El Monte Examiner_10/14/2024 by Beacon Media News

LA County board approves supplemental budget for fiscal year 2024-25

By Anusha Shankar, City News Service

The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors adopted supplemental changes to the county’s 2024-25 budget Tuesday, increasing the total spending plan to $49.2 billion.

County CEO Fesia Davenport presented her recommended budget updates to the board, adding roughly $3.5 billion to the $45.6 billion spending plan that was approved on June 24.

Davenport said a large chunk of the additional money is from unspent funds carried over from fiscal year 2023-24, while about $800 million in new revenue comes from state and federal funding. Only about $16.5 million of the additional spending was locally generated from taxes, she said.

A total of 515 new positions were added, with 204 positions in the Department of Social Services, 120 in the Department of Health

Services and some in the departments of Mental Health, Public Health and Youth Development.

Additionalfinancial commitmentsincluded funding for mental health beds, parks and recreation, supporting genderbased violence programs, domestic violence support services, immigrant and refugee support programs and efforts to eliminate medical debt.

Davenport stressed the county’s continued priority for expanding the county’s justice reform initiatives, as well as housing and homelessness, mental health services and public safety.

Another $102.4 million in one-time funding was allocated for Care First and Community Investment programs from unspent funds from the previous fiscal year, bringing the category to $626.4 million.

Supervisors Hilda Solis

and Holly Mitchell touched on the importance of funding justice care programs, community support and public infrastructure initiatives, including improvements to parks and recreation.

“I applaud the $2 million allocated to curb illegal dumping, which will go a long way to help Antelope Valley communities,” Barger said in a statement after the vote. “North County residents in particular are suffering from this pollution which has reached crisis proportions and deserve environmental justice. This illegal activity must be stopped in its tracks.”

Davenport again highlighted the potential liability facing the county from Child Victims Act claims under AB 218, which extended the statute of limitations for filing such damages claims.

“There are stark fiscal

realities created by thousands of AB 218 sexual abuse claims that’ll undoubtedly place big demands on the county’s budget,” Barger said in her statement. “It’s critical that we continue spending responsibly, living within our means while still doing right by victims.”

Board of Supervisors

Chair Lindsey Horvath said she was “happy” the budget invested in expanding psychiatric help, mobile mental health teams and after-hours response.

“Whether it’s homelessness response, a care-focused justice model or assistance to our young people and families, more mental health response teams working more hours will ultimately save lives,” Horvath said.

The adoption of the supplemental budget is the final phase of the annual budgeting process for the county.

Lawmakers again request state of emergency for LA County landfill

By Joe Taglieri joet@beaconmedianews.com

Federal and state elected officials on Thursday repeated a request that Gov. Gavin Newsom declare a state of emergency in response to toxic pollution at the Chiquita Canyon Landfill in Castaic.

Republican Rep. Mike Garcia and Democratic AssemblywomanPilar Schiavo, both from Santa Clarita, jointly penned a letter signed by 15 additional State Assembly members that “outlines the urgent need” for an emergency declaration to protect the health and safety of people who live near the landfill.

“Theenvironmental disaster at Chiquita Canyon has only worsened for residents in Val Verde, Castaic, and the Santa Clarita Valley,” Garcia said in a statement. “Innocent residents continue to face severe health problems and financial hardships because of this ongoing issue. It’s more urgent than ever: We need a State of Emergency.”

Garcia emphasized the bipartisan nature of the effort, which included two requests in March for the emergency declaration.

“I’m grateful to have Assemblywoman Schiavo as a partner committed to taking this fight directly to the Governor,” he said. “This joint letter proves that this issue transcends political boundaries — it’s about protecting the community and urging the state and county to do more for residents.”

Schiavo said she recently stayed overnight at the home of a family that lives near the landfill.

“Residents of Val Verde, Castaic, and students of

nearby schools have been subjected to prolonged exposure to harmful emissions, leading to a range of health issues including headaches, nausea, asthma, heart palpitations, and a newly identified cancer cluster,” Schiavo said in a statement. “Last week, to get a full understanding of the impacts, I stayed overnight with a family in the area. On their street of 14 houses, seven neighbors have been fighting cancer — one has passed away. While I am grateful for the robust state, federal, and county response to the disaster on the landfill site, neighbors just a few yards away do not have the protections or relief they need to keep themselves or their children safe.”

Schiavo added that the state of emergency should focus on community relief efforts.

The letter calls for a “longitudinal health study” to fully assess the landfill’s impact on local residents’ health. Since 2023, underground chemical reactions in a closed area of the landfill have resulted in toxic gas emissions, toxic leachate and runoff that has reached surrounding areas, according to the letter.

In February, the Los Angeles County Public Health Department declared Chiquita Canyon a public nuisance after the agency reported elevated levels of benzene and carbon tetrachloride, which respectively are known and probable cancer-causing chemicals.

“Not only have these findings been validated from testing by the (California) Department of Toxic

This chart shows the spending percentages for LA County’s 2024-25 budget. | Image courtesy of the Los Angeles County Chief Executive Office

Los Angeles County seeks to combat overcrowding at animal shelters

By City News Service

Proclaiming October as “Adopt a Shelter Dog Month” in Los Angeles County, the Board of Supervisors is calling for amplified efforts Wednesday to address overcrowding in animal shelters.

In a motion presented to the board Tuesday, Supervisor Kathryn Barger cited statistics showing overpopulation at adoption centers across the country. The motion also states that the county Department of Animal Care and Control is being negatively impacted by the shortage of veterinary professionals and increased shelter intake in the county.

Barger said the county’s housing challenges, high cost of living and return to in-person work were all making it hard for individuals to hold on to their pets.

According to Barger, out of 45 contract cities DACC serves, only 27 have enacted spay-and-neuter policies, 28 have adopted mandatory microchipping and only 25 provide vaccination clinics.

“We expanded our spay and neuter clinics and allocated $100,000 to focus on spay

and neuter services in the North Communities,” Barger said, noting that through 16 vet-at-the-park clinics, $300,000 worth of free pet food was distributed.

DACC was asked to report back to the board on strategies to alleviate shelter overcrowding through programs including a spay and neutering ordinance, contributions to the spay and neuter trust fund, microchipping, and others.

DACC, the Department of Economic Opportunity and the Department of Human Resources were also directed to report back with plans to increase hiring and training of veterinary staff.

With only 22 approved Registered Veterinary Technician programs in California, and only three in Los Angeles County, DEO was asked to create targeted recruitment programs.

Adopting a related motion by Supervisors Hilda Solis and Lindsey Horvath, October was proclaimed “Adopt a Shelter Dog Month” in the county.

“”During Adopt a Shelter Dog Month, we celebrate

the unconditional love and companionship that shelter dogs bring to our lives,” Solis said in a statement. “Each adoption not only transforms a life but also enriches our community. To that end, I urge everyone to consider opening their hearts and homes to these deserving animals. Together, we can raise awareness to make sure all adoptable dogs in our shelters find their way into loving homes to residents that want to be pet owners.”

Efforts to increase adoptions during October will include spot adoption events, increased social media outreach, updated adoption websites and education programs on pet care and available resources in the county.

Horvath noted that a “Bark-tober” event organized by the Sylmar City Council was aimed at pet care support through free pet vaccinations, microchipping, wellness exams and more.

Supervisor Janice Hahn, meanwhile, said “Dogtoberfest” events are scheduled at South Bay Botanic Garden on weekends through October.

Disneyland ticket prices go up again

For the second October in a row, Disneyland tickets jumped up Wednesday by roughly 6%, depending on the demand for a particular day.

But the lowest singleday, one-park ticket on the lowest-demand days remained at $104. But the other six pricing tiers, all based on anticipated demand, now range in price from $126 to $206.

The top price previously was $194.

Upgrading to park-hopper tickets will remain $65.

The increases also impacted multiple-day, singlepark tickets, which also went up around 6.5%.

Adding the “Lightning Lane” option now costs $32, up from $30.

Magic Key passes also went up, with the various options increasing by either $100 or $125. The basic “Imagine” pass went up by $100 to $599. The top-tier

by $100,

Arcadia Police investigating hidden camera found in front yard

Arcadia police Wednesday were continuing to investigate the discovery of a camera hidden among plants in the front yard of a home, the second such discovery in the area this year.

According to the Arcadia Police Department, officers responded around 8 a.m. Tuesday to the discovery in front of a home near Highland Oaks Drive and Virginia Avenue. The homeowner told the officer the device was found on the ground.

“The camera appeared to have been positioned in a manner that it could view other homes in the area, but it had fallen to the ground,” according to police.

“Camouflaged cameras are a tactic being used in residential burglaries,” police said in a statement. “Suspects will place hidden cameras in areas where it allows them to gather information about neighborhoods and particularly homeowners’ daily routines.”

Another camera was found in roughly the same area, about a mile away, in July, police said.

The person who found the camera Tuesday told ABC7 his dog spotted it first.

“I just picked it up and when I turned it over, I could see the little lens of the camera, and I immediately knew that this is something,” Chris Seymour told the station.

He said the camera was camouflaged to look like a plant.

“I do think it was most likely involved in some burglaries that have been around here,” he told Channel 7.

By City News Service

Photo by NEOSiAM 2024+ via Pexels

“Inspire” pass also increased

reaching $1,749. The good news? Parking prices remained the same, with general parking still costing $35.

Photo by Isaac Garcia via Pexels

| Photo courtesy of Arcadia PD

Editorial editorial@beaconmedianews.com

editor@hlrmedia.com

Graphics/Production production@beaconmedianews.com production@hlrmedia.com

Advertising advertising@beaconmedianews.com advertising@hlrmedia.com

Legal Advertising legals@beaconmedianews.com legals@hlrmedia.com

Business accounting@beaconmedianews.com accounting@hlrmedia.com

BEACON MEDIA ADDRESS: 820 S. Myrtle Ave. Monrovia, CA 91016

PHONE: (626) 301-1010

WEBSITE www.beaconmedianews.com

HLR MEDIA ADDRESS: 820 S. Myrtle Ave. Monrovia, CA 91016

PHONE: (626) 301-1010 www.HLRmedia.com

PRESS

SUBMISSIONS editor@beaconmedianews.com editor@hlrmedia.com AI

as a newspaper of general circulation in court case number KS 015970 City of Azusa, County of Los Angeles, State of California.

The San Gabriel Sunhas been adjudicated as a newspaper of general circulation in court case number GS 013808 City of San Gabriel, County of Los Angeles, State of California.

The Duarte Dispatchhas been adjudicated as a newspaper of general circulation in court case number GS 013893 City of Duarte, County of Los Angeles, State of California.

The Rosemead Readerhas been adjudicated as a newspaper of general circulation in court case number GS 048894 City of Rosemead, County of Los Angeles, State of California.

The Alhambra Press has been adjudicated as a newspaper of general circulation in court case number ES016581 City of Alhambra, County of Los Angeles, State of California.

The Baldwin Park Press has been adjudicated as a newspaper of general circulation in court case number KS017174 City of Baldwin Park, County of Los Angeles, State of California.

The Burbank Independent has been adjudicated as a newspaper of general circulation in court case number ES016728 City of Burbank, County of Los Angeles, State of California.

The Glendale Independent has been adjudicated as a newspaper of general circulation in court case number ES016579 City of Glendale, County of Los Angeles, State of California.

The Monterey Park Press has been adjudicated as a newspaper of general circulation in court case number ES016580 City of Monterey Park, County of Los Angeles, State of California.

The West Covina Press has been adjudicated as a newspaper of general circulation in court case number KS017304 City of West Covina, County of Los Angeles, State of California.

The San Bernardino Press has been adjudicated as a newspaper of general

Inside the State Department’s weapons pipeline to Israel

By Brett Murphy, ProPublica

This story was originally published by ProPublica. ProPublica is a Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative newsroom. Sign up for The Big Story newsletter to receive stories like this one in your inbox.

Reporting Highlights

More Bombs: Ambassador Jack Lew urged Washington to give thousands more bombs to the Israelis because they have a “decades-long proven track record” of avoiding killing civilians.

A Thank-You: After State Department officials spent months working through weekends and after hours on arms sales, the Israelis sent cases of wine to them just before Christmas.

A Lobbying Push: Defense contractors and lobbyists have also helped push along valuable sales by leaning on State Department officials and lawmakers whenever there’s a holdup.

These highlights were written by the reporters and editors who worked on this story.

In late January, as the death toll in Gaza climbed to 25,000 and droves of Palestinians fled their razed cities in search of safety, Israel’s military asked for 3,000 more bombs from the American government. U.S. Ambassador to Israel Jack Lew, along with other top diplomats in the Jerusalem embassy, sent a cable to Washington urging State Department leaders to approve the sale, saying there was no potential the Israel Defense Forces would misuse the weapons.

The cable did not mention the Biden administration’s public concerns over the growing civilian casualties, nor did it address well-documented reports that Israel had dropped 2,000-pound bombs on crowded areas of Gaza weeks earlier, collapsing apartment buildings and killing hundreds of Palestinians, many of whom were children. Lew was aware of the issues. Officials say his own staff had repeatedly highlighted attacks where large numbers of civilians died. Homes of the embassy’s own Palestinian employees had been targeted by Israeli airstrikes.

Still, Lew and his senior leadership argued that Israel could be trusted with this new shipment of bombs, known as GBU-39s, which are smaller and more precise. Israel’s air force, they asserted, had a “decades-long proven track record” of avoiding killing civilians when using the American-made bomb and had “demonstrated an ability and willingness to employ it in [a] manner that minimizes

collateral damage.”

While that request was pending, the Israelis proved those assertions wrong. In the months that followed, the Israeli military repeatedly dropped GBU-39s it already possessed on shelters and refugee camps that it said were being occupied by Hamas soldiers, killing scores of Palestinians. Then, in early August, the IDF bombed a school and mosque where civilians were sheltering. At least 93 died. Children’s bodies were so mutilated their parents had trouble identifying them.

Weapons analysts identified shrapnel from GBU-39 bombs among the rubble.

In the months before and since, an array of State Department officials urged that Israel be completely or partially cut off from weapons sales under laws that prohibit arming countries with a pattern or clear risk of violations. Top State Department political appointees repeatedly rejected those appeals. Government experts have for years unsuccessfully tried to withhold or place conditions on arms sales to Israel because of credible allegations that the country had violated Palestinians’ human rights using American-made weapons.

On Jan. 31, the day after the embassy delivered its assessment, Secretary of State Antony Blinken hosted an agency-wide town hall at an auditorium at the State Department headquarters where he fielded pointed questions from his subordinates about Gaza. He said the suffering of civilians was “absolutely gut wrenching and heartbreaking,” according to a transcript of the meeting.

“But it is a question of making judgments,” Blinken said of his agency’s efforts to minimize harm. “We started with the premise on October 7 that Israel had the right to defend itself, and more than the right to defend itself, the right to try to ensure that October 7 would never happen again.”

The embassy’s endorsement and Blinken’s statements reflect what many at the State Department have understood to be their mission for nearly a year. As one former official who served at the embassy put it, the unwritten policy was to “protect Israel from scrutiny” and facilitate the arms flow no matter how many human rights abuses

are reported. “We can’t admit that’s a problem,” this former official said.

The embassy has even historically resisted accepting funds from the State Department’s Middle East bureau earmarked for investigating human rights issues throughout Israel because embassy leaders didn’t want to insinuate that Israel might have such problems, according to Mike Casey, a former U.S. diplomat in Jerusalem. “In most places our goal is to address human rights violations,” Casey added. “We don’t have that in Jerusalem.”

On Sept. 24, ProPublica detailed how the government’s two foremost authorities on humanitarian assistance — the U.S. Agency for International Development and the State Department’s refugees bureau — concluded in the spring that Israel had deliberately blocked deliveries of food and medicine into Gaza and that weapons sales should be halted. But Blinken rejected those findings as well and, weeks later, told Congress that the State Department had concluded that Israel was not blocking aid.

The episodes uncovered by ProPublica, which have not been previously detailed, offer an inside look at how and why the highest ranking policymakers in the U.S. government have continued to approve sales of American weapons to Israel in the face of a mounting civilian death toll and evidence of almost daily human rights abuses. This article draws from a trove of internal cables, email threads, memos, meeting minutes and other State Department records, as well as interviews with current and former officials throughout the agency, most of whom spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly.

