A doctor’s fight for Filipino veterans p. 5 From Amazing Grace to the Marley Festival p. 9 Influential geriatric and forensic psychiatrist, Stephen L. Read, MD dead at 71 p. 15
UTLA Teachers Ratify Contract,
But Say Fight is Not Over By Mark L. Friedman, RLn Contributor
San Pedro area UTLA teachers joined thousands of other teachers and supporters in downtown Los Angeles. Photo by Raphael Richardson
When Politics Interferes with Health Care Former Heir to Molina Healthcare Sabotaged by Company
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Rather than a traditional labor contract focused on wages and benefits, the agreement between the Los Angeles Unified School District and United Teachers of Los Angeles after a six-day teachers strike was hailed Tuesday by LA Mayor Eric Garcetti as a first step toward addressing class sizes, reinvestment in existing schools, employee compensation and other issues. But the strike was so much more for those on the picket line. The great teachers strike of 2019 will be known for its massive rallies of tens of thousands of people, its solid picket lines at more than 1,000 schools and the 15,000 parents, students, community members and other unionists who walked them daily. Contract gains include: • The contract extends through 2021-22 school year • A 6 percent pay increase, 3 percent retroactive, 3 percent ongoing, • LAUSD can no longer unilaterally raise class sizes to save money, • More counselors, librarians and nurses will be hired. Three hundred more nurses will be hired through 2021, and 77 more counselors in middle and high schools • Class sizes will gradually decrease across three years by at least one student per year. [See UTLA, p. 8]
By Terelle Jerricks, Managing Editor
profitable part of health care. The firing stunk because the Molina brothers were the inheritors of their father’s legacy of providing quality healthcare to traditional health insurance and Dr. J. Mario Molina was vocal in his support of the Affordable Care Act. The only new information to come out in the Los Angeles Times reporting are the lengths Molina Healthcare went to cripple Golden Shore Medical [See Molina, p. 2]
January 24 - February 6, 2019
ILWU members show solidarity with teachers in front of San Pedro High School. Photo by Mark L. Friedman.
The Los Angeles Times report exposing the open animosity between Molina Healthcare and Golden Shore Medical Group founder and former Molina Healthcare CEO Dr. J. Mario Molina this past December shouldn’t have been surprising. The circumstances under which he and his brother, members of the family that founded the company, were dismissed two years ago, stunk, regardless of company pronouncements that it was a “business decision” to focus on a more
Dr. J. Mario Molina, founder of Golden Shore Medical Group was ousted from Molina Healtcare, a company his father founded.
1
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[Molina, from p. 1]
Molina Healthcare Ousts its CEO
January 24 - February 6, 2019
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Group before it even started. One would think Dr. Molina would be a little angry or bitter about how all of this turned out. Not in the slightest. Instead, Dr. Molina’s focus has been ensuring that the patients, who have been treated by Golden Shore Medical Group this past year don’t experience any changes in how they receive their care moving forward. “We have signed letters of intent with AltaMed, an FQHC, and Wellspace, to transfer those patients to new doctors,” Dr. Molina explained. “They will take over the management of the clinics. If Molina wants to help, they can and keep those clinics open under those two entities.” Dr. Molina admitted that Golden Shore had difficulties from the outset, but it wasn’t apparent just how onerous the contracts for reimbursement Golden Shore signed with Molina Healthcare were until fall 2018. “You saw it in the Los Angeles Times article, Michael Hiltzik talked about how we had an unfavorable contract,” Molina said. “I don’t think we realized that at the time we signed it because we really didn’t have all the information.… We didn’t have much choice. One hundred percent of our membership came from Molina Healthcare. So if we didn’t sign the contract, we would have been out of business from day one. We thought we could lower the administration’s overhead and make the company work.” Dr. Molina did not know that the board members were significant contributors to Mitt Romney It’s no secret that Dr. Molina is a supporter of the Affordable Care Act. Every opportunity that came his way, he used it to advocate on behalf of the law, calling it a step in the direction of providing universal health coverage. Dr. Molina also believed he understood who his opponents were on Molina Healthcare’s board of directors. To the Los Angeles Times, Dr. Molina identified board member Ronna Romney, a longtime Republican Party official who is Mitt Romney’s former sister-in-law, as one of those chief opponents. Romney is also the mother of Ronna Romney McDaniel, a Trump ally who became chairwoman of the Republican National Committee in January 2017. Molina says Romney asked him several times to tone down his remarks and “say something nice about Trump.” What Dr. Molina didn’t realize was that all the board members but one were contributors to one of Mitt Romney’s presidential campaigns. “I had no idea and I had never looked into their political affiliations other than Ronna, who I knew was a staunch Republican,” Dr, Molina said. “I didn’t know any of this. I’m surprised and frankly, a little bit disappointed.” “There’s a guy who wanted appeal the Affordable Care Act, which contributed to a huge part of our business and as a I told Ronna one time, when she said I really should say something nice about Donald Trump, the man wants to take health insurance away from 17 million people. What is there nice to say?” 2 Molina said he knew Ronna’s daughter
LB Extends Relief to Federal Workers
Long Beach will extend relief opportunities to federal workers who are experiencing financial hardships and concerned with paying their utility bills, parking citations and other creditors. Long Beach customers impacted by the federal government shutdown can call the following numbers below for assistance with payment arrangements for utility services, parking citations and billing services: Utility Services, (562) 570-5700. Parking Citations, (562) 570-6822. Billing Services for Collections, Ambulance and False Alarms, (562) 570-7600.
A New Way to Connect with DWP
Chairwoman of the Republican National Committee Ronna Romney McDaniel, left, Ann Romney (perennial presidential candidate Mitt Romney’s wife), and Ronna E. Romney, board member of Molina Healthcare. File photo
was really involved in Republican politics and thought the way the Ronna and her daughter turned on Mitt was “pretty disappointing.” Molina was never a Mitt Romney supporter. “I have met with him and talked to him a few times and tried to bring him around to the importance of the Affordable Care Act. I couldn’t get him there but he’s your brother-in-law and they turned on him and supported Trump. It was startling,” Molina said. Molina explained that when he and his brother took Molina Healthcare public, the company was still very small and that they tried to attract the best directors they could. But once the company became public, they didn’t have control over who was nominated to the board. “That’s done by the nominating committee and the nominating committee is composed of independent directors,” Molina explained. Molina said that one of the problems of companies that have formed boards of directors when they have gone public is that the directors nominate people who look like themselves. Molina pointed to a recent law passed by the California legislature and signed by Gov. Jerry Brown that mandated that at least one woman is appointed to the board of directors of publiclyheld companies. Just days before the governor signed the law, California’s Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones called on California’s top 50 California-licensed insurance companies to diversify their boards of directors to reflect the changing demographics and diversity within California and the rest of the country. “It’s not a huge requirement. So why is it that most board members are elderly white men?” Molina asked. “It’s because they get to pick who gets to join the board and they pick people who look like them. The whole thing was done to prevent insiders like the owners of the company, like me, from stacking the board. But what’s actually happened is that it created a self-fulfilling prophecy when the board members pick people who look like them and so we lack diversity on boards. It’s a real problem. Especially as the country becomes more diverse.” Molina noted that the people Molina
Healthcare had traditionally served bore little resemblance to the members of the company’s board of directors. “We didn’t have good representation other than my brother and I,” Molina said.
March to universal health coverage
Dr. Molina is still bullish on the success of the Affordable Care Act despite the acts of sabotage perpetrated by the Trump administration and conservative judges in Texas. Dr. Molina took note of the appeal filed by a coalition of Democratic attorneys general against U.S. District Judge Reed O’Connor invalidating the Affordable Care Act and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s move to join the lawsuit. Molina praised the move, but believes the solution may be to revise the Affordable Care Act legislatively. “The court decision by the Texas judge is not a done deal,” Molina said. “It was a bad decision by a very biased judge who disregarded the law because of his own political leanings. I don’t think that they will ultimately win. But even if they do, we still have a chance in the legislature (congress) to fix and change this bill. We don’t want to go backwards. We don’t want millions of Americans to lose their insurance. We don’t want to see a country in which Americans with preexisting are excluded from health care. I don’t believe most Americans want that.”
The train of universal health coverage has left the station
Molina doesn’t believe we can go backward on the Affordable Care Act or the march toward universal health coverage. “One of the things I tell people is this… more than half of all Americans will be served by Medicaid at some point in their life,” Molina explained. “Medicaid pays over 60 percent of all long term care in this country… some would say more like 75 percent.” That means that at some point in the average American’s life, that American will rely on Medicaid or a family member of that American [See Molina, p. 5]
Los Angeles Department of Water and Power Commissioner Aura Vasquez invites anyone interested in meeting with her to schedule an appointment for a one-on-one meeting to discuss anything and everything LADWP. In 2019, Commissioner Vasquez has plans to host her office hours across Los Angeles, visiting different communities each month to reach those who cannot make it to downtown LA on a weekday. Her first office hours of the year will be at the LADWP Crenshaw Customer Service Center from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Jan. 22. Details: requestappointment@ladwp.com.
Closure Notice of Blue Line
Metro will begin another round of significant construction and maintenance improvements the Blue Line from Jan. 26 through late May, 2019. Metro has designed a bus shuttle service plan during these closures to provide customers with a variety of service options.
Preparing for the Sea Level Rise In Long Beach Open House #2
The city is developing its first ever Climate Action and Adaptation Plan and wants you to be a part of the process. A group of experts have developed local projections for potentially floodprone areas in Long Beach due to sea level rise and coastal storms. This information will provide the basis for developing adaptation strategies to protect people and property, and to preserve public services. Time: 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Jan. 26 Details: RSVP, https://caapopenhouse-2. eventbrite.com Venue: Michelle Obama Neighborhood Library, 5870 Atlantic Ave., Long Beach
Cuban International Marine Conference Report-Back Meeting
Science
Marine scientists and educators participated in an international marine conference in Cuba. Delegations from U.S. aquaria, universities and the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration were in attendance. Hear about this collaboration and learn about a new opportunity to join the U.S. delegation to the International Environmental conference, Havana, July 1 through 5, and the International Youth Plastics Pollution conference in Kyoto, Japan, July 20 through 24. This meeting precedes the CMA Discovery Lecture Series, Teaming with Nature in Managing Urban Runoff: More Bang for the Buck at 7 p.m. Time: 6 pm Feb. 1 Cost: Free Details: (310) 548-7562; www.cabrillomarineaquarium.org Venue: Cabrillo Marine Aquarium Library, 3720 Stephen M. White Drive, San Pedro, San Pedro
Port Internship, Scholarship Applications Now Open Applications are now available for the Port of Long Beach’s Summer High School Internship Program and Scholarship Program for Long Beacharea high school students. Applications, eligibility information, and detailed instructions for both programs are available on the port’s education portal website, academy.polb.com. Applications for both programs are due March [See Announcements, p. 3]
Newsom’s First Budget Proposal Sets Some Ambitious Goals By Paul Rosenberg, Senior Editor
Budgets are moral documents—an observation widely attributed to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. So, what kind of moral statement is Gov. Gavin Newsom’s first proposed budget? The answer is mixed, reflecting both a genuine commitment to inclusive progress—with initiatives on housing and homelessness, expanding healthcare, early childhood education, paid parental leave and more—and the malicious lingering twin legacies of Arnold Schwarzenegger’s fiscal misrule and the Great Recession, both of which severely hobbled the state. “California for All. That is the driving idea behind this budget proposal and my first year in office,” Newsom said in his budget address to the legislature. But his next words were about his predecessor, Gov. Jerry Brown, whom he credited with restoring California’s confidence by “pulling state government back from the brink of fiscal insolvency.” “This budget proposal doubles down on that responsible legacy, finally tearing down the remaining wall of budgetary debt, paying down pension obligations and building up the most robust and prudent budget reserve in state history,” Newsom said. As a result, while Newsom’s budget highlighted several significant progressive
Gov. Gavin Newsom unveils his first proposed budget in Sacramento. File photo.
initiatives, the money to fulfill them properly is nowhere to be found. Rather, the budget promises carefully crafted ways to get things rolling, which is better than nothing, but far from reaching the goal. Newsom’s budget projects a $21.4 billion surplus—$6.5 billion larger than the Legislative
Analyst’s Office November projection—and devotes less than an eighth of that, $3 billion, to expanding ongoing spending. A much larger chunk — $8.5 billion — goes to one-time spending that involves no future financial commitment. But the largest share of all — $10 billion, almost half the surplus — will go to “budget resiliency,” mostly cleaning up the internal borrowing and an accounting trick still left over from the Schwarzennegger years of fiscal denialism, as well as increasing operating reserves and adding an extra $3 billion into the state’s main pension fund. Still, there are some high-profile symbolic advances, and a wealth of solid details, as explained by the California Budget and Policy Center, which works to improve public policies affecting low- and middle-income Californians. The center issued its customary “First Look” report just after the budget’s release, with a webinar discussion on Jan. 17. Its focus was primarily on making sense of what’s there, but they also noted some of what’s missing as well. Proposed increases in family paid leave are symbolic of both the promise and the complexities of follow-through. “I am committed to this,” Newsom said in announcing the leave proposal, according to Cal Matters. “It’s a developmental necessity.… Do you want a parent spending time helping build the architecture of a young child’s brain? Or do you want government to do it for you?”
