To limit child tragedies, give social workers what they need

The first items Nancy Razo pulled out of her binder when we sat down to talk were obituaries of three co-workers who died of strokes that Razo believes were linked to stress on the job.

"These were women who dedicated their lives to public service, to helping kids," she said.

They were, like her, social workers in the Palmdale office of the Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services. Razo thinks they were done in by high caseloads, long hours and constant demands to "get it done now."

Their deaths feel like collateral damage in a battle against child abuse that only grabs the public's attention when a child's death makes news.

The latest child to die was 8-year-old Gabriel Fernandez. Gabriel's mother and her boyfriend have been charged with torture and murder in his death.

But social workers are being blamed for not recognizing the danger the child faced in a family with a long history of child abuse allegations.

Gabriel had been on the department's radar for months. When he died in May, he had a cracked skull, missing teeth, broken ribs and BB pellets embedded in his lung and groin.

Four social workers involved in the case have been on "desk duty" in Palmdale since then. But Razo said every social worker feels the weight of young Gabriel's death.

"They're all struggling, the entire office," Razo said. "We know what we do could affect a life; we deal with that every day.

"What happened to these social workers could happen to any one of us any time," she said. "Maybe they weren't doing a good job on that case....But you're focusing on one family and you've got 25 others, and something tragic happens.

"We need more social workers and smaller caseloads," she said. "We're in crisis mode all the time."

::

Razo had emailed to complain about a column I wrote about Gabriel's death, calling for social workers to be held accountable for any missteps.

A social worker since 2005, Razo is also incensed about a memo from agency director Phillip Browning suggesting that a lack of critical thinking and common sense contributed to Gabriel's death.

That comment hit many social workers I heard from particularly hard. "Having the time to reflect, the time to take in everything you've observed… that's what can save a life," Razo said.

The day I interviewed her in Palmdale, Razo had spent several hours searching for a foster home for a newborn. Her job is "supposed to be 9 to 5, but some nights I'm out in the field until 10 or 11, then back in the office at 7 a.m," she said.

Some social workers in her office juggle 30 or 40 cases. The optimal caseload standard is between 12 and 17. Union officials say it would take 1,400 more social workers to adhere to those limits.

Razo walked me through a process spiked with land mines: volatile parents who threaten them, a critical shortage of foster homes, redundant layers of bureaucracy, judges who routinely overrule their recommendations on child custody.

An expansion of parents' rights and a department philosophy that favors keeping families together have made it harder to justify a child's removal or collect the information needed to prove abuse.

"Abused kids don't trust strangers," Razo said. "And when you're juggling dozens of cases with crucial deadlines, there's no time to build the rapport you need to get a kid to talk to you.

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San Diego Mayor Bob Filner says he'll undergo intensive therapy

SAN DIEGO — Mayor Bob Filner announced Friday that he will undergo two weeks of intensive therapy to improve his behavior toward women — a move that did little to quiet the calls for his resignation amid allegations of sexual harassment.

Filner told a packed City Hall news conference that he plans to go into an unnamed residential treatment program Aug. 5, where the 70-year-old mayor will be briefed each morning and evening on city business. He said he will return to City Hall on Aug. 19 ready to be "the best mayor I can be."

Nothing in the statement suggested that Filner will relinquish any mayoral powers during the two weeks.

In his two-minute statement, Filner did not address the increasing demands that he resign. As in previous statements, he acknowledged treating women poorly but stopped short of admitting to sexual harassment. Soon after the first allegations were made, Filner said in a video: "I need help."

City Council President Todd Gloria, a fellow Democrat, said Filner's plan only "prolongs the pain he is inflicting on our city at a time when San Diegans are calling for an end to this civic nightmare."

Councilman Kevin Faulconer, the senior Republican on the council, said that Filner "needs to resign and seek long-term treatment as a private citizen."

The toughest denunciation came from Councilman Scott Sherman, a Republican: "San Diegans should accept nothing less than Bob Filner's resignation and/or arrest."

