Seven people reportedly killed in Israeli raid in West Bank

• July 5, 2024

Associated Press

JERUSALEM — Palestinian authorities say seven people were killed Friday during an Israeli military operation in the area of the West Bank city of Jenin, where the Israeli military said it had been carrying out “counterterrorism activity” that included an airstrike.

The military said Israeli soldiers had “encircled a building where terrorists have barricaded themselves in” and the soldiers had exchanged fire with those inside, while an airstrike had “struck several armed terrorists” in the area.

The Palestinian Health Ministry said a total of seven people had been killed, but did not specify whether they died in the exchange of fire or the airstrike. The Islamic Jihad militant group named four of the dead as its members.

The clashes in Jenin, a known militant stronghold where the army frequently operates, came a day after an Israeli anti-settlement monitoring group said the government plans to build nearly 5,300 new homes in settlements in the occupied West Bank.

The construction plans revealed by the Peace Now group are part of the hard-line government’s efforts to beef up settlements as part of a strategy of cementing Israel’s control over the West Bank to prevent a future Palestinian state. The Palestinians seek the West Bank, east Jerusalem and Gaza — areas captured by Israel in the 1967 Mideast war — for an independent state.

Violence has spiraled in the West Bank since the start of Israel’s war in Gaza, sparked by the Oct. 7 raid into southern Israel by Hamas militants who killed around 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and took more than 200 others as hostages. The Palestinian Health Ministry says over 500 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli fire in the West Bank since the start of the war. Most have been killed during Israeli raids and violent protests. The dead also include bystanders and Palestinians killed in attacks by Jewish settlers.

In Gaza, the war has so far killed more than 38,000 Palestinians, Gaza’s Health Ministry says. The ministry does not differentiate between combatants and civilians in its count, but it includes thousands of women and children.

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Cease-fire talks appeared to be reviving after stalling for weeks. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said Thursday he was sending negotiators to resume the talks, a day after Hamas handed mediators its latest response to a U.S.-backed proposal for a deal.

The revival of negotiations appeared to mark another attempt by U.S., Qatari and Egyptian mediators to overcome the gap that has repeatedly thwarted a deal over the past months. Hamas wants an agreement that ensures Israeli troops fully leave Gaza and the war ends, while Netanyahu says the war cannot end before Hamas is eliminated.

Israeli negotiators are expected to arrive in Doha, Qatar’s capital, for the talks as early as Friday, with American, Egyptian and Qatari officials present.

​ Orange County Register 

Wimbledon: Carlos Alcaraz rallies past Frances Tiafoe

• July 5, 2024

LONDON — Carlos Alcaraz found himself pushed to a Grand Slam fifth set again, this time at Wimbledon, this time against good pal Frances Tiafoe. And as he usually does under such circumstances, no matter how much trouble he might have been in, Alcaraz surged to the finish.

Alcaraz avoided a surprising exit and got past Tiafoe 5-7, 6-2, 4-6, 7-6 (2), 6-2 on Friday to reach Wimbledon’s fourth round in an entertaining match filled with moments of brilliance and a series of momentum swings across its 3 hours, 50 minutes.

“It’s always a big challenge playing against Frances. As I’ve said many, many times, he’s a really talented player. Really tough to face. And he showed it once again,” Alcaraz said. “It was really, really difficult for me to adapt my game, to find solutions, to try to put him in trouble. But really happy to do it at the end.”

In front of a Centre Court crowd that included Kansas City Chiefs star quarterback Patrick Mahomes and Oscar-winning actor Dustin Hoffman, and under a closed retractable roof that amplified the thuds of rackets-on-balls, grunts and cheers, the third-seeded Alcaraz was outplayed for stretches by No. 29 Tiafoe.

But Alcaraz was better at the business end and improved to 12-1 in his nascent career in fifth sets — including victories in the semifinals and final at the French Open after being down 2-1 in sets en route to the title there last month. Tiafoe fell to 6-13 in five-setters.

Tiafoe was unable to pull out what would have been a surprising victory for someone who arrived at Wimbledon with a sprained ligament in his right knee and a losing record this season.

Sure came close, though.

The 26-year-old American was two points away from getting the chance to serve for the win, getting to love-30 on Alcaraz’s serve at 4-all in the fourth set. But Alcaraz steadied himself and claimed the next four points, capped by an ace at 130 mph (210 kph).