The records and interviews also show that the pressure to keep the arms pipeline moving also comes from the U.S. military contractors who make the weapons. Lobbyists for those companies have routinely pressed lawmakers and State Department officials behind the scenes to approve shipments both to Israel and other controversial allies in the region, including Saudi Arabia. When one company executive pushed his former subordinate at the department for a valuable sale, the government official reminded

him that strategizing over the deal might violate federal lobbying laws, emails show.

The Biden administration’s repeated willingness to give the IDF a pass has only emboldened the Israelis, experts told ProPublica. Today, as Israel and Iran trade blows, the risk of a regional war is as great as it has been in decades and the cost of that American failure has become more apparent, critics charge.

“The reaffirmation of impunity has come swiftly and unequivocally,” said Daniel Levy, who served in the Israeli military before holding various prominent positions as a government official and adviser throughout the ’90s. He later became one of the founders of the advocacy group J Street and president of the U.S./Middle East Project. Levy said there is virtually no threat of accountability for Israel’s conduct in Gaza, only “a certainty of carte blanche.” Or, as another State Department official said, “If there’s never any consequences for doing it, then why stop doing it?”

The war in Gaza has waged for nearly a year without signs of abating. There are at least 41,000 Palestinians dead, by local estimates. Israel says its actions have been legal and legitimate, unlike those of Hamas, which killed more than 1,100 Israelis, mostly civilians, on Oct. 7 and continues to hold dozens of hostages.

The U.S. has been a stalwart ally of Israel for decades, with presidents of both parties praising the country as a beacon of democracy in a dangerous region filled with threats to American interests.

In response to detailed questions from ProPublica, a State Department spokesperson sent a statement saying that arms transfers to any country, including Israel, “are done so in a deliberative manner with appropriate input” from other agencies, State Department bureaus and embassies. “We expect any country that is a recipient of U.S. security articles,” he added, “use them in full compliance with international humanitarian law, and we have several ongoing processes to examine that compliance.”

The spokesperson also

said Lew has been at the forefront of ensuring “that every possible measure is taken to minimize impacts on civilians” while working on a cease-fire deal to secure “the release of hostages, alleviate the suffering of Palestinians in Gaza, and bring an end to the conflict.”

- Israeli military leaders broadly defend their aerial campaign in Gaza as a “military necessity” to eradicate terrorists hiding among civilians. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has also publicly pressured the Biden administration to hasten arms transfers. “Give us the tools and we’ll finish the job a lot faster,” he said in June.

- ProPublica sent detailed questions to representatives of the Israeli government as well. A spokesperson said in a statement: “The article is biased and seeks to portray legitimate and routine contacts between Israel and the Embassy in Washington with State Department officials as improper. Its goal appears to be casting doubt on the security cooperation between two friendly nations and close allies.”

- Weapons sales are a pillar of American foreign policy in the Middle East. Historically, the U.S. gives more money to Israel for weapons than it does to any other country. Israel spends most of those American tax dollars to buy weapons and equipment made by U.S. arms manufacturers.

While Israel has its own arms industry, the country relies heavily on American jets, bombs and other weapons in Gaza. Since October 2023, the U.S. has shipped more than 50,000 tons of weaponry, which the Israeli military says has been “crucial for sustaining the IDF’s operational capabilities during the ongoing war.” The air defenses that defend Israeli towns and cities — known as the Iron Dome — also depend largely on U.S. support.

There is little sign that either party is prepared to curtail U.S. weapons shipments. Vice President Kamala Harris has called for a ceasefire, lamented the death toll in Gaza and said she supported Palestinians’ right to selfdetermination as well as President Joe Biden’s decision to pause a shipment of 2,000 bombs in June. She has also echoed a refrain from previous administrations, pledging to “ensure Israel has the ability to defend itself.” Harris also said she had no intention of breaking with Biden’s Israel policy.

Republican nominee for president Donald Trump, who has described himself as the “best friend that Israel

Israel

has ever had,” reportedly told donors that he supports Israel’s “war on terror” and promised to crush pro-Palestinian protests on college campuses. Trump was also recently a featured speaker at the Israeli-American Council’s summit, where he cast himself as the most pro-Israel choice in the coming election. “You have a big protector in me,” he told the crowd. “You don’t have a protector on the other side.”

The United States first began selling significant amounts of weapons to Israel in the early 1970s. Until then, Israel had relied on an array of home-grown and international purchases, notably from France, while the Soviet Union armed Israel’s adversaries. Over the past half-century, no country in the world has received more American military assistance than Israel.

The U.S. gives the Israeli government about $3.8 billion every year and much more during wartime to help maintain its military edge in the region. Congress and the executive branch have imposed legal guardrails on how Israel and other countries can use the weapons they buy with U.S. money. The State Department must review and approve most of those large foreign military sales and is required to cut off a country if there is a pattern or clear risk of breaking international humanitarian law, like targeting civilians or blocking shipments of food to refugees. The department is also supposed to withhold U.S.-funded equipment and weapons from individual military units credibly accused of committing flagrant human rights violations, like torture.

Initially, a country makes a request and the local embassy, which is under the State Department’s jurisdiction, writes a cable called a “country team assessment” to judge the

fitness of the nation asking for the weapons. This is just the beginning of a complex process, but it’s a crucial step because of the embassies’ local expertise.

Then, the bulk of that review is conducted by the State Department’s arms transfers section, known as the Bureau of PoliticalMilitary Affairs, with input from other bureaus. For Israel and NATO allies, if the sale is worth at least $100 million for weapons or $25 million for equipment, Congress also gets final approval. If lawmakers try to block a sale, which is rare, the president can sidestep with a veto.

For years, Josh Paul, a career official in the State Department’s arms transfers bureau, reviewed arms sales to Israel and other countries in the Middle East. Over time, he became one of the agency’s most well-versed experts in arms sales.

Even before Israel’s retaliation for Oct. 7, he had been concerned with Israel’s conduct. On multiple occasions, he said, he believed the law required the government to withhold weapons transfers. In May 2021, he refused to approve a sale of fighter jets to the Israeli Air Force. “At a time the IAF are blowing up civilian apartment blocks in Gaza,” Paul wrote in an email, “I cannot clear on this case.”

The following February, he wouldn’t sign off on another sale after Amnesty International published a report accusing Israeli authorities of apartheid.

In both cases, Paul later told ProPublica, his immediate superiors signed off on the sales over his objections.

“I have no expectation whatsoever of making any policy gains on this topic during this Administration,” he wrote at the time to a deputy assistant secretary.

During that same time

period, Paul circulated a memo to some of the agency’s senior diplomats with recommendations to strengthen the arms sales review process, such as including input from human rights groups. Paul warned that the Biden administration’s new arms transfer policy — which prohibits weapons sales if it’s “more likely than not” the recipient will use them to intentionally attack civilian structures or commit other violations — would be “watered down” in practice.

“There is an inarguable significant risk of civilian harm in the sale of precision-guided munitions to Israel and Saudi Arabia,” the December 2021 memo said. The U.S. government has been historically unable to hold itself to its own standards, he wrote, “in the face of pressure from partners, industry, and perceived policy imperatives emerging from within the government itself.”

It does not appear that recommendations in the memo were implemented either. Paul resigned in protest over arms shipments to Israel last October, less than two weeks after the Hamas attack. It was the Biden administration’s first major public departure since the start of the war. By then, local authorities said Israeli military operations had killed at least 3,300 Palestinians in Gaza.

Internally, other experts began to worry the Israelis were violating human rights almost from the onset of the war as well. Middle East officials delivered at least six dissent memos to senior leaders criticizing the administration’s decision to continue arming Israel, according to those who had a role in drafting some of them. The content of several memos leaked to the media earlier this year. The agency says it welcomes input from the dissent channel and incor-

delivered his endorsement of Israel’s request for the 3,000 precision GBU-39 bombs, which would be paid for with both U.S. and Israeli funds. Lew is a major figure in Democratic circles, having served in various administrations. He was President Barack Obama’s chief of staff and then became his treasury secretary. He has also been a top executive at Citigroup and a major private equity firm.

porates it into policymaking decisions.

In one previously unreported memo from November, a group of experts across multiple bureaus said they had not been consulted before several policy decisions about arms transfers immediately after Oct. 7 and that there was no effective vetting process in place to evaluate the repercussions of those sales.

That memo, too, seemed to have little impact. In the early stages of the war, State Department staff worked overtime, often after hours and through weekends, to process Israeli requests for more arms. Some in the agency have thought the efforts showed an inappropriate amount of attention on Israel.

The Israelis, however, felt different. In late December, just before Christmas, staff in the arms transfers bureau walked into their Washington, D.C., office and found something unusual waiting for them: cases of wine from a winery in the Negev Desert, along with personalized letters on each bottle.

The gifts were courtesy of the Israeli embassy.

The State Department spokesperson said employees are allowed to accept gifts from foreign governments that fall below a certain dollar threshold. “To allege that any of their allegiances to the United States should be questioned is insulting,” he added.

“The accusation that the Department of State is placing a disproportionate attention on Israel is inconsistent with the facts.”

The spokesperson for the Israeli government told ProPublica, “The embassy routinely sends individual bottles of wine (not cases) to many of its contacts to cordially mark the end of the year holidays.”

One month later, Lew

The U.S. defense attaché to Israel, Rear Adm. Frank Schlereth, signed off on the January cable as well. In addition to its assurances about the IDF, the memo cited the Israeli military’s close ties with the American military: Israeli air crews attend U.S. training schools to learn about collateral damage and use American-made computer systems to plan missions and “predict what effects their munitions will have on intended targets,” the officials wrote.

In the early stages of the war, Israel used Americanmade unguided “dumb” bombs, some likely weighing as much as 2,000 pounds, which many experts criticized as indiscriminate. But at the time of the embassy’s assessment, Amnesty International had documented evidence that the Israelis had also been dropping the GBU-39s, manufactured by Boeing to have a smaller blast radius, on civilians. Months before Oct. 7, a May 2023 attack left 10 civilians dead. Then, in a strike in early January this year, 18 civilians, including 10 children, were killed. Amnesty International investigators found GBU-39 fragments at both sites. (Boeing declined to comment and referred ProPublica to the government.)

At the time, State Department experts were also cataloging the effect the war has had on American credibility throughout the region. Hala Rharrit, a career diplomat based in the Middle East, was required to send daily reports analyzing Arab media coverage to the agency’s senior leaders. Her emails described the collateral damage from airstrikes in Gaza, often including graphic images of dead and wounded Palestinians alongside U.S. bomb fragments in the rubble.

“Arab media continues to share countless images and videos documenting mass killings and hunger, while affirming that Israel is committing war crimes and genocide and needs to be held accountable,” she reported in one early January email alongside a photograph of a dead

| Photo by Pamela Drew CC BY-NC 2.0

toddler. “These images and videos of carnage, particularly of children getting repeatedly injured and killed, are traumatizing and angering the Arab world in unprecedented ways.”

Rharrit, who later resigned in protest, told ProPublica those images alone should have prompted U.S. government investigations and factored into arms requests from the Israelis. She said the State Department has “willfully violated the laws” by failing to act on the information she and others had documented. “They can’t say they didn’t know,” Rharrit added.

Rharrit said her superiors eventually told her to stop sending the daily reports. (The State Department spokesperson said the agency is still incorporating perspectives from Arab media in regular internal analyses.)

Lew’s January cable makes no mention of the death toll in Gaza or the incidents of the Israelis dropping GBU-39s on civilians. Eight current and former State Department officials with expertise in human rights, the Middle East or arms transfers said the embassy’s assessment was an inadequate but not a surprising distillation of the administration’s position. “It’s an exercise in checking the boxes,” said Charles Blaha, a former human rights director at the agency.

The State Department declined to comment on the status of that request other than to say the U.S. has provided large amounts of GBU-39s to Israel multiple times in past years.

While the U.S. hoped that the smaller bombs would prevent unnecessary deaths, experts in the laws of war say the size of the bomb doesn’t matter if it kills more civilians than the military target justifies. Lt. Col. Rachel E. VanLandingham, a retired officer with the Air Force’s Judge Advocate General’s Corps, said the IDF is legally responsible for doing all it can to know the risk to civilians ahead of any given strike and to avoid indiscriminately bombing densely populated areas like refugee camps and shelters. “It seems extremely plausible that they just disregarded the risk,” VanLandingham added. “It raises serious concerns and indicators of violating the law of war.”

Officials at the embassy in Jerusalem and in Washington said that similar concerns have been repeatedly brought to Lew, but his instincts were to defend Israel. In a separate cable obtained by ProPublica, he told Blinken and other leaders in Washington that “Israel is a trustworthy defense articles recipient” and his country team assess-

Israel

ments ahead of past weapons sales have found that Israel’s “human rights record justifies the sale.”

Lew went even further and said the IDF’s system for choosing targets is so “sophisticated and comprehensive” that, by defense attaché Schlereth’s estimation, it “meets and often exceeds our own standard,” according to the cable. Two State Department officials told ProPublica that Lew and Schlereth have made similar statements during internal meetings. (The Navy did not make Schlereth available for an interview or respond to a list of questions.)

Early in the war, diplomats at the embassy also reported that Israel had dropped bombs on the homes of some of the embassy’s own staff, in addition to numerous other incidents involving civilians.

As to why Lew’s cables failed to reflect that kind of information, one official said, “My most charitable explanation is that they may not have had the time or inclination to critically assess the Israelis’ answers.”

In Israel’s New York consulate, weapons procurement officers occupy two floors, processing hundreds of sales each year. One former Israeli officer who worked there said he tried to purchase as many weapons as possible while his American counterparts tried just as hard to sell them. “It’s a business,” he said.

Behind the scenes, if government officials take too long to process a sale, lobbyists for powerful corporations have stepped in to apply pressure and move the deal along, ProPublica found.

Some of those lobbyists formerly held powerful positions as regulators in the State Department. In recent years, at least six high-ranking officials in the agency’s arms transfers bureau left their posts and joined lobbying firms and military contractors. Jessica Lewis, the assistant secretary of the bureau, resigned in July and took a job at Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck. The company is the largest lobbying firm in Washington, by lobbying revenue, and has represented the defense industry and countries including Saudi Arabia. (Lewis and the firm did not respond to requests for comment.)

Paul Kelly, who was the top congressional affairs official at the State Department between 2001 and 2005, during the U.S. invasions of Iraq and Afghanistan, said he regularly “got leaned on” by the private sector to push sales to lawmakers for final approval. “They wouldn’t bribe or threaten me, but they would say … ‘When are

you going to sign off on it and get it up to the Hill?’” he told ProPublica.

Three other State Department officials who currently or recently worked on military assistance said little has changed since then and companies that profit from the wars in Gaza and Ukraine frequently call or email. (The agency spokesperson told ProPublica that arms transfers are “not influenced by a particular company.”) The pressure also reaches lawmakers’ offices once they are notified of impending sales. Those measures include frequent phone calls and regular daytime meetings, according to an official familiar with the communications.

In some cases, the efforts appear to have drifted into questionable legal territory. In 2017, the Trump administration signed a $350 billion arms deal with Saudi Arabia, an extension of Obama’s former policy before he suspended some sales because of humanitarian concerns. For years, the Saudis and their allies used American-made jets and bombs to attack Houthi militant targets in Yemen, killing thousands of civilians in the process.

The following February, the State Department was weighing whether to approve a sale of precisionguided missiles produced by Raytheon to Saudi Arabia. A vice president at the company named Tom Kelly — the former principal deputy assistant secretary of the State Department’s arms transfers bureau — emailed a former subordinate, Josh Paul. Kelly asked to set up a meeting with Paul and a colleague at the company to “talk through strategy” on pushing the sale through, according to an email of the exchange.

Paul wrote back that such a meeting could be illegal. “As you’ll recall from your time here, we’re restricted by the Anti-Lobbying Act from coordinating legislative strategies with outside groups,” he said. “However, I think the potential bumps in the road are relatively obvious.” Those bumps were a reference to recent media articles about mass civilian casualty incidents in Yemen.

“No worries,” Kelly responded. “I’m sure I’ll see you around.”

Kelly and Raytheon did not reply to requests for comment.

The State Department ultimately signed off on the sale.