Seven women have publicly accused him of sexual misconduct, including a retired Navy admiral, a San Diego State University dean, a leader in the city's tourism industry, and the head of a group of business owners who are tenants of the San Diego Port District.

Irene McCormack Jackson, his former communications director, sued him and the city Monday.

"I must become a better person," Filner said, reading from a prepared statement. "And my hope is that by becoming a better person, I put myself in a position to someday be forgiven.

"However, before I can even think of asking for forgiveness, I need to demonstrate that my behavior has changed. And that will only happen over time and only if such incidents never, ever happen again."

Filner apologized for behavior toward women "over many years" that he called disrespectful and intimidating. In a strong, clear voice, Filner said his conduct has undermined his long political career spent "fighting for equality and justice for all people."

The city was served with a subpoena Friday requiring that Filner be deposed in Jackson's lawsuit.

Jackson alleges that Filner often grabbed her in a headlock, made sexually inappropriate comments and once asked her to work without panties.

Gloria Allred, the Los Angeles attorney representing Jackson, said Filner is using "therapy as a ploy to stay in power and to try to gain sympathy."

"It is ridiculous to think that he needs therapy in order to understand that women deserve respect and should not be treated like pieces of meat," Allred said.

Gloria, the council president, noted that the City Charter provides no guidance in the case of a mayor leaving City Hall to seek therapy. As such, he said, the issue "requires us to ask in the strongest terms possible for the mayor's resignation."

The City Charter also contains no provision for impeachment. Without a resignation, the only means for ousting a mayor are a recall election or conviction of a felony. The leader of a possible recall movement said he will continue his efforts to oust Filner.

The San Diego County Sheriff's Department has opened a hotline to field accusations against Filner, but there is no indication that a criminal investigation is underway.

The news conference was interrupted when the mayor's microphone went dead. Filner left the room, with reporters awaiting more details. Returning when the microphone problem was solved, Filner read his statement from the beginning.

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Lake County pot farm raid reveals horrifying tale of teen's captivity

LAKEPORT, Calif. — When authorities raided the marijuana growing operation, they found greenhouses filled with plants over 6 feet tall, neatly lined with individual irrigation systems. But the rest of the property, one federal agent recalled, looked like a horror scene.

They found dilapidated trailers where farmers appeared to live, caches of weapons and a bloody towel.

"To me, it smacked of a scene from 'Deliverance,'" said David Prince, assistant special agent in charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Northern California. "If I was a plant, that's where I'd want to live. If I was a human, that's not where I'd want to live."

It was here, in a remote area east of Clear Lake in Northern California, that authorities allege a kidnapped teenage girl from Los Angeles County was sexually abused and occasionally held captive in a metal box. The box — about 4-by-2-by-2 feet — sat outside one of the trailers, with holes drilled through the lid and a blanket inside.

The box "had been altered to imprison a human," a federal criminal complaint read.

In charges unsealed in San Francisco, federal officials allege that two men had abused the girl and forced her to help with their marijuana production. The girl eventually called authorities from a West Sacramento hotel, where she was rescued, officials said.

The suspects — Ryan Alan Balletto, 30, and Patrick Steven Pearmain, 25 — face numerous felony charges. The Los Angeles Police Department arrested a third man, Eric Edgar, on suspicion of sexual assault.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents had been investigating the 680-acre property owned by Balletto since December 2011, court documents showed.

The girl was reported missing April 2 from a San Fernando Valley home, according to the LAPD. Cmdr. Andy Smith said detectives believe she was living on the streets of Hollywood when she came in contact with Balletto.

A few weeks later, LAPD detectives received a tip that the girl was being held inside some kind of box at an undisclosed location in Northern California. The detectives eventually learned that she was in Lake County with Balletto and informed authorities there.

But before Lake County sheriff's officials could raid Balletto's property, they got a call from the girl, records show. She told them she was fine and staying with Balletto. A detective traced the call to the hotel, and authorities there found her in a room with Pearmain.

Authorities say they collected a bag full of marijuana, prescription drugs, condoms and a pregnancy test from the hotel room. Pearmain also had a notebook on him that had an apparent script for the girl to read to police over the phone, authorities say.