He then dominated the ensuing tiebreaker, grabbing a 5-0 lead.

“I served (at) a lot of difficult moments during the fourth set. … All I was thinking is: ‘OK, fight one more ball, one more ball.’ Thinking about the next point,” Alcaraz said. “And obviously in the tiebreak, I always tell myself that I have to go for it. If I lose it, I lose it, but I have to feel that I went for it all the time.”

The final set featured more one-way traffic. Tiafoe held in the opening game, but that was pretty much that. At 1-all, Alcaraz got the last break he would need by smacking a cross-court backhand passing shot that Tiafoe let fly by; the ball landed right at the baseline, spraying a bit of chalk.

Others into the fourth round with victories on a rainy day were reigning U.S. Open champion Coco Gauff, French Open runner-up Jasmine Paolini, No. 19 Emma Navarro — the American who eliminated Naomi Osaka earlier in the week — and 2017 U.S. Open finalist Madison Keys in the women’s bracket, and No. 10 Grigor Dimitrov and No. 12 Tommy Paul in the men’s.

Gauff, who is seeded No. 2, will face Navarro in an all-American matchup for a quarterfinal berth.

Most of the attention Friday was on Alcaraz and Tiafoe, two known for providing a show. Alcaraz delivered on-the-run, back-to-the-net ‘tweeners and pointed to his ear to ask spectators for more noise; Tiafoe interacted with the fans, too, waving to them to get louder.

These two good-naturedly traded some mild trash talk when they found out they’d be facing each other, and they hugged and chatted at the net when it was over.

Tiafoe stopped playing during a match last month at the Queen’s Club event after hurting his knee, and was just 13-14 in 2024 before Wimbledon, with some of those losses coming against players he referred to as “clowns,” without naming names.

After Tiafoe, who wore a black sleeve on his right knee, slipped and went down to the ground a couple of times Friday, Alcaraz walked around the net to the other side of the court to check on him or offer a hand to help him get to his feet.

There were fewer of the sorts of lengthy, extended exchanges they engaged in at Flushing Meadows a little less than two years ago — when Alcaraz defeated Tiafoe in a five-setter in the U.S. Open semifinals — mostly owing to the speedier grass that tends to end points quickly. Still, there was shared excellence aplenty, including a 22-stroke point that Alcaraz won to help lead 4-2 in the first set.

Tiafoe broke right back and soon owned that set. Alcaraz righted himself in the second. Then it was Tiafoe’s turn to play better in the third. And, ultimately, it was Alcaraz who emerged.

Now Alcaraz will continue to pursue a second consecutive title at the All England Club and his fourth Grand Slam trophy overall, including the recent triumph in Paris that made the 21-year-old Spaniard the youngest man to win a major championship on all three surfaces.

​ Orange County Register 

Euro 2024 quarterfinal: What you need to know for England vs. Switzerland

• July 5, 2024

DUESSELDORF, Germany — England will play Switzerland in the quarterfinals of the European Championship on Saturday.

England faced criticism from fans who thought the team underperformed in its extra-time win over Slovakia, while Switzerland exceeded expectations by knocking out defending champion Italy. The winner will play the Netherlands or Turkey in the semifinals. Kickoff is at 9 a.m. PT in Duesseldorf.

Here’s what to know about the match:

Match facts

— England is playing its fourth quarterfinal at a major tournament under England manager Gareth Southgate and won two of the previous three. Southgate’s cautious tactics have brought hefty criticism from England fans, some of whom threw plastic cups at him in the group stage.

— Jude Bellingham’s last-minute overhead kick to send England’s last-16 game with Slovakia to extra time has been one of the most dramatic moments of Euro 2024. Defender John Stones said Thursday that surviving that brush with elimination gave the team new confidence.

— Switzerland coach Murat Yakin has won a reputation for smart tactics at Euro 2024, especially by outclassing an Italy team packed with more famous names in the round of 16.

— England is playing two days after a general election ended 14 years of rule by the Conservative Party. It didn’t make waves in the England camp, which Stones called a “politics-free zone.”

Team news

— Bellingham is available after he avoided an immediate ban from UEFA, which investigated an allegedly crude gesture he made during the Slovakia game. UEFA fined Bellingham 30,000 euros ($32,500) and gave him a one-game ban that only takes effect if he breaks the rules again during a one-year probationary period. He has denied he was mocking Slovakia when he seemed to gesture toward his crotch.

