Herald Publications - El Segundo, Hawthorne, Lawndale & Inglewood Community Newspapers Since 1911 - (310) 322-1830 - Vol. 2, No. 19 - May 7, 2020
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This Issue
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Professionals.......................7
Classifieds............................2
Entertainment......................2
Food.......................................7
Hawthorne............................3
Lawndale..............................4
Inglewood.............................5
Legals.................................4,6
Pets........................................8
Weekend
Forecast
Friday
Sunny
77˚/62˚
Saturday
Partly
Cloudy
75˚/61˚
Sunday
Partly
Cloudy
72˚/60˚
Lawndale Tribune
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Los Angeles Clippers Stadium
is Coming to South Bay
Steve Ballmer completed his purchase of The Forum from Madison Square Garden Entertainment Corp. for $400 million on Monday, clearing the way for the LA Clippers to build their new arena nearby
in Inglewood. Photo City of Inglewood.
Town Hall: City Awaits the
Signal So Recovery Can Begin
By Rob McCarthy
El Segundo officials say they’ll be ready
when Los Angeles County’s health officer in
charge of the coronavirus response gives the
signal to resume some business and public
activities. The city remains under a stay-athome
order until May 15, and Fire Chief Bill
Donovan revealed department heads have
begun drawing up plans on how to reopen
after two months of closures of businesses,
restaurants, bars and public events.
Fire Chief Bill Donovan discussed the
development during a COVID-19 town hall
public meeting on April 30, which was
broadcast live on El Segundo TV. With the
county’s stay-at-home order ending next
week, city management has shifted from
an emergency response to the next phase of
recovery for businesses and residents alike.
Once the county’s order is lifted or modified,
department heads should have recovery
plans to guide the reopening of workplaces,
parks, retailers and the hospitality industry.
El Segundo’s number of confirmed cases
held steady at 27 over eight days, ending on
Sunday. Del Aire had eight confirmed cases
this week, the same number as Wiseburn.
Donovan said wider testing to account for
people carrying the virus but not showing
any symptoms was important to the recovery
and keeping businesses, workplaces and
public spaces from having to close again for
a second wave of the virus. Health officials
expect cases to start increasing again later
in the year, or a second wave.
Information about free local testing is
available on the El Segundo city web site.
A second test for antibodies to determine
if someone contracted the virus and has
immunity is available, too. Still, residents
must call their health care provider or the
county health care system, according to
Donovan. Testing is going to be essential
to provide local and state governments with
data about the number of actual cases that
have occurred. Between 60 and 70 percent
of the population must develop a resistance
to this coronavirus for “herd immunity” to
take place. People who contract the virus or
are vaccinated against it develop a defense
against becoming a carrier of the coronavirus.
The fire chief offered a few tips for wearing
and removing cloth face coverings after
going out in public. Wash hands and use
sanitizer before placing a mask or cloth face
covering on the face, or taking it off. Wash
face coverings once a day, if possible, in hot
water and using a hot cycle in the dryer. The
person wearing a surgical mask or bandana
over the nose and mouth won’t spread the
virus to others through coughing, sneezing
or loud talking, Donovan explained.
Councilman Lance Giroux, who took office
in the middle of the pandemic, said he
looks forward to El Segundo “making the
pivot from response to recovery to reopening
of the city and the economy.” Downtown
business owners will have a chance to learn
more about the city’s plans for them at a
town hall virtual session at 3 p.m. May 6.
Giroux and Mayor Pro Tem Chris Pimentel
participated in the virtual question-and-answer
session to clarify the city’s obligations
to follow state and county guidelines, including
the use of El Segundo’s beach. The
county has the authority over access and
recreational uses of the beach, Pimentel
explained in response to a question about
the continued closure of the sand and ocean
for recreational use.
“We fall under the county’s jurisdiction,”
and the city going to follow the orders, Pimentel
said. The city’s Parks and Recreation
Department is deciding about the hometown
Fourth of July festivities at the park, the mayor
pro tem said. No decision has made about
whether the traditional hometown Fourth
and fireworks show will be held. Pimentel
pointed out that the county’s stay-at-home
order expires on May 15, creating a small
window for the city to make plans to go
ahead with the celebration. “It’ll be close,”
Pimentel said, adding, “we’re never happy to
cancel things the community values.”
The Lakes Golf Course remains closed
because it’s considered a non-essential
activity by the county, too. Pimentel took
a question about a possible reopening date
for the golf course and driving range and
said the decision is more complicated than
reopening parks and ballfields. El Segundo
has a long-term contract with TopGolf to
improve and manage The Lakes property.
It’s unknown when the county will relax
See Town Hall, page 5