Then, authorities raided the marijuana farm. "It was kind of like opening Pandora's box," said Lake County sheriff's Sgt. Dennis Ostini.

They found 1,200 marijuana plants, guns and other items. But the most horrifying discovery was the metal box the girl said she was kept in. She told police the men made her stay in it on two occasions for a total of three days, court records show.

Spray-painted on the outside was the first letter of the girl's name. Inside was a decal that "depicted an animal skull surrounding the shadow image of a human skull with the logo 'Bone Collector,'" according to the court documents.

The men put a hose through one of the holes to clean the girl and wash out the human waste inside, prosecutors alleged. Inside the box investigators found human hair and a poem the girl had written about being held inside the box.

A "rack" allegedly used for bondage and sex toys were also found on the property. Authorities alleged in court papers that Balletto called the girl a "trooper" because she didn't scream when she was in the box.

Authorities said the investigation is ongoing. U.S. Atty. Northern District spokesman Joshua Eaton said there could be more victims.

Many unanswered questions remain, including the exact connection between the girl and the suspects. It's unclear how much time she spent at the Lake County property or why she called police when she did.

Balletto and Pearmain pleaded not guilty last week to charges of federal conspiracy to distribute marijuana, using a minor in a drug operation and possession of a firearm to further drug trafficking.

Balletto was booked into Lake County jail on suspicion of cultivating and possessing marijuana, lewd or lascivious acts on a 15-year-old child and being a felon with a firearm. Pearmain was booked on suspicion of cultivating and possessing marijuana, conspiracy to commit a crime, kidnapping and committing a rape and unlawful sex with a minor.

Lake County Dist. Atty. Don Anderson said Friday that his office initially filed its own criminal charges against Balletto and Pearmain. But after consulting with the U.S. attorney's office, he dropped those charges until the federal case moved forward.

"We're going to hold back and let our victim recuperate and feel better about herself, and then look more into the sex crimes," he said.

Both men were being held without bail. They are due in San Francisco federal court Wednesday.

For authorities, what started as a fairly standard marijuana-growing case became something much more bizarre. "The marijuana is really in the back seat," Prince said. "The welfare of the child … has everyone very concerned."

kate.mather@latimes.com

joseph.serna@latimes.com

anthony.york@latimes.com

Mather and Serna reported from Los Angeles, York from Lakeport, Calif. Times staff writer Richard Winton contributed to this report.

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DWP called on to change unlimited paid sick-day policy

Several top Los Angeles officials, including Mayor Eric Garcetti, are calling for changes to a policy that allows employees at the city's Department of Water and Power to collect unlimited sick pay.

The policy, revealed by The Times on Friday, allows employees to take paid days off well beyond the agency's stated cap of 10 per year.

Since 2010, the utility has paid $35.5 million in extra sick days, the Times investigation found. Last year, 10% of the department's roughly 10,000 employees took at least 10 extra days off, and more than 220 employees took at least 20 extra working days off.

In a motion submitted at Friday's City Council meeting, Councilman Paul Koretz said the policy should be investigated "promptly and publicly."

"Clearly, this policy permits abuse and lack of accountability, with the city and the city's ratepayers all at risk," Koretz's statement read. The motion, seconded by Councilmen Paul Krekorian and Mitch O'Farrell, calls for DWP managers and the utility's ratepayer advocate to report back to the council regarding the policy "and any possible abuses and reforms" within 30 days.

Garcetti also voiced concerns about the policy, which he said needs to be changed. An aide to City Controller Ron Galperin said he is considering launching an audit to look at the utility's sick-day system.

The utility's officials pledged to fix the problem while also seeking to downplay its scope.

DWP spokesman Joe Ramallo said "a relatively small number of employees" had taken advantage of the policy. He noted that more than half of the utility's employees didn't take a single sick day in 2012.

Koretz said news of the sick-day policy was "a step back" for an agency that has often faced criticism over its well-compensated employees and perceived lack of transparency. DWP employees receive about 50% more pay than other city employees and 25% more than employees at other utilities in the region.

