10/30/2019 Family questions man's death during medical call - News - vvdailypress.com - Victorville, CA

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By Martin Estacio Staff Writer Posted at 5:45 AM

VICTORVILLE — At 8:30 a.m. every day, Steve Varelas would meet up with hisbrother.

Despite being homeless, Ruben Escudero, 41, would always show up at adesignated place, Varelas said.

The meeting might involve Varelas giving Escudero breakfast, some pocketmoney, a pack of cigarettes, or whatever else he needed. On Oct. 19, Varelas saidhe dropped his brother off at a friend’s house in Victorville.

The next day, Escudero didn’t show up for their meeting. Varelas would findhim later that night, unconscious and on life support in a hospital bed in theICU. Escudero died on Oct. 23.

According to Sharon Brunner and James Terrell, attorneys representing thefamily, Escudero suffered a possible overdose on the day that Varelas lastdropped him off. The attorneys said eyewitnesses told them he was being treatedwhen law enforcement arrived.

There are differing versions of what happened next.

“During the treatment, Ruben was brutally beaten in the head by San BernardinoCounty Deputy Sheriffs on scene for no legitimate reason according toeyewitnesses,” a statement from the attorneys read. “The beating consisted ofnumerous blunt force trauma strikes to Ruben’s head and face amounting to theuse of lethal force.”

Sheriff’s spokesperson Jodi Miller said Escudero became combative whendeputies arrived to assist medical personnel.

Family questions man’s death during medical

call

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“Escudero assaulted both medical and safety staff and a use of force incidentoccurred,” said Miller in an email to the Daily Press.

Brunner said eyewitness accounts dispute Miller’s version of events.

“He was confused and at one point might have tried to push a deputy away, butthat was the extent of it,” said Brunner.

Escudero’s grieving family said they are trying to understand precisely whatoccurred during what should have been a routine medical call.

“A really good heart”

Escudero’s family sat down for an interview with the Daily Press on Monday.They described a man, who despite having a difficult past, was still very muchloved by and close to his family.

“You know my brother was troubled, but had a really good heart,” said Varelas,who joked that half the tents alongside the Mojave River near D Street, wherehis brother lived, were probably there due to Escudero’s generosity.

“I’d buy him a tent every time he needed one and it seemed like he needed oneevery week,” Varelas said. “But he was giving them out to people who didn’t havethem.”

Ruben Vargas, Escudero’s stepfather, said his stepson was very polite, “almost toa fault” and was always willing to help others out doing odd jobs. At times,Escudero would take lunch as partial payment for work he did, Vargas said.

Escudero’s mother, Cecilia Vargas, said her son chose to be homeless becausethat’s where he was most comfortable. The family said he suffered from bipolardisorder, substance abuse and had several run-ins with the law.

Court records show he was convicted of assault with a deadly weapon in 2005,and later, drug and traffic charges.

Most recently, he pleaded no contest to misdemeanor battery in 2018 and was onprobation when he died.

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When Escudero, a veteran of the U.S. Navy, didn’t show up for his“appointment” on Oct. 20, Varelas said calls to sheriff’s stations seekinginformation regarding his brother’s whereabouts weren’t immediately returned.

He said he knew to start looking in hospitals after Cecilia Vargas had learnedEscudero had possibly overdosed.

Varelas found his brother later that night at Victor Valley Global Medical Centerafter talking to a staff member. According to Cecilia Vargas, he was listed simplyas “Ruben Doe,” and his birth date was incorrect.

Varelas said Escudero’s head looked like it had “baseball stitching” on it due to thenumber of stapled cuts. Cecilia Vargas said her son also had a broken nose andwhat appeared to be taser marks and burns on his head and neck.

Escudero died three days after his brother found him at the hospital, shortly afterbeing taken off life support equipment.

Sheriff’s spokesperson Miller said the department was conducting a“comprehensive and ongoing investigation” into the incident, which includes anindependent autopsy being performed by the Riverside County Coroner’s Office.She said the deputies involved remain in their current duty assignments.

Brunner said the autopsy on Tuesday would be monitored by her law firm’s ownmedical expert as well. Escudero’s family is in the stages of filing a lawsuit againstthe Sheriff’s Department, the attorney said.

Eyewitness accounts say Escudero was being administered Narcan, a drug thatreverses the effects of an overdose, when the use-of-force occurred, Brunnersaid.

The fast-acting drug can cause a person to become confused or possibly angry,because of the effects of immediate withdrawal, according to the HarmReduction Coalition.

Escudero’s brother, Edward Vargas, said he spoke with a deputy who was at thescene. He questioned why sheriff’s deputies didn’t put his brother in some type ofrestraint while the drug was being given.

Cecilia Vargas agreed with her son.

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“That was not their first rodeo,” she said, referring to the deputies whoresponded to Escudero’s medical call. “They are not rookies. They already know.That is my anger, because they already knew what to expect.”

Martin Estacio may be reached at MEstacio@VVDailyPress.com or at 760-955-5358.

Follow him on Twitter @DP_mestacio.

Cal State San Bernardino will be closed Wednesday because of high winds – Press Enterprise

https://www.pe.com/...winds/?utm_content=tw-pressenterprise&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=socialflow&utm_medium=social[10/30/2019 7:27:18 AM]

By BRIAN ROKOS | brokos@scng.com | The Press-EnterprisePUBLISHED: October 29, 2019 at 7:31 pm | UPDATED: October 29, 2019 at 7:34 pm

Cal State San Bernardino will be closed for classes and business operations Wednesday, Oct. 30, inanticipation of an electricity shutoff because of high winds and severe wildfire danger, the universityannounced Tuesday.

The Palm Desert campus will remain open. The university will issue an update at 7 p.m. Wednesday.

A high-wind warning is in effect from 11 p.m. Tuesday through 6 p.m. Thursday. Wind speeds of 25mph to 35 mph with gusts to 55 mph are expected. Localized gusts up to 80 mph near and below theCajon and San Gorgonio passes are possible, the National Weather Service said.

The high winds could spread flames rapidly.

Fire officials urge residents not to engage in activities that could spark a fire such as mowing orparking a car on brush. Officials also urge residents to prepare to evacuate. More information is

NEWSCRIME + PUBLIC SAFETY

Cal State San Bernardino will be closedWednesday because of high winds

Cal State San Bernardino will be closed Wednesday because of high winds – Press Enterprise

https://www.pe.com/...winds/?utm_content=tw-pressenterprise&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=socialflow&utm_medium=social[10/30/2019 7:27:18 AM]

Wind-driven blaze called Easy fire burningnear Reagan Library in Simi Valley

Where Southern California Edison will beproviding backup power to customersaffected by outages

70-80 mph winds, single-digit humidityTuesday through Thursday elevate firerisk across Southern California

Getty fire may have started with branchblown onto LADWP power lines, LAofficials say

Wildfires underscore presidential hopefulTom Steyer’s climate change agenda

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70-80 mph winds, single-digit humidity Tuesday through Thursday elevate fire risk across Southern California – San Bernardino Sun

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70-80 mph winds, single-digit humidity Tuesdaythrough Thursday elevate fire risk acrossSouthern California

70-80 mph winds, single-digit humidity Tuesday through Thursday elevate fire risk across Southern California – San Bernardino Sun

https://www.sbsun.com/...9/70-80-mph-winds-single-digit-humidity-tuesday-through-thursday-elevates-fire-risk-across-southern-california/[10/30/2019 7:34:17 AM]

By ERIC LICAS | elicas@scng.com | Orange County RegisterPUBLISHED: October 29, 2019 at 6:44 pm | UPDATED: October 30, 2019 at 6:18 am

A weather system developing late Tuesday, Oct. 29 will drive the 2019 season’s most powerful SantaAna winds across Southern California overnight and through the following afternoon before starting togradually weaken Wednesday evening, forecasters say.

Gusts should peak in strength before dawn and through Wednesday morning, according to theNational Weather Service. Meteorologists expect winds to reach between 60 to 70 mph in the valleysof Orange, Los Angeles, Riverside and San Bernardino counties, with isolated gusts of 80 mph insome mountain regions.

RED FLAG WINDS: Roads closing in Woodland Hills, Topanga, due to high winds

The charred remains of a home burned Monday in the Getty Fire along Tigertail road frames the Getty Center Tuesday, October 29,2019. An extreme red flag Santa Ana wind condition with 50-70 mph wind gusts is expected to begin late Tuesday into Wednesday.(Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)

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70-80 mph winds, single-digit humidity Tuesday through Thursday elevate fire risk across Southern California – San Bernardino Sun

https://www.sbsun.com/...9/70-80-mph-winds-single-digit-humidity-tuesday-through-thursday-elevates-fire-risk-across-southern-california/[10/30/2019 7:34:17 AM]

Where Southern California Edison will beproviding backup power to customers

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Offshore winds will begin to noticeably diminish Wednesday afternoon in most areas of SouthernCalifornia, meteorologists said. Gusts may persist in portions of Riverside and San Diego Countiesthrough Thursday afternoon, but should not be an issue for those trick-or-treating after dark onHalloween. That evening and the following morning may be the coldest period this week.

The conditions driving this bout of Santa Ana winds should end by Friday in Los Angeles County.However, mountains near the coast in Orange and San Diego counties may continue to experienceweaker gusts until Saturday morning. Winds begin to shift direction on Sunday and Monday andshould remain mild.

Relative humidity should remain in the single digits across southern California for most of the week,dipping as low as 1 to 2% at times in wind-prone areas of Los Angeles and Ventura counties. Dry,gusty conditions will contribute to an elevated risk of fire over the next few days. As a result, a red flagwarning will remain in effect from 11 p.m. Tuesday through 6 p.m. Thursday in the mountains andvalleys of San Bernardino and Riverside counties, inland portions of Orange County and all of LosAngeles and Ventura counties.

Meanwhile, temperatures should be 10 to 20 degrees cooler than normal in inland areas, but slightlyabove average along the coasts in Orange and San Diego counties on Wednesday. Highs wereforecast to jump from 67 degrees Wednesday to 74 degrees Thursday in Moreno Valley, andexpected increase from 69 to 76 degrees over that same period in San Bernardino.

Highs should stay near normal levels in Los Angeles County Wednesday, before rising four to eightdegrees in the region Thursday. Temperatures should rise from 74 degrees on Wednesday to 76degrees overnight in Long Beach, and increase from 72 to 77 degrees in Arcadia. Also during thattime, temperatures should rise from 76 to 80 degrees in Anaheim and Santa Ana.

