p o Ho ms a e r D JULY 29, 2019 I VOL. 48 I #30
a sequel to the downtown fbi raid Page 5
alamo drafthouse opens in downtown Page 6
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Dodger Stadium to Get $100 Million Overhaul
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he streaking Los Angeles Dodgers hope soon to have a World Series trophy, but that’s not the biggest addition the team is anticipating. Last week, team owners announced $100 million worth of renovations coming to Dodger Stadium in the off-season. The upgrades, which will arrive before the Dodgers host the 2020 Major League Baseball All-Star Game, will include creating a two-acre Centerfield Plaza with food offerings and a kids play area, improvements to the existing left and right field pavilions and a new sound system. In addition, the stadium will get a statue honoring Sandy Koufax, the Hall of Famer who in 12 years with the Dodgers won three Cy Young awards and three World Series championships. The Koufax statue will be in the new Centerfield Plaza, joining a Jackie Robinson statue that will be relocated from the left field area. “Dodger Stadium has always been and remains the most beautiful place ever built to play or watch the game of baseball, and these renovations will enhance every aspect of the fan experience with modern and family-friendly amenities,” Dodger President and CEO Stan Kasten said in a prepared statement. Dodger Stadium was built in 1962 and is the third oldest ballpark behind Wrigley Field and Fenway Park.
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Community Meeting for First and Broadway Park
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meeting to discuss the long-gestating First and Broadway Park will take place in Downtown on Monday, July 29, at 6 p.m. Organized by the office of 14th District City Councilman José Huizar and the Department of Recreation and Parks, the meeting will be in the Deaton Conference Room of the Los Angeles Police Department’s headquarters building at 100 W. First St. The event will include updates on the design of the proposed park, and community members will have the opportunity to ask questions and provide feedback. The park, just south of Grand Park and west of City Hall, had been scheduled to break ground in the fall, but that has been pushed back due to funding shortfalls. According to a report from Recreation and Parks, the price of the project is now close to $28 million. The park is being funded partly through Quimby fees, which are paid by developers for the creation of green space. No RSVP is required for the meeting.
Historic Core High-Rise Tops Out
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he Historic Core’s first new skyscraper has finished vertical construction. A topping-out ceremony for the 35-story Perla project was held on Friday, July 26. Developed by SCG America, a subsidiary of the China-based Shanghai Construction Group, the high-rise at 400 S. Broadway will hold
JULY 29, 2019
450 condominiums. Designed by the Downtown-based architecture firm CallisonRTKL, the development includes a tower rising from a podium base that curves at the intersection of Fourth Street and Broadway. It will also include 7,000 square feet of groundfloor commercial space, as well as an atrium built into its podium section. According to the developer, 30% of its units have been pre-sold. Perla is expected to open in 2020.
Immersive Theater Experience Coming to L.A. Live
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he Regal Cinemas at L.A. Live is getting a high-tech addition. In the coming weeks the complex will install the “Immersive Cinema Experience” developed by the French company CGR Cinemas. The system involves adding 10 LED light panels to the sides of a theater (five on each side) that are illuminated to match the colors and tones of what is on screen; it also involves new surround-sound speakers. The Downtown space will be the first American theater to employ the system. The technology will be installed in an L.A. Live theater with 190 seats, and will start screenings in the fall, according to Shelby Russell, senior vice president for L.A. Live marketing and L.A. Live Cinemas at Anschutz Entertainment Group, which owns and operates the complex. Pricing is still to be determined, but Russell said there would be a surcharge for the enhanced experience. In France, CGR has 32 auditoriums equipped with the technology.
Renovation Coming for Union Bank Plaza
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$ 2 0 m i l l i o n ove r h a u l o f D ow n town’s Union Bank Plaza is scheduled to begin next month. Property owner KBS Real Estate Investments said that the first round of demolition work in the 701,888-square-foot office tower will start on Aug. 18, with completion scheduled for the first quarter of 2020. Renovations to the 40-story edifice at 445 S. Figueroa St., which opened in 1968, will include a new lobby, a refreshed two-story retail area, an updated conference center and a modernized outdoor plaza. KBS is also building eight spec suites for modern businesses; two have been pre-leased. “We are truly excited about embarking on an extraordinary renovation that speaks to the demands of today’s dynamic tenants who are looking for environmentally friendly, high-quality buildings with hotel-like amenities,” Rod Richerson, a KBS regional president for the Western United States, said in a prepared statement.
Corrections
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ncorrect contact information was provided for Plum Tree Inn in the Reader Recommended portion of the Best Chinese category in the Best Of Downtown issue. The restaurant is at 913 N. Broadway or plumtreeinn.com. Additionally, it was incorrectly stated in the issue that Redbird, winner of Best Fine Dining award, serves fois gras.
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TAKE MY PICTURE GARY LEONARD
Metro Charter Elementary School, 2013-2019
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fter six years, Downtown Los Angeles’ most important modern experiment in education has ended. Heartache and disappointment run rampant. Many people, including numerous volunteers, made a heroic effort, but early momentum could not be sustained. As Los Angeles Downtown News reported this month, the board of Metro Charter Elementary School on July 8 voted to shutter the institution. The decision came as the school, which had 300 students in 2017 (when it occupied office space in a South Park hospital), saw enrollment shrivel to fewer than 60 for the upcoming academic year (at a campus in Lincoln Heights). That’s unsustainable, and the board made the difficult decision to close now and allow parents to find an alternative, rather than take similar action closer to the start of classes. It is time for a serious and likely painful reckoning. Metro Charter suffered from an inability to secure a permanent, affordable home in the heart of Downtown, and a shuffling of campuses, and finally landing outside the Central City, proved a death knell. Now Downtown stakeholders must seek to answer why that was the case. Was it a result of developers who care only for profits and not a lick about providing a space to better the community? Was Metro Charter hampered by politicians who couldn’t twist arms and help find a solution? Did the board itself have decision-making deficiencies, particularly in the early years when land prices were cheaper? Did the Downtown business community, including the many people adept in real estate matters, fail to step up? Was it something else, or was this result inevitable with a nonprofit operating in a superheated real estate market? The goal here isn’t to assign blame, but rather to identify what went wrong so that mistakes are not repeated with the next school. For Downtown must soon have a next elementary school, and it must be free and centrally located. Some people will interject that Downtown has options, among them Ninth Street School, a Para Los Niños charter school on Seventh Street, and Castelar Elementary School in Chinatown. Those work for many families, but an honest assessment of the situation requires understanding that these schools don’t suffice for everyone, and numerous inhabitants of new market-rate apartments and condos want something similar to the original Metro Charter. If the right school doesn’t exist in Downtown, some families will leave the area. The next step is uncertain, but there are options. Metro Charter was sparked by parents who wanted to open a school, and they worked quickly and efficiently, earning the backing of local organizations. That could be replicated. Or a political leader or business group could form an education task force that includes the kind of influential dealmakers who make things happen. Or a generous developer with an under-construction project commits to dedicating sufficient space for a school long-term. Maybe it’s a combination of all of these or something else. Something must happen, and leaders from multiple Downtown sectors must be involved. Metro Charter was a great idea, but when it comes to education, Downtown can’t live in the past.
