Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified trustees OK creepy plan to censor books

• April 26, 2023

It’s ironic that a novel about the Iranian revolution initially drew the ire of conservative school-board members at the Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified School District. That debate – and concern about some language used by the author – sparked the district’s passage of a new plan that makes the elected trustees the final arbiter of books that the district uses in its curriculum.

The board ultimately approved the use of “Persepolis: The Story of Childhood,” which documents the oppressive tactics of the Islamic Republic. Unlike in Iran, the United States champions the widest freedom of speech and thought – and Americans generally frown upon elected officials who try to set themselves as “culture ministers” who vet reading material.

By a 3-2 vote, the board gave initial approval to a policy that requires a full board vote before the district pilots a new book. The ringleader, Trustee Todd Frazier, argues it’s not actually a book ban. He’s technically correct. Yes, someone has to make these choices. But schools typically set up a process, such as the district’s Literature Review Committee, to vet teachers’ proposals.

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This approach turns every mundane choice into a hot-button political issue. It will dumb down students’ reading material by assuring that educators propose only the least-controversial books – lest it set off controversy at a board meeting. The policy encourages ideologically driven board members to grandstand. Trustees have more pressing issues (e.g., finances, hiring practices, etc.) to handle.

“I have been made keenly aware that our education system has become more focused on divisive ideologies that threaten traditional American values rather than promote academic excellence,” Frazier argued during his campaign. Instead of focusing on academic excellence, the board majority seems intent on promoting its own divisive ideologies.

We have long supported the idea that parents should have a greater say in their children’s education, which is why we advocate for charter schools and other alternatives to monopoly public schools. But the answer isn’t to micromanage book choices or preen for conservative media, but to delve into the hard work of building a competitive school system.

​ Orange County Register 

The unexpected consequences of tobacco bans: bonds, taxes, police, and more

• April 26, 2023

If California’s legislature intends to create a smoke-free generation, they’ll need to adopt a new approach.

In pursuit of this noble goal, the California legislature is currently pondering Assembly Bill 935, a bill that would prohibit any individual born after 2006 from purchasing tobacco products. From the outset, the logic of the bill doesn’t track. Prohibitions on substances have proven time and again to be futile. Far from reducing the behavior they’re aimed at curbing, they simply push consumers to make riskier choices to get what they ultimately want — and this ban would be no different. But there are even more subterranean downsides to these bans. If California moves ahead with this legislation, the entire state budget will be at risk.

If the state government is truly committed to deterring smoking, they should focus on proven harm reduction policies instead of ineffective and counterproductive bans.

Proponents of tobacco prohibitions have argued that forbidding individuals from purchasing and consuming tobacco products would reduce federal and state health care costs as the incidence of tobacco-related illnesses, like cardiovascular disease and cancer, would decrease with smoking rates. It has been estimated that yearly tobacco-related health care costs in the Golden State total more than $15 billion, with almost $4 billion of those expenses sourced from Medicaid. If a ban were successfully implemented and followed religiously, it could help mitigate these expenditures and might save taxpayers big money — or so the argument goes.

In reality, however, the ban won’t work. People will keep smoking, they’ll just buy unregulated, untaxed cigarettes from a black market that’s sure to spring up, or they’ll drive to neighboring states to buy their smokes legally. Sure, the ban might deter some and cause smoking related illnesses to dip, but it seems unlikely medical costs will decrease enough to offset the billions of dollars in tobacco excise taxes the state would be missing out on every year. Today, California’s excise tax rate on cigarettes is $2.87, the 16th highest in the nation and almost a dollar above the average U.S. tax rate of $1.91. If the state were to eventually prohibit tobacco products entirely, like this bill intends, California would be out an estimated $2 billion in tax revenue a year. Revenue from these taxes goes towards the tobacco tax fund which finances the Tobacco-Use Prevention Education Program and the Tobacco-Related Disease Research Program, among other state programs focused on harm reduction.

Not only would California lose out on this revenue, but citizens would also be incentivized to road trip for their smokes. We know from recent studies that consumers are more than willing to make these treks in order to legally purchase these substances, in turn increasing their risk of car-related injuries which could then contribute to health care costs.

