Survey: Californians say extreme weather, climate change are hitting close to home

• July 13, 2023

A vast majority of Californians say climate change is already impacting their communities, with Los Angeles area residents the most likely to report feeling those effects, according to an annual survey on the environment from the Public Policy Institute of California.

In the wake of a historically wet winter, the survey shows Californians are a bit less concerned about water supply issues and drought than they were last year. However, the whiplash of weather extremes in recent years has left residents worried about a spike in related events, such as wildfires, floods and heat waves.

Nearly half of Californians — and more than half of Inland Empire residents — said they’ve been affected by such an event in the past two years. That’s compared with one in three adults nationwide who in March told Gallup pollsters that they’d been impacted by extreme weather. The PPIC poll also shows that nearly three-quarters of all Californians link such events to climate change.

As a result, more than six in 10 residents told the PPIC that they believe the state’s stricter environmental laws and regulations are worth the cost, even if the rules put jobs or economic growth at risk.

“Solid majorities say it is very important for the state government to pass regulations and spend money now on preparing for and reducing climate change,” noted Mark Baldassare, statewide survey director for the PPIC, which polled 1,724 adults from June 7 to June 29.

That could bode well for a climate measure Gov. Gavin Newsom and lawmakers are floating for the 2024 ballot, which could ask voters to approve a $15 billion bond to help pay for climate action.

The survey results released Wednesday, July 12, come two days after Newsom signed a state budget that cuts $2.9 billion from programs aimed at fighting climate change. That is less than the $6 billion the governor proposed cutting from climate spending in January. But with the state facing a $30 billion deficit, leaders are touting the 2024 bond as a way to more than make up the difference in climate spending. And even if the bond doesn’t pass, California’s budget is expected to include $51.4 billion in spending on climate projects, such as getting more electric vehicles on the road, over the the next several years.

Exactly half of Californians have seriously considered buying an electric vehicle, per the survey, and 8% already have one. That’s up slightly from last year, when 49% said they were considering an EV and 6% had one at home.

Inland Empire residents are the most likely to have considered an EV but the least likely to own one, per the PPIC. That’s in line with other research, such as a May study from the nonprofit group Coltura that found Southern Californians who drive the most are the slowest to switch to electric vehicles due to high purchase costs and concerns over charging access.

Most Californians support a federal goal of boosting the electric vehicle market so that by 2032 EVs account for two-thirds of all new cars and trucks sold. But the poll found most Californians oppose the state’s goal of banning gas-powered vehicle sales by 2035, with just 45% approval overall, including 60% of registered Democrats. Support for that ban is highest among Los Angeles residents, young adults ages 18 to 34, Asian Americans and people earning less than $40,000 a year. It’s lowest among Inland Empire and Central Valley residents, White residents, and those earning more than $80,000 a year.

Most Californians also favor the state law requiring all electricity to come from renewable sources, such as wind and solar, by 2045. However, just 43% told surveyors they’re willing to pay more for renewable electricity. That’s down from 56% who said they’d be willing to pay more for fossil-free electricity in the 2016 survey.

In terms of the state enacting regulations and spending money now to fight climate change, residents in the Orange County and San Diego region were second only to Bay Area residents in terms of supporting those efforts, with 62% in favor. Los Angeles area residents weren’t far behind at 60%, while just 45% of Inland Empire residents support those moves.

Statewide, a little more than a quarter of residents say climate change is a top concern. That figure has been pretty steady since PPIC first asked that question in 2021.

The percentage of residents who say climate change is a top concern falls as income and age rise, with non-White Californians much more likely than White residents to be worried about the issue. Los Angeles ties with the Bay Area for having the most residents who say they’re highly concerned about this issue, with 31%, while just 17% said the same in the Inland Empire.

While the share of people who said water is the most important environmental issue facing California today has fallen to 22% from last year’s 30%, it was still the top pick in this year’s survey. That’s good news to water watchdogs, who’ve faced the challenging task in recent months of encouraging people to continue conserving even as melting snow causes flooding in some parts of the state.

“Despite the recent rains, drought is the new normal for Southern California,” said Bruce Reznik, executive director of Los Angeles Waterkeeper.

Historically, residents do tend to use a bit more water in the months after a drought ends. But they don’t return to pre-drought levels, since many have formed habits and taken steps, such as removing turf, that permanently reduces their water use. That trend seems to be holding this year, with data from the State Water Resources Control Board showing average monthly residential use jumped from 56 gallons in March to 68 gallons in April, a month after regulators lifted restrictions across Southern California and other areas. But that rate is still down significantly from April 2022, when average residential use was 83 gallons per month.

