Wealthy? Educated? You’re primed to live through COVID-19

• March 26, 2023

Remember being thrust into that Salvador Dali painting? Aisle after aisle of empty store shelves melting into bleak oblivion … finger paintings cracking in abandoned classrooms … blue industrial gloves in the supermarket …

We knew squat about the new virus sweeping the planet three years ago. Our hopes for normalcy — nay, for survival! — hung on the development of new vaccines to keep the beast at bay. In a stunning triumph, science delivered. But millions, to this day, refuse the needle — a refusal that researchers say has resulted in hundreds of thousands of unnecessary deaths. 

Data from the U.S. Census Bureau and the California Department of Public Health reveal a disturbing, if predictable, pattern: Vaccination status goes hand-in-hand with education and income, in near lock-step.

More modest Southern California is vastly less-vaccinated than wealthier Northern California, with perhaps a slight under-performance by Santa Clara County.

This would all be a numbers game except for one thing: Unvaccinated people are about three times more likely to die from COVID-19 than are vaccinated people.

As we toss our masks — even in healthcare settings — and reclaim pre-pandemic normalcy, we should understand that it comes at a price: The lives of our parents and grandparents.

The overwhelming majority of COVID-19 deaths in the Golden State — 72% — are among those 65 and older.

“We’re saying, ‘This pandemic is over; older adults, tough luck,’” said Dr. John Swartzberg, clinical professor emeritus of infectious diseases and vaccinology at UC Berkeley. “Older adults have to take responsibility for themselves because they can’t count on society to protect them. That is a sad thing.”

More than 1.1 million Americans have died of COVID-19 — some 267,000 last year — and we’re on track for another 100,000 or so to die this year as the unavoidable price of returning to normal. That toll far exceeds even the worst flu season, and suggests a flip view of seniors as expendable.

Marisela Munoz holds a photo of her mother Evangelina C. Martinez in 2020. Martinez died of COVID-19 in Sylmar at the age of 93. (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)

“There is absolutely ageism at work here,” said Andrew Noymer, an epidemiologist and demographer at UC Irvine. “The mortality we’re seeing in the older age group is being downplayed in the public consciousness, and by statisticians who should know better.”

Health, wealth

We know that being affluent, educated and vaccinated can keep you alive. Here’s the evidence:

• In Marin County, 90.4% of folks had the primary round of shots, and 41.6% had the latest booster against omicron. (There, 60.1% have at least a bachelor’s degree and median household income is $131,008.) As we said, there has been one COVID-19 death for every 821 residents.

• In San Francisco, 85% of folks had the primary, and 41.4% had the booster. (There, 59.5% have at least a bachelor’s, and median income is $126,187.) There has been one COVID-19 death for every 691 residents.

• In Santa Clara County, 85.5% had the primary and 32.9% had the booster. (There, 54.4% have at least a bachelor’s, and median income is $140,258.) There has been one COVID-19 death for every 720 residents.

• In Alameda County, 84.1% had the primary and 35.6% had the booster. (There, 49.6% have at least a bachelor’s, and median income is $112,017.) There has been one COVID-19 death for every 783 residents.

• In Orange County, 73.8% had the primary and 23.6% had the booster. (There, 42.1% have at least a bachelor’s, and median income is $100, 485.) There has been one COVID-19 death for every 396 residents.

• In Los Angeles County, 74% had the primary and 23.7% had the booster. (There, 34% have at least a bachelor’s, and median income is $76,367.) There has been one COVID-19 death for every 283 residents.

• In Riverside County, 60.2% had the primary and 18.3% had the booster. (There, 23.4% have at least a bachelor’s, and median income is $76,066.) There has been one COVID-19 death for every 359 residents.

• In San Bernardino County, 57.9% had the primary, and 17.2% had the booster. (There, 21.9% have at least a bachelor’s, and median income is $70,287.) As we said, there has been one COVID-19 death for every 271 residents.

These numbers didn’t surprise Swartzberg at all.

“They’re consistent with all the literature,” he said. “Being fully vaccinated markedly decreases the risk of hospitalization and death. Most people, informed with this data, would make the rational decision to avoid hospitalization and death and get vaccinated.”

But not everyone is informed with the data — or trusts it, based on variables like education, historical mistreatment in the health care system, and the “bizarre politicization” of vaccines, he said.

“History isn’t going to treat kindly the people who’ve politicized vaccination,” he said. “They’ve caused an awful lot of people to lose their lives. It’s tragic.”

Life expectancy fell almost a full two years in California in 2020, and data suggest another half-year drop in 2021, the first appreciable downturns since World War II, according to the Public Policy Institute of California.

Outlook

The good news, experts said, is that we’re at very low levels of significant disease compared to just about any other time since the pandemic began.

Why? Most everyone has been infected or vaccinated  — or both  — by now, in excess of 90% of the population. That has built an “immunity wall” that didn’t exist three years ago, Swartzberg said.