The financial implications of the ban go even deeper than tax revenue. If this bill were to be passed, California puts itself at risk of defaulting on their tobacco bonds, like New Jersey nearly did back in 2014. If the state defaults on these bonds (one of which doesn’t reach its final maturity until 2066) due to decreasing tobacco revenue from the phase-out ban of the substance, investors will still be entitled to collect the money they are due. A default like this has the potential to negatively affect the state budget (and, possibly, taxpayers) through added debts.

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Even more worrisome, however, is the bill’s potential criminal justice implications. New York, for example, has a $4.35 excise tax rate on cigarettes which has resulted in individuals buying the products from neighboring states with lower tax rates and selling them on the street. In 2014, Eric Garner was killed by a New York City police officer while he was being arrested for illegally selling single cigarettes from packs without a tax stamp. While the proposed legislation does not detail the repercussions individuals could face if they were to be caught smuggling tobacco products into the state, California is inviting similar criminal justice issues by promoting total bans like those outlined in AB 935.

Harm reduction policies like the educational services and rehabilitation programs already available in California (and which are at risk of getting defunded if this bill passes) would mitigate these risks while helping to reduce the incidence of smoking in all generations. It would be incredibly unwise for the state of California to systematically diminish the tax revenue that funds their tobacco harm reduction programs. It is not the role of the government to forbid its citizens from choosing to smoke cigarettes — instead, they should focus on promoting healthier alternatives and educating the population on the long term health effects these products have on smokers and those surrounding them.

Sofia Hamilton is a Research Associate at a DC think tank and a Contributor with Young Voices where she focuses on issues related to health care, housing, and welfare. Her work has previously appeared in the Orange County Register, the South Florida Sun Sentinel, and Real Clear Markets.

​ Orange County Register 

NFL draft: Which USC players might get picked and when

• April 26, 2023

With the NFL draft beginning Thursday, here’s a look at where USC prospects can expect to be selected over the weekend.

Jordan Addison

Position: Wide receiver

Year: Junior

Size: 5-foot-11, 173 pounds

Projections: Coming straight out of the season, Addison seemed like a lock not only to be a first-round pick but possibly as high as in the top 12. But as draft season progressed, there seemed to be less consensus on the valuation of receivers in this year’s draft, after a run on wideouts in Round 1 a year ago. Still, given his versatility and raw athleticism at his size, here’s guessing someone in the first round takes a gamble on Addison on Thursday night.

Mekhi Blackmon

Position: Cornerback

Year: Senior

Size: 5-foot-11, 178 pounds

Projections: Blackmon has done a lot of good work to improve his standing in the past year, from his breakout season at USC to running a 4.47-second 40-yard dash at the combine. But given how he’s used his physicality to make up for other athletic shortcomings, Blackmon is still likely a Day 3 guy, in Rounds 5-6.

Travis Dye

Position: Running back

Year: Senior

Size: 5-foot-10, 201 pounds

Projections: Dye is a tricky one to nail down, given the ankle fracture he suffered in November. He was still recovering from surgery at the NFL combine and did not get to run a 40-yard dash there, and the rainy conditions slowed down his time at USC’s pro day. This put a lot of weight on Dye’s private workouts with teams to show that he has regained his burst since the injury. Dye is likely a Day 3 selection, probably Rounds 6-7.

Brett Neilon

Position: Center

Year: Senior

Size: 6-foot-2, 295 pounds

Projections: Neilon entered the draft coming off a devastating leg injury suffered in early December. Unable to participate at the combine and pro day, Neilon will rely on game tape to get him a chance in the pros. He’s looking at either a Round 7 selection or undrafted free agency.

Tuli Tuipulotu

Position: Defensive end

Year: Junior

Size: 6-foot-3, 266 pounds

Projections: It’s tough to know exactly how an NFL team will use Tuipulotu, given his size doesn’t exactly match up with most NFL defensive linemen. But there’s enough film showing how much Tuipulotu’s strength and athleticism make up for any size limitations, and someone will take him in Round 2 or 3.

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Andrew Vorhees

Position: Offensive line

Year: Senior

Size: 6-foot-6, 310 pounds

Projections: Vorhees was looking like a late first-round, early second-round selection prior to tearing his ACL at the NFL combine. Still, his incredible bench press performance after the injury stole headlines, and there will be a team without an immediate need on the offensive line willing to stash Vorhees for a year and allow him to recover from surgery. But it’s more likely to come in Rounds 4-5 than 2-3 now.