After water issues, the largest share of Californians told surveyors they’re most worried about wildfire, with 18% citing it as a top issue vs. 13% who said that last year. Climate change also gained a bigger share on the top concerns list, up to 16% from 11% in 2022.

In terms of addressing these issues, Los Angeles residents have the most confidence that the government will be ready to respond to extreme weather events, with 21% having a “great deal” of faith vs. 16% of Inland Empire residents with that level of confidence and 15% in the Orange and San Diego counties region.

Most Californians also think state leaders are doing a better job than their federal leaders in this area, per the survey.

“When it comes to their handling of environmental issues, majorities approve of Governor Newsom and the state legislature, while half approve of President Biden and one in four approve of Congress,” Baldassare said.

Newsom’s approval rating on environmental issues is at 58%. That’s down from a peak in 2020, when his approval hit 69%. But it’s the highest approval rating for a governor on environmental issues in the past dozen years of the PPIC survey.

Biden’s approval on environmental issues peaked in 2021 at 61% and is now at 47%, while Congress’ approval rating for this area is at just 25%.

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​ Orange County Register 

Lakers’ LeBron James is not retiring, will return for 21st NBA season

• July 13, 2023

Lakers star LeBron James confirmed he won’t be retiring from the NBA and will be returning for his 21st season, though few ever believed his playing days might be over.

After winning an ESPY for the best record-breaking performance for breaking Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s NBA career scoring record, James made the expected announcement Wednesday that he isn’t done playing.

“Can I give everything to the game still? The truth is, I’ve been asking myself this question at the end of the season for a couple years now, I just never openly talked about it,” James said during his acceptance speech at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. “I don’t care how many more points I score. Or what I can or can not do on the floor. The real question for me is, ‘Can I play without cheating the game?’

“The day I can’t give the game everything on the floor is the day I’ll be done. Luckily for you guys, today is not that day.”

James cryptically hinted at considering retirement in late May in the aftermath of the Lakers being swept by the Denver Nuggets in the Western Conference finals.

But most assumed he would return for at least one more season.

The four-time league MVP posted a series of pictures of the players the Lakers re-signed or signed after free agency started on his Instagram story earlier in the month.

“It was also nice to just see him celebrate the roster, once we completed it,” Lakers GM Rob Pelinka said last weekend in Las Vegas. “A series of Instagram posts and different things, celebrating his teammates. And that’s just the leader LeBron is. He knows how to galvanize a group and bring them together and we’re just excited that he’s behind that.”

James, who will turn 39 on Dec. 30, is entering the first season of a two-year, $99 million contract extension he signed with the team last summer. He has a player option for 2024-25.

​ Orange County Register 

USMNT falls to Panama on PKs in CONCACAF Gold Cup semifinal

• July 13, 2023

SAN DIEGO — Adalberto Carrasquilla converted the decisive penalty kick after Cristian Roldan failed to convert his attempt, and Panama beat the defending champion United States 5-4 in a shootout after a 1-1 tie on Wednesday night to reach the CONCACAF Gold Cup final against Mexico or Jamaica.

Iván Anderson scored his first international goal in the ninth minute of extra time, and Jesús Ferreira tied the score for the U.S. six minutes later.

After beating Canada on penalty kicks in Sunday’s quarterfinal, the U.S. – using what could be considered a junior varsity roster for this tournament – went to a second shootout for the first time in a Gold Cup.

Panama reached the final for the third time after losing to the U.S. in 2005 and 2013. Mexico squared off with Jamaica later Wednesday in Las Vegas.

The U.S., a seven-time winner of the championship of North and Central America and the Caribbean, failed to reach the final for the first time since losing to Jamaica in a 2015 semifinal.

The game marked the finale for interim coach B.J. Callaghan, who led the U.S. to five wins, one loss and one draw as the Americans’ second interim coach this year. Gregg Berhalter returns for the Sept. 9 exhibition against Uzbekistan.

American Cade Cowell hit a post about 20 seconds in and that was the closest to a goal until Panama went ahead nine minutes into extra time. Carrasquilla played a through pass to Anderson, who was kept onside by DeAndre Yedlin. Anderson took a touch and played the ball past onrushing goalkeeper Matt Turner, then kicked the ball into the open net for his first international goal.

Ferreira scored six minutes later after Matt Miazga played a long pass to Jordan Morris, who headed the ball into the penalty area. Ferreira volleyed the ball with his right shin from 16 yards past the outstretched left hand of a diving Orlando Mosquera for his 15th international goal, his seventh of the tournament

With the U.S. going first in the shootout, Ferreira was stopped by Mosquera.