We’re also dealing with a virus that is much more transmissible — and much less virulent — than any variant that preceded it.

But what’s next?

“It’s really hard to say,” said Noymer. “The crystal ball is getting hazy. It’s clear that COVID is just not as bad as it once was. We can argue about why, but the fact is, it’s just not as bad. I think COVID will keep receding in people’s consciousness.”

But will COVID-19 remain an afterthought? No one dares venture a guess. The virus has proven again and again that it can turn on a dime.

“Right now, the psychology of the country is that we’re going to be living with COVID at a low level, and I will live my life the way I want to live,” Swartzberg said. “That’s the advice you’re getting through public health. Nobody knows what spring, summer, next fall are going to be – but I’m in the camp of the optimistic.”

Swartzberg is aghast that masks are no longer required in healthcare settings — where older, frailer, sick people turn for help — and said the FDA and CDC should do what Canada and the United Kingdom do — push spring boosters for older people at risk of bad outcomes.

The FDA is weighing whether to do just that. A decision is reportedly forthcoming.

The uptake of the most recent booster has been abysmal, Noymer said, so it’s clear why the U.S. has embraced an annual COVID-19 vaccine schedule.

“I think they’ve just decided it’s going to be like the flu shot, and anything more often than that isn’t sustainable,” he said. “There’s not a lot of transparency around these decisions, but it’s not an unreasonable one, given the low numbers. Doing a full-court press for a 10% uptake is not going to be a winning strategy here.”

Time may tell which approach is best — or it might not. Meantime, it’s every man for himself. If you want or need extra protection, it’s on you.

Related Articles

​ Orange County Register 

Summer Camp Guide 2023: Summer is the ultimate balancing act for families

• March 26, 2023

As a mother of two, there comes a day every spring when a wave of panic washes over me as I realize that summer is approaching steadfastly, and with it many, many weeks devoid of plans(or structure) for my children.

Don’t get me wrong; I savor meandering summer days, trips to the beach with little to no agenda, and the occasional road trip to visit grandparents, aunts and uncles who live out oftown. But those do not fill an entire summer season. For La Habra City Schools, for example, instruction ends on June 1 and begins Aug. 15. That’s 10 full weeks — and some change — ofbreak.

For many local parents, this is where summer camp comes in — though the sheer number of camp options can be as overwhelming as the 70-plus days you’re trying to fill. But you have tostart somewhere. Sometimes I even print out an empty calendar of the summer months, plug in happenings already scheduled, and go from there.

More from our Summer Camp Guide

How to book a ‘just right’ camp
Academic and STEM camps
Arts camps
City-run camps
Faith-based camps
Foreign-language camps
Sleep-away camps
Sports camps
Swim, surf and sailing camps

Word-of-mouth helps me each summer; my 10-year-old daughter has been doing varying camps since she was 5. I ask neighbors and fellow parents at school what camps their kidshave loved (and not loved), and I consult local publications, where camps tend to advertise or be reviewed.

Stephanie Mack, a mother of three in Costa Mesa, says she usually splits her kids’ summer in half: five or so weeks of camps and five or so weeks of down time or vacation. She admits,though, that this plan is doable because she works part-time, and the part-time work is flexible in nature. But also achieving that balance of “things to do” and time to just be is the goal.

“We all thrive on some structure,” she said, “so summer camps are important. I see my girls growing up with old friends and new, and benefiting from exposure to different activities and opportunities. Camps provide structure, fun, education and physical activity. So they are a win.”

Mack looks for camps that check multiple boxes; they must admit both 7- and 9-year-olds so that she’s not shuttling kids to different sites, and offer activities that align with interests. Luckily,her older daughters tend to like the same things. Last summer, that included one week each of golf camp, craft camp, basketball camp and Vacation Bible School. The summer before, tenniscamp was in the mix.

Sometimes a camp is selected because it offers a new opportunity. For example, Mack’s kids don’t take golf lessons during the school year, so summer camp is a great time for them to build their skills on the green. Mack will also sign them up for a week or two of “theme-less” camp at their school.

I follow a similar thought train for my now 10-year-old daughter. She often requests a week or two musical theater camp, per her interest, and then we try new things. Last summer that meantswimming camp and writing camp, and this summer, we’re hunting for a cooking camp, because making omelets, waffles and smoothies all on her own has become part of life at home lately.

Rachel Kirshenbaum, a director with Steve & Kate’s Camp for six years, says parents might also think about how a particular camp is organized, and/or what their philosophy is for camperlearning. Steve & Kate’s Camp has locations around the country, including one in Costa Mesa, and they all follow the company’s core value of self-guided learning; myriad activities are set uponsite, from stop-motion animation to sewing, and kids come and go as they please.

“We encourage campers to use their reasoning skills to navigate the activities at camp,” she said, “and rather than training our staff to do things for the kids, we aim to train the kids to thinkon their own, so that they feel confidence in their ability to figure things out.”