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COMMENTS
Regarding the editorial “Downtown’s Desperate Need for Elementary Schools” DTLA has a decent elementary school — it’s the Ninth Street School. —Michael Vecchio Regarding the article “The Aliso Takes Root in the Arts District,” by Nicholas Slayton These are very high prices for artists, as is usual in all the new developments in Downtown. Only computer or tech workers may be able to afford these apartments. —Maryann Van De Car Regarding the article “Downtown News Grabs Six Press Club Prizes, With Three First-Place Awards” This is awesome news. I knew Los Angeles Downtown News has an excellent writing staff. I’m glad someone else decided to recognize it. —Liam Bean Regarding the item “Coworking Company Takes Floor at Bradbury Building” Wow, this is great news! The Bradbury Building is my all-time fave here in DTLA. I discovered it many years before Blade Runner, and back then I visited it often just to walk all around and soak up the ambiance. EDITOR: Jon Regardie STAFF WRITERS: Nicholas Slayton, Sean P. Thomas CONTRIBUTING WRITERS: Tom Fassbender, Jeff Favre
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From there I would walk over to Grand Central Market — much different now than it was back when I wandered around in the mid-80s. I regret that I didn’t take photos back then. Cameras, at that time, lived in most people’s drawers at home and didn’t get daily use. The Bradbury and Grand Central are etched in my memory, and I still love visiting both today. —Jeanie Joe Regarding the article “$2.7 Million Going to Skid Row Sanitation and Hygiene Programs,” by Nicholas Slayton This $2.7 million is most important. However, Skid Row streets need to be swept of trash on a daily basis. Why not create an incentive program where homeless persons can be paid for each bag of trash they fill up from the streets of Skid Row? —J. Jackson
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FBI Raid 2: Electric Boogaloo
Agents from the Federal Bureau of Investigation served search warrants in the headquarters of the DWP building last week. It marked the second FBI action in Downtown in eight months, following last November’s search of the City Hall office of Councilman José Huizar.
Federal Agents Come Back to Downtown, Throwing City Government Into Turmoil By Jon Regardie ollywood loves its sequels. Just consider the litany of cinematic double-ups that have been created to win awards and earn gobs of money. The hits have included The Godfather Part II, Rocky II and Paddington 2. On the other end of the spectrum are efforts including the execrable The Next Karate Kid and the mystifying breakdancing sequel Breakin’ 2: Electric Boogaloo.
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THE REGARDIE REPORT I get why the film studios go back to the well. But boy was I surprised last week when the Los Angeles office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation showed that it too is getting into the sequel game. That was the situation on Monday, July 22, when a battalion of FBI agents armed with search warrants entered the headquarters of the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, the City Hall East office of City Attorney Mike Feuer, and a couple other locations. This came after the FBI last November raided the City Hall office and the Boyle Heights home and office of Councilman José Huizar. Who knew the FBI could produce a Downtown Los Angeles sequel in just eight months? Call it FBI Raid 2: Electric Boogaloo.
The raid, which exploded on Twitter mere minutes after it began, is, like its predecessor, both astounding and mystifying. Immediately upon hearing the news I started pondering how people in and around City Hall were reacting. As texts spread about federal agents entering local buildings, did 38 people in various city offices scream, “Shred the documents! Now!” Did someone try to hustle Mayor Eric Garcetti into a panic room? I wondered if, after learning that agents were in the area, but before knowing that they weren’t headed his way, a distraught Huizar gathered his staff and said in a somber voice, “Today’s the day we were hoping would never arrive.” For some reason, I’m thinking of another sequel: Bad Boys II. Bungled Billing As with the November raid, the public knows almost nothing about what went down last week and why — that’s what happens when search warrants are sealed and no one is arrested or charged with a crime. The bits that have been revealed, through prepared statements and reports in the Los Angeles Times and other media outlets, indicate that federal agents are looking at proceedings related to the 2013 rollout of a new DWP billing system, a debut that earned
Convenience
photo by Jon Regardie
reviews even worse than those of Speed 2: Cruise Control. Thousands of ratepayers were overcharged, leading to outrage, lawsuits, settlements, and then questions and complaints about the settlements. It’s complicated stuff, but the Feds’ search of Feuer’s office appears to stem from outside lawyers that the city attorney hired to work on a lawsuit filed against PricewaterhouseCoopers, which helped implement the billing software. This is mega-serious for City Hall. One individual well-versed in law enforcement and investigations pointed out that the warrants authorizing last week’s searches require clearing a high bar, that federal judges don’t just grant them quickly because they’re in a
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hurry to get to lunch at the old-school haunt Paul’s Kitchen. Instead, investigators likely spent months assembling the material needed to convince a judge that there’s a legitimate reason to go digging, and an expectation of wrongdoing. That is elevated when it comes to getting a warrant for an attorney’s office, and super double elevated when it’s a warrant for the office of the elected top lawyer of the second-biggest city in the nation. This is bad news for Feuer, who just this month, at a luncheon in Downtown hosted by the Los Angeles Current Affairs Forum, indicated that he is considering running for mayor in 2022. Even if nothing further related to his office is ever heard in regards to the Continued on page 16
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Alamo Drafthouse Starts the Feature Presentation
A Downtown outpost of the Alamo Drafthouse opened July 20 at The Bloc. The 12 theaters hold between 40 and 63 seats, and the lineup is a mix of first-run blockbusters, documentaries and independent films. It is the first Alamo in Los Angeles.