Mariam Elba contributed research. Republished

Report: California's homeless population grew again this year

By Marisa Kendall, CalMatters via Stacker

New data shows nearly 186,000 people now live on the streets and in homeless shelters in California, proving the crisis continues to grow despite increasing state and local efforts to stem the tide.

That's according to an exclusive CalMatters analysis of the latest results of the point-in-time count, a federally mandated census that requires counties to tally their unhoused residents over the course of one night or early morning in January.

The count is up slightly from last year's tally of about 181,000, and up 8% from 2022, the last year most California counties counted people living in encampments. But there's some good news: The rate at which the homelessness crisis is growing appears to have slowed. It grew 13% between 2019 and 2022, 13% between 2017 and 2019, and 16% between 2015 and 2017.

And homelessness actually dropped significantly from 2022 in at least nine counties — bucking what for some was a yearslong trend of increases. At least four other counties saw their populations remain relatively steady.

CalMatters' analysis is based on data from the 32 counties that have reported it so far this year.

In counties that made progress this year, officials say they added more shelter beds and affordable housing — much of it through federal funding related to the COVID-19 pandemic or other new state money.

"Folks got serious," said Kari Howell, a program manager for the Homeless Services Division of San Luis Obispo County, which saw a 19% dip in homelessness compared with 2022. "Service providers started to get the support they needed from local communities that allowed them to further expand the work they were doing. I think we're really proud,

while also simultaneously acknowledging there's so much more work to do."

But experts warn these numbers should be taken with a grain of salt. The county that reported the biggest increase in homelessness, San Joaquin, and the one that reported the biggest decrease, Sacramento, both changed the way they counted this year — calling into question how accurately this count can be compared to prior years. And in every county, experts warn the tally is likely an undercount, as volunteers are sure to miss people sleeping tucked away out of sight.

"Ever since the (pointin-time count) became a mandate, we've been railing against it," said Christy Saxton, director of health, housing, and homeless services for Contra Costa County. "Because it's incredibly flawed. Everyone has a different methodology."

Those challenges point to a bigger dilemma: Voters and politicians alike repeatedly report that homelessness is one of the most important issues facing California, but it's hard to address the problem without knowing its full scope.

Sacramento and San Joaquin counties saw big changes. Or did they?

Homelessness doubled in San Joaquin County this year compared to the county's last count in 2022. And the number of people sleeping outdoors — not in a shelter — increased nearly a whopping 160%. No other California county saw such a massive increase.

But the huge change raised questions.

Community leaders say the increase is, at least partially, part of a broader trend of more people landing on the streets in the Central Valley. Kern County saw the state's secondworst increase: Overall homelessness grew 67% compared to 2022, and the number of people sleeping

outside increased 128%. Fresno County didn't count its unsheltered homeless population this year, but it saw a nearly 80% increase in overall homelessness from 2019 to 2023.

Activists in the Central Valley blame rent increases, which, unlike in big cities such as San Francisco and Los Angeles, are rarely moderated by local rent control rules.

The Rev. Nelson Rabell, a pastor in Stockton who also serves on the board of affordable housing organization Faith in the Valley, blames the recent influx of people moving to the region from the Bay Area in search of cheaper housing. Families in his congregation keep coming to him with the same story: Their landlord kicked them out and wants to remodel their home to attract Bay Area renters with more money, he said.

"They're always on the brink," Rabell said of those displaced families. "One check away. Someone gets sick, or you have a landlord trying to take advantage of the situation. They're one month away from being homeless."

But there could be another factor behind San Joaquin County's massive increase in homelessness: A major change in the way the county counted.

This year, instead of doing the count itself, San Joaquin County used data firm Applied Survey Research, a company also used by nine other California counties this year.

In a change from last year, the county also assigned volunteers to every census tract in an effort to count all homeless people. And their numbers skyrocketed.

"Knowing how many people are living unsheltered is very disheartening," said Krista Fiser, chair of the county's continuum of care, "but most people involved with the county feel confident that it is a significantly more accurate count."

The new methodology

likely doesn't account for the entire increase. "Anecdotally, you can see it's getting worse," Fiser said.

But because of the data discrepancy, officials don't really know how much worse.

A questionable decline in homelessness in the capital Activists have raised similar questions in Sacramento County, which saw the state's biggest drop in homelessness. Overall homelessness fell 29% compared to the county's last count in 2022, and the number of people sleeping outside dropped 41%.

But Loaves & Fishes, a nonprofit that provides food and other services for homeless communities in Sacramento, says its programs served more people this year than last year. It questions whether the point-in-time count numbers are too good to be true.

"These numbers are incredibly difficult to believe and further highlight the trust issues with local government that our guests have consistently expressed over our many years of service," the organization said in a June news release.

Like San Joaquin, Sacramento County changed the way it counted. Instead of using Sacramento State University, the county hired Simtech Solutions — a data firm that also counted for more than a dozen other California counties this year. Sacramento made the switch because officials liked the idea of being part of that broader cohort, said Trent Simmons, director of data for Sacramento Steps Forward, the nonprofit that leads the county's count.

Simmons stands behind the reported drop. Though the vendor was different, the method they used was the same as in 2022, he said.

"When we point to a lot of other contextual data around the count, it all does point to the same direction," he said. "We see an increase in services, we see more people housed, more shelter capacity, more permanent housing capacity, we see more funding, we see more service providers in the system."

Problems with the homeless point-in-time count in California

The feds tell counties throughout the country

to count their unhoused populations at least every two years using a pointin-time census, which generally takes place over the course of one night in January. In California, the counts generate tons of fanfare. Armies of volunteers fan out to tally every person they see sleeping in a tent or a car, and mayors, city council members and other elected officials often join in. They also count everyone spending the night in a shelter.

The results are crucial. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development uses the data to help determine how much homelessness funding to give each county. But the numbers also have come to serve as a framework around which states base their understanding of the homelessness epidemic. State and local politicians constantly reference them in speeches: Decreases allow bragging rights, and increases are lobbed as ammunition at opponents.

The data also factors into legislation. Sen. Catherine Blakespear, a Democrat from Encinitas, introduced

See Homeless population Page 07

A woman participates in a point-in-time count. | Photo courtesy of Loren Elliott/CalMatters/Stacker

a bill last year that would require local governments to provide enough housing for their homeless populations based on their most recent point-in-time count. While that provision is no longer on the table, the counts continue to come up time and time again in legislative hearings.

Most California counties that conducted a count this year released the results this summer. Thirteen counties, including Santa Clara, didn't count this year — they counted last year and will count again in 2025. Another 13 counted this year, but haven't yet released their results.

CalMatters compiled and analyzed the results available for each county. In reaching the statewide total, if there was no 2024 data, CalMatters used the most recent data reported to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

The feds eventually will compile the data into a national report, but that likely won't happen until the end of the year. When it does, its total for California may be different from CalMatters' total, because it will include data that wasn't yet reported at the time of publication.

The federal agency recognizes the limitations of its mandatory count, saying it's not meant to capture the "entire universe" of people who are homeless throughout the year.

But, according to spokesperson Andra Higgs, "There is no other data source available that provides a more accurate count of both sheltered and unsheltered homelessness across the country."

There are ways local officials can make their counts more accurate, such as calling people on housing waitlists to ask where they sleep, or using school data to contact families of homeless students, said Peter Connery, vice president of Applied Survey Research — a nonprofit consulting firm that conducted counts for 10 California counties this year.

But the problem, Connery said, is that most counties conduct the counts

on a shoe-string budget, using staff who already have a full plate of other responsibilities. His firm charges between $50,000 and $185,000 for a count, depending on the size of the county. Those prices include paying people who are or have been homeless to help.

Counties do the best they can with what they have, Connery said.

"Does every county do an optimal job of it? I would say no, they don't," he said. Did cracking down on encampments change homelessness numbers?

As officials in cities throughout California experiment with new ways to manage homelessness, they eagerly awaited the results of this year's pointin-time count to see if their efforts paid off.

In San Diego, Mayor Todd Gloria didn't get the reduction he was hoping for after cracking down on street encampments and directing people to "safe sleeping" sites. The number of people sleeping outside without shelter increased 6% in the city compared

Homeless population

San Diego count every year instead of every other year).

San Diego banned homeless encampments

go in a city without enough shelter beds or housing, city leaders opened sanctioned camps where people

to last year (unlike many other California jurisdictions, the city and county of

across a wide swath of the city in July 2023. To give people somewhere legal to

sleep in tents purchased by the city, and safe parking sites for people living in

RVs. The 749 people living in those sanctioned camps and parking sites are still counted as homeless and "unsheltered" by the feds, meaning they don't help San Diego lower its unsheltered point-in-time count numbers.

Gloria called that "frustrating." He sent the Department of Housing and Urban Development a letter this summer asking the agency to reclassify both types of sites as shelters.

"I believe the streets are better today than they were a year ago," Gloria told CalMatters.

In the city of Los Angeles, where Mayor Karen Bass has made clearing encampments a priority, homelessness dropped 2% this year from the year before. It's a small decline, but it's the first time in six years the city has seen any decrease. The number of people living on the street without shelter dropped 10%.

Bass drastically changed the way the city clears encampments in December 2022, when she launched Inside Safe, a program that moves people from camps into hotel rooms. More than 2,700 people have come indoors through that program, according

to LAist. But a CalMatters investigation found officials have struggled to provide the medical and mental health services participants need, and to move people from the temporary hotels into permanent housing.

People living in those temporary hotel rooms are still classified as homeless by the federal government.

The number of people sleeping outdoors dropped nearly 45% in Napa County from 2022 — the biggest decrease in unsheltered homelessness of any California county. City and county officials say that's because they've gone to great lengths to snap up state and federal funding.

In 2022, the county received just under $100,000 per year for permanent supportive housing from the feds, said Jennifer Palmer, the county's director of housing and homeless services. Now, they rake in more than $400,000.

"We're really decided that is the greatest need in the community," Palmer said.

In two years, the county also added 95 new shelter beds, more than doubling their supply.

But in some areas of California, the funds they used to make gains against homelessness have dried up. Homelessness decreased in Santa Cruz County by nearly a quarter between 2022 and 2023. Then it plateaued this year.

The county received nearly 400 new federal housing vouchers in 2022 because of the COVID-19 pandemic. But while those have been used up, people continue to lose their homes faster than the county can pull people out of homelessness, said Robert Ratner, director of Housing for Health in the county.

"We're not going to see progress in the (point-intime) count if that is the continuing dynamic," he said.

This story was produced by CalMatters and reviewed and distributed by Stacker Media. The article was retitled and copy edited from its original version. Republished pursuant to a CC BY-NC 4.0 license.

| Image courtesy of CalMatters/Stacker

| Image courtesy

Ocean Protection Council refines plans to protect California coastal waters

By Suzanne Potter, Producer, Public News Service

California has set a goal to protect 30% of its land and waters by the year 2030, so the Ocean Protection Council is working on which waters should count as protected and is identifying new conservation measures.

A public comment period on its draft framework just ended.

Drew Talley, professor of environmental and ocean sciences at the University of San Diego, said the proposal is on the right track but needs a little more work when it comes to estuaries, where the rivers meet the sea.

“It doesn’t look at some

of the main threats those systems are facing,” Talley explained. “Including sea level rise, degraded water quality and ongoing effects of historical alterations like dams and diking and urban runoff.”

The Ocean Protection Council is expected to release its final proposal Dec. 9. Estuaries are crucial habitat for many species. They also buffer communities from floods during a storm, reduce ocean acidification and help fight climate change, since marine plants store a great deal of carbon.

Kerstin Wasson, research coordinator for the Elkhorn

Slough National Estuarine Research Reserve near Monterey, said the contours of protected areas need to be widened, to account for the effects of climate change.

“With accelerated sea level rise, they’re going to need a lot of space to migrate upwards,” Wasson urged. “If we were to draw a circle around an estuary to say what’s protected, it needs to be 10 feet above where the marsh is today.”

More than 90% of California’s historic wetlands have been lost to development.

Support for this reporting was provided by The Pew Charitable Trusts.

Conservation groups slam federal effort to reduce gray wolf protections

By Suzanne Potter, Producer, Public News Service

Environmental groups are slamming a Biden administration effort to remove federal protections for the endangered gray wolf.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service just appealed a 2022 court decision reinstating protections for the gray wolf under the Endangered Species Act; protections lost in the Trump era.

Derek Goldman, Northern Rockies senior field representative for the nonprofit Endangered Species Coalition, said federal officials are making contradictory moves.

“On one hand, they said earlier this summer that they want to write a national recovery plan. But then they appealed to reinstate the Trump wolf delisting rule, which would presumably mean they don’t have to do a recovery plan,” Goldman pointed out. “This is kind of sending a mixed message here.”

In the suit, Justice Department attorneys argued the gray wolf is no longer in danger of extinction. The National Rifle Association and hunting and livestock groups also supported the Trump-era policy, which would send protections back to the states.

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife said seven confirmed packs of gray wolves have made their way down from Oregon. Goldman

acknowledged the wolves enjoy state-level protections but have a long way to go.

“They certainly haven’t recovered throughout all the suitable habitat that’s in California, like the Sierra Nevada mountain range,” Goldman noted. “But without the resources provided by the Endangered Species Act, they won’t fully recover.”

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife

Service set a deadline of December 2025 to produce a new federal gray wolf recovery plan.

Disclosure: The Endangered Species Coalition contributes to Public News Service’s fund for reporting on Endangered Species and Wildlife. If you would like to help support news in the public interest, visit https://www.publicnewsservice. org/dn1.php.

New treatment, tips for taming postpartum depression

By Suzanne Potter, Producer, Public News Service

More new babies are born in the fall than any other time of year which also means some people who give birth may be heading into the winter months with what is sometimes called the “baby blues.”

Experts said postpartum depression is more than just the fatigue and life changes that come with being a new parent. In California and across the country, there are more treatment options, including a relatively new, fast-acting pill for severe postpartum depression, called Zurzuvae.

Dr. Donna O’Shea, OB/ GYN and chief medical officer for population

health at UnitedHealthcare, advised women who feel they are struggling to seek help rather than trying to go it alone.

“One in five women experience pregnancy-related mental health conditions,” O’Shea pointed out. “Of women who have postpartum depression, 20% will face suicidal thoughts and even attempt self-harm.”

She noted people have a higher risk of postpartum depression if they have a history of anxiety or depression, if they come from an under-resourced community, use drugs or alcohol or if they experience fertility challenges, an unwanted pregnancy or a difficult

birth.

Rhonda Smith, executive director of the nonprofit California Black Health Network, said equity issues are also at play here.

“Only about 4% of mental health providers are Black,” Smith stressed. “Trying to find a mental health service provider who looks like us, that is very, very difficult.”

Women are also urged to contact their doctors, activate their personal support network and find out if their company offers an employee assistance program including mental health resources.

Disclosure: UnitedHealthcare contributes to

Elkhorn Slough near Monterey is one of many areas likely to be included in the list of protected areas under the state’s 30x30 plan. | Photo by Kerstin Wasson

Historically, the U.S. had tens of thousands of gray wolves but now fewer than 5,000 remain, spread over a few Western states including California. | Photo by Gary Kramer/USFWS

Photo by Alexander Grey on Unsplash

Proposition 36 gets support, opposition from SoCal county boards

By Joe Taglieri joet@beaconmedianews.com

Astate ballot measure addressinghomelessness, drug addiction and theft has gleaned support from supervisors in San Bernardino, Orange and San Diego, while majorities in Los Angeles and San Diego counties have opposed the initiative.

In November voters will consider Proposition 36, the Homelessness, Drug Addiction, and Theft Reduction Act, which would overturn Proposition 47 and stiffen penalties for drug possession and thefts under $950 by offenders with two prior drug or theft convictions. Under Prop 47, which state voters passed a decade ago in an effort to ease prison overcrowding, those offenses were reduced to misdemeanors.

Prop 36 would also establish stiffer penalties for fentanyl trafficking and longer prison sentences for flash-mob-style, organized retail robberies, while creating a new crime category called a “treatment-mandated felony.”

Offenders facing a third felony charge for possession of hard drugs including fentanyl, heroin, cocaine and methamphetamine “would be given the option of participating in drug and mental health treatment,” according to the proposed law. “If the offender successfully completes drug and mental health treatment, the charge would be fully expunged, and the offender would receive no jail time.”