If that “free-range” style isn’t ideal for your child, you’ll likely lean toward a more structured camp. Kirshenbaum understands that parents know their child best, so it’s important to choosea setting where you predict your child will feel successful and have fun.

Other things to consider include time frames of a camp, flexibility of dates, and of course cost. Steve & Kate’s camp is incredibly flexible; you can buy just one week of camp, or a full summerpass, or drop in for just a day. In terms of cost, Mack says that she sees local camp prices range from $300 a week to $800, which can be prohibitive for parents, especially if they havemore than one child of summer camp age. Determine a budget that works for your family and stick with it.

My family saves dollars throughout the year in anticipation of a few weeks of summer camp, and we chalk it up as a mental, emotional, and physical health plan for our oldest child. She’s at theage where I see her droop if she’s without friends for too long, or on a screen for too long, or not “sweating it out” in some capacity each day. “Camp Mama,” which we affectionately call anysummer day when I push her out of the house and into the great outdoors for a dose of Vitamin D, is our default when a summer camp hasn’t been booked. Neighborhood walks, beachsessions and park play dates are affordable ways to be active and offset camp costs. But when you can save up and send them to camp, you’re bound to feel good about the expenditure.

Shannon Tripp, a pediatric nurse and parenting expert, agrees.

“Summer camp is a great opportunity for your kids to focus on their own identity and independence, Tripp said,” and this can be great for their overall mental health. We’ve never had as large of a mental health crisis as we have now for our youth. Kids are so inundated with the web, social media, and their phones; summer camp is an opportunity to get off of that, especially for teens. Exercising and being outside is healthy and healing for kids as well. If your child is nervous about going to camp, it’s important to remind them that every kid there is experiencing the same things and that there will be adults there to help.”

​ Orange County Register 

Summer Camp Guide 2023: How to book a just-right camp

• March 26, 2023

I was baffled when my eldest daughter became camp-age and fellow mothers were talking about summer camp in February. I was still recovering from the holiday season, and here we were looking five months ahead to when our children would once again be on break. Though most of us missed a summer or two of camp due to the pandemic, we’re back in action now, and back to planning ahead. Here are a few parent-to-parent pro-tips on booking summer camps this year.

1. Reflect on your child’s needs.

My daughter, entering fifth grade this fall, has a very scheduled and busy school year, full of a cappella rehearsals, piano and fencing lessons, and playdates. I learned my lesson last summer when she did four weeks of highly structured summer camp. She came home after week one and said, “This feels a lot like school.” So this year, I’ll help her pivot to a couple weeks of camp that are more fluid and fun. She has her eyes on a week of crafting camp, and maybe a week of “fun and games” camp. The point is, reflect on your child and what kind of camp best addresses their needs will make for a smoother, happier summer.

More from our Summer Camp Guide

Summer is the ultimate balancing act for families
Academic and STEM camps
Arts camps
City-run camps
Faith-based camps
Foreign-language camps
Sleep-away camps
Sports camps
Swim, surf and sailing camps

2. Try things old and new, and think about academics and emotional needs, too.

For some kids, summer is a great time for academic review and support; a neighbor of mine recently shared that her daughter had had a tough year in math class, so she was on the hunt for a summer experience that included that academic component.

On the flip side, if your child needs to unwind from academics, try a themed camp focused on a passion they have, or something totally different. Mack of Costa Mesa put both of her daughters in Vanguard University’s basketball camp, despite neither of them being basketball players. The girls had a great time, she said, and she was impressed by how well-organized and coached it was. This year, she’s considering the new-to-her Emerald Cove Day Camp, which offers archery, tide pool time, hiking and more.

3. Ask about approach, or camp philosophy.

You know yourself and your child’s needs best, so do some research before registering for a camp. Most speak directly to their mission on their website, so make sure what you read jives with what you desire from a camp. For example, Camp Izza in Irvine is all about relationships, and creating a safe and engaging space in which to build them.

“We believe that being able to relate to others while understanding and appreciating themselves is what matters most,” said Camp Izza founder Omar Ezzeldine. “The games and activities we play are less about what we are doing and more about who we are becoming and how we are accepting ourselves and others. Programs like ours tend to attract shy campers, or those that just need a space to be proud of who they are.”

4. Consider sleep-away camps for the older kids.

For kids ready to practice their independence from the family unit, consider a sleep-away camp, either close by or further from home. After many screenings of the movie “Parent Trap,” my oldest child was determined to try a one-week sleep-away experience this year; we opted for one in Fresno County, but there are plenty in or closer to Orange County itself, like Catalina Sea Camp, great for ocean adventurers. The camp offers one-week programs for campers 8 to 13, and three-week programs for those 12-17.