​ Orange County Register 

Lilia Vu heads to Wilshire Country Club, this time as a major champion

• April 26, 2023

HOLLYWOOD — During her star-studded career at UCLA, Lilia Vu spent a lot of time practicing and playing at Wilshire Country Club, site of this week’s JM Eagle LA Championship. But this week is the first time that the Fountain Valley native has played Wilshire as a major champion.

At last week’s Chevron Championship, played at Carlton Woods in Texas, Vu rallied from four shots behind on the final day to get into a playoff with fellow California native Angel Yin. Vu won the title with a birdie putt on the first extra hole, earning Vu her first major championship and elevating back to the rarified air she experienced during her time at UCLA.

Vu was the 2016 Pac-12 Freshman Golfer of the Year and was No.1 in the World Amateur Golf Ranking for 31 weeks in 2018 and 2019. In 2018, she was named the WGCA Player of the Year and Pac-12 Conference Golfer of the Year. But once Vu turned professional her fortunes changed, missing all but one cut in her first season on the LPGA Tour and struggling to play the way everyone expected.

She spent the next two seasons on the Epson Tour and in 2021 she posted 10 top 10 finishes, including four wins, earning her way back on to the LPGA Tour in 2022 and since returning, she has looked and played like the player who dominated college golf.

In her return to the LPGA last season, Vu posted eight, top-10 finishes, including a tie for third at the BMW Ladies Championship and a 10th place finish at the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship. Armed with renewed confidence, she opened this season by claiming her first LPGA title at the Honda LPGA Thailand and two months later she won the Chevron.

“It’s starting to feel real now, but waking up on Monday, it didn’t feel real,” Vu said during a media conference on Tuesday at Wilshire. “I felt like I was dreaming because I had a pretty tough weekend and I didn’t really feel like I was in the tournament until basically 17 and 18 happened, and then I was back in it again. I just couldn’t believe it, to be honest.”

When Vu landed at LAX on Monday afternoon, she went directly to a family celebration at her dad’s friend’s Vietnamese restaurant called Thanh My restaurant in Westminster where the newly crowned champion enjoyed some comfort food.

“It was really nice to be home for not even a day because I drove up this morning, but yeah, it’s very comforting,” Vu said. “I love home, and I just love California. It’s nice that we’re playing here this week in LA, not too far from home, so family and friends are going to be coming out, so that will also help me.”

And Vu loves Wilshire Country Club, a course she feels extremely attached to after spending so much time there while at UCLA.

“It’s nostalgia, and there’s really no golf course quite like Wilshire,” Vu said. “I don’t think you can really compare it to anything in my opinion because they’re just so different from the typical surrounding LA courses around here. It’s not easy. Putting is going to be difficult. I think it’s going to be difficult for everybody. It’s just another target golf course. You want to drive it well off the tee and you want to keep it below the pin. I think it’s going to be pretty difficult and fun, though.”

This is the fifth straight year that Wilshire Country Club has hosted the LPGA but it is the first time as the LA Championship, a new event on the schedule. It features one of the strongest fields of the 2023 LPGA Tour season including the four past champions at Wilshire. Players will be competing for a $3 million tournament purse, one of the largest prize funds on the LPGA Tour outside of major championships.

Vu is one of 13 players in the field this week who played their college golf at either UCLA or USC. UCLA Alumni are Vu, Bronte Law, Alison Lee, Ryann O’Toole, Patty Tavatanakit, and Mariajo Uribe. USC Alumni include Jennifer Chang, Allisen Corpuz, Muni He, Annie Park, Lizette Salas, Jennifer Song, and Gabriella Then.

Corpuz was tied for the lead heading into the final round at the Chevron but stumbled a bit and finished fourth. Like Vu, she is thrilled to be back in her native Southern California and to be playing a course she knows so well.

“We practiced here my first two years at USC,” Corpuz said. “The course has changed a little bit but overall the design is the same. It’s a beautiful course. I really like how it’s set up. I think it suits my eye really well. There have been so many Trojans this week that come and say, ‘Hi, fight on!’ I am in my own bed, and I’m like 10 minutes from the course, so it makes the commute easy. I had fun last year out here, and I’m excited to have another fun week.”

