beds is concerning for 3A program from the Coachella Valley Economic the state this week. local hospital systems as COVID-19 cases are predic- Partnership. TAYA GRAY/THE DESERT SUN ted to continue to increase. The two regions join sev- eral counties in the San Francisco Bay Area, which implemented similar stay-at-home orders without desertsun.com Weather Volume 94 | No. 54 waiting to cross into the threshold that would require SERVING THE COACHELLA action by the state. ❚ Subscribe: Access to all High 77° Low 49° VALLEY SINCE 1927 $2.50 QEAJAB-08201z of our content every day. Sunny. Forecast, 12A See ORDER, Page 2A DESERTSUN.COM | WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2020 | 3A COACHELLAVALLEY

Free PPE on its way to desert Business cities for local businesses owner organizing Melissa Daniels Palm Springs Desert Sun protest USA TODAY NETWORK Sherry Barkas Local small businesses can get Palm Springs Desert Sun equipped with free personal protective USA TODAY NETWORK equipment under a new program from the Coachella Valley Economic Partner- El Paseo business owner Denise Ro- ship. bergé is organizing a protest of the re- The “Million Mask Giveaway” will cent temporary closure of in-restau- dole out more than 1.4 million face rant dining, salons and other busi- masks, 96,000 bottles of hand sanitizer nesses by the state this week, trig- and 40,000 face shields to small busi- gered when Southern California’s nesses in all nine cities, plus the Joshua hospital ICU capacity, including River- Tree Gateway Communities and grow- side County, fell to 10.3%. ers and farmworkers in the region. The state announced last week that The supplies, at an estimated value regions with ICU capacity under 15%, of more than $1 million, came after a re- must adhere to a stay-at-home order quest to the California Office of Emer- for at least three weeks to help slow gency Services. the spread of COVID-19, as positive Joe Wallace, CEO and chief innova- cases continue to rise. tion officer of CVEP, said the costs of Robergé’s protest, announced on masks and hand sanitizer can add up Facebook, is planned for 3 p.m. quickly for small businesses at a time Wednesday. Roberge has also invited when they’re already hurting. Staff from the Coachella Valley Economic Partnership unload a supply of businesses to an organizational meet- “This initiative means businesses do personal protective equipment in preparation for distribution to Coachella ing at 4 p.m. Tuesday at her store, at not have to worry about spending their Valley small businesses earlier this month. 73995 El Paseo. own money on PPE,” Wallace said. “By COURTESY OF COACHELLA VALLEY ECONOMIC PARTNERSHIP “This is not political, it is a protest to partnering with all nine cities, it dem- the shutdown,” Roberge told The Des- onstrates what we can do when we ert Sun on Tuesday. Robergé is known work together as a region.” been getting the help: As of Dec. 6, Riv- more than 22 million residents in the for decorating her storefront windows Each city’s supply will be based on erside County had received more than Southern California region after avail- with controversial political the number and types of businesses in 2.8 million N-95 respirators, 13.2 mil- able ICU capacity dropped below 15%. statements. that city. Then, it will be up to the cities lion procedure masks, 180,000 gowns, In the 11-county region that the state Under the stay-at-home order, resi- to distribute the masks, hand sanitizer 99,288 face shields, and 4.2 million calls Southern California, there was dents are prohibited from gathering and face shields through December, gloves from OES. That’s the seventh 10.9% available ICU bed capacity as of and asked to stay home except for es- with processes for the farmworker dis- most PPE of any county in the state, Monday. sential activities. tribution still to be determined. though Riverside County has the The stay-at-home order limits retail The state also recommends that CVEP was one of three groups state- fourth-largest population with more capacity to 20 and restaurants to take- “those exercising their right to engage wide to directly ask OES for supplies. than 2.4 million residents. out or delivery only, prohibits personal in political expression (including, for The organization reached out in No- The PPE will be doled out at a time care services, and limits church ser- example, their right to petition the vember after hearing of a similar effort when the number of coronavirus cases vices to outdoors only. Californians are government) should utilize alternative in Fresno in anticipation of a need for is surging locally and intensive care urged to stay home except for essential channels, such as the many online and supplies. unit beds are filling up; the state’s most But local governments have also recent stay-at-home order kicked in for See PPE, Page 8A See PROTEST, Page 8A