— England defender Marc Guéhi is suspended after picking up a second booking against Slovakia. Ezri Konsa, who came off the bench in extra time in that game, is the favorite to replace him in the center of defense alongside Stones.

— Stones wore heavy strapping on his right knee in training Wednesday but said Thursday he’s fit to play.

— Bellingham, forward Phil Foden and full back Kieran Trippier are among five England players who would miss the semifinals if booked against Switzerland. Captain Granit Xhaka is one of four Swiss players in the same situation.

— Xhaka is fitting after training individually earlier this week, Yakin said on Friday.

By the numbers

— Southgate is marking his 100th game in charge and it could be his last. His contract expires after the tournament.

— Switzerland hasn’t beaten England for 43 years. Harry Kane scored the winning goal when England had a comeback 2-1 win the last time they played in a 2022 friendly.

— It’s only the third time the Swiss team is playing in the quarterfinals of a major tournament. It has yet to reach a semifinal. A penalty-shootout loss to Spain in the quarterfinals of Euro 2020 was its best European Championship showing.

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What they’re saying

— “The other night, I thought we were going home after 60 minutes of the game. To change the mindset of us all and keep that belief and faith, it’s got a lot of power behind that for ourselves, other teams. Everyone watching at home knows that we’re there to do it right until the last minute, literally. And, I think we should take great confidence from that.” — England defender John Stones.

— “No matter how they played, they are in the quarterfinals, so no one is interested how they played in the group stage and in the games before that. They have a lot of quality and any time they can hurt their opponents, so we need to be prepared for that.” — Switzerland defender Fabian Schär warns against underestimating England.

​ Orange County Register 

Air pollution advisory issued across Southern California after July 4th fireworks

• July 5, 2024

Due to the after-effects of July 4th fireworks, the South Coast Air Quality Management District has issued a special advisory for particle pollution that is leading to hazardous conditions in some areas on Friday, July 5.

The agency said that fireworks emissions from Independence Day celebrations often lead to the worst air-quality days of the entire year.

The advisory, which covers parts of Los Angeles, Orange, San Bernardino and Riverside counties, will be in effect until 11:59 p.m. Friday.

Some areas were experiencing air quality at the Moderate AQI (Air Quality Index) level at 9 a.m. Friday, including much of the South Bay and Orange County.

At that same time, the air quality in many areas of Los Angeles, the San Fernando Valley, the San Gabriel Valley and the Inland Empire ranged from Unhealthy AQI to Hazardous.

The worst area — experiencing Hazardous air quality — on Friday morning was the area surrounding Glendora and Azusa and parts of West Covina heading toward the mountains. Just outside of that area, including Pomona, Montclair, Claremont, Duarte and Arcadia, the air quality was measured as Very Unhealthy.

Air quality Friday morning was also Very Unhealthy in the eastern San Fernando Valley, Burbank and Glendale areas.

Most of LA, the rest of the San Gabriel Valley and the Inland Empire as far east as Redlands was experiencing air quality that was either Unhealthy, or Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups.

The particles emitted by fireworks, including “backyard” fireworks, include metal air pollutants, the AQMD said, causing even more hazardous conditions.

And “backyard” fireworks can lead to even higher levels of fine particulate matter in the neighborhoods where they were launched, leading to even worse air quality that is being measured by AQMD’s regional equipment, the agency said.

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The fireworks particles add to the other particles in the Southern California basin from vehicles and industrial uses. In addition, high ozone levels unrelated to July 4th celebrations will decrease air quality — leading to the Very Unhealthy AQI level in the afternoon and evening.

The AQMD warns that people’s cardiovascular and respiratory health suffers when breathing in fine particulate matter. Negative health effects can include heart attacks, worsened asthma, decreased lung function, coughing and difficulty breathing and even “premature death” in those suffering from heart or lung disease.

The air-quality-monitoring agency recommends remaining indoors with doors and windows closed, avoiding vigorous physical activity, and running air conditioners and air purifiers.

​ Orange County Register 

Real Housewives of Orange County: Alexis Bellino and Katie Ginella join the cast

• July 5, 2024

Alexis Bellino had a lot going on at the end of summer last year.