The tournament starts on Thursday, with the final round scheduled for Sunday.

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​ Orange County Register 

No new trial for ex-UCLA gynecologist convicted on sex charges — and he’ll soon know his sentence

• April 26, 2023

By TERRI VERMEULEN KEITH

BURBANK — A judge Wednesday denied a request for a new trial for a former UCLA campus gynecologist who was convicted of sex-related charges involving two patients, clearing the way for his sentencing to proceed Wednesday afternoon.

Superior Court Judge Michael Carter heard arguments Wednesday morning from attorneys representing Dr. James Mason Heaps, asking that he be granted a new trial. They argued in part that Heaps received ineffective assistance from his trial attorney, most notably in the decision not to have Heaps testify in his own defense.

Carter ultimately rejected the motion. Heaps is scheduled to be sentenced Wednesday afternoon.

Heaps, 66, has been behind bars since he was convicted last Oct. 20 by a downtown Los Angeles jury on three counts of sexual battery by fraud and two counts of sexual penetration of an unconscious person. Those charges involved two patients, with jurors finding that those victims were particularly vulnerable and that Heaps had abused a position of trust.

The charges carry a potential sentence of up to 13 years in state prison.

Heaps was acquitted of three counts each of sexual penetration of an unconscious person and sexual battery by fraud, and one count of sexual exploitation of a patient — with those charges involving two other patients.

The judge declared a mistrial on the remaining nine counts — three counts of sexual battery by fraud, four counts of sexual penetration of an unconscious person and two counts of sexual exploitation of a patient. It was still unclear if prosecutors plan to retry Heaps on those counts.

Heaps was indicted in May 2021 on charges involving the seven female patients.

At a hearing in February, the judge rejected a defense bid to release Heaps on bail while he was awaiting sentencing. The judge rejected the defense’s argument that Heaps does not present a flight risk and intended to show up for his sentencing at the Burbank courthouse, where Carter was transferred after the trial.

“He intends to be here,” one of his attorneys, Tracy Green, said then of Heaps. “… He isn’t going anywhere. … He’s not the type of person to run away from his problems.”

Ex-UCLA gynecologist Dr. James Heaps

Ex-UCLA gynecologist convicted of 5 sex-related charges, acquitted of 7 others
UCLA to pay record of nearly $700M in doctor abuse lawsuits
UC system to pay $243.6 million more for sexual-misconduct allegations tied to ex-UCLA gynecologist
5,500 women to divide $73 million from settlement in lawsuit against UCLA gynecologist
Former UCLA gynecologist arrested on 21 counts alleging sexual assaults of patients

The defense lawyer assured the judge then that Heaps intended to surrender his medical license — an action he subsequently took in March — and said her client would submit to home arrest and GPS monitoring. She also argued that Heaps suffers from various medical issues for which he cannot receive adequate treatment in jail.

Deputy District Attorney Danette Meyers countered that Heaps’ conduct “was severe and it was substantial,” saying he had a great impetus to flee.

“If I was sitting in the defendant’s shoes, I wouldn’t come back,” Meyers said.

The prosecutor called arguments about Heaps’ medical conditions “just a ploy as I see it to get the defendant out.”

The judge said at the hearing in February that he still found Heaps “to be a danger to the community,” adding that he did not find any dramatic change of circumstances since October to warrant granting him bail.

Heaps — who was ordered in 2019 to “cease and desist from the practice of medicine as a condition of bail” after he was first charged that year — served as a gynecologist/oncologist, affiliated with UCLA, for nearly 35 years. At various times, he saw patients at the Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center and at his office at 100 Medical Plaza.

At one time, he was reportedly the highest paid physician in the UC system and had treated about 6,000 patients, attorneys said.

More than 500 lawsuits were filed against Heaps and UCLA, accusing the school of failing to protect patients after becoming aware of the misconduct.

Last May, attorneys for 312 former patients of Heaps announced a $374 million settlement of abuse lawsuits against the University of California.

The settlement came on top of a $243.6 million resolution of lawsuits involving about 200 patients announced in February 2022, and a $73 million settlement of federal lawsuits previously reached involving roughly 5,500 plaintiffs.