The rest of Southern California may begin to experience a warming trend on Saturday. Highs wereexpected to climb that day to 69 degrees in Huntington Beach; 70 degrees in Newport Beach; 74degrees in Malibu; 76 degrees in Torrance and Hawthorne; 82 degrees in Fullerton; 83 degrees inVan Nuys, Chino and Moreno Valley, 84 degrees in Northridge and 85 degrees in Riverside.

Early weather models do not predict another period of extreme winds or rainfall over the next 10 days,according to NWS reports.

10/30/2019 WEATHER UPDATE: Strong winds are blasting Fontana on Oct. 30; more power shutoffs likely | News | fontanaheraldnews.com

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https://www.fontanaheraldnews.com/news/weather-update-strong-winds-are-blasting-fontana-on-oct-more/article_45254bda-f9da-11e9-8a18-2fa6c8cf6702.html

WEATHER UPDATE: Strong winds are blasting Fontana on Oct. 30; more powershuto�s likelyOct 28, 2019 Updated 42 min ago

This photo of the new Highland Village Shopping Center in northern Fontana was taken earlier this year.  Businesses in the center have experienced somepower shuto�s recently because of the high winds.  (Contributed photo by City of Fontana)

10/30/2019 WEATHER UPDATE: Strong winds are blasting Fontana on Oct. 30; more power shutoffs likely | News | fontanaheraldnews.com

https://www.fontanaheraldnews.com/news/weather-update-strong-winds-are-blasting-fontana-on-oct-more/article_45254bda-f9da-11e9-8a18-2fa6c8cf… 2/3

Strong Santa Ana winds are blasting Fontana on Wednesday, Oct. 30, and a red �ag warning and high wind warning will be in

e�ect through Thursday, Oct. 31.

Some Fontana residents and businesses could have their power turned o� because of the winds, which were expected to have

gusts of 55 mph.

People living and working in some northern areas of Fontana have been irritated by both the strong wind gusts and by Southern

California Edison's decision to implement public safety power shuto�s in recent days.

Assemblymember Eloise Gómez Reyes (D-San Bernardino) said in a statement that she is concerned about the possible overuse

of the shuto�s, which are designed to lessen the likelihood of wild�res.

"As a member of the Assembly Utilities Committee, I have been engaged in reviewing e�orts by utilities, state and local

government and other stakeholders to reduce the �re danger associated with utility infrastructure," Reyes said. "Shutting down

the power supply to at-risk areas during extreme weather can be a prudent strategy to prevent catastrophic destruction and

even death from potential �res. However, I am deeply concerned with the implementation of the power shuto�s in our region

and around the state."

In Fontana, businesses in the new Highland Village Shopping Center have experienced power shuto�s at various times, and

several signal lights in the area have not been working.

The Fontana Uni�ed School District has not reported any school closures.

"The decision to shut o� power to residential and business customers should be a strategic decision that is targeted as

speci�cally as possible to limit unnecessary impacts. Unfortunately, based on the feedback I am receiving from constituents in

my district, these shuto�s appear to be applied overly broad and without su�cient warning to residential and business

customers whose lives and businesses are severely disrupted by these shuto�s," Reyes said.

Reyes said she is calling on SCE to work with local residents and businesses to limit unnecessary impacts from these shuto�s

and provide assistance to persons who have had their lives and businesses negatively impacted.

"While it may be reasonable to shut o� power in extreme weather conditions, it is not reasonable that utility customers should

have to su�er the costs related to spoiled food and lost business," Reyes said. "The current circumstances are a stark reminder

that the utilities must invest in grid safety before occurrence of severe weather events as prevention will always remain the

most e�ective option.”

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10/30/2019 WEATHER UPDATE: Strong winds are blasting Fontana on Oct. 30; more power shutoffs likely | News | fontanaheraldnews.com

https://www.fontanaheraldnews.com/news/weather-update-strong-winds-are-blasting-fontana-on-oct-more/article_45254bda-f9da-11e9-8a18-2fa6c8cf… 3/3

----- HERE is the weather forecast for Fontana:

Wednesday, Oct. 30 -- Areas of blowing dust. Sunny, with a high near 66. Windy, with a north wind 30 to 40 mph, with gusts as

high as 55 mph.

Wednesday night -- Areas of blowing dust before 11 p.m. Mostly clear, with a low around 44. Windy.

Thursday, Oct. 31 -- Sunny, with a high near 75. Windy.

Thursday night -- Mostly clear, with a low around 47. Breezy.

10/30/2019 How do wildfires start and spread? - Los Angeles Times

https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2019-10-29/how-do-wildfires-start 1/16

CALIFORNIA

How do wildfires start and spread?

By JOSEPH SERNA, RONG-GONG LIN II, JAMES F. PELTZ

OCT. 29, 20193:58 PM

1/69

A charred utility pole lies amid burned machinery along Chalk Hill Road near Healdsburg on Tuesday, Oct. 29, 2019. (LuisSinco/Los Angeles Times)

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10/30/2019 How do wildfires start and spread? - Los Angeles Times

https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2019-10-29/how-do-wildfires-start 2/16

Wildfires can have a variety of reasons for starting.

Mostly, they’re caused by humans — by our own activity or our equipment. A study published in

2017 found that 84% of U.S. wildfires were caused by human related activity; the remaining 16%

were caused by lightning. About 95% of fires the California Department of Forestry and Fire

Protection responds to are caused by humans.

Here are some ways wildfires can be ignited in California:

• Power lines/electrical equipment. Electrical lines and related equipment can break in high

winds and spark, igniting tinder-dry vegetation that can spread quickly in high winds.

Pacific Gas & Electric’s electrical transmission lines sparked the deadliest and most destructive

wildfire in California history in 2018, the Camp fire, which razed 90% of the town of Paradise,

killed 86 people and left more than 13,900 homes destroyed. The lines malfunctioned on a dry

hillside near a windy canyon.

Southern California Edison and San Diego Gas & Electric power lines have also ignited large files in

modern California history, as has a privately owned electrical system.

The Times is offering fire coverage for free today. Please consider a subscription to support our

journalism.

• Sparks from vehicles or other equipment. A trailer with a flat tire that resulted in the

wheel’s rim kicking up sparks caused one of California’s most destructive wildfires, the Carr fire in

Shasta and Trinity counties, which destroyed more than 1,600 structures and killed eight.

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10/30/2019 How do wildfires start and spread? - Los Angeles Times

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Other common causes are lawnmower blades or metal weed whackers striking rocks to create

sparks, and vehicle collisions. Sparks from a metal grinder jumped into some dry grass, triggering

the Zaca fire in Santa Barbara County in 2007 — one of the largest in state history.

Chains hanging from a boat or truck trailer can ignite fires; so can hot components underneath a

vehicle when parked near dry brush. “You don’t think about it when you drive off to the side of the

road,” said Jennifer Balch, lead author of a study on human-caused wildfires and director of Earth

Lab at the University of Colorado in Boulder.

Large brush fire erupts in Simi Valley, triggering evacuations

Authorities identify second woman who died when Calimesa fire tore through mobile home park

Why the ‘extreme red flag’ winds hitting L.A. region are especially dangerous

MORE FIRE COVERAGE

10/30/2019 How do wildfires start and spread? - Los Angeles Times

https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2019-10-29/how-do-wildfires-start 4/16

Getty Center and Getty Villa to remain closed through Friday because of fire

• Arson. Arson is a rare cause of the most catastrophic wildfires in California. In 2006, Raymond

Lee Oyler, an accused serial arsonist, used a combination of matches and cigarettes to start a fire at

the base of the San Jacinto Mountains, prosecutors said. Five firefighters died fighting the blaze;

Oyler was sentenced to death in 2009.

A 23,000-acre fire in Orange and Riverside counties in 2018 was allegedly set by Forrest Gordon

Clark; he has pleaded not guilty.

• Camp fire. An illegal camp fire ignited by a deer hunter caused a wildfire that burned more than

a quarter-million acres in mountainous forests near Yosemite in 2013 and threatened a vital supply

of water for San Francisco. In a signed affidavit, Keith Matthew Emerald said embers from the

camp fire blew up the hill and ignited brush. Charges against him were later dropped.

• Cigarettes: Cal Fire responds to an average of 47 wildfires each year caused by carelessly

discarded cigarettes.

• Call for help: A deer hunter lost in the backcountry of northern San Diego County set two small

signal fires. That caused the Cedar fire of 2003, killing 15, burning more than 2,800 structures and

more than a quarter-million acres. The hunter was sentenced to six months in a work-furlough

program.

• Faulty wiring. A hot tub’s faulty wiring caused a 76,000-acre fire in Lake County, causing the

deaths of four people and destroying nearly 2,000 buildings in 2015.

• Failure to extinguish a previous fire: The Oakland-Berkeley hills fire of 1991, which killed

25 people and destroyed more than 2,200 homes, blew out of control in swift winds after

firefighters failed to fully monitor and extinguish a fire the previous day that had been thought to

be controlled.

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Extreme fire weather could be the worst ‘in recent memory’

Oct. 29, 2019

10/30/2019 How do wildfires start and spread? - Los Angeles Times

https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2019-10-29/how-do-wildfires-start 5/16

• Lightning. It’s not a particularly common cause among California’s most destructive or

deadliest fires, but it has caused a fair number of the state’s largest. In 2012, lightning ignited the

Rush fire in Lassen County, burning more than 270,000 acres in California; an additional 44,000

acres burned in Nevada.

• Fear of insects. A rancher tried to plug a wasp’s nest in the ground by jamming a stake into the

ground. That unleashed a spark that began burning waist-high grass. He tried to smother the

flames by tossing a trampoline on it, but that just worsened the flames. It caused the start of the

largest of two fires that merged to become California’s largest wildfire on record, the Mendocino

Complex fire, which burned more than 450,000 acres in four Northern California counties —

Colusa, Lake, Mendocino and Glenn.

How do fires spread?

Many devastating wildfires in California are spread by wind.

10/30/2019 How do wildfires start and spread? - Los Angeles Times

https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2019-10-29/how-do-wildfires-start 6/16

Downslope winds — called Santa Ana winds in Southern California and Diablo winds in Northern California — come fastdown from the deserts of Nevada and Utah over California’s mountain slopes and through its canyon passes. The air driesout and warms up, bringing critical fire weather toward the California coast. (Paul Duginski)

They’re called Santa Ana winds in Southern California and Diablo winds in Northern California.

