Monterey Park Press_10/28/2024 by Beacon Media News

DA to seek resentencing of Menendez brothers for parents’ killings

By Terri Vermeulen Keith, City News Service

The District Attorney’s OfficeFridaywas expected to formally submit paperwork seeking resentencing Erik and Lyle Menendez, who are serving life prison terms without the possibility of parole for killing their parents in their Beverly Hills mansion in 1989, in light of new evidence of alleged sexual abuse by their father.

District Attorney George Gascón said prosecutors will recommend that the brothers’ sentence of life without parole be rescinded, and that they be resentenced to 50 years to life in prison, with the possibility of parole. Due to their ages at the time of the crime, such a sentence would make them potentially eligible for parole as youthful offenders, even though they have only served about 35 years behind bars.

It will be up to a judge to decide whether to actually resentence the pair.

Once the court papers are filed, prosecutors will work with the defense team and the court to have a hearing date scheduled.

If a judge agrees to the re-sentencing proposed by the District Attorney’s Office, the matter would then be in the hands of a state parole board to determine if the brothers are suitable for parole and release from prison. If the board grants parole, the governor could still reject it.

Erik Menendez, now 53, and Lyle Menendez, now 56, are behind bars at Richard J. Donovan Correctional Facility in San Diego for the killings of Jose and Mary Louise “Kitty” Menendez.

“They have been in prison for nearly 35 years,” Gascón said at a news conference Thursday. “I believe that they have paid their debt to society and the system provides a vehicle for their case to be

reviewed by a parole board. And if parole concurs with my assessment, and it will be their decision, then they will be released accordingly.”

Gascón noted that there were dissenters in his office who believe the brothers should remain in prison, and he anticipated that some of them may even appear in court to argue against the resentencing recommendation. He said “they have a right to do so.”

But Gascón said he believes that not only have the brothers served their time, they have also undertaken efforts while incarcerated to improve the lives of others, such as creating groups to help fellow inmates deal with untreated trauma, and on ways to “deal with other inmates who have physical disabilities and may be treated differently.”

He said that in one case, Lyle Menendez even spoke out and negotiated on behalf of fellow inmates over conditions in prison.

But while he will recommend resentencing in a

way that could lead to the brothers’ release, Gascón insisted, “There is no excuse for murder. And I will never imply that what we’re doing here is to excuse that behavior, because even if you get abused, the right path is to call the police, seek help. But I understand also how sometimes people get desperate. We often see women, for instance, that have been battered for years and sometimes they will murder their abuser out of desperation.

“I do believe the brothers were subjected to a tremendous amount of dysfunction in the home, and molestation,” he said.

In court papers filed last year, attorneys for the brothers pointed to two new pieces of evidence they contend corroborate the brothers’ allegations of longterm sexual abuse at the hands of their father — a letter written by Erik Menendez to one of his cousins in early 1989, eight months before the August 1989 killings, and recent allegations by a former member of the Puerto Rican

boy band Menudo that he was sexually abused by Jose Menendez as a teenager.

A group of family members supporting the brothers called earlier this month for the brothers to be released from state prison.

At an Oct. 16 news conference outside the downtown Los Angeles courthouse, Kitty Menendez’s sister, Joan AndersenVanderMolen, said she struggled for many years to come to “terms with what happened in my sister’s family.”

“It was a nightmare none of us could have imagined, but as details of Lyle and Erik’s abuse came to light, it became clear that their actions, while tragic, were the desperate response of two boys trying to survive the unspeakable (cruelty) of their father,” she told a throng of reporters gathered for the news conference. “As their aunt, I had no idea of the extent of the abuse they suffered at the hands of my brother-in-law. None of

LA County board advances additional scrutiny to motion introductions

By City News Service

The county Board of SupervisorsTuesday advanced a proposal designed to give additional time for public review of motions introduced by board members by having them reviewed in “cluster meetings” before they advance to the full board.

Under the proposal introduced by Supervisors Holly Mitchell and Kathryn Barger, cluster meetings would be held to encourage public participation and government transparency by requiring advanced screening of board motions, at least five days before the motions are taken up at the full board’s meeting.

According to Mitchell and Barger, the move would increase the public voice about motions, rather than the current, somewhat abbreviated public comment process.

The county already conducts such “topical cluster” meetings that offer the public a review of “board letters” that are submitted by county departments, Mitchell said. The new proposal expands that process to include board motions.

Mitchell added that motions can make it to the full board in very little time and expressed the need for substantive input from the public.

“As we develop policies that impact the public and our departments, there is clearly a need for more input from stakeholders,” Barger said, noting that the current process does not allow enough time for “thoughtful feedback.”

Barger also said structures similar to cluster meetings existed prior to the CEO

model of government in the form of deputy meetings, which she had participated in during her time as a county policy deputy.

The other three board members, however, expressed concern about the proposal. Supervisor Janice Hahn said it was informally possible for individual supervisors to send their motions through existing clusters. She said the process could slow down policy making, and instead suggested trying a pilot program.

Supervisor Hilda Solis called the motion premature, and said she was concerned that motions could be redirected back to her with revisions by stakeholders and county departments, which she said would “take away (her) role of elected responsibility.”

After making various amendments to the motion, removing the effective date and requesting a report that would return to the board in 45 days detailing the process of implementing “cluster” meetings, Hahn and Horvath agreed to vote in favor of the motion.

The public cluster meetings, run by an appointed chair, would be a chance to revise motions for the upcoming meetings, excluding emergency matters, according to the motion. Matters calling for immediate action and non- policyrelated topics such as fee waivers, rewards for unsolved crimes, adjourn- in-memory declarations, and proclamations would bypass the policy cluster review process.

Revisions through the review would also be reflected in the final version of the

LA County District Attorney George Gascón, at podium, announces his intention to seek resentencing for Erik and Lyle Menendez. | Photo courtesy of the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office

Metro demonstrates weapon detection system at Union Station

By Jose Herrera, City News Service

In response to a series of high-profile violent attacks on Metro buses and light rail, riders at Union Station will be screened for concealed weapons as a part of a pilot program testing technology aimed at reducing hidden threats, officials announced Wednesday.

During a news conference in downtown Los Angeles, Metro officials demonstrated their concealed-weapons detection system, which will scan a certain number of passengers depending on the flow of foot-traffic at the entrance to the B/D Lines. If the system flags a person, they would undergo additional screening by a law enforcement or security officer.

Metro is expected to assess the technology through December and later explore whether to expand its use across other parts of the transit system. Officials said the technology will offer an “efficient, noninvasive screening method” to detect hidden threats.

“Since last year, we’ve seen a doubling of arrests when it comes to weapons on our system,” Robert Gummer, Metro’s deputy chief of system security and law enforcement said.

“It’s a critical issue for us. It’s something we take seriously, and we really feel that exploring these technologies is the first logical step in improving safety on our system.”

The agency has reported about 152 weapons-related arrests year-to-date, Gummer noted.

Metro’s Board of Directors had called for the use of such technology. In September, the agency began testing software on their cameras to address the brandishing of physical weapons.

“People should not be able to bring weapons onto our Metro buses, onto our trains, or into our stations,”

LA County Supervisor and Metro Board Chair Janice Hahn said in a statement. “Our riders deserve to be safe and feel safe, and that has to remain our top priority.”

“This pilot is a great first step and I look forward to expanding our use of weapons detection technology across our system,” she added.

For this pilot program, Metro will explore up to three different concealedweapons detection systems — each being used for a few weeks at a time.

“We’re really looking at this from a holistic perspective — think about how you do it from a layered approach from our personnel, our systems and technology,” Gummer said.

Gummer did not disclose the names of the companies whose technology they are piloting, saying the name of the “vendor is really agnostic in this kind of environment.” The goal is to understand what makes sense and whether the agency can expand the use of their pilot, he said.

The cost of the concealedweapons detection systems is “cost-free,” he added.

According to Gummer, other cities such as New York, Las Vegas and San Francisco have also explored the use of concealed-weapons detection systems in depth.

Metro has faced scrutiny from residents, customers, elected officials and its own staff due to violent crimes on its buses and trains. In response, the agency has implemented a plan to improve public safety, which includes deploying more law enforcement officers, increasing the number of ambassadors, improving video analytics and camera

LA County to use gender-inclusive language in County Code

By Anusha Shankar, City News Service

The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday approved a motion calling for the use of gender-inclusive language in the County Code, calling it a modernization effort to cater to a diverse population.

The LA County Code is a compilation of ordinances which have been codified for over a century. Supervisor Lindsay Horvath noted in a motion that it includes gendered terms in some ordinances, referring to county officers and employees as “he” in several sections.

“While the county has become more diverse, inclusive, and equitable, the County Code contains a significant number of archaic, inappropriate references to gender and gendered terms,” Horvath said. “Language written in 1942 ‘constructs gender’ as ‘the masculine gender includes the feminine and neuter genders.’” She stressed that the

board was the current caretaker of the County Code and it was responsible for modernizing and bringing the code up to date.

The other supervisors agreed with Horvath, with Supervisor Holly Mitchell stressing that “words really do matter.”

Gender-inclusive language is already a part of drafting ordinances, but

usage and launching its Tap-to-Exit pilot program at its North Hollywood station.

According to Gummer, Metro is also exploring the use of millimeter wave technology, which works similarly to scanners seen at airport security checkpoints and government buildings. This technology uses electromagnetic radiation to detect objects hidden beneath a person’s clothing.

Metro’s Board of Direc-

tors had previous discussions about implementing such technology. In late September, a passenger was fatally shot aboard a hijacked Metro bus, adding more pressure to the board to expedite the use of weapons detection systems.

At the time, Hahn called for tools to prevent people from carrying weapons onto buses and trains. LA Mayor Karen Bass, who is a Metro Director, had also called for

the fast-tracking of weapon detection technology.

Additionally, due the rise of attacks on bus operators, the agency implemented a plan to install security barriers on all buses. Metro CEO Stephanie Wiggins previously reported that they are on track to finish by the end of December. As of last month, about 851 of a total 2,105 buses received the barriers, or about 40%, the agency said.

Duarte to host its first Día de los Muertos

event

The City of Duarte will host its inaugural Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) celebration on Friday, Nov. 1, from 6 to 9 p.m. at the City Hall Courtyard (1600 Huntington Drive). This family-friendly event invites guests of all ages to honor the memory of loved ones who have passed and celebrate with the local community through the rich traditions of this cherished Mexican holiday.

the County Code remains unchanged, according to the motion.

Under the motion, county attorneys were directed to use gender-inclusive language in all county codes moving forward.

