02-13-12 by Los Angeles Downtown News

LOS ANGELES

DOWNTOWN

NEWS Volume 41, Number 7

Healthcare

A City Hall lawn makeover, Nuch runs, and other happenings Around Town.

13-16

Getting the two sides of the heated argument over Downtown redistricting.

February 13, 2012

W W W. D O W N T O W N N E W S . C O M

The 14 Best Athletes in Downtown

INSIDE

Ranking Those Who Make Crowds Ooooh and Aaaah Urban Scrawl on Valentine’s Day.

Another look at the end of the CRA.

A famous mural is coming back.

photos by Gary Leonard

(from left) Matt Kemp, Candace Parker, Kobe Bryant and Blake Griffin regularly thrill Downtown Los Angeles crowds. by Dave Denholm

owntown Los Angeles is rich in many ways. While there is a lot of cash here, the area also has a wealth of restaurants, a plethora of bars and a boatload of things to do after dark. It wasn’t always this way, but it is now, and that’s a good thing. There’s another area where Downtown’s cup runneth over: exceedingly talented athletes. Given

A new theatrical family drama.

that the Lakers, Clippers, Dodgers, Kings, Sparks and USC football team all play in the area, local workers and residents have an unparalleled opportunity to see the best. Sure, UCLA’s football team plays elsewhere, but that’s not a loss. Still, there’s a question: Who are the best of the best? With an intensive scientific process (read: I watched a lot of sports and looked up some stuff on the Internet) I’ve come up with a ranking of

The Collected Writings of Antonio Villaraigosa

A look at an early Downtown pioneer.

Imagining the Mayor’s Post-Term Literary Pursuits

19 CALENDAR LISTINGS

by Jon Regardie executive editor

22 CLASSIFIEDS

illaraigosa said he’s going to take a break when he leaves office in 2013, telling the class: “I want to take a time out. “I want to write,” he said. “I want to speak.” —Los Angeles Times, Jan. 30, 2012 Fiction: Excerpt from The Man With the ‘Born to

Raise Hell’ Tattoo, by Antonio Villaraigosa: After vanquishing his enemies he felt refreshed, energized. They should have known better than to THE REGARDIE REPORT

cross him, to tell him he can’t plant a million trees or move America forward fast. He looked down, their bodies on the ground limp and useless, like lutefisk that had fallen to the floor.

Downtown’s 14 best athletes, from all sports. Here they are, from bottom to top. Valuable Players 14) Anze Kopitar: Straight outta Jesenice, Slovenia, the center for the Kings has been a team leader since joining the franchise in 2006. He’s an excellent two-way player who was named the squad’s best defender in 2011, even while leading see Athletes, page 10

He took a deep breath, listened to the quiet, savored the faint odor of Listerine Breath Strips. It smelled like victory. Despite the ferocious battle not a drop of blood had splattered on his $3,000 suit. It seemed like 2005 all over again, fresh off The Inauguration, before All The Evil had begun. He placed his left hand on his right bicep where the “Born to Raise Hell” tattoo had once been. It’d been erased from his skin, but never from his mind. He felt nearly six-feet two-inches tall. But what was that sound? He recognized the click of high heels on Italian marble and the whirr of a television news camera. Instinctively he flashed the megawatt smile. She stepped from around the corner, the brunette news reporter whose hair spilled over the shoulders of her Jil Sander suit like oceans of possee Writing, page 9

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AROUNDTOWN Council Green Lights City Hall Park Makeover

he damaged City Hall lawn is set for a makeover, one that will take a little green off the property for the sake of being a different kind of green. The renovation plan approved by the City Council on Tuesday, Feb. 7, calls for a 51% reduction in the amount of water-thirsty grass in the 1.7-acre public areas that were damaged during the two-month Occupy L.A. encampment last year. The cost of the makeover, which will replace turf with more drought-tolerant plants and permeable surfaces, while preserving the grassy south lawn for public gatherings, is estimated at about $390,000. The cost to simply restore the original landscape, city officials said, was $76,000 — far less than the $400,000 that Recreation and Parks officials had first estimated. The council action paving the way for the work also calls for a private fundraising campaign to help pay for maintenance, which will cost about $135,000 a year.

Chinatown Housing Project Breaks Ground

February February13, 13,2012 2012

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nother project is moving forward in Chinatown. Officials said that work has begun on the $44 million Chinatown Metro Apartments, with completion of the project slated for the end the year. Tim Soule, project manager at developer Meta Housing Corporation, said the company broke ground on the development at 808 N. Spring St. in December. Soule said the 123-apartment project is fully funded, with money coming from sources including the Los Angeles Housing Department’s Neighborhood Stabilization program and tax-exempt bond financing. The

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effort will convert two aged structures into a complex creating affordable housing for senior citizens. It is the latest Chinatown project to get underway recently. Last April construction began on the 300,000-square-foot Chinatown Gateway, which is scheduled for completion in 2013.

Mayoral Candidates Talk Planning, Design

hat does the city’s next mayor think about architecture? About urban planning? What ideas do they have in the realm of land use? These are some of the questions the American Institute of Architects plans to put before five declared candidates for mayor in the coming weeks. Ninth District City Councilwoman Jan Perry kicks off the free forum on Friday, Feb. 17, and is followed each Friday through March 16 by (in order) Austin Beutner, Kevin James, Wendy Greuel and Eric Garcetti. They’ll answer questions posed by Los Angeles Times architecture critic Christopher Hawthorne and Bill Roschen, president of the city Planning Commission. Events start at 7 p.m. at the Ronald F. Deaton Civic Auditorium at the LAPD Police Administration Building, 100 W. First St. Register at aialosangeles.org.

Speak Up on ‘Cornfield’ Park Plans

he public this week will get a chance to check out the plans and weigh in on the upgrades that are part of the $18 million renovation of the Los Angeles State Historic Park. A Thursday, Feb. 16, meeting about the future of the site still often referred to as

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the Cornfield is scheduled at the Los Angeles Conservation Corps headquarters at 1400 N. Spring St. Plans for the 32-acre facility on the edge of Chinatown include a welcome pavilion, a promenade for a farmers market, an amphitheater, some wetland areas and infrastructure improvements such as permanent restrooms. Construction is set to begin in 2013 with completion approximately 18 months later. The meeting starts at 7 p.m. More information is at lashp.wordpress.com.

Trutanich Enters D.A. Race

ity Attorney Carmen Trutanich put an end to nearly a year of speculation last week, announcing that he is running for District Attorney. Although he had raised more than $1 million for the race since last April through an exploratory committee, he waited until Thursday, Feb. 9, to announce that he will seek the slot being vacated

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February 8, 2012

by Steve Cooley, who is stepping down after three terms. “I love my job as City Attorney, but I can’t do much to protect residents — nor can our local police and sheriffs — without a crime-fighting partner in the DA’s office,” Trutanich said in a prepared statement. Opposition came quickly from Alan Jackson, a deputy district attorney also running for the post. Jackson criticized Trutanich for breaking a 2009 promise to serve his full time as City Attorney; Trutanich and his then-foe Jack Weiss had each pledged to take out newspaper ads with the text “I am a liar” if either ran for higher office before finishing the job. In a statement John Thomas, a consultant for Jackson, said the Jackson campaign has designed a “Pledge to Serve” ad for local daily newspapers. “Even though he broke his word to the people of Los Angeles, I’m sure Trutanich plans to honor his sworn and signed pledge by purchasing the ads but we thought, ‘why not make this easy for him,’” said Thomas.

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February 13, 2012

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February 13, 2012

EDITORIALS Don’t Hike Campaign Contribution Limits

Urban Scrawl by Doug Davis

he Los Angeles Ethics Commission is considering vastly increasing the amount of money that individuals can contribute to candidates running for office. Our response to this proposal can be summed up in three words and one punctuation mark: Don’t do it! The move would hamper the chances of noncareer politicians getting elected in Los Angeles. We can foresee a limited increase in the contribution limit, but going to the levels proposed would be a shot against fair elections. Since 1985, candidates running for city council have been allowed to accept $500 per individual per election cycle. People could give $1,000 per cycle to those running for mayor, city controller or city attorney. The Ethics Commission wants to boost the limit for council candidates to $1,000 per cycle and hike citywide limits to $2,200. The commission tried to get the measure passed Feb. 2 but held off when protests were lodged. The topic could come up for a vote at the Commission’s Feb. 23 meeting. The commission’s reasoning for the boosts is that the limits have not been raised in 27 years, that no increases for inflation have been taken. There are also concerns about competing with funds provided by super PACs. In a vacuum this sounds reasonable. However, in reality it virtually assures that machine candidate and those in office would benefit far more than any outsider. We fear it would continue the unfortunate trend we’ve been seeing recently, with office holders across the state hopscotching to new jobs once they are termed out of their current position. It’s hard to foresee results like the one that occurred recently in the 15th District, where political novice Joe Buscaino beat the connected state Assemblyman Warren Furutani. Hiking the levels to the rates proposed means the favored candidates would go down their lists of wealthy donors and double what they had received in the past, building an insurmountable war chest. While individuals sometimes give because they believe in a candidate, often it’s just the cost of survival. Business leaders know that they need an elected official as their champion for virtually any project or proposal. When called, they give to the max. Individuals might still donate to the newbies, but it would be much harder for the novices to compete. As for super PACs, those are far more likely to impact presidential, congressional or statewide elections than local races. The Ethics Commission also says that L.A.’s limits are far below other major cities. So what? Just because other cities do something wrong doesn’t mean we have to as well. By the way, there are already huge pots of money available for candidates. Here’s one Downtown example: In 2011, 14th District Councilman José Huizar took in $484,000 in contributions in defending his seat. He secured nearly 11,000 votes, which works out to $53.65 per vote. Do he and other candidates really need more money? Of course not. The Ethics Commission should go back to the drawing board and come up with more modest increases. The proposed levels are short-sighted and ill-advised.

Life After the CRA

os Angeles’ venerable Community Redevelopment Agency is gone, its demise spurred by Gov. Jerry Brown. Brown’s move to quash these economic and social vehicles statewide was followed by an unexpected ruling on a lawsuit filed by a coalition of hundreds of California redevelopment agencies. Not everyone is crying over the demise of the CRAs. Some people have complained that, through the decades, many agencies drifted away from their core mission of removing blight. In Los Angeles, indeed in Downtown, there have been critiques that the CRA too often made moves that aided wealthy developers rather than the impoverished. At a recent Downtown luncheon, County Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky expressed a feeling shared by many critics when he opined that CRAs blew their golden opportunity, that they messed with a good thing and got greedy. There were critiques on the business side, too. Over the past decade, many Los Angeles developers and even some elected officials grew weary of or enraged at the agency. There were charges that the CRA and its mayor-appointed board of commissioners sometimes acted as a second Planning Department, demanding concessions or changes even if a developer did not intend to use a dime of city money (for more on that see p. 6). This resulted in accusations that the board leaned too far to the left politically; developers felt blackmailed. Frequently, however, the developers capitulated, knowing their project was dead otherwise. While we can’t comment on the role and function of the 400plus redevelopment agencies in California, the local CRA scored some major accomplishments in its lifetime. Many of these were in Downtown, and there are numerous areas where the agency and a handful of dedicated staffers will be missed. It was the CRA, after all, that enabled the creation of modern Downtown Los Angeles. In the 1970s and ’80s the agency, under the spur of Mayor Tom Bradley and his point man, CRA Chairman Jim Wood, a union leader interested in creating jobs and helping the poor, brought about the current Bunker Hill, the Central Business District and an enormous infrastructure to help low income and homeless people. It was visionary. As the community moved from a collection of aged Victorian houses and derelict buildings to a hub of skyscrapers Downtown’s future viability was assured. Thousands of jobs came first in the construction of the towers and then in the businesses that filled them. Without the agency’s leadership, and the tax increment funds that became available through the Bunker Hill Urban Renewal Project and its Bunker Hill Housing Trust, Downtown would not be what it is today.