The U.S. is the only developed nation in the 36-member Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development with no national paid leave. The OECD average of paid family leave (maternal, father-specific and general) was 55.2 weeks in 2016. California became the first US state with paid family leave in 2002, providing most workers with six weeks of partial pay (70 percent for low-income workers, 60 percent for others) to care for a new baby or sick family member. Recently, a handful of blue states have gone further. New York, Massachusetts and Washington will all provide 12 weeks by 2021. Newsom’s six month proposal — a dramatic improvement over anywhere else in America, is still in the lower tier internationally. More specifically, the budget provides $245 million one-time expenditure for child care facilities and a similar amount for child care workforce development, plus a similar $247 million expenditure to improve and expand child [See Budget, p. 13]
Community Announcements:
Harbor Area [Announcements, from p. 2]
San Pedro Democratic Club January Meeting
The San Pedro Dems will discuss the results of the California Democratic Party Assembly District Election Meetings with state delegates who can answer your questions. Special guest Secretary of State candidate Ruben Major will present on changes to our election system the County is implementing next year. Newly installed club officers will report on plans for the year ahead, plus updates on the LAUSD strike, Harbor Area Homeless Counts, Women’s March, and MLK celebrations. Time: 7 to 9 p.m. Cost: Free Details: https://ksm570.wixsite.com/spdemoclub Venue: Think Café, 502 W. 5th St., San Pedro
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1; no late applications will be accepted. For details visit the Academy website at, https://tinyurl.com/ www-academy-polb-com The port will host two information sessions for students and parents to learn more about the internship and scholarship program. Time: 9 a.m Jan. 19 and 6 p.m. Feb. 7 Details: (562) 283-7719; education@polb.com Venue: Port of Long Beach, 4801 Airport Plaza Drive, Long Beach
Safe at Home
January 24 - February 6, 2019
Alzheimer’s Los Angeles with the LA County Board of Supervisors Chair Janice Hahn invite the public to Safe at Home: Caring for a Family Member with Alzheimer’s. Learn how to take steps to reduce risk and help keep loved ones with Alzheimer’s or other dementias safe at home. This community event will feature staff from Alzheimer’s Los Angeles and LA Found, as well as resources from the surrounding community. An optional lunch will be available at 12 p.m.for $3. Time: 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. Jan. 30. Cost: Free Details: (323) 930-6244 Venue: Wilmington Senior Center, 1371 Eubank Ave., Wilmington
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No Quick Fix
Betty’s Rehab Story
By Leslie Belt, Contributing Writer
Ten years ago, today my sister died from using a dirty needle to inject OxyContin. I wish I knew then what I know now. That Purdue Pharma knew exactly what would happen to her when they lied to the Food and Drug Administration, lobbied Congress to look the other way, and wined and dined doctors into plying her with pills that were clearly harming rather than helping her. My heart would still be broken, I know that, but at least I would have been angry at the real fiends.
th &
ion
of the Free” thing. What I am saying, however, is that the Trump administration’s recent efforts to significantly reduce the prescribing and production of legal opioids is tantamount to arming our military with Twizzlers and sending it to Disneyland to fight terrorism. In short, fighting the wrong war. According to the National Center for Health Statistics: “Further, after reaching its peak in 2010, the amount of higherdose opioid painkillers prescribed in the United States has dropped by 41 percent since then, largely owing to a growing number of state monitoring programs that put doctors and patients under surveillance. Meanwhile, in 2019 the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency and the Department of Justice have proposed to reduce the quantity of Schedule II opioid pain medications by 7 to 15 percent in 2019, the third decrease in as many years. These reductions are taking place against the backdrop of the growing epidemic of overdose deaths from non-medical (read illegal) drugs such as heroin and bootleg
dit
l Hea
As if we needed more proof that Donald Trump is the dumpier, less playful reincarnation of Richard Nixon. There are the uncanny correlations between Trump’s much maligned response to the growing epidemic of opioid overdose deaths and Nixon’s much mocked War on Drugs 1.0. Take the hamhanded timing of these efforts for example. Nixon announced his hostility four days after the Pentagon Papers had been released and Trump his amid the Russia probe, which is nothing compared to the alchemic spin that transformed Nixon’s war into an all-out assault on black people and hippies and is empowering Trump to pit the Drug Enforcement Agency and the Justice Department against chronic pain sufferers and the physicians who are increasingly refusing to treat them. Don’t get me wrong, I am not saying that it was a good thing that just recently the Council on Foreign Relations reported that more than 900 Americans a week die from opioid-related overdoses and millions more suffer from opioid addiction. Kind of puts a damper on that “Land
F i t ne s s
E
[See Fix, p. 5]
It’s been about four months now and in hindsight I was lucky in a lot of ways. Don’t get me wrong, it was hard. I felt incredibly angry at my doctor, pharmaceutical companies and society in general the entire time. Suddenly, everyone was making it all about me. I didn’t see myself as an addict and I really resented being treated like one. I am a recovering alcoholic with more than 30 years of sobriety and being labeled an addict was hard for me to swallow, even though I had been on Percocet and fentanyl for pain for years. But now that I am off them, I have to say that my pain is just about the same as when I was on them. I just manage it differently now. So, when my doctor wrote my last prescription and told me that was it, he wasn’t going to give me anymore, I decided it would be wise for me to wean myself off as slowly as I could. So, I went from two pills a day to one per day as long as I had them and changed Op io ids Are my patch every four or five N days instead of every three. Op io id O ve r o t t h e Proble m , do s e De at h s It was still a lot faster than Are Amer ic a n s I wished it were, but I think a re mo re li k el y op io id o verd my withdrawal was easier o se s th a n ca to die from r cra sh e s. So urce : N at because of it. io na l Safe ty Th e re Are F Co un ci l 201 After I ran out, the worst 9. e Pre s c r ib e d we r O ve rdo s e s f rom L part of my withdrawal was the Op io ids e g a ll y inability to sleep because my N at u ra l a n d se m is y n th body would not keep still. Plus, e t ic (e .g ., ox h ydro c o do n yc o do ne, e ) 14,495 I was incredibly anxious all of S y n th e t ic the time. I’d pace the floor all (e .g ., fe n ta ny l) 28,466 night. At one point I did not sleep He ro in 15,4 for 72 hours. I still cannot get to S ou rc e: K ai 82 se r Fam ily sleep early, but once I fall asleep Fo un dation (2017 data ) Yo u C a n’t F I’m good for seven or eight hours. ix G re e d y Resting better makes me feel From 2013 so much better. I’m still pretty th ro ugh 20 1 sp e n t $40 angry, but when I take it out on m il lio n prom 5 big ph a r m a o t ing op io id others I can usually manage to Pay ing fo r s. me a ls, t r ip apologize. s and c o n su lt ing fe e I guess I’d say that the 68,000 do c s fo r ne a r ly to rs . restlessness and the anger were the One in five fa worst part of this experience. Although m il y ph ysici a n s I certainly did not enjoy those sweats, w e re ta rge S ou rc e: JAM stomach cramps or the mood swings A Ope n Net te d . wor k 2019 much. But I am so relieved to be off of those pills. It was really worth it.
January 24 - February 6, 2019
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A Doctor’s Fight for Filipino Veterans By Lyn Jensen, Carson Reporter
When Dr. Jenny Batongmalaque found her father was denied veterans’ benefits because he was Filipino, she founded the Erasto R. Batongmalaque Foundation, also called the ERB Foundation or the Filipino Veterans Foundation Senior Assessment Center. It was dedicated to meeting the needs of Filipino-American veterans of World War II. The ERB foundation was originally in Carson but later moved to the landmark Bob Hope Patriotic Hall in downtown Los Angeles. That building houses [Fix, from p. 4]
No Fix
[Molina, from p. 2]
Molina
is going to be on Medicaid. People with disabilities are going to be on Medicaid. The elderly rely on Medicaid. A third of all children rely on Medicaid, Molina pointed out. “When you look at people’s opinions of it, they say it works for them,” Molina said. “I think people realize there’s a better way of delivering insurance and we simply can’t rely on businesses to pay for health insurance.” Molina doesn’t believe employer-based insurance coverage is sufficient nor healthy for American businesses. “Economically it doesn’t make sense,” Molina said. “We put a lot of costs on businesses that other countries don’t.” Molina believes every American should have access to health insurance that’s affordable and
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shouldn’t live in fear that something bad is going to happen to them. “Medicaid for all or Medicaid buy-in is a better option,” Molina said. “…We need to find a way of covering everyone with universal coverage,” Molina said. “The problem is that if the Affordable Care Act goes down, that will mean a lot of us don’t support Medicare for all. I don’t think we get to Medicare for All by repealing the Affordable Care Act.” For Molina, the Affordable Care Act is just one more step toward universal coverage. Molina believes that if conservatives succeed in repealing the Affordable Care Act, there will be political consequences to pay. “The American people would be aghast when they realize their friends and families can’t get health care any more or their friends and neighbors are afraid to change jobs or move to a new state in fear of losing their insurance,” Molina said. “Some might be afraid to start a new business because of health insurance. I don’t think Americans want that.”