The attorneys were also asked to report back on strategies to modernize the County Code overall, excluding the County Charter.

Día de los Muertos, rooted in both ancient Aztec culture and Catholicism, is a time to joyfully remember and honor those who have passed. Unlike traditional mourning, the day is filled with vibrant color, life and celebration. Duarte’s event will feature a ceremonial altar where residents can place photos of their loved ones, as well as enjoy authentic Mexican food, live performances, and activities to experience the history and

By Staff

culture behind this holiday. “Día de los Muertos holds deep meaning for many. It is a privilege to bring this celebration to Duarte,” said Duarte Mayor Vinh Truong. “It is an opportunity to remember our loved ones, reflect on our shared humanity and embrace the cultural diversity that makes our city so special.”

In addition to the community altar, residents can enjoy traditional art displays, hands-on activities, and a Catrina costume contest that will bring the iconic Día de los Muertos figure to life. For more information about these events, contact the Duarte Parks and Recreation Department at (626) 357-7931.

Metro testing concealed weapons detection systems at the entrance to the B/D Lines. | Photo courtesy of Metro/Facebook

LA County and all of its neighborhood boundaries. | Image courtesy of The Los Angeles Times’ Mapping

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WWalmart settles $7.5M hazardous waste lawsuit with state, counties

By Joe Taglieri joet@beaconmedianews.com

almartInc.has agreed to pay $7.5 million to correct waste disposal practices after the corporation was caught dumping hazardous products into landfills, officials announced Tuesday.

The California Department of Toxic Substances Control and the district attorneys’ offices in Alameda, Fresno, Monterey, Orange, Riverside, Sacramento, San Bernardino, San Diego, San Joaquin, Solano, Tulare and Yolo counties filed the now-settled lawsuit against Walmart in December 2021. An Alameda County Superior Court judge was expected to sign the stipulated judgment by the end of this month.

“Walmart’s illegal disposal of hazardous and medical waste not only violated California laws, but, if left unchecked, posed a threat to human health and the environment,” California Attorney General Bonta said in a statement. “As a result of this investigation and lawsuit, Walmart has taken significant steps to prevent such disposals from happening in the future. This settlement will ensure that Walmart takes the necessary steps to ensure that its hazardous waste is handled and disposed of as required by law. At the California

Department of Justice, we will continue to hold any entity accountable for violating our environmental laws.”

The civil suit stemmed from audits by the DTSC and DAs’ offices at Walmart stores between 2015 and 2021 that reported instances of store employees illegally disposing of hazardous waste in regular trash bins, according to court documents. The discarded toxic substances were then illegally transported to local landfills that are not permitted to receive chemical waste.

“During those audits, the district attorneys’ offices reviewed the contents of waste that Walmart had sent from its facilities to municipal landfills and found thousands of containers of toxic

aerosols and liquid wastes including spray paints, rust removers, bleach, pesticides, and medical waste, such as over-the counter drugs,” according to Bonta’s office.

A 2010 lawsuit against Walmart by some of the current action’s plaintiffs was for related violations, but instead of implementing reforms, the Walmart employees repeated the same unlawful waste disposal protocol, the Riverside County DA’s office said.

“We are pleased that California recognizes in this settlement that Walmart’s goal is ‘to advance the protection of the health and safety of the people of California and the protection of the environment,’” according to a prepared statement by

Walmart to City News Service.

“The fact that the settlement agreement requires Walmart to ‘maintain’ our preexisting waste compliance program is a testament to the strength of the compliance program we have built, and the settlement agreement itself recognizes that Walmart’s program is extremely effective at keeping allegedly hazardous waste out of public landfills,” the company’s statement said. “We appreciate that the government agencies have recognized that Walmart strives to safeguard both the environment and the people.”

Under the settlement, Walmart must pay $4.29 million in civil penalties and $3.2 million in reimbursement for the counties’ legal expenses, the DA’s office said. Riverside County will receive $170,000.

Injunctive terms of the settlement will require Walmart to hire an independent auditor to do three annual rounds of waste audits at its facilities throughout California in the next four years, according to court documents.

Riverside County has 33 Walmart stores and distribution centers, San Bernardino County has 28 Walmart facilities and Orange County has 25.

Crime survivors celebrate new trauma recovery center, slam Prop 36

By Suzanne Potter, Producer, Public News Service

Survivors of crime are speaking out against Proposition 36, which goes before California voters in November.

The ballot measure would increase penalties for some theft and drug crimes - and undo parts of Proposition 47, which took savings from decreased incarceration and put the money into harmreduction programs.

Tinisch Hollins, executive director of Californians for Safety and Justice, spoke Oct. 16 at the opening of a new trauma recovery center in Oakland.

“It’s pushing the state to move back towards ‘toughon-crime.’ We are pushing back on that. You need to prioritize resources to create trauma-recovery centers because this is the way to create safety in our community.” Hollins said.

Supporters of Prop.

36 say current laws are too lenient, particularly concerning retail theft. But the state legislative analyst has suggested Prop. 36 will send many more people to jail, increasing criminaljustice costs anywhere from tens of millions to the low hundreds of millions of dollars each year.

Hollins said that would mean less money for programs that actually address poverty and desperation - the root cause of crime.

“Folks who have been touched by incarceration, folks who are experiencing homelessness, folks who are experiencing barriers to employment, they can actually get a full range of services to stabilize,” Hollins added. “Think about how impactful this will be if we’re able to continue expanding this model.”

Advocates of Prop. 36 project that it would mean $850 million less over the next decade for trauma recovery centers, mental health, drug treatment, victim services, re-entry and crime-prevention programs. Disclosure: Californians for Safety and Justice contributes to Public News Service’s fund for reporting on Criminal Justice. If you would like to help support

Crime survivors spoke out against Prop 36 at the opening of a new trauma-recovery center in Oakland, Calif., on Oct. 16.

| Photo courtesy of Californians for Safety and Justice

Walmart employees must affix a label like this one on all public trash receptacles that specifies and prohibits the disposal of chemicals. | Image courtesy of the California Superior Court

A call for moratorium on catching deep-sea mesopelagic fish

By Shi En Kim for Sentient.

Broadcast version by Suzanne Potter for California News Service reporting for the Sentient-Public News Service Collaboration

Deep below the surface of the ocean are the parts left mostly unexplored and where sunlight barely touches. One of these is called the mesopelagic layer, so-named for its spot in the middle of the pelagic zone. This “twilight zone” of the ocean contains more fish than at any other depth: estimates range from 1 to 10 billion metric tons. Until recently, the fish that dwell there remained mostly untouched by fishing vessels. But growing demand for farmed fish spurred the industry to explore new depths, urgently looking for more tiny fish to use as feed.

The “twilight zone” contains 90 percent of the ocean’s total biomass in fish. These strange-looking creatures are well-adapted to the constant pall at 660 to 3,300 feet below. They often sport googly eyes, translucent bodies and bioluminescent veneers. Appearance and color aren’t important considerations for citizens of a world shrouded in near-darkness. What the dwellers lack in looks, they make up for in numbers. Since that remains a driving argument for fishing there, researchers have called for a moratorium to prevent future exploitation.

There Are Plenty of Mesopelagic Fish (For Now)

You can’t order mesopelagic seafood in a restaurant or find it at the seafood counter. But there is plenty of seafood industry interest in mesopelagic fish - for turning them into fish oil supplements or aquafeed.

Aquaculture has long been touted as a way to relieve the burden on wild fish operations. Yet the industry itself needs wild fish to operate. Most aquaculture operations use small wild-caught fish, such as anchovies, as fishmeal for larger predatory fish that humans normally put on their plates. While the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization researchers say data on exact numbers is scarce, research suggests at least some fishmeal stocks are teetering towards depletion. In West Africa, for example, feedfish have been over-harvested by foreign companies. And illegal operators are devastating marine biodiversity, and threatening local livelihoods.

As a substitute for wildcaught feed, some aquaculture operators raise their fish on a vegetarian

diet such as soy. But many experts are quick to point out the inanity of this alternative: it’s like forcing a lion into an herbivore lifestyle, Xabier Irigoien, a researcher at AZTI and King Abdullah University of Science and Technology tells Sentient. “We are actually using land and freshwater to grow soyto grow a fish that really doesn’t need freshwater or land. So we are doing really odd things in terms of food.”

At the same time, our global appetite for fish, especially farmed fish, continues to rise, and the industry is exploring new options. In late 2023, the Norwegian firm Nofima conducted a three-month trial of feeding farmed salmon mesopelagic catch. The researchers observed their salmon growing faster than their counterparts fed a typical protein diet. “It’s very promising,”

Ingunn Marie Holmen, a research manager in fisheries technology at the Norwegian research institute SINTEF Ocean, tells Sentient. Nofima “had to actually stop the trial one week early because they ran out of feed.”

Not everyone is on board, however. Since 2020, researchers have called

for a global moratorium on mesopelagic fishing, concerned that plumbing these new depths for fish could take a toll on climate action and biodiversity.

Fish Capture and Store Carbon in the Sea

All fish, including mesopelagic fish, play a vital role in sequestering atmospheric carbon, slowing the pace of climate change by taking emissions out of the atmosphere. Deep-dwelling mesopelagic fish are even more vital to that process, simply because of where they live. Many of these fish undertake a daily vertical migration, surfacing at night to feed, then returning during the day to hide from predators. Mesopelagic fish exhale carbon dioxide, poop and themselves get eaten by other mesopelagic hunters. And all of these activities help ferry carbon from surface waters to the deeper ocean, where it can be stored more effectively than on land.

Another ecological downside of mesopelagic fishing is the damage to ocean biodiversity. The role of mesopelagic fish in the marine food web is still largely unknown. But researchers know that several epipelagic species,

such as dolphins, swordfish and tuna, feed on their submarine neighbors. Trawling in the mesopelagic zone might risk disrupting fisheries at the ocean surface, including those the industry thinks of as the most valuable at market.

“We don’t know the system well enough to start harvesting mesopelagic fish,” says Middle East Technical University oceanographer, Deniz Dişa. Last June, Dişa and her team published a study modeling the impact of mesopelagic fishing in the mid-Atlantic Ocean. The researchers found that even removing a conservative fraction of the mesopelagic stock would lead to cascading effects of carbon cycle disruption, with a decrease of 14 percent in total carbon movement, and food web chaos. According to the team, fishing in mesopelagic waters would only have a 20 percent chance of being sustainable.

The bottom line, Dişa says: the consequences are “not that simple.” And a growing number of ocean researchers agree, arguing that fishing deeper isn’t a solution to dwindling marine stocks - it only punts the problem from

tist Stein Kaartvedt, one South African ship’s mesopelagic bycatch apparently caught fire because it was so oily.

