L.A. Unified slashes number of iPads deemed needed for student tests

Under pressure from an oversight panel, Los Angeles school officials have sharply reduced the number of iPads they say are needed to carry out new state standardized tests.

The change adds up to a $25-million savings, but examination of the testing plan has raised more questions about the $1-billion effort to provide the devices to every student, teacher and school administrator in the nation's second-largest school system.

The issue surfaced at a Wednesday meeting of the School Construction Bond Citizens' Oversight Committee, which reviews L.A. Unified's spending of voter-approved bonds to build and modernize campuses. The iPad program is being funded primarily from bonds.

While the testing this spring is merely a trial run — the results won't count — participating schools must take part by computer.

Officials have aimed for all L.A. Unified students to use iPads on the tests, but the districtwide rollout has been delayed. In addition to iPads already allotted to schools, administrators estimated they would need 67,480 more devices solely for the testing.

That estimate first was challenged in November, when bond oversight chairman Stephen English noted that he had reached a lower number when using the formula the district said it had applied to calculate its iPad needs.

The district's chief strategy officer, Matt Hill, responded that other factors — which were not part of the formula — had led to the higher count. The district stuck to its number and sought authorization from the Board of Education, which has the final say.

"I believe it is imperative that all of our students are prepared and able to participate in this important testing next spring," L.A. schools Supt. John Deasy wrote in a report to the board ahead of a planned meeting this month. "Staff will continue to work diligently to purchase only the number … necessary to successfully conduct testing."

Then board member Marguerite Poindexter LaMotte died, contributing to a postponement that allowed the oversight committee another review.

This time, the district presented an analysis that found only half as many iPads would be needed for 2014. The larger number was for 2015, when students would be taking the full, actual test.

But even the smaller figure was challenged Wednesday.

It included about half a dozen schools that already had iPads for all students, committee consultant Thomas Rubin said. Also included were primary centers that serve students only through second grade — the state testing begins in third grade. In addition, the list contained schools with extensive technology already in place, Rubin said.

In the end, the committee endorsed buying about 38,000 devices for testing, but asked for more evidence to justify that number. The panel also approved buying detachable keyboards for use with the iPads during testing.

The school district recently distributed surveys to principals about older computers currently being used on their campuses, many of which can accommodate the new tests. Principals, however, may lack the time and qualifications to assess their current computers. Some district technicians have volunteered to help during the holiday break, Rubin said.

Senior L.A. Unified staff have put forward various reasons for buying as many iPads as possible prior to testing. Existing computer labs, for example, may lack enough working machines to accommodate a full class at once.

And if labs are used for testing, then they would not be available for instruction or for students to use for term papers and other projects, noted committee member Quynh Nguyen.

"It is a logistical nightmare, especially in secondary schools," Nguyen said. "Those computers are under heavy, heavy use."

howard.blume@latimes.com

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Self-gifting by consumers is on retailers' wish lists

Trinkel De La Paz, 24, loves this holiday's deep discounts because they're enabling her to be a more generous Santa.

To herself, that is.

The Silver Lake graphic designer bought herself an iPad mini and some clothes discounted on Cyber Monday, and she's not done. De La Paz said she feels free to splurge on herself because she has extra money from a recently landed job, a new apartment waiting to be spruced up and only one present to buy for her family's Secret Santa exchange.

"These prices are only happening this time of year," she said. "I might as well stock up now."

Come Christmas, many shoppers decide to treat themselves to a little (or sometimes not-so-little) something extra. Some do it to take advantage of irresistible promotions. Others buy an item as a gift and then decide they want another for themselves.

This fine art of giving to oneself at the holidays, dubbed self-gifting by retail pollsters who track such behavior, has become a key indicator for how merchants will fare once the post-Christmas tallies come in.

"The willingness of the shopper to push her budget beyond what she had originally planned is a key influencer for holiday growth," NPD Group analyst Marshal Cohen said in a blog post. "In fact, the self-gifting indicator has made the difference between growth and decline."

Cohen reasons that each year, the number of gifts Americans expect to give remains roughly the same, making their tendency to buy presents for themselves a more accurate gauge of their economic circumstances. And during the recession, when spending declined, "one of the leading factors that saved retailers was an increase in self-gifting" by consumers taking advantage of big holiday bargains, Cohen said.