As Brown led the charge to redirect CRA funds to counties and schools, it has been easy to forget some of the other Downtown projects the agency facilitated. After the deep, dark recession of the ’90s, the CRA helped make Staples Center and the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels happen. Without the agency, Downtown might not have gotten the Market Lofts; the development includes Ralphs, Downtown’s first full-service supermarket in half a century. This is not to say that the CRA was perfect. There were multiple notable fumbles. In Downtown the effort to launch the Cleantech Manufacturing Center has landed with numerous embarrassing thuds. We understand why many would protest the agency’s investment in the parking garage for a coming $100 million art museum from Eli Broad (it hardly addresses blight, goes one argument; Broad is paying the entire construction cost of the coveted museum, goes the other). Additionally, various agency heads and higher-ups could be just as pointedly political as some elected officials. Where there are money and egos, there are power plays. The redevelopment agencies were dissolved on Feb. 1, and the city is still trying to figure out exactly what happens next. A great deal of uncertainty remains. A three-person committee chaired by Nelson Rising has the monumental task of winding down all agency affairs — they’ll figure out what to sell, how to pay existing bond debt and work out a payment schedule, among many other things. As this occurs, the city needs to make one serious matter a front-burner issue: What happens with all the housing projects, in particular the low-income developments, that traditionally relied on CRA funds? Los Angeles Downtown News recently reported on how CRA dollars regularly proved crucial for low income and permanent supportive housing projects in Skid Row and other communities. Often the agency’s impact was not only in how much it gave, but when. A spokesman for the now defunct agency said that each CRA dollar yielded nine additional dollars from foundations or governmental organizations. The city needs to determine where that money will come from in the future. What system will arise to ensure that worthy projects get funding and that the money is spent responsibly? This is an issue of major importance to Downtown. The area contains Los Angeles’ largest concentration of low-income housing, and CRA funds helped update decrepit old buildings and erect new structures. The CRA’s time has come and gone, but the need for some of the services that it provided has not.

February 13, 2012

Downtown News 5

Opinion

An Affront to Facts Support a History and Community Unified Downtown New Council Maps Would Sever the Ninth and Create the City’s Poorest District

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three Council Districts must gain more than 66,000 residents, far exceeding the expansion necessary in any other part of the city. At the same time, Council District 9 is over-populated and must contract by 8,629 residents. Council District 14 is being pushed down from the Northeast, making GUEST OPINION Downtown the inevitable release valve. description, and is also a complex and im- CD 9’s area of Downtown has experienced portant mosaic of all the proud triumphs, wonderful things under Jan Perry’s leaderheartbreaking difficulties and ongoing chal- ship since 2001. Downtown is a better place lenges our city has experienced through its thanks to her service, which will end due to many decades of growth. term limits in 2013. I commend her for her More importantly, Downtown is a com- efforts. munity — a “community of interest” — de- Similarly, in CD 14’s portion of Downtown fined as much by its clear, geographic bound- we have brought hundreds of jobs, multiple aries, within the loop of freeways and a river, venues and numerous services to Downtown as it is by its strong sense of community, through my Bringing Back Broadway initiawhich weaves together all of its neighbor- tive. I fought and won a battle to preserve hoods and neighbors. The Downtown com- and expand the Arts District, opened the first munity deserves to be united and only city park in Skid Row for children through the redistricting pro- and have worked closely with the Fashion cess under one council dis- District on their priorities. trict. I can continue to serve CD 14 for seven 5 Council District 14 cur- more years, until 2019, ensuring Downtown’s rently represents about 40% 50,000 (and counting) residents, thousands 10 of Downtown. The city’s of businesses, 500,000 workers and millions Redistricting Commission’s of annual tourists a cohesive, progressive vision for a united Downtown that will serve our entire city for generations. Fact: Downtown should benefit all of L.A. To insist on the inclusion or exclusion of Downtown into any specific district based on an adjoining community’s reliance upon 60 Downtown for economic support makes little sense. All of the communities surround710 ing Downtown face similar challenges of 5 poverty and other socio-economic barriers. In fact, CD 14, under the existing and proposed maps, has four public housing projects in close proximity to Downtown. Under the proposed maps the median household in5 come is relatively similar for all council districts in the area. 10 During the era of the great Councilmember Edward R. Roybal, Downtown was in a council district that attached itself to Boyle Heights on the east and Pico/Union on the west. The proposed map solidifies the long (top) The current map of and storied connection between Downtown City Council boundaries and the city’s eastside, just one of the many places much of the western neighborhoods that Downtown has been athalf of Downtown in the tached to in the past. Ninth60 District and the But historical connections are not reaeastern portion in the 14th. A proposed new map son enough to make an important de710 5 (below) would put the vast cision regarding redistricting. My belief is majority of Downtown in Downtown Los Angeles is an economic enthe 14th. gine that should benefit Angelenos from all draft map places almost all of Downtown in over the city — from South Los Angeles to Council District 14 while leaving the Fashion the San Fernando Valley, from the Westside District divided between Council District 9 to the Eastside and all points in between. and CD 14. South Park and the Convention Downtown is the heart of our great city. It Center/L.A. Live area are also in CD 9. should be that for all of its people. Certainly change can be difficult, but in the Fact: Redistricting is not about the past, sea of hyperbole related to redistricting, it is it’s about the future. Downtown is a comimportant to discern fact from fiction, and munity of interest and the time has come to actualities from exaggeration. unite it under one council district. No longer Fact: Populations must be balanced. should residents and businesses have to be The 2010 Census found that CD 14 is un- concerned with invisible lines running down der populated by 20,267 residents and must the corridors of Downtown, creating confuexpand to be in compliance with federal law sion or a potential lack of accountability for and the Voting Rights Act. CD 14’s expan- decisions made in one district, which impact sion options are limited. It is boxed in to another one just across the street. the north, between Glendale and Pasadena, Looking at the facts and the future opporand abutted along the entire eastern edge by tunities for improvement in Downtown, I non-L.A. municipalities such as Alhambra, come to one conclusion: Downtown should South Pasadena and unincorporated East Los be unified under Council District 14. Should Angeles. the Redistricting Commission agree, I am Northeast Los Angeles, where CD 1, CD excited about the possibilities and would be 13 and CD 14 share boundaries, leaves no honored to serve, uphold and realize the inopportunity for CD 14 to expand. CD 1 terests of this special community. needs to gain just under 20,000 residents and José Huizar represents the 14 District on the CD 13 needs 26,000 more. Collectively, the Los Angeles City Council. very great city has a single Downtown — an area considered the heart of a city — that is its economic engine, its jobs and business center, its cultural and urban core. Downtown Los Angeles fits this

Angeles. We have seen the results of this partnership push investment along the corridor through the introduction of BYD, a Chinese electric car company, and a new Fiat dealership. This kind of synergy has made the Ninth District a great success story. I am faced with term limits, and as such I am asked why I care about redistricting. I care deeply about the future of the people I represent. There is no guarantee that any elected official will serve a full term in office. Many leave before their council term ends to achieve higher office. I have faith in the people of the Ninth District and their ability to elect a candidate who represent their interests. It is their time to do so; they will and should have high expectations for the person whom they elect. They have endured decades of waiting on the vision set forth by Mayor Tom Bradley that investment and development in Downtown Los Angeles should yield benefits for all. That time has come. Don’t cut the momentum short. Jan Perry represents the Ninth District on the Los Angeles City Council.

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population change, keep communities of interest together, and ensure that the will of the people is heard. Unfortunately, what happens, time and time again, is a power grab which has very little to do with the people of Los Angeles. Sadly, this is what has happened, and Downtown Los Angeles has become the innocent bystander. The two legal concerns in redistricting are population imbalance and the Voting Rights Act. Compliance can be easily achieved without tearing Council District Nine apart. The central question for this redistricting is whether Downtown should remain in District Nine. I firmly believe that it should and it must for reasons having to do with maintaining communities of interest and the relationships that have grown over the years. First, and foremost, the census numbers do not merit a dramatic shift in the Ninth District’s lines. According to the latest census, District Nine only exceeds the ideal district size by about 1.9% of the total population (approximately 8,000 residents). This means that, while a shift in boundaries may occur, the data supports only minor changes. In fact, instead of severing Downtown from South Los Angeles, minor changes to the map could make Downtown whole in the Ninth District, reversing decades of gerrymandering that has been a result of political interests that have taken precedent over the pragmatic process of drawing district lines. If the intent is to unite Downtown into one district, why have key portions of Downtown — places like L.A. Live and the Figueroa Corridor — been left out of the equation? Second, the process must respect the will of the people and the historical foundation by which alliances and partnerships are built. For well over half a century, Downtown Los Angeles has called the Ninth District home; currently, it represents threefourths of Downtown’s population. What the Redistricting Commission proposed for Council District Nine in the recent draft maps disregards this legacy and the historic, cultural and economic realities of this important district. Downtown Los Angeles has enjoyed unprecedented growth in the past decade. It has seen $15 billion in private investment with 90,000 jobs created. Business and nonprofit communities have come together to address homelessness and worked with affordable housing developers to create thousands of units of new housing. Downtown has become a great source of pride and is the economic trendsetter for the city of Los Angeles. This has not happened in a vacuum. Instead, this has been the result of dynamic partnerships — connections made between the Civic Center, Little Tokyo, Central City East, the Historic Core, the Financial District, South Park and the Figueroa Corridor. All of these communities have historically worked together to bring about change and to advance an agenda that has assisted retailers, investors and residents across the economic spectrum. The Ninth District is the bridge that links the communities of Downtown with southern portions of Los Angeles — an area rich with economic, cultural and racial diversity.