Long-Awaited 12-Screen Theater Complex Arrives at The Bloc By Nicholas Slayton t’s a few minutes after 8 p.m. on the first Tuesday following the opening of the Alamo Drafthouse, and the downstairs bar is getting packed. Four people huddle around a table, deeply engaged in a board game. Nearby two people browse through a catalogue of DVDs available to borrow, almost like a library book. Chris Neighbors, who is waiting for a drink at the bar ahead of a screening of the martial arts dark comedy The Art of Self Defense, says that he has been looking forward to the theater’s arrival. He once lived in Austin, where the Alamo chain was founded, and enjoyed the food and drink-focused approach to movie going. But he said the new Downtown Los Angeles Alamo is a step above what he last experienced in 2012. “It’s really expanded since. This is much different,” Neighbors said. “It kind of defined the movie going experience for me, so I’m glad it’s here.” The Alamo Drafthouse, which opened to the general public on July 20, is the third movie theater in Downtown, following the Regal L.A. Live and the Downtown Indepen-
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dent in the Historic Core. It holds 12 theaters with a total of 539 seats on the upper floor, and will screen the boutique chain’s traditional mix of blockbusters, independent films, documentaries and themed offerings. The downstairs level holds a bar, store and a gaming arcade. This is the first Alamo Drafthouse in Los Angeles. The theaters hold between 40 and 63 people, and the largest one is equipped to show 35mm films. General admission tickets are $17-$18. The upstairs section alone employs 160 people, according to Drafthouse General Manager Leslie Newell. In addition to its selection of films, the chain’s claim to fame is its large menu of food and drink, including burgers, burritos and alcoholic milkshakes that are delivered straight to customers. People sit in reclining seats, which have a small table, menu, notecards and pens. Servers bring the food while the lights are down, moving quickly and not talking to audience members. Alamo launched in 1997 and there are now 40 locations. The chain exerts a decidedly non-corporate approach, and the Downtown outpost maintains the strict zero-tolerance
JULY 29, 2019
photo courtesy Alamo Drafthouse
policy against talking and texting while a movie plays. It touts this with sometimes profane videos before a film starts. In the days before the opening, Alamo Drafthouse founder and CEO Tim League said the company chose Downtown over the Westside or Hollywood due to its resurgence and energy, but also because of its central location and quick access to the Metro rail system at The Bloc. “We chose this location largely because of its ready access to the Westside,” League said. “Even though not many people are going to do it, you can hop on the train in the basement and be at the last stop at the Santa Monica Pier in 50 minutes. That’s pretty great.” Opening week films included The Lion King,
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Midsommar and a 30th anniversary screening of Spike Lee’s 1989 work Do the Right Thing. This past weekend saw new releases The Farewell and Once Upon a Time in Hollywood join the roster. The Alamo Drafthouse adds a specialty niche to the Downtown film market, according to Patrick Corcoran, vice president and chief communications officer with the National Association of Theater Owners, a cinema trade group. “Dining theaters, that’s a trend that’s proliferating,” Corcoran said. “Alamo’s been at it 20 years. It adds convenience and amenities; previously, for a dinner and movie you had to go somewhere else. It makes it more convenient to capture the revenue.”
JULY 29, 2019
DOWNTOWNNEWS.COM
photos courtesy Alamo Drafthouse
The first level of the Alamo Drafthouse includes a store, a bar and a place to borrow DVDs.
Long Time Coming Alamo announced the Downtown location in 2014, with initial plans for a 2015 opening. That was pushed back to 2016. Then 2017. Then 2018. The delays stemmed from a mix of a change in plans and wider construction delays at The Bloc, League told Los Angeles Downtown News at a tour of the complex this month. “The initial delays were in part because in mid-stride we redesigned it. That cost us a lot of time. That’s on our end,” League said. “And then just construction takes a lot longer.” The location is not heavily advertised off the street. To reach the Alamo Drafthouse, guests enter via an elevator or staircase at the back of the courtyard at The Bloc off Seventh Street. Inside, customers can enjoy the first floor amenities, or go to the theaters upstairs. The downstairs bar offers 48 beers on tap, from popular breweries to Downtown spots such as the Arts District Brewing Co. and Mumford Brewing. There is also a full cocktail menu (customers order off a selection printed on VHS cases). Food, with options such as chilaquiles and truffle parmesan popcorn, can be ordered downstairs as well. A downstairs spot dubbed the “Video Vortex” offers a large selection of DVDs, arranged similar to a record store. People who sign up (which can be done at the location or online, for free) can borrow two movies at a time at
no cost (the Alamo takes credit card information to prevent theft and to charge late fees). The collection came from a defunct Texas video store, with everything from foreign language dramas to documentaries to a healthy number of blockbusters. On the Tuesday night, the crowd was not limited to people there for a movie. While one group of three looked over the drink menu ahead of a screening of The Lion King, others said they were there to enjoy beers after work. At the ticket counter, a few people lined up before the next wave of screenings, while others lounged at tables near the balcony overlooking The Bloc’s courtyard. The Downtown Alamo Drafthouse will have themed nights built around horror or just “weird” movies, according to Rachel Walker, the head of programming and creative for the Downtown outpost. Plans also call for food and drink specials tied to certain releases, as well as trivia and game nights. The staff expects that, given the location, it will also host studio screenings and premieres. “We’re able to do a bunch of premieres and events in Austin, but that takes a lot of difficult travel,” League said. “Here it’s just car service. I’d be surprised if there aren’t a lot of events here.” The Alamo Drafthouse is at 700 S. Flower St. or drafthouse.com/los-angeles. nicholas@downtownnews.com
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JULY 29, 2019
A Push for a Later Last Call A bill proposed by State Senator Scott Wiener could allow bars in 10 California cities, including Los Angeles, to serve alcohol until 4 a.m., instead of the current 2 a.m. It could benefit spots such as Clayton’s Public House (shown here) in Downtown.
Bill Allowing Alcohol Sales Until 4 a.m. Could Have a Big Impact in Downtown L.A. By Nicholas Slayton he California legislature is considering allowing certain cities to let drinking spots stay open past 2 a.m. If approved, supporters say, the move could provide a financial stimulus to Downtown Los Angeles. The latest effort to extend hours for bars, restaurants and nightclubs (but not liquor stores) to 4 a.m. comes from State Senator Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco). Senate Bill 58 passed the State Senate in May and is now waiting to be considered by the Assembly’s Appropriations Committee. The legislature is in recess until Aug. 12. SB58, sometimes referred to as the “Last Call Bill,” would allow nine cities, including Los Angeles, to extend the sale of alcohol to 4 a.m. Each city would be able to determine if it wants to push back closing times, and individual nightspots would have to apply for a license to stay open additional hours. It’s been tried before, and a previous version of the bill, also from Wiener, was vetoed by then-Gov. Jerry Brown in 2018. If passed by the Assembly and signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom, the bill would go into effect in January 2022. Assemblyman Miguel Santiago, whose 53rd District covers much of Downtown Los
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Angeles, co-sponsored the bill. In a statement to Los Angeles Downtown News, he said SB58 would provide local control and said there could be benefits related to conventions, tourism and events that draw people to the city. “This bill will support L.A. as we continue to compete as a world-class city, while growing our economy and increasing local revenues,” Santiago said. The economic argument has been echoed by some Downtown bar proprietors. Cedd Moses, head of Pouring With Heart (formerly 213 Hospitality), which runs more than a half dozen bars in Downtown including Cole’s, Bar Clacson and Casey’s Irish Pub, said that a later last call would benefit not just bar owners, but also the local and state economy. He said that on a wider level, staying open later would allow Los Angeles to compete with cities that currently have later consumption hours, such as Las Vegas. “For Downtown, a less restrictive cutoff time when people can leave at a more steady pace throughout the night would help temper the cluster you see now just after midnight,” Moses added. The move could benefit a variety of businesses, from large hospitality groups to in-
photo by Gary Leonard
dependent ventures, according to Elizabeth Peterson-Gower, a land-use consultant and co-owner of Clayton’s Public House in the Spring Arcade Building. “From an owner’s perspective, I think it’s good for Downtown,” Peterson-Gower said. “It kind of puts us on the scale with world class downtowns. Is it something that my little restaurant will be able to utilize right away? I don’t know. It’s definitely going to help larger venues and hotels though.” The Central City Association, a Downtown business advocacy and lobbying group, also supports a later last call. Jessica Lall, president and CEO of the group, told Los Angeles Downtown News that extending hours would help Downtown compete more with other
tourist destinations, and would provide an economic benefit to the area. Not everyone is a fan of the legislation. City Councilman Paul Koretz, whose Fifth District covers parts of the Westside and the San Fernando Valley, is an outspoken opponent of SB58, and has been trying to organize support against it since it passed the State Senate. Koretz said there are concerns over public safety, adding that extended bar hours could result in more death and injury due to people drinking more and then driving while intoxicated. “I also think the high costs of providing ambulance services, etc., will far outweigh the revContinued on page 9
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The Central City Crime Report By Nicholas Slayton n the Central City Crime Report, we survey a recent week in public safety. All information is provided by the LAPD’s Central Division.
