Los Angeles Times - 13.11.2019

(Wang) #1

LATIMES.COM WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2019B


To place


an obituary


ad please go


online to:


latimes.com/


placeobituary


or call
1-800-234-

February 22, 1944 - October 26, 2019

ANDELSON, Arlen Howard

Arlen Howard Andelson, 75, passed
away peacefully onOctober 26
surrounded by his loving family.
The son of Sadie “Bobbie” Andelson
(Levanson) and William Milton
Andelson, Arlen was a lifelong Los
Angeles resident. Arlen was a brilliant
lawyer, a successful businessman and
real estate investor, and a dedicated
philanthropist.
After graduating from Hamilton
High School, Arlen earned his B.A. in
Political Science from the University of
California, Berkeley in 1965 and his J.D.
from the USC Gould School of Law in
1968, where he served as an Associate
Editor of the Law Review.
Arlen co-foundeda successful,
full-service law firm. He ultimately
specialized in business and real estate
law, before becoming a full-time
real estate investor focused on his
commercial and residential holdings in
the West Hollywood and Los Angeles
neighborhoods.
Arlen was a passionate member
of the Board of Trustees of The
Foundation for AIDS Research (amfAR)
for over 26 years, an organization that
has raised hundreds of millions of
dollars in the pursuit of a cure for AIDS.
He endowed the Sheldon W. Andelson
Public Policy Scholars program at
amfAR’s Washington, D.C. office in
honor of his brother who died of AIDS-
related causes in 1987. Arlen brought
“a keen and strategic intelligence and
a sharp wit to Board deliberations” and
“served amfAR with dedication and
distinction until his death ... He will
be fondly remembered by all at amfAR
for his unwavering commitment to the
fight against AIDS [and] his steadfast
moral compass,” according to amfAR
CEO Kevin Robert Frost.
A former Director and Vice Chairman
of the Bank of Los Angeles, Arlen
dedicated much of his time in his
later years to his civic and charitable
work. He was a member of the Board
of Governors of Cedars-Sinai Medical
Center andtheWest Hollywood
Chamber of Commerce Leadership
Council.
Arlen was loved by all who knew
him for his humility, decency, fairness
and his sharp, dry sense of humor.
He was predeceased by his older
brothers, Sheldon W. Andelson and
Sherman L. Andelson.
Arlen is survived by his loving wife
of over forty years, Michele Weirick
Andelson; his two beloved daughters,
Bobbie AndelsonHeck andAmy
Andelson; his beloved sons-in-law
Sandy Heck and Sean Lubens; and his
five cherished grandsons who adored
him.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a
donation in Arlen’s memory to amfAR
(www.amfar.org/arlen).

OBITUARY


NOTICES


Place a paid notice latimes.com/placeobituary
Search obituary notice archives: legacy.com/obituaries/latimes

March 27, 1961 - November 8, 2019

ARTUKOVICH, Mark
Nickolas

Mark Nickolas Artukovich passed
away peacefully in the presence of his
beautiful, loving family and literally
in the arms of the love of his life. An
incredibly adoring husband to Tina
(Cvjetkovic) Artukovich of 35 years;
an amazing father of Lucy, Christina,
Anthony (Marysa), Andrea, Amanda
and Nicole; cherished Djedo to his
grandchildrenSkylar, Chloe,Jack,
Etta, Roko and Marko (and another
grandson on the way); a brother
like no other to Vido (Sharon), Luci,
Antoinette, Madeline (Richard Violé),
Nicole (Paul Dazé) and Anna (George
Dulcich); an unforgettable uncle and
cousin; and a friend to the masses.

The son to Anthony and Lucy
(Lamat) Artukovich, Mark was born
at St. Luke Hospital in Pasadena, and
grew up and attended schools in La
Cañada. Mark loved sports, especially
footballwhere heplayed youth
football for the La Cañada Gladiators,
as well as at La Cañada High School.
His toughness and indefatigable
attitude was demonstrated time and
again as he constantly battled others
both older and bigger than he... and
won. He cherished the childhood
memories of his siblings, cousins and
many friends with whom he skied,
swam, surfed, biked, skateboarded
and generally caused minor chaos
throughout the streets of La Cañada.
He loved his family trips especially the
annual camping trip to Estero Beach,
Mexico; the visits with his family and
cousins in Las Vegas; the countless
trips to his aunt & uncle’s beach house
in Newport Beach... everywhere he
went he lived life to the fullest and
made an everlasting impression on
all whom he met. But what he truly
prized was his Croatian/Herzegovinian
heritage and his many visits to Croatia
and Bosnia/Herzegovina. He forged
wonderful, lifelong relationships with
both his parents’ and Tina’s extended
families in the “old country.”