On Tuesday the San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors was the latest panel of lawmakers to come out in favor of Prop 36.

Supporters claim the initiative strengthens the criminal justice system by mandating treatment or state prison time for individuals who repeatedly commit smash-and-grab thefts or traffic fentanyl.

San Bernardino County officials said the proposed law addresses “the comorbidity of drug dependence and mental health issues, which are contributing factors in the proliferation of public encampments and declining human conditions across the state.”

San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors Chair Dawn Rowe said in a statement, “This measure makes important changes in the way we prosecute specific crimes, holding offenders accountable and making our communities safer. At

the same time, it ensures a balanced approach by providing an opportunity for those who require addiction treatment to get the help they need.”

County Sheriff Shannon Dicus said in a statement, “I fully support Proposition 36, which brings much-needed reforms to our criminal justice system. Prop. 36 puts consequences back into the system for suspects involved in the possession and use of hard narcotics and shoplifting. Suspects can also choose treatment and rehabilitation over incarceration for non-violent offenders.

“By helping individuals break the cycle of addiction, we can reduce recidivism and enhance public safety. ... This initiative ensures that our resources are directed toward serious offenders while giving those struggling with substance abuse the opportunity for meaningful recovery,” Dicus said.

San Bernardino County District Attorney Jason Anderson said in a statement, “Proposition 36 delivers reforms needed to appropriately address the rise in drug-related crime while maintaining the integrity of our criminal

justice system. The critical element lacking in the current legislation is an advisal for repeat offenders who deal deadly substances like fentanyl and heroin. Prop. 36 strengthens our ability to hold them accountable for putting profits before human life. At the same time, it provides a clear path to rehabilitation for those willing to seek treatment.”

Anderson added that an approved proposition “will give law enforcement and prosecutors the tools we need to combat crime while also offering individuals a chance at recovery and reintegration into society.”

On Sept. 24 the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors voted 3-1 to oppose Prop 36.

LA County Supervisors Holly Mitchell and Hilda Solis’ motion argued that Prop 47 provides millions in funding for housing services, mental health care, addiction treatment and job training.

If voters pass Prop 36, it would cause “a loss of funding for Los Angeles County programs that provide alternatives to incarceration and necessary supportive services to communities,” according to

the motion.

The supervisors contend the initiative would lead to higher incarceration rates, higher court costs and take away funding from programs that aim to reduce crime and recidivism.

“This measure, while seemingly well-intentioned, undermines the social and economic interests of the county, disproportionately affects vulnerable populations, and threatens to reverse important gains in justice reform,” according to the motion.

The motion also said the county’s programs have received more funding than anywhere else in the state and have helped over 10,000 people who have demonstrated a low rate or crime recidivism — 90% of individuals who received Prop 47-funded diversion and reentry services in LA County from 2019 to 2023 were not convicted of any subsequent crimes.

Supervisor Janice Hahn recused herself from the vote, and Supervisor Kathryn Barger voted against the motion.

“I’m supporting Proposition 36 because it will reinstate accountability on crimes destroying the

said.

On Wednesday the Orange County Board of Supervisors voted its support for Prop 36.

“Proposition 47 has contributed to the rise in organized retail theft, store closures, and difficulties in getting people the mental health and addiction treatment they desperately need,”

OC board Chair Don Wagner said in a statement. “Proposition 36 offers targeted solutions, ensuring public safety while helping individuals break the cycle of addiction and crime.”

OC Supervisor Katrina Foley said in a statement, “Our communities deserve to feel safe whether walking their dogs, shopping at the Plaza, sleeping in their homes, or grabbing a Slurpee at 7/11. We can no longer tolerate this culture of crime that’s developed in the State of California. I strongly and unequivocally support Proposition 36.”

Also Wednesday, a divided San Diego County Board of Supervisors voted 3-2 to reject endorsement of Prop. 36.

quality of life of law-abiding people in Los Angeles County,” Barger said in a statement. “I believe this proposition isn’t about overturning Proposition 47 in its entirety. Proposition 36 was created by a group of bi-partisan state legislators. It’s focused on modifying legal loopholes that repeat offenders exploit as they manipulate the system to avoid legal consequences. ...

“I also believe we can implement Proposition 36’s reforms in a balanced way that respects our Board of Supervisors’ commitment to diversion and rehabilitation,” Barger continued. “We will continue honoring our sizable, multimilliondollar investments in the work of our county’s Justice, Care and Opportunities Department and Department of Youth Development. Their respective missions are to decrease recidivism, enhance re-entry services, and ultimately prevent individuals from becoming involved with justice systems.

“But supporting Proposition 36 sends a clear message to individuals who feel they are beyond the reach of the law: you will be held accountable,” Barger

Board Chairwoman Nora Vargas voted against the endorsement, as did Terra Lawson-Remer and Monica Montgomery Steppe. Supervisors Joel Anderson and Jim Desmond were in favor of a resolution supporting Prop 36.

In a statement following the vote, Desmond called Prop 36 “a vital step towards making our community safer and giving people a chance to rebuild their lives.”

Vice Chair LawsonRemer said that an enacted Prop 36, the San Diego County would lose around $14 million in state funding for mental health and drug addiction treatment, along with homelessness programs.

Lawson-Remer added that the proposed law would result in the county spending $58 million more each year for criminal justice expenditures.

“Getting rid of the successful programs that provide treatment for people abusing drugs and alcohol will create more criminals, and will result in hundreds more people living on our streets,” Lawson-Remer said in a statement.

The election featuring Proposition 36, along with the races for president and many local, state and federal offices, is Nov. 5.

The San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors. | Photo courtesy of San Bernardino County

Probate Notices

NOTICE OF PETITION TO ADMINISTER ESTATE OF:

HELEN B. LOZANO

CASE NO. 24STPB10852

To all heirs, beneficiaries, creditors, contingent creditors, and persons who may otherwise be interested in the WILL or estate, or both of HELEN B. LOZANO.

A PETITION FOR PROBATE has been filed by JANET LOZANO in the Superior Court of California, County of LOS ANGELES.

THE PETITION FOR PROBATE requests that JANET LOZANO be appointed as personal representative to administer the estate of the decedent.

THE PETITION requests the decedent’s WILL and codicils, if any, be admitted to probate. The WILL and any codicils are available for examination in the file kept by the court.

THE PETITION requests authority to administer the estate under the Independent Administration of Estates Act with limited authority. (This authority will allow the personal representative to take many actions without obtaining court approval. Before taking certain very important actions, however, the personal representative will be required to give notice to interested persons unless they have waived notice or consented to the proposed action.) The independent administration authority will be granted unless an interested person files an objection to the petition and shows good cause why the court should not grant the authority.

A HEARING on the petition will be held in this court as follows: 10/24/24 at 8:30AM in Dept. 62 located at 111 N. HILL ST., LOS ANGELES, CA 90012

IF YOU OBJECT to the granting of the petition, you should appear at the hearing and state your objections or file written objections with the court before the hearing. Your appearance may be in person or by your attorney.

IF YOU ARE A CREDITOR or a contingent creditor of the decedent, you must file your claim with the court and mail a copy to the personal representative appointed by the court within the later of either (1) four months from the date of first issuance of letters to a general personal representative, as defined in section 58(b) of the California Probate Code, or (2) 60 days from the date of mailing or personal delivery to you of a notice under section 9052 of the California Probate Code. Other California statutes and legal authority may affect your rights as a creditor. You may want to consult with an attorney knowledgeable in California law.

YOU MAY EXAMINE the file kept by the court. If you are a person interested in the estate, you may file with the court a Request for Special Notice (form DE-154) of the filing of an inventory and appraisal of estate assets or of any petition or account as provided in Probate Code section 1250. A Request for Special Notice form is available from the court clerk. Attorney for Petitioner

MICHAEL G. EBINER, ESQ. - SBN 183499, EBINER LAW OFFICE 100 N. CITRUS STREET, SUITE 520 WEST COVINA CA 91791

Telephone (626) 918-9000 10/7, 10/10, 10/14/24 CNS-3858781# MONROVIA WEEKLY

NOTICE OF PETITION TO ADMINISTER ESTATE OF Antonio Rolluqui Lumawig, Jr.

CASE NO. 24STPB11229

To all heirs, beneficiaries, creditors, contingent creditors, and persons who may otherwise be interested in the will or estate, or both, of: Antonio Rolluqui Lumawig, Jr.

A PETITION FOR PROBATE has been filed by Ronnie Arciaga Lumawig in the Superior Court of California, County of Los Angeles.

THE PETITION FOR PROBATE requests that Ronnie Arciaga Lumawig be appointed as personal representative to administer the estate of the decedent.

THE PETITION requests the decedent’s WILL and codicils, if any, be admitted to probate. The will and any codicils are available for examination in the file kept by the court.

THE PETITION requests authority to administer the estate under the Independent Administration of Estates

Act with full authority . (This authority will allow the personal representative to take many actions without obtaining court approval. Before taking certain very important actions, however, the personal representative will be required to give notice to interested persons unless they have waived notice or consented to the proposed action.) The independent administration authority will be granted unless an interested person files an objection to the petition and shows good cause why the court should not grant the authority.

A HEARING on the petition will be held on 11/5/2024 at 8:30 a.m. in Dept. 11 Room No: 246 located at 111 N. HILL ST. LOS ANGELES CA 90012 STANLEY MOSK COURTHOUSE.

YOU MAY EXAMINE the file kept by the court. If you are a person interested in the estate, you may file with the court a Request for Special Notice (DE-154) of the filing of an inventory and appraisal of estate assets or of any petition or account as provided in Probate Code section 1250. A Request for Special Notice form is available from the court clerk. Petitioner In Pro Per: Ronnie Arciaga Lumawig

623 S. Homerest Avenue Azusa, CA 91702

Telephone: 626-456-4235 10/10, 10/14, 10/17/24 CNS-3859802# AZUSA BEACON

NOTICE OF PETITION TO ADMINISTER ESTATE OF GABRIEL VILLAGRANA CARMONA

Case No. 24STPB10927

To all heirs, beneficiaries, creditors, contingent creditors, and persons who may otherwise be interested in the will or estate, or both, of GABRIEL VILLAGRANA CARMONA

A PETITION FOR PROBATE has been filed by Laura Carmona in the Superior Court of California, County of LOS ANGELES. THE PETITION FOR PROBATE requests that Laura Carmona be appointed as personal representative to administer the estate of the decedent.

THE PETITION requests authority to administer the estate under the Independent Administration of Estates Act. (This authority will allow the personal representative to take many actions without obtaining court approval. Before taking certain very important actions, however, the personal representative will be required to give notice to interested persons unless they have waived notice or consented to the proposed action.) The independent administration authority will be granted unless an interested person files an objection to the petition and shows good cause why the court should not grant the authority.

A HEARING on the petition will be held on Oct. 31, 2024 at 8:30 AM in Dept. No. 5 located at 111 N. Hill St., Los Angeles, CA 90012. IF YOU OBJECT to the granting of the petition, you should appear at the hearing and state your objections or file written objections with the court before the hearing. Your appearance may be in person or by your attorney.

LEGALS

Code, or (2) 60 days from the date of mailing or personal delivery to you of a notice under section 9052 of the California Probate Code. Other California statutes and legal authority may affect your rights as a creditor. You may want to consult with an attorney knowledgeable in California law. YOU MAY EXAMINE the file kept by the court. If you are a person interested in the estate, you may file with the court a Request for Special Notice (form DE-154) of the filing of an inventory and appraisal of estate assets or of any petition or account as provided in Probate Code section 1250. A Request for Special Notice form is available from the court clerk.

Petitioner: Laura Carmona LAURA CARMONA 14373

JOANBRIDGE ST BALDWIN PARK CA 91706 CN110973 CARMONA Oct 14,17,21, 2024 EL MONTE EXAMINER

NOTICE OF PETITION TO ADMINISTER ESTATE OF: MATTHEW THOMAS MOORE CASE NO. 24STPB11438

To all heirs, beneficiaries, creditors, contingent creditors, and persons who may otherwise be interested in the WILL or estate, or both of MATTHEW THOMAS MOORE.

A PETITION FOR PROBATE has been filed by WILLIAM MATTHEW BENNYWORTH in the Superior Court of California, County of LOS ANGELES.

THE PETITION FOR PROBATE requests that WILLIAM MATTHEW BENNYWORTH be appointed as personal representative to administer the estate of the decedent.

THE PETITION requests the decedent’s WILL and codicils, if any, be admitted to probate. The WILL and any codicils are available for examination in the file kept by the court. THE PETITION requests authority to administer the estate under the Independent Administration of Estates Act with limited authority. (This authority will allow the personal representative to take many actions without obtaining court approval. Before taking certain very important actions, however, the personal representative will be required to give notice to interested persons unless they have waived notice or consented to the proposed action.) The independent administration authority will be granted unless an interested person files an objection to the petition and shows good cause why the court should not grant the authority.

A HEARING on the petition will be held in this court as follows: 11/07/24 at 8:30AM in Dept. 11 located at 111 N. HILL ST., LOS ANGELES, CA 90012

Attorney for Petitioner

TRENT C. MARCUS, ESQ. - SBN 227772

19900 BEACH BLVD., C-1

HUNTINGTON BEACH CA 92648

Telephone (714) 964-6335

BSC 225903 10/14, 10/17, 10/21/24 CNS-3861076# SAN GABRIEL SUN

ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR

CHANGE OF NAME PETITION OF Renata Bieniek FOR CHANGE OF NAME CASE NUMBER: 24PSCP00429 Superior Court of California, County of Los Angeles 400 Civic Center Plaza , Pomona Ca 91366, East Judicial District TO ALL INTERESTED PERSONS: 1. Petitioner Renata Bieniek filed a petition with this court for a decree changing names as follows: Present name a. OF Renata Bieniek to Proposed name Lan Anh Thi Do 2. THE COURT ORDERS that all persons interested in this matter shall appear before this court at the hearing indicated below to show cause, if any, why the petition for change of name should not be granted. Any person objecting to the name changes described above must file a written objection that includes the reason for the objection at least two court days before the matter is scheduled to be heard and must appear at the hearing to show cause why the petition should not be granted. If no written objection is timely filed, the court may grant the petition without a hearing NOTICE OF HEARING a. Date: 11/15/2024 Time: 9:00AM Dept: L. The address of the court is same as noted above. 3. a. A copy of this Order to Show Cause shall be published at least once each week for four successive weeks prior to the day set for hearing on the petition in the following newspaper of general circulation, printed in this county: Monrovia Weekly DATED: April 10, 2024 Bryant Y. Yang JUDGE OF THE SUPERIOR COURT Pub. September 23, 30, October 7, 14, 2024 MONROVIA WEEKLY

ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME PETITION OF Mabel Sandoval-Lung FOR CHANGE OF NAME CASE NUMBER: 24NNCP00563 Superior Court of California, County of Los Angeles 150 West Commonwealth, Alhambra, Ca 91801, Northeast Judicial District TO ALL INTERESTED PERSONS: 1. Petitioner Mabel Sandoval-Lung filed a petition with this court for a decree changing names as follows: Present name a. OF Mabel Sandoval-Lung to Proposed name Mabel Bo Lung 2. THE COURT ORDERS that all persons interested in this matter shall appear before this court at the hearing indicated below to show cause, if any, why the petition for change of name should not be granted. Any person objecting to the name changes described above must file a written objection that includes the reason for the objection at least two court days before the matter is scheduled to be heard and must appear at the hearing to show cause why the petition should not be granted. If no written objection is timely filed, the court may grant the petition without a hearing NOTICE OF HEARING a. Date: 12/2/2024 Time: 8:30AM Dept: T. The address of the court is same as noted above. 3. a. A copy of this Order to Show Cause shall be published at least once each week for four successive weeks prior to the day set for hearing on the petition in the following newspaper of general circulation, printed in this county: Monrovia Weekly DATED: September 24, 2024 Robin Miller Sloan JUDGE OF THE SUPERIOR COURT Pub. September 30, October 7, 14, 21, 2024 MONROVIA WEEKLY

NOTICE TO CREDITORS OF BULK SALE (UCC Sec. 6105) Escrow No. 825844-JT

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that a bulk sale is about to be made. The name(s), business address(es) of the Seller(s), are: COCOLAND LLC, A CALIFORNIA LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY 2108 N. STREET, STE N SACRAMENTO, CA 95816

Doing Business as: COCOYAH

All other business name(s) and address(es) used by the Seller(s) within the past three years, as stated by the Seller(s), is/are: NONE

The location in California of the Chief Executive Officer of the Seller(s) is: 2108 N. STREET, STE N SACRAMENTO, CA 95816

The name(s) and address of the Buyer(s) is/are: KAY TEA STUDIO LLC, A CALIFORNIA LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY 9666 OLIVE STREET TEMPLE CITY, CA 91780

The assets to be sold are described in general as: ALL FURNITURE, FIXTURES AND EQUIPMENT and are located at: 8450 VALLEY BLVD., STE 107, ROSEMEAD, CA 91770-1680

The bulk sale is intended to be consummated at the office of: Central Escrow Group, Inc., 1675 Hanover Road, City of Industry, CA 91748 and the anticipated sale date is 10/30/24. The bulk sale is subject to California Uniform Commercial Code Section 6106.2 YES

The name and address of the person with whom claims may be filed is: Central Escrow Group, Inc., 1675 Hanover Road, City of Industry, CA 91748 and the last date for filing claims shall be 10/29/24 which is the business day before the sale date specified above.