​ Orange County Register 

Summer Camp Guide 2023: Academic and STEM camps

• March 26, 2023

ADVENTURES IN STEM SCIENCE CAMP

Khoi Vu Bostic, 9, of Fullerton, at right, leads the way down the zip line at the Irvine Ranch Outdoor Education Center in 2019. (Photo by Kevin Sullivan, Orange County Register/SCNG)

●  Ages: Junior Adventure Camp 6-10; Adventure Camp 11-17

●  Dates: TBA

● The Irvine Ranch Outdoor Education Center, 2 Irvine Park Road, Orange

● 714-923-3191

● www.outdooreducationcenter.org

Activities include nature hikes, mining, sustainability, astronomy, zip lining, archery, swimming, and arts and crafts.

More from our Summer Camp Guide

Summer is the ultimate balancing act for families
How to book a ‘just right’ camp
Arts camps
City-run camps
Faith-based camps
Foreign-language camps
Sleep-away camps
Sports camps
Swim, surf and sailing camps

CODE REV

● Ages: 6-14

● Weeklong camps: June 13-Aug. 5

● www.coderevkids.com/tech-camps

Weeklong summer tech camps for budding programmers, future video game designers, app developers, robotics engineers, 3D modelers and animators and just plain technology fans. Both in-person and online options are available.

FAIRMONT SUMMER PROGRAM

● Ages: 2-18

● Dates: June 5-Aug. 4

● 5310 E. La Palma Ave., Anaheim Hills; 1575 W. Marble St., Anaheim; 12421 Newport Ave., North Tustin; 2200 W. Sequoia Ave., Anaheim

● Summer department 714-234-2757 or the general school 714-765-6300

● fairmontsummerprograms.com

Choose from weekly summer camps that combine academic and enrichment activities, or a six-week academic program that offers individualized attention in reading, writing and mathematics. Additionally, there will be enrichment workshops that cover a variety of themes such as art, fashion, science and sports. Or spend the summer in college prep courses.

FUSION ACADEMY

Instructors Phill Allen, left, Weston Bales, Brennan Edmondson and David Wu perform a song during an art show at Fusion Academy in Mission Viejo on Thursday, April 6, 2017. (Photo by Matt Masin, Orange County Register/SCNG)

●  Ages: Kindergarten to college

● Summer school dates and times are flexible; best to just call Fusion directly

●  7711 Center Ave., Suite 120, Huntington Beach; 657-200-2300

● 23456 Madero, Suite 140, Mission Viejo; 949-716-7384

● fusionacademy.com

These programs allow students to catch up or get ahead in academic classes while also providing unique elective choices such as art, music or yoga. Tutoring is personalized for each student’s schedule. Off-site options are available.

ID TECH CAMPS

● Ages: 7-17

● Various programs run June 26-Aug. 11

● 888-709-8324

● idtech.com

This program offers more than 40 STEM courses in programming, video game design, robotics, web design, 3D printing, filmmaking and more. Day and overnight camp options available. Course options vary by week offered and location. In-person camp held on UC Irvine campus. Off-site options are available.

IPSF SUMMER ENRICHMENT ACADEMY

●  Ages: Kindergarten to 12th grade

●  Session A: June 12-30; Session B: July 10-27; Specialty Camps: July 31-Aug. 18

●  Beacon Park School, 200 Cultivate, Irvine; Cadence Park School, 750 Benchmark; Brywood Elementary School, 1 Westwood, Irvine; Cypress Village Elementary School, 355 Rush Lily, Irvine; Eastwood Elementary School, 99 Meander, Irvine; Oak Creek Elementary, 1 Dovecreek, Irvine

●  949-263-8340

●  www.ipsf.net/summer

More than 400 enrichment classes for elementary and middle school students in art, music, science, math, reading and writing, languages, sports, drama, and STEM. High school academic camps develop skills students need for high school and college. Held throughout the Irvine Unified School District. Off-site options are available.

PLANETBRAVO TECHNOTAINMENT CAMP

● Ages: Second to ninth grade

● One-week sessions run June 12 through Aug. 11

● 4947 Alton Pkwy Irvine

● 310-443-7607

● planetbravo.com

PlanetBravo brings fun, engaging technology instruction that boosts kids’ confidence and gives them multimedia skills with their friends. Kids learn to code, make movies, build robots, modding minecraft and more.

RUSSIAN SCHOOL OF MATHEMATICS

●  Ages: Kindergarten to 12th grade

● Dates: June 26-Aug. 3

● 3996 Barranca Parkway, No. 110, Irvine, 949-551-1777; 960 Roosevelt, 2nd floor, Irvine, 949-593-0080; 25571 Marguerite Parkway, Mission Viejo, 949-864-6592

● russianschool.com

Two intensive six-week summer math enrichment programs are offered — a traditional course will prepare your child for the year ahead, while reinforcing the work done over the year, and the competitors program serves those students interested in advanced mathematical topics.