"These are exactly the kinds of things that have to be rooted out for the DWP to be the transparent, honest and effective organization we want it be," Koretz said.

The controversy over sick pay came as Garcetti took a hard line against any quick deal on a proposed new labor contract for more than 8,200 DWP workers.

"We won't be rushed into a decision until we look at all the details," Garcetti said Friday.

Brian D'Arcy, the DWP union leader who ran a ferocious campaign against Garcetti in the May election, has been trying for weeks to line up council support for a new salary agreement. The city's current contract with the union, Local 18 of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, expires in fall 2014.

Under the deal, outlined in a memo obtained by The Times, DWP employees would forgo a scheduled raise of 2% to 4% that is supposed to take effect Oct. 1. They would also get no raises the next two years. In 2016, they could get a pay hike of up to 4%.

But the deal would not meet Garcetti's demand that DWP employees start to pay a share of their health coverage.

Newly hired employees, however, would have to contribute 3% of their salary toward retirement health coverage — up from zero for current employees. They would also face bigger salary deductions for pension coverage than what current workers pay.

After a private meeting with fellow members of the city's negotiating panel Friday, Garcetti played down the possibility of any power struggle with Council President Herb Wesson over the proposed deal.

"This city has been consistent in its unified negotiating stance to address pensions, healthcare costs and salaries," Garcetti said.

kate.linthicum@latimes.com

michael.finnegan@latimes.com

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Young job-seeker hopes freeway ramps lead to an entry-level position

Jonathan Knight doesn't blame government cutbacks for forcing him to stand near a freeway ramp holding a "Please Take a Resume" sign.

The young man aiming for a career as a legislative analyst realizes it's the tight economy that is making it difficult for recent college graduates to launch their careers.

So Knight, who once interned with a U.S. senator in Washington, D.C., puts on a shirt and tie, grabs a sign that lists his qualifications and stands on street corners hoping passing motorists will slow down and grab one of his resumes.

The 25-year-old graduated in the spring from Cal Lutheran University in Thousand Oaks with a master's degree in public policy and public administration. Since then he has applied to nearly every city in the region for an entry-level job that might lead to a life as a government analyst.

Knight calculates he has passed out 300 resumes in the last four months, both to prospective employers and random motorists.

"I haven't heard anything back from anybody," he acknowledges. "It's definitely taken its toll on my confidence about becoming a successful member of society."

The job search has been frustrating and, at this point, Knight said he'd be happy to find a smaller job, perhaps at a retail outlet.

Knight grew up in Yorba Linda and received a degree in political science from the University of Wyoming. It was during his senior year in 2011 that he wrangled a five-month internship at the Washington, D.C., office of Sen. John Barrasso (R-Wyo.).

"It was really fascinating and high-pressure. It was the most eye-opening experience I've had in my life," he said.

As Barrasso's intern he assisted with public and media relations and helped update the senator's website with pictures. He also met about 25 other senators. "It opened my eyes to more of the real way that the world works," Knight said.

Barrasso took to the Senate floor toward the end of Knight's tour of duty to praise his intern's "strong work ethic that has made him an invaluable asset to our office.... I know he will have continued success with all of his future endeavors. I wish him all my best on his next journey," Barrasso told his colleagues.

"Jonathan was a hard-working intern and was always eager to help out," agreed Emily Lawrimore, Barrasso's communications director.

Officials with the nonpartisan Legislative Analyst's Office in Sacramento said there are many organizations that employ people already doing what Knight aspires to do.

"We're fully staffed at this time, but we're always taking applications," said Sarah Kleinberg, training and outreach coordinator with the office.

"It's a pretty competitive process because the economy is still recovering and some positions have been eliminated because of the recession," she said. "It's not necessarily easy."

These days Knight is staying with his sister and brother in Orange County. His retired parents live in Wyoming.

So far, he's focused on distributing his resumes to passersby on Westwood's Wilshire Boulevard and those leaving the 110 Freeway at South Arroyo Parkway.

The Pasadena spot is much more promising for resume distribution, he said. "On Wilshire, most people didn't want to stop. They were in a hurry."