Fidel Escobar and Ismael Díaz beat Turner, while Djordje Mihailovic and Morris were successful for the U.S. Turner dove to his left to stop Christian Martínez and Julian Gressel and Miazga converted around Édgar Bárcenas’ successful kick for Panama, leaving the U.S. ahead 4-3.

Cecilio Waterman tied the score with Panama’s fifth shot, Mosquera dove right to parry Roldan’s attempt and Carrasquilla put his shot inside Turner’s right post.

More to come on this story.

​ Orange County Register 

Rolling Hills Estates and LA County establish fund for landslide victims

• July 13, 2023

The city of Rolling Hills Estates and Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn’s office announced Wednesday, July 12, they have teamed up to form a $125,000 fund for the residents displaced by the recent land movement on Peartree Lane.

Rolling Hills Estates will contribute $25,000 to the fund, while Hahn’s office will support the fund with $100,000, which will “provide an option for temporary housing, food and other essentials for residents who have been ordered to evacuate their homes,” according to a press release.

Mayor Britt Huff said in a phone interview Wednesday that she first saw the damage after it was reported on July 8, and has seen it progressively get worse over the following few days. But she said there was positive report on Tuesday the land movement was “tapering off” and might be stabilizing.

“Obviously everybody’s still in a state of shock,” Huff added.

In a statement, Hahn said the residents lost everything in the disaster.

“Many of them poured their life savings into these homes and lost it all in a matter of hours,” said Hahn, who added the funds would give residents support while they work out what to do next.

“When these funds run out, these people will still need help,” Hahn said, “and I hope that our federal and state partners can offer their support.”

City officials, meanwhile, on Tuesday evening, declared a local emergency specifically to get the ball rolling on potential state and federal funding.

The emergency declaration, according to a staff report, is the first step to city officials requesting further financial support from the State Office of Emergency Services and the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

But city officials have no idea how much it will cost to help the residents whose homes were destroyed.

Helping with displacement is only a piece of the puzzle for residents who have lost everything, including, for many, what is probably their largest investment: the equity in their homes.

The financial toll is mammoth.

According to information from the real estate site Zillow, for example, the townhouses range from just over $1 million to $1.6 million.

And, though the land has stabilized under the homes according to RHE’s last two community updates on Wednesday, there are still many unknowns in what city staffers called “the evolving nature of the situation” in a report before Tuesday’s City Council meeting.

Much hinges on the forthcoming analysis of a geologist, according to a city spokesperson. Until then, RHE has referred all questions about the land movement to Scott Management, the property management company for the homeowner’s association. The HOA is responsible for hiring a geologist, according to city and county officials.

“The City can not speculate on the outcome of this land movement at this time as there has been no geological analysis and the situation remains active,” said a City spokesperson via email on Wednesday.

A representative for Scott Management, meanwhile, did not return multiple requests for comment.

Funds for displacement relief, meanwhile, are coming from a variety of sources.

The $25,000 from Rolling Hills Estates will come from unused American Rescue Plan Act 2021 resources, “available for discretionary expenses that were allocated to the City by the Federal Government as part of the COVID-19 response and relief package,” according to the press release. Funds from Hahn’s office are coming from the Fourth Supervisorial District Housing Discretionary Fund.

According to the press release, the day after the Rolling Hills City Council unanimously declared a local emergency at its July 11 meeting, RHE has aided residents displaced by negotiating a “reasonable daily rate at a hotel in the South Bay region to provide up to three weeks of housing.”

Clothing, toiletries, food and other essentials will be supplied to the residents.

“Some displaced residents were only given minutes to evacuate, leaving behind basics that one would normally bring on a short trip,” read the statement.

Twelve structures were originally red tagged when the land started to slide in the RHE gated community, followed by five more that were evacuated because of a broken sewer line.

“They can’t stay and live in there, but they can go into the house, is my understanding,” said Huff, on Wednesday, of those five houses.

“An additional 11 residential units on Peartree Lane are still on ‘watch,’ meaning they are not required to evacuate but are encouraged to do so as further assessment of the area continues,” according to the press release.

As residents across the entire Peninsula begin asking questions about what to do in case of a landslide in the area susceptible to such events, the county aims to offer some answers.

A Palos Verdes Peninsula public safety town hall is scheduled for Monday, July 17 at 5:30 p.m. The meeting, hosted by L.A. County Supervisor Janice Hahn featuring Sheriff Robert Luna, will be at the Palos Verdes Art Center, 5504 Crestridge Rd, in Rancho Palos Verdes. RSVP to [email protected] or call 310-519-6021.