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On June 9, someone broke into a Toyota Corolla parked on Vignes Street. A rear window was smashed and a bag and computer equipment were taken. Around 2 a.m. on June 9, two people got into a fight on Fifth Street. One person stabbed the other in the hand with scissors.
truck had been ransacked but nothing was missing. Two people on bicycles approached a pedestrian at Broadway and Cesar Chavez Avenue at around 2:30 a.m. on June 11. One brandished a knife and the other hit the victim from behind. They stole the person’s watch and phone. A man was moving his property from a friend’s apartment on San Pedro Street on June 12. When he went to get more things, someone stole the items he left in the lobby. Late on June 12, an individual was trespassing on a property on Industrial Street. When asked to leave, the person grabbed a knife and made stabbing motions.
On the afternoon of June 9, someone checked out a laptop from the Central Library and never returned it.
Shortly after 7 p.m. on June 12, an unidentified individual walking on Broadway pulled out a knife and demanded a pedestrian’s belongings. The person handed over some unspecified musical equipment.
The owner of a Chevy truck parked in a Fifth Street garage returned to the vehicle on the morning of June 10 to find that the door had been pried open. The enue and it would cost us more,” Koretz added. Koretz did acknowledge a potential dilemma — if SB 58 is passed, Los Angeles could reject extending last call, but cities such as West Hollywood and Long Beach — also on the list of nine cities in the state — could allow bars to stay open later. “Will it be safer for us to allow bars in L.A. to stay open later, or should we not have it and expose people to much longer trips to West Hollywood and Long Beach and possibly cause more danger?” Koretz asked. “It will be a hard call, from a public safety perspective. I don’t believe Los Angeles would pass it, unless we need to in order to offset Long Beach and West Hollywood.” The rest of the City Council has been quiet on the issue. Councilman José Huizar,
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Late on June 13, someone with a screwdriver in each hand tried to stab another person in a gas station. There were no injuries. nicholas@downtownnews.com whose 14th District covers Downtown, said that different neighborhoods have different needs. If the city is interested in pursuing extended hours, Huizar said, local input would be needed. “What I support is ensuring that before anything is decided, a robust dialogue takes place to see what is best for Downtown,” Huizar said in a statement. If the state and the city approve a later last call, not every bar would take advantage of it right away. Peterson-Gower noted that for many smaller bars, staffing is a challenge, particularly in early morning hours. Some might eventually move to 4 a.m., but she doesn’t expect it will be unanimous across the Central City. nicholas@downtownnews.com
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10 DOWNTOWN NEWS
DT
JULY 29, 2019
The 11th annual Nike Basketball 3-on-3 Tournament will bring nearly 5,000 international players and 1,500 teams to L.A. Live this weekend. Approximately 100 half courts will be set up throughout the complex.
CALENDAR
ORDER on the
COURTS
L.A. Lives Turns Into a Summer Basketball Haven With 3-on-3 Tournament By Sean P. Thomas t’s the thick of the NBA offseason, but the area around Staples Center this weekend will still be the place to catch rim-rattling slam dunks and ankle-breaking crossovers. The 11th annual Nike Basketball 3-on3 Tournament returns to L.A. Live on Saturday-Sunday, Aug. 3-4 (with an opening evening event on Friday). Some 1,500 teams and 5,000 international players will compete, and an estimated 25,000 spectators are expected to attend over the course of the weekend. The tournament has grown tremendously since it began in 2008. Inspired by the massively popular Spokane Hoopfest in Washington state, the inaugural event drew 500 teams. Nike came aboard as the main sponsor the following year. The action takes place on approximately 100 outdoor half-courts spread across the L.A. Live campus and the surrounding streets, with the “Main Court” in the middle of Microsoft Square. The tournament has six divisions: adult elite, adult, teen, youth, Special Olympics and wheelchair. The elite division has separate categories for men and women.
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Winning the elite division produces more than bragging rights. The winning team earns up to $3,000 in gift cards and qualifies to be one of 16 teams that participate in the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) 3X3 Challenger event in Edmonton, Canada in September (the Downtown Los Angeles winner is provided airfare, lodging and transportation for the event). The winner of that contest will advance to a competition in China in October. The winner of the Downtown women’s elite category will advance to the USA Basketball Regionals 3X3 tournament on Sept. 29, with lodging and entry fees covered. Ryan Golden, the Nike Basketball 3-on-3 commissioner, said the tournament’s integration with FIBA has further elevated the talent level. “We have teams flying in specially to have the chance to go to Edmonton,” Golden said. “It gives even more credibility to the tournament that we have been putting on for the last 10 years.” On the Court Each team is guaranteed to play at least three games during the weekend. Team can suit up four players, with one eligible to serve as a substitute.
Play typically begins at 9 a.m. and runs through 5 p.m. Games are to 20 with one- and twopoint shots on a 25-minute time limit. In case of a tie, an overtime sudden death period will be played. Saturday’s games determine seeding, and not every team will play the following day. Sunday holds the finals, with the women’s elite division championship scheduled for 4 p.m. on the Main Court, and the men playing there 30 minutes later. This year there is a big change for the tournament. A celebrity game, the only ticketed event from previous years, has been replaced with a free opening night party that will be integrated into L.A. Live’s Downtown Dark Nights on Friday from 6-11 p.m. Dark Nights are held on evenings when the venues at L.A. Live are empty, and mix live music, pop-up shops, art and performers such as stilt walkers and hula hoopers. Restaurants including Katsuya and Shaquille’s will have a $5 food and drink menu. The event includes a pep rally at the Main Court with bands, dancers and other performers. Golden said he expects about 10,000 people to attend
the event. “We took a turn and wanted to do something different,” Golden said. “We have done the celebrity game for quite a few years now and found an opportunity to really open it up even more to the community.” Other weekend highlights includes a dunk contest on Saturday at 2 p.m., a 3-point contest and a skills challenge (times are still being determined). There will also be a collection of interactive vendors and family activities. Admission is free the entire weekend. “We want stuff to be very active where people can come in and do something different,” Golden said. “If they have three hours before a game, they can go to Regal and watch a movie; some players even grab a drink. We are aiming for everyone to come in and have a good time and it’s important to make it as comfortable to be here as possible.” Team registration closed on July 27, and no walk-up entries are available. The Nike Basketball 3-on-3 Tournament takes place Saturday-Sunday, Aug. 3-4, at and around L.A. Live, (877) 3140992 or nike3on3.com. sean@downtownnews.com
JULY 29, 2019
DOWNTOWNNEWS.COM
DOWNTOWN NEWS 11
Shop Hop Yet Another Gym, an Art Gallery Grows, and a Place To Show Off School Spirit By Nicholas Slayton itness Finds South Park: Given the number of gyms that have opened in Downtown in 2019, locals should be ridiculously in shape. Yet the trend continues, and the latest announced arrival is F45 Fitness, which is coming to the ground floor of the G12 apartment complex in South Park by the fall. It will be the second F45 Fitness in Downtown; an Arts District location opened in the One Santa Fe building in the spring. The gym is built around group high-intensity interval training classes that last 45 minutes (hence the name), and the chain claims each class can burn up to 750 calories. Membership is offered in monthly and class packages. Coming to 1200 S. Grand Ave., (310) 7765214 or f45fitness.com/downtownlosangeles.