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Continued from Page 3A Continued from Page 3A broadcasting platforms available in the reasons, but many commercial and in- digital age, in place of in-person gather- dustrial operations are still up and ings.” running. Robergé pointed to Riverside County While about 37% of people around Sheriff Chad Bianco’s announcement the U.S. work from home, in the Coa- that he would not enforce the state’s or- chella Valley, roughly 31% of the work- ders to stay home “except for essential force is remote. That means the major- activity.” ity of the workforce in the area is still Palm Desert is one of five Coachella heading out to work. Valley cities that contracts with the Riv- CVEP found in October that in two erside County Sheriff’s Department for of the valley’s top four employment law enforcement services. sectors — “food preparation and serv- Palm Desert is supportive of the ing related” jobs and “building state’s recommendation and encour- El Paseo business owner Denise Robergé is organizing a protest of the recent grounds cleaning and maintenance ages everyone to keep public health and temporary closure of in-restaurant dining, salons and other businesses by the jobs,” 0% of workers can work from safety top of mind when exercising po- state this week. JAY CALDERON/THE DESERT SUN home. litical expression, city spokesman Da- Dr. Mark Ghaly, California’s health vid Hermann said. and human services secretary, said at “Recognizing that it is a recommen- would likely negate insurance policies trol and Cal/OSHA, and more, he said. a news conference Tuesday that es- dation and not an order, we do not an- and put you on the wrong end of any le- Riverside County was in the “purple sential workplaces, in general, are fac- ticipate any enforcement in connection gal action if you were open and some- tier” already, the strictest for reopening ing an increased risk of transmission with the lawful exercise of free speech thing bad happened,” Rodriguez said. businesses, which required restaurants as case numbers climb. “Because we in Palm Desert,” Hermann said. The current rise in COVID-19 cases, to close dining rooms and only offer are experiencing widespread trans- On her Facebook page, Robergé post- Rodriguez said, had been predicted by outdoor eating, takeout or delivery ser- mission, then all activities that were ed the following on Monday: health officials and temporary closures vice. maybe lower risk a month ago, today “OK ENOUGH....IS ENOUGH may be “unwelcomed, but not unex- Newsom unveiled his latest plan for are higher risk, and that includes our “Where the hell are our city leaders pected. I was grateful to get past slowing the spread of COVID-19 last essential workplaces,” Ghaly said. to tell the restaurants and the rest of us Thanksgiving, that felt like a bonus to week, which divides the state into five Those who work indoors are facing essential works (everyone) to stay me.” regions – the Bay Area; Greater Sacra- more risk from a transmission stand- OPEN....WE have a brave Sheriff who There is a light at the end of the tun- mento; Northern California; San Joa- point, too; Ghaly said fresh circulating has stated that he will not be a part of nel, Rodriguez said. quin Valley; and Southern California. air reduces the risk. this shut down time to STAND UP IF Reopening against the state and The So Cal region is home to 22 mil- Abby Browning, chief of the office of YOU WANT TO FIGHT BACK CALL MY county mandates could be costly, he lion people and includes the counties of Private Sector and non-governmental STORE 760-340-5045 let’s all meet on said, adding that his customers and the Los Angeles, Orange, Imperial, Inyo, organization coordination at OES, said TUESDAY DEC 8 2020 @ 4 pm Share to community continue to support his res- Mono, San Bernardino, San Diego, San partnering with the private sector all business owners just a meeting to taurants, ordering takeout and delivery. Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Ventura helps keep workers safe. organize the protest PROTEST IS ON While the sheriff may not enforce and Riverside. As of Dec. 7, the state’s PPE stock- WEDNESDAY DEC 9TH AT 3:00 73995 state guidelines, he said, the health de- The stay-at-home orders followed pile included: El Paseo.” partment and Alcoholic Beverage Con- weeks of rapid increases in new CO- h 178.7 million N95 respirators Since the outset of the pandemic, trol – ABC – do and can pull a restau- VID-19 cases across California, and a h 339 million surgical masks the Palm Desert has been complying rant’s licenses if operating illegally. rise in virus-related hospitalizations h 63.8 million procedure gowns with state and county public health or- “When you start drawing outside the which could triple by Christmas, New- h 19.5 million face shields ders, Hermann said. lines, the system is not going to support som said. “This is not a permanent h 152.2 million sets of protective “We are not currently contemplating you,” Rodriguez said. state,” Newsom said, adding this is the gloves any changes to that policy,” he said. If a business chooses to operate in “final surge of the pandemic.” “In our community, the vast majority violation of public health orders, the On Tuesday morning, Robergé told of residents and businesses follow city forwards the information to the The Desert Sun she envisions a protest these orders,” Hermann said. “When is- Riverside County Counsel and County on the street and one that could also see sues arise, we first try to gain voluntary Public Health Officer, he said. restaurants and other shuttered busi- compliance via education. Our helpful Complaints are evaluated and prio- nesses reopening against state man- staff reaches out to the relevant parties ritized by the level of risk they pose to dates but will know more following the and informs them of the orders and dis- public health. The county counsel then organizational meeting. She didn’t cusses potential solutions.” decides how best to proceed with vol- know how many might be participate Ray Rodriguez, owner of Casuelas untary compliance still being the pri- Wednesday, but said, “I hope it’s huge.” Café and the Cork Tree restaurants in mary goal, Hermann explained. Anyone interested in participating Coachella Valley Economic Palm Desert, said he had heard about Possible enforcement tools include: on Wednesday can call Robergé at (760) Partnership Director of Economic Roberge’s planned protest and organi- cease and desist letters; suspension or 340-5045 for more information. Development Agustin Aragon holds a zational meeting, but didn’t plan to at- revocation of permits and licenses, re- Previous reporting by Desert Sun re- box of face masks inside the CVEP tend. “As far as civil disobedience and porting of violations to the California porters Melissa Daniels and Nicole Hay- warehouse on Tuesday. opening, that’s pretty naïve. That Department of Alcoholic Beverage Con- den was used in this report. TAYA GRAY/THE DESERT SUN

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