Dated: 09/19/2024

Buyer: KAY TEA STUDIO LLC, a California limited liability company By:/S/ KRYSTAL CAO, Manager/Member 10/14/24 CNS-3860680# EL MONTE EXAMINER

NOTICE TO CREDITORS OF BULK SALE AND OF INTENTION TO TRANSFER

Escrow No. 30175-CL

Notice is hereby given that a bulk sale of assets and a transfer of alcoholic beverage license is about to be made.

The name and address of the Seller/Licensee are:

D &D Wine & Spirits Inc., 310 N Citrus Ave, Suite N & M Azusa, CA 91702

The Business is known as: Super Liquor

The names and addresses of the Buyer/ Transferee are:

L.J. Unlimited Inc., 1536 W. 18th Street, Upland, CA 91784

As listed by the Seller/Licensee, all other business names and addresses used by the Seller/Licensee within three years before the date such list was sent or delivered to the Buyer/Transferee are: None

The assets to be sold are described in general as: Liquor License, Goodwill, Fixtures & Equipment and are located at: 310 N Citrus Ave. Suite N & M, Azusa, CA 91702. The kind of license to be transferred is: 21 now issued for the premises located at: 310 N Citrus Ave. Suite N & M, Azusa, CA 91702.

The anticipated date of the sale/transfer is October 31, 2024 at the office of Fortune Escrow, Inc., 302 West Foothill Boulevard Glendora, CA 91741.

The amount of the purchase price or consideration in connection with the transfer of the license and business, including the estimated inventory, is the sum of $450,000.00, which consists of the following: Description Amount

Liquor License 35,000.00

Fixtures & Equipment 35,000.00

Goodwill 380,000.00

TOTAL ALLOCATION 450,000.00

It has been agreed between the Seller/ Licensee and the intended Buyer/Transferee, as required by Sec. 24073 of the Business and Professions Code, that the consideration for the transfer of the business and license is to be paid only after the transfer has been approved by the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control.

Dated: October 3, 2024

L.J. Unlimited Inc., a California Corporation S/ By: Wasef Houch, CEO 10/14/24

CNS-3861121# AZUSA BEACON

NOTICE TO CREDITORS OF BULK SALE AND OF INTENTION TO TRANSFER ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE LICENSE

(U.C.C. 6101 et seq. and B & P 24073 et seq.) Escrow No. CEG111845-BW

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that a bulk sale is about to be made.

The name(s) and business address of the Seller(s) are: YGAO INC., 168 Las Tunas Dr., #101-102, Arcadia, CA 91007

Doing Business as: JIUNONG WEI HOTPOT & BBQ

All other business name(s) and address(es) used by the Seller(s) within the three years, as stated by the Seller(s), is/are: NONE

The name(s) and address of the Buyer(s) is/are: CANTON & MACAU LLC, 168 Las Tunas Dr., #101-102, Arcadia, CA 91007

The assets being sold are generally described as: Restaurant and is/are located at: 168 Las Tunas Dr., #101-102, Arcadia, CA 91007

The type of license to be transferred is/ are: On-Sale Beer & Wine Eating Place, #41626213 now issued for the premises located at: Same as Above

The Bulk Sale and transfer of the Alcoholic Beverage License is intended to be consummated at the office of: Central Escrow Group, Inc., 515 West Garvey Ave, Suite 118, Monterey Park, CA 91754 and the anticipated sale date is 10/30/24

The purchase price or consideration in connection with the sale of the business and transfer of the license, is the sum of $15,000.00, including inventory estimated at $ which consists of the following: DESCRIPTION: AMOUNT: CHECK $15,000.00

It has been agreed between the seller(s) licensee(s) and the intended buyer(s)/ transferee(s), as required by Sec. 24073 of the Business and Professions code, that the consideration for transfer of the business and license is to be paid only after the transfer has been approved by the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control.

Dated: Jume 20, 2024

Signature of Buyer: CANTON & MACAU LLC By:/s/ JESSE LATAS FAI O LAM, Manager Signature of Seller YGAO INC. By:/s/ JINDAN FAN, CEO 10/14/24

CNS-3861140# ARCADIA WEEKLY

Notice of Public Sale

Pursuant to the California Self Service Storage Facility Act (B&P Code 21700 ET seq.) The undersigned will sell at public auction on Monday October 28, 2024 at 3:30 pm. Personal property including but not limited to furniture, clothing, tools and/ or other household items will be sold: The sale will take place online at www.selfstorageauction.com. Gerardo Marron Peter Serraino Armando Luna Jr. Michael C Lucio Leslie Kim Marvin David Gomez Robert Manuel Munoz Daniel Haro

All sales are subject to prior cancellation. All terms, rules and regulations are available online at www.selfstorageauction.

EXAMINER

SALE:

13111

90650,

room. STREET ADDRESS and other common designation, if any, of the real property described above is purported to be: 83398341-8343 WHITMORE ST, ROSEMEAD, CALIFORNIA 91770 APN#: 5288-006-058 The undersigned Trustee disclaims any liability for any incorrectness of the street address and other common designation, if any, shown herein. Said sale will be made, but without covenant or warranty, expressed or implied, regarding title, possession, or encumbrances, to pay the remaining principal sum of the note(s) secured by said Deed of Trust, with interest thereon, as provided in said note(s), advances, under the terms of said Deed of Trust, fees, charges and expenses of the Trustee and of the trusts created by said Deed of Trust. The total amount of the unpaid balance of the obligation secured by the property to be sold and reasonable estimated costs, expenses and advances at the time of the initial publication of the Notice of Sale is $366,476.41. The beneficiary under said Deed of

real property is located. NOTICE TO POTENTIAL BIDDERS: If you are considering bidding on this property lien, you should understand that there are risks involved in bidding at a trustee auction. You will be bidding on a lien, not on the property itself. Placing the highest bid at a trustee auction does not automatically entitle you to free and clear ownership of the property. You should also be aware that the lien being auctioned off may be a junior lien. If you are the highest bidder at the auction, you are or may be responsible for paying off all liens senior to the lien being auctioned off, before you can receive clear title to the property. You are encouraged to investigate the existence, priority, and size of outstanding liens that may exist on this property by contacting the county recorder’s office or a title insurance company, either of which may charge you a fee for this information. If you consult either of these resources, you should be aware that the same lender may hold more than one mortgage or deed of trust on the property. NOTICE TO PROPERTY OWNER: The sale date shown on this notice of sale may be postponed one or more times by the mortgagee, beneficiary, trustee, or a court, pursuant to Section 2924g of the California Civil Code. The law requires that information about trustee sale postponements be made available to you and to the public, as a courtesy to those not present at the sale. If you wish to learn whether your sale date has been postponed, and, if applicable, the rescheduled time and date for the sale of this property, you may call 833-561-0243 for information regarding the trustee’s sale or visit this Internet Web site WWW.SALES.BDFGROUP.COM for information regarding the sale of this property, using the file number assigned to this case 00000010171312. Information about postponements that are very short in duration or that occur close in time to the scheduled

and Professions Code). Publish: 10/07/2024, 10/14/2024, 10/21/2024, 10/28/2024. ARCADIA WEEKLY. AAA1301799.

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE NO. 2024 190118 NEW FILING. The following person(s) is (are) doing business as Baldwin Business Park, 2440 S Hacienda Blvd Ste 124, Hacienda Heights, CA 91745. This business is conducted by a limited liabilty partnership. Registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed herein on August 2013. Signed: (1). The Rutherford Irrevocable Childrens’ Trust Joyce I. Tanimoto, Trustee, 2440 S Hacienda Blvd Ste 124, Hacienda Heights, CA 91745 (2). The Tanimoto Irrevocable Childrens Trust Gay N. Rutherford, Trustee, 2440 S Hacienda Blvd Ste 124, Hacienda Heights, CA 91745 (3). The Steven Nishozu Irrevocable Childrens’ Trust Norman L. Nishizu, Trustee, 2440 S Hacienda Blvd Ste 124, Hacienda Heights, CA 91745 (4). The Norman Nishizu Irrevocable Childrens’ Trust Steven W. Nishizu, Trustee, 2440 S Hacienda Blvd Ste 124, Hacienda Heights, CA 91745 (5). Westmont Corporation, 2440 S Hacienda Blvd Ste 124, Hacienda Heights, CA 91745. Joyce I. Tanimoto, General Partner of Baldwin Ohana LP, General Partner The statement was filed with the County Clerk of Los Angeles on September 11, 2024. NOTICE: This fictitious business name statement expires five years from the date it was filed in the office of the County Clerk. A new fictitious business name statement must be filed prior to that date. The filing of this statement does not of itself authorize the use in this state of a fictitious business name in violation of the rights of another under federal, state or common law (See Section 14400 et seq., Business and Professional Code).

Pub. Monrovia Weekly 10/07/2024, 10/14/2024, 10/21/2024, 10/28/2024

sc FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE NO. 2024 190129 NEW FILING.

The following person(s) is (are) doing business as Daragon Auto Sales, 1748 Victory Blvd, Glendale, CA 91201. This business is conducted by a individual. Registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed herein on August 2018. Signed: Edik Ed Davidyan, 1748 Victory Blvd, Glendale, CA 91201 (Owner). The statement was filed with the County Clerk of Los Angeles on September 11, 2024. NOTICE: This fictitious business name statement expires five years from the date it was filed in the office of the County Clerk. A new fictitious business name statement must be filed prior to that date. The filing of this statement does not of itself authorize the use in this state of a fictitious business name in violation of the rights of another under federal, state or common law (See Section 14400 et seq., Business and Professional Code).

Pub. Monrovia Weekly 10/07/2024, 10/14/2024, 10/21/2024, 10/28/2024

sc FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE NO. 2024 190113 NEW FILING. The following person(s) is (are) doing business as Hernandez Concrete, 9139 Arlee Ave, Santa Fe Springs, CA 90670. This business is conducted by a individual. Registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed herein on April 2010. Signed: Danny Hernandez, 9139 Arlee Ave, Santa Fe Springs, CA 90670 (Owner). The statement was filed with the County Clerk of Los Angeles on September 11, 2024. NOTICE: This fictitious business name statement expires five years from the date it was filed in the office of the County Clerk. A new fictitious business name statement must be filed prior to that date. The filing of this statement does not of itself authorize the use in this state of a fictitious business name in violation of the rights of another under federal, state or common law (See Section 14400 et seq., Business and Professional Code).

Pub. Monrovia Weekly 10/07/2024, 10/14/2024, 10/21/2024, 10/28/2024

sc FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE NO. 2024 190131 NEW FILING. The following person(s) is (are) doing business as JP Window Cleaning Services, 31230 Quail Valley Rd, Castaic, CA 91384. This business is conducted by a individual. Registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed herein on October 2009. Signed: Joseph Perry Paganelli, 31230 Quail Valley Rd, Castaic, CA 91384 (Owner). The statement was filed with the County Clerk of Los Angeles on September 11, 2024. NOTICE: This fictitious business name statement expires five years from the date it was filed in the office of the County Clerk. A new fictitious business name statement must be filed prior to that

date. The filing of this statement does not of itself authorize the use in this state of a fictitious business name in violation of the rights of another under federal, state or common law (See Section 14400 et seq., Business and Professional Code). Pub. Monrovia Weekly 10/07/2024, 10/14/2024, 10/21/2024, 10/28/2024

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE NO. 2024 190121 NEW FILING.

The following person(s) is (are) doing business as JT Place, 2319 W 54th St, Los Angeles, CA 90043. This business is conducted by a individual. Registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed herein on January 2002. Signed: Jessie T Atkins, 2319 W 54th St, Los Angeles, CA 90043 (Owner). The statement was filed with the County Clerk of Los Angeles on September 11, 2024.

NOTICE: This fictitious business name statement expires five years from the date it was filed in the office of the County Clerk. A new fictitious business name statement must be filed prior to that date. The filing of this statement does not of itself authorize the use in this state of a fictitious business name in violation of the rights of another under federal, state or common law (See Section 14400 et seq., Business and Professional Code).

Pub. Monrovia Weekly 10/07/2024, 10/14/2024, 10/21/2024, 10/28/2024

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE NO. 2024 190123 NEW FILING.

The following person(s) is (are) doing business as The Value of Architecture, 9464 Wilshire Blvd Ste 100, Beverly Hills, CA 90212. This business is conducted by a corporation. Registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed herein on August 2019. Signed: Archetype, Inc (Tx- 5058847, 2186 W 29th Pl, Los Angeles, Ca 90212; Brian Walsh Linder, President. The statement was filed with the County Clerk of Los Angeles on September 11, 2024. NOTICE: This fictitious business name statement expires five years from the date it was filed in the office of the County Clerk. A new fictitious business name statement must be filed prior to that date. The filing of this statement does not of itself authorize the use in this state of a fictitious business name in violation of the rights of another under federal, state or common law (See Section 14400 et seq., Business and Professional Code). Pub. Monrovia Weekly 10/07/2024, 10/14/2024, 10/21/2024, 10/28/2024 sc

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE NO. 2024202789 NEW FILING. The following person(s) is (are) doing business as MULAN CONSTRUCTION, 3821 GILMAN RD UNIT D, EL MONTE, CA 91732. This business is conducted by a corporation. Registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed herein on September 2024. Signed: MULAN TRANSPORT INC (CA-C4732080, 3821 GILMAN RD UNIT D, EL MONTE, CA 91732; FANGKAI LIU, CEO. The statement was filed with the County Clerk of Los Angeles on September 27, 2024. NOTICE: This fictitious business name statement expires five years from the date it was filed in the office of the County Clerk. A new fictitious business name statement must be filed prior to that date. The filing of this statement does not of itself authorize the use in this state of a fictitious business name in violation of the rights of another under federal, state or common law (See Section 14400 et seq., Business and Professional Code). Pub. Monrovia Weekly 10/07/2024, 10/14/2024, 10/21/2024, 10/28/2024

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE NO. 2024201276 NEW FILING. The following person(s) is (are) doing business as Albert Iron Work, 11660 Sheldon St Unit C, Sun valley, CA 91352. This business is conducted by a individual. Registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed herein on September 2024. Signed: Mathew Ebrahimian, 11660 Sheldon St Unit C, Sun valley, CA 91352 (Owner). The statement was filed with the County Clerk of Los Angeles on September 26, 2024. NOTICE: This fictitious business name statement expires five years from the date it was filed in the office of the County Clerk. A new fictitious business name statement must be filed prior to that date. The filing of this statement does not of itself authorize the use in this state of a fictitious business name in violation of the rights of another under federal, state or common law (See Section 14400 et seq., Business and Professional Code). Pub. Monrovia Weekly 10/07/2024, 10/14/2024, 10/21/2024, 10/28/2024

LEGALS

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE NO. 2024205558

NEW FILING.