Taken together, they’re called downslope winds.

10/30/2019 How do wildfires start and spread? - Los Angeles Times

https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2019-10-29/how-do-wildfires-start 7/16

Santa Ana winds come from desert air from Nevada and Utah sweeping down mountainsides in California. (Paul Duginski /Los Angeles Times)

They’re meteorologically identical. They come from the northeast and head southwest. They occur

in the fall and winter, and sometimes in the spring.

They generally peak during the late-night hours and persist through the early afternoon.

10/30/2019 How do wildfires start and spread? - Los Angeles Times

https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2019-10-29/how-do-wildfires-start 8/16

Paul Duginski / Los Angeles Times

They can help bring catastrophic fire weather conditions when they blow as sparks ignite, and they

can arrive when vegetation is at its driest point of the year, before autumn rains arrive.

Santa Ana and Diablo winds bring high-pressure air from the deserts of Nevada and Utah howling

down the slopes of California’s greatest mountain ranges, searching for lower-pressure voids on the

coast.

10/30/2019 How do wildfires start and spread? - Los Angeles Times

https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2019-10-29/how-do-wildfires-start 9/16

Diablo winds come from high-pressure desert air from Nevada and Utah flowing to lower-pressure voids on the coast, dryingout and heating up as they come down the western slopes of the Sierra Nevada and Coastal Ranges. (Paul Duginski / LosAngeles Times)

Not only is dry desert air blowing into California but also, as the air descends in elevation, it warms

and the relative humidity plummets. In extreme events, exceptionally dry air can be pulled from

the stratosphere and worsen fire weather.

Similar winds that threaten the Santa Barbara area are known as sundowner winds. Strong winds

come from the north to the south, and typically peak in the late spring through the mid-summer.

Sundowner winds peak during the late afternoon to the evening hours.

10/30/2019 How do wildfires start and spread? - Los Angeles Times

https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2019-10-29/how-do-wildfires-start 10/16

Strong sundowner winds come from the north to the south, and typically peak in the late spring through the mid-summer,threatening the Santa Barbara area. Sundowner winds peak during the late afternoon to the evening hours.(Paul Duginski / Los Angeles Times)

Are California’s wildfires getting more destructive?

Of the 10 most destructive California wildfires in the modern record, all of them have occurred

since 1991. Nine of them have hit since 2003; seven since 2015.

Why is this?

Lots of reasons. Here are some:

• We continue to build and live in the wilderness. Some experts say we need to stop

building homes in wildlands at risk for wildfires. Many elected officials aren’t interested.

10/30/2019 How do wildfires start and spread? - Los Angeles Times

https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2019-10-29/how-do-wildfires-start 11/16

Authorities continue to green-light housing developments at great risk for wildfire.

Once a wildfire ignites homes, it can become a city firestorm — moving horizontally, house to

house, as it did in the town of Paradise in 2018. Such fires can be fueled more by igniting homes

than the surrounding trees.

• Hotter weather and drier autumns. Hotter temperatures are causing vegetation to get more

dried out than ever. Climate change is also linked to drier autumns in California and a delayed

onset of autumn rains.

That’s a big problem: Firefighters historically relied on early rains to ease the threat from extreme

Diablo and Santa Ana winds that plague California beginning in late September.

CALIFORNIA

Worst winds of the season batter California, bringing prospect of more blackouts,fires and evacuations

Oct. 30, 2019

• Too many wildfires are followed by intense droughts. Wildlands are getting burned too

often, and then are stressed by drought, causing lasting changes to California’s ecology that make

the state even more at risk for wildfires.

In Southern California, shrublands are being permanently replaced by invasive grasses, and that

raises the risk of wildfires, a Los Angeles Times special report earlier this year said. Invasive

grasses don’t anchor soils as well as deep-rooted chaparral plants and ignite easily, fueling more

and more fires.

Extended droughts leave behind dead plants that “can leave a dead-fuel legacy on the landscape

and contribute to large fires in subsequent years, even in years when precipitation returns to

normal,” U.S. Geological Survey fire ecologist Jon Keeley and research ecologist Alexandra

Syphard wrote in a study published in the International Journal of Wildland Fire.

Where Southern California Edison will be providing backup power to customers affected by outages – Daily Bulletin

https://www.dailybulletin.com/...m_campaign=socialflow&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_content=tw-ivdailybulletin[10/30/2019 7:27:08 AM]

NEWSCRIME + PUBLIC SAFETY

Where Southern California Edison will beproviding backup power to customers affected byoutages

Where Southern California Edison will be providing backup power to customers affected by outages – Daily Bulletin

https://www.dailybulletin.com/...m_campaign=socialflow&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_content=tw-ivdailybulletin[10/30/2019 7:27:08 AM]

By NIKIE JOHNSON | nijohnson@scng.com |PUBLISHED: October 29, 2019 at 7:32 pm | UPDATED: October 29, 2019 at 7:32 pm

Southern California Edison will send out vehicles and set up resource centers Wednesday, Oct. 30, tohelp customers whose power has been turned off to reduce wildfire risk.

Community crew vehicles are equipped with backup power to give customers a place to chargepersonal mobile devices as well as to receive water, snacks and updates about the power outages.Those vehicles are planned to be stationed in three locations:

San Bernardino County: Jessie Turner Health and Fitness Center, 15556 Summit Ave., Fontana,from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Ventura County: Santa Paula City Hall/Park, 970 E. Ventura St., Santa Paula, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Kern County: Stallion Springs Community Center, 27800 Stallion Springs Drive, Tehachapi, from 9a.m. to 5 p.m.

In addition, the utility will have community resource centers set up at two locations:

Los Angeles County: Agua Dulce Women’s Club, 33201 Agua Dulce Canyon Road, Agua Dulce,from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Ventura County: Berylwood Park, 1955 Bridget Ave., Simi Valley, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Extremely strong Santa Ana winds are expected to be blowing through Southern California onWednesday, with gusts up to 80 mph in some places.

A sign hangs in the door of a closed fast-food restaurant at Interstate 15 and Sierra Avenue in Fontana on Thursday, Oct 24, 2019.Southern California Edison turned off power in the area due to extreme Santa Ana wind conditions. (Photo by Will Lester, InlandValley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

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Where Southern California Edison will be providing backup power to customers affected by outages – Daily Bulletin

https://www.dailybulletin.com/...m_campaign=socialflow&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_content=tw-ivdailybulletin[10/30/2019 7:27:08 AM]

Power outage map: Where SouthernCalifornia Edison has cut electricity or isconsidering it

70-80 mph winds, single-digit humidityTuesday through Thursday elevate firerisk across Southern California

Getty fire may have started with branchblown onto LADWP power lines, LAofficials say

‘This is about greed’: Newsom blamespower shutoffs on utilities

From SCE: Public Safety Power Shutoffs| Safety tips

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To reduce the risk of its equipment setting off a spark that could turn into a wildfire, Edison has beenimplementing public safety power shutoffs all month. Hundreds of thousands of customers live inareas that have been considered for blackouts, and tens of thousands have lost power.

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Tags: power outage, 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, wildfires

Wanted: New Upland city attorney, who will face tons of scrutiny from City Council – Daily Bulletin

https://www.dailybulletin.com/...tm_campaign=socialflow&utm_medium=social&utm_content=tw-ivdailybulletin&utm_source=twitter.com[10/29/2019 3:28:16 PM]

By STEVE SCAUZILLO | sscauzillo@scng.com | San Gabriel Valley TribunePUBLISHED: October 29, 2019 at 12:52 pm | UPDATED: October 29, 2019 at 12:55 pm

In what’s sure to be a rigorous vetting process, the Upland City Council is moving ahead with solicitation of applications for city attorney, demanding that each application is shown to all five council members.

By a 5-0 vote Monday, Oct. 28, the City Council directed Interim City Manager Rosemary Hoerning to send out a Request for Proposal, an unusual mechanism for choosing a city attorney. An RFP is more commonly used for hiring a consultant or a contractor, not a city attorney.

“I’ve never been through an RFP for legal services before,” City Councilwoman Janice Elliott told Hoerning, who answered she will prepare a set of criteria as part of the solicitation within the next two to four weeks. Elliott said this is a “hot market” for city attorney services and that the city could expect at least 15 candidates.

LOCAL NEWS

Wanted: New Upland city attorney, who will facetons of scrutiny from City CouncilFormer legal counsel resigned Oct. 14 just before the council was set to firehim

Wanted: New Upland city attorney, who will face tons of scrutiny from City Council – Daily Bulletin

https://www.dailybulletin.com/...tm_campaign=socialflow&utm_medium=social&utm_content=tw-ivdailybulletin&utm_source=twitter.com[10/29/2019 3:28:16 PM]

On Oct. 14, Jim Markman, city attorney,resigned just before the council was set to firehim. Markman was blamed for providing legalballast to a proposal to sell a portion of Upland’shistoric Memorial Park for $4.2 million to SanAntonio Regional Hospital for a parking lot.

Markman was the architect of a complicatedlegal maneuver to let a judge rule whether thesale was valid, but in May, a judge dismissedthe city’s request. Furthermore, the hospitalCEO, Harris Koenig, who was strongly behindthe deal, was fired last month.

RELATED: Upland seeks $8.5 million in statefunds to improve underused Memorial Park; land sale to hospital hangs in balance

Many residents, most opposed to giving up part of the park, criticized Markman for the deal and askedfor his resignation. At the meeting Monday, three residents went further, saying any new city attorneyshould not come from Markman’s law firm, Richards, Watson and Gershon.

Interim City Attorney Steven Flower, who was on the dais Monday night, is from the same law firm.

“I believe it is time to cut ties with Mr. Markman and Mr. Flower’s law firm,” Upland resident BarbaraMcJoynt said during public comments.

Upland City Attorney Jim Markman, seen here on Oct. 14, withInterim City Manager Rosemary Hoerning, resigned during aclosed session discussion about firing him. Markman was blamedby city critics for a parkland sale to the hospital. On Monday, Oct.28, the City Council asked Hoerning to put out proposals for a newcity attorney. (Photo by David Allen, Inland Valley DailyBulletin/SCNG)

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Wanted: New Upland city attorney, who will face tons of scrutiny from City Council – Daily Bulletin

https://www.dailybulletin.com/...tm_campaign=socialflow&utm_medium=social&utm_content=tw-ivdailybulletin&utm_source=twitter.com[10/29/2019 3:28:16 PM]

Facing a vote to fire him, Upland CityAttorney Jim Markman resigns

They came from a land Down Under tovisit sister city Upland

Upland sometimes quick to dismissemployees, even a woman judge

Upland City Council fires City ManagerJeannette Vagnozzi

University of La Verne considering closureof its law school in Ontario

RELATED LINKS

Others asked for a city attorney that would speak in plain language and understands the issuessurrounding the California Public Park Preservation Act.

