Getting the Timing Right
San Pedro Developments Demand Striking While the Iron is Hot
Jim Dear’s back, Santarina ousted, charter passes p. 5 Rohrabacher voted out in the OC p. 10
Historic ‘Blue Wave’ Hits Amidst Fog Of Denialism By Paul Rosenberg, Senior Editor
Democrats won an election wave of historic proportions on Nov. 6 — with their largest gains in the House of Representatives since Watergate and the most diverse freshman class ever—amidst a fog of denialism that initially flooded the pundit class. But the Democrats’ recapture of the House was assured even before polls closed in California, where 15-term GOP conspiracy theorist Dana Rohrabacher was eventually defeated (see “Blue Wave Hits Orange County— Hard,” p 10). Recapturing the House signaled the
[See Timing, p. 2]
historic levels of voter participation driven by waves of newly-engaged activists. Three compelling highlevel progressive candidates who appeared to fall short—Beto O’Rourke, Stacey Abrams and Andrew Gillum—nonetheless showed that it wasn’t necessary to run defensively as GOP-lite candidates in traditionally conservative states, and did tremendous party-building work for the future. “Turnout is crucial, and progressive candidates often propelled it,” progressive activist and author Norman Solomon told Random Lengths News. “Even when dynamic statewide campaigns didn’t win — as in races for governor in Georgia and Florida or for U.S. Senate in Texas — grassroots momentum brought in voters who arguably tipped the balance in numerous down-ballot races. “Some Democrats who’ll become members of
end to congressional collusion with Trump’s attacks on American democracy — at least on the House side—as well as the potential to advance a popular progressive agenda: raising the federal minimum wage to $15, strengthening the Affordable Care Act, passing a massive public infrastructure bill, granting legal status to immigrant children known as “dreamers” and reauthorizing the Voting Rights Act. This was all backed up by sweeping state-level victories, a flurry of progressive initiatives and
November 15 - 28, 2018
Wide Eyes Open Palms nurtures and nourishes p. 12
Downtown San Pedro redevelopment has always been about how to reconnect San Pedrans to their waterfront and generate the critical mass of visitors necessary to sustain retail development and tourist-oriented businesses on a broad scale. This was before the idea of establishing an economy centered on the arts, culture, entertainment, and education. Fifteen years ago, as renovation of the Warner Grand Theatre began, artists and civic leaders founded the Arts, Culture and
Tropicalia Fest at the Queen Mary a cultural milestone p. 11
C
oastal Neighborhood Council President Doug Epperhart recalls telling a friend that development plans do get completed. “We’re just now implementing the 1972 development plan after old Beacon Street was torn down,” he quipped. Epperhart was referring to the original development plan for San Pedro, which tore down a slew of old bars, restaurants and other historic businesses that buzzed with pedestrian traffic from the canneries, naval shipyards and docks of a port that serviced the military invasion in the Philippines and then two world wars.
Real News, Real People, Really Effective
The new Holland project on Palos Verdes Street, between 5th and 6th, stands in contrast to the historic ferry building, which is home to the Los Angeles Maritime Museum.
Photo by James Preston Allen
By Terelle Jerricks, Managing Editor
[See Blue Wave, p. 19]
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