He began working full-time
forhisfather’sandgrandfather’s
family-owned/run construction
company, Vido Artukovich & Son (est.
1919).With his father and brother,
he continued to grow the legendary
Los Angeles construction company.
He was a member of The Beavers,
aHeavyEngineeringConstruction
Association, as well as the Associated
General Contractors of America. He
met the love of his life in 1982 at the
Croatian picnic. They were married at
St. Anthony Croatian Catholic Church
in 1984 and moved to Long Beach
to start their family. Together he
and Tina started a most remarkable
friendship and never-ending romance,
raising the beautiful family that has
touched innumerable people in so
many loving and different ways. Their
shared Croatianlegacycemented
their love of and involvement
with St. Anthony Croatian Catholic
Church, which Mark’s family was so
instrumental in building and growing
throughout the generations. From the
Croatian picnics to numerous holidays
and events, together they were a
constant presence in the Croatian
communities both at St. Anthony
and in San Pedro. In this amazing
community he cultivated numerous
meaningful friendships. He was a
member of the United Hercegovina
CatholicBenevolent Society,with
which the Artukovich men have been
associated for four generations. In
this amazing community he cultivated
numerous,meaningfulfriendships.
He was heavily involved and spent
countless, exciting moments through
hischildrens’ schoolsandsports
(especiallywater polo).

Mark was a strong, guiding influence
for numerous men throughout his
adult life. So many have shared their
stories of how Mark both helped them
and stayed by their side while they
battled troubles in their lives. His
strength and inspiration have helped
so many in countless ways. Mark’s
amazing strength, work ethic and
undying spirit in life foreshadowed
the trials that he and Tina would later
face with his illness. To the very end
he refused to give up and “fought like
hell.”

Mark was one in a billion. Everyone
he knew will attest to his undying
confidence, dashing appearance,
spectacular taste, physical and
emotional strength, humor, dogged
determination, and intelligence. He
was born a natural leader and did so in
all matters great and small. He loved
to live large but cherished the simple
things in life: a beautiful sunset, a
vodka and a cigarette, a great steak,
and having dinners at Dan Tana’s
or Tadich Grill. But mostly he loved
laughing, telling stories and having
fun with his family and friends.He
loved his Catholic faith. But mostly he
loved his children, his grandchildren,
his family and above of all his beloved
Tina, whose side he never wanted
to leave. Tina and the family want
to thank all those who were there
for Mark, especially his loving sister
Antoinettewhowentaboveand
beyond during his illness.

A rosary and Catholic Memorial Mass
will be held at St. Anthony Croatian
Catholic Church located at 712 N. Grand
Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90012 on
Friday, November 15, 2019 beginning
at 3:00 PM. In lieu of flowers the
family asks that you please consider
contributing to the United Hercegovina
Catholic Benevolent Society (UHCBS),
P.O. Box 39351, Los Angeles, CA 90039.
There will be a private, family only
interment at a later date.

Overflow parking and shuttle for the
funeral events will be provided at 713
N. Hill Street, Los Angeles, CA 90012.

To place
an obituary ad
please go online to:

latimes.com/placeobituary

or call
1-800-234-

November 27, 1933 - November 9, 2019

HALL, Kelsey

Kelsey Browne Hall passed away
peacefully after a long illness on
Saturday, November 9, 2019. She
was 85 years old. Kelsey was born
November 27,1933 in Oklahoma City,
OK, to Henry and Claudine Browne.
She attended Classen High School
in Oklahoma City and Smith College
in Massachusetts. She married
Bradford Hall in 1953. They lived first
in Alexandria, Louisiana, while her
husband was in the service, then
returned to his hometown in Wichita,
KS. They moved to San Marino, CA, in
1964 with their 3 sons, Brad, Bill and
Jim.

Kelsey was a loving mother who
was involved in all of her children’s
activities, leading the Cub Scout troop,
being the scorekeeper for the entire
Little League, supporting her sons
in anything they wanted to do. Her
grandchildren were the loves of her
life, and she did everything to spend
time with them and be involved in
their lives. She particularly enjoyed
spending time with her family at their
cottage on Lake Temagami since 1953.

Kelsey had a deep relationship with
her brothers, Henry and Bob. The
family particularly appreciated the
time they spent together.