“If our city goal is to increase trust within the public, I ask that you find an attorney that is versed inpublic policy and respects and appreciates the principles and meaning behind our laws, not someonewho will use laws against its own citizens,” said Irmalinda Osuna, a 16-year Upland resident andformer council candidate.

Earlier this month, Markman defended the integrity of his law firm. And regarding the parkland sale, hesaid points of the deal were OK’d by the City Council, which still has veto power over the deal via arequired zone change.

Council members Elliott, Rudy Zuniga and Bill Velto, when asked if they preferred a committee to cullcity attorney applicants and then show the culled list to the council, said no. They wanted to see all thecandidates’ applications and possibly interview all of them. The council would pick a new city attorneyin closed session. No timetable has been set.

Elliott asked Hoerning to summarize the applicant’sservices and fees in a chart so the council could see thedifferences at a glance. She also said a new city attorneymust be knowledgeable about water issues.

Markman served as Upland’s legal counsel from 1996 to2003, then returned in February 2017. He serves as cityattorney for Rancho Cucamonga, a position he has held for34 years.

Daily Bulletin columnist David Allen contributed to thisarticle.

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New movie theater, Yucaipa’s first Chick-fil-A anchor planned shopping center – San Bernardino Sun

https://www.sbsun.com/...pping-center/?utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=socialflow&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_content=tw-sbsun[10/29/2019 3:27:53 PM]

By JENNIFER IYER | jiyer@scng.com | Redlands Daily FactsPUBLISHED: October 29, 2019 at 2:57 pm | UPDATED: October 29, 2019 at 2:58 pm

Yucaipa could get a movie theater and several new restaurants at a shopping center proposed at the10 Freeway and Yucaipa Boulevard.

Yucaipa Pointe got a go-ahead from the Planning Commission on Oct. 16, and moves on to the CityCouncil for review.

Of the restaurants named at the commission’s meeting, firsts for the city include Chipotle, PaneraBread and Chick-fil-A. A Jack in the Box was also named. Several other drive-thru or sit-downrestaurants, a health club, and car wash also are planned.

Commissioner Denise Work shared her concerns about the number of fast-food restaurants withdrive-thrus and how much traffic they would cause.

“I don’t care for the fast-food nation down here,” she said at the meeting. “I’m not convinced looking atthe plan that the stacking on all of these pads is really sufficient.”

LOCAL NEWS

New movie theater, Yucaipa’s first Chick-fil-Aanchor planned shopping center

New movie theater, Yucaipa’s first Chick-fil-A anchor planned shopping center – San Bernardino Sun

https://www.sbsun.com/...pping-center/?utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=socialflow&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_content=tw-sbsun[10/29/2019 3:27:53 PM]

Dine 909: Norms Restaurant finally underconstruction in north Rialto

Here’s where Raising Cane’s will build itsfirst Redlands restaurant

Tuscano’s Pizza & Pasta raises its Italianfood game in Yucaipa

It’s apple pickin’ time in Oak Glen

Status Update: Firestarter gym opens inMoreno Valley

RELATED LINKS

She also expressed worries about greenhouse gas emissions from idling vehicles in the drive-thrus.

Tom Robinson with developer VantageOne Real Estate Investments said drive-thrus are a popularrestaurant model.

“All national restaurants, they want a drive-thru,” he said.Even Chipotle and Panera Bread, which in the past havebeen mostly sit-down only, want to provide customers withdrive-up service.

The planned Chick-fil-A, which is anticipated to draw manycars at peak hours, can stack 30 in the drive-thru, he said.

City staff also noted several spots will be designated for electric vehicles only, which will help offsetemissions.

One thing the center won’t have is a grocery store, though it will have a sign designating Yucaipa asthe home of Stater Bros. As the property’s former owner, the grocery chain required this feature aspart of the sale.

The Stater brothers, Cleo and Leo, purchased their first store in 1936 on West Yucaipa Boulevard.

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10/30/2019 CAUSE OF MASSIVE FIRE IN JOSHUA TREE LAST NIGHT CALLED SUSPICIOUS | Z107.7 FM

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CAUSE OF MASSIVE FIRE IN JOSHUA TREELAST NIGHT CALLED SUSPICIOUS

OCTOBER 30, 2019 | Z107.7 NEWS | LEAVE A COMMENT

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10/30/2019 CAUSE OF MASSIVE FIRE IN JOSHUA TREE LAST NIGHT CALLED SUSPICIOUS | Z107.7 FM

z1077fm.com/cause-of-massive-in-joshua-tree-fire-last-night-called-suspicious/ 4/8

A �re deemed as “suspicious”—with �ames that could be seen from miles away—forced the

evacuation of several residents in a Joshua Tree mobile home park Tuesday night. Fire�ghters from

Joshua Tree, Yucca Valley, and Yucca Mesa were called to a structure �re in the 61900 block of

Commercial Street about 11:00 last night. As crews arrived on scene, they were confronted with

multiple abandoned structures on �re that were threatening an additional occupied structure on the

property. Flames  stretched over 50 feet into the night sky and could be seen from 10 miles away. A

life hazard alert was issued due to a �re-damaged electrical service drop. While the giant �ames

raged on, several nearby residents of the Lazy H RV and Mobile home park were evacuated by

Sheriff’s deputies as the �re grew in size. It took 14 �re�ghters and one battalion chief 30 minutes to

knock down and control the massive blaze. An aggressive attack by �re crews using hand lines and

deck guns ultimately saved the occupied exposure as well as the entire RV/mobile home park. The �re

remains under investigation and appears suspicious in nature.

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Suspect arrested in man’s stabbing death in unincorporated Montclair – San Bernardino Sun

https://www.sbsun.com/...d-montclair/?utm_source=twitter.com&utm_content=tw-sbsun&utm_campaign=socialflow&utm_medium=social[10/30/2019 7:26:56 AM]

By ROBERT GUNDRAN | rgundran@scng.com |PUBLISHED: October 29, 2019 at 8:26 pm | UPDATED: October 29, 2019 at 9:15 pm

An Ontario man was arrested Sunday evening on suspicion of stabbing and killing a man earlier thatday.

Deputies with the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department responded to the 11300 block ofBrunswick Lane in unincorporated Montclair just after 3 a.m. over reports of two people fighting in thestreet, authorities said.

On arrival, deputies found a man in the street, later identified as Daniel Ornelas, 27, of Pomona, withstab wounds. He was transported to a local hospital, where he was later pronounced dead.

Homicide investigators with the Sheriff’s Department identified Ivan Gutierrez, 22, of Ontario, as asuspect involved in Ornelas’ death. Officials said Ornelas and Gutierrez were at a party near wherethe stabbing happened before the fight broke out.

Gutierrez was arrested Sunday at around 8 p.m. on suspicion of murder. He was booked into the

NEWSCRIME + PUBLIC SAFETY

Suspect arrested in man’s stabbing death inunincorporated Montclair

Suspect arrested in man’s stabbing death in unincorporated Montclair – San Bernardino Sun

https://www.sbsun.com/...d-montclair/?utm_source=twitter.com&utm_content=tw-sbsun&utm_campaign=socialflow&utm_medium=social[10/30/2019 7:26:56 AM]

ACLU sues LA County Sheriff’sDepartment for not turning over publicrecords

Claim against Riverside County allegesblame in disappearance and death ofCorona boy, Noah McIntosh

Damien Guerrero, in prison for 2003killing of Kelly Bullwinkle near Redlands,is recommended for parole

Moreno Valley man found in car had beenfatally shot

1 dead after San Bernardino liquor storeshooting

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West Valley Detention Center with a bail of $1 million.

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2nd victim of deadly Sandalwood fire in Calimesa is identified as 61-year-old woman – San Bernardino Sun

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NEWSCRIME + PUBLIC SAFETY

2nd victim of deadly Sandalwood fire in Calimesa is identified as 61-year-oldwoman

2nd victim of deadly Sandalwood fire in…

2nd victim of deadly Sandalwood fire in Calimesa is identified as 61-year-old woman – San Bernardino Sun

https://www.sbsun.com/2019/10/29/2nd-victim-of-deadly-sandalwood-fire-in-calimesa-is-identified-as-61-year-old-woman/?utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=socialflow&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_content=tw-sbsun[10/29/2019 3:28:06 PM]

By BRIAN ROKOS | brokos@scng.com | The Press-EnterprisePUBLISHED: October 29, 2019 at 1:05 pm | UPDATED: October 29, 2019 at 2:23 pm

Resident Cecilia Rios, front, is comforted by sister, Rita Delgado, in the ruins of her home following the Sandalwood fire at Villa Calimesa Mobile Home Park in Calimesa on Monday, Oct. 14, 2019. The Sandalwoodfire claimed two lives in the mobile park as it destroyed 76 homes. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)

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2nd victim of deadly Sandalwood fire in Calimesa is identified as 61-year-old woman – San Bernardino Sun

https://www.sbsun.com/2019/10/29/2nd-victim-of-deadly-sandalwood-fire-in-calimesa-is-identified-as-61-year-old-woman/?utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=socialflow&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_content=tw-sbsun[10/29/2019 3:28:06 PM]

Some Sandalwood fire survivors workingto recover despite lack of home insurance

Stay-out order lifted for mobile home parkdevastated by Sandalwood fire

State insurance chief tours Calimesa areadevastated by Sandalwood fire

Sandalwood fire victims get help with nextsteps, recovery

Assistance center opens in Calimesa forSandalwood fire victims

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The second person whose remains were found in the Calimesa mobile home park ravaged by wildfire on Oct. 10 has been identified.

Hannah Labelle, 61, perished in the blaze, the Riverside County Coroner’s Office said Tuesday, Oct. 29. Labelle lived in the Villa Calimesa Mobile Home Park inSpace A9, the coroner said.