The following person(s) is (are) doing business as San Gabriel Barbershop & Salon, 633 S San Gabriel Blvd #208, San Gabriel, CA 91776. This business is conducted by a individual. Registrant has not yet begun to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed herein. Signed: Victorialinh Trieu, 633 S San Gabriel Blvd #208, San Gabriel, CA 91776 (Owner). The statement was filed with the County Clerk of Los Angeles on October 3, 2024. NOTICE: This fictitious business name statement expires five years from the date it was filed in the office of the County Clerk. A new fictitious business name statement must be filed prior to that date. The filing of this statement does not of itself authorize the use in this state of a fictitious business name in violation of the rights of another under federal, state or common law (See Section 14400 et seq., Business and Professional Code). Pub. Monrovia Weekly 10/07/2024, 10/14/2024, 10/21/2024, 10/28/2024

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE NO. 2024205245

NEW FILING.

The following person(s) is (are) doing business as Love Chicken and Ribs, 5240 Irwindale Ave, Irwindale, CA 91706. This business is conducted by a individual. Registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed herein on July 2018. Signed: Arturo Duran, 5240 Irwindale Ave, Irwindale, CA 91706 (Owner). The statement was filed with the County Clerk of Los Angeles on October 2, 2024. NOTICE: This fictitious business name statement expires five years from the date it was filed in the office of the County Clerk. A new fictitious business name statement must be filed prior to that date. The filing of this statement does not of itself authorize the use in this state of a fictitious business name in violation of the rights of another under federal, state or common law (See Section 14400 et seq., Business and Professional Code).

Pub. Monrovia Weekly 10/07/2024, 10/14/2024, 10/21/2024, 10/28/2024

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE NO. 2024205270 NEW FILING.

The following person(s) is (are) doing business as (1). The Little Big Project (2). Queen Haven , 112 S Market Street #133, Inglewood, CA 90301. This business is conducted by a limited liability company (llc). Registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed herein on June 2021. Signed: The Little Big Project (CA202117910050, 112 S Market Street #133, Inglewood, CA 90301; Cherella Nicholson, Founder/Managing Director. The statement was filed with the County Clerk of Los Angeles on October 2, 2024. NOTICE: This fictitious business name statement expires five years from the date it was filed in the office of the County Clerk. A new fictitious business name statement must be filed prior to that date. The filing of this statement does not of itself authorize the use in this state of a fictitious business name in violation of the rights of another under federal, state or common law (See Section 14400 et seq., Business and Professional Code). Pub. Monrovia Weekly 10/07/2024, 10/14/2024, 10/21/2024, 10/28/2024

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE NO. 2024196488 NEW FILING.

The following person(s) is (are) doing business as Spice Craft, 23222 Runnymede Street, West Hills, CA 91307. This business is conducted by a individual. Registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed herein on August 2024. Signed: Murtaza Shabbir Hussain Badrudeen, 23222 Runnymede Street, West Hills, CA 91307 (Owner). The statement was filed with the County Clerk of Los Angeles on September 19, 2024. NOTICE: This fictitious business name statement expires five years from the date it was filed in the office of the County Clerk. A new fictitious business name statement must be filed prior to that date. The filing of this statement does not of itself authorize the use in this state of a fictitious business name in violation of the rights of another under federal, state or common law (See Section 14400 et seq., Business and Professional Code).

Pub. Monrovia Weekly 10/07/2024, 10/14/2024, 10/21/2024, 10/28/2024

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE NO. 2024204786 NEW FILING. The following person(s) is (are) doing business as ADVANCED CARE PHARMACY, 2100 Long Beach Blvd, Long Beach, CA 90806. This business is conducted by a limited liability company (llc). Registrant has not yet begun to transact business under the

fictitious business name or names listed herein. Signed: ADVANCED RX LB LLC (CA-202463519159, 2100 Long Beach Blvd, Long Beach, CA 90806; KARAN VIRADIYA, MANAGING

MEMBER. The statement was filed with the County Clerk of Los Angeles on October 2, 2024. NOTICE: This fictitious business name statement expires five years from the date it was filed in the office of the County Clerk. A new fictitious business name statement must be filed prior to that date. The filing of this statement does not of itself authorize the use in this state of a fictitious business name in violation of the rights of another under federal, state or common law (See Section 14400 et seq., Business and Professional Code). Pub. Monrovia Weekly 10/07/2024, 10/14/2024, 10/21/2024, 10/28/2024

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE NO. 2024199182 NEW FILING.

The following person(s) is (are) doing business as (1). 2V Creative Studio (2). 2V Creative , 4558 Willis Ave Unit 122, Sherman Oaks, CA 91403. This business is conducted by a married couple. Registrant has not yet begun to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed herein. Signed: (1). Surainy elena Jimenez, 4558 Willis Ave Unit 122, Sherman Oaks, CA 91403 (2). Luis felipe Carrasquero, 4558 Willis Ave Unit 122, Sherman Oaks, CA 91403 (Co-Owner). The statement was filed with the County Clerk of Los Angeles on September 24, 2024. NOTICE: This fictitious business name statement expires five years from the date it was filed in the office of the County Clerk. A new fictitious business name statement must be filed prior to that date. The filing of this statement does not of itself authorize the use in this state of a fictitious business name in violation of the rights of another under federal, state or common law (See Section 14400 et seq., Business and Professional Code).

Pub. Monrovia Weekly 10/07/2024, 10/14/2024, 10/21/2024, 10/28/2024

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE NO. 2024209900 NEW FILING.

The following person(s) is (are) doing business as DENTURE ZONE, 3971 Brighton Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90062. This business is conducted by a limited liability company (llc). Registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed herein on October 2024. Signed: RETAINER ZONE LLC (CA-201414210073, 3971 Brighton Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90062; Marissa Crespo, President. The statement was filed with the County Clerk of Los Angeles on October 9, 2024. NOTICE: This fictitious business name statement expires five years from the date it was filed in the office of the County Clerk. A new fictitious business name statement must be filed prior to that date. The filing of this statement does not of itself authorize the use in this state of a fictitious business name in violation of the rights of another under federal, state or common law (See Section 14400 et seq., Business and Professional Code).

Pub. Monrovia Weekly 10/14/2024, 10/21/2024, 10/28/2024, 11/04/2024

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE NO. 2024210132 NEW FILING.

The following person(s) is (are) doing business as Studio See-See, 435 E Greystone Ave, Monrovia, CA 91016. This business is conducted by a married couple. Registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed herein on October 2024. Signed: (1). Diana Zheng, 435 E Greystone Ave, Monrovia, CA 91016 (2). Robert Stenson, 435 E Greystone Ave, Monrovia, CA 91016 (Wife). The statement was filed with the County Clerk of Los Angeles on October 9, 2024. NOTICE: This fictitious business name statement expires five years from the date it was filed in the office of the County Clerk. A new fictitious business name statement must be filed prior to that date. The filing of this statement does not of itself authorize the use in this state of a fictitious business name in violation of the rights of another under federal, state or common law (See Section 14400 et seq., Business and Professional Code). Pub. Monrovia Weekly 10/14/2024, 10/21/2024, 10/28/2024, 11/04/2024

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE NO. 2024206792

NEW FILING.

The following person(s) is (are) doing business as (1). GOLDEN CHICKEN (2). KIDS PIZZA PLACE (3). LA WEST BBQ , 18119 Saticoy St, Los Angeles, CA 91335. This business is conducted by a corporation. Registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed herein on August 2024. Signed: GHAZARYAN RESTAURANT GROUP INC (CA-6325963, 18119

Saticoy St, Los Angeles, CA 91335; VAHAGN GHAZARYAN, CEO. The statement was filed with the County Clerk of Los Angeles on October 4, 2024. NOTICE: This fictitious business name statement expires five years from the date it was filed in the office of the County Clerk. A new fictitious business name statement must be filed prior to that date. The filing of this statement does not of itself authorize the use in this state of a fictitious business name in violation of the rights of another under federal, state or common law (See Section 14400 et seq., Business and Professional Code).

Pub. Monrovia Weekly 10/14/2024, 10/21/2024, 10/28/2024, 11/04/2024

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE NO. 2024210397 NEW FILING. The following person(s) is (are) doing business as SL Unified Solution, 4517 Fendyke Ave, Rosemead, CA 91770. This business is conducted by a individual. Registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed herein on October 2024. Signed: Sam Lim, 4517 Fendyke Ave, Rosemead, CA 91770 (Owner). The statement was filed with the County Clerk of Los Angeles on October 9, 2024.

Pub. Monrovia Weekly 10/14/2024, 10/21/2024, 10/28/2024, 11/04/2024

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE NO. 2024205517 NEW FILING. The following person(s) is (are) doing business as (1). Specialized Systems (2). Specialized Tax & Consulting Service (3). Specialized Financial Services , 1431 Rolling Hill Dr, Monterey Park, CA 91754-4624. This business is conducted by a individual. Registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed herein on September 2024. Signed: Brenton Chinn, Po Box 976, Monterey Park, Ca 91754 (Owner). The statement was filed with the County Clerk of Los Angeles on October 3, 2024. NOTICE: This fictitious business name statement expires five years from the date it was filed in the office of the County Clerk. A new fictitious business name statement must be filed prior to that date. The filing of this statement does not of itself authorize the use in this state of a fictitious business name in violation of the rights of another under federal, state or common law (See Section 14400 et seq., Business and Professional Code).

Pub. Monrovia Weekly 10/14/2024, 10/21/2024, 10/28/2024, 11/04/2024

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE NO. 2024210435 NEW FILING. The following person(s) is (are) doing business as NEW SMILES LANCASTER, 44558 10th St W Ste B, Lancaster, CA 93534. This business is conducted by a corporation. Registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed herein on October 2024. Signed: LANCASTER DENTAL OFFICE OF JILBERT BAKRAMIAN INC (CA-6332423, 44558 10th St W Ste B, Lancaster, CA 93534; JILBERT BAKRAMIAN, President. The statement was filed with the County Clerk of Los Angeles on October 9, 2024. NOTICE: This fictitious business name statement expires five years from the date it was filed in the office of the County Clerk. A new fictitious business name statement must be filed prior to that date. The filing of this statement does not of itself authorize the use in this state of a fictitious business name in violation of the rights of another under federal, state or common law (See Section 14400 et seq., Business and Professional Code). Pub. Monrovia Weekly 10/14/2024, 10/21/2024, 10/28/2024, 11/04/2024

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE NO. 2024201123 NEW FILING. The following person(s) is (are) doing business as Law Office of Howard Gan, 1419 Tanglewood Dr, Corona, CA 92882. This business is conducted by a individual. Registrant has not yet begun to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed herein. Signed: Howard Gan, 1419 Tanglewood Dr, Corona, CA 92882 (Owner). The statement was filed with the County Clerk of Riverside on September 25, 2024. NOTICE: This fictitious business name statement expires five years from the date it was filed in the office of the County Clerk. A new fictitious business name statement must be filed prior to that

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE NO. 2024209784 NEW FILING. The following person(s) is (are) doing business as (1). Elite Direct Enterprise (2). Elite Direct Executives , 3201 W Teample ave ste 260, pomona, CA 91768. This business is conducted by a corporation. Registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed herein on October 2024. Signed: Elite Direct Management Inc (CA-6365733, 3201 W Teample ave ste 260, pomona, CA 91768; Kari Hitt, President. The statement was filed with the County Clerk of Los Angeles on October 9, 2024. NOTICE: This fictitious business name statement expires five years from the date it was filed in the office of the County Clerk. A new fictitious business name statement must be filed prior to that date. The filing of this statement does not of itself authorize the use in this state of a fictitious business name in violation of the rights of another under federal, state or common

STATEMENT

BUSINESS

of the County Clerk. A new fictitious business name statement must be filed prior to that date. The filing of this statement does not of itself authorize the use in this state of a fictitious business name in violation of the rights of another under federal, state or common law (See Section 14400 et seq., Business and Professional Code). Pub. Monrovia Weekly 10/14/2024, 10/21/2024, 10/28/2024, 11/04/2024

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE NO. 2024191967 NEW FILING. The following person(s) is (are) doing business as JP INTEGRITY PLUS MANAGEMENT, 2619 e Jackson st, long beach, CA 90810. This business is conducted by a individual. Registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed herein on January 2024. Signed: JOSHUA JAMES PHILLIPS, 2619 e Jackson st, long beach, CA 90810 (Owner). The statement was filed with the County Clerk of Los Angeles on September 12, 2024. NOTICE: This fictitious business name statement expires five years from the date it was filed in the office of the County Clerk. A new fictitious business name statement must be filed prior to that date. The filing of this statement does not of itself authorize the use in this state of a fictitious business name in violation of the rights of another under federal, state or common law (See Section 14400 et seq., Business and Professional Code). Pub. Monrovia Weekly 10/14/2024, 10/21/2024, 10/28/2024, 11/04/2024

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE NO. 2024208397 NEW FILING. The following person(s) is

File your DBA with us at filedba.com

Monterey Park City Notices

City of Monterey Park

Engineering Division

320 West Newmark Avenue

Monterey Park, CA 91754

Tel. No: (626) 307-1320

Fax: (626) 307-2500

NOTICE INVITING BIDS

BARNES GYMNASIUM FLOORING REPLACEMENT

SPEC. NO. 2024-007

Contract Time: 40 Working Days; Liquidated Damages: $1,000 per working day.

DESCRIPTION OF WORK

The project consists of the removal and reroofing, asbestos abatement and all related work on file with the City’s Public Works Department. Prevailing wages required. A 10% Bidder’s Bond is required with bid. Successful contractor will be required to provide: (1) Liability insurance with City of Monterey Park as addition insured endorsement; (2) Proof of workers’ compensation insurance coverage; (3) 100% Faithful Performance, (4) 100% Labor and Material Bond, and (5) DIR Registration.

Plans are available to download for a fee from QuestCDN; link on the City’s website www.montereypark.ca.gov/444/Bids-Proposals. Bid Package Cost: $22.00.

Bid Due Date and Time: Bids will be received via the online electronic bid service, Quest Construction Data Network (QuestCDN), www.questcdn.com, until 10:00 AM, Thursday, October 31, 2024. Questions? Please call: Anthony Bendezu, Civil Engineering Associate at (626) 307-1320.

Publish October 7 & 14, 2024

MONTEREY PARK PRESS

City of Monterey Park Engineering Division

320 West Newmark Avenue Monterey Park, CA 91754

Tel. No: (626) 307-1320

Fax: (626) 307-2500

NOTICE INVITING BIDS

LANGLEY SENIOR CITIZEN CENTER, GARVEY RANCH MUSEUM, GEORGE ELDER GYMNASIUM ROOFS REPLACEMENT SPEC. NO. 2024-008

Contract Time: 90 Working Days; Liquidated Damages: $1,000 per working day.

DESCRIPTION OF WORK

Plans are available to download for a fee from QuestCDN; link on the City’s website www.montereypark.ca.gov/444/Bids-Proposals.

Bid Package Cost: $22.00.

Bid Due Date and Time: Bids will be received via the online electronic bid service, Quest Construction Data Network (QuestCDN), www.questcdn.com, until 11:00 AM, Thursday, October 31, 2024. Questions? Please call: Anthony Bendezu, Civil Engineering Associate at (626) 307-1320

Publish Ocotber 7 & 14, 2024 MONTEREY PARK PRESS

Glendale City Notices

Notice

Authority Of The City Of Glendale Proposed PHA Administrative Plan

In accordance with Section 5A of the United States Housing Act of 1937 (USHA), as amended by Section 511 of the Quality Housing and Work Responsibility Act of 1998, the Housing Authority of the City of Glendale (Housing Authority) has prepared a draft PHA Administrative Plan for public review and comment.

The public hearing on the PHA Administrative Plan will be held before the Housing Authority of the City of Glendale. The public may be present in person or watch and participate from the safety of their homes. Meetings are broadcast live on Glendale TV, viewable on Spectrum Cable, channel 6, and AT&T U-verse, channel 99. Meetings are also streamed live in high definition (HD) on the city's webpage, glendaleca.gov/live, on YouTube.com/ myglendale, and on Apple TV, Roku, and Amazon Fire devices using a free app called Screenweave and choosing “Glendale TV” from the menu.