Residents and interested parties can also check a new city webpage for updates about the landslide incident at www.RHE.city/PeartreeLane.

​ Orange County Register 

Teen, initially in custody for killing his mother in OC, must remain behind bars pending new trial

• July 13, 2023

A 19-year-old who killed his mother more than six years ago and later escaped from both juvenile hall and a halfway house should remain in custody while he awaits an upcoming trial for allegedly crafting a shank behind bars, a judge ruled on Wednesday, July 13, rather than be allowed to live in a transition home now to prepare for his eventual release from lockup.

Ike Souzer has been behind bars since he was 13 years old, and along with killing his mother was convicted of attacking, a couple of years ago, deputy juvenile correctional officers. But social workers say in the past year he has made great strides, and Souzer told Orange County Superior Court Judge Steven D. Bromberg that he is ready to turn his life around and is willing to face the consequences should he be convicted of his pending felony counts of possessing and manufacturing a deadly weapon as a prisoner.

“I just want better for myself,” Souzer told the judge. “Running just makes things worse.”

Souzer’s attorney, David Hammond, requested that Souzer be released pending trial to a transition home and overseen by a 24-hour staff.

But Judge Bromberg ruled that given Souzer’s history, the temptation to escape and disappear rather than face potential further incarceration would be too great. The veteran judge described the ruling as one of the most difficult he has had to make and acknowledged Souzer’s apparently abusive childhood.

“He did not grow up like other kids, and that is so unfortunate,” Bromberg said.

Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer has referred to Souzer as an “extremely dangerous and extremely violent individual,” and Deputy District Attorney Ann Fawaz argued during Wednesday’s hearing that Souzer remains a flight risk.

In 2017, Souzer’s mother identified him as her killer as she was dying from multiple stab wounds in front of their Garden Grove home. Two years later, the then-15-year-old escaped from juvenile hall in Orange by making his way over a barbed-wire fence, spending a day on the loose before getting caught at a McDonald’s restaurant in Anaheim.

In 2019, a juvenile court judge found Souzer guilty of voluntary manslaughter. His defense attorney indicated there was evidence that Souzer had acted in self-defense following years of abuse.

As a minor, Souzer served his sentence in a juvenile facility. In 2021, he pleaded guilty to battery with injury after he was accused of attacking the correctional officers. A year later, Souzer apparently cut off an electronic monitoring device and left a halfway house. Two days later, he was found at a homeless encampment in Anaheim.

Souzer was moved into an adult jail, where he was accused of crafting the shank, a makeshift knife. His attorney said during Wednesday’s hearing that when he was moved to that jail, Souzer found himself “in over his head” among the more violent and sophisticated inmates.

Hammond — who has represented Souzer since his arrest at age 13 — and several social workers all told Judge Bromberg that Souzer has grown and matured over the past year and now takes responsibility for his actions. Souzer told the judge that when he was young, running away was how he coped with an abusive family environment, adding that he realized he had made a mistake immediately after cutting off the monitoring device.

Even if convicted of the pending charges, Souzer would likely face a relatively short prison sentence, the judge acknowledged. Because Souzer has at least one case in juvenile court, his full records are not public so it is unclear what time in custody he could face even if found not guilty of the adult charges.

The defense attorney argued it was better to release him from lockup now with services to support him, rather than wait and release him following a prison sentence with no support.

“Our system has raised Ike, for better or for worse,” Hammond told the judge. “He is the product of our system. And our system now has the opportunity to help him grow.”

Judge Bromberg told Souzer that if he truly wanted help upon his eventual release from lockup, the support would still be there, adding Souzer will “just have to wait a bit longer.”

“You are not going to be in there forever,” the judge told him.

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​ Orange County Register 

Investigators seek help identifying suspect in San Juan Capistrano homicide

• July 13, 2023

Orange County sheriff’s investigators Wednesday released a surveillance video photo of a suspect in a fatal stabbing at the beginning of the year in San Juan Capistrano in the hopes it will prompt leads for an arrest.

Investigators were looking for a suspect in the Jan. 14 killing of 30-year-old Jorge Marvin Guadarrama in the 2600 block of Calle San Luis. Deputies were dispatched at 5:21 p.m. and found the victim, who was pronounced dead at the scene.

The suspect is described as a man with a thin build who was wearing jeans and a black-hooded sweatshirt, deputies said.

Anyone who may have information helpful to investigators was asked to call 714-647-7000. Orange County Crime Stoppers will accept anonymous tips at 855-TIP-OCCS.

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Heat wave to persist through the weekend in Southern California, with Inland Empire feeling the hottest temperatures

• July 13, 2023

A summer heat wave is set to extend its stay in Southern California, and state officials are working to ensure the most vulnerable residents are prepared as triple-digit temperatures make their way across the Inland Empire.

