CALIFORNIA

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 18, 2020:: LATIMES.COM/CALIFORNIA

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The Los Angeles City
Council put forward dozens
of proposals Tuesday meant
to help Angelenos cope with
the spread of coronavirus
and protect them from its ef-
fects, including plans to
boost sick leave, enshrine re-
call rights for workers who
are laid off, and provide fi-
nancial assistance to strug-
gling businesses and ten-
ants.
“This pandemic has
touched every corner of the
world, and it is increasing at
a global scale like we’ve ne-

ver seen before,” City Coun-

cil President Nury Martinez

said at the beginning of a

marathon meeting that

lasted into the early evening.

“We are in uncharted waters,

and it is up to us to make

sure we are doing our duty as

public servants.”

Martinez asked city

staffers to report back on

creating an emergency pro-

gram that would provide at

least 14 days of paid sick

leave to Angelenos during a

public health crisis or major

disaster. Los Angeles al-

ready requires sick leave for

employees working in the

city, ensuring that they can

accrue and use up to 48

PATRICIA MONTOYAprays as her husband, Manuel, prepares pupusas at their food stand Tuesday. The
City Council considered proposals to set up loans and grants for L.A. businesses affected by the pandemic.

Francine OrrLos Angeles Times

Council could boost sick

leave, aid L.A. businesses

Dozens of proposals are offered to address effects of pandemic

WIPESwere handed out at the meeting, and mem-

bers of the public watched from outside the building.

Irfan KhanLos Angeles Times

By Emily Alpert Reyes,
David Zahniser
and Dakota Smith

[SeeCity Council, B4]

Julie Carol was in good

spirits Tuesday morning as

she approached the front of

Trader Joe’s in Monrovia.

The 71-year-old would finally

get that elusive carton of

eggs.

As fear of the coronavirus

continues to change people’s

everyday lives, some grocery

stores recently announced

they’d host special shopping

hours for senior citizens.

Word had gotten out that

those 65 and older would

have a special 30-minute

time slot to purchase grocer-

ies at Trader Joe’s in Mon-

rovia before it opened to the

general public at 9:30 a.m.

Very quickly, the mood

went from hope to confusion

and heartache. And anger.

A Trader Joe’s employee

on site told those gathered

that to his knowledge no

such special shopping hours

had been planned. “We’re

open to everybody,” he told

the folks in the queue that

had already made its way

past six adjacent businesses

to Party City.

In the early morning, the

atmosphere among people

in line had been calm and

friendly. Suddenly, it turned

uncharitable.

A woman among the first

five people in line yelled at

seniors who had congre-

gated near the front of the

store, “The line’s back

there!”

Some seniors obliged and

trudged despondently to the

end of the line. Others didn’t

budge.

One man with a cane and

a shopping cart made a

phone call. “I don’t think I’m

going to make it into the

Trader Joe’s,” he said,

AN EMPLOYEE of the Trader Joe’s in Monrovia tells customers waiting outside

that the store would open doors to everyone at 9 a.m., not just senior citizens.

Al SeibLos Angeles Times

Milk, eggs and anxiety:

Tensions flare at stores

Older shoppers expecting early entry disappointed

By Priscella Vega

[SeeSeniors, B4]

My plan was to stroll El Matador Beach in
Malibu, then drive to Griffith Park for a
hike, both of which could be done while
maintaining a safe distance from anyone.
But I’ve had a Medicare card in my
wallet for a year and a half, and on Sunday,
Gov. Gavin Newsom told me along with the
state’s other 6 million seniors to self-isolate
at home until further notice.
The coronavirus, of course, carries a
higher danger for older folks.
“We are prioritizing their safety,” Newsom said.
I’m still getting used to being called a “senior,” or
“elderly,” which can mean anything from 65 to 105. It
stings a bit to be singled out by age, but putting ego aside
and public health front and center, is it my civic duty to
stay home?
And if so, what exactly does that mean? Should I use a
fishing pole to reel the newspaper in from my driveway?
I wasn’t the only one with questions. Even medical
professionals and agencies on the front line of the epi-
demic are grappling with how to respond, reluctant to
pull back and leave patients, clients and colleagues in the
lurch.
My dentist, David Kitada, who is in his mid-60s and
still working for now, is one of

Should seniors,

even doctors, be

going to work?