In fact, the diversity of this district drives this part of the city forward, and it is diversity that is at risk in this redistricting. The current configuration promotes the best opportunities for growth, higher density living, and a public-transit oriented future that will improve Downtown and its adjacent communities in the southern part of the district. Separating the two major partners in the continued vitality of this 2 area is wrong-headed and ill-considered. Severing Downtown from South Los Angeles will have the effect of creating the poorest council district in the city and isolating Downtown neighborhoods from their existing partnerships. A prime example is the Figueroa Corridor, which has experienced great investment due to the TEM PLE ST between Downtown and South Los synergy

GUEST OPINION

by José Huizar

very 10 years, the City of Los Angeles goes through the process of redrawing district lines as a result of the U.S. Census. It is a process that on the surface seems simple — make slight shifts to address

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by Jan Perry

It Makes Sense to Put the Community in CD 14

6 Downtown News

February 13, 2012

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Some Cheer End of CRA Although Touted as Economic Driver, Land-Use Experts Say Agency Slowed Development by Ryan VaillancouRt staff wRiteR

he dissolution of the Community Redevelopment Agency of Los Angeles has many lamenting the loss of a major civic economic engine. In some land-use and private sector circles, there is a vastly different opinion. Many real estate attorneys and developers are quietly cheering the death of an agency that they saw as little more than a highly politicized bed of bureaucratic quicksand where private projects were sunk, slowed or saddled with extra costs. “Based on my direct experience, I found the CRA to be just another difficult layer of review that was duplicative of what had already been approved by the city Planning Department,” said attorney Ben Reznik, who chairs the land-use department at Jeffer, Mangels, Butler & Mitchell. Few dispute the CRA’s role as a crucial driver of affordable housing. In its 64-year existence, the agency spurred the creation of more than 25,000 units of low- and moderate-income residences. It is also regularly credited for helping develop Bunker Hill and for facilitating projects such as Staples Center. As state and local officials begin to shutter the agency, it has some $300 million in property tax revenues invested in active development projects valued collectively at an estimated $3 billion, CRA spokesman David Bloom said. Firms that take CRA funds typically agree to build projects with an array of community

benefits, from setting aside a certain number of affordable housing units to creating open space to hiring locally. The agency’s board of commissioners, however, often required the same kinds of community benefits from some developers not seeking public funds. O’Malley Miller, a landuse expert at Munger, Tolles & Olson, said that by imposing such social benefit requirements on privately financed real estate endeavors, the CRA sometimes obstructed projects. “Nobody’s building anything in this economy, but if there were projects coming forward, I’m sure having one less hurdle would be advantageous,” Miller said. Projects that met city planning regulations, and therefore didn’t require a land-use variation such as a zone change or density bonus, did not require CRA board approval, unless they sought agency funding. But since the city’s zoning code hasn’t been significantly updated since 1965, most large-scale developments need special approvals. As a result, many large projects ended up in front of the mayor-appointed CRA board. The picture of the CRA as an impediment to development, as seen primarily by private sector developers, is not new. Nor is the counter-argument, which over the past decade has often been voiced by Madeline Janis, who was appointed to the board of commissioners by Mayor Jim Hahn in 2002 and reappointed by Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa in 2006. “What I would consider comparatively the nuisance of having to get changes of use and

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Although the Community Redevelopment Agency played a key role in spurring the development of Bunker Hill, some developers in recent years have claimed that the agency could be an obstruction to progress, and often acted as a second city Planning Department. Former CRA officials reject the claim.

land use permits through another agency is small compared to the benefits,” said Janis. Whatever hurdles the CRA may have presented may not disappear with the agency anyway: The mayor and city council, after all, retain ultimate control over discretionary land use issues, said CRA spokesman Bloom. “Every CRA board member was a mayoral appointee and every project was vetted carefully by community members, office holders in that area and other stakeholders,” Bloom said. “Nothing that the agency did happened in a vacuum. The council had ultimate control. It always did and always will.” Brain Drain Not all developers butted heads with the CRA. Some, in fact, came to prize the agency’s staff and its expertise in orchestrating complex developments that would satisfy public demands and private interests. “Although the CRA on the surface was another layer of bureaucracy, losing them feels like the loss of a mentor or a teacher,” said

developer Sonny Astani, who needed a density bonus from the CRA in order to build his Concerto residential buildings in South Park. Astani agreed to include a public paseo between the two Concerto structures to improve pedestrian connectivity, which at the time was a goal of the agency. “They were smart, cultured technocrats with street savvy and attitude,” Astani said. The CRA formally dissolved on Feb. 1, but the organization’s 187 employees remain on staff to function as part of a successor agency. The employees are now charged with administering contractual obligations and with selling off assets. Current agency employees are signed to a labor contract that expires June 30. It is unclear how many staffers will be rehired to work with the successor activities, but given the state’s mandate that redevelopment activities be swiftly shut down, layoffs appear likely. Contact Ryan Vaillancourt at ryan@downtownnews.com.

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Downtown News 7

DowntownNews.com

Managing a Mural Siqueiros’ Classic ‘América Tropical’ to Open Soon, But Some Question Whether Group Can Oversee the Masterwork by RichaRd Guzmán city editoR

exican muralist David Alfaro Siqueiros’ “América Tropical” has never lacked for controversy. Now, 80 years after it was created, and following decades of attempts to restore it, the 18-by-80-foot artwork is again at the hub of uncertainty. This time the issue isn’t whether it should be shown to the public, but rather who will be in charge of showing it. A nearly $10 million effort to conserve the mural and create an educational component with it is nearly complete. It has been led by the J. Paul Getty Trust, which provided $3.95 million and oversaw the work. The city gave $6 million for the effort at the El Pueblo de Los Angeles Historical Monument. The mural will likely be managed by Amigos de Siqueiros, a politically connected group established in 2008. However, that is not assured, and concerns have been raised about the group’s ability to secure the money necessary to showcase “América Tropical” and run a nearby “interpretive center.” “My concerns are that the city is going to entrust a valuable asset to a group that has no history being able to raise funds,” said David Louie, a member of the El Pueblo Board of Commissioners, the mayoral-appointed citizens panel that must approve any management deal. Since its formation four years ago, the group has raised less than $50,000, and has assets of $22,626, according to figures provided by Community Partners, which helps groups trying to form nonprofit organizations. Amigos de Siqueiros is working with Community Partners. During a Jan. 12 meeting of the El Pueblo commissioners, Louie cast the sole vote against authorizing El Pueblo’s general manager to begin negotiations with Amigos de Siqueiros. Although the ballot was 4-1, five votes are needed to move the deal forward (three board members were absent). It is unknown when the matter will come up again. “América Tropical” is slated to go on view as early as this fall.

photo by Gary Leonard

Details of the nearly $10 million Siqueiros Mural Interpretive Center and conservation project were posted in front of the mural during a groundbreaking ceremony last year. photo by Gary Leonard

“América Tropical,” an 80-year-old mural by David Alfaro Siqueiros, is behind a protective covering on the second story wall of the Italian Hall.

About Partnerships Despite last month’s vote, Amigos officials said they are confident that they can partner with the city and raise enough money to manage the mural project, which will be accessible via a new platform. “This is about a partnership, not about us taking sole ownership,” said Dalila Sotelo, co-chair of Amigos de Siqueiros. “We are absolutely committed to doing this. We are exactly where we want to be.” While the Getty is overseeing the conservation and will handle future maintenance of the artwork, it will have no role managing the interpretive center. Sotelo said Amigos de Siqueiros has an ongoing fundraising campaign and aims to have $50,000 by the end of 2012. She said she expects fundraising will be easier once the group has a formal contract with the city. Chris Espinosa, Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa’s director of

capital projects, said Amigos’ contributions would be considered supplemental services, and that if they fail to raise enough money to meet their goals, the city would pick up the slack. On its website, the group lists goals including providing financial support and management and operations plans for the mural and the related facilities. The mural was painted by Siqueiros in 1932 on a secondstory wall of the Italian Hall. It depicts a Mexican Indian crucified on a cross under an American eagle. Two sharpshooters are taking aim at the eagle. Civic leaders deemed “América Tropical” too revolutionary, and by 1938 it had been painted over. For decades, local officials talked up plans to restore it, but none came to fruition until 2006, when the Getty and the city reached their accord. The deal called for conserving the mural, building a protective shelter and viewing platform and opening the interpretive center in the nearby Sepulveda House. see Mural, page 12

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February 13, 2012

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A Redistricting War of Words Stakeholders Speak Out Over Whether Downtown Should Be in Ninth or 14th District by Ryan VaillancouRt staff wRiteR

n Wednesday, Feb. 8, more than 800 people flooded City Hall to voice their opinions on proposed maps that would vastly change the City Council boundaries in Downtown. Initial maps would take much of the community out of Councilwoman Jan Perry’s Ninth District and put it in Councilman José Huizar’s 14th. Approximately 180 people submitted comment cards to speak before the city’s Redistricting Commission in a meeting that lasted nearly five hours. This is a sample of the testimony. (Comments have been condensed and edited for clarity.) Yuval Bar-Zemer, Arts District developer: “I think we should leave the politics aside. Today we have one council member. Tomorrow we’ll have another. At the end of the day Downtown should have single representation. The proposed map is a good step in this direction.”

Deon Joseph, LAPD senior lead officer for Skid Row: “Jan Perry is not just a councilmember for Skid Row, she’s more like a family member. The last challenge we need is to be without her leadership, her wisdom and her genuine love for the people. I’m hoping against hope that she will remain my council member.” Michael Delijani, Broadway theater owner: “I believe Downtown has been divided for too long. It’s time to unite different communities of Downtown, therefore I strongly support the proposed draft of Council District 14 unification of Downtown.” Tom Gilmore, Old Bank District developer: “When the maps were released, at first I was very shocked by what I saw and what had been done to the Ninth District, and then I realized it’s not so shocking. The Ninth District has done so well in the last 10 years, Downtown has done so well in the last 10 years, and I could understand why people would want to take it, but it’s not for sale. Don’t do it.”

Bill Cooper, Downtown real estate agent: “We know that the southern edge of Downtown is the 10 Freeway. This is the natural boundary. Homeowners in Downtown should be able to have fair and effective representation by one council member. It’s not about economics, it’s about our neighborhood. For those of you who love Jan Perry as I do, she’s termed out, so I would rather see you guys go with an amazing man, José Huizar.” Edward Flores, Olvera Street merchant: “Olvera Street is a community that exists in the birthplace of this great city of L.A. We consider ourselves a community operating within the greater community of Downtown L.A. It makes sense to us that CD 14 should be expanded into Downtown.”

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Bill Watanabe, Little Tokyo Community Council: “We have a very simple request. It’s our understanding that the population numbers have not changed that much. We want Little Tokyo to remain in the Ninth. Don’t change wholesale just to accommodate a fairly small population change.” Contact Ryan Vaillancourt at ryan@downtownnews.com.

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February 13, 2012

Writing Continued from page 1 sibility. She smiled. “You did it,” she said, the lilt in her voice both loving and admiring. “After all this, you survived. You’re still the mayor.” Yes, he was. Haiku: “Leadership,” by Antonio Villaraigosa Oh! L.A.’s burden. Layoffs. Jobs. Media trolls. He is a hero. Play: Scene from The King Who Would Be a Regular Man, by Antonio Villaraigosa: MATTY: Boss. Day in, day out they just keep comin’ at ya. They’re like locusts they are, trying to tear this city apart. How da ya deal boss? TONY: It’s not like there’s a choice. Some men choose to be union organizers. Others have it thrust upon them. I don’t ask what my city can do for me, but rather what I can do for my city. I have the audacity to hope. MATTY: But boss. They’re trying to tear you down every chance they get. It’s not fair the things they print about you. They’re not even true! There’s gotta be a law against it, libel or sump’n. Right? TONY: Let their small pens and small minds write what they will. Our purpose is true. Our motives are honorable. We’re working not for ourselves, but for something greater — we’re working for the city of the 21st century. Say it with me Matty. MATTY AND TONY: We’re working for the city of the 21st century. TONY: Great men and women have come before me. They’ll come after me too. Just like we’ve been inspired by Barack Obama, they’ll be inspired by us. The only thing we

DowntownNews.com have to fear is fear itself. MATTY [plaintive]: But boss, they don’t ever stop. There’s this burden on your shoulders and, I know you’re right, but they don’t. They won’t be satisfied until you resign or, worse, until you’re dead. TONY: I’ve got the courage of my convictions Matty. When the going gets tough, the tough get going. Yea though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death I fear no evil, for I hold sway over the lobbyists. Let my opponents bring it. I welcome the challenge. An Aide sticks his head in the door. AIDE: Excuse me boss. The newscaster is here. TONY: Show her to my chambers. Tony turns to the audience, winks and strides off stage. Curtain Limerick: “Life at the Top,” by Antonio Villaraigosa There once was an honorable mayor Who fought hard like a dragon slayer Then the economy tumbled And doomsayers rumbled Still he pledged to help every taxpayer. Detective Novel: Excerpt from City Hall Never Sleeps, by Antonio Villaraigosa: Of all the gin joints in all the towns she’d had to come strolling into his. He was off the clock. Technically. But a good private dick never stops working. He’d shut the office door at 5 and had been at the bar across from City Hall ever since. The coppers and suits were perched on the stools, trading stories and trying to squeeze out the pain of the day. He was squirreled away in a booth, his tie loosened, his hat pulled low. Cash flow had been weak, nothing in the past month except a husband who’d been hiding, trying to avoid alimony. He’d located the guy in four hours. He charged the client

for three days. He remembered back when he was mayor of a small cow town. Maybe coming to Los Angeles had been a mistake. Now he was on his third whiskey, three fingers each time. Another whiskey landed with a thud on the scratched table in front of him. It was attached to a hand with long red fingernails. “Are you detective Tony?” the holder of the hand asked in a doe voice. She said her name was Veronica, but he knew it was a fake. He mentally IDed her as Trouble. Her raven curls reminded him of one of those TV reporters, the dames always trying to pry information out of the clueless police gumshoes. It might work on them, but he’d seen her kind before. She told a story about a brother who’d gone missing, saying the kid went to City Hall to ask about getting water rights for a project. She hadn’t heard from him in four days. Tony didn’t believe a word of it. He’d been around the block too many times. He wasn’t sure what her story was, but he knew the one she was telling wasn’t it. He knew he shouldn’t take the case, but he needed the money and he wanted to help others — that was his burden. Then another whiskey landed, and this time the hand with the red-painted nails moved from the glass to his arm. It rested there. His wife had left three years ago. Sometimes he thought he could still smell her perfume. “I’ll take the case,” he said. A media troll at the bar perked up. That’s when the trouble started. Poem: “Atlas on the Third Floor,” by Antonio Villaraigosa They are unaware Of the decisions The choices

Downtown News 9

photo by Gary Leonard

Does this mayor have literary pretensions?