Kaitlin Campbell, a family friend who established a GoFundMe page to raise money for final expenses, said a witness reported that Labelle was seen trying to put outthe approaching flames using a garden hose. The witness said Labelle gave up and then went back inside her home. She was never seen alive again.

The blaze that started when a trash truck dumped its burning load near the 10 Freeway, quickly swept through the mobile home park, fanned by the gusting SantaAna winds, killing two people, destroying dozens of mobile homes and charring more than 1,011 acres.

The other person who died was previously identified as Lois Arvickson, 89. Neighbor Vance Wooten said he saw Arvickson trying to get her car out of the garage butdidn’t see her again.

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10/30/2019 Sheriff, DA, two others receive raises despite opposition from county employees - The San Diego Union-Tribune

https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/politics/story/2019-10-29/sheriff-da-two-others-receive-raises-despite-opposition-from-county-employees 1/11

POLITICS

Sheriff, DA, two others receive raises despite opposition from countyemployees

Sheri� Bill Gore, shown here being sworn into o�ce, was among four elected county employees to receive raises Tuesday. (Sam Hodgson/The San Diego Union-Tribune)

County Board of Supervisors approved raises for four elected officials, tying future raises to similar jobs inother counties

By CHARLES T. CLARK

OCT. 29, 20196:13 PM

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10/30/2019 Sheriff, DA, two others receive raises despite opposition from county employees - The San Diego Union-Tribune

https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/politics/story/2019-10-29/sheriff-da-two-others-receive-raises-despite-opposition-from-county-employees 2/11

San Diego County’s sheriff, district attorney, its assessor/recorder/county clerk and its treasurer/tax collector are all getting raises

this year and in future years, despite requests from county employees that the Board of Supervisors table the topic until the county

conducts a compensation study for all its employees.

On Tuesday the county supervisors approved an ordinance 4-1 that would increase salaries for the four elected positions by 3

percent this fiscal year and by 2 percent each of the two following fiscal years. Then starting in 2023, the salaries for those positions

would be adjusted annually to be no less than the 75th percentile of the salaries of similar positions in 13 “comparable” California

counties.

10/30/2019 Sheriff, DA, two others receive raises despite opposition from county employees - The San Diego Union-Tribune

https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/politics/story/2019-10-29/sheriff-da-two-others-receive-raises-despite-opposition-from-county-employees 3/11

County staff viewed the counties of Los Angeles, Riverside, Orange, Alameda, Contra Costa, Fresno, Kern, Sacramento, San

Bernardino, San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara and Ventura as comparable to San Diego for the salary comparison and found

that San Diego County does not rank among the top five counties in compensation for any of those elected positions.

Supervisor Nathan Fletcher was the lone supervisor to vote against the measure. He argued it is not a pressing priority and it would

be a strange investment, given the board’s earlier failure to fund other modest measures, such as one earlier in the day intended to

expand voter access.

“I realize when you talk about salary increases for elected officials it’s never an easy subject to bring up,” said Supervisor Greg Cox,

who put forward the proposal.

“I can tell you that the increase being talked about here for the next three fiscal years is pretty much in conformist with what the

rank-and-file employees of the County of San Diego have received. The intent would be to make no significant modification to the

salary of the four elected officials.”

Under the new contract the county reached in 2017 with SEIU Local 221, the county employee union, wages were increased by 3

percent in the fiscal years spanning 2017 to 2020, then by 1.5 percent in the fiscal years 2020-21 and 2021-22.

Members of SEIU 221, which has long asked the county to conduct a comprehensive compensation study across all county

positions, criticized the supervisors for doing something to make pay more competitive for the four elected positions, but not for all

county workers.

David Garcias, President of SEIU 221, said SEIU works with several public agencies which conduct compensation studies every

three years to make sure pay is competitive.

San Diego County is the exception, he said.

“The board has repeatedly forgotten these workers, and they need to invest in their workforce,” Garcias said. “Invest to make them

competitive, retain and recruit the best and the brightest — that should be your motto.”

Sarah Johnson, a nurse with Edgmoor Hospital, a county-run nursing home in Santee, asked the board to conduct a compensation

study. She said many of Edgmoor’s nurses go above and beyond duty, and the county needs to make sure it’s prepared to replace

nurses who retire in the coming year.

10/30/2019 Sheriff, DA, two others receive raises despite opposition from county employees - The San Diego Union-Tribune

https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/politics/story/2019-10-29/sheriff-da-two-others-receive-raises-despite-opposition-from-county-employees 4/11

“Competitive wages will attract amazing employees like the ones we have now, the ones that helped Edgmoor become the number

one nursing home in California,” she said. “Please show us that we are appreciated and, remember, a great employee is like a four

leaf clover: hard to find and lucky to have.”

No supervisors commented on the prospect of a comprehensive compensation study.

Supervisors will next meet at 9 a.m. Wednesday at the Campus Center Chambers at the County Operations Center on 5520

Overland Avenue for their regularly scheduled meeting. There will be a second reading of the ordinance at the board meeting on

November 19.

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10/30/2019 County supervisors to examine body part harvesting in the morgue after Times investigation - Los Angeles Times

https://www.latimes.com/business/story/2019-10-30/county-supervisors-human-tissue-procurement 1/5

BUSINESS

County supervisors to examine body part harvesting in the morgue after Timesinvestigation

A photo from inside the OneLegacy Redlands Transplant Recovery Center on March 21, 2018. (Christina House / Los Angeles Times)

By MELODY PETERSENSTAFF WRITER

OCT. 30, 20196 AM

The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors ordered coroner officials on Tuesday to write an in-depth report on the impacts of

allowing a large nonprofit company to procure bones, skin and other parts from bodies in the morgue.

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10/30/2019 County supervisors to examine body part harvesting in the morgue after Times investigation - Los Angeles Times

https://www.latimes.com/business/story/2019-10-30/county-supervisors-human-tissue-procurement 2/5

The supervisor’s vote came after The Times reported earlier this month that it had found dozens of death investigations across the

country, including many in L.A. County, that had been complicated or delayed by the procurement of tissues or organs before the

coroner’s autopsy.

The motion was proposed by Supervisor Hilda Solis, who said the coroner’s responsibility to determine the cause of death was

crucial to court cases, to prevent similar deaths in the future and to provide answers to “grieving loved ones.”

“While organ and tissue donation is invaluable, saves lives, and improves the quality of lives,” Solis said, “it is important to ensure

that it does not interfere with death investigation services” provided by the coroner.

BUSINESS

Full Coverage: The Times’ investigation into how companies that harvest body parts upend death investigations

Oct. 13, 2019

Under the motion, county counsel and coroner officials must complete a report within 90 days that examines the past and current

practices in the morgue as California has allowed procurement companies like OneLegacy to recover tissues or organs from

deceased donors whose deaths fall under the jurisdiction of the coroner.

Tom Mone, chief executive of the Los Angeles company, previously told The Times that he had received “no references to problems

with autopsies” from medical examiners in Los Angeles and the six other Southern California counties where the company operates.

He said OneLegacy had gained permission from coroner officials for the procurements.

Mone declined to comment Tuesday.

Under state law, the coroner must investigate all sudden and unexpected deaths, including those from possible homicides,

accidents, suicides and drug overdoses.

Coroner officials did not speak at the meeting. Jonathan Lucas, the county’s chief medical examiner-coroner, previously told The

Times that he believed his office had been able to use hospital records and other evidence to answer any questions left by the

procurement of tissues or organs. He said he did not believe that any criminal investigation or cause-of-death finding had been

impeded by procurements.

The Times stories reported that a review of written autopsy reports showed instances where county pathologists and death

investigators described potential evidence lost because of the procurement of organs or tissues.

About a decade ago, the human tissue procurement industry helped to write legislation and get it passed in most states that said

coroners must “cooperate” with the companies to “maximize” the number of organs and tissues procured from bodies in the

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10/30/2019 County supervisors to examine body part harvesting in the morgue after Times investigation - Los Angeles Times

https://www.latimes.com/business/story/2019-10-30/county-supervisors-human-tissue-procurement 3/5

morgue. The law passed in California in 2007 and became effective in 2008.

As a result of the laws, procurement companies have moved their operations inside many government morgues across the country.

According to the OneLegacy’s contract with L.A. County, procurement teams must pass background checks to work inside the

morgue. They also have access to coroner case files and to the morgue’s database to find “prospective decedent donors.”

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MORE FROM THE LOS ANGELES TIMES

https://voiceofoc.org/2019/10/oc-judge-orders-fullerton-blog-and-resident-to-stop-publishing-secret-city-hall-documents/ 1/3

JESSICA RUIZ, Voice of OC

�e Fullerton Police Department

By SPENCER CUSTODIO

(HTTPS://VOICEOFOC.ORG/AUTHOR/SCUSTODIO/) October 25, 2019

Local blog Friends for Fullerton’s Future and contributor Joshua Ferguson have been ordered to stop

publishing con�dential documents they may have after an Orange County Superior court judge partially

granted Fullerton’s request for a temporary restraining order on Friday.

City o�cials allege Ferguson and other blog contributors illegally accessed Fullerton’s Dropbox account

— a cloud-based storage service — and downloaded draft agreements and other con�dential documents.

Earlier this month, Ferguson sued the city for allegedly failing to produce police misconduct

(https://voiceofoc.org/2019/10/how-did-a-former-city-manager-get-a-ride-home-from-police-after-drinking-and-crashing-car/)

records under the new records disclosure law, SB 1421 (https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billTextClient.xhtml?

bill_id=201720180SB1421) .

“I am concerned about how these documents were taken … and what they are,” Judge �omas Delaney

said during Friday’s court hearing.

Although Fullerton city attorneys wanted Delaney to appoint a “third party forensic expert” to search

Ferguson and the blog’s computers, the judge denied that part of the temporary restraining order.

Ferguson and the blog are also prohibited from deleting the documents or passing them to anyone else.

“I am concerned with the First Amendment issues,” Delaney said, before issuing his order Friday

afternoon.

A Nov. 21 preliminary injunction hearing has been scheduled in the case.

At the beginning of Friday’s hearing, attorney Kimberly Hall Barlow, who represents Fullerton, said,

“�is case has nothing to do with the First Amendment. �ey stole documents from the city.”

OC Judge Orders Fullerton Blog andResident to Stop Publishing SecretCity Hall Documents

FIRST AMENDMENT

https://voiceofoc.org/2019/10/oc-judge-orders-fullerton-blog-and-resident-to-stop-publishing-secret-city-hall-documents/ 2/3

“He stole these records, it’s right there,” Barlow told Delaney, pointing to a declaration from a forensic

computer analyst hired by the city.