A high-pressure system started building over the region earlier this week and temperatures are expected to continue climbing throughout the week, peaking this weekend, said National Weather Service meteorologist Courtney Carpenter. Excessive heat warnings were already in affect in some cities in Riverside and San Bernardino counties on Wednesday and additional warnings were set to go into effect in Los Angeles county on Friday and lasting through at least the weekend.

Temperatures reached into the high 90s in parts of the Inland Empire on Wednesday, and will continue to rise through the weekend with cities including Menifee, in Riverside County; and Redlands, in San Bernardino County; reaching highs of 104 and 107 respectively by Sunday.

While triple-digit heat is no stranger to the Inland Empire, state officials on Tuesday launched the Heat Ready CA campaign. The two-year, $20 million initiative is meant to raise public awareness to the dangers that extreme heat brings to those at highest risk of heat-related illnesses, including those 65 years or older, workers, people with chronic illness, those with disabilities and those who are pregnant.

“Extreme heat is a killer,” Brian Ferguson, a spokesperson for the state’s Office of Emergency Services, said on Wednesday. “More than any disaster we face, we see more fatalities from heat.”

Along with the health risks that come with excessive heat — nausea, cramping, and strokes — officials were also monitoring the potential for additional brush fires while fire departments across the region already battle several blazes that have popped up.

“There was a lot of new vegetation that has grown during our wet Spring,” said Wade Crowfoot, secretary of the California Natural Resources Agency. “The hot temperatures combined with this newly dried-out vegetation will exacerbate the risk of wildfires.”

Meanwhile, communities along the coast will continue to receive the short end of the heat wave with an early morning marine layer and the ocean breeze keeping temperatures in the 70s.

In Los Angeles and Orange counties, beach cities including Redondo Beach and Laguna Beach will remain in the mid 70s for most of the week, slowly rising to the high 70s and possible low 80s by Sunday, Carpenter said. The high 70s trend will continue into early next week along the coast.

California State Parks’ Orange County Superintendent Kevin Pearsall said the past three weekends have been so busy at the beaches that parking lots at Bolsa Chica, Huntington State Beach, Crystal Cove and Doheny State Beach were closed during periods because they hit capacity, leaving beachgoers waiting for spots to open up. “Everyone wants to come to the beaches to enjoy the ocean, sand and sun, the recreation and concessions,” Pearsall said.

Anaheim, Fullerton and other inland Orange County cities won’t be as lucky with temperatures already in the low 90s on Wednesday. Those inland cities, thankfully, won’t see much change in temperature with highs hanging in the 90s before slowly dropping early next week.

Los Angeles County’s inland communities will definitely feel the heat with Pasadena, Woodland Hills and Azusa — among other cities — to reach into the high 90s on Thursday and reach into the low 100s by the weekend.

The heat wave is set to stick around into next week with some areas feeling a slight cooling by Wednesday, though only by a couple of degrees.

Staff reporter Laylan Connelly contributed to this report.

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​ Orange County Register 

Clippers turn it on late, beat Grizzlies for 2nd summer league win

• July 13, 2023

LAS VEGAS — Xavier Moon had 16 points and second-year guard Jason Preston and first-round draft pick Kobe Brown both had double-doubles as the Clippers used a strong finishing kick to beat the Memphis Grizzlies, 83-74, in a summer league game on Wednesday afternoon.

Preston had 13 points on 5-for-13 shooting to go with 10 rebounds and five assists in 27 minutes, while Brown had 12 points on 3-for-12 shooting to go with 10 rebounds, two steals and two blocked shots in 30 minutes. Brodric Thomas added 14 points on 5-for-9 shooting, while Moon shot 7 for 12 from the field and added four rebounds.

The Clippers (2-1) feasted on 23 Memphis turnovers but they led by just one point heading into the fourth quarter and fell behind in the final frame.

The Grizzlies (1-2) held a three-point lead after a pair of Kenneth Lofton Jr. free throws with 4:50 left, but the Clippers closed the game on a 16-4 run to secure the win. A Thomas 3-pointer with 2:59 left put the Clippers ahead to stay.

Lofton paced Memphis with 24 points on 9-for-12 shooting to go with 10 rebounds and seven turnovers in 30 minutes. Jake LaRavia added 22 points and five rebounds and Nathan Hoover had 11 points.

The Clippers next face the Philadelphia 76ers on Friday at 1:30 p.m. They will play an additional weekend game against an opponent to be determined at a time to be announced.

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​ Orange County Register