The fish that hang out in the twilight zone can also be tough to catch. Most are stragglers - they don’t congregate while swimming to make for an easy one-scoop kind of bounty - and they are also notorious for dodging nets.

“They are everywhere,” says Kaarvedt of the University of Oslo, but that doesn’t mean they are easy to catch. “The main thing with fishing is not whether we have 1 billion or 10 billion, but whether you have sufficient concentrations to make fishing feasible.”

Mesopelagic Fish Ended Up a Red Herring

one corner of the world to another. Given their unique ecological roles in biodiversity and carbon sequestration, mesopelagic fish are just as worthy of protection as those near the surface, if not more.

“This is a group which is unlike most of the species that we exploit at the moment,” says Callum Roberts, a University of Exeter marine biologist who is among those calling for a mesopelagic fishing ban. “If there’s any part of the ocean that you really don’t want to mess with, it’s the mesopelagic fish.”

Technological Hurdles Add Another Layer of Caution

For now, there are a number of challenges keeping mesopelagic fishing at bay. Experts say this type of fishing requires high fuel consumption, for one. The fish are also very small, some no larger than a finger pad, so fishers need to deploy nets with fine mesh and contend with high levels of drag.

Mesopelagic fish also spoil easily because they’re full of digestive enzymes, so they have to be processed or frozen promptly. “You almost can’t touch it before it’s all porridge,” Holmen says. According to marine scien -

The Norwegian fishing industry seems to have come to the same conclusion. In the late 2010s, a group of companies conducted a trial of mesopelagic fishing. The vessels brought in abundant catch in their first attempt, but the next two tries yielded near-empty nets. Since then, the fishing industry there has moved on to more lucrative targets, such as cod and herring. Mesopelagic fishing interest has also watered out in Iceland and South Africa, in favor of mackerel and sardines.

Across the world, more of the fish we eat comes from farms rather than wild-caught fisheries these days. But the proportion of fish stocks that have been classified as overfished has also been growing in tandem. Today, that fraction is 30 percent; and fish populations that are at capacity come in at 60 percent.

Although practically unnecessary at the moment, a moratorium on mesopelagic fisheries would help thwart future exploitation, says University of Exeter’s Roberts. Nevertheless, all that research on the mesopelagic zone is far from wasted, industry proponents say. This is a rare instance of a marine industry sinking time and money into conducting a full cost-benefit analysis before diving in head first. “It could be an example of how to approach expansion of any kind,” says another researcher, Irigoien, for fish as well as other ecosystems and natural resources.

Contents of a net fished in the North Atlantic mesopelagic are being sorted onboard the RV Celtic Explorer. | Photo by HulloThere/ Wikimedia Commons

Economic factors and currency volatility in the 2024 US presidential election

By Moheb Hanna, OANDA via Stacker

Although there are many political and societal factors that may determine the outcome of an election, November 2024 may be affected significantly by economic factors.

Voters are closely monitoring the economy due to the high inflation experienced in the aftermath of COVID-19. To combat inflation, the Federal Reserve has raised interest rates 11 times since April 2022. Although inflation has declined from its 2022 peak, it remains a concern in certain sectors, explains OANDA’s market analyst Moheb Hanna.

In a year where monetary policy decisions by world central banks continue to dominate headlines, the Federal Reserve has only recently made its first cut since 2020, cutting rates by a staggering 50 basis points. This more “cautious” approach contrasts those of the European Central Bank and the Bank of Canada, who opted to reduce interest rates much earlier in the year following a steady decline in inflation indicators.

In the post-COVID period, the U.S. has experienced strong economic growth and a robust job market, outperforming global economies. Recent data, however, indicates that Americans are spending more cautiously, seeking bargains and reducing leisure spending.

Which currency pairs are likely to be most affected by the volatility surrounding the U.S. presidential election?

As the world’s reserve currency, the U.S. dollar often experiences fluctuations in value due to various factors. This volatility is expected to increase around the U.S. elections as global currencies and commodities are priced against the dollar. Moreover, the Federal Reserve’s November meeting, scheduled during the election week, will likely amplify market volatility due to anticipated interest rate decisions and economic announcements.

The anticipated market volatility surrounding the election may present diverse trading opportunities across various currency

pairs and timeframes.

Prolonged uncertainty or delayed election results could extend this period of heightened volatility, potentially offering even more trading prospects.

As the November presidential election approaches, traders are likely anticipating numerous election-driven trading opportunities in the currency markets. Some traders may also position themselves ahead of the election, therefore, volatility may have already started.

1. USD/MXN: Price action during 2016 and 2020 U.S. elections, Mexico’s elections, USMCA agreement and COVID-19

The Mexican peso has been a strong performer over the past two years, primarily due to high interest rates, economic growth, and increased cooperation with U.S. businesses. This has presented a significant carry trade opportunity, with Mexico’s interest rate at 11.25% compared with the U.S. dollar’s 5.50%.

Although the peso has experienced fluctuations, including a 37% rise against the USD from March 2020 to July 2023 and a subsequent rebound to 18.10 in June 2024, it remains an attractive investment for some investors. Preelection positioning, driven by factors like interest rate differentials and differing inflation rates between the two countries, may influence the USD/MXN exchange rate. Historical trends show varying peso responses to U.S. elections, with potential implications depending on whether Harris or Trump wins. While Harris’s win might maintain the status quo, Trump’s win could reintroduce tariff concerns.

Additionally, Mexico’s strong economic ties with the U.S., particularly through the USMCA, add another layer of complexity to the USD/MXN relationship.

2. USD/JPY: Price action during 2016 and 2020 US elections, FOMC Interest Rate hikes and Bank of Japan intervention

In March, the Bank of Japan concluded its

extensive monetary easing program, including its negative interest rate policies, which had been in place for over eight years. The central bank maintained its interest rate at 0.10%.

Traders are now closely watching for any signals from the BOJ regarding quantitative tightening, as the bank is expected to gradually reduce its bond holdings. This process, if not carefully managed, could potentially disrupt the market. To mitigate this, the BOJ might opt to reduce bond purchases at a slower rate than their holding expiration, a strategy requiring cautious execution.

The Japanese yen is currently trading near its lowest point versus the dollar in 38 years, and at a level not seen since 1986, worrying traders. Despite both the U.S. and Japan maintaining their interest rates for a prolonged period, the yen has continued to weaken against the dollar, contributing to market uncertainty.

As a result, and in a measure to stop “excessive fluctuations driven by speculation,” the Bank of Japan is known to have intervened at least once in recent history, aiming to prop up yen prices. Owing to abnormalities in price action, some traders have speculated that market intervention has happened more than just once, but the BOJ has yet to officially confirm.

Although the BOJ is in a rate-raising mode and the Fed is expected to cut rates, the interest rate differential between the U.S. dollar and the Japanese yen remains appealing. Carry trades on USD/JPY can still offer returns for long-term investors, though these returns may be lower than other carry trade opportunities. However, they might also involve less risk compared to other available carry trade pairs.

3. EUR/USD: Price action during 2016 and 2020 US elections

The EUR/USD is the most frequently traded currency

VISIT

pair in the foreign exchange markets. During events that impact global markets, like the U.S. elections, the euro tends to be more susceptible to market risks. This is primarily due to changes in U.S. interest rates affecting the U.S. dollar, rather than the euro itself. EU inflation has seen a recent uptick in May, rising to 2.6% yearon-year, primarily driven by energy costs. This follows a period of steady decline since its peak in March/April 2022.

The ECB, having already reduced interest rates by 25 basis points on June 6, is now faced with the challenge of balancing inflation control with potential future rate cuts. The latest inflation increase, while bringing the indicator closer to prepandemic averages, adds complexity to the ECB’s decision-making process.

Historically, the euro has reacted to shifts in US leadership. It initially declined under Trump’s presidency, falling 8.5% to 1.0320. However, it later rebounded, reaching 1.2550 against the dollar. A sharp drop occurred in early 2018, finding support above 1.0600 during COVID-19, followed by another rise to

1.2200.

With Biden’s inauguration and the onset of the Ukraine war, coupled with FOMC interest rate hikes, the euro experienced a significant decline of 22.80%, reaching below parity at 0.9600. It has since partially recovered, trading within the 1.0550-1.1200 range in early 2023.

4. USD/CAD: Price action during 2016 and 2020 US elections, USMCA agreement and COVID-19 Canada, a major economic partner of the USA, has a highly correlated economy. The USD/CAD exchange rate is influenced by interest rates in both countries and oil prices, as Canada is a significant oil producer and a member of OPEC+.

As Trump took office in January 2017, and when Biden did in January 2021, the Canadian dollar rose significantly against the U.S. dollar as an initial reaction, and in both cases, the exchange price returned to its pre-election levels. Under the Trump administration, the USD/CAD rate remained relatively stable during the negotiation and implementation of the United StatesMexico-Canada Agreement,

which took effect on July 1, 2020. However, anticipatory market positioning was evident before that. Canadian inflation has followed global trends, rising post-COVID and then declining sharply after peaking around 8% in mid-2022. By early 2024, key inflation measures remained below 3%. This decline, coupled with weaker-thanexpected economic growth, led to anticipation of the Bank of Canada’s actions.

On June 5, the Bank of Canada became the first to cut interest rates by 25 basis points. Governor Tiff Macklem emphasized datadriven decision-making for future adjustments.

Despite strong retail sales over the past five years, recent months have shown a decline in specific categories, suggesting consumer caution and potential delays in interest-sensitive purchases. This trend is noteworthy as it coincides with a slowdown in Canada’s GDP growth since late 2021. This story was produced by OANDA and reviewed and distributed by Stacker Media. The article was copy edited from its original version. Republished pursuant to a CC BY-NC 4.0 license.

| Image courtesy of ImageFlow/Shutterstock/Stacker

Thousands of clean air school buses in CA hit the road this semester

By Hannah Wallace for Reasons to be Cheerful.

Broadcast version by

Suzanne Potter

for California News Service reporting for the Solutions Journalism Network-Public News Service Collaboration

Across the country, fall is synonymous with the new school year: sharpened pencils, new bento-style lunch boxes and, for many, the return of the iconic yellow school bus. Only this year, millions of students will be transported by yellow school buses that are electric.

This change was several years in the making, and it’s a welcome one: Diesel buses - which comprise the majority of school buses in use today - spew exhaust that has been linked to serious physical and cognitive issues in children.