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January 24 - February 6, 2019
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to have been in active service and therefore not eligible for service benefits. They were the only World War II allies of the United States who were denied benefits. “I read that, it hit me right between the eyes,” she says. She resolved to help the veterans “of the same storyline as my father’s.” After a 1990 law allowed Filipino veterans who served in World War II to become American citizens based on their service, Batongmalaque says about 18,000 of them came to the United States. They assumed they could get veterans’ benefits. She started seeing more and more of them in her medical practice. “So many of them showed up here. I was seeing them in my clinic,” she remembers. “They thought, all of them thought, if they came to the
DESIGNS
fentanyl coming from China and Mexico.” It is important to note that some doctors and chronic pain sufferers have reported to me (off the record) that they have benefitted from this increased oversight by the federal government. (See Betty’s Rehab Story, previous page.) But much of the current dialog centers on the harm that has been caused by doctors who are increasingly faced with the decision to either stop prescribing legal medications to patients with chronic pain — most of whom have taken them as prescribed for many years, many who have become dependent on them — or risk being sanctioned and the loss of their reputations and perhaps even their medical licenses. According to the Centers for Disease Control one in 12 Americans has debilitating chronic pain. These factors as well as the prevalence of pain make quick fixes unlikely. The third and final article in this series will explore who hurts (spoiler alert; chronic pain is more common among women, older adults, the poor, the unemployed, those with public health insurance or living in rural areas) as well as why so many of us hurt today and how we can help each other. Meanwhile check out my friend Betty’s inspiring story of how she helped herself to withdraw from decades of prescription opioid pain medication usage after she her physician abruptly cut her off. It is important to note that opioid withdrawal is serious business. My friend Betty (not her real name) is a retired health care professional and knew what she was doing. If you do not, please seek help.
the Los Angeles County Department of Military and Veterans Affairs, and also several veterans’ groups. “In 2002 we got an IRS letter of intent, approval, 501(c) applied as a non-profit focused on the veterans of World War II,” she recalls. “We rented space at the Bob Hope and that was taken care of. That’s how we got in 2,500 of these guys.” Batongmalaque practices family and geriatric
medicine in Carson, where she opened a clinic, Argent Medical Group, in 2008, taking over from the previous doctor when he retired. Before that she practiced in Torrance and Palm Springs. “Those who are surviving and still with us, their average age is 94,” she said about Filipino-American veterans. “So their challenges are tremendous.” She learned of the plight of veterans including her father after he died and she read a journal he left behind. “His journal says he was in World War II. He was in Bataan — he almost died — he was a prisoner of war. He was inducted properly into the United States Army. He was under Eisenhower,” she recalls. “He did try and reach out and get recognized but he never spoke about it.” Because of the Rescission Act of 1946, Filipino solders who served the United States were deemed not
5
Unlock Public School Potential Strike: Did UTLA settle too soon? By James Preston Allen, Publisher
January 24 - February 6, 2019
Real News, Real People, Totally Relevant
To understand the historical significance of the recent teachers’ strike against Los Angeles Unified School District I direct you to a PBS documentary that aired a few weeks ago about the Latino student uprising in East Los Angeles in 1967-68. It’s online at https://tinyurl.com/KCETEastLA-Student-Walkouts. The film captures the beginning of a long march towards justice and equity in public education for racial and ethnic minorities who now comprise the majority of Los Angeles Unified students. Since that time 50 years ago, there has been a slow but intentional disinvestment in public schools from K-12 and the California State college and the University of California system. Remember, this was the era of Gov. Ronald Reagan, and later the anti property tax measure Proposition 13. Both were intent on downsizing government and defunding education. This was the dawn of rising college tuitions and the militarized crackdown on student protests in both high schools and colleges born of the realization that a well educated underclass was harder to oppress. These uppity Mexican kids wanted to have the same academic opportunities as the white kids. This seemed to be and actually was the perspective of the all white school board, not just in Los Angeles, but across America at that time. Reagan’s legacy of cracking down on student demonstrations, closing the state mental health facilities and starting down the path of building more prisons while not investing in schools are with us still reminders of this pivotal time of conflict that arose out of the Vietnam War, Civil Rights and the reactionary response to both. We are only now beginning to unwind the inequities of those misplaced policies, anti-union efforts and racial injustices. Did the UTLA strike go far enough in redressing these grievances? Clearly, during the course of the intervening years, more people of color have become educated and become teachers, administrators and even elected school board members. Yet the systemic pressure to defund public education persists. We spend far more to keep people incarcerated in California than we spend on educating students who are not in prison.
6
Only now are we beginning to think about the costs these wrong-headed policies have brought us. Just think about this: from 1982 to 2000, California’s prison population increased 500 percent. To accommodate this growth, the state of California built 23 new prisons at a cost of $280 million to $350 million apiece and grew the number of inmates to a peak of 173,942 in 2006. This was precisely the time period when conservatives started to criticize public education as being inadequate and began the effort to privatize it. This was not a coincidence. Remember, the highest percentage of inmates are Latino (39.8 percent) and black (28.9 percent), with just 25.2 percent white. Since this does not reflect the demographic breakdown of California’s general population, where does this inequity start? It begins in our public schools. The importance of the just-concluded UTLA strike is that for the first time in 30 years the teachers union stood up to the power structure and demanded a fundamental change in the equation of funding and services for students. The vast majority of parents and the community came out in solidarity with them. This is a learning moment. This is a time for real change. Did UTLA get the change they demanded? The answer is probably, “kind of, sort of.” I’m not sure UTLA, even now, realizes the political power it holds. This is the moment in which a truly cultural shift can occur, returning control of public schools to the public. But the parents weren’t invited into Mayor Garcetti’s mediated bargaining room at City Hall. The demands on the LAUSD needed to include actually opening up the schools to the communities they serve. All of these campuses should be open for extended learning experiences in the 1,322 neighborhoods in which they are located. These schools are surrounded by chain link fences that resemble prisons more than schools. The gates should be unlocked to the community for more than a few hours to provide community access for acceptable public activities, adult education and public meeting space. Los Angeles’ public schools need to have meaningful and empowered public engagement and oversight — not window dressing parent committees. Publisher/Executive Editor James Preston Allen james@randomlengthsnews.com Assoc. Publisher/Production Coordinator Suzanne Matsumiya
“A newspaper is not just for reporting the news as it is, but to make people mad enough to do something about it.” —Mark Twain Vol. XL : No. 2
Published every two weeks for the Harbor Area communities of San Pedro, RPV, Lomita, Harbor City, Wilmington, Carson and Long Beach. Distributed at over 350 locations throughout the Harbor Area.
Managing Editor Terelle Jerricks editor@randomlengthsnews.com Senior Editor Paul Rosenberg paul.rosenberg@ randomlengthsnews.com
If our school system is going to be the foundation of democracy, which literacy and knowledge truly are, then what better way to teach civic engagement than to give local communities real oversight of schools? Yes, class size actually matters, as does balancing the budget, but returning real authority to local school councils of concerned parents, teachers and administrators would go a long way to stem the flow of dissatisfied parents to charter schools. In the end, both UTLA and LAUSD need
to engage with the communities they serve by opening up the gates of education and allow for the creative efforts and aspirations of students and parents to change the system. The union has shown it can get organized and mobilize the community for the greater good. But can anyone tell if there’s a vision beyond this contract? Can we really turn around the trend of the past 50 years to reinvest in public schools and make them the best learning places? I believe UTLA did not go far enough or wait for the best offer.
There’s Something Happening Here By Sen. Bernie Sanders, former U.S. Presidential Candidate Something is happening in Los Angeles that you need to know about, that we all need to do something about. For the first time in 30 years, more than 30,000 Los Angeles public school teachers went on strike fighting for smaller class sizes and decent wages, for nurses, counselors and librarians in their schools, and against a coordinated effort from billionaires on the right to make money privatizing public education. Public education is fundamental to any functioning democracy, and teaching is one of its most valuable and indispensable professions: so how is it that the top 25 hedge fund managers in this country make more money than the combined salaries of every kindergarten teacher? How is it that the billionaires of this country get huge tax breaks, but our teachers and children get broken chairs, flooded classrooms and inadequate support staff in their schools? That is what a rigged economy looks like. In the richest country in the history of the world, our teachers should be the best-paid in the developed world, not among the worst-paid.
Columnists/Reporters Lyn Jensen Reporter Richard Foss Restaurant Reviewer Andrea Serna Arts Writer Melina Paris Staff Reporter Send Calendar Items to: 14days@randomlengthsnews.com Photographers Terelle Jerricks, Jessie Drezner, Benjamin Garcia, Raphael Richardson Contributors Leslie Belt, Mark L. Friedman, Benjamin Garcia, Sen. Bernie Sanders, Gretcen Williams
So I stand in solidarity with the United Teachers of Los Angeles. Because a nation that does not educate its children properly will fail, and I applaud these teachers for leading this country in the fight to change our national priorities. Today, I am asking you to do the same. But what we really need in this country is a revolution in public education. What we accept as normal today with regards to education, I want your grandchildren to tell you that you were crazy to accept. And in my view, that conversation starts, but does not end, with early-childhood education. That is not just my opinion. Research tells us that the “most efficient means to boost the productivity of the workforce 15 to 20 years down the road is to invest in today’s youngest children.” So it is not a radical idea to say that we need to provide free, full-day, high-quality child care for every child, starting at age three, so that they will be guaranteed a pre-kindergarten education regardless of family income. That is common
Cartoonists Andy Singer, Jan Sorensen, Matt Wuerker Design/Production Suzanne Matsumiya, Brenda Lopez Editorial Intern Alexa Moreno Display advertising (310) 519-1442 Classifieds (310) 519-1016 Fax: (310) 832-1000 www.randomlengthsnews.com Random Lengths News office is located at 1300 S. Pacific Ave., San Pedro, CA 90731.
[See Something’s Happening p. 7] Address correspondence regarding news items and tips to Random Lengths News, P.O. Box 731, San Pedro, CA 90733-0731, or email: editor@randomlengthsnews.com. Send Letters to the Editor to james@randomlengthsnews.com. To be considered for publication, letters must be signed with address and phone number (for verification purposes) and be about 250 words. For advertising inquiries or to submit advertising copy, email: rlnsales@randomlengthsnews.com. Annual subscription is $36 for 27 issues. Back issues are available for $3/copy while supplies last. Random Lengths News presents issues from an alternative perspective. We welcome articles and opinions from all people in the Harbor Area. While we may not agree with the opinions of contributing writers, we respect and support their 1st Amendment right. Random Lengths News is a member of Standard Rates and Data Services and the Association of Alternative Newsweeklies. (ISN #0891-6627). All contents Copyright 2019 Random Lengths News. All rights reserved.
awesome newspaper!
RANDOMLetters More on Dave Arian
learned at home — sometimes the law had its way of making the point and maybe we owed something to the LAPD for the lessons they taught the Mouse. Dave was a scientist in that he collected the facts, analyzed them, and proposed a theory. But it wasn’t all theory. He practiced what he preached. Dave was a warrior — he chose his path and he kept to it come hell or high water or jail. Dave did five days in L A’s finest jail and when the “Mouse” came out of that jail I swear the Mouse roared like a Lion and has never stopped roaring … until just the other day. I can’t believe he is gone; in fact I can hear echoes of his roar from all over the world. They say the arc of the moral universe is long but it bends toward justice. So, I have faith that Dave has prevailed and I know his last words to us were “Don’t mourn for me, ORGANIZE!” Lewis Wright Local 63 retired from the industry, not the struggle
Daily Breeze Anti-Union
I’m a teacher at LAUSD currently fighting for education justice alongside 30,000 other educators as well as community members. We have been so disappointed in the Daily Breeze’s coverage of our movement; they have printed headlines such as “A strike against them” (insinuating we are striking against our students) and “Union wages a war on Kids.” This is blatant propaganda. We’d hoped that you would report on us rallying outside of the Breeze today at 10 a.m. in front of the main office of the newspaper. I would also love to give an interview on what our strike is about, or what this protest is about. Thank you for being an
Dear Ron and all UTLA members, We did report on this union action and of course the Breeze did not. It comes as no surprise that the Daily Breeze has come out against your efforts to save public schools and against your union. For the four decades we have been publishing I can’t remember when they ever took the side of any union. It is moments like this that their true politics is revealed and every union member in Los Angeles should remember who was supporting them and who was not. James Preston Allen, Publisher
Shutdowns in Washington, D.C. and Los Angeles
LA Unified is shut down as teachers have walked off their jobs, protesting a stalled contract, packed classrooms, missing support staff, and charter schools. Washington DC is shut down because Democrats don’t want to secure our borders. These two camps are fighting a bitter zero-sum game. If the teachers get everything they ask for in negotiations, LAUSD will go bankrupt and fall into state receivership. If the district gets what it wants, teachers and students will still struggle in overcrowded, overwhelmed schools. In Washington, D.C., Trump must have that wall. He made a promise to the American people, beyond Republicans and Democrats, that he would secure our borders and put an end to illegal immigration. He loses this fight, and he will not get re-elected. Democrats today do not care about American workers. They want cheap labor, identity politics, and mass migration to ensure a permanent voting bloc. They lose this fight, and the Democratic Party will steadily lose elections until they disband.