The lawsuits alleged that UCLA actively and deliberately concealed Heaps’ sexual abuse of patients. UCLA continued to allow Heaps to have unfettered sexual access to female patients — many of whom were cancer patients — at the university, plaintiffs’ attorneys alleged in the lawsuits.

UCLA issued a statement last May saying, “This agreement, combined with earlier settlements involving other plaintiffs, resolves the vast majority of the claims alleging sexual misconduct by James Heaps, a former UCLA Health physician.

“The conduct alleged to have been committed by Heaps is reprehensible and contrary to our values. We are grateful to all those who came forward, and hope this settlement is one step toward providing some level of healing for the plaintiffs involved.

“We are dedicated to providing the highest quality care that respects the dignity of every patient. We are taking all necessary steps to ensure our patients’ well-being in order to maintain the public’s confidence and trust,” the statement continued.

​ Orange County Register 

Longer naps tied to higher risk for obesity, high blood pressure: Brigham research

• April 26, 2023

People who take longer midday naps are at a higher risk for obesity and high blood pressure, according to Boston researchers who found that “not all siestas are the same.”

The Brigham and Women’s Hospital scientists looked at more than 3,000 adults from a Mediterranean population, examining the relationship of midday naps with obesity and other conditions tied to heart disease and diabetes.

The researchers found that those who took siestas of 30 minutes or longer (considered long siestas) were more likely to have a higher body mass index, elevated blood pressure, and a cluster of other conditions associated with heart disease and diabetes (metabolic syndrome) — compared with those who didn’t take long siestas.

However, those who took short siestas, also known as “power naps,” did not see an increased risk for obesity and other conditions. In contrast, short siesta-takers were less likely to have elevated systolic blood pressure than those who took no siestas, according to the Brigham researchers.

“Not all siestas are the same,” said senior author Marta Garaulet, a visiting professor in the Division of Sleep and Circadian Disorders at the Brigham. “The length of time, position of sleep, and other specific factors can affect the health outcomes of a nap.

“A previous study that we conducted in a large study population in the UK had found that siestas were associated with an increased risk of obesity,” Garaulet said. “We wanted to determine whether this would hold true in a country where siestas are more culturally embedded, in this case Spain, as well as how the length of time for siestas is related to metabolic health.”

The researchers examined data from 3,275 adults in a Mediterranean population, specifically people from the Spanish region of Murcia.

The scientists found that long siesta-takers had a higher body mass index and were more likely to have metabolic syndrome than those who did not take siestas. Also, compared with the no-siesta group, the long siesta group had higher values of waist circumference, fasting glucose levels, systolic blood pressure, and diastolic blood pressure.

The researchers found that long siestas were linked with later nightly sleep timing and food timing, and with increased energy intake at lunch and cigarette smoking.

“This study shows the importance of considering siesta length and raises the question whether short naps may offer unique benefits,” said co-author Frank Scheer, a senior neuroscientist and professor in the Medical Chronobiology Program in the Brigham’s Division of Sleep and Circadian Disorders.

Scheer added, “If future studies further substantiate the advantages of shorter siestas, I think that that could be the driving force behind the uncovering of optimal nap durations, and a cultural shift in the recognition of the long-term health effects and productivity increases that can amount from this lifestyle behavior.”

​ Orange County Register 

Review: ‘Carol Burnett: 90 Years of Laughter + Love’ is an old-school NBC special for an old-school talent

• April 26, 2023

Nina Metz | Chicago Tribune

NBC’s “Carol Burnett: 90 Years of Laughter + Love” is a throwback to the kind of old-school specials that rarely air on television anymore.

But it’s fitting. Carol Burnett is old-school herself.

She’s also one of the executive producers here and her influence on the show’s pacing is evident. In the 11 years that she made “The Carol Burnett Show” from 1967 to 1978, Burnett kept things moving: “I never wanted to reset and retape anything,” she recently told The Hollywood Reporter. “We taped our show in an hour and 15 minutes.”

Burnett isn’t on stage this time out, she’s in the audience, but the same philosophy has carried over. Even with careful editing, these kinds of things can sag. She didn’t want that to happen: “I want people to feel like they’re seeing a Broadway show, not sitting around waiting for scenery or costume changes.”