The pain he bears for them. Atlas had it easy. Some ask for favors and others just assume. Silently he endures On the third floor Of City Hall. The glimmer off the camera lens At a press conference Is both pain and a jewel. The lobbyists believe They run the town But no. History shall prove his worth. Contact Jon Regardie at regardie@downtownnews.com.

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10 Downtown News

February 13, 2012

Twitter/DowntownNews problems are not because of defense, and Doughty leads the way defensively.

Athletes Continued from page 1 the Kings in points. He does all that while being smart and not taking dumb penalties (by press time, Kopitar had been whistled for only four infractions all season). He should be higher than 14th on this list, but we all know the Kings’ offensive woes, and Anze needs to lead by example. If the team is to make a deep playoff run this season, Der Kopitar better start lighting the lamp. 13) Andre Heidari: Why is an 18-year-old college kicker on this list? Because, in his first season at USC, he made 15 of 17 field goal attempts and all 50 of his extra point tries. Also, he looks like he would like to hit you the way Dick Butkus did. If you’re not familiar with Butkus, picture a guy who looks like a refrigerator and kicks like a mule. That’s Heidari. 12) Drew Doughty: When you sign the kind of deal Doughty did (eight years, $56 million), you better deliver. Los Angeles Downtown News The 22-year-old has. He’s a wall of a defender who can also 1264 W. First Street, Los Angeles, CA 90026 score (59 points last• season, including 16 goals). The Kings’ phone: 213-481-1448 fax: 213-250-4617 web: DowntownNews.com • email: realpeople@downtownnews.com facebook: L.A. Downtown News

10) Pau Gasol: The seven-foot forward may be L.A.’s most adored native Spanish speaker (he’s from Barcelona). He’s maddening to some, since he occasionally disappears in big games, but really, can’t we just accept and enjoy Pau for what he is? A truly gifted big man who doesn’t mind being second or third fiddle. And also a guy who averages 18.7 points, 9.1 rebounds, 1.7 blocks and one atrocious neck Editor & PublishEr: Sue Laris beard per game. GENErAl MANAGEr: Dawn Eastin A Cut Above ExEcutivE 9) Robert Woods: Every single time I Editor: lookedJonupRegardie at a USC citY Editor: Richard Guzmán game last season, the sophomore Woods was making another stAFF writEr: Ryan Vaillancourt catch. It seemed that Woods coNtributiNG might have Editors: had more touchKathryn Maese

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Many people might not think of a hockey goalie as a tremendous athlete, but Jonathan Quick allows less than two scores a game.

downs this past year than my Cleveland Browns did. (Wait, I checked. Final score, Cleveland Browns 21 TDs, Woods 15. Losone-inch Angeles Downtown The six-foot receiverNews finished the season coNtributiNG writErs: Jay Berman, JimClose!) Farber, Jeff Favre, 1264 W. First Street, Los Angeles, CA 90026 Kristin Friedrich, Howard Leff, Rod Riggs, Marc Porter Zasada with an astoundingphone: 111 catches, a USC record. 213-481-1448 • fax: 213-250-4617

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11) Candace Parker: The first pick in the 2008 WNBA draft was one of the best players in the league the moment she stepped on the Staples Center hardwood. In fact, she won the Rookie of the Year and the MVP awards that season. She’d be higher on the list if not for injuries. Her career average of 17.2 points and 9.5 rebounds are fantastic and Parker is one of only two WNBA players to dunk in a game. I love that she had nearly 1.5 assists for every turnover last season. The Sparks need her to be dominant in 2012.

Art dirEctor: Brian Allison web: DowntownNews.com AssistANt Art dirEctor: Yumi Kanegawa 8) Andrew Bynum:email: The single greatest sin committed by Phil realpeople@downtownnews.com ProductioN ANd GrAPhics: Alexis Rawlins

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Downtown News 11

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goals against average is under 2, which means I eat more hot dogs during a Kings game than Quick gives up scores. Where would the Kings be without Quick? Somewhere around the Ducks. Scary! True Greatness 6) Chris Paul: He hasn’t been in Los Angeles long, but he has been here long enough to turn around a beleaguered Clippers franchise. Paul, 26, averages 18.6 points and 9.9 assists a game over his career, and his juking and crossovers are ankle breakers for opposing defenders. Just imagine if he stays around for the rest of his career and brings Clipper fans the glory of an NBA title. I almost teared up just writing that sentence. 5) Clayton Kershaw: You know how old people sit around and say, “There will never be another Sandy Koufax.” Well, he’s here! Kershaw is so good that I have a hard time not typing how I think he may ultimately be the best pitcher ever. Last season, the 23-year-old was 21-5 and won the National League Cy Young Award. What did you do at 23? He’s got a killer fastball, which makes his outstanding curve that much more knee buckling. He also works the strike zone better than almost anyone in baseball. I ask again: What did you do at 23? If the Dodgers’ offense is even halfway decent this year, Kershaw might grab an MVP trophy. Seriously. photo by Gary Leonard

4) Matt Kemp: The Dodger centerfielder is the most physically gifted athlete on this list. After some ups and downs, it all came together for the 27-year-old last season. His .324 average, 39 homers, 126 RBIs and 40 stolen bases made him the best player in the National League (even if Ryan Braun was giftwrapped the MVP award). If Kemp leads the Blue to a World Series title, this town would be his. To assess how good he is, think how bad the Dodgers would have been last year without him. 3) Matt Barkley: I was as shocked as you when Barkley decided to come back to USC for his senior season. Then I thought about it more: Barkley could lead USC to a national championship, win a Heisman and be drafted No. 1 overall in the 2013 NFL draft. It’s a lot of pressure, but the kid handles pressure very well — heck, he broke a USC record last year with 39 TD passes. No one in college football was playing better than Barkley at the end of the season. How cool would

At the age of 23, Clayton Kershaw already has a Cy Young Award, a 21-win season and a knee-buckling curveball.

it be if he is selected No. 1 overall by the L.A. Whoevers next year? 2) Blake Griffin: He’s not only an NBA superstar, he is also the guy responsible for reviving the Clippers (think Chris Paul comes to town without him?). His dunk over a car at last year’s All-Star Game was a brilliant gimmick, but his recent slam over the Thunder’s Kendrick Perkins (who, by the way, is built like a truck) forever put fans in awe of Griffin’s athletic ability. In less than two seasons he has averaged 22.3 points, 11.8 rebounds and 5.6 Did You See What He Just Did?! moments per game. He is a beast and, even better, has his head on straight. In a League of His Own 1) Kobe Bryant: Five NBA titles. One MVP award (he de-

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With five NBA titles and an unparalleled killer instinct, Kobe is, without a doubt, the best athlete in Downtown Los Angeles. Maybe ever.

served more). An impressive 25.4-point career average. Now in his 16th NBA season, Kobe is Los Angeles sports. Even at 33, Bryant is still an assassin on the court, a player whose passion and drive to win is unmatched. He is the second best Laker ever (Magic Johnson… always) and the guy who NBA general managers consistently vote as the player they’d most want shooting for a last-second win. Bryant’s biggest problem is his seemingly ridiculous need to be considered “tough” or “cool” (I blame Nike). He may be reviled by some, but he’s feared by more. Even Laker fans who hate him love him more, if that’s possible. Dave Denholm loves walking to L.A. Live, hiking in Elysian Park and living Downtown.

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February 13, 2012

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Mural Continued from page 7 Amigos de Siqueiros was established two years later. Its board of directors includes powerful business leaders such as restaurateur Andy Camacho. It also counts a swath of influential local leaders as honorary board members, among them Villaraigosa, County Supervisor Gloria Molina, Assembly Speaker John Perez and 14th District Councilman José Huizar. Also on the honorary board are actors Edward James Olmos, Jimmy Smits and Martin Sheen. Still, the board and its supporters have yet to provide deep coffers. El Pueblo General Manager Robert Andrade said that it will cost at least $100,000 a year to run the center, with expenditures for security, maintenance, custodial services and guides. “In the long run what needs to happen is that we’ll need a ‘Friends of’ group helping to

support it,” Andrade said. He noted that it is similar to what occurred with other El Pueblo projects. When the 7,200-square-foot Chinese American Museum opened in 2003, its nonprofit support organization had raised about $1.5 million for the venue’s operational costs, said Michael Duchemin, CAM’s interim executive director. The group has since raised another $4 million and provides about $500,000 annually to help run the facility. A Friends of the Italian Hall group has been working on plans for the project slated to open in 2013. The organization has secured $2 million for a facility that is estimated to have $300,000 in annual costs. They aim to have $4 million in hand by the opening date. Getty officials would not comment on Amigos de Siqueiros or its fundraising ability, stating that their contract calls for the city to handle operational tasks. Huizar, whose district includes El Pueblo, said he supports Amigos de Siqueiros and thinks it should operate the interpretive cen-

ter. He added that since the city and the Getty are funding the project, the $50,000 Amigos has raised without an official management contract is “not bad.” “What we should be working on now [are] the details of the official agreement — anything else is a step backwards and will only further delay a project that the public has waited long enough to see and enjoy,” he said in an email. Others in the nonprofit sector backed Huizar’s assertion. Jan Masaoka, CEO of the California Association of Nonprofits, noted that getting big names involved can make a project easier. “A lot of it has to do with the confidence the funders have in the organization’s leadership and who’s behind it,” she said. However, even El Pueblo figures who support the deal are not yet fully comfortable with Amigos de Siqueiros. Commission member Lisa See voted in favor on starting negotiations, but expressed concern that the organization is still working under the um-

brella of Community Partners, rather than standing on its own. “Being a [nonprofit] shows an ability to organize, to do the same kind of things you need to do to raise money,” she said. Hanging over the process is the track record of a nearby project. In April, the $27 million LA Plaza de Cultura y Artes opened. Although it also had a powerful board, it fell into financial turmoil within months of its launch. Half of the staff has been laid off. “We have an example of something with a lot of support when fundraising did not work right across the street,” See said. Sotelo hopes to assuage those concerns, saying Amigos de Siqueiros plans to gain nonprofit status. However, she said the timing of that depends on the pace of negotiations with the city. In the meantime, construction continues on the site as a new unveiling approaches, nearly 80 years after the mural was completed. Contact Richard Guzmán at richard@downtownnews.com.