[Something’s Happening, from p. 6]
Something’s Happening
the California Republican party tossed him and his crew out of their party a few years ago. And yet, he continues to show up a rallies and demonstrations getting on the TV news with his red MAGA hat to espouse more Trumpian attacks that continue to provide chaos and division, not governance or leadership. We are now at a point in which California and Los Angeles will reverse the decades of disinvesting in public education and placing more emphasis on institutions of learning rather than incarceration. This is a game changing moment in our history. James Preston Allen, Publisher
Community Alert California State Lands Commission
The next California State Lands Commission meeting is February 4, 2019 at 10 a.m. in Sacramento. The meeting agenda and staff reports are available on our website. The meeting will be live-streamed via the Cal-span website. Please email us at CSLC. CommissionMeetings@ slc.ca.gov or call us at 916.574.1800 if you have questions about the meeting, the agenda items, or about how to participate. Commission meeting rules and procedures can be found on our site here: http://www.slc.ca.gov/ Meetings/Meetings.html.
January 24 - February 6, 2019
the opportunity for a higher education. At the same time, we must substantially lower student debt. But getting there will take a political revolution in this country, and a radical change in national priorities. Instead of giving huge tax breaks to billionaires and profitable corporations, we must create the best public educational system in the country. Instead of major increases in military spending, we must invest in our kids. And today, the most important step in that direction starts with standing in solidarity with the teachers in Los Angeles. Through our support for these teachers, we have a chance to reaffirm our support for quality public education and the right of all children to receive the best education possible.
Dear Mr. Schaper, It just wouldn’t be the same if we didn’t receive one of your radical right wing rants alleging all types of unfounded false statements about schools, liberals, progressives and democrats or me. What is very telling about your extreme positions is that you’d prefer to keep the schools closed claiming that they (the students) are “getting indoctrinated” simply because school teachers do not adhere to your extremist political philosophy of xenophobic fear of people who don’t look like you. I should remind our readers that Mr. Schaper was so extreme in his actions and words that even
sense. But in the 21st century, a public education system that goes from early childhood education through high school is not good enough. The world is changing, technology is changing, our economy is changing. If we are to succeed in the highlycompetitive global economy and have the best-educated workforce in the world, I believe that higher education in America should be a right for all, not a privilege for the few. That means that everyone, regardless of their station in life, should be able to get all of the education they need. Today in America, hundreds of thousands of bright young people who have the desire and the ability to get a college education will not be able to do
so because their families lack the money. This is a tragedy for those young people and their families, but it is also a tragedy for our nation. Our mission must be to give hope to those young people. If every parent in this country, every teacher in this country, and every student in this country understands that if kids study hard and do well in school they will be able to go to college, regardless of the income of their family, that will have a radical impact on primary and secondary education in the United States—and on the lives of millions of families. That is what we can accomplish by making public colleges and universities tuition-free, because every American, no matter his or her economic status, should have
To be honest, I hope that the UTLA/LAUSD strike never ends. Kids are not learning, they are getting indoctrinated in these government schools. They are better off not rotting away in those crappy buildings. LAUSD is too damn big anyway. I hope that the Washington, D.C. Shutdown lasts for months. The federal government employs too many people and controls too many facets of our lives. Shut down the waste, shut down the borders and let’s shut down all this bullsh*t for good. Arthur Christopher Schaper, Torrance
Real News, Real People, Really Effective
Dave and I were feeding 44-pound banana boxes to the conveyor belt. There must have been 20 guys working that deck, a lot of noise and yelling “Up on the big one down on the little one,” then Dave yells, “Heads up!” Several months later, I had a chance to ask Dave what happened after you said “heads up?” and in his typical San Pedroista way of pointing out the obvious, Dave says, “Dummy, you looked up.” That was good old Dave Arian. As much as he was short on sympathy and etiquette he was all about seeing clearly the lay of the land and where justice stood. He learned that at home. Years before, I was visiting Arthur, Dave’s older brother and Dave was complaining to his dad, known as “Honest Lou” on the docks, that someone was sleeping on the couch, which was where Dave slept. (This is where Dave got his warmth, his sympathy, his ability to look you in the face and say “Dummy, you looked up.”) So, Honest Lou says to Dave, “The guy on the couch is drunk and needs the couch more than you do.” And that’s where Dave learned about justice. There was a time when Dave was lettering in tennis and his nickname was “Mouse.” He kept to himself, was quiet and didn’t have much to say. At that time we were involved in the civil rights movement. It was a violent summer in the south and we were demanding the federal government do something to stop the violence and protect the civil rights workers who had taken the summer to do God’s work in Alabama, Georgia and Mississippi. Dave and a hundred or so other good people decided to make their point at the downtown federal building by committing civil disobedience. Back then justice was not only
Ron Smith, UTLA teacher, San Pedro
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[Contract, from p. 1]
UTLA Ratifies New Contract The cap on charter schools was bumped up to the state with the hopes that Los Angeles Unified will pass a motion to call upon the state to halt charter school expansion. But teachers failed to win any meaningful control over local school decisions, co-location of charter schools on public school property, local school budgets and a fundamental reduction in class-size. Teachers were elated by the public support they received and hopeful about future negotiations to push for further gains in public education. Richard Henry Dana Middle School teacher Rodney Lusain was one of those. “This proposed contract was not a home run of a deal,” Lusain said. “The UTLA leadership must still push for our goals, pushing back on the charter movement. The agreement is not firing us up the big goal still exists, but the fight is not over.” San Pedro High School teacher and the school’s union chairman, Aaron Bruhnke, called the agreement a solid start. “We’ve changed the education narrative in
Los Angeles and this contract will be the vehicle for enhancing and preserving public community schools,” Bruhnke said. Dana middle school science teacher, Robyn Meehan, whose classes include 38 or more students, was a bit more conflicted about the contract. “[The contract] positively addresses the charter issues with hopefully some state commitment,” Meehan said. “We needed more class-size reduction (the contract calls for class reduction of one student per year, up to four over the three-year contract) and thus I have mixed feelings.” Although more than 80 percent of the union’s membership approved the agreement, many rank-and-file teachers expressed dissatisfaction with it. “It is a disappointment,” said Tobias Seiple, a teacher at Dana Middle School. “This is a contract we could have gotten without a strike. The solidarity and unity were overwhelming. The issue has never been about pay but about
The Fight to Avoid Becoming New Orleans
January 24 - February 6, 2019
Real News, Real People, Totally Relevant
By Terelle Jerricks, Managing Editor and Benjamin Garcia, Contributor
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Fifteenth Street Elementary School teacher James Campbell believes the people of San Pedro ought to know that teachers aren’t just striking for better wages. “The wage issue has already been settled, for the most part,” Campbell said as he walked the picket line at the elementary school. “We’re out here because at our school, we only have a nurse one day a week,” he said. Campbell also noted the ever-growing number of charter schools in the district, which in San Pedro includes Alliance Alice Baxter High School and Port of Los Angeles High School. “We have charter schools popping up all over the place that are not being held accountable — there are other schools that are not part of unions and that are not held to the same standards that we are and they screen their students.” “The students [not admitted to charter schools] have to go somewhere, so they come to the public schools because we can’t do any sort of screening. We’re basically fighting for the future of education in Los Angeles. [Otherwise] we go to something called the ‘portfolio model,’ which is basically a stock portfolio.” Campbell was referring to a model LA Unified School District Superintendent Austin Beutner was considering before the plan was leaked to the Los Angeles Times this past November. Under the proposal, Beutner would divide the system into 32 “networks,” moving authority and resources out of the central office and into neighborhoods. Only a small group of people and entities have been involved in fleshing out the socalled portfolio plan, although officials say they have collected input from about 1,500 parents, teachers, administrators and community members in a series of meetings since August. Campbell recounted the horror stories of cities that have experimented with marketbased approaches to school governance or worse, a form of disaster capitalism — a theory outlined by Naomi Klein in which radical privatization of government functions under
the cover of man-made or natural disasters. “Schools get closed when they’re lowperforming and that metric will keep changing and schools will slowly close,” Campbell explained. “Then there will be no more public schools eventually.” “New Orleans just had its last public school close just before Christmas. There are no more public schools in New Orleans. So, we’re not just fighting today. We’re fighting for tomorrow and for 10 years and 20 years down the line,” Campbell said. “The quality of education [in New Orleans] has gone way down with the charter schools,” Campbell said. “There is a lot of corruption [where they are] warehousing ‘problem children,’ that’s what will happen if charter schools come in and [create a stronghold].” “Having a nurse one day out of the week] impacts the office staff especially because they have to tend to the sick children. “One [member] of the office staff … ends up staying past her time and not getting paid, because in addition to her doing regular duties she has to tend to sick children — taking their temperatures and giving them ice packs …. Plus, if we have a really bad injury, they are not trained in any sort of health — they’re just like moms,” Campbell said. Campbell bats away assertions that the LAUSD would become bankrupt in three years if the union’s demands are met. “Well that’s not true because there’s $1.9 billion in surplus and what has been offered so far by the district would spend about $60 million of those dollars– a very small percentage of what’s left behind,” Campbells said. “Plus Gov. Gavin Newsom said he will release more funds to education and work with the legislature to do that. So, there is no reason why we’re going to go bankrupt because of the needs of the schools.” Campbell counted himself fortunate this year. “My class is not too big, but other teachers have larger classes. In the past, I have had classes that have been difficult to find space for the students,” Campbell said. “If we get larger classes, we won’t be able to teach the way that we have been teaching in an effective manner or get to each student to help them.”
Parents and teachers braved a downpour on Jan. 14, the first day of the UTLA strike. Parent Heidi Tinsman, left, and award winning San Pedro High School marching band director Darnella Davidson joined forces in front of San Pedro High School. Photos by Raphael Richardson
class-size reduction. And all the electives are still massive, 45 students or more. This was a symbolic win, but it initiates change in the state but has not won much for students.” Perry Elementary teacher and that school’s UTLA chair, Ron Smith, was more hopeful. “The bargaining team could have fought harder to decrease class sizes by pushing for a hiring increase of new teachers,” Smith said. “However, who is to say that the district won’t roll out version 1.5 in the future, which will allow for an increase in student to teacher ratio above the cap limitations?” Smith said he was hoping for stronger language and action regarding the cap on charter schools in the district. “The deal basically states that we leave the advocating for capping charter school growth to members of the LAUSD Board of Education [a board that is comprised of mainly charter supporters],” Smith said. “All in all, I’m happy for what we’ve won and I am fired up to fight for what we need! I’m so inspired by this workers’ movement, by our community coming together in solidarity for education justice.” Lusain believes the strike and the resulting contract, despite its shortcomings, reflects some really important gains. “Positive aspects of the strike are not reflected in the contract,” said Lusain. “The team [Filipino, from p. 5]
Filipino Veterans
United States they’d get claims right away or the benefits as a veteran.” The foundation was a product of the several years she spent studying 250 FilipinoAmerican veterans, “Every year I just call on them” ‘Tell me how you are. Tell me what your condition is.’” She found every year, their health was down and their housing needs worsened. The Rescission Act of 1946 has to an extent been rectified. In 2009, Obama’s American Recovery and Reinvestment Act provided for a $15,000 lump sum for surviving Filipino veterans who were American citizens and a $9,000 lump sum for non-citizens. By February 2016 more than $225 million had been paid out through 18,960 individual claims. According to Batongmalaque, she’s one
SPHS English and journalism teacher David Crowley shows his sense of humor on Day 1 of the strike.
building. The connection with the community and the school. The national awareness of the plight of teachers. Kids and parents stayed out in huge numbers facing hardships and the six-day strike could not have gone any better in terms of parent and community support.” Lusain said most questions are about classsize. “We were hoping for a much greater swing of the pendulum back towards public education and smaller classes. There is confusion in the contract language about having a nurse in every school. Does that mean half a day the nurse travels between schools?”
of about 10,000 graduates of the University of Santo Tomas who is practicing in the United States. The university in Manilla, the Philippines, is one of the top medical schools in the world. She graduated with honors in 1964. Batongmalaque relates her own experience with American immigration. She came here on a visitor’s visa in 1966, when she was 26. An immigration officer looked at her passport and saw she was a physician. He if she knew about third preference? Third Preference, an immigration visa employment category primarily for professionals and skilled workers, became law in 1965 when the Vietnam War as going on and more professionals were needed. It allows about 40,000 professionals and skilled workers to enter the USA every year. “My goodness, what a break!” she remembers thinking. “What a chance!”