A third of consumers ages 25 to 64 will self-gift before Christmas, according to a survey from Chase Blueprint and AOL. On Instagram, the #selfgifting hashtag brings up photos of polka-dot heels, a Mac mini computer, a KitchenAid stand mixer, lingerie, cosmetics and more.

"The Grinch won't be the one to steal or even save Holiday 2013," Cohen said. "It will be the self-gifting consumer."

But this year, the behavior is on the decline, as shoppers already accustomed to making do with less money shrink from the head winds of continued economic uncertainty.

Some 57% of consumers told the National Retail Federation that they will take advantage of deals during the holidays to buy items that aren't gifts for others. Last year, 59% of respondents said the same.

Self-gifters will spend an average of $129.62 on themselves during the season, down from a survey high of $140.43 last year and $137.17 the year before. The bulk of their budgets will go toward presents for family members; they'll also buy gifts for friends and co-workers while shelling out for holiday food, candy, greeting cards, flowers and decorations.

Shoppers may be more savvy about saving this year, having been indoctrinated by the recession to hunt for deals, said Lars Perner, an assistant professor of marketing at USC. And retailers are making it easy for consumers to spend less, as they extend Black Friday-style doorbuster deals well into December in an effort to maintain momentum and clear inventory before January.

"The pressure to buy at any one time, such as Black Friday, has really dissipated because you can buy ahead of time and after the fact," Perner said. "So this year, there may have been fewer impulse purchases made."

Also, Perner said, consumers might be stressed by the prospect of increased healthcare and food expenses in the new year, he said.

"Self-gifting is more discretionary, involving things you buy when you can afford them, so one would suspect that it has a stronger correlation with the overall state of the economy," he said. "If it declines, it would be a negative sign, because people will put off purchases they're looking at for themselves. If things are going well, people will buy more for themselves."

Top retailers, sensing an opportunity for substantial revenue, are increasingly urging shoppers to be more selfish.

Self-gifting appeals from companies abound on Twitter. On Dec. 9, Best Buy told consumers to buy the Galaxy S4 smartphone for $49.99 as "a gift for yourself!" On Dec. 3, Guess tweeted that "free shipping is the perfect gift for yourself this holiday season!"

A day earlier, Tiffany & Co. touted its diamond solitaire earrings to its followers, saying that "of course, a gift for yourself is well deserved this year!" Even before Black Friday, Target was marketing its $5 sleepwear by tweeting "gift one and get one for yourself."

Roku told shoppers in a commercial that the only surefire way to land one of its media streaming players on Christmas was to buy it for themselves. The company suggested that self-gifters tell people the Roku present was sent to them by a fictional Ukrainian named Moxkat Grvida.

Long Beach photographer and blogger Crystal Heller, 29, said she appreciates ads that target longtime self-gifters such as herself.

"Retailers are always saying to buy things for other people, but what about yourself?" she asked. "I deserve a lot too."

Already this holiday, Heller has spent some $250 treating herself to jeans from Kate Spade Saturday, a candle set, tea at Teavana. She said she tends to buy items she won't purchase the rest of the year, when the merchandise and prices aren't as good.

"It just feels nice to buy something for yourself for Christmas," she said. "After all, you're going to be getting a lot of other things from people that you won't love."

tiffany.hsu@latimes.com

Twitter: @tiffhsulatimes

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UCLA's Brett Hundley mulling over whether to declare for the NFL

UCLA waited years to have some stability at quarterback. Brett Hundley has provided that.

The Bruins had seven quarterbacks make at least one start from 2007 to 2011. Hundley, a sophomore, will play in his 27th consecutive game in the Hyundai Sun Bowl.

Start No. 28 is up in the air.

Hundley will decide after the first of the year if he's returning for his junior season or declare for the NFL draft.

Should Hundley go?

Can freshman Asiantii Woulard step into the role?

An NFL scout answered the first question. Some draft pundits have projected Hundley as a high first-round pick. The scout, who was not authorized to speak publicly on the matter, said Hundley should not get caught up in media speculation.

"He should stay," the scout said. "He needs that extra thousand live snaps he's going to get as a junior, to quicken his eyes and go through his reads in the pocket. He can hone in his accuracy and work on his timing."