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February 13, 2012

Downtown News 13

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HEALTHCARE

Spotlight on Doctors Samaritan Medical Tower Welcomes Christina McAlpin, M.D., F.A.C.S

inding a new doctor is always a challenge, but finding a doctor with a sparkling bedside manner, a stellar reputation, and an inspiring commitment to excellence can be downright impossible. Renowned otolaryngology/ear, nose and throat surgeon Dr. Christina McAlpin is all that in a bright pink lab coat. FROM OUR ADVERTISERS

McAlpin’s educational background is prestigious to say the least. After earning her bachelor’s degree from Harvard University, McAlpin went on to study medicine at the world renowned Keck School of Medicine at the University of Southern California. From there, she completed a general surgery residency at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and then a head and neck surgery residency at the University of Chicago. While Dr. McAlpin’s training and education are impressive, what truly sets her apart is her commitment to her patients. From the moment you enter her bright and beautiful office and are greeted by her pink clad staff, you know you

are in good hands. McAlpin’s vivacious personality, expert training, and focus on her patients make her a truly unique and excellent healthcare provider. McAlpin’s deep belief that the focus on patient care and advocacy is of primary importance in her practice have made her a gold standard in the healthcare community. McAlpin was nominated for best E.N.T. by Best of L.A. McAlpin opened the doors of her practice at Samaritan Medical Tower in August. She offers a wide range of services in her office. From troubled snoring to sinus problems to cosmetic concerns, McAlpin treats all manner of ear, nose and throat concerns in her beautiful state-of-the-art facility. McAlpin also has a special interest in pediatric ear, nose and throat disorders with exhaustive experience in pediatric otolaryngology. Samaritan Medical Tower is proud to welcome renowned ear, nose and throat surgeon Christina McAlpin to its medical community at 1127 Wilshire Blvd. For more information about Dr. Christina McAlpin, or to make an appointment, please visit cmcalpinmd.com.

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and understanding to change your quality of life forever. On average, after three months, 90% of people no longer go to the gym with any consistency. Diets have been shown in research to fail long term. In fact, after only one year, the average person ends up worse see Educogym, page 16

14 Downtown News

February 13, 2012

Healthcare

Mind Over Matter Kadampa Meditation Center Offers Techniques To Tackle the Problems of Modern Life

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adampa Meditation Center California (KMC-CA) offers weekly drop-in classes, beginner meditation classes, day courses, classes for kids and families, short and long retreats, and in-depth study programs. FROM OUR ADVERTISERS

The program at KMC-CA offers scientific methods for improving inner qualities by developing the capacity of the mind. The classes provide practical advice and profound meditation techniques for the problems of modern living. The methods and practices taught at the center are suitable for all individuals and levels of interest, and are open to everyone — young, old, working, retired, singles, couples and families. The center welcomes people from all backgrounds — participants do not

have to be Buddhist to take part in the program or to benefit from it. In this busy, chaotic world it is very important for day-to-day happiness and peace to learn how to control the mind. Through attending classes at KMC, participants learn new ways of thinking to transform the ordinary, daily activities of life into opportunities for personal growth and transformation. Through following simple, practical instructions, students learn to let go of the causes of pain and dissatisfaction, gaining happiness and clarity. KMC also features a fully stocked bookstore and gift shop, a beautiful Peace Garden, and weekday vegetarian lunches. Everyone is welcome. KMC is at 1492 Blake Ave. For more information, call (323) 223-0610 or visit MeditateInLA.org.

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rand Medical Associates makes it their mission to provide mothers and their babies with the best care during their visit. The office welcomes children, from the beautiful décor to the comFROM OUR ADVERTISERS

fortable seating, every experience is unique and relaxing. They offer privacy and one-on-one care for mothers, babies and families. Dr. Thomas Cachur Jr. and Dr. David Steinberg have full privileges at California Hospital, which is conveniently located in the heart of Downtown L.A. and provides a wide variety of services for all healthcare needs. Dr. Cachur grew up in Chicago and attended college in St. Louis. He received his medical degree from Midwestern University in Arizona. After completing his four-year residency specializing in obstetrics and gynecology, he relocated to Southern California where he has practiced for the past seven years. Cachur, a parent of two children, understands life’s demands and the difficulty of balancing it all. He wants to make new parenting easier for patients. Stop by his office today to get great comprehensive care. Colleague Dr. Steinberg has been a board certified family practice physician since

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2003. He received his Bachelor of Science degree from Indiana University, followed by his medical degree from St. George’s University School of Medicine in 1999. After medical school, Steinberg returned to his home state of Indiana to complete his residency training at Memorial Hospital in South Bend. In 2003, he arrived in Southern California to complete a fellowship in maternity and family healthcare affiliated with USC. He is a staff member at California Hospital Medical Center in Downtown and functions as a volunteer faculty for USC. Steinberg has been handling the medical needs of Downtown Los Angeles residents see Grand Medical, page 15

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February 13, 2012

Healthcare

Downtown News 15

Continued from page 14 for nearly 10 years. Grand Medical Associates is partnered with the Center for Maternal Fetal Medicine, which specializes in fetal diagnostic testing as well as providing advanced high-risk pregnancy consultation. The staff is committed to providing families with the finest personalized care. The facility is a state approved California Perinatal Diagnostic Center. Patients may be referred for genetic counseling, high-resolution obstetrical ultrasound, amniocentesis, antepartum fetal heart rate testing (including non-stress testing, amniotic fluid analysis, biophysical profile testing), fetal echocardiography, fetal

doppler flow studies and first trimester. Dr. Kevin R. Justus is founder and medical director of the Center for Maternal Fetal Medicine of Santa Monica and Los Angeles. Justus is on the cutting edge of his field and among the few physicians who have completed the rigorous training to achieve board certification in both obstetrics and gynecology and maternal-fetal medicine (perinatology). Grand Medical Associates and the Center for Maternal Fetal Medicine of L.A. are at 1513 S. Grand Ave., Suite 320. For information or to schedule an appointment call (213) 747-7307.

Whole-Woman Care At Its Best Los Angeles Center for Women’s Health Opens Downtown

A Whole Woman Care...Whole Hearted-ly! You are unique. So is your heart. This February, get heart smart. Come see the specialists at the Los Angeles Center for Women’s Health and learn more about our comprehensive Cardiac Health Program.

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fter more than three years of planning, research and development, the Los Angeles Center for Women’s Health is now open. A sneak preview on Jan. 20 included a VIP ribFROM OUR ADVERTISERS

bon cutting, open house and tour of the center. More than 300 people attended the event. Prominent guests included Congresswoman Lucille Roybal-Allard, Congressman Xavier Becerra, County Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas and philanthropist Deborah Hicks, who also donated additional funding in honor of her parents, philanthropists Donald and Katherine Loker. Representatives from the offices of Congresswoman Janice Hahn, Senators Diane Feinstein and Barbara Boxer, and Councilwoman Jan Perry presented California Hospital President Jerry Clute with special resolutions in recognition of this groundbreaking initiative in women’s health. The Los Angeles Center for Women’s Health is a full-service, comprehensive women’s healthcare facility, designed with the needs of today’s busy woman in mind. “At the Los Angeles Center for Women’s Health, women won’t have to drive all over town for their doctor’s appointments,” says Medical Director Dr. Dennis Holmes. “We will coordinate their care so they or their primary care doctor can make one phone call. We’ll do all coordination for them. All the specialists, tests and treatment they need are here — in one location, under one roof.”

The 16,000-square-foot facility offers stateof-the-art equipment in a new and comfortable environment. It is staffed by nationally recognized, board certified physicians focused on providing the highest quality, patient-centered care for the women who work, play and live in Downtown Los Angeles. It is widely known that patients’ outcomes improve when their doctors address the whole person, rather than just the disease. This philosophy is at the core of the Los Angeles Center for Women’s Health. “This is whole-woman care at its best,” says Clute. “Our goal is to make a positive difference in women’s lives by providing services and expertise that women can rely on — in sickness and in health.” Patient services provided at Los Angeles Center for Women’s Health include screening, diagnosis and treatment of breast and gynecological cancers, heart disease, urinary incontinence, menopause, age management and other health issues women encounter as they age. To make patient visits timely and seamless, concierge services are being offered, including free shuttle service within the Downtown area, as well as early morning, lunch-time and after work doctor’s appointments. Just 15 minutes south of Pasadena and 20 minutes east of the Mid-Wilshire business district, the Center is conveniently located in the heart of Downtown Los Angeles with plenty of on-site parking. For more information about the Los Angeles Center for Women’s Health, call (213) 742-6400 or visit LACWH.org.

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16 Downtown News

February 13, 2012

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Continued from page 13 than when they started. In 2007, UCLA studied 31 of the most popular diets, looking at the long-term results and finally concluded, “Don’t go on a diet”! Let’s face it, if the mainstream programs worked, everyone would be in great shape and have excellent health. The conventional wisdom states that if you are overweight, you must be a glutton and lazy. However, more people are exercising and dieting than ever before. The conventional solution of going on a low-calorie diet and doing hours of aerobics has been shown to lower the metabolism. Once you hear “calorie counting” or “portion control” you are on the wrong track. While short-term weight loss may result from these methods, energy levels drop and fat inevitably returns. Don’t get caught in this downward spiral.

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February 13, 2012

Downtown News 17

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A son’s visit home brings out some dark family secrets in Wind Chimes, the first play in Company of Angels’ 2012 season. It runs Feb. 17-March 18 at the Alexandria Hotel.

All in the Dysfunctional Family Hotel Theater Company Stages a Season That Looks at Bonds and Relationships JAN Alexandria 30

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m or ownNews.co Downt amily dramas are always fodder popular culrner atfor co nd ha ht the upper rig s.com/forms/maillist bol in is symin ture, and particular the theater. It’s been this ntownnew ok for th Lo www.ladow

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way for decades. The 1953 work A Raisin in the Sun is seen as a classic. Frank D. Gilroy’s 1964 The Subject Was Roses retains a punch, and was mounted in 2010 at the Mark Taper Forum. The long list goes on and on. Thus, it’s no surprise that Downtown-based Company of Angels is mining this popular topic. The troupe launches its 2012 season this week with Wind Chimes, a play that looks at an “All American” family that is harboring some not so well-kept secrets. It’s the first of a group of family oriented plays for the company based in a third-story theater at the Alexandria Hotel. Just don’t expect kid-friendly shows. Instead, as is common in the theater, the works often explore dysfunctional families. The pieces, said Armando Molina, artistic director for Company of Angels, will delve into theewgood, bad and s owntowanN .A.Dbeing /L freaky things that come with family, no matter m o .c k o o Faceb how the word is defined. Wind Chimes, written by John Dubiel and directed by John Miyasaki, opens Feb. 17 and runs through March 18. It will be followed in April by L.A. Views V, a collection of short plays that look at the 1992 Los Angeles Riots and how the city as a whole was affected. “That’s an event Los Angeles experienced sort of as a family that revealed a lot of darker truths,” Molina said. In July the company will mount what it terms a “sum-