Tuesday, December 17, 2024, time is TBD

COUNCIL CHAMBERS

613 E. Broadway, 2nd Floor Glendale, CA 91206

The proposed plan is available during a forty-five day public review and comment period, from October 30, 2024 to December 17, 2024 and may be viewed online at the following location: https://www.glendaleca.gov/government/departments/community-development/housing/ plans-reports-and-loan-forms You may also obtain a copy of the plan via email. The public is invited to submit written comments concerning the Plan to: City of Glendale, Department of Community Development, Attn: Edgar Akopyan, 141 N. Glendale Avenue, Room 202, Glendale, CA 91206 or via email eakopyan@glendaleca.gov or fax at 818-548-3230.

LEGALS

Probate Notices

NOTICE OF PETITION TO ADMINISTER ESTATE OF: ROBERT DEHNOUSHI

CASE NO. 24STPB11051

To all heirs, beneficiaries, creditors, contingent creditors, and persons who may otherwise be interested in the WILL or estate, or both of ROBERT DEHNOUSHI.

A PETITION FOR PROBATE has been filed by STELLA MIRZABEGIAN DEHNOUSHI AKA STELLA M. DEHNOUSHI AKA STELLA

DEHNOUSHI in the Superior Court of California, County of LOS ANGELES.

THE PETITION FOR PROBATE requests that STELLA M. DEHNOUSHI be appointed as personal representative to administer the estate of the decedent.

The independent administration authority will be granted unless an interested person files an objection to the petition and shows good cause why the court should not grant the authority.

A HEARING on the petition will be held in this court as follows: 11/15/24 at 8:30AM in Dept. 99 located at 111 N. HILL ST., LOS ANGELES, CA 90012

SIBYLLE GREBE - SBN 141553, LORENZO C. STOLLER - SBN 291581, THE PROBATE HOUSE, L.C. 3424 WEST CARSON STREET, SUITE 320 TORRANCE CA 90503

Telephone (310) 542-9888 10/7, 10/10, 10/14/24

CNS-3858372# GLENDALE INDEPENDENT

NOTICE OF PETITION TO ADMINISTER ESTATE OF MARGOT GLORENA PEREYDA aka MARGOT G. PEREYDA aka MARGOT PEREYDA aka MARGARET PEREYDA

Case No. 24STPB04620

To all heirs, beneficiaries, creditors, contingent creditors, and persons who may otherwise be interested in the will or estate, or both, of MARGOT GLORENA PEREYDA aka MARGOT G. PEREYDA aka MARGOT PEREYDA aka MARGARET PEREYDA

A PETITION FOR PROBATE has been filed by David Pereyda in the Superior Court of California, County of LOS ANGELES.

THE PETITION FOR PROBATE requests that David Pereyda be ap-pointed as personal representative to administer the estate of the decedent.

THE PETITION requests au-

thority to administer the estate under the Independent Administration of Estates Act. (This authority will allow the personal representative to take many actions without obtaining court ap-proval. Before taking certain very important actions, however, the personal representative will be required to give notice to interested persons unless they have waived notice or consented to the proposed action.) The independent administration authority will be granted unless an interested person files an objection to the petition and shows good cause why the court should not grant the authority.

A HEARING on the petition will be held on March 10, 2025 at 8:30 AM in Dept. No. 9 located at 111 N. Hill St., Los Angeles, CA 90012.

IF YOU ARE A CREDITOR or a contingent creditor of the decedent, you must file your claim with the court and mail a copy to the personal rep-resentative appointed by the court within the later of either (1) four months from the date of first issuance of letters to a general personal representative, as defined in section 58(b) of the California Probate Code, or (2) 60 days from the date of mailing or personal delivery to you of a notice under section 9052 of the California Probate Code.

Other California statutes and legal authority may affect your rights as a creditor. You may want to consult with an attorney knowledgeable in California law.

NOTICE OF PETITION TO ADMINISTER ESTATE OF: KATSUHIRO HORIUCHI CASE NO. 24STPB10972

To all heirs, beneficiaries, creditors, contingent creditors, and persons who may otherwise be interested in the WILL or estate, or both of KATSUHIRO HORIUCHI.

A PETITION FOR PROBATE has been filed by KEARY K. HORIUCHI in the Superior Court of California, County of LOS ANGELES.

THE PETITION FOR PROBATE requests that KEARY K. HORIUCHI be appointed as personal representative to administer the estate of the decedent.

THE PETITION requests the decedent’s WILL and codicils, if any, be admitted to probate. The WILL and any codicils are available for examination in the file kept by the court.

The independent administration authority will be granted unless an interested person files an objection to the petition and shows good cause why the court should not grant the authority.

A HEARING on the petition will be held in this court as follows: 11/08/24 at 8:30AM in Dept. 29 located at 111 N. HILL ST., LOS ANGELES, CA

90012

IF YOU ARE A CREDITOR or a contingent creditor of the decedent, you must file your claim with the court and mail a copy to the personal rep-

resentative appointed by the court within the later of either (1) four months from the date of first issuance of letters to a general personal representative, as defined in section 58(b) of the California Probate Code, or (2) 60 days from the date of mailing or personal delivery to you of a notice under section 9052 of the California Probate Code. Other California statutes and legal authority may affect your rights as a creditor. You may want to consult with an attorney knowledgeable in California law.

LAW OFFICES OF BRIAN O’TOOLE 2950 BUSKIRK AVE STE 330 WALNUT CREEK CA 94598

Telephone (925) 944-1665

10/10, 10/14, 10/17/24

CNS-3859517# PASADENA PRESS

NOTICE OF PETITION TO ADMINISTER ESTATE OF: SUSAN ROBERTS AKA SUSAN J. ROBERTS

CASE NO. 24STPB10989

To all heirs, beneficiaries, creditors, contingent creditors, and persons who may otherwise be interested in the WILL or estate, or both of SUSAN ROBERTS AKA SUSAN J. ROBERTS.

A PETITION FOR PROBATE has been filed by CHARLES ROBERTS in the Superior Court of California, County of LOS ANGELES.

THE PETITION FOR PROBATE requests that CHARLES ROBERTS be appointed as personal representative to administer the estate of the decedent.

The independent administration authority will be granted unless an interested person files an objection to the petition and shows good cause why the court should not grant the authority.

A HEARING on the petition will be held in this court as follows: 11/12/24 at 8:30AM in Dept. 29 located at 111 N. HILL ST., LOS ANGELES, CA 90012

Other California statutes and legal authority may affect your rights as a creditor. You may want to consult with an attorney knowledgeable in California law.

CHARLES A. KAUSEN - SBN 348007

FINLAY LAW GROUP, APC 4665 MACARTHUR CT STE 205 NEWPORT BEACH

NOTICE OF PETITION TO ADMINISTER ESTATE OF: YOLANDA O. MOLINA CASE NO. 24STPB11221

To all heirs, beneficiaries, creditors, contingent creditors, and persons who may otherwise be interested in the WILL or estate, or both of YOLANDA O. MOLINA. A PETITION FOR PROBATE has been filed by ANA M. MOLINA in the Superior Court of California, County of LOS ANGELES. THE PETITION FOR PROBATE requests that ANA M. MOLINA be appointed as personal representative to administer the estate of the decedent.

A HEARING on the petition will be held in this court as follows: 11/08/24 at 8:30AM in Dept. 79 located at 111 N. HILL ST., LOS ANGELES, CA 90012

CHRISTOPHER B. JOHNSONSBN 173521 LAW OFFICES OF CHRISTOPHER B. JOHNSON

180 N. PENNSYLVANIA AVE. PASADENA CA 91741

Telephone (888) 503-7615 10/10, 10/14, 10/17/24 CNS-3859588# WEST COVINA PRESS

NOTICE OF PETITION TO ADMINISTER ESTATE OF: MARY ELIZABETH WEBER AKA MARY ELIZABETH MILLER

CASE NO. 24STPB11211

To all heirs, beneficiaries, creditors, contingent creditors, and persons who may otherwise be interested in the WILL or estate, or both of MARY ELIZABETH WEBER AKA MARY ELIZABETH MILLER.

A PETITION FOR PROBATE has been filed by PAUL M. WEBER in the Superior Court of California, County of LOS ANGELES. THE PETITION FOR PROBATE requests that PAUL M. WEBER be appointed as personal representative to administer the estate of the decedent. THE PETITION requests the decedent’s WILL and codicils, if any, be admitted to probate. The WILL and any codicils are available for examination in the file kept by the court. THE PETITION requests authority to administer the estate under the Independent Administration of Estates Act. (This authority will allow the personal representative to take many actions without obtaining court

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS

NAME STATEMENT

File No. FBN20240007914

The following persons are doing business as: Orange Sun Property Services, 60828 Mason Dr, Joshua Tree, CA 92252. Mailing Address, 60828 Mason Dr, Joshua Tree, CA 92252 . WebSeed LLC (CA, 60828 Mason Dr, Joshua Tree, CA 92252; Ross McMinnBorough, CEO. County of Principal Place of Business: San Bernardino This business is conducted by: a limited liability company (llc). Registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed herein on July 15, 2024. By signing below, I declare that I have read and understand the reverse side of this form and that all information in this statement is true and correct. A registrant who declares as true any material matter pursuant to Section 17913 of the Business and Professions Code that the registrant knows to be false is guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by a fine not to exceed one thousand dollars ($1,000). I am also aware that all information on this statement becomes Public Record upon filing pursuant to the California Public Records Act (Government Code Sections 6250- 6277). /s/ Ross McMinnBorough, CEO. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of San Bernardino on August 29, 2024 Notice- In accordance with subdivision (a) of Section 17920. A Fictitious Name Statement generally expires at the end of five years from the date on which it was filed in the office of the County Clerk, except, as provided in subdivision (b) of Section 17920, where it expires 40 days after any change in the facts set forth in the statement pursuant to Section 17913 other than a change in the residence address of a registered owner. A new Fictitious Business Name Statement must be filed before the expiration. The filing of this statement does not of itself authorize the use in this state of a fictitious business name in violation of the rights of another under federal, state, or common law (see Section 14411 et seq., Business and Professions Code) File#: FBN20240007914 Pub: 09/30/2024, 10/07/2024, 10/14/2024, 10/21/2024 San Bernardino Press

The following person(s) is (are) doing business as (1). ProServ Mortgage (2). ProServ Realty 20833 Hartsdale Drive Riverside, CA 92508 Riverside County Presage Financial Corporation (CA, 20833 Hartsdale Drive, Riverside, CA 92508 Riverside County This business is conducted by: a corporation. Registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed herein on September 16, 2024. I declare that all the information in this statement is true and correct. (A registrant who declares as true any material matter pursuant to Section 17913 of the Business and Professions Code, that the registrant knows to be false, is guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by a fine not to exceed one thousands dollars ($1000).) s. Eric Carl Carlson, President Statement filed with the County of Riverside on September 16, 2024 NOTICE: In accordance with subdivision (a) of section 17920, a fictitious name statement generally expires at the end of the five years from the date on which it was filed in the office of the county clerk, except, as provided in subdivision (b) of section 17920, where it expires 40 days after any changes in the facts set forth in the statement pursuant to section 17913 other than a change in the residence address of a registered owner. A new Fictitious Business Name Statement must be filed before the expiration. The filing of this statement does not of itself authorize the use this state of a fictitious business

rights of another under federal, state, or common law (see Section 14411 Et Seq., business and professions code).

I hereby certify that this copy is a correct copy of the original statement on file in my office. Peter Aldana, County, Clerk File# R-202411765 Pub. 09/30/2024, 10/07/2024, 10/14/2024, 10/21/2024 Riverside Independent

The following person(s) is (are) doing business as (1). Catalyst – Riverside (2). Catalyst Riverside (3). Catalyst Cannabis Riverside (4). Catalyst Cannabis Co. – Riverside (5). Catalyst Cannabis –Riverside 1778 Columbia Avenue Riverside, CA 92507

Riverside County Catalyst – Riverside LLC (CA, 401 Pine Ave, Long Beach, CA 90802

Riverside County

This business is conducted by: a limited liability company (llc). Registrant has not yet begun to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed herein. I declare that all the information in this statement is true and correct. (A registrant who declares as true any material matter pursuant to Section 17913 of the Business and Professions Code, that the registrant knows to be false, is guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by a fine not to exceed one thousands dollars ($1000).)

s. Elliot Lewis, Manager Statement filed with the County of Riverside on September 25, 2024 NOTICE: In accordance with subdivision (a) of section 17920, a fictitious name statement generally expires at the end of the five years from the date on which it was filed in the office of the county clerk, except, as provided in subdivision (b) of section 17920, where it expires 40 days after any changes in the facts set forth in the statement pursuant to section 17913 other than a change in the residence address of a registered owner. A new Fictitious Business Name Statement must be filed before the expiration. The filing of this statement does not of itself authorize the use this state of a fictitious business name in violation of the rights of another under federal, state, or common law (see Section 14411 Et Seq., business and professions code). I hereby certify that this copy is a correct copy of the original statement on file in my office. Peter Aldana, County, Clerk File# R-202412138 Pub. 09/30/2024, 10/07/2024, 10/14/2024, 10/21/2024 Riverside Independent

The following person(s) is (are) doing business as Atria Rancho Mirage 34560 Bob Hope Drive Rancho Mirage, CA 92270 Riverside County Mailing Address, 300 E. Market St, Ste 100, Lousiville, KY 40222. Jefferson County AOC CA Opco GP Partner, LLC (KY, 500 N. Hurstbourne Parkway Suite 200, Louisville, KY 40222

Jefferson County

This business is conducted by: a limited liability company (llc). Registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed herein on February 1, 2019. I declare that all the information in this statement is true and correct. (A registrant who declares as true any material matter pursuant to Section 17913 of the Business and Professions Code, that the registrant knows to be false, is guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by a fine not to exceed one thousands dollars ($1000).)

s. Dana J Laker, Secretary Statement filed with the County of Riverside on September 19, 2024

NOTICE: In accordance with subdivision (a) of section 17920, a

LEGALS

fictitious name statement generally expires at the end of the five years from the date on which it was filed in the office of the county clerk, except, as provided in subdivision (b) of section 17920, where it expires 40 days after any changes in the facts set forth in the statement pursuant to section 17913 other than a change in the residence address of a registered owner. A new Fictitious Business Name Statement must be filed before the expiration. The filing of this statement does not of itself authorize the use this state of a fictitious business name in violation of the rights of another under federal, state, or common law (see Section 14411 Et Seq., business and professions code).

I hereby certify that this copy is a correct copy of the original statement on file in my office.

Peter Aldana, County, Clerk File# R-202411905 Pub. 09/30/2024, 10/07/2024, 10/14/2024, 10/21/2024 Riverside Independent

The following person(s) is (are) doing business as (1). La Calaca (2). Coachella General LLC 1258 6th St Coachella, CA 92236 Riverside County Coachella General LLC (CA, 333 N Sunrise Way PO 367, Palm Springs, CA 92262 Riverside County This business is conducted by: a limited liability company (llc). Registrant has not yet begun to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed herein. I declare that all the information in this statement is true and correct. (A registrant who declares as true any material matter pursuant to Section 17913 of the Business and Professions Code, that the registrant knows to be false, is guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by a fine not to exceed one thousands dollars ($1000).)

s. Robert Lee, Manager Statement filed with the County of Riverside on September 25, 2024 NOTICE: In accordance with subdivision (a) of section 17920, a fictitious name statement generally expires at the end of the five years from the date on which it was filed in the office of the county clerk, except, as provided in subdivision (b) of section 17920, where it expires 40 days after any changes in the facts set forth in the statement pursuant to section 17913 other than a change in the residence address of a registered owner. A new Fictitious Business Name Statement must be filed before the expiration. The filing of this statement does not of itself authorize the use this state of a fictitious business name in violation of the rights of another under federal, state, or common law (see Section 14411 Et Seq., business and professions code). I hereby certify that this copy is a correct copy of the original statement on file in my office.

Peter Aldana, County, Clerk File# R-202412139 Pub. 09/30/2024, 10/07/2024, 10/14/2024, 10/21/2024 Riverside Independent

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT File No. FBN20240008896

The following persons are doing business as: Public Good, 51979 Holiday Lane, Pioneertown, CA 92268. Mailing Address, Po Box 93, Pioneertown, CA 92268. Christine Mathias. County of Principal Place of Business: San Bernardino This business is conducted by: a individual. Registrant has not yet begun to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed herein. By signing below, I declare that I have read and understand the reverse side of this form and that all information in this statement is true and correct.