Kelsey had a spirit for adventure and
traveled extensively throughout her
life.She traveled with groups from
the Huntington Library, Cal Tech and
Stanford. She visited five continents,
and over 30 countries.

Kelsey had many wonderful friends,
some she maintained connections
with since kindergarten in Oklahoma
City, others she knew from Wichita,
and long-standing friends she met
when she moved to California in the
‘60s.She had long-standing tennis
and bridge groups. She cherished all
of her friendships, whether life-long
or recent.

Kelsey was loved by friends and
family for her caring spirit and quick
wit. She was strong when she needed
to be and never took herself or any
situation too seriously. Kelsey would
love to know that you smile when
you recall the good times you shared
together.

She was deeply involved in many
community organizations. She
served as president of the Doheny
Eye Institute’s Luminaires, Pasadena
Guild ofChildren’s Hospitaland
Junior League of Pasadena. Members
often commented on her hard work,
enthusiasm and sense of humor.

She was involved in the Art Center
College of Design, and was a member
of the Art Center 100. Kelsey spent 50
years involved with the Huntington
Library serving as a docent, and a
member of the Society of Fellows, and
the Buying and Women’s Committees.
She was a member of the Associates
of Cal Tech, the Valley Hunt Club, and
the Town Club, where she served as
president, and Seeders and Weeders.

Preceding her in death are her
parents Henry and Claudine Browne
of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, and
sister-in-law Patricia Price Browne
also of Oklahoma City. She is survived
by her three sons, Bradford and Kim
Hall of Pasadena, California, and their
sons Bobby and Buddy, Bill and Carol
Hall of Denver, Colorado, and their
sons Jimmy and Will, and Jim Hall of
Atlanta, Georgia, and his sons Henry
and Jonathan, two brothers, Henry
Browne, Jr. and Bob and Karen Browne,
both of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, and
numerous nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be held at the
Church of Our Savior in San Marino,
on Thursday, November 14th at 2:
PM followed by an interment at San
Gabriel Cemetery. In lieu of flowers,
the family requests that memorial
gifts be sent to Doheny Eye Institute,
P.O. Box 86228, Los Angeles, CA 90086-
0228, (323) 342-7101.

September 26, 1922 - November 5, 2019

FAZEKAS, Bella

Bella,abelovedwife, mother,
grandmother and great-grandmother,
is survived by her daughter
Mary Shimer, son-in-law Rusty;
grandchildren Scott Shimer and wife
Ally, and Bella Buster and husband
Steve. She loved being GiGi to her
great-grandchildren Gemma and
Scarlett Shimer and Tres,Cooper,
Boden and Mary Buster.
Bella, Mom, Grandma, GiGi is loved
and in our hearts forever.
Services are Friday, November 15,
11:00 am at Our Lady of Guadalupe
Catholic Church in La Habra.

Honor a life
go to latimes.com/placeobituary

a.k.a. Elba Quiroz Romero, 88 years
old, longtime resident of Cudahy,
CA, passedaway on Oct.31, 2019, at
her home in Aguascalientes, Mexico,
where her remains now lie. She
was born in Aguascalientes on July
29, 1931; she married Juan Genaro
Preciado Gonzalez, who passed a
number of years ago. They had five
loving children, Juan (“Johnny”,
deceased),MarthaRosePreciado
Froidevaux, Sylvia Patricia Preciado
Flores, Diane Gisela Preciado, and
Michael (Miguel) Angelo Preciado. She
is survived by her remaining children
and/or children’s spouses, and by many
grandchildren (Leah, Lyslie, Tracey,
Natalie, Eric, Nicole, Christopher, Alex,
Andre, Tatiana, Adrianna, Jennifer,
Arturo) and their spouses, as well as
by great-grandchildren and one great-
great-grandson. Services were held in
Aguascalientes on Nov. 2. Martha Elba
worked selflessly to support her large
family and she will be dearly missed.
A memorial in her honor will be held
in Los Angeles ata later date.

PRECIADO, Martha Elba

Morrie (“Pav”), 94, passed away
peacefully on November 11, 2019.
Beloved husband, father and
grandfather, he is survived by his wife,
Doreen; six children and their spouses,
Barbara (husband Warren), Don, Laura
(husband Joshua), Mischelle, Keith
(wife Michelle) and Chad (wife Cayce);
six grandchildren, Benjamin, Un Hee,
Nathan, Hayley, Stella and Jason;
brother Irv; and many loving nieces
and nephews.
Funeral services will be held on
November 13, 2019, at 12:30 p.m. at
Mount Sinai Simi Valley, 6150 Mount
Sinai Dr., Simi Valley, CA 93063.