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mer surprise,” a handful of shows ranging from one-act three generations of fathers and sons. One of the adult plays to full-length musicals and comedies. The season sons who lives in Los Angeles comes for a visit with his closes in September with Circus Ugly. It’s another famil- girlfriend. That stirs up memories of a betrayal between iar extended-family topic, as it concerns carnies and cir- the two brothers that happened 20 years before. During cus freaks who come together to form their own unique the visit the brothers, surprise, have to deal with the conStarts Feb.sequences 3 bonds. of what transpired in the past. “This is about the family we make,” Molina said. “It’s “It’s like the peeling of an onion. You’ll see the dysabout outsiders coming together to form a nuclear unit. function,” Molina said. By Locals, on Locals Dubiel, who has written several previous works for Company of Angels, founded in 1959, was long located Company of Angels, said the new piece explores reon Hyperion Avenue in Silver Lake. The troupe moved demption, forgiveness and even religion. Check Our Website for Full Movie Listings LADowntownNews.com into the Historic Core building in 2007. It concentrates “It’s a study in how we treat each other,” he said on producing original works about Los Angeles, by The play, added director Miyasaki, focuses on famAngelenos. ily secrets and, in particular, how everyone in the family “We are able to present the voices of Los Angeles art- usually knows more than they let on. ists and hopefully speak to the city,” Dubiel said. “It talks about the idea that what everybody thinks the The thematic element of the season is relatively new others don’t know, they usually know,” he remarked. for the company, and it developed organically after the The ultimate message, Dubiel noted, is that openness year’s plays were chosen, said Molina. Once the com- is the best option when it comes to families, rather than mon thread was identified, he said, it seemed natural to being secretive or manipulative. That too is reflective of start with Wind Chimes, the most straightforward look at scores of family dramas that have come before. Starts Feb. 10 the dynamics of a family. “We all have faults,” Dubiel said, “and a big part of be“This idea of family emerged from these plays so it ing in a family is accepting each other’s faults and movmade so much sense to have the literal family story begin ing on with the kind of love and understanding that can the season,” Molina said. “It lays the groundwork for the keep a family bonded together.” theme we have and about how what goes on beneath the Wind Chimes runs Feb. 17-March 18 at the Alexandria surface is different than the reality we see.” Hotel, 501 S. Spring St., (213) 489-3703 or companyofanThat, of course, is another familiar thread in family gels.org. Check Our Website for Full Movie Listings LADowntownNews.com dramas. Contact Richard Guzmán at Wind Chimes is set in New England and focuses on richard@downtownnews.com.

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February 13, 2012

The Lady and the Land Arcadia Bandini Was a Dominant Figure in Early Los Angeles by Greg Fischer

rcadia Bandini, the daughter of Don Juan Bandini, was the great beauty of Los Angeles in the mid-19th century. The Bandinis were landowners of prominence in San Diego, the city where Arcadia was born in 1827. Although they were Italian by background, the family moved to Spain several generations before Doña Arcadia’s birth. Her father, a native of Peru, was the first Bandini to come to California. Arcadia was married at 14 to Don Abel Stearns, and with her came a sizeable dowry. Stearns was a native of

Massachusetts who moved to Mexico and became a naturalized citizen. He was in his early 40s at the time of their marriage. He had converted to Catholicism, as it was not legal to own property in pre-United States Los Angeles as a non-Catholic. Property was very important to him, and at one time he owned or controlled 300,000 acres of Southern California, including Rancho Los Alamitos in southern Los Angeles County. The Stearns entertained lavishly at the best home in town, El Palacio, on North Main Street near what today is the Plaza at the top of Olvera Street. Arcadia Street south of the Plaza

photo by Greg Fischer

The headstone for Arcadia Bandini in Calvary Cemetery lists her along with her first and second husbands. She was a key figure in early Los Angeles.

was named for her. It runs parallel to the 101 Freeway in Downtown. Don Abel became a victim of circumstances, some beyond his control, and lost almost all of his property in the post-Civil War era. He died in 1871. Doña Arcadia remarried in 1874. She wed another native of New England, Colonel Robert S. Baker, who originally hailed from Rhode Island. In 1872, Baker had purchased the 30,000-acre Rancho San Vicente y Santa Monica from the Francisco Sepulveda family. The Westside property stretched to the ocean and up into the Santa Monica Mountains. The Bakers sold three-quarters of the land in 1874 to Sen. John P. Jones of Nevada and his wife Georgina. The two couples cofounded the town of Santa Monica in 1875. In 1888, they donated 600 acres of land to the federal government for the Pacific Branch of the National Soldiers Home for Volunteer Disabled Soldiers (of the Civil War) on the eastern end of the rancho. Today, this is the Veterans Administration property adjacent to Westwood. The Bakers pulled down El Palacio and built the Baker Block, a handsome 1870s Victorian office complex of French design that was considered the finest building in town at the time. They moved into an elegant apartment on the top floor. The Los Angeles Athletic Club was organized in the building. It was not to last. The building suffered a serious fire in 1938 and was razed to make way for the 101 Freeway through Downtown. Los Angeles lost an architectural gem when the edifice was demolished. Colonel Baker owned valuable South Main Street property called the Baker Tract. The land included property from Main to Los Angeles streets and from Winston Street north to Third Street. Winston Street was named for another member of Doña Arcadia’s family. Today, the property includes the Medallion apartment complex and the San Fernando Building, constructed by Colonel James B. Lankershim. Doña Arcadia continued as a dominant force in Los Angeles, with unique personality traits. She would not wear exposed buttons on her blouses; instead, she had a set of diamond pins designed to cover the buttons. She rode in a carriage at a time when they were scarce. She had no children, but was the beloved and respected aunt and cousin to dozens of Angelenos through marriage and birth. Colonel Baker died in 1894. After the death of her husband, Doña Arcadia retired to her Ocean Avenue home in Santa Monica. She died in 1912 at the age of 85. The estate she left was large, amounting to a figure that varies between $5 million and $10 million. However, she left no will. After her passing, a long and bitter battle broke out among her surviving family, each determined to obtain a portion of it. The estate was settled in 1916 and listed 24 heirs. Greg Fischer is a Downtown resident and an amateur historian.

Downtown News 19

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LISTINGS

T h e D o n’T M i s s L i s T

EVENTS Monday, February 13 Aloud on Brain Health and Alzheimer’s Los Angeles Theatre Center, 514 S. Spring St., (213) 765-6800 or lfla.org. 7 p.m.: Dr. Gary Small and Gigi Vorgan speak with Dr. Linda Ercoli, associate clinical professor and director of geriatric psychology at Semel Institute.

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ROCK, POP & JAZZ Blue Whale 123 Astronaut E. S. Onizuka St., (213) 620-0908 or bluewhalemusic.com. Feb. 14: Leni Stern Group. Feb. 15: Wahid. Feb. 17: Kevin Yokota Quintet. Feb. 18: Kathleen Grace Group. Bootleg Bar 2220 Beverly Blvd., (213) 389-3856 or bootlegtheater.org. Feb. 13, 7:30 p.m.: Spooky grooves with resident rockers Incan Abraham and a little help from Nightmare and the Cat, Pity Party and High Rise. Feb. 14, 8 p.m.: Espousing avant-garde ideas in a pop format, Islands aims to fill you with food for thought. Feb. 15, 8 p.m.: The bards are out in force tonight with Liquid Love Letter, John Gold and Stephen Sowan. Feb. 16, 10 p.m.: Prepare to take a bucket of funky beats to the face with DJ Blaqstarr on the ones and twos. Feb. 17, 10 p.m.: Downtown darlings Mad Planet are here to remind you that rock’s not dead. With sweeping licks and dominating rhythms, the quartet is fresh off a new EP. Feb. 18, 10 p.m.: The Fling is here to assuage your worries that low-key, introspective, maudlin indie rock is dead. Feb. 19, 7 p.m.: Surprises abound as Broadcast Station perform liberal interpretations of country and rock. It sounds like a shot of wheatgrass chasing fresh venison tastes. Broadway Bar 830 S. Broadway, (213) 614-9909 or broadwaybar.la. Feb. 16, 10 p.m.: HM Selecta and Phamous take Broader Than Broadway to the next level of obscure pleasure. Casey’s Irish Pub 613 S. Grand Ave., (213) 629-2353 or bigcaseys.com. Feb. 17, 10:30 p.m.: We know about as much about TC4’s residency at Casey’s as Mitt Romney knows about abject poverty. Someone please inform us/him. Feb. 18, 10:30 p.m.: Death to Anders provides

Continued on next page

photo courtesy Los Angeles Philharmonic

Three

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sunday, February 19 Edwardian Ball Belasco Theatre, 1050 S. Hill St., (213) 746-5670 or thebelasco.com. 7 p.m. It’s a turn of the 19th century celebration with plenty of folks in period clothes. Expect music, theatre, dance, circus arts, DJs, ballroom dance, fashion, art and oddities. It’s a night that brings the tales of Edward Gorey to life.

photo courtesy Lucha VaVoom/photo by Don Spiro

Seasons come and go, lovers leave and time marches forward, but Lucha VaVoom will endure as a Downtown tradition until the very end. This storm of masked Mexican wrestling and sultry burlesque blows into the Mayan Theatre on Tues.Thurs., Feb. 14-16, for three nights of “Sexo y Violencia.” Shows begin at 8 p.m. and nothing says true love on Valentine’s Day (or the two following days) like men named Dirty Sanchez and the Crazy Chickens locked in mortal conflict as a crew of stand-up comedians drop wisecracks and gaggles of voluptuous women prepare to mesmerize crowds with their exoticism. There will be wild revelry, feats of bravery and moments of passion as this tequila-sponsored carnival of pleasures delights Downtown. At 1038 S. Hill St., (213) 746-4674 or luchavavoom.com.

photo courtesy Harlem Globetrotters

saTurday, February 18 Conversations at CAAM 600 State Dr., (213) 744-7432 or caamuseum.org. 2 p.m.: The California African American History Council hosts a panel discussion with Carol D. Codrington, associate justice of the Fourth District Court of Appeals.

downtownnews com

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Thursday, February 16 Percival Everett and Steve Erickson at Aloud Los Angeles Theatre Center, 514 S. Spring St., (213) 765-6800 or lfla.org. 7 p.m.: Two novelists talk with Brighde Mullins on memory, identity and place. Mindshare L.A. Salon The Mezz, 501 S. Spring St. or mindshare.la 7:30 p.m.: This month’s theme is Relate/Reframe. Join your neighbors and some guests for lectures and discussions intended to help you reshape all that gray matter you’ve been stimulating with Lucha VaVoom. Friday, February 17 Jan Perry at AIA Mayoral Candidates Forum Deaton Civic Auditorium, 100 W. First St., (213) 6390764 or aialosangeles.org. 7 p.m.: The L.A. chapter of the American Association of Architects will talk to Perry about city planning, urban design and architecture. Perry is the first of the 2013 mayoral candidates slated to discuss their planning vision for the city.

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Concert Hall is in the Walt Disney ty rie va tin La e th of eup takes the Jazz 8 p.m. as a stellar lin at , 16 b. Fe , ay sd ur Afro Cuban on Th ucho Valdes and his Ch ist rd oa yb ke n ba Cu e a tribute to stage. night. Other acts includ the e lin ad he ll wi s er nd, perMesseng z and his Latin Jazz Ba he nc Sa ho nc Po by ie zman Dizzy Gillesp scorer and renowned jaz film m fro lp he le litt a formed with 13) 972-4399 or 111 S. Grand Ave., (2 Terence Blanchard. At laphil.com.