Of course, the Westwood Federal Building is nearby, a place jammed with government employees. And a job in Washington, D.C., is his ultimate goal, Knight admitted.

As a fallback, perhaps he can find an entry-level position on the fringes of government in the Capitol.

"D.C. is an expensive place, but it's worth it," he said. "I don't plan on living too large right now. I'm only 25."

bob.pool@latimes.com

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Healthy pets could lead to healthier pet owners

The veterinarian examined Bella, a spotted cocker spaniel, and quickly concluded she was obese and needed to lose weight.

Working with a trainer, Maria Gastelum put her pooch on a nutrition and fitness plan. The regimen produced another benefit: Gastelum started to eat better and exercise more.

"If I didn't have her, I wouldn't own a pair of tennis shoes," said the Ontario resident. "It's really unbelievable how she's motivated me."

Los Angeles County public health officials hope that millions of pets living in the region can provide the same sort of inspiration and results for their owners. The idea is simple: If people won't exercise, eat better and stop smoking for themselves, maybe they will for their pets.

"You look at pets, and they look like their owners," said Karen Ehnert, acting director of veterinary public health for the L.A. County Department of Public Health. "We envision that by improving their pet's health, we can improve the family's health as well."

A year-old coalition of veterinarians, doctors, health educators, animal trainers and others called Healthy Pets, Healthy Families is trying to figure out how best to accomplish that. The group has conducted surveys of vets and pet owners and identified the areas where human and animal health overlap. Now, members are designing health education campaigns and finalizing goals for the year 2020, including reducing the number of pet owners who smoke and increasing the proportion of dog owners who go on daily walks. They also want to promote smoke-free parks.

Ehnert, who is heading the coalition, wants owners to think more about what both they and their pets eat and to view their dogs as exercise buddies. She is encouraging neighborhood dog-walking clubs, which she said have the added benefit of reducing isolation.

Nationwide, about 53% of dogs and 58% of cats are overweight or obese, according to the Assn. for Pet Obesity Prevention. They are at higher risk for diabetes, arthritis, hypertension and respiratory conditions. Many of the owners who have overweight dogs are overweight themselves, according to a 2010 academic study.

Veterinarians are often reluctant to talk about obesity with the owners, who may treat their pets like children and overindulge them, said Peter Weinstein, the executive director of the Southern California Veterinary Medical Assn. and a member of the coalition. "A discussion with a pet owner about their pet's weight is a very touchy subject, especially when an owner also has a weight problem," he said.

The causes of obesity are the same in both pets and humans: not enough exercise and too much unhealthy food, experts say. Just as humans snack on potato chips, animals snack on treats and table scraps — and both gain weight. "We have gotten as a population into bad habits for ourselves, and we have extended them to our pets," Weinstein said. "We need to find ways to change those habits."

Gastelum acknowledged she and Bella had developed bad habits. After a long day at work in Los Angeles, Gastelum used to arrive home and collapse on the couch. Bella ate too much during the day and they rarely walked in the evenings. They both felt exhausted.

"I would feed off her energy and she would feed off mine," she said. "We just lagged."

After being warned about her dog's weight problem, Gastelum started working with Melissa Morrison, founder of Fur Fitness, an organization that works to reduce pet obesity through training and education. Morrison said her clients feel embarrassed about their pets' obesity and are usually eager to get them slimmed down. Sometimes, she said, the owners see their pets lose weight and say, "That is great you got the dog healthy — what about me?"

During a recent Healthy Pets coalition meeting in Los Angeles, participants broke into groups to discuss topics such as obesity, secondhand smoke, bite prevention and the importance of vaccinations.

At one table, they talked about pet owners failing to recognize the dangers of pets breathing cigarette smoke and eating cigarette butts. The public health department distributed copies of fliers explaining the risks and urging pet owners, "Stop smoking for their health and yours!" One postcard, featuring a photo of a dog with a gas mask, reads: "Got Fresh Air?"

At another table, Weinstein noted owners unwittingly overfeed their pets, advising they give their dog just a cup of food when the container they use holds several cups.