“Diesel school buses are incredibly polluting, not just for the environment - for air quality - but for children’s health. They are very harmful to children’s respiratory health, lung health, you name it,” says Carolina Chacon, the coalition manager for the Alliance for Electric School Buses. Studies have shown that diesel fumes, one of the most toxic forms of air pollution, are associated with heart and lung conditions such as asthma as well as cognitive performance issues. Even students who ride buses that have been retrofitted with cheap engine modifications like “diesel particulate filters” perform better on tests, according to researchers at Georgia State University. “The science behind it is really clear that diesel is harmful, period. But for kids, whose lungs and brains are still developing, it is especially bad,” Chacon says.

When the Alliance for Electric School Buses formed in 2018, members were focused on demanding governors use the Volkswagen settlement

funds [from the Volkswagen emissions scandal, aka Dieselgate] to purchase electric school buses. But in most states, the governors or their environmental departments chose to use the funds to swap out older diesel buses for “clean diesel” buses. This was a move in the right direction, but a lower bar than what the Alliance for Electric School Buses was fighting for.

Then, in 2019, the Alliance switched its focus to policy. It began working with the office of thenSenator Kamala Harris to introduce the first electric school bus bill to Congress. “Her office actually drafted the Clean School Bus Act of 2019,” Chacon says. The bill didn’t advance far, though, and Harris ended up running for president

in 2020. “But the need for electric school buses did become a talking point during the primary,” Chacon says. “It was something Harris brought to the table, and that [Washington] Governor Jay Inslee brought to the table.”

Eventually, when Biden and Harris were elected, they made electric school buses a priority of their administration. Members of the Alliance for Electric School Buses continued to work with members of Congress to help create a program modeled on the Clean School Bus Act.

That ultimately became the EPA Clean School Bus Program, a $5 billion program that was part of Biden’s signature Bipartisan Infrastructure Law of 2021. Its funding, which ends in fiscal year 2026,

is being used to replace diesel school buses with either zero-emission buses (electric) or low-emission buses (alternative fuel buses, powered by propane or natural gas).

Chacon and all the members of the Alliance have been thrilled by how successful the program has been. The EPA has done three funding rounds since April of 2022 and each time, it has been inundated with applications. “To date, the federal government has distributed nearly $3 billion that has resulted in 8,500 new clean school buses,” Chacon says. (Some of those are propane or compressed natural gas, but 90 percent of the requests for funds have been for electric school buses.)

One of the grant recipi -

ents has been Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD), which passed a resolution last year for full fleet electrification. Daniel Kang, director of transportation for the district, says he currently has 56 electric school buses on the road with another 180 on the way - arriving in increments this fall and winter. “All 180 will be on the road starting April 2025,” Kang says. These 180 electric school buses are expected to remove an estimated 780,000 tons of carbon dioxide from the environment per year. The district will also save a yearly average of $10,000 per bus in maintenance and fuel costs combined (depend -

See School buses Page 07

ing on local electric rates, which fluctuate due to demand). That’s a total savings of nearly $2 million per year.

The reaction thus far has been very positive, Kang says. Not only is the air surrounding schools and children much cleaner, the buses are quieter. “It’s a night-and-day difference,” Kang says. “There are some drivers - human nature, opposed to change - who were like, ‘I love my diesel - it’s powerful, I can go up the mountain.’ But once they get in [the electric school bus] it’s really hard to deny the benefits because there’s less noise, less heat. They’re saying the experience is peaceful.”

Isaac Aquino, who has driven a bus for LAUSD for the past six years, says he prefers his Lion electric bus to diesel. He loves many things about it, but foremost is how quiet it is. “With the conventional ones that have the hood and the engine up front, the motor is loud. You have your two-way radio on, the kids are making noise - it’s hard to hear. It’s very rattly in the front,” he says. But on the electric model there is no noise. “It’s completely silent.” That is, except for the chime that turns on automatically when it goes 20 miles per hour or slower, which is a safety feature. (Like electric cars, electric school buses emit a recorded noise to alert pedestrians to their presence.) Aquino knows he and his students are breathing cleaner air because when his electric bus is getting maintenance and he has to take a spare

STARTING A NEW BUSINESS? VISIT

The transition from diesel school buses to electric ones has been several years in the making. | Photo courtesy of California Energy Commission

diesel bus for the day and mops his brow with a tissue, he sees dirt on it. “It’s like dirty air!” he says. He says the Lion buses also have superior air conditioning systems, which both he and the students appreciate.

Switching 236 buses to electric models comes with some challenges, though. One piece of the puzzle that LAUSD hasn’t solved for yet is infrastructure. At the moment, the district only has enough charging stations at its bus yards to charge 56 buses. That was an important learning experience for Kang and his colleagues. In the first round of EPA funding, LAUSD only applied for funding for the buses, but in subsequent rounds, they’ve requested half of the money go for new buses and the other half for charging stations.

There may also be unanticipated issues once electric bus fleets reach a certain size. When the number of electric buses reaches into the hundreds, some school districts have noticed that charging them all at the same time puts too much pressure on the grid. “The utility partners are saying, ‘We didn’t know about this but there’s a pulsing because there’s so much demand,’” Kang says. Kang thinks it will be sorted out soon. It’s just that the technology is so new. “In regards to this large-scale electrification, we’re still in the iPhone 2 stage,” he says.

There are also sometimes compatibility issues between the buses and the chargers, which are made by different companies. “Sometimes they won’t talk. They’ll sit all night connected but in the morning the driver finds

School buses

out it wasn’t charging. Everyone is scratching their head: ‘Is it the bus? Is it the charging manufacturers?’” Kang says. Because bus manufacturers don’t necessarily want to get into making charging stations - a very specialized technologythe industry answer at the moment is to introduce charging management software that will sync up bus and charging station.

Aside from these speed bumps, the greatest limitation of electric buses is that they don’t have the longer range that diesel buses do. That’s one of the reasons that - for now at least - Kang plans to hold onto some diesel buses.

“We gotta keep some of them at our yards because they are the only buses with a 300-mile range,” he says. Some of the longer field trips, like from Los Angeles to Bear Mountain, exceed the range for an electric bus (which can get only 150 to 162 miles on one charge). But this may be easily solved by better infrastructure, he says: “In short, we need chargers everywhere.”

But for most districts, the range isn’t an issue. For the Cherokee Central School System in North Carolina, the longest route is 40 miles. “And we can do both of our runs - morning and afternoon - on one charge,” says Donnie Owle, service manager and vice president of the Cherokee Boys Club. The Boys Club, a tribal entity for the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, has six electric buses right now with another 15 on the way - via EPA funding. Their first bus came via the VW settlement money and the next four came from a partnership with Duke

Energy, the local electric company. The tribe bought the sixth. “Duke Energy did a pilot program and they’re testing using our buses for V2G - vehicleto-grid,” Owle says. That is, they’re using the buses, which sit idle for many hours each day, to power the grid during peak energy use times. This practice, which LAUSD is also looking into, could be a win-win for school districts, which would be paid by the electric company for the energy.

As in Los Angeles, Owle says most Cherokee Central School System drivers have been won over by the new buses. “Some of the drivers don’t want to drive electric, then when they get on and drive it, they don’t want to get out of it!” he says, laughing. They like that the bus accelerates a lot faster, so that pulling out onto the highway is safer, he says. And he echoes LAUSD driver Aquino’s appreciation of the quiet: “You can actually hear the kids talk. You can hear what the kids are saying about you!”

In addition to the lack of noise - and the fact that his bus is clean and brandspanking-new - there’s something else Aquino loves about his electric school bus: It’s the talk of the town. “Our bumpers and rims are lime-green, so it makes the electric buses stand out. Everybody looks at the bus when we’re at a stop sign and you can see them talking about it!”

And it’s fun to see the students so excited, too, he says. “Especially if they haven’t been on the electric bus before they come in and are like, ‘Oh my god! Is this a new bus?’”

Probate Notices

NOTICE OF PETITION TO ADMINISTER ESTATE OF MANUEL A. CARREON

Case No. 22STPB06270

To all heirs, beneficiaries, cred-itors, contingent creditors, and persons who may otherwise be interested in the will or estate, or both, of MANUEL A. CARREON A PETITION FOR PROBATE has been filed by Victoria Y. Gonzalez in the Superior Court of California, County of LOS ANGELES.

THE PETITION FOR PROBATE requests that Victoria Y. Gonzalez be appointed as personal representative to administer the estate of the decedent.

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

A HEARING on the petition will be held on Nov. 14, 2024 at 8:30 AM in Dept. No. 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 ap-pearance 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 knowl-edgeable in California law.

DARRELL G BROOKE ESQ SBN 118071 THE BROOKE LAW GROUP PC 525 S MYRTLE AVE STE 204 MONROVIA CA 91016

CN111282 CARREON Oct 21,24,28, 2024 TEMPLE CITY TRIBUNE

NOTICE OF PETITION TO ADMINISTER ESTATE OF:

LING-LAN CHIU

CASE NO. 24STPB11178

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

A PETITION FOR PROBATE has been filed by DAVID HSIN-KAE LIN in the Superior Court of California, County of LOS ANGELES.

THE PETITION FOR PROBATE requests that DAVID HSIN-KAE LIN 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: 11/08/24 at 8:30AM in Dept. 99 located at 111 N. HILL ST., LOS ANGELES, CA 90012

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 DENNIS HUANG, ESQ. - SBN 237128 GOLDEN BRIDGE LAW, P.C. 251 S. LAKE AVE., STE. 800 PASADENA CA 91101 Telephone (626) 988-0901 10/21, 10/24, 10/28/24 CNS-3863055# ARCADIA WEEKLY

NOTICE OF PETITION TO ADMINISTER ESTATE OF:

HIROSHI TAKAKI CASE NO. 24STPB11737

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

A PETITION FOR PROBATE has been filed by KENNETH L. SCHWARTZ in the Superior Court of California, County of LOS ANGELES. THE PETITION FOR PROBATE requests that KENNETH L. SCHWARTZ 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 in this court as follows: 11/15/24 at 8:30AM in Dept. 67 located at 111 N. HILL ST., LOS ANGELES, CA 90012

YOU MAY EXAMINE the file kept by the court. If you are a person in-

LEGALS

terested 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

RONALD BERMAN - SBN 079775 BERMAN & BERMAN, APLC 16633 VENTURA BLVD., STE. 940 ENCINO CA 91436

Telephone (818) 593-5050 10/21, 10/24, 10/28/24

CNS-3863422# EL MONTE EXAMINER

NOTICE OF PETITION TO ADMINISTER ESTATE OF ROY GENE BALENTINE aka ROY BALENTINE

Case No. 24STPB11627

To all heirs, beneficiaries, creditors, contingent creditors, and persons who may otherwise be interested in the will or estate, or both, of ROY GENE BALENTINE aka ROY BALENTINE

A PETITION FOR PROBATE has been filed by Sonja Leigh Ellisor in the Superior Court of California, County of LOS ANGELES.