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Downtown Expansion: A recent addition to Downtown Los Angeles is more than doubling down on the area. The operators of the Vielmetter Gallery announced this month that they will expand their current
photo courtesy Therapy Lab
The new Therapy Lab in City West focuses on mental health. There are sessions with doctors and even a meditation room
Varsity Blues and Clothes: It’s summer, and soon a number of families will send their kids off to college. Little Tokyo now has a store to help deck them out in their school’s colors. Clayson debuted last month on Second Street and specializes in university and military academy-branded apparel, with shirts, sweater, hats, scarves and more. T-shirts start around $29 and hoodies are $49 and up. There’s gear from numerous schools includ-
The Arts District destination PetPOP offers a series of Instagram-oriented rooms. There are also animal adoptions. It’s a pop-up that runs through September.
photo courtesy PetPOP
11,000-square-foot Arts District space to a total of 24,000 square feet. The gallery opened in late 2018. The Vielmetter Gallery’s original location in Culver City closed this month, and the management is adding two new exhibition rooms in the former tire factory building it occupies in Downtown. The new additions will start hosting exhibitions in September. At 1700 S. Santa Fe Ave. or vielmetter.com. More Art: There’s another new spot in Downtown’s bustling gallery scene. Artist and abstract painter Clara Berta is relocating her studio to Main Street in the Fashion District. The new BertaArt Studio Gallery is on the ground floor. Expect to see a collection of Berta’s paintings, particularly larger-scale pieces that can be displayed in the bigger location. The 1,500-square-foot space will have a grand opening on Sept. 14, and the gallery will be a part of the monthly Downtown Art Walk. At 816 S. Main St. or bertaart.com.
ing UCLA, Columbia, Yale, Harvard and Johns Hopkins. That said, there is no USC apparel. Clayson is open Tuesday-Sunday. At 336 E. Second St., (213) 232-0138 or clayson.com. That Pop-Up Life, With Animals: Downtown Los Angeles loves pets. Downtown also loves Instagram friendly pop-ups. Now, those two have been mashed together (Downtown also likes mash-ups), as PetPOP opened on July 11 in an Arts District space on Seventh Street next to Guerilla Tacos. The space, which housed past pop-ups including the Museum of Ice Cream, offers a series of Instagram-oriented pet-themed installations, among them a room with a giant hamster wheel and another patterned after the film 101 Dalmatians (this is your moment, Cruella De Vil wannabes). There is also an “adoption alley” where people can play with puppies and kittens. Proceeds partially benefit adoption agencies. PetPop runs through Sept. 30 and tickets are $34. At 2020 E. Seventh St. or petpop.me.
Another Literal Shop Hop: The last year has seen a wave of pet-focused boutiques arrive all over Downtown. Pet Project L.A. beat the trend, and has long been serving local canines and cats at 548 S. Spring St. in the Historic Core. Last month the store called it quits at that location, but didn’t move far. A new store recently opened just up the block. It carries a variety of cat and dog food, pet vitamins, outfits for pets (for those who feel animals need clothes), and grooming and cleaning tools. They also have shirts, stickers and tote bags for humans. At 528 S. Spring St. or petprojectla.com.
Mental Clarity: There’s a new space in City West dedicated to mental health. Therapy Lab opened on Wilshire Boulevard in June. It comes from Dr. Chandler Chang, a psychologist and USC adjunct faculty member. Therapy Lab is built around timed therapy sessions, with customers able to choose programs and the number of sessions they feel is best. Prices vary per plan. In addition to the sessions with doctors, Therapy Lab offers virtual reality tools, and has a meditation room. At 1127 Wilshire Blvd. or therapylabinc.com. Got a retail tip? Send it to Shop Hop at nicholas@downtownnews.com.
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DON'T
MISS LIST BY Sean P. Thomas
Just a few days after the release of the fourth book in the Red Rising series Dark Age, author Pierce Brown is stopping by the Historic Core for a discussion and signing. But don’t go to a bookstore, as instead the event takes place at rock club The Regent. Set on a futuristic Mars, the series follows Darrow, a lowly miner-turned-revolutionary who in the latest installment is a hunted outlaw in the very republic he helped found. A ticket provides entry as well as a copy of the book. At 448 S. Main St., (323) 284-5727 or spacelandpresents.com. It’s a big week for events at the Grammy Museum, with a quartet of happenings. First up, on Tuesday, July 30, is a performance and discussion with vintage Los Angeles act Berlin (shown here), who hit the mainstream with the 1982 song “The Metro,” and a few years later provided the soundtrack for Tom Cruise and Kelly McGillis to make googly eyes at one another with “Take My Breath Away” in Top Gun. On Wednesday, the museum’s Scott Goldman has a sit-down chat with indie-pop group Frenship on the heels of their debut album Vacation. Thursday brings Cherie Currie (The Runaways) and Brie Darling (Fanny) as they talk shop on the eve of their debut collaborative album Motivator. On Thursday Goldman talks with Icelandic indie folk band Of Monsters and Men, who just released their latest Fever Dream. Each event starts at 7:30 p.m. At 800 W. Olympic Blvd. or grammymuseum.org.
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Another musical act is celebrating an anniversary in Downtown. The Filipino American Symphony, the only Filipino symphony orchestra outside of the Philippines, is celebrating its 10th year with its first performance at the Walt Disney Concert Hall. Led by maestro Robert Shroder, A Summer Symphony with FASO takes place on Saturday, Aug. 3, and features performances of pop selections from Frozen, Gladiator, Bohemian Rhapsody and more, as well as a variety of Filipino folk songs and tunes from popular video games. A winning selection from FASO’s International Composition Competition for Philippine Folk Music will also premiere at the concert. The show starts at 7 p.m. At 111 S. Grand Ave. or fasofoundation.org.