Her beloved mother died, she broke off an engagement, and then “The Real Housewives of Orange County” was on the phone, asking the former housewife if she’d like to rejoin the reality series for its 18th season.

And all that before she met and fell in love with John Janssen, the ex-boyfriend of housewife Shannon Storms Beador, which threw a huge plot twist into the season that premieres on Bravo on Thursday, July 11.

“I mean, you can’t write this stuff, right?” Bellino says. “This is why it’s reality TV; it’s too good to be its own movie. It just is what it is, and, yeah, there’s a lot.”

Around the same time, Katie Ginella and her family moved to Orange County, which brought her into the orbit of Bravo’s casting directors.

“I became friends with Sutton,” Ginella says of Sutton Stracke of “The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills.” “I told her, I think we’re moving to Orange County and she said, ‘Oh, one of my friends is a real estate agent. You should reach out. You’re both around the same age; you have the same kind of personality; you’d be friends.’”

The friend was Gina Kirschenheiter of “The Real Housewives of Orange County,” who not only met with Ginella about her housing needs but also encouraged her to join the reality show for its new season.

Ginella is not only the new castmember; she is also the first Asian American in the cast of “The Real Housewives of Orange County,” and the first housewife of Korean descent on any cast in the greater Housewife universe.

The rest of the cast remains as it was with Shannon, Gina, Heather Dubrow, Tamra Judge, Emily Simpson, and Jen Pedranti all returning for the new season. (Bellino, who was previously on the show between 2009 and 2013, is officially credited as “a friend” of the Housewives, but she’s certain to be a big presence in the storylines this year.)

In separate interviews edited for length and clarity, Bellino and Ginella talked about their decisions to be on the series, the drama they encountered on the show, and more.

Alexis Bellino

Q: So when and how were you approached to rejoin the show?

A: When I left 10 years ago, Heather and I were not close, but over the last 10 years we have formed a very true, authentic relationship. She’s been very vocal in the Bravo world about wanting me to be back on. With my mom passing in August, it was not anything in my forethought at all. But then at Bravo Con, Tamra and I had a really deep conversation. A true friendship started forming. And it was a just a road that led us here from that point on.

Q: Was there any hesitation before you said yes?

A: I did doubt going back for several reasons. No. 1, I didn’t know if I was mentally and physically capable to do it because I was so distraught. I was in a lot of therapy. Then No. 2, I happened to meet John [she laughs] at, let’s just say, an inconvenient time. It ended up being a deep love, so it was not a mistake, and I’m not regretful of any of that.

But it did change the trajectory of what was going to happen. I was going to be on ‘Housewives’ as a single woman and now I’m on ‘Housewives’ in a serious relationship with an ex-boyfriend of one of the cast members.

Q: You met John at The Quiet Woman in Corona del Mar, which is often a place we’ve seen Shannon.

A: The honest-to-God truth is I’ve been going to the Quiet Woman for decades. My guy friends who are married – I officiated their wedding, actually – wanted me to take them there. So we went, and we’d paid the bill and just had our dessert. And John walks in with a group of people. I didn’t pay him any attention at that point.

We all just hung out, and I’m still thinking I’m going home at this point. I’m not drinking. I’m just ready to go. And they all just were like, ‘No, we’re going to Shamrock; we’re going dancing,’ and this and that. Somehow they talked me into it even in my 5-inch stilettos and so we went and danced.

You could tell there was an energy between John and I, but we definitely stayed friends. And then we just couldn’t fight it anymore. It was just natural. And we are deeply in love. The relationship we are in is so much harder than if I just met somebody else at the grocery store, you know what I mean? We chose a very difficult path.

That’s why we waited to make sure, ‘OK, are these feelings more than just like you’re hot and you’re hot? It’s like, what is really here. So that’s where we are now.

Q: This is clearly going to be a big storyline this year. Have you prepared yourself for that?

A: After I spoke with my psychic, I decided to have the fire come inside of me to go back. I was going to say no at that point. It was almost too much to take on, right? I didn’t want to come in as the villain of the girlfriend that took the boyfriend when it’s not true, because they were broken up for a year and half.

I know that makes interesting and good TV, but at the end of the day, people’s feelings are involved in this. I am in love with him. It is uncomfortable for Shannon and I to be on the same cast. So I almost didn’t come back. Then I talked to my mom through my psychic and that’s how I’m here.

