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Is Construction an ‘Essential Business’? in California? Is Construction an ‘Essential Business’? in California?
(17 days later)
Good morning.Good morning.
(Here’s the sign-up, if you don’t already get California Today by email.)(Here’s the sign-up, if you don’t already get California Today by email.)
Today, Adam Popescu, a journalist based in Los Angeles, looks at how stay-at-home orders are affecting the construction industry.Today, Adam Popescu, a journalist based in Los Angeles, looks at how stay-at-home orders are affecting the construction industry.
The update comes as cities and states around the country grapple with similar questions. On Tuesday, Bay Area health officials shut down a broad range of construction projects, including office buildings and market-rate housing — after initially deeming them essential.The update comes as cities and states around the country grapple with similar questions. On Tuesday, Bay Area health officials shut down a broad range of construction projects, including office buildings and market-rate housing — after initially deeming them essential.
In Los Angeles, work continued. Here’s Adam’s dispatch:In Los Angeles, work continued. Here’s Adam’s dispatch:
Throughout Los Angeles, construction crews are clustering on work sites and at food trucks, many not distancing or wearing any protection besides an occasional hard hat.Throughout Los Angeles, construction crews are clustering on work sites and at food trucks, many not distancing or wearing any protection besides an occasional hard hat.
Masks and gloves are not mandatory, according to Los Angeles’s safety regulations, but keeping at least six feet apart is a measure the authorities call central to stopping Covid-19’s spread.Masks and gloves are not mandatory, according to Los Angeles’s safety regulations, but keeping at least six feet apart is a measure the authorities call central to stopping Covid-19’s spread.
With most businesses shuttered, the question of what is essential and why was on display this week at a construction site in a densely populated section of apartment buildings just south of West Hollywood.With most businesses shuttered, the question of what is essential and why was on display this week at a construction site in a densely populated section of apartment buildings just south of West Hollywood.
A worker in a baseball cap pulled out a blue bandanna, tying the rag around his nose and mouth.A worker in a baseball cap pulled out a blue bandanna, tying the rag around his nose and mouth.
“They should be wearing masks and gloves. If they’re not distancing, they should be,” said Anat Mergi, the co-owner of Ariel Builders, Inc., the company running the site. “No one has told us to close anything, so we’re not. This is an essential business.”“They should be wearing masks and gloves. If they’re not distancing, they should be,” said Anat Mergi, the co-owner of Ariel Builders, Inc., the company running the site. “No one has told us to close anything, so we’re not. This is an essential business.”
[What counts as an essential business, according to California’s order?][What counts as an essential business, according to California’s order?]
She’s right. Officials agree this work is essential, but what’s happening in neighborhoods like this — with landlords and contractors scrambling, and residents wondering about how to report concerns — reveals confusion over a broad directive with lots of room for interpretation.She’s right. Officials agree this work is essential, but what’s happening in neighborhoods like this — with landlords and contractors scrambling, and residents wondering about how to report concerns — reveals confusion over a broad directive with lots of room for interpretation.
Concerned residents have also been searching for clarity: Do they contact the county’s Public Health Department, the Los Angeles Police Department or the city attorney, if they see violations?Concerned residents have also been searching for clarity: Do they contact the county’s Public Health Department, the Los Angeles Police Department or the city attorney, if they see violations?
“This is uncharted territory for all of us,” said Josh Rubenstein, a spokesman for the L.A.P.D.“This is uncharted territory for all of us,” said Josh Rubenstein, a spokesman for the L.A.P.D.
On Monday, the department visited 46 nonessential businesses still operating and the city closed all farmers’ markets until they could come up with plans to ensure shoppers and vendors were able to keep their distance.On Monday, the department visited 46 nonessential businesses still operating and the city closed all farmers’ markets until they could come up with plans to ensure shoppers and vendors were able to keep their distance.
The failure to follow social-distancing rules is not an arrestable offense, said Mr. Rubenstein, but it is a misdemeanor. Violating the city’s “Safer at Home” order could result in fines or even jail time.The failure to follow social-distancing rules is not an arrestable offense, said Mr. Rubenstein, but it is a misdemeanor. Violating the city’s “Safer at Home” order could result in fines or even jail time.