It’s 2019. Do you know where, or what exactly, a rock lobster is? Don’t answer that, and instead start humming the familiar song that remains the best-known number from kitschy rock group the B-52s. The band helmed by Fred Schneider, Kate Pierson and Cindy Wilson has hit a milestone, and is sharing it with Downtown Los Angeles this week, as a concert highlighting the group’s 40th anniversary takes place at the Microsoft Theater at L.A. Live on Sunday, Aug. 4. Expect to hear a string of B-52s classics including “Love Shack,” “Roam,” “Private Idaho” and the aforementioned “Rock Lobster.” What could be better? OMD and Berlin are also on the bill. At 777 Chicken Hearn Court or microsofttheater.com.
FOUR
Watch screen FIVE legend Douglas Fairbanks in all his swashbuckling glory in the 1926 silent film The Black Pirate. It plays at the Downtown Independent on Saturday, Aug. 3, but with a twist. Part film screening, part concert, the night involves an all-new score from the Jack Curtis Dubowsky Ensemble (shown here). So expect a somewhat contemporary sound to complement one of the most influential action-adventure films of all time. The screening starts at 8:30 p.m. Fun fact: The Black Pirate was just the third film made with Technicolor technology. At 251 S. Main St., (213) 617-1033 or jcdeblackpirate.bpt. me.
Send information and possible Don’t Miss List submissions to calendar@downtownnews.com.
photo by Rick Gavino
ROCK, POP & JAZZ
1720 1720 E. 16th St. or 1720.la. Aug. 1: Sad & Boujee speaks the truth. Aug. 3: Busy P and friends. Aug. 4: Charming Liars, Ivy Wood, Lily Waters. Blue Whale 123 Astronaut E.S. Onizuka St. Suite 301, (213) 620-0908 or bluewhalemusic.com. July 29: Jake Leckie Quartet. July 30: Malachi Whitson Group. July 31: Nolan Shaheed/Henry Franklin Quartet. Aug. 1: Fractal Limit. Aug. 2-3: Anthony Wilson Group. Aug. 4: Elusive. Bootleg Bar 2220 Beverly Blvd., (213) 389-3856 or bootlegtheater.org. July 29: Polartropica’s July residency concludes with a “Cyber Dream Fantasy,” featuring Mini Bear, Sebeyu and NOICE. Have Continued on page 15
THE
photo by Ken Luey
WEDNESDAY, JULY 31 Irreversible Damage with JL Ruiz The Last Bookstore, 453 S. Spring St., (213) 488-0599 or lastbookstorela.com. 7:30 p.m.: The author stops by the Historic Core book shop to read from and talk about his new novel, which follows a woman in the Southwest whose life falls apart. FRIDAY, AUG. 2 Art Buzz Institute of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles, 1717 E. Seventh St. or theicala.com. 5:30 p.m.: Enjoy light refreshments and a guided tour of the Arts District museum’s summer exhibitions. Dance DTLA Grand Park, 200 N. Grand Ave. or musiccenter.org/dancedtla. 7 p.m.: This week, learn all of the latest K-pop moves. Yes, now is the time to embrace your inner BTS. Movements at Union Station #2 Union Station, 800 N. Alameda St. or unionstationla.com. 8 p.m.: In the second of three events, the way-too-on-thenose DJ group Heat Wave spins for an evening of dancing. SATURDAY, AUG. 3 Nike 3-on-3 L.A. Live, 800 W. Olympic Blvd. or nike3on3.com. 9 a.m.-5 p.m.: The 11th annual street basketball tournament returns. Watch teams shoot, pass and dunk as they play for a coveted title. Also all day on Sunday. See story p. 10.
JULY 29, 2019
1
photo courtesy Spaceland Presents
EVENTS
photo courtesy the Grammy Museum
DT
CALENDAR LISTINGS
TWITTER: @ DOWNTOWNNEWS
photo courtesy B-52s
12 DOWNTOWN NEWS
JULY 29, 2019
DOWNTOWN NEWS 13
DOWNTOWNNEWS.COM
SAN ANTONIO WINERY EVENT CALENDAR
Wine Tastings, Wine Festivals, Wine Tours & More at our Los Angeles Winery Location. AUG. 16, FRIDAY • 6pm • $65
Comedy Night
Celebrating the Best Of Downtown
Dinner begins at 6:00 pm and the show will start at 7:30 pm. Wine a little and laugh a lot, Comedy Night at The Winery is back by popular demand! Perfect for a lighthearted date night or laughter-filled evening with friends, join us for dinner, wine, and a show in our richly decorated Vintage Room and Cellar. Both wine and laughter will be flowing!
PHOTOS BY GARY LEONARD More than 300 local leaders, business owners, workers and residents showed up at Los Angeles Downtown News’ party for the Best Of Downtown issue on Tuesday, July 23. City Attorney Mike Feuer and 15th District Councilman Joe Buscaino were among those who attended the celebration in honor of the 31st annual issue. The Best Of Downtown featured winners in more than 110 categories, highlighting local restaurants, bars, entertainment destinations, shopping options and businesses.
AUG. 25, SUNDAY • 11:30 to 2pm • $65
SOLD OUT
Soulful Sunday Brunch
Prepared by Cheryl Lindsay from Taste with Grace Catering. Menu to include: Eggs, Southern Fried Chicken, Homemade Macaroni and Cheese, Southern Style Cheesy Grits, Collard Greens, Corn Muffins, Sweet Treats. Stella Rosa Prosecco, Stella Rosa Orange Moscato, Sparkling Wine and Mimosas. Menu subject to change.
SEPT. 14, SATURDAY • 1 to 4pm • $50
Stella Rosa Social Come enjoy and Stellabrate all the wines of your beloved Stella Rosa Wines with friends and family! We’ll be serving a large variety of small bites to go with those wines. This event always sells out so be sure to purchase your tickets early. We can’t wait to Stellabrate with you!
Continued on next page
San Antonio Winery, Maddalena Restaurant, Tasting Room, Bistro & Gift Shop 737 Lamar St, Los Angeles, CA 90031 Phone: 323.223.1401
14 DOWNTOWN NEWS
BEST OF
PARTY Continued from previous page
TWITTER: @ DOWNTOWNNEWS
JULY 29, 2019
JULY 29, 2019
LISTINGS, 12 fun, keyboard cowboys and hackers. July 30: Apparently Brooklyn has glam rock now, because that’s what Sam Mickens plays. July 31: Big Search is looking. Aug. 1: Steven John Taylor and Whiskerman. Aug. 2: Folk-rock collective the Minus 5 includes REM’s Peter Buck, so that’s a good sign. Aug. 3: It’s highly likely that at least half of the audience at Drugdealer’s show will be cops. Aug. 4: Spare Parts for Broken Hearts came to the right city. The Escondite 410 Boyd St., (213) 626-1800 or theescondite.com/events. Aug. 2: The William Wallace Duo wants its FREEEEEEEEDOM! The Tens also play. Exchange LA 618 S. Spring St., (213) 627-8070 or exchangela.com. Aug. 2: Kayzo. Aug. 3: Loco Dice. Aug. 4: Claude Vonstroke. Grammy Museum 800 W. Olympic Blvd. or grammymuseum.org. July 29: Celebrate the midlands with country act Midland. July 30: Berlin is still going strong. July 31: Indie-pop group Frenship is into grooves, not spelling. Aug. 1: Cherry Curie of The Runaways and Brie Darling have teamed up for a new album. Aug. 2: Iceland’s Of Monsters and Men. Microsoft Theater 777 Chick Hearn Ct. or microsofttheater.com. Aug. 3: An evening with Jill Scott. Aug. 4: The B-52s do what The B-52s do. Moroccan Lounge 901 E. First St., (213) 395-0610 or themoroccan.com. July 29: Ragamuffs, Erin Anne. July 30: Ibibio Sound Machine blends West African funk with post-punk for something thrilling and truly modern. July 31: Brooklyn-based rockers The Rad Trads. Aug. 2: Singer and actress Allison Sudol plays the early show while William Clark Green closes out the night.