ST. CATHERINE’S ACADEMY

● Summer Enrichment Program for boys entering third through eighth grade

● Dates: June 20-July 14

● 215 N. Harbor Blvd. Anaheim

● 714-772-1363

● stcatherinesacademy.org

Summer Enrichment Program offers math and language arts classes in the morning, followed by sports, recreational activities, military activities and off-campus outings for the rest of the day.

SUMMER AT SAGE

● Ages: 5-14 (Program dependent)

● 20402 Newport Coast Drive, Newport Coast

● June 26-July 28

● 949-219-0100

● sagehillschool.org

Students from the area can immerse themselves in credit or noncredit classes, workshops, and academics, arts and athletics camps.

SUMMER KNIGHTS DAY CAMP

● Ages: Preschool to eighth grade

● 32451 Bear Brand Road, Laguna Niguel

● Dates: June 12-July 28

● 949-276-6700

● www.st-anne.org

Camp at St. Anne School will include a balance of light academics, arts and crafts, recreation, sports and field trips.

SYLVAN SUMMER CAMP PROGRAMS

●  Ages: Different camps serve students in grades 1-9

●  Various times throughout the summer; best to contact local representatives

● Locations in Huntington Beach, Irvine, Laguna Niguel and Mission Viejo

● www.sylvanlearning.com/camps/stem

The Sylvan EDGE summer camps teach kids STEM skills, early reading, robotics, coding, engineering, pre-algebra and writing. Off-site options are available.

TIGER WOODS LEARNING LAB

● Ages: Fifth through 12th grade

● Dates: July 11-28

● 1 Tiger Woods Way, Anaheim

● 714-765-8000

● tgrfoundation.org

Summer classes from students interested in an interactive, career-focused experience.

TUSTIN SUMMER ACADEMY

Students prepare to launch a handmade bottle rocket into the air during Tustin Summer Academy’s showcase at Orchard Hills School. (Photo by Shelby Wolfe, Orange County Register/SCNG)

● Ages: Kindergarten-eighth grade

● June 12-July 7

● Orchard Hills School 11555 Culver Drive, Irvine

● 714-832-6299

● www.tpsf.net/summer

Enrichment program designed, written and taught by credentialed Tustin Unified teachers. Classes are meant to expand knowledge and nurture creativity and curiosity. Off-site options are available.

URBAN WORKSHOP STEM CAMP

● Ages: 10-16

● April 24-Aug. 25

● 365-A Clinton St., Costa Mesa

● 949-296-2153

● urbanworkshop.net/summercamp

Kids learn about hand tools, CAD and 3D printing, laser etching, silk screening, metal shop, welding, wood-working and electronics. All levels of skill welcome.

​ Orange County Register 

University boys tennis falls to Punahou of Hawaii in finals of All-American tournament

• March 26, 2023

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NEWPORT BEACH — University boys tennis coach John Kessler joked that he knew his Trojans, coming off consecutive comeback victories at the All-American tournament, were in trouble when they took an early lead against Punahou of Hawaii in the final Saturday.

Kessler maintained his sense of humor and pride in his team after Punahou lived up to its No. 1 seed by dramatically rallying to dethrone reigning champion University 5-4 at Palisades Tennis Club.

Punahou captured the prestigious, 16-team tournament for the first time.

“I’m proud of them. We battled,” Kessler said of his squad, which suffered its first loss the season. “I think we’re a pretty deep team and they are as well. They just came out on top. It happens.”

“You got to lose with class,” the veteran coach added. “It’s OK. There’s bigger things coming (this season) hopefully.”

University, a four-time winner of the national event, opened a 2-1 lead after the teams’ three doubles sets. Punahou responded by claiming four of the six singles sets. The Honolulu powerhouse sprinted to the victory, claiming the final three sets that finished at No. 2 singles, No. 6 singles and No. 5 singles, respectively.

Dozens of players and spectators crowded the courts in the far corner of the club to watch the No. 5 and No. 6 singles decide the final margin. The tournament format challenged the schools to use six players for singles in the finals instead of five in earlier rounds.

Punahou’s No. 6 Seiya Kudo edged University freshman left-hander Langston Walter-Wu 8-7 (7-2) in a tie-breaker. No. 5 Tanner Ige then defeated Trojans’ sophomore left-hander Joe Chan 8-6 for the championship-clinching point, ignite a wild celebration by Punahou.

“It’s massive,” Punahou coach Ikaika Jobe said of the victory, “especially for a Hawaii team to come here for everyone to take us seriously this time. A lot of the mainland teams don’t really take the Hawaii guys as seriously so it was really nice to be able to showcase our talent.”

Final: Punahou of Hawaii edges ⁦@UNI_ATHLETICS⁩ 5-4 to win the National All-American tourney, big-time clash came down to depth ⁦@ocvarsity⁩ pic.twitter.com/47W9rzxV6o

— Dan Albano (@ocvarsityguy) March 26, 2023

University rallied in the semifinals to edge No. 2 seeded Menlo 4-4 on games (57-47) to reach its ninth tournament final. The Trojans trailed 3-0 after doubles. Punahou defeated Peninsula 5-3 in the other semifinal.