Heather Readhead, a family medicine doctor with the public health department, said she has seen similar problems with her diabetic patients. Readhead said she didn't know much about animal health before joining the coalition but now sees opportunities to help people by focusing on how they care for their pets.

Gastelum set out to exercise with Bella on a recent morning, hooking on a pink and black leash and grabbing a bottle of water. They walked briskly through their quiet Inland Empire neighborhood to a local school, where Bella chased Gastelum around the grass, taking breaks only to take a few sips of water from a small bowl.

A bird flew by and Bella took off running. "Go get 'em, baby girl," she said, but the bird was too fast.

Since starting the fitness routine last year, Gastelum said she has lost six pounds and Bella has dropped 10. They both stopped being couch potatoes and now have much more energy.

Back home, Bella, panting softly, climbed up onto a leopard-spotted blanket. Gastelum, face glistening with sweat, sat down beside her and patted Bella's head.

anna.gorman@latimes.com

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Studio exec investigated for copter use during Dorner manhunt

A Hollywood studio head is under criminal investigation for possibly impeding the manhunt for ex-Los Angeles police officer Christopher Dorner by landing his helicopter on a sheriff's helipad during the search, sources said.

Relativity Media's Ryan Kavanaugh has been known for taking a chopper to the office and appointments around town. The noisy landings have drawn complaints from some nearby residents.

But the Los Angeles County Sheriff's criminal investigation is a new level of scrutiny. It's unclear what exactly Kavanaugh is suspected of doing wrong and how he might have slowed authorities down.

Kavanaugh's camp says that he did not impede the cops and that the probe is politically motivated.

Law enforcement agencies from around the region — including the Sheriff's Department — pitched in during the February manhunt for Dorner, who was accused of killing four people, including two law enforcement officers. The search drained significant law enforcement resources, as authorities scrambled to end the rampage before anyone else was harmed.

Sheriff's spokesman Steve Whitmore confirmed there is a criminal investigation but declined to provide details because the probe is ongoing.

Kavanaugh's defenders said the criminal investigation is bogus, calling it political payback by Sheriff Lee Baca because Kavanaugh is supporting another potential candidate for sheriff in next year's election: Baca's outgoing top aide Paul Tanaka.

"This is another predictably sad and desperate attempt to distract the people of Los Angeles County from an ongoing Department of Justice investigation into the sheriff's unlawful treatment of minorities," said Relativity spokesman David Shane. "It's disappointing that the sheriff continues to waste taxpayer resources to pursue his own politically motivated vendetta."

Shane added that the district attorney's office looked at Kavanaugh's landing during the Dorner case earlier this year and chose not to file any charges.

A source close to Kavanaugh said the producer is a Sheriff's Department volunteer and was landing near sheriff's headquarters in Monterey Park for an appointment with Tanaka. The source said that the hunt for Dorner was beginning around that time and that Kavanaugh did not know about it until he was taking off and leaving. Kavanaugh, the source said, in no way impeded any law-enforcement action.

In the past, the department was supportive of Kavanaugh's chopper rides. In 2011, he came under heat from residents around the West Hollywood neighborhood where he often landed. That prompted a skirmish between the hotel that was letting him use its helipad and the California Department of Transportation, which issues relevant permits. An official there sent a terse letter to hotel management ordering that any illegal helicopter activity cease immediately.

In that spat, sheriff's brass appeared to come to Kavanaugh's defense, with a top official writing a letter to the Sofitel hotel to say the department did not oppose Kavanaugh's use of the hotel's helipad.

Baca was known at the time to have a close relationship with Kavanaugh, who has raised more than $156,000 for the Sheriff's Youth Fund, according to a department spokesman. In 2008, the department gave him an award for his work on behalf of the charity.

That relationship, however, turned sour recently after the producer declined to support Baca's 2014 reelection bid.

In June, an attorney for Kavanaugh sent a letter to Baca accusing the sheriff of "abusing your elected position by using Sheriff's Department resources to target and investigate him for no legitimate reason. Mr. Kavanaugh also has reason to believe that this misconduct is in retaliation for his support of your political opponent in next year's race…. Be assured that Mr. Kavanaugh will not be intimidated."