The scout said Hundley clearly has the talent to be an NFL quarterback. But, he said, "he has not developed that talent yet. He would struggle to develop in the NFL. He is in the perfect environment to do that at UCLA."

If Hundley opted to test the NFL "the success/failure rate kind of shifts," the scout said. "It would help him long term, 10 years down the road, to stay in college right now."

If he doesn't, the Bruins would be left with only two quarterbacks on scholarship, Jerry Neuheisel and Woulard.

Woulard has spent the season working on the scout team. He has the skills and physical attributes to follow in Hundley's footsteps.

He is 6 feet 3 and 205 pounds and has a strong arm, which he showcased during training camp. He will be at the same stage of his career next spring as Hundley was when offensive coordinator Noel Mazzone was hired.

"When you compare them at that point in their careers, they are not too far apart," Mazzone said. "He's got the throwing ability, he's very talented there. He has the athletic ability, he can move. His whole thing is going to be how quickly he can intake information, process and react."

Hundley has been tutoring Woulard on that this season.

"He has been really involved in film room and on the field," Woulard said. "We'll put in new stuff that I haven't done, and I'm not really comfortable with yet. He'll stand behind me and remind me where to start my progression and the way to set the protection."

Mazzone said that experience is all Woulard lacks.

"He will get to the point where he starts believing in his athletic ability," Mazzone said. "He over-thinks some things, which is natural for a freshman. Things are moving a little fast for him now."

Things could move even faster if Hundley declares for the NFL.

"It won't make any difference for me this off-season," Woulard said. "I'm going to prepare like I'm the starter."

More honors

UCLA guard Xavier Su'a-Filo and Arizona State defensive tackle Will Sutton were the Morris Trophy winners, given to the best offensive and defensive linemen in the Pac-12 Conference.

Su'a-Filo is the fourth UCLA player to win the trophy, following David Ball (2003), Kenyon Coleman (2001) and Jonathan Ogden (2005).

Linebacker Anthony Barr was selected second-team All-American by the Football Writers Assn. of America.

chris.foster@latimes.com

Twitter: @cfosterlatimes

Times staff writer Sam Farmer contributed to this story.

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L.A. Unified board delays decision on replacing LaMotte

The Los Angeles Board of Education on Tuesday delayed a decision on how to fill the seat of former member Marguerite Poindexter LaMotte, who died earlier this month.

Three members wanted to postpone the discussion until after LaMotte's funeral, while three others supported taking up the issue immediately. But four votes were required for action, so the board never debated the central question: whether to appoint a replacement or call a special election.

"Not taking an action is an action," said Monica Garcia, who wanted the board to discuss its options. "We are delaying the opportunity for representation."

The board scheduled a special meeting Jan. 7 to settle the issue. Because of the county's election schedule and election law timelines, however, any voting might not take place for months.

The school board Tuesday also postponed a decision on the next phase of a $1-billion effort to provide iPads to every student.

L.A. schools Supt. John Deasy did not vigorously challenge that move but said problems could arise because more iPads are needed to administer new state standardized tests.

"Some things will be imperfect" because of the delay, he said.

LaMotte, who was closely allied with the teachers union and frequently critical of Deasy, represented District 1, stretching across a diverse swath of South and southwest Los Angeles. Black voters are not a majority, but they are the largest voting bloc. The holder of that seat has traditionally been regarded as the guardian of black students, many of whom have struggled in the nation's second-largest school system.

Before Tuesday's meeting and in public testimony, competing advocates pressed either for the delay or for immediate approval of a special election.

A group led by Rep. Maxine Waters (D-Los Angeles) insisted that waiting until after the funeral would be in keeping with African American custom and would respect the community's grieving process.

LaMotte was the only African American on the seven-member board. Her seat has been held by black officials since L.A. Unified was divided into election districts in 1979.

Holding a special election would leave LaMotte's seat unfilled for about three months to a year. But appointing a replacement, some critics said, would result in other board members selecting an ally rather than letting voters make the choice. The office will go before voters in a regular election in 2015.

Waters declined to specify Tuesday how the seat should be filled, but an alliance of which she is a part has called for an appointment. Members of that coalition have argued that a fast election process would aid Deasy's supporters, who could raise money for a campaign by drawing on his wealthy backers.