On Friday, University rallied to defeat Memphis University School of Tennessee 5-3 after trailing the quarterfinal match 2-1.

The Trojans, whose main goal is to defend their CIF-SS Open Division crown, have quickly revamped this spring.

They have added transfer James MacDonald at the top of the lineup and sophomore Ari Lens, who played at No. 4 singles in the final. The duo joins returning standouts Ani Gupta (Claremont-Mudd-Scripps commit) and SangHyuk Im.

University’s matching was especially effective at No. 1 doubles. MacDonald and Im won in the finals 8-7 (7-4). Andrew Ke and Bradley Yung added an 8-6 win at No. 3 doubles.

Great start for @UNI_ATHLETICS as it wins 2/3 matches in doubles, including this one at #1 in a tie-breaker by SangHyuk Im and James MacDonald @ocvarsity pic.twitter.com/ogFgTzaFmv

— Dan Albano (@ocvarsityguy) March 25, 2023

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The Trojans moves have come after standout sophomore twins Champion and Winner Oke decided not to play high school this season.

But despite all the moves, University was again in contention Saturday.

“The way the team all comes together as one, I really was not expecting that,” said MacDonald, a former Brentwood standout who didn’t play high school tennis last season. “We all practice together, train hard together, and it’s a great to see our success as a team.

“Coach (Kessler) fosters a really great environment that brings all the kids together,” MacDonald added. “It’s an experience that I’m so glad that I’m taking part in.”

MacDonald and Gupta, along with the Corona del Mar duo of Niels Hoffmann and Jack Cross, were selected to the all-tournament team.

​ Orange County Register 

Public-employee unions trample our public services

• March 26, 2023

SACRAMENTO – In a short 1814 fable from Russian poet Ivan Krylov, the Inquisitive Man spends three hours at a natural history museum and tells his friend he “saw everything there was to see and examined it carefully” and found it “all so astonishing.” The friend then asks what he thought of the elephant. The man retorted: “(D)on’t tell anybody – but the fact is that I didn’t notice the elephant!”

That is the origin of the phrase, “the elephant in the room.” It means, as Cambridge Dictionary explains, “an obvious problem or difficult situation that people do not want to talk about.” There are many reasons people ignore a 10,000-lb. creature blocking their way, but often it involves cowardice. It’s too hard – or controversial – to discuss how it got there and how to get rid of it.

This is an obvious allegory to California’s state government. Gov. Gavin Newsom recently proposed a new bond measure to fund programs to deal with the state’s homelessness crisis. California already spends several billion dollars a year on the problem. Localities such as Los Angeles spend as much as $1 million per unit on housing for homeless people, yet the problem keeps getting worse.

Last year, California spent approximately $136 billion on its public schools. The latest data shows dramatic drops in test scores, with only a third of the state’s students meeting math-proficiency standards. If you’re apt to solely blame the pandemic shutdowns, consider that a 2019 study found only 30 percent of students proficient in reading.

Throughout California, pension costs keep rising, grabbing a larger share of local budgets and crowding out public services. Despite a previous $97.5-billion budget surplus, California has been remarkably unable to fix its creaky transportation system, improve public-school performance, provide adequate water supplies during the recent drought, deal with misbehaving police officers, provide safe and user-friendly transit systems and, well, you name it.

Just try to name one California agency that’s known for its efficiency and high levels of service. (It’s a trick question.) Nevertheless, the Legislature and governor spend enormous time and resources trying to address these intractable problems through various tax-increase proposals, legislation, reforms, oversight commissions, inspector generals, auditors, lawsuits and bond measures. Yet the public never sees substantive improvement.

The reason is everyone is politely avoiding the giant pachyderm. I’m referring to the state’s public-sector unions, which – thanks to their enormous financial might and legions of members – control the Capitol. The California Teachers’ Association is the most-powerful voice in education. Police and fire unions are the best-funded and most muscular political players at the local level. The prison guards’ union has an inordinate influence in corrections policy.

Unions aren’t entirely to blame for California’s myriad problems and crises, but they provide a heckler’s veto to any reform idea that could realistically improve public services. Consider how vociferously teachers’ unions opposed school reopenings. Lawmakers rarely propose any idea that would antagonize any of the state’s easily antagonized unions. Imagine running a business where the employees could immediately quash any proposal that might help consumers or reduce operating costs.

“Through their extensive political activity, these government-workers’ unions help elect the very politicians who will act as ‘management’ in their contract negotiations – in effect handpicking those who will sit across the bargaining table from them,” noted Daniel DiSalvo in a 2010 article in National Affairs. No wonder California’s municipal firefighters earn on average more than $200,000 a year – even as the state complains about an inadequate number of firefighters.