THE PETITION FOR PROBATE requests that Sonja Leigh Ellisor 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 on Nov. 13, 2024 at 8:30 AM in Dept. No. 2D 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.

Attorney for petitioner: GRACE LIM-AYERS ESQ SBN321004 THE WERNER LAW FIRM 27433 TOURNEY RD STE 200 SANTA CLARITA CA 91355

CN111309 BALENTINE Oct 28,31, Nov 4, 2024 SAN GABRIEL SUN

NOTICE OF PETITION TO ADMINISTER ESTATE OF Brian Hung Tsui aka Hung Quoc Tu CASE NO. 24STPB10885

To all heirs, beneficiaries, creditors, contingent creditors, and persons who may otherwise be interested in the will or estate, or both, of: Brian Hung Tsui aka Hung Quoc Tu A PETITION FOR PROBATE has been filed by Kevin Khoanh Tu in the Superior Court of California, County of Los Angeles. THE PETITION FOR PROBATE

requests that Kevin Khoanh Tu 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 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 12/06/2024 at 8:30AM in Dept. 4 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.

Attorney for Petitioner: Andrew Vo, SBN: 342598 8748 E. Valley Blvd, Suite M Rosemead, CA 91770 Telephone: (626) 288-1496 10/28, 10/31, 11/4/24 CNS-3865228# EL MONTE EXAMINER

ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME PETITION OF Noe Damian Aguilar Donis FOR CHANGE OF NAME CASE NUMBER: 24NNCP00473 Superior Court of California, County of Los Angeles 150 West Commonwealth, Alhambra, Ca 91801, Northeast Judicial District TO ALL INTERESTED PERSONS: 1. Petitioner Noe Damian Aguilar Donis filed a petition with this court for a decree changing names as follows: Present name a. OF Noe Damian Aguilar Donis to Proposed name Noe Damian Castillo Aguilar 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: 12/23/2024 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,

Trustee Notices

ment No. 06 1796013, in the Office of the County Recorder of Los Angeles County, California; and Whereas, the Deed of Trust was insured by the United States Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (the Secretary) pursuant to the National Housing Act for the purpose of providing single family housing; and Whereas, the beneficial interest in the Deed of Trust is now owned by the Secretary, pursuant to an Assignment of Deed of Trust dated 10/23/2018, recorded on 10/24/2018, as instrument number 20181082186, in the Office of the County Recorder, Los Angeles County, California; and Whereas, a default has been made in the covenants and conditions of the Deed of Trust in that the payment due on 9/8/2024, was not made and remains wholly unpaid as of the date of this notice, and no payment has been made sufficient to restore the loan to currency; and Whereas, the entire amount delinquent as of 11/19/2024 is $479,215.74; and Whereas, by virtue of this default, the Secretary has declared the entire amount of the indebtedness secured by the Deed of Trust to be immediately due and payable; Now Therefore, pursuant to powers vested in me by the Single Family Mortgage Foreclosure Act of 1994, 12 U.S.C. 3751 et seq., by 24 CFR part 27, subpart B, and by the Secretary’s designation of Total Lender Solutions, Inc. as Foreclosure Commissioner, recorded on 12/28/2018 as instrument number 20181313015, notice is hereby given that on 11/19/2024 at 11:00 AM local time, all real and personal property at or used in connection with the following described property will be sold at public auction to the highest bidder: Legal Description: Lot 111 Of Tract No. 18124, In The County Of Los Angeles, State Of California, As Per Map Recorded In Book 528 Pages 38 To 40 Of Maps, In The Office Of The County Recorder Of Said County Excepting Therefrom All Oil, Gas, Hydrocarbons And Minerals In And Under Said Land, Without Any Rights To Enter Upon The Surface And The Subsurface Area Of Said Land To A Depth Of 500 Feet Measured From Such Surface For Any Purpose Which May Be Incidental To The Ownership Of Said Substances And Without Any Right To Prospect For, Drill For, Produce Any Of Said Substances From Surface Location Within 500 Feet Of The Exterior Boundaries Of Said Land, As Granted To Vesuna, Inc, A Corporation, By Deed Recorded February 8, 1955 In Book 46854 Page 354, Official Records Commonly known as: 13833 Fairgrove Ave, La Puente Area, CA 91746 The sale will be held at Behind the fountain located in Civic Center Plaza, 400 Civic Center Plaza, Pomona, CA. The Secretary of Housing and Urban Development will bid an estimate of $479,215.74. There will be no proration of taxes, rents or other income or liabilities, except that the purchaser will pay, at or before closing, his prorata share of any real estate taxes that have been paid by the Secretary to the date of the foreclosure sale. When making their bids, all bidders except the Secretary must submit a deposit totaling $47,921.57 [10% of the Secretary’s bid] in the form of a certified check or cashier’s check made out to the Secretary of HUD. Each oral bid need not be accompanied by a deposit. If the successful bid is oral, a deposit of $47,921.57 must be presented before the bidding is closed. The deposit is nonrefundable. The remainder of the purchase price must be delivered within 30 days of the sale or at such other time as the Secretary may determine for good cause shown, time being of the essence. This amount, like the bid deposits, must be delivered in the form of a certified or cashier’s check. If the Secretary is the high bidder, he need not pay the bid amount in cash. The successful bidder will pay all conveyancing fees, all real estate and other taxes that are due on or after the delivery of the remainder of the payment and all other costs associated with the transfer of title. At the conclusion of the sale, the deposits of the unsuccessful bidders will be returned to them. The Secretary may grant an extension of time within which to deliver the remainder of the payment. All extensions will be for 15day increments for a fee of $500.00, paid in advance. The extension fee shall be in the form of a certified or cashier’s check made payable to the Secretary of HUD. If the high bidder closes the sale prior to the expiration of any extension period, the unused portion of the extension fee shall be applied toward the amount due. If the high bidder is unable to close the sale within the required period, or within any extensions of time granted by the Secretary, the high bidder may be required to forfeit the cash deposit or, at the election of the foreclosure commissioner after consultation with the HUD Field Office representative, will be liable to HUD for any costs incurred as a result of such failure. The commissioner may, at the direction of the HUD field office Representative, offer the Property to the second highest bidder for an amount equal to the highest price offered by that bidder. There is no right of redemption, or right of possession based upon a right of redemption, in the mortgagor or others subsequent to a foreclosure completed pursuant the Act. Therefore, the Foreclosure commissioner will issue a Deed to the purchaser(s) upon receipt of the entire purchase price in accordance with the terms of the sale as provided herein. HUD does not guarantee that the property will be vacant. The amount that must be paid if the Mortgage is to be reinstated prior to the scheduled sale is $479,215.74, as of 11/18/2024, plus all other amounts that would be due under the mortgage agreement if payments under the mortgage had not been accelerated, advertising costs and postage expenses incurred in giving notice, mileage by the most reasonable road distance for posting notices and for the Foreclosure Commissioner’s attendance at the sale, reasonable and customary costs incurred for title and lien record searches, the necessary out-of-pocket costs incurred by the Foreclosure Commissioner for recording documents, a com-

Public Notices

LEGALS

Starting a new business? Go to filedba.com

Glendale City Notices

NOTICE OF PLANNING COMMISSION PUBLIC HEARING APPLICATION TYPE CASE NO. PTM 003171-2024

LOCATION: 3240 MENLO DRIVE

APPLICANT: Hayk Martirosian, Techna Land Company

ZONE: “RIR” (Restricted Residential), FAR District II

LEGAL DESCRIPTION: Portion of Teodoro Verdugo and Catalina Verdugo, 2,629.01 acres

PROJECT DESCRIPTION: The applicant is requesting approval of a tentative parcel map to subdivide an existing 109,161 SF (2.51 acres) lot into two parcels. Parcel A will be 27,727 SF and will include retaining an approximately 5,600 SF two story house over a garage, which was approved in April 2005. Parcel B will be 81,434 SF. This area of the present lot is currently undeveloped. The intent is to develop a single-family house on the parcel. The subject site is located on the east side of Menlo Drive at the terminus of this street and is zoned R1R FAR District II.

ENVIRONMENTAL DETERMINATION: The project is exempt from CEQA review as a Class 3 “New Construction or Conversion of Small Structures” exemption, pursuant to Section 15303 of the State CEQA Guidelines, because the project will involve the development of a new single-family residence in an urbanized area.

HEARING INFORMATION

The Planning Commission will conduct a public hearing regarding the above project in the Municipal Services Building at 633 E. Broadway, Room 103, Glendale, CA 91206, on NOVEMBER 6, 2024, at 5:00 PM or as soon thereafter as possible. The purpose of the hearing is to hear comments from the public with respect to zoning concerns.

The meeting can be viewed on Charter Cable Channel 6 or streamed online at: https://www.glendaleca.gov/government/departments/management-services/gtv6/livevideo-stream. For public comments and questions during the meeting call 818-937-8100. City staff will be submitting these questions and comments in real time to the appropriate person during the Planning Commission Hearing. You may also testify in person at the hearing if you wish to do so.

If the final decision is challenged in court, testimony may be limited to issues raised before or at the public hearing. The staff report and case materials will be available a week before the hearing date at www.glendaleca.gov/agendas.

QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS: If you desire more information on the proposal, please contact the case planner Roger Kiesel in the Planning Division at rkiesel@glendaleca.gov, or (818) 937-8182, or (818) 548-2140.

Any person having an interest in the subject project may participate in the hearing, by phone as outlined above, and may be heard in support of his/her opinion. Any person protesting may file a duly signed and acknowledged written protest with the Director of Community Development not later than the hour set for public hearing before the Hearing Officer. "Acknowledged" shall mean a declaration of property ownership (or occupant if not owner) under penalty of perjury. If you challenge the decision of this project in court, you may be limited to raising only those issues you or someone else raised at the public hearing described in this notice, or in written correspondence delivered to the City of Glendale, at or prior to the public hearing. In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990, please notify the Community Development Department at least 48 hours (or two business days) for requests regarding sign language translation and Braille transcription services.

When a final decision is rendered, a decision letter will be posted online at www.glendaleca.gov/planning/decisions. An appeal may be filed within 15 days of the final decision date appearing on the decision letter. Appeals may be filed at www.GlendaleCA.gov/Permits (click “Apply,” then “Planning/Zoning”).