But Los Angeles County Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas, who was a LaMotte supporter, was among those calling for an election.

"People fought, bled and died to assure that we have the right to vote," Ridley-Thomas said. "This is about self-determination."

howard.blume@latimes.com

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Herbalife perseveres amid 'pyramid scheme' accusations

A year ago, activist investor Bill Ackman rocked Wall Street with a $1-billion bet that shares of Herbalife Ltd., the Los Angeles seller of weight-loss and nutrition products, would slide to zero.

Herbalife was a "pyramid scheme," bound to be undone by regulators and destroyed, he told the Los Angeles Times and other media outlets Dec. 19.

Herbalife shares plummeted 42% in the next five days, hitting a midday low of $24.24 on Christmas Eve. At the time, it seemed that 2013 would be difficult for Herbalife.

The company certainly faced adversity this year, but not its stock.

Herbalife shares surged 130% this year as the company deflected Ackman's allegations with growing profits and a key legal victory. This month, an appeals court in Belgium reversed a lower court finding — often cited by Ackman — that Herbalife was a pyramid scheme.

"Herbalife's 2013 story is one of resilience, validation and continued success," Herbalife President Des Walsh said Tuesday in an interview with The Times.

"For 12 months, we have been the subject of an unrelenting torrent of misinformation and misrepresentations about our company and our business model," he said. "Now ... it is good to see that every one of the false statements made about Herbalife has been thoroughly discredited."

The debate centers on how the 33-year-old company compensates its team of independent sales people.

Ackman contended that the salespeople made more money recruiting new sales agents than they did selling products, a key component in a pyramid scheme.

Herbalife maintained that its salespeople receive compensation for their own sales and a percentage of sales made by those they bring into the business, an incentive for mentoring them.

Several high-profile investors sided with Herbalife, including billionaire investor Carl Icahn. He bought a 15% stake in Herbalife, had two of his representatives added to the company's board and rode its stock to gains estimated at $500 million.

Ackman, meanwhile, has lost about $500 million on his Herbalife short, according to research by Barclays Capital Inc. financial analyst Meredith Adler.

Ackman recently disclosed that he had reduced his short position 40%, but he is not going away. He has pressed regulators to intervene and said he believes they ultimately will.

"The few Herbalife distributors that make money earn the vast majority of their profits from recruiting. Herbalife is a pyramid scheme that will be shut down by regulators," Ackman's company, Pershing Square Capital Management, said this week.

Despite the performance of its stock, the year was not a smooth one for Herbalife. A former distributor filed a lawsuit against the company in federal court, echoing Ackman's allegations. And numerous Latino groups and lawmakers have called on the Federal Trade Commission and state attorneys general to investigate the company.

In April, accounting firm KPMG said it was resigning as Herbalife's auditor because a rogue partner had participated in an insider-trading scheme involving shares of Herbalife and other Southern California firms. KPMG withdrew its approval of Herbalife's financial statements for 2010, 2011 and 2012.

Without audited financial statements, Herbalife postponed plans to finance a major repurchase of its shares — a move that typically could drive up its stock price.

Even though Herbalife was not to blame for KPMG's resignation, Ackman seized on the controversy. He urged the company's new accounting firm, PricewaterhouseCoopers, to look at "accounting and disclosure issues" in the company's financial statements.

On Monday, Herbalife said PricewaterhouseCoopers had completed its re-audit and found no need for material changes. The company's stock gained more than 9% on Monday. It added 93 cents Tuesday to close at $75.76.

Tim Ramey, an analyst with D.A. Davidson & Co., said the company's financial performance this year was impressive, especially in the face of Ackman's attacks.

"I'm certain that it ate up tons of senior management time. But you won't see it from the numbers. They have really kind of firewalled it," Ramey said.

One of those asking regulators to investigate Herbalife was Brent Wilkes, national executive director of the League of United Latin American Citizens. He said the company promotes the opportunity for its independent salespeople to generate vast wealth, when most end up losing money.

Wall Street should not determine the validity of Herbalife's business model, he said.

"If there's any frustration, it has to do with everybody's fascination with the stock price," Wilkes said Tuesday.