�e analyst said Ferguson and others with the blog accessed Fullerton’s Dropbox, according to his court

declaration.

“It goes on and on and on,” Barlow said.

�ere would be harm to employees and others if the judge didn’t grant Fullerton’s full request, according

the city’s court �ling.

“�e City will continue to be subjected to great and immediate irreparable harm to the privacy and

reputation of its employees and o�cials, and the invasion of its attorney/client relationships,” reads the

request.

But media attorney Kelly Aviles, who represents Ferguson, argued Fullerton’s proposed temporary

restraining order (TRO) is an act of prior restraint and a violation of the First Amendment.

“Case law says the government cannot prohibit the publication of information,” argued Aviles. “�ere has

never been a prior restraint that’s ever been upheld for any reason.”

Aviles also cited the United States Supreme Court decision on the Pentagon Papers in 1971, when

President Richard Nixon tried to block the New York Times and other newspapers from publishing a

classi�ed study about the Vietnam War and return the documents. �e country’s highest court sided with

the Times and allowed the newspaper to keep publishing the papers.

“As the Supreme Court repeatedly has made clear, courts may not enjoin or punish the publication of

public records, even when those records reveal allegedly con�dential information,” reads the TRO

opposition �ling by Aviles.

Aviles said the city provided Ferguson with a link to the Dropbox account during a records request and

was provided a password and called Fullerton’s hacking accusation against Ferguson “such a questionable

claim.”

But Barlow called the claim “false’ and said Ferguson wasn’t provided a password.

Assistant City Clerk Mea Klein’s declaration shows a password was provided to resident David Curlee,

who is also named in the lawsuit against the blog, to access a completed records request.

Aviles successfully argued against the City of Fullerton request to have the court appoint a forensic

investigator to look through Ferguson and the blog’s computers citing California’s Shield Law, which

protects journalists from search warrants aiming to �nd sources or documents.

“Shield Law does not allow a third party to come in and review a newspaper’s material,” Aviles said.

But Barlow argued the TRO request was based on the alleged hacking by Ferguson and the blog and

didn’t dispute the Shield Law’s applicability to a blog. A 2006 state appeals court case extended shield

protection to bloggers. (https://caselaw.�ndlaw.com/ca-court-of-appeal/1025400.html)

“�is is not about them being a newspaper, this is about theft. �is is about stealing,” Barlow said.

She also said while the First Amendment has a high priority, “the attorney-client privilege has an even

higher priority in our jurisprudence,” because it could a�ect legislation and court cases.

“�ey now have possession of con�dential and privileged information,” Barlow said. “I can’t protect the

privacy of my police o�cers and other employees … the possible harm is to thousands of people in

thousands of ways.”

“I do see substantial harm, particularly with the attorney-client privilege,” said Delaney, before issuing his

order.

�e blog published a draft agreement June 11 (https://www.fullertonsfuture.org/2019/fullerton-police-cut-a-deal-to-

bypass-the-law/) between the city and former Lt. Kathryn Hamel to halt at least one internal a�airs

investigation if she resigned from the department, in an e�ort to shield the records from a new state

https://voiceofoc.org/2019/10/oc-judge-orders-fullerton-blog-and-resident-to-stop-publishing-secret-city-hall-documents/ 3/3

disclosure law that allows the public to see select police misconduct records.

“�e City will revise its Notice of Intent to Discipline Hamel to remove allegations relating to dishonesty,

deceit, untruthfulness, false or misleading statements, ethics or maliciousness. �e Interim Police Chief

will place a notice in the �le indicating that, pursuant to settlement, all charges against Hamel … were

never resolved or proven because there was no Skelly hearing or opportunity for appeal and, accordingly,

are not sustained,” reads the draft agreement, which is also attached to Ferguson’s record lawsuit.

“On or about June 13, 2019, the City of Fullerton became aware that certain of its privileged and

con�dential information had been published without its permission on the Blog,” reads Fullerton’s

lawsuit against Ferguson and the blog.

City Attorney Greg Palmer sent a cease and desist letter to the blog the same day.

Meanwhile, Aviles �led an anti-Strategic Lawsuit Against Public Participation (SLAPP) motion against

�e City of Fullerton, which will be heard on the same day as the Nov. 21 preliminary injunction

hearing. A SLAPP is a tactic used against critics that a jurisdiction is trying to silence, usually in the form

of drawn-out litigation.

Aviles called Fullerton’s lawsuit against Ferguson and the blog a SLAPP.

“�is is also a SLAPP,” she said. “�is is clearly protected activity.”

She told Delaney that Fullerton attorneys are trying to paint Ferguson and the blog as criminals to avoid

an anti-SLAPP motion.

“It’s kind of laughable they can come into court and say, “Oh, you opened a �le with your name on it.

Now you’re a criminal,” Aviles said.

But Barlow said, “�ere is no anti-SLAPP defense for hackers.”

Spencer Custodio is a Voice of OC sta� reporter. You can reach him at scustodio@voiceofoc.org

(http://mailto%40scustodio@voiceofoc.org/) . Follow him on Twitter @SpencerCustodio

(http://twitter.com/SpencerCustodio) .

Has the California ‘exodus’ grown? Census has new stats coming – Daily Bulletin

https://www.dailybulletin.com/...nsus-has-new-stats-coming/?utm_source=twitter.com&utm_content=tw-ivdailybulletin&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=socialflow[10/30/2019 7:27:47 AM]

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BUSINESS

Has the California ‘exodus’ grown? Census has new statscomingOn Thursday, Census will reveal 2018 state-to-state migration data.

Has the California ‘exodus’ grown? Census has new stats coming – Daily Bulletin

https://www.dailybulletin.com/...nsus-has-new-stats-coming/?utm_source=twitter.com&utm_content=tw-ivdailybulletin&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=socialflow[10/30/2019 7:27:47 AM]

By JONATHAN LANSNER | jlansner@scng.com | Orange County RegisterPUBLISHED: October 29, 2019 at 3:16 pm | UPDATED: October 29, 2019 at 4:42 pm

Everybody knows somebody or two who’s left California for another state. And, if you think hard, you probably have anew neighbor or coworker who moved here from elsewhere in the U.S.

While there’s much chatter about a California exodus, Census migration stats portray a state population that historicallyhas looked more stable than most people think. And on Thursday, Oct. 31, new Census figures will reveal the ins andouts of California population in 2018 and how those migration patterns compare to other states.

First, let’s catch up on the 2017 mobility trends …

Overall stability: 34 million out of 39 million Californians — 87% — didn’t move. Only 11 states had more stability on apercentage of population basis.

In-state movers: 4.2 million relocated within the Golden State — 10.8% of the population. Only 17 states had a lowershare of its population move around their state.

Arrivals: 523,131 came to California from other states — up 1.6% in a year. Yet as a share of population (1.3%) thearrivals pace was dead last. Yes, California, other Americans are not that impressed.

STAFF GRAPHIC

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Has the California ‘exodus’ grown? Census has new stats coming – Daily Bulletin

https://www.dailybulletin.com/...nsus-has-new-stats-coming/?utm_source=twitter.com&utm_content=tw-ivdailybulletin&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=socialflow[10/30/2019 7:27:47 AM]

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Departures: 661,026 left for other states — up 0.5% in a year. As a share of population (1.7%) it was fourth-lowest rateof exits. Yes, few leave California compared to other states.

Net domestic outmigration: 137,895 more outs than ins — that gap was down 3.5% in a year. That “net loss” was thelargest nationally, but it’s just 0.4% of California’s residents … and 12 states scored worse on a percentage basis.

Foreigners: One reason California’s population still grows, albeit slowly, is the addition of 316,046 from other nations in2017 — No. 1 nationally — that is 0.8% of the population, No. 8 nationally.

With the last available year of data noted, what might the 2018 mobility numbers show?

Sign up for The Home Stretch newsletter and its new Bubble Watch edition. Get a twice-a-week serving of hothousing news from around the region! Subscribe here.

Well, California government’s own demographics data shows the state net outmigration growing in the year ended July 1,2018 to 159,421 compared with 115,491 a year earlier. The state does not break out arrivals or exits. Also, by this math,California added 180,000 from other nations, essentially flat vs. the previous year.

But nationally speaking, moving was out of fashion in 2018. Previously released national Census data showed thenumber of Americans moving last year reflected the biggest drop in 10 years to a low last seen in 1954. As part of thatstability, total state-to-state relocations fell 10% last year.

New stats could make for a “spooky” Halloween for California population watchers.

Has the California ‘exodus’ grown? Census has new stats coming – Daily Bulletin

https://www.dailybulletin.com/...nsus-has-new-stats-coming/?utm_source=twitter.com&utm_content=tw-ivdailybulletin&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=socialflow[10/30/2019 7:27:47 AM]

longer homeownership

Bubble Watch: 1 in 4 Californians‘seriously’ consider leaving the state

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Meet the Car Named a 2019 Top Safety PickBy Mazda Latino

Mazda announces the 2019 CX-5 was named a “2019 Top Safety Pick+” recipient.

Jonathan LansnerJonathan Lansner has been the Orange County Register's business columnist since 1997 and has been part of thenewspaper's coverage of the local business scene since 1986. He is a native New Yorker who is a past national presidentof the Society of American Business Editors and Writers and a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania's WhartonSchool. Jon lives in Trabuco Canyon -- yes, a homeowner -- and when he's not fiddling with his trusty spreadsheet at work

you can likely find him rooting for his beloved Anaheim Ducks or umpiring local lacrosse games.

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10/30/2019 What You Need to Know: Sonoma County's Kincade Fire | The California Report | KQED News

https://www.kqed.org/news/11782314/what-you-need-to-know-sonoma-countys-kincade-fire 1/12

NEWS

Poll: Californians Have IncreasinglyNegative Views About Facebook ...But Still Use It PlentyBy Rachael Myrow Oct 29

Facebook co-founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg testifies on Capitol Hill before the HouseFinancial Services Committee on Oct. 23, 2019, in response to his company's controversial newcryptocurrency proposal. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

A new Change Research poll commissioned by KQED found that nearly half ofCalifornians surveyed earlier this month viewed Facebook more negatively thanother tech giants like Google, Amazon, Uber and Lyft.