Aug. 3: Wolf Bay plays a show benefitting the National Center for Transgender Equality. Pershing Square 532 S. Olive St. or laparks.org/pershingsquare. July 31: Disco Freaks. Aug. 3: The Record Company with ZZ Ward. Resident 428 S. Hewitt St. or residentdtla.com. July 23: Introverted Funk, Yukkon, Pacer, Chris Gale. July 30: Psychic Graveyard with Plack Blague. The Novo 800 W. Olympic Blvd., (213) 765-7000 or thenovodtla.com. Aug. 3: Lil Duval is on his “Living My Best Life” tour, and we can’t fault him for that. The Redwood 316 W. Second St., (213) 680-2600 or theredwoodbar.com. July 30: Tim Russ Crew, The Throw Backs, The Mercury Wheel. July 31: Bazooka Sharkz (band name of the week), Baron Bandini, Just One Reason, C.C. Potato, All Black Chucks. Aug. 1: Tangents, The Pretty Uglies, Boy Detective. Aug. 2: Morrison and Company, Trucker Bomb, Teelo and Friends. Aug. 3: The Dirty Horror!, Frozen Charlottes, Graveyard Junkies, DJ Liz O. Aug. 4: Rain on Fridays, Conductora, The Rincs. The Smell 247 S. Main St. in the alley between Spring and Main or thesmell.org. July 29: Hartle Road, Death Panels (ironically a Canadian act), Pelo Grande. Aug. 1: Moaning, TraPsPs, Kuromi, and The Chonks play a show for Senator Bernie Sanders’ 2020 presidential campaign. Teragram Ballroom 1234 W. Seventh St. or teragramballroom.com. Aug. 1: Composer Julia Holter dives into experimental sonic atmospheres. Aug. 2: It’s the second week of L.A. mainstay alt-rocker Ty Segall’s 10-week residency at the Teragram. This time he plays his albums “First Taste” and “Melted.”
DT
CLASSIFIEDS
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All submissions are subject to federal and California fair housing laws, which make it illegal to indicate in any advertisement any preference, limitation, or discrimination because of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, national origin, ancestry, familial status, source of income or physical or mental disability. We will not knowingly accept any advertising for real estate which is in violation of the law. All persons are hereby informed that all dwellings advertised are available on an equal opportunity basis.
LEGAL FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE NO. 2019 184343 The following person(s) is (are) doing business as: (1) VINTAGE VORTEX V V, 5213 HOLLYWOOD BLVD, LOS ANGELES, CA 90027 LOS ANGELES COUNTY are hereby registered by the following registrants: MICHELLE SHARPLES, 724 ECHO PARK AVE APT A, LOS ANGELES,
CA 90026. This business is conducted by an Individual. Registrant(s) started to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above: 05/2014. This statement was filed with DEAN C. LOGAN, Los Angeles County Clerk on July 2, 2019. NOTICE—This fictitious name statement expires five years from the date it was filed in the office of the county clerk. A new fictitious business name statement must be filed before that time. The filing of this state-
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FILM
Alamo Drafthouse 700 W. Seventh St. or drafthouse.com/los-angeles. Through Aug. 4: Once Upon a Time in Hollywood (11:35 a.m., 12:25, 1:30, 2, 3:10, 4:15, 5:30, 6, 7, 8, 9:20, 9:50 and 10:50 p.m.); Plus One (3:15 and 6:10 p.m.); The Farewell (12:15, 1:15, 2:15, 3, 4, 5, 5:45, 6:45, 7:45, 8:30, 9:30 and 10:30); Midsommar (9 p.m.); Spider-Man: Far From Home (12, 3:15, 6:30 and 9:45 p.m.); The Art of Self-Defense (12:50, 4:40, 7:30 and 10:20 p.m.); The Lion King (11:45 a.m., 12:10, 2:45, 3:40, 5:45, 6:45, 8:50 and 9:50 p.m.), Fast Color (1:45 p.m.). Downtown Independent 251 S. Main St., (213) 617-1033 or downtownindependent.com. July 30 and Aug. 1: Lila Avilés’ feature debut The Chambermaid is a slice-of-life drama about a maid working in a luxury hotel, and her struggle to better herself. Aug. 3, 8:30 p.m.: The 1926 Douglas Fairbanks silent swashbuckler The Black Pirate screens with an all-new score from the Jack Curtis Dubowsky Ensemble. IMAX California Science Center, 700 State Drive, (213) 744-2019 or californiasciencecenter.org. Dogs can do more than just slobber over your shoes. Check out all of their unique abilities in Superpower Dogs 3D. Explore the technological achievement of the Hubble space telescope, and the breathtaking images of space it’s captured in Hubble 3D. If space isn’t enough to get you in the seats, Leonardo DiCaprio narrates the film. Witness the destructive and raw power of volcanoes as Volcanoes 3D: The Fires of Creation tours different hot spots around the globe. Pershing Square 532 S. Olive St. or laparks.org/pershingsquare. Aug. 2: Enjoy a feel-good coming-of-age film with Sing Street, about a teen starting a band in 1980s Dublin. Regal Cinemas LA Live 1000 W. Olympic Blvd., (213) 763-6070 or lalive.com/movies. Through Aug. 4: Once Upon a Time in Hollywood (10:10, 10:30 and 11:10 a.m., 12, 1:50, 2:20, 3:20, 5:20, 6, 6:30, 7, 9:20, 9:50 and 10:20); The Lion King (10, 10:20 and 10:30 a.m., 12:30, 12:40, 1, 1:20, 2:30, 3, 3:40, 4, 4:10, 4:30, 5:50, 6:40, 7, 7:20, 7:40, 9, 9:50, 10:10, 10:30 and 10:50 p.m.);
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ment does not of itself authorize the use in this state of a fictitious business name in
Crawl (10 a.m., 3:50, 6 and 10:50 p.m.); Stuber (1:30 and 4:20 p.m.); Midsommar (10:50 a.m. and 3:30 p.m.); Spider-Man: Far From Home (11:30 a.m., 2:10, 7:30 and 10:20 p.m.); Annabelle Comes Home (7:10 and 10:10 p.m.); Toy Story 4 (10 a.m., 1:40, 4:40, 8:30 and 10:40 p.m.). Rooftop Cinema Club Level Furnished Living, 888 S. Olive St. or rooftopcinemaclub.com. July 30: Witness The Dude abide in The Big Lebowski. July 31: Another week, another A Star is Born screening. Aug. 1: A jock, a nerd, a prep, a weirdo and a rebel get past labels in The Breakfast Club. Aug. 2: Smalls is forever killing us in The Sandlot. Aug. 3: Enjoy the Los Angeles of the early 1990s in Pulp Fiction and see Samuel L. Jackson share everyone’s frustration with driving through the Valley. Aug. 4: See Baz Luhrman’s The Great Gatsby, a lavish production that misses the point of the novel.