"The fascination should be on whether ... the people that become distributors with the goal of making money are able to do so by selling the product," he said. "And if they're not, why the heck is this type of business allowed to exist?"

stuart.pfeifer@latimes.com

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Clippers' Stephen Jackson doesn't hold a grudge against former boss

Eight months later, he stole Jackson's headband.

The latter deed actually triggered a smile from Jackson on Monday night at Staples Center during a playful exchange between the coach and his former player.

Moments after Popovich's San Antonio Spurs lost to Jackson's Clippers, 115-92, the coach walked behind Jackson and swiped his blue headband, removing it from Jackson's head with his right hand. Jackson turned toward Popovich and put his hand warmly on the coach's shoulder before they shared a laugh and Jackson embraced Spurs veteran Tim Duncan.

"Me and Tim are great friends and I have a great respect for Pop," Jackson said, "so it was good to play against them."

It was even better to contribute to one of the Clippers' best victories of the season, Jackson scoring six points and making three of five shots in the fourth game he has played since signing a contract for the veteran's minimum last week.

Clippers point guard Chris Paul marveled at how Jackson could be effective so soon after joining the team considering he did not participate in a training camp for the first time in his career.

"I was just working out, sitting in the steam room a lot and just praying. ... Obviously, I'm not even close to where I'm going to be, but I'm just thankful I'm able to contribute now," Jackson said.

Jackson and Popovich have remained close, literally, since Popovich waived Jackson in April on the eve of the playoffs when he feared the veteran swingman could be a divisive figure because of his dissatisfaction with a diminished role.

They're neighbors in San Antonio.

"Today was the first time seeing him" since being released, Jackson said, "but I did talk to him before I signed here. He called me, reached out to me and wished me good luck. They're great people, a professional organization, as you know, one of the best teams in the last 10 years in the league, so you have to respect them.

"But like I said, this is another chapter of my career. I'm with some more Hall of Famers in Blake [Griffin] and CP, so I'm happy to be here and I'm ready to fight for these guys."

Willie Green contributes in a big way

Clippers reserve guard Willie Green is beloved by teammates for his supportive presence and professionalism in never sulking about a bit role.

Of course, they also like it when he has a big game.

Green tied a season high with 11 points Monday and made four of five shots, including three-point baskets that started and ended the Clippers' 19-0 second-quarter run that turned the game in their favor. He did it while playing with recently suffered ligament damage in his left pinkie.

Clippers guard Jamal Crawford was so impressed that he interjected his thoughts while standing nearby when a reporter asked Green about his production.

"He was huge," Crawford said. "He kick-started us in the second quarter."

Green didn't seem to mind the interruption.

"I was able to get open, my teammates were looking for me," he said, "and I hit some big shots."

Etc.

The Clippers did not practice Tuesday.

ben.bolch@latimes.com

Twitter: @latbbolch

12.18 | 0 komentar | Read More

Ducks score late against Oilers for fifth straight win

Dustin Penner scored the tiebreaking goal with 3:17 to play, Ryan Getzlaf extended his points streak to 14 games, and the Anaheim Ducks beat the Edmonton Oilers, 3-2, on Sunday night at the Honda Center for their fifth consecutive victory.

Corey Perry's seven-game goal streak ended, but his linemates connected for the deciding score in the Pacific Division-leading Ducks' 15th win in their last 17 meetings with last-place Edmonton.

Teemu Selanne ended his 19-game goal drought in the second period, and Jonas Hiller made 23 saves to help the Ducks improve to 13-0-2 at Honda Center.

Sam Gagner scored the tying goal with 9:34 to play for the Oilers, who have lost three straight. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins also scored, and Ilya Bryzgalov stopped 31 shots.

Nick Bonino also scored as the Ducks shook off early rust in their return from three days off to complete a three-game homestand. Anaheim is the only NHL team without a regulation loss at home, extending the second-longest such streak to open a season in the shootout era.

Penner beat Bryzgalov with a wrist shot from the circle after a setup from Getzlaf, who has scored in each of his last 16 games. The Anaheim captain's streak only counts as 14 games because of an injury absence.