The online survey, conducted Oct. 15-18, asked 2,605 Californian primary voters —about two-thirds Democratic and one-third Republican — a range of political andsocial questions, including how "favorable" they felt about each of the fivecompanies. Nearly half of respondents said they felt either "somewhat unfavorable"or"very unfavorable" about Facebook, a higher percentage than in the previoussurvey done in September. Just under a quarter of respondents said they viewed thecompany favorably. The remaining respondents held a neutral position.

10/30/2019 What You Need to Know: Sonoma County's Kincade Fire | The California Report | KQED News

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By contrast, 31% of respondents viewed Amazon and Google unfavorably.

Since the 2016 election, the Menlo Park-based social media behemoth has beenconfronted by a host of issues dragging down its public profile, including theCambridge Analytica scandal that erupted last year and helped further erode thesocial media company's trust among users.

In 2016, Facebook sold the British political consulting firm access to the personaldata of 87 million of its users on behalf of the Trump for President campaign. Thatinformation was subsequently used to place targeted, and often questionablytruthful, political ads.

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10/30/2019 What You Need to Know: Sonoma County's Kincade Fire | The California Report | KQED News

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The controversial transaction incited public outrage and spurred more than 250 ofFacebook's own employees to sign a letter opposing the company's hands-offapproach to political activity on the site.

Separately, attorneys general from eight states and the District of Columbia lastmonth launched a formal investigation into the company over anti-competitivepractices.

The October survey was conducted before Facebook's recent moves to improve itsimage, including pledging $1 billion to address California's housing crisis andunveiling its latest effort to support factual news consumption through the additionof a "news tab".

But the poll also took place before Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg appeared beforea congressional committee to defend his flailing plans to roll out a new digitalcurrency, called Libra, next year. Lawmakers, especially Democrats, took turnsberating, criticizing and skewering Zuckerberg.

Mark Zuckerberg Offers a Choice: The Facebook Way or the China Way

Rep. Ocasio-Cortez questions Mark Zuckerberg on Rep. Ocasio-Cortez questions Mark Zuckerberg on ……

10/30/2019 What You Need to Know: Sonoma County's Kincade Fire | The California Report | KQED News

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"What the poll clearly shows is that Californians' opinion about Facebook is headingin the wrong direction," said Pat Reilly of Change Research, who oversaw the survey.

Nevertheless, use of the platform in California does not appear to be flagging as aresult of this negative attention. When respondents were asked how often they useFacebook, 45% said "many times throughout the day," while another 37% said "afew times per day."

The same October survey found that a majority of respondents felt relatively neutralabout Uber and Lyft, despite the ride-hailing companies' highly publicized andcontroversial battle with California lawmakers over gig contract labor.

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10/30/2019 A Single Attorney Has Filed More Than 50 Lawsuits Under New Section 8 Discrimination Law | PublicCEO

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A Single Attorney Has Filed MoreThan 50 Lawsuits Under New Section

8 Discrimination LawPOSTED BY : PUBLICCEO OCTOBER 29, 2019

In recent weeks, San Diego attorney Christian Curry has filedmore than 50 lawsuits on behalf of two clients, alleging landlordsacross town advertised homes for rent with language like “NoSection 8″ in violation of a new city ordinance.

By Ashly McGlone and Jack Molmud.

When a new city law barring discrimination against housing aid recipients took effect on Aug. 1, one

local attorney was ready.

In recent weeks, San Diego attorney Christian Curry has filed more than 50 lawsuits on behalf of two

clients, alleging landlords across town advertised homes for rent with language like “No Section 8,”

referring to federal subsidized housing funds available to low-income families, the elderly and

disabled.

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10/30/2019 A Single Attorney Has Filed More Than 50 Lawsuits Under New Section 8 Discrimination Law | PublicCEO

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Their demands total roughly $360,000 combined so far, court records show, not including additional

unspecified damages and attorney’s fees and costs.

“It’s always been illegal to discriminate based on source of income,” Curry told Voice of San Diego. But

San Diego “put some teeth into the law,” and “it’s had the most dramatic effect,” he said.

Curry knew Sylvia Valencia and Lucila Luna, the two plaintiffs he’s representing, from previous work

with his law firm, the Tenants Legal Center of San Diego. He said the number of advertisements

barring Section 8 applicants on sites like Zillow, Trulia and Craigslist has plummeted in recent weeks.

“The law has been very effective in doing what it was designed to do,” he said.

But critics of the law – and Curry’s zeal in suing to enforce it – say it’s also been effective at extracting

money on behalf of people who never even intended to rent from the offending landlord in the first

place.

San Diego city leaders approved a new ordinance last year that brings steep penalties to landlords who

discriminate against tenants based on their source of income, including housing assistance from

government programs for low-income individuals such as Section 8 vouchers. More than 15,000 low-

income households in San Diego receive Section 8 vouchers, according to city officials.

A 2018 Urban Institute study found “lower landlord denial rates correspond with places that have

protections for voucher holders.”

San Diego’s new ordinance expanded the definition for source of income to include rental assistance

from “any federal, state, local, or nonprofit-administered benefit or subsidy program, or any financial

aid from any rental assistance program, homeless assistance program, security deposit assistance

program, or housing subsidy program, whether paid directly to the program participant, landlord, or

representative of either.”

City Council President Georgette Gómez championed the law.

“Protecting our families on Section 8 from discrimination is important for reducing undue barriers in

an already tight rental market,” Gómez said after the ordinance was introduced in 2018.

The new law orders violators to pay three times the advertised monthly rent to eligible plaintiffs who

saw the ad, plus punitive damages, as well as a plaintiff’s attorney fees and costs if a judge so orders.

Even after the offending ad is taken down or changed, exposure to liability from anyone who saw the

illegal ad lasts for a year.

Valencia and Luna both claim to receive Section 8 vouchers, though it is unclear how much they receive

or whether they actually intended to apply to live at each home sued. Both declined interviews through

Curry.

Under the city’s ordinance, just being a recipient of a housing subsidy and seeing the ad for a home in

the city of San Diego is enough to have standing to sue.

“The law doesn’t require that you apply. The law simply requires that the tenant observed it,” Curry

said.

“This person never attempted to rent from us as far as we can tell,” said Shelly Croft, vice president of

operations for F&F Property Management Inc., a defendant in one of Valencia’s cases. “I’m sure the

lawmakers thought they were doing a good thing, but there are flaws they didn’t anticipate. … From

our end, I understand why they felt this law was important. We want everyone to find suitable housing,

but the law didn’t allow for misuse to be prevented.”

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10/30/2019 A Single Attorney Has Filed More Than 50 Lawsuits Under New Section 8 Discrimination Law | PublicCEO

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Janet Hammer settled a lawsuit from Luna after re-posting an old ad with anti-Section 8 language.

Hammer said Luna didn’t apply before she received the lawsuit notice.

Peerless Properties Inc. also settled with Luna, said owner David Allen Puffinburger. He said the

company received Luna’s lawsuit Aug. 3, but that she never applied and he doesn’t believe she

intended to.

“I’d get it if there were damages, but there weren’t. She didn’t want to move that many times,” he said.

That the law doesn’t require plaintiffs to actually apply to live in the space being advertised before

suing is a problem, said Molly Kirkland, director of public affairs for the Southern California Rental

Housing Association.

Kirkland likened the new Section 8 cases to “drive-by” lawsuits over violations of the Americans with

Disabilities Act. Such caseshave been frowned upon by several courts, sparked some reform

legislation and the Riverside County district attorney even suedsome plaintiffs and law firms who’ve

filed numerous ADA cases, claiming they made fraudulent claims for financial gain. A judge dismissed

the case in July, but the DA is appealing.

This is “the very thing I was worried about,” said Kirkland, of the Section 8 cases in San Diego. “They

don’t really care about the outcome. They just want the settlement money and they move on. I think

that’s what we are seeing here… I don’t think the law was intended to sue a bunch of owners who

made a mistake or were unaware of the law.”

A few defendants reached by Voice of San Diego said they opted to settle, but declined to discuss their

cases on the record.

Tammy Gagnon, owner and manager of 5th Avenue Property Management, said she settled a lawsuit

from Luna for more than $5,000 over an ad for a space in a 55 and over community. She admits she

made a mistake, but she questioned Luna’s motives.

“She had pulled up an ad that was the day after the law had changed… It was the only ad that had this

language, and we missed it,” Gagnon said. “I think she is taking advantage of the system. … It was a

mistake and I’m really sorry. Had this person contacted me, we would have corrected it. I don’t think at

any time you make a mistake that you should be right away thrown into a lawsuit.”

Kirkland also expressed concern about the penalties the law created for landlords.

“That’s a lot of money for the owner, especially an independent owner,” Kirkland said. Getting the law

changed “would be difficult,” but adding an opportunity to cure the violation – something like 30 days

to remove the ads and change the rental criteria – would be a “better learning tool,” Kirkland argued.

Croft, whose company F&F manages about 30 buildings containing 600 units in San Diego County, said

despite training employees about the new ordinance, a year-old ad was placed by a listing agent by

mistake that had Section 8 prohibition language. The company received Valencia’s lawsuit notice in the

mail.

“A simple mistake costs us thousands of dollars because of the way the law was written,” said Croft,

adding they settled the case, “because you can’t fight it. The way the law is written, a judge has to

award three times the rental rate,” which was almost $10,000.

“Owners need to be aware, because there are no oops. There are no take-backs,” she said.

“Wherever the moral high ground is, it is probably not with the person who discriminated,” Curry said.

Curry declined to disclose his fee agreement with his clients, but said claims he is out for money alone

are not true.

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“The client and I share the same goal. We are trying to limit discrimination, so we have been very

reasonable in settling these matters,” he said. “I hope this dissuades landlords from doing it. The

ultimate goal is to never have to bring these suits.”

Section 8 voucher-holders and other housing subsidy recipients will soon see more protections

statewide.

A new California law will take effect Jan. 1 that largely does what San Diego did, by broadening the

definition of “source of income” to include Section 8 vouchers and other subsidies paid directly to

landlords to further prevent tenant discrimination. The law was created at the suggestion of the

California Department of Social Services’ Lifting Children and Families Out of Poverty Task Force.

Gómez tweeted Oct. 8, “SD was ahead of CA!”

Unlike San Diego, however, the state law will leave the penalties for violators up to the courts or

administrative agencies that handle the complaints.

Gómez’s office did not respond to questions about the city ordinance.

