LA

Why is COVID hitting LA so hard? Here are a few of my armchair theories:

1) High housing costs mean more people crammed into homes, particularly in lower income communities.

2) LA has a larger percentage of workers doing "in person" jobs than say, SF. For instance, in the skilled labor arena many in SF have "office jobs" whereas many in LA have "production jobs."

3) LA has very idiosyncratic and naturally rebellious political attitudes versus other cities. As evidence, Los Angeles an evangelical preacher who insists on doing church services, vocal bars that refuse to comply with county health regulations, young folks throwing massive weekend parties, and communities rejecting LA board of health guidelines and forming their own boards of health.

4) We have totally incompetent political leadership on the local, state, and national level.

5) LA attracts risk takers, who are not being as careful with COVID generally.

6) LA is chock full of subcommunities, many not even really defined. Many of these subcommunities play by their own rules and a few of these subcommunities are likely driving the massive spread.

7) Bad luck

8) The disease is still more mysterious and uncontrollable than we think.

9) Backlash against inconsistent regulations cause people to take more risk and be less careful than common sense dictates.

10) Did not get hit as hard as other place before, so we're getting caught up.

11) Generally lower hospital capacity.