Dr. S. Abajian, The City Clerk of the City of Glendale

Publish October 28, 2024

GLENDALE INDEPENDENT

NOTICE OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR DECISION ADMINISTRATIVE USE PERMIT CASE NO. PAUP-003651-2024

LOCATION: 2291 HONOLULU AVENUE, Glendale, CA 91020 “Sushi Nakata”

APPLICANT: Anu Nakata

ZONE: “CR” – Commercial Retail

LEGAL DESCRIPTION: Lot 56, Tract No. 1701

APN: 5807-009-001

PROJECT DESCRIPTION Application for an Administrative Use Permit (AUP) to allow the on-site sales, service, and consumption of beer and wine (ABC License Type 41) at a new full-service restaurant (Sushi Nakata).

CODE REQUIRES

1) The sale of alcoholic beverages requires an Administrative Use Permit in the CR (Commercial Retail) Zone. (GMC 30.12.020, Table 30.12-A).

APPLICANT’S PROPOSAL

1) To allow for the on-site sales, service and consumption of beer and wine at a new full-service restaurant.

ENVIRONMENTAL DETERMINATION: The project is exempt from CEQA review as a Class 1 “Existing Facilities” exemption, pursuant to Section 15301(e) of the State CEQA Guidelines because the discretionary permit request is to allow the on-site sales, service, and consumption of beer and wine at a new full-service restaurant within an existing commercial space and there is no additional floor area proposed.

PENDING DECISION AND COMMENTS

Copies of plans, staff analysis, and proposed decision letter are available on the City’s website at: http://www.glendaleca.gov/planning/pending-decisions.

If you would like to review plans, submit comments, or be notified of the decision, please contact case planner Eric Ji at (818) 937-8178 or Eji@GlendaleCa.gov

DECISION: On or after NOVEMBER 07, 2024, the Community Development Director will make a written decision regarding this AUP request.

APPEAL

After the Director has made a decision, any person may file an appeal within 15 days of the written decision. Appeals may be filed online at www.glendaleca.gov/Permits, click “Apply,” “Skip..”, and search for “Appeal.”

Dr. Suzie Abajian, The City Clerk of the City of Glendale

Publish October 28, 2024

GLENDALE INDEPENDENT

Probate Notices

NOTICE OF PETITION TO ADMINISTER ESTATE OF: HOWARD BELZBERG CASE NO. 24STPB11629

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

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

THE PETITION FOR PROBATE requests that LINDA REVER 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: 11/14/24 at 8:30AM in Dept. 62 located at 111 N. HILL ST., LOS ANGELES, CA 90012

ROBERT SCHACHTER, ESQ.SBN 72528

HITCHCOCK, BOWMAN & SCHACHTER 21515 HAWTHORNE BLVD #1030 TORRANCE CA 90503

Telephone (310) 540-2202 10/24, 10/28, 10/31/24 CNS-3863503# PASADENA PRESS

NOTICE OF PETITION TO ADMINISTER ESTATE OF:

RICHARD BONG KIM AKA

RICHARD B. KIM AKA

RICHARD B. KIM M.D. CASE NO. 30-2024-01430485-PR-LA-

CMC

To all heirs, beneficiaries, creditors, contingent creditors, and persons who may otherwise be interested in the WILL or estate, or both of RICHARD BONG KIM AKA

RICHARD B. KIM AKA RICHARD B. KIM M.D..

A PETITION FOR PROBATE has been filed by CHRISTOPHER M. DUMA, M.D.., FACS in the Superior Court of California, County of ORANGE. THE PETITION FOR PROBATE requests that CHRISTOPHER M. DUMA, M.D.., FACS 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 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: 11/20/24 at 1:30PM in Dept. CM08 located at 3390 HARBOR BLVD., COSTA MESA, CA 92626 NOTICE IN PROBATE CASES

The court is providing the convenience to appear for hearing by video using the court’s designated video platform. This is a no cost service to the public. Go to the Court’s website at The Superior Court of California - County of Orange (occourts.org) to appear remotely for Probate hearings and for remote hearing instructions. If you have difficulty connecting or are unable to connect to your remote hearing, call 657-622-8278 for assistance. If you prefer to appear in-person, you can appear in the department on the day/ time set for your hearing.

SCOTT E. RAHN - SBN 222528

CRAIG A. TRISTAO - SBN 256528 RMO LLP 901 BRINGHAM AVENUE LOS ANGELES CA 90049

Telephone (424) 320-9444 10/24, 10/28, 10/31/24 CNS-3863636# ANAHEIM PRESS

NOTICE OF PETITION TO ADMINISTER ESTATE OF: PHOEBE G. MARTINEZ CASE NO. PROVA2400897

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

A PETITION FOR PROBATE has been filed by ADRIAN ANDREW MARTINEZ in the Superior Court of California, County of SAN BERNARDINO.

THE PETITION FOR PROBATE requests that ADRIAN ANDREW MARTINEZ 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: 11/20/24

at 9:00AM in Dept. F1 located at 17780 ARROW BLVD., FONTANA, CA 92335

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.

JENNIFER L. FIELD - SBN 236565 LAW OFFICE OF JENNIFER L. FIELD

405 N. INDIAN HILL BOULEVARD

CLAREMONT CA 91711

Telephone (909) 625-0220 BSC 225944 10/24, 10/28, 10/31/24

CNS-3863812#

ONTARIO NEWS PRESS

NOTICE OF PETITION TO ADMINISTER ESTATE OF: LEE ANDREW LAWSON CASE NO. 24STPB11650

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

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

THE PETITION FOR PROBATE requests that TERESA GIPSON 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: 11/14/24 at 8:30AM in Dept. 44 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.

as provided in Probate Code section 1250. A Request for Special Notice form is available from the court clerk. Attorney for Petitioner BRITTANY DUKE - SBN 279489 BARBARO, CHINEN, PITZER & DUKE LLP

301 E. COLORADO BLVD., #700 PASADENA CA 91101

Telephone (626) 793-5196 10/24, 10/28, 10/31/24

CNS-3863978# PASADENA PRESS

NOTICE OF PETITION TO ADMINISTER ESTATE OF DAVID G. SCHULENBERG Case No. 24STPB11595

To all heirs, beneficiaries, cred-itors, contingent creditors, and persons who may otherwise be interested in the will or estate, or both, of DAVID G. SCHULENBERG

A PETITION FOR PROBATE has been filed by Christopher G. Schu-lenberg and Gretchen Schulenberg in the Superior Court of California, County of LOS ANGELES. THE PETITION FOR PROBATE requests that Christopher G. Schu-lenberg and Gretchen Schulenberg 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 administra-tion authority will be granted unless an interested person files an objec-tion to the petition and shows good cause why the court should not grant the authority.

A HEARING on the petition will be held on Nov. 13, 2024 at 8:30 AM in Dept. No. 9 located at 111 N. Hill St., Los Angeles, CA 90012.

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: WENDY E HARTMANN ESQ SBN204587 LAW OFFICES OF WENDY HARTMANN 400 N HOLLYWOOD WAY STE 206 BURBANK CA 91505 CN111318 SCHULENBERG Oct 28,31, Nov 4, 2024 GLENDALE INDEPENDENT

NOTICE OF PETITION TO ADMINISTER ESTATE OF ANGEL MARIA VALDES Case No. 24STPB11596

To all heirs, beneficiaries, cred-itors, contingent creditors, and persons who may otherwise be interested in the will or estate, or both, of ANGEL MARIA VALDES A PETITION FOR PROBATE has been filed by Angela De La Caridad Valdes in the Superior Court of California, County of LOS ANGELES. THE PETITION FOR PROBATE requests that Angela De La Caridad Valdes be appointed as personal representative to administer

auction sale to the highest bidder for cash, cashier’s check drawn on a state or national bank, check drawn by state or federal credit union, or a check drawn by a state or federal savings and loan association, or savings association, or savings bank specified in Section 5102 to the Financial Code and authorized to do business in this state, will be held by duly appointed trustee. The 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 the Deed of Trust, with interest and late charges thereon, as provided in the note(s), advances, under the terms of the Deed of Trust, interest thereon, fees, charges and expenses of the Trustee for the total amount (at the time of the initial publication of the Notice of Sale) reasonably estimated to be set forth below. The amount may be greater on the day of sale. BENEFICIARY MAY ELECT TO BID LESS THAN THE TOTAL AMOUNT DUE. Trustor(s): RUBEN RODRIGUEZ AND NORMA SOSA, HUSBAND AND WIFE AS JOINT TENANTS Recorded: 8/19/2016 as Instrument No. 20160988742 of Official Records in the office of the Recorder of LOS ANGELES County, California; Date of Sale: 12/12/2024 at 9:00:00 AM Place of Sale: At the Doubletree Hotel Los Angeles-Norwalk, 13111 Sycamore Drive, Norwalk, CA 90650, in the Vineyard Ballroom Amount of unpaid balance and other charges: $784,613.75 The purported property address is: 13700-13702 RAMONA BOULEVARD, BALDWIN PARK, CA 91706 Assessor’s Parcel No.: 8552015-056 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 1-800-280-2832 for information regarding the trustee’s sale or visit this internet website http://www.qualityloan.com, using the file number assigned to this foreclosure by the Trustee: CA-18-808360-CL. Information about postponements that are very short in duration or that occur close in time to the scheduled sale may not immediately be reflected in the telephone information or on the internet website. The best way to verify postponement information is to attend the scheduled sale. NOTICE TO TENANT: You may have a right to purchase this property after the trustee auction pursuant to Section 2924m of the California Civil Code. If you are an “eligible tenant buyer,” you can purchase the property if you match the last and highest bid placed at the trustee auction. If you are an “eligible bidder,” you may be able to purchase the property if you exceed the last and highest bid placed at the trustee auction. There are three steps to exercising this right of purchase. First, 48 hours after the date of the trustee sale, you can call 1-800-280-2832, or visit this internet website http://www.qualityloan.com, using the file number assigned to this foreclosure by the Trustee: CA-18-808360-CL to find the date on which the trustee’s sale was held, the amount of the last and highest bid, and the address of the trustee. Second, you must send a written notice of intent to place a bid so that the trustee receives it no more than 15 days after the trustee’s sale. Third, you must submit a bid so that the trustee receives it no more than 45 days after the trustee’s sale. If you think you may qualify as an “eligible tenant buyer” or “eligible bidder,” you should consider contacting an attorney or appropriate real estate professional immediately for advice regarding this potential right to purchase. NOTICE TO PROSPECTIVE OWNER-OCCUPANT: Any prospective owner-occupant as defined in Section 2924m of the California Civil Code who is the last and highest bidder at the trustee’s sale shall provide the required affidavit or declaration of eligibility to the auctioneer at the trustee’s sale or shall have it delivered to QUALITY LOAN SERVICE CORPORATION by 5 p.m. on the next business day following the trustee’s sale at the address set forth in the below signature block. The undersigned Trustee disclaims any liability for any incorrectness of the property address or other common designation, if any, shown herein. If no street address or other common designation is shown, directions to the location of the property may be obtained by sending a written request to the beneficiary within 10 days of the date of first publication of this Notice of Sale. If the sale is set aside for any reason, including if the Trustee is unable to convey title, the Purchaser at the sale shall be entitled only to a return of the monies paid to the Trustee. This shall be the Purchaser’s sole and exclusive remedy. The purchaser shall have no further recourse against the Trustor, the Trustee, the Bene-