The Ducks also got a timely contribution from Selanne, who hadn't scored a goal since Oct. 20 -- matching the longest drought of his two-decade NHL career -- and had no points in his last 16 games. The 43-year-old Finnish Flash finally picked up his 679th career goal in front of Bryzgalov on a setup from Mathieu Perreault, adding to the 11th-best total in NHL history.

The goal put Anaheim in control until Gagner took advantage of a mix-up near the Ducks' blue line and broke past rookie defenseman Hampus Lindholm, beating Hiller with a wobbly backhand for just his fourth goal of the season.

The injury-plagued Ducks finally got some good news before the game, welcoming back defenseman Francois Beauchemin and Perreault. Beauchemin was a plus-15 before missing the last 10 games with an upper-body injury, while Perreault missed four games with a lower-body injury.

Nugent-Hopkins scored shortly after Edmonton killed off a penalty in the first period, deflecting Taylor Hall's shot in the air for his eighth goal.

Bonino answered with his ninth goal in front, converting a slick behind-the-net feed from Patrick Maroon.

Edmonton's Corey Potter got a major and a game misconduct for checking Bonino from behind in the second period, sending the Anaheim center face-first into the boards. Bonino wasn't hurt, and the Ducks did nothing with the ensuing five-minute power play.

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Kings' six-game win streak comes to end in 3-1 loss to Blackhawks

CHICAGO — All good things must come to an end, but the Kings' six-game winning streak didn't end well.

Their 3-1 loss to the Stanley Cup champion Chicago Blackhawks at the United Center was sealed early, somewhere between the time a fired-up Jonathan Toews set up Marian Hossa's short-handed goal at 5 minutes 45 seconds — the first time the Kings had yielded a first-period goal in 19 games — and Kris Versteeg capped off a two-on-one with a shot that Ben Scrivens slowed but couldn't stop at 9:59.

"You can't chase the lead against a team that's, what, are they 30 or 40 goals ahead of everybody in the league?" Kings Coach Darryl Sutter said after his team ended a tough trip at 3-1-0. "It's pretty tough to chase the lead."

Especially when the Blackhawks were determined to atone for their ugly 7-3 loss Saturday at Toronto. Patrick Sharp's power-play goal from the right circle at 19:31, a chance created when Toews faked a shot but instead passed, effectively ended the Kings' winning streak and 8-0-2 road points streak in addition to representing the first time in 19 games they had given up more than two goals.

Only Alec Martinez's long shot with 3:54 left in the third period spared the Kings from being shut out by the team that beat them in last season's Western Conference final. Martinez's effort was the only shot by a Kings defensemen, a strategic failure.

"We didn't have the puck very much," Sutter said. "Most of those shots are standing-at-the-blueline plays or sneaking in, so we didn't have the puck much. You're not in their zone much so we weren't very effective."

That applied to everyone, not just the defensemen.

"We weren't ready to play, and that's unacceptable individually and collectively. It's over and it's a good learning lesson," team captain Dustin Brown said.

"The last few games we've been maybe not playing as sharp and tonight we played a team that takes advantage of it. When we start to see things slip in our game it's about correcting it before we lose a game."

They didn't do that Sunday.

"Three goals, it's quite a bit to overcome against that team," center Anze Kopitar said. "There's no secret that we lost the game in the first period."

Defenseman Willie Mitchell was ill and missed a game for the first time this season; his spot was taken by Matt Greene, who was activated off injured reserve last week following his recovery from an upper-body injury he sustained on Nov. 2.

The Kings felt Mitchell's absence on their penalty killing, but their power play let them down in the opening period.

Chicago defenseman Johnny Oduya was in the penalty box when Toews outworked Jake Muzzin to win the puck behind the Kings' net and passed it in front to Hossa, who didn't miss from close range. That was the third short-handed goal scored against the Kings this season.

Versteeg, recently reacquired by the Blackhawks from Florida, increased Chicago's lead to 2-0. He broke in on the right side with Michal Handzus on a two-on-one and elected to shoot.

"He made a good shot. Obviously, two-on-ones are tough," said Scrivens, who had backed up rookie Martin Jones in the Kings' previous five games. "I've got to find a way to get a bit more of that one and give the guys a better chance."

Sharp ended the Kings' two-goals-against-or-fewer streak late in the first period, leaving in question only whether Chicago goalie Antti Raanta would get a shutout. Martinez took care of that.