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Real Housewives of Orange County finale: Tears and truth serum
Real Housewives of Orange County reunion special: Topless Tamra’s pixelated parts
Real Housewives of Orange County season finale: Evil clowns and home colonics
‘Real Housewives of Orange County’: Shannon dances on a bar in Mexico as the Tres Amigas party on
Real Housewives of Orange County: Sesame Street-Sasquatch baby drama

Katie Ginella

Q: So tell me about how you came from Georgia to become a real housewife in Orange County.

A: I actually met the casting about three years ago. A friend of mine was on ‘Basketball Wives’ and they reached out. We had moved to San Diego and I was like “I don’t live in Orange County so this is definitely not going to work.’ Then about a year later I met Sutton. We’re both from Georgia and we became very fast friends.

We were kind of commiserating on the lack of sweet tea and fried food here in Southern California. It’s very healthy here. [She laughs] You know, we grew up like eating everything fried and full of butter. And so we became good friends.

Q: Do you know how far it is to the closest Waffle House?

A: Oh my gosh, I do actually know how far it is. It’s in Arizona and it makes me so sad. I miss that gross, greasy food so much.

Q: And she introduced you to Gina?

A: I reached out to Gina and we met for coffee to discuss my needs for a house because I have four kids and two dogs and my husband needs an office. And we sat there for five hours and talked. We were instantly friends. There’s never a lack of conversation with Gina, which is great.

Q: You and your husband both come from a background in golf journalism, and now you’ve got a business involving alcohol and golf?

A: Golf balls come in a sleeve, right? So we have made a golf ball that is 50 milliliters and the top of it twists off and inside are flavored shots of tequila and vodka. They come in a sleeve of four because usually golf is played in a foursome. And they’re called Tee Shots.

Q: Was that part of the appeal of the show? To have a chance to talk about your business?

A: I was able to talk about my business. My husband owns his own production company in golf. So it was kind of a really cool platform for that. I also thought it was really great that I could get on the show as the first Korean/Asian American for Orange County. There’s a huge Asian population in Orange County, Southern California and California in general. I think it’s really cool to see representation of Asian Americans on television.

Q: What can your representation as an Asian American change or do on the show?

A: I am adopted from Korea, so growing up, seeing a female Asian anywhere, whether it was sports or on TV, was awesome for me to see. It made me feel like, ‘Oh, that’s somebody I can relate to even though I had no idea who the person was.

I think it comes with a lot of responsibility but responsibility I am really excited about. It does come with some stereotypes, and I think it’s good that I can help kind of break down some of those

Q: Like what?

A: We were filming and I told the girls, ‘Oh, I have to take Pepcid, so I don’t get Asian flush when we’re drinking.’ They were like what is that? They had no idea. I also got to introduce them to some Asian food, Asian culture, even being adopted from Korea and kind of learning it myself. It’s cool to introduce these ladies to something that they’re totally unaware about. I really, really enjoyed that.

Q: What was your family’s reaction to you going on ‘Real Housewives’?

A: My husband said now it’s your turn to do what you want to do and be who you want to be. It was hard at times. They would see me come home upset or stressed out, but they were all super supportive. It was nice.

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​ Orange County Register 

Tour de France: Remco Evenepoel closes gap with Stage 7 time trial win

• July 5, 2024

GEVREY-CHAMBERTIN, France (AP) — Race-against-the-clock specialist Remco Evenepoel displayed impressive power and precision in winning the Tour de France’s first time trial on Friday.

In his slipstream was every other contender for the yellow jersey, including holder Tadej Pogacar.

Despite a small problem with his bike close to the finish that cost him a few seconds, the Tour debutant mastered the 25-kilometer (16-mile) stage in the Burgundy Grand Crus wine country to dominate his first win at cycling’s biggest race.

Evenepoel clocked 28 minutes, 52 seconds to beat Pogacar by 12 seconds. Primoz Roglic was third, 34 seconds behind. Evenepoel has now won stages at all three Grands Tours — the Giro d’Italia, Tour and Vuelta.

Evenepoel, who was first at all intermediate check points, stayed in second place in the general classification, 33 seconds behind Pogacar. Two-time defending champion Jonas Vingegaard was third overall, 1:15 behind.