Graphic by Brenda Lopez
picture and sound at the beginning of each take. Regardless of why we are just now getting to see this film, there’s is no question that Amazing Grace is a treasure. Younger generations can see and hear for themselves some of the giants on whose shoulders Franklin stood and perhaps this film could inspire new rounds of crated digging to push the boundaries of soul and gospel music. Time: 6 p.m. Feb. 7 Cost: $125 Venue: Directors Guild of America, DGA Theater Complex, 7920 Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles
From Reggae to Jazz Fusion and Back Again
The Gaslamp in Long Beach is hosting the fourth annual Marley Festival on Jan. 26. The headliners include The Wailing Souls, The Gladiators and a Bob Marley tribute band called The Survivors. The Wailing Souls and the The Gladiators are just two of many bands to emerge when the popularity of the festival’s namesake caught fire nearly 60 years ago. The list of Grammy winners are for reggae is usually a Marley (Damian or Ziggy, but usually Ziggy), Sly & Robbie or Burning Spear. And that’s not that there aren’t others. It’s just speaks to the lasting legacy of the Marley family that is three generations deep [See Aretha p. 11]
January 24 - February 6, 2019
The opening night of the 27th annual Pan African Film Festival will feature Amazing Grace, the documentary about the best selling gospel album of all time — a documentary that was filmed 46 years ago, but never saw the light of day until this past holiday season in New York and Los Angeles. In 1972, Aretha Franklin, the undisputed Queen of Soul, brought producer Jerry Wexler, her backup singers, the Rev. James Cleveland and the legendary Atlantic Records rhythm section to The New Temple Missionary Baptist Church in Watts to record a gospel music doublealbum before a live audience. The album, Amazing Grace went on to sell more copies than any gospel record in history and become Franklin’s most successful album and one of her most beloved works. The true reason this film remained in the vault for nearly a half century may never be fully known. One of the theories that has been bandied about include the New York Times’ report alleging money demands by Franklin, who in 1972 was at the height of her musical career. Another reason, which may have more resonance, was offered by producer of the Amazing Grace documentary, Alan Elliot. He believes the Queen of Soul had aspirations of becoming a Hollywood star and was angry with Warner Brothers for mishandling the film — namely, film director Sydney Pollack’s failure to use a clapperboard to synchronize the
Real News, Real People, Really Effective
Compiled by Terelle Jerricks, Managing Editor
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K
Sensational Sandwiches By Gretchen Williams, Dining and Cuisine Contributor
Food journalist and author Karen Kaplan conducting a demonstration from her book, Open Faced: SingleSlice Sandwiches from Around the World. File photo
the American Cocktail, both now based in Los Angeles. Newly established in San Pedro on Pacific Avenue at 8th Street, the Pacific Food and Beverage is director Philip Dobard’s West Coast baby, a division of the national organization. A New Orleans native and veteran of various venues of entertainment like opera houses and television sound stages, Dobard and the PF&B aim to showcase the cuisines of the Pacific Rim. Also a veteran of the opera ranks, Tracey Mitchell is on board PF&B and The Museum of the American Cocktail. As a San Pedro resident, she believes the move to Pacific Avenue was natural for both orgainzations, which found an open and welcoming atmosphere, to go with the culinary history of the community. The next event is Feb. 2 — a talk and tasting showcasing the wines of the Valley of Guadalupe in Baja California. Details: (657) 204-2478; www.pacificfood.org Venue: Pacific Food & Beverage Museum, 731 S. Pacific Ave., San Pedro
Two Great Choices for Dining featuring
$10 Lunch Menu
SAN PEDRO WATERFONT ARTS DISTRICT PRESENTS
& Early Bird Specials 1420 W. 25th St. (25th & Western) San Pedro • (310) 548-4797
Lunch & Dinner—Mon.-Fri. 11:30 a.m.- 9 p.m. Sat. & Sun. from 4 p.m.
Real News, Real People, Totally Relevant
aren Kaplan knows her way around a sandwich. Her style is bold and open, colorful and topless and fun! From the original French trencher, meant to be both vessel and victual, to the modern Scandinavian art of Smørbrød, Kaplan covers the territory. Everyone’s granny had a favorite little something on toast, from nonna’s olive oil and tomatoes from the back yard to abuela’s mashed avocado on toasted bread rolls. Russian dark pumpernickel provides stout support for paté or sturgeon. Germany boasts 300 varieties of bread and 1,200 types of rolls, suitable for cheese, ham or salami, butter and jam. Kaplan’s new book, Open Faced is a stunning sandwich study, telling the story of the open faced phenomenon in every culture. Gorgeous photos and simple, straightforward recipes tempt even the timid cook and open faced entertaining seems easy. Kaplan was editor of Bon Appetit magazine for years and has extensive experience in culinary publishing. Open Faced and Karen Kaplan came to San Pedro as part of a series of talks and demonstrations sponsored by the Pacific Food and Beverage Museum and the Museum of
January 24 - February 6, 2019
GREGORIO LUKE
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CUATRO@CABRILLO: ARTS ADVENTURES FOR THE CULTURALLY CURIOUS
CELEBRATING THE ARTS OF MEXICO
Banquet Room up to 50 guests Heated Patio Dining Follow us at Think Cafe San Pedro and Sonny’s Bistro San Pedro @thinkcafesonny @sonnys_bistro
302 W. 5th St., San Pedro (310) 519-3662
Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner Mon.-Sat. 8 a.m.- 9 p.m. • Sun. 8 a.m.-2 p.m.
GRAVITY by Alfonso Cuaron January 27th, 2019, 3:30PM Cabrillo Marine Aquarium 3720 Stephen M. White Drive, San Pedro, CA 90731
Tickets: SanPedroWaterfrontArtsDistrict.com
[Aretha, from p. 9]
From Aretha to Marley
in the music industry). But this show is but an appetizer for the three-day One Love Cali Reggae Festival on the Queen Mary from Feb. 8 through 10. Rebelution, Stick Figure, Tribal Seeds and many more on the first day. The second day line includes Slightly Stoopid, Dirty Heads and SOJA. The third day includes Sublime with Rome and J Boog Common Kings. Time: 5 p.m. to 12 a.m. Jan. 26 Cost: $22 Details: https://tinyurl.com/4thMarley-Festival Venue: Gaslamp Long Beach, 6251 Pacific Coast Highway, Long Beach
One Love Cali Reggae Festival Time: 2 p.m. Feb. 8 through 10; and 12 p.m. on
Feb. 9 through 10. Cost: $85 to $199 Details: www. onelovecalifest.com/
Scott Henderson Trio
Wailing Souls band members Winston "Pipe" Matthews, right, and Lloyd "Bread" McDonald. File photo
Scott Henderson, co-founder of the groundbreaking fusion band Tribal Tech, will be putting on a show with his trio at Alvas Showroom on Jan. 27. Henderson has been touring with various trios all over the world, teaching and making cameos on various artists’ albums for the past 20 years, staying a sharp as
ever. Henderson had been gravitating back toward his blues roots, releasing the blues album Dog Party in 1994, and Tore Down House (1997). He recorded Well To The Bone (2003) alongside bass player, John Humphrey, and Kirk Covington on drums with Shrapnel Records. Henderson’s last solo release was Vibe Station (2015) with Alan Hertz on drums and Travis Carlton on bass. It has been reported repeatedly that he is enjoying playing in bands which do not have keyboard players, as it allows him to branch out more and properly explore the guitar’s full potential as an instrument. Time: 4 to 6 p.m. Jan. 27 Cost: $30 Details: www.alvasshowroom.tix.com Venue: Alvas Showroom, 1417 W. 8th St., San Pedro
FEB 7 Brought to you by the artists and restaurants of the Downtown San Pedro Waterfront Arts District
Studio Gallery 345
DRAWINGS AND PAINTINGS
Michael Stearns Studio@The Loft LOVE AND CHAOS
A series of paintings by Michael Stearns that strives to translate the construction of the dynamics that occupy human consciousness expressed through pain, joy, anxiety and awe. In other words, love. Artist’s reception Feb. 9, 2 to 6 p.m. The show runs through Feb. 23. Michael Steans Studio@The Lofts, 401 S. Mesa St., San Pedro Details: (562) 400-0544
Real News, Real People, Really Effective
Michael Stearns, Genesis.
Pat Woolley, Venice Revisited, collage.
Studio 345 presents drawings by Pat Woolley and mixed media work and paintings by Gloria D Lee. Open 5 to 9 p.m. on First Thursday and by appointment. Studio 345, 345 W. 7th St., San Pedro.
January 24 - February 6, 2019
RLn BRINGS YOU DEDICATED COVERAGE OF THE ARTS IN THE HARBOR AREA. FOR ADVERTISING, CALL 310. 519.1442
Details: (310) 545-0832 or (310) 374-8055; artsail@roadrunner.com or www.patwoolleyart.com.