The original mayors of Lob City are at Staples Center on Sunday, Feb. 19, to show the Lakers what a real basketball team looks like. No, Chris Paul, Blake Griffin and the rest of the Clippers aren’t playing a home game, it’s the Harlem Globetrotters. Since 1926, these wizards of the court have been sinking trick shot after trick shot and squeaking past perennial enemies the Washington Generals to win a game for the fans. Tickets are still available for the shows at noon and 5 p.m., so drop a couple dollars and see a display of basketball as it was meant to be — ostentatious, flamboyant and somewhat unreal. At 1111 S. Figueroa St., (213) 742-7885 or ticketmaster.com.

When all the leaves are gone and the skies are gray across the nation, people relish the California climate and the dreams it inspires. Few musical acts have contributed more to this Golden State idea (and ideal) than the Mamas and the Papas, whose halcyon ’60s harmonics put melody to myth. On Thursday, Feb. 16, at 8 p.m., original Mama Michelle Phillips will show up at the Grammy Museum. She’ll be talking about her life in music and the splendidly successful, albeit turmoil-wrought quartet with which she achieved fame. At 800 W. Olympic Blvd., (213) 765-6800 or grammymuseum.org.

photo courtesy Michelle Phillips

February 13, 2012

With a plot full of corruption, scandal, intrigue, politics and illicit sexual relationships, Simon Boccanegra sounds more like a week in City Hall than the new show staged by Los Angeles Opera. James Conlon conducts and Plácido Domingo stars as the lead in this tumultuous adaptation of the story of abused power. The show runs at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion through March 4 with performances this week on Wednesday, Feb. 15, at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, Feb. 19, at 2:30 p.m. Learn a lesson from Simon Boccanegra’s belated and unsuccessful attempts to reunite with his illegitimate daughter and quit procrastinating: Buy your tickets before they fly away like a child’s lost love for her father. At 135 N. Grand Ave., (213) 972-7211 or laopera.com.

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Send information and possible Don’t Miss List submissions to calendar@downtownnews.com.

20 Downtown News

Clippers Curse Rears Its Injurious Head Los Angeles Lakers Staples Center, 1111 S. Figueroa St., (213) 742-7100 or nba.com/lakers. Feb 14 and 17, 7:30 p.m.: The Lakers return from a road trip energized by their victory over the Celtics, ready to take on Joe Johnson and the Atlanta Hawks on Valentine’s Day. It’s been the Kobe show of late, though Pau Gasol did step up in the victory over Boston. After Atlanta, the Lakers host the despised Phoenix Suns, then turn around and head to Phoenix for a quick rematch (Feb. 19). Los Angeles Clippers Staples Center, 1111 S. Figueroa St., (213) 742-7100 or nba.com/clippers. Feb. 15, 7:30 p.m.; Feb. 18, 12:30 p.m.: The Clippers suffered their first major blow last week, when Chauncey Billups tore his Achilles tendon, prematurely ending his season. Mr. Big Shot was living up to his name, too. Yet, on the heels (too soon?) of that bad news, the Clippers added big man Kenyon Martin to the squad, giving them some much needed frontcourt depth to back up Blake

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February 13, 2012

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Continued from previous page

It was fun while it lasted, Chauncey.

Griffin and his senior Lob City deputy DeAndre Jordan. The Clips start the week in Dallas (Feb. 13), then host the lowly Wizards. On Feb. 16, they skip up to Portland to tangle with Lamarcus Aldridge’s Blazers, and end the week at home against the old but tough San Antonio Spurs. Los Angeles Kings Staples Center, 1111 S. Figueroa St., 1 (888) KINGS-LA or kings.nhl.com. Feb. 16, 7:30 p.m.; Feb. 18, 7 p.m.: The Kings are in second place in their division, but the Phoenix Coyotes are nipping at their heels. The Coyotes come to town to start the week, then the Kings try to cool down the Calgary Flames. —Ryan Vaillancourt

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more indie rock to a city starved for it. Club Nokia 800 W. Olympic Blvd., (213) 765-7000 or clubnokia.com. Feb. 14, 8 p.m.: Indulge your solitary fantasies and mute your loneliness for a few short Valentine’s Eve songs with Robin Thicke. Feb. 15, 8 p.m.: Tommy Emmanuel: Australian for guitar. Feb. 18, 7:30 p.m.: The true spirit of love and Valentine’s Day rolls into town with Iced Earth and Symphony X. Feb. 19, 2 and 5 p.m.: The Fresh Beat Band brings live rock music from Nickelodeon to the stage. Exchange LA 618 S. Spring St., (213) 627-8070 or exchangela.com. Feb. 17, 9 p.m.: Music so esoteric, only a select few can appreciate it. Tritonal and Super8/Tab are in the house. Grammy Museum 800 W. Olympic Blvd., (213) 765-6800 or grammymuseum.org. Feb. 13, 8 p.m.: Public Enemy brings the noise to Downtown. Feb. 16, 8 p.m.: She was a mama from the Mamas and the Papas. Now people call her Michelle Phillips. Nokia Theater 777 Chick Hearn Court, (213) 763-6020 or nokiatheatrelalive.com. Feb. 14, 8 p.m.: Saddle up for a little Martina McBride. Feb. 16, 8 p.m.: Songsmith Lenny Kravitz with the stylin’ Raphael Saadiq. Feb. 17, 8 p.m.: Trey Songz is in the house. Feb. 18, 7:30 p.m.: Keith Sweat, the O’Jays and The Whispers. Feb. 19, 7:30 p.m.: After Valentine’s Day lean on 94.7 The Wave and their 25th anniversary show with Toni Braxton and Babyface to unbreak your heart.

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February 13, 2012 Nola’s 734 E. 3rd St., (213) 680-3003 or nolasla.com. Feb. 13, 8 p.m.: Jacques Lesure Jam Session. Feb. 14, 7 p.m.: Sharon Ridley. Feb. 15, 7 p.m.: Curtis Parry. Feb. 17, 7 p.m.: Oui’ 3. Feb. 18, 7 p.m.: With Mari Hobre and friends, “Mardi Gras meets Carnival.” Feb. 19, 11 a.m.: Amber Weekes. Redwood Bar and Grill 316 W. Second St., (213) 652-4444 or theredwoodbar.com. Feb. 13: Americana throwback man Frank Fairfield. Feb. 14: Death on the Radio, Motherless and Fluffer all in a strange tribute to Valentine’s Day. Feb. 15: Ingenue, Peg Leg Love and Stars At Night. Feb. 16: Live Music Karaoke. Feb. 17: Don Juan Y Los Blancos with White Murder. Feb. 18: Black Watch and Shake Before Us. Feb. 19, 3 p.m.: Exploding (Expletive Deleted) Dolls and Crazy Squeeze. Feb. 19: Linnzi Zoarski. Seven Grand 515 W. Seventh St., (213) 614-0737 or sevengrand.la. Feb. 13: John Daversa Small Band packs a mighty punch. Feb. 14: The easiest way to ditch your significant other on Valentine’s Day is to take them to see some improvisational jazz and then proceed to make out with a trombone as they look on. The Makers — performing every week since the dawn of time, or at least since I was hired in July. Feb. 15: Artwork Jamal and the Acid Blues Band, you’re a firework, come and let your colors burst! The Smell 247 S. Main St., alley between Spring and Main

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streets, thesmell.org. Feb. 17: Blue Jungle and Catwalk. Feb. 18: Retox, Doomsday Student, Secret Fun Club and Spider Fever. Feb. 19: My Empty Phantom, Black Sea, Dirty Harriet and the Swamis and Bronson Caves. The Varnish 118 E. Sixth St., (213) 622-9999 or thevarnishbar.com. Feb. 14, 9 p.m.: Jamie Elman tickles the keys. Feb. 15, 8:30 p.m.: Somewhere deep in a Downtown back room Mark Bosserman will play you a song. Walt Disney Concert Hall 111 S. Grand Ave., (323) 850-2000 or laphil.com. Feb. 16, 8 p.m.: Cuban jazz godfather Chucho Valdes salsas with his fingers on the piano. He’s joined by conguero extraordinaire Poncho Sanchez and His Latin Jazz Band with Terence Blanchard. Feb. 17 and 18, 8 p.m.: The world’s hippest redneck, Ryan Adams.

FILM

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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Extraordinary Events • Festival Orchestra, Hugh Wolff, conductor Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra and young artists from the USC Thornton School of Music and The Colburn School • Three concerts featuring cellists appearing with the Los Angeles Philharmonic, Neeme Järvi, conductor • Recitals and masterclasses given by distinguished international artists • Remembering Piatigorsky: Films and Panel with Evan Drachman, Terry King, Laurence Lesser, Mischa Maisky, Nathaniel Rosen, Jeffrey Solow, Raphael Wallfisch • Mass cello ensemble at Walt Disney Concert Hall

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Feb. 13, 8:30 p.m.: For five years, Lee Anne Schmitt and her collaborators followed Terry Albrecht, a guide-for-hire for hunters who want to kill buffalo. It’s all captured in The Last Buffalo Hunt. Regal Cinemas LA Live 1000 W. Olympic Blvd., (877) 835-5734 or lalive.com. Through Feb. 16: Journey 2: The Mysterious Island (1:20, 4, 6:50 and 9:30 p.m.); Journey 2: The Mysterious Island 3D (11:40 a.m. and 2:20, 5, 7:50 and 10:30 p.m.); Safe House (11:30 a.m. and 1:10, 2:10, 4, 4:50, 7:20, 7:50, 10:10 and 10:50 p.m.); Star Wars: Episode 1: The Phantom Menace 3D (12:50, 3:30, 4:10, 7:40, 10:10 and 11 p.m.); The Vow (11:50 a.m. and 1:40, 2:30, 4:20, 5:10, 7:10, 8, 9:50 and 10:40 p.m.); Big Miracle (11:30 a.m. and 2:10 and 4:50 p.m.); Chronicle (11:50 a.m. and 2:20, 3:10, 4:40, 7:10, 8 and 9:40 p.m.); The Woman In Black (11:40 a.m. and 12:40, 2, 4:30, 5:30, 7, 9:30 and 10:20 p.m.); The Grey (1:30, 4:30, 7:30 and 10:30 p.m.; Red Tails (12:20 and 6:50 p.m.); Underworld Awakening (12, 5 and 9:40 p.m.); Underworld Awakening 3D (2:30 and 7:20 p.m.).

Downtown Independent 251 S. Main St., (213) 617-1033 or downtownindependent.com. Feb. 12, 7:30 p.m.: Art historian Tim Marlow and Mariella Frostrup present Leonardo Live, a close-up look at a painting master’s work. Million Dollar Theatre 307 S. Broadway, (213) 617-3600 or milliondollartheater.com. Feb. 15, 7:30 p.m.: Get that 1970s feeling with Shampoo by director Hal Ashby and Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice by Paul Mazursky. REDCAT 631 W. Second St., (213) 237-2800 or redcat.org.