A registrant who declares as true any material matter pursuant to Section

17913 of the Business and Professions Code that the registrant knows to be false is guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by a fine not to exceed one thousand dollars ($1,000). I am also aware that all information on this statement becomes Public Record upon filing pursuant to the California Public Records Act (Government Code Sections 6250- 6277). /s/ Christine Mathias, Individual. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of San Bernardino on October 2, 2024 Notice- In accordance with subdivision (a) of Section 17920. A Fictitious Name Statement generally expires at the end of five years from the date on which it was filed in the office of the County Clerk, except, as provided in subdivision (b) of Section 17920, where it expires 40 days after any change in the facts set forth in the statement pursuant to Section 17913 other than a change in the residence address of a registered owner. A new Fictitious Business Name Statement must be filed before the expiration. The filing of this statement does not of itself authorize the use in this state of a fictitious business name in violation of the rights of another under federal, state, or common law (see Section 14411 et seq., Business and Professions Code) File#: FBN20240008896 Pub: 10/07/2024, 10/14/2024, 10/21/2024, 10/28/2024 San Bernardino Press

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT File No. FBN20240008894

The following persons are doing business as: Snow Peak Communicatons, 11401 Raywood Flat Road, Morongo Valley, CA 92256. Mailing Address, 133 Seeman Drive, Encinitas, Ca 92024. Stephen J Mascaro. (Owner) County of Principal Place of Business: San Bernardino

This business is conducted by: a individual. Registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed herein on August 21, 2024. By signing below, I declare that I have read and understand the reverse side of this form and that all information in this statement is true and correct. A registrant who declares as true any material matter pursuant to Section 17913 of the Business and Professions Code that the registrant knows to be false is guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by a fine not to exceed one thousand dollars ($1,000). I am also aware that all information on this statement becomes Public Record upon filing pursuant to the California Public Records Act (Government Code Sections 6250- 6277). /s/ Stephen J Mascaro, Owner. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of San Bernardino on October 2, 2024 NoticeIn accordance with subdivision (a) of Section 17920. A Fictitious Name Statement generally expires at the end of five years from the date on which it was filed in the office of the County Clerk, except, as provided in subdivision (b) of Section 17920, where it expires 40 days after any change in the facts set forth in the statement pursuant to Section 17913 other than a change in the residence address of a registered owner. A new Fictitious Business Name Statement must be filed before the expiration. The filing of this statement does not of itself authorize the use in this state of a fictitious business name in violation of the rights of another under federal, state, or common law (see Section 14411 et seq., Business and Professions Code) File#: FBN20240008894 Pub: 10/07/2024, 10/14/2024, 10/21/2024, 10/28/2024 San Bernardino Press

The following person(s) is (are) doing business as (1). Connected3030 Learning Solutions (2). Hope Service Publishing LLC (3). Moral Fiber Apparel Co. 29180 Wrangler Dr. MURRIETA, CA 92563 Riverside County Hope Service Publishing LLC (CA,

29180 Wrangler Dr., MURRIETA, CA 92563

Riverside County

This business is conducted by: a limited liability company (llc). Registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed herein on October 1, 2024. I declare that all the information in this statement is true and correct. (A registrant who declares as true any material matter pursuant to Section 17913 of the Business and Professions Code, that the registrant knows to be false, is guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by a fine not to exceed one thousands dollars ($1000).)

s. Hilda Broussard, CEO Statement filed with the County of Riverside on October 1, 2024 NOTICE: In accordance with subdivision (a) of section 17920, a fictitious name statement generally expires at the end of the five years from the date on which it was filed in the office of the county clerk, except, as provided in subdivision (b) of section 17920, where it expires 40 days after any changes in the facts set forth in the statement pursuant to section 17913 other than a change in the residence address of a registered owner. A new Fictitious Business Name Statement must be filed before the expiration. The filing of this statement does not of itself authorize the use this state of a fictitious business name in violation of the rights of another under federal, state, or common law (see Section 14411 Et Seq., business and professions code). I hereby certify that this copy is a correct copy of the original statement on file in my office. Peter Aldana, County, ClerkFile# R-202412407 Pub. 10/07/2024, 10/14/2024, 10/21/2024, 10/28/2024 Riverside Independent

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT File No. FBN20240009012

The following persons are doing business as: San Bernardino Eye Specialists, 1887 Business Center Dr Suite 2A, San Bernardino, CA 92408. Mailing Address, 1909 N. Waterman Ave. Ste 3, san bernardino, CA 92404. Gintien Huang, M.D. INC.., A California Medical Corporation (CA, 1909 N Waterman Ave Ste 3, San Bernardino, CA 92404; gintien huang, president. County of Principal Place of Business: San Bernardino This business is conducted by: a corporation. Registrant has not yet begun to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed herein. By signing below, I declare that I have read and understand the reverse side of this form and that all information in this statement is true and correct.

A registrant who declares as true any material matter pursuant to Section 17913 of the Business and Professions Code that the registrant knows to be false is guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by a fine not to exceed one thousand dollars ($1,000). I am also aware that all information on this statement becomes Public Record upon filing pursuant to the California Public Records Act (Government Code Sections 6250- 6277). /s/ gintien huang, president. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of San Bernardino on October 4, 2024 NoticeIn accordance with subdivision (a) of Section 17920. A Fictitious Name Statement generally expires at the end of five years from the date on which it was filed in the office of the County Clerk, except, as provided in subdivision (b) of Section 17920, where it expires 40 days after any change in the facts set forth in the statement pursuant to Section 17913 other than a change in the residence address of a registered owner. A new Fictitious Business Name Statement must be filed before the expiration. The filing of this statement does not of itself authorize the use in this state of a fictitious business name in violation of the rights of another under federal, state, or common

The following person(s) is (are)

LA County seeks stricter ordinances to combat illegal mulch, compostables dumping

By City News Service

The county Board of Supervisors is calling Wednesday for the creation of local ordinances to regulate illegal dumping of mulch and other compostable materials.

Supervisor Kathryn Barger contended in her motion presented Tuesday that open spaces and smaller populations in Antelope Valley create a fertile ground for illegal dumping, which poses health risks to locals, and similar issues exist in other marginalized communities. She noted that the waste materials can lead to water and soil contamination, and cause wildfires.

The county’s supplemental fiscal budget for 2024-25 approved on Tuesday allotted $2 million to combat illegal dumping activities.

“I applaud the $2 million allocated to curb illegal

dumping, which will go a long way to help Antelope Valley communities,” said Barger in a statement.

“North County residents in particular are suffering from this pollution which has reached crisis proportions and deserve environmental justice. This illegal activity must be stopped in its tracks.”

Barger’s motion calling for ordinances to regulate dumping noted that millions are spent each year by the Los Angeles County Fire Department in responding to trash-related fires in the Antelope Valley.

The Antelope Valley Illegal Dumping Task Force was established in 1996, but the motion said additional resources and regulations are needed to meet the scale and complexity of the growing problem.

Some possible recommendations included technological innovation to enhance enforcement efforts, including deployment of cameras, license plate readers, and monitoring technology in dumping hotspots.

Although state laws criminalizing the disposal of waste and other materials specifically list the dumping of commercial quantities of rocks, asphalt, or dirt as a misdemeanor, a loophole allows for a property owner’s consent to excuse a hauler’s liability, according to the motion.

“Despite California’s recognition of environmental justice principles to ensure that communities receive equal protection, the ongoing challenges in the Antelope Valley are causing environmental inequities,” the motion states.

Substances Control and the Los Angeles Regional Water Control Board, but also the corrective actions and violations issued to the Landfill — some elevated to DTSC’s Office of Criminal Investigations — have raised concerns ... that the situation is not under control and community health is not being treated with the urgency this disaster requires,” the lawmakers wrote.

The letter noted the multiple regulatory agencies that have cited the landfill for violations.

“The Los Angeles Regional Water Quality Control Board’s denial of Chiquita Canyon’s request to authorize expanded operations, citing that the landfill’s revised Master Development Plan did not include ‘an adequate approach to contain the subsurface smoldering reaction,’” according to the letter.

In addition to violations from LA County, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the LA Regional Water Quality Control Board and the state Department of Toxic Substances Control, the landfill has received multiple violations a week from the South Coast Air Quality Management District as recently as Oct. 4, according to the letter.

The AQMD has received more than 20,000 complaints about landfill odors from nearby residents since January 2023, according to the agency.

A copy of the letter to the governor is available on the internet at mikegarcia. house.gov.

The Woodlands, Texasbased Waste Connections

Landfill

Inc. operates Chiquita Canyon Landfill, a 639-acre facility that has accepted solid waste since 1972.

“Chiquita Canyon Landfill continues to work collaboratively with its regulators and community,” a Chiquita Canyon spokesperson says. “As reflected

in the latest order from the South Coast AQMD Hearing Board, Chiquita has agreed to tens of new conditions that are targeted at reducing the impacts of the ongoing landfill reaction.”

More information about the landfill is at chiquitacanyon.com.

Report: LA area again losing scripted content production

By City News Service

The greater Los Angeles area suffered a nearly 20% drop in scripted film and television production in 2023 compared to the prior year, continuing several years of declines, according to a report released Wednesday.

FilmLA, the area’s film office, reported that the region’s scripted film and TV production fell to 183 projects last year, a drop of 45 from the prior year, and representing only a small fraction of the 990 total projects produced in all jurisdictions in 2023.

According to FilmLA, the greater Los Angeles area

was home to nearly 23% of scripted projects in 2021, but that share fell to 22% in 2022 and slipped to 18% last year. The area has been losing ground to competing locations such as Ontario, New York, Georgia and the United Kingdom, according to FilmLA.

“The entertainment industry feeds around $43 billion in wages into the state economy,” FilmLA President Paul Audley said in a statement. “But how long can California subsist -- or help businesses and families thrive -- on an everthinner slice of a shrinking production pie?”

Photo by Lê Minh via Pexels

The report notes that competing locations have built up financial incentives

over the past three decades to lure productions away from Hollywood.

“We’re now at a place where inadequate investment in this industry places other economic supports at risk,” Audley said. “For each film industry supplier that closes his or her doors due to lack of steady work -- those entrepreneurs no longer employ people, generate sales taxes or pay rent. Their former employees, lacking an income, then have no money for groceries, tuition and bills. When local industries decline the effects can be far ranging, so this is definitely a problem California needs to address.” Los Angeles County

Board of Supervisors chair Lindsey Horvath said in a statement that the declines in production over the past two years are being felt by the behind-the-scenes industry workers.

“Our community members’ livelihoods are on the line, which is why Los Angeles County launched the Entertainment Business Interruption Fund, and we continue to explore ways to incentivize local production,” Horvath said.

“FilmLA’s report underscores the urgent work required to save an industry critical to our local economy and identity as Angelenos.”

Photo by Greta Hoffman via Pexels

Leachate collects on the ground near a previously leaking well after repairs to its gasket seal on Jan. 18. | Photo courtesy of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

Halloween special events and festivities start at Discovery Cube

By Staff

This October, Discovery Cube Orange County and Los Angeles invites all witches, wizards, ghosts, and goblins to celebrate Halloween on both campuses with several special events and festivities. Through Sunday, Oct. 27, kids of all ages are invited to experience the perfect formula of tricks and treats resulting in scientifically silly Halloween activities.

Discovery Cube Los Angeles is hosting a weekend-only event, Enchanted Halloween, on Saturday, Oct. 19 and 26 from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. This event is perfect for friends, families, and anyone who loves the magic of the season and includes several family-friendly activities including trick-or-treating, glow in the dark light up activities, spooky science booths, magicians, costume parades, and so much more.

Discovery Cube Orange County will be hosting the third annual Pumpkin Palooza presented by OC Waste & Recycling

through Sunday, Oct. 27, where guests can immerse themselves in two floors of thrilling activities, special party night festivities, and spooky science activities. As a special trick and treat this year, guests can rock the night away at Pumpkin Palooza Party Nights during select dates with an electrifying nighttime version of the ever-popular daytime dance party and festival complete with a DJ spinning a wicked mix of monster mashups, eerie lights, and hauntingly good vibes.

Discovery Cube is challenging families to “say boo to landfills” at the Orange County campus. Guests are encouraged not to let their pumpkins go to waste by participating in composting classes presented by OC Waste & Recycling in Discovery Cube Orange County’s Healthy Kitchen. Participants will learn how to compost pumpkins instead of sending them to landfills, where they release methane gas, a potent contributor to climate

change.

Come for the education and stay for the fun! Pumpkin Palooza is also featuring two floors of fun starting with the ghoulfavorite Halloween festival stationed on the museum’s first floor. Guests can hop into Boo’s Bumper Cars and zoom around a track while learning the laws of motion, navigate through mindbending Crazy Mazes, and explore the awe-inspiring Pumpkinology 101 where they can create glow-inthe-dark slime, measure pumpkins using “pi,” and test their speed with a marble run race. Plus, don’t miss the life-size pumpkin house and interactive pumpkin science demos.

The fun doesn’t stop there — head to the second floor’s Showcase Theater for the electrifying Pumpkin Palooza Dance Party. Dance the day away with a giant, 20-foot DJ pumpkin named “Jack-o-Lynn,” who will be spinning today’s hottest dance hits mixed with Halloween favorites.

LA County alternate energy inspection fees waived for landslide affected residents

PalosVerdesPeninsula residents affected bylandmovement Wednesday can expect waivers and refunds on fees for installing alternate energy sources including propane, solar and energy storage systems under a motion approved by the county Board of Supervisors. Land movement on the peninsula has accelerated over the past year due to heavy winter rains, leading to extensive damage of some homes in Rancho Palos Verdes, along with roads and other infrastructure. Some residents have lost their natural gas and electrical service, and some residents in the Portuguese Bend neighborhood are under evacuation warnings.

Gov. Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency in the area last month.

Supervisor Janice Hahn introduced the motion approved Tuesday that waives county Fire Department inspection and permitting fees. The motion notes such fees can range up to $1,000.

The motion calls for the waivers to be in effect until the end of 2025.

“The impact of these landslides has been devastating to cities on the Peninsula, which have seen land movement as rapid as 1 foot per week, causing homes to be torn apart and infrastructure to be compromised,”

Hahn’s motion reads.

Power and gas shut-offs

Center Theatre Group awarded $1M grant from Taper Foundation

Center Theatre Group announced Wednesday it has received a $1 million grant from the S. Mark Taper Foundation for the re- opening of the Mark Taper Forum and the return to regular programming at the downtown Los Angeles venue, which suspended programming for the 2023-24 season due to a spiraling budget crisis.

for indefinite periods of time have pushed the affected residents to pursue alternate sources, often at great cost, according to the motion.

Hahn’s office recently allocated $5 million to the city of Rancho Palos Verdes, with half of that money now expected to be distributed directly to affected residents to help defray costs incurred due to the landslides.

The Mark Taper Forum officially re-opens Wednesday with the launch of a new production of “American Idiot,” a musical based on the Green Day album and produced in collaboration with Deaf West Theatre, and performed simultaneously in American Sign Language and spoken English.

“The mission of the S. Mark Taper Foundation is to enhance the quality of lives of Angelenos by supporting nonprofit institutions, such as Center Theatre Group,” Amelia Taper Bolker, president of the S. Mark Taper Foundation, said in a statement.

She said the founda-

tion is proud to support CTG Artistic Director Snehal Desai and Managing Director/CEO Meghan Pressman “in telling the stories of this great city on the greatest stage in all of Los Angeles -- which bears the same name as our foundation’s founder -- the Mark Taper Forum.”

The S. Mark Taper Foundation grant, to be distributed over multiple years, follows last year’s support of CTG at a time when the organization was looking

for new ways to re-open the doors of the Mark Taper Forum during the year-long pause in regular season programming, according to CTG. That grant of $250,000 was in support of the company’s spring 2024 CTG:FWD programming at the Taper, an initiative created by Desai that featured a series of special events, short-run shows, community gatherings and legacy projects.

By City News Service

Tickets for both Halloween experiences are on sale

now at: www.discoverycube. org. Please note, Discovery Cube general admission is required.

| Photo courtesy of Discovery Cube

| Photo by Doug Kerr CC BY-SA 2.0

| Photo by Frank Fujimoto CC BY-NC-ND 2.0