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JAN 24 - FEB 6 • 2019 ENTERTAINMENT Jan 24
Diego Figueiredo Considered one of the most talented guitar players in the world today, Figueiredo’s music is a fusion between jazz, bossa nova and classical. Time: 8 to 10 p.m. Jan. 24 Cost: $25 Details: www.alvasshow room.tix.com Venue: Alvas Music Store, 1413 W. 8th St., San Pedro
Jan 25
January 24 - February 6, 2019
Real News, Real People, Totally Relevant
The Paul Gormley Trio See bassist Paul Gormley with his trio perform a variety of songs made popular by Frank Sinatra, Dave Brubeck, Miles Davis, and Brazilian music by Antonio Carlos Jobim. They perform every Friday. Time: 7 p.m. Jan. 11 Cost: Free Details: (310) 832-0363 Venue: The Whale & Ale, 327 W. 7th St., San Pedro
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Venue: People’s Place, 365 W. 6th St., San Pedro
Jan 27
Scott Henderson Trio Henderson’s trademark is his beautiful tone and striking ability to blend blues, rock, funk and jazz. Time: 4 to 6 p.m. Jan. 27 Cost: $30 Details: www.alvasshowroom.tix. com Venue: Alvas Showroom, 1417 W. 8th St., San Pedro
Jan 29
Kristi Lobitz and Yoshi Masuda The performance features modern masterworks from the piano-cello repertoire, including the moving Spiegel im Spiegel (Mirror in Mirror) from the Academy Awardwinning film Gravity. Time: 8 p.m. Jan. 29 Cost: $10 to $21 Details: www.centerforthrarts. com Venue: El Camino College, Campus Theatre, 16007 Crenshaw Blvd., Torrance
Feb 1
Coming of Age in the 1960s The show features the works of four American composers — Steve Reich, Paul Chiara, John Bergamo, and Charles Boone — whose musical language was partially forged during the decade of the 60s. Time: 8 p.m. Jan. 25 Cost: $10 to $21 Details: www.centerforthe arts.com Venue: El Camino College, Marsee Auditorium, 16007 Crenshaw Blvd., Torrance
First Fridays at First Beverly Hills National Audition winners, mezzo-soprano Katarzyna Sadej, violist Alma Lisa Fernandez and pianist Basia Bochenek perform a program featuring Brahms’ Viola Songs. Time: 12:15 p.m. Feb. 1 Cost: Free Details: (310) 316-5574; www.palosverdes.com/classical crossroads Venue: First Lutheran Church and School, 2900 W. Carson St., Torrance
Darrin Stout Get down with some old school rockabilly, country blues with Darrin Stout and local favorites the Sunday Morning Sinners. Time: 8 p.m. Jan. 26 Cost: Free Details: (310) 833-1589; www.godmotherssalloon. com Venue: Godmothers Saloon, 302 W. 7th St., San Pedro
Beethoven’s Eroica Lovers of the Classical period will revel in this program, which includes Beethoven’s epic Eroica and a lovely work by the first classical composer of African ancestry, Josef Boulogne. Time: 8 p.m. Feb. 2 Cost: $28 to $105 Details: (562) 436-3203 Venue: Terrace Theater, 300 E. Ocean Blvd., Long Beach
Jan 26
Marley Festival The 4th Annual Marley Festival will feature live performances from reggae legends The Wailing Souls and The Gladiators. The event is all ages with under seven free. Time: 5 p.m. Jan. 26 Cost: $22 Details: www.ticketweb.com Venue: The Gaslamp Long Beach, 6251 E. Pacific Coast Highway, Long Beach
Comedy Night at People’s Place A night of comedy at People’s Place featuring comedians Jimmy Brogan, Jason Stewart, Johnathan Lee Soloman, Tyler Horn, Justin Ezzi and Denise Williamson. Time: 8 p.m. Jan. 26 Cost: $20 Details: (310) 547-2348; www.peoplesplacesp.com
Feb 2
The Harbor Groove Band The Harbor Groove Band is back. Time: 8 p.m. to 12 a.m. Feb 2 Cost: Free Details: (310) 327-4384; www.alpinevillagecenter.com Venue: Alpine Village, 833 Torrance Blvd., Torrance
Feb 3
Michaela Rabitsch and Robert Pawlik Austria’s singer, composer and only female top jazz trumpet player is called “a modern day female Chet Baker. With her partner and composer Robert Pawlik, they present Gimme The Groove, inspired by touring throughout Europe, Asia, the Americas and Africa. Time: 4 to 6 p.m. Feb. 3 Cost: $20 Details: www.alvasshowroom.tix. com Venue: Alvas Showroom, 1417 W. 8th St., San Pedro
THEATER
Cost: Free Details: (310) 541-2479; www.pvartcenter.org Venue: Palos Verdes Art Center, 5504 W. Crestridge Road, Rancho Palos Verdes
Pick of the Vine
Jan 25
DANCE
Peter Pan Based on the classic Cathy Rigby stage production, this trip to Neverland will delight audiences of all ages. Time: 2 p.m. Jan. 26, 27 and 7:30 p.m. Jan. 25, 26 Cost: $40 to $60 Details: www.grandvisionorg Venue: Warner Grand Theatre, 478 W 6th St., San Pedro
Jan 26
Jan. 26
Call of the Wild Jack London’s classic tale comes to life on stage. This multi-media adventure mixes performance and storytelling with projected illustrations to tell the story of Buck, the magnificent offspring of a St. Bernard and Scottish Collie. Time: 2 and 5 p.m. Jan 26 Cost: $15 to $25 Details: www.torrancearts.org/ call-of-the-wild Venue: James R. Armstrong Theatre, 3330 Civic Center Dr., Torrance
Jan 27
We Shall Overcome Inspired by the words and actions of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., We Shall Overcome celebrates a repertoire of music traditions from Aretha Franklin and Duke Ellington, to Stevie Wonder, Nina Simone, and music from The Wiz interwoven with King’s speeches. Time: 2 p.m. Jan. 27 Cost: $40 Details: (562) 985-7000; www.carpentercenter.org Venue: Carpenter Performing Arts Center, 6200 Atherton St., Long Beach Restoration — The Remix Charles lives his life chasing his dream to become a musical artist. Restoration explores the reality of this character, while he successfully crashes and burns. Will he learn to live with the consequences or will he rise from the ashes? Time: 5 p.m. Jan. 27 Cost: $30 to $35 Details: tinyurl.com/Restorationthe-Remix Venue: James R. Armstrong Theatre, 3330 Civic Center Dr., Torrance
Feb 6
Joshua Bell and Sam Haywood Bell will be accompanied by pianist Sam Haywood. Time: 7:30 p.m. Feb. 6 Cost: $85 to $95 Details: (562) 916-8500; www.cerritoscenter.com Venue: Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts, 18000 Park Plaza Drive, Cerritos
ART
Jan 26
Paint and Sip It’s the Gallery Azul’s first Paint and Sip. The theme will be a Still Life. Space is limited. The event will be taught by artist/educator Ray Vasquez and guest artist/ educator Yeyo International Arte. The fee includes materials, wine
Frozen Foods, by Ian August, directed by Cinthia Nava-Palmer Pick of the Vine returns for its 17th season. Little Fish Theatre presents nine 7-15 minute short plays hand-picked by LFT from authors across the country. Thursdays through Sundays through Feb. 3. Details: www.littlefishtheatre.org and beer. Time: 6 to 9 p.m. Jan. 26 Cost: $40 Details: (562) 225-8535; www.galleryazul.com Venue: Gallery Azul, 520 W. 8th St., San Pedro Phases Mixografia announces an exhibition that highlights the expansive role of the self as subject, and considers the function of portraiture as allencompassing, transitory, and a product of its time. Time: 4 to 6 p.m. Jan. 26 Cost: Free Details: (323) 232-1158 Venue: Mixografia, 1419 E. Adams Blvd., Los Angeles KOKO’s Neighborhood LA artist Yoshie Sakai’s fourth installment of her ongoing video project KOKO’s Love, which explores the everyday anxieties, fears and joys of living, all depicted using the over-the-top tropes of the soap opera. The exhibit is open Monday through Thursday and runs Jan. 30 to March 23. Time: 5:30 to 8:30 p.m., Jan. 26 Cost: Free. Details: (310) 243-3334; www.artgallery@csudh.edu Venue: CSU Dominguez Hills,1000 E. Victoria St., Carson
Jan 27
Call and Response, When We Say... You Say Join an evolving project curated by Mario Ybarra Jr. and Karla Diaz, co-founders of the Wilmington art collective Slanguage. Ybarra and Diaz examine how “high art” and pop culture intersect, as they address social inequities and different inter-generational aesthetic perceptions over the course of this group exhibition. Exhibition runs through April 14. Time: 4 to 6 p.m. Jan. 27 Cost: Free Details: (562) 985-5761; www. csulb.edu/university-art-museum Venue: University Art Museum, 1250 Bellflower Blvd., Long Beach
Feb 2
HER Concert A night of music in conjunction with the exhibit, Judithe Hernández:
A Dream is the Shadow of Something Real featuring LAbased quintet el rio Time: 7 to 10 p.m. Feb. 2 Cost: $20 Details: (562) 437-1689; www.molaa.org. Venue: Museum of Latin American Art, 628 Alamitos Ave., Long Beach Twice As Hard The South Bay LGBT center will be hosting a show to honor Black History Month. featuring exclusively black artists. Time: 5 p.m. Feb. 2 Cost: Free Details: (310) 328-6550; www.southbaycenter.org Venue: South Bay LGBT Center, 16610 Crenshaw Blvd., Torrance
Feb 5
Stuart Hamilton and Jennifer Gunlock Join the opening reception of the inaugural Art@Work exhibition. In this first showcase, artists Jennifer Gunlock and Stuart Hamilton in conversation on temporal spaces and dynamic landscapes. Time: 6 to 8 p.m. Feb. 5 Cost: Free Details: (310) 519-0936; www.angelsgateart.org Venue: Angels Gate Cultural Center, 3601 S. Gaffey St., San Pedro
Feb 7
1st Thursday Art Walk This monthly event draws crowds to historic downtown San Pedro’s eclectic art galleries, shops, and eateries. Live music on tand gourmet food trucks augment the great selection of restaurants. Time: 6:30 p.m. Feb. 7 Cost: Free Details: www.1stthursday.com Venue: Downtown San Pedro
Ongoing
Agarrar Monte New landscapes by Paloma Menéndez that redefine contemporary plein-air painting. The exhibition runs through Feb. 24. Time: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday to Friday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday
Anointed Feet Dance Company Known for their powerful and compelling storytelling, the company will present an evening of dance from their most highlyacclaimed repertory. Time: 8 p.m. Jan. 26 Cost: $10 to $21 Details: www.centerforthrarts. com Venue: El Camino College, Campus Theatre, 16007 Crenshaw Blvd., Torrance
Jan 27
Festival of Human Abilities Straight Up Abilities will be performing at the Festival of Human Abilities at the Aquarium of the Pacific. They will also be teaching free master classes. Visit them at their booth. Time: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Jan. 27 Cost: Free Details: www.straightupabilities. com Venue: Aquarium of the Pacific, 100 Aquarium Way, Long Beach
Feb 2
Russian National Ballet Theatre Swan Lake With vibrant costumes, elaborate sets, and mesmerizing movement, the internationallyacclaimed dancers weave through Swan Lake, Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s tale of a swan maiden and a prince and their battle with an evil sorcerer. Time: 8 p.m. Feb. 2 Cost: $60 to $80 Details: (562) 916-8500; www.cerritoscenter.com Venue: Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts, 18000 Park Plaza Drive, Cerritos
FILM
Jan 27
Gravity Gravity by Alfonso Cuarón, a movie in which Cuarón confronts the extraordinary challenge of recreating a world without gravity. The screening, presented by the San Pedro Waterfront Arts District, will be followed by insight and analysis by historian Gregorio Luke. Time: 3:30 p.m. Jan. 27 Cost: $15 to $45 Details: cuatrocabrillo. eventbrite.com Venue: Cabrillo Marine Aquarium, 3720 Stephen M. White Drive, San Pedro Who Will Write Our History? Across the world, on one day, various venues will screen this film. In November 1940, days after the Nazis sealed 450,000 Jews in the Warsaw Ghetto, a secret band of journalists, scholars and community leaders decided to fight back. Meet this clandestine group who vowed to defeat Nazi lies and propaganda with pen and paper. Time: 11 to 12:30 Jan. 27
[Budget, from p. 3]
www.expoartscenter.org Venue: Expo Arts Center, 4321 Atlantic Ave., Long Beach
Feb 1
Cost: $12 Details: www.arttheatrelong beach.org Venue: Art Theatre Long Beach, 2025 E. 4th St., Long Beach Wild & Scenic Film Festival The Conservancy will present a selection of adventurous and inspirational films about nature. You will be moved, transfixed, and energized to make a difference in our world. Time: 4 p.m. Jan 27 Cost: $10 Details: www.pvplc.org Venue: West High School Performing Arts Center, 20401 Victor St., Torrance
Jan 28
Discovery Film Series Explore famed landmarks while experiencing the culture and the life of people that make India fascinating. Time: 7:30 p.m. Jan. 28 Cost: $10 to $12 Details: www.centerforthrarts. com Venue: El Camino College, Marsee Auditorium, 16007 Crenshaw Blvd., Torrance
WELLNESS Jan 26
Cost: Free with RSVP Details: (657) 204-2478; www.pacificfood.org Venue: Pacific Food & Beverage Museum, 731 S. Pacific Ave., San Pedro
Feb 9
Deep Roots and Winter Greens PacFAB presents a culinary show and tell, cooking demo, and tasting, featuring examples of winter’s bounty. Time: 2 to 3:30 p.m. Feb. 9 Cost: Free Details: www.tinyurl.com/deeproots-winter-greens Venue: Pacific Food & Beverage Museum, 731 S. Pacific Ave., San Pedro