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Business serVices ADVERTISE a display Business Card sized ad in 140 California newspapers for one low cost of $1,550. Your display 3.75x2” ad reaches over 3 million+ Californians. Free brochure call Elizabeth (916)288-6019. (CalSCAN) ADVERTISE Your Truck Driver Jobs in 240 California newspapers for one low cost of $600. Your 25 word classified ad reaches over 6 million+ Californians. Free brochure call Elizabeth (916)288-6019. (Cal-SCAN)

REACH CALIFORNIANS With a classified in almost every county! Experience the power of classifieds! Combo~California Daily and Weekly Networks. One order. One payment. Free Brochures. elizabeth@cnpa.com or (916)288-6019. (Cal-SCAN) education ALLIED HEALTH Career training - Attend college 100% online. Job placement assistance. Computer available. Financial Aid if qualified. SCHEV certified. Call 800-481-9409. www.CenturaOnline.com (Cal-SCAN) ATTEND COLLEGE Online from Home. *Medical, *Business, *Criminal Justice, *Hospitality. Job placement assistance. Computer available. Financial Aid if qualified. SCHEV certified. Call 888-210-5162 www.CenturaOnline.com (Cal-SCAN) HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA! Graduate in 4 weeks! Free Brochure. Call Now! 1-866-5623650 ext. 60 www.SouthEasternHS.com (Cal-SCAN) HeaLtH & fitness THINK AND FEEL Like You’re 20 again! Revolutionary Supplement Improves Mood, Memory and Cognition, Exercise Endurance, Energy and Sexual Function. Physician Developed. 1-800-747-1359 or www.thebrainvitamin.com (Cal-SCAN)

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ROOFTOP GARDEN RETREAT WITH BBQ AND LOUNGE GRAND LOBBY • FITNESS CENTER • SPA MODERN KITCHEN w/CAESAR COUNTERTOPS PET FRIENDLY • DRAMATIC VIEWS MARKET, KELLY’S COFFEE, DRY CLEANING, MAC AND CHEEZA and LA BREWERY on Ground Floor

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756 S. Broadway, Los Angeles 213-892-9100 | chapmanf lats.com Pricing subject to change without notice.

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1340 W. 4th St. Los Angeles 90017 The following unit amenities: • $1800/ month • 915 sq ft. open loft plan • End unit • Includes stainless steel appliances • Large walk-in closets • Washer/ Dryer in unit • Rooftop deck with spa and amazing views of the downtown skyline • One gated parking space included

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forD APArtMeNtS 1000 E. 7th Street, Los Angeles, CA 90021

Located in Central City East 150 Efficiency Apartments includes microwave, refrigerator & full size bathroom Amenities Furnished, Energy Star Appliances, Laundry Facility, Community Room w/ Computers, Game Room, On-site Manager INCOME & PROGRAM RESTRICTIONS APPLY Rents from $560 to $672 per month Please apply by calling (213) 229-9365

rossLyn HoteL Studio 280 sqft. Full Bathroom Apartment $600 mo. to mo. $580 on 6 mo. Lease No Application Fee! - Sec. Dep. $175 Free Utilities, 24 hr. laundry, Around the Clock Courtesy Patrol

112 W 5th St., Los Angeles, CA 90013 213.624.3311 • Rosslyn@SROhousing.com

Furnished single unit with kitchenette, bathroom. Excellent location. Downtown LA. Weekly rate $275 inc.

Monthly from $550 utilities paid. (213) 612-0348

1 bdrm 1 bath cal Bungalow duplex Historic Property Gated Parking Fenced in. No Pets No

Fully furnished with TV, telephone, microwave, refrigerator. Full bathroom. Excellent location. Downtown LA. Weekly maid service.

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7000 sqft. Basement Space ✦ set up for Gallery/Office space • w/Gallery Lights • Wide Private (Spring St.) Entrance • Ideal for Art Gallery, SPA, Office Space • Wired for internet service/telephone outlets • Prime Location in Downtown (Gallery row, residential area, wine bar, café, market)

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madison hotel Clean furnished single rooms. 24-hour desk clerk service. •Daily, $30.00 •Weekly, $109.00 •Monthly, $310.00 (213) 622-1508 423 East 7th St.

(2 blocks west of San Pedro St.) Starting Jan. 1, 2011

February 13, 2012

Downtown News 23

DowntownNews.com AUTOS

Cleaning

MisC. serviCes

CONCEPTO’S CLEANING Crew. Professional, experienced, cleans apartments, homes, offices and restaurants. Call for a quote. 323-459-3067 or 818-409-9183.

ATTENTION DIABETICS with Medicare. Get a Free Talking Meter and diabetic testing supplies at No Cost, plus free home delivery! Best of all, this meter eliminates painful finger pricking! Call 888-781-9376. (Cal-SCAN)

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Downtownnews.com

Pre-OWneD

DOWntOWn l.a. autO grOuP POrSchE VOLKSWAgEn AUdi MErcEdES-BEnZ niSSAn chEVrOLET cAdiLLAc

2007 NISSAN QUEST Certified, 21k miles, NI20652-1/N129626 $16,999 call 888-838-5089 2008 AUDI A4 2.0T Certified, Low Miles, ZA10067/A165712 $21,688 Call 888-583-0981 2008 PORSCHE CAYMAN COUPE Certified, Black/Black, Only 18k Miles, 8U762547 $38,895 Call 888-685-5426. 2008 VW JETTA WOLF Certified, Auto, Low Miles ZV1443/8M197061 $14,966 Auto Call 888-781-8102.

888-838-5089 635 W. Washington Blvd. • downtownnissan.com

$9,499

N120553/ N129626

For a complete list of our pre-owned inventory, go to www.DTLAMOTORS.com

Furniture

auCtiOn

ADOPT (OR FOSTER) your forever friend from Bark Avenue Foundation. Beautiful, healthy puppies, dogs, cats and kittens available at Downtown’s largest private adoption facility. Call Dawn at 213-840-0153 or email Dawn@BarkAveLA.com or visit www.Bark Avenue Foundation. org.

ETHAN ALLEN tables $300, OBO. For description call Betty 323-668-0926

ADVERTISE YOUR AUCTION in 240 California newspapers for one low cost of $600. Your 25 word classified ad reaches over 6 million+ Californians. Free brochure call Elizabeth (916)2886019. (Cal-SCAN)

$16,999 Certified, 21K Miles. N120652-1/N129626 2008 Nissan 350Z .............................................. $20,999 Certified only 27K Miles. NI3884/M704287 2009 Infiniti FX35 .............................................. $34,499 Only 18K Miles. Certified. NI3876/9M103735 AUDI OF DOWNTOWN L.A.

Monterey Park 2 Bedrooms Upstair Unit

autOs WanteD

LIVING, KITCHEN with Refrigerator STOVE Water and Trash included! Close to Atlantic Mall and convenient location Close to Fwy 60, 710, 10 $1195.00 per month. One Car Garage Parking Space

DONATE YOUR CAR, truck or boat to Heritage for the Blind. Free 3 Day Vacation, Tax Deductible, Free Towing, All Paperwork Taken Care Of. 888-9026851. (Cal-SCAN) SELL YOUR CAR, Truck or SUV Today! All 50 states, fast pick-up and payment. Any condition, make or model. Call now 1-877818-8848. www.MyCarforCash. net (Cal-SCAN)

663 1/2 W. Riggin Street Monterey Park, CA 91754 (Near Atlantic Blvd. and East Los Angeles City College) For information please call : (626) 786-9086

PREOWNED CARS, TRUCKS, SUV’s & VANS IN STOCK!

$17,810

$24,994 2009 Audi A4 Cab .............................................. $27,878 Certified, Auto Low Miles. ZA10101/9K001417 2010 Audi A5 Cab .............................................. $73,788 Certified, Auto. ZA10094/AN022822 2009 Audi A3 ...................................................... TIT Pkg, Certified, Manual. ZA10224/9A067862

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$14,880 2009 VW Jetta Wolf ........................................... $16,810 Certified, Auto Low Miles. ZV1301/9M048090 2010 VW CC Sport .............................................. $24,887 Certified, Low Miles. ZV1460/AE513581 2009 VW Jetta SE ............................................... Certified, Low Miles. ZV1381/9M005971

is your teen experiencing:

adolescent support group now forming ages 13-17 low fee Call Marney stofflet, lCsW

$31,991 2009 Mercedes E350W ..................................... $31,991 Certified, Blk/Blk, 44k Miles. 111852-1/ B396329 2009 Mercedes ML350W4 ................................ $36,991 Certified, Wht/Blk, 29k Miles, 3.5 Liter. 5680C/ A447715 Certified, 18k Miles, 3.5 Liter Silv/Blk. 120475-1/AF336370

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2010 Chevy Aveo ...................... Certified, 42k miles, silver. CU0485R/ AB071530

$10,995

PORSCHE OF DOWNTOWN L.A.

888-685-5426 1900 S. Figueroa St. • porschedowntownla.com

$44,891

2009 PORSCHE CAYENNE 9LA04712

Certified, silver/black, Nav, Park Asst., Loaded!

$38,895 2007 Porsche 911 Carrera Cabriolet .............. $57,891 Certified, midnight blue. 7S765803 2008 Nissan Xterra ................... $18,995 2010 Porsche Panamera S ................................ Certified. $79,982 Certified, Gray 34k Miles. AL062364 CU0581p/8C533568 2010 Chrysler Town & Country Certified, 55,k Miles, Burgundy. CU0594R/AR248959

Sunshine Generation Singing, dancing, performing and fun! For boys & girls ages 3 and up!

(323) 662-9797

4344 Fountain ave. (at sunset), suite a los angeles, Ca 90029

Certified, Black/Black, 26k miles, 3.0 Liter

2010 Mercedes GLK350W2 ..............................

CARSON NISSAN

Children’s Performing Group • School problems? • Conflict at home or with friends?

$25,991

5865C/R065673

888-781-8102 1900 S. Figueroa St. • vwdowntownla.com

ZV1420/8M412815

$10,995 2012 Chevy Cruze ECO ..................................... $16,995 Loaded, Low Miles. F12014-1 2011 Cadillac Escalade ..................................... $45,995 Loaded, Navi and More. UC921R

2009 MERCEDES C300W

888-I-LOVE-LA (456-8352) W W W . D T L A M O T O R S . C O M

2004 NISSAN XTERRA

$16,378

Certified, Low Miles

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DOWNTOWN L.A. AUTO GROUP

VOLKSWAGEN OF DOWNTOWN L.A. 2008 VW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE

$9,995

2009 CHEVY IMPALA CH1041-1 Loaded, Mint! UC863

Certified, Low miles..

ZA100095/8A164278

FELIX CHEVROLET

888-879-9608 330 S. Figueroa St. • felixchevrolet.com

2007 Pontiac G6 Coupe ....................................

888-583-0981 1900 S. Figueroa St. • audidtla.com

2008 AUDI A4 2.0T

TO LAST WEEK’S PUZZLE

triPlex FOr rent

OVER 500

2007 Nissan Quest 3.5S ....................................

Downtownnews.com

THE ANSWER

L.A. AUTO GROUP

Certified, Low Miles..

ANNOUNCEMENTS

aDOPt a Pet

DOWNTOWN

NISSAN OF DOWNTOWN L.A.

2007 NISSAN FRONTIER

2010 MERCEDES C300W Certified, 3.0L, 31k miles, White/ Black 5858C/R087445 $27,991 Call 888-319-8762. 2010 NISSAN SENTRA 4DR Certified, Red, Great Car, Must See CU0584R/655453 $12,995 call 888-845-2267.

2007 NISSAN FRONTIER EXTENDED CAB Certified,Low Miles and much more!! N120553/ N129626 $9,499 call 888-8385089.

ITEMS FOR SALE

PETS/ANIMALS

2009 CHEVY IMPALA Certified, Low Miles, #CH1041-1 $9,995 Call 888-879-9608

SunshineGenerationLA.com 909-861-4433

$17,995

2008 Porsche Cayman Coupe .......................... Certified, Black/Black, 18k Miles. 8U762547

My Nails aNd spa • Crystal Nails • Acrylic Nails • Pink & White • Silk Wrap • Shellac Gel 323.662.2718 4335 W. Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90029 (in front of McDonald’s)

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Kitchen Cabinet Entertainment Center Vanities Closet Bar

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Residential and Commercial

Ask for Mario (909) 657-7671

24 Downtown News

Twitter/DowntownNews

February 13, 2012