Sadly, no one with power even mentions these obvious roadblocks as they seek to reform any aspect of any public service. The progressive Democrats who control Sacramento are attached at the waist to public-sector unions, so they sidestep the elephant even though it’s trampling (and pooping) on their favorite programs. They side with this well-heeled special interest – and with workers who earn unfathomable compensation packages – even though it hurts the poor.

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Republicans will thankfully blast CTA and SEIU, but they take a “don’t see the elephant” approach when it comes to police unions – who protect abusive officers the same way that teachers’ unions coddle their incompetents. Like all unions, the police and prison-guard varieties actively lobby for higher taxes and derail even the most modest proposed changesin how their departments operate. Policing is a tough job, but that doesn’t mean we can’t improve oversight and revamp procedures.

“Accountability is basically nonexistent in American government,” wrote Philip K. Howard in his new book, NOT Accountable: Rethinking the Constitutionality of Public Employee Unions. “Performance doesn’t matter. … Police unions, teachers unions, and other public sector unions have built a fortress against supervisory decisions. Political observers rue union power but treat it as a state of nature.”

Until we acknowledge that it’s not natural for the elephant to dominate the room, the state will never fix its problems or improve its ailing public services.

Steven Greenhut is Western region director for the R Street Institute and a member of the Southern California News Group editorial board. Write to him at [email protected].

​ Orange County Register 

Ducks drop 4th straight game after loss to Blues

• March 26, 2023

ANAHEIM — All it took was three shifts with skilled linemates in his third NHL game for Nikita Nesterenko of the Ducks to realize one of those long-held ambitions, the dream of every young hockey player.

Scoring a goal in the NHL.

One of those linemates, rookie center Mason McTavish delivered a pinpoint pass from between the circles to Nesterenko, who was stationed at the right side of the net, shooting it between St. Louis defenseman Torey Krug’s legs and into the wide open net.

Nikita Nesterenko gets his first NHL goal. pic.twitter.com/0TpupicP4z

— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) March 26, 2023

“He’ll never forget that one and I think anytime you’re a teammate, or a coach … those are always feel-good moments like a kid’s first game the other night,” Ducks coach Dallas Eakins said. “He scores and that’s another huge one. So that’s about the only positive from tonight. For whatever reason, we wanted to get into a track meet. And we’re just not built to outscore our mistakes.”

It was a mostly desultory night for the Ducks, who gave up goals early and often in a 6-3 loss to the St. Louis Blues on Saturday night at Honda Center. Not only did the Ducks suffer their fourth straight loss but they played the third period without their second-leading scorer Troy Terry. Terry, who left in the second intermission, was not injured but dealing with a personal matter, according to the Ducks.

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They were up 2-1 in the first period before allowing five consecutive goals to the Blues, who rallied to take a 3-2 lead by the end of the first and added two more goals in the second and another in the third.

Forwards Brayden Schenn and Kasperi Kapanen and defenseman Colton Parayko each had three points for the Blues. Ducks goaltender John Gibson made 30 saves.

The other Ducks goals were scored by Terry on the power play, his 21st of the season, at 1:46 of the first and Ryan Strome, his 14th of the season, at 5:39 of the third period.

Nesterenko’s goal, at 4:05 of the first, put the Ducks in front 2-1. He made a point of immediately shifting the focus to McTavish and Terry, who had the secondary assist, when he spoke about his first goal in the NHL after the game.

“Terry made a great play, dropped it back to Mac-T and then he made an unbelievable pass, found me,” Nesterenko said. “I had an open net so all I had to do was put it in. Great play by both of them.”

What went through his mind once he scored?

“The relief, I guess,” Nesterenko said. “I pointed to Mac-T. It was all him on the pass, so gotta celebrate with him for setting it up. Lot of relief, for sure.”

Said McTavish: “(Terry) made a nice little area pass to me. I had some space in the middle and I saw (Nesterenko) push off his D and create some space for himself. It was a really good play by him and I just found a lane.

“That was a tough pass to one-time. It was pretty hard.”

Importantly, Ducks defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk made sure to get the puck for Nesterenko. Nesterenko’s father Mikhail was on hand at Honda Center for his first game on Tuesday and the first-goal moment on Saturday.

A photo of a photo on a memorable night for Nesterenko pic.twitter.com/G3UnQ6nsxA

— lisa dillman (@reallisa) March 26, 2023

Eakins praised the pass that led up to the goal.

“It was a great play – great scanning ability eyesight by Mac-T,” he said. “Then even just for Nikita to get in the net at that angle. Great play all the way around.”

Eakins had seen enough from Nesterenko in his first two games to put him with Terry and McTavish on Saturday.

“Nikita’s driving a little offense quietly. I don’t want to throw him totally into the deep end of the pool,” Eakins said on Saturday morning. “I just want to kind of edge him along. We’ll see how this goes for him. Going with these guys, he’s going to see a little bit more action on the back end from St. Louis because of Troy.