“I will give a warning to anyone doing those improvements: six feet or we will shut you down,” Mayor Eric Garcetti said Sunday. “We have inspectors that will be going out to work sites.”“I will give a warning to anyone doing those improvements: six feet or we will shut you down,” Mayor Eric Garcetti said Sunday. “We have inspectors that will be going out to work sites.”
On Tuesday, the city authorized its Department of Building and Safety to visit construction sites in order to enforce social distancing and personal protective equipment. And on Wednesday, The Los Angeles Times reported that sites will be required to create a Covid-19 exposure control plan.On Tuesday, the city authorized its Department of Building and Safety to visit construction sites in order to enforce social distancing and personal protective equipment. And on Wednesday, The Los Angeles Times reported that sites will be required to create a Covid-19 exposure control plan.
Groups of city staff and volunteers had previously been warning businesses that were in violation before a series of escalating measures, including shutting water and power and citations from L.A.P.D.Groups of city staff and volunteers had previously been warning businesses that were in violation before a series of escalating measures, including shutting water and power and citations from L.A.P.D.
With measures evolving, just which stretched agency takes the lead has been unclear. Right now, residents can call 311 to report nonessential businesses refusing to cooperate or share complaints here.With measures evolving, just which stretched agency takes the lead has been unclear. Right now, residents can call 311 to report nonessential businesses refusing to cooperate or share complaints here.
[Read the latest on the coronavirus pandemic in California.][Read the latest on the coronavirus pandemic in California.]
We often link to sites that limit access for nonsubscribers. We appreciate your reading Times coverage, but we also encourage you to support local news if you can.We often link to sites that limit access for nonsubscribers. We appreciate your reading Times coverage, but we also encourage you to support local news if you can.
Here’s our new map showing coronavirus case counts in each California county. (Stay tuned to learn more about it.) [The New York Times]Here’s our new map showing coronavirus case counts in each California county. (Stay tuned to learn more about it.) [The New York Times]
State health officials advised residents to wear masks when they’re out, if they can access a mask while still sticking to distancing measures. [California Department of Public Health]State health officials advised residents to wear masks when they’re out, if they can access a mask while still sticking to distancing measures. [California Department of Public Health]
The news came after federal officials said they were weighing advising everyone to wear masks in order to slow community transmission. [The New York Times]The news came after federal officials said they were weighing advising everyone to wear masks in order to slow community transmission. [The New York Times]
And here’s how to make your own fabric mask. [The New York Times]And here’s how to make your own fabric mask. [The New York Times]
One is a top-ranked research hospital in West L.A. and another is a community hospital in South L.A. Both are being tested during the pandemic. [The New York Times]One is a top-ranked research hospital in West L.A. and another is a community hospital in South L.A. Both are being tested during the pandemic. [The New York Times]
Federal prosecutors accused a locomotive driver of intentionally derailing a train near the Mercy, the U.S. Navy hospital ship docked at the Port of L.A. The authorities reported that the man said, “People don’t know what’s going on here. Now they will.” [The Los Angeles Times]Federal prosecutors accused a locomotive driver of intentionally derailing a train near the Mercy, the U.S. Navy hospital ship docked at the Port of L.A. The authorities reported that the man said, “People don’t know what’s going on here. Now they will.” [The Los Angeles Times]
The University of California system won’t require applicants for 2021 admission to take the SAT or ACT. [The Sacramento Bee]The University of California system won’t require applicants for 2021 admission to take the SAT or ACT. [The Sacramento Bee]
Representative Devin Nunes said that decisions to keep schools closed for the rest of the year were “overkill.” [The New York Times]Representative Devin Nunes said that decisions to keep schools closed for the rest of the year were “overkill.” [The New York Times]
If you missed it, Gov. Gavin Newsom unveiled a new hotline for seniors looking for help finding resources. It is 833-544-2374.If you missed it, Gov. Gavin Newsom unveiled a new hotline for seniors looking for help finding resources. It is 833-544-2374.