In the end, it was no consolation to the Kings to lose to a powerful and powerfully motivated team. "We've got a good team in here, too," Scrivens said.

Not nearly good enough on Sunday to stave off a bad ending to all of those good streaks.

"Every time you lose the game you feel disappointed. It doesn't matter if you're on a streak or not," Kopitar said. "We're unhappy the way we started off and we've got to make sure that when we head home that's not going to be the case."

helene.elliott@latimes.com

Twitter: @helenenothelen

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Parents of noisy children rank as most annoying airline passengers

If you are a parent who lets your children scream and go nuts on a plane, congratulations — you top the list of most annoying etiquette violators in the air.

Parents who travel with loud children are considered more annoying than passengers who kick the in front of them and travelers with foul odors. Even fliers who take off their shoes and socks in the air-tight cabin are less offensive, according to a survey of 1,001 Americans by the travel website Expedia.

Annoying children and their parents were ranked by 41% of those surveyed as the most annoying airplane etiquette violators. So it was no surprise that 49% of Americans surveyed said they would pay extra to be seated in a designated "quiet zone," free of screaming children, the survey found.

But the survey pointed out some hypocrisy: Travelers who fully recline their seats were ranked as the 7th worst violation even though 80% of travelers admitted that they recline their seat all the way at some point in the flight.

"Most of us, when we look at the list of offending behaviors, can admit to having committed to one or more of these violations," said John Morrey, general manager of Expedia.

•Travel websites to customize deals

When you go online to search for an airfare, you often see the lowest price appear at the top of your computer screen.

But what if your airline search site instead offered you a customized flight package deal — adding extras such as wireless Internet access and a seat with extra legroom — based on what you have booked in the past?

In the future, airlines will increasingly offer travelers customized airfares based on detailed information that carriers have collected, even data about your income, the neighborhood where you live and your travel patterns, according to industry experts.

"We expect to see more airlines adopt this trend in commerce as they continue to offer passengers a more personalized travel experience," said Vaughn Jennings, a spokesman for Airlines for America, a trade group for the nation's airlines.

It's a trend that worries consumer advocates.

"It will be the death of comparison shopping," said Charles Leocha, director of the nonprofit Consumer Travel Alliance and author on travelers rights.

A consumer protection panel, appointed by the U.S. Transportation Department, will meet Monday in Washington to discuss customized airfare pricing. The panel could recommend a new federal rule that requires airlines to disclose what information they are collecting from travelers, said Leocha, who is a member of the board.

Delta Air Lines, one of the nation's largest carriers, uses passenger data on a limited basis to offer travelers the options that they are most likely to want, said spokesman Paul Skrbec. But he said Delta will always protect the private information of its customers.

"Privacy is an absolute top priority for us," he said.

•Conventional wisdom

Here's a tip on how to save lots of money on a hotel room: Don't book a room when a big convention is in town.

As with all other industries, hotels boost rates when demand increases.

The average hotel rate in San Francisco jumped to $272 a night for the period Dec. 10 to 14, a 75% increase compared with earlier in the month, according to the travel website Trivago. The hike came when three major conventions — for geophysicists, online and mobile executives and construction experts — rolled into town.

"Travelers should generally be careful about booking a hotel at the time that a big convention is in town," Trivago spokeswoman Katie Merrill said.

Meanwhile, hotel rates have increased no more than 12% in December at the most popular U.S. travel destinations surveyed by Trivago.

In Los Angeles, hotel prices for December are up 9% from the same month last year, according to the travel site.

hugo.martin@latimes.com

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Residents urge closure of Exide battery recycling plant

One by one, hour after hour Saturday in a ballroom at Cal State Los Angeles, residents, elected officials and activists from southeast Los Angeles pleaded with an air district hearing board to shut down a Vernon battery recycler accused of endangering hundreds of thousands of people because of unsafe arsenic and lead emissions.

"I'm a mother, asking you, please, do something," said Sandra Martinez. "I go days without sleeping, worrying about my child dying in his sleep from asthma."

But company officials and workers from Exide Technologies, one of the world's largest recyclers of lead acid batteries, made a passionate case of their own that the plant's emissions no longer pose a health risk, and that the air district lacks the authority to force it to shut down or make certain other operating changes.