“He’s skating really well. He’s looking to make plays. He’s not being shy and he’s not deferring….I just thought through a very small sample size he has earned it.”

Said McTavish: “I really like playing with him, actually. He’s got a really good stick, creates a lot of turnovers with his speed. Really smart player. Finds space to get open, like on the goal.

“Makes some really good plays, area passes on the wall. I’ve been really impressed with him and hopefully can keep playing with him.”

​ Orange County Register 

Denis Bouanga’s late goal secures LAFC’s victory over Dallas

• March 26, 2023

LOS ANGELES — Deep in the home stretch of last year’s championship season, the Los Angeles Football Club visited Dallas with a month to go hoping to lock down the Supporters’ Shield and home field advantage throughout the playoffs.

After defender Ryan Hollingshead picked up an early red card, LAFC battled to a late 1-0 lead until Dallas’ stunning two-goal comeback.

In the end, the Black & Gold departed Texas with something more valuable than the three points they coughed up that night.

“That’s the beauty of football,” said LAFC center back Jesus Murillo, who joined the rest of his teammates by being caught off guard when Dallas scored the equalizer off a quick restart following a foul. “It gives you a lesson every game.”

The key takeaway: lacking concentration for a mere moment can ruin everything.

“I think it served us good to shift our mentality for the rest of the season,” Murillo said.

That awareness boosted LAFC to its first MLS Cup. And through four matches of the 2023 league campaign, an unbeaten streak now includes a 2-1 victory over Dallas.

Saturday’s result at BMO Stadium gave LAFC three victories and a draw in MLS this month, along with a berth into the CONCACAF Champions League quarterfinals.

Saturday’s game-winner came courtesy of Denis Bouanga, who was with the Gabonese national team in Africa the day before.

“I have high objectives for myself and the group,” said the Frenchman. “I believe we have a fantastic group. We can do it back-to-back, and I want to help us do it.”

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On Thursday, Bouanga played 90 minutes in Gabon’s 1-0 African Cup of Nations qualifier victory over Sudan. Two days later, following a 13-hour flight from Turkey, Bouanga arrived at Los Angeles International Airport a couple of hours before kickoff. By a quarter to 7, he made it to BMO Stadium, where the team was in the middle of its pregame meeting.

“You never know in what condition a player comes back but certainly the door for Denis will always be open,” said LAFC head coach Steve Cherundolo. “We were communicating with him at all times and he felt he could contribute. That speaks volumes for his character and attitude and, I guess, his love for LAFC because he said he really wanted to help and he really wanted to play and did everything in his power to make that happen.

“We’re ecstatic that he was able to do that and it also speaks for his professionalism. So Denis is in great form and you can see he loves being here and playing here and he was able to contribute once again.”

The dynamic 27-year-old Designated Player prevented what would have been a difficult-to-stomach draw considering LAFC controlled the balance of the match while Dallas played down a man for more than an hour. Following a video review by referee Lukasz Szpala, a hard elbow to the face of Sergi Palencia elevated a yellow card to a straight red on defender Ema Twumasi.

“Questionable one but it didn’t go in our favor,” said Dallas head coach Nico Estévez, who picked up a yellow card on the sidelines during first-half stoppage time and afterward quibbled with Szpala’s decision regarding Twumasi.

To that point, LAFC was quick to pressure the visitors on their attacking side of the field. Cherundolo’s group pressed high for the first 15 minutes, creating turnovers in dangerous spots, one of which led to midfielder Timothy Tillman’s second goal of the season 134 seconds after the opening whistle — the fifth fastest in club history.

Dallas (2-2-1, 7 points) appeared to tie the game in the 18th minute when it caught LAFC scrambling on a counter attack. A blocked shot by star forward Jesus Ferreira rebounded to the top of the circle, where Edwin Cerrillo beat John McCarthy. Szpala disallowed the goal when he ruled following a video review that forward Jader Obrian screened McCarthy from an offside position.

Dallas eventually broke through in the 73rd minute, when defender Nkosi Tafari snapped LAFC’s scoreless streak dating back its league opener against Portland on March 4.

LAFC (3-0-1, 10 points) created numerous chances, including a penalty attempt by Carlos Vela when the captain was fouled in the box.

Vela, however, hit his shot off the crossbar, keeping the match level until Bouanga scored from an impossible angle in the 84th minute.

Gathering a corner kick that overshot LAFC attackers, Bouanga immediately fired in a cross and the trajectory of the ball curled toward the near post. Guarded by goalkeeper Maarten Paes and former LAFC defender Sebastien Ibeagha, who received his MLS Cup championship ring prior to the contest, Bouanga’s third goal of the MLS season (and sixth overall including CONCACAF) missed his former teammate and flew through Paes’s legs into the back of the net.

“I felt really good right when I stepped in the building and saw my teammates and the supporters with the atmosphere of game day,” Bouanga said. “When I stepped in I did what I had to do to find that goal that came at the right moment for the team.”

​ Orange County Register