Drive-throughs are open, the skies are blue and the freeways are empty. But this isn’t how it was supposed to be. [The New York Times]Drive-throughs are open, the skies are blue and the freeways are empty. But this isn’t how it was supposed to be. [The New York Times]
A little while ago, I asked readers to send photos of their animal colleagues as offices around the state told employees to work from home.A little while ago, I asked readers to send photos of their animal colleagues as offices around the state told employees to work from home.
Dr. Helen Yu, 34, a child psychiatrist, sent the above photo of Cosmo, the cat, and Mina, the dog.Dr. Helen Yu, 34, a child psychiatrist, sent the above photo of Cosmo, the cat, and Mina, the dog.
“They are tolerating being close to each other in order to be next to the furnace,” she wrote.“They are tolerating being close to each other in order to be next to the furnace,” she wrote.
Updated July 16, 2020
Later, I caught up with Dr. Yu by phone to ask her how things were going with her patients. I was curious about what it was like working with kids who may have already been struggling. And now, their school had been canceled and their parents might be out of jobs.Later, I caught up with Dr. Yu by phone to ask her how things were going with her patients. I was curious about what it was like working with kids who may have already been struggling. And now, their school had been canceled and their parents might be out of jobs.
When the technology is working, Dr. Yu told me, the video appointments are mostly fine substitutes for face-to-face interactions — in fact, she said, the change gave her a rare opportunity to see where her patients live, “which can be helpful.”When the technology is working, Dr. Yu told me, the video appointments are mostly fine substitutes for face-to-face interactions — in fact, she said, the change gave her a rare opportunity to see where her patients live, “which can be helpful.”
Still, she said, “this is a huge disruption to their lives.” Some patients were having trouble sleeping. Some had symptoms under control that were coming back.Still, she said, “this is a huge disruption to their lives.” Some patients were having trouble sleeping. Some had symptoms under control that were coming back.
I asked what advice she’s been giving patients and their families.I asked what advice she’s been giving patients and their families.
“It’s important to try to maintain some sense of normalcy and structure to your day,” she said. For children and teenagers, it may be tempting to stay up late or to eat meals whenever the mood strikes.“It’s important to try to maintain some sense of normalcy and structure to your day,” she said. For children and teenagers, it may be tempting to stay up late or to eat meals whenever the mood strikes.
But Dr. Yu said, “the lack of structure makes it harder to contain emotions and feelings.”But Dr. Yu said, “the lack of structure makes it harder to contain emotions and feelings.”
Dr. Yu echoed some of these tips for keeping anxiety at bay: Try to keep in touch with friends, and try not to worry about things that are out of your control.Dr. Yu echoed some of these tips for keeping anxiety at bay: Try to keep in touch with friends, and try not to worry about things that are out of your control.
And set aside time to relax.And set aside time to relax.
“I’ve been trying to take my own advice,” she said.“I’ve been trying to take my own advice,” she said.
California Today goes live at 6:30 a.m. Pacific time weekdays. Tell us what you want to see: CAtoday@nytimes.com. Were you forwarded this email? Sign up for California Today here and read every edition online here.California Today goes live at 6:30 a.m. Pacific time weekdays. Tell us what you want to see: CAtoday@nytimes.com. Were you forwarded this email? Sign up for California Today here and read every edition online here.
Jill Cowan grew up in Orange County, graduated from U.C. Berkeley and has reported all over the state, including the Bay Area, Bakersfield and Los Angeles — but she always wants to see more. Follow along here or on Twitter, @jillcowan.Jill Cowan grew up in Orange County, graduated from U.C. Berkeley and has reported all over the state, including the Bay Area, Bakersfield and Los Angeles — but she always wants to see more. Follow along here or on Twitter, @jillcowan.
California Today is edited by Julie Bloom, who grew up in Los Angeles and graduated from U.C. Berkeley.California Today is edited by Julie Bloom, who grew up in Los Angeles and graduated from U.C. Berkeley.