Her showbiz instincts have always been razor sharp and they remain so even at age 90.

Other details are hazy. Her original show aired on CBS. That the special is airing on NBC hovers as a silent question mark over the proceedings, which feature a list of boldface names who pay tribute: Steve Carell, Sheryl Lee Ralph, Amy Poehler, Billy Porter, Lily Tomlin, Maya Rudolph, Charlize Theron, Bob Odenkirk and more.

The show’s format is straightforward: A star comes out to share a memory or two — maybe perform a number — and then introduces a segment featuring old clips and a new sit-down interview with Burnett.

With the theater’s cabaret seating, Burnett is posted up front. Close friend Julie Andrews gets the prime spot by her side. The pair made three variety specials together over the years, filled with moments that brought out Andrews’ willingness to cut up.

Burnett had a way of pulling that out of stars who weren’t innately comic, as seen in footage of her and the opera diva Beverly Sills singing a duet — a number that’s charmingly recreated on stage by Kristin Chenoweth and Bernadette Peters.

There’s a segment devoted to the incredible costumes Bob Mackie designed for Burnett’s show — somewhere in the neighborhood of 60 to 70 new garments each week — including the famous “Gone with the Wind” spoof “Went with the Wind!” featuring Scarlett’s dress made from curtains, complete with curtain rod.

I wish more time had been spent on the logistics of how Mackie and his team managed to design and create so many vivid costumes on such a tight deadline. It would be fascinating to know more about the inspirations that informed his work, which was always a bit larger-than-life on “The Carol Burnett Show,” serving as an exclamation point on the comedy.

Like Burnett, Cher understood the power of Mackie’s visuals and takes the stage in a gloriously eye-popping design of his and reveals a bit of trivia: “When ‘Sonny & Cher’ had the summer show, we didn’t have any money. And Carol and I are the same size, so Bob raided your closet so I would have something to wear. Did you know that?” Burnett shakes her head no, stunned.

Also missing are any of the writers who worked on “The Carol Burnett Show.” Are any of them still around? They labored in obscurity then, and apparently even a special devoted to Burnett all these years later wasn’t going to change that.

Thirty million people watched her on a weekly basis. She was ubiquitous and embraced Black performers as guests on her show in a way that was unique for the time. She influenced so many who are working today, but the best anecdotes come from those who knew her back when. Tomlin talks about running into Burnett on the CBS lot early in her career, when she was in need of a confidence boost. Burnett was just the person to give it.

Time and again, what comes through is that Burnett has formed real friendships, not just showbiz friendships.

Among those longtime friends is Vicki Lawrence, hired by Burnett when she was just 17. “Thanks to Carol, I got to go to the Harvard school of comedy in front of America.” Their most enduring characters remain the embittered Mama and Eunice, who anchored the spinoff “Mama’s Family,” which ran for six seasons. Looking back, Burnett is thoughtful: “Eunice spoke to me. I don’t know, the frustration, the angst, the wanting to be somebody but not quite making it. I just felt for her.”

The frustration. The angst. Burnett is human and surely she experienced some of that herself. Hollywood is not for the faint of heart. It can be tough on the ego. But Burnett gives no indication of that. If the special flounders, it’s that it doesn’t ask her to talk about some of these aspects of her life in front of, and behind, the camera. Was there ever a time when she lost her confidence? Or felt the glare of celebrity a bit too intensely? She doesn’t say.

An appearance by Ellen DeGeneres late in the special briefly sours the mood. Despite the “queen of nice” image she cultivated over the years, her talk show ended in 2021 after allegations of sexual misconduct and a toxic workplace environment.

Burnett’s legacy is the opposite of that. DeGeneres’ inclusion here is really misjudged.

The trick to Burnett’s approach to comedy is not just that she’s funny, but she’s such a tremendous actor and understands how to imbue so many of her characters with a tragic absurdity. Her performances have always felt human, no matter the chaos happening around her — or the chaos that she gleefully instigates.

Her public persona remains bright-eyed and down to earth. The special is funny and genuine and even if it’s not especially original, I found myself choked up by the end.