Pogacar added 25 seconds on Vingegaard, taking his revenge from last year’s time trial in Combloux where the Slovenian was at the receiving end of a sobering beating by the Dane. Vingegaard, however, did not lose too much time and the gap between them was not that big with more than two weeks of hard racing remaining.

“I gained time on Primoz and on Jonas and the other guys, I can be really happy,” Pogacar said. “I need to keep an eye on Remco now, he is a bit closer. They can show good legs in the next mountain stages. Still a long way to go.”

There was a big question mark over Vingegaard’s form before the start following the crash that wreaked havoc with his season. Vingegaard was hospitalized for nearly two weeks in Spain in April following a high-speed crash in the Tour of the Basque Country. He sustained a broken collarbone and ribs and a collapsed lung.

Evenepoel has been regarded as a cycling prodigy for years. A versatile rider, he has won the 2022 Vuelta and classics after recovering from a horrific crash during a race in Italy in 2020.

He won the world time trial last year and the road race in 2022. He needed surgery this season after breaking a collarbone and shoulder blade in a crash at the Tour of Basque Country. The two-time world champion will lead Belgium’s men’s team in road cycling at the Paris Olympics.

“As for the rest of the Tour de France, I believe Tadej is going to be unreachable,” Evenepoel said. “But this is cycling, you never know what can happen. The further into the race we go, the better I will feel, so I’ll focus more on the podium because I feel I have the legs for it.”

The stage took riders on forest roads and through vineyards on a mostly flat terrain. The short climb of the Côte de Curtil-Vergy after 12 kilometers added a dose of pain on the way to the finish in Gevrey-Chambertin.

Tucked in a perfect aerodynamic position, Evenepoel went all out in the descent, reaching an impressive speed of 85 kph (53 mph).

“The climb was pretty tough, because I wanted to start fast but I wanted to keep something,” Evenepoel said. “The descent was technical and fast, you have to do it well. I enjoyed every meter of this TT.”

He slowed with about 2.5 kilometers (1.5 miles) left, thinking he had a puncture, but quickly realized everything was fine and rekindled his effort.

“Maybe somebody from the public dropped a glass or hit a fence, it made the same sound as a puncture,” he added. “I was a bit scared, but after few meters I knew nothing was wrong. I kept pushing even with the scare, fearing that maybe it was a slow puncture.”

There will be a second time trial on the final day of the race on July 21, a 34-kilometer (21-mile) trek between Monaco and Nice.

Saturday’s Stage 8 will take the peloton on a hilly ride to Colombey-les-Deux-Eglises, the home and final resting place of former French President Charles de Gaulle.

​ Orange County Register 

HOA Homefront: Are pets allowed under Fair Housing laws even if CR&Rs say no?

• July 5, 2024

Q: Our CC&Rs state that no animal of any kind shall be kept in any unit. Recently, a resident adopted a large dog. The board approached the resident and a few days later she provided a letter from a psychiatrist stating that she suffers from anxiety and that the dog is a support animal. The letter claims the Federal Fair Housing Act gives her the right to keep the animal despite the CC&Rs.  Do HOAs have any recourse in this situation?  The resident is a renter, not an owner, if that makes any difference. — K. D., Redondo Beach.

A: If the animal’s necessity is properly documented by someone with direct knowledge of the resident (whether an owner or not) as an “assistive animal” then it is not a “pet” and is not subject to the HOA’s pet rules.

Website “certifications” aren’t sufficient. Should the animal harm others, damage property or otherwise cause a nuisance, the accommodation then becomes “unreasonable” and the owner of the animal can be held accountable for problems the animal causes.

By the way, how can your HOA have a complete ban on animals in units, given Civil Code Section 4715, which protects the right of a resident to have one animal in their residence?

Q: The board recently voted to change the parking rules in our community handicapped stalls within the parking garage. The board says handicap stalls will be viewed as common visitor stalls, subject to the same visitor parking limits. The intent of this change by the board is to punish individuals who park in handicapped stalls for extended periods of time. My concern is this does not comply with the Fair Housing Act. — N.K., Irvine.

A: If someone qualifies under the Fair Housing laws as “disabled” and needs access to parking spaces closer to the resident’s home, the HOA rules take a back seat to the Fair Housing requirements. However, I often find that residents request special parking privileges that do not in fact assist them with their disability.