ficiary, the Beneficiary’s Agent, or the Beneficiary’s Attorney. If you have previously been discharged through bankruptcy, you may have been released of personal liability for this loan in which case this letter is intended to exercise the note holders right’s against the real property only. Date: QUALITY LOAN SERVICE CORPORATION 2763 Camino Del Rio S San Diego, CA 92108 619-645-7711 For NON SALE information only Sale Line: 1-800-2802832 Or Login to: http://www.qualityloan. com Reinstatement Line: (866) 645-7711 Ext 5318 QUALITY LOAN SERVICE CORPORATION . TS No.: CA-18-808360-CL IDSPub #0224968 10/28/2024 11/4/2024 11/11/2024 BALDWIN PARK PRESS

Fictitious Business Name Filings

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT File No. FBN20240008238

The following persons are doing business as: CEGAA TAX SERVICES, 2553 S EUCLID AVE, ONTARIO, CA 91762. CLARA E GUTIERREZ, 2553 S EUCLID AVE, ONTARIO, CA 91762. 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 September 1, 2019. 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 62506277). /s/ CLARA E GUTIERREZ. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of San Bernardino on September 13, 2019 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#: FBN20240008238 Pub: 09/26/2024, 10/03/2024, 10/10/2024, 10/17/2024 San Bernardino Press

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT File No. FBN20240008169

The following persons are doing business as: PB Produce Supplies, 675 Marin Road, Big Bear Lake, CA 92315. Mailing Address, P.O Box 407, Big Bear Lake, CA 92315. Pradeep Bhandari, 675 Marin Rd, Big Bear Lake, CA 92315. 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 September 11, 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 62506277). /s/ Pradeep Bhandari, Owner. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of San Bernardino on September 11, 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#: FBN20240008169 Pub: 09/19/2024, 09/26/2024, 10/03/2024, 10/10/2024 San Bernardino Press

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 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#: 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 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#: FBN20240009012 Pub: 10/14/2024, 10/21/2024, 10/28/2024, 11/04/2024 San Bernardino Press

The following person(s) is (are) doing business as LV Electric 760 Saint Helena Dr

Corona, CA 92879

Riverside County LV Builders, Inc (CA, 760 Saint Helena Dr, Corona, CA 92879

Riverside County

This business is conducted by: a corporation. 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. Raul Rudy Flores, President Statement filed with the County of Riverside on September 19, 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-202411902 Pub. 10/14/2024, 10/21/2024, 10/28/2024, 11/04/2024 Riverside Independent

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 20246699461. The following person(s) is (are) doing business as: Lopez & Son Trucking, 200 W Rosecrest Ave, La Habra, CA 90631. Full Name of Registrant(s) Oscar Manuel Lopez Jr, 200 W Rosecrest Ave, La Habra, CA 90631. This business is conducted by a individual. Registrant has not yet begun to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed herein. /S/ Oscar Manuel Lopez Jr. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Orange County on September 23, 2024. Publish: Anaheim Press 10/14/2024, 10/21/2024, 10/28/2024, 11/04/2024

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 20246699460. The following person(s) is (are) doing business as: FP Window Tint, 822 W Wl Segundo Blvd Apt 3, Gardena, CA 90247. Full Name of Registrant(s) (1). Faustino Pancho Policarpo, 822 W Wl Segundo Blvd Apt 3, Gardena, CA 90247 (2). Erika Garcia, 822 W Wl Segundo Blvd Apt 3, Gardena, CA 90247 . This business is conducted by a individual. Registrant has not yet begun to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed herein. /S/ Faustino Pancho Policarpo, General Partner. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Orange County on September 23, 2024. Publish: Anaheim Press 10/14/2024, 10/21/2024, 10/28/2024, 11/04/2024

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 20246700882. The following person(s) is (are) doing business as: Skin Care by the Sea, 30200 Rancho Viejo Rd. Suite D., San Juan Capistrano, CA 92675. Full Name of Registrant(s) Tammi Banks, 30200 Rancho Viejo Rd. Suite D., San Juan Capistrano, CA 92675. This business is conducted by a individual. Registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed herein on January 1, 2004. /S/ Tammi Banks. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Orange County on October 14, 2024. Publish: Anaheim Press 10/21/2024, 10/28/2024, 11/04/2024, 11/11/2024

AICARE ORTHODONTICS. /S/ Ai Huang, President. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Orange County on October 22, 2024. Publish: Anaheim Press 10/28/2024, 11/04/2024, 11/11/2024, 11/18/2024

The following person(s) is (are) doing business as Estela Market 6104 Mission Blvd Riverside, CA 92509 Riverside County Mailing Address, 8628 6th st, downey, CA 90241. Riverside County yahir german caiceros galeno, 6104 Mission Blvd, Riverside, CA 92509 Riverside County This business is conducted by: a individual. 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. yahir german caiceros galeno Statement filed with the County of Riverside on October 8, 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-202412741 Pub. 10/28/2024, 11/04/2024, 11/11/2024, 11/18/2024 Riverside Independent

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT File No. FBN20240009157

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 20246701552. The following person(s) is (are) doing business as: AICARE ORTHODONTICS, 10990 Warner Ave # I, Fountain Valley, CA 92708. Full Name of Registrant(s) Ai Huang, D.M.D., Inc. (CA, 10990 Warner Ave # I, Fountain Valley, CA 92708. This business is conducted by a corporation. Registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed herein on October 8, 2024.

The following persons are doing business as: KMT AUTO, 4495 E Wall St Ste 102, Ontario, CA 91761. Mailing Address, 4495 E Wall St Ste 102, Ontario, CA 91761. KMT AUTOMOTIVE INC (CA, 4495 E Wall St Ste 102, Ontario, CA 91761; HONGBIN YU, President. County of Principal Place of Business: San Bernardino This business is conducted by: a corporation. Registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed herein on September 26, 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 62506277). /s/ HONGBIN YU, President. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of San Bernardino on October 10, 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#: FBN20240009157 Pub: 10/28/2024, 11/04/2024, 11/11/2024, 11/18/2024 San Bernardino Press

LA County to appoint internal compliance officer to oversee juvenile halls

By City News Service

Los Angeles County supervisors are calling for the appointment of an internal compliance officer Wednesday to ensure that juvenile halls — which have repeatedly come under fire from state overseers — are in adherence with state regulations.

The compliance officer will be responsible for ensuring the halls meet suitability standards set by the Board of State and Community Corrections and the operating terms of a settlement agreement with the California Department of Justice.

This temporary position was sought to increase the efficiency of restoring suitability at county facilities which have failed to meet regulations.

In May 2023, the county’s Central Juvenile Hall and Barry J. Nidorf Juvenile Hall were both ordered closed by the BSCC after being found unsuitable to house juvenile detainees. That led to the reopening of Los Padrinos Juvenile Hall in Downey, where all detainees were transferred.

But that facility has also come under criticism by regulators. Since reopening, issues including excessive wait times, lack of youth programming, staffing, and probation officers being placed on leave for issues relating to conduct on and off duty have drawn scrutiny.

On Aug. 12, BSCC issued a notice of noncompliance to LPJH due to staffing issues, and the county Probation Department was

Nearly2,400mental health workers at Kaiser Permanente facilities are on strike Thursday amid contract talks and allegations of a “broken” system of care, while Kaiser officials say the union has been “slow walking” the negotiation process and planned to strike before labor talks even began.

Mental health professionals, represented by the National Union of Healthcare Workers, will picket from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thursday at the following locations:

-- Bakersfield Kaiser Mental Health Offices, 4900 California Ave., Bakersfield

-- San Diego Medical Center, 9455 Clairemont Mesa Blvd.

-- Fontana Medical Center, 9961 Sierra Ave., Fontana

-- Anaheim Medical Center, 3440 East La Palma Ave., Anaheim

-- West Los Angeles Medical Center, 6041 Cadillac Ave., Los Angeles

There will be lunchtime rallies with community and elected officials at all five sites.

“This is about equity for mental health care,” Jessica Rentz, a Kaiser therapist in Fontana, said in a statement released by the National Union of Healthcare Workers. “We want to be with our patients, not on a picket line, but we can’t keep working in a system that treats mental health care like an assembly line job and denies us the time and resources to provide the care

given until Oct. 11 to submit a corrective action plan. The department submitted the plan on Oct. 11, but it was rejected the same day, according to a motion by Supervisors Janice Hahn and Lindsey Horvath.

Days later, the BSCC made a determination that Los Padrinos is unsuitable to house detainees — a determination that could potentially lead to a closure order if violations are not remedied.

“It is time this board acted to appoint a Compliance Officer to help the Probation Department and other county departments and agencies who operate within the county’s juvenile facilities to gain and sustain compliance with the BSCC regulations and the Califor-

nia DOJ settlement agreement,” according to the motion introduced Tuesday. The motion directed the

compliance officer within 30 days. The

be considered

Kaiser mental health workers strike across SoCal

we know our patients need.”

According to the union, the impacted workers include psychologists, social workers, psychiatric nurses, addiction medicine counselors, licensed clinical counselors and marriage and family therapists who “provide behavioral health care for Kaiser’s 4.8 million members in hospitals, clinics and medical offices [and] homecare settings from San Diego to Bakersfield.”

The union’s contract with Kaiser expired Sept. 30.

The labor dispute comes one year after Kaiser reached a $50 million settlement with state regulators who said the health care giant’s mental health care system lacked adequate staffing that caused lapses in access to care for patients.

Kaiser officials said the organization has invested more than $1 billion since 2020 to expand its mental health capabilities in California, including hiring more therapists, the addition of resources and reductions in wait times for patients.