It got me thinking about who might have the chops to be Burnett’s successor. Keke Palmer would be a natural, assuming she even wanted a variety show and an executive was smart enough to make it happen. She has Burnett’s warmth and talent and creativity and professional instincts for playfulness — but also her innate sense of what it means to play host to an audience and make us feel as if we’ve been invited into something special.

“I’m so glad we had this time together,” Burnett sings in her signature song. A sentiment that has always felt genuine. And mutual.

———

‘CAROL BURNETT: 90 YEARS OF LAUGHTER + LOVE’

3 stars (out of 4)

Rating: TV-PG (may be unsuitable for young children)

How to watch: 8 p.m. ET Wednesday on NBC (and streaming Thursday on Peacock)

———

©2023 Chicago Tribune. Visit chicagotribune.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

​ Orange County Register 

Amazon starts round of layoffs in AWS cloud division

• April 26, 2023

By Matt Day | Bloomberg

Amazon.com has started laying off employees in its cloud services operation amid slowing sales growth in its most profitable division.

Amazon Web Services personnel in the US, Canada and Costa Rica whose jobs were being eliminated were notified early Wednesday, the unit’s chief said in an email to staff.

SEE MORE: EV-maker Rivian lays off 239 Orange County workers

AWS generates most of the company’s profits but is experiencing slowing growth as corporate customers look to trim expenses.

Overall, Amazon is axing 27,000 mostly corporate positions after a hiring spree during the pandemic left the company with too many people.

Amazon employed 1.54 million people worldwide at the end of December. At least 170,000 of them work in California, according to industry reports. The company last year leased several hundred thousand square feet of office space in Orange and Los Angeles counties. Some of the office include cloud services, according to a story by TheRealDeal.com.

SEE: Amazon closing or delaying 9 California warehouses

Having wrapped up a round of job cuts earlier this year that totaled about 18,000 workers, Amazon announced another 9,000 layoffs in March, which Chief Executive Officer Andy Jassy said would land on AWS, human resources, advertising and the Twitch live-streaming service.

Cuts were rolled out in recent weeks in areas including Twitch and the company’s video game group.

“It is a tough day across our organization,” AWS chief Adam Selipsky said in the email reviewed by Bloomberg.

MORE ON AMAZON: Irvine gaming team spared latest Amazon layoffs

AWS, like much of the rest of Amazon, expanded its headcount rapidly as the pandemic boosted demand for digital services.

“Given this rapid growth, as well as the overall business and macroeconomic climate, it is critical that we focus on identifying and putting our resources behind our top priorities—those things that matter most to customers and that will move the needle for our business,” Selipsky said. “In many cases this means team members are shifting the projects, initiatives or teams on which they work; however, in other cases it has resulted in these role eliminations.”

Selipsky added that cuts in regions outside North America would roll out following local processes, including consultations with employee groups where mandated by law.

Some AWS-related teams had already been hit by layoffs, including recruiters and members of the “Just Walk Out” physical stores technology group that joined the division in a reorganization last year. But the first rounds of cuts landed heaviest on the company’s recruiting and human resources teams, its sprawling retail group and devices teams.

Wednesday brought more cuts to Amazon’s beleaguered HR group, which has been subject to waves of buyout offers and cuts that began in November.

Beth Galetti, who leads the People Experience and Technology team, as Amazon calls HR, announced the latest set of cuts in an email Wednesday. “These decisions are not taken lightly, and I recognize the impact it will have across both those transitioning out of the company as well as our colleagues who remain,” she said.

An Amazon spokesperson declined to comment on the latest layoffs, referring back to Jassy’s email in March saying that they would be coming.

Amazon has instituted a hiring freeze for jobs outside its warehouses and delivery operations — with exceptions for certain projects and jobs — and managers say it’s not clear when the company might begin hiring en masse again.

The vast majority of the retailer’s workers are hourly employees who pack and ship products in warehouses. Before the first round of layoffs began in November, the company said it had roughly 350,000 corporate employees.

Other tech giants have also reduced their headcount, including Meta Platforms, Google parent company Alphabet, Microsoft, Dell Technologies and International Business Machines.

Amazon is scheduled to report financial results on Thursday, and investors will be watching to see if cost-cutting measures have helped profitability and whether cloud services sales growth is bottoming out.

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​ Orange County Register