For example, the person who prefers to park in visitor parking instead of their assigned garage, which is almost always closer. Accommodation requests must be viewed in standalone fashion without regard to the governing documents.

So, if someone truly is disabled and requires reasonable help from the HOA with that disability, the HOA rules may not prevent that help. Also, DMV-issued handicapped placards are not documentation of a current disability.

Q: I am going to request a slight modification to our sidewalk/entry, to make it wheelchair accessible. Is the HOA obligated to honor my request per ADA, or anything else? — S.M., Dana Point

A: The ADA does not apply to most HOAs, which in most respects are not “public accommodations,” but state and federal Fair Housing laws apply.

If a resident suffers from a disability requiring the modification of the unit’s entry, so long as the modification is “reasonable,” the HOA may be required to allow it. The modification’s cost in most instances must be paid for by the requesting resident.

For more information on accommodating disabilities in California, go to calcivilrights.ca.gov.

Kelly G. Richardson CCAL is a Fellow of the College of Community Association Lawyers and Partner of Richardson Ober LLP, a California law firm known for community association advice. Send column questions to [email protected].

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​ Orange County Register 

PAGA reforms are a step in the right direction for California’s small businesses

• July 5, 2024

As a member of our local community and a decades-long advocate for significant legal reform in California, I am optimistic about the negotiated reforms signed into law by Governor Gavin Newsom this week. 

As the Southern California regional director of California Citizens Against Lawsuit Abuse (CA CALA), our grassroots organization has long championed the need for reforming the Private Attorneys General Act (PAGA). We also have advocated for significant legal reforms to address abuses tied to the American Disability Act (ADA) and other tort reform efforts that would improve the business climate in our state. 

In the years leading up to these critical reforms being enacted, we would hear from local small business owners about the direct challenges of operating a business associated with frivolous lawsuits tied to PAGA. 

PAGA was originally signed into law by Gov. Gray Davis in 2004 to give employees the means to sue their employers for labor code violations. But PAGA instead became an abused policy with systemic misuse and exploitation through the courts. 

Essentially, bad actors, and the trial lawyers who took up their cases, were able to sue small businesses and cash in on settlements even when a suit seemed suspect at best. Many small businesses who were sued under PAGA did not have the monetary means to defend themselves in court. Many chose to settle to not risk losing their businesses. Many small business owners who did choose to fight were forced to later shut their doors when the court fees eventually became too expensive to continue operating.

The reform legislation enacted by Gov. Newsom on July 1, is a step in the right direction for California’s local small business economy. These reforms address the need for certainty that small businesses need to survive and tackles some of the more egregious issues with PAGA. 

Employers need to know they can operate in a fair and competitive business environment and not one that is legally stacked against them. These reforms help do just that by leveling the playing field. In the past, a PAGA lawsuit being brought on a small business could be a death sentence. Many who didn’t close left the state taking good paying jobs with them.

In the agreed upon reforms, we see many of the fixes CA CALA has long championed. The newly enacted law aims to lessen the burdens being placed on small business owners. The changes in the agreed upon reform package look to be much better for both the employer and employee. It also gives employers an incentive to come into compliance with PAGA policies. What a novel concept!  

The reforms also set a statute of limitations on when a claim can be filed, and the reasonable requirement that the plaintiff personally suffered each of the violations alleged. Both are key reforms that will limit the ability to file frivolous lawsuits.

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Thankfully, the reforms should also put a stop to some of the more egregious examples of PAGA lawsuits filed including those for typos on wage statements. Some employers faced lawsuits for failing to place the beginning date and ending date on a check stub even when the employee received his check on time and the check cleared the bank. Reforms also addressed a flaw that penalizes an employer, who pays employees on a weekly basis, being subject to paying twice the penalties compared to an employer who pays employees every other week.

Just as the new PAGA reform law is a step in the right direction for California’s small businesses, it’s no secret that additional reforms are needed in legislative sessions to come. The new reforms will certainly give back some of the needed certainty that businesses have not had for quite some time. And that is certainly a good thing for local employers, employees, and the future of our small business economy. For now, businesses can breathe a sigh of relief but there is still much more work to be done to curb lawsuit abuse in our state.

Maryann Marino is the Southern California Regional Director of California Citizens Against Lawsuit Abuse (CA CALA)

​ Orange County Register