PAVEY, Morris

Mount Sinai Memorial Parks -
Simi Valley 800-600-
http://www.mountsinaiparks.org

PAVEY, Morris

May 30, 1915 - November 7, 2019

MOSES, John M.

A beloved son, brother, husband,
father, grandfather, and great-
grandfather, Johnny, a proud native
Angeleno, passed away at the ripe old
age of 104½ surrounded by his three
children in Pasadena, California.
Johnny loved to tell the story of
being 4 years old and sitting on the
knee of A.P. Giannini, founder of Bank
of America, listening to his father and
Giannini discuss investments in the
stock market. This early experience
led to a lifelong love of the market
and a 40+ year career as a respected
stockbroker and financial advisor in
Pasadena. Johnny was married to his
childhood sweetheart, Sadie Kaleel
Moses (lovingly known as Babe),
for 73 years before she passed away
in 2015. He is survived by his three
children, Michael Moses (Kathy),
Richard Moses (Mary Anne), and
Darlene Moses Olympius (Jeff ); his four
grandchildren, Jill Fosselman, Scott
Moses, Senta Mikan, and Allie Henske;
and his three great-grandchildren,
William Fosselman, Katherine Moses,
and Margaret Moses.
Services will be held at 11:30am on
Friday, November 15, 2019, at Holy
Family Church, 1527 Fremont Avenue,
in South Pasadena. Johnny met Danny
Thomas and supported his effort in
creating a hospital for children.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may
be made in memory of John M. Moses
to ALSAC/St. Jude Children’s Research
Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis,
TN 38105, or at stjude.org.
Cabot & Sons, Pasadena

September 4, 1963 - November 9, 2019

HOLCOMB, Paul Joseph

Paul Holcomb, age 56, of West
Hills, passed away unexpectedly of
a massive heart attack on Saturday,
November 9th, 2019.
Paul was a graduate of Calabasas
HighSchool where hewasan
outstanding athlete and student. He
then went on to attend San Diego
State University where he played
baseball. Paul was a salesman and
had a successful business career at El
Camino Properties. He then became
a partner at Key Information Systems
in Woodland Hills. Paul was still
employed with the company that
was sold in 2018. He spent 8 years
volunteering as a Little League coach,
touching the lives of hundreds of youth
and parents.
Paul’s loved ones include his loving
wife Jeannie, children Lexi Wagner
(Jason), Danny and Lindsay, 2 brothers
and 6 sisters, 7 in-law brothers and
sisters, grandsons Weston and Collin,
numerous nephews and nieces and
grandnephews and nieces, and so
many friends. Paul was a sensitive soul
with an incredibly fine mind. He had
the biggest heart, offered invaluable
advice and had a wicked sense of
humor. Paul passed away surrounded
by the love of his wife, Jeannie, and his
son, Danny. He was loved by so many.
Paul’s life will be celebrated on
Wednesday, November 13 at 10:30am
at Sherwood Country Club, 320 W.
Stafford Road, Thousand Oaks, CA.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests
donations to the Diabetes Research
Institute.

To place


an obituary


ad please go


online to:


latimes.com/


placeobituary


or call
1-800-234-

Mount Sinai Memorial Parks -
Hollywood Hills 800-600-
http://www.mountsinaiparks.org

WEISS, Helga

August 1, 1945 - November 5, 2019

TODD, Gerald Allen

Gerald Allen Todd died suddenly on
11/5/19. He is survived by his two cats,
Baxter and Bayley, one brother Richard
Todd (Sandi) of Bay Point, CA, and two
sisters Sandy Mores of Martinez, CA,
Patricia Riggs (Dave) of Carmichael, CA,
and numerous nephews and nieces.
A viewing will be held at Forest
Lawn Hollywood Hills on 11/14/
from 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm. The funeral
service will be on Friday, 11/15/19 at
2:30 pm at the Old North Church.