THEATER & DANCE
The Play That Goes Wrong Ahmanson Theatre, 135 N. Grand Ave. or centertheatregroup.org. July 30-Aug. 2, 8 p.m., Aug. 3, 2 p.m. and 8 p.m., and Aug. 4, 1 p.m. and 6:30 p.m.: Ideally, a theater company is staging a cliché-filled murder mystery. What happens next is anything but ideal as everything that can go wrong on stage does.
MORE LISTINGS
Hundreds of listings of fun and interesting things to do in Downtown Los Angeles can also be found online at ladowntownnews.com/calendar: Rock, Pop & Jazz; Bars & Clubs; Farmers Markets; Events; Film; Sports; Art Spaces; Theater, Dance and Opera; Classical Music; Museums; and Tours.
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violation of the rights of another under federal, state, or common law (see Section 14411 et. seq. Business and Professions
Code). Pub. 7/29, 8/5, 8/12 and 8/19.
CITY OF LOS ANGELES ENVIRONMENTAL NOTICE Notice is hereby given of the availability for public review and comment on the Direct Disposal, Inc. Draft Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration (IS/MND), and Notice of the City of Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety Local Enforcement Agency’s Intent to adopt a Mitigated Negative Declaration (MND) on the following project: The proposed project entails an application for a Large Volume Solid Waste Facility Permit (SWFP) to allow the expansion of an existing 175 ton per day (TPD) Medium Volume Construction, Demolition and Inert (CDI) Material Recovery Facility (reference CalRecycle Solid Waste Facility Permit No. 19-AR-1228) operated by Direct Disposal, Inc., and located at 3720 Noakes Street in the City of Los Angeles. The proposed SWFP will allow processing and transfer of up to 500 TPD of solid waste material. The 54,136 square foot site is currently developed with a one-story, 12,200 square foot clear-span building that houses the tipping area and processing equipment including mechanical screens and an elevated sort line. The site also contains a truck scale and associated 600 sf scale house/office as well as outdoor storage areas. Off-site surface parking is provided at 3719 Noakes Street. No new floor area is proposed as part of the project. Printed copies of the IS/MND are available for review at the following locations: City of Los Angeles Local Enforcement Agency, 221 N. Figueroa Street, 12th floor, Los Angeles, CA 90012 tele. (213) 252-3348, and the Robert Louis Stevenson Branch Library, 803 Spence Street, Los Angeles, CA 90023, tel. (323) 268-4710. Comments on the IS/MND may be mailed to: City of Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety Local Enforcement Agency, 221 N. Figueroa Street, Room 1250, Los Angeles, CA 90012, Attn: Jose Gutierrez, LEA Program Supervisor, (213) 252-3348, or sent via email to jose.gutierrez@lacity.org. The review and comment period will end on August 23, 2019. Questions may be directed to Jose Gutierrez, LEA Program Supervisor at (213) 252-3348.
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16 DOWNTOWN NEWS
JULY 29, 2019
FBI, 5
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FBI investigation, the search will look awful when splashed on sepia-toned election-related mailers from competing mayoral candidates. Although Feuer is generally regarded as a high-integrity guy, the current fracas will cause people to question his decision-making acumen. On the other hand, Feuer isn’t ducking the matter. Whereas Huizar seemed to disappear into a Tora Bora cave for months after his raid, Feuer quickly acknowledged the situation and confirmed that warrants were served on employees in his office. He eschewed the standard “No comment,” and instead a statement from his office said, “The warrants served on our staff relate to issues that have arisen over the class action litigation and settlement surrounding the DWP billing system, and the City’s lawsuit against PwC. We have and will continue to cooperate fully with the expectation that the investigation will be completed expeditiously.” Additionally, Feuer showed up at a Los Angeles Downtown News event less than 36 hours after federal agents were in his office. He never uttered the words “off the record.” The raids also deal a blow to Garcetti, who in recent months has been pummeled for the city’s worsening homelessness and garbage crises, and the swan dive defeat of the school-aiding ballot effort he backed, Measure EE. Garcetti was elected mayor in 2013 in part on a promise to reform the DWP, as the maligned department emerged as a battle point in his contest against Wendy Greuel. While controlling the DWP is about as easy as wrestling a greased hydra, the mayor appoints the commission that oversees the department and picks its GM. An FBI raid indicates that the promised reform is still a million miles away Garcetti was doing damage control last week, trying to prevent the situation from spinning into Weekend at Bernie’s II territory. Last month Garcetti had announced that DWP General Manager David Wright would step down Oct. 1, to be replaced by Chief Operating Officer Marty Adams. The day after the raid, Wright’s departure was fast-tracked, and he was kicked to the curb in favor of Adams. Whether the elevation of a 35-year veteran of the utility leads to a fresh start remains to be seen. Talking Trust City Hall watchers are full of questions in the wake of the second raid. Among the most asked is, is it related to the first raid? Whether the answer is yes or no, it’s terrible. If the recent action spins from the Huizar investigation, then it looks like rot is spreading through the entirety of city government. If the DWP case is brand new, it opens the door to a completely busted system where no one exerts real oversight and checks and balances are afterthoughts. It’s probably this kind of lack of control that led to the atrocity known as Basic Instinct 2. In either case, a second FBI raid in less than a year erodes trust in City Hall, and it’s not like local government was viewed as a beacon of integrity before this happened. After all, we recently saw a pair of Valley councilmen earning hefty salaries — Felipe Fuentes and Mitch Englander — quit public service for presumably more lucrative gigs in the private sector. Little concern was shown for the constituents suddenly left without representation. What happens next is impossible to predict. The Feds tend not to leak, and eight months after the Huizar raid there’s still far more speculation than substance as to where this is going and who, if anyone, will ultimately face charges. The Feds also won’t be rushed in their investigations — and I’m still amazed that’s a plural — so good luck predicting when anything will happen. For now the real damage, as mentioned above, is to the public’s faith in the city leadership. If Angelenos witness two FBI raids of local government in eight months, then no one will be surprised if there’s an upcoming sequel to the sequel, or maybe it’s a threequel. If that happens the reference point might not be Breakin’ 3, but rather Broken 3: Los Angeles City Hall. regardie@downtownnews.com