STEVE LOPEZ

EMMA,82, and Samuel Bradley, 86, of Palmdale
head to the Metrolink at L.A.’s Union Station.

Francine OrrLos Angeles Times

[SeeLopez,B6]

The state’s public schools

are likely to be closed for the

remainder of the school year

in response to the escalating

coronavirus pandemic, a

disruption that would affect

the education of 6.1 million

students and their families,

Gov. Gavin Newsom said

Tuesday.

“Don’t anticipate schools

are going to open up in a

week. Please don’t antici-

pate in a few weeks,” New-

som said Tuesday during an

afternoon update on the

state’s coronavirus efforts. “I

would plan, and assume,

that it’s unlikely that many

of these schools — few, if any

— will open before the sum-

mer break.”

The sober school news

came as larger swaths of Cal-

ifornia faced even greater re-

strictions on movement. Or-

ange County issued an order

restricting all public gather-

ings, closing bars that don’t

serve food and limiting

restaurants to takeout serv-

ice.

Millions more across the

state, including those in

Palm Springs and Sacra-

mento, were ordered to shel-

ter in place, similar to the

rules imposed Monday

across the Bay Area.

The virus has now

claimed 13 lives in California.

Two new deaths were re-

ported Tuesday — one in

Coachella Valley in Riv-

erside County and a man in

his 50s in Santa Clara

County who was hospital-

ized on March 9.

L.A. County announced

it had 147 confirmed cases of

the coronavirus, up 53 from

Monday. All told, more than

470 people across California

have tested positive for the

virus.

California schools are all

but shut down — a hardship

for children and families in a

state where 60% of students

quality for free or reduced

Campuses

likely won’t

reopen this

school year

L.A Unified will offer

meals to students and

parents at 60 sites

twice a day beginning

on Wednesday.

By Howard Blume,

John Myers

and Rosanna Xia

[SeeSchools, B5]

SAN FRANCISCO —

Hairstylists canceled ap-

pointments. Gardeners and

construction crews showed

up to work. A dog-grooming

business deemed itself es-

sential and kept its door

open. Some liquor stores

closed. Others didn’t.

All the time, cases of the

coronavirus kept creeping

upward.

During the first day of a

“shelter-in-place” order in

seven Bay Area counties

Tuesday, compliance was

generally strong but uneven

in places, with some busi-

nesses uncertain whether

they were required to close.

The order issued Monday

requires residents to stay

home until at least April 7.

They may leave their homes

only for essential needs,

such as visiting grocery

stores, pharmacies, doctors

and relatives. Officials say

the order seeks to prevent

COVID-19 from overwhelm-

ing the healthcare system of

a region where 7 million peo-

ple live.

All nonessential busi-

nesses were ordered to close.

San Mateo County Su-

pervisor Dave Pine said the

order would likely be modi-

fied to clarify whether some

businesses, such as lawn

care, home construction and

IN BAY

AREA,

COPING

WITH A

NEW ERA

Emergency orders

upend normal life as

residents, businesses

struggle to adapt.

By Susanne Rust,

Maura Dolan and

Rong-Gong Lin II

[SeeBay Area, B2]

Runoff looks

likely for D.A.

Incumbent Lacey

slips below 49%,

making a faceoff with

Gascón probable. B

County courts

to scale back

Most trials will go on

hiatus with service

continuing only for

vital matters. B

Homeless won’t

have to pack up

L.A. will stop requir-

ing tents to be taken

down in daytime amid

coronavirus spread. B

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