A.M. Brief: Pasadena Keeps Outdoor Dining Despite County Order

Los Angeles County sets a new daily record for COVID-19 cases (again) while the City of Pasadena goes its own way on outdoor dining. Also: A County Supervisor disagrees on forthcoming dining restrictions, Biden nominates a Californian to head up DHS, and a new design competition solicits ideas on how to create affordable housing. Here is your news. Take it!

Morning News Rundown

On Monday, Public Health reported 6,124 new COVID-19 cases, the highest one-day county total since the pandemic began. During an evening address, Mayor Eric Garcetti implored residents to cancel Thanksgiving gatherings and warned that further restrictions may come in the days ahead. If the 5-day average surpasses 4,500 new cases per day, the County will implement a new Safer-at-Home order. Public Health will meet with the County Board of Supervisors later today to discuss the issue. [We Like L.A]

One contentious aspect of today’s BoS meeting will be the discussion of dining restrictions. Supervisor Kathryn Barger has publicly come out against the forthcoming shutdown of outdoor dining. The new ban goes into effect Wednesday at 10 p.m. [Eater LA]

The City of Pasadena (which manages its own public health department) will allow outdoor dining to continue. The move came after a virtual city council meeting on Monday during which several restaurant owners sounded off in favor keeping outdoor dining open. [NBC Los Angeles]

President-elect Joe Biden announced several of his cabinet picks this week, including Alejandro Mayorkas as Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security. The Cuban-born Mayorkas is a former assistant United States attorney in the Central District of California and also served in the Obama administration as the deputy chief of DHS. He will be the first Latino and first immigrant to head the department. [L.A. Times]

The City of Los Angeles launched a new design competition that challenges architects to innovate new solutions to the city’s affordable housing crisis. Twelve cash prizes will be awarded, including $10,000 for the winning entry. [The Architects Newspaper]