Exide employee Juan Felix said he has seen "vast improvements" to reduce emissions at the plant. "They do care about the community and they do care about the health and safety of employees," he said. "Take the time to look at the facts."

Saturday's hearing was the first of several planned on a petition filed by the South Coast Air Quality Management District in October calling for a halt to lead smelting operations at Exide "until its air pollution control systems are improved and deemed adequate" to control toxic emissions.

A health risk assessment released earlier this year found that the plant was posing an elevated cancer risk to 110,000 people living from Boyle Heights to Huntington Park because of arsenic emissions. The plant, which opened in 1922 and was taken over by Exide in 2000, has also been cited several times in recent years, often for exceeding permissible levels of lead.

In April, the state department of Toxic Substances Control, which oversees the plant, moved to shut it down temporarily, citing health risks, but Exide appealed and a judge allowed the plant to resume operations.

Stymied, the state entered into an agreement with the company in which Exide agreed to spend $7.7 million for a new storm water system and improvements to reduce arsenic emissions. The company will also pay for voluntary blood tests for hundreds of thousands of people who might have been affected.

That did little to satisfy furious residents in southeast Los Angeles County, who have accused the company of poisoning their community and regulatory agencies of allowing it to happen.

In October, Assembly Speaker John A. Pérez (D-Los Angeles) and state Sens. Ricardo Lara (D-Bell Gardens) and Kevin de Le¿n (D-Los Angeles) confronted regulators in front of an angry crowd at Resurrection Church in Boyle Heights, demanding that officials do everything in their power to protect the public.

Ten days later, the air district, which regulates air emissions independently from the state toxics agency, issued its petition to shut down the plant.

Now, under air district rules, an independent, quasi-judicial panel will take testimony from both sides and from members of the public before ruling.

In her opening statement, Nancy Feldman, the air district's lawyer, compared Exide's pollution control system to a vacuum cleaner that spews dust and debris from the carpet "out of the sides before it ever reaches the filters in the vacuum" and "more distressing ...it actually spits dirt right out the front, back onto your carpet."

"You better buy a better vacuum cleaner," she said.

Exide's lawyer, Stephen O'Neil, countered that Exide's arsenic emissions have plummeted since the source tests on which the health risk assessment was based. He also charged that the air district, in response to political pressure, is trying to impose conditions that are not actually enshrined in law on the company.

"Truth No. 1: The Exide facility's current emissions are not creating a health risk," he said, adding that the hearing process should not be "a referendum on Exide's popularity."

Many who packed into the ballroom did not appear convinced.

Rep. Lucille Roybal-Allard (D-Downey), who represents many of the affected areas, called the company "one of the worst environmental polluters of lead and arsenic in California."

"Without board action ... hundreds of thousands of local residents and their children will continue to be at risk of silently being poisoned by dangerous emissions," she said.

Others made more personal pleas, telling of relatives who have died of cancer, or who suffer from asthma.

Some also complained that other, less harmful air pollution threats, such as a pungent chili smell from the Sriracha hot sauce factory in Irwindale and the fire rings in Newport Beach, have resulted in shutdown orders, while Exide has been allowed to continue to operate.

Responding to Exide's complaint that the air district was acting under political pressure, Monsignor John Moretta of Resurrection Church said: "I'm not here because of any political pressure. I'm here because of a moral pressure.... Can you imagine how we felt, first lead and now arsenic?"

Proponents of keeping the plant open, meanwhile, repeatedly emphasized that emissions are way down; Exide has also submitted a detailed plan for further reduction to the air district.

Exide officials and workers warned that shutting the plant would eliminate well-paying manufacturing jobs and leave few options for safely recycling batteries. The Exide plant is one of just two west of the Rocky Mountains.

"We share the company's commitment to health and safety and, on behalf of the 100 union workers and families from the communities surrounding the Vernon site, we ask our fellow Californians to support [keeping the plant open with new emission controls] to protect the environment and preserve these good jobs," said David Campbell, secretary-treasurer of United Steel Workers Local 675, in a statement.

The next hearing on the Exide question will be Jan. 7 at air district headquarters in Diamond Bar.

jessica.garrison@latimes.com

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