As for Valencia, she has now settled into a new home in East County, Curry said. Luna is still looking for

a home to rent, and there are a couple other Section 8 recipients who may file lawsuits with Curry’s

help soon.

Originally posted at Voice of San Diego.

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10/30/2019 Where a $5 Million War Rages Between Airbnb and the Hotel Industry - The New York Times

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/10/30/nyregion/jersey-city-airbnb-vote.html?action=click&module=Well&pgtype=Homepage&section=New York 1/5

Where a $5 Million War Rages Between Airbnband the Hotel IndustryA high-stakes clash, accusations of misinformation and residents whohave had enough.

By Luis Ferré-Sadurní

Oct. 30, 2019 Updated 8:04 a.m. ET

JERSEY CITY, N.J. — Thousands of ominous fliers from an organization called Keep Our Homes have appeared in residents’ mailboxes inrecent weeks. They warn of scheming politicians and urge residents to “Stop the BAN” on short-term rentals.

But Keep Our Homes is not funded by a local group of homeowners, as the campaign’s name might suggest. It is backed by Airbnb, whichis currently engaged in a multimillion dollar battle to win a referendum on Tuesday in New Jersey’s second-largest city.

The company’s opponents — the hotel industry and a powerful hotel workers union — have also injected sizable amounts into the fray,sending “Vote YES” mailers and buying TV spots.

The clash has been replete with accusations of misinformation campaigns and the harassment of Airbnb hosts, and some have insinuatedthat the restrictions were influenced by special interests.

The upcoming vote has rapidly become the most expensive local referendum in the state’s history, and one of the biggest battles thatAirbnb is fighting this year in efforts to repel home-sharing restrictions in cities across the country.

Jersey City, just a four-minute train ride from Manhattan, has become increasingly valuable to Airbnb as New York City has cracked downon illegal Airbnbs.

Residents will vote on a city law that would impose strict regulations on short-term rentals. The restrictions would almost certainlydiminish the number of properties listed on Airbnb — but would not outright ban homeowners from being able to rent out portions of theirproperties for short periods of time.

In the lead-up to the vote, residents at community meetings have complained about the growing nuisance of tourists. Attacks onneighborhood message boards have turned personal. And many residents have grown irritated by campaigns they see as disingenuous.

“I abhor the fact this situation is creating a huge divide in our community,” said Felicia Palmer, 49, a longtime resident of Jersey City whorents out her second home through Airbnb. “We have two major behemoths, Airbnb and the hotel lobby, waging a war on our turf.”

Airbnb has sunk $4.2 million into a political committee, while the hotel industry and workers union have reported close to $1 million inspending, according to disclosure reports. That’s about $33 spent per registered voter in a city of about 265,000 people, with morespending yet to be reported.

The home-sharing juggernaut has previously outspent its opponents by millions of dollars in cities like San Francisco to defeat similarreferendums.

It is betting on the same tactic in Jersey City.

10/30/2019 Where a $5 Million War Rages Between Airbnb and the Hotel Industry - The New York Times

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20,000 signatures and an influx of cashJersey City, with support from the current mayor, actually legalized home sharing in 2015.

Short-term rentals swiftly flourished among homeowners. But it also attracted outside investors who scooped up units en masse to rentthem via Airbnb. By 2019, about 3,000 listings appeared on the platform.

In June, the city passed an ordinance that placed heavier restrictions on the industry. Some residents, who were annoyed by sometimes-rowdy strangers staying in properties converted into makeshift hotels, had raised quality of life concerns.

The ordinance allows owners in buildings with four or fewer units to rent out their place for only 60 days a year if the owner is not present.

Owners who live on-site can rent out parts of their homes year-round. In buildings with more than four units, short-term rentals areprohibited unless the owner lives on-site.

In response, a handful of hosts who would be affected by the ordinance turned to Airbnb. The company quickly backed their cause: Itspent at least $219,000 to collect 20,000 signatures, according to filings, and triggered a referendum for voters to weigh in.

Almost overnight, Jersey City residents were thrust into a high-stakes clash.

Airbnb spent almost $1.1 million through Oct. 4, according to filings, and opponents expected it would spend much of the remaining $3.1million in its political committee by Election Day.

On the other side, the New York Hotel and Motel Trades Council, an influential union which represents 40,000 hotel workers in New YorkCity and North New Jersey, has also mobilized. The union sees Airbnb as a threat to hotels and to the housekeepers, concierges anddoormen it represents.

It has also worked with the AFL-CIO, the Hotel Association of New York City and Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop, a Democrat. The unionwas Airbnb’s most effective foil in New York, where it has worked closely with elected officials to lobby for laws aimed at crippling Airbnb.

According to public filings, the coalition has paid $900,000 to the same lobbying and political strategy firm that spearheaded the campaignagainst Airbnb in New York City.

Many residents have grown annoyed by large-scale operators who have scooped upcondos and brownstones en masse to rent them on Airbnb, flooding residential streetswith tourists. Laura Moss for The New York Times

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Donations and the drafting of an ordinanceAirbnb’s opponents, including Mr. Fulop, say the $30 billion company has mounted a misleading campaign and is only interested inprotecting its highly-anticipated initial public offering, or I.P.O.

The mayor, however, previously had a friendly relationship with the company, although both sides disagree on when it began todeteriorate.

In late 2016, Mr. Fulop approached Airbnb for a contribution toward his re-election campaign, according to emails obtained by The NewYork Times. The following year, the mayor attended a fund-raiser at the company’s headquarters in San Francisco. But Airbnb’s promisedcontribution to the mayor did not immediately arrive.

In May 2017, Mr. Fulop sent three Airbnb employees a blistering email expressing his frustration with the delay and that his calls werebeing ignored.

Airbnb’s $10,172 contribution to Team Fulop — a joint committee to support the mayor and eight City Council candidates — arrived 12 daysafter the mayor’s furious email.

In a statement, Christopher Nulty, a spokesman for Airbnb, said the mayor’s relationship with Airbnb fractured as a result of the delay,and that Mr. Fulop soon began receiving donations from the hotel industry.

Mr. Fulop said he was frustrated at the time because the donation came after a crucial deadline to file a quarterly campaign report. But hesaid it was a lie that the ordeal had severed his relationship with Airbnb, which he accused of “resorting now to desperation.”

Four months after Airbnb’s contribution, the Hotel Trade Council began donating to Mr. Fulop and his joint committee — an amount thathas reached $33,200 since late 2017. Airbnb’s supporters have questioned the hotel union’s role in crafting the ordinance.

They point out that the hotel union’s deputy political director was part of the committee of residents who helped write the new Airbnbregulations .

Mr. Fulop said he felt “really comfortable” that the committee acted properly.

“Both of them have been supporters and neither of them have influence,” Mr. Fulop said of Airbnb and the Hotel Trades Council.

Mayor Steven Fulop, a Democrat, embraced Airbnb a few years ago, but supportedtougher restrictions against the company as its listings ballooned.Bryan Anselm for The New York Times

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Growing animosityBoth sides blame each other for instigating the fraught fight, which has led to allegations that Airbnb hosts have been doxxed — a term forpublicly divulging sensitive personal details like addresses and phone numbers.

But on the ground, Airbnb has garnered animosity for labeling the ordinance a ban. The ordinance does bar renters from being hosts, butit allows homeowners who live on-site to rent out spare bedrooms, extra units or a basement.

“In my opinion, these fliers are misleading at best and outright lies at worst,” said Mattias Johansson, 44, an I.T. consultant who lives in aJersey City townhouse with his wife and two children. “I feel they are fear mongering.”

Liz DeBold Fusco, a spokeswoman for Airbnb, defended calling the ordinance a ban.

“I believe that, and our hosts believe that, the ordinance was designed to be a ban,” she said. “There’s a number of different provisions thatare designed to effectively limit as many people as possible from being able to participate in the short-term rental economy.”

Mailers in favor of the tougher regulations disclose they are paid for by “HTC,” the hotel workers union. But digital advertisements statethey are paid for by the Share Better Education Fund, an entity sponsored by the union and hotel lobby.

For Mr. Johansson,the fight is personal. He said an out-of-state investor converted a nearby townhouse into a full-time Airbnb, where theparties keep his family up at night.

“At this point, it’s like an absentee-run hotel,” he said.

The ordinance would target the main source of residents’ ire: large-scale operators renting out dozens of apartments on Airbnb to tourists.Twenty Airbnb hosts control about 800 Jersey City listings, according to Inside Airbnb, a website which scrapes data from Airbnb’splatform.

But the new regulations could also impact some Jersey City residents like Ms. Palmer, who has rented out her starter home on Airbnb eversince she moved with her family into a loft by the waterfront in 2012 after Hurricane Sandy.

Ms. Palmer said she checks up on her property regularly and has never had any major problems with guests. The extra income was awelcome cushion when she was battling breast cancer.

"I haven’t done anything wrong,” she told about 40 other people on a rainy night this month during a meeting among residents of HamiltonPark, a neighborhood of brownstones. “Why am I getting punished?”

Ms. Palmer was the only Airbnb host at the meeting, which was otherwise dominated by residents who shared horror stories of living nextto Airbnb-rented homes.

Lorraine Sperling said at the meeting that neighboring Airbnb guests once tried to operate a nonfunctioning fireplace and accidentallycaused a gas leak in the middle of the night.

“My bedroom smelled like a propane tank,” Ms. Sperling said. “We could have been gassed in our sleep.”

Graeme Zielinski, who identified himself as the campaign director of Keep Our Homes, was in attendance.

In recent weeks, residents have been barraged with campaign fliers cajoling them to votefor or against the Airbnb ordinance. Bryan Anselm for The New York Times

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“Airbnb had this guy flown in from Chicago,” one resident told the others during the meeting, motioning toward Mr. Zielinski.

“Do you know your company is lying?” another man asked Mr. Zielinski at the end of the meeting. “How much are they paying you?”

Mr. Zielinski declined to comment on the record, but confirmed he lives in Chicago.

Airbnb, Under Attack in New Jersey, Seeks a New Ally: Voters July 17, 2019

Inside the Rise and Fall of a Multimillion-Dollar Airbnb Scheme Feb. 23, 2019

Luis Ferré-Sadurní writes about housing in New York City for the Metro Desk. He joined The Times in 2017 and is originally from San Juan, Puerto Rico. @luisferre

A version of this article appears in print on Oct. 30, 2019, Section A, Page 24 of the New York edition with the headline: Residents Caught in a $5 Million Airbnb War