COMMUNITY Jan 25
Survios After Dark Bring a friend and unleash your inner ninja or whatever your inner self daydreams about. Time: 9 p.m. to 12 a.m. Jan. 25 Cost: $25 Details: (310) 750-9035; www.playsurvios.com Venue: Survios Virtual Reality Arcade, 3525 W. Carson St., Suite 176, Torrance
Jan 26
Discovery Lecture Series Teaming with Nature in Managing Urban Runoff: More Bang for the Buck! by Dr. John Dorsey. Cuban International Marine Science Conference report-back meeting precedes the lecture at 6 p.m. Time: 7 pm Feb. 1 Cost: Free Details: (310) 548-7562; www.cabrillomarineaquarium. org Venue: Cabrillo Marine Aquarium Library, 3720 Stephen M. White Drive, San Pedro, San Pedro
Feb 2
Point Fermin Music in the Park This is all for fun and the public is encouraged to take a chance on a Saturday afternoon at the Point Fermin Park stage and hear some great music. Time: 2 to 4 p.m. Feb. 2 Cost: Free Venue: Point Fermin Park, 807 Paseo Del Mar, San Pedro Community Friendship Bell Ringing In the spirit of friendship Angels Gate Park rings the Korean Friendship Bell with the community every first Saturday of the month. Time: 12 to 12:15 p.m. Feb. 2 Cost: Free Details: (310) 548-7705 Venue: Korean Friendship Bell, 3601 S. Gaffey St., San Pedro
Jan 31
LITERATURE
The Wines of Baja Visit Pacific Food & Beverage Museum to taste wines from Valle de Guadalupe, Mexico’s leading wine region and learn about winemaking in Mexico from Stacie Hunt, a certified sommelier and author. Time: 2 to 2:30 p.m. Feb. 2
Caribbean Heritage:Yesterday, Today & Tomorrow Black History Month showcases two events: Forgotten Images exhibition of cultural artifacts of African American heritage from the 1600s, and a CEO Diversity Award Luncheon honoring companies promoting diversity and opportunities around diversity. Time: 6 to 9 p.m. Jan. 31, 12 to 10 p.m. Feb. 1 and 11 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Feb. 2 Cost: Free Details: (562) 595-0081;
Jesmyn Ward and Mitchell S. Jackson Two of America’s most vital contemporary writers discuss the intersection of their life experiences and how it relates to their work. Time: 8 pm Feb. 7 Cost: $29 to $59 Details: (310) 825-2101; www.cap.ucla.edu Venue: Royce Hall, UCLA, 10745 Dickson Court, Los Angeles
FOOD
Banh Chung Collective In preparation for the upcoming Lunar New Year, former Good Girl Dinette chef Diep Tran is hosting a banh chung-making workshop. Banh chung is a banana leaf-wrapped dumpling made of sticky rice, shallots, mung beans and pork (or peanuts for vegetarians). Time: 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Cost: $32 to $82 Details: www.squareup.com/ store/good-girl-dinette Venue: Alma Back Yard Farms at St. Albert the Great School/ Church, 804 E. Compton Blvd., Rancho Dominguez
Feb 4
Celebration of Black Military History Month Celebrate Black Military History Month with premiere of this biographical story—a spellbinding, uplifting tale of unsung hero Isaac Pope, a hero in the Battle of the Bulge and champion of civil and labor movements. The film will be followed by Q & A and interview. Time: 2 to 5 p.m. Feb. 4 Cost: Free Details: 213) 765-9621, kpiche@mva.lacounty.gov Venue: Bob Hope Patriotic Hall, 1816 S. Figueroa St., Los Angeles
Feb 7
January 24 - February 6, 2019
Vegan Marketplace Vegan District at the Pike every first Saturday of the month. Time: 12 p.m. Feb. 2 Cost: Free Details: vegandistrictlb.com Venue: The Pike Outlets, 95 S. Pine Ave., Long Beach
Jan 27
Legends of Lions The Lions will be telling stories of the drag strip, and reliving these times with videos, photos, and other memorabilia. Lions Drag Strip was at the heart of the So Cal hot rodding scene from 1955 to 1972 Time: 1 to 3 p.m. Feb. 2 Cost: $22 to $25 Details: (562) 424-2220; www.hslb.org Venue: Historical Society of Long Beach, 4260 Atlantic Blvd. Long Beach
Feb 2
Whale Fiesta Join a celebration of the migration of the Pacific gray whale and the beginning of whale watching season. It’s a family day filled with activities and exhibits for all — games, arts and crafts, puppet shows, marine awareness organizations, guest lecturers, the famous “Duct Tape Whale Sculpture Contest” and live music. Time: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Jan. 27 Cost: Free Details: (310) 548-7562; www.cabrillomarineaquarium.org Venue: Cabrillo Marine Aquarium, 3720 Stephen M. White Dr., San Pedro
Women’s Self Defense Learn ways to prevent and neutralize a physical attack and the most effective ways to stop an attacker. Time: 2 to 5 p.m. Jan. 26 Cost: Free Details: (310) 866-7300; www.pamanakali.com Venue: Pamana Kali Martial Arts and Culture, 4403 Torrance Blvd., Torrance
care facilities on Cal State University campuses, plus $10 million to develop a plan to increase access to subsidized child care. “Despite this historically large proposed increase, the proposal does not provide more low- and moderate-income families with access to subsidized child care, despite years-long waiting lists,” the center noted. In addition, low-income parents may not be able to make ends meet on family leave. Housing and homelessness are also key concerns. “This is a crisis,” Newsom said in a two-hour press conference. “We’re simply not developing enough housing units.” Indeed, housing costs are a primary reason California leads the nation in poverty rate using the supplemental measure that reflects true costs of living. Newsom’s approach to this is similarly diverse. “The governor’s budget proposes a multi-pronged state-level approach to address California’s housing affordability crisis, including regulatory changes, one-time planning and incentive funding, and an ongoing expansion of tax credits that finance affordable housing development,” the center noted. The budget also includes $500 million in grant funding to address homelessness, part of which is intended for shelters, which Newsom said should be exempted from some environmental review because of the severity of the homelessness crisis. It’s going to take much more than this to address a problem that’s been worsening for decades. But at least it’s a start, an end to simply ignoring it. Despite massive coverage gains under the Affordable Care Act, there are still 3 million
Real News, Real People, Really Effective
Jan 26
Indian Basketry in California Join a series of special events connected to our latest exhibit, Tevaaxa’nga (Te-vaah-ha-nga) to Today: Stories of the Tongva People. In this talk, master weaver and Ipay elder, Justin Farmer discusses the history and techniques of Indian basketry in California. Time: 10 to 11:30 a.m. Jan. 26 Cost: $8 Details: www.ranchoslos cerritos.org Venue: Rancho Los Cerritos, 4600 Virginia Rd., Long Beach
State Budget
Californians without health care. The proposed budget takes several approaches to expand coverage and increase affordability. It calls for the following: • Creating state health insurance subsidies for Californians with incomes between 250 percent and 600 percent of the poverty line. • Creating a state individual mandate to carry health insurance or pay a penalty, replacing the federal mandate repealed by Congress. This would help fund the subsidies and create healthier “risk pools,” thereby keeping premiums lower. • Expanding eligibility for comprehensive Medi-Cal coverage to undocumented young adults who are otherwise eligible. An estimated 138,000 undocumented young adults would sign up under this policy, with a cost of $194 million in 2019-20. Finally, the budget calls for a record high of $80.7 billion in funding for K-12 and community colleges, nearly $5,000 more per pupil than seven years ago. However, California was still below the national average this past year, despite one of the highest costs of living. The just concluded UTLA teacher strike reflects that painful reality. The budget also includes a one-time expenditure of $750 million to address barriers to fullday kindergarten, and a $3 billion payment to the CalSTRS pension fund of schools (the employers). There is also $576 million to support expanded special education services in school districts with highly concentrated needs. And it proposes funding for two free years of community college tuition for first-time, full-time students, as well as providing legal services for undocumented students and families. Whatever happens as the budget is revised and developed in the months ahead, significant new goals have been outlined. There’s a lot to be done.
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Poetry Book — Shadow Lands: Reflection on some people I’ve known. 12 original poems by RLn Publisher James Preston Allen. $10+$1.50 s/h Beacon Light Press, P.O. Box 731, San Pedro, CA 90733.
PLEASE HELP! The animals at the Harbor Animal Shelter have ongoing need for used blankets, comforters, pet beds.* Drop off at Harbor Animal Shelter 957 N. Gaffey St., San Pedro 888-452-7381, x 143 PLEASE SPAY/NEUTER YOUR PET! *In any condition. We will wash and mend.
DBA & LEGAL FILINGS Fictitious Business Name Statement File No. 2018295698 The following person is doing business as:(1) LA Kayak, 1257 W. O’Farrell Street, San Pedro, CA 90732, Los Angeles County. Registered owners: Paul Bruce Thomas, 1257 W. O’Farrell Street, San Pedro, CA 90732. Guadalupe Martinez, 1961 Floyd Street, La Habra, Ca 90631. This Business is conducted by an Joint Venture. The date registrant started to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above: N/A. I declare that all information in this statement is true and correct. (A registrant who declares as true information which he or she knows to be false is guilty of a crime.) S/. Paul Bruce Thomas, partner. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Los Angeles on Nov. 27, 2018. Notice-In accordance with subdivi sion (a) of section 17920. A fictitious name statement generally expires at the end of five years from the date on which it was filed in the office of the county clerk, except as provided in subdivision (b) of section 17920 where it expire 40 days after any change in the facts set forth in the statement pursuant to section 17913 other than a change in the residence address of a registered owner. A new fictitious business name statement must be filed before the expiration. The filing of this statement does not of itself authorize the use in this state of a fictitious business name in violation of the rights of another under federal, state, or common law (see section 1411 ET SEQ., Business and Professions code). Original filing: 12/13/2018,
Fictitious Business Name Statement File No. 2019003423 The following person is doing business as: Got It Right Entertainment, 3745 Stephen M. White Dr., San Pedro, CA 90731, Los Angeles County. Registered owners: Michael B. Stribling Jr., 3745 Stephen M. White Dr., San Pedro, CA 90731. This Business is conducted by an individual. The date registrant started to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above: 2019. I declare that all information in this statement is true and correct. (A registrant who declares as true information which he or she knows to be false is guilty of a crime.) S/. Michael B. Stribling Jr, Owner. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Los Angeles on Jan. 4, 2019. Notice--In
accordance with subdivision (a) of section 17920. A fictitious name statement generally expires at the end of five years from the date on which it was filed in the office of the county clerk, except as provided in subdivision (b) of section 17920 where it expire 40 days after any change in the facts set forth in the statement pursuant to section 17913 other than a change in the residence address of a registered owner. A new fictitious business name statement must be filed before the expiration. The filing of this statement does not of itself authorize the use in this state of a fictitious business name in violation of the rights of another under federal, state, or common law (see section 1411 ET SEQ., Business and Professions code). Original filing: 01/10/2019, 01/24/2019, 02/07/2019
Order to Show Cause for Change of Name Case No. 18LBCP00098 Superior Court of California, County of Los Angeles Petition of Galina Sarah Crosby Jr. for Change of Name TO ALL INTERESTED PERSONS: Petitioner Galina Sarah Crosby Jr. filed a petition with this court for a decree changing names as follows: Galina Sarah Crosby Jr. to Galina Sarah Mckenzie Jr. The Court orders that all persons interested in this matter appear before this court at the hearing indicated below to show cause, if any, why the petition for change of name should not be granted. Any person objecting to the name changes described above must file a written objection that includes the reasons for
“Hey Nineteen”-- welcoming in the new year.