Though Tanaka, who was forced by Baca to step down, has said he is considering a run, he has not officially announced one way or another.

Baca has been accused of launching criminal investigations on behalf of supporters and using his power to settle political scores before. His spokesman denied the allegations from Kavanaugh's camp, saying "this criminal investigation has nothing to do with politics."

robert.faturechi@latimes.com

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Smartphones and dating: Not necessarily the text best thing

Single people these days sometimes share their beds with a Droid.

Others prefer an Apple or BlackBerry. Whatever the brand, nearly one out of five singles say they keep their smartphones in bed with them, a new national survey reveals. Sixteen percent say they have even checked their phones during sex.

The online poll of 1,500 single smartphone users, jointly commissioned by dating websites JDate and ChristianMingle, explored the extent to which the addictive devices have infiltrated every corner of romance today and even rewritten the courtship code of conduct.

Almost all singles keep their smartphones out of sight on a date, yet two out of three manage to check them during the date anyway. Most smartphone users said they would be OK with a date whipping out a phone to take a call or answer an email or text, as long as they provide a good explanation.

Decades ago, the rule of thumb was waiting three days to call after a date, said Greg Liberman, chief executive of Spark Networks, which owns JDate, ChristianMingle and other dating websites. Now, in many cases, "the three-day rule has become the three-hour rule," Liberman said.

Most single people with smartphones expect to communicate within 24 hours after a good first date, the poll showed. Beyond the first date, the timeline only tightens: Sixty percent of singles believe that if they text a current or possible paramour, they should get a text back within three hours. Singles between the ages of 21 and 26 were especially impatient, the poll found, with 14% expecting a reply instantly or within a few minutes.

Yet singles who text too eagerly could also find themselves in the doghouse. Nearly half of singles polled said they had gotten annoyed with someone they dated for texting them too much. Out of those singles, a majority said they soured after getting somewhere upward of 15 messages a day.

Unwelcome messages could lead to an especially unwelcome reply: More than half of the singles said they would consider breaking up with someone they were casually dating through a text message, the survey showed. Nearly one of four wouldn't rule out cutting off an exclusive relationship that way.

However, far fewer said texting would be their "most likely" method for breaking up, as opposed to making a phone call or meeting face-to-face.

Is all this technology good for romance? Nearly two out of three singles said mobile devices had helped improve their relationships with people they were dating or wanted to date. Yet almost as many — 58% — said it made dating more murky. Singles in their 20s and early 30s were especially worried.

The youngest singles "never actually got to experience a time when you write a phone number on a napkin," Liberman said. As texting and hanging out in groups takes over, many singles can't even tell if they're being asked out on a date, he said.

If someone gets a text message inviting them to a bar, for example, "are there going to be a bunch of other people there too?" Liberman asked.

emily.alpert@latimes.com

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USC to take over Coliseum complex -- at least temporarily

USC is poised to take over the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum and Sports Arena on Monday in anticipation of a 98-year lease of the public venues that has already been negotiated.

The long-term lease is expected to kick in once USC and the nearby California Science Center finalize an agreement on management of state-owned parking lots during Coliseum and Sports Arena events.

After the Science Center board postponed a vote on a parking deal this week, USC agreed to operate the stadium and arena for five months, taking control of the Coliseum for the fall football season. The USC Trojans have played at the stadium since it opened in 1923.

A spokeswoman for the Science Center board, Melissa Figueroa, said final ratification was put on hold because summer travel schedules did not permit officials "to complete the edits and review" before its meeting Wednesday.

The Coliseum Commission, which governs the facilities, voted last week to approve the temporary arrangement. That agreement states that if the state Science Center board does not approve a parking lot deal by Dec. 16, the entire 98-year agreement giving control of the venues to USC could collapse.

USC has sought control of the parking as a condition to run the Coliseum and Sports Arena. Opponents of such an arrangement said it would severely curtail parking for visitors to the Science Center and adjacent California African American Museum, and the museums' revenue could drop.