TAKAYOSHI, YOHJI BRIAN (44)
passed away on November 7, 2019 in
Torrance. He is survived by his mother,
Mimi Takayoshi; brothers, Seigo and
Keigo (Caroline) Takayoshi; nephews,
Kazuki, Kenji and Keizo Takayoshi;
also survived by many aunts, uncles,
cousins and other relatives.
A memorial service will be held
on Saturday, November 16, 2019 at
3:00 PM at LA Holiness Church, 3660
S. Gramercy Pl., Los Angeles. Family
requests Aloha/business casual attire
and flowers be omitted.
http://www.kubotamortuary.com
(213) 749-

TAKAYOSHI, Yohji Brian

Her smile could light up a room and
her laughter and loving ways eased
many a heart over her long and happy
life. Betty Lee Geller Roman, mother,
grandmother, great-grandmother and
friend, died peacefully in Redlands on
November 9, 2019 from complications
of dementia.
Born on June 22, 1927 in Creston,
Iowa to William Geller and Edith Bloch,
the family followed her older brothers
Marshall and Jerry to California in
the forties. She met her husband Al
Roman through his cousin, a sorority
sister at USC, in 1947, and they were
married from July 1948 until his death
in 2008. She is survived by sons Bill
(Hilary), of San Jose; Michael, of
Oakland, and Randy (Kim) of Redlands;
grandchildren Evan, Elizabeth Koehler
(Geoff ), Shelby Holton (Nigel), Josh
(Yula), and Vanessa (Gavin Lurie); and
great-grandchildren Dean and Kensley
Holton and Liam and Charlie Koehler.
Betty worked athermother’s
“Ready-to-Wear” dress shop outside
the gates of Paramount Studios in
Hollywood during the fifties; helped
Al with Roman Foods, their market in
Los Angeles; and counseled patients at
Planned Parenthood in Canoga Park for
12 years during the eighties and early
nineties. After moving to San Diego in
1993, Betty’s circle of friends widened
and she enjoyed playing Mahjong
and Pan, taking Tai Chi lessons, and
meeting her pals at Starbucks for
laughter and conversation. She moved
to Mission Commons in Redlands, and
in her last 18 months, spread sunshine
among the residents and caregivers
there, who loved and appreciated
her warmth and humor. A graveside
gathering will take place at El Camino
Memorial Cemetery in San Diego on
Thursday, November 14 at 12:00.

ROMAN, Betty Lee Geller

Share your loved one’s story. placeanad.latimes.com/obituaries

In partnership with

Stories live on. Te l l t h e i r s.


Police initially reported
their officers shot Legan
dead within minutes, but a
coroner’s report revealed
the shooter killed himself.
Chief Scot Smithee said
the event, founded in 1979,
had security checkpoints
with metal detectors. But
Legan was able to circum-
vent the festival’s security by
entering from a creek area
and cutting through a fence.
Scarlett said the area
along the fence was not
monitored and the barrier
itself was an “inadequate,
flimsy, low-height, unsup-
ported chain link fence” that
was easy to breach, making
the wooded area essentially
“an open door the length of a
football field.”
The area also was sur-
rounded by cars, box trucks
and other obstructions,
which provided additional
cover for the shooter, ac-
cording to the lawsuit.
“The security we now see
at professional sporting
events, music concerts and
nearly every other organized
large-scale public event that
occurs daily has been
stepped up to reflect our
current threats,” the lawsuit
states.
Scarlett cited 352 mass
shootings this year and 337
in 2018 as evidence that festi-
val organizers should have
recognized the threat.
In an emailed statement,
the Gilroy Garlic Festival
Assn. said: “The lawsuit filed
today stemming from a hor-
rific act of domestic terror-
ism, is not unexpected, and
we will respond through the
appropriate legal channels.
As a non-profit organiza-
tion, we must remain fo-
cused on our mission: fund-
raising for the entire com-
munity of Gilroy and the
more than 150 charities that
rely on us.”
Security company repre-


sentatives did not respond
to a request for comment.
The famed fest was wind-
ing down when gunfire
erupted at 5:30 p.m. July 28.
Wendy Towner, one of the
survivors named in the suit,
said she saw the shooter
near the perimeter border-
ing Uvas Creek near an in-
flatable slide surrounded by
children.
Towner yelled to divert
the gunman’s attention
away from the children. At
that point, the lawsuit says,
Legan shot at her and Fran-
cisco Aguilera, another
plaintiff.
Towner still seeks medi-
cal treatment from the gun-
shot wound to her leg.
Aguilera’s femoral artery
was perforated, and he was
unconscious when he fell
to the ground, the lawsuit
says.
As Towner lay on the
ground next to Aguilera,
Legan approached. He hov-
ered over their prone bodies,
changed gun magazines and
asked in a cold and unsym-
pathetic voice whether they
were OK, according to the
lawsuit.
“Had Wendy Towner ut-
tered a word, it is certain the
shooter would have shot
them both dead,” the suit
says.
Legan went on to shoot
plaintiffs Nick McFarland,
Justin Bates and Brynn Ota-
Matthews, among others,
the suit says.
At the news conference,
Towner said she and her
family have been diagnosed
with post-traumatic stress
disorder.
“My son’s scared of being
out there,” Towner said of
Christmas Hill Park, where
the festival is held. “He’s only


  1. To be honest with you, I
    myself have not returned to
    a big event yet. I haven’t
    been able to bring myself to
    it.”