© 2019 MATT JONES, Jonesin’ Crosswords
12/20/2018, 01/10/2018, 01/24/2018
Fictitious Business Name Statement File No. 2018308777 The following person is doing business as:(1) Wurzburg Express, 20412 Pioneer Blvd., Lakewood, CA 90715, Los Angeles County. Registered owners: Rafael Reyes, 20412 Pioneer Blvd., Lakewood, CA 90715. This Business is conducted by an individual. The date registrant started to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above: N/A. I declare that all information in this statement is true and correct. (A registrant who declares as true information which he or she knows to be false is guilty of a crime.) S/. Rafael Reyes, Secretary. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Los Angeles on Dec. 12, 2018. Notice-In accordance with subdivision (a) of section 17920. A fictitious name statement generally expires at the end of five years from the date on which it was filed in the office of the county clerk, except as provided in subdivision (b) of section 17920 where it expire 40 days after any change in the facts set forth in the statement pursuant to section 17913 other than a change in the residence address of a registered owner. A new fictitious business name statement must be filed before the expiration. The filing of this statement does not of itself authorize the use in this state of a fictitious business name in violation of the rights of another under federal, state, or common law (see section 1411 ET SEQ., Business and Professions code). Original filing: 12/20/2018, 01/10/2019, 01/24/2019, 02/07/2019
ACROSS
1 Gymnastics equipment 5 Pointillism detail 8 It’s called “orange” but is really black 13 “Grand Ole” venue 14 Salve plant 16 Collect little by little 17 Element #19, whose chemical symbol derives from the word “alkali” 19 “No Hard Feelings” band The ___ Brothers 20 Here, at the Louvre 21 Italian city where “Rigoletto” is set 23 ___ facto 24 British tabloid since 1964 26 Not so much 28 Card game holding where it’s impossible to score 19 points 34 Number on a liquor bottle 37 Instrument with stops 38 Actor Keegan-Michael 39 Julia Roberts, to Emma Roberts 40 Singer with the hit 2008 debut album “19” 41 Lima, for one 42 Belarus, once (abbr.) 43 Afghani neighbor 44 Spend thoughtlessly 45 Stephen King series that
makes many references to the number 19 48 Yokozuna’s activity 49 “The Stranger” author Camus 53 Hare crossing your path, e.g. 55 Eucharist disks 59 “See-saw, Margery ___” 60 Cold-weather coat 62 Golf course hangout known as the “19th hole” 64 Simon’s brother 65 Chuck 66 ComΘdie segment 67 Charges on personal property 68 “Karma Chameleon” singer ___ George 69 Achievement
DOWN
1 Hasbro game with voice commands 2 Division of a geologic period 3 “Glee” character Abrams 4 One of four singers on the “Lady Marmalade” remake 5 Coca-Cola bottled water brand 6 “The Reader” actress Lena 7 Publicize 8 Links gp. 9 Language spoken in “The Lord of the Rings” 10 Souvenirs 11 They may be steel-cut 12 Prefix meaning “inside” 15 National bird of Australia 18 Character pursued by
Gargamel 22 Aquarium accumulation 25 Aberdeen resident 27 End of the end of October? 29 “___ Yellow” (Cardi B song) 30 Spiner of “Star Trek: The Next Generation” 31 Spaghetti ___ e olio (garlicky pasta dish) 32 “That’s swell!” 33 Physical force unit 34 Realm of one “Christmas Carol” ghost 35 “Tom Sawyer” band 36 Like popular library books 40 It’ll show you the way 41 Insulting comment 43 “___ not kidding” 44 Language for Llanfairpwllgwyngyll 46 ___ Donuts 47 Quavering, like a voice 50 Draw out 51 Wailers fan, maybe 52 Presidential policy pronouncement, probably 53 Birthstone of some Scorpios 54 Burkina Faso neighbor 56 “Oh,” overseas 57 Mess up, as lines 58 Prefix with vision or Disney 61 Part of Q&A, for short 63 Lummox For answers go to: www.randomlengthsnews.com
Stephen L. Read, MD, 71, Family Man and Influential Geriatric and Forensic Psychiatrist, Dies
DBAs
January 24 - February 6, 2019
1/17, 1/24, 1/31/19
witness. Dr. Read loved being a doctor, serving our nation’s vets for three decades as a staff psychiatrist with Veterans Affairs and maintaining a private practice that kept him close to patients. He also loved to teach and took great pride in helping develop the field of geriatric and later forensic psychiatry at UCLA, helping foster the next generation of clinicians in the area. Along the way, he served as the founding medical director of the John Douglas French Center for Alzheimer’s Disease in Orange County, appearing on CBS’ Good Morning America in 1988 to talk about one of his passions, long-term care for the elderly. He brought all this experience together to become one of LA and the nation’s leading geriatric and forensic psychiatrists. From the mid’90s until his diagnosis of pancreatic cancer and retirement in 2016, Dr. Read built a worldwide reputation as an expert in the areas of elder abuse, capacity, and undue influence. Retained in more than 1,100 cases, his powerful and judicious testimony was always written with the finest attention to fairness in form and content and delivered in court with impact that led to a reputation that preceded itself and helped determine the fate and fortunes of some of our nation’s most powerful elderly. To his children and later to much of the world outside of work, however, Dr. Read was affectionately known
as “Papa,” an homage to his French heritage. He had a sweet voice for lullabies, loved playing sports and was always teaching his children; more than just knowledge, he taught them how to learn. His decades of work with older people facing challenging end-of-life situations taught him to think very carefully about the final phase of his own life. While unexpectedly having to battle pancreatic cancer for the past couple years, he did so exactly as he wanted: with the unflagging attention and tender love of his wife; playful moments with his three granddaughters; great conversations with friends new and old; incredible care from world class institutions with life-time colleagues; and the strong support of the families of his two sons, one he lived next door to and one who lived just up the hill. In addition to his wife, Diana, Stephen is survived by his eldest son, Jonathan Kos-Read (Li Zhiyin) and two granddaughters, Roxanne, 11, and Persephone, 6; his younger son, Isaac KosRead (Mary Massella) and granddaughter Tess Abella, also 6; mother, Elizabeth Read; and sisters, Martha Read (June BlueSpruce) and Mary Read (Victoria Jackson, dec.). Dr. Read’s legacy as a medical doctor lives on through many proteges, but especially two Marys: his youngest sister, who is now the better known “Dr. Read” at Harbor-UCLA, and his daughter-in-law, a UCSF nurse practitioner who works in community health in Oakland. His home and final resting place is beside Lake Merritt, which he loved to look out on, with its dancing birds and people, yet he chose to take his last breath in a room in his home that was filled with nothing but views of the art of his loving wife, who held his hand until the end. In lieu of flowers, the family requests support of for the UCSF Foundation, P.O. Box 45339, San Francisco, Calif., 94145-0339. Please designate on the memo line that the gift is in memory of Dr. Stephen Read to support pancreatic cancer research at the UCSF Pancreas Center. You can also give online by visiting makeagift. ucsf.edu/pancreascenter.
the objection at least two court days before the matter is scheduled to be heard and must appear at the hearing to show cause why the petition should not be granted. If no written objection is timely filed, the court may grant the petition without a hearing. Notice of Hearing: Date: 2-6-19, Time 8:30 a.m. Dept. 26, Room: 5500 The address of the court is 275 Magnolia Ave, Long Beach CA 90802 A copy of this Order to Show Cause shall be published at least once each week for four successive weeks prior to the date set for hearing on the petition in the following news paper of general circulation, printed in this county: Daily Journal and Random Lengths News Date: Dec. 26, 2018 Michael P. Vicencia Judge of the Superior Court 1/10,
nearby Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, inspiring a life-time commitment to mental health. It was there that he began a multi-faceted career as clinician, professor, and expert
Real News, Real People, Really Effective
On Jan. 11, shortly after ensuring he made it to his 71st birthday, Dr. Stephen L. Read, one of the nation’s most influential geriatric and forensic psychiatrists — whose clinical work helped heal thousands of elderly and vets, academic service fostered the next generation of leaders in his field, and testimony impacted the elder years of many powerful across the country — died peacefully in his home on Lake Merritt in Oakland, Calif. surrounded by his family and friends, all who knew him adoringly as “Papa.” His family reports the cause of death as pancreatic cancer. Stephen Lynn Read was born on Jan. 10, 1948 to Warren and Elizabeth Read. He grew up in Tulsa, Okla. Driven by boundless intellectual capacity, scientific curiosity, and passion for life, he excelled through school only to turn down full ride offers at multiple prestigious schools, believing anything he did there would be used in Vietnam. After a brief stint at Rice University in Houston, he arrived in California in 1969 where he eventually graduated from Berkeley. He soon found himself in Seattle where he met the love of his life, the artist Diana Kos. Stephen fell passionately for Diana’s artistic vision and motherly instincts, enjoying and nurturing both for the rest of his life. Post medical school and with two sons, the couple settled in the greater LA area, in Torrance, where Dr. Read concluded his residency at the
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[Contract, from p. 8]
New Contract
Alex Caputo Pearl explained that some of the money, which district negotiators previously said they could not or would not use, came from the $2 billion reserve. There will be future ballot measures in order to raise more money for public education.
Strike In Context
Many would call this a transformative strike, one that could reverse labor’s retreat in the face of attacks against public employee unions across the country. This strike came as the wave of teacher strikes and massive demonstrations that began in West Virginia won massive public support opposing the deplorable and deteriorating conditions in the schools and the lack of public funding. The National Education Association ranks California 36 out of 50 states in expenditures per student in fall enrollment. The support for striking Los Angeles teachers was national and international and began to be a social movement in defense of public education, smaller class sizes, a nurse and librarian in every school, more counselors with fewer cases and an effort to limit the growth of private nonunion charters. While big money has gone towards privatizing schools and Austin Beutner,
formerly a partner of the Blackstone Group (a multinational private equity firm), was hired as the LAUSD superintendent to advance that goal, the UTLA strike slowed that process. It strengthened the bond between unionists and surrounding communities. It pointed to what is possible for organized labor. Scores of community organizations brought food and solidarity to the picket lines. SEIU Local 99 engaged in 10 sympathy strikes and other members participated in the pickets. The ILWU was one of the few unions that sent
members to the picket lines, revealing a real shortcoming of the strike support the teachers needed from the rest of organized labor. A letter from the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor urged other unions to actively support UTLA, but this rarely happened, a reflection of decades of a weakening of the labor movement and the concept of solidarity, that an injury to one is an injury to all. The vocal and enthusiastic picket lines, mass rallies downtown and at LAUSD regional sites inspired all working people. Despite efforts
by the Los Angeles Times, Daily Breeze and other corporate media and some politicians to pit parents against teachers, they failed. The outpouring of community support for the teachers, including a march of 1,000 firefighters Jan. 22 in downtown Los Angeles, forced the district to back down on some of its proposals. For more coverage of the UTLA strike, including articles on the charter movement and the Daily Breeze’s attack on the union and students, visit www.randomlengthsnews.com.
Why Torrance Refinery Action Alliance supported the UTLA Strike
January 24 - February 6, 2019
Real News, Real People, Totally Relevant
Let's look at issues in the UTLA teacher strike; why we support you & have been on UTLA picket lines.
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UTLA goal: A contract reinvesting in schools, improving working conditions which are learning conditions, more counselors, nurses and fighting charter privatization of public education. Smaller class sizes means a better chance to learn. TRAA, fighting for community, student and worker safety supports this goal. TRAA is a coalition of teachers, unionists, community residents, parents, students, in South LA County communities. We fight for safety on the job at Torrance & Valero Wilmington refineries & for safety in the communities-‐San Pedro, Harbor Gateway, Watts and Wilmington to LAX and for safety on the job. This chemical – (modified Hydrofluoric Acid (MHF), in the event of a leak or accident like in 2015, would have catastrophic consequences – (over 30 schools in the danger zone) Our coalition includes the Torrance Teachers Association; justifiably concerned about the safety of students given proximity to refineries. TRAA supports teachers because teachers have supported refinery safety.
We especially support the UTLA demand for nurses in every school. No amount of nurses nor trained teachers can protect students in the wake of a MHF refinery leak. On February 1st, SCAQMD meeting in Diamond Bar will consider a Rule to Phase out MHF. The AQMD Board must hear from the community. We want a STRONG Rule 1410 to phase out MHF in 4 years.
Friday, February 1 – 7:00 a.m. Rally and caravan sendoff
@ Columbia Park, Torrance NW corner W. 190th Street & Prairie Ave & @ Communities for a Better Environment, 113 E. Anaheim St., Wilmington Visit our website to learn more and help win public and worker safety. TRAAsouthbay.com / (info@TRAAsouthbay.com)