The union, however, says shortages are still persistent in Southern California, insisting Kaiser has about one therapist for every 3,000 Kaiser members, compared to one per 2,000 in Northern California. That ratio has limited the time available to therapists to respond to patient calls and emails, to develop treatment plans and prepare for appointments, leading to burnout and

By City News Service

causing newly hired therapists to leave their jobs, the union contends.

The union claims that onefourth of the 1,508 mental health professionals hired by Kaiser’s Southern California region between January 2021 and September 2024 have already left their positions.

Kaiser officials said in a statement that the health care system is committed to continued negotiations “until this deal is done.” But it said the union has been focused on a strike since the beginning of talks, and has been “slow-walking the negotiation process, including on the very issues the union has identified as key to reaching

a contract.”

“It is apparent that their strategy all along has been to move to a strike,” according to a Kaiser statement. “They have been threatening to strike since before we began bargaining in July and have operated without a sense of urgency, declining to accept or counter the strong proposals Kaiser Permanente has put on the table. Most concerning, the union presented a proposal that could result in a full-time therapist spending 40% or more of their work week not seeing patients.”

According to Kaiser, it has presented the union with an offer that includes an 18% wage increase over four

years, and also “enhances the comprehensive benefits our mental health professionals enjoy plus provides therapists more non-patient time for planning and preparation.”

“Today, some of the employees represented by the National Union of Healthcare Workers (NUHW) are choosing to walk away from their patients at various Kaiser Permanente facilities in Southern California to take part in an open-ended strike called by union leaders,” Kaiser said in a statement released Monday.

“All Kaiser Permanente members will continue to have timely access to individual therapy appointments during the strike. Patients have the opportunity to be seen by a professional in our extensive network of highly qualified, licensed therapists if their regular provider chooses to take part in the strike. Where necessary, we are contacting patients and offering options that meet their needs.”

Kaiser said the strike is “entirely unnecessary and unfortunately not surprising. NUHW leaders have been threatening to strike since before we began bargaining in July. The union has been slowwalking negotiations, despite the strong proposals Kaiser Permanente has put on the table. The union’s proposals at the table have been overreaching and unreasonable.

“The union isn’t calling for more time to care for patients. It is demanding more money

for therapists to spend less time seeing patients. A key issue is how much time the union wants to take therapists away from direct patient care. The union is proposing that full-time therapists increase the amount of time they are not seeing patients to nearly half of their time -- at least 19 hours a week. This is unacceptable and would significantly decrease access to appointments for mental health care for our patients.”

Union officials said they are seeking an agreement similar to that reached with Kaiser mental health workers in Northern California, who went on strike for 10 weeks two years ago.

The union is asking that Kaiser guarantee full-time therapists seven hours per week for patient care duties such as responding to patient calls and emails, developing treatment plans, communicating with social service agencies and preparing for appointments. Union officials said Kaiser is guaranteeing only four hours per week.

The union also wants raises to put the workers on par with non-mental health care employees, who the union claims earn 40% more. It is also calling for a restoration of pensions that the union says were eliminated for newly hired mental health professionals a decade ago, even though pensions are still in place for other workers ranging from doctors to janitors.

county CEO to appoint a

position will

temporary, remaining in place only until the county reaches full compliance with all BSCC and DOJ requirements.

The quad at Los Padrinos Juvenile Hall in Downey. | Photo courtesy of the Los Angeles County Probation Department

Mental health workers are on strike at Kaiser Permanente facilities in Southern California. | Photo courtesy of the LA County Federation of Labor/X

us did.”

Some of the same family members were in attendance at Thursday’s news conference.

One of the Menendez brothers’ cousins, Karen VanderMolen, thanked Gascón for the decision, calling it a “compassionate step forward.”

“This decision is not just a legal matter, it is a recognition of the abuse my cousins endured, and we are grateful for the DA’s leadership in putting justice over politics,” she said. “We know this wasn’t an easy decision, but it is the right one. This is about truth, justice and healing. It is time for Lyle and Erik to come home. And I ask all of you to join us in this fight for justice. ... Together we can make sure that Erik and Lyle receive the justice they deserve and finally come home.”

Gascón denied suggestions that the time of his decision was political — given the tough reelection battle he is facing Nov. 5 against former federal prosecutor Nathan Hochman. He noted that his office has overseen the resentencing of more than 300 people, including 28 for murder, and “only four have re-offended.”

Hochman issued a statement Thursday afternoon noting that the defense petition for reconsideration of the case has been pending for more than a year, but he waited until days before the

election — when he is “30 points down in the polls” — to announce his decision.

“By releasing it now, Gascón has cast a cloud over the fairness and impartiality of his decision, allowing Angelenos to question whether the decision was correct and just or just another desperate political move by a D.A. running a losing campaign scrambling to grab headlines through a made-for-TV decision,” Hochman said. “Angelenos and everyone involved deserve better.”

A victims’ rights attorney representing Kitty Menendez’s brother, Milton Andersen, issued a statement Thursday morning blasting Gascón for failing to meet with Andersen or inform him of his office’s intentions in the case, essentially stripping away his rights as a victim in the case.

Kathleen Cady also questioned the validity of the “new evidence” in the case, saying Gascón has “ignored multiple notifications about individuals coming forward with information that seriously questions the credibility” of the letter allegedly written by Erik Menendez to his cousin about abuse allegations. She told Fox News on Wednesday that there is evidence the letter is fraudulent and was only written recently.

The Menendez case has been the subject of renewed public interest since the

Motion introductions

Menendez

release of a recent Netflix documentary.

The brothers never denied carrying out the killings, but contended they were repeatedly sexually assaulted by their father and feared for their lives.

Prosecutors, however, said the killings were financially motivated, pointing to lavish spending sprees by the brothers after the killings and arguing they were guilty of first-degree murder.

The brothers’ first trial ended with jurors unable to reach verdicts, deadlocking between first-degree murder and lesser charges including manslaughter. The second trial, which began in October 1995 and lacked much of the testimony centered on allegations of sexual abuse by Jose Menendez, ended with both brothers being convicted of first-degree murder and conspiracy.

The brothers have repeat-

agendas, according to the motion.

The proposal is aimed at countering the current public review system that sometimes sees motions first published on an agenda as late as Friday, then being voted upon by the board the following Tuesday. Mitchell noted during a virtual news conference last week that other government agencies, such as the Los Angeles City Council, have motions reviewed in committee meetings before they advance to the full council, providing more extensive public review.

brothers attorneys Mark Geragos and Cliff Gardner wrote that the new evidence “not only shows that Jose Menendez was very much a violent and brutal man who would sexually abuse children, but it strongly suggests that — in fact — he was still abusing Erik Menendez as late as December 1988. Just as the defense had argued all along.”

edly appealed their convictions to no avail.

The court papers filed by defense attorneys last year included a copy of the handwritten letter allegedly sent by Erik Menendez to his cousin, Andy Cano. Attorneys contend the letter was only recently discovered by Cano’s mother. Cano, who died of a drug overdose in 2003, testified in the brothers’ first trial that Erik Menendez had told him about the molestation by his father when Erik was 13 years old, according to the court documents.

In the letter, Erik Menendez writes in part, “I’ve been trying to avoid dad. It’s still happening Andy, but it’s worse for me now. I can’t explain it. ... I never know when it’s going to happen and it’s driving me crazy. Every night I stay up thinking he might come in. I need to put it out of my mind.”

In court papers, Menendez

Cady, however, suggested that letter was fraudulent, saying “it is much more likely that the letter, if written by Erik, was written in the last few years and not before the murders as the defense now suggests.”

Defense attorneys have also cited allegations that surfaced last year in a Peacock documentary series, in which Roy Rosselló — a former member of the boy band Menudo — alleged that Jose Menendez drugged and sexually assaulted him when he was about 14 years old during a visit to the Menendez home in New Jersey in 1983 or 1984.

Jose Menendez was an executive at RCA Records, which signed Menudo to a recording contract.

“I know what he did to me in his house,” Rosselló, now 55, said in the series. In another segment, he points to a picture of Jose Menendez and says, “That’s the man here that raped me. That’s the pedophile.”

A declaration from

Rosselló — who also alleges Menendez sexually assaulted him on two other occasions in New York — was attached to the court papers filed on behalf of the Menendez brothers last year.

The Menendez brothers’ attorneys argue that the new evidence warrants a reopening of the case, saying it establishes “a prima facie case for relief.”

“To resolve this case, jurors had to decide a single, critical question: was Jose Menendez molesting his sons?” the attorneys write in the court document. “Jurors making this determination did not know of Erik’s letter to his cousin Andy, and they did not know that Jose Menendez had previously raped a 14-year-old boy.”

As a result, the attorneys argue that the brothers are being “unlawfully” imprisoned.

“Newly discovered evidence directly supports the defense presented at trial and just as directly undercuts the state’s case against (the brothers),” the attorneys contend in the document.

Geragos told reporters that the two had resigned themselves to spending the rest of their lives in prison. He described an “amazing rehabilitation” by the two brothers, and said more than 20 relatives on both sides of the family are supporting them.

Long Beach will receive more than $6.8 million in federal funding to enhance security and improve cargo flow at the port, officials announced Wednesday.

The funding comes from the U.S. Department of Emergency Management Agency’s Port Security Grant Program.

From that grant, $2.6 million will support infrastructure, strengthencybersecurity, improve drone detection capabilities, among other things, at the Port of Long Beach, officials said.

“These investments are vital in safeguarding our port’s operations and ensuring the secure movement of trade,”

Long Beach Mayor Rex Richardson said in a statement.

“This grant underscores our commitment to maintaining the highest standards of safety and efficiency at one of the nation’s busiest seaports.”

Another $4.2 million from the Department of Homeland

By City News Service

Security will benefit six terminals of the port, as well as the Long Beach police and fire departments, officials said.

“We thank the Department of Homeland Security for driving innovative security practices and heightening the port’s ability to protect the people and the infrastructure responsible for moving cargo valued at more than $200 billion annually,”

Mario

port CEO, said in a statement. “This grant will bolster the port’s existing security systems and enhance the resiliency of our operations in the event of an emergency.”

Rep. Robert Garcia, D-Long Beach, said, “We’re very excited the Port of Long Beach was able to secure such critical new funding through the Port Security Grant Program, which will improve our port’s security and protect our communities.”

| Screenshot courtesy of LA County Board of Supervisors/YouTube

Cordero,

| Photo courtesy of the Port of Long Beach

Joseph Lyle Menendez, left, and Erik Galen Menendez in 2023. | Photos courtesy of the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department