Survivors sue Gilroy


festival organizers


[Gilroy,from B1]


paign promising reforms in
the district attorney’s office.
But she is the only contend-
er in the field who does not
come from a police or pros-
ecutorial background,
which Rossi believes gives
her an edge over some of her
more veteran opponents.
In recent years, public de-
fenders have proved to be a
force in district attorney’s
races throughout the na-
tion. Chesa Boudin, a former
San Francisco public de-
fender, claimed victory in
the race to replace Gascon
this month, and former fed-
eral public defender Larry
Krasner won a 2017 election
in Philadelphia seen as one
of the biggest victories in a
national push to elect more
progressive prosecutors.
Rossi, who grew up in the
Inland Empire, served as a
state and federal public de-
fender in Los Angeles
County from 2011 to 2017, then
went to work for U.S. Sen.
Richard J. Durbin (D-Ill.) in
his role on the Senate Judici-
ary Committee. In that job,
Rossi helped draft the First
Step Act, a bipartisan fed-
eral prison reform bill that
reduced some mandatory
minimum sentences and
opened pathways to early re-
lease for lower-risk inmates.
Rossi said she had always
planned to return to Los An-
geles after her stint in Wash-
ington and believes the race
here provides a chance to re-
define the role of elected
prosecutors, which she be-
lieves is often misinter-
preted.
“The role of a prosecutor
historically has been to seek
justice, not to seek incar-
ceration and convictions. I
think we’ve got that wrong;
we’ve interpreted that as
winning cases, racking up
convictions, racking up
years in jail,” she said. “Peo-
ple are starting to see, not
only that it’s inhumane, not
only that we’re the incar-
ceration capital of the world,
but that it doesn’t work. It
doesn’t keep us safe.”
Rossi said that if elected
she would strengthen diver-
sionary programs to keep
low-level offenders out of the
criminal justice system. She
also wants to revise the of-
fice’s handling of cases in-
volving mentally ill defend-
ants.
While Lacey often touts


her office’s diversionary pro-
gram as evidence of her
progressive bona fides,
Rossi echoed concerns —
often raised by defense at-
torneys — that access to the
program is extremely lim-
ited.
“There should be medical
input on who can be helped
by diversion,” she said. “I
think there are certain situa-
tions where someone has
committed a crime and in-
carceration isn’t the right
option, but some other kind
of treatment is.”
Rossi also said she be-
lieves district attorney’s of-
fices should be granted the
power to appoint special
prosecutors to review police
shootings and other use-of-
force cases. Critics say Lac-
ey is reticent to charge offi-
cers involved in controver-
sial shootings, and the issue
is certain to become central
to the 2020 race.
Lacey says her office is
simply working within the
law, which provides wide
latitude to law enforcement
officers when using deadly
force. She has also sought to
brand herself as a prog-
ressive in recent months,
pushing to expunge low-lev-
el marijuana convictions af-
ter Californians voted to al-
low recreational cannabis
use. Some observers have
noted the shift came only af-
ter Gascon enacted a similar
policy in 2018.
Rossi’s campaign will be
run by Paula Ramirez, who
served as L.A. County Sher-
iff Alex Villanueva’s cam-
paign manager and helped
shape his upset win in 2018
against incumbent Jim Mc-
Donnell.
John Hanusz, a former
federal public defender who
worked alongside Rossi in
Los Angeles, said he believes
her background on the de-
fense side of the aisle will
bring crucial issues to the
forefront of a race domi-
nated by prosecutors and
former police officers.
“She will be a formidable
adversary in this race just as
she is in court and I think
she’s got a bird’s-eye view of
the criminal justice system,
both as a practitioner and as
a policy person in D.C.,” he
said. “She knows the human
and financial costs of mass
incarceration and will bring
those issues to the fore in
this race.”

Reform candidate


adds her name to


packed D.A. race


[Rossi,from B1]

Free download pdf