Under the deal now on the table, USC could claim museum parking for nine or 10 major events annually, depending on the number of home football games in a season.

Gov. Jerry Brown's administration promised the museums it would restore any lost parking funds during the coming two fiscal years to ensure that losses do not "impact the operations, safety or maintenance." Administration officials did not say where it would get that money.

Parking receipts help fund free programs at the Science Center, the African American Museum and the surrounding Exposition Park.

A state Department of Finance analysis said the lease could cost the museums and park $78,000 to $203,000 a year unless USC-managed events generate enough parking revenue to erase the shortfall.

The Science Center board approved the deal in principle on June 25, but it must ratify a final contract for the 98-year lease to take effect.

Coliseum attorney Thomas Faughnan said the commission's employees will be laid off Saturday and rehired Monday by USC, with employment and salary guaranteed for six months.  

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ron.lin@latimes.com

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Former Michigan State provost nominated to head UC Riverside

The former No. 2 administrator at Michigan State and a recent finalist to lead several other public universities across the country has been nominated to be the next chancellor of UC Riverside, officials announced Thursday.

Kim A. Wilcox, an expert in speech and hearing disorders who helped lead Michigan State University during a period of state budget cuts, is expected to be confirmed by UC regents as head of the 22,000-student Riverside campus. His salary and other terms of employment will not be publicly released until the regents vote on his nomination during a teleconference Aug. 8.

Friends say Wilcox long wanted to be in charge of a campus and saw no short-term chance that Michigan State President Lou Anna K. Simon would retire. Earlier this year, he was among the finalists to become chancellor of University of Wisconsin-Madison and president at the University of Wyoming. Last year he was a finalist to head the University of Hawaii-Manoa.

In a 10-campus university system with such international academic powerhouses as UCLA and UC Berkeley, UC Riverside has been fighting to gain more resources and prestige. After much debate and funding complications, it recently began to enroll students at its new medical school in an arrangement that will train doctors at community hospitals.

Wilcox, 59, recently stepped down after eight years as provost and executive vice president of the sprawling Michigan State in East Lansing, which enrolls about 47,000 students and includes two medical schools. He appeared to remain popular even though he helped oversee spending cuts, consolidated departments and laid off staff due to severe reductions in state funding.

Evan Martinak, president of the undergraduate student government, said Wilcox listened to students' concerns and helped push for some of their causes, such as making it easier to re-take a class if a student didn't do well the first time. During budget cutbacks and rising tuition, Wilcox helped to maintain financial aid, Martinak said.

"I think a lot of folks in academia would not be able to handle the situation in Michigan the way Kim was able to," he said.

Michigan State trustee Dianne Byrum, who is a former state legislator, described Wilcox as "a people person who puts you at ease."

That helped, she said, during thorny discussions with faculty and staff over cutting costs. "It was done as smoothly as anything of that magnitude could have been done," she said.

Wilcox previously was dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences at the University of Kansas and was president of the Kansas Board of Regents, which oversees higher education in that state. He earned a bachelor's in audiology and speech sciences from Michigan State and a master's and doctorate in related fields from Purdue University.

In nominating Wilcox, UC system President Mark G. Yudof made what is probably his final major appointment before his own retirement in September — when he will be succeeded by U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano.

Wilcox "has been a dedicated teacher, scholar and researcher who also excelled as an academic leader and chief executive, always maintaining his commitment to diversity and access to higher education," Yudof said in a prepared statement.

Until the regents vote, Wilcox will decline interviews, according to UC officials. In a statement, he said: "My values and interests align perfectly with UC Riverside, one of the nation's great research universities. I look forward to meeting with students, faculty, staff, alumni and members of the larger community, to learning and exchanging ideas and to working toward making Riverside the best it can be."

More than 100 candidates were considered and six were interviewed, officials said. But unlike some other state universities, UC does not reveal finalists.

UC Riverside's previous chancellor, Timothy White, left last year to lead the 23-campus Cal